The Shepherd & The Sea

  A shepherd, keeping watch over his sheep near the shore, saw the

Sea very calm and smooth, and longed to make a voyage with a view

to commerce.  He sold all his flock, invested it in a cargo of

dates, and set sail.  But a very great tempest came on, and the

ship being in danger of sinking, he threw all his merchandise

overboard, and barely escaped with his life in the empty ship.

Not long afterwards when someone passed by and observed the

unruffled calm of the Sea, he interrupted him and said, "It is

again in want of dates, and therefore looks quiet."