THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 33 



by my friend Elias Ashrnole, Esq., who now keeps them 

 carefully and methodically at his house near to Lambeth 

 near London, as may get some belief of some of the other 

 wonders I mentioned. I will tell you some of the wonders 

 that you may now see, arid .not till then believe, unless you 

 think fit. 



You may see the hog-fish, the dog-fish, the dolphin, the 

 coney-fish, the parrot-fish, the shark, the poison-fish, sword-fish, 

 and not only other incredible fish, but you may there see the 

 salamander, several sorts of barnacles, and Solan geese, the 

 bird of Paradise, such sorts of snakes, and such birds'-nests, 

 and of so various forms, and so wonderfully made, as may 

 beget wonder and amusement in any beholder : and so many 

 hundred of other rarities in that collection, as will make the 

 other wonders I spake of the less incredible ; for you may 

 note, that the waters are nature's store-house, in which she 

 locks up her wonders. 



But, sir, lest this discourse may seem tedious, I shall give 

 it a sweet conclusion out of that holy poet Mr. George 

 Herbert his divine " Contemplation on God's Providence." 



Lord, who hath praise enough ; nay, who hath any ? 



None can express thy works but he that knows them 

 And none can know thy works, they are so many, 



And so complete, but only he that owes them. 



We all acknowledge both thy power and love 



To be exact, transcendent, and divine ; 

 Who dost so strongly and so sweetly move, 



Whilst all things have their end, yet none but thine. 



Wherefore, most sacred Spirit, I here present, 

 For me, and all my fellows, praise to thee ; 



And just it is that I should pay the rent, 

 Because the benefit accrues to me. 



And as concerning fish, in that psalm (Psalm civ.), wherein, 

 for height of poetry and wonders, the prophet David seems 

 even to exceed himself; how doth he there express himself in 

 choice metaphors, even to the amazement of a contemplative 

 reader, concerning the sea, the rivers, and the fish therein 

 contained ! And the great naturalist, Pliny, says, " that 

 nature's great and wonderful power is more demonstrated in 

 the sea than on the land." And this may appear by the 

 numerous and various creatures inhabiting both in and about 



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