l6 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [paet i. 



as an Angler doth his line, she sendeth forth, and pulleth in again 

 at her pleasure, according as she sees some little fish come near 

 to her ; and the Cuttle-fish,* being then hid in the gravel, lets the 

 smaller fish nibble and bite the end of it ; at which time she, by 

 little and little, draws the smaller fish so near to her, that she may 

 leap upon her, and then catches and devours her : and for this 

 reason some have called this fish the Sea-angler. 



And there is a fish called a Hermit, that at a certain age gets 

 into a dead fish's shell, and, like a hermit, dwells there alone, 

 studying the wind and weather ; and so turns her shell, that she 

 makes it defend her from the injuries that they would bring upon 

 her. 



There is also a fish called by JEX\a.n\ the Adonis, or Darling of 

 the Sea ; so called, because it is a loving and innocent fish, a fish 

 that hurts nothing that hath life, and is at peace with all the 

 numerous inhabitants of that vast wsitery element ; and truly, I 

 think most Anglers are so disposed to most of mankind. 



And there are, also, lustful and chaste fishes ; of vvhich I shall 

 give you examples. 



And first, what Du Bartas says of a fish called the Sargus ; 

 which, because none can express it better than he does, I shall 

 give you in his own words, supposing it shall not have the less 

 credit for being verse ; for he hath gathered this and other 

 observations out of authors that have been great and industrious 

 searchers into the secrets of natujre. 



The adult'rous Sargus doth npt only change 

 Wives every day, in the deep streams, but, strange ! 

 As if the honey of sea-love delight 

 Could not suffice his ranging appetite, 

 Goes courting she-goats on the grassy shore, 

 ' Homing their husbands that had horns before. 



And the same author writes concerning the Cantharus, that 

 which you shall also hear in his own words : — 



But, contrary, the constant Cantharus 

 Is ever constant to his faithful spouse ; _ 

 In nuptial duties, spending his chaste life ; 

 " Never loves any but his own dear wife. 



Sir, but a little longer, and I have done. 



Venator. Sir, take what liberty you think fit, for your discourse 

 seems to be music, and charms me to an attention. 



PiSCATOR. Why then. Sir, I will take a little liberty to tell, or 



* Montaigne, Essays, and others, affirm this. 



t Ninth book Of Living Creatures, ch. i6. Claudius ^lianus was horn at Prseneste 

 in Italy, in the reign of the Emperor Adrian. He wrote De Animalium Natura, and 

 other works. — H. 



