The swan is said to sing but once in its life—when it knows it is about to die. A man who had heard of this song once saw a swan for sale in the market. He bought it and took it home.
A few days later, he invited some friends to a meal. He introduced the swan and bade it sing for their entertainment, but the swan remained silent.
As time passed, the swan grew old and sensed its approaching end. It then broke into a sweet, sad song. Upon hearing it, its owner said angrily, "If this creature only sings when it is about to die, what a fool I was that day I wanted to hear its song! I ought to have wrung its neck instead of merely inviting it to sing."