Page:Gems of Arabic Literature.djvu/16



This is an example of presence of mind in time of distress.

It is said that there were three fishes in a pond. (The first was) wise, (the second) wiser, but (the third) foolish. Now the pond into which flowed a running stream was situated on high ground, and it was hardly accessible to any one. It so happened that two fishermen passed by the stream, and, on seeing the pond, agreed to return with their nets and catch what fish might be in it. But the fishes overheard the conversation, and the wisest of them, becoming immediately suspicious and frightened did not rest till it had passed through the channel by which the water from the stream flowed into the pond, while the other wise fish remained in its place until the two fishermen came, and, when it saw them, and knew their purpose, it proceeded to escape by the channel; but, lo! the men had already blocked it. It then said, "I have been negligent, and this is the result of my neglect. Now, what is to be done in these circumstances? Seldom does a hastily contrived and ill devised plan succeed; but he who is wise should neither despair of the benefits of good counsel, nor in any case, be despondent, or abandon planning or making efforts." So it pretended to be dead; and floated on the surface of the water, sometimes rolling on its back, at other times on its belly. The two fishermen caught it, and placed it on the ground between the stream and the pond; but it leaped into the stream and escaped. As for the foolish fish, it kept on swimming backwards and forwards till it was caught.