Prevod

Swans, they say, sing when they are near death. A man once came upon a swan for sale and, hearing that it was a most melodious bird, bought it. One day, when he had a guest to dinner, he went up to the swan and urged it to sing while they drank. The swan remained silent then, but later, realizing that it was about to die, it sang its own lament. Hearing it, its master said, “Well, if you will sing only when you are dying, I was a fool to beg you then instead of sacrificing you.” So it is with some people: what they are unwilling to do of their own accord, they do under compulsion.