The Dolphins quarrelled with the Whales, and before very long they began fighting with one another. The battle was very fierce, and had lasted some time without any sign of coming to an end, when a Sprat thought that perhaps he could stop it; so he stepped in and tried to persuade them to give up fighting and make friends. But one of the Dolphins said to him contemptuously, “We would rather go on fighting till we're all killed than be reconciled by a Sprat like you!”
海豚和鲸争吵了起来，没多久便打了起来。战斗十分激烈，持续了很长时间也没有结束的迹象。一条鲱鱼认为自己也许能够中止这场战争，所以他走入战场，想要说服双方放弃战斗，言归于好。但是一只海豚轻蔑地对他说：“我们宁可继续厮杀到我们都死亡，也不愿意被你这样的小东西来劝和。”