蒙學漢文初階 第一百三十七課 Beginning Chinese - Entry Level Lesson #137
周生釣魚河側 Chou Mr fish (verb) fish (noun) river side
久之獲一魚 long it reap one fish
視其腹 look its belly
孕子其衆 pregnant son its many
仍棄之 still abandon it
或問其故 someone ask its reason
周生曰 Chou Mr say
吾不忍得一魚 I not bear obtain one fish
而殺無數魚子也 and kill countless fish sons [ep]
Mr. Chou was fishing by the side of the river. After a long while, he caught one. Looking at its belly, it was pregnant and fully swollen. Still, he threw it back. Someone asked for the reason. Mr. Chou replied,
"I cannot bear that in order to get one fish, countless future fish will be killed!"
Notes:
1. See commentary in Lesson 51 for 或
2. The literal translation for the quote is awkward in English, "I cannot bear that to obtain one fish, countless fish babies are killed."