Folk Tale

The Monkey and the Fishermen

Translated From

Πίθηκος καὶ ἁλιεῖς

AuthorΑἴσωπος
LanguageAncient Greek

Other Translations / Adaptations

Text titleLanguageAuthorPublication Date
De aap en de vissersDutch__
AuthorGeorge Fyler Townsend
Book TitleAesop's Fables
Publication Date1867
ATU38
LanguageEnglish
OriginGreece

A MONKEY perched upon a lofty tree saw some Fishermen casting their nets into a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. The Fishermen after a while gave up fishing, and on going home to dinner left their nets upon the bank. The Monkey, who is the most imitative of animals, descended from the treetop and endeavored to do as they had done. Having handled the net, he threw it into the river, but became tangled in the meshes and drowned. With his last breath he said to himself, "I am rightly served; for what business had I who had never handled a net to try and catch fish?'


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