the complete angler-第12章

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W。　B。

Coridon。　Well　sung；　brother；　you　have　paid　your　debt　in　good　coin。　We　anglers　are　all　beholden　to　the　good　man　that　made　this　song：　come；　hostess；　give　us　more　ale；　and　let's　drink　to　him。　And　now　let's　every　one　go　to　bed；　that　we　may　rise　early：　but　first　let's　pay　our　reckoning；　for　I　will　have　nothing　to　hinder　me　in　the　morning；　for　my　purpose　is　to　prevent　the　sun…rising。

Peter。　A　match。　Come；　Coridon；　you　are　to　be　my　bed…fellow。　I　know；　brother；　you　and　your　scholar　will　lie　together。　But　where　shall　we　meet　to…morrow　night？　for　my　friend　Coridon　and　I　will　go　up　the　water　towards　Ware。

Piscator。　And　my　scholar　and　I　will　go　down　towards　Waltham。

Coridon。　Then　let's　meet　here；　for　here　are　fresh　sheets　that　smell　of　lavender；　and　I　am　sure　we　cannot　expect　better　meat；　or　better　usage　in　any　place。

Peter。　'Tis　a　match。　Good…night　to　everybody。

Piscator。　And　so　say　I。

Venator。　And　so　say　I。



The　fourth　day

Piscator。　Good…morrow；　good　hostess；　I　see　my　brother　Peter　is　still　in　bed。　Come；　give　my　scholar　and　me　a　morning　drink；　and　a　bit　of　meat　to　breakfast：　and　be　sure　to　get　a　dish　of　meat　or　two　against　supper；　for　we　shall　come　home　as　hungry　as　hawks。　Come；　scholar；　let's　be　going。

Venator。　Well　now；　good　master；　as　we　walk　towards　the　river；　give　me　direction；　according　to　your　promise；　how　I　shall　fish　for　a　Trout。

Piscator。　My　honest　scholar；　I　will　take　this　very　convenient　opportunity　to　do　it。

The　Trout　is　usually　caught　with　a　worm；　or　a　minnow；　which　some　call　a　peek；　or　with　a　fly；　viz。　either　a　natural　or　an　artificial　fly：　concerning　which　three；　I　will　give　you　some　observations　and　directions。

And；　first；　for　worms。　Of　these　there　be　very　many　sorts：　some　breed　only　in　the　earth；　as　the　earth…worm；　others　of；　or　amongst　plants；　as　the　dug…worm；　and　others　breed　either　out　of　excrements；　or　in　the　bodies　of　living　creatures；　as　in　the　horns　of　sheep　or　deer；　or　some　of　dead　flesh；　as　the　maggot　or　gentle；　and　others。

Now　these　be　most　of　them　particularly　good　for　particular　fishes。　But　for　the　Trout；　the　dew…worm；　which　some　also　call　the　lob…worm；　and　the　brandling；　are　the　chief；　and　especially　the　first　for　a　great　Trout；　and　the　latter　for　a　less。　There　be　also　of　lob…worms；　some　called　squirrel…tails；　a　worm　that　has　a　red　head；　a　streak　down　the　back；　and　a　broad　tail；　which　are　noted　to　be　the　best；　because　they　are　the　toughest　and　most　lively；　and　live　longest　in　the　water；　for　you　are　to　know　that　a　dead　worm　is　but　a　dead　bait；　and　like　to　catch　nothing；　compared　to　a　lively；　quick；　stirring　worm。　And　for　a　brandling；　he　is　usually　found　in　an　old　dunghill；　or　some　very　rotten　place　near　to　it；　but　most　usually　in　cow…dung；　or　hog's…dung；　rather　than　horse…dung；　which　is　somewhat　too　hot　and　dry　for　that　worm。　But　the　best　of　them　are　to　be　found　in　the　bark　of　the　tanners；　which　they　cast　up　in　heaps　after　they　have　used　it　about　their　leather。

There　are　also　divers　other　kinds　of　worms；　which；　for　colour　and　shape；　alter　even　as　the　ground　out　of　which　they　are　got；　as　the　marsh…　worm；　the　tag…tail；　the　flag…worm；　the　dock…worm；　the　oak…worm；　the　gilt…tail；　the　twachel　or　lob…worm；　which　of　all　others　is　the　most　excellent　bait　for　a　salmon；　and　too　many　to　name；　even　as　many　sorts　as　some　think　there　be　of　several　herbs　or　shrubs；　or　of　several　kinds　of　birds　in　the　air：　of　which　I　shall　say　no　more；　but　tell　you；　that　what　worms　soever　you　fish　with；　are　the　better　for　being　well　scoured；　that　is；　long　kept　before　they　be　used：　and　in　case　you　have　not　been　so　provident；　then　the　way　to　cleanse　and　scour　them　quickly；　is；　to　put　them　all　night　in　water；　if　they　be　lob…worms；　and　then　put　them　into　your　bag　with　fennel。　But　you　must　not　put　your　brandlings　above　an　hour　in　water；　and　then　put　them　into　fennel；　for　sudden　use：　but　if　you　have　time；　and　purpose　to　keep　them　long；　then　they　be　best　preserved　in　an　earthen　pot；　with　good　store　of　moss；　which　is　to　be　fresh　every　three　or　four　days　in　summer；　and　every　week　or　eight　days　in　winter；　or；　at　least；　the　moss　taken　from　them；　and　clean　washed；　and　wrung　betwixt　your　hands　till　it　be　dry；　and　then　put　it　to　them　again。　And　when　your　worms；　especially　the　brandling；　begins　to　be　sick　and　lose　of　his　bigness；　then　you　may　recover　him；　by　putting　a　little　milk　or　cream；　about　a　spoonful　in　a　day；　into　them；　by　drops　on　the　moss；　and　if　there　be　added　to　the　cream　an　egg　beaten　and　boiled　in　it；　then　it　will　both　fatten　and　preserve　them　long。　And　note；　that　when　the　knot；　which　is　near　to　the　middle　of　the　brandling；　begins　to　swell；　then　he　is　sick；　and；　if　he　be　not　well　looked　to；　is　near　dying。　And　for　moss；　you　are　to　note；　that　there　be　divers　kinds　of　it；　which　I　could　name　to　you；　but　I　will　only　tell　you　that　that　which　is　likest　a　buck's…horn　is　the　best；　except　it　be　soft　white　moss；　which　grows　on　some　heaths；　and　is　hard　to　be　found。　And　note；　that　in　a　very　dry　time；　when　you　are　put　to　an　extremity　for　worms；　walnut…tree　leaves　squeezed　into　water；　or　salt　in　water；　to　make　it　bitter　or　salt；　and　then　that　water　poured　on　the　ground　where　you　shall　see　worms　are　used　to　rise　in　the　night；　will　make　them　to　appear　above　ground　presently。　And　you　may　take　notice；　some　say　that　camphire　put　into　your　bag　with　your　moss　and　worms　gives　them　a　strong　and　so　tempting　a　smell；　that　the　fish　fare　the　worse　and　you　the　better　for　it。

And　now；　I　shall　shew　you　how　to　bait　your　hook　with　a　worm　so　as　shall　prevent　you　from　much　trouble；　and　the　loss　of　many　a　hook；　too；　when　you　fish　for　a　Trout　with　a　running　line；　that　is　to　say；　when　you　fish　for　him　by　hand　at　the　ground。　I　will　direct　you　in　this　as　plainly　as　I　can；　that　you　may　not　mistake。

Suppose　it　be　a　big　lob…worm：　put　your　hook　into　him　somewhat　above　the　middle；　and　out　again　a　little　below　the　middle：　having　so　done；　draw　your　worm　above　the　arming　of　your　hook；　but　note；　that；　at　the　entering　of　your　hook；　it　must　not　be　at　the　head…end　of　the　worm；　but　at　the　tail…end　of　him；　that　the　point　of　your　hook　may　come　out　toward　the　head…end；　and；　having　drawn　him　above　the　arming　of　your　hook；　then　put　the　point　of　your　hook　again　into　the　very　head　of　the　worm；　till　it　come　near　to　the　place　where　the　point　of　the　hook　first　came　out；　and　then　draw　back　that　part　of　the　worm　that　was　above　the　shank　or　arming　of　your　hook；　and　so　fish　with　it。　And　if　you　mean　to　fish　with　two　worms；　then　put　the　second　on　before　you　turn　back　the　hook's…　head　of　the　first　worm。　You　cannot　lose　above　two　or　three　worms　before　you　attain　to　what　I　direct　you；　and　having　attained　it；　you　will　find　it　very　useful；　and　thank　me　for　it：　for　you　will　run　on　the　ground　without　tangling。

Now　for　the　Minnow　or　Penk：　he　is　not　easily　found　and　caught　till　March；　or　in　April；　for　then　he　appears　first　in　the　river；　nature　having　taught　him　to　shelter　and　hide　himself；　in　the　winter；　in　ditches　that　be　near　to　the　river；　and　there　both　to　hide；　and　keep　himself　warm；　in　the　mud；　or　in　the　weeds；　which　rot　not　so　soon　as　in　a　running　river；　in　which　place　if　he　were　in　winter；　the　distempered　floods　that　are　usually　in　that　season　would　suffer　him　to　take　no　rest；　but　carry　him　headlong　to　mills　and　weirs；　to　his　confusion。　And　of　these　Minnows：　first；　you　are　to　know；　that　the　biggest　size　is　not　the　best；　and　next；　that　the　middle　size　and　the　whitest　are　the　best；　and　then　you　are　to　know；　that　your　minnow　must　be　so　put　on　your　hook；　that　it　must　turn　round　when　'tis　drawn　against　the　stream；　and；　that　it　may　turn　nimbly；　you　must　put　it　on　a　big…sized　hook；　as　I　shall　now　direct　you；　which　is　thus：　Put　your　hook　in　at　his　mouth；　and　out　at　his　gill；　then；　having　drawn　your　hook　two　or　three　inches　beyond　or　through　his　gill；　put　it　again　into　his　mouth；　and　the　point　and　beard　out　at　his　tail；　and　then　tie　the　hook　and　his　tail　about；　very　neatly；　with　a　white　thread；　which　will　make　it　the　apter　to　turn　quick　in　the　water；　that　done；　pull　back　that　part　of　your　line　which　was　slack　when　you　did　put　your　hook　into　the　minnow　the　second　time；　I　say；　pull　that　part　of　your　line　back；　so　that　it　shall　fasten　the　head；　so　that　the　body　of　the　minnow　shall　be　almost　straight　on　your　hook：　this　done；　try　how　it　will　turn；　by　drawing　it　across　the　water　or　against　a　stream；　and　if　it　do　not　turn　nimbly；　then　turn　the　tail　a　little　to　the　right　or　left　hand；　and　try　again；　till　it　turn　quick；　for　if　not；　you　are　in　danger　to　catch　nothing：　for　know；　that　it　is　impossible　that　it　should　turn　too　quick。　And　you　are　yet　to　know；　that　in　case　you　want　a　minnow；　then　a　small　loach；　or　a　stickle…bag；　or　any　other　small　fish　that　will　turn　quick；　will　serve　as　well。　And　you　are　yet　to　know　that　you　may　salt　them；　and　by　that　means　keep　them　ready　and　fit　for　use　three　or　four　days；　or　longer；　and　that；　of　salt；　bay…salt　is　the　best。

And　here　let　me　tell　you；　what　many　old　anglers　know　right　well；　that　at　some　times；　and　in　some　waters；　a　minnow　is　not　to　be　got；　and　therefore；　let　me　tell　you；　I　have；　which　I　will　shew　to　you；　an　artificial　minnow；　that　will　catch　a　Trout　as　well　as　an　artificial　fly：　and　it　was　made　by　a　handsome　woman　that　had　a　fine　hand；　and　a　live　minnow　lying　by　her：　the　mould　or　body　of　the　minnow　was　cloth；　and　wrought　upon；　or　over　it；　thus；　with　a　needle；　the　back　of　it　with　very　sad　French　green　silk；　and　paler　green　silk　towards　the　belly；　shadowed　as　perfectly　as　you　can　imagine；　just　as　you　see　a　minnow：　the　belly　was　wrought　also　with　a　needle；　and　it　was；　a　part　of　it；　white　silk；　and　another　part　of　it　with　silver　thread：　the　tail　and　fins　were　of　a　quill；　which　was　shaven　thin：　the　eyes　were　of　two　little　black　beads：　and　the　head　was　so　shadowed；　and　all　of　it　so　curiously　wrought；　and　so　exactly　dissembled；　that　it　would　beguile　any　sharp…sighted　Trout　in　a　swift　stream。　And　this　minnow　I　will　now　shew　you；　look；　here　it　is；　and；　if　you　like　it；　lend　it　you；　to　have　two　or　three　made　by　it；　for　they　be　easily　carried　about　an　angler；　and　be　of　excellent　use：　for　note；　that　a　large　Trout　will　come　as　fiercely　at　a　minnow　as　the　highest…mettled　hawk　doth　seize　on　a　partridge；　or　a　greyhound　on　a　hare。　I　have　been　told　that　one　hundred　and　sixty　minnows　have　been　found　in　a　Trout's　belly：　either　the　Trout　had　devoured　so　many；　or　the　miller　that　gave　it　a　friend　of　mine　had　forced　them　down　his　throat　after　he　had　taken　him。

Now　for　Flies；　which　is　the　third　bait　wherewith　Trouts　are　usually　taken。　You　are　to　know；　that　there　are　so　many　sorts　of　flies　as　there　be　of　fruits：　I　will　name　you　but　some　of　them；　as　the　dun…fly；　the　stone…　fly；　the　red…fly；　the　moor…fly；　the　tawny…fly；　the　shell…fly；　the　cloudy　or　blackish…fly；　the　flag…fly；　the　vine…fly；　there　be　of　flies；　caterpillars；　and　canker…flies；　and　bear…flies；　and　indeed　too　many　either　for　me　to　name；　or　for　you　to　remember。　And　their　breeding　is　so　various　and　wonderful；　that　I　might　easily　amaze　myself；　and　tire　you　in　a　relation　of　them。

And；　yet；　I　will　exercise　your　promised　patience　by　saying　a　little　of　the　caterpillar；　or　the　palmer…fly　or　worm；　that　by　them　you　may　guess　what　a　work　it　were；　in　a　discourse；　but　to　run　over　those　very　many　flies；　worms；　and　li