A Huntsman and Fisherman met and decided to exchange what each caught. They kept doing this until a neighbor pointed out they might like what they caught.
Abstain and enjoy.
Townsend version
A huntsman, returning with his dogs from the field, fell in by chance with a Fisherman who was bringing home a basket well laden with fish. The Huntsman wished to have the fish, and their owner experienced an equal longing for the contents of the game-bag. They quickly agreed to exchange the produce of their day’s sport. Each was so well pleased with his bargain that they made for some time the same exchange day after day. Finally a neighbor said to them, “If you go on in this way, you will soon destroy by frequent use the pleasure of your exchange, and each will again wish to retain the fruits of his own sport.”
Moral
Abstain and enjoy.
Babrius Translation (The Hunter and The Fisherman)
A huntsman going laden from the hill,
A fisher too, whose fish his basket fill,
As luck would have it, chanced one day to meet,
And lo! the hunter thought the fish a treat;
The fisherman preferr’d the hunter’s game.
So they exchanged their spoil. They did the same,
Each for a time, to suit the other’s taste,
With all they took: till some one said, “You’ll waste
“And mar by use the present charm of these:
“And each again will seek what used to please.”
Perry #327