the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第22节
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of your discourse with Mr。 Herbert's verses； who； I have heard； loved
angling； and I do the rather believe it； because he had a spirit suitable to
anglers； and to those primitive Christians that you love； and have so much
commended。
Piscator。 Well； my loving scholar； and I am pleased to know that you
are so well pleased with my direction and discourse。
And since you like these verses of Mr。 Herbert's so well； let me tell
you what a reverend and learned divine that professes to imitate him； and
has indeed done so most excellently； hath writ of our book of Common
Prayer； which I know you will like the better； because he is a friend of
mine； and I am sure no enemy to angling。
What ！ Pray'r by th' book ？ and Common ？ Yes； Why not ？
The spirit of grace And supplication Is not left free alone For time and
place； But manner too： to read； or speak； by rote； Is all alike to him that
prays； In's heart。 what with his mouth he says。
They that in private； by themselves alone； Do pray； may take What
liberty they please； In chusing of the ways Wherein to make Their soul's
most intimate affections known To him that sees in secret； when Th' are
most conceal'd from other men。
But he； that unto others leads the way In public prayer； Should do it so；
As all； that hear； may know They need not fear To tune their hearts unto
his tongue； and say Amen； not doubt they were betray'd To blaspheme；
when they meant to have pray'd。
Devotion will add life unto the letter： And why should not That； which
authority Prescribes； esteemed be Advantage got ？ If th' prayer be good；
the commoner the better； Prayer in the Church's words； as well As sense；
of all prayers bears the bell。
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And now； scholar； I think it will be time to repair to our angle…rods；
which we left in the water to fish for themselves； and you shall choose
which shall be yours； and it is an even lay； one of them catches。
And； let me tell you； this kind of fishing with a dead rod； and laying
night…hooks； are like putting money to use； for they both work for the
owners when they do nothing but sleep； or eat； or rejoice； as you know we
have done this last hour； and sat as quietly and as free from cares under
this sycamore； as Virgil's Tityrus and his Meliboeus did under their broad
beech…tree。 No life； my honest scholar； no life so happy and so pleasant as
the life of a well…governed angler； for when the lawyer is swallowed up
with business； and the statesman is preventing or contriving plots； then we
sit on cowslip…banks； hear the birds sing； and possess ourselves in as much
quietness as these silent silver streams； which we now see glide so quietly
by us。 Indeed； my good scholar； we may say of angling； as Dr。 Boteler said
of strawberries； 〃 Doubtless God could have made a better berry； but
doubtless God never did 〃； and so； if I might be judge； God never did
make a more calm； quiet； innocent recreation than angling。
I'll tell you； scholar； when I sat last on this primrose…bank； and looked
down these meadows； I thought of them as Charles the emperor did of the
city of Florence： 〃 That they were too pleasant to be looked on； but only
on holy…days 〃。 As I then sat on this very grass； I turned my present
thoughts into verse： 'twas a Wish； which I'll repeat to you：…
The Angler's wish。
I in these flowery meads would be： These crystal streams should
solace me； To whose harmonious bubbling noise I with my Angle would
rejoice： Sit here； and see the turtle…dove Court his chaste mate to acts of
love：
Or； on that bank； feel the west wind Breathe health and plenty： please
my mind； To see sweet dew…drops kiss these flowers； And then washed off
by April showers： Here； hear my Kenna sing a song； There。 see a
blackbird feed her young。
Or a leverock build her nest： Here； give my weary spirits rest； And
raise my low…pitch'd thoughts above Earth； or what poor mortals love：
Thus； free from law…suits and the noise Of princes' courts； I would rejoice：
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Or； with my Bryan； and a book； Loiter long days near Shawford…brook；
There sit by him； and eat my meat； There see the sun both rise and set：
There bid good morning to next day；There meditate my time away； And
Angle on； and beg to have A quiet passage to a welcome grave。
When I had ended this composure； I left this place； and saw a brother
of the angle sit under that honeysuckle hedge； one that will prove worth
your acquaintance。 I sat down by him； and presently we met with an
accidental piece of merriment； which I will relate to you； for it rains still。
On the other side of this very hedge sat a gang of gypsies； and near to
them sat a gang of beggars。 The gypsies were then to divide all the money
that had been got that week； either by stealing linen or poultry； or by
fortune…telling or legerdemain； or； indeed； by any other sleights and secrets
belonging to their mysterious government。 And the sum that was got that
week proved to be but twenty and some odd shillings。 The odd money was
agreed to be distributed amongst the poor of their own corporation： and for
the remaining twenty shillings； that was to be divided unto four gentlemen
gypsies； according to their several degrees in their commonwealth。 And
the first or chiefest gypsy was； by consent； to have a third part of the
twenty shillings； which all men know is 6s。 8d。 The second was to have a
fourth part of the 20s。； which all men know to be 5s。 The third was to have
a fifth part of the 20s。； which all men know to be 4s。 The fourth and last
gypsy was to have a sixth part of the 20s。； which all men know to be 3s。
4d。
As for example； 3 times 6s。 8d。 are 20s。 And so is 4 times 5s。 are 20s。
And so is 5 times 4s。 are 20s。 And so is 6 times 3s。 4d。 are 20s。
And yet he that divided the money was so very a gypsy； that though he
gave to every one these said sums； yet he kept one shilling of it for himself
As； for example； s。 d。 6
8 5 0
4 0 3 4
make but 。 。 。 。 。 。 19 0
But now you shall know； that when the four gypsies saw that he had
got one shilling by dividing the money； though not one of them knew any
reason to demand more； yet； like lords and courtiers； every gypsy envied
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him that was the gainer； and wrangled with him； and every one said the
remaining shilling belonged to him； and so they fell to so high a contest
about it； as none that knows the faithfulness of one gypsy to another will
easily believe； only we that have lived these last twenty years are certain
that money has been able to do much mischief。 However； the gypsies were
too wise to go to law； and did therefore choose their choice friends Rook
and Shark； and our late English Gusman； to be their arbitrators and
umpires。 And so they left this honeysuckle hedge； and went to tell fortunes
and cheat； and get more money and lodging in the next village。
When these were gone； we heard as high a contention amongst the
beggars； whether it was easiest to rip a cloak； or to unrip a cloak ？ One
beggar affirmed it was all one： but that was denied； by asking her； If doing
and undoing were all one？ Then another said； 'twas easiest to unrip a cloak；
for that was to let it alone： but she was answered； by asking her； how she
unript it if she let it alone ？ and she confess herself mistaken。 These and
twenty such like questions were proposed and answered； with as much
beggarly logick and earnestness as was ever heard to proceed from the
mouth of the pertinacious schismatick； and sometimes all the beggars；
whose number was neither more nor less than the poets' nine muses； talked
all together about this ripping and unripping； and so loud； that not one
heard
