34 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



that element ; as to the readers of Gesner,* Kondeletius,t 

 Pliny, Alison ins, J Aristotle, and others, may be demonstrated. 

 But I will sweeten this discourse also out of a contemplation 

 in divine Du Bartas, (in the fifth day) who says : 



God quicken' d in the sea, and in the rivers, 



So many fishes of so many features, 



That in the waters we may see all creatures, 



Even all that on the earth are to be found, 



As if the world were in deep waters drown' d. 



For seas as well as skies have sun, moon, stars ; 



As well as air swallows, rooks, and stares ; 



As well as earth vines, roses, nettles, melons, 



Mushrooms, pinks, gilliflowers, and many millions 



Of other plants, more rare, more strange than these, 



As very fishes, living in the seas ; 



As also rams, calves, horses, hares, and hogs, 



"Wolves, urchins, lions, elephants, and dogs ; 



Yea, men and maids ; and, which I most admire, 



The mitred bishop and the cowled friar ; 



Of which, examples, but a few years since, 



Were shown the Norway and Polonian Prince. 



These seem to be wonders, but have had so many confirm- 

 ations from men of learning and credit, that you need not 

 doubt them ; nor are the number, nor the various shapes of 

 fishes, more strange or more fit for contemplation, than their 

 different natures, inclinations, and actions ; concerning which 

 I shall beg your patient ear a little longer. 



The cuttle-fish will cast a long gut out of her throat, 

 which, like as an angler doth his line, she sendeth forth and 

 pulleth in again at her pleasure, according as she sees some 

 little fish come near to her ; and the cuttle-fish, being then 

 hid in the gravel, lets the smaller fish nibble and bite the end 



* Conrad Gesner, an eminent physician and naturalist, was born at Zurich, 

 in 1516. Bis skill in botany and natural history was such as procured him 

 the appellation of the Pliny of Germany ; and Beza, who knew him, scruples 

 not to assert, that he concentred in himself the learning of Pliny and Varro. 

 He died in 15G5. 



t Guillaume Kondelet, an eminent physician, born at Montpelier, in Lan- 

 guecloc, in 1507. He wrote several books, and a treatise De Piscibus Marinis, 

 where ail that Walton has taken from him is to be found. He died very poor, 

 of a surfeit occasioned by eating of figs to excess, in 15GG. 



J Decius Ausonius, a native of Bordeaux, was a Latin poet, consul of Home, 

 and preceptor to the Emperor Gratian. He died about 390. 



Guillaume de Saluste, Sieur de Bartas, was a poet of great reputation in 

 Walton's time. He wrote, in French, a poem called " Divine Weeks and 

 Works," from whence the passage in the text and many others cited in this 

 work are extracted. This, with his other delightful works, was translated into 

 English by Joshua Sylvester. H. 



