Aesop's Fables: Sir Roger L'Estrange (1692)
108. A FISHERMAN AND HIS PIPE (Perry
11)
A Fisherman that understood Piping better than Netting, set himself down
upon the side of a River, and touch’d his Flute, but not a Fish came near
him. Upon this, he laid down his Pipe and cast his Net, which brought
him a very great Draught. The Fish fell a frisking in the Net, and the
Fisherman observing it; what Sots are these (says he) that would not dance
when I play’d to ‘em, and will be dancing now without Musick!
THE MORAL. There are certain Rules and Methods for the doing of all
Things in this World; and therefore let every Man stick to the Business
he understands, and was brought up to, without making one Profession interfere
with another.
L'Estrange originally published his version of the fables in 1692. There is a
very nice illustrated edition in the Children's Classics series by Knopf: Sir
Roger L'Estrange. Aesop
- Fables which is available at amazon.com.
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