22 lines
1.3 KiB
Text
22 lines
1.3 KiB
Text
The Sole
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The fishes had for a long time been discontented because no order
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prevailed in their kingdom. None of them turned aside for the others,
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but all swam to the right or the left as they fancied, or darted
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between those who wanted to stay together, or got into their way; and a
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strong one gave a weak one a blow with its tail, which drove it away,
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or else swallowed it up without more ado. “How delightful it would be,”
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said they, “if we had a king who enforced law and justice among us!”
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and they met together to choose for their ruler, the one who could
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cleave through the water most quickly, and give help to the weak ones.
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They placed themselves in rank and file by the shore, and the pike gave
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the signal with his tail, on which they all started. Like an arrow, the
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pike darted away, and with him the herring, the gudgeon, the perch, the
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carp, and all the rest of them. Even the sole swam with them, and hoped
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to reach the winning-place. All at once, the cry was heard, “The
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herring is first!” “Who is first?” screamed angrily the flat envious
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sole, who had been left far behind, “who is first?” “The herring! The
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herring,” was the answer. “The naked herring?” cried the jealous
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creature, “the naked herring?” Since that time the sole’s mouth has
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been at one side for a punishment.
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