the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第45节
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God； and be comforted； and at last come to the kingdom of heaven： but in
the meantime； he； and he only； possesses the earth； as he goes towards that
kingdom of heaven； by being humble and cheerful； and content with what
his good God had allotted him。 He has no turbulent； repining； vexatious
thoughts that he deserves better； nor is vext when he see others possess of
more honour or more riches than his wise God has allotted for his share：
but he possesses what he has with a meek and contented quietness； such a
quietness as makes his very dreams pleasing； both to God and himself。
My honest Scholar； all this is told to incline you to thankfulness； and
to incline you the more； let me tell you； and though the prophet David was
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guilty of murder and adultery； and many other of the most deadly sins； yet
he was said to be a man after God's own heart； because he abounded more
with thankfulness that any other that is mentioned in holy scripture； as
may appear in his book o* Psalms； where there is such a commixture； of
his confessing of his sins and unworthiness； and such thankfulness for
God's pardon and mercies； as did make him to be accounted； even by God
himself； to be a man after his own heart： and let us； in that； labour to be as
like him as we can； let not the blessings we receive daily from God make
us not to value； or not praise Him； because they be common； let us not
forget to praise Him for the innocent mirth and pleasure we have met with
since we met together。 What would a blind man give to see the pleasant
rivers； and meadows； and flowers； and fountains； that we have met with
since we met together ？ I have been told； that if a man that was born blind
could obtain to have his sight for but only one hour during his whole life；
and should； at the first opening of his eyes； fix his sight upon the sun when
it was in its full glory； either at the rising or setting of it； he would be so
transported and amazed； and so admire the glory of it； that he would not
willingly turn his eyes from that first ravishing object； to behold all the
other various beauties this world could present to him。 And this； and many
other like blessings； we enjoy daily。 And for the most of them； because
they be so common； most men forget to pay their praises： but let not us；
because it is a sacrifice so pleasing to Him that made that sun and us； and
still protects us； and gives us flowers； and showers； and stomachs； and
meat； and content； and leisure to go a…fishing。
Well； Scholar； I have almost tired myself； and； I fear； more than almost
tired you。 But I now see Tottenham High…Cross； and our short walk thither
shall put a period to my too long discourse； in which my meaning was；
and is； to plant that in your mind with which I labour to possess my own
soul； that is； a meek and thankful heart。 And to that end I have shewed you；
that riches without them； do not make any man happy。 But let me tell you；
that riches with them remove many fears and cares。 And therefore my
advice is； that you endeavour to be honestly rich； or contentedly poor： but
be sure that your riches be justly got； or you spoil all。 For it is well said by
Caussin； 〃 He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth
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keeping 〃。 Therefore be sure you look to that。 And； in the next place； look
to your health： and if you have it； praise God； and value it next to a good
conscience； for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of；
a blessing that money cannot buy； and therefore value it； and be thankful
for it。 As for money； which may be said to be the third blessing； neglect it
not： but note； that there is no necessity of being rich； for I told you； there
be as many miseries beyond riches as on this side them： and if you have a
competence； enjoy it with a meek； cheerful； thankful heart。 I will tell you；
Scholar； I have heard a grave Divine say； that God has two dwellings； one
in heaven； and the other in a meek and thankful heart； which Almighty
God grant to me； and to my honest Scholar。 And so you are welcome to
Tottenham High…Cross。
Venator。 Well； Master； I thank you for all your good directions； but for
none more than this last； of thankfulness； which I hope I shall never forget。
And pray let's now rest ourselves in this sweet shady arbour； which nature
herself has woven with her own fine fingers； 'tis such a contexture of
woodbines； sweetbriar； jasmine； and myrtle； and so interwoven； as will
secure us both from the sun's violent heat； and from the approaching
shower。 And being set down； I will requite a part of your courtesies with a
bottle of sack； milk； oranges； and sugar； which； all put together； make a
drink like nectar； indeed； too good for any but us Anglers； And so； Master；
here is a full glass to you of that liquor： and when you have pledged me； I
will repeat the Verses which I promised you： it is a Copy printed among
some of Sir Henry Wotton's； and doubtless made either by him； or by a
lover of angling。 Come； Master； now drink a glass to me； and then I will
pledge you； and fall to my repetition； it is a description of such country
recreations as I have enjoyed since I had the happiness to fall into your
company。 Quivering fears； heart…tearing cares； Anxious sighs； untimely
tears； Fly； fly to courts； Fly to fond worldlings' sports； Where strain'd
sardonic smiles are glosing still； And Grief is forc'd to laugh against her
will： Where mirth's but mummery； And sorrows only real be。
Fly from our country pastimes； fly； Sad troops of human misery。 Come；
serene looks； Clear as the crystal brooks； Or the pure azur'd heaven that
smiles to see The rich attendance of our poverty： Peace and a secure mind；
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Which all men seek； we only find。
Abused mortals I did you know Where joy； heart's…ease； and comforts
grow； You'd scorn proud towers； And seek them in these bowers； Where
winds； sometimes； our woods perhaps may shake； But blust'ring care
could never tempest make； Nor murmurs e'er come nigh us； Saving of
fountains that glide by us。
Here's no fantastick mask； nor dance； But of our kids that frisk and
prance； Nor wars are seen Unless upon the green Two harmless lambs are
butting one the other； Which done； both bleating run； each to his mother
And wounds are never found； Save what the plough…share gives the
ground。
Here are no false entrapping baits； To hasten too； too hasty Fates；
Unless it be The fond credulity Of silly fish； which worldling like； still
look Upon the bait； but never on the hook； Nor envy； unless among The
birds； for prize of their sweet song。
Go； let the diving negro seek For gems； hid in some forlorn creek： We
all pearls scorn； Save what the dewy morn Congeals upon each little spire
of grass； Which careless shepherds beat down as they pass： And gold ne'er
here appears； Save what the yellow Ceres bears；
Blest silent groves； oh may ye be； For ever； mirth's best nursery ！ May
pure contents For ever pitch their tents Upon these downs； these meads；
these rocks； these mountains。 And peace still slumber by these purling
fountains： Which we may； every year； Meet when we come a…fishing here。
Piscator。 Trust me； Scholar； I thank you heartily for these Verses： they
be choicely good； and doubtless made by a lover of angling。 Come； now；
drink a glass to me； and I will requite you with another very good copy： it
is a farewell to the vanities of the world； and some say written by Sir
Harry Wotton； who I told you was an excellent angler。 But let them be writ
by whom they will； he that writ them had a brave soul； and must needs be
possess with happy thoughts at the time of their composure。
Farewell； ye gilded follies； pleasing troubles； Farewell； ye honour'd
rags； ye glorious bubbles； Fame's but a hollow echo； Gold； pure clay；
Honour the darling but of one short day； Beauty； th' eye's idol； but
