A Fisherman cast his net into the sea, and when he drew it up again it contained nothing but a single Sprat that begged to be put back into the water. “I'm only a little fish now,” it said, “but I shall grow big one day, and then if you come and catch me again I shall be of some use to you.” But the Fisherman replied, “Oh, no, I shall keep you now I've got you: if I put you back, should I ever see you again? Not likely!”
有一個漁夫撒網(wǎng)到海里,拉上來的時候,發(fā)現(xiàn)網(wǎng)里面只有一條小鯡魚,其余毫無所獲。小鯡魚乞求漁夫把它放回大海:“我現(xiàn)在只不過是條小魚,但有一天我會長大的,等將來你要是再捉住了我,我就能派上些用場了。”但是漁夫回答:“哦,不,既然已經(jīng)撈到了你,我還是留著你吧,要是放你回去,誰知道我還能不能再見到你!不太可能了!”