The Sole
The fishes had for a long time been
discontented because no order prevailed in their kingdom. None of them turned aside for
the others, but all swam to the right or the left as they fancied, or darted between those
who wanted to stay together, or got into their way. And a strong one gave a weak one a
blow with its tail, which drove it away, or else swallowed it up without more ado. How
delightful it would be, said they, if we had a king who enforced law and justice among us,
and they met together to choose for their ruler the one who could cleave through the water
most quickly, and give help to the weak ones. They placed themselves in rank and file by
the shore, and the pike gave the signal with his tail, on which they all started. Like an
arrow, the pike darted away, and with him the herring, the gudgeon, the perch, the carp,
and all the rest of them. Even the sole swam with them, and hoped to win the race. All at
once, the cry was heard, the herring is first, the herring is first. Who is first,
screamed angrily the flat envious sole, who had been left far behind, who is first. The
herring, the herring, was the answer. The naked herring, cried the jealous creature, the
naked herring. Since that time the sole has been punished by having been given a mouth on
one side.
--The End-- |
