Tale of the fisherman and the little fish

An old man lived with his good-wife By the shore of the deep blue ocean In a hovel of clay and wattle; They had lived there for three years and thirty. The old man netted fishes, The good-wife sat at her spinning. Once he cast his net on the waters; The net came up-full of sea-slime. Again he cast the net on the waters; The net came back-full of sea-weed. A third time the net sank in the waters And came up with one fish in it. No common fish, but a golden. The golden fish begged for mercy And spoke with the voice of a human: "Old man, throw me back in the ocean, I will pay you a splendid ransom: I will grant you whatever you wish for." The old man was amazed and awestruck: He had fished here for three years and thirty But never once heard a fish talking. Freeing the fish from the meshes He gave him fair words and gentle: "Golden fish, go your ways in peace now There is no need to pay me a ransom; Go back to your deep blue seas And swim there and splash as you please."

The old man returned to his good-wife. And what do you think? A palace Now houses the shrewish old woman. She sits in state at her table. Great nobles and lords wait upon her, Serve her wine in a golden goblet While she nibbles at crested sweet-meats; Stern sentries mount guard about her Each with an axe at the ready. The old man took one look-his knees failed him! He bowed to the ground before her But spoke out: "All hail, dread Empress! Tell me, is you heart content now?" Not a glance did his good-wife spare him But ordered her men to remove him.

Again he went down to the ocean And saw-a black storm had arisen: Angry waves reared up to meet him, All a-quake, all a-swirl, all a-roaring. But he raised his voice and shouted, And the golden fish came swimming: "What is it, old man, come, tell me! " With a low bow the old man made answer: "Be gracious, Lord of Fishes! What can I do with the woman? The old fool will no longer be Empress, She will rule over Sea and Ocean; In the Deep she will make her stronghold And have you yourself to serve her And swim back and forth on her errands." The golden fish said nothing; With a flick of its tail in the water It swam away, back to the deep sea. The old man by the shore stood waiting For a long time, but got no answer. At last, he returned to his good-wife.