“What a heavy creature you have there！”said the peasant，“It has plenty of feathers and plenty of fat，and would look well tied to a string，or paddling in the water at our place.That would be very useful to my old woman，she could make all sorts of profits out of it.How often she has said，‘If now we only had a goose！’Now here is an opportunity，and，if possible，I will get it for her.Shall we exchange？I will give you my sheep for your goose，and thanks into the bargain.”
“你这只鹅倒是很壮实的！”农夫说道，“毛很丰满，又很肥！拿根绳子拴着它，把它养在我们的水塘里会很不错的。让老婆子弄些果皮及菜叶子给它吃多好！她常说，‘我们要有只鹅多好！’这一回她可有只鹅了——该让她得到这只鹅！你愿换吗？我拿羊换你的鹅，多谢你！”
The other had not the least objection (objection n.异议，缺陷，妨碍，拒绝之理由)，and accordingly the exchange was made，and our peasant became possessor of the goose.By this time he had arrived very near the town.The crowd on the high road had been gradually increasing，and there was quite a rush of men and cattle.The cattle walked on the path and by the palings，and at the turnpikegate they even walked into the tollkeepers potatofield，where one fowl was strutting about with a string (string n.线，细绳，一串，一行v.排成一列)tied to its leg，for fear it should take fright at the crowd，and run away and get lost.The tailfeathers of the fowl were very short，and it winked with both its eyes，and looked very cunning，as it said“Cluck，cluck.”What were the thoughts of the fowl as it said this I cannot tell you，but directly our good man saw it，he thought，“Why thats the finest fowl I ever saw in my life.Its finer than our parsons brood hen，upon my word.I should like to have that fowl.Fowls can always pick up a few grains that lie about，and almost keep themselves.I think it would be a good exchange if I could get it for my goose.Shall we exchange？”he asked the tollkeeper.
当然，他没有任何拒绝的理由，那人当然愿意。于是他们作了交换，农夫得到了鹅。他很快便要进城了。这时路上往来的人越来越多，人畜都挤在一起。大家在大道上走，挤在沟里，一直挤到路旁收税人堆土豆的地方。那里收税人用绳子系着他的母鸡，不让它吓得跑丢了。那是只秃尾巴鸡，一只眼睛眨着，很好看。母鸡在“咯、咯”叫着；母鸡这么叫在想什么，谁也不知道。不过农夫看见它的时候，心中想道：这只母鸡可是我这一辈子见过的最漂亮的母鸡，它比牧师的那只抱窝鸡还要好看，我真想要它！母鸡找点谷子吃总是不成问题的，它自己就能照料自己！要是我得到这只鸡，这种交换是合算的。“我们交换好吗？”他问道。
“Exchange，”repeated the man，“well，it would not be a bad thing.”
“交换！”另外那个人说道，“这个主意倒不太离谱！”
And so they made an exchange，—the tollkeeper at the turnpikegate kept the goose，and the peasant carried off the fowl.Now he had really done a great deal of business on his way to the fair，and he was hot and tired.He wanted something to eat，and a glass of ale to refresh himself，so he turned his steps to an inn.He was just about to enter when the ostler (ostler n.(旅馆的)马夫)came out，and they met at the door.The ostler was carrying a sack.
于是他们作了交换。收税人得了鹅，农夫得了母鸡。这趟进城，一路上他干成的事真不少。天气很热，他也累了。他很需要喝杯酒和吃点面包。这时他走到了小酒店，想进去。可是酒店小伙子正想走出来，他在店门口遇到了他。他背着一个口袋。
“What have you in that sack？”asked the peasant.
“袋里装的是什么？”农夫问道。
“Rotten apples，”answered the ostler，“a whole sackful of them.They will do to feed the pigs with.”
“烂苹果！”小伙子回答道，“满满一袋，准备给猪吃。”
“Why that will be terrible waste，”he replied，“I should like to take them home to my old woman.Last year the old appletree by the grassplot only bore one apple，and we kept it in the cupboard till it was quite withered and rotten.It was always property，my old woman said，and here she would see a great deal of property—a whole sackful.I should like to show them to her.”
“这可真够多的！真该让老妈妈看看。我们去年炭棚子旁的那棵老苹果树，只结了一个苹果，把它搁到柜子上放着一直到它开裂。怎么说也是一笔财产！我们老婆子这么说。这下子她可以看到一大笔财产了！是的，我要让她看看。”
“What will you give me for the sackful？”asked the ostler.
“好吧！你拿什么换？”小伙子问道。
“What will I give？Well，I will give you my fowl in exchange.”
“拿什么？我拿我的母鸡换！”
So he gave up the fowl，and received the apples，which he carried into the inn parlor.He leaned the sack carefully against the stove，and then went to the table.But the stove was hot，and he had not thought of that.Many guests were present—horse dealers，cattle drovers，and two Englishmen.The Englishmen were so rich that their pockets quite bulged out and seemed ready to burst，and they could bet too，as you shall hear.
于是他拿他的母鸡作了交换，得了苹果，走进了屋子，一直走到卖酒的台子前。他把他的一口袋苹果放下靠在火炉上，火炉里有火，他可是一点儿没有想到。屋子里有许多外来人。有贩马的，有买卖牛的，还有两个英国人，他们非常有钱，兜里的金币满满的。他们打起赌来。事情是这样的，听着！
“Hissss，hissss.”What could that be by the stove (stove n.炉)？The apples were beginning to roast.“What is that？”asked one.
“嗞！嗞！”火炉那里是什么声音？苹果烤熟了。“里面是什么？”
“Why，do you know—”said our peasant.And then he told them the whole story of the horse，which he had exchanged for a cow，and all the rest of it，down to the apples.
是啊，老爹把什么都说了。于是他们很快便知道了一切！关于那匹马的，怎么把它换成牛一直到这袋烂苹果。