40 The Swallow and the other birds

It happened that a countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in a field where a swallow and some other birds were hoping about picking up their food. "Beware of that man," quoth the swallow. "Why, what is he doing?" said the others.

"That is hemp seed he is sowing; be careful to pick up every one of the seeds, or else you will repent it." The birds paid no heed to the swallow's words, and by and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord, and of the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the swallow's advice was caught in nets made out of that very hemp.

"What did I tell you?" said the swallow.

Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin.

it happened that: 어느날 ~일이 있었다

swallow: 제비

hemp: 삼, 대마

sow: 농작물 등을 심다

hopping: 껑충껑충 뛰다

repent: 후회하다

pay heed to: ~에 주의하다

cord: 끈; 굴레

despised: 경멸하다, 얕보다

ruin: 파괴, 붕괴

many a + (단수명사) 하면 숫자를 모르는 다수 중 각각을 의미한다고 합니다(=each of a large indefinite number)