THE LITERATURE OF FISHING. 51 



" . . . . My dearly beloved fish .... The goodness of the Divine 

 Majesty shines out on you more eminently than on any other created 



beings In you are seen the mighty mysteries of an infinite 



goodness. The holy Scripture has always made use of you as the 

 types and shadows of some profound sacrament. Do you think that 

 without a mystery, the first present that God Almighty made to man 

 was of you ? ye fishes ! do you think that without a mystery 

 among all creatures and animals which were appointed for sacrifices, 

 you only were excepted ? O ye fishes ! do you think that our 

 Saviour Christ, that next to the Paschal Lamb, He took so much 

 pleasure in the food of you ? you fishes ! do you think it was 

 mere chance, that when the. Redeemer of the world was to pay a 

 tribute to Caasar, He thought fit to find it in the mouth of a fish ? 

 These are all of them so great mysteries and sacraments, that oblige 



you in a more particular manner to the praises of your Creator 



In what dreadful majesty, in what wonderful power, in what amazing 

 providence did God Almighty distinguish you among all the species of 

 creatures that perished in the universal Deluge ! You only were 

 insensible of the mischief that laid waste the whole world ; all this, as 

 I have already told you, ought to inspire you with gratitude and 

 praise to the Divine Majesty that has done so great things for you, 

 granted you such particular graces and privileges, and heaped upon 

 you such distinguishing favours, and since all this you cannot employ 

 your tongues with praises of your benefactor, and are not provided 

 with words to express your gratitude ; make at least some sign of 

 reverence ; bow yourselves at His name ; give some show of gratitude ; 

 according to the best of your capacities express your thanks in the 

 most becoming manner you are able, and be not unmindful of all the 

 benefits that He has bestowed on you." 



The legend tells us that no sooner had he done preach- 

 ing than the fish " bowed down their heads with all the 

 marks of profound humility and devotion, moving their 

 bodies up and down with a kind of fondness, as approving 

 what had been spoken by the blessed Father ;" and adds 

 that, after many heretics who were present at the miracle 

 were converted by it, the saint gave his benediction to 

 the fishes and dismissed them. 



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