Jack el Perezoso

Había una vez un muchacho llamado Jack, que vivía con su madre en un terreno comunal.

Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack, and he lived with his mother on a common.

Eran muy pobres y la anciana se ganaba la vida hilando, pero Jack era tan perezoso que no hacía más que tomar el sol cuando hacía calor y sentarse junto al rincón de la chimenea en invierno. Por eso lo llamaban Jack el Perezoso.

They were very poor, and the old woman got her living by spinning, but Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask in the sun in the hot weather, and sit by the corner of the hearth in the winter-time. So they called him Lazy Jack.

Su madre no lograba que hiciera nada por ella y, al final, un lunes le dijo que si no empezaba a trabajar para ganarse su avena, lo echaría para que se buscara la vida como pudiera.

His mother could not get him to do anything for her, and at last told him, one Monday, that if he did not begin to work for his porridge she would turn him out to get his living as he could.

Esto espabiló a Jack, quien salió y se alquiló al día siguiente a un granjero vecino por un penique; pero mientras volvía a casa, como nunca antes había tenido dinero, lo perdió al cruzar un arroyo.

This roused Jack, and he went out and hired himself for the next day to a neighbouring farmer for a penny; but as he was coming home, never having had any money before, he lost it in passing over a brook.

—Muchacho estúpido —dijo su madre—, deberías haberlo metido en el bolsillo. —Lo haré la próxima vez —respondió Jack.

“You stupid boy,” said his mother, “you should have put it in your pocket.” “I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.

El miércoles, Jack salió de nuevo y se alquiló a un vaquero, quien le dio un tarro de leche por su día de trabajo. Jack tomó el tarro y lo metió en el bolsillo grande de su chaqueta, derramándolo todo mucho antes de llegar a casa. —¡Dios mío!

On Wednesday, Jack went out again and hired himself to a cow-keeper, who gave him a jar of milk for his day’s work. Jack took the jar and put it into the large pocket of his jacket, spilling it all, long before he got home. “Dear me!”

—dijo la anciana—; deberías haberlo llevado sobre la cabeza. —Lo haré la próxima vez —dijo Jack.

said the old woman; “you should have carried it on your head.” “I’ll do so another time,” said Jack.

Así que el jueves, Jack se alquiló de nuevo a un granjero, quien acordó darle un queso de nata por sus servicios. Por la tarde, Jack tomó el queso y se fue a casa con él sobre la cabeza.

So on Thursday, Jack hired himself again to a farmer, who agreed to give him a cream cheese for his services. In the evening Jack took the cheese, and went home with it on his head.

Para cuando llegó a casa, el queso estaba completamente estropeado; una parte se había perdido y otra se le había quedado pegada al pelo. —¡Papanatas estúpido! —dijo su madre—, deberías haberlo llevado con mucho cuidado en las manos. —Lo haré la próxima vez —respondió Jack.

By the time he got home the cheese was all spoilt, part of it being lost, and part matted with his hair. “You stupid lout,” said his mother, “you should have carried it very carefully in your hands.” “I’ll do so another time,” replied Jack.

El viernes, Jack el Perezoso salió de nuevo y se alquiló a un panadero, quien no le dio nada por su trabajo más que un gran gato atigrado.

On Friday, Lazy Jack again went out, and hired himself to a baker, who would give him nothing for his work but a large tom-cat.

Jack tomó al gato y empezó a llevarlo con mucho cuidado en las manos, pero al poco tiempo el minino le arañó tanto que se vio obligado a soltarlo.

Jack took the cat, and began carrying it very carefully in his hands, but in a short time pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go.

Cuando llegó a casa, su madre le dijo: —¡Muchacho tonto!, deberías haberlo atado con una cuerda y arrastrarlo detrás de ti. —Lo haré la próxima vez —dijo Jack.

When he got home, his mother said to him, “You silly fellow, you should have tied it with a string, and dragged it along after you.” “I’ll do so another time,” said Jack.

Así que el sábado, Jack se alquiló a un carnicero, quien lo recompensó con el generoso regalo de una paletilla de cordero.

So on Saturday, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded him by the handsome present of a shoulder of mutton.

Jack tomó el cordero, lo ató a una cuerda y lo arrastró tras de sí por la tierra, de modo que, para cuando llegó a casa, la carne estaba completamente estropeada.

Jack took the mutton, tied it to a string, and trailed it along after him in the dirt, so that by the time he had got home the meat was completely spoilt.