A FISHERMAN skilled in music took his flute and his nets to the seashore.  Standing on a projecting rock, he played several tunes in the hope that the fish, attracted by his melody, would of their own accord dance into his net, which he had placed below.  At last, having long waited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and casting his net into the sea, made an excellent haul of fish.  When he saw them leaping about in the net upon the rock he said: "O you most perverse creatures, when I piped you would not dance, but now that I have ceased you do so merrily."

  有一个会吹箫的渔夫，带着他心爱的箫和渔网来到了海边。他先站在一块突出的岩石上，吹起箫来，心想鱼听到这美妙音乐就会自己跳到他的前面来的。他聚精会神地吹了好久，毫无结果。他只好将箫放下，拿起网来，向水里撒去，结果捕到了许多的鱼。他将网中的鱼一条条地扔到岸上，并对乱蹦乱跳的鱼说：“喂，你们这些不识好歹的东西！我吹箫

时，你们不跳舞，现在我不吹了，你们倒跳了起来。”这故事适用于那些做事不择时机的人们。