the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第10节
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Davors； Esq。？
Let me live harmlessly； and near the brink Of Trent or Avon have a
dwelling…place Where I may see my quill； or cork； down sink With eager
bite of Perch； or Bleak； or Dace； And on the world and my Creator think：
Whilst some men strive ill…gotten goods t' embrace； And others spend their
time in base excess Of wine。 or worse。 in war and wantonness
Let them that list； these pastimes still pursue； And on such pleasing
fancies feed their fill； So I the fields and meadows green may view； And
daily by fresh rivers walk at will Among the daisies and the violets blue；
Red hyacinth； and yellow daffodil； Purple Narcissus like the morning rays；
Pale gander…grass； and azure culver…keys。
I count it higher pleasure to behold The stately compass of the lofty
sky； And in the midst thereof； like burning gold； The flaming chariot of
the world's great eye：
The watery clouds that in the air up…roll'd With sundry kinds of painted
colours fly； And fair Aurora； lifting up her head； Still blushing； rise from
old Tithonus' bed。
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The hills and mountains raised from the plains； The plains extended
level with the ground The grounds divided into sundry veins； The veins
inclos'd with rivers running round； These rivers making way through
nature's chains； With headlong course； into the sea profound； The raging
sea； beneath the vallies low； Where lakes； and rills； and rivulets do flow：
The lofty woods； the forests wide and long； Adorned with leaves and
branches fresh and green； In whose cool bowers the birds with many a
song； Do welcome with their quire the summer's Queen； The meadows fair；
where Flora's gifts； among Are intermix〃； with verdant grass between； The
silver…scaled fish that softly swim Within the sweet brook's crystal； watery
stream。
All these； and many more of his creation That made the heavens； the
Angler oft doth see； Taking therein no little delectation； To think how
strange； how wonderful they be： Framing thereof an inward contemplation
To set his heart from other fancies free； And whilst he looks on these with
joyful eye； His mind is rapt above the starry sky。
Sir； I am glad my memory has not lost these last verses； because they
are somewhat more pleasant and more suitable to May…day than my harsh
discourse。 And I am glad your patience hath held out so long as to hear
them and me； for both together have brought us within the sight of the
Thatched House。 And I must be your debtor； if you think it worth your
attention； for the rest of my promised discourse； till some other
opportunity； and a like time of leisure。
Venator。 Sir； you have angled me on with much pleasure to the
Thatched House； and I now find your words true； 〃 that good company
makes the way seem short 〃； for trust me； Sir； I thought we had wanted
three miles of this house； till you showed it to me。 But now we are at it；
we'll turn into it； and refresh ourselves with a cup of drink； and a little rest
Piscator。 Most gladly； Sir； and we'll drink a civil cup to all the Otter…
hunters that are to meet you to…morrow。
Venator。 That we will； Sir； and to all the lovers of Angling too； of
which number I am now willing to be one myself； for； by the help of your
good discourse and company； I have put on new thoughts both of the art of
Angling and of all that profess it； and if you will but meet me to…morrow
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at the time and place appointed； and bestow one day with me and my
friends； in hunting the Otter； I will dedicate the next two days to wait upon
you； and we too will； for that time； do nothing but angle； and talk of fish
and fishing。
Piscator。 It is a match； Sir； I will not fail you； God willing； to be at
Amwell Hill to…morrow morning before sun…rising。
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The second day
On the Otter and the Chub
Chapter II
Piscator； Venator； Huntsman； and Hostess
Venator。 My friend Piscator； you have kept time with my thoughts； for
the sun is just rising； and I myself just now come to this place； and the
dogs have just now put down an Otter。 Look ！ down at the bottom of the
hill there； in that meadow； chequered with water…lilies and lady… smocks；
there you may see what work they make； look！ look！ you may see all busy；
men and dogs； dogs and men； all busy。
Piscator。 Sir； I am right glad to meet you； and glad to have so fair an
entrance into this day's sport； and glad to see so many dogs； and more men；
all in pursuit of the Otter。 Let us compliment no longer； but join unto them。
Come； honest Venator； let us be gone； let us make haste； I long to be doing；
no reasonable hedge or ditch shall hold me。
Venator。 Gentleman Huntsman； where found you this Otter？
Huntsman。 Marry； Sir； we found her a mile from this place； a…fishing
She has this morning eaten the greatest part of this Trout； she has only left
thus much of it as you see； and was fishing for more； when we came we
found her just at it： but we were here very early； we were here an hour
before sunrise； and have given her no rest since we came； sure she will
hardly escape all these dogs and men。 I am to have the skin if we kill her。
Venator。 Why； Sir； what is the skin worth？
Huntsman。 It is worth ten shillings to make gloves； the gloves of an
Otter are the best fortification for your hands that can be thought on
against wet weather。
Piscator。 I pray； honest Huntsman； let me ask you a pleasant question：
do you hunt a beast or a fish？
Huntsman。 Sir； it is not in my power to resolve you； I leave it to be
resolved by the college of Carthusians； who have made vows never to eat
flesh。 But； I have heard； the question hath been debated among many great
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clerks； and they seem to differ about it； yet most agree that her tail is fish：
and if her body be fish too； then I may say that a fish will walk upon land：
for an Otter does so sometimes； five or six or ten miles in a night； to catch
for her young ones； or to glut herself with fish。 And I can tell you that
Pigeons will fly forty miles for a breakfast： but； Sir； I am sure the Otter
devours much fish； and kills and spoils much more than he eats。 And I can
tell you； that this dog…fisher； for so the Latins call him； can smell a fish in
the water a hundred yards from him： Gesner says much farther： and that
his stones are good against the falling sickness； and that there is an herb；
Benione； which； being hung in a linen cloth near a fish…pond； or any haunt
that he uses； makes him to avoid the place； which proves he smells both
by water and land。 And； I can tell you； there is brave hunting this water…
dog in Cornwall； where there have been so many； that our learned Camden
says there is a river called Ottersey； which was so named by reason of the
abundance of Otters that bred and fed in it。
And thus much for my knowledge of the Otter； which you may now
see above water at vent； and the dogs close with him； I now see he will not
last long。 Follow； therefore； my masters； follow； for Sweetlips was like to
have him at this last vent。
Venator。 Oh me！ all the horse are got over the river； what shall we do
now？ shall we follow them over the water ？
Huntsman。 No； Sir； no； be not so eager； stay a little； and follow me； for
both they and the dogs will be suddenly on this side again； I warrant you；
and the Otter too； it may be。 Now have at him with Kilbuck； for he vents
again。
Venator。 Marry！ so he does； for； look！ he vents in that corner。 Now；
now； Ringwood has him： now； he is gone again； and has bit the poor dog。
Now Sweetlips has her； hold her； Sweetlips！ now all the dogs have her；
some above and some under water： but； now； now she is tired； and past
losing Come bring her to me； Sweetlips。 Look！ it is a Bitch…otter； an
