CHAP. I. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 27 



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 l them. 



We all acknowledge both thy power and love 

 To be exact, transcendant, and divine ; 

 Who dost so strangely and so sweetly move. 

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



Wherefore, most sacied 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, Psal. 104. 

 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 amaze- 

 ment 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 crea- 

 tures inhabiting both in and about that element ; as to 

 the readers of Gesner, 2 Rondeletius, 3 Pliny, Ausonius, 4 



(1) Equivalent to whom they are owing. 



(2) Conrade Gesner, an eminent physician and naturalist, was born at Zurich 

 in 1515. His skill in botany ad natural history was such as procured him the 

 appellation of the Pliny qf Germany : and Beia, who knew him, scruples not to 

 assert, that he concentered in himself the learning of Pliny and Varro. Nor 

 was he more distinguished for his learning, than esteemed and beloved for that 

 probity and sweetness of manners, which rendered him conspicuous through the 

 course of his life. 



(3) Guillaume Rondelel, an eminent physician, born at Montpelier in Lan- 

 guedoc, 1507. He wrote several books; and a treatise De Piscibus marinis, 

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

 of surfeit, occasioned by eating figs to excess, in 1566. 



(4) Decitu Ausoniiu, a native of Bourdeaux ; was a Latin Poet, Consul of 

 Rome, and Preceptor to the Emperor Gratiaa. He died about 3QO. 



