the complete angler-第7章

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Let　me　live　harmlessly；　and　near　the　brink　Of　Trent　or　Avon　have　a　dwelling…place　Where　I　may　see　my　quill；　or　cork；　down　sink　With　eager　bite　of　Perch；　or　Bleak；　or　Dace；　And　on　the　world　and　my　Creator　think：　Whilst　some　men　strive　ill…gotten　goods　t'　embrace；　And　others　spend　their　time　in　base　excess　Of　wine。　or　worse。　in　war　and　wantonness

Let　them　that　list；　these　pastimes　still　pursue；　And　on　such　pleasing　fancies　feed　their　fill；　So　I　the　fields　and　meadows　green　may　view；　And　daily　by　fresh　rivers　walk　at　will　Among　the　daisies　and　the　violets　blue；　Red　hyacinth；　and　yellow　daffodil；　Purple　Narcissus　like　the　morning　rays；　Pale　gander…grass；　and　azure　culver…keys。

I　count　it　higher　pleasure　to　behold　The　stately　compass　of　the　lofty　sky；　And　in　the　midst　thereof；　like　burning　gold；　The　flaming　chariot　of　the　world's　great　eye：

The　watery　clouds　that　in　the　air　up…roll'd　With　sundry　kinds　of　painted　colours　fly；　And　fair　Aurora；　lifting　up　her　head；　Still　blushing；　rise　from　old　Tithonus'　bed。

The　hills　and　mountains　raised　from　the　plains；　The　plains　extended　level　with　the　ground　The　grounds　divided　into　sundry　veins；　The　veins　inclos'd　with　rivers　running　round；　These　rivers　making　way　through　nature's　chains；　With　headlong　course；　into　the　sea　profound；　The　raging　sea；　beneath　the　vallies　low；　Where　lakes；　and　rills；　and　rivulets　do　flow：

The　lofty　woods；　the　forests　wide　and　long；　Adorned　with　leaves　and　branches　fresh　and　green；　In　whose　cool　bowers　the　birds　with　many　a　song；　Do　welcome　with　their　quire　the　summer's　Queen；　The　meadows　fair；　where　Flora's　gifts；　among　Are　intermix〃；　with　verdant　grass　between；　The　silver…scaled　fish　that　softly　swim　Within　the　sweet　brook's　crystal；　watery　stream。

All　these；　and　many　more　of　his　creation　That　made　the　heavens；　the　Angler　oft　doth　see；　Taking　therein　no　little　delectation；　To　think　how　strange；　how　wonderful　they　be：　Framing　thereof　an　inward　contemplation　To　set　his　heart　from　other　fancies　free；　And　whilst　he　looks　on　these　with　joyful　eye；　His　mind　is　rapt　above　the　starry　sky。

Sir；　I　am　glad　my　memory　has　not　lost　these　last　verses；　because　they　are　somewhat　more　pleasant　and　more　suitable　to　May…day　than　my　harsh　discourse。　And　I　am　glad　your　patience　hath　held　out　so　long　as　to　hear　them　and　me；　for　both　together　have　brought　us　within　the　sight　of　the　Thatched　House。　And　I　must　be　your　debtor；　if　you　think　it　worth　your　attention；　for　the　rest　of　my　promised　discourse；　till　some　other　opportunity；　and　a　like　time　of　leisure。

Venator。　Sir；　you　have　angled　me　on　with　much　pleasure　to　the　Thatched　House；　and　I　now　find　your　words　true；　〃　that　good　company　makes　the　way　seem　short　〃；　for　trust　me；　Sir；　I　thought　we　had　wanted　three　miles　of　this　house；　till　you　showed　it　to　me。　But　now　we　are　at　it；　we'll　turn　into　it；　and　refresh　ourselves　with　a　cup　of　drink；　and　a　little　rest

Piscator。　Most　gladly；　Sir；　and　we'll　drink　a　civil　cup　to　all　the　Otter…　hunters　that　are　to　meet　you　to…morrow。

Venator。　That　we　will；　Sir；　and　to　all　the　lovers　of　Angling　too；　of　which　number　I　am　now　willing　to　be　one　myself；　for；　by　the　help　of　your　good　discourse　and　company；　I　have　put　on　new　thoughts　both　of　the　art　of　Angling　and　of　all　that　profess　it；　and　if　you　will　but　meet　me　to…morrow　at　the　time　and　place　appointed；　and　bestow　one　day　with　me　and　my　friends；　in　hunting　the　Otter；　I　will　dedicate　the　next　two　days　to　wait　upon　you；　and　we　too　will；　for　that　time；　do　nothing　but　angle；　and　talk　of　fish　and　fishing。

Piscator。　It　is　a　match；　Sir；　I　will　not　fail　you；　God　willing；　to　be　at　Amwell　Hill　to…morrow　morning　before　sun…rising。





The　second　day

On　the　Otter　and　the　Chub

Chapter　II

Piscator；　Venator；　Huntsman；　and　Hostess

Venator。　My　friend　Piscator；　you　have　kept　time　with　my　thoughts；　for　the　sun　is　just　rising；　and　I　myself　just　now　come　to　this　place；　and　the　dogs　have　just　now　put　down　an　Otter。　Look　！　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill　there；　in　that　meadow；　chequered　with　water…lilies　and　lady…　smocks；　there　you　may　see　what　work　they　make；　look！　look！　you　may　see　all　busy；　men　and　dogs；　dogs　and　men；　all　busy。

Piscator。　Sir；　I　am　right　glad　to　meet　you；　and　glad　to　have　so　fair　an　entrance　into　this　day's　sport；　and　glad　to　see　so　many　dogs；　and　more　men；　all　in　pursuit　of　the　Otter。　Let　us　compliment　no　longer；　but　join　unto　them。　Come；　honest　Venator；　let　us　be　gone；　let　us　make　haste；　I　long　to　be　doing；　no　reasonable　hedge　or　ditch　shall　hold　me。

Venator。　Gentleman　Huntsman；　where　found　you　this　Otter？

Huntsman。　Marry；　Sir；　we　found　her　a　mile　from　this　place；　a…fishing　She　has　this　morning　eaten　the　greatest　part　of　this　Trout；　she　has　only　left　thus　much　of　it　as　you　see；　and　was　fishing　for　more；　when　we　came　we　found　her　just　at　it：　but　we　were　here　very　early；　we　were　here

an　hour　before　sunrise；　and　have　given　her　no　rest　since　we　came；　sure　she　will　hardly　escape　all　these　dogs　and　men。　I　am　to　have　the　skin　if　we　kill　her。

Venator。　Why；　Sir；　what　is　the　skin　worth？

Huntsman。　It　is　worth　ten　shillings　to　make　gloves；　the　gloves　of　an　Otter　are　the　best　fortification　for　your　hands　that　can　be　thought　on　against　wet　weather。

Piscator。　I　pray；　honest　Huntsman；　let　me　ask　you　a　pleasant　question：　do　you　hunt　a　beast　or　a　fish？

Huntsman。　Sir；　it　is　not　in　my　power　to　resolve　you；　I　leave　it　to　be　resolved　by　the　college　of　Carthusians；　who　have　made　vows　never　to　eat　flesh。　But；　I　have　heard；　the　question　hath　been　debated　among　many　great　clerks；　and　they　seem　to　differ　about　it；　yet　most　agree　that　her　tail　is　fish：　and　if　her　body　be　fish　too；　then　I　may　say　that　a　fish　will　walk　upon　land：　for　an　Otter　does　so　sometimes；　five　or　six　or　ten　miles　in　a　night；　to　catch　for　her　young　ones；　or　to　glut　herself　with　fish。　And　I　can　tell　you　that　Pigeons　will　fly　forty　miles　for　a　breakfast：　but；　Sir；　I　am　sure　the　Otter　devours　much　fish；　and　kills　and　spoils　much　more　than　he　eats。　And　I　can　tell　you；　that　this　dog…fisher；　for　so　the　Latins　call　him；　can　smell　a　fish　in　the　water　a　hundred　yards　from　him：　Gesner　says　much　farther：　and　that　his　stones　are　good　against　the　falling　sickness；　and　that　there　is　an　herb；　Benione；　which；　being　hung　in　a　linen　cloth　near　a　fish…pond；　or　any　haunt　that　he　uses；　makes　him　to　avoid　the　place；　which　proves　he　smells　both　by　water　and　land。　And；　I　can　tell　you；　there　is　brave　hunting　this　water…dog　in　Cornwall；　where　there　have　been　so　many；　that　our　learned　Camden　says　there　is　a　river　called　Ottersey；　which　was　so　named　by　reason　of　the　abundance　of　Otters　that　bred　and　fed　in　it。

And　thus　much　for　my　knowledge　of　the　Otter；　which　you　may　now　see　above　water　at　vent；　and　the　dogs　close　with　him；　I　now　see　he　will　not　last　long。　Follow；　therefore；　my　masters；　follow；　for　Sweetlips　was　like　to　have　him　at　this　last　vent。

Venator。　Oh　me！　all　the　horse　are　got　over　the　river；　what　shall　we　do　now？　shall　we　follow　them　over　the　water　？

Huntsman。　No；　Sir；　no；　be　not　so　eager；　stay　a　little；　and　follow　me；　for　both　they　and　the　dogs　will　be　suddenly　on　this　side　again；　I　warrant　you；　and　the　Otter　too；　it　may　be。　Now　have　at　him　with　Kilbuck；　for　he　vents　again。

Venator。　Marry！　so　he　does；　for；　look！　he　vents　in　that　corner。　Now；　now；　Ringwood　has　him：　now；　he　is　gone　again；　and　has　bit　the　poor　dog。　Now　Sweetlips　has　her；　hold　her；　Sweetlips！　now　all　the　dogs　have　her；　some　above　and　some　under　water：　but；　now；　now　she　is　tired；　and　past　losing　Come　bring　her　to　me；　Sweetlips。　Look！　it　is　a　Bitch…otter；　and　she　has　lately　whelp'd。　Let's　go　to　the　place　where　she　was　put　down；　and；　not　far　from　it；　you　will　find　all　her　young　ones；　I　dare　warrant　you；　and　kill　them　all　too。

Huntsman。　Come；　Gentlemen　！　come；　all！　let's　go　to　the　place　where　we　put　down　the　Otter。　Look　you　！　hereabout　it　was　that　she　kennelled；　look　you　！　here　it　was　indeed；　for　here's　her　young　ones；　no　less　than　five：　come；　let　us　kill　them　all。

Piscator。　No：　I　pray；　Sir；　save　me　one；　and　I'll　try　if　I　can　make　her　tame；　as　I　know　an　ingenious　gentleman　in　Leicestershire；　Mr。　Nich。　Segrave；　has　done；　who　hath　not　only　made　her　tame；　but　to　catch　fish；　and　do　many　other　things　of　much　pleasure

Huntsman。　Take　one　with　all　my　heart；　but　let　us　kill　the　rest。　And　now　let's　go　to　an　honest　ale…house；　where　we　may　have　a　cup　of　good　barley　wine；　and　sing　〃　Old　Rose；〃　and　all　of　us　rejoice　together。

Venator。　Come；　my　friend　Piscator；　let　me　invite　you　along　with　us。　I'll　bear　your　charges　this　night；　and　you　shall　bear　mine　to…morrow；　for　my　intention　is　to　accompany　you　a　day　or　two　in　fishing。

Piscator。　Sir；　your　request　is　granted；　and　I　shall　be　right　glad　both　to　exchange　such　a　courtesy；　and　also　to　enjoy　your　company。





The　third　day



Venator。　Well；　now　let's　go　to　your　sport　of　Angling。

Piscator。　Let's　be　going；　with　all　my　heart。　God　keep　you　all；　Gentlemen；　and　send　you　meet；　this　day；　with　another　Bitch…otter；　and　kill　her　merrily；　and　all　her　young　ones　too。

Venator。　NOW；　Piscator；　where　will　you　begin　to　fish　？

Piscator。　We　are　not　yet　come　to　a　likely　place；　I　must　walk　a　mile　further　yet　before　I　beam。

Venator。　Well　then；　I　pray；　as　we　walk；　tell　me　freely；　how　do　you　like　your　lodging；　and　mine　host　and　the　company　？　Is　not　mine　host　a　witty　man　？

Piscator。　Sir；　I　will　tell　you；　presently；　what　I　think　of　your　host：　but；　first；　I　will　tell　you；　I　am　glad　these　Otters　were　killed；　and　I　am　sorry　there　are　no　more　Otter…killers；　for　I　know　that　the　want　of　Otter…killers；　and　the　not　keeping　the　fence…months　for　the　preservation　of　fish；　will；　in　time；　prove　the　destruction　of　all　rivers。　And　those　very　few　that　are　left；　that　make　conscience　of　the　laws　of　the　nation；　and　of　keeping　days　of　abstinence；　will　be　forced　to　eat　flesh；　or　suffer　more　inconveniences　than　are　yet　foreseen。

Venator。　Why；　Sir；　what　be　those　that　you　call　the　fence…months？

Piscator。　Sir；　they　be　principally　three；　namely；　March；　April；　and　May：　for　these　be　the　usual　months　that　Salmon　come　out　of　the　sea　to　spawn　in　most　fresh　rivers。　And　their　fry　would；　about　a　certain　time；　return　back　to　the　salt　water；　if　they　were　not　hindered　by　weirs　and　unlawful　gins；　which　the　greedy　fishermen　set；　and　so　destroy　them　by　thousands；　as　they　would；　being　so　taught　by　nature；　change　the　fresh　for　salt　water。　He　that　shall　view　the　wise　Statutes　made　in　the　13th　of　Edward　the　First；　and　the　like　in　Richard　the　Second；　may　see　several　provisions　made　against　the　destruction　of　fish：　and　though　I　profess　no　knowledge　of　the　law；　yet　I　am　sure　the　regulation　of　these　defects　might　be　easily　mended。　But　I　remember　that　a　wise　friend　of　mine　did　usually　say；　〃　that　which　is　everybody's　business　is　nobody's　business　〃：　if　it　were　otherwise；　there　could　not　be　so　many　nets　and　fish；　that　are　under　the　statute　size；　sold　daily　amongst　us；　and　of　which　the　conservators　of　the　waters　should　be　ashamed。

But；　above　all；　the　taking　fish　in　spawning…time　may　be　said　to　be　against　nature：　it　is　like　taking　the　dam　on　the　nest　when　she　hatches　her　young；　a　sin　so　against　nature；　that　Almighty　God　hath　in　the　Levitical　law　made　a　law　against　it。

But　the　poor　fish　have　enemies　e