A spendthrift, who had wasted his fortune, and had nothing left but the clothes in which he stood, saw a swallow one fine day in early spring. Thinking that summer had come, and that he could now do without his coat, he went and sold it for what it would fetch. A change, however, took place in the weather, and there came a sharp frost which killed the unfortunate swallow. When the spendthrift saw its dead body he cried, "Miserable bird! Thanks to you I am perishing of cold myself."

One swallow does not make summer.

一个败家子因为挥霍无度白白耗费了所有的财产。在一个早春的日子里，除了身上的衣服之外，已经别无所有的他，看到一只燕子。他心里想着，应该是夏天来临，可以不再需要身上的外套了。于是，他出去卖掉外套，换点什么东西。不料，天气骤变，忽然降临的一场霜冻死了不幸的小燕子。败家子看到燕子的尸体后，大喊道：“可怜的小鸟！都是因为你，我才会跟着挨冻呀。”

一燕不成夏。