the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第16节
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day； and sleep securely all the night： and without doubt； honest； innocent；
pretty Maudlin does so。 I'll bestow Sir Thomas Overbury's milk…maid's
wish upon her； 〃that she may die in the Spring； and； being dead； may have
good store of flowers stuck round about her winding… sheet 〃 。
The Milk…maid's mother's answer
If all the world and love were young And truth in every shepherd's
tongue； These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee； and be
thy love。
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But Time drives flocks from field to fold。 When rivers rage； and rocks
grow cold Then Philomel becometh dumb And age complains of cares to
come。
The flowers do fade； and wanton fields To wayward winter reckoning
yields。 A honey tongue； a heart of gall； Is fancy's spring but sorrow's fall。
Thy gowns； thy shoes； thy beds of roses； Thy cap； thy kirtle； and thy
posies； Soon break； soon wither； soon forgotten； In folly rise。 in reason
rotten。
Thy belt of straw； and ivy buds； Thy coral clasps； and amber studs； All
these in me no means can move To come to thee； and be thy love。
What should we talk of dainties； then； Of better meat than's fit for
men ？ These are but vain： that's only good Which God hath blessed and
sent for food。
But could youth last； and love still breed； Had joys no date； nor age no
need； Then those delights my mind might move To live with thee； and be
thy love。
Mother。 Well！ I have done my song。 But stay； honest anglers； for I will
make Maudlin sing you one short song more。 Maudlin ！ sing that song that
you sung last night； when young Coridon the shepherd played so purely on
his oaten pipe to you and your cousin Betty。
Maudlin。 I will； mother。
I married a wife of late； The more's my unhappy fate： I married her for
love； As my fancy did me move； And not for a worldly estate：
But oh！ the green sickness Soon changed her likeness； And all her
beauty did fail。 But 'tis not so With those that go Thro'frost and s As As all
men know； And carry the milking…pail。
Piscator。 Well sung； good woman； I thank you。 I'll give you another
dish of fish one of these days； and then beg another song of you。 Come；
scholar ！ let Maudlin alone： do not you offer to spoil her voice。 Look ！
yonder comes mine hostess； to call us to supper。 How now！ is my brother
Peter come？
Hostess。 Yes； and a friend with him。 They are both glad to hear that
you are in these parts； and long to see you； and long to be at supper； for
they be very hungry。
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The third day … continued
On the Trout
Chapter V
Piscator； Peter； Venator； Coridon
Piscator。 Well met； brother Peter！ I heard you and a friend would
lodge here to…night； and that hath made me to bring my friend to lodge
here too。 My friend is one that would fain be a brother of the angle： he
hath been an angler but this day； and I have taught him how to catch a
Chub； by dapping with a grasshopper； and the Chub he caught was a lusty
one of nineteen inches long。 But pray； brother Peter； who is your
companion ？
Peter。 Brother Piscator； my friend is an honest countryman； and his
name is Coridon； and he is a downright witty companion； that met me here
purposely to be pleasant and eat a Trout； and I have not yet wetted my line
since we met together： but I hope to fit him with a Trout for his breakfast；
for I'll be early up。
Piscator。 Nay； brother； you shall not stay so long； for； look you！ here is
a Trout will fill six reasonable bellies。
Come； hostess； dress it presently； and get us what other meat the house
will afford； and give us some of your best barley…wine； the good liquor
that our honest forefathers did use to think of； the drink which preserved
their health； and made them live so long； and to do so many good deeds。
Peter。 On my word； this Trout is perfect in season。 Come； I thank you；
and here is a hearty draught to you； and to all the brothers of the angle
wheresoever they be； and to my young brother's good fortune to… morrow。
I will furnish him with a rod； if you will furnish him with the rest of the
tackling： we will set him up； and make him a fisher。 And I will tell him
one thing for his encouragement； that his fortune hath made him happy to
be scholar to such a master； a master that knows as much； both of the
nature and breeding of fish； as any man； and can also tell him as well how
to catch and cook them； from the Minnow to the Salmon； as any that I ever
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met withal。
Piscator。 Trust me； brother Peter； I find my scholar to be so suitable to
my own humour； which is to be free and pleasant and civilly merry； that
my resolution is to hide nothing that I know from him。 Believe me； scholar；
this is my resolution； and so here's to you a hearty draught； and to all that
love us and the honest art of Angling。
Venator。 Trust me； good master； you shall not sow your seed in barren
ground； for I hope to return you an increase answerable to your hopes： but；
however； you shall find me obedient； and thankful； and serviceable to my
best ability。
Piscator。 'Tis enough； honest scholar！ come； let's to supper。 Come； my
friend Coridon； this Trout looks lovely； it was twenty…two inches when it
was taken； and the belly of it looked； some part of it； as yellow as a
marigold； and part of it as white as a lily； and yet； methinks； it looks better
in this good sauce。
Coridon。 Indeed； honest friend； it looks well； and tastes well： I thank
you for it； and so doth my friend Peter； or else he is to blame。
Peter。 Yes； and so I do； we all thank you： and； when we have supped； I
will get my friend Coridon to sing you a song for requital。
Coridon。 I will sing a song； if anybody will sing another； else； to be
plain with you； I will sing none。 I am none of those that sing for meat； but
for company： I say；
'〃Tis merry in hall； When men sing all。〃
Piscator。 I'll promise you I'll sing a song that was lately made； at my
request； by Mr。 William Basse； one that hath made the choice songs of the
〃 Hunter in his Career；〃 and of 〃 Tom of Bedlam；〃 and many others of note；
and this； that I will sing； is in praise of Angling。
Coridon。 And then mine shall be the praise of a Countryman's life。
What will the rest sing of？
Peter。 I will promise you； I will sing another song in praise of Angling
to…morrow night； for we will not part till then； but fish to…morrow； and sup
together： and the next day every man leave fishing； and fall to his
business。
Venator。 Tis a match； and I will provide you a song or a catch against
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then； too； which shall give some addition of mirth to the company； for we
will be civil and as merry as beggars。
Piscator。 Tis a match； my masters。 Let's e en say grace； and turn to the
fire； drink the other cup to whet our whistles； and so sing away all sad
thoughts。 Come on； my masters； who begins？ I think it is best to draw cuts；
and avoid contention。
Peter。 It is a match。 Look； the shortest cut falls to Coridon。
Coridon。 Well； then； I will begin； for I hate contention
Coridon's song。
Oh the sweet contentment The countryman doth find！ Heigh trolollie
lollie foe； Heigh trolollie lee。 That quiet contemplation Possesseth all my
mind： Then care away And wend along with me。
For Courts are full of flattery； As hath too oft been tried Heigh trolollie
lollie foe； etc。； The city full of wantonness； And both are full of pride：
Then care away； etc。
But oh； the honest countryman Speaks truly from his heart Heigh
trolollie lollie foe； etc。 His pride is in his tillage； His horses； and his cart：
Then care away； etc。
