the complete angler-第8章

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n　the　Levitical　law　made　a　law　against　it。

But　the　poor　fish　have　enemies　enough　besides　such　unnatural　fishermen；　as　namely；　the　Otters　that　I　spake　of；　the　Cormorant；　the　Bittern；　the　Osprey；　the　Sea…gull；　the　Hern；　the　King…fisher；　the　Gorara；　the　Puet；　the　Swan；　Goose；　Duck；　and　the　Craber；　which　some　call　the　Water…rat：　against　all　which　any　honest　man　may　make　a　just　quarrel；　but　I　will　not；　I　will　leave　them　to　be　quarrelled　with　and　killed　by　others；　for　I　am　not　of　a　cruel　nature；　I　love　to　kill　nothing　but　fish。

And；　now；　to　your　question　concerning　your　host。　To　speak　truly；　he　is　not　to　me　a　good　companion；　for　most　of　his　conceits　were　either　scripture　jests；　or　lascivious　jests；　for　which　I　count　no　man　witty：　for　the　devil　will　help　a　man；　that　way　inclined；　to　the　first；　and　his　own　corrupt　nature；　which　he　always　carries　with　him；　to　the　latter。　But　a　companion　that　feasts　the　company　with　wit　and　mirth；　and　leaves　out　the　sin　which　is　usually　mixed　with　them；　he　is　the　man；　and　indeed　such　a　companion　should　have　his　charges　borne；　and　to　such　company　I　hope　to　bring　you　this　night；　for　at　Trout…hall；　not　far　from　this　place；　where　I　purpose　to　lodge　to…night；　there　is　usually　an　Angler　that　proves　good　company。　And　let　me　tell　you；　good　company　and　good　discourse　are　the　very　sinews　of　virtue。　But　for　such　discourse　as　we　heard　last　night；　it　infects　others：　the　very　boys　will　learn　to　talk　and　swear；　as　they　heard　mine　host；　and　another　of　the　company　that　shall　be　nameless。　I　am　sorry　the　other　is　a　gentleman；　for　less　religion　will　not　save　their　souls　than　a　beggar's：　I　think　more　will　be　required　at　the　last　great　day。　Well！　you　know　what　example　is　able　to　do；　and　I　know　what　the　poet　says　in　the　like　case；　which　is　worthy　to　be　noted　by　all　parents　and　people　of　civility：

many　a　one　Owes　to　his　country　his　religion；　And　in　another；　would　as　strongly　grow；　Had　but　his　nurse　or　mother　taught　him　so。

This　is　reason　put　into　verse；　and　worthy　the　consideration　of　a　wise　man。　But　of　this　no　more；　for　though　I　love　civility；　yet　I　hate　severe　censures。　I'll　to　my　own　art；　and　I　doubt　not　but　at　yonder　tree　I　shall　catch　a　Chub：　and　then　we'll　turn　to　an　honest　cleanly　hostess；　that　I　know　right　well；　rest　ourselves　there；　and　dress　it　for　our　dinner。

Venator。　Oh；　Sir！　a　Chub　is　the　worst　fish　that　swims；　I　hoped　for　a　Trout　to　my　dinner。

Piscator。　Trust　me；　Sir；　there　is　not　a　likely　place　for　a　Trout　hereabout：　and　we　staid　so　long　to　take　our　leave　of　your　huntsmen　this　morning；　that　the　sun　is　got　so　high；　and　shines　so　clear；　that　I　will　not　undertake　the　catching　of　a　Trout　till　evening。　And　though　a　Chub　be；　by　you　and　many　others；　reckoned　the　worst　of　fish；　yet　you　shall　see　I'll　make　it　a　good　fish　by　dressing　it。

Venator。　Why；　how　will　you　dress　him　？

Piscator。　I'll　tell　you　by…and…by；　when　I　have　caught　him。　Look　you　here；　Sir；　do　you　see？　but　you　must　stand　very　close；　there　lie　upon　the　top　of　the　water；　in　this　very　hole；　twenty　Chubs。　I'll　catch　only　one　and　that　shall　be　the　biggest　of　them　all：　and　that　I　will　do　so；　I'll　hold　you　twenty　to　one；　and　you　shall　see　it　done。

Venator。　Ay；　marry！　Sir；　now　you　talk　like　an　artist；　and　I'll　say　you　are　one；　when　I　shall　see　you　perform　what　you　say　you　can　do：　but　I　yet　doubt　it。

Piscator。　You　shall　not　doubt　it　long；　for　you　shall　see　me　do　it　presently。　Look　！　the　biggest　of　these　Chubs　has　had　some　bruise　upon　his　tail；　by　a　Pike　or　some　other　accident；　and　that　looks　like　a　white　spot。　That　very　Chub　I　mean　to　put　into　your　hands　presently；　sit　you　but　down　in　the　shade；　and　stay　but　a　little　while；　and　I'll　warrant　you；　I'll　bring　him　to　you。

Venator。　I'll　sit　down；　and　hope　well；　because　you　seem　to　be　so　confident。

Piscator。　Look　you；　Sir；　there　is　a　trial　of　my　skill；　there　he　is：　that　very　Chub；　that　I　showed　you；　with　the　white　spot　on　his　tail。　And　I'll　be　as　certain　to　make　him　a　good　dish　of　meat　as　I　was　to　catch　him：　I'll　now　lead　you　to　an　honest　ale…house；　where　we　shall　find　a　cleanly　room；　lavender　in　the　windows；　and　twenty　ballads　stuck　about　the　wall。　There　my　hostess；　which　I　may　tell　you　is　both　cleanly；　and　handsome；　and　civil；　hath　dressed　many　a　one　for　me；　and　shall　now　dress　it　after　my　fashion；　and　I　warrant　it　good　meat。

Venator。　Come；　Sir；　with　all　my　heart；　for　I　begin　to　be　hungry；　and　long　to　be　at　it；　and　indeed　to　rest　myself　too；　for　though　I　have　walked　but　four　miles　this　morning；　yet　I　begin　to　be　weary；　yesterday's　hunting　hangs　still　upon　me。

Piscator。　Well；　Sir；　and　you　shall　quickly　be　at　rest；　for　yonder　is　the　house　I　mean　to　bring　you　to。

Come；　hostess；　how　do　you　？　Will　you　first　give　us　a　cup　of　your　best　drink；　and　then　dress　this　Chub；　as　you　dressed　my　last；　when　I　and　my　friend　were　here　about　eight　or　ten　days　ago　？　But　you　must　do　me　one　courtesy；　it　must　be　done　instantly。

Hostess。　I　will　do　it；　Mr。　Piscator；　and　with　all　the　speed　I　can。

Piscator。　NOW；　Sir；　has　not　my　hostess　made　haste？　and　does　not　the　fish　look　lovely？

Venator。　Both；　upon　my　word；　Sir；　and　therefore　let's　say　grace　and　fall　to　eating　of　it。

Piscator。　Well；　Sir；　how　do　you　like　it？

Venator。　Trust　me；　'tis　as　good　meat　as　I　ever　tasted。　Now　let　me　thank　you　for　it；　drink　to　you　and　beg　a　courtesy　of　you；　but　it　must　not　be　denied　me。

Piscator　What　is　it；　I　pray；　Sir？　You　are　so　modest；　that　methinks　I　may　promise　to　grant　it　before　it　is　asked。

Venator。　Why；　Sir；　it　is；　that　from　henceforth　you　would　allow　me　to　call　you　Master；　and　that　really　I　may　be　your　scholar；　for　you　are　such　a　companion；　and　have　so　quickly　caught　and　so　excellently　cooked　this　fish；　as　makes　me　ambitious　to　be　your　scholar。

Piscator。　Give　me　your　hand；　from　this　time　forward　I　will　be　your　Master；　and　teach　you　as　much　of　this　art　as　I　am　able；　and　will；　as　you　desire　me；　tell　you　somewhat　of　the　nature　of　most　of　the　fish　that　we　are　to　angle　for；　and　I　am　sure　I　both　can　and　will　tell　you　more　than　any　common　angler　yet　knows。





The　third　day…continued


How　to　fish　for；　and　to　dress；　the　Chavender　of　Chub


Chapter　III


Piscator　and　Venator


Piscator。　The　Chub；　though　he　eat　well；　thus　dressed；　yet　as　he　is　usually　dressed；　he　does　not。　He　is　objected　against；　not　only　for　being　full　of　small　forked　bones；　dispersed　through　all　his　body；　but　that　he　eats　waterish；　and　that　the　flesh　of　him　is　not　firm；　but　short　and　tasteless。　The　French　esteem　him　so　mean；　as　to　call　him　Un　Villain；　nevertheless　he　may　be　so　dressed　as　to　make　him　very　good　meat；　as；　namely；　if　he　be　a　large　Chub；　then　dress　him　thus：

First；　scale　him；　and　then　wash　him　clean；　and　then　take　out　his　guts；　and　to　that　end　make　the　hole　as　little；　and　near　to　his　gills；　as　you　may　conveniently；　and　especially　make　clean　his　throat　from　the　grass　and　weeds　that　are　usually　in　it；　for　if　that　be　not　very　clean；　it　will　make　him　to　taste　very　sour。　Having　so　done；　put　some　sweet　herbs　into　his　belly；　and　then　tie　him　with　two　or　three　splinters　to　a　spit；　and　roast　him；　basted　often　with　vinegar；　or　rather　verjuice　and　butter；　with　good　store　of　salt　mixed　with　it。

Being　thus　dressed；　you　will　find　him　a　much　better　dish　of　meat　than　you；　or　most　folk；　even　than　anglers　themselves；　do　imagine：　for　this　dries　up　the　fluid　watery　humour　with　which　all　Chubs　do　abound。　But　take　this　rule　with　you；　That　a　Chub　newly　taken　and　newly　dressed；　is　so　much　better　than　a　Chub　of　a　day's　keeping　after　he　is　dead；　that　L　can　compare　him　to　nothing　so　fitly　as　to　cherries　newly　gathered　from　a　tree；　and　others　that　have　been　bruised　and　lain　a　day　or　two　in　water。　But　the　Chub　being　thus　used；　and　dressed　presently；　and　not　washed　after　he　is　gutted；　for　note；　that　lying　long　in　water；　and　washing　the　blood　out　of　any　fish　after　they　be　gutted；　abates　much　of　their　sweetness；　you　will　find　the　Chub；　being　dressed　in　the　blood；　and　quickly；　to　be　such　meat　as　will　recompense　your　labour；　and　disabuse　your　opinion。

Or　you　may　dress　the　Chavender　or　Chub　thus：

When　you　have　scaled　him；　and　cut　off　his　tail　and　fins；　and　washed　him　very　clean；　then　chine　or　slit　him　through　the　middle；　as　a　salt…fish　is　usually　cut；　then　give　him　three　or　four　cuts　or　scotches　on　the　back　with　your　knife；　and　broil　him　on　charcoal；　or　wood　coal；　that　are　free　from　smoke；　and　all　the　time　he　is　a…broiling；　baste　him　with　the　best　sweet　butter；　and　good　store　of　salt　mixed　with　it。　And；　to　this；　add　a　little　thyme　cut　exceedingly　small；　or　bruised　into　the　butter。　The　Cheven　thus　dressed　hath　the　watery　taste　taken　away；　for　which　so　many　except　against　him。　Thus　was　the　Cheven　dressed　that　you　now　liked　so　well；　and　commended　so　much　But　note　again；　that　if　this　Chub　that　you　eat　of　had　been　kept　till　to…morrow；　he　had　not　been　worth　a　rush。　And　remember；　that　his　throat　be　washed　very　clean；　I　say　very　clean；　and　his　body　not　washed　after　he　is　gutted；　as　indeed　no　fish　should　be。

Well；　scholar；　you　see　what　pains　I　have　taken　to　recover　the　lost　credit　of　the　poor　despised　Chub。　And　now　I　will　give　you　some　rules　how　to　catch　him：　and　I　am　glad　to　enter　you　into　the　art　of　fishing　by　catching　a　Chub；　for　there　is　no　fish　better　to　enter　a　young　Angler；　he　is　so　easily　caught；　but　then　it　must　be　this　particular　way：

Go　to　the　same　hole　in　which　I　caught　my　Chub；　where；　in　most　hot　days；　you　will　find　a　dozen　or　twenty　Chevens　floating　near　the　top　of　the　water。　Get　two　or　three　grasshoppers；　as　you　go　over　the　meadow：　and　get　secretly　behind　the　tree；　and　stand　as　free　from　motion　as　is　possible。　Then　put　a　grasshopper　on　your　hook；　and　let　your　hook　hang　a　quarter　of　a　yard　short　of　the　water；　to　which　end　you　must　rest　your　rod　on　some　bough　of　the　tree。　But　it　is　likely　the　Chubs　will　sink　down　towards　the　bottom　of　the　water；　at　the　first　shadow　of　your　rod　（for　Chub　is　the　fearfullest　of　fishes）；　and　will　do　so　if　but　a　bird　flies　over　him　and　makes　the　least　shadow　on　the　water；　but　they　will　presently　rise　up　to　the　top　again；　and　there　lie　soaring　till　some　shadow　affrights　them　again。　I　say；　when　they　lie　upon　the　top　of　the　water；　look　out　the　best　Chub；　which　you；　setting　yourself　in　a　fit　place；　may　very　easily　see；　and　move　your　rod；　as　softly　as　a　snail　moves；　to　that　Chub　you　intend　to　catch；　let　your　bait　fall　gently　upon　the　water　three　or　four　inches　before　him；　and　he　will　infallibly　take　the　bait。　And　you　will　be　as　sure　to　catch　him；　for　he　is　one　of　the　leather…mouthed　fishes；　of　which　a　hook　does　scarce　ever　lose　its　hold；　and　therefore　give　him　play　enough　before　you　offer　to　take　him　out　of　the　water。　Go　your　way　presently；　take　my　rod；　and　do　as　I　bid　you；　and　I　will　sit　down　and　mend　my　tackling　till　you　return　back。

Venator。　Truly；　my　loving　master；　you　have　offered　me　as　fair　as　I　could　wish。　I'll　go　and　observe　your　directions。

Look　you；　master；　what　I　have　done；　that　which　joys　my　heart；　caught　just　such　another　Chub　as　yours　was。

Piscator。　Marry；　and　I　am　glad　of　it：　I　am　like　to　have　a　towardly　scholar　of　you。　I　now　see；　that　with　advice　and　practice；　you　will　make　an　Angler　in　a　short　time。　Have　but　a　love　to　it；　and　I'll　warrant　you。

Venator。　But；　master！　what　if　I　could　not　have