The Dairy-Woman and the Pail of Milk

A young country woman named Perrette set out one morning from her little dairy-farm with a pail of milk which she cleverly balanced upon her head over a pad or cushion. She hurried with sprightly steps to the market town, and so that she might be the less encumbered, wore a kirtle that was short and light—in truth a simple petticoat—and shoes low and easy. As she went, her thoughts ran upon the price to be gained for her milk, and she schemed a way to lay out the sum in the purchase of one hundred eggs.

一天早晨，一位名叫佩蕾特的年轻乡村妇女从自己的小奶牛场出发，头顶着一桶牛奶，用一个垫子或软垫巧妙地保持着平衡。她迈着轻快的步子急匆匆地赶往集市小镇，为了让自己少些负累，她穿着一条又短又轻便的短裙——其实不过是一条简单的衬裙——脚上穿着轻便的鞋子。一路上，她一边走一边盘算着牛奶能卖多少钱，还琢磨着该如何把这笔钱用来买一百个鸡蛋。

She was sure that with care and diligence these would yield three broods. "It would be quite easy to me," she said, "to raise the chicks near the house. The fox would be clever who would not leave me enough to buy one pig. A pig would fatten at the cost of a little bran, and when he had grown a fair size I should make a bargain of him for a good round sum. And then, considering the price he will fetch, what is to prevent my putting into our stable a cow and a calf? I can fancy how the calf will frisk about among the sheep!"

她确信只要用心照料，这些蛋会孵出三窝小鸡。“对我来说这再容易不过了，”她想，“就在屋子附近养这些小鸡。那只狐狸得多机灵，才能不给我留下够买一头猪的钱呢。猪只要喂点麸皮就能长肥，等它长到相当大的时候，我就能卖个好价钱。到那时候，想想它能卖多少钱，我还有什么理由不在我们的马棚里再添一头母牛和一头小牛呢？我都能想象小牛在羊群中蹦蹦跳跳的样子了！”

Thereupon Perrette herself frisked for joy, transported with the picture of her affluence. Over toppled the milk! Adieu to calf and cow and pig and broods! This lady of wealth had to leave, with tearful eyes, her dissipated fortunes, and go straight to her husband framing excuses to avoid a beating.

想到这里，佩蕾特自己也高兴得蹦跳起来，沉浸在对未来富足生活的憧憬之中。牛奶一下子全泼翻了！小牛、母牛、猪和一窝窝小鸡，通通告别了！这位曾经的富家太太只得含着眼泪，抛下她那烟消云散的财富，径直回家去，一路盘算着怎么找借口，好躲过一顿打骂。

The farce became known to the whole countryside, and people called Perrette by the name of "Milkpail" ever after.

这场闹剧传遍了整个乡间，从此人们都把佩蕾特叫做“奶罐”。

Who has never talked wildly? Who has never built castles in Spain? Wise men as well as milkmaids; sages and fools, all have waking dreams and find them sweet! Our senses are carried away by some flattering falsehood, and then wealth, honours, and beauty seem ours to command.

谁没有胡思乱想过呢？谁没有在西班牙建过空中楼阁呢？智者和挤奶女工都一样；圣贤和愚人，人人都会做白日梦，而且觉得它甜美！我们的感官会被某些讨好的谎言带走，于是财富、荣誉和美貌似乎都任我们差遣了。

Alone with my thoughts I challenge the bravest. I dethrone monarchs and the people rejoicing crown me instead, showering diadems upon my head. Then lo! a little accident happens to bring me back to my senses, and I am Poor Jack as before.

独自一人沉浸在思绪里时，我敢向最勇敢的人挑战。我废黜君王，而百姓们欢欣鼓舞地拥立我为王，把一顶顶王冠堆到我的头上。可是，唉！一点点小意外便让我猛然清醒过来，于是我又变回了从前那个可怜的杰克。