no THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PARTI. 



having expressed malice or anger by his swollen cheeks and 

 staring eyes, did stretch out his legs and embraced the pike's 

 head, and presently reached them to his eyes, tearing with them 

 and his teeth those tender parts : the pike, moved with anguish, 

 moves up and down the water, and rubs himself against weeds 

 and whatever he thought might quit him of his enemy ; but all 

 in vain, for the frog did continue to ride triumphantly, and to bite 

 and torment the pike till his strength failed, and then the frog 

 sunk with the pike to the bottom of the water ; then presently 

 the frog appeared again at the top and croaked, and seemed to 

 rejoice like a conqueror ; after which he presently retired to 

 his secret hole. The bishop that had beheld the battle called 

 his fishermen to fetch his nets, and by all means to get the 

 pike that they might declare what had happened ; and the 

 pike was drawn forth, and both his eyes eaten out ; at which 

 when they began to wonder, the fisherman wished them to 

 forbear, and assured them he was certain that pikes were 

 often so served." 



I told this, which is to be read in the sixth chapter of the 

 first book of Dubravius, unto a friend, who replied, " It was 

 as improbable as to have the mouse scratch out the cat's eyes." 

 But he did not consider that there be fishing frogs, which the 

 Dalmatians call the water-devil, of which I might tell you as 

 wonderful a story ; but I shall tell you, that 'tis not *to be 

 doubted, but that there be some frogs so fearful of the water- 

 snake, that, when they swim in a place in which they fear to 

 meet with him, they then get a reed across into their mouths, 

 which, if they two meet by accident, secures the frog from the 

 strength and malice of the snake ; and note, that the frog 

 usually swims the fastest of the two. 



And let me tell you, that as there be water and land frogs, so 

 there be land and water-snakes. Concerning which, take this 

 observation, that the land-snake breeds and hatches her eggs, 

 which become young snakes, in some old dunghill, or a like hot 

 place ; but the water-snake, which is not venomous, and, as I 

 have been assured by a great observer of such secrets, does not 

 hatch, but breed her young alive, which she does not then 



