The Fisherman and His Wife

There was once a fisherman and his wife who lived in a hovel by the sea. One day the fisherman caught a large flounder that spoke, saying it was an enchanted prince. Out of pity, the fisherman let it go. When his wife heard the story, she insisted he go back and wish for a cottage.

The flounder granted it, but the wife was not satisfied. She demanded a castle, then to be king, then emperor, and finally pope. Each time the sea grew darker and stormier. At last she demanded to be like God himself. The flounder returned them to their original hovel, and they had nothing more.