[764] "Bhikkhus, suppose that, at the cry 'The most beautiful girl of the land! The most beautiful girl of the land!' (janapadakalyāṇī), a great crowd of people would gather. And that most beautiful girl of the land is supremely captivating in dancing, supremely captivating in singing. At the cry 'The most beautiful girl of the land is dancing and singing!' a still greater crowd of people would gather. Then a man would come along, wishing to live, not wishing to die, desiring happiness, averse to suffering (dukkha). They would say to him thus: 'Good man, this bowl of oil, filled to the brim, is to be carried by you between the great assembly and the most beautiful girl of the land. And a man with an upraised sword will follow right behind you; wherever you spill even a little of it, right there your head will fall.' What do you think, bhikkhus: would that man, ceasing to attend to that bowl of oil, allow himself to be drawn into negligence externally?"
"Surely not, venerable sir."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.