106 FOURTEENTH TO THE 



Arno and its smaller tributaries. These waters are very 

 prolific of fish, and they seem at this period to have been 

 much frequented by piscatory amateurs and pic-nic parties. 

 A goodly portion of sentiment and feeling is thrown into 

 this little treatise. The author descants on the loveliness 

 of nature so commonly displayed on the banks of rivers, 

 and on the remarkably soothing influence which the 

 rippling and murmuring sounds of falling and running 

 streams of water has upon the human mind. He says, 

 " I have travelled much with the rod, in certain seasons 

 of the year, by the banks of the chief fishing localities of 

 Italy, and I feel at all times as if I had made my escape 

 from the ordinary ills and plagues of life. I have com- 

 monly had one or two companions, and we have enjoyed 

 ourselves in as lively and rational a manner as possible ; 

 giving to Nature all her due, and dwelling on the various 

 picturesque scenes we every day meet with, in that true 

 spirit of admiration so improveable to the heart and un- 

 derstanding. I feel confident that most of our great 

 artists must have been fishers in early life. Our art is 

 well fitted to arouse the dormant powers of sentiment, and 

 the general ideas of the sublime and beautiful in external 

 nature. It is said that Michael Angelo, when a youth, 

 often amused himself with the fishing-rod, and would take 

 long journeys to visit spots famous for their rural scenery 

 and beauties. The same thing I have heard remarked of 

 less distinguished artists, both sculptors and painters, of 

 our own and of other countries," 1 



1 La Canna, p. 60. 



