第 36 节
作者:吻火      更新:2022-08-26 22:13      字数:9321
  ly stretch all together; and break all together; which hairs of an unequal bigness never do; but break singly; and so deceive the angler that trusts to them。
  When you have twisted your links; lay them in water for a quarter of an hour at least; and then twist them over again before you tie them into a line: for those that do not so shall usually find their line to have a hair or two shrink; and be shorter than the rest; at the first fishing with it; which is so much of the strength of the line lost for want of first watering it; and then re…twisting it; and this is most visible in a seven… hair line; one of those which hath always a black hair in the middle。
  And for dyeing of your hairs; do it thus: take a pint of strong ale; half a pound of soot; and a little quantity of the juice of walnut…tree leaves; and an equal quantity of alum: put these together into a pot; pan; or pipkin; and boil them half an hour; and having so done; let it cool; and being cold; put your hair into it; and there let it lie; it will turn your hair to be a kind of water or glass colour; or greenish; and the longer you let it lie; the deeper coloured it will be。 You might be taught to make many other colours; but it is to little purpose; for doubtless the water…colour or glass…coloured hair is the most choice and most useful for an angler; but let it not be too green。
  But if you desire to colour hair greener; then do it thus: take a quart of small ale; half a pound of alum; then put these into a pan or pipkin; and your hair into it with them; then put it upon a fire; and let it boil softly for half an hour; and then take out your hair; and let it dry; and having so done; then take a pottle of water; and put into it two handfuls of marigolds; and cover it with a tile or what you think fit; and set it again on the fire; where it is to boil again softly for half an hour; about which time the scum will turn yellow; then put into it half a pound of copperas; beaten small; and with it the hair that you intend to colour; then let the hair be boiled softly till half the liquor be wasted; and then let it cool three or four hours; with your hair in it; and you are to observe that the more copperas you put into it; the greener it will be; but doubtless the pale green is best。 But if you desire yellow hair; which is only good when the weeds rot; then put in more marigolds; and abate most of the copperas; or leave it quite out; and take a little verdigris instead of it。
  This for colouring your hair。
  And as for painting your Rod; which must be in oil; you must first make a size with glue and water; boiled together until the glue be dissolved; and the size of a lye…colour: then strike your size upon the wood with a bristle; or a brush or pencil; whilst it is hot: that being quite dry; take white…lead; and a little red…lead; and a little coal…black; so much as altogether will make an ash…colour: grind these altogether with linseed… oil; let it be thick; and lay it thin upon the wood with a brush or pencil: this do for the ground of any colour to lie upon wood。
  For a green; take pink and verdigris; and grind them together in linseed oil; as thin as you can well grind it: then lay it smoothly on with your brush; and drive it thin; once doing; for the most part; will serve; if you lay it well; and if twice; be sure your first colour be thoroughly dry before you lay on a second。
  Well; Scholar; having now taught you to paint your rod; and we having still a mile to Tottenham High…Cross; I will; as we walk towards it in the cool shade of this sweet honeysuckle hedge; mention to you some of the thoughts and joys that have possessed my soul since we two met together。 And these thoughts shall be told you; that you also may join with me in thankfulness to the Giver of every good and perfect gift; for our happiness。 And that our present happiness may appear to be the greater; and we the more thankful for it; I will beg you to consider with me how many do; even at this very time; lie under the torment of the stone; the gout; and tooth…ache; and this we are free from。 And every misery that I miss is a new mercy; and therefore let us be thankful。 There have been; since we met; others that have met disasters or broken limbs; some have been blasted; others thunder…strucken: and we have been freed from these; and all those many other miseries that threaten human nature; let us therefore rejoice and be thankful。 Nay; which is a far greater mercy; we are free from the insupportable burthen of an accusing tormenting conscience; a misery that none can bear: and therefore let us praise Him for His preventing grace; and say; Every misery that I miss is a new mercy。 Nay; let me tell you; there be many that have forty times our estates; that would give the greatest part of it to be healthful and cheerful like us; who; with the expense of a little money; have eat and drunk; and laughed; and angled; and sung; and slept securely; and rose next day and cast away care; and sung; and laughed; and angled again; which are blessings rich men cannot purchase with all their money。 Let me tell you; Scholar; I have a rich neighbour that is always so busy that he has no leisure to laugh; the whole business of his life is to get money; and more money; that he may still get more and more money; he is still drudging on; and says; that Solomon says '‘The diligent hand maketh rich〃; and it is true indeed: but he considers not that it is not in the power of riches to make a man happy; for it was wisely said; by a man of great observation; 〃 That there be as many miseries beyond riches as on this side of them 〃。 And yet God deliver us from pinching poverty; and grant; that having a competency; we may be content and thankful。 Let not us repine; or so much as think the gifts of God unequally dealt; if we see another abound with riches; when; as God knows; the cares that are the keys that keep those riches hang often so heavily at the rich man's girdle; that they clog him with weary days and restless nights; even when others sleep quietly。 We see but the outside of the rich man's happiness: few consider him to be like the silk…worm; that; when she seems to play; is; at the very same time; spinning her own bowels; and consuming herself; and this many rich men do; loading themselves with corroding cares; to keep what they have; probably; unconscionably got Let us; therefore; be thankful for health and a competence; and above all; for a quiet conscience。
  Let me tell you; Scholar; that Diogenes walked on a day; with his friend; to see a country fair; where he saw ribbons; and looking…glasses; and nutcrackers; and fiddles; and hobby…horses; and many other gimcracks; and; having observed them; and all the other finnimbruns that make a complete country…fair; he said to his friend; 〃 Lord; how many things are there in this world of which Diogenes hath no need!〃 And truly it is so; or might be so; with very many who vex and toil themselves to get what they have no need of。 Can any man charge God; that He hath not given him enough to make his life happy? No; doubtless; for nature is content with a little。 And yet you shall hardly meet with a man that complains not of some want; though he; indeed; wants nothing but his will; it may be; nothing but his will of his poor neighbour; for not worshipping; or not flattering him: and thus; when we might be happy and quiet; we create trouble to ourselves。 I have heard of a man that was angry with himself because he was no taller; and of a woman that broke her looking…glass because it would not shew her face to be as young and handsome as her next neighbour's was。 And I knew another to whom God had given health and plenty; but a wife that nature had made peevish; and her husband's riches had made purse… proud; and must; because she was rich; and for no other virtue; sit in the highest pew in the church; which being denied her; she engaged her husband into a contention for it; and at last into a law…suit with a dogged neighbour who was as rich as he; and had a wife as peevish and purse…proud as the other: and this law…suit begot higher oppositions; and actionable words; and more vexations and lawsuits; for you must remember that both were rich; and must therefore have their wills。 Well! this wilful; purse…proud law…suit lasted during the life of the first husband; after which his wife vext and chid; and chid and vext; till she also chid and vext herself into her grave: and so the wealth of these poor rich people was curst into a punishment; because they wanted meek and thankful hearts; for those only can make us happy。 I knew a man that had health and riches; and several houses; all beautiful; and ready furnished; and would often trouble himself and family to be removing from one house to another: and being asked by a friend why he removed so often from one house to another; replied; 〃 It was to find content in some one of them〃。 But his friend; knowing his temper; told him; 〃 If he would find content in any of his houses; he must leave himself behind him; for content will never dwell but in a meek and quiet soul 〃。 And this may appear; if we read and consider what our Saviour says in St。 Matthew's Gospel; for He there says—〃 Blessed be the merciful; for they shall obtain merc