Fisherman's song

No cares assail the fisherman -

neither grief nor sorrow;

Early in the morning he unties

His boat with a light heart.

It is peaceful all about him

In woods and meadows and brooks;

He rouses with his song

The golden sun.

To his labours he sings

with a full and sanguine heart;

The work gives him strength --

And strength gives life joy.

Soon a colorful throng is

swarming loudly in the depths,

And it splashes through the sky

That lies reflected in the water -

And it slips over smooth stones

And swims and darts:

The large creature feeds upon the small,

Just as it is throughout the world.

But he who wishes to cast a net

Needs eyes both clear and good;

He must be swift, like the waves,

And unfettered, like the stream.

There on the bridge the shepherdess

Is fishing. Artful creature,

Enough of your tricks --

You will not deceive this fish.