the complete angler-第25章

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own　in　a　haycock；　and　eat　it；　and　Maudlin　shall　sit　by　and　sing　you　the　good　old　song　of　the　〃　Hunting　in　Chevy　Chace；　　〃　or　some　other　good　ballad；　for　she　hath　store　of　them：　Maudlin；　my　honest　Maudlin；　hath　a　notable　memory；　and　she　thinks　nothing　too　good　for　you；　because　you　be　such　honest　men。

Venator。　We　thank　you；　and　intend；　once　in　a　month　to　call　upon　you　again；　and　give　you　a　little　warning；　and　so；　good…night　Good…night；　Maudlin。　And　now；　good　master；　let's　lose　no　time：　but　tell　me　somewhat　more　of　fishing；　and　if　you　please；　first；　something　of　fishing　for　a　Gudgeon。

Piscator。　I　will；　honest　scholar。





The　fourth　day…continued

Of　the　Gudgeon；　the　Ruffe；　and　the　Bleak

Chapter　XV

Piscator

The　GUDGEON　is　reputed　a　fish　of　excellent　taste；　and　to　be　very　wholesome。　He　is　of　a　fine　shape；　of　a　silver　colour；　and　beautified　with　black　spots　both　on　his　body　and　tail。　He　breeds　two　or　three　times　in　the　year；　and　always　in　summer。　He　is　commended　for　a　fish　of　excellent　nourishment。　The　Germans　call　him　Groundling；　by　reason　of　his　feeding　on　the　ground；　and　he　there　feasts　himself；　in　sharp　streams　and　on　the　gravel。　He　and　the　Barbel　both　feed　so：　and　do　not　hunt　for　flies　at　any　time；　as　most　other　fishes　do。　He　is　an　excellent　fish　to　enter　a　young　angler；　being　easy　to　be　taken　with　a　small　red　worm；　on　or　very　near　to　the　ground。　He　is　one　of　those　leather…mouthed　fish　that　has　his　teeth　in　his　throat；　and　will　hardly　be　lost　off　from　the　hook　if　he　be　once　strucken。

They　be　usually　scattered　up　and　down　every　river　in　the　shallows；　in　the　heat　of　summer：　but　in　autumn；　when　the　weeds　begin　to　grow　sour　and　rot；　and　the　weather　colder；　then　they　gather　together；　and　get　into　the　deeper　parts　of　the　water；　and　are　to　be　fished　for　there；　with　your　hook　always　touching　the　ground；　if　you　fish　for　him　with　a　float　or　with　a　cork。　But　many　will　fish　for　the　Gudgeon　by　hand；　with　a　running　line　upon　the　ground；　without　a　cork；　as　a　Trout　is　fished　for：　and　it　is　an　excellent　way；　if　you　have　a　gentle　rod；　and　as　gentle　a　hand。

There　is　also　another　fish　called　a　POPE；　and　by　some　a　RUFFE；　a　fish　that　is　not　known　to　be　in　some　rivers：　he　is　much　like　the　Perch　for　his　shape；　and　taken　to　be　better　than　the　Perch；　but　will　not　grow　to　be　bigger　than　a　Gudgeon。　He　is　an　excellent　fish；　no　fish　that　swims　is　of　a　pleasanter　taste。　And　he　is　also　excellent　to　enter　a　young　angler；　for　he　is　a　greedy　biter：　and　they　will　usually　lie；　abundance　of　them　together；　in　one　reserved　place；　where　the　water　is　deep　and　runs　quietly；　and　an　easy　angler；　if　he　has　found　where　they　lie；　may　catch　forty　or　fifty；　or　sometimes　twice　so　many；　at　a　standing。

You　must　fish　for　him　with　a　small　red　worm；　and　if　you　bait　the　ground　with　earth；　it　is　excellent。

There　is　also　a　BLEAK　or　fresh…water　Sprat；　a　fish　that　is　ever　in　motion；　and　therefore　called　by　some　the　river…swallow；　for　just　as　you　shall　observe　the　swallow　to　be；　most　evenings　in　summer；　ever　in　motion；　making　short　and　quick　turns　when　he　flies　to　catch　flies；　in　the　air；　by　which　he　lives；　so　does　the　Bleak　at　the　top　of　the　water。　Ausonius　would　have　called　him　Bleak　from　his　whitish　colour：　his　back　is　of　a　pleasant　sad　or　sea…water…green；　his　belly；　white　and　shining　as　the　mountain　snow。　And　doubtless；　though　we　have　the　fortune；　which　virtue　has　in　poor　people；　to　be　neglected；　yet　the　Bleak　ought　to　be　much　valued；　though　we　want　Allamot　salt；　and　the　skill　that　the　Italians　have；　to　turn　them　into　anchovies。　This　fish　may　be　caught　with　a　Pater…noster　line；　that　is；　six　or　eight　very　small　hooks　tied　along　the　line；　one　half　a　foot　above　the　other：　I　have　seen　five　caught　thus　at　one　time；　and　the　bait　has　been　gentles；　than　which　none　is　better。

Or　this　fish　may　be　caught　with　a　fine　small　artificial　fly；　which　is　to　be　of　a　very　sad　brown　colour；　and　very　small；　and　the　hook　answerable。　There　is　no　better　sport　than　whipping　for　Bleaks　in　a　boat；　or　on　a　bank；　in　the　swift　water；　in　a　summer's　evening；　with　a　hazel　top　about　five　or　six　foot　long；　and　a　line　twice　the　length　of　the　rod。　I　have　heard　Sir　Henry　Wotton　say；　that　there　be　many　that　in　Italy　will　catch　swallows　so；　or　especially　martins；　this　bird…angler　standing　on　the　top　of　a　steeple　to　do　it；　and　with　the　line　twice　so　long　as　I　have　spoken　of。　And　let　me　tell　you；　scholar；　that　both　Martins　and　Bleaks　be　most　excellent　meat

And　let　me　tell　you；　that　I　have　known　a　Heron；　that　did　constantly　frequent　one　place；　caught　with　a　hook　baited　with　a　big　minnow　or　a　small　gudgeon。　The　line　and　hook　must　be　strong：　and　tied　to　some　loose　staff；　so　big　as　she　cannot　fly　away　with　it：　a　line　not　exceeding　two　yards。





The　fourth　day…continued

Is　of　nothing；　or　of　nothing　worth

Chapter　XVI

Piscator；　Venator；　Peter；　Coridon

Piscator。　My　purpose　was　to　give　you　some　directions　concerning　ROACH　and　DACE；　and　some　other　inferior　fish　which　make　the　angler　excellent　sport；　for　you　know　there　is　more　pleasure　in　hunting　the　hare　than　in　eating　her：　but　I　will　forbear；　at　this　time；　to　say　any　more；　because　you　see　yonder　come　our　brother　Peter　and　honest　Coridon。　But　I　will　promise　you；　that　as　you　and　I　fish　and　walk　to…　morrow　towards　London；　if　I　have　now　forgotten　anything　that　I　can　then　remember；　I　will　not　keep　it　from　you。

Well　met；　gentlemen；　this　is　lucky　that　we　meet　so　just　together　at　this　very　door；　Come；　hostess；　where　are　you　？　is　supper　ready　？　Come；　first　give　us　a　drink；　and　be　as　quick　as　you　can；　for　I　believe　we　are　all　very　hungry。　Well；　brother　Peter　and　Coridon；　to　you　both！　Come；　drink：　and　then　tell　me　what　luck　of　fish：　we　two　have　caught　but　ten　bouts；　of　which　my　scholar　caught　three。　Look！　here's　eight；　and　a　brace　we　gave　away。　We　have　had　a　most　pleasant　day　for　fishing　and　talking；　and　are　returned　home　both　weary　and　hungry；　and　now　meat　and　rest　will　be　pleasant。

Peter。　And　Coridon　and　I　have　not　had　an　unpleasant　day：　and　yet　I　have　caught　but　five　bouts；　for；　indeed；　we　went　to　a　good　honest　ale…　house；　and　there　we　played　at　shovel…board　half　the　day；　all　the　time　that　it　rained　we　were　there；　and　as　merry　as　they　that　fished。　And　I　am　glad　we　are　now　with　a　dry　house　over　our　heads；　for；　hark　！　how　it　rains　and　blows。　Come；　hostess；　give　us　more　ale；　and　our　supper　with　what　haste　you　may：　and　when　we　have　supped；　let　us　have　your　song；　Piscator；　and　the　catch　that　your　scholar　promised　us；　or　else；　Coridon　will　be　dogged。

Piscator。　Nay；　I　will　not　be　worse　than　my　word；　you　shall　not　want　my　song；　and　I　hope　I　shall　be　perfect　in　it

Venator。　And　I　hope　the　like　for　my　catch；　which　I　have　ready　too：　and　therefore　let's　go　merrily　to　supper；　and　then　have　a　gentle　touch　at　singing　and　drinking；　but　the　last　with　moderation。

Coridon。　Come；　now　for　your　song；　for　we　have　fed　heartily。　Come；　hostess；　lay　a　few　more　sticks　on　the　fire。　And　now；　sing　when　you　will。

Piscator。　Well　then；　here　s　to　you；　Coridon；　and　now　for　my　song。

O　the　gallant　Fisher's　life；　It　is　the　best　of　any；　'Tis　full　of　pleasure；　void　of　strife；　And　'tis　beloved　of　many：　Other　joys　Are　but　toys；　Only　this　Lawful　is；　For　our　skill　Breeds　no　ill；　But　content　and　pleasure。

In　a　morning　up　we　rise　Ere　Aurora's　peeping；　Drink　a　cup　to　wash　our　eyes。　Leave　the　sluggard　sleeping；　Then　we　go　To　and　fro；　With　our　knacks　At　our　backs　To　such　streams　As　the　Thames　If　we　have　the　leisure。

When　we　please　to　walk　abroad　For　our　recreation；　In　the　fields　is　our　abode；　Full　of　delectation：　Where　in　a　brook　With　a　hook　Or　a　lake　Fish　we　take：　There　we　sit　For　a　bit；　Till　we　fish　entangle。

We　have　gentles　in　a　horn；　We　have　paste　and　worms　too　We　can　watch　both　night　and　morn；　Suffer　rain　and　storms　too；　None　do　here　Use　to　swear；　Oaths　do　fray　Fish　away；　We　sit　still；　And　watch　our　quill　Fishers　must　not　wrangle。

If　the　sun's　excessive　heat　Make　our　bodies　swelter；　To　an　osier　hedge　we　get　For　a　friendly　shelter　Where；　in　a　dike；　Perch　or　Pike　Roach　or　Dace　We　do　chase　Bleak　or　Gudgeon；　Without　grudging　We　are　still　contented。

Or　we　sometimes　pass　an　hour　Under　a　green　willow；　That　defends　us　from　a　shower；　Making　earth　our　pillow；　Where　we　may　Think　and　pray　Before　death　Stops　our　breath。　Other　joys　Are　but　toys；　And　to　be　lamented。

Jo。　Chalkhill。

Venator。　Well　sung；　master；　this　day　s　fortune　and　pleasure；　and　the　night's　company　and　song；　do　all　make　me　more　and　more　in　love　with　angling。　Gentlemen；　my　master　left　me　alone　for　an　hour　this　day；　and　I　verily　believe　he　retired　himself　from　talking　with　me　that　he　might　be　so　perfect　in　this　song；　was　it　not；　master？

Piscator。　Yes　indeed；　for　it　is　many　years　since　I　learned　it；　and　having　forgotten　a　part　of　it；　I　was　forced　to　patch　it　up　with　the　help　of　mine　own　invention；　who　am　not　excellent　at　poetry；　as　my　part　of　the　song　may　testify；　but　of　that　I　will　say　no　more；　lest　you　should　think　I　mean；　by　discommending　it；　to　beg　your　commendations　of　it。　And　therefore；　without　replications；　let's　hear　your　catch；　scholar；　which　I　hope　will　be　a　good　one；　for　you　are　both　musical　and　have　a　good　fancy　to　boot。

Venator。　Marry；　and　that　you　shall；　and　as　freely　as　I　would　have　my　honest　master　tell　me　some　more　secrets　of　fish　and　fishing；　as　we　walk　and　fish　towards　London　to…morrow。　But；　master；　first　let　me　tell　you；　that　very　hour　which　you　were　absent　from　me；　I　sat　down　under　a　willow…tree　by　the　water…side；　and　considered　what　you　had　told　me　of　the　owner　of　that　pleasant　meadow　in　which　you　then　left　me；　that　he　had　a　plentiful　estate；　and　not　a　heart　to　think　so　；　that　he　had　at　this　time　many　law…suits　depending；　and　that　they　both　damped　his　mirth；　and　took　up　so　much　of　his　time　and　thoughts；　that　he　himself　had　not　leisure　to　take　the　sweet　content　that　I；　who　pretended　no　title　to　them；　took　in　his　fields：　for　I　could　there　sit　quietly；　and　looking　on　the　water；　see　some　fishes　sport　themselves　in　the　silver　streams；　others　leaping　at　flies　of　several　shapes　and　colours；　looking　on　the　hills；　I　could　behold　them　spotted　with　woods　and　groves；　looking　down　the　meadows；　could　see；　here　a　boy　gathering　lilies　and　lady…smocks；　and　there　a　girl　cropping　culverkeys　and　cowslips；　all　to　make　garlands　suitable　to　this　present　month　of　May：　these；　and　many　other　field　flowers；　so　perfumed　the　air；　that　I　thought　that　very　meadow　like　that　field　in　Sicily　of　which　Diodorus　speaks；　where　the　perfumes　arising　from　the　place　make　all　dogs　that　hunt　in　it　to　fall　off；　and　to　lose　their　hottest　scent　I　say；　as　I　thus　sat；　joying　in　my　own　happy　condition；　and　pitying　this　poor　rich　man　that　owned　this　and　many　other　pleasant　groves　and　meadows　about　me；　I　did　thankfully　remember　what　my　Saviour　said；　that　the　meek　possess　the　earth；　or　rather；　they　enjoy　what　the　others　possess；　and　enjoy　not；　for　anglers　and　meek　quiet…spirited　men　are　free　from　those　high；　those　restless　thoughts；　which　corrode　the　sweets　of　life；　and　they；　and　they　only；　can　say；　as　the　poet　has　happily　express　it；

Hail　！　blest　estate　of　lowliness；　Happy　enjoyments　of　such　minds　As；　rich　in　self…contentedness；　Can；　like　the　reeds；　in　roughest　winds；　By　yielding　make　that　blow　but　small　At　which　proud　oaks　and