A fisherman who could play the flute went down one day to the sea-shore with his nets and his lute; and, taking his stand on a projecting rock; began to play a tune, 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 rascals! 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;現在不吹了,你們卻在這里歡蹦亂跳!”