the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第6节
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Piscator。 Well； now； Mr。 Venator； you shall neither want time； nor my
attention to hear you enlarge your discourse concerning hunting。
Venator。 Not I； Sir： I remember you said that Angling itself was of
great antiquity； and a perfect art； and an art not easily attained to； and you
have so won upon me in your former discourse； that I am very desirous to
hear what you can say further concerning those particulars。
Piscator。 Sir； I did say so： and I doubt not but if you and I did converse
together but a few hours； to leave you possessed with the same high and
happy thoughts that now possess me of it； not only of the antiquity of
Angling； but that it deserves commendations； and that it is an art； and an
art worthy the knowledge and practice of a wise man。
Venator。 Pray； Sir； speak of them what you think fit； for we have yet
five miles to the Thatched House； during which walk； I dare promise you；
my patience and diligent attention shall not be wanting。 And if you shall
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make that to appear which you have undertaken； first； that it is an art； and
an art worth the learning； I shall beg that I may attend you a day or two a…
fishing； and that I may become your scholar； and be instructed in the art
itself which you so much magnify。
Piscator。 O； Sir； doubt not but that Angling is an art； is it not an art to
deceive a Trout with an artificial Fly ？ a Trout ！ that is more sharp… sighted
than any Hawk you have named； and more watchful and timorous than
your high…mettled Merlin is bold ？ and yet； I doubt not to catch a brace or
two to…morrow； for a friend's breakfast： doubt not therefore； Sir； but that
angling is an art； and an worth your learning。 The question is rather；
whether you be capable of learning it？ angling is somewhat like poetry；
men are to be born so： I mean； with inclinations to it； though both may be
heightened by discourse and practice： but he that hopes to be a good
angler； must not only bring an inquiring； searching； observing wit； but he
must bring a large measure of hope and patience； and a love and
propensity to the art itself； but having once got and practiced it； then doubt
not but angling will prove to be so pleasant； that it will prove to be； like
virtue； a reward to itself。
Venator。 Sir； I am now become so full of expectation； that I long much
to have you proceed； and in the order that you propose。
Piscator。 Then first； for the antiquity of Angling； of which I shall not
say much； but only this； some say it is as ancient as Deucalion's flood：
others； that Belus； who was the first inventor of godly and virtuous
recreations； was the first inventor of Angling： and some others say； for
former times have had their disquisitions about the antiquity of it； that
Seth； one of the sons of Adam； taught it to his sons； and that by them it
was derived to posterity： others say that he left it engraver on those pillars
which he erected； and trusted to preserve the knowledge of the
mathematicks； musick； and the rest of that precious knowledge； and those
useful arts； which by God's appointment or allowance； and his noble
industry； were thereby preserved from perishing in Noah's flood。
These； Sir； have been the opinions of several men； that have possibly
endeavoured to make angling more ancient than is needful； or may well be
warranted； but for my part； I shall content myself in telling you； that
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angling is much more ancient than the incarnation of our Saviour； for in
the Prophet Amos mention is made of fish…hooks； and in the book of Job；
which was long before the days of Amos； for that book is said to have
been written by Moses； mention is made also of fish…hooks； which must
imply anglers in those times。
But； my worthy friend； as I would rather prove myself a gentleman； by
being learned and humble； valiant and inoffensive； virtuous and
communicable； than by any fond ostentation of riches； or； wanting those
virtues myself； boast that these were in my ancestors； and yet I grant； that
where a noble and ancient descent and such merit meet in any man； it is a
double dignification of that person； so if this antiquity of angling； which
for my part I have not forced； shall； like an ancient family； be either an
honour； or an ornament to this virtuous art which I profess to love and
practice； I shall be the gladder that I made an accidental mention of the
antiquity of it； of which I shall say no more； but proceed to that just
commendation which I think it deserves。
And for that； I shall tell you； that in ancient times a debate hath risen；
and it remains yet unresolved； whether the happiness of man in this world
doth consist more in contemplation or action？ Concerning which； some
have endeavoured to maintain their opinion of the first； by saying； that the
nearer we mortals come to God by way of imitation； the more happy we
are。 And they say； that God enjoys himself only； by a contemplation of his
own infiniteness； eternity； power； and goodness； and the like。 And upon
this ground； many cloisteral men of great learning and devotion； prefer
contemplation before action。 And many of the fathers seem to approve this
opinion； as may appear in their commentaries upon the words of our
Saviour to Martha。
And on the contrary； there want not men of equal authority and credit；
that prefer action to be the more excellent； as namely； experiments in
physick； and the application of it； both for the ease and prolongation of
man's life； by which each man is enabled to act and do good to others；
either to serve his country； or do good to particular persons： and they say
also； that action is doctrinal； and teaches both art and virtue； and is a
maintainer of human society； and for these； and other like reasons； to be
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preferred before contemplation。
Concerning which two opinions I shall forbear to add a third； by
declaring my own； and rest myself contented in telling you； my very
worthy friend； that both these meet together； and do most properly belong
to the most honest； ingenuous； quiet； and harmless art of angling。
And first； I shall tell you what some have observed； and I have found it
to be a real truth； that the very sitting by the river's side is not only the
quietest and fittest place for contemplation； but will invite an angler to it：
and this seems to be maintained by the learned Peter du Moulin； who； in
his discourse of the fulfilling of Prophecies； observes； that when God
intended to reveal any future events or high notions to his prophets； he
then carried them either to the deserts； or the sea…shore； that having so
separated them from amidst the press of people and business； and the cares
of the world； he might settle their mind in a quiet repose； and there make
them fit for revelation。
And this seems also to be imitated by the children of Israel； who
having in a sad condition banished all mirth and musick from their pensive
hearts； and having hung up their then mute harps upon the willow…trees
growing by the rivers of Babylon； sat down upon those banks； bemoaning
the ruins of Sion； and contemplating their own sad condition。
And an ingenious Spaniard says； that 〃 rivers and the inhabitants of the
watery element were made for wise men to contemplate； and fools to pass
by without consideration 〃。 And though I will not rank myself in the
number of the first； yet give me leave to free myself from the last； by
offering to you a short contemplation； first of rivers； and then of fish；
concerning which I doubt not but to give you many observations that will
appear very considerable：
