The fishes had for a long time been discontented because no order prevailed in their kingdom. None of them turned aside for the others, but all swam to the right or the left as they fancied, or darted between those who wanted to stay together, or got into their way; and a strong one gave a weak one a blow with its tail, which drove it away, or else swallowed it up without more ado. "How delightful it would be," said they, "if we had a king who enforced law and justice among us!" and they met together to choose for their ruler, the one who could cleave through the water most quickly, and give help to the weak ones.
    They placed themselves in rank and file by the shore, and the pike gave the signal with his tail, on which they all started. Like an arrow, the pike darted away, and with him the herring, the gudgeon, the perch, the carp, and all the rest of them. Even the sole swam with them, and hoped to reach the winning-place. All at once, the cry was heard, "The herring is first!" "Who is first?" screamed angrily the flat envious sole, who had been left far behind, "who is first?" "The herring! The herring," was the answer. "The naked herring?" cried the jealous creature, "the naked herring?" Since that time the sole's mouth has been at one side for a punishment.
    魚已經很長一段時間的不滿，因為沒有為他們的王國盛行。沒有人把一邊的人，但都游到右邊或左邊為他們想象，或向那些想要生活在一起，或進入他們的方式；和一個強大的人給一個弱一一吹它的尾巴，它把它帶走，或者干脆吞下去了?！薄斑@是多么令人愉快的，”他們說，“如果我們有一個國王誰在我們之間執(zhí)行法律和正義！”他們聚集在一起，來選擇他們的統(tǒng)治者，誰可以切割通過最快的水，和幫助弱者。
    他們把自己放在了岸邊的等級和文件中，派克給了他的尾巴，他們都開始的信號。如箭，長槍飛奔而來，和他一起的鯡魚，魚，鱸魚，鯉魚，和所有其余的人。甚至的游泳與他們，并希望到達的地方。一次，這叫聲被聽到了，“這是第一次！”誰是第一個？”憤怒地尖叫著，那是一個被遺棄了的人，“誰是第一個？”鯡魚！“鯡魚，”是答案?！?鯡魚”？那嫉妒的動物喊道，“那是赤**的鯡魚嗎？”自那時以來，的嘴一直在一個側面的懲罰。