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，一個會吹長笛的漁夫帶著笛子和漁網(wǎng)來到海邊，他站在一塊突出海面的巖石上，開始吹笛子，希望用笛聲引誘魚兒跳出海面。漁夫吹奏了一會兒，沒有一條魚出來。當漁夫把網(wǎng)拖上岸后，看見魚兒在岸邊不停地跳躍，他便說：“你們這些淘氣鬼，我吹笛子時，你們不肯跳；現(xiàn)在不吹了，你們卻在這里歡蹦亂跳！”