60 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



There is also a fish called, by ^Elian, p in his ninth book of 

 Living Creatures, chap. 16, the Adonis, or darling of the 

 sea ; so called because it is a loving and innocent fish, a fish 

 that hurts nothing that hath life, and is at peace with all 

 the numerous inhabitants of that vast watery element : and 

 truly I think most anglers are so disposed to most of man- 

 kind. 



And there are also lustful and chaste fishes, of which I 

 shall give you examples. 



And first Du Bartas says of a fish called the sargus ; 

 which, because none can express it better than he does, I 

 shall give you in his own words ; supposing it shall not 

 have the less credit for being in verse ; for he hath gathered 

 this and other observations out of authors that have been 

 great and industrious searchers into the secrets of nature. 



The adulterous sargus doth not only change 



Wives every day, in the deep streams, but, strange ! 



As if the honey of sea-love delight 



Could not suffice his raging appetite, 



Goes courting she-goats on the grassy shore, 



Horning their husbands that had horns before. 



And the same author writes concerning the cantharus 

 that which you shall also hear in his own words : 



But, contrary, the constant cantharus 

 Is ever constant to his faithful spouse ; 

 In nuptial duties spending his chaste life ; 

 Never loves any but his own dear wife. 



Sir, but a little longer, and I have done. 



