There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a hovel by the sea-shore, and the fisherman went out every day with his hook and line to catch fish, and he angled and angled.
One day he was sitting with his rod and looking into the clear water, and he sat and sat.
At last down went the line to the bottom of the water, and when he drew it up he found a great flounder on the hook. And the flounder said to him, "Fisherman, listen to me; let me go, I am not a real fish but an enchanted prince. What good shall I be to you if you land me? I shall not taste well; so put me back into the water again, and let me swim away."
"Well," said the fisherman, "no need of so many words about the matter, as you can speak I had much rather let you swim away."
Then he put him back into the clear water, and the flounder sank to the bottom, leaving a long streak of blood behind him. Then the fisherman got up and went home to his wife in their hovel.
"Well, husband," said the wife, "have you caught nothing to-day?"
"No," said the man "that is, I did catch a flounder, but as he said he was an enchanted prince, I let him go again."
"Then, did you wish for nothing?"said the wife.
"No," said the man; "what should I wish for?"
"Oh dear!" said the wife; "and it is so dreadful always to live in this evil-smelling hovel j you might as well have wished for a little cottage; go again and call him; tell him we want a little cottage, I daresay he will give it us; go, and be quick."
And when he went back, the sea was green and yellow, and not nearly so clear. So he stood and said,
"O man, O man!-if man you be, Or flounder, flounder, in the sea- Such a tiresome wife I've got, For she wants what I do not."
Then the flounder came swimming up, and said,
"Now then, what does she want?"
"Oh," said the man, "you know when I caught you my wife says I ought to have wished for something. She does not want to live any longer in the hovel, and would rather have a cottage.
"Go home with you," said the flounder, "she has it already."
So the man went home, and found, instead of the hovel, a little cottage, and his wife was sitting on a bench before the door. And she took him by the hand, and said to him,
"Come in and see if this is not a great improvement."
So they went in, and there was a little house-place and a beautiful little bedroom, a kitchen and larder, with all sorts of furniture, and iron and brass ware of the very best. And at the back was a little yard with fowls and ducks, and a little garden full of green vegetables and fruit.
"Look," said the wife, "is not that nice?"
"Yes," said the man, "if this can only last we shall be very well contented."
"We will see about that," said the wife. And after a meal they went to bed.
So all went well for a week or fortnight, when the wife said,
"Look here, husband, the cottage is really too confined, and the yard and garden are so small; I think the flounder had better get us a larger house; I should like very much to live in a large stone castle; so go to your fish and he will send us a castle."
"0 my dear wife," said the man, "the cottage is good enough; what do we want a castle for?"
"We want one," said the wife; "go along with you; the flounder can give us one."
"Now, wife," said the man, "the flounder gave us the cottage; I do not like to go to him again, he may be angry."
"Go along," said the wife, "he might just as well give us it as not; do as I say!"
The man felt very reluctant and unwilling; and he said to himself,
"It is not the right thing to do;" nevertheless he went.
So when he came to the seaside, the water was purple and dark blue and grey and thick, and not green and yellow as before. And he stood and said,
"O man, O man!-if man you be, Or flounder, flounder, in the sea- Such a tiresome wife I've got, For she wants what I do not."
"Now then, what does she want?"said the flounder.
"Oh," said the man, half frightened, "she wants to live in a large stone castle."
"Go home with you, she is already standing before the door," said the flounder.
Then the man went home, as he supposed, but when he got there, there stood in the place of the cottage a great castle ofstone, and his wife was standing on the steps, about to go in; so she took him by the hand, and said,
"Let us enter."
With that he went in with her, and in the castle was a greathall with a marble- pavement, and there were a great many servants, who led them through large doors, and the passages were decked with tapestry, and the rooms with golden chairs and tables, and crystal chandeliers hanging fromthe ceiling; and all the rooms had carpets. And the tables were covered with eatables and the best wine for any one who wanted them. And at the back of the house was a greatstable-yard for horses and cattle, and carriages of the finest; besides, there was a splendid large garden, with the mostbeautiful flowers and fine fruit trees, and a pleasance full half a mile long, with deer and oxen and sheep, and everything that heart could wish for.
"There! "said the wife, "is not this beautiful?"
"Oh yes," said the man, "if it will only last we can live in thisfine castle and be very well contented."
"We will see about that," said the wife, "in the meanwhile we will sleep upon it." With that they went to bed.
The next morning the wife was awake first, just at the break of day, and she looked out and saw from her bed the beautiful country lying all round. The man took no notice of it, so she poked him in the side with her elbow, and said,
"Husband, get up and just look out of the window. Look, just think if we could be king over all this country . Just go to your fish and tell him we should like to be king."
"Now, wife," said the man, "what should we be kings for? I don't want to be king."
"Well," said the wife, "if you don't want to be king, I will be king." "Now, wife," said the man, "what do you want to be king for? I could not ask him such a thing."
"Why not?" said the wife, "you must go directly all the same; I must be king."
So the man went, very much put out that his wife should want to be king.
"It is not the right thing to do-not at all the right thing," thought the man. He did not at all want to go, and yet he went all the same.
And when he came to the sea the water was quite dark grey, and rushed far inland, and had an ill smell. And he stood and said,
'' O man, O man!-if man you be, Or flounder, flounder, in the sea- Such a tiresome wife I've got, For she wants what I do not."
"Now then, what does she want?" said the fish. "Oh dear!"said the man, "she wants to be king."
"Go home with you, she is so already," said the fish.
So the man went back, and as he came to the palace he saw it was very much larger, and had great towers and splendid gateways; the herald stood before the door, and a number of soldiers with kettle-drums and trumpets.
And when he came inside everything was of marble and gold, and there were many curtains with great golden tassels. Then he went through the doors of the saloon to where the great throne-room was, and there was his wife sitting upon a throne of gold and diamonds, and she had a great golden crown on, and the sceptre in her hand was of pure gold and jewels, and on each side stood six pages in a row, each one a head shorter than the other. So the man went up to her and said,
"Well, wife, so now you are king!"
"Yes," said the wife, "now I am king."
So then he stood and looked at her, and when he had gazed at her for some time he said,
"Well, wife, this is fine for you to be king! now there is nothing more to wish for."
"O husband!" said the wife, seeming quite restless, "I am tired of this already. Go to your fish and tell him that now I am king I must be emperor."
"Now, wife," said the man, "what do you want to be emperor for?"
"Husband," said she, "go and tell the fish I want to be emperor.!'
"Oh dear!" said the man, "he could not do it-I cannot ask him such a thing. There is but one emperor at a time; the fish can't possibly make any one emperor-indeed he can't."
"Now, look here," said the wife, "I am king, and you are only my husband, so will you go at once? Go along! for if he was able to make me king he is able to make me emperor; and I will and must be emperor, so go along!"
So he was obliged to go; and as he went he felt very uncomfortable about it, and he thought to himself,
"It is not at all the right thing to do; to want to be emperor is really going too far; the flounder will soon be beginning to get tired of this."
With that he came to the sea, and the water was quite black and thick, and the foam flew, and the wind blew, and the man was terrified. But he stood and said,
"O man, O man!-if man you be, Or flounder, flounder, in the sea- Such a tiresome wife I've got, For she wants what I do not."
"What is it now?" said the fish.
"Oh dear! "said the man, "my wife wants to be emperor."
"Go home with you," said the fish, "she is emperor already."
So the man went home, and found the castle adorned with polished marble and alabaster figures, and golden gates. The troops were being marshalled before the door, and they were blowing trumpets and beating drums and cymbals; and when he entered he saw barons and earls and dukes waiting about like servants; and the doors were of bright gold. And he saw his wife sitting upon a throne made of one entire piece of gold, and it was about two miles high; and she had a greatgolden crown on, which was about three yards high, set with brilliants and carbuncles; and in one hand she held the sceptre, and in the other the globe; and on both sides of her stood pages in two rows, all arranged according to their size,from the most enormous giant of two miles high to the tiniest dwarf of the size of my little finger; and before her stood earls and dukes in crowds. So the man went up to her and said,
"Well, wife, so now you are emperor."
"Yes," said she, "now I am emperor."
Then he went and sat down and had a good look at her, and then he said,
"Well now, wife, there is nothing left to be, now you are emperor."
"What are you talking about, husband?" said she; "I am emperor, and next I will be pope! so go and tell the fish so."
"Oh dear!" said the man, "what is it that you don't want? You can never become pope; there is but one pope in Christendom, and the fish can't possibly do it."
"Husband," said she, "no more words about it; I must and will be pope; so go along to the fish."
"Now, wife," said the man, "how can I ask him such a thing? it is too bad-it is asking a little too much; and, besides, he could not do it."
"What rubbish!" said the wife; '' if he could make me emperor he can make me pope. Go along and ask him; I am emperor, and you are only my husband, so go you must." So he went, feeling very frightened, and he shivered and shook, and his knees trembled; and there arose a great wind, and the clouds flew by, and it grew very dark, and the sea rose mountains high, and the ships were tossed about, and the sky was partly blue in the middle, but at the sides very dark and red, as in a great tempest. And he felt very desponding, and stood trembling and said,
"O man, O man!-if man you be, Or flounder, flounder, in the sea- Such a tiresome wife I've got, For she wants what I do not."
"Well, what now?" said the fish.
"Oh dear!" said the man, "she wants to be pope."
"Go home with you, she is pope already," said the fish.
So he went home, and he found himself before a greatchurch, with palaces all round. He had to make his way through a crowd of people; and when he got inside he found the place lighted up with thousands and thousands of lights; and his wife was clothed in a golden garment, and sat upon a very high throne, and had three golden crowns on, all in the greatest priestly pomp; and on both sides of her there stood two rows of lights of all sizes-from the size of the longest tower to the smallest rushlight, and all the emperors and kings were kneeling before her and kissing her foot.
"Well, wife," said the man, and sat and stared at her, "so you are pope."
"Yes," said she, "now I am pope!"
And he went on gazing at her till he felt dazzled, as if he were sitting in the sun. And after a little time he said,
"Well, now, wife, what is there left to be, now you are pope?"
And she sat up very stiff and straight, and said nothing.
And he said again, "Well, wife, I hope you are contented at last with being pope; you can be nothing more."
"We will see about that," said the wife. With that they both went to bed; but she was as far as ever from being contented, and she could not get to sleep for thinking of what she should like to be next.
The husband, however, slept as fast as a top after his busy day; but the wife tossed and turned from side to side the whole night through, thinking all the while what she could be next, but nothing would occur to her; and when she saw the red dawn she slipped off the bed, and sat before the window to see the sun rise, and as it came up she said,
"Ah, I have it! what if I should make the sun and moon to rise-husband!"she cried, and stuck her elbow in his ribs, "wake up, and go to your fish, and tell him T want power over the sun and moon."
The man was so fast asleep that when he started up he fell out of bed. Then he shook himself together, and opened hiseyes and said,
"Oh,-wife, what did you say?"
"Husband," said she, "if I cannot get the power of making the sun and moon rise when I want them, I shall never have another quiet hour. Go to the fish and tell him so."
"O wife!" said the man, and fell on his knees to her, "the fish can really not do that for you. I grant you he could make you emperor and pope; do be contented with that, I beg of you."
And she became wild with impatience, and screamed out,
"I can wait no longer, go at once!"
And so off he went as well as he could for fright. And a dreadful storm arose, so that he could hardly keep his feet; and the houses and trees were blown down, and the mountains trembled, and rocks fell in the sea; the sky was quite black, and it thundered and lightened; and the waves, crowned with foam, ran mountains high. So he cried out, without being able to hear his own words,
"O man, O man!-if man you be, Or flounder, flounder, in the sea- Such a tiresome wife I've got, For she wants what I do not."
"Well, what now?" said the flounder.
"Oh dear!" said the man, "she wants to order about the sun and moon."
"Go home with you!"said the flounder, "you will find her in the old hovel."
And there they are sitting to this very day. 從前，有個漁夫，他和妻子住在海邊的一所骯臟的小漁舍里。漁夫每天都去釣魚，他總是釣啊釣的，不愿休息有一天，他拿著釣竿坐在海邊，兩眼望著清澈的海水，竟就這樣望啊望的，坐在那里一直發(fā)呆。
忽然，釣鉤猛地往下沉，沉得很深很深，都快沉到海底了。等他把釣鉤拉上來時，發(fā)現(xiàn)釣上來一條很大的比目魚。誰知比目魚竟對他說："聽著，漁夫，我懇求你放我一條生路。我并不是什么比目魚，我是一位中了魔法的王子，你要是殺死我，對你又有多大好處呢?我的肉不會對你的口味的。請把我放回水里，讓我游走吧。"
"哎，"漁夫說，"你不必這么費(fèi)口舌。一條會說話的比目魚，我怎么會留下呢?"說著，他就把比目魚放回清澈的水里。比目魚立刻就游走了，身后留下一條長長的血痕。隨后，漁夫回到他的小屋，走到他妻子的身邊。
"喂，當(dāng)家的，"他妻子問道，"今天你什么也沒釣到嗎?"
"釣到了，"他回答說，"怎么說呢，我釣到了一條比目魚，可他說他是一位中了魔法的王子，我就把他放了。"
"難道你沒有提什么愿望嗎?"妻子問。
"沒有，"丈夫回答說，"我該提什么愿望呢?""唉，"妻子說，"住在我們這樣一間骯臟的小房子里，實在是受罪。你該提希望得到一座漂亮的小別墅呀。快去告訴他我們要一幢小別墅，我肯定，他會滿足咱們的愿望的。"
"可是，"丈夫說，"我怎么好再去哪?"
"唉，"妻子說，"你捉住了他，又放走了他。他肯定會滿足咱們的愿望的，快去吧。"
漁夫還是不太愿意去，可又不想惹他妻子生氣，于是，就去了海邊。
他來到海邊時，海水綠得泛黃，也不像以往那樣平靜。他走了過去，站在海岸上說：
"比目魚啊，你在大海里，
懇請你好好聽我說仔細(xì)，
我捉你放你沒提愿望，
老婆對此卻不饒又不依。"
那條比目魚果真朝他游了過來，問道，"她想要什么呀?""嗨，"漁夫說，"剛才我把你逮住了，我老婆說，我應(yīng)該向你提出一個愿望。她不想再住在那個小屋子里了，她想要一幢小別墅。"
"回去吧，"比目魚說，"她已經(jīng)有一幢小別墅啦。"
漁夫便回家去了，他妻子已不再住在那個破破爛爛的漁舍里，原地上已矗立起一幢小別墅，她正坐在門前的一條長凳上。妻子一見丈夫回來了，就拉著他的手說："快進(jìn)來看一看�，F(xiàn)在不是好多了嗎?"
隨即，他們進(jìn)了屋。小別墅里有一間小前廳，一間漂亮的小客廳，一間干干凈凈的臥室、臥室里擺放著一張床還有一間廚房和食物貯藏室，里面擺放著必備的家具，錫制銅制的餐具一應(yīng)俱全。還有一個養(yǎng)著雞鴨的小院子，和一片長滿蔬菜水果的小園子。
"瞧，"妻子說，"不漂亮嗎?"
"漂亮。"丈夫回答說，"咱們就住在這兒，快快樂樂地過日子吧。"
"這個嘛，咱們還要想一想，"妻子說。
他們隨后吃了晚飯，就上床休息了。
他們就這樣生活了一兩個星期。有一天，妻子突然時："聽著，當(dāng)家的，這房子太小了，院子和園子也太小了。那條比目魚可以送咱們一幢更大一些的。我要住在一座石頭建造的大宮殿里�？烊フ冶饶眶~，叫他送咱們一座宮殿。"
"唉，老婆，"丈夫說，"這別墅不是夠好的了嘛?咱們干嘛非得要住在宮殿里呢?"
"胡說，"妻子回答說，"你只管去找比目魚好啦，他會完全滿足咱們的愿望的。"
"不行啊，老婆，"丈夫說，"比目魚剛剛送給咱們一幢別墅，我實在不想再去找他，他會不高興的。"
"去吧，快去吧，"妻子大聲說，"他辦得到，也樂意這么辦。快去吧。"
漁夫心情很沉重，本來是不想去的。他低聲地反反復(fù)復(fù)地自言自語道："這不應(yīng)該呀。"可他還是去了。
他來到海邊時，海水不再是綠得泛黃，已變得混濁不清，時而暗藍(lán)，時而深紫，時而灰黑，不過仍然很平靜。漁夫站在岸邊說：
"比目魚啊，你在大海里，
懇請你好好聽我說仔細(xì)，
我捉你放你沒提愿望老婆對此卻不饒又不依。"
"那么，她想要什么呀?"比目魚問。
"唉，"漁夫說，心里有幾分害怕，"她想住在一座石頭建造的宮殿里。"
"回去吧，"比目魚說，"她現(xiàn)在正站在宮殿門前呢。"
漁夫于是往回走，心里想著快點(diǎn)兒到家吧。走到了原來的地方一看，那兒真的矗立著一座石頭建造的宮殿，非常宏偉壯觀。他老婆站在臺階上，正準(zhǔn)備進(jìn)去，一見丈夫回來了，就拉著他的手說："快，快跟我進(jìn)去。"
他和他老婆走了進(jìn)去，只見宮殿里的大廳鋪著大理石;眾多的仆人伺候在那里，為他們打開一扇又一扇的大門;宮中的墻壁色彩艷麗，精美耀眼;房間里擺放著許多鍍金桌椅;大廳所有的房間都鋪了地毯;桌子上擺滿了美味佳肴和各種名貴的東西。屋后還有一個大院子，院子里設(shè)有馬廄牛棚，有不少馬匹和母牛，一輛富麗堂皇的大馬車就停在那兒;除了院子，還有一座美麗的大花園，花園里開滿了萬紫千紅的花朵兒，生長著不少名貴的水果樹;還有一座占地有兩英里多長的公園，里面有鹿啊，野兔啊等等，凡能想象出來的里面都有。
"喏，"妻子說，"不漂亮嗎?"
"漂亮，當(dāng)然漂亮啦，"丈夫回答說，"這足夠好啦。咱們就好好地住在這座美麗的宮殿里吧，總該心滿意足啦。"
"這個嘛，咱們還要想一想，"妻子說，"不過，現(xiàn)在可該上床休息了。"說完，他們就上床休息了。 第二天早晨，妻子先醒了，這時正是黎明時分，她坐在床上看得見眼前的田野，富饒美麗，一望無際。她用胳膊肘捅了捅丈夫的腰，然后說，"當(dāng)家的，起床吧，快點(diǎn)兒跟我到窗前來。瞧啊，咱們難道不可以當(dāng)一當(dāng)這個國家的國王嗎?快去找比目魚，說咱們要當(dāng)國王。"
"哎呀，老婆呀!"丈夫說，"咱們干嗎要當(dāng)什么國王呢?
我才不想干這個。"
"喂，"妻子說，"你不想當(dāng)，我可想當(dāng)�？烊フ冶饶眶~，告訴他說我必須當(dāng)國王。"
"唉，老婆呀，"丈夫嚷嚷著說，"你干嗎要當(dāng)什么國王呢?
我跟他說不出口的呀。"
"為什么說不出口呢?"妻子反駁說，"你給我快點(diǎn)兒去，我非當(dāng)國王不可。"
漁夫只得走了出去。一想到老婆非要當(dāng)國王，心里就感到特別擔(dān)憂。"這不應(yīng)該呀，這實在不應(yīng)該呀。"他打定主意想不去了，可他還是去了。
他來到海邊時，海水一片灰黑，波濤洶涌，從海底翻涌上來的海水散發(fā)著惡臭。他站在海邊說：
"比目魚啊，你在大海里，
懇請你好好聽我說仔細(xì)，
我捉你放你沒提愿望，
老婆對此卻不饒又不依。"
"她想要什么呀?"比目魚問。
"唉，"漁夫回答說，"她要當(dāng)國王。"
"回去吧，"比目魚說，"她的愿望已經(jīng)實現(xiàn)了。"
漁夫于是回家去了。來到宮前時，他發(fā)現(xiàn)宮殿大了許多，增加了一座高塔，塔身上有漂亮的雕飾。一排警衛(wèi)守衛(wèi)在宮殿門口，附近還有許多士兵，門前還有一支樂隊，敲著鑼打著鼓。他走進(jìn)宮殿，只見樣樣?xùn)|西都是金子和大理石做成的;桌椅上鋪著天鵝絨，垂掛著很大的金流蘇。一道道的門忽地打開了，整座王宮處處體現(xiàn)著富麗堂皇。他的老婆就坐在鑲嵌著無數(shù)鉆石的高大的金寶座上，頭戴一頂寬大的金冠，手握一根用純金和寶石做成的王仗。在寶座的兩旁，六名宮女一字排開，一個比另一個矮一頭。漁夫走上前去對她說："喂，老婆，你現(xiàn)在真的當(dāng)上了國王嗎?"
"是的，"妻子回答說，"咱現(xiàn)在就是國王啦。"他站在那里上上下下地打量著妻子，過了一會兒說："哎，老婆，如今你當(dāng)了國王，多么稱心如意啊，往后咱們就不用再要什么了吧?"
"當(dāng)家的，那可不行，"妻子回答說，情緒開始煩躁起來，"我已經(jīng)感到無聊得很，再也無法忍受了。快去找比目魚，告訴他說我要當(dāng)皇帝。"
"哎呀，老婆，"丈夫說，"你干嘛要當(dāng)皇帝呢?"
"當(dāng)家的，"妻子說，"快去找比目魚。說我要當(dāng)皇帝。"
"哎，老婆，"丈夫回答說，"比目魚沒法使你當(dāng)皇帝，我也不想對他提出這個愿望。整個帝國就一個皇帝呀，比目魚哪能隨便使誰當(dāng)皇帝呢?他確實不能。"
"你說什么!"妻子大聲喝道，"我是國王，你不過是我的丈夫而已。你去不去?給我馬上去!他既然可以使我當(dāng)上國王，他也能使我當(dāng)皇帝。我一定一定要當(dāng)皇帝，馬上給我去!"
漁夫不得不去了。他走在路上時，心里感到非常害怕，邊走邊想，"這不會有好下場的。要當(dāng)皇帝!臉皮真是太厚啦!
到頭來，比目魚就會惱怒啦。"
他就這樣一邊想著一邊走，來到了海邊。只見海水一片墨黑，混濁不清，不僅洶涌翻騰，泡沫飛濺，而且旋風(fēng)陣陣，令漁夫感到心驚膽戰(zhàn)。不過，他還是站在海岸上說：
"比目魚啊，你在大海里，
懇請你好好聽我說仔細(xì)，
我捉你放你沒提愿望，
老婆對此卻不饒又不依。"
"她想要什么呀?"比目魚問。
"唉，"漁夫回答說，"她要當(dāng)皇帝。"
"回去吧，"比目魚說，"她已當(dāng)上了皇帝。"
于是，漁夫往回走，到家時一看，整座宮殿都由研磨拋光的大理石砌成，石膏浮雕和純金裝飾四處可見。宮殿門前，士兵們正在列隊行進(jìn)，號角聲，鑼鼓聲，震耳欲聾。在宮殿里，男爵、伯爵走來走去，個個一副奴才相。純金鑄造的房門為他一道道打開，他走進(jìn)一看，妻子正坐在寶座上，寶座用一整塊金子鍛造而成，有數(shù)千英尺高。她頭戴一頂寬大的金冠，足有三碼高，上面鑲嵌著無數(shù)珠寶;她一只手里握著皇仗，另一只手托著金球。在她的兩側(cè)，站著兩列侍從，一個比一個矮，的看上去像個巨人，最矮的是個小侏儒，還沒有他的手指大。她的面前侍立著不少王孫貴族。
漁夫走了過去，站在他們的中間，說道："老婆，你這回真的當(dāng)皇帝啦?"
"是的，"她回答說，"我真的當(dāng)皇帝了。"
漁夫往前移動了幾步，想好好看看她�？戳艘粫䞍�，他說："哎，老婆，你當(dāng)上了皇帝，真是太妙啦!"
"喂!"她對漁夫說，"你還站在這里發(fā)什么呆?我現(xiàn)在當(dāng)上了皇帝，可是我還想當(dāng)教皇�？烊フ冶饶眶~告訴他。"
"哎呀，老婆，"漁夫說，"你到底想當(dāng)什么呀?你當(dāng)不了教皇。在整個基督教世界教皇只有一個呀，比目魚無法使你當(dāng)教皇。"
"我的丈夫呀，"她說，"我要當(dāng)教皇�？烊グ�!我今天就要當(dāng)教皇。"
"不行呀，老婆，"漁夫回答說，"我可不想再去告訴比目魚這個啦，那不行，那太過分啦。比目魚無法讓你當(dāng)教皇的呀。"
"好啦，別再胡說八道啦!"她說，"他既然能讓我當(dāng)上皇帝，他當(dāng)然也就能夠讓我當(dāng)教皇了。馬上去!我是皇帝，你只不過是我的丈夫而已，你馬上就去!"
漁夫膽戰(zhàn)心驚，只得去了。他走在路上，感到渾身發(fā)軟，兩腿哆嗦。顫抖不止，海岸邊的山上狂風(fēng)呼嘯，烏云滾滾，一片昏黑。樹葉沙沙作響，海水像開鍋了似地洶涌澎湃，不斷拍打著他的鞋子。他遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地看見有些船只在狂濤中顛簸跳蕩，燃放著求救的信號。天空一片火紅，并且越來越紅，只露出中間一點(diǎn)兒藍(lán)色，好像一場暴風(fēng)雨即將來臨。漁夫站在那里，渾身顫抖，說道： "比目魚啊，你在大海里，
懇請你好好聽我說仔細(xì)，
我捉你放你沒提愿望，
老婆對此卻不饒又不依。"
"她想要什么呀?"比目魚問。
"唉!"漁夫回答說，"她要當(dāng)教皇。"
"回去吧，她已當(dāng)上了教皇。"比目魚說。
于是，漁夫往回走，到家時一看，一座大教堂矗立在那里，周圍是幾座宮殿。人們正潮水般擁擠著往里走。大教堂里燃著上千支蠟燭，照得四處通明雪亮，他老婆渾身上下穿戴著金子，坐在更高更大的寶座上，頭上戴著三重大金冠。教會中的眾多顯貴簇?fù)碓谒闹車膬蓚?cè)豎立著兩排大蠟燭，一根大得就像一座高大的寶塔，而最小的一根則跟普通的蠟燭差不多。天下所有的皇帝和國王都跪在她的面前，爭先恐后地吻她的鞋子。
"老婆，"漁夫看著她說，"你現(xiàn)在真的是教皇了吧?"
"是的，"她回答說，"我是教皇。"
說著他湊上前去，好好打量了一番，感覺她像耀眼的太陽一般，光輝燦爛�？戳艘粫䞍褐螅f：
"老婆，你當(dāng)了教皇，這可真是太了不起啦!"可她呢，坐在那里泥雕木刻一樣，一動不動。
接著他又說："老婆，你已經(jīng)當(dāng)上了教皇，這回可該滿足了，不可能還有比這更高的什么啦。"
"這個嘛，我還得想一想，"妻子回答說。說完，他們就上床休息了�？墒�，她還是感到不滿足，她的野心在不斷地膨脹，貪欲使她久久不能入睡，她左思右想，想自己還能成為什么。
丈夫因為白天跑了那么多的路，睡得又香又沉，可妻子呢，在床上輾轉(zhuǎn)反側(cè)，不停地考慮著自己還能成為什么，卻怎么也想不出來了，所以整整一夜沒能睡著。這時，太陽快要出來了，她看見了黎明的曙光，一下從床上坐起身來，望著窗外。透過窗口，她看見一輪紅日冉冉升起，忽然產(chǎn)生了一個念頭："哈哈!我難道不該對太陽和月亮發(fā)號施令嗎?""當(dāng)家的，"她用胳膊肘捅了捅丈夫的腰，說道，"快起來，去找比目魚去，告訴他我要控制太陽和月亮。"
丈夫睡得迷迷糊糊的，一聽她這話，嚇得從床上滾了下來。他以為是自己聽錯了，就揉了揉眼睛，大聲地問："老婆，你說什么來著?"
"當(dāng)家的，"她說，"要是我不能對太陽和月亮發(fā)號施令，要他們升他們就升，要他們落他們就落，我就沒法活了。我要按自己的意愿要他們什么時候升起，不然我就難以有一刻的安寧。"
她極其兇狠地瞪著丈夫，嚇得他不寒而慄。
"快去!"她喊叫起來，"我要成為太陽和月亮的主人。""哎呀呀，我的老婆呀!"漁夫跪在她面前說，"比目魚辦不到這個呀，他只能使你成為皇帝和教皇。好好想一想，我求求你啦，就當(dāng)教皇算啦。"
一聽這話，她勃然大怒，腦袋上的頭發(fā)隨即飄蕩起來。她撕扯著自己的衣服，朝著丈夫狠狠地踢了一腳，沖他吼叫道："我再也無法忍受啦!我再也無法忍受啦!你給我快去!"
漁夫趕緊穿上衣服，發(fā)瘋似的跑了出去。
外邊已是狂風(fēng)呼嘯，刮得他腳都站不住了。一座座的房屋被刮倒，一棵棵大樹被吹翻，連山岳都在震顫著身子，一塊塊的巖石滾落在大海中。天空雷鳴電閃，一片漆黑，大海掀起滾滾的黑色巨浪，浪頭有山那么高，浪尖上翻涌著白沫。
漁夫嘶聲力竭地喊道：
"比目魚啊，你在大海里，
懇請你好好聽我說仔細(xì)，
我捉你放你沒提愿望，
老婆對此卻不饒又不依。"
"那么，她到底想要什么呀?"比目魚問。
"唉，"漁夫回答說，"她想要當(dāng)太陽和月亮的主人。"
"回去吧，"比目魚說，"她又重新住進(jìn)了那個破漁舍。"
就這樣，他們一直在那兒生活到今天。
