Dennys on Fish. 
329 
This extract is taken from an account of the expenses of 
the Judges of Assize riding the Western and Oxford Cir¬ 
cuits, in the time of Elizabeth, contributed to the Camden 
Miscellany (vol. iv., 1857). 
A long poem on the secrets of angling, written by- 
John Dennys, and published before the year 1613, has 
lately been reprinted by Mr. Arber, in his English Garner, 
1877 (vol. i. p. 143). This author professes to teach 
“ the choicest tools, baits, and seasons for the taking of 
any fish, in pond or river: practised and familiarly opened 
in three books.” The whole poem will well repay perusal,, 
but three verses must serve here for a sample :— 
“ The crocodile that weeps when he doth wrong, 
The halibut that hurts the appetite. 
The turbot broad, the seal, the sturgeon strong. 
The cod and cozze that greedy are to bite, 
The hake, the haddock, and conger long, 
The yellow ling, the milwell fair and white, 
The spreading ray, the thornback thin and flat, 
The boisterous base, the hoggish tunny fat. 
“ These kinds of fish that are so large of size. 
And many more that here I leave untold. 
Shall go for me, and all the rest likewise 
That are the flock of Proteus’ wat’ry fold; 
For well I think my hooks would not suffice, 
Nor slender lines, the least of these to hold. 
I leave them therefore to the surging seas: 
In that huge depth, to wander at their ease. 
“ And speak of such as in the fresh are found, 
The little roach, the menise biting fast, 
The slimy tench, the slender smelt and round, 
The umber sweet, the grayling good of taste, 
The wholesome ruff, the barbel not so sound, 
The perch and pike that all the rest do waste, 
The bream, the carp, the chub and chavender. 
And many more that in fresh waters are.” 
Burton, in bis Anatomie of Melancholy (vol. i. p. 528) r 
