the complete angler-第16章

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Piscator。　Ay　marry；　Sir；　that　was　a　good　fish　indeed：　if　I　had　had　the　luck　to　have　taken　up　that　rod；　then　'tis　twenty　to　one　he　should　not　have　broken　my　line　by　running　to　the　rod's　end；　as　you　suffered　him。　I　would　have　held　him　within　the　bent　of　my　rod；　unless　he　had　been　fellow　to　the　great　Trout　that　is　near　an　ell　long；　which　was　of　such　a　length　and　depth；　that　he　had　his　picture　drawn；　and　now　is　to　be　seen　at　mine　host　Rickabie's；　at　the　George　in　Ware；　and　it　may　be；　by　giving　that　very　great　Trout　the　rod；　that　is；　by　casting　it　to　him　into　the　water；　I　might　have　caught　him　at　the　long　run；　for　so　I　use　always　to　do　when　I　meet　with　an　over…grown　fish；　and　you　will　learn　to　do　so　too；　hereafter；　for　I　tell　you；　scholar；　fishing　is　an　art；　or；　at　least；　it　is　an　art　to　catch　fish。

Venator。　But；　master；　I　have　heard　that　the　great　Trout　you　speak　of　is　a　Salmon。

Piscator。　Trust　me；　scholar；　I　know　not　what　to　say　to　it。　There　are　many　country　people　that　believe　hares　change　sexes　every　year：　and　there　be　very　many　learned　men　think　so　too；　for　in　their　dissecting　them　they　find　many　reasons　to　incline　them　to　that　belief。　And　to　make　the　wonder　seem　yet　less；　that　hares　change　sexes；　note　that　Dr。　Mer。　Casaubon　affirms；　in　his　book　〃　Of　credible　and　incredible　things；〃　that　Gasper　Peucerus；　a　learned　physician；　tells　us　of　a　people　that　once　a　year　turn　wolves；　partly　in　shape；　and　partly　in　conditions。　And　so；　whether　this　were　a　Salmon　when　he　came　into　fresh　water；　and　his　not　returning　into　the　sea　hath　altered　him　to　another　colour　or　kind；　I　am　not　able　to　say；　but　I　am　certain　he　hath　all　the　signs　of　being　a　Trout；　both　for　his　shape；　colour；　and　spots；　and　yet　many　think　he　is　not。

Venator。　But；　master；　will　this　Trout　which　I　had　hold　of　die　？　for　it　is　like　he　hath　the　hook　in　his　belly。

Piscator。　I　will　tell　you；　scholar；　that　unless　the　hook　be　fast　in　his　very　gorge；　'tis　more　than　probable　he　will　live；　and　a　little　time；　with　the　help　of　the　water；　will　rust　the　hook；　and　it　will　in　time　wear　away；　as　the　gravel　doth　in　the　horse…hoof；　which　only　leaves　a　false　quarter。

And　now；　scholar；　let's　go　to　my　rod。　Look　you；　scholar；　I　have　a　fish　too；　but　it　proves　a　logger…headed　Chub：　and　this　is　not　much　amiss；　for　this　will　pleasure　some　poor　body；　as　we　go　to　our　lodging　to　meet　our　brother　Peter　and　honest　Coridon。　Come；　now　bait　your　hook　again；　and　lay　it　into　the　water；　for　it　rains　again；　and　we　will　even　retire　to　the　Sycamore…tree；　and　there　I　will　give　you　more　directions　concerning　fishing；　for　I　would　fain　make　you　an　artist。

Venator。　Yes；　good　master；　I　pray　let　it　be　so。

Piscator。　Well；　scholar；　now　that　we　are　sate　down　and　are　at　ease；　I　shall　tell　you　a　little　more　of　Trout…fishing；　before　I　speak　of　the　Salmon；　which　I　purpose　shall　be　next；　and　then　of　the　Pike　or　Luce。

You　are　to　know；　there　is　night　as　well　as　day　fishing　for　a　Trout；　and　that；　in　the　night；　the　best　Trouts　come　out　of　their　holes。　And　the　manner　of　taking　them　is　on　the　top　of　the　water　with　a　great　lob　or　garden…worm；　or　rather　two；　which　you　are　to　fish　with　in　a　stream　where　the　waters　run　somewhat　quietly；　for　in　a　stream　the　bait　will　not　be　so　well　discerned。　I　say；　in　a　quiet　or　dead　place；　near　to　some　swift；　there　draw　your　bait　over　the　top　of　the　water；　to　and　fro；　and　if　there　be　a　good　Trout　in　the　hole；　he　will　take　it；　especially　if　the　night　be　dark；　for　then　he　is　bold；　and　lies　near　the　top　of　the　water；　watching　the　motion　of　any　frog　or　water…rat；　or　mouse；　that　swims　betwixt　him　and　the　sky；　these　he　hunts　after；　if　he　sees　the　water　but　wrinkle　or　move　in　one　of　these　dead　holes；　where　these　great　old　Trouts　usually　lie；　near　to　their　holds；　for　you　are　to　note；　that　the　great　old　Trout　is　both　subtle　and　fearful；　and　lies　close　all　day；　and　does　not　usually　stir　out　of　his　hold；　but　lies　in　it　as　close　in　the　day　as　the　timorous　hare　does　in　her　form；　for　the　chief　feeding　of　either　is　seldom　in　the　day；　but　usually　in　the　night；　and　then　the　great　Trout　feeds　very　boldly。

And　you　must　fish　for　him　with　a　strong　line；　and　not　a　little　hook；　and　let　him　have　time　to　gorge　your　hook；　for　he　does　not　usually　forsake　it；　as　he　oft　will　in　the　day…fishing。　And　if　the　night　be　not　dark；　then　fish　so　with　an　artificial　fly　of　a　light　colour；　and　at　the　snap：　nay；　he　will　sometimes　rise　at　a　dead　mouse；　or　a　piece　of　cloth；　or　anything　that　seems　to　swim　across　the　water；　or　to　be　in　motion。　This　is　a　choice　way；　but　I　have　not　oft　used　it；　because　it　is　void　of　the　pleasures　that　such　days　as　these；　that　we　two　now　enjoy；　afford　an　angler

And　you　are　to　know；　that　in　Hampshire；　which　I　think　exceeds　all　England　for　swift；　shallow；　clear；　pleasant　brooks；　and　store　of　Trouts；　they　used　to　catch　Trouts　in　the　night；　by　the　light　of　a　torch　or　straw；　which；　when　they　have　discovered；　they　strike　with　a　Trout…spear；　or　other　ways。　This　kind　of　way　they　catch　very　many：　but　I　would　not　believe　it　till　I　was　an　eye…witness　of　it；　nor　do　I　like　it　now　I　have　seen　it。

Venator。　But；　master；　do　not　Trouts　see　us　in　the　night？

Piscator　Yes；　and　hear；　and　smell　too；　both　then　and　in　the　day…time：　for　Gesner　observes；　the　Otter　smells　a　fish　forty　furlongs　off　him　in　the　water：　and　that　it　may　be　true；　seems　to　be　affirmed　by　Sir　Francis　Bacon；　in　the　eighth　century　of　his　Natural　History；　who　there　proves　that　waters　may　be　the　medium　of　sounds；　by　demonstrating　it　thus：　〃　That　if　you　knock　two　stones　together　very　deep　under　the　water；　those　that　stand　on　a　bank　near　to　that　place　may　hear　the　noise　without　any　diminution　of　it　by　the　water　〃　。　He　also　offers　the　like　experiment　concerning　the　letting　an　anchor　fall；　by　a　very　long　cable　or　rope；　on　a　rock；　or　the　sand；　within　the　sea。　And　this　being　so　well　observed　and　demonstrated　as　it　is　by　that　learned　man；　has　made　me　to　believe　that　Eels　unbed　themselves　and　stir　at　the　noise　of　thunder；　and　not　only；　as　some　think；　by　the　motion　or　stirring　of　the　earth　which　is　occasioned　by　that　thunder。

And　this　reason　of　Sir　Francis　Bacon　has　made　me　crave　pardon　of　one　that　I　laughed　at　for　affirming　that　he　knew　Carps　come　to　a　certain　place；　in　a　pond；　to　be　fed　at　the　ringing　of　a　bell　or　the　beating　of　a　drum。　And；　however；　it　shall　be　a　rule　for　me　to　make　as　little　noise　as　I　can　when　I　am　fishing；　until　Sir　Francis　Bacon　be　confuted；　which　I　shall　give　any　man　leave　to　do。

And　lest　you　may　think　him　singular　in　this　opinion；　I　will　tell　you；　this

seems　to　be　believed　by　our　learned　Doctor　Hakewill；　who　in　his　Apology　of　God's　power　and　providence；　quotes　Pliny　to　report　that　one　of　the　emperors　had　particular　fish…ponds；　and；　in　them；　several　fish　that　appeared　and　came　when　they　were　called　by　their　particular　names。　And　St。　James　tells　us；　that　all　things　in　the　sea　have　been　tamed　by　mankind。　And　Pliny　tells　us；　that　Antonia；　the　wife　of　Drusus；　had　a　Lamprey　at　whose　gills　she　hung　jewels　or　ear…rings；　and　that　others　have　been　so　tender…hearted　as　to　shed　tears　at　the　death　of　fishes　which　they　have　kept　and　loved。　And　these　observations；　which　will　to　most　hearers　seem　wonderful；　seem　to　have　a　further　confirmation　from　Martial；　who　writes　thus：…

Piscator；　fuge；　ne　nocens；　etc。

Angler　！　would'st　thou　be　guiltless　？　then　forbear；　For　these　are　sacred　fishes　that　swim　here；　Who　know　their　sovereign；　and　will　lick　his　hand；　Than　which　none's　greater　in　the　world's　command；　Nay　more　they've　names；　and；　when　they　called　are；　Do　to　their　several　owner's　call　repair。

All　the　further　use　that　I　shall　make　of　this　shall　be；　to　advise　anglers　to　be　patient；　and　forbear　swearing；　lest　they　be　heard；　and　catch　no　fish。

And　so　I　shall　proceed　next　to　tell　you；　it　is　certain　that　certain　fields　near　Leominster；　a　town　in　Herefordshire；　are　observed　to　make　the　sheep　that　graze　upon　them　more　fat　than　the　next；　and　also　to　bear　finer　wool；　that　is　to　say；　that　that　year　in　which　they　feed　in　such　a　particular　pasture；　they　shall　yield　finer　wool　than　they　did　that　year　before　they　came　to　feed　in　it；　and　coarser；　again；　if　they　shall　return　to　their　former　pasture；　and；　again；　return　to　a　finer　wool；　being　fed　in　the　fine　wool　ground：　which　I　tell　you；　that　you　may　the　better　believe　that　I　am　certain；　if　I　catch　a　Trout　in　one　meadow；　he　shall　be　white　and　faint；　and　very　like　to　be　lousy；　and；　as　certainly；　it　I　catch　a　Trout　in　the　next　meadow；　he　shall　be　strong；　and　red；　and　lusty；　and　much　better　meat　Trust　me；　scholar；　I　have　caught　many　a　Trout　in　a　particular　meadow；　that　the　very　shape　and　the　enamelled　colour　of　him　hath　been　such　as　hath　joyed　me　to　look　on　him：　and　I　have　then；　with　much　pleasure；　concluded　with　Solomon；　〃Everything　is　beautiful　in　his　season〃。

I　should；　by　promise；　speak　next　of　the　Salmon；　but　I　will；　by　your　favour；　say　a　little　of　the　Umber　or　Grayling；　which　is　so　like　a　Trout　for　his　shape　and　feeding；　that　I　desire　I　may　exercise　your　patience　with　a　short　discourse　of　him；　and　then；　the　next　shall　be　of　the　Salmon。




The　fourth　day　…　continued

The　Umber　or　Grayling

Chapter　VI

Piscator

The　Umber　and　Grayling　are　thought　by　some　to　differ　as　the　Herring　and　Pilchard　do。　But　though　they　may　do　so　in　other　nations；　I　think　those　in　England　differ　nothing　but　in　their　names。　Aldrovandus　says；　they　be　of　a　Trout　kind；　and　Gesner　says；　that　in　his　country；　which　is　Switzerland；　he　is　accounted　the　choicest　of　all　fish。　And　in　Italy；　he　is；　in　the　month　of　May；　so　highly　valued；　that　he　is　sold　there　at　a　much　higher　rate　than　any　other　fish。　The　French；　which　call　the　Chub　Un　Villain；　call　the　Umber　of　the　lake　Leman　Un　Umble　Chevalier；　and　they　value　the　Umber　or　Grayling　so　highly；　that　they　say　he　feeds　on　gold；　and　say；　that　many　have　been　caught　out　of　their　famous　river　of　Loire；　out　of　whose　bellies　grains　of　gold　have　been　often　taken。　And　some　think　that　he　feeds　on　water　thyme；　and　smells　of　it　at　his　first　taking　out　of　the　water；　and　they　may　think　so　with　as　good　reason　as　we　do　that　our　Smelts　smell　like　violets　at　their　being　first　caught；　which　I　think　is　a　truth。　Aldrovandus　says；　the　Salmon；　the　Grayling；　and　Trout；　and　all　fish　that　live　in　clear　and　sharp　streams；　are　made　by　their　mother　Nature　of　such　exact　shape　and　pleasant　colours　purposely　to　invite　us　to　a　joy　and　contentedness　in　feasting　with　her。　Whether　this　is　a　truth　or　not；　is　not　my　purpose　to　dispute：　but　'tis　certain；　all　that　write　of　the　Umber　declare　him　to　be　very　medicinable。　And　Gesner　says；　that　the　fat　of　an　Umber　or　Grayling；　being　set；　with　a　little　honey；　a　day　or　two　in　the　sun；　in　a　little　glass；　is　very　excellent　against　redness　or　swarthiness；　or　anything　that　breeds　in　the　eyes。　Salvian　takes　him　to　be　called　Umber　from　his　swift　swimming；　or　gliding　out　of　sight　more　like　a　shadow　or　a　ghost　than　a　fish。　Much　more　might　be　said　both　of　his　smell　and　taste：　but　I　shall　only　tell　you　that　St。　Ambrose；　the　glorious　bishop　of　Milan；　who　lived　when　the　church　kept　fasting…days；　calls　him　the　flower…fish；　or　flower　of　fishes；　and　that　he　was　so　far　in　love　with　him；　that　he　would　not　let　him　pass　without　the　honour　of　a　long　discourse；　but　I　must；　and　pass　on　to　tell　you　how