the complete angler-第13章

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little　living　creatures；　with　which　the　sun　and　summer　adorn　and　beautify　the　river…banks　and　meadows；　both　for　the　recreation　and　contemplation　of　us　anglers；　pleasures　which；　I　think；　myself　enjoy　more　than　any　other　man　that　is　not　of　my　profession。

Pliny　holds　an　opinion；　that　many　have　their　birth；　or　being；　from　a　dew　that　in　the　spring　falls　upon　the　leaves　of　trees；　and　that　some　kinds　of　them　are　from　a　dew　left　upon　herbs　or　flowers；　and　others　from　a　dew　left　upon　coleworts　or　cabbages：　all　which　kinds　of　dews　being　thickened　and　condensed；　are　by　the　sun's　generative　heat；　most　of　them；　hatched；　and　in　three　days　made　living　creatures。　and　these　of　several　shapes　and　colours；　some　being　hard　and　tough；　some　smooth　and　soft；　some　are　horned　in　their　head；　some　in　their　tail；　some　have　none；　some　have　hair；　some　none：　some　have　sixteen　feet；　some　less；　and　some　have　none：　but；　as　our　Topsel　hath　with　great　diligence　observed；　those　which　have　none；　move　upon　the　earth；　or　upon　broad　leaves；　their　motion　being　not　unlike　to　the　waves　of　the　sea。　Some　of　them　he　also　observes　to　be　bred　of　the　eggs　of　other　caterpillars；　and　that　those　in　their　time　turn　to　be　butterflies；　and　again；　that　their　eggs　turn　the　following　year　to　be　caterpillars　And　some　affirm；　that　every　plant　has　its　particular　fly　or　caterpillar；　which　it　breeds　and　feeds。　I　have　seen；　and　may　therefore　affirm　it；　a　green　caterpillar；　or　worm；　as　big　as　a　small　peascod；　which　had　fourteen　legs；　eight　on　the　belly；　four　under　the　neck；　and　two　near　the　tail。　It　was　found　on　a　hedge　of　privet；　and　was　taken　thence；　and　put　into　a　large　box；　and　a　little　branch　or　two　of　privet　put　to　it；　on　which　I　saw　it　feed　as　sharply　as　a　dog　gnaws　a　bone：　it　lived　thus；　five　or　six　days；　and　thrived；　and　changed　the　colour　two　or　three　times　but　by　some　neglect　in　the　keeper　of　it；　it　then　died　and　did　not　turn　to　a　fly：　but　if　it　had　lived；　it　had　doubtless　turned　to　one　of　those　flies　that　some　call　Flies　of　prey；　which　those　that　walk　by　the　rivers　may；　in　summer；　see　fasten　on　smaller　flies；　and；　I　think；　make　them　their　food。　And　'tis　observable；　that　as　there　be　these　flies　of　prey；　which　be　very　large；　so　there　be　others；　very　little；　created；　I　think；　only　to　feed　them；　and　breed　out　of　I　know　not　what；　whose　life；　they　say；　nature　intended　not　to　exceed　an　hour；　and　yet　that　life　is　thus　made　shorter　by　other　flies；　or　accident。

'Tis　endless　to　tell　you　what　the　curious　searchers　into　nature's　productions　have　observed　of　these　worms　and　flies：　but　yet　I　shall　tell　you　what　Aldrovandus；　our　Topsel；　and　others；　say　of　the　Palmer…worm；　or　Caterpillar：　that　whereas　others　content　themselves　to　feed　on　particular　herbs　or　leaves；　for　most　think；　those　very　leaves　that　gave　them　life　and　shape；　give　them　a　particular　feeding　and　nourishment；　and　that　upon　them　they　usually　abide；　yet　he　observes；　that　this　is　called　a　pilgrim；　or　palmer…worm；　for　his　very　wandering　life；　and　various　food；　not　contenting　himself；　as　others　do；　with　any　one　certain　place　for　his　abode；　nor　any　certain　kind　of　herb　or　flower　for　his　feeding；　but　will　boldly　and　disorderly　wander　up　and　down；　and　not　endure　to　be　kept　to　a　diet；　or　fixt　to　a　particular　place。

Nay；　the　very　colours　of　caterpillars　are；　as　one　has　observed；　very　elegant　and　beautiful　I　shall；　for　a　taste　of　the　rest；　describe　one　of　them；　which　I　will；　some　time　the　next　month；　shew　you　feeding　on　a　willow…tree；　and　you　shall　find　him　punctually　to　answer　this　very　description：　his　lips　and　mouth　somewhat　yellow；　his　eyes　black　as　jet；　his　forehead　purple；　his　feet　and　hinder　parts　green；　his　tail　two…forked　and　black；　the　whole　body　stained　with　a　kind　of　red　spots；　which　run　along　the　neck　and　shoulder…blade；　not　unlike　the　form　of　St。　Andrew's　cross；　or　the　letter　X；　made　thus　crosswise；　and　a　white　line　drawn　down　his　back　to　his　tail；　all　which　add　much　beauty　to　his　whole　body。　And　it　is　to　me　observable；　that　at　a　fixed　age　this　caterpillar　gives　over　to　eat；　and　towards　winter　comes　to　be　covered　over　with　a　strange　shell　or　crust；　called　an　aurelia；　and　so　lives　a　kind　of　dead　life；　without　eating　all　the　winter。　And　as　others　of　several　kinds　turn　to　be　several　kinds　of　flies　and　vermin；　the　Spring　following；　so　this　caterpillar　then　turns　to　be　a　painted　butterfly。

Come；　come；　my　scholar；　you　see　the　river　stops　our　morning　walk：　and　I　will　also　here　stop　my　discourse：　only　as　we　sit　down　under　this　honeysuckle　hedge；　whilst　I　look　a　line　to　fit　the　rod　that　our　brother　Peter　hath　lent　you；　I　shall；　for　a　little　confirmation　of　what　I　have　said；　repeat　the　observation　of　Du　Bartas：

God；　not　contented　to　each　kind　to　give　And　to　infuse　the　virtue　generative；　Made；　by　his　wisdom；　many　creatures　breed　Of　lifeless　bodies。　without　Venus'　deed。

So；　the　cold　humour　breeds　the　Salamander；　Who；　in　effect；　like　to　her　birth's　commander；　With　child　with　hundred　winters；　with　her　touch　Quencheth　the　fire；　tho'glowing　ne'er　so　much。

So　of　the　fire；　in　burning　furnace；　springs　The　fly　Pyrausta　with　the　flaming　wings：　Without　the　fire；　it　dies：　within　it　joys；　Living　in　that　which　each　shine　else　destroys。

So；　slow　Bo？tes　underneath　him　sees　In　th'　icy　isles　those　goslings　hatch'd　of　trees；　Whose　fruitful　leaves；　falling　into　the　water；　Are　turn'd；　they　say；　to　living　fowls　soon　after。

So；　rotten　sides　of　broken　ships　do　change　To　barnacles。　O　transformation　strange！　'Twas　first　a　green　tree；　then；　a　gallant　hull；　Lately　a　mushroom；　now；　a　flying　gull。

Venator。　O　my　good　master；　this　morning…walk　has　been　spent　to　my　great　pleasure　and　wonder：　but；　I　pray；　when　shall　I　have　your　direction　how　to　make　artificial　flies；　like　to　those　that　the　Trout　loves　best；　and；　also；　how　to　use　them　？

Piscator。　My　honest　scholar；　it　is　now　past　five　of　the　clock：　we　will　fish　till　nine；　and　then　go　to　breakfast。　Go　you　to　yonder　sycamore…tree；　and　hide　your　bottle　of　drink　under　the　hollow　root　of　it；　for　about　that　time；　and　in　that　place；　we　will　make　a　brave　breakfast　with　a　piece　of　powdered　beef；　and　a　radish　or　two；　that　I　have　in　my　fish　bag：　we　shall；　I　warrant　you；　make　a　good；　honest；　wholesome　hungry　breakfast。　And　I　will　then　give　you　direction　for　the　making　and　using　of　your　flies：　and　in　the　meantime；　there　is　your　rod　and　line；　and　my　advice　is；　that　you　fish　as　you　see　me　do；　and　let's　try　which　can　catch　the　first　fish。

Venator。　I　thank　you；　master。　I　will　observe　and　practice　your　direction　as　far　as　I　am　able。

Piscator。　Look　you；　scholar；　you　see　I　have　hold　of　a　good　fish：　I　now　see　it　is　a　Trout。　I　pray；　put　that　net　under　him；　and　touch　not　my　line；　for　if　you　do；　then　we　break　all。　Well　done；　scholar：　I　thank　you。

Now　for　another。　Trust　me；　I　have　another　bite。　Come；　scholar；　come　lay　down　your　rod；　and　help　me　to　land　this　as　you　did　the　other。　So　now　we　shall　be　sure　to　have　a　good　dish　of　fish　for　supper。

Venator。　I　am　glad　of　that：　but　I　have　no　fortune：　sure；　master；　yours　is　a　better　rod　and　better　tackling。

Piscator。　Nay；　then；　take　mine；　and　I　will　fish　with　yours。　Look　you；　scholar；　I　have　another。　Come；　do　as　you　did　before。　And　now　I　have　a　bite　at　another。　Oh　me！　　he　has　broke　all：　there's　half　a　line　and　a　good　hook　lost。

Venator。　Ay；　and　a　good　Trout　too。

Piscator。　Nay；　the　Trout　is　not　lost；　for　pray　take　notice；　no　man　can　lose　what　he　never　had。

Venator。　Master；　I　can　neither　catch　with　the　first　nor　second　angle：　I　have　no　fortune。

Piscator。　Look　you；　scholar；　I　have　yet　another。　And　now；　having　caught　three　brace　of　Trouts；　I　will　tell　you　a　short　tale　as　we　walk　towards　our　breakfast。　A　scholar；　a　preacher　I　should　say；　that　was　to　preach　to　procure　the　approbation　of　a　parish　that　he　might　be　their　lecturer；　had　got　from　his　fellow…pupil　the　copy　of　a　sermon　that　was　first　preached　with　great　commendation　by　him　that　composed　it：　and　though　the　borrower　of　it　preached　it；　word　for　word；　as　it　was　at　first；　yet　it　was　utterly　disliked　as　it　was　preached　by　the　second　to　his　congregation；　which　the　sermon…borrower　complained　of　to　the　lender　of　it：　and　was　thus　answered：　〃　I　lent　you；　indeed；　my　fiddle；　but　not　my　fiddle…stick；　for　you　are　to　know；　that　every　one　cannot　make　musick　with　my　words；　which　are　fitted　for　my　own　mouth〃。　And　so；　my　scholar；　you　are　to　know；　that　as　the　ill　pronunciation　or　ill　accenting　of　words　in　a　sermon　spoils　it；　so　the　ill　carriage　of　your　line；　or　not　fishing　even　to　a　foot　in　a　right　place；　makes　you　lose　your　labour：　and　you　are　to　know；　that　though　you　have　my　fiddle；　that　is；　my　very　rod　and　tacklings　with　which　you　see　I　catch　fish；　yet　you　have　not　my　fiddle…stick；　that　is；　you　yet　have　not　skill　to　know　how　to　carry　your　hand　and　line；　nor　how　to　guide　it　to　a　right　place：　and　this　must　be　taught　you；　for　you　are　to　remember；　I　told　you　Angling　is　an　art；　either　by　practice　or　a　long　observation；　or　both。　But　take　this　for　a　rule；　When　you　fish　for　a　Trout　with　a　worm；　let　your　line　have　so　much；　and　not　more　lead　than　will　fit　the　stream　in　which　you　fish；　that　is　to　say；　more　in　a　great　troublesome　stream　than　in　a　smaller　that　is　quieter；　as　near　as　may　be；　so　much　as　will　sink　the　bait　to　the　bottom；　and　keep　it　still　in　motion；　and　not　more。

But　now；　let's　say　grace；　and　fall　to　breakfast。　What　say　you；　scholar；　to　the　providence　of　an　old　angler　？　Does　not　this　meat　taste　well？　and　was　not　this　place　well　chosen　to　eat　it？　for　this　sycamore…tree　will　shade　us　from　the　sun's　heat。

Venator。　All　excellent　good；　and　my　stomach　excellent　good；　too。　And　now　I　remember；　and　find　that　true　which　devout　Lessius　says；　〃　that　poor　men；　and　those　that　fast　often；　have　much　more　pleasure　in　eating　than　rich　men；　and　gluttons；　that　always　feed　before　their　stomachs　are　empty　of　their　last　meat　and　call　for　more；　for　by　that　means　they　rob　themselves　of　that　pleasure　that　hunger　brings　to　poor　men〃。　And　I　do　seriously　approve　of　that　saying　of　yours；　〃　that　you　had　rather　be　a　civil；　well…governed；　well…grounded；　temperate；　poor　angler；　than　a　drunken　lord　〃：　but　I　hope　there　is　none　such。　However；　I　am　certain　of　this；　that　I　have　been　at　many　very　costly　dinners　that　have　not　afforded　me　half　the　content　that　this　has　done；　for　which　I　thank　God　and　you。

And　now；　good　master；　proceed　to　your　promised　direction　for　making　and　ordering　my　artificial　fly。

Piscator。　My　honest　scholar；　I　will　do　it；　for　it　is　a　debt　due　unto　you　by　my　promise。　And　because　you　shall　not　think　yourself　more　engaged　to　me　than　indeed　you　really　are；　I　will　freely　give　you　such　directions　as　were　lately　given　to　me　by　an　ingenious　brother　of　the　angle；　an　honest　man；　and　a　most　excellent　fly…fisher。

You　are　to　note；　that　there　are　twelve　kinds　of　artificial　made　Flies；　to　angle　with　upon　the　top　of　the　water。　Note；　by　the　way；　that　the　fittest　season　of　using　these　is　in　a　blustering　windy　day；　when　the　waters　are　so　troubled　that　the　natural　fly　cannot　be　seen；　or　rest　upon　them。　The　first　is　the　dun…fly；　in　March：　the　body　is　made　of　dun　wool；　the　wings；　of　the　partridge's　feathers。　The　second　is　another　dun…fly：　the　body；　of　black　wool；　and　the　wings　made　of　the　black　drake's　feathers；　and　of　the　feathers　under　his　tail。　The　thi