蒙學漢文初階 第一百二十五課 Beginning Chinese - Entry Level Lesson #125
猴煨芋於爐 monkey roast_in_ashes in furnace/oven
謂貓曰 said cat say
熟則贈汝 cooked then present you
汝試取芋 you can try take taro
貓大喜 cat big happy
取芋出 take taro out
掌幾爛 palm almost broken/rot
擲於地 toss onto ground/earth
猴俟其冷 monkey wait it cold
而食之 and eat it
愚者之役 stupid the_one_who [pp] corvée
於智者如是 to wisdom the_one_who like is
A monkey was roasting taro in an oven made from ashes. It said to the cat,
"When it is cooked, it shall be presented to you."
The cat was overjoyed. [When cooked] the cat tried to take the taro out. Its paw was almost scalded and tossed the it onto the ground. The monkey waited until it became cooled and ate it.
Those who are stupid are thus corvées to those with knowledge.