the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第15节
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doubtless； there is a kind of small Trout； which will never thrive to be big；
that breeds very many more than others do； that be of a larger size： which
you may rasher believe； if you consider that the little wren end titmouse
will have twenty young ones at a time； when； usually； the noble hawk； or
the musical thrassel or blackbird； exceed not four or five。
And now you shall see me try my skill to catch a Trout； and at my next
walking； either this evening or to…morrow morning； I will give you
direction how you yourself shall fish for him。
Venator。 Trust me； master； I see now it is a harder matter to catch a
Trout than a Chub； for I have put on patience； and followed you these two
hours； and not seen a fish stir； neither at your minnow nor your worm。
Piscator。 Well； scholar； you must endure worse luck sometime； or you
will never make a good angler。 But what say you now？ there is a Trout
now； and a good one too； if I can but hold him； and two or three turns
more will tire him。 Now you see he lies still； and the sleight is to land him：
reach me that landing…net。 So； Sir； now he is mine own： what say you now；
is not this worth all my labour and your patience？
Venator。 On my word； master； this is a gallant Trout； what shall we do
with him？
Piscator。 Marry； e en eat him to supper： we'll go to my hostess from
whence we came； she told me； as I was going out of door； that my brother
Peter； a good angler and a cheerful companion； had sent word he would
lodge there to…night； and bring a friend with him。 My hostess has two beds；
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and I know you and I may have the best： we'll rejoice with my brother
Peter and his friend； tell tales； or sing ballads； or make a catch； or find
some harmless sport to content us； and pass away a little time without
offence to God or man。
Venator。 A match； good master； let's go to that house； for the linen
looks white； and smells of lavender； and I long to lie in a pair of sheets
that smell so。 Let's be going； good master； for I am hungry again with
fishing。
Piscator。 Nay； stay a little； good scholar。 I caught my last Trout with a
worm； now I will put on a minnow； and try a quarter of an hour about
yonder trees for another； and； so； walk towards our lodging。 Look you；
scholar； thereabout we shall have a bite presently； or not at all。 Have with
you； Sir： o' my word I have hold of him。 Oh！ it is a great logger… headed
Chub； come； hang him upon that willow twig； and let's be going。 But turn
out of the way a little； good scholar！ toward yonder high honeysuckle
hedge； there we'll sit and sing whilst this shower falls so gently upon the
teeming earth； and gives yet a sweeter smell to the lovely flowers that
adorn these verdant meadows。
Look ！ under that broad beech…tree I sat down； when I was last this
way a…fishing； and the birds in the adjoining grove seemed to have a
friendly contention with an echo； whose dead voice seemed to live in a
hollow tree near to the brow of that primrose…hill。 There I sat viewing the
silver streams glide silently towards their centre； the tempestuous sea； yet
sometimes opposed by rugged roots and pebble…stones； which broke their
waves； and turned them into foam； and sometimes I beguiled time by
viewing the harmless lambs； some leaping securely in the cool shade；
whilst others sported themselves in the cheerful sun； and saw others
craving comfort from the swollen udders of their bleating dams。 As I thus
sat； these and other sights had so fully possess my soul with content； that I
thought； as the poet has happily express it；
I was for that time lifted above earth： And possest joys not promis'd in
my birth。
As I left this place； and entered into the next field； a second pleasure
entertained me； 'twas a handsome milk…maid； that had not yet attained so
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much age and wisdom as to load her mind with any fears of many things
that will never be； as too many men too often do； but she cast away all
care； and sung like a nightingale。 Her voice was good； and the ditty fitted
for it； it was that smooth song which was made by Kit Marlow； now at
least fifty years ago； and the milk…maid's mother sung an answer to it；
which was made by Sir Walter Raleigh； in his younger days。 They were
old…fashioned poetry； but choicely good； I think much better than the
strong lines that are now in fashion in this critical age。 Look yonder！ on
my word； yonder； they both be a…milking again。 I will give her the Chub；
and persuade them to sing those two songs to us。
God speed you； good woman！ I have been a…fishing； and am going to
Bleak Hall to my bed； and having caught more fish than will sup myself
and my friend； I will bestow this upon you and your daughter； for I use to
sell none。
Milk…woman。 Marry！ God requite you； Sir； and we'll eat it cheerfully。
And if you come this way a…fishing two months hence； a grace of God！ I'll
give you a syllabub of new verjuice； in a new…made hay…cock； for it。 And
my Maudlin shall sing you one of her best ballads； for she and I both love
all anglers； they be such honest； civil； quiet men。 In the meantime will you
drink a draught of red cow's milk ？ you shall have it freely。
Piscator。 No； I thank you； but； I pray； do us a courtesy that shall stand
you and your daughter in nothing； and yet we will think ourselves still
something in your debt： it is but to sing us a song that was sung by your
daughter when I last passed over this meadow； about eight or nine days
since。
Milk…woman。 What song was it； I pray？ Was it； 〃 Come； Shepherds；
deck your herds 〃 ？ or； 〃 As at noon Dulcina rested 〃 ？ or； 〃 Phillida flouts
me 〃 ？ or； 〃 Chevy Chace 〃 ？ or； 〃 Johnny Armstrong 〃 ？ or； 〃 Troy Town
〃 ？
Piscator。 No； it is none of those； it is a Song that your daughter sung
the first part； and you sung the answer to it。
Milk…woman。 O； I know it now。 I learned the first part in my golden
age； when I was about the age of my poor daughter； and the latter part；
which indeed fits me best now； but two or three years ago； when the cares
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of the world began to take hold of me： but you shall； God willing； hear
them both； and sung as well as we can； for we both love anglers。 Come；
Maudlin； sing the first part to the gentlemen； with a merry heart； and I'll
sing the second when you have done。
The Milk…maid's song。
Come live with me； and be my love； And we will all the pleasures
prove； That valleys； groves； or hills； or fields； Or woods； and steepy
mountains yields；
Where we will sit upon the rocks； And see the shepherds feed our
flocks； By shallow rivers； to whose falls Melodious birds sing madrigals。
And I will make thee beds of roses； And； then； a thousand fragrant
posies； A cap of flowers； and a kirtle； Embroidered all with leaves of
myrtle；
A gown made of the finest wool Which from our pretty lambs we pull
Slippers； lin'd choicely for the cold； With buckles of the purest gold；
A belt of straw and ivy…buds； With coral clasps； and amber studs。 And
if these pleasures may thee move； Come； live with me； and be my love；
Thy silver dishes； for thy meat As precious as the Gods do eat Shall；
on an ivory table； be Prepared each day for thee and me。
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing For thy delight； each May
morning。 If these delights thy mind may move； Then live with me； and be
my love。
Venator。 Trust me； master； it is a choice song； and sweetly sung by
honest Maudlin。 I now see it was not without cause that our good queen
Elizabeth did so often wish herself a milk…maid all the month of May；
because they are not troubled with fears and cares； but sing sweetly all the
day； and sleep securely all the night：
