the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第11节
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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
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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。
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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
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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 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
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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。
