the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第8节
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injuries that they would bring upon her。
There is also a fish called by the Adonis； or Darling of the Sea； so
called； because it is a loving and innocent fish； a fish that hurts nothing
that hath life； and is at peace with all the numerous inhabitants of that vast
watery element； and truly； I think most Anglers are so disposed to most of
mankind。
And there are； also； lustful and chaste fishes； of which I shall give you
examples。
And first； what Du Bartas says of a fish called the Sargus； which；
because none can express it better than he does； I shall give you in his own
words； supposing it shall not have the less credit for being verse； for he
hath gathered this and other observations out of authors that have been
great and industrious searchers into the secrets of nature。
The adult'rous Sargus doth not only change Wives every day； in the
deep streams； but； strange！ As if the honey of sea…love delight Could not
suffice his ranging appetite； Goes courting she…goats on the grassy shore；
Horning their husbands that had horns before。
And the same author writes concerning the Cantharus； that which you
shall also hear in his own words：
But； contrary； the constant Cantharus Is ever constant to his faithful
spouse In nuptial duties； spending his chaste life。 Never loves any but his
own dear wife。
Sir； but a little longer； and I have done。
Venator。 Sir； take what liberty you think fit； for your discourse seems
to be musick； and charms me to an attention。
Piscator。 Why then； Sir； I will take a little liberty to tell； or rather to
remember you what is said of Turtle…doves； first； that they silently plight
their troth； and marry； and that then the survivor scorns； as the Thracian
women are said to do； to outlive his or her mate； and this is taken for a
truth； and if the survivor shall ever couple with another； then； not only the
living； but the dead； be it either the he or the she； is denied the name and
honour of a true Turtle…dove。
And to parallel this land…rarity； and teach mankind moral faithfulness；
and to condemn those that talk of religion； and yet come short of the moral
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faith of fish and fowl； men that violate the law affirmed by St。 Paul to be
writ in their hearts； and which； he says； shall at the Last Day condemn and
leave them without excuseI pray hearken to what Du Bartas sings； for
the hearing of such conjugal faithfulness will be musick to all chaste ears；
and therefore I pray hearken to what Du Bartas sings of the Mullet。
But for chaste love the Mullet hath no peer； For； if the fisher hath
surpris'd her pheer As mad with wo； to shore she followeth Prest to
consort him； both in life and death。
On the contrary； what shall I say of the House…Cock； which treads any
hen； and； then； contrary to the Swan； the Partridge； and Pigeon； takes no
care to hatch； to feed； or cherish his own brood； but is senseless； though
they perish。 And it is considerable； that the Hen； which； because she also
takes any Cock； expects it not； who is sure the chickens be her own； hath
by a moral impression her care and affection to her own brood more than
doubled； even to such a height； that our Saviour； in expressing his love to
Jerusalem； quotes her； for an example of tender affection； as his Father had
done Job； for a pattern of patience。
And to parallel this Cock； there be divers fishes that cast their spawn
on flags or stones； and then leave it uncovered； and exposed to become a
prey and be devoured by vermin or other fishes。 But other fishes； as
namely the Barbel； take such care for the preservation of their seed； that；
unlike to the Cock； or the Cuckoo； they mutually labour； both the spawner
and the melter； to cover their spawn with sand； or watch it； or hide it in
some secret place unfrequented by vermin or by any fish but themselves。
Sir； these examples may； to you and others； seem strange； but they are
testified； some by Aristotle； some by Pliny； some by Gesner； and by many
others of credit； and are believed and known by divers； both of wisdom
and experience； to be a truth； and indeed are； as I said at the beginning； fit
for the contemplation of a most serious and a most pious man。 And；
doubtless； this made the prophet David say； 〃 They that occupy themselves
in deep waters； see the wonderful works of God 〃： indeed such wonders
and pleasures too； as the land affords not。
And that they be fit for the contemplation of the most prudent； and
pious； and peaceable men； seems to be testified by the practice of so many
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devout and contemplative men； as the Patriarchs and Prophets of old； and
of the Apostles of our Saviour in our latter times； of which twelve； we are
sure； he chose four that were simple fishermen； whom he inspired； and
sent to publish his blessed will to the Gentiles ； and inspired them also
with a power to speak all languages； and by their powerful eloquence to
beget faith in the unbelieving Jews； and themselves to suffer for that
Saviour； whom their forefathers and they had crucified； and； in their
sufferings； to preach freedom from the incumbrances of the law； and a new
way to everlasting life： this was the employment of these happy fishermen。
Concerning which choice。 some have made these observations：
First； that he never reproved these； for their employment or calling； as
he did the Scribes and the Money…changers。 And secondly； he found that
the hearts of such men； by nature； were fitted for contemplation and
quietness； men of mild； and sweet； and peaceable spirits； as indeed most
Anglers are： these men our blessed Saviour； who is observed to love to
plant grace in good natures； though indeed nothing be too hard for him；
yet these men he chose to call from their irreprovable employment of fig；
an； and gave them grace to be his disciples； and to follow him； and do
wonders； I say four of twelve。
And it is observable； that it was our Saviour's will that these； our four
fishermen； should have a priority of nomination in the catalogue of his
twelve Apostles； as namely； first St。 Peter； St。 Andrew； St。 James； and St。
John； and； then； the rest in their order。
And it is yet more observable； that when our blessed Saviour went up
into the mount； when he left the rest of his disciples； and chose only three
to bear him company at his Transfiguration； that those three were all
fishermen。 And it is to be believed； that all the other Apostles； after they
betook themselves to follow Christ； betook themselves to be fishermen too；
for it is certain； that the greater number of them were found together；
fishing； by Jesus after his resurrection； as it is recorded in the twenty…first
chapter of St。 John's gospel。
And since I have your promise to hear me with patience； I will take a
liberty to look back upon an observation that hath been made by an
ingenious and learned man； who observes； that God hath been pleased to
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allow those whom he himself hath appointed to write his holy will in holy
writ； yet to express his will in such metaphors as their former affections or
practice had inclined them to。 And he brings Solomon for an example；
who； before his conversion； was remarkably carnally amorous； and after；
by God's appointment； wrote that spiritual dialogue； or holy amorous love…
song the Canticles； betwixt God and his church： in which he says； 〃 his
beloved had eyes like the fish…pools of Heshbon 〃。
And if this hold in reason； as I see none to the contrary； then it may be
probably concluded； that Moses； who I told you before writ the book of
Job； and the Prophet Amos； who was a shepherd； were both Anglers； for
you shall； in all the Old Testament； find fish…hooks； I think but twice
mentioned； namely； by meek Moses the friend of God； and by the humble
prophet Amo
