But before I proceed further, I am to tell you, that there is a great
antipathy betwixt the Pike and some frogs: and this may appear to the
reader of Dubravius, a bishop in Bohemia, who, in his book Of Fish and
Fish-ponds, relates what he says he saw with his own eyes, and could not
forbear to tell the reader. Which was:
"As he and the bishop Thurzo were walking by a large pond in Bohemia,
they saw a frog, when the Pike lay very sleepily and quiet by the shore
side, leap upon his head; and the frog having expressed malice or anger
by his sworn cheeks and staring eyes, did stretch out his legs and
embrace the Pike's head, and presently reached them to his eyes, tearing
with them, and his teeth, those tender parts: the Pike, moved with
anguish, moves up and down the water, and rubs himself against weeds,
and whatever he thought might quit him of his enemy; but all in vain,
for the frog did continue to ride triumphantly, and to bite and torment
the Pike till his strength failed; and then the frog sunk with the Pike
to the bottom of the water: then presently the frog appeared again at
the top, and croaked, and seemed to rejoice like a conqueror, after
which he presently retired to his secret hole. The bishop, that had
beheld the battle, called his fisherman to fetch his nets, and by all
means to get the Pike that they might declare what had happened: and the
Pike was drawn forth, and both his eyes eaten out; at which when they
began to wonder, the fisherman wished them to forbear, and assured them
he was certain that Pikes were often so served."
I told this, which is to be read in the sixth chapter of the book of
Dubravius, unto a friend, who replied, "It was as improbable as to have
the mouse scratch out the cat's eyes". But he did not consider, that
there be Fishing frogs, which the Dalmatians call the Water-devil, of
which I might tell you as wonderful a story: but I shall tell you that
'tis not to be doubted but that there be some frogs so fearful of the
water-snake, that when they swim in a place in which they fear to meet
with him they then get a reed across into their mouths; which if they
two meet by accident, secures the frog from the strength and malice of
the snake; and note, that the frog usually swims the fastest of the two.
And let me tell you, that as there be water and land frogs, so there be
land and water snakes. Concerning which take this observation, that the
land-snake breeds and hatches her eggs, which become young snakes, in
some old dunghill, or a like hot place: but the water-snake, which is
not venomous, and as I have been assured by a great observer of such
secrets, does not hatch, but breed her young alive, which she does not
then forsake, but bides with them, and in case of danger will take them
all into her mouth and swim away from any apprehended danger, and then
let them out again when she thinks all danger to be past: these be
accidents that we Anglers sometimes see, and often talk of.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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