§2 愚人集牛乳喻
(2) the stupid man stores up milk
昔有愚人,将会宾客,欲集牛乳,以拟供设,而作是念:“我今若预于日日中毂取牛乳,牛乳渐多,卒无安处,或复酢败。不如即就牛腹盛之,待临会时,当顿(上殻 下牛)取。”作是念已,便捉牸牛母子,各系异处。
once upon a time there was a stupid man who was about to give a party. he wanted to store up milk for his guests. "if i milk the cow beforehand every day, he thought, little by little, there will be too much of milk and will not be enough space to store it and it may even spoil. it would be better to let it remain inside of the cow. i'll milk the cow right away at the time of the party." he then separated the cow from the calf and tied them up apart.
却后一月,尔乃设会,延置宾客,方牵牛来,欲(上殻 下牛)取乳,而此牛乳即干无有。时为宾客或嗔或笑。
a month later, he actually gave the reception. he tried to milk the cow, but the milk had run dry. some guests got annoyed and others laughed at him.