THE COMPLEAT ANGLER(垂钓大全)

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THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

THE COMPLEAT

ANGLER

IZAAK WALTON

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

To the Right worshipful

John Offley

of Madeley Manor, in the County of Stafford Esquire, My most

honoured Friend

Sir,-- I have made so ill use of your former favours, as by them to be

encouraged to entreat, that they may be enlarged to the patronage and

protection of this Book: and I have put on a modest confidence, that I shall

not be denied, because it is a discourse of Fish and Fishing, which you

know so well, and both love and practice so much.

You are assured, though there be ignorant men of another belief, that

Angling is an Art: and you know that Art better than others; and that this is

truth is demonstrated by the fruits of that pleasant labour which you enjoy,

when you purpose to give rest to your mind, and divest yourself of your

more serious business, and, which is often, dedicate a day or two to this

recreation.

At which time, if common Anglers should attend you, and be

eyewitnesses of the success, not of your fortune, but your skill, it would

doubtless beget in them an emulation to be like you, and that emulation

might beget an industrious diligence to be so; but I know it is not attain

bye by common capacities: and there be now many men of great wisdom,

learning, and experience, which love and practice this Art, that know I

speak the truth.

Sir, this pleasant curiosity of Fish and Fishing, of which you are so

great a master, has been thought worthy the pens and practices of divers in

other nations, that have been reputed men of great learning and wisdom.

And amongst those of this nation, I remember Sir Henry Wotton, a dear

lover of this Art, has told me, that his intentions were to write a Discourse

of the Art, and in praise of Angling; and doubtless he had done so, if death

had not prevented him; the remembrance of which had often made me

sorry, for if he had lived to do it, then the unlearned Angler had seen some

better treatise of this Art, a treatise that might have proved worthy his

perusal, which, though some have undertaken, I could never yet see in

English.

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

But mine may be thought as weak, and as unworthy of common view;

and I do here freely confess, that I should rather excuse myself, than

censure others, my own discourse being liable to so many exceptions;

against which you, Sir, might make this one, that it can contribute nothing

to YOUR knowledge. And lest a longer epistle may diminish your

pleasure, I shall make this no longer than to add this following truth, that I

am really, Sir, your most affectionate Friend, and most humble Servant,

Iz. Wa.

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

The epistle to the reader

To all Readers of this discourse, but especially to the honest Angler

I think fit to tell thee these following truths; that I did neither

undertake, nor write, nor publish, and much less own, this Discourse to

please myself: and, having been too easily drawn to do all to please others,

as I propose not the gaining of credit by this undertaking, so I would not

willingly lose any part of that to which I had a just title before I began it;

and do therefore desire and hope, if I deserve not commendations, yet I

may obtain pardon.

And though this Discourse may be liable to some exceptions, yet I

cannot doubt but that most Readers may receive so much pleasure or profit

by it, as may make it worthy the time of their perusal, if they be not too

grave or too busy men. And this is all the confidence that I can put on,

concerning the merit of what is here offered to their consideration and

censure; and if the last prove too severe, as I have a liberty, so I am

resolved to use it, and neglect all sour censures.

And I wish the Reader also to take notice, that in writing of it I have

made myself a recreation of a recreation; and that it might prove so to him,

and not read dull and tediously, I have in several places mixed, not any

scurrility, but some innocent, harmless mirth, of which, if thou be a severe,

sour-complexioned man, then I here disallow thee to be a competent judge;

for divines say, there are offences given, and offences not given but taken.

And I am the willinger to justify the pleasant part of it, because though

it is known I can be serious at seasonable times, yet the whole Discourse is,

or rather was, a picture of my own disposition, especially in such days and

times as I have laid aside business, and gone a-fishing with honest Nat.

and R. Roe; but they are gone, and with them most of my pleasant hours,

even as a shadow that passeth away and returns not.

And next let me add this, that he that likes not the book, should like

the excellent picture of the Trout, and some of the other fish, which I may

take a liberty to commend, because they concern not myself.

Next, let me tell the Reader, that in that which is the more useful part

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

of this Discourse, that is to say, the observations of the nature and

breeding, and seasons, and catching of fish, I am not so simple as not to

know, that a captious reader may find exceptions against something said of

some of these; and therefore I must entreat him to con. eider, that

experience teaches us to know that several countries alter the time, and I

think, almost the manner, of fishes' breeding, but doubtless of their being

in season; as may appear by three rivers in Monmouthshire, namely,

Severn, Wye, and Usk, where Camden observes, that in the river Wye,

Salmon are in season from September to April; and we are certain, that in

Thames and Trent, and in most other rivers, they be in season the six

hotter months.

Now for the Art of catching fish, that is to say, How to make a man

that was none to be an Angler by a book, he that undertakes it shall

undertake a harder task than Mr. Hales, a most valiant and excellent fencer,

who in a printed book called A Private School of Defence undertook to

teach that art or science, and was laughed at for his labour. Not but that

many useful things might be learned by that book, but he was laughed at

because that art was not to be taught by words, but practice: and so must

Angling. And note also, that in this Discourse I do not undertake to say all

that is known, or may be said of it, but I undertake to acquaint the Reader

with many things that are not usually known to every Angler; and I shall

leave gleanings and observations enough to be made out of the experience

of all that love and practice this recreation, to which I shall encourage

them. For Angling may be said to be so like the Mathematicks, that it can

never be fully learnt; at least not so fully, but that there will still be more

new experiments left for the trial of other men that succeed us.

But I think all that love this game may here learn something that may

be worth their money, if they be not poor and needy men: and in case they

be, I then wish them to forbear to buy it; for I write not to get money, but

for pleasure, and this Discourse boasts of no more, for I hate to promise

much, and deceive the Reader.

And however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have found a high

content in the search and conference of what is here offered to the

Reader's view and censure. I wish him as much in the perusal of it, and so

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

I might here take my leave; but will stay a little and tell him, that whereas

it is said by many, that in fly-fishing for a Trout, the Angler must observe

his twelve several flies for the twelve months of the year, I say, he that

follows that rule, shall be as sure to catch fish, and be as wise, as he that

makes hay by the fair days in an Almanack, and no surer; for those very

flies that used to appear about, and on, the water in one month of the year,

may the following year come almost a month sooner or later, as the same

year proves colder or hotter: and yet, in the following Discourse, I have set

down the twelve flies that are in reputation with many anglers; and they

may serve to give him some observations concerning them. And he may

note, that there are in Wales, and other countries, peculiar flies, proper to

the particular place or country; and doubtless, unless a man makes a fly to

counterfeit that very fly in that place, he is like to lose his labour, or much

of it; but for the generality, three or four flies neat and rightly made, and

not too big, serve for a Trout in most rivers, all the summer: and for winter

fly- fishing it is as useful as an Almanack out of date. And of these,

because as no man is born an artist, so no man is born an Angler, I thought

fit to give thee this notice.

When I have told the reader, that in this fifth impression there are

many enlargements, gathered both by my own observation, and the

communication with friends, I shall stay him no longer than to wish him a

rainy evening to read this following Discourse; and that if he be an honest

Angler, the east wind may never blow when he goes a- fishing.

I. W.

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

The first day

A Conference betwixt an Angler, a Falconer, and a Hunter, each

commending his Recreation

Chapter I

Piscator, Venator, Auceps

Piscator. You are well overtaken, Gentlemen! A good morning to you

both! I have stretched my legs up Tottenham Hill to overtake you, hoping

your business may occasion you towards Ware whither I am going this

fine fresh May morning.

Venator. Sir, I, for my part, shall almost answer your hopes; for my

purpose is to drink my morning's draught at the Thatched House in

Hoddesden; and I think not to rest till I come thither, where I have

appointed a friend or two to meet me: but for this gentleman that you see

with me, I know not how far he intends his journey; he came so lately into

my company, that I have scarce had time to ask him the question.

Auceps. Sir, I shall by your favour bear you company as far as

Theobalds, and there leave you; for then I turn up to a friend's house, who

mews a Hawk for me, which I now long to see.

Venator. Sir, we are all so happy as to have a fine, fresh, cool morning;

and I hope we shall each be the happier in the others' company. And,

Gentlemen, that I may not lose yours, I shall either abate or amend my

pace to enjoy it, knowing that, as the Italians say, " Good company in a

journey makes the way to seem the shorter ".

Auceps. It may do so, Sir, with the help of good discourse, which,

methinks, we may promise from you, that both look and speak so

cheerfully: and for my part, I promise you, as an invitation to it, that I will

be as free and open hearted as discretion will allow me to be with

strangers.

Venator. And, Sir, I promise the like.

Piscator. I am right glad to hear your answers; and, in confidence you

speak the truth, I shall put on a boldness to ask you, Sir, whether business

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

or pleasure caused you to be so early up, and walk so fast ? for this other

gentleman hath declared he is going to see a hawk, that a friend mews for

him

Venator. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little business and more

pleasure; for I intend this day to do all my business, and then bestow

another day or two in hunting the Otter, which a friend, that I go to meet,

tells me is much pleasanter than any other chase whatsoever: howsoever, I

mean to try it; for to-morrow morning we shall meet a pack of Otter-dogs

of noble Mr. Sadler's, upon Amwell Hill, who will be there so early, that

they intend to prevent the sunrising.

Piscator. Sir, my fortune has answered my desires, and my purpose is

to bestow a day or two in helping to destroy some of those villanous

vermin: for I hate them perfectly, because they love fish so well, or rather,

because they destroy so much; indeed so much, that, in my judgment all

men that keep Otter-dogs ought to have pen" signs from the King, to

encourage them to destroy the very breed of those base Otters, they do so

much mischief.

Venator. But what say you to the Foxes of the Nation, would not you

as willingly have them destroyed ? for doubtless they do as much mischief

as Otters do.

Piscator. Oh, Sir, if they do, it is not so much to me and my fraternity,

as those base vermin the Otters do.

Auceps. Why, Sir, I pray, of what fraternity are you, that you are so

angry with the poor Otters?

Piscator. I am, Sir, a Brother of the Angle, and therefore an enemy to

the Otter: for you are to note, that we Anglers all love one another, and

therefore do I hate the Otter both for my own, and their sakes who are of

my brotherhood.

Venator. And I am a lover of Hounds; I have followed many a pack of

dogs many a mile, and heard many merry Huntsmen make sport and scoff

at Anglers.

Auceps. And I profess myself a Falconer, and have heard many grave,

serious men pity them, it is such a heavy, contemptible, dull recreation.

Piscator. You know, Gentlemen, it is an easy thing to scoff at any art or

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

recreation; a little wit mixed with ill nature, confidence, and malice, will

do it; but though they often venture boldly, yet they are often caught, even

in their own trap, according to that of Lucian, the father of the family of

Scoffers:

Lucian, well skilled in scoffing, this hath writ, Friend, that's your folly,

which you think your wit: This you vent oft, void both of wit and fear,

Meaning another, when yourself you jeer.

If to this you add what Solomon says of Scoffers, that they are an

abomination to mankind, let him that thinks fit scoff on, and be a Scoffer

still; but I account them enemies to me and all that love Virtue and

Angling.

And for you that have heard many grave, serious men pity Anglers; let

me tell you, Sir, there be many men that are by others taken to be serious

and grave men, whom we contemn and pity Men that are taken to be grave,

because nature hath made them of a sour complexion; money-getting men,

men that spend all their time, first in getting, and next, in anxious care to

keep it; men that are condemned to be rich, and then always busy or

discontented: for these poor rich-men, we Anglers pity them perfectly, and

stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think ourselves so happy. No,

no, Sir, we enjoy a contentedness above the reach of such dispositions, and

as the learned and ingenuous Montaigne says, like himself, freely, " When

my Cat and I entertain each other with mutual apish tricks, as playing with

a garter, who knows but that I make my Cat more sport than she makes me?

Shall I conclude her to be simple, that has her time to begin or refuse, to

play as freely as I myself have? Nay, who knows but that it is a defect of

my not understanding her language, for doubtless Cats talk and reason

with one another, that we agree no better: and who knows but that she

pities me for being no wiser than to play with her, and laughs and censures

my folly, for making sport for her, when we two play together?"

Thus freely speaks Montaigne concerning Cats; and I hope I may take

as great a liberty to blame any man, and laugh at him too, let him be never

so grave, that hath not heard what Anglers can say in the justification of

their Art and Recreation; which I may again tell you, is so full of pleasure,

that we need not borrow their thoughts, to think ourselves happy.

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

Venator. Sir, you have almost amazed me; for though I am no Scoffer,

yet I have, I pray let me speak it without offence, always looked upon

Anglers, as more patient, and more simple men, than I fear I shall find you

to be.

Piscator. Sir, I hope you will not judge my earnestness to be

impatience: and for my simplicity, if by that you mean a harmlessness, or

that simplicity which was usually found in the primitive Christians, who

were, as most Anglers are, quiet men, and followers of peace; men that

were so simply wise, as not to sell their consciences to buy riches, and

with them vexation and a fear to die; if you mean such simple men as

lived in those times when there were fewer lawyers; when men might have

had a lordship safe]y conveyed to them in a piece of parchment no bigger

than your hand, though several sheets will not do it safely in this wiser age;

I say, Sir, if you take us Anglers to be such simple men as I have spoke of,

then myself and those of my profession will be glad to be so understood:

But if by simplicity you meant to express a general defect in those that

profess and practice the excellent Art of Angling, I hope in time to

disabuse you, and make the contrary appear so evidently, that if you will

but have patience to hear me, I shall remove all the anticipations that

discourse, or time, or prejudice, have possessed you with against that

laudable and ancient Art; for I know it is worthy the knowledge and

practice of a wise man.

But, Gentlemen, though I be able to do this, I am not so unmannerly as

to engross all the discourse to myself; and, therefore, you two having

declared yourselves, the one to be a lover of Hawks, the other of Hounds, I

shall be most glad to hear what you can say in the commendation of that

recreation which each of you love and practice; and having heard what

you can say, I shall be glad to exercise your attention with what I can say

concerning my own recreation and Art of Angling, and by this means we

shall make the way to seem the shorter: and if you like my motion, I

would have Mr. Falconer to begin.

Auceps. Your motion is consented to with all my heart; and to testify it,

I will begin as you have desired me.

And first, for the Element that I use to trade in, which is the Air, an

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THECOMPLEATANGLER1THECOMPLEATANGLERIZAAKWALTONTHECOMPLEATANGLER2TotheRightworshipfulJohnOffleyofMadeleyManor,intheCountyofStaffordEsquire,MymosthonouredFriendSir,--Ihavemadesoilluseofyourformerfavours,asbythemtobeencouragedtoentreat,thattheymaybeenlargedtothepatronageandprotectionofthisBook:andIhave...

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