The Huntsman and the Fisherman

The huntsman and the fisherman swap goods.


A Huntsman, returning with his dogs from the field, fell in by chance with a Fisherman who was bringing home a basket well laden with fish. The Huntsman wished to have the fish, and their owner experienced an equal longing for the contents of the game-bag. They quickly agreed to exchange the produce of their day’s sport. Each was so well pleased with his bargain that they made for some time the same exchange day after day. Finally a neighbour said to them, “If you go on in this way, you will soon destroy by frequent use the pleasure of your exchange, and each will again wish to retain the fruits of his own sport.”

The moral of the story is: Abstain and enjoy.


Wordchecker

  • fall in with (verb): meet and become involved with
  • well laden (adjective): full
  • long (verb): to want very badly
  • bargain (noun): a good exchange
  • retain (verb): keep

The Huntsman and the Fisherman is one of the famous Aesop’s Fables. A “fable” is a short story, typically with animals as characters, telling a moral or lesson.

Read by Tara Benwell.

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