§47 贫人能作鸳鸯鸣喻

(47) the poor man crows like a duck

昔外国法，节庆之日，一切妇女尽持优钵罗花以为鬘饰。

it happened once that a foreign country was celebrating its religious day for festivities. all women wore blue lotus flowers as ornament in their hair.

有一贫人，其妇语言：“尔若能得优钵罗花来用与我，为尔作妻；若不能得，我舍尔去。”

to her husband, a woman said, "if you can get blue lotus flowers for me, i shall remain as your wife. otherwise. i'll walk out on you."

其夫先来常善作鸳鸯之鸣，即入王池，作鸳鸯鸣，偷优钵罗花。时守池者而作是问：“池中者谁？”

her husband was capable of crowing like a duck. he then entered the king's pond to steal blue lotus flowers. he crowed when he was caught by the palace guard. the guard asked: "who are you?"

而此贫人失口，答言：“我是鸳鸯。”

with a slip of the tongue, the poor man replied: "i'm a duck."

守者捉得，将诣王所，而扵中道复更和声作鸳鸯鸣。守池者言：“尔先不作，今作何益！”

编辑:Liuxuepaper.Com