a cottager and his wife had a hen that laid a golden egg every day. they supposed that the hen e rich all at once, deprived themselves of the gain of which they were assured day by day.

一对农村夫妇有一只每天会下一个金蛋的母鸡。他们猜想母鸡的肚子里一定有很多金子。贪婪的夫妇为了得到金子就把母鸡杀掉了。结果他们大失所望，因为母鸡的肚子里只有内脏。一心想一日暴富的这对夫妇只能靠着余粮度日了。

贪婪往往弄巧成拙。