the complete angler-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　free　from。　And　every　misery　that　I　miss　is　a　new　mercy；　and　therefore　let　us　be　thankful。　There　have　been；　since　we　met；　others　that　have　met　disasters　or　broken　limbs；　some　have　been　blasted；　others　thunder…strucken：　and　we　have　been　freed　from　these；　and　all　those　many　other　miseries　that　threaten　human　nature；　let　us　therefore　rejoice　and　be　thankful。　Nay；　which　is　a　far　greater　mercy；　we　are　free　from　the　insupportable　burthen　of　an　accusing　tormenting　conscience；　a　misery　that　none　can　bear：　and　therefore　let　us　praise　Him　for　His　preventing　grace；　and　say；　Every　misery　that　I　miss　is　a　new　mercy。　Nay；　let　me　tell　you；　there　be　many　that　have　forty　times　our　estates；　that　would　give　the　greatest　part　of　it　to　be　healthful　and　cheerful　like　us；　who；　with　the　expense　of　a　little　money；　have　eat　and　drunk；　and　laughed；　and　angled；　and　sung；　and　slept　securely；　and　rose　next　day　and　cast　away　care；　and　sung；　and　laughed；　and　angled　again；　which　are　blessings　rich　men　cannot　purchase　with　all　their　money。　Let　me　tell　you；　Scholar；　I　have　a　rich　neighbour　that　is　always　so　busy　that　he　has　no　leisure　to　laugh；　the　whole　business　of　his　life　is　to　get　money；　and　more　money；　that　he　may　still　get　more　and　more　money；　he　is　still　drudging　on；　and　says；　that　Solomon　says　'‘The　diligent　hand　maketh　rich〃；　and　it　is　true　indeed：　but　he　considers　not　that　it　is　not　in　the　power　of　riches　to　make　a　man　happy；　for　it　was　wisely　said；　by　a　man　of　great　observation；　〃　That　there　be　as　many　miseries　beyond　riches　as　on　this　side　of　them　〃。　And　yet　God　deliver　us　from　pinching　poverty；　and　grant；　that　having　a　competency；　we　may　be　content　and　thankful。　Let　not　us　repine；　or　so　much　as　think　the　gifts　of　God　unequally　dealt；　if　we　see　another　abound　with　riches；　when；　as　God　knows；　the　cares　that　are　the　keys　that　keep　those　riches　hang　often　so　heavily　at　the　rich　man's　girdle；　that　they　clog　him　with　weary　days　and　restless　nights；　even　when　others　sleep　quietly。　We　see　but　the　outside　of　the　rich　man's　happiness：　few　consider　him　to　be　like　the　silk…worm；　that；　when　she　seems　to　play；　is；　at　the　very　same　time；　spinning　her　own　bowels；　and　consuming　herself；　and　this　many　rich　men　do；　loading　themselves　with　corroding　cares；　to　keep　what　they　have；　probably；　unconscionably　got　Let　us；　therefore；　be　thankful　for　health　and　a　competence；　and　above　all；　for　a　quiet　conscience。

Let　me　tell　you；　Scholar；　that　Diogenes　walked　on　a　day；　with　his　friend；　to　see　a　country　fair；　where　he　saw　ribbons；　and　looking…glasses；　and　nutcrackers；　and　fiddles；　and　hobby…horses；　and　many　other　gimcracks；　and；　having　observed　them；　and　all　the　other　finnimbruns　that　make　a　complete　country…fair；　he　said　to　his　friend；　〃　Lord；　how　many　things　are　there　in　this　world　of　which　Diogenes　hath　no　need！〃　And　truly　it　is　so；　or　might　be　so；　with　very　many　who　vex　and　toil　themselves　to　get　what　they　have　no　need　of。　Can　any　man　charge　God；　that　He　hath　not　given　him　enough　to　make　his　life　happy？　No；　doubtless；　for　nature　is　content　with　a　little。　And　yet　you　shall　hardly　meet　with　a　man　that　complains　not　of　some　want；　though　he；　indeed；　wants　nothing　but　his　will；　it　may　be；　nothing　but　his　will　of　his　poor　neighbour；　for　not　worshipping；　or　not　flattering　him：　and　thus；　when　we　might　be　happy　and　quiet；　we　create　trouble　to　ourselves。　I　have　heard　of　a　man　that　was　angry　with　himself　because　he　was　no　taller；　and　of　a　woman　that　broke　her　looking…glass　because　it　would　not　shew　her　face　to　be　as　young　and　handsome　as　her　next　neighbour's　was。　And　I　knew　another　to　whom　God　had　given　health　and　plenty；　but　a　wife　that　nature　had　made　peevish；　and　her　husband's　riches　had　made　purse…　proud；　and　must；　because　she　was　rich；　and　for　no　other　virtue；　sit　in　the　highest　pew　in　the　church；　which　being　denied　her；　she　engaged　her　husband　into　a　contention　for　it；　and　at　last　into　a　law…suit　with　a　dogged　neighbour　who　was　as　rich　as　he；　and　had　a　wife　as　peevish　and　purse…proud　as　the　other：　and　this　law…suit　begot　higher　oppositions；　and　actionable　words；　and　more　vexations　and　lawsuits；　for　you　must　remember　that　both　were　rich；　and　must　therefore　have　their　wills。　Well！　this　wilful；　purse…proud　law…suit　lasted　during　the　life　of　the　first　husband；　after　which　his　wife　vext　and　chid；　and　chid　and　vext；　till　she　also　chid　and　vext　herself　into　her　grave：　and　so　the　wealth　of　these　poor　rich　people　was　curst　into　a　punishment；　because　they　wanted　meek　and　thankful　hearts；　for　those　only　can　make　us　happy。　I　knew　a　man　that　had　health　and　riches；　and　several　houses；　all　beautiful；　and　ready　furnished；　and　would　often　trouble　himself　and　family　to　be　removing　from　one　house　to　another：　and　being　asked　by　a　friend　why　he　removed　so　often　from　one　house　to　another；　replied；　〃　It　was　to　find　content　in　some　one　of　them〃。　But　his　friend；　knowing　his　temper；　told　him；　〃　If　he　would　find　content　in　any　of　his　houses；　he　must　leave　himself　behind　him；　for　content　will　never　dwell　but　in　a　meek　and　quiet　soul　〃。　And　this　may　appear；　if　we　read　and　consider　what　our　Saviour　says　in　St。　Matthew's　Gospel；　for　He　there　says—〃　Blessed　be　the　merciful；　for　they　shall　obtain　mercy。　Blessed　be　the　pure　in　heart；　for　they　shall　see　God。　Blessed　be　the　poor　in　spirit；　for　theirs　is　the　kingdom　of　heaven。　And；　Blessed　be　the　meek；　for　they　shall　possess　the　earth。〃　Not　that　the　meek　shall　not　also　obtain　mercy；　and　see　God；　and　be　comforted；　and　at　last　come　to　the　kingdom　of　heaven：　but　in　the　meantime；　he；　and　he　only；　possesses　the　earth；　as　he　goes　towards　that　kingdom　of　heaven；　by　being　humble　and　cheerful；　and　content　with　what　his　good　God　had　allotted　him。　He　has　no　turbulent；　repining；　vexatious　thoughts　that　he　deserves　better；　nor　is　vext　when　he　see　others　possess　of　more　honour　or　more　riches　than　his　wise　God　has　allotted　for　his　share：　but　he　possesses　what　he　has　with　a　meek　and　contented　quietness；　such　a　quietness　as　makes　his　very　dreams　pleasing；　both　to　God　and　himself。

My　honest　Scholar；　all　this　is　told　to　incline　you　to　thankfulness；　and　to　incline　you　the　more；　let　me　tell　you；　and　though　the　prophet　David　was　guilty　of　murder　and　adultery；　and　many　other　of　the　most　deadly　sins；　yet　he　was　said　to　be　a　man　after　God's　own　heart；　because　he　abounded　more　with　thankfulness　that　any　other　that　is　mentioned　in　holy　scripture；　as　may　appear　in　his　book　o￡　Psalms；　where　there　is　such　a　commixture；　of　his　confessing　of　his　sins　and　unworthiness；　and　such　thankfulness　for　God's　pardon　and　mercies；　as　did　make　him　to　be　accounted；　even　by　God　himself；　to　be　a　man　after　his　own　heart：　and　let　us；　in　that；　labour　to　be　as　like　him　as　we　can；　let　not　the　blessings　we　receive　daily　from　God　make　us　not　to　value；　or　not　praise　Him；　because　they　be　common；　let　us　not　forget　to　praise　Him　for　the　innocent　mirth　and　pleasure　we　have　met　with　since　we　met　together。　What　would　a　blind　man　give　to　see　the　pleasant　rivers；　and　meadows；　and　flowers；　and　fountains；　that　we　have　met　with　since　we　met　together　？　I　have　been　told；　that　if　a　man　that　was　born　blind　could　obtain　to　have　his　sight　for　but　only　one　hour　during　his　whole　life；　and　should；　at　the　first　opening　of　his　eyes；　fix　his　sight　upon　the　sun　when　it　was　in　its　full　glory；　either　at　the　rising　or　setting　of　it；　he　would　be　so　transported　and　amazed；　and　so　admire　the　glory　of　it；　that　he　would　not　willingly　turn　his　eyes　from　that　first　ravishing　object；　to　behold　all　the　other　various　beauties　this　world　could　present　to　him。　And　this；　and　many　other　like　blessings；　we　enjoy　daily。　And　for　the　most　of　them；　because　they　be　so　common；　most　men　forget　to　pay　their　praises：　but　let　not　us；　because　it　is　a　sacrifice　so　pleasing　to　Him　that　made　that　sun　and　us；　and　still　protects　us；　and　gives　us　flowers；　and　showers；　and　stomachs；　and　meat；　and　content；　and　leisure　to　go　a…fishing。

Well；　Scholar；　I　have　almost　tired　myself；　and；　I　fear；　more　than　almost　tired　you。　But　I　now　see　Tottenham　High…Cross；　and　our　short　walk　thither　shall　put　a　period　to　my　too　long　discourse；　in　which　my　meaning　was；　and　is；　to　plant　that　in　your　mind　with　which　I　labour　to　possess　my　own　soul；　that　is；　a　meek　and　thankful　heart。　And　to　that　end　I　have　shewed　you；　that　riches　without　them；　do　not　make　any　man　happy。　But　let　me　tell　you；　that　riches　with　them　remove　many　fears　and　cares。　And　therefore　my　advice　is；　that　you　endeavour　to　be　honestly　rich；　or　contentedly　poor：　but　be　sure　that　your　riches　be　justly　got；　or　you　spoil　all。　For　it　is　well　said　by　Caussin；　〃　He　that　loses　his　conscience　has　nothing　left　that　is　worth　keeping　〃。　Therefore　be　sure　you　look　to　that。　And；　in　the　next　place；　look　to　your　health：　and　if　you　have　it；　praise　God；　and　value　it　next　to　a　good　conscience；　for　health　is　the　second　blessing　that　we　mortals　are　capable　of；　a　blessing　that　money　cannot　buy；　and　therefore　value　it；　and　be　thankful　for　it。　As　for　money；　which　may　be　said　to　be　the　third　blessing；　neglect　it　not：　but　note；　that　there　is　no　necessity　of　being　rich；　for　I　told　you；　there　be　as　many　miseries　beyond　riches　as　on　this　side　them：　and　if　you　have　a　competence；　enjoy　it　with　a　meek；　cheerful；　thankful　heart。　I　will　tell　you；　Scholar；　I　have　heard　a　grave　Divine　say；　that　God　has　two　dwellings；　one　in　heaven；　and　the　other　in　a　meek　and　thankful　heart；　which　Almighty　God　grant　to　me；　and　to　my　honest　Scholar。　And　so　you　are　welcome　to　Tottenham　High…Cross。

Venator。　Well；　Master；　I　thank　you　for　all　your　good　directions；　but　for　none　more　than　this　last；　of　thankfulness；　which　I　hope　I　shall　never　forget。　And　pray　let's　now　rest　ourselves　in　this　sweet　shady　arbour；　which　nature　herself　has　woven　with　her　own　fine　fingers；　'tis　such　a　contexture　of　woodbines；　sweetbriar；　jasmine；　and　myrtle；　and　so　interwoven；　as　will　secure　us　both　from　the　sun's　violent　heat；　and　from　the　approaching　shower。　And　being　set　down；　I　will　requite　a　part　of　your　courtesies　with　a　bottle　of　sack；　milk；　oranges；　and　sugar；　which；　all　put　together；　make　a　drink　like　nectar；　indeed；　too　good　for　any　but　us　Anglers；　And　so；　Master；　here　is　a　full　glass　to　you　of　that　liquor：　and　when　you　have　pledged　me；　I　will　repeat　the　Verses　which　I　promised　you：　it　is　a　Copy　printed　among　some　of　Sir　Henry　Wotton's；　and　doubtless　made　either　by　him；　or　by　a　lover　of　angling。　Come；　Master；　now　drink　a　glass　to　me；　and　then　I　will　pledge　you；　and　fall　to　my　repetition；　it　is　a　description　of　such　country　recreations　as　I　have　enjoyed　since　I　had　the　happiness　to　fall　into　your　company。

Quivering　fears；　heart…tearing　cares；　Anxious　sighs；　untimely　tears；　Fly；　fly　to　courts；　Fly　to　fond　worldlings'　sports；　Where　strain'd　sardonic　smiles　are　glosing　still；　And　Grief　is　forc'd　to　laugh　against　her　will：　Where　mirth's　but　mummery；　And　sorrows　only　real　be。

Fly　from　our　country　pastimes；　fly；　Sad　troops　of　human　misery。　Come；　serene　looks；　Clear　as　the　crystal　brooks；　Or　the　pure　azur'd　heaven　that　smiles　to　see　The　rich　attendance　of　our　poverty：　Peace　and　a　secure　mind；　Which　all　men　seek；　we　only　find。

Abused　mortals　I　did　you　know　Where　joy；　heart's…ease；　and　comforts　grow；　You'd　scorn　proud　towers；　And　seek　them　in　these　bowers；　Where　winds；　sometimes；　our　woods　perhaps　may　shake；　But