the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第7章
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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 Amos。
Concerning which last； namely the prophet Amos； I shall make but this
observation； that he that shall read the humble； lowly； plain style of that
prophet； and compare it with the high； glorious； eloquent style of the
prophet Isaiah； though they be both equally true； may easily believe Amos
to be； not only a shepherd； but a good…natured plain fisherman。 Which I do
the rather believe； by comparing the affectionate； loving； lowly； humble
Epistles of St。 Peter； St。 James； and St。 John； whom we know were all
fishers； with the glorious language and high metaphors of St。 Paul； who
we may believe was not。
And for the lawfulness of fishing： it may very well be maintained by
our Saviour's bidding St。 Peter cast his hook into the water and catch a fish；
for money to pay tribute to Caesar。 And let me tell you； that Angling is of
high esteem； and of much use in other nations。 He that reads the Voyages
of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto； shall find that there he declares to have found
a king and several priests a…fishing。 And he that reads Plutarch； shall find；
that Angling was not contemptible in the days of Mark Antony and
Cleopatra； and that they； in the midst of their wonderful glory； used
Angling as a principal recreation。 And let me tell you； that in the Scripture；
Angling is always taken in the best sense； and that though hunting may be
sometimes so taken； yet it is but seldom to be so understood。 And let me
add this more： he that views the ancient Ecclesiastical Canons； shall find
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hunting to be forbidden to Churchmen； as being a turbulent； toilsome；
perplexing recreation； and shall find Angling allowed to clergymen； as
being a harmless recreation； a recreation that invites them to
contemplation and quietness。
I might here enlarge myself； by telling you what commendations our
learned Perkins bestows on Angling： and how dear a lover； and great a
practiser of it； our learned Dr。 Whitaker was； as indeed many others of
great learning have been。 But I will content myself with two memorable
men； that lived near to our own time； whom I also take to have been
ornaments to the art of Angling。
The first is Dr。 Nowel； sometime dean of the cathedral church of St。
Paul； in London； where his monument stands yet undefaced； a man that； in
the reformation of Queen Elizabeth； not that of Henry VIII。； was so noted
for his meek spirit； deep learning； prudence； and piety； that the then
Parliament and Convocation； both； chose； enjoined； and trusted him to be
the man to make a Catechism for public use； such a one as should stand as
a rule for faith and manners to their posterity。 And the good old man；
though he was very learned； yet knowing that God leads us not to heaven
by many； nor by hard questions； like an honest Angler； made that good；
plain； unperplexed Catechism which is printed with our good old Service…
book。 I say； this good man was a dear lover and constant practiser of
Angling； as any age can produce： and his custom was to spend besides his
fixed hours of prayer； those hours which； by command of the church； were
enjoined the clergy； and voluntarily dedicated to devotion by many
primitive Christians； I say； besides those hours； this good man was
observed to spend a tenth part of his time in Angling； and； also； for I have
conversed with those which have conversed with him； to bestow a tenth
part of his revenue； and usually all his fish； amongst the poor that
inhabited near to those rivers in which it was caught； saying often； 〃that
charity gave life to religion 〃： and； at his return to his house； would praise
God he had spent that day free from worldly trouble； both harmlessly； and
in a recreation that became a churchman。 And this good man was well
content； if not desirous； that posterity should know he was an Angler； as
may appear by his picture； now to be seen； and carefully kept； in Brazen…
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nose College； to which he was a liberal benefactor。 In which picture he is
drawn leaning on a desk； with his Bible before him； and on one hand of
him； his lines； hooks； and other tackling； lying in a round； and； on his
other hand； are his Angle…rods of several sorts； and by them this is written；
〃that
