钉子的故事

　　TheNail

　　JacobandWilhelmGrimm

　　Amerchanthaddonewellatthefair.Hehadsoldallhiswares,andfilledhismoneybagwithgoldandsilver.Henowwantedtomakehiswaytowardhome,andtobeinhisownhousebeforenightfall.Soheloadedhisduffelbagwiththemoneyontohishorse,androdeaway.

　　Atnoonmadeareststopinatown.Whenhewasabouttocontinueonhisway,aservantbroughthimhishorseandsaid,"Sir,anailismissingfromtheshoeonhislefthindhoof."

　　"Letitbe,"answeredthemerchant."TheshoewillcertainlystayonforthesixhoursthatIstillhavetoride.Iaminahurry."

　　Thatafternoon,whenhedismountedonceagainandhadhishorsefed,aservantcameintotheinnandsaid,"Sir,ashoeismissingfromyourhorse'slefthindhoof.ShallItakehimtotheblacksmith?"

　　"Letitbe,"answeredtheman."ThehorsecanmanageforthefewhoursthatIstillhavetoride.Iaminahurry."

　　Herodeon,butbeforelongthehorsebegantolimp.Itdidnotlimplongbeforeitbegantostumble,anditdidnotstumblelongbeforeitfelldownandbrokealeg.Themerchanthadtoleavethehorsewhereitwas,andunbuckletheduffelbag,loaditontohisshoulder,andwalkhomeonfoot,notarrivingthereuntilverylatethatnight.

　　"Allthisbadluck,"hesaidtohimself,"wascausedbythatcursednail."

　　Hastemakeswaste.

　　一个商人在集市上生意红火,他卖完了所有的货,钱袋装得满满的.他想天黑前赶到家,便把钱箱捆在了马背上,骑着马儿出发了.

　　中午时分,他到了一个镇上休息了一会.当他想继续赶路时,马童牵出马来对他说:“老爷,马后腿的蹄铁上需要加颗钉子.”“由它去吧,”商人回答说,“这块蹄铁肯定能撑到走完这六里路,我要急着赶路呢!”

　　下午时候,他又一次叫人喂马,马童走进房间对他说:“老爷,马后腿上的一块蹄铁掉了,要不要我把它带到铁匠那去呢?”“由它去吧!”商人回答说,“这马一定能坚持走完这剩下的几里路,我时间紧着呢!”

　　他骑着马儿继续往前走,但不久以后马就开始一步一瘸的了,再过会儿就开始踉踉跄跄,最后它终於跌倒在地,折断了腿.那生意人只好扔下他的马,解下钱箱扛在背上,步行回家.等赶回家时已是午夜时分,只听他嘀咕着:“都是那颗该死的钉子把我给害惨了.