68 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



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, and 

 not till then believe, unless you think fit. 



You may there 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, of 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 storehouse, in which she locks up her wonders. 



But, sir, least 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 lore 



To be exact, transr.endant, and divine ; 

 Who dost so strangely and so sweetly move, 



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



Wherefore, most sacred Spirit! 1 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 that element ; as to the 

 readers of Gesner, Rondeletius, Pliny, Ausonius, 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 ; 



