PREFACE. 



As inward love breeds outward talk, 



The hound some praise, and some the hawk ; 



Some, better pleased with private sport, 



Use tennis ; some a mistress court : 



But these delights I neither wish 



Nor envy, while I freely fish. 



Of recreation there is none 

 So free as fishing is alone ; 

 All other pastimes do no less 

 Than mind and body both possess ; 

 My hand alone my work can do, 

 So I can fish and study too. 



The Angler' 's Song. 



"IT would be very tedious and trifling to recount all his 

 1 " (Mark Antony's) follies ; but his fishing must not be 

 " forgot. He went out to angle one day with Cleopatra ; 

 " and being so unfortunate as to catch nothing in the presence 

 " of his mistress, he was very much vexed, and gave secret 

 " orders to the fishermen to dive under water and put fishes 

 "that had been fresh taken upon his hook. After he had 

 " drawn up two or three, Cleopatra perceived the trick ; she 

 " pretended, however, to be surprised at his good fortune and 

 " dexterity, told it to all her friends, and invited them to come 

 "and see him fish the next day. Accordingly, a very large 

 " company went out in the fishing vessels ; and as soon as 

 " Antony had let down his line, she commanded one of her 

 " servants to be beforehand with Antony's, and, diving into the 

 " water, to fix upon his hook a salted fish, one of those which 

 " were brought from the Euxine Sea." 



Plutarch. 



" Cleopatra : Give me mine angle, we'll to the river ; there, 

 My music playing far off, I will betray 

 Tawny-finn'd fishes : my bended hook shall pierce 

 Their slimy jaws ; and as I draw them up, 

 I'll think them everyone an Antony, 

 And say, ' Ah, ha ! you're caught ! ' 



Charmian : 'Twas merry, when 



You wager'd on your angling ; when your diver 

 Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he 

 With fervency drew up." 



ACT II., SCENE 5. 



