the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第38节
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testify； but of that I will say no more； lest you should think I mean； by
discommending it； to beg your commendations of it。 And therefore；
without replications； let's hear your catch； scholar； which I hope will be a
good one； for you are both musical and have a good fancy to boot。
Venator。 Marry； and that you shall； and as freely as I would have my
honest master tell me some more secrets of fish and fishing； as we walk
and fish towards London to…morrow。 But； master； first let me tell you； that
very hour which you were absent from me； I sat down under a willow…tree
by the water…side； and considered what you had told me of the owner of
that pleasant meadow in which you then left me； that he had a plentiful
estate； and not a heart to think so ； that he had at this time many law…suits
depending； and that they both damped his mirth； and took up so much of
his time and thoughts； that he himself had not leisure to take the sweet
content that I； who pretended no title to them； took in his fields： for I could
there sit quietly； and looking on the water； see some fishes sport
themselves in the silver streams； others leaping at flies of several shapes
and colours； looking on the hills； I could behold them spotted with woods
and groves； looking down the meadows； could see； here a boy gathering
lilies and lady…smocks； and there a girl cropping culverkeys and cowslips；
all to make garlands suitable to this present month of May： these； and
many other field flowers； so perfumed the air； that I thought that very
meadow like that field in Sicily of which Diodorus speaks； where the
perfumes arising from the place make all dogs that hunt in it to fall off；
and to lose their hottest scent I say； as I thus sat； joying in my own happy
condition； and pitying this poor rich man that owned this and many other
pleasant groves and meadows about me； I did thankfully remember what
my Saviour said； that the meek possess the earth； or rather； they enjoy
what the others possess； and enjoy not； for anglers and meek quiet…spirited
men are free from those high； those restless thoughts； which corrode the
sweets of life； and they； and they only； can say； as the poet has happily
express it；
Hail ！ blest estate of lowliness； Happy enjoyments of such minds As；
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rich in self…contentedness； Can； like the reeds； in roughest winds； By
yielding make that blow but small At which proud oaks and cedars fall。
There came also into my mind at that time certain verses in praise of a
mean estate and humble mind： they were written by Phineas Fletcher； an
excellent divine； and an excellent angler； and the author of excellent
Piscatory Eclogues； in which you shall see the picture of this good man's
mind： and I wish mine to be like it。
No empty hopes； no courtly fears him fright； No begging wants his
middle fortune bite： But sweet content exiles both misery and spite。
His certain life； that never can deceive him； Is full of thousand sweets
and rich content The smooth…leav'd beeches in the field receive him； With
coolest shade； till noon…tide's heat be spent。 His life is neither tost in
boisterous； seas； Or the vexatious world； or lost in slothful ease； Please
and full blest he lives when he his God can please。
His bed； more safe than soft； yields quiet sleeps； While by his side his
faithful spouse teas place His little son into his bosom creeps； The lively
picture of his father's face。 His humble house or poor state ne'er torment
him Less he could like； if less his God had lent him； And when he dies；
green turfs do for a tomb content him；
Gentlemen； these were a part of the thoughts that then possessed me。
And I there made a conversion of a piece of an old catch； and added more
to it； fitting them to be sung by us anglers。 Come； Master； you can sing
well： you must sing a part of it。 as it is in this paper。
Man's life is but vain； for 'tis subject to pain； And sorrow； and short as
a bubble； 'Tis a hodge…podge of business； and money； and care； And care；
and money； and trouble。
But we'll take no care when the weather proves fair； Nor will we vex
now though it rain； We'll banish all sorrow； and sing till to…morrow； And
angle。 and angle again。
Peter。 I marry； Sir； this is musick indeed； this has cheer'd my heart； and
made me remember six verses in praise of musick； which I will speak to
you instantly。
Musick ！ miraculous rhetorick； thou speak'st sense Without a tongue；
excelling eloquence ； With what ease might thy errors be excus'd； Wert
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thou as truly lov'd as th' art abus'd！ But though dull souls neglect； and
some reprove thee； I cannot hate thee； 'cause the Angels love thee。
Venator。 And the repetition of these last verses of musick has called to
my memory what Mr。 Edmund Waller； a lover of the angle； says of love
and musick
Whilst I listen to thy voice； Chloris！ I feel my heart decay That
powerful voice Calls my fleeting soul away： Oh！ suppress that magic
sound； Which destroys without a wound。
Peace； Chloris！ peace； or singing die； That together you and I To
heaven may go； For all we know Of what the blessed do above Is； that
they sing； and that they love。
Piscator。 Well remembered； brother Peter； these verses came
seasonably； and we thank you heartily。 Come； we will all join together； my
host and all； and sing my scholar's catch over again； and then each man
drink the tother cup； and to bed； and thank God we have a dry house over
our heads。
Piscator。 Well； now； good…night to everybody。 Peter。 And so say I。
Venator。 And so say I。
Coridon。 Good…night to you all； and I thank you。
The FIFTH day。
Piscator。 Good…morrow； brother Peter； and the like to you； honest
Coridon。
Come； my hostess says there is seven shillings to pay： let's each man
drink a pot for his morning's draught； and lay down his two shillings； so
that my hostess may not have occasion to repent herself of being so
diligent； and using us so kindly。
Peter。 The motion is liked by everybody； and so； hostess； here's your
money： we anglers are all beholden to you； it will not be long ere I'll see
you again； and now； brother Piscator； I wish you； and my brother your
scholar； a fair day and good fortune。 Come； Coridon； this is our way。
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The FIFTH day…continued
Of Roack and Dace
Chapter XVII
Venator and Piscator
Venator。 Good master； as we go now towards London； be still so
courteous as to give me more instructions； for I have several boxes in my
memory； in which I will keep them all very safe； there shall not one of
them be lost。
Piscator。 Well； scholar； that I will： and I will hide nothing from you
that I can remember； and can think may help you forward towards a
perfection in this art。 And because we have so much time； and I have said
so little of Roach and Dace； I will give you some directions concerning
them。
Some say the Roach is so called from rutilus； which they say signifies
red fins。 He is a fish of no great reputation for his dainty taste； and his
spawn is accounted much better than any other part of him。 And you may
take notice； that as the Carp is accounted the water…fox； for his cunning； so
the Roach is accounted the water…sheep； for his simplicity or foolishness。
It is noted； that the Roach and Dace recover strength； and grow in season
in a fortnight after spawning； the Barbel and Chub in a month； the Trout in
four months； and the Salmon in the like time； if he gets into the sea； and
after into fresh water。
Roaches be accounted much better in the river than in a pond； though
ponds usually breed the biggest。 But
