XXXVII.
THE THREE FISH.
Three fish lived in the bed of a river. One of these perceived that the water would dry up in the ensuing summer, informed its other companions of the same, and said, further, how they would run the risk of being carried off by the fishermen at the time, and that they should therefore seek a habitation elsewhere. It wanted, therefore, that all of them should go into the current and settle in the sea or in the bed of another river. The other two laughed at the words of their companion. The clever fish, therefore, went and settled in another quarter unaccompanied. Not long after, summer set in, and the waters of the river dried up. A fisherman threw his net into the bed, caught the two fish and put them on the bank. One of them was possessed of some sense and appeared to be dead, remaining motionless, while the other began to jump. The latter therefore was dashed to the ground and smashed to pieces. The former, perceiving the fisherman going away with his net, crawled unperceived and jumped into the waters and lived comfortably.
Moral:—Whoever perceives coming events and tries to avert danger shall surely be happy; and the person who tries to extricate himself from difficulties, even after they happen, may also consider himself lucky, but the man who remains idle will surely come to grief.