The Fishermen

SOME FISHERMEN were out trawling their nets. Perceiving them to be very heavy, they danced about for joy and supposed that they had taken a large catch. When they had dragged the nets to the shore they found but few fish: the nets were full of sand and stones, and the men were beyond measure cast down so much at the disappointment which had befallen them, but because they had formed such very different expectations. One of their company, an old man, said, “Let us cease lamenting, my mates, for, as it seems to me, sorrow is always the twin sister of joy; and it was only to be looked for that we, who just now were over-rejoiced, should next have something to make us sad.”

漁師たちが、引き網漁に出ていた。網がとても重いのに気づくと、彼らは大漁にちがいないと思って、小おどりして喜んだ。ところが網を岸まで引き上げてみると、魚はほんのわずかしかかかっておらず、網の中は砂や石でいっぱいだった。漁師たちはひどく落ちこんだ。それは、あてがはずれたことそのものよりも、まったくちがう結果を期待していたからだった。仲間の一人の年寄りが言った。「みんな、嘆くのはやめよう。わしが思うに、悲しみはいつだって喜びの双子の妹なのさ。ついさっきまで喜びすぎていたわしらに、次に悲しいことが起こるのは、当たり前のことだったんだよ。」