A MAN had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the other to a tile-maker. After a time he went to the daughter who had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all things went with her. She said, “All things are prospering with me, and I have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of rain, in order that the plants may be well watered.” Not long after, he went to the daughter who had married the tilemaker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, “I want for nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather may continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might be dried.” He said to her, “If your sister wishes for rain, and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join my wishes?”
ある男にふたりの娘がいた。ひとりは植木屋にとつぎ、もうひとりはかわら職人にとついでいた。しばらくして、男は植木屋にとついだ娘のところへ行き、元気かどうか、暮らしはうまくいっているかをたずねた。娘は言った。「何もかもうまくいっています。望みはたった一つ、雨がたくさん降って、植物にたっぷり水がやれることだけです」。それからまもなく、男はかわら職人にとついだ娘のところへ行き、同じように暮らしぶりをたずねた。娘は答えた。「何不自由ありません。望みはたった一つ、晴れの日が続いて、お日さまが暑くかんかんと照って、れんがが乾くことだけです」。男は娘に言った。「おまえの姉は雨を望み、おまえは晴れを望んでいる。わしはどちらの望みに加わったらいいのかね？」