Æsop's Fables (V. S. Vernon-Jones)/The Fisherman Piping

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3914198Æsop's Fables: A New Translation — The Fisherman PipingVernon S. Vernon JonesAesop

THE FISHERMAN PIPING

A FISHERMAN who could play the flute went down one day to the sea-shore with his nets and his flute; 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 nothing else!”

THE FISHERMAN PIPING