30 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



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 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 adult.' rous Sargus doth not only change 



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



As if the honey of sea-love delight 



Could u-n suffice his ranging appetite, 



Oor courting she-goats on the grassy shore. 



Horning their husbands that had horns before. 



And the same Author writes concerning the Can- 

 tharus, that which you shall also hear in his own words : 



But, contrary, the constant Cautharus 

 Is ever constant to his faithful spouse ; 

 In nuptial duties, spending his chaxte life; 

 Mever loves any but his own dear wife. 



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



Yen. Sir, take what liberty you think fit, for your 

 discourse seems to be music, and charms me to an 

 attention. 



PMC. Why then, Sir, I will take a liberty to tell, or 

 rather to remember you what is said of Turtle-doves: 

 first, that they silently plight their troth, and marry; 

 and that then the survivor scorns, as the Thracian women 

 are said to do, to outlive his or her mate ; and this is 

 taken for a truth; and if the survivor shall ever couple 

 with another, then, not only the living, but the dead, 

 be it either the he or the she, is denied the name and 

 honour of a true Turtle-dove. 1 



(1) Of Steam, it is also said, that, if either of a pair die, or be otherwise 

 separated from its mate, the other does not long survive; and that it is 

 chiefly for this reason, that the stealing of Swans is by our law made penal ; 

 so as that, *' He who stealeth a Swan in an open and common river, lawfully 

 marked ; the same Swan shall be hung in H house by the beak; and he who 

 stole it shall, in recompence thereof, give to the owner so much wheat as 

 may cover nil the Swan, by putting and turning the wheat npon the head of 

 the Swan, until the head of the Swan be covered with wheat." Coke's Rc- 

 portt. Part VII. The case of Swans. 



