The Milkmaid

A country maid was walking to the town to sell some milk, which she carried in a pitcher on her head. As she went along, she said to herself, “I have already fifty eggs at home; with the money which I get for my milk I will buy fifty more. These hundred eggs cannot fail to bring me at least eighty chickens. The chickens will be ready for market just when poultry is dearest, so that they will sell for a good sum. With the money I will get me a new gown, and when I wear it at the fair the young fellows will want to dance with me, but I will turn from each with a toss of the head.”



As she said these words, she could not help giving her head a toss, when down fell pitcher, milk, eggs, poultry, gown, sweethearts, and all. Count not your chickens before they are hatched.



牛奶姑娘



一位乡村姑娘到城里去卖牛奶。她头顶奶壶，独自行走，并自言自语地说：“我家里已经有五十个鸡蛋，我拿卖牛奶得到的钱可再去买五十个鸡蛋，这一百个鸡蛋至少会给我带来八十只小鸡。那些小鸡待行情较好的时候出售，便可以得到一大笔钱。用这笔钱，我可以买一件新的长大衣，当我穿了它去集市时，那些青年男子便会来邀我去跳舞，但我会对他们每个人昂首而去。”当她说这句话时禁不住真的将头一仰，于是，她的壶，牛奶，鸡蛋，长大衣，情人等等，都随她的头一仰而完蛋了。因此，没有成为事实的事是不可太乐观的。