The Swan and the Goose
A CERTAIN rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He fed the one for his table and kept the other for the sake of its song. When the time came for killing the Goose， the cook went to get him at night， when it was dark， and he was not able to distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake he caught the Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan， threatened with death， burst forth into song and thus made himself known by his voice， and preserved his life by his melody.
天鹅
有个富人养着家鹅和天鹅，他们的用处却不一样：养天鹅完全是因为他善於唱歌，养家鹅仅为吃肉。有一次，主人准备将家鹅派上用场，时值夜晚，辨别不出哪是家鹅哪是天鹅，天鹅被作为家鹅抓了出去。这时，他唱起歌来，以表他的悲哀。歌声道明了天鹅的本性，使他幸免於死难。
这个故事带出的启示就是：音乐常常使生命延续。