A CERTAIN rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He fed the one for his table and kept the other for the sake of its song. When the time came for killing the Goose, the cook went to get him at night, when it was dark, and he was not able to distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake he caught the Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatened with death, burst forth into song and thus made himself known by his voice, and preserved his life by his melody.
ある金持ちが、市場でガチョウとハクチョウを買った。金持ちは一方を食卓に出すために太らせ、もう一方をその歌声のために飼っておいた。ガチョウを殺す時が来ると、料理人は夜の暗いうちにガチョウを取りに行ったが、どちらがどちらの鳥か見分けることができなかった。料理人はまちがえて、ガチョウではなくハクチョウをつかまえてしまった。死の危険にさらされたハクチョウは歌いだし、その声で自分がだれかを知らせて、その調べのおかげで命が助かった。