典源
THE HEN AND THE GOLDEN EGGS 〈生金蛋的鸡〉A Cottager1> and his wife had a Hen2>,which laid3> every day a golden egg. They supposed that it must contain a great lump4> of gold in its inside,and killed it in order that5> they might get it,when to their surprise they found that the Hen differed in no respect6> from their other hens. The foolish pair,thus hoping to become rich all at once7>,deprived8> themselves of the gain of which they were day by day assured9>.~The Fables of Aesop10> (《伊索寓言》) 译文从前有个农夫,他和妻子养了一只母鸡。这只母鸡每天都会下一颗金蛋,他们便以为母鸡的肚子里一定有一大块金子。为了要得到这块金子,他们宰了这只母鸡,但却发现牠和其他母鸡并没有什么不同。这对愚蠢的夫妇,为了想一夕致富,连他们原本每天稳得的利益,也因此丧失了。
(1)cottager︰ 佃农。文中据原文习惯作Cottager。
(2)hen: 母鸡。文中据原文习惯作Hen。
(3)lay: 产卵。
(4)lump: 块、团。
(5)in order that: 为……起见。
(6)in no respect: 没有一点;全然不。
(7)all at once: 骤然、一下子。
(8)deprive: 剥夺。
(9)assured: 一定的、保险的。
(10)Aesop: 译作伊索。人名,约公元前619~前564,希腊作家。相传为其所着的《伊索寓言》,寓人生哲学于小故事中,流传其广。后人续有增补。