Should it carelessly swallow a piece of bait that hides a hook of bronze and feel the pull of the jagged barbs, it does not swim away nor seek to free itself by vainly biting at the line; but artfully approaches the dark line and, though a prisoner, forgets not its skill, emitting from its poisonous veins an effluence which spreads far and wide through the water. The poison’s bane leaves the sea and creeps up the line; it will soon prove too much for the distant fisherman. * * * * * Page 278 emicat horror aquis et pendula fila secutus transit harundineos arcano frigore nodos victricemque ligat concreto sanguine dextram. damnosum piscator onus praedamque rebellem iactat et amissa redit exarmatus avena. 25 L. (LXXVII.) _In Iacobum magistrum equitum._ Per cineres Pauli, per cani limina Petri, ne laceres versus, dux Iacobe, meos. sic tua pro clipeo defendat pectora Thomas et comes ad bellum Bartholomaeus eat; sic ope sanctorum non barbarus inruat Alpes, 5 sic tibi det vires sancta Susanna suas; sic quicumque ferox gelidum transnaverit Histrum, mergatur volucres ceu Pharaonis equi; sic Geticas ultrix feriat romphaea catervas Romanasque regat prospera Thecla manus; 10 sic tibi det magnum moriens conviva triumphum atque tuam vincant dolia fusa sitim; sic numquam hostili maculetur sanguine dextra: ne laceres versus, dux Iacobe, meos. LI. (LXVIII.) _In sphaeram Archimedis._ Iuppiter in parvo cum cerneret aethera vitro, risit et ad superos talia dicta dedit: * * * * * Page 279 The dread paralysing force rises above the water’s level and climbing up the drooping line, passes down the jointed rod, and congeals, e’er he is even aware of it, the blood of the fisherman’s victorious hand. He casts away his dangerous burden and lets go his rebel prey, returning home disarmed without his rod. L. (LXXVII.) _Against James Commander of the Cavalry._[114] By the ashes of S. Paul and the shrine of revered S. Peter, do not pull my verses to pieces, General James. So may S. Thomas prove a buckler to protect thy breast and S. Bartholomew bear thee company to the wars; so may the blessed saints prevent the barbarians from crossing the Alps and Suzanna[115] endow thee with her strength; so, should any savage foe seek to swim across the Danube, let him be drowned therein like the swift chariots of Pharaoh; so may an avenging javelin strike the Getic hordes and the favour of Thecla[116] guide the armies of Rome; so may thy guests dying in their efforts to out-drink thee assure thy board its triumph of hospitality and the broached casks o’ercome thy thirst; so may thy hand ne’er be red with an enemy’s blood--do not, I say, pull my verses to pieces.