Page:Tales from the Gulistan (1928).pdf/168

On the Excellence of Contentment

fisherman caught a strong fish in his net, and, not being able to retain it, the fish overcame him and pulled the net from his hand.

A boy went to bring water from the torrent; The torrent came and took the boy away. The net brought every time a fish; This time the fish went, and carried off the net.

The other fishermen were sorry, and blamed him for not being able to retain such a fish, which had fallen into his net.

He replied: "O brothers! What can be done? My day was not lucky, but the fish had yet one remaining."

Moral: A fisherman cannot catch a fish in the Tigris without a day [of luck], and a fish cannot die on dry ground without [the decree of] fate.