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第19节

the complete angler-第19节

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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 what the other said: but; at last; one beggar craved audience; and told them that old father Clause; whom Ben Jonson; in his Beggar's Bush; created King of their corporation; was to lodge at an ale…house; called 〃 Catch…her…by…the… way;〃 not far from Waltham Cross; and in the high road towards London; and he therefore desired them to spend no more time about that and such like questions; but refer all to father Clause at night; for he was an upright judge; and in the meantime draw cuts; what song should be next sung; and who should sing it。 They all agreed to the motion; and the lot fell to her that was the youngest; and veriest virgin of the company。 And she sung Frank Davison's song; which he made forty years ago; and all the others of the company joined to sing the burthen with her。 The ditty was this; but first the burthen:

Bright shines the sun; play; Beggars; play; Here's scraps enough to serve to…day。

What noise of viols is so sweet; As when our merry clappers ring ? What mirth doth want where Beggars meet ? A Beggar's life is for a King。 Eat; drink; and play; sleep when we list Go where we will; so stocks be mist。 Bright shines the sun; play; Beggars; play; Here's scraps enough to serve to…day。

The world is ours; and ours alone; For we alone have world at will We purchase not; all is our own; Both fields and streets we Beggars fill。 Nor care to get; nor fear to keep; Did ever break a Beggar's sleep; Play; Beggars; play; play; Beggars; play; Here's scraps enough to serve to…day。

A hundred head of black and white Upon our gowns securely feed If any dare his master bite He dies therefore; as sure as creed。 Thus Beggars lord it as they please; And only Beggars live at ease。 Bright shines the sun; play; Beggars; play; Here's scraps enough to serve to…day。

Venator。 I thank you; good master; for this piece of merriment; and this song; which was well humoured by the maker; and well remembered by you。

Piscator。 But; I pray; forget not the catch which you promised to make against night; for our countryman; honest Coridon; will expect your catch; and my song; which I must be forced to patch up; for it is so long since I learnt it; that I have forgot a part of it。 But; come; now it hath done raining; let's stretch our legs a little in a gentle walk to the river; and try what interest our angles will pay us for lending them so long to be used by the Trouts; lent them indeed; like usurers; for our profit and their destruction。

Venator。 Oh me! look you; master; a fish! a fish! Oh; alas; master; I have lost her。

Piscator。 Ay marry; Sir; that was a good fish indeed: if I had had the luck to have taken up that rod; then 'tis twenty to one he should not have broken my line by running to the rod's end; as you suffered him。 I would have held him within the bent of my rod; unless he had been fellow to the great Trout that is near an ell long; which was of such a length and depth; that he had his picture drawn; and now is to be seen at mine host Rickabie's; at the George in Ware; and it may be; by giving that very great Trout the rod; that is; by casting it to him into the water; I might have caught him at the long run; for so I use always to do when I meet with an over…grown fish; and you will learn to do so too; hereafter; for I tell you; scholar; fishing is an art; or; at least; it is an art to catch fish。

Venator。 But; master; I have heard that the great Trout you speak of is a Salmon。

Piscator。 Trust me; scholar; I know not what to say to it。 There are many country people that believe hares change sexes every year: and there be very many learned men think so too; for in their dissecting them they find many reasons to incline them to that belief。 And to make the wonder seem yet less; that hares change sexes; note that Dr。 Mer。 Casaubon affirms; in his book 〃 Of credible and incredible things;〃 that Gasper Peucerus; a learned physician; tells us of a people that once a year turn wolves; partly in shape; and partly in conditions。 And so; whether this were a Salmon when he came into fresh water; and his not returning into the sea hath altered him to another colour or kind; I am not able to say; but I am certain he hath all the signs of being a Trout; both for his shape; colour; and spots; and yet many think he is not。

Venator。 But; master; will this Trout which I had hold of die ? for it is like he hath the hook in his belly。

Piscator。 I will tell you; scholar; that unless the hook be fast in his very gorge; 'tis more than probable he will live; and a little time; with the help of the water; will rust the hook; and it will in time wear away; as the gravel doth in the horse…hoof; which only leaves a false quarter。

And now; scholar; let's go to my rod。 Look you; scholar; I have a fish too; but it proves a logger…headed Chub: and this is not much amiss; for this will pleasure some poor body; as we go to our lodging to meet our brother Peter and honest Coridon。 Come; now bait your hook again; and lay it into the water; for it rains again; and we will even retire to the Sycamore…tree; and there I will give you more directions concerning fishing; for I would fain make you an artist。

Venator。 Yes; good master; I pray let it be so。

Piscator。 Well; scholar; now that we are sate down and are at ease; I shall tell you a little more of Trout…fishing; before I speak of the Salmon; which I purpose shall be next; and then of the Pike or Luce。

You are to know; there is night as well as day fishing for a Trout; and that; in the night; the best Trouts come out of their holes。 And the manner of taking them is on the top of the water with a great lob or garden…worm; or rather two; which you are to fish with in a stream where the waters run somewhat quietly; for in a stream the bait will not be so well discerned。 I say; in a quiet or dead place; near to some swift; there draw your bait over the top of the water; to and fro; and if there be a good Trout in the hole; he will take it; especially if the night be dark; for then he is bold; and lies near the top of the water; watching the motion of any frog or water…rat; or mouse; that swims betwixt him and the sky; these he hunts after; if he sees the water but wrinkle or move in one of these dead holes; where these great old Trouts usually lie; near to their holds; for you are to note; that the great old Trout is both subtle and fearful; and lies close all day; and does not usually stir out of his hold; but lies in it as close in the day as the timorous hare does in her form; for the chief feeding of either is seldom in the day; but usually in the night; and then the great Trout feeds very boldly。

And you must fish for him with a strong line; and not a little hook; and let him have time to gorge your hook; for he does not usually forsake it; as he oft will in the day…fishing。 And if the night be not dark; then fish so with an artificial fly of a light colour; and at the snap: nay; he will sometimes rise at a dead mouse; or a piece of cloth; or anything that seems to swim across the water; or to be in motion。 This is a choice way; but I have not oft used it; because it is void of the pleasures that such days as these; that we two now enjoy; afford an angler

And you are to know; that in Hampshire; which I think exceeds all England for swift; shallow; clear; pleasant brooks; and store of Trouts; they used to catch Trouts in the night; by the light of a torch or straw; which; when they have discovered; they strike with a Trout…spear; or other ways。 This kind of way they catch very many: but I would not believe it till I was an eye…witness of it; nor do I like it now I have seen it。

Venator。 But; master; do not Trouts see us in the night?

Piscator Yes; and hear; and smell too; both then and in the day…time: for Gesner observes; the Otter smells a fish forty furlongs off him in the water: and that it may be true; seems to be affirmed by Sir Francis Bacon; in the eighth century of his Natural History; who there proves that waters may be the medium of sounds; by demonstrating it thus: 〃 That if you knock two stones together very deep under the water; those that stand on a bank near to that place may hear the noise without any diminution of it by the water 〃 。 He also offers the like experiment concerning the letting an anchor fall; by a very long cable or rope; on a rock; or the sand; within the sea。 And this being so well observed and demonstrated as it is by that learned man; has made me to believe that Eels unbed themselves and stir at the noise of thunder; and not only; as some think; by the motion or stirring of the earth which is occasioned by that thunder。

And this reason of Sir Francis Bacon has made me crave pardon of one that I laughed at for affirming that he knew Carps come to a certain place; in a pond; to be fe

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