那些給我智慧和勇氣的寓言故事79:愚蠢的少年

A Foolish Boy

愚蠢的少年

A gay young spark I knew, who happened from his aunt great riches to inherit.

一個放蕩的紈絝少年從他姑媽那裏繼承了一大筆遺產

He started squandering and squandered with such spirit, that all his worldly wealth was I.O.U.

他開始大肆揮霍，直到所有的財富都成了欠條。

He had a fine fur coat, still new. It was winter at the time, and old Jack Frost was in his prime.

他有一件上好的皮大衣，還是嶄新的。當時正值嚴冬時節

One day a s wallow passed: what does our booby do. But pawn the fur as well!

有一天，天上飛過一隻燕子。這個傻瓜做了什麼？他把皮衣當掉了！

"Why, aren't we all aware, you'll never see a swallow in the air till spring insight!

“誰不知道只有到了春天,天空纔會出現燕子呢,”浪子想，

So now,"thinks prodigal,"my fur is useless quite. Why wrap oneself in furs?

“所以，現在我的皮大衣沒用了，爲何還要緊裹着它呢？

It is now the first spring breezes. To Nature's waking realm bring everything that pleases, and to the silent North the banished Frost takes wing."

第一縷春風已經吹過，甦醒的大自然一切都令人心曠神怡，嚴冬也跑到寂靜的北方了。”

Our friend is quick at reckoning. He only quite forgets—at least, until he sneezes, one swallow does not make the spring.

至少打噴嚏之前，這個少年很會盤算，只是他忘記了——一燕不成春。

And so it proves! The frosts return again. The carts go creaking through the crumbled snow, the chimneys puff their smoke, one very window pane, delightful fairy tracings show.

確實如此！寒冬又回來了！馬車咯吱咯吱地穿過冰天雪地，煙囪冒着煙，玻璃上結滿了形狀各異的冰花。

Poor rake! His eyes with rheumy moisture flow; the little bird that spoke of summer days to follow, lies frozen in the snow.

可憐的浪子，他感冒了，淚流不止，而那隻代表夏季即將到來的燕子凍死在雪地裏。

He stands beside the swallow. And shakes, and holds his breath, and mumbles through his teeth, "You villain, any how you'refinished too!

浪子站在燕子旁邊，凍得發抖，他屏住呼吸，嘴裏喃喃地道：“壞蛋！不管怎麼說，你都完蛋了！

I thought that I could count on you! To pawn my fur just now—a pretty thing to do!"

我以爲還能指望你呢！我剛剛把皮衣賣了——簡直太糟糕了！”