The Nail

A merchant had been trading in a far city and had made much money, which he was now bringing home with him. He rode in haste, for he knew he would not feel easy until he had locked away the gold in his strong room at home.

一位商人一直在远方的一座城市里做买卖，赚了很多钱，如今正带着这些钱赶回家去。他骑得飞快，因为他知道，除非把金子锁进家里的保险库，否则他心里是无法安宁的。

Toward the middle of the morning he stopped at an inn to give his horse water. “Sir,” said the ostler who waited on him, “a nail is loose in your horse’s shoe.”

快到上午中段的时候，他在一家客栈停下来给马饮水。“先生，”伺候他的马夫说道，“您马蹄铁上有颗钉子松了。”

“No matter,” answered the merchant. “I am in haste, and the shoe must go as it is till I get home.”

“没关系。”商人答道。“我赶时间，这马蹄铁只能先这样将就着，等到了家再说。”

A little later he stopped at another inn. “Sir,” said the ostler, “your horse’s shoe is loose; shall I not take him to the blacksmith near by and have the shoe fastened on?”

不一会儿，他又在另一家客栈停下。“先生，”马夫说，“您这匹马的蹄铁松了；要不要我把它牵到附近的铁匠那儿，把蹄铁钉牢？”

“No,” answered the merchant, “I have not time to wait. I must be home before nightfall.”

“不用了，”商人答道，“我没时间等了。天黑之前我必须赶到家。”

The merchant rode still farther, but presently his horse began to limp. It limped more and more, until at last, in the very midst of a deep forest, it stumbled and fell, and could not get up again.

商人又骑马走了更远的路，可是没过多久，他的马就开始一瘸一拐了。它越走越瘸，最后，就在一片茂密的森林正中央，它一个踉跄摔倒在地，怎么也爬不起来了。

The merchant was in despair. Dusk was coming on, and there seemed nothing for it but to spend the night in the forest. However, he discovered a house near by, and the old woman who was in charge of it promised him food and a lodging for the night.

商人绝望极了。天色渐渐暗了下来，看来除了在森林里过夜，别无他法。不过，他发现附近有一栋房子，看管这房子的老妇人答应给他吃食，让他借宿一晚。

When the merchant went up to bed he put his bag of gold under his pillow. He meant to watch all night, but he was very tired, and presently, in spite of himself his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep.

商人上楼睡觉的时候，把他那袋金子放在了枕头底下。他本打算整夜都保持警惕，可是他太累了，不由自主地，他的眼睛闭上了，很快便沉沉睡去。

Now this house belonged to a band of robbers, and the old woman was their housekeeper. Soon after the merchant was asleep the robbers came home. The housekeeper told them of the rich man who had come to the house while they were away, and of how she had given him a bed for the night.

原来这栋房子是一伙强盗的老巢，那老妇人是他们的管家婆。商人睡着没多久，强盗们就回来了。管家婆告诉他们，他们不在的时候来了一位富人，还说自己怎样给他安排了一夜住宿。

The robbers went up to the merchant’s room and finding him asleep they stole the bag of money from under his pillow, and made off with it.

强盗们上楼去了商人的房间，发现他睡得正香，便从他枕头底下偷走了那袋钱，逃走了。

In the morning, when the merchant awoke, he felt under his pillow for the bag, but it was gone. He called aloud, but no one answered. He searched the house from top to bottom, but could find nobody.

第二天早上，商人醒来，伸手到枕头底下摸那袋子，却发现它不见了。他大声呼喊，可是没有人应答。他把房子从上到下都找遍了，却一个人也找不到。

So the merchant lost both his gold and his horse. “And all,” said he, “because I was in such haste that I would not stop for a nail to be put in my horse’s shoe. It is a true saying—‘the more haste the less speed.’”

于是商人不但丢了金子，也丢了马。“这一切，”他说，“都是因为我太赶时间，连给马蹄铁钉颗钉子都不肯停一下。俗话说得好——‘欲速则不达’。”