A FISHERMAN who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a single small Fish as the result of his day’s labor. —
一个以捕鱼为生的渔夫，有一天因一天的努力只捕到了一条小鱼。 —

The Fish, panting convulsively, thus entreated for his life: “O Sir, what good can I be to you, and how little am I worth? —
小鱼痛苦地喘着气，哀求道：“大人，请问我对您有什么好处呢？我是多么渺小无价啊。” —

I am not yet come to my full size. —
我还没有长到完全的尺寸。 —

Pray spare my life, and put me back into the sea. —
请放过我的生命，把我放回海里去吧。 —

I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me. —
我很快会长成适合富人享用的大鱼，那时您可以再次捕捉我，从我身上获得可观的利润。 —

” The Fisherman replied, “I should indeed be a very simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, I were to forego my present certain gain.”
渔夫回答道：“如果为了一个更大且不确定的利益的机会，我放弃了现在的确定收益，那我真是个极其愚蠢的人。”