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We shall observe this difference more evidently, if
we direct our discourses upon the most ancient and greatest works of common society, which are the works of generation and procreation of offspring. For in the first
place, those fish that frequent the shores next adjoining to
vast lakes or great rivers, when they are near their time of
bringing forth, retire up into those places, seeking the
[p. 208]
fresh waters which are more gentle and void of brine. For
tranquillity is most convenient for such as bring forth, and
there is most safety in rivers and lakes for their young
ones, as being freest from the devouring monsters of the
sea. Which is the reason that there is the greatest plenty
of fish about the Euxine Sea, where there are no whales,
but only small sea-calves or little dolphins. Besides, the
mixture of rivers, many in number, and those very large,
that fall into the Pontus, make the temperature more kindly and proper for breeding and bringing forth. And that
is most wonderful which is reported of the anthias, which
Homer1 calls the sacred fish, though some interpret sacred
to signify great in that place, as we call a certain great
bone os sacrum, and the epilepsy, being a great disease,
the sacred disease, though others interpret that to be sacred which ought not to be touched, as being dedicated to
holy use. And Eratosthenes seems to take the gilthead,
so called from the golden hair about his eyes, for the sacred fish; though many believe it to be the ellops,—a
fish seldom seen and difficult to be caught, yet many times
it appears in the rivers of Pamphylia. So they that catch
them are crowned, and their boats are also adorned with
garlands, and as they pass along they are received and
honored with loud shouts and clapping of hands. However it be, most people take the anthias to be a sacred fish,
because that where the anthias appears, there are no sea-monsters, but the sponge-cutters dive boldly, and the fish
as fearlessly spawn, as having a pledge for their security.
And the reason is twofold, either because the sea-monsters
dread the anthias, as elephants dread a hog, and lions
a cock; or else it is a sign that there are no sea-monsters
in those places, which the anthias knows and observes, as
being an intelligent fish, endued with sense and a good
memory.
[p. 209]
1 Il. XVI. 407.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 5.
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