the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第4节
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remember not which it was； Pigeons are then related to carry and recarry
letters： and Mr。 G。 Sandys； in his Travels； relates it to be done betwixt
Aleppo and Babylon； But if that be disbelieved； it is not to be doubted that
the Dove was sent out of the ark by Noah； to give him notice of land；
when to him all appeared to be sea； and the Dove proved a faithful and
comfortable messenger。 And for the sacrifices of the law； a pair of Turtle…
doves； or young Pigeons； were as well accepted as costly Bulls and Rams；
and when God would feed the Prophet Elijah； after a kind of miraculous
manner； he did it by Ravens； who brought him meat morning and evening。
Lastly； the Holy Ghost； when he descended visibly upon our Saviour； did
it by assuming the shape of a Dove。 And； to conclude this part of my
discourse； pray remember these wonders were done by birds of air； the
element in which they； and I； take so much pleasure。
There is also a little contemptible winged creature； an inhabitant of my
aerial element； namely the laborious Bee； of whose prudence； policy； and
regular government of their own commonwealth； I might say much； as
also of their several kinds； and how useful their honey and wax are both
for meat and medicines to mankind； but I will leave them to their sweet
labour； without the least disturbance； believing them to be all very busy at
this very time amongst the herbs and flowers that we see nature puts forth
this May morning。
And now to return to my Hawks； from whom I have made too long a
digression。 You are to note； that they are usually distinguished into two
kinds； namely； the long…winged； and the short…winged Hawk： of the first
kind； there be chiefly in use amongst us in this nation；
The Gerfalcon and Jerkin； The Falcon and Tassel…gentle； The Laner
and Laneret； The Bockerel and Bockeret； The Saker and Sacaret； The
Merlin and Jack Merlin； The Hobby and Jack： There is the Stelletto of
Spain； The Blood…red Rook from Turkey； The Waskite from Virginia： And
there is of short…winged Hawks； The Eagle and Iron The Goshawk and
Tarcel； The Sparhawk and Musket； The French Pye of two sorts：
These are reckoned Hawks of note and worth； but we have also of an
inferior rank；
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The Stanyel； the Ringtail； The Raven； the Buzzard； The Forked Kite；
the Bald Buzzard；
The Hen…driver； and others that I forbear to name。
Gentlemen； if I should enlarge my discourse to the observation of the
Eires； the Brancher； the Ramish Hawk； the Haggard； and the two sorts of
Lentners； and then treat of their several Ayries； their Mewings； rare order
of casting； and the renovation of their feathers： their reclaiming； dieting；
and then come to their rare stories of practice； I say； if I should enter into
these； and many other observations that I could make； it would be much；
very much pleasure to me： but lest I should break the rules of civility with
you； by taking up more than the proportion of time allotted to me； I will
here break off； and entreat you； Mr。 Venator； to say what you are able in
the commendation of Hunting； to which you are so much affected； and if
time will serve； I will beg your favour for a further enlargement of some
of those several heads of which I have spoken。 But no more at present。
Venator。 Well； Sir； and I will now take my turn； and will first begin
with a commendation of the Earth； as you have done most excellently of
the Air； the Earth being that element upon which I drive my pleasant；
wholesome； hungry trade。 The Earth is a solid； settled element； an element
most universally beneficial both to man and beast； to men who have their
several recreations upon it； as horse…races； hunting； sweet smells； pleasant
walks： the earth feeds man； and all those several beasts that both feed him；
and afford him recreation。 What pleasure doth man take in hunting the
stately Stag； the generous Buck； the wild Boar； the cunning Otter； the
crafty Fox； and the fearful Hare ！ And if I may descend to a lower game；
what pleasure is it sometimes with gins to betray the very vermin of the
earth； as namely； the Fichat； the Fulimart； the Ferret； the Pole…cat； the
Mouldwarp； and the like creatures that live upon the face； and within the
bowels of； the Earth。 How doth the Earth bring forth herbs； flowers； and
fruits； both for physick and the pleasure of mankind！ and above all； to me
at least； the fruitful vine； of which when I drink moderately； it clears my
brain； cheers my heart； and sharpens my wit。 How could Cleopatra have
feasted Mark Antony with eight wild Boars roasted whole at one supper；
and other meat suitable； if the earth had not been a bountiful mother ？ But
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to pass by the mighty Elephant； which the Earth breeds and nourisheth；
and descend to the least of creatures； how doth the earth afford us a
doctrinal example in the little Pismire； who in the summer provides and
lays up her winter provision； and teaches man to do the like！ The earth
feeds and carries those horses that carry us。 If I would be prodigal of my
time and your patience； what might not I say in commendations of the
earth？ That puts limits to the proud and raging sea； and by that means
preserves both man and beast； that it destroys them not； as we see it daily
doth those that venture upon the sea； and are there shipwrecked； drowned；
and left to feed Haddocks； when we that are so wise as to keep ourselves
on earth； walk； and talk； and live； and eat； and drink； and go a hunting： of
which recreation I will say a little； and then leave Mr。 Piscator to the
commendation of Angling。
Hunting is a game for princes and noble persons； it hath been highly
prized in all ages； it was one of the qualifications that Xenophon bestowed
on his Cyrus； that he was a hunter of wild beasts。 Hunting trains up the
younger nobility to the use of manly exercises in their riper age。 What
more manly exercise than hunting the Wild Boar； the Stag； the Buck； the
Fox； or the Hare ？ How doth it preserve health； and increase strength and
activity ！
And for the dogs that we use； who can commend their excellency to
that height which they deserve ？ How perfect is the hound at smelling；
who never leaves or forsakes his first scent； but follows it through so many
changes and varieties of other scents； even over； and in； the water； and into
the earth！ What music doth a pack of dogs then make to any man； whose
heart and ears are so happy as to be set to the tune of such instruments！
How will a right Greyhound fix his eye on the best Buck in a herd； single
him out； and follow him； and him only； through a whole herd of rascal
game； and still know and then kill him！ For my hounds； I know the
language of them； and they know the language and meaning of one
another； as perfectly as we know the voices of those with whom we
discourse daily。
I might enlarge myself in the commendation of Hunting； and of the
noble Hound especially； as also of the docibleness of dogs in general； and
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I might make many observations of land…creatures； that for composition；
order； figure； and constitution； approach nearest to the completeness and
understanding of man； especially of those creatures； which Moses in the
Law permitted to the Jews； which have cloven hoofs； and chew the cud；
which I shall forbear to name； because I will not be so uncivil to Mr。
Piscator； as not to allow him a time for the commendation of Angling；
which he calls an art； but doubtless it is an easy one： and； Mr。 Auceps； I
doubt we shall hear a watery discourse of it； but I hope it will not be a long
one。
Auceps。 And I hope so too； though I fear it will。
Piscator。 Gentlemen； let not prejudice prepossess you。 I confess my
discourse is like to prove suitable to
