An old man and his wife lived
by the edge of the blue sea.
They lived in a poor hut for thirty-three years.
The old man fished in the sea,
and the old woman spun yarn.
One day he cast his net into the sea.
The first time — only seaweed.
The second time — more seaweed.
The third time — a fish,
a golden fish.
The golden fish spoke with a human voice:
“Let me go, old man, and I will grant you any wish.”
The old man was surprised and let the fish go.
He returned home and told his wife.
She became angry and ordered him to ask the fish for a new bucket.
The old man went to the sea,
and the fish granted the wish.
But the wife kept demanding more:
a house, wealth, nobility, royal power…
Each time, the old man went to the sea,
and the fish fulfilled the wish.
Finally, the wife wanted to become
the ruler of the sea herself.
But this time, the fish said nothing and disappeared.
When the old man returned home,
everything was as before:
the poor hut stood there again,
the broken bucket lay by the door.