29．The Angler 钓 鱼 翁

（单词翻译）

29．The  Angler

　　How comforting it is to see a cheerful and contented¹ old age; and to beholda poor fellow, like this, after being tempest-tost through life, safelymoored  in  a  snug  and  quiet  harbour  in  the  evening  of  his  days  !  Hishappiness, how- ever, sprung from within himself, and was independent ofexternal circumstances; for he had that inexhaustible good-nature, whichis the most precious gift of Heaven, spreading itself like oil over  thetroubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable  in  theroughest  weather.
On inquiring further about him I learned that he was a universal favoritein  the  village,  and  the  oracle  of  the  tap-  room;  where  he  delighted  therustics with his songs(1), and, like Sindbad(2), astonished them with hisstories  of  strange  lands,  and  shipwrecks,  and  sea-fights.  He  was  muchnoticed too by gentlemen sportsmen of the neighborhood; had taught severalof  them  the  art  of  angling;  and  was  a  privileged  visitor  to  theirkitchens(3). The whole tenor² of his life was quiet and inoffensive, beingprincipally  passed  about  the  neighboring  streams,  when  the  weather  andseason were favorable; and at other times he employed himself at home(4),preparing his fishing tackle for the next campaign(5), or manufacturingrods,  nets,  and  flies(6),  for  his  patrons  and  pupils  among  the  gentry³.