The Fisherman and His Wife

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Once upon a time there were a fisherman and his wife who lived together in a filthy shack near the sea. Every day the fisherman went out fishing, and he fished, and he fished. Once he was sitting there fishing and looking into the clear water, and he sat, and he sat. Then his hook went to the bottom, deep down, and when he pulled it out, he had caught a large flounder.

　　Then the flounder said to him, "Listen, fisherman, I beg you to let me live. I am not an ordinary flounder, but an enchanted prince. How will it help you to kill me? I would not taste good to you. Put me back into the water, and let me swim."

　　"Well," said the man, "there's no need to say more. I can certainly let a fish swim away who knows how to talk."

　　With that he put it back into the clear water, and the flounder disappeared to the bottom, leaving a long trail of blood behind him.

　　Then the fisherman got up and went home to his wife in the filthy shack.

　　"Husband," said the woman, "didn't you catch anything today?"

　　"No," said the man. "I caught a flounder, but he told me that he was an enchanted prince, so I let him swim away."

　　"Didn't you ask for anything first?" said the woman.

　　"No," said the man. "What should I have asked for?"

　　"Oh," said the woman. "It is terrible living in this shack. It stinks and is filthy. You should have asked for a little cottage for us. Go back and call him. Tell him that we want to have a little cottage. He will surely give it to us."

　　"Oh," said the man. "Why should I go back there?"

　　"Look," said the woman, "you did catch him, and then you let him swim away. He will surely do this for us. Go right now."

　　The man did not want to go, but neither did he want to oppose his wife, so he went back to the sea.

　　When he arrived there it was no longer clear, but yellow and green. He stood there and said:

　　Mandje! Mandje! Timpe Te! Flounder, flounder, in the sea! My wife, my wife Ilsebill, Wants not, wants not, what I will

　　The flounder swam up and said, "What does she want then?"

　　"Oh," said the man, "I did catch you, and now my wife says that I really should have asked for something. She doesn't want to live in a filthy shack any longer. She would like to have a cottage."

　　"Go home," said the flounder. "She already has it."

　　The man went home, and his wife was standing in the door of a cottage, and she said to him, "Come in. See, now isn't this much better?"

　　There was a little front yard, and a beautiful little parlor, and a bedroom where their bed was standing, and a kitchen, and a dining room. Everything was beautifully furnished and supplied with tin and brass utensils, just as it should be. And outside there was a little yard with chickens and ducks and a garden with vegetables and fruit.

　　"Look," said the woman. "Isn't this nice?"

　　"Yes," said the man. "This is quite enough. We can live here very well."

　　"We will think about that," said the woman.

　　Then they ate something and went to bed.

　　Everything went well for a week or two, and then the woman said, "Listen, husband. This cottage is too small. The yard and the garden are too little. The flounder could have given us a larger house. I would like to live in a large stone palace. Go back to the flounder and tell him to give us a palace."

　　"Oh, wife," said the man, "the cottage is good enough. Why would we want to live in a palace?"

　　"I know why," said the woman. "Now you just go. The flounder can do that."

　　"Now, wife, the flounder has just given us the cottage. I don't want to go back so soon. It may make the flounder angry."

　　"Just go," said the woman. "He can do it, and he won't mind doing it. Just go."

　　The man's heart was heavy, and he did not want to go. He said to himself, "This is not right," but he went anyway.

　　When he arrived at the sea the water was purple and dark blue and gray and dense, and no longer green and yellow. He stood there and said:

　　Mandje! Mandje! Timpe Te! Flounder, flounder, in the sea! My wife, my wife Ilsebill, Wants not, wants not, what I will

　　"What does she want then?" said the flounder.

　　"Oh," said the man sadly, "my wife wants to live in a stone palace."

　　"Go home. She's already standing before the door," said the flounder.

　　Then the man went his way, thinking he was going home, but when he arrived, standing there was a large stone palace. His wife was standing on the stairway, about to enter.

　　Taking him by the hand, she said, "Come inside."

　　He went inside with her. Inside the palace there was a large front hallway with a marble floor. Numerous servants opened up the large doors for them. The walls were all white and covered with beautiful tapestry. In the rooms there were chairs and tables of pure gold. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings. The rooms and chambers all had carpets. Food and the very best wine overloaded the tables until they almost collapsed. Outside the house there was a large courtyard with the very best carriages and stalls for horses and cows. Furthermore there was a magnificent garden with the most beautiful flowers and fine fruit trees and a pleasure forest a good half mile long, with elk and deer and hares and everything that anyone could possibly want.

　　"Now," said the woman, "isn't this nice?"

　　"Oh, yes" said the man. "This is quite enough. We can live in this beautiful palace and be satisfied."

　　"We'll think about it," said the woman. "Let's sleep on it." And with that they went to bed.

　　The next morning the woman woke up first. It was just daylight, and from her bed she could see the magnificent landscape before her. Her husband was just starting to stir when she poked him in the side with her elbow and said, "Husband, get up and look out the window. Look, couldn't we be king over all this land?"

　　"Oh, wife," said the man, "why would we want to be king? I don't want to be king."

　　"Well," said the woman, "even if you don't want to be king, I want to be king."

　　"Oh, wife," said the man, "why do you want to be king? I don't want to tell him that."

　　"Why not?" said the woman, "Go there immediately. I must be king."

　　So the man, saddened because his wife wanted to be king, went back.

　　"This is not right, not right at all," thought the man. He did not want to go, but he went anyway.

　　When he arrived at the sea it was dark gray, and the water heaved up from below and had a foul smell. He stood there and said:

　　Mandje! Mandje! Timpe Te! Flounder, flounder, in the sea! My wife, my wife Ilsebill, Wants not, wants not, what I will

　　"What does she want then," said the flounder.

　　"Oh," said the man, "she wants to be king."

　　"Go home. She is already king," said the flounder.

　　Then the man went home, and when he arrived there, the palace had become much larger, with a tall tower and magnificent decorations. Sentries stood outside the door, and there were so many soldiers, and drums, and trumpets. When he went inside everything was of pure marble and gold with velvet covers and large golden tassels. Then the doors to the great hall opened up, and there was the entire court. His wife was sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds. She was wearing a large golden crown, and in her hand was a scepter of pure gold and precious stones. On either side of her there stood a line of maids-in-waiting, each one a head shorter than the other.

　　"Oh, wife, are you now king?"

　　"Yes," she said, "now I am king."

　　He stood and looked at her, and after thus looking at her for a while he said, "Wife, it is very nice that you are king. Now we don't have to wish for anything else."

　　"No, husband," she said, becoming restless. "Time is on my hands. I cannot stand it any longer. Go to the flounder. I am king, but now I must become emperor."

　　"Oh, wife" said the man, "Why do you want to become emperor?"

　　"Husband," she said, "go to the flounder. I want to be emperor."

　　"Oh, wife," said the man, "he cannot make you emperor. I cannot tell the flounder to do that. There is only one emperor in the realm. The flounder cannot make you emperor. He cannot do that."

　　"What!" said the woman. "I am king, and you are my husband. Are you going? Go there immediately. If he can make me king then he can make me emperor. I want to be and have to be emperor. Go there immediately."

　　So he had to go. As he went on his way the frightened man thought to himself, "This is not going to end well. To ask to be emperor is shameful. The flounder is going to get tired of this."

　　With that he arrived at the sea. The water was all black and dense and boiling up from within. A strong wind blew over him that curdled the water. He stood there and said:

　　Mandje! Mandje! Timpe Te! Flounder, flounder, in the sea! My wife, my wife Ilsebill, Wants not, wants not, what I will

　　"What does she want then?" said the flounder.

　　"Oh, flounder," he said, "my wife wants to become emperor."

　　"Go home," said the flounder. "She is already emperor."

　　Then the man went home, and when he arrived there, the entire palace was made of polished marble with alabaster statues and golden decoration. Soldiers were marching outside the gate, blowing trumpets and beating tympani and drums. Inside the house, barons and counts and dukes were walking around like servants. They opened the doors for him, which were made of pure gold. He went inside where his wife was sitting on a throne made of one piece of gold a good two miles high, and she was wearing a large golden crown that was three yards high, all set with diamonds and carbuncles. In the one hand she had a scepter, and in the other the imperial orb. Bodyguards were standing in two rows at her sides: each one smaller than the other, beginning with the largest giant and ending with the littlest dwarf, who was no larger than my little finger. Many princes and dukes were standing in front of her.

　　The man went and stood among them and said, "Wife, are you emperor now?"

　　"Yes," she said, "I am emperor."

　　He stood and looked at her, and after thus looking at her for a while, he said, "Wife, it is very nice that you are emperor."

　　"Husband," she said. "Why are you standing there? Now that I am emperor, and I want to become pope."

　　"Oh, wife!" said the man. "What do you not want? There is only one pope in all Christendom. He cannot make you pope."

　　"Husband," she said, "I want to become pope. Go there immediately. I must become pope this very day."

　　"No, wife," he said, "I cannot tell him that. It will come to no good. That is too much. The flounder cannot make you pope."

　　"Husband, what nonsense!" said the woman. "If he can make me emperor, then he can make me pope as well. Go there immediately. I am emperor, and you are my husband. Are you going?"

　　Then the frightened man went. He felt sick all over, and his knees and legs were shaking, and the wind was blowing over the land, and clouds flew by as the darkness of evening fell. Leaves blew from the trees, and the water roared and boiled as it crashed onto the shore. In the distance he could see ships, shooting distress signals as they tossed and turned on the waves. There was a little blue in the middle of the sky, but on all sides it had turned red, as in a terrible lightning storm. Full of despair he stood there and said:

　　Mandje! Mandje! Timpe Te! Flounder, flounder, in the sea! My wife, my wife Ilsebill, Wants not, wants not, what I will

　　"What does she want then?" said the flounder.

　　"Oh," said the man, "she wants to become pope."

　　"Go home," said the flounder. "She is already pope."

　　Then he went home, and when he arrived there, there was a large church surrounded by nothing but palaces. He forced his way through the crowd. Inside everything was illuminated with thousands and thousands of lights, and his wife was clothed in pure gold and sitting on a much higher throne. She was wearing three large golden crowns. She was surrounded with church-like splendor, and at her sides there were two banks of candles. The largest was as thick and as tall as the largest tower, down to the smallest kitchen candle. And all the emperors and kings were kneeling before her kissing her slipper.

　　"Wife," said the man, giving her a good look, "are you pope now?"

　　"Yes," she said, "I am pope."

　　Then he stood there looking at her, and it was as if he were looking into the bright sun. After he had looked at her for a while he said, "Wife, It is good that you are pope!"

　　She stood there as stiff as a tree, neither stirring nor moving.

　　Then he said, "Wife, be satisfied now that you are pope. There is nothing else that you can become."

　　"I have to think about that," said the woman.

　　Then they both went to bed, but she was not satisfied. Her desires would not let her sleep. She kept thinking what she wanted to become next.

　　The man slept well and soundly, for he had run about a lot during the day, but the woman could not sleep at all, but tossed and turned from one side to the other all night long, always thinking about what she could become, but she could not think of anything.

　　Then the sun was about to rise, and when she saw the early light of dawn she sat up in bed and watched through the window as the sun came up.

　　"Aha," she thought. "Could not I cause the sun and the moon to rise?"

　　"Husband," she said, poking him in the ribs with her elbow, "wake up and go back to the flounder. I want to become like God."

　　The man, who was still mostly asleep, was so startled that he fell out of bed. He thought that he had misunderstood her, so, rubbing his eyes, he said, "Wife, what did you say?"

　　"Husband," she said, "I cannot stand it when I see the sun and the moon rising, and I cannot cause them to do so. I will not have a single hour of peace until I myself can cause them to rise."

　　She looked at him so gruesomely that he shuddered.

　　"Go there immediately. I want to become like God."

　　"Oh, wife," said the man, falling on his knees before her, "the flounder cannot do that. He can make you emperor and pope, but I beg you, be satisfied and remain pope."

　　Anger fell over her. Her hair flew wildly about her head. Tearing open her bodice she kicked him with her foot and shouted, "I cannot stand it! I cannot stand it any longer! Go there immediately!"

　　He put on his trousers and ran off like a madman.

　　Outside such a storm was raging that he could hardly stand on his feet. Houses and trees were blowing over. The mountains were shaking, and boulders were rolling from the cliffs into the sea. The sky was as black as pitch. There was thunder and lightning. In the sea there were great black waves as high as church towers and mountains, all capped with crowns of white foam.

　　Mandje! Mandje! Timpe Te! Flounder, flounder, in the sea! My wife, my wife Ilsebill, Wants not, wants not, what I will

　　"What does she want then?" said the flounder.

　　"Oh," he said, "she wants to become like God."

　　"Go home. She is sitting in her filthy shack again."

　　And they are sitting there even today.#p#

　　从前，有个渔夫，他和妻子住在海边的一所肮髒的小渔舍里。渔夫每天都去钓鱼，他总是钓啊钓的，不愿休息有一天，他拿着钓竿坐在海边，两眼望着清澈的海水，竟就这样望啊望的，坐在那里一直发呆。

　　忽然，钓钩猛地往下沉，沉得很深很深，都快沉到海底了。等他把钓钩拉上来时，发现钓上来一条很大的比目鱼。谁知比目鱼竟对他说：「听着，渔夫，我恳求你放我一条生路。我并不是甚么比目鱼，我是一位中了魔法的王子，你要是杀死我，对你又有多大好处呢？我的肉不会对你的口味的。请把我放回水里，让我游走吧。」

　　「哎，」渔夫说，「你不必这么费口舌。一条会说话的比目鱼，我怎么会留下呢？」说着，他就把比目鱼放回清澈的水里。比目鱼立刻就游走了，身后留下一条长长的血痕。随后，渔夫回到他的小屋，走到他妻子的身边。

　　「喂，当家的，」他妻子问道，「今天你甚么也没钓到吗？」

　　「钓到了，」他回答说，「怎么说呢，我钓到了一条比目鱼，可他说他是一位中了魔法的王子，我就把他放了。」

　　「难道你没有提甚么愿望吗？」妻子问。

　　「没有，」丈夫回答说，「我该提甚么愿望呢？」「唉，」妻子说，「住在我们这样一间肮髒的小房子里，实在是受罪。你该提希望得到一座漂亮的小别墅呀。快去告诉他我们要一幢小别墅，我肯定，他会满足咱们的愿望的。」

　　「可是，」丈夫说，「我怎么好再去哪？」

　　「唉，」妻子说，「你捉住了他，又放走了他。他肯定会满足咱们的愿望的，快去吧。」

　　渔夫还是不太愿意去，可又不想惹他妻子生气，於是，就去了海边。

　　他来到海边时，海水绿得泛黄，也不像以往那样平静。他走了过去，站在海岸上说：

　　「比目鱼啊，你在大海里，恳请你好好听我说仔细，我捉你放你没提愿望，老婆对此却不饶又不依。」

　　那条比目鱼果真朝他游了过来，问道，「她想要甚么呀？」「嗨，」渔夫说，「刚才我把你逮住了，我老婆说，我应该向你提出一个愿望。她不想再住在那个小屋子里了，她想要一幢小别墅。」

　　「回去吧，」比目鱼说，「她已经有一幢小别墅啦。」

　　渔夫便回家去了，他妻子已不再住在那个破破烂烂的渔舍里，原地上已矗立起一幢小别墅，她正坐在门前的一条长凳上。妻子一见丈夫回来了，就拉着他的手说：「快进来看一看。现在不是好多了吗？」

　　随即，他们进了屋。小别墅里有一间小前厅，一间漂亮的小客厅，一间乾乾净净的卧室、卧室里摆放着一张床还有一间厨房和食物贮藏室，里面摆放着必备的傢俱，锡制铜制的餐具一应俱全。还有一个养着鸡鸭的小院子，和一片长满蔬菜水果的小园子。

　　「瞧，」妻子说，「不漂亮吗？」

　　「漂亮。」丈夫回答说，「咱们就住在这儿，快快乐乐地过日子吧。」

　　「这个嘛，咱们还要想一想，」妻子说。

　　他们随后吃了晚饭，就上床休息了。

　　他们就这样生活了一两个星期。有一天，妻子突然时：「听着，当家的，这房子太小了，院子和园子也太小了。那条比目鱼可以送咱们一幢更大一些的。我要住在一座石头建造的大宫殿里。快去找比目鱼，叫他送咱们一座宫殿。」

　　「唉，老婆，」丈夫说，「这别墅不是够好的了嘛？咱们干嘛非得要住在宫殿里呢？」

　　「胡说，」妻子回答说，「你只管去找比目鱼好啦，他会完全满足咱们的愿望的。」

　　「不行啊，老婆，」丈夫说，「比目鱼刚刚送给咱们一幢别墅，我实在不想再去找他，他会不高兴的。」

　　「去吧，快去吧，」妻子大声说，「他办得到，也乐意这么办。快去吧。」

　　渔夫心情很沉重，本来是不想去的。他低声地反反覆覆地自言自语道：「这不应该呀。」可他还是去了。

　　他来到海边时，海水不再是绿得泛黄，已变得混浊不清，时而暗蓝，时而深紫，时而灰黑，不过仍然很平静。渔夫站在岸边说：

　　「比目鱼啊，你在大海里，恳请你好好听我说仔细，我捉你放你没提愿望老婆对此却不饶又不依。」

　　「那么，她想要甚么呀？」比目鱼问。

　　「唉，」渔夫说，心里有几分害怕，「她想住在一座石头建造的宫殿里。」

　　「回去吧，」比目鱼说，「她现在正站在宫殿门前呢。」

　　渔夫於是往回走，心里想着快点儿到家吧。走到了原来的地方一看，那儿真的矗立着一座石头建造的宫殿，非常宏伟壮观。他老婆站在台阶上，正准备进去，一见丈夫回来了，就拉着他的手说：「快，快跟我进去。」

　　他和他老婆走了进去，只见宫殿里的大厅铺着大理石；众多的仆人伺候在那里，为他们打开一扇又一扇的大门；宫中的墙壁色彩艳丽，精美耀眼；房间里摆放着许多镀金桌椅；大厅所有的房间都铺了地毯；桌子上摆满了美味佳餚和各种名贵的东西。屋后还有一个大院子，院子里设有马厩牛棚，有不少马匹和母牛，一辆富丽堂皇的大马车就停在那儿；除了院子，还有一座美丽的大花园，花园里开满了万紫千红的花朵儿，生长着不少名贵的水果树；还有一座佔地有两英里多长的公园，里面有鹿啊，野兔啊等等，凡能想像出来的里面都有。

　　「喏，」妻子说，「不漂亮吗？」

　　「漂亮，当然漂亮啦，」丈夫回答说，「这足够好啦。咱们就好好地住在这座美丽的宫殿里吧，总该心满意足啦。」

　　「这个嘛，咱们还要想一想，」妻子说，「不过，现在可该上床休息了。」说完，他们就上床休息了。

　　第二天早晨，妻子先醒了，这时正是黎明时分，她坐在床上看得见眼前的田野，富饶美丽，一望无际。她用胳膊肘捅了捅丈夫的腰，然后说，「当家的，起床吧，快点儿跟我到窗前来。瞧啊，咱们难道不可以当一当这个国家的国王吗？快去找比目鱼，说咱们要当国王。」

　　「哎呀，老婆呀！」丈夫说，「咱们干吗要当甚么国王呢？

　　我才不想干这个。」

　　「喂，」妻子说，「你不想当，我可想当。快去找比目鱼，告诉他说我必须当国王。」

　　「唉，老婆呀，」丈夫嚷嚷着说，「你干吗要当甚么国王呢？

　　我跟他说不出口的呀。」

　　「为甚么说不出口呢？」妻子反驳说，「你给我快点儿去，我非当国王不可。」

　　渔夫只得走了出去。一想到老婆非要当国王，心里就感到特别担忧。「这不应该呀，这实在不应该呀。」他打定主意想不去了，可他还是去了。

　　他来到海边时，海水一片灰黑，波涛汹涌，从海底翻涌上来的海水散发着恶臭。他站在海边说：

　　「比目鱼啊，你在大海里，恳请你好好听我说仔细，我捉你放你没提愿望，老婆对此却不饶又不依。」

　　「她想要甚么呀？」比目鱼问。

　　「唉，」渔夫回答说，「她要当国王。」

　　「回去吧，」比目鱼说，「她的愿望已经实现了。」

　　渔夫於是回家去了。来到宫前时，他发现宫殿大了许多，增加了一座高塔，塔身上有漂亮的雕饰。一排警卫守卫在宫殿门口，附近还有许多士兵，门前还有一支乐队，敲着锣打着鼓。他走进宫殿，只见样样东西都是金子和大理石做成的；桌椅上铺着天鹅绒，垂挂着很大的金流苏。一道道的门忽地打开了，整座王宫处处体现着富丽堂皇。他的老婆就坐在镶嵌着无数钻石的高大的金宝座上，头戴一顶宽大的金冠，手握一根用纯金和宝石做成的王仗。在宝座的两旁，六名宫女一字排开，一个比另一个矮一头。渔夫走上前去对她说：「喂，老婆，你现在真的当上了国王吗？」

　　「是的，」妻子回答说，「咱现在就是国王啦。」他站在那里上上下下地打量着妻子，过了一会儿说：「哎，老婆，如今你当了国王，多么称心如意啊，往后咱们就不用再要甚么了吧？」

　　「当家的，那可不行，」妻子回答说，情绪开始烦躁起来，「我已经感到无聊得很，再也无法忍受了。快去找比目鱼，告诉他说我要当皇帝。」

　　「哎呀，老婆，」丈夫说，「你干嘛要当皇帝呢？」

　　「当家的，」妻子说，「快去找比目鱼。说我要当皇帝。」

　　「哎，老婆，」丈夫回答说，「比目鱼没法使你当皇帝，我也不想对他提出这个愿望。整个帝国就一个皇帝呀，比目鱼哪能随便使谁当皇帝呢？他确实不能。」

　　「你说甚么！」妻子大声喝道，「我是国王，你不过是我的丈夫而已。你去不去？给我马上去！他既然可以使我当上国王，他也能使我当皇帝。我一定一定要当皇帝，马上给我去！」

　　渔夫不得不去了。他走在路上时，心里感到非常害怕，边走边想，「这不会有好下场的。要当皇帝！脸皮真是太厚啦！

　　到头来，比目鱼就会恼怒啦。」

　　他就这样一边想着一边走，来到了海边。只见海水一片墨黑，混浊不清，不仅汹涌翻腾，泡沫飞溅，而且旋风阵阵，令渔夫感到心惊胆战。不过，他还是站在海岸上说：

　　「比目鱼啊，你在大海里，恳请你好好听我说仔细，我捉你放你没提愿望，老婆对此却不饶又不依。」

　　「她想要甚么呀？」比目鱼问。

　　「唉，」渔夫回答说，「她要当皇帝。」

　　「回去吧，」比目鱼说，「她已当上了皇帝。」

　　於是，渔夫往回走，到家时一看，整座宫殿都由研磨抛光的大理石砌成，石膏浮雕和纯金装饰四处可见。宫殿门前，士兵们正在列队行进，号角声，锣鼓声，震耳欲聋。在宫殿里，男爵、伯爵走来走去，个个一副奴才相。纯金铸造的房门为他一道道打开，他走进一看，妻子正坐在宝座上，宝座用一整块金子锻造而成，有数千英尺高。她头戴一顶宽大的金冠，足有三码高，上面镶嵌着无数珠宝；她一只手里握着皇仗，另一只手托着金球。在她的两侧，站着两列侍从，一个比一个矮，最高的看上去像个巨人，最矮的是个小侏儒，还没有他的手指大。她的面前侍立着不少王孙贵族。

　　渔夫走了过去，站在他们的中间，说道：「老婆，你这回真的当皇帝啦？」

　　「是的，」她回答说，「我真的当皇帝了。」

　　渔夫往前移动了几步，想好好看看她。看了一会儿，他说：「哎，老婆，你当上了皇帝，真是太妙啦！」

　　「喂！」她对渔夫说，「你还站在这里发甚么呆？我现在当上了皇帝，可是我还想当教皇。快去找比目鱼告诉他。」

　　「哎呀，老婆，」渔夫说，「你到底想当甚么呀？你当不了教皇。在整个基督教世界教皇只有一个呀，比目鱼无法使你当教皇。」

　　「我的丈夫呀，」她说，「我要当教皇。快去吧！我今天就要当教皇。」

　　「不行呀，老婆，」渔夫回答说，「我可不想再去告诉比目鱼这个啦，那不行，那太过分啦。比目鱼无法让你当教皇的呀。」

　　「好啦，别再胡说八道啦！」她说，「他既然能让我当上皇帝，他当然也就能够让我当教皇了。马上去！我是皇帝，你只不过是我的丈夫而已，你马上就去！」

　　渔夫胆战心惊，只得去了。他走在路上，感到浑身发软，两腿哆嗦。颤抖不止，海岸边的山上狂风呼啸，乌云滚滚，一片昏黑。树叶沙沙作响，海水像开锅了似地汹涌澎湃，不断拍打着他的鞋子。他远远地看见有些船只在狂涛中颠簸跳荡，燃放着求救的信号。天空一片火红，并且越来越红，只露出中间一点儿蓝色，好像一场暴风雨即将来临。渔夫站在那里，浑身颤抖，说道：

　　「比目鱼啊，你在大海里，恳请你好好听我说仔细，我捉你放你没提愿望，老婆对此却不饶又不依。」

　　「她想要甚么呀？」比目鱼问。

　　「唉！」渔夫回答说，「她要当教皇。」

　　「回去吧，她已当上了教皇。」比目鱼说。

　　於是，渔夫往回走，到家时一看，一座大教堂矗立在那里，周围是几座宫殿。人们正潮水般拥挤着往里走。大教堂里燃着上千支蜡烛，照得四处通明雪亮，他老婆浑身上下穿戴着金子，坐在更高更大的宝座上，头上戴着三重大金冠。教会中的众多显贵簇拥在她的周围，她的两侧竖立着两排大蜡烛，最大一根大得就像一座高大的宝塔，而最小的一根则跟普通的蜡烛差不多。天下所有的皇帝和国王都跪在她的面前，争先恐后地吻她的鞋子。

　　「老婆，」渔夫看着她说，「你现在真的是教皇了吧？」

　　「是的，」她回答说，「我是教皇。」

　　说着他凑上前去，好好打量了一番，感觉她像耀眼的太阳一般，光辉灿烂。看了一会儿之后，他说：

　　「老婆，你当了教皇，这可真是太了不起啦！」可她呢，坐在那里泥雕木刻一样，一动不动。

　　接着他又说：「老婆，你已经当上了教皇，这回可该满足了，不可能还有比这更高的甚么啦。」

　　「这个嘛，我还得想一想，」妻子回答说。说完，他们就上床休息了。可是，她还是感到不满足，她的野心在不断地膨胀，贪欲使她久久不能入睡，她左思右想，想自己还能成为甚么。

　　丈夫因为白天跑了那么多的路，睡得又香又沉，可妻子呢，在床上辗转反侧，不停地考虑着自己还能成为甚么，却怎么也想不出来了，所以整整一夜没能睡着。这时，太阳快要出来了，她看见了黎明的曙光，一下从床上坐起身来，望着窗外。透过窗口，她看见一轮红日冉冉升起，忽然产生了一个念头：「哈哈！我难道不该对太阳和月亮发号施令吗？」「当家的，」她用胳膊肘捅了捅丈夫的腰，说道，「快起来，去找比目鱼去，告诉他我要控制太阳和月亮。」

　　丈夫睡得迷迷糊糊的，一听她这话，吓得从床上滚了下来。他以为是自己听错了，就揉了揉眼睛，大声地问：「老婆，你说甚么来着？」

　　「当家的，」她说，「要是我不能对太阳和月亮发号施令，要他们升他们就升，要他们落他们就落，我就没法活了。我要按自己的意愿要他们甚么时候升起，不然我就难以有一刻的安宁。」

　　她极其凶狠地瞪着丈夫，吓得他不寒而栗。

　　「快去！」她喊叫起来，「我要成为太阳和月亮的主人。」「哎呀呀，我的老婆呀！」渔夫跪在她面前说，「比目鱼办不到这个呀，他只能使你成为皇帝和教皇。好好想一想，我求求你啦，就当教皇算啦。」

　　一听这话，她勃然大怒，脑袋上的头发随即飘荡起来。她撕扯着自己的衣服，朝着丈夫狠狠地踢了一脚，沖他吼叫道：「我再也无法忍受啦！我再也无法忍受啦！你给我快去！」

　　渔夫赶紧穿上衣服，发疯似的跑了出去。

　　外边已是狂风呼啸，刮得他脚都站不住了。一座座的房屋被刮倒，一棵棵大树被吹翻，连山嶽都在震颤着身子，一块块的巖石滚落在大海中。天空雷鸣电闪，一片漆黑，大海掀起滚滚的黑色巨浪，浪头有山那么高，浪尖上翻涌着白沫。

　　渔夫嘶声力竭地喊道：

　　「比目鱼啊，你在大海里，恳请你好好听我说仔细，我捉你放你没提愿望，老婆对此却不饶又不依。」

　　「那么，她到底想要甚么呀？」比目鱼问。

　　「唉，」渔夫回答说，「她想要当太阳和月亮的主人。」

　　「回去吧，」比目鱼说，「她又重新住进了那个破渔舍。」

　　就这样，他们一直在那儿生活到今天。

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