44 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



those several beasts that both feed him and afford him 

 recreation. What pleasure doth man take in hunting the 

 stately stag, the generous buck, the wild boar, the cunning 

 otter, the crafty fox, and the fearful hare ? And if I may 

 descend to a lower game, what pleasure is it sometimes with 

 gins to betray the very vermin of the earth ! as namely, the 

 fitchet, 7 the fulimart, the ferret, the polecat, the mould-warp, 

 and the like creatures that live upon the face and within the 

 bowels of the earth ! How doth the earth bring forth herbs, 

 flowers, and fruits, both for physic and the pleasure of man- 

 kind ! and above all, to me at least, the fruitful vine, of 

 which, when I drink moderately, it clears my brain, cheers 

 my heart, and sharpens my wit. How could Cleopatra have 

 feasted Mark Antony with eight wild boars roasted whole at 

 one supper, and other meat suitable, if the earth had not been 

 a bountiful mother? But to pass by the mighty elephant, 

 which the earth breeds and nourisheth, and descend to the 

 least of creatures, how doth the earth afford us a doctrinal 

 example in the little pismire, who in the summer provides 

 and lays up her winter provision, and teaches man to do the 

 like ! The earth feeds and carries those horses that carry us. 

 If I would be prodigal of my time and your patience, what 

 might not I say in commendations of the earth ? that puts 

 limits to the proud and raging sea, and by that means pre- 

 serves both man and beast, that it destroys them not, as we 

 see it daily doth those that venture upon the sea, and are 

 there shipwrecked, drowned, and left to feed haddocks; when 

 we that are so wise as to keep ourselves on the earth, walk, 

 and talk, and live, and eat, and drink, and go a-hunting : of 

 which recreation I will say a little, and then leave Mr. Piscator 

 to the commendation of angling. 



