which the carcase of the ass had broken in several places, he threw
them a second time. In drawing them in he again felt a great weight,
so that he thought they were full of fish. But he only found a large
basket full of rubbish. He was much annoyed.

"O Fortune," he cried, "do not trifle thus with me, a poor fisherman,
who can hardly support his family!"

So saying, he threw away the rubbish, and after having washed his
nets clean of the dirt, he threw them for the third time. But he
only drew in stones, shells, and mud. He was almost in despair.

Then he threw his nets for the fourth time. When he thought he had
a fish he drew them in with a great deal of trouble. There was no
fish however, but he found a yellow pot, which by its weight seemed
full of something, and he noticed that it was fastened and sealed
with lead, with the impression of a seal. He was delighted.
"I will sell it to the founder," he said; "with the money I shall
get for it I shall buy a measure of wheat."

He examined the jar on all sides; he shook it to see if it would rattle.
But he heard nothing, and so, judging from the impression of the seal
and the lid, he thought there must be something precious inside.
To find out, he took his knife, and with a little trouble he opened it.
He turned it upside down, but nothing came out, which surprised
him very much. He set it in front of him, and whilst he was
looking at it attentively, such a thick smoke came out that he
had to step back a pace or two. This smoke rose up to the clouds,
and stretching over the sea and the shore, formed a thick mist,
which caused the fisherman much astonishment. When all the smoke