the complete angler-第3章

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　of　the　law；　a　pair　of　Turtle…doves；　or　young　Pigeons；　were　as　well　accepted　as　costly　Bulls　and　Rams；　and　when　God　would　feed　the　Prophet　Elijah；　after　a　kind　of　miraculous　manner；　he　did　it　by　Ravens；　who　brought　him　meat　morning　and　evening。　Lastly；　the　Holy　Ghost；　when　he　descended　visibly　upon　our　Saviour；　did　it　by　assuming　the　shape　of　a　Dove。　And；　to　conclude　this　part　of　my　discourse；　pray　remember　these　wonders　were　done　by　birds　of　air；　the　element　in　which　they；　and　I；　take　so　much　pleasure。

There　is　also　a　little　contemptible　winged　creature；　an　inhabitant　of　my　aerial　element；　namely　the　laborious　Bee；　of　whose　prudence；　policy；　and　regular　government　of　their　own　commonwealth；　I　might　say　much；　as　also　of　their　several　kinds；　and　how　useful　their　honey　and　wax　are　both　for　meat　and　medicines　to　mankind；　but　I　will　leave　them　to　their　sweet　labour；　without　the　least　disturbance；　believing　them　to　be　all　very　busy　at　this　very　time　amongst　the　herbs　and　flowers　that　we　see　nature　puts　forth　this　May　morning。

And　now　to　return　to　my　Hawks；　from　whom　I　have　made　too　long　a　digression。　You　are　to　note；　that　they　are　usually　distinguished　into　two　kinds；　namely；　the　long…winged；　and　the　short…winged　Hawk：　of　the　first　kind；　there　be　chiefly　in　use　amongst　us　in　this　nation；

The　Gerfalcon　and　Jerkin；　The　Falcon　and　Tassel…gentle；　The　Laner　and　Laneret；　The　Bockerel　and　Bockeret；　The　Saker　and　Sacaret；　The　Merlin　and　Jack　Merlin；　The　Hobby　and　Jack：　There　is　the　Stelletto　of　Spain；　The　Blood…red　Rook　from　Turkey；　The　Waskite　from　Virginia：　And　there　is　of　short…winged　Hawks；　The　Eagle　and　Iron　The　Goshawk　and　Tarcel；　The　Sparhawk　and　Musket；　The　French　Pye　of　two　sorts：

These　are　reckoned　Hawks　of　note　and　worth；　but　we　have　also　of　an　inferior　rank；

The　Stanyel；　the　Ringtail；　The　Raven；　the　Buzzard；　The　Forked　Kite；　the　Bald　Buzzard；

The　Hen…driver；　and　others　that　I　forbear　to　name。

Gentlemen；　if　I　should　enlarge　my　discourse　to　the　observation　of　the　Eires；　the　Brancher；　the　Ramish　Hawk；　the　Haggard；　and　the　two　sorts　of　Lentners；　and　then　treat　of　their　several　Ayries；　their　Mewings；　rare　order　of　casting；　and　the　renovation　of　their　feathers：　their　reclaiming；　dieting；　and　then　come　to　their　rare　stories　of　practice；　I　say；　if　I　should　enter　into　these；　and　many　other　observations　that　I　could　make；　it　would　be　much；　very　much　pleasure　to　me：　but　lest　I　should　break　the　rules　of　civility　with　you；　by　taking　up　more　than　the　proportion　of　time　allotted　to　me；　I　will　here　break　off；　and　entreat　you；　Mr。　Venator；　to　say　what　you　are　able　in　the　commendation　of　Hunting；　to　which　you　are　so　much　affected；　and　if　time　will　serve；　I　will　beg　your　favour　for　a　further　enlargement　of　some　of　those　several　heads　of　which　I　have　spoken。　But　no　more　at　present。

Venator。　Well；　Sir；　and　I　will　now　take　my　turn；　and　will　first　begin　with　a　commendation　of　the　Earth；　as　you　have　done　most　excellently　of　the　Air；　the　Earth　being　that　element　upon　which　I　drive　my　pleasant；　wholesome；　hungry　trade。　The　Earth　is　a　solid；　settled　element；　an　element　most　universally　beneficial　both　to　man　and　beast；　to　men　who　have　their　several　recreations　upon　it；　as　horse…races；　hunting；　sweet　smells；　pleasant　walks：　the　earth　feeds　man；　and　all　those　several　beasts　that　both　feed　him；　and　afford　him　recreation。　What　pleasure　doth　man　take　in　hunting　the　stately　Stag；　the　generous　Buck；　the　wild　Boar；　the　cunning　Otter；　the　crafty　Fox；　and　the　fearful　Hare　！　And　if　I　may　descend　to　a　lower　game；　what　pleasure　is　it　sometimes　with　gins　to　betray　the　very　vermin　of　the　earth；　as　namely；　the　Fichat；　the　Fulimart；　the　Ferret；　the　Pole…cat；　the　Mouldwarp；　and　the　like　creatures　that　live　upon　the　face；　and　within　the　bowels　of；　the　Earth。　How　doth　the　Earth　bring　forth　herbs；　flowers；　and　fruits；　both　for　physick　and　the　pleasure　of　mankind！　and　above　all；　to　me　at　least；　the　fruitful　vine；　of　which　when　I　drink　moderately；　it　clears　my　brain；　cheers　my　heart；　and　sharpens　my　wit。　How　could　Cleopatra　have　feasted　Mark　Antony　with　eight　wild　Boars　roasted　whole　at　one　supper；　and　other　meat　suitable；　if　the　earth　had　not　been　a　bountiful　mother　？　But　to　pass　by　the　mighty　Elephant；　which　the　Earth　breeds　and　nourisheth；　and　descend　to　the　least　of　creatures；　how　doth　the　earth　afford　us　a　doctrinal　example　in　the　little　Pismire；　who　in　the　summer　provides　and　lays　up　her　winter　provision；　and　teaches　man　to　do　the　like！　The　earth　feeds　and　carries　those　horses　that　carry　us。　If　I　would　be　prodigal　of　my　time　and　your　patience；　what　might　not　I　say　in　commendations　of　the　earth？　That　puts　limits　to　the　proud　and　raging　sea；　and　by　that　means　preserves　both　man　and　beast；　that　it　destroys　them　not；　as　we　see　it　daily　doth　those　that　venture　upon　the　sea；　and　are　there　shipwrecked；　drowned；　and　left　to　feed　Haddocks；　when　we　that　are　so　wise　as　to　keep　ourselves　on　earth；　walk；　and　talk；　and　live；　and　eat；　and　drink；　and　go　a　hunting：　of　which　recreation　I　will　say　a　little；　and　then　leave　Mr。　Piscator　to　the　commendation　of　Angling。

Hunting　is　a　game　for　princes　and　noble　persons；　it　hath　been　highly　prized　in　all　ages；　it　was　one　of　the　qualifications　that　Xenophon　bestowed　on　his　Cyrus；　that　he　was　a　hunter　of　wild　beasts。　Hunting　trains　up　the　younger　nobility　to　the　use　of　manly　exercises　in　their　riper　age。　What　more　manly　exercise　than　hunting　the　Wild　Boar；　the　Stag；　the　Buck；　the　Fox；　or　the　Hare　？　How　doth　it　preserve　health；　and　increase　strength　and　activity　！

And　for　the　dogs　that　we　use；　who　can　commend　their　excellency　to　that　height　which　they　deserve　？　How　perfect　is　the　hound　at　smelling；　who　never　leaves　or　forsakes　his　first　scent；　but　follows　it　through　so　many　changes　and　varieties　of　other　scents；　even　over；　and　in；　the　water；　and　into　the　earth！　What　music　doth　a　pack　of　dogs　then　make　to　any　man；　whose　heart　and　ears　are　so　happy　as　to　be　set　to　the　tune　of　such　instruments！　How　will　a　right　Greyhound　fix　his　eye　on　the　best　Buck　in　a　herd；　single　him　out；　and　follow　him；　and　him　only；　through　a　whole　herd　of　rascal　game；　and　still　know　and　then　kill　him！　For　my　hounds；　I　know　the　language　of　them；　and　they　know　the　language　and　meaning　of　one　another；　as　perfectly　as　we　know　the　voices　of　those　with　whom　we　discourse　daily。

I　might　enlarge　myself　in　the　commendation　of　Hunting；　and　of　the　noble　Hound　especially；　as　also　of　the　docibleness　of　dogs　in　general；　and　I　might　make　many　observations　of　land…creatures；　that　for　composition；　order；　figure；　and　constitution；　approach　nearest　to　the　completeness　and　understanding　of　man；　especially　of　those　creatures；　which　Moses　in　the　Law　permitted　to　the　Jews；　which　have　cloven　hoofs；　and　chew　the　cud；　which　I　shall　forbear　to　name；　because　I　will　not　be　so　uncivil　to　Mr。　Piscator；　as　not　to　allow　him　a　time　for　the　commendation　of　Angling；　which　he　calls　an　art；　but　doubtless　it　is　an　easy　one：　and；　Mr。　Auceps；　I　doubt　we　shall　hear　a　watery　discourse　of　it；　but　I　hope　it　will　not　be　a　long　one。

Auceps。　And　I　hope　so　too；　though　I　fear　it　will。

Piscator。　Gentlemen；　let　not　prejudice　prepossess　you。　I　confess　my　discourse　is　like　to　prove　suitable　to　my　recreation；　calm　and　quiet；　we　seldom　take　the　name　of　God　into　our　mouths；　but　it　is　either　to　praise　him；　or　pray　to　him：　if　others　use　it　vainly　in　the　midst　of　their　recreations；　so　vainly　as　if　they　meant　to　conjure；　I　must　tell　you；　it　is　neither　our　fault　nor　our　custom；　we　protest　against　it。　But；　pray　remember；　I　accuse　nobody；　for　as　I　would　not　make　a　〃　watery　discourse；〃　so　I　would　not　put　too　much　vinegar　into　it；　nor　would　I　raise　the　reputation　of　my　own　art；　by　the　diminution　or　ruin　of　another's。　And　so　much　for　the　prologue　to　what　I　mean　to　say。

And　now　for　the　Water；　the　element　that　I　trade　in。　The　water　is　the　eldest　daughter　of　the　creation；　the　element　upon　which　the　Spirit　of　God　did　first　move；　the　element　which　God　commanded　to　bring　forth　living　creatures　abundantly；　and　without　which；　those　that　inhabit　the　land；　even　all　creatures　that　have　breath　in　their　nostrils；　must　suddenly　return　to　putrefaction。　Moses；　the　great　lawgiver　and　chief　philosopher；　skilled　in　all　the　learning　of　the　Egyptians；　who　was　called　the　friend　of　God；　and　knew　the　mind　of　the　Almighty；　names　this　element　the　first　in　the　creation：　this　is　the　element　upon　which　the　Spirit　of　God　did　first　move；　and　is　the　chief　ingredient　in　the　creation：　many　philosophers　have　made　it　to　comprehend　all　the　other　elements；　and　most　allow　it　the　chiefest　in　the　mixtion　of　all　living　creatures。

There　be　that　profess　to　believe　that　all　bodies　are　made　of　water；　and　may　be　reduced　back　again　to　water　only；　they　endeavour　to　demonstrate　it　thus：

Take　a　willow；　or　any　like　speedy　growing　plant　newly　rooted　in　a　box　or　barrel　full　of　earth；　weigh　them　all　together　exactly　when　the　tree　begins　to　grow；　and　then　weigh　all　together　after　the　tree　is　increased　from　its　first　rooting；　to　weigh　a　hundred　pound　weight　more　than　when　it　was　first　rooted　and　weighed；　and　you　shall　find　this　augment　of　the　tree　to　be　without　the　diminution　of　one　drachm　weight　of　the　earth。　Hence　they　infer　this　increase　of　wood　to　be　from　water　of　rain；　or　from　dew；　and　not　to　be　from　any　other　element；　and　they　affirm；　they　can　reduce　this　wood　back　again　to　water；　and　they　affirm　also；　the　same　may　be　done　in　any　animal　or　vegetable。　And　this　I　take　to　be　a　fair　testimony　of　the　excellency　of　my　clement　of　water。

The　water　is　more　productive　than　the　earth。　Nay；　the　earth　hath　no　fruitfulness　without　showers　or　dews；　for　all　the　herbs；　and　flowers；　and　fruit；　are　produced　and　thrive　by　the　water；　and　the　very　minerals　are　fed　by　streams　that　run　under　ground；　whose　natural　course　carries　them　to　the　tops　of　many　high　mountains；　as　we　see　by　several　springs　breaking　forth　on　the　tops　of　the　highest　hills；　and　this　is　also　witnessed　by　the　daily　trial　and　testimony　of　several　miners。

Nay；　the　increase　of　those　creatures　that　are　bred　and　fed　in　the　water　are　not　only　more　and　more　miraculous；　but　more　advantageous　to　man；　not　only　for　the　lengthening　of　his　life；　but　for　the　preventing　of　sickness；　for　it　is　observed　by　the　most　learned　physicians；　that　the　casting　off　of　Lent；　and　other　fish　days；　which　hath　not　only　given　the　lie　to　so　many　learned；　pious；　wise　founders　of　colleges；　for　which　we　should　be　ashamed；　hath　doubtless　been　the　chief　cause　of　those　many　putrid；　shaking　intermitting　agues；　unto　which　this　nation　of　ours　is　now　more　subject；　than　those　wiser　countries　that　feed　on　herbs；　salads；　and　plenty　of　fish；　of　which　it　is　observed　in　story；　that　the　greatest　part　of　the　world　now　do。　And　it　may　be　fit　to　remember　that　Moses　appointed　fish　to　be　the　chief　diet　for　the　best　commonwealth　that　ever　yet　was。

And　it　is　observable；　not　only　that　there　are　fish；　as　namely　the　Whale；　three　times　as　big　as　the　mighty　Elephant；　that　is　so　fierce　in　battle；　but　that　the　mightiest　feasts　have　been　of　fish。　The　Romans；　in　the　height　of　their　glory；　have　made　fish　the　mistress　of　all　their　entertainments；　they　have　had　musick　to　usher　in　their　Sturgeons；　Lampreys；　and　Mullets；　which　they　would　purchase　at　rates　rather　to　be　wondered　at　than