English Original
The fishes had long been discontented because there was no order in their kingdom. None would turn aside for another; they all swam right or left as they pleased, darted between those who wished to stay together, or got in each other's way. A strong fish might strike a weaker one with its tail, driving it away, or even swallow it without hesitation.
"How delightful it would be," they said, "if we had a king to enforce law and justice among us!" So they gathered to choose a ruler: the one who could cleave through the water the fastest and give help to the weak.
They lined up by the shore. The pike gave the signal with his tail, and they all started off. Like an arrow, the pike darted away, followed by the herring, the gudgeon, the perch, the carp, and all the rest. Even the sole swam along, hoping to reach the winning place.
Suddenly, a cry was heard: "The herring is first!"
"Who is first?" screamed the flat, envious sole, who had been left far behind. "Who is first?"
"The herring! The herring," came the answer.
"The naked herring?" cried the jealous creature. "The naked herring?"
Since that time, as a punishment, the sole's mouth has been twisted to one side.
中文翻译
鱼儿们长久以来都心怀不满，因为它们的王国里毫无秩序。谁也不肯为别的鱼让路；它们全凭自己高兴，或左或右地游着，在那些想待在一起的鱼中间横冲直撞，或者互相挡道。一条强壮的鱼可能会用尾巴抽打一条弱小的鱼，把它赶走，甚至毫不犹豫地把它吞掉。
“要是我们有一位国王能在我们中间执行法律和正义，那该多好啊！”它们说。于是，它们聚集起来，要选一位统治者：谁能最快地劈开水面，并能帮助弱者，谁就当国王。
它们在岸边排好队。狗鱼用尾巴发出信号，大家便一齐出发。狗鱼像箭一样冲了出去，后面跟着鲱鱼、鮈鱼、鲈鱼、鲤鱼以及所有其他的鱼。就连比目鱼也跟着游，希望能到达获胜的地点。
突然，传来一声呼喊：“鲱鱼第一！”
“谁第一？”被远远落在后面、扁平善妒的比目鱼愤怒地尖叫道，“谁第一？”
“鲱鱼！是鲱鱼，”回答传来。
“是那条光溜溜的鲱鱼？”这个嫉妒的家伙叫道，“是那条光溜溜的鲱鱼？”
从那时起，作为一种惩罚，比目鱼的嘴巴就歪到了一边。