登陆注册
15987100000013

第13章

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 deion 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 deion 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;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 may see my quill, or cork, down sink With eager bite of Perch, or Bleak, or Dace;And on the world and my Creator think:

Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods t' embrace;And others spend their time in base excess Of wine.or worse.in war and wantonness Let them that list, these pastimes still pursue, And on such pleasing fancies feed their fill;So I the fields and meadows green may view, And daily by fresh rivers walk at will Among the daisies and the violets blue, Red hyacinth, and yellow daffodil, Purple Narcissus like the morning rays, Pale gander-grass, and azure culver-keys.

I count it higher pleasure to behold The stately compass of the lofty sky;And in the midst thereof, like burning gold, The flaming chariot of the world's great eye:

The watery clouds that in the air up-roll'd With sundry kinds of painted colours fly;And fair Aurora, lifting up her head, Still blushing, rise from old Tithonus' bed.

The hills and mountains raised from the plains, The plains extended level with the ground The grounds divided into sundry veins, The veins inclos'd with rivers running round;These rivers making way through nature's chains, With headlong course, into the sea profound;The raging sea, beneath the vallies low, Where lakes, and rills, and rivulets do flow:

The lofty woods, the forests wide and long, Adorned with leaves and branches fresh and green, In whose cool bowers the birds with many a song, Do welcome with their quire the summer's Queen;The meadows fair, where Flora's gifts, among Are intermix", with verdant grass between;The silver-scaled fish that softly swim Within the sweet brook's crystal, watery stream.

All these, and many more of his creation That made the heavens, the Angler oft doth see;Taking therein no little delectation, To think how strange, how wonderful they be:

Framing thereof an inward contemplation To set his heart from other fancies free;And whilst he looks on these with joyful eye, His mind is rapt above the starry sky.

Sir, I am glad my memory has not lost these last verses, because they are somewhat more pleasant and more suitable to May-day than my harsh discourse.And I am glad your patience hath held out so long as to hear them and me, for both together have brought us within the sight of the Thatched House.And I must be your debtor, if you think it worth your attention, for the rest of my promised discourse, till some other opportunity, and a like time of leisure.

Venator.Sir, you have angled me on with much pleasure to the Thatched House; and I now find your words true, " that good company makes the way seem short "; for trust me, Sir, I thought we had wanted three miles of this house, till you showed it to me.But now we are at it, we'll turn into it, and refresh ourselves with a cup of drink, and a little restPiscator.Most gladly, Sir, and we'll drink a civil cup to all the Otter-hunters that are to meet you to-morrow.

Venator.That we will, Sir, and to all the lovers of Angling too, of which number I am now willing to be one myself; for, by the help of your good discourse and company, I have put on new thoughts both of the art of Angling and of all that profess it; and if you will but meet me to-morrow at the time and place appointed, and bestow one day with me and my friends, in hunting the Otter, I will dedicate the next two days to wait upon you; and we too will, for that time, do nothing but angle, and talk of fish and fishing.

Piscator.It is a match, Sir, I will not fail you, God willing, to be at Amwell Hill to-morrow morning before sun-rising.

The second day On the Otter and the Chub Piscator, Venator, Huntsman, and Hostess Venator.My friend Piscator, you have kept time with my thoughts; for the sun is just rising, and I myself just now come to this place, and the dogs have just now put down an Otter.Look ! down at the bottom of the hill there, in that meadow, chequered with water-lilies and lady-smocks; there you may see what work they make; look! look! you may see all busy; men and dogs; dogs and men; all busy.

同类推荐
  • 咒魅经

    咒魅经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Armadale

    Armadale

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 本草乘雅半偈

    本草乘雅半偈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 胜鬘宝窟

    胜鬘宝窟

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Revolution and Counter-Revolution

    Revolution and Counter-Revolution

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 冷魅公主的邪魅复仇计划

    冷魅公主的邪魅复仇计划

    一切的仇恨都来源于十多年那个夜晚,Ta所做的一切,现在她们浴血归来,准备好迎接她们的恨了吗?Thegamereallystarted.游戏真正开始了......
  • 爱你笑若暖阳

    爱你笑若暖阳

    “同学,你迟到了。”一个是成绩好爱迟到的小女生,一个是有着暖暖的笑颜的已婚男老师,竟不知不觉在乱七八糟的相处中爱上对方?有生之年,狭路相逢,终不能幸免的两人都擦出了什么样的火花?
  • 校花的帅气王子

    校花的帅气王子

    高冷?不不不。混血儿,活泼,开朗是她的代言词。而他,阳光爱笑,钟情女主。从陌生到喜欢再到相爱,过程坎坷,但他们最终还是在一起了。恋爱?嗯哼。
  • 天罡之苍狼

    天罡之苍狼

    这是一片属于武者的世界,这是一个强者为尊的世界。没有对错,有的只是仇恨,杀戮!吾以苍狼之名,杀伐天下,以杀戮入世。不求功名千秋,只愿手足同乐。若天不愿,那便灭天又若何!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 影视直播间

    影视直播间

    被迫离开的易靖辰,收到了一份神秘的直播签约合同。剧情世界:兑换?积分?统统没有,一切只能靠自己的努力才能活下去!通过各种手段拼命攒粉,借助“弹幕”和“礼物”的力量,“弹幕护体”宛若金刚罩、“前方高能”如同蜘蛛感应,“如果XX就神作了”真的会改变剧情发展,所有皆是未知,唯有生存才是王道!现实世界:消灭敌人可以继承财产和人际关系,什么?你的老婆归我了?这有点不大好吧,等等,好几个女朋友怎么回事?没想到你是这样的一个人!上有老下有小?咳咳,和我没关系。PS:易靖辰小声问道:“作者大大,咱们能活几章?”,作者闭眼:“读者为天,要看天意。”读者群:492115423(有空位)
  • 穿越之女配又怎样

    穿越之女配又怎样

    “既然你这么不待见女配,那就给本宫变成女配去吧!叫你也尝尝做女配的滋味!”古装美女脸上露出狰狞的笑,丝毫没给夏茵反抗的机会,抬起芊芊玉手,狠狠的拍在了夏茵的胸口。就这样夏茵悲催的穿越到了自己写的小说里的女配身上,来看她如何智斗女主,玩转男主的吧
  • (完)豪门童话:丫头,惟爱你

    (完)豪门童话:丫头,惟爱你

    一个美得极致、家世排全球第一、第一黑帮的美女帮主、所有美好的东西集一身的冷颜公主颜若柒和3个同样美若天仙的公主与4个帅的没天理的王子的不寻常的浪漫的生活开始咯~
  • 战上凌霄

    战上凌霄

    风在怒吼、地在动摇、山在崩裂。人们苟延残喘、匍匐天威之下,瑟瑟发抖。这时一道稍显单薄的身影一步步走进:“天地不仁,以万物为刍狗,若真有这样的天地,我何不打破之”一拳挥向所谓“天地”....刹那永恒。
  • 史记(中华国学经典)

    史记(中华国学经典)

    本丛书只是选取其中部分内容分门别类进行介绍。我们约请的作者,都是各个领域的专业研究者,每一篇简短的文字背后其实都有多年的积累,他们努力使这些文字深入浅出而严谨准确。无论您是什么学历,无论您是什么年龄,无论您从事的是什么职业,只要您是中国传统文化的爱好者,您都可以从本书中获得您想要的。