The Fisherman and His Wife

Posted 2023-04-25

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The Fisherman and His Wife

TherewasonceonatimeaFishermanwholivedwithhiswifeinamiserablehovelclosebythesea,andeverydayhewentoutfishing.Andonceashewassittingwithhisrod,lookingattheclearwater,hislinesuddenlywentdown,fardownbelow,andwhenhedrewitupagainhebroughtoutalargeFlounder.ThentheFloundersaidtohim,"Hark,youFisherman,Iprayyou,letmelive,IamnoFlounderreally,butanenchantedprince.Whatgoodwillitdoyoutokillme?Ishouldnotbegoodtoeat,putmeinthewateragain,andletmego.""Come,"saidtheFisherman,"thereisnoneedforsomanywordsaboutit--afishthatcantalkIshouldcertainlyletgo,anyhow,"withthatheputhimbackagainintotheclearwater,andtheFlounderwenttothebottom,leavingalongstreakofbloodbehindhim.ThentheFishermangotupandwenthometohiswifeinthehovel.

"Husband,"saidthewoman,"haveyoucaughtnothingto-day?""No,"saidtheman,"IdidcatchaFlounder,whosaidhewasanenchantedprince,soIlethimgoagain.""Didyounotwishforanythingfirst?"saidthewoman."No,"saidtheman;"whatshouldIwishfor?""Ah,"saidthewoman,"itissurelyhardtohavetolivealwaysinthisdirtyhovel;youmighthavewishedforasmallcottageforus.Gobackandcallhim.Tellhimwewanttohaveasmallcottage,hewillcertainlygiveusthat.""Ah,"saidtheman,"whyshouldIgothereagain?""Why,"saidthewoman,"youdidcatchhim,andyoulethimgoagain;heissuretodoit.Goatonce."Themanstilldidnotquiteliketogo,butdidnotliketoopposehiswife,andwenttothesea.

Whenhegottheretheseawasallgreenandyellow,andnolongersosmooth;sohestoodstillandsaid,

"Flounder,flounderinthesea,Come,Ipraythee,heretome;Formywife,goodIlsabil,WillsnotasI'dhaveherwill."

ThentheFloundercameswimmingtohimandsaid,"Wellwhatdoesshewant,then?""Ah,"saidtheman,"Ididcatchyou,andmywifesaysIreallyoughttohavewishedforsomething.Shedoesnotliketoliveinawretchedhovelanylonger.Shewouldliketohaveacottage.""Go,then,"saidtheFlounder,"shehasitalready."

Whenthemanwenthome,hiswifewasnolongerinthehovel,butinsteadofittherestoodasmallcottage,andshewassittingonabenchbeforethedoor.Thenshetookhimbythehandandsaidtohim,"Justcomeinside,look,nowisn'tthisagreatdealbetter?"Sotheywentin,andtherewasasmallporch,andaprettylittleparlorandbedroom,andakitchenandpantry,withthebestoffurniture,andfittedupwiththemostbeautifulthingsmadeoftinandbrass,whatsoeverwaswanted.Andbehindthecottagetherewasasmallyard,withhensandducks,andalittlegardenwithflowersandfruit."Look,"saidthewife,"isnotthatnice!""Yes,"saidthehusband,"andsowemustalwaysthinkit,--nowwewilllivequitecontented.""Wewillthinkaboutthat,"saidthewife.Withthattheyatesomethingandwenttobed.

Everythingwentwellforaweekorafortnight,andthenthewomansaid,"Harkyou,husband,thiscottageisfartoosmallforus,andthegardenandyardarelittle;theFloundermightjustaswellhavegivenusalargerhouse.Ishouldliketoliveinagreatstonecastle;gototheFlounder,andtellhimtogiveusacastle.""Ah,wife,"saidtheman,"thecottageisquitegoodenough;whyshouldweliveinacastle?""What!"saidthewoman;"justgothere,theFloundercanalwaysdothat.""No,wife,"saidtheman,"theFlounderhasjustgivenusthecottage,Idonotliketogobacksosoon,itmightmakehimangry.""Go,"saidthewoman,"hecandoitquiteeasily,andwillbegladtodoit;justyougotohim."

Theman'sheartgrewheavy,andhewouldnotgo.Hesaidtohimself,"Itisnotright,"andyethewent.Andwhenhecametotheseathewaterwasquitepurpleanddark-blue,andgreyandthick,andnolongersogreenandyellow,butitwasstillquiet.Andhestoodthereandsaid--

"Flounder,flounderinthesea,Come,Ipraythee,heretome;Formywife,goodIlsabil,WillsnotasI'dhaveherwill."

"Well,whatdoesshewant,then?"saidtheFlounder."Alas,"saidtheman,halfscared,"shewantstoliveinagreatstonecastle.""Gotoit,then,sheisstandingbeforethedoor,"saidtheFlounder.

Thenthemanwentaway,intendingtogohome,butwhenhegotthere,hefoundagreatstonepalace,andhiswifewasjuststandingonthestepsgoingin,andshetookhimbythehandandsaid,"Comein."Sohewentinwithher,andinthecastlewasagreathallpavedwithmarble,andmanyservants,whoflungwidethedoors;Andthewallswereallbrightwithbeautifulhangings,andintheroomswerechairsandtablesofpuregold,andcrystalchandeliershungfromtheceiling,andalltheroomsandbed-roomshadcarpets,andfoodandwineoftheverybestwerestandingonallthetables,sothattheynearlybrokedownbeneathit.Behindthehouse,too,therewasagreatcourt-yard,withstablesforhorsesandcows,andtheverybestofcarriages;therewasamagnificentlargegarden,too,withthemostbeautifulflowersandfruit-trees,andaparkquitehalfamilelong,inwhichwerestags,deer,andhares,andeverythingthatcouldbedesired."Come,"saidthewoman,"isn'tthatbeautiful?""Yes,indeed,"saidtheman,"nowletitbe;andwewillliveinthisbeautifulcastleandbecontent.""Wewillconsideraboutthat,"saidthewoman,"andsleepuponit;"thereupontheywenttobed.

Nextmorningthewifeawokefirst,anditwasjustdaybreak,andfromherbedshesawthebeautifulcountrylyingbeforeher.Herhusbandwasstillstretchinghimself,soshepokedhiminthesidewithherelbow,andsaid,"Getup,husband,andjustpeepoutofthewindow.Lookyou,couldn'twebetheKingoverallthatland?GototheFlounder,wewillbetheKing.""Ah,wife,"saidtheman,"whyshouldwebeKing?IdonotwanttobeKing.""Well,"saidthewife,"ifyouwon'tbeKing,Iwill;gototheFlounder,forIwillbeKing.""Ah,wife,"saidtheman,"whydoyouwanttobeKing?Idonotliketosaythattohim.""Whynot?"saidthewoman;"gotohimthisinstant;ImustbeKing!"Sothemanwent,andwasquiteunhappybecausehiswifewishedtobeKing."Itisnotright;itisnotright,"thoughthe.Hedidnotwishtogo,butyethewent.

Andwhenhecametothesea,itwasquitedark-grey,andthewaterheavedupfrombelow,andsmeltputrid.Thenhewentandstoodbyit,andsaid,

"Flounder,flounderinthesea,Come,Ipraythee,heretome;Formywife,goodIlsabil,WillsnotasI'dhaveherwill"

"Well,whatdoesshewant,then?"saidtheFlounder."Alas,"saidtheman,"shewantstobeKing.""Gotoher;sheisKingalready."

Sothemanwent,andwhenhecametothepalace,thecastlehadbecomemuchlarger,andhadagreattowerandmagnificentornaments,andthesentinelwasstandingbeforethedoor,andtherewerenumbersofsoldierswithkettle-drumsandtrumpets.Andwhenhewentinsidethehouse,everythingwasofrealmarbleandgold,withvelvetcoversandgreatgoldentassels.Thenthedoorsofthehallwereopened,andtherewasthecourtinallitssplendour,andhiswifewassittingonahighthroneofgoldanddiamonds,withagreatcrownofgoldonherhead,andasceptreofpuregoldandjewelsinherhand,andonbothsidesofherstoodhermaids-in-waitinginarow,eachofthemalwaysoneheadshorterthanthelast.

Thenhewentandstoodbeforeher,andsaid,"Ah,wife,andnowyouareKing.""Yes,"saidthewoman,"nowIamKing."Sohestoodandlookedather,andwhenhehadlookedatherthusforsometime,hesaid,"AndnowthatyouareKing,letallelsebe,nowwewillwishfornothingmore.""Nay,husband,"saidthewoman,quiteanxiously,"Ifindtimepassveryheavily,Icanbearitnolonger;gototheFlounder--IamKing,butImustbeEmperor,too.""Alas,wife,whydoyouwishtobeEmperor?""Husband,"saidshe,"gototheFlounder.IwillbeEmperor.""Alas,wife,"saidtheman,"hecannotmakeyouEmperor;Imaynotsaythattothefish.ThereisonlyoneEmperorintheland.AnEmperortheFloundercannotmakeyou!Iassureyouhecannot."

"What!"saidthewoman,"IamtheKing,andyouarenothingbutmyhusband;willyougothismoment?goatonce!IfhecanmakeaKinghecanmakeanemperor.IwillbeEmperor;goinstantly."Sohewasforcedtogo.Asthemanwent,however,hewastroubledinmind,andthoughttohimself,"Itwillnotendwell;itwillnotendwell!Emperoristooshameless!TheFlounderwillatlastbetiredout."

Withthathereachedthesea,andtheseawasquiteblackandthick,andbegantoboilupfrombelow,sothatitthrewupbubbles,andsuchasharpwindblewoveritthatitcurdled,andthemanwasafraid.Thenhewentandstoodbyit,andsaid,

"Flounder,flounderinthesea,Come,Ipraythee,heretome;Formywife,goodIlsabil,WillsnotasI'dhaveherwill."

"Well,whatdoesshewant,then?"saidtheFlounder."Alas,Flounder,"saidhe,"mywifewantstobeEmperor.""Gotoher,"saidtheFlounder;"sheisEmperoralready."

Sothemanwent,andwhenhegottherethewholepalacewasmadeofpolishedmarblewithalabasterfiguresandgoldenornaments,andsoldiersweremarchingbeforethedoorblowingtrumpets,andbeatingcymbalsanddrums;andinthehouse,barons,andcounts,anddukesweregoingaboutasservants.Thentheyopenedthedoorstohim,whichwereofpuregold.Andwhenheentered,theresathiswifeonathrone,whichwasmadeofonepieceofgold,andwasquitetwomileshigh;andsheworeagreatgoldencrownthatwasthreeyardshigh,andsetwithdiamondsandcarbuncles,andinonehandshehadthesceptre,andintheothertheimperialorb;andonbothsidesofherstoodtheyeomenoftheguardintworows,eachbeingsmallerthantheonebeforehim,fromthebiggestgiant,whowastwomileshigh,totheverysmallestdwarf,justasbigasmylittlefinger.Andbeforeitstoodanumberofprincesanddukes.

Thenthemanwentandstoodamongthem,andsaid,"Wife,areyouEmperornow?""Yes,"saidshe,"nowIamEmperor."Thenhestoodandlookedatherwell,andwhenhehadlookedatherthusforsometime,hesaid,"Ah,wife,becontent,nowthatyouareEmperor.""Husband,"saidshe,"whyareyoustandingthere?Now,IamEmperor,butIwillbePopetoo;gototheFlounder.""Alas,wife,"saidtheman,"whatwillyounotwishfor?YoucannotbePope.ThereisbutoneinChristendom.HecannotmakeyouPope.""Husband,"saidshe,"IwillbePope;goimmediately,ImustbePopethisveryday.""No,wife,"saidtheman,"Idonotliketosaythattohim;thatwouldnotdo,itistoomuch;theFloundercan'tmakeyouPope.""Husband,"saidshe,"whatnonsense!Ifhecanmakeanemperorhecanmakeapope.Gotohimdirectly.IamEmperor,andyouarenothingbutmyhusband;willyougoatonce?"

Thenhewasafraidandwent;buthewasquitefaint,andshiveredandshook,andhiskneesandlegstrembled.Andahighwindblewovertheland,andthecloudsflew,andtowardseveningallgrewdark,andtheleavesfellfromthetrees,andthewaterroseandroaredasifitwereboiling,andsplashedupontheshore.Andinthedistancehesawshipswhichwerefiringgunsintheirsoreneed,pitchingandtossingonthewaves.Andyetinthemidstoftheskytherewasstillasmallbitofblue,thoughoneverysideitwasasredasinaheavystorm.So,fullofdespair,hewentandstoodinmuchfearandsaid,

"Flounder,flounderinthesea,Come,Ipraythee,heretome;"Formywife,goodIlsabil,WillsnotasI'dhaveherwill.

"Well,whatdoesshewant,then?"saidtheFlounder."Alas,"saidtheman,"shewantstobePope.""Gotoherthen,"saidtheFlounder;"sheisPopealready."

Sohewent,andwhenhegotthere,hesawwhatseemedtobealargechurchsurroundedbypalaces.Hepushedhiswaythroughthecrowd.Inside,however,everythingwaslightedupwiththousandsandthousandsofcandles,andhiswifewascladingold,andshewassittingonamuchhigherthrone,andhadthreegreatgoldencrownson,androundabouthertherewasmuchecclesiasticalsplendour;andonbothsidesofherwasarowofcandlesthelargestofwhichwasastallastheverytallesttower,downtotheverysmallestkitchencandle,andalltheemperorsandkingswereontheirkneesbeforeher,kissinghershoe."Wife,"saidtheman,andlookedattentivelyather,"areyounowPope?""Yes,"saidshe,"IamPope."Sohestoodandlookedather,anditwasjustasifhewaslookingatthebrightsun.Whenhehadstoodlookingatherthusforashorttime,hesaid,"Ah,wife,ifyouarePope,doletwellalone!"Butshelookedasstiffasapost,anddidnotmoveorshowanysignsoflife.Thensaidhe,"Wife,nowthatyouarePope,besatisfied,youcannotbecomeanythinggreaternow.""Iwillconsideraboutthat,"saidthewoman.Thereupontheybothwenttobed,butshewasnotsatisfied,andgreedinessletherhavenosleep,forshewascontinuallythinkingwhattherewasleftforhertobe.

Themansleptwellandsoundly,forhehadrunaboutagreatdealduringtheday;butthewomancouldnotfallasleepatall,andflungherselffromonesidetotheotherthewholenightthrough,thinkingalwayswhatmorewasleftforhertobe,butunabletocalltomindanythingelse.Atlengththesunbegantorise,andwhenthewomansawtheredofdawn,shesatupinbedandlookedatit.Andwhen,throughthewindow,shesawthesunthusrising,shesaid,"CannotI,too,orderthesunandmoontorise?""Husband,"shesaid,pokinghimintheribswithherelbows,"wakeup!gototheFlounder,forIwishtobeevenasGodis."Themanwasstillhalfasleep,buthewassohorrifiedthathefelloutofbed.Hethoughthemusthaveheardamiss,andrubbedhiseyes,andsaid,"Alas,wife,whatareyousaying?""Husband,"saidshe,"ifIcan'torderthesunandmoontorise,andhavetolookonandseethesunandmoonrising,Ican'tbearit.Ishallnotknowwhatitistohaveanotherhappyhour,unlessIcanmakethemrisemyself."Thenshelookedathimsoterriblythatashudderranoverhim,andsaid,"Goatonce;IwishtobelikeuntoGod.""Alas,wife,"saidtheman,fallingonhiskneesbeforeher,"theFloundercannotdothat;hecanmakeanemperorandapope;Ibeseechyou,goonasyouare,andbePope."Thenshefellintoarage,andherhairflewwildlyaboutherhead,andshecried,"Iwillnotendurethis,I'llnotbearitanylonger;wiltthougo?"Thenheputonhistrousersandranawaylikeamadman.Butoutsideagreatstormwasraging,andblowingsohardthathecouldscarcelykeephisfeet;housesandtreestoppledover,themountainstrembled,rocksrolledintothesea,theskywaspitchblack,anditthunderedandlightened,andtheseacameinwithblackwavesashighaschurch-towersandmountains,andallwithcrestsofwhitefoamatthetop.Thenhecried,butcouldnothearhisownwords,

"Flounder,flounderinthesea,Come,Ipraythee,heretome;Formywife,goodIlsabil,WillsnotasI'dhaveherwill."

"Well,whatdoesshewant,then?"saidtheFlounder."Alas,"saidhe,"shewantstobelikeuntoGod.""Gotoher,andyouwillfindherbackagaininthedirtyhovel."Andtheretheyarelivingstillatthisverytime.