Pagina 83 van 626

There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty,

close by the seaside. The fisherman used to go out all day long

a-fishing; and one day, as he sat on the shore with his rod,

looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all on a

sudden his float was dragged away deep into the water: and in

drawing it up he pulled out a great fish. But the fish said,

'Pray let me live! I am not a real fish; I am an enchanted

prince: put me in the water again, and let me go!' 'Oh, ho!' said

the man, 'you need not make so many words about the matter; I

will have nothing to do with a fish that can talk: so swim away,

sir, as soon as you please!' Then he put him back into the water,

and the fish darted straight down to the bottom, and left a long

streak of blood behind him on the wave.