The fisherman and his wife 渔夫和他的妻子（贪婪的后果）

TheFisherman and his Wife

There was once apoor fisherman,

who lived with hiswife in a hut by

the sea. Every dayhe went to fish

in the sea withhis rod and line.

One day, he caughta huge flounder,

who begged not tobe killed.

“I am an enchanted prince,”

it said. “Iwouldn’t taste nice

at all. Put meback in the water. When the fisherman came back home empty-handed,

his wife scoldedhim, “Haven’t you caught anything today?”

“Nothing but an enchanted prince,” repliedthe fisherman.

“And didn’t you ask for a reward? Go back,you fool,

and ask for ahouse!”

Flounder, floundercome to me. called the fisherman,

and the magic fish

came back. “I’m sorry, but my

wife wants a newhouse

in return forsaving you.”

“Go home,” said the flounder.

And the fishermanwent home

and found his wifein the

sweetest littlecottage. Butthe wife wasn’t satisfied.

“Go back and ask for a

castle,” shedemanded.

So the fishermanwent

back to the seaand called

the flounder again.

When he got homethis

time, he found ahuge

castle, withtowers and

a drawbridge.“This is

more like it,”said his wife.But before long she

sent him back tosea

again. This timeshe

wanted to be theking,

and that night the

fisherman returned

to a king’spalace.Next,the wife wanted to be the emperor.

When the fishermangot back from that errand,

he could hardlyfind his wife in the vast imperial palace.She was surrounded

by guards andservants.

“Surely you are happy

now, wife?”pleaded the

fisherman. Shethought

for a bit and thensaid,

“No. I want to be God.”The fisherman wentback to the

flounder with aheavy heart.

“She wants to be God,” he whispered.

“Go home,” said the flounder.

And when thefisherman

returned home, hefound

his weeping wife—

back in their poor

old hut!