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So, overcome with my great and bitter disappointment,
哎呀，一種說不出來的錐心痛苦攫取了我，我倍感失望，
I sat down on the nearest hassock, and for a time refused to be comforted,
一屁股頹然癱坐在身邊的草墩上，
even by my uncle's assurance that there were more fish in the brook.
叔叔好言好語的相勸亦無法使我平靜下來。他一再勸說我，河里的魚，反正多著呢。
He refitted my bait, and, putting the pole again in my hands, told me to try my luck once more.
然后一聲不吭地幫我重新安好魚餌，將魚竿遞給我，囑咐我再來試試手氣。
"But remember, boy," he said, with his shrewd smile, never brag of catching a fish until he is on dry ground.
“孩子，請記住，”叔叔最后對我說，臉上露出狡黠笑意，切忌不可自吹自擂，除非魚兒上岸入籠。
I've seen older folks doing that in more ways than one, and so making fools of themselves.
我這一生，見過多少年輕人花樣翻新的吹牛，結果呢？徒給世人留下幾多笑話。
It's no use to boast of anything until it's done, nor then, either, for it speaks for itself.
凡事八字未見一撇，不可吹噓張揚。謹慎從事，低調做人，事實勝于雄辯。
How often since I have been reminded of the fish that I did not catch.
為人行事不切實際，卻又指望成功唾手可得，
When I hear people boasting of a work as yet undone, and trying to anticipate the credit which belongs only to actual achievement,
從此，每當我一次次聽到周圍朋友吐沫四濺地吹噓自己遙遙無期的奮斗目標，那條漏網的大狗魚總會不失時機地跳躍在我的面前，
I call to mind that scene by the brookside, and the wise caution of my uncle in that particular instance takes the form of a proverb of universal application:
河邊釣魚的場景再度浮現。當年叔叔那么睿智冷靜，循循善誘地開導我不可魯莽，寡言者智，一條諺語教我悟透人生玄機：
NEVER BRAG OF YOUR FISH BEFORE YOU CATCH HIM.
靜以修身，靜水流深。
