the complete angler-第26章

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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　cedars　fall。

There　came　also　into　my　mind　at　that　time　certain　verses　in　praise　of　a　mean　estate　and　humble　mind：　they　were　written　by　Phineas　Fletcher；　an　excellent　divine；　and　an　excellent　angler；　and　the　author　of　excellent　Piscatory　Eclogues；　in　which　you　shall　see　the　picture　of　this　good　man's　mind：　and　I　wish　mine　to　be　like　it。

No　empty　hopes；　no　courtly　fears　him　fright；　No　begging　wants　his　middle　fortune　bite：　But　sweet　content　exiles　both　misery　and　spite。

His　certain　life；　that　never　can　deceive　him；　Is　full　of　thousand　sweets　and　rich　content　The　smooth…leav'd　beeches　in　the　field　receive　him；　With　coolest　shade；　till　noon…tide's　heat　be　spent。　His　life　is　neither　tost　in　boisterous；　seas；　Or　the　vexatious　world；　or　lost　in　slothful　ease；　Please　and　full　blest　he　lives　when　he　his　God　can　please。

His　bed；　more　safe　than　soft；　yields　quiet　sleeps；　While　by　his　side　his　faithful　spouse　teas　place　His　little　son　into　his　bosom　creeps；　The　lively　picture　of　his　father's　face。　His　humble　house　or　poor　state　ne'er　torment　him　Less　he　could　like；　if　less　his　God　had　lent　him；　And　when　he　dies；　green　turfs　do　for　a　tomb　content　him；

Gentlemen；　these　were　a　part　of　the　thoughts　that　then　possessed　me。　And　I　there　made　a　conversion　of　a　piece　of　an　old　catch；　and　added　more　to　it；　fitting　them　to　be　sung　by　us　anglers。　Come；　Master；　you　can　sing　well：　you　must　sing　a　part　of　it。　as　it　is　in　this　paper。

Man's　life　is　but　vain；　for　'tis　subject　to　pain；　And　sorrow；　and　short　as　a　bubble；　'Tis　a　hodge…podge　of　business；　and　money；　and　care；　And　care；　and　money；　and　trouble。

But　we'll　take　no　care　when　the　weather　proves　fair；　Nor　will　we　vex　now　though　it　rain；　We'll　banish　all　sorrow；　and　sing　till　to…morrow；　And　angle。　and　angle　again。

Peter。　I　marry；　Sir；　this　is　musick　indeed；　this　has　cheer'd　my　heart；　and　made　me　remember　six　verses　in　praise　of　musick；　which　I　will　speak　to　you　instantly。

Musick　！　miraculous　rhetorick；　thou　speak'st　sense　Without　a　tongue；　excelling　eloquence　；　With　what　ease　might　thy　errors　be　excus'd；　Wert　thou　as　truly　lov'd　as　th'　art　abus'd！　But　though　dull　souls　neglect；　and　some　reprove　thee；　I　cannot　hate　thee；　'cause　the　Angels　love　thee。

Venator。　And　the　repetition　of　these　last　verses　of　musick　has　called　to　my　memory　what　Mr。　Edmund　Waller；　a　lover　of　the　angle；　says　of　love　and　musick

Whilst　I　listen　to　thy　voice；　Chloris！　I　feel　my　heart　decay　That　powerful　voice　Calls　my　fleeting　soul　away：　Oh！　suppress　that　magic　sound；　Which　destroys　without　a　wound。

Peace；　Chloris！　peace；　or　singing　die；　That　together　you　and　I　To　heaven　may　go；　For　all　we　know　Of　what　the　blessed　do　above　Is；　that　they　sing；　and　that　they　love。

Piscator。　Well　remembered；　brother　Peter；　these　verses　came　seasonably；　and　we　thank　you　heartily。　Come；　we　will　all　join　together；　my　host　and　all；　and　sing　my　scholar's　catch　over　again；　and　then　each　man　drink　the　tother　cup；　and　to　bed；　and　thank　God　we　have　a　dry　house　over　our　heads。

Piscator。　Well；　now；　good…night　to　everybody。　Peter。　And　so　say　I。

Venator。　And　so　say　I。

Coridon。　Good…night　to　you　all；　and　I　thank　you。





The　FIFTH　day。

Piscator。　Good…morrow；　brother　Peter；　and　the　like　to　you；　honest　Coridon。

Come；　my　hostess　says　there　is　seven　shillings　to　pay：　let's　each　man　drink　a　pot　for　his　morning's　draught；　and　lay　down　his　two　shillings；　so　that　my　hostess　may　not　have　occasion　to　repent　herself　of　being　so　diligent；　and　using　us　so　kindly。

Peter。　The　motion　is　liked　by　everybody；　and　so；　hostess；　here's　your　money：　we　anglers　are　all　beholden　to　you；　it　will　not　be　long　ere　I'll　see　you　again；　and　now；　brother　Piscator；　I　wish　you；　and　my　brother　your　scholar；　a　fair　day　and　good　fortune。　Come；　Coridon；　this　is　our　way。





The　FIFTH　day…continued

Of　Roack　and　Dace

Chapter　XVII

Venator　and　Piscator

Venator。　Good　master；　as　we　go　now　towards　London；　be　still　so　courteous　as　to　give　me　more　instructions；　for　I　have　several　boxes　in　my　memory；　in　which　I　will　keep　them　all　very　safe；　there　shall　not　one　of　them　be　lost。

Piscator。　Well；　scholar；　that　I　will：　and　I　will　hide　nothing　from　you　that　I　can　remember；　and　can　think　may　help　you　forward　towards　a　perfection　in　this　art。　And　because　we　have　so　much　time；　and　I　have　said　so　little　of　Roach　and　Dace；　I　will　give　you　some　directions　concerning　them。

Some　say　the　Roach　is　so　called　from　rutilus；　which　they　say　signifies　red　fins。　He　is　a　fish　of　no　great　reputation　for　his　dainty　taste；　and　his　spawn　is　accounted　much　better　than　any　other　part　of　him。　And　you　may　take　notice；　that　as　the　Carp　is　accounted　the　water…fox；　for　his　cunning；　so　the　Roach　is　accounted　the　water…sheep；　for　his　simplicity　or　foolishness。　It　is　noted；　that　the　Roach　and　Dace　recover　strength；　and　grow　in　season　in　a　fortnight　after　spawning；　the　Barbel　and　Chub　in　a　month；　the　Trout　in　four　months；　and　the　Salmon　in　the　like　time；　if　he　gets　into　the　sea；　and　after　into　fresh　water。

Roaches　be　accounted　much　better　in　the　river　than　in　a　pond；　though　ponds　usually　breed　the　biggest。　But　there　is　a　kind　of　bastard　small　Roach；　that　breeds　in　ponds；　with　a　very　forked　tail；　and　of　a　very　small　size；　which　some　say　is　bred　by　the　Bream　and　right　Roach；　and　some　ponds　are　stored　with　these　beyond　belief；　and　knowing…men；　that　know　their　difference；　call　them　Ruds：　they　differ　from　the　true　Roach；　as　much　as　a　Herring　from　a　Pilchard。　And　these　bastard　breed　of　Roach　are　now　scattered　in　many　rivers：　but　I　think　not　in　the　Thames；　which　I　believe　affords　the　largest　and　fattest　in　this　nation；　especially　below　London　Bridge。　The　Roach　is　a　leather…mouthed　fish；　and　has　a　kind　of　saw…like　teeth　in　his　throat。　And　lastly；　let　me　tell　you；　the　Roach　makes　an　angler　excellent　sport；　especially　the　great　Roaches　about　London；　where　I　think　there　be　the　best　Roach…anglers。　And　I　think　the　best　Trout…anglers　be　in　Derbyshire；　for　the　waters　there　are　clear　to　an　extremity。

Next；　let　me　tell　you；　you　shall　fish　for　this　Roach　in　Winter；　with　paste　or　gentles；　in　April；　with　worms　or　cadis；　in　the　very　hot　months；　with　little　white　snails；　or　with　flies　under　water；　for　he　seldom　takes　them　at　the　top；　though　the　Dace　will。　In　many　of　the　hot　months；　Roaches　may　also　be　caught　thus：　take　a　May…fly；　or　ant…fly；　sink　him　with　a　little　lead　to　the　bottom；　near　to　the　piles　or　posts　of　a　bridge；　or　near　to　any　posts　of　a　weir；　I　mean　any　deep　place　where　Roaches　lie　quietly；　and　then　pull　your　fly　up　very　leisurely；　and　usually　a　Roach　will　follow　your　bait　up　to　the　very　top　of　the　water；　and　gaze　on　it　there；　and　run　at　it；　and　take　it；　lest　the　fly　should　fly　away　from　him。

I　have　seen　this　done　at　Windsor　and　Henley　Bridge；　and　great　store　of　Roach　taken；　and　sometimes；　a　Dace　or　Chub。　And　in　August　you　may　fish　for　them　with　a　paste　made　only　of　the　crumbs　of　bread；　which　should　be　of　pure　fine　manchet；　and　that　paste　must　be　so　tempered　betwixt　your　hands　till　it　be　both　soft　and　tough　too：　a　very　little　water；　and　time；　and　labour；　and　clean　hands；　will　make　it　a　most　excellent　paste。　But　when　you　fish　with　it；　you　must　have　a　small　hook；　a　quick　eye；　and　a　nimble　hand；　or　the　bait　is　lost；　and　the　fish　too；　if　one　may　lose　that　which　he　never　had。　With　this　paste　you　may；　as　I　said；　take　both　the　Roach　and　the　Dace　or　Dare；　for　they　be　much　of　a　kind；　in　manner　of　feeding；　cunning；　goodness；　and　usually　in　size。　And　therefore　take　this　general　direction；　for　some　other　baits　which　may　concern　you　to　take　notice　of：　they　will　bite　almost　at　any　fly；　but　especially　at　ant…flies；　concerning　which　take　this　direction；　for　it　is　very　good。

Take　the　blackish　ant…fly　out　of　the　mole…hill　or　ant…hill；　in　which　place　you　shall　find　them　in　the　month　of　June；　or　if　that　be　too　early　in　the　year；　then；　doubtless；　you　may　find　them　in　July；　August；　and　most　of　September。　Gather　them　alive；　with　both　their　wings：　and　then　put　them　into　a　glass　that　will　hold　a　quart　or　a　pottle；　but　first　put　into　the　glass　a　handful；　or　more；　of　the　moist　earth　out　of　which　you　gather　them；　and　as　much　of　the　roots　of　the　grass　of　the　said　hillock；　and　then　put　in　the　flies　gently；　that　they　lose　not　their　wings：　lay　a　clod　of　earth　over　it；　and　then　so　many　as　are　put　into　the　glass；　without　bruising；　will　live　there　a　month　or　more；　and　be　always　in　readiness　for　you　to　fish　with：　but　if　you　would　have　them　keep　longer；　then　get　any　great　earthen　pot；　or　barrel　of　three　or　four　gallons。　which　is　better。　then　wash　your　barrel　with　water　and　honey；　and　having　put　into　it　a　quantity　of　earth　and　grass　roots；　then　put　in　your　flies；　and　cover　it；　and　they　will　live　a　quarter　of　a　year。　These；　in　any　stream　and　clear　water；　are　a　deadly　bait　for　Roach　or　Dace；　or　for　a　Chub：　and　your　rule　is　to　fish　not　less　than　a　handful　from　the　bottom。

I　shall　next　tell　you　a　winter…bait　for　a　Roach；　a　Dace；　or　Chub；　and　it　is　choicely　good。　About　All…hallantide；　and　so　till　frost　comes；　when　you　see　men　ploughing　up　heath　ground；　or　sandy　ground；　or　greenswards；　then　follow　the　plough；　and　you　shall　find　a　white　worm；　as　big　as　two　maggots；　and　it　hath　a　red　head：　you　may　observe　in　what　ground　most　are；　for　there　the　crows　will　be　very　watchful　and　follow　the　plough　very　close：　it　is　all　soft；　and　full　of　whitish　guts；　a　worm　that　is；　in　Norfolk　and　some　other　counties；　called　a　grub；　and　is　bred　of　the　spawn　or　eggs　of　a　beetle；　which　she　leaves　in　holes　that　she　digs　in　the　ground　under　cow　or　horse　dung；　and　there　rests　all　winter；　and　in　March　or　April　comes　to　be　first　a　red　and　then　a　black　beetle。　Gather　a　thousand　or　two　of　these；　and　put　them；　with　a　peck　or　two　of　their　own　earth；　into　some　tub　or　firkin；　and　cover　and　keep　them　so　warm　that　the　frost　or　cold　air；　or　winds；　kill　them　not：　these　you　may　keep　all　winter；　and　kill　fish　with　them　at　any　time；　and　if　you　put　some　of　them　into　a　little　earth　and　honey；　a　day　before　you　use　them；　you　will　find　them　an　excellent　bait　for　Bream；　Carp；　or　indeed　for　almost　any　fish。

And　after　this　manner　you　may　also　keep　gentles　all　winter；　which　are　a　good　bait　then；　and　much　the　better　for　being　lively　and　tough。　Or　you　may　breed　and　keep　gentles　thus：　take　a　piece　of　beast's　liver；　and；　with　a　cross　stick；　hang　it　in　some　corner；　over　a　pot　or　barrel　half　full　of　dry　clay；　and　as　the　gentles　grow　big；　they　will　fall　into　the　barrel　and　scour　themselves；　and　be　always　ready　for　use　whensoever　you　incline　to　fish；　and　these　gentles　may　be　thus　created　till　after　Michaelmas。　But　if　you　desire　to　keep　gentles　to　fish　with　all　the　year；　then　get　a　dead　cat；　or　a　kite；　and　let　it　be　flyblown；　and　when　the　gentles　begin　to　be　alive　and　to　stir；　then　bury　it　and　them　in　soft　moist　earth；　but　as　free　from　frost　as　you　can；　and　these　you　may　dig　up　at　any　time　when　you　intend　to　use　them：　these　will　last　till　March；　and　about　that　time　turn　to　be　flies。

But　if　you　be　nice　to　foul　your　fingers；　which　good　anglers　seldom　are；　then　take　this　bait：　get　a　handf