Не было гвоздя –
Подкова пропала.
Не было подковы –
Лошадь захромала.

Лошадь захромала –
Командир убит.
Конница разбита –
Армия бежит.

Враг вступает в город,
Пленных не щадя,
Оттого, что в кузнице
Не было гвоздя.
1929
Оригинал:

For want of a nail,
the shoe was lost;
For want of the shoe,
the horse was lost;

For want of the horse,
the rider was lost;
For want of the rider,
the battle was lost;

For want of the battle,
the kingdom was lost;
And all from the want
of a horseshoe nail.
“Mother Goose Rhymes”