30 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART i. 



course of the fulfilling of prophecies, observes, that when God 

 intended to reveal any future events or high notions to his 

 prophets, he then carried them either to the deserts or the sea- 

 shore, that having so separated them from amidst the press of 

 people and business, and the cares of the world, he might settle 

 their minds in a quiet repose, and there make them fit for 

 revelation. 



And this seems also to be intimated by the Children of Israel 

 (Psal. cxxxvii.), who, having in a sad condition banished all 

 mirth and music from their pensive hearts, and having hung up 

 their then mute harps upon the willow-trees growing by the 

 rivers of Babylon, sat down upon these banks bemoaning the 

 ruins of Sion, and contemplating their own sad condition. 



And an ingenious Spaniard says, that J' Feis__and the in- 



IiabitantS of thpi wflt^T p1prnpnfwprprp^f|^ for wisp men to 



CQJI template and fools to passTSy witfiout consideration." And 

 though I will not rank myself in the number of the first, yet give 

 me leave to free myself from the last, by offering to you a short 

 contemplation, first of rivers and then of fish ; concerning which 

 I doubt not but to give you many observations that will appear 

 very considerable : I am sure they have appeared so to me, and 

 made many an hour to pass away more pleasantly, as I have sat 

 quietly on a flowery bank by a calm river, and contemplated 

 what I shall now relate to you. 



And first, concerning rivers : there be so many wonders re- 

 ported and written of them, and of the several creatures that be 

 bred and live in them ; and those by authors of so good credit, 

 that we need not to deny them an historical faith. 



As namely of a river in Epirus, that puts out any lighted 

 torch, and kindles any torch that was not lighted. Some waters 

 being drank cause madness, some drunkenness, and some 

 laughter to death. The river Selarus in a few hours turns a 

 rod or wand to stone ; and our Camden mentions the like in 

 England, and the like in Lochmere in Ireland. There is also a 

 river in Arabia, of which all the sheep that drink thereof have 

 their wool turned into a vermilion colour. And one of no less 

 credit than Aristotle tells us of a merry river, the river Elusina, 



