第 10 节
作者:吻火      更新:2022-08-26 22:13      字数:9322
  m; lavender in the windows; and twenty ballads stuck about the wall。 There my hostess; which I may tell you is both cleanly; and handsome; and civil; hath dressed many a one for me; and shall now dress it after my fashion; and I warrant it good meat。
  Venator。 Come; Sir; with all my heart; for I begin to be hungry; and long to be at it; and indeed to rest myself too; for though I have walked but four miles this morning; yet I begin to be weary; yesterday's hunting hangs still upon me。
  Piscator。 Well; Sir; and you shall quickly be at rest; for yonder is the house I mean to bring you to。
  Come; hostess; how do you ? Will you first give us a cup of your best drink; and then dress this Chub; as you dressed my last; when I and my friend were here about eight or ten days ago ? But you must do me one courtesy; it must be done instantly。
  Hostess。 I will do it; Mr。 Piscator; and with all the speed I can。
  Piscator。 NOW; Sir; has not my hostess made haste? and does not the fish look lovely?
  Venator。 Both; upon my word; Sir; and therefore let's say grace and fall to eating of it。
  Piscator。 Well; Sir; how do you like it?
  Venator。 Trust me; 'tis as good meat as I ever tasted。 Now let me thank you for it; drink to you and beg a courtesy of you; but it must not be denied me。
  Piscator What is it; I pray; Sir? You are so modest; that methinks I may promise to grant it before it is asked。
  Venator。 Why; Sir; it is; that from henceforth you would allow me to call you Master; and that really I may be your scholar; for you are such a companion; and have so quickly caught and so excellently cooked this fish; as makes me ambitious to be your scholar。
  Piscator。 Give me your hand; from this time forward I will be your Master; and teach you as much of this art as I am able; and will; as you desire me; tell you somewhat of the nature of most of the fish that we are to angle for; and I am sure I both can and will tell you more than any common angler yet knows。
  The third day…continued
  How to fish for; and to dress; the Chavender of Chub
  Chapter III
  Piscator and Venator
  Piscator。 The Chub; though he eat well; thus dressed; yet as he is usually dressed; he does not。 He is objected against; not only for being full of small forked bones; dispersed through all his body; but that he eats waterish; and that the flesh of him is not firm; but short and tasteless。 The French esteem him so mean; as to call him Un Villain; nevertheless he may be so dressed as to make him very good meat; as; namely; if he be a large Chub; then dress him thus:
  First; scale him; and then wash him clean; and then take out his guts; and to that end make the hole as little; and near to his gills; as you may conveniently; and especially make clean his throat from the grass and weeds that are usually in it; for if that be not very clean; it will make him to taste very sour。 Having so done; put some sweet herbs into his belly; and then tie him with two or three splinters to a spit; and roast him; basted often with vinegar; or rather verjuice and butter; with good store of salt mixed with it。
  Being thus dressed; you will find him a much better dish of meat than you; or most folk; even than anglers themselves; do imagine: for this dries up the fluid watery humour with which all Chubs do abound。 But take this rule with you; That a Chub newly taken and newly dressed; is so much better than a Chub of a day's keeping after he is dead; that L can compare him to nothing so fitly as to cherries newly gathered from a tree; and others that have been bruised and lain a day or two in water。 But the Chub being thus used; and dressed presently; and not washed after he is gutted; for note; that lying long in water; and washing the blood out of any fish after they be gutted; abates much of their sweetness; you will find the Chub; being dressed in the blood; and quickly; to be such meat as will recompense your labour; and disabuse your opinion。
  Or you may dress the Chavender or Chub thus:
  When you have scaled him; and cut off his tail and fins; and washed him very clean; then chine or slit him through the middle; as a salt…fish is usually cut; then give him three or four cuts or scotches on the back with your knife; and broil him on charcoal; or wood coal; that are free from smoke; and all the time he is a…broiling; baste him with the best sweet butter; and good store of salt mixed with it。 And; to this; add a little thyme cut exceedingly small; or bruised into the butter。 The Cheven thus dressed hath the watery taste taken away; for which so many except against him。 Thus was the Cheven dressed that you now liked so well; and commended so much But note again; that if this Chub that you eat of had been kept till to…morrow; he had not been worth a rush。 And remember; that his throat be washed very clean; I say very clean; and his body not washed after he is gutted; as indeed no fish should be。
  Well; scholar; you see what pains I have taken to recover the lost credit of the poor despised Chub。 And now I will give you some rules how to catch him: and I am glad to enter you into the art of fishing by catching a Chub; for there is no fish better to enter a young Angler; he is so easily caught; but then it must be this particular way:
  Go to the same hole in which I caught my Chub; where; in most hot days; you will find a dozen or twenty Chevens floating near the top of the water。 Get two or three grasshoppers; as you go over the meadow: and get secretly behind the tree; and stand as free from motion as is possible。 Then put a grasshopper on your hook; and let your hook hang a quarter of a yard short of the water; to which end you must rest your rod on some bough of the tree。 But it is likely the Chubs will sink down towards the bottom of the water; at the first shadow of your rod (for Chub is the fearfullest of fishes); and will do so if but a bird flies over him and makes the least shadow on the water; but they will presently rise up to the top again; and there lie soaring till some shadow affrights them again。 I say; when they lie upon the top of the water; look out the best Chub; which you; setting yourself in a fit place; may very easily see; and move your rod; as softly as a snail moves; to that Chub you intend to catch; let your bait fall gently upon the water three or four inches before him; and he will infallibly take the bait。 And you will be as sure to catch him; for he is one of the leather…mouthed fishes; of which a hook does scarce ever lose its hold; and therefore give him play enough before you offer to take him out of the water。 Go your way presently; take my rod; and do as I bid you; and I will sit down and mend my tackling till you return back。
  Venator。 Truly; my loving master; you have offered me as fair as I could wish。 I'll go and observe your directions。
  Look you; master; what I have done; that which joys my heart; caught just such another Chub as yours was。
  Piscator。 Marry; and I am glad of it: I am like to have a towardly scholar of you。 I now see; that with advice and practice; you will make an Angler in a short time。 Have but a love to it; and I'll warrant you。
  Venator。 But; master! what if I could not have found a grasshopper?
  Piscator。 Then I may tell you; That a black snail; with his belly slit; to show his white; or a piece of soft cheese; will usually do as well。 Nay; sometimes a worm; or any kind of fly; as the ant…fly; the flesh…fly; or wall…fly; or the dor or beetle which you may find under cow…dung; or a bob which you will find in the same place; and in time will be a beetle; it is a short white worm; like to and bigger than a gentle; or a cod… worm; or a case…worm; any of these will do very well to fish in such a manner。
  And after this manner you may catch a Trout in a hot evening: when; as you walk by a brook; and shall see or hear him leap at flies; then; if you get a grasshopper; put it on your hook; with your line about two yards long; standing behind a bush or tree where his hole is: and make your bait stir up and down on the top of the water。 You may; if you stand close; be sure of a bite; but not sure to catch him; for he is not a leather… mouthed fish。 And after this manner you may fish for him with almost any kind of live fly; but especially with a grasshopper。
  Venator。 But before you go further; I pray; good master; what mean you by a leather…mouthed fish ?
  Piscator。 By a leather…mouthed fish; I mean such as have their teeth in their throat; as the Chub or Cheven: and so the Barbel; the Gudgeon; and Carp; and divers others have。 And the hook being stuck into the leather; or skin; of the mouth of such fish; does very seldom or never lose its hold: but on the contrary; a Pike; a Perch; or Trout; and so some other fish; which have not their teeth in their throats; but in their mouths; which you shall observe to be very full of bones; and the skin very thin; and little of it。 I say; of these fish the hook never takes so sure hold but you often lose your fish; unless he have gorged it。
  Venator。 I thank you; good master; for this observation。 But now what shall be done with my Chub or Cheven that I have caught ?
  Piscator。 Marry; Sir; it shall be given away to some poor body; for I'll