214 ON THE ANTIQUITY OF FISHING. 



Thus far the fable, next the truth presents 

 How fish of wonders have been instruments. 

 A monstrous fish God did prepare to save 

 The angry prophet in the Euxine wave, (Jon. 1 . 

 "Which does for us an observation make, 

 That to a fish the great Jehovah spake. 



'Of great and strange effects he informed you may. 

 If you'll give credit to Apocrypha ; 

 Where the fish's gall they dry and pulverize 

 To cure the whiteness of old Tobit's eyes ; (Tob. 6. 

 And of the heart's perfume is made a spell 

 To charm the devil sweetly into hell. 

 Whether or not this truth authentic be, 

 We will not here dispute authority : 

 Only believe it with a moral faith, 

 And now let's hear what Evangeiium gaith. 



When the collectors of the tribute went 

 To Christ for pay to the seas, he Simon sent, 

 Who opening the fish's mouth that he first took, 

 A piece of money with a silver hook. (Mat. 17. 

 When at Emaus, Christ alone appeared (Lu. 24. 

 To the two disciples that a spirit fear'd ; 

 He askec]0them for meat, and the first dish 

 That he did eat of was a broiled fish. 

 When Christ another time appearance made, 

 He found 's Disciples at the fishing trade ; 

 Andrew, and James, and John were toiling sore, 

 Mending their nets when Jesus stood on the shore, 

 W r hen Simon Peter saw it was the Lord, (Jn. 21. 

 Overjoyed he was and leaped overboard. 

 Naked, girt only with his fisher's coat, 

 He cast himself down headloag^from the boat, 

 This Peter durst not on the waters pass, 

 Without his Master, yet chief fisher was; 

 Chief Shepherd, and first Pope whose name (say some) 

 Descended to the old fisherman at Rome. 

 What if St. Peter ne'er to Rome was sent, 

 The Scripture says he oft a fishing went. 

 What if he ne'er sat Bishop in Home's see, 

 .At sea he was with the sons of ..Zebedee, (Mar. U 



