THE FIR TREE

　　A fisherman who could play the flute1 went down one day to the sea-shore with his nets and his lute2; and, taking his stand on a projecting rock; began to play a tune3, thinking that the music would bring the fish jumping out of the sea. He went on playing for some time, but not a fish appeared: so at last he threw down his flute and cast his net into the sea, and made a great haul of fish. When they were landed and he saw them leaping about on the shore, he cried, "You rascals4! You wouldn't dance when I piped: but now I’ve stopped, you can do noting else!"

　　有一天，一个会吹长笛的渔夫带着笛子和渔网来到海边，他站在一块突出海面的岩石上，开始吹笛子，希望用笛声引诱鱼儿跳出海面。渔夫吹奏了一会儿，没有一条鱼出来。当渔夫把网拖上岸后，看见鱼儿在岸边不停地跳跃，他便说：“你们这些淘气鬼，我吹笛子时，你们不肯跳；现在不吹了，你们却在这里欢蹦乱跳！”