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。
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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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element of more worth than weight； an element that doubtless exceeds
both the Earth and Water； for though I sometimes deal in both； yet the air
is most properly mine； I and my Hawks use that most； and it yields us
most recreation。 It stops not the high soaring of my noble； generous Falcon；
in it she ascends to such a height as the dull eyes of beasts and fish are not
able to reach to； their bodies are too gross for such high elevations； in the
Air my troops of Hawks soar up on high； and when they are lost in the
sight of men； then they attend upon and converse with the Gods； therefore
I think my Eagle is so justly styled Jove's servant in ordinary： and that
very Falcon； that I am now going to see； deserves no meaner a title； for she
usually in her flight endangers herself； like the son of Daedalus； to have
her wings scorched by the sun's heat； she flies so near it； but her mettle
makes her careless of danger； for she then heeds nothing； but makes her
nimble pinions cut the fluid air； and so makes her highway over the
steepest mountains and deepest rivers； and in her glorious career looks
with contempt upon those high steeples and magnificent palaces which we
adore and wonder at； from which height； I can make her to descend by a
word from my mouth； which she both knows and obeys； to accept of meat
from my hand。 to own me for her Master； to go home with me； and be
willing the next day to afford me the like recreation。
And more； this element of air which I profess to trade in； the worth of
it is such； and it is of such necessity； that no creature whatsoever…not only
those numerous creatures that feed on the face of the earth； but those
various creatures that have their dwelling within the waters； every creature
that hath life in its nostrils； stands in need of my element。 The waters
cannot preserve the Fish without air； witness the not breaking of ice in an
extreme frost； the reason is； for that if the inspiring and expiring organ of
any animal be stopped； it suddenly yields to nature； and dies。 Thus
necessary is air； to the existence both of Fish and Beasts； nay； even to Man
himself； that air； or breath of life； with which God at first inspired
mankind； he； if he wants it； dies presently； becomes a sad object to all that
loved and beheld him； and in an instant turns to putrefaction。
Nay more； the very birds of the air； those that be not Hawks； are both
so many and so useful and pleasant to mankind； that I must not let them
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pass without some observations。 They both feed and refresh him； feed him
with their choice bodies； and refresh him with their heavenly voices：…I will
not undertake to mention the several kinds of Fowl by which this is done：
and his curious palate pleased by day； and which with their very
excrements afford him a soft lodging at night：…These I will pass by； but not
those little nimble musicians of the air； that warble forth their curious
ditties； with which nature hath furnished them to the shame of art。
As first the Lark； when she means to rejoice； to cheer herself and those
that hear her； she then quits the earth； and sings as she ascends higher into
the air and having ended her heavenly employment； grows then mute； and
sad； to think she must descend to the dull earth； which she would not touch；
but for necessity。
How do the Blackbird and Thrassel with their melodious voices bid
welcome to the cheerful Spring； and in their fixed months warble forth
such ditties as no art or instrument can reach to！
Nay； the smaller birds also do the like in their particular seasons； as
namely the Laverock； the Tit…lark； the little Linnet； and the honest Robin
that loves mankind both alive and dead。
But the Nightingale； another of my airy creatures； breathes such sweet
loud musick out of her little instrumental throat； that it might make
mankind to think miracles are not ceased。 He that at midnight； when the
very labourer sleeps securely； should hear； as I have very often； the clear
airs； the sweet descants； the natural rising and falling； the doubling and
redoubling of her voice； might well be lifted above earth； and say； 〃 Lord；
what musick hast thou provided for the Saints in Heaven； when thou
affordest bad men such musick on Earth！ 〃
And this makes me the less to wonder at the many Aviaries in Italy； or
at the great charge of Varro's Aviary； the ruins of which are yet to be seen
in Rome； and is still so famous there； that it is reckoned for one of those
notables which men of foreign nations either record； or lay up in their
memories when they return from travel。
This for the birds of pleasure； of which very much more might be said。
My next shall be of birds of political use。 I think it is not to be doubted
that Swallows have been taught to carry letters between two armies； but
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'tis certain that when the Turks besieged Malta or Rhodes； I now
remember not which it was； Pigeons are then related to carry and recarry
letters