the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第5节
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discourse is like to prove suitable to my recreation； calm and quiet； we
seldom take the name of God into our mouths； but it is either to praise him；
or pray to him： if others use it vainly in the midst of their recreations； so
vainly as if they meant to conjure； I must tell you； it is neither our fault nor
our custom； we protest against it。 But； pray remember； I accuse nobody；
for as I would not make a 〃 watery discourse；〃 so I would not put too
much vinegar into it； nor would I raise the reputation of my own art； by
the diminution or ruin of another's。 And so much for the prologue to what I
mean to say。
And now for the Water； the element that I trade in。 The water is the
eldest daughter of the creation； the element upon which the Spirit of God
did first move； the element which God commanded to bring forth living
creatures abundantly； and without which； those that inhabit the land； even
all creatures that have breath in their nostrils； must suddenly return to
putrefaction。 Moses； the great lawgiver and chief philosopher； skilled in all
the learning of the Egyptians； who was called the friend of God； and knew
the mind of the Almighty； names this element the first in the creation： this
is the element upon which the Spirit of God did first move； and is the chief
ingredient in the creation： many philosophers have made it to comprehend
all the other elements； and most allow it the chiefest in the mixtion of all
living creatures。
There be that profess to believe that all bodies are made of water； and
may be reduced back again to water only； they endeavour to demonstrate
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it thus：
Take a willow； or any like speedy growing plant newly rooted in a box
or barrel full of earth； weigh them all together exactly when the tree begins
to grow； and then weigh all together after the tree is increased from its first
rooting； to weigh a hundred pound weight more than when it was first
rooted and weighed； and you shall find this augment of the tree to be
without the diminution of one drachm weight of the earth。 Hence they
infer this increase of wood to be from water of rain； or from dew； and not
to be from any other element； and they affirm； they can reduce this wood
back again to water； and they affirm also； the same may be done in any
animal or vegetable。 And this I take to be a fair testimony of the
excellency of my clement of water。
The water is more productive than the earth。 Nay； the earth hath no
fruitfulness without showers or dews； for all the herbs； and flowers； and
fruit； are produced and thrive by the water； and the very minerals are fed
by streams that run under ground； whose natural course carries them to the
tops of many high mountains； as we see by several springs breaking forth
on the tops of the highest hills； and this is also witnessed by the daily trial
and testimony of several miners。
Nay； the increase of those creatures that are bred and fed in the water
are not only more and more miraculous； but more advantageous to man；
not only for the lengthening of his life； but for the preventing of sickness；
for it is observed by the most learned physicians； that the casting off of
Lent； and other fish days； which hath not only given the lie to so many
learned； pious； wise founders of colleges； for which we should be ashamed；
hath doubtless been the chief cause of those many putrid； shaking
intermitting agues； unto which this nation of ours is now more subject；
than those wiser countries that feed on herbs； salads； and plenty of fish； of
which it is observed in story； that the greatest part of the world now do。
And it may be fit to remember that Moses appointed fish to be the chief
diet for the best commonwealth that ever yet was。
And it is observable； not only that there are fish； as namely the Whale；
three times as big as the mighty Elephant； that is so fierce in battle； but
that the mightiest feasts have been of fish。 The Romans； in the height of
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their glory； have made fish the mistress of all their entertainments； they
have had musick to usher in their Sturgeons； Lampreys； and Mullets；
which they would purchase at rates rather to be wondered at than believed。
He that shall view the writings of Macrobius； or Varro； may be confirmed
and informed of this； and of the incredible value of their fish and fish…
ponds。
But； Gentlemen； I have almost lost myself； which I confess I may
easily do in this philosophical discourse； I met with most of it very lately；
and； I hope； happily； in a conference with a most learned physician； Dr。
Wharton； a dear friend； that loves both me and my art of Angling。 But；
however； I will wade no deeper into these mysterious arguments； but pass
to such observations as I can manage with more pleasure； and less fear of
running into error。 But I must not yet forsake the waters； by whose help we
have so many known advantages。
And first； to pass by the miraculous cures of our known baths； how
advantageous is the sea for our daily traffick； without which we could not
now subsist。 How does it not only furnish us with food and physick for the
bodies； but with such observations for the mind as ingenious persons
would not want！
How ignorant had we been of the beauty of Florence； of the
monuments； urns； and rarities that yet remain in and near unto old and new
Rome； so many as it is said will take up a year's time to view； and afford to
each of them but a convenient consideration！ And therefore it is not to be
wondered at； that so learned and devout a father as St。 Jerome； after his
wish to have seen Christ in the flesh； and to have heard St。 Paul preach；
makes his third wish； to have seen Rome in her glory； and that glory is not
yet all lost； for what pleasure is it to see the monuments of Livy； the
choicest of the historians； of Tully； the best of orators； and to see the bay
trees that now grow out of the very tomb of Virgil！ These； to any that love
learning； must be pleasing。 But what pleasure is it to a devout Christian； to
see there the humble house in which St。 Paul was content to dwell； and to
view the many rich statues that are made in honour of his memory！ nay； to
see the very place in which St。 Peter and he lie buried together！ These are
in and near to Rome。 And how much more doth it please the pious
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curiosity of a Christian； to see that place； on which the blessed Saviour of
the world was pleased to humble himself； and to take our nature upon him；
and to converse with men： to see Mount Sion； Jerusalem； and the very
sepulchre of our Lord Jesus！ How may it beget and heighten the zeal of a
Christian； to see the devotions that are daily paid to him at that place！
Gentlemen； lest I forget myself； I will stop here； and remember you； that
but for my element of water； the inhabitants of this poor island must
remain ignorant that such things ever were； or that any of them have yet a
being。
Gentlemen； I might both enlarge and lose myself in such like
arguments。 I might tell you that Almighty God is said to have spoken to a
fish； but never to a beast； that he hath made a whale a ship； to carry and set
his prophet； Jonah； safe on the appointed shore。 Of these I might speak；
but I must in manners break off； for I see Theobald's House。 I cry you
mercy for being so long； and thank you for your patience。
Auceps。 Sir； my pardon is easily granted you： I except against nothing
that you have said： nevertheless； I must part with you at this park…wall； for
which I am very sorry； but I assure you； Mr。 Piscator； I now part with you
full of good thoughts； not only of yourself； but your recreation。 And so；
Gentlemen； God keep you both。
Piscator。 Well； now； Mr。 Venator； you shall neither want time； nor my
attention to hear you enlarge your discourse concerning hunting。
Vena
