the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第7节
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appear very considerable： I am sure they have appeared so to me； and
made many an hour pass away more pleasantly； as I have sat quietly on a
flowery bank by a calm river； and contemplated what I shall now relate to
you。
And first concerning rivers； there be so many wonders reported and
written of them； and of the several creatures that be bred and live in them；
and those by authors of so good credit； that we need not to deny them an
historical faith。
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As namely of a river in Epirus that puts out any lighted torch； and
kindles any torch that was not lighted。 Some waters being drunk； cause
madness； some drunkenness； and some laughter to death。 The river Selarus
in a few hours turns a rod or wand to stone： and our Camden mentions the
like in England； and the like in Lochmere in Ireland。 There is also a river
in Arabia； of which all the sheep that drink thereof have their wool turned
into a vermilion colour。 And one of no less credit than Aristotle； tells us of
a merry river； the river Elusina； that dances at the noise of musick； for with
musick it bubbles； dances； and grows sandy； and so continues till the
musick ceases； but then it presently returns to its wonted calmness and
clearness。 And Camden tells us of a well near to Kirby； in Westmoreland；
that ebbs and flows several times every day： and he tells us of a river in
Surrey； it is called Mole； that after it has run several miles； being opposed
by hills； finds or makes itself a way under ground； and breaks out again so
far off； that the inhabitants thereabout boast； as the Spaniards do of their
river Anus； that they feed divers flocks of sheep upon a bridge。 And lastly；
for I would not tire your patience； one of no less authority than Josephus；
that learned Jew； tells us of a river in Judea that runs swiftly all the six
days of the week； and stands still and rests all their sabbath。
But I will lay aside my discourse of rivers； and tell you some things of
the monsters； or fish； call them what you will； that they breed and feed in
them。 Pliny the philosopher says； in the third chapter of his ninth book；
that in the Indian Sea； the fish called Balaena or Whirlpool； is so long and
broad； as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground；
and； of other fish； of two hundred cubits long； and that in the river Ganges；
there be Eels of thirty feet long。 He says there； that these monsters appear
in that sea； only when the tempestuous winds oppose the torrents of water
falling from the rocks into it； and so turning what lay at the bottom to be
seen on the water's top。 And he says； that the people of Cadara； an island
near this place； make the timber for their houses of those fish bones。 He
there tells us； that there are sometimes a thousand of these great Eels
found wrapt or interwoven together He tells us there； that it appears that
dolphins love musick； and will come when called for； by some men or
boys that know； and use to feed them； and that they can swim as swift as
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an arrow can be shot out of a bow； and much of this is spoken concerning
the dolphin； and other fish； as may be found also in the learned Dr。
Casaubon's Discourse of Credulity and Incredulity； printed by him about
the year 1670。
I know； we Islanders are averse to the belief of these wonders； but
there be so many strange creatures to be now seen； many collected by John
Tradescant； and others added by my friend Elias Ashmole； Esq。； who now
keeps them carefully and methodically at his house near to Lambeth； near
London； as may get some belief of some of the other wonders I mentioned。
I will tell you some of the wonders that you may now see； and not till then
believe； unless you think fit。
You may there see the Hog…fish； the Dog…fish； the Dolphin； the Cony…
fish； the Parrot…fish； the Shark； the Poison…fish； Sword…fish； and not only
other incredible fish； but you may there see the Salamander； several sorts
of Barnacles； of Solan…Geese； the Bird of Paradise； such sorts of Snakes；
and such Birds'…nests； and of so various forms； and so wonderfully made；
as may beget wonder and amusement in any beholder； and so many
hundred of other rarities in that collection； as will make the other wonders
I spake of； the less incredible； for； you may note； that the waters are
Nature's store…house； in which she locks up her wonders。
But； Sir； lest this discourse may seem tedious； I shall give it a sweet
conclusion out of that holy poet； Mr。 George Herbert his divine 〃
Contemplation on God's Providence〃。
Lord！ who hath praise enough； nay； who hath any ？ None can express
thy works； but he that knows them； And none can know thy works； they
are so many； And so complete； but only he that owes them。
We all acknowledge both thy power and love To be exact； transcendant；
and divine； Who cost so strangely and so sweetly move； Whilst all things
have their end； yet none but thine。
Wherefore； most sacred Spirit！ I here present； For me； and all my
fellows； praise to thee； And just it is； that I should pay the rent； Because
the benefit accrues to me。
And as concerning fish； in that psalm； wherein； for height of poetry
and wonders； the prophet David seems even to exceed himself； how doth
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he there express himself in choice metaphors； even to the amazement of a
contemplative reader； concerning the sea； the rivers； and the fish therein
contained！ And the great naturalist Pliny says； 〃 That nature's great and
wonderful power is more demonstrated in the sea than on the land 〃。 And
this may appear； by the numerous and various creatures inhabiting both in
and about that element； as to the readers of Gesner； Rondeletius； Pliny；
Ausonius； Aristotle； and others； may be demonstrated。 But I will sweeten
this discourse also out of a contemplation in divine Du Bartas； who says：
God quickened in the sea； and in the rivers； So many fishes of so many
features； That in the waters we may see all creatures； Even all that on the
earth are to be found； As if the world were in deep waters drown'd。 For
seasas well as skieshave Sun； Moon； Stars As well as airSwallows；
Rooks； and Stares； As well as earthVines； Roses； Nettles； Melons；
Mushrooms； Pinks； Gilliflowers； and many millions Of other plants； more
rare； more strange than these； As very fishes； living in the seas； As also
Rams； Calves； Horses； Hares； and Hogs； Wolves； Urchins； Lions；
Elephants； and Dogs； Yea； Men and Maids； and； which I most admire； The
mitred Bishop and the cowled Friar： Of which； examples； but a few years
since； Were strewn the Norway and Polonian prince。
These seem to be wonders； but have had so many confirmations from
men of learning and credit； that you need not doubt them。 Nor are the
number； nor the various shapes； of fishes more strange； or more fit for
contemplation； than their different natures； inclinations； and actions；
concerning which； I shall beg your patient ear a little longer。
The Cuttle…fish will cast a long gut out of her throat； which； like as an
Angler doth his line； she sendeth forth； and pulleth in again at her pleasure；
according as she sees some little fish come near to her； and the Cuttle…fish；
being then hid in the gravel； lets the smaller fish nibble and bite the end of
it； at which time she； by little and little； draws the smaller fish so near to
her； that she may leap upon her； and then catches and devours her： and for
this reason some have called this fish the Sea… angler。
And there is a fish called a Hermit； that at a certain age gets into a
dead fish's shell； and； like a hermit； dwells there alone； studying the wind
and weather and so turns her shell。 that she makes it defend her from the
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injuries that they would bring upon her。
Ther
