the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第9节
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mentioned； namely； by meek Moses the friend of God； and by the humble
prophet Amos。
Concerning which last； namely the prophet Amos； I shall make but this
observation； that he that shall read the humble； lowly； plain style of that
prophet； and compare it with the high； glorious； eloquent style of the
prophet Isaiah； though they be both equally true； may easily believe Amos
to be； not only a shepherd； but a good…natured plain fisherman。 Which I do
the rather believe； by comparing the affectionate； loving； lowly； humble
Epistles of St。 Peter； St。 James； and St。 John； whom we know were all
fishers； with the glorious language and high metaphors of St。 Paul； who
we may believe was not。
And for the lawfulness of fishing： it may very well be maintained by
our Saviour's bidding St。 Peter cast his hook into the water and catch a fish；
for money to pay tribute to Caesar。 And let me tell you； that Angling is of
high esteem； and of much use in other nations。 He that reads the Voyages
of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto； shall find that there he declares to have found
a king and several priests a…fishing。 And he that reads Plutarch； shall find；
that Angling was not contemptible in the days of Mark Antony and
Cleopatra； and that they； in the midst of their wonderful glory； used
Angling as a principal recreation。 And let me tell you； that in the Scripture；
Angling is always taken in the best sense； and that though hunting may be
sometimes so taken； yet it is but seldom to be so understood。 And let me
add this more： he that views the ancient Ecclesiastical Canons； shall find
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hunting to be forbidden to Churchmen； as being a turbulent； toilsome；
perplexing recreation； and shall find Angling allowed to clergymen； as
being a harmless recreation； a recreation that invites them to
contemplation and quietness。
I might here enlarge myself； by telling you what commendations our
learned Perkins bestows on Angling： and how dear a lover； and great a
practiser of it； our learned Dr。 Whitaker was； as indeed many others of
great learning have been。 But I will content myself with two memorable
men； that lived near to our own time； whom I also take to have been
ornaments to the art of Angling。
The first is Dr。 Nowel； sometime dean of the cathedral church of St。
Paul； in London； where his monument stands yet undefaced； a man that； in
the reformation of Queen Elizabeth； not that of Henry VIII。； was so noted
for his meek spirit； deep learning； prudence； and piety； that the then
Parliament and Convocation； both； chose； enjoined； and trusted him to be
the man to make a Catechism for public use； such a one as should stand as
a rule for faith and manners to their posterity。 And the good old man；
though he was very learned； yet knowing that God leads us not to heaven
by many； nor by hard questions； like an honest Angler； made that good；
plain； unperplexed Catechism which is printed with our good old Service…
book。 I say； this good man was a dear lover and constant practiser of
Angling； as any age can produce： and his custom was to spend besides his
fixed hours of prayer； those hours which； by command of the church； were
enjoined the clergy； and voluntarily dedicated to devotion by many
primitive Christians； I say； besides those hours； this good man was
observed to spend a tenth part of his time in Angling； and； also； for I have
conversed with those which have conversed with him； to bestow a tenth
part of his revenue； and usually all his fish； amongst the poor that
inhabited near to those rivers in which it was caught； saying often； 〃that
charity gave life to religion 〃： and； at his return to his house； would praise
God he had spent that day free from worldly trouble； both harmlessly； and
in a recreation that became a churchman。 And this good man was well
content； if not desirous； that posterity should know he was an Angler； as
may appear by his picture； now to be seen； and carefully kept； in Brazen…
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nose College； to which he was a liberal benefactor。 In which picture he is
drawn leaning on a desk； with his Bible before him； and on one hand of
him； his lines； hooks； and other tackling； lying in a round； and； on his
other hand； are his Angle…rods of several sorts； and by them this is written；
〃that he died 13 Feb。 1601； being aged ninety…five years； forty… four of
which he had been Dean of St。 Paul's church； and that his age neither
impaired his hearing； nor dimmed his eyes； nor weakened his memory； nor
made any of the faculties of his mind weak or useless〃。 It is said that
Angling and temperance were great causes of these blessings； and I wish
the like to all that imitate him； and love the memory of so good a man。
My next and last example shall be that under…valuer of money； the late
provost of Eton College； Sir Henry Wotton； a man with whom I have often
fished and conversed； a man whose foreign employments in the service of
this nation； and whose experience； learning； wit； and cheerfulness； made
his company to be esteemed one of the delights of mankind。 This man；
whose very approbation of Angling were sufficient to convince any
modest censurer of it； this man was also a most dear lover； and a frequent
practiser of the art of Angling； of which he would say； 〃 it was an
employment for his idle time； which was then not idly spent 〃； for Angling
was； after tedious study； 〃a rest to his mind； a cheerer of his spirits； a
diverter of sadness； a calmer of unquiet thoughts； a moderator of passions；
a procurer of contentedness； and that it begat habits of peace and patience
in those that professed and practiced it 〃。 Indeed； my friend； you will find
Angling to be like the virtue of humility； which has a calmness of spirit；
and a world of other blessings attending upon it。
Sir； this was the saying of that learned man And I do easily believe；
that peace； and patience； and a calm content； did cohabit in the cheerful
heart of Sir Henry Wotton； because I know that when he was beyond
seventy years of age； he made this description of a part of the present
pleasure that possessed him； as he sat quietly； in a summer's evening； on a
bank a…fishing。 It is a description of the spring； which； because it glided as
soft and sweetly from his pen； as that river does at this time； by which it
was then made； I shall repeat it unto you：…
This day dame Nature seem'd in love The lusty sap began to move；
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Fresh juice did stir th' embracing vines。 And birds had drawn their
valentines。
The jealous trout； that low did lie Rose at a well…dissembled fly There
stood my Friend； with patient skill； Attending of his trembling quill。
Already were the eves possess With the swift pilgrim's daubed nest；
The groves already did rejoice In Philomel's triumphing voice：
The showers were short； the weather mild； The morning fresh； the
evening smil'd。 Joan takes her neat…rubb'd pail； and now； She trips to milk
the sand…red cow；
Where； for some sturdy foot…ball swain； Joan strokes a syllabub or
twain。 The fields and gardens were beset With tulips； crocus； violet；
And now； though late； the modest rose Did more than half a blush
disclose。 Thus all looks gay； and full of cheer； To welcome the new…
livery'd year。
These were the thoughts that then possessed the undisturbed mind of
Sir Henry Wotton。 Will you hear the wish of another Angler； and the
commendation of his happy life； which he also sings in verse： viz。 Jo。
Davors； Esq。？
Let me live harmlessly； and near the brink Of Trent or Avon have a
dwelling…place Where I m
