2 5 4 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



tells us, also, that some of these creatures once attached 

 themselves to a ship freighted with children of noble 

 birth, who were being sent by Periander for the purpose 

 of being castrated, and that they stopped its course in 

 full sail ; and he further says, that the shell-fish which 

 did this service are duly honoured in the temple of 

 Venus, at Cnidos. Trebius Niger says that this fish is 

 a foot in length, and five fingers in thickness, and that 

 it can retard the course of vessels ; besides which, it has 

 another peculiar property when preserved in salt, and 

 applied, it is able to draw up gold which has fallen into 

 a well, however deep it may happen to be." 



" But, Clio, wherefore art thou tedious 

 In numbering Neptune's busie burgers thus ? 

 If in his works thou wilt admire the worth 

 Of the Sea's Soverain, bring but only forth 

 One little Fish, whose admirable story 

 Sufficeth sole to shewe his might and glory. 

 Let all the Windes, in one Winde gather them, 

 And (seconded with Neptune's strongest stream) 

 Let all at once blowe all the stiffest gales 

 Astern a Galley under all her sails ; 

 Let her be holpen with a hundred Owers, 

 Each lively handled by five lusty Rowers ; 

 The Remora, fixing her feeble horn 

 Into the tempest beaten Vessel's Stern, 

 Stayes her stone still, while all her stout Consorts 

 Saile thence, at pleasure, to their wished Ports, 

 Then loose they all the sheats, but to no boot : 

 For the charm'd Vessell bougeth not a foot ; 

 No more than if, three fadom under ground, 

 A score of Anchors held her fastly bound : 

 No more than doth the Oak, that in the Wood, 

 Hath thousand Tempests, (thousand times) withstood ; 

 Spreading as many massy roots belowe, 

 As mighty arms above the ground do growe." 



