the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第37节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the heat of summer： but in autumn； when the weeds begin to grow sour
and rot； and the weather colder； then they gather together； and get into the
deeper parts of the water； and are to be fished for there； with your hook
always touching the ground； if you fish for him with a float or with a cork。
But many will fish for the Gudgeon by hand； with a running line upon the
ground； without a cork； as a Trout is fished for： and it is an excellent way；
if you have a gentle rod； and as gentle a hand。
There is also another fish called a POPE； and by some a RUFFE； a fish
that is not known to be in some rivers： he is much like the Perch for his
shape； and taken to be better than the Perch； but will not grow to be bigger
than a Gudgeon。 He is an excellent fish； no fish that swims is of a
pleasanter taste。 And he is also excellent to enter a young angler； for he is
a greedy biter： and they will usually lie； abundance of them together； in
one reserved place； where the water is deep and runs quietly； and an easy
angler； if he has found where they lie； may catch forty or fifty； or
131
… Page 132…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
sometimes twice so many； at a standing。
You must fish for him with a small red worm； and if you bait the
ground with earth； it is excellent。
There is also a BLEAK or fresh…water Sprat； a fish that is ever in
motion； and therefore called by some the river…swallow； for just as you
shall observe the swallow to be； most evenings in summer； ever in motion；
making short and quick turns when he flies to catch flies； in the air； by
which he lives； so does the Bleak at the top of the water。 Ausonius would
have called him Bleak from his whitish colour： his back is of a pleasant
sad or sea…water…green； his belly； white and shining as the mountain snow。
And doubtless； though we have the fortune； which virtue has in poor
people； to be neglected； yet the Bleak ought to be much valued； though we
want Allamot salt； and the skill that the Italians have； to turn them into
anchovies。 This fish may be caught with a Pater…noster line； that is； six or
eight very small hooks tied along the line； one half a foot above the other：
I have seen five caught thus at one time； and the bait has been gentles；
than which none is better。
Or this fish may be caught with a fine small artificial fly； which is to
be of a very sad brown colour； and very small； and the hook answerable。
There is no better sport than whipping for Bleaks in a boat； or on a bank；
in the swift water； in a summer's evening； with a hazel top about five or six
foot long； and a line twice the length of the rod。 I have heard Sir Henry
Wotton say； that there be many that in Italy will catch swallows so； or
especially martins； this bird…angler standing on the top of a steeple to do it；
and with the line twice so long as I have spoken of。 And let me tell you；
scholar； that both Martins and Bleaks be most excellent meat
And let me tell you； that I have known a Heron； that did constantly
frequent one place； caught with a hook baited with a big minnow or a
small gudgeon。 The line and hook must be strong： and tied to some loose
staff； so big as she cannot fly away with it： a line not exceeding two yards。
132
… Page 133…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
The fourth day…continued
Is of nothing； or of nothing worth
Chapter XVI
Piscator； Venator； Peter； Coridon
Piscator。 My purpose was to give you some directions concerning
ROACH and DACE； and some other inferior fish which make the angler
excellent sport； for you know there is more pleasure in hunting the hare
than in eating her： but I will forbear； at this time； to say any more； because
you see yonder come our brother Peter and honest Coridon。 But I will
promise you； that as you and I fish and walk to… morrow towards London；
if I have now forgotten anything that I can then remember； I will not keep
it from you。
Well met； gentlemen； this is lucky that we meet so just together at this
very door； Come； hostess； where are you ？ is supper ready ？ Come； first
give us a drink； and be as quick as you can； for I believe we are all very
hungry。 Well； brother Peter and Coridon； to you both！ Come； drink： and
then tell me what luck of fish： we two have caught but ten bouts； of which
my scholar caught three。 Look！ here's eight； and a brace we gave away。
We have had a most pleasant day for fishing and talking； and are returned
home both weary and hungry； and now meat and rest will be pleasant。
Peter。 And Coridon and I have not had an unpleasant day： and yet I
have caught but five bouts； for； indeed； we went to a good honest ale…
house； and there we played at shovel…board half the day； all the time that it
rained we were there； and as merry as they that fished。 And I am glad we
are now with a dry house over our heads； for； hark ！ how it rains and
blows。 Come； hostess； give us more ale； and our supper with what haste
you may： and when we have supped； let us have your song； Piscator； and
the catch that your scholar promised us； or else； Coridon will be dogged。
Piscator。 Nay； I will not be worse than my word； you shall not want
my song； and I hope I shall be perfect in it
Venator。 And I hope the like for my catch； which I have ready too： and
133
… Page 134…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
therefore let's go merrily to supper； and then have a gentle touch at singing
and drinking； but the last with moderation。
Coridon。 Come； now for your song； for we have fed heartily。 Come；
hostess； lay a few more sticks on the fire。 And now； sing when you will。
Piscator。 Well then； here s to you； Coridon； and now for my song。
O the gallant Fisher's life； It is the best of any； 'Tis full of pleasure；
void of strife； And 'tis beloved of many： Other joys Are but toys； Only this
Lawful is； For our skill Breeds no ill； But content and pleasure。
In a morning up we rise Ere Aurora's peeping； Drink a cup to wash our
eyes。 Leave the sluggard sleeping； Then we go To and fro； With our
knacks At our backs To such streams As the Thames If we have the
leisure。
When we please to walk abroad For our recreation； In the fields is our
abode； Full of delectation： Where in a brook With a hook Or a lake Fish
we take： There we sit For a bit； Till we fish entangle。
We have gentles in a horn； We have paste and worms too We can
watch both night and morn； Suffer rain and storms too； None do here Use
to swear； Oaths do fray Fish away； We sit still； And watch our quill
Fishers must not wrangle。
If the sun's excessive heat Make our bodies swelter； To an osier hedge
we get For a friendly shelter Where； in a dike； Perch or Pike Roach or
Dace We do chase Bleak or Gudgeon； Without grudging We are still
contented。
Or we sometimes pass an hour Under a green willow； That defends us
from a shower； Making earth our pillow； Where we may Think and pray
Before death Stops our breath。 Other joys Are but toys； And to be
lamented。
Jo。 Chalkhill。
Venator。 Well sung； master； this day s fortune and pleasure； and the
night's company and song； do all make me more and more in love with
angling。 Gentlemen； my master left me alone for an hour this day； and I
verily believe he retired himself from talking with me that he might be so
perfect in this song； was it not； master？
Piscator。 Yes indeed； for it is many years since I learned it； and having
134
… Page 135…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
forgotten a part of it； I was forced to patch it up with the help of mine own
invention； who am not excellent at poetry； as my part of the song may
testify； but of that I will say no more； lest you should think I mean； by
discomm
