百喻经之四七：贫人能作鸳鸯鸣喻

　　英文：

　　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.

　　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."

　　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?"

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

　　He was arrested and was taken to the king. on the way, he crowed again. thereupon, the guard said, "you didn't crow properly before, what's the use of doing so now?"

　　So are the stupid in the world. one who in his lifetime does all kinds of evil deeds to the others, is reluctant to repent and subdue his mind. only at the time of his demise, he says, "from now on, i shall start to do good deeds."

　　The guard will nevertheless send him to the king of hell. it is too late for him to want to do good deeds, just as the stupid man who could crow like duck.

　　古文：

　　昔外国法，节庆之日，一切妇女尽持优钵罗花以为鬘饰。

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

　　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：鈥湷刂姓咚�？鈥�

　　而此贫人失口，答言：鈥溛沂窃а臁ｂ��

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

　　世间愚人，亦复如是。终身残害，作众恶业，不习心行，使令调善。临命终时，方言：鈥溄裎矣�得修善。鈥�

　　狱卒将去付阎罗王，虽欲修善，亦无所及已。如彼愚人欲到王所作鸳鸯鸣。

　　译文：

　　从前外国的习俗，在节庆之日里，所有妇女都佩戴优钵罗华作为装饰。

　　有一个穷人，妻子对他说：鈥溎闳羰悄艿美从挪�罗华与我佩戴，我就做你的妻子；若是不能得到，我便离开你了。鈥澦�丈夫先前很能摹仿鸳鸯的叫声，便跨进国王的池沼，一边作鸳鸯的鸣声，一边偷优钵罗华。这时守池人问道：鈥湷刂械氖撬�？鈥澱馇钊耸Э诖鸬溃衡�溛沂窃а臁ｂ�澥爻厝私�他捉牢了，带到国王处去，走到半道上，穷人又抑扬有致地作起鸳鸯的鸣声来。守池人说：鈥溎阆惹安唤校�现在叫有什么用？鈥�

　　世上的愚人也是这样，终身杀生害命，作种种恶业，不调节心行，以使它朝善的方向发展，待到命终时，方说：鈥溔缃裎蚁胄扌猩埔怠ｂ�澯�卒依然把他带去，付与阎罗王处治。虽是想修行善业，也已经晚了。就好像那个愚人，快到国王那儿了，才作起鸳鸯叫来。