The Complete Angler | Page 9

the Sea and in the Rivers, So many fishes of so
many features, That in the waters we may see all Creatures; Even all
that on the earth is to be found, As if the world were in deep waters
drownd. For seas (as well as Skies) have Sun, Moon, Stars; (As wel as
air) Swallows, Rooks, and Stares; (As wel as earth) Vines, Roses,
Nettles, Melons, Mushrooms, Pinks, Gilliflowers and many milions Of
other plants, more rare, more strange then these; As very fishes living
in the seas; And also Rams, Calves, Horses, Hares and Hogs, Wolves,
Urchins, Lions, Elephants and Dogs; Yea, Men and Maids, and which I
most admire, The Mitred Bishop, and the cowled Fryer. Of which
examples but a few years since, Were shewn the_ Norway and
Polonian Prince.
These seem to be wonders, but have had so many confirmations from

men of Learning and credit, that you need not doubt them; nor are the
number, nor the various shapes of fishes, more strange or more fit for
contemplation, then their different natures, inclinations and actions:
concerning which I shall beg your patient ear a little longer.
The _Cuttle-fish_ wil cast a long gut out of her throat, which (like as an
Angler does his line) she sendeth, forth and pulleth in again at her
pleasure, according as she sees some little fish come neer to her [Mount
_Elsayes_: and others affirm this]; and the _Cuttle-fish_ (being then hid
in the gravel) lets the smaller fish nibble and bite the end of it; at which
time shee by little and little draws the smaller fish so neer 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_.
There are also lustful and chaste fishes, of which I shall also give you
examples.
And first, what Dubartas sayes of a fish called the _Sargus_; which
(because none can express it better then 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 nature.
The Adulterous Sargus _doth not 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
grassie shore, Horning their husbands that had horns before_.
And the same Author writes concerning the Cantharus, that which you
shall also heare 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.
Viat. Sir, take what liberty you think fit, for your discourse seems to be

Musick, and charms me into an attention.
Pisc. Why then Sir, I will take a little libertie to tell, or rather to
remember you what is said of _Turtle Doves_: First, that they silently
plight their troth and marry; and that then, the Survivor scorns (as the
Thracian women are said to do) to out-live his or her Mate; and this is
taken for such a truth, that if the Survivor shall ever couple with
another, the he or she, not only the living, but the dead, is denyed the
name and honour of a true Turtle Dove.
And to parallel this Land Variety & teach mankind moral faithfulness
& to condemn those that talk of Religion, and yet come short of the
moral faith of fish and fowl; Men that violate the Law, affirm'd by
Saint Paul [Rom. 2.14.15] to be writ in their hearts, and which he sayes
shal at the last day condemn and leave them without excuse. I pray
hearken to what Dubartas sings [5. day.] (for the hearing of such
conjugal faithfulness, will be Musick to all chaste ears) and therefore, I
say, hearken to what Dubartas sings of the _Mullet_:
But for chaste love the Mullet _hath no peer, For, if the Fisher hath
surprised her pheer, As mad with woe to shoare she followeth, Prest to
consort him both in life and death_.
On the contrary, what shall I say of the _House-Cock_, which treads
any Hen, and then (contrary to the Swan, the Partridg, and _Pigeon_)
takes no care to hatch, to feed, or to cherish his own Brood, but is
sensless though they perish.
And 'tis considerable, that the Hen (which because she also takes any
Cock, expects it not) who is sure the Chickens be her own, hath by a
moral impression her care, and affection to her own Broode, more then
doubled, even to such