the complete angler-第27部分

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er；　and；　as　I　told　you；　may　be　rather　said　not　to　be　ill；　than　to　be　good　meat；　The　Chub　and　he　have；　I　think；　both　lost　part　of　their　credit　by　ill　cookery；　they　being　reputed　the　worst；　or　coarsest；　of　fresh…water　fish。　But　the　Barbel　affords　an　angler　choice　sport；　being　a　lusty　and　a　cunning　fish；　so　lusty　and　cunning　as　to　endanger　the　breaking　of　the　angler's　line；　by　running　his　head　forcibly　towards　any　covert；　or　hole；　or　bank；　and　then　striking　at　the　line；　to　break　it　off；　with　his　tail；　as　is　observed　by　Plutarch；　in　his　book　De　Industria　Animalium：　and　also　so　cunning；　to　nibble　and　suck　off　your　worm　close　to　the　hook；　and　yet　avoid　the　letting　the　hook　come　into　his　mouth。

The　Barbel　is　also　curious　for　his　baits；　that　is　to　say；　that　they　be　clean　and　sweet；　that　is　to　say；　to　have　your　worms　well　scoured；　and　not　kept　in　sour　and　musty　moss；　for　he　is　a　curious　feeder：　but　at　a　well…scoured　lob…worm　he　will　bite　as　boldly　as　at　any　bait；　and　specially　if；　the　night　or　two　before　you　fish　for　him；　you　shall　bait　the　places　where　you　intend　to　fish　for　him；　with　big　worms　cut　into　pieces。　And　note；　that　none　did　ever　over…bait　the　place；　nor　fish　too　early　or　too　late　for　a　Barbel。　And　the　Barbel　will　bite　also　at　generals；　which；　not　being　too　much　scoured；　but　green；　are　a　choice　bait　for　him：　and　so　is　cheese；　which　is　not　to　be　too　hard；　but　kept　a　day　or　two　in　a　wet　linen　cloth；　to　make　it　tough；　with　this　you　may　also　bait　the　water　a　day　or　two　before　you　fish　for　the　Barbel；　and　be　much　the　likelier　to　catch　store；　and　if　the　cheese　were　laid　in　clarified　honey　a　short　time　before；　as　namely；　an　hour　or　two；　you　were　still　the　likelier　to　catch　fish。　Some　have　directed　to　cut　the　cheese　into　thin　pieces；　and　toast　it；　and　then　tie　it　on　the　hook　with　fine　silk。　And　some　advise　to　fish　for　the　Barbel　with　sheep's　tallow　and　soft　cheese；　beaten　or　worked　into　a　paste；　and　that　it　is　choicely　good　in　August：　and　I　believe　it。　Rut；　doubtless；　the　lob…　worm　well　scoured；　and　the　gentle　not　too　much　scoured；　and　cheese　ordered　as　I　have　directed；　are　baits　enough；　and　I　think　will　serve　in　any　month：　though　I　shall　commend　any　angler　that　tries　conclusions；　and　is　industrious　to　improve　the　art　And　now　my　honest　scholar；　the　long　shower　and　my　tedious　discourse　are　both　ended　together：　and　I　shall　give　you　but　this　observation；　that　when　you　fish　for　a　Barbel；　your　rod　and　line　be　both　long　and　of　good　strength；　for；　as　I　told　you；　you　will　find　him　a　heavy　and　a　dogged　fish　to　be　dealt　withal；　yet　he　seldom　or　never　breaks　his　hold；　if　he　be　once　strucken。　And　if　you　would　know　more　of　fishing　for　the　Umber　or　Barbel；　get　into　favour　with　Dr。　Sheldon；　whose　skill　is　above　others；　and　of　that；　the　poor　that　dwell　about　him　have　a　comfortable　experience。

And　now　let's　go　and　see　what　interest　the　Trouts　will　pay　us；　for　letting　our　angle…rods　lie　so　long　and　so　quietly　in　the　water　for　their　use。　Come；　scholar；　which　will　you　take　up　？

Venator。　Which　you　think　fit；　master。

Piscator。　Why；　you　shall　take　up　that；　for　I　am　certain；　by　viewing　the　line；　it　has　a　fish　at　it。　Look　you；　scholar！　well　done！　Come；　now　take　up　the　other　too：　well！　now　you　may　tell　my　brother　Peter；　at　night；　that　you　have　caught　a　leash　of　Trouts　this　day。　And　now　let's　move　towards　our　lodging；　and　drink　a　draught　of　red…cow's　milk　as　we　go；　and　give　pretty　Maudlin　and　her　honest　mother　a　brace　of　Trouts　for　their　supper。

Venator。　Master；　I　like　your　motion　very　well：　and　I　think　it　is　now　about　milking…time；　and　yonder　they　be　at　it

Piscator。　God　speed　you；　good　woman　！　I　thank　you　both　for　our　songs　last　night：　I　and　my　companion　have　had　such　fortune　a…fishing　this　day；　that　we　resolve　to　give　you　and　Maudlin　a　brace　of　Trouts　for　supper；　and　we　will　now　taste　a　draught　of　your　red…cow's　milk。

Milk…woman。　Marry；　and　that　you　shall　with　all　my　heart；　and　I　will　be　still　your　debtor　when　you　come　this　way。　If　you　will　but　speak　the　word；　I　will　make　you　a　good　syllabub　of　new　verjuice；　and　then　you　may　sit　down　in　a　haycock；　and　eat　it；　and　Maudlin　shall　sit　by　and　sing　you　the　good　old　song　of　the　〃　Hunting　in　Chevy　Chace；　　〃　or　some　other　good　ballad；　for　she　hath　store　of　them：　Maudlin；　my　honest　Maudlin；　hath　a　notable　memory；　and　she　thinks　nothing　too　good　for　you；　because　you　be　such　honest　men。

Venator。　We　thank　you；　and　intend；　once　in　a　month　to　call　upon　you　again；　and　give　you　a　little　warning；　and　so；　good…night　Good…night；　Maudlin。　And　now；　good　master；　let's　lose　no　time：　but　tell　me　somewhat　more　of　fishing；　and　if　you　please；　first；　something　of　fishing　for　a　Gudgeon。

Piscator。　I　will；　honest　scholar。





The　fourth　day…continued

Of　the　Gudgeon；　the　Ruffe；　and　the　Bleak

Chapter　XV

Piscator

The　GUDGEON　is　reputed　a　fish　of　excellent　taste；　and　to　be　very　wholesome。　He　is　of　a　fine　shape；　of　a　silver　colour；　and　beautified　with　black　spots　both　on　his　body　and　tail。　He　breeds　two　or　three　times　in　the　year；　and　always　in　summer。　He　is　commended　for　a　fish　of　excellent　nourishment。　The　Germans　call　him　Groundling；　by　reason　of　his　feeding　on　the　ground；　and　he　there　feasts　himself；　in　sharp　streams　and　on　the　gravel。　He　and　the　Barbel　both　feed　so：　and　do　not　hunt　for　flies　at　any　time；　as　most　other　fishes　do。　He　is　an　excellent　fish　to　enter　a　young　angler；　being　easy　to　be　taken　with　a　small　red　worm；　on　or　very　near　to　the　ground。　He　is　one　of　those　leather…mouthed　fish　that　has　his　teeth　in　his　throat；　and　will　hardly　be　lost　off　from　the　hook　if　he　be　once　strucken。

They　be　usually　scattered　up　and　down　every　river　in　the　shallows；　in　the　heat　of　summer：　but　in　autumn；　when　the　weeds　begin　to　grow　sour　and　rot；　and　the　weather　colder；　then　they　gather　together；　and　get　into　the　deeper　parts　of　the　water；　and　are　to　be　fished　for　there；　with　your　hook　always　touching　the　ground；　if　you　fish　for　him　with　a　float　or　with　a　cork。　But　many　will　fish　for　the　Gudgeon　by　hand；　with　a　running　line　upon　the　ground；　without　a　cork；　as　a　Trout　is　fished　for：　and　it　is　an　excellent　way；　if　you　have　a　gentle　rod；　and　as　gentle　a　hand。

There　is　also　another　fish　called　a　POPE；　and　by　some　a　RUFFE；　a　fish　that　is　not　known　to　be　in　some　rivers：　he　is　much　like　the　Perch　for　his　shape；　and　taken　to　be　better　than　the　Perch；　but　will　not　grow　to　be　bigger　than　a　Gudgeon。　He　is　an　excellent　fish；　no　fish　that　swims　is　of　a　pleasanter　taste。　And　he　is　also　excellent　to　enter　a　young　angler；　for　he　is　a　greedy　biter：　and　they　will　usually　lie；　abundance　of　them　together；　in　one　reserved　place；　where　the　water　is　deep　and　runs　quietly；　and　an　easy　angler；　if　he　has　found　where　they　lie；　may　catch　forty　or　fifty；　or　sometimes　twice　so　many；　at　a　standing。

You　must　fish　for　him　with　a　small　red　worm；　and　if　you　bait　the　ground　with　earth；　it　is　excellent。

There　is　also　a　BLEAK　or　fresh…water　Sprat；　a　fish　that　is　ever　in　motion；　and　therefore　called　by　some　the　river…swallow；　for　just　as　you　shall　observe　the　swallow　to　be；　most　evenings　in　summer；　ever　in　motion；　making　short　and　quick　turns　when　he　flies　to　catch　flies；　in　the　air；　by　which　he　lives；　so　does　the　Bleak　at　the　top　of　the　water。　Ausonius　would　have　called　him　Bleak　from　his　whitish　colour：　his　back　is　of　a　pleasant　sad　or　sea…water…green；　his　belly；　white　and　shining　as　the　mountain　snow。　And　doubtless；　though　we　have　the　fortune；　which　virtue　has　in　poor　people；　to　be　neglected；　yet　the　Bleak　ought　to　be　much　valued；　though　we　want　Allamot　salt；　and　the　skill　that　the　Italians　have；　to　turn　them　into　anchovies。　This　fish　may　be　caught　with　a　Pater…noster　line；　that　is；　six　or　eight　very　small　hooks　tied　along　the　line；　one　half　a　foot　above　the　other：　I　have　seen　five　caught　thus　at　one　time；　and　the　bait　has　been　gentles；　than　which　none　is　better。

Or　this　fish　may　be　caught　with　a　fine　small　artificial　fly；　which　is　to　be　of　a　very　sad　brown　colour；　and　very　small；　and　the　hook　answerable。　There　is　no　better　sport　than　whipping　for　Bleaks　in　a　boat；　or　on　a　bank；　in　the　swift　water；　in　a　summer's　evening；　with　a　hazel　top　about　five　or　six　foot　long；　and　a　line　twice　the　length　of　the　rod。　I　have　heard　Sir　Henry　Wotton　say；　that　there　be　many　that　in　Italy　will　catch　swallows　so；　or　especially　martins；　this　bird…angler　standing　on　the　top　of　a　steeple　to　do　it；　and　with　the　line　twice　so　long　as　I　have　spoken　of。　And　let　me　tell　you；　scholar；　that　both　Martins　and　Bleaks　be　most　excellent　meat

And　let　me　tell　you；　that　I　have　known　a　Heron；　that　did　constantly　frequent　one　place；　caught　with　a　hook　baited　with　a　big　minnow　or　a　small　gudgeon。　The　line　and　hook　must　be　strong：　and　tied　to　some　loose　staff；　so　big　as　she　cannot　fly　away　with　it：　a　line　not　exceeding　two　yards。





The　fourth　day…continued

Is　of　nothing；　or　of　nothing　worth

Chapter　XVI

Piscator；　Venator；　Peter；　Coridon

Piscator。　My　purpose　was　to　give　you　some　directions　concerning　ROACH　and　DACE；　and　some　other　inferior　fish　which　make　the　angler　excellent　sport；　for　you　know　there　is　more　pleasure　in　hunting　the　hare　than　in　eating　her：　but　I　will　forbear；　at　this　time；　to　say　any　more；　because　you　see　yonder　come　our　brother　Peter　and　honest　Coridon。　But　I　will　promise　you；　that　as　you　and　I　fish　and　walk　to…　morrow　towards　London；　if　I　have　now　forgotten　anything　that　I　can　then　remember；　I　will　not　keep　it　from　you。

Well　met；　gentlemen；　this　is　lucky　that　we　meet　so　just　together　at　this　very　door；　Come；　hostess；　where　are　you　？　is　supper　ready　？　Come；　first　give　us　a　drink；　and　be　as　quick　as　you　can；　for　I　believe　we　are　all　very　hungry。　Well；　brother　Peter　and　Coridon；　to　you　both！　Come；　drink：　and　then　tell　me　what　luck　of　fish：　we　two　have　caught　but　ten　bouts；　of　which　my　scholar　caught　three。　Look！　here's　eight；　and　a　brace　we　gave　away。　We　have　had　a　most　pleasant　day　for　fishing　and　talking；　and　are　returned　home　both　weary　and　hungry；　and　now　meat　and　rest　will　be　pleasant。

Peter。　And　Coridon　and　I　have　not　had　an　unpleasant　day：　and　yet　I　have　caught　but　five　bouts；　for；　indeed；　we　went　to　a　good　honest　ale…　house；　and　there　we　played　at　shovel…board　half　the　day；　all　the　time　that　it　rained　we　were　there；　and　as　merry