§16 灌甘蔗喻
(16) water the sugar - cane
昔有二人,共种甘蔗,而作誓言:“种好者赏;其不好者,当重罚之。”时二人中,一者念言:“甘蔗极甜,若压取汁,还灌甘蔗树,甘美必甚,得胜于彼。”
once upon a time two men who cultivated sugar-cane, pledged that the one who had a good harvest would win prizes, while the one with a bad harvest would be heavily penalized. one of them thought, "the sugar-cane itself is very sweet. it will be more delicious if i water it with its compressed juice. then i will get the upper hand over him."
即压甘蔗,取汁用溉,冀望滋味。反败种子,所有甘蔗,一切都失。
immediately, he began to press the juice from the sugar-cane. he watered the plant with the juice in the hope of making it more delicious. instead, he destroyed the seedling and lost his entire plantation.
世人亦尔:欲求善福,恃己豪贵,专形挟势,迫胁下民,陵夺财物,以用作福。本期善
果,不知将来反获其患殃。如压甘蔗,彼此都失。