SOME FISHERMEN were out trawling their nets. Perceiving them to be very
heavy, they danced about for joy and supposed that they had taken a
large catch. When they had dragged the nets to the shore they found but
few fish: the nets were full of sand and stones, and the men were
beyond measure cast down so much at the disappointment which had
befallen them, but because they had formed such very different
expectations. One of their company, an old man, said, “Let us cease
lamenting, my mates, for, as it seems to me, sorrow is always the twin
sister of joy; and it was only to be looked for that we, who just now
were over-rejoiced, should next have something to make us sad.”