the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第19节
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upon coleworts or cabbages： all which kinds of dews being thickened and
condensed； are by the sun's generative heat； most of them； hatched； and in
three days made living creatures。 and these of several shapes and colours；
some being hard and tough； some smooth and soft； some are horned in
their head； some in their tail； some have none； some have hair； some none：
some have sixteen feet； some less； and some have none： but； as our Topsel
hath with great diligence observed； those which have none； move upon the
earth； or upon broad leaves； their motion being not unlike to the waves of
the sea。 Some of them he also observes to be bred of the eggs of other
caterpillars； and that those in their time turn to be butterflies； and again；
that their eggs turn the following year to be caterpillars And some affirm；
that every plant has its particular fly or caterpillar； which it breeds and
feeds。 I have seen； and may therefore affirm it； a green caterpillar； or
worm； as big as a small peascod； which had fourteen legs； eight on the
belly； four under the neck； and two near the tail。 It was found on a hedge
of privet； and was taken thence； and put into a large box； and a little
branch or two of privet put to it； on which I saw it feed as sharply as a dog
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gnaws a bone： it lived thus； five or six days； and thrived； and changed the
colour two or three times but by some neglect in the keeper of it； it then
died and did not turn to a fly： but if it had lived； it had doubtless turned to
one of those flies that some call Flies of prey； which those that walk by the
rivers may； in summer； see fasten on smaller flies； and； I think； make them
their food。 And 'tis observable； that as there be these flies of prey； which
be very large； so there be others； very little； created； I think； only to feed
them； and breed out of I know not what； whose life； they say； nature
intended not to exceed an hour； and yet that life is thus made shorter by
other flies； or accident。
'Tis endless to tell you what the curious searchers into nature's
productions have observed of these worms and flies： but yet I shall tell
you what Aldrovandus； our Topsel； and others； say of the Palmer…worm； or
Caterpillar： that whereas others content themselves to feed on particular
herbs or leaves； for most think； those very leaves that gave them life and
shape； give them a particular feeding and nourishment； and that upon them
they usually abide； yet he observes； that this is called a pilgrim； or palmer…
worm； for his very wandering life； and various food； not contenting
himself； as others do； with any one certain place for his abode； nor any
certain kind of herb or flower for his feeding； but will boldly and
disorderly wander up and down； and not endure to be kept to a diet； or fixt
to a particular place。
Nay； the very colours of caterpillars are； as one has observed； very
elegant and beautiful I shall； for a taste of the rest； describe one of them；
which I will； some time the next month； shew you feeding on a willow…
tree； and you shall find him punctually to answer this very description： his
lips and mouth somewhat yellow； his eyes black as jet； his forehead purple；
his feet and hinder parts green； his tail two…forked and black； the whole
body stained with a kind of red spots； which run along the neck and
shoulder…blade； not unlike the form of St。 Andrew's cross； or the letter X；
made thus crosswise； and a white line drawn down his back to his tail； all
which add much beauty to his whole body。 And it is to me observable； that
at a fixed age this caterpillar gives over to eat； and towards winter comes
to be covered over with a strange shell or crust； called an aurelia； and so
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lives a kind of dead life； without eating all the winter。 And as others of
several kinds turn to be several kinds of flies and vermin； the Spring
following； so this caterpillar then turns to be a painted butterfly。
Come； come； my scholar； you see the river stops our morning walk：
and I will also here stop my discourse： only as we sit down under this
honeysuckle hedge； whilst I look a line to fit the rod that our brother Peter
hath lent you； I shall； for a little confirmation of what I have said； repeat
the observation of Du Bartas：
God； not contented to each kind to give And to infuse the virtue
generative； Made； by his wisdom； many creatures breed Of lifeless bodies。
without Venus' deed。
So； the cold humour breeds the Salamander； Who； in effect； like to her
birth's commander； With child with hundred winters； with her touch
Quencheth the fire； tho'glowing ne'er so much。
So of the fire； in burning furnace； springs The fly Pyrausta with the
flaming wings： Without the fire； it dies： within it joys； Living in that which
each shine else destroys。
So； slow Bo 魌 es underneath him sees In th' icy isles those goslings
hatch'd of trees； Whose fruitful leaves； falling into the water； Are turn'd；
they say； to living fowls soon after。
So； rotten sides of broken ships do change To barnacles。 O
transformation strange！ 'Twas first a green tree； then； a gallant hull； Lately
a mushroom； now； a flying gull。
Venator。 O my good master； this morning…walk has been spent to my
great pleasure and wonder： but； I pray； when shall I have your direction
how to make artificial flies； like to those that the Trout loves best； and；
also； how to use them ？
Piscator。 My honest scholar； it is now past five of the clock： we will
fish till nine； and then go to breakfast。 Go you to yonder sycamore…tree；
and hide your bottle of drink under the hollow root of it； for about that
time； and in that place； we will make a brave breakfast with a piece of
powdered beef； and a radish or two； that I have in my fish bag： we shall； I
warrant you； make a good； honest； wholesome hungry breakfast。 And I
will then give you direction for the making and using of your flies： and in
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the meantime； there is your rod and line； and my advice is； that you fish as
you see me do； and let's try which can catch the first fish。
Venator。 I thank you； master。 I will observe and practice your direction
as far as I am able。
Piscator。 Look you； scholar； you see I have hold of a good fish： I now
see it is a Trout。 I pray； put that net under him； and touch not my line； for
if you do； then we break all。 Well done； scholar： I thank you。
Now for another。 Trust me； I have another bite。 Come； scholar； come
lay down your rod； and help me to land this as you did the other。 So now
we shall be sure to have a good dish of fish for supper。
Venator。 I am glad of that： but I have no fortune： sure； master； yours is
a better rod and better tackling。
Piscator。 Nay； then； take mine； and I will fish with yours。 Look you；
scholar； I have another。 Come； do as you did before。 And now I have a bite
at another。 Oh me！ he has broke all： there's half a line and a good hook
lost。
Venator。 Ay； and a good Trout too。
Piscator。 Nay； the Trout is not lost； for pray take notice； no man can
lose what he never had。
Venator。 Master； I can neither catch with the first nor second angle： I
have no fortune。
Piscator。 Look you； scholar； I have yet another。 And now； having
caught three brace of Trouts； I will tell you a short tale as we walk towards
our breakfast。 A scholar； a preacher I should say； that was to preach to
procure the approbation of a parish that he might be their lecturer； had got
from his fellow…pupil the copy of a sermon that was first preached with
great commendation by him that composed it： and though the borrower of
it preached it； word for word； as it was at first； yet it was utterly disliked as
it was preached by the second to his congregation； which the se
