Lafontaine Berger Mer

tale:lafontaine_berger_mer

(Le Berger et la Mer) A shepherd, tempted by the calm sea and tales of profit, sells his flock to trade by ship — and loses all in a storm. Back at his shrunken flock, he hears the sea murmur invitingly once more, and answers that her smooth face wants his last coins now, and shall not have them. Moral: once burned by the smiling sea, keep to the trade you know. — Jean de La Fontaine