154 FISHING GOSSIP. 
Holds by a weed, or deep into the mud 
Plunges her head, for fear against her will 
The nets should drag her and elude her skill ; 
Nay, not content with this, she oft will dive 
Beneath the net, and not alone contrive 
Means for her own escape, but pity take 
On all her hapless brethren of the lake ; 
For rising, with her back she lifts the snares, 
And frees the captive, with officious cares ; 
The little fry in safety swim away, 
And disappoint the nets of their expected prey.” 
Hidden under a mountain of antiquarian lore, in 
one of the ten volumes* of the Censura Literaria, 
there is an amusing song commemorating the crafty 
character of the carp. Jt was written by the 
late Chief-Justice Abbott at Denton, in Kent, the 
seat of the late well-known literary antiquary, Sir 
Egerton Brydges, who is celebrated in it as the 
Knight of the Lake. Sir Egerton, though the House 
of Lords refused his claim, always alleged himself to 
be, per legem. terre, Baron Chandos of Ludeley, and 
a lineal descendant of that hero of romance, Sir 
Launcelot du Lac. The musical Lord of Penbury’s 
board, mentioned in the jew @esprit, cannot be now 
identified. As the song is completely buried from 
the notice of the general public, in the only place in 
which it appears in print, no apology can be required 
for introducing it here :— 
* Vol. ix. p. 369. 
