Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/180

 * But by the way it shall not be amiss To understand that in the waters gray, Of floating fish, two sundry kinds there is; The one that lives by raven and by prey, And of the weaker sort, now that, now this, He bites and spoils, and kills and bears away, And in his greedy gullet doth devour; As SCYLLA'S gulf a ship within his power.

And these have wider mouths to catch and take Their flying prey, whom swiftly they pursue; And rows of teeth like to a saw or rake Wherewith their gotten game they bite and chew; And greater speed within the waters make To set upon the other simple crew; And as the greyhound steals upon the hare, So do they use to rush on them un'ware.

Unequal fate! that some are born to be Fearful and mild, and for the rest a prey; And others are ordained to live more free Without control or danger any way: So doth the fox, the lamb destroy we see; The lion fierce, the beaver roe or grey; The hawk, the fowl; the greater wrong the less; The lofty proud the lowly poor oppress.

For the Pike or Perch.

Now for to take these kinds of fish withal,      [23. p. 196.] It shall be needful to have still in store Some living baits, as bleeks and roaches small, Gudgeon, or loach, not taken long before,