the complete angler-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Piscator。　Sir；　my　fortune　has　answered　my　desires；　and　my　purpose　is　to　bestow　a　day　or　two　in　helping　to　destroy　some　of　those　villanous　vermin：　for　I　hate　them　perfectly；　because　they　love　fish　so　well；　or　rather；　because　they　destroy　so　much；　indeed　so　much；　that；　in　my　judgment　all　men　that　keep　Otter…dogs　ought　to　have　pen〃　signs　from　the　King；　to　encourage　them　to　destroy　the　very　breed　of　those　base　Otters；　they　do　so　much　mischief。

Venator。　But　what　say　you　to　the　Foxes　of　the　Nation；　would　not　you　as　willingly　have　them　destroyed　？　for　doubtless　they　do　as　much　mischief　as　Otters　do。

Piscator。　Oh；　Sir；　if　they　do；　it　is　not　so　much　to　me　and　my　fraternity；　as　those　base　vermin　the　Otters　do。

Auceps。　Why；　Sir；　I　pray；　of　what　fraternity　are　you；　that　you　are　so　angry　with　the　poor　Otters？

Piscator。　I　am；　Sir；　a　Brother　of　the　Angle；　and　therefore　an　enemy　to　the　Otter：　for　you　are　to　note；　that　we　Anglers　all　love　one　another；　and　therefore　do　I　hate　the　Otter　both　for　my　own；　and　their　sakes　who　are　of　my　brotherhood。

Venator。　And　I　am　a　lover　of　Hounds；　I　have　followed　many　a　pack　of　dogs　many　a　mile；　and　heard　many　merry　Huntsmen　make　sport　and　scoff　at　Anglers。

Auceps。　And　I　profess　myself　a　Falconer；　and　have　heard　many　grave；　serious　men　pity　them；　it　is　such　a　heavy；　contemptible；　dull　recreation。

Piscator。　You　know；　Gentlemen；　it　is　an　easy　thing　to　scoff　at　any　art　or　recreation；　a　little　wit　mixed　with　ill　nature；　confidence；　and　malice；　will　do　it；　but　though　they　often　venture　boldly；　yet　they　are　often　caught；　even　in　their　own　trap；　according　to　that　of　Lucian；　the　father　of　the　family　of　Scoffers：

Lucian；　well　skilled　in　scoffing；　this　hath　writ；　Friend；　that's　your　folly；　which　you　think　your　wit：　This　you　vent　oft；　void　both　of　wit　and　fear；　Meaning　another；　when　yourself　you　jeer。

If　to　this　you　add　what　Solomon　says　of　Scoffers；　that　they　are　an　abomination　to　mankind；　let　him　that　thinks　fit　scoff　on；　and　be　a　Scoffer　still；　but　I　account　them　enemies　to　me　and　all　that　love　Virtue　and　Angling。

And　for　you　that　have　heard　many　grave；　serious　men　pity　Anglers；　let　me　tell　you；　Sir；　there　be　many　men　that　are　by　others　taken　to　be　serious　and　grave　men；　whom　we　contemn　and　pity　Men　that　are　taken　to　be　grave；　because　nature　hath　made　them　of　a　sour　complexion；　money…getting　men；　men　that　spend　all　their　time；　first　in　getting；　and　next；　in　anxious　care　to　keep　it；　men　that　are　condemned　to　be　rich；　and　then　always　busy　or　discontented：　for　these　poor　rich…men；　we　Anglers　pity　them　perfectly；　and　stand　in　no　need　to　borrow　their　thoughts　to　think　ourselves　so　happy。　No；　no；　Sir；　we　enjoy　a　contentedness　above　the　reach　of　such　dispositions；　and　as　the　learned　and　ingenuous　Montaigne　says；　like　himself；　freely；　〃　When　my　Cat　and　I　entertain　each　other　with　mutual　apish　tricks；　as　playing　with　a　garter；　who　knows　but　that　I　make　my　Cat　more　sport　than　she　makes　me？　Shall　I　conclude　her　to　be　simple；　that　has　her　time　to　begin　or　refuse；　to　play　as　freely　as　I　myself　have？　Nay；　who　knows　but　that　it　is　a　defect　of　my　not　understanding　her　language；　for　doubtless　Cats　talk　and　reason　with　one　another；　that　we　agree　no　better：　and　who　knows　but　that　she　pities　me　for　being　no　wiser　than　to　play　with　her；　and　laughs　and　censures　my　folly；　for　making　sport　for　her；　when　we　two　play　together？〃

Thus　freely　speaks　Montaigne　concerning　Cats；　and　I　hope　I　may　take　as　great　a　liberty　to　blame　any　man；　and　laugh　at　him　too；　let　him　be　never　so　grave；　that　hath　not　heard　what　Anglers　can　say　in　the　justification　of　their　Art　and　Recreation；　which　I　may　again　tell　you；　is　so　full　of　pleasure；　that　we　need　not　borrow　their　thoughts；　to　think　ourselves　happy。

Venator。　Sir；　you　have　almost　amazed　me；　for　though　I　am　no　Scoffer；　yet　I　have；　I　pray　let　me　speak　it　without　offence；　always　looked　upon　Anglers；　as　more　patient；　and　more　simple　men；　than　I　fear　I　shall　find　you　to　be。

Piscator。　Sir；　I　hope　you　will　not　judge　my　earnestness　to　be　impatience：　and　for　my　simplicity；　if　by　that　you　mean　a　harmlessness；　or　that　simplicity　which　was　usually　found　in　the　primitive　Christians；　who　were；　as　most　Anglers　are；　quiet　men；　and　followers　of　peace；　men　that　were　so　simply　wise；　as　not　to　sell　their　consciences　to　buy　riches；　and　with　them　vexation　and　a　fear　to　die；　if　you　mean　such　simple　men　as　lived　in　those　times　when　there　were　fewer　lawyers；　when　men　might　have　had　a　lordship　safe＇y　conveyed　to　them　in　a　piece　of　parchment　no　bigger　than　your　hand；　though　several　sheets　will　not　do　it　safely　in　this　wiser　age；　I　say；　Sir；　if　you　take　us　Anglers　to　be　such　simple　men　as　I　have　spoke　of；　then　myself　and　those　of　my　profession　will　be　glad　to　be　so　understood：　But　if　by　simplicity　you　meant　to　express　a　general　defect　in　those　that　profess　and　practice　the　excellent　Art　of　Angling；　I　hope　in　time　to　disabuse　you；　and　make　the　contrary　appear　so　evidently；　that　if　you　will　but　have　patience　to　hear　me；　I　shall　remove　all　the　anticipations　that　discourse；　or　time；　or　prejudice；　have　possessed　you　with　against　that　laudable　and　ancient　Art；　for　I　know　it　is　worthy　the　knowledge　and　practice　of　a　wise　man。

But；　Gentlemen；　though　I　be　able　to　do　this；　I　am　not　so　unmannerly　as　to　engross　all　the　discourse　to　myself；　and；　therefore；　you　two　having　declared　yourselves；　the　one　to　be　a　lover　of　Hawks；　the　other　of　Hounds；　I　shall　be　most　glad　to　hear　what　you　can　say　in　the　commendation　of　that　recreation　which　each　of　you　love　and　practice；　and　having　heard　what　you　can　say；　I　shall　be　glad　to　exercise　your　attention　with　what　I　can　say　concerning　my　own　recreation　and　Art　of　Angling；　and　by　this　means　we　shall　make　the　way　to　seem　the　shorter：　and　if　you　like　my　motion；　I　would　have　Mr。　Falconer　to　begin。

Auceps。　Your　motion　is　consented　to　with　all　my　heart；　and　to　testify　it；　I　will　begin　as　you　have　desired　me。

And　first；　for　the　Element　that　I　use　to　trade　in；　which　is　the　Air；　an　element　of　more　worth　than　weight；　an　element　that　doubtless　exceeds　both　the　Earth　and　Water；　for　though　I　sometimes　deal　in　both；　yet　the　air　is　most　properly　mine；　I　and　my　Hawks　use　that　most；　and　it　yields　us　most　recreation。　It　stops　not　the　high　soaring　of　my　noble；　generous　Falcon；　in　it　she　ascends　to　such　a　height　as　the　dull　eyes　of　beasts　and　fish　are　not　able　to　reach　to；　their　bodies　are　too　gross　for　such　high　elevations；　in　the　Air　my　troops　of　Hawks　soar　up　on　high；　and　when　they　are　lost　in　the　sight　of　men；　then　they　attend　upon　and　converse　with　the　Gods；　therefore　I　think　my　Eagle　is　so　justly　styled　Jove's　servant　in　ordinary：　and　that　very　Falcon；　that　I　am　now　going　to　see；　deserves　no　meaner　a　title；　for　she　usually　in　her　flight　endangers　herself；　like　the　son　of　Daedalus；　to　have　her　wings　scorched　by　the　sun's　heat；　she　flies　so　near　it；　but　her　mettle　makes　her　careless　of　danger；　for　she　then　heeds　nothing；　but　makes　her　nimble　pinions　cut　the　fluid　air；　and　so　makes　her　highway　over　the　steepest　mountains　and　deepest　rivers；　and　in　her　glorious　career　looks　with　contempt　upon　those　high　steeples　and　magnificent　palaces　which　we　adore　and　wonder　at；　from　which　height；　I　can　make　her　to　descend　by　a　word　from　my　mouth；　which　she　both　knows　and　obeys；　to　accept　of　meat　from　my　hand。　to　own　me　for　her　Master；　to　go　home　with　me；　and　be　willing　the　next　day　to　afford　me　the　like　recreation。

And　more；　this　element　of　air　which　I　profess　to　trade　in；　the　worth　of　it　is　such；　and　it　is　of　such　necessity；　that　no　creature　whatsoever…not　only　those　numerous　creatures　that　feed　on　the　face　of　the　earth；　but　those　various　creatures　that　have　their　dwelling　within　the　waters；　every　creature　that　hath　life　in　its　nostrils；　stands　in　need　of　my　element。　The　waters　cannot　preserve　the　Fish　without　air；　witness　the　not　breaking　of　ice　in　an　extreme　frost；　the　reason　is；　for　that　if　the　inspiring　and　expiring　organ　of　any　animal　be　stopped；　it　suddenly　yields　to　nature；　and　dies。　Thus　necessary　is　air；　to　the　existence　both　of　Fish　and　Beasts；　nay；　even　to　Man　himself；　that　air；　or　breath　of　life；　with　which　God　at　first　inspired　mankind；　he；　if　he　wants　it；　dies　presently；　becomes　a　sad　object　to　all　that　loved　and　beheld　him；　and　in　an　instant　turns　to　putrefaction。

Nay　more；　the　very　birds　of　the　air；　those　that　be　not　Hawks；　are　both　so　many　and　so　useful　and　pleasant　to　mankind；　that　I　must　not　let　them　pass　without　some　observations。　They　both　feed　and　refresh　him；　feed　him　with　their　choice　bodies；　and　refresh　him　with　their　heavenly　voices：…I　will　not　undertake　to　mention　the　several　kinds　of　Fowl　by　which　this　is　done：　and　his　curious　palate　pleased　by　day；　and　which　with　their　very　excrements　afford　him　a　soft　lodging　at　night：…These　I　will　pass　by；　but　not　those　little　nimble　musicians　of　the　air；　that　warble　forth　their　curious　ditties；　with　which　nature　hath　furnished　them　to　the　shame　of　art。

As　first　the　Lark；　when　she　means　to　rejoice；　to　cheer　herself　and　those　that　hear　her；　she　then　quits　the　earth；　and　sings　as　she　ascends　higher　into　the　air　and　having　ended　her　heavenly　employment；　grows　then　mute；　and　sad；　to　think　she　must　descend　to　the　dull　earth；　which　she　would　not　touch；　but　for　necessity。

How　do　the　Blackbird　and　Thrassel　with　their　melodious　voices　bid　welcome　to　the　cheerful　Spring；　and　in　their　fixed　months　warble　forth　such　ditties　as　no　art　or　instrument　can　reach　to！

Nay；　the　smaller　birds　also　do　the　like　in　their　particular　seasons；　as　namely　the　Laverock；　the　Tit…lark；　the　little　Linnet；　and　the　honest　Robin　that　loves　mankind　both　alive　and　dead。

But　the　Nightingale；　another　of　my　airy　creatures；　breathes　such　sweet　loud　musick　out　of　her　little　instrumental　throat；　that　it　might　make　mankind　to　think　miracles　are　not　ceased。　He　that　at　midnight；　when　the　very　labourer　sleeps　securely；　should　hear；　as　I　have　very　often；　the　clear　airs；　the　sweet　descants；　the　natural　rising　and　falling；　the　doubling　and　redoubling　of　her　voice；　might　well　be　lifted　above　earth；　and　say；　〃　Lord；　what　musick　hast　thou　provided　for　the　Saints　in　Heaven；　when　thou　affordest　bad　men　such　musick　on　Earth！　〃

And　this　makes　me　the　less　to　wonder　at　the　many　Aviaries　in　Italy；　or　at　the　great　charge　of　Varro's　Aviary；　the　ruins　of　which　are　yet　to　be　seen　in　Rome；　and　is　still　so　famous　there；　that　it　is　reckoned　for　one　of　those　notables　which　men　of　foreign　nations　either　record；　or　lay　up　in　their　memories　when　they　return　from　travel。

This　for　the　birds　of　pleasure；　of　which　very　much　more　might　be　said。　My　next　shall　be　of　birds　of　political　use。　I　think　it　is　not　to　be　doubted　that　Swallows　have　been　taught　to　carry　letters　between　two　armies；　but　'tis　certain　that　when　the　Turks　besieged　Malta　or　Rhodes；　I　now　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　Pig