A WIZARD, sitting in the marketplace, was telling the fortunes of the passers-by when a person ran up in great haste, and announced to him that the doors of his house had been broken open and that all his goods were being stolen. He sighed heavily and hastened away as fast as he could run. A neighbor saw him running and said, “Oh! you fellow there! you say you can foretell the fortunes of others; how is it you did not foresee your own?”
市場にすわっていた魔法使いが、通りかかる人々の運勢をうらなっていると、ひとりの人が大あわてでかけよってきて、魔法使いの家の戸がこじあけられて、家財がすべて盗まれていると告げた。魔法使いは大きなため息をつき、全速力でかけだしていった。近所の人がそれを見て言った。「おい、そこのあんた！あんたは他人の運勢を予言できると言っているのに、どうして自分の運勢は見通せなかったんだい？」