English Original
When Prince Smolensky's strategy had found a way to curb the foe's presumptuous heart, the modern Vandals were snared for ruin. Moscow was left to them for their undoing.
Then all, great and small, each blessed soul alive, packed up without an hour's delay and streamed away from the walls of Moscow like a swarm of bees leaving the hive.
A crow upon a roof, slowly cleaning her beak, surveyed the tumult from her perch.
'Why, friend, it's surely time to start?' called out a hen from a cart. 'Our ruthless foe stands at the gate even as I speak.'
'And what harm is that to me?' the augur bird replied. 'I shall hold my own, you'll see. You chicken-hearts, go if you must! But folk will neither roast nor stew a crow. My guests and I will get on well enough. Who knows? I may even find some dainty snacks—a bit of cheese, a bone, or something good. Good luck on the road, dear Henny! Farewell!'
So the crow stayed behind. And what happened? Instead of snacks to embellish her board, when the French, caught in Smolensky's clutch, tightened their belts, they cooked the crow as well to give their soup a relish.
Human reckonings often prove as blind and foolish. You think you're close on Fortune's heels, about to catch the prize. Yet when the final accounts are made, you find yourself in the soup—just like our crow.
中文翻译
当斯摩棱斯基公爵的谋略找到了遏制敌人狂妄气焰的方法时，这些现代的汪达尔人便落入了毁灭的陷阱。莫斯科被留给他们，成了他们的葬身之地。
于是，所有人，无论贵贱，每一个活着的生灵，都刻不容缓地收拾行装，像蜂群离开蜂巢一样，涌出了莫斯科的城墙。
一只乌鸦待在屋顶上，慢慢地清理着喙，居高临下地俯瞰着这片混乱。
“怎么啦，朋友，是时候该动身了吧？”一只母鸡从大车上喊道。“我们残酷的敌人，我说话这会儿，已经到城门口了！”
“这对我有什么害处？”这只预言鸟回答道。“我会坚守我的地盘，你等着瞧。你们这些胆小鬼，想走就走吧！但人们既不会烤也不会炖乌鸦。我和我的客人们会相处得很好。谁知道呢？说不定我还能找到些美味的小吃——一小片奶酪、一块骨头，或者什么好东西。亲爱的母鸡，祝你一路顺风！再见！”
于是乌鸦留了下来。结果呢？非但没有美味来装点她的餐桌，当被斯摩棱斯基困住的法国人勒紧裤腰带时，他们把乌鸦也煮了，给他们的汤添点滋味。
人类的算计常常显得同样盲目和愚蠢。你以为自己紧跟在幸运女神身后，即将抓住珍宝。然而，当最终清算时，你却发现自己成了别人的盘中餐——就像我们这只乌鸦一样。