A YOUNG MAN, a great spendthrift, had run through all his patrimony and had but one good cloak left. —
有个年轻人非常挥霍，把所有的家产都花光了，只剩下一件好披风。 —

One day he happened to see a Swallow, which had appeared before its season, skimming along a pool and twittering gaily. —
一天，他碰巧看到一只燕子提前出现在池塘上空，欢快地飞翔和叽叽喳喳地叫着。 —

He supposed that summer had come, and went and sold his cloak. —
他以为夏天已经到了，便去卖掉了自己的披风。 —

Not many days later, winter set in again with renewed frost and cold. —
然而，不久后，冬天又重新来临，带来了更加严寒的寒冷。 —

When he found the unfortunate Swallow lifeless on the ground, he said, “Unhappy bird! —
当他发现那只不幸的燕子倒在地上时，他说道：“可怜的鸟儿！你做了什么？通过在春天之前出现，你不仅害了自己，也害了我。” —

what have you done? By thus appearing before the springtime you have not only killed yourself, but you have wrought my destruction also.”