隨緣佈施 The Monk Speaks Up
三藏看得時辰久了，只得走上橋頭，應聲高叫道：「女菩薩，貧僧這裡隨緣佈施些兒齋吃。」那些女子聽見，一個個喜喜歡歡拋了針線，撇了氣毬，都笑笑吟吟的接出門來道：「長老，失迎了。三藏看得时辰久了，只得走上桥头，应声高叫道：「女菩萨，贫僧这里随缘布施些儿斋吃。」那些女子听见，一个个喜喜欢欢抛了针线，撇了气毬，都笑笑吟吟的接出门来道：「长老，失迎了。
逐句解 Line by line
Tripitaka watched a good long while, then had no choice but to walk up onto the bridgehead. He raised his voice and called, "Lady bodhisattvas, this poor monk is here to beg a little food, as chance provides."
Two 得 in one sentence, doing different jobs. 看得 takes de, joining the watching to how long it went on. 只得 takes dé, the modal — he could do nothing else. 應 is yìng, to answer or give voice. 隨緣, as circumstances allow, is the begging-monk's formula for taking whatever comes and asking for nothing particular.
Hearing him, the women were delighted, every one of them. They threw down their needlework, dropped the ball, and came out to meet him all smiles and chatter. "Elder, forgive us for not coming to greet you."
Four doubled pairs land in one sentence — 一個個, 喜喜歡歡, 笑笑吟吟 — and the effect in Chinese is a rush of movement, everybody at once. 失迎 is a set apology for not meeting a guest at the door, and it is impeccable manners. That is what should worry him.
He waited an hour and then walked up anyway. Everything he was worried about — the impropriety of a monk approaching a house full of women — is still true; he has simply run out of alternatives to being laughed at.
The phrase he opens with is worth knowing. Taking whatever comes, asking for nothing in particular, is the whole theory of the begging bowl: you do not choose, you accept. It is a good doctrine and a terrible security policy.
The response is instant and perfect. They drop everything, come out smiling, and apologise for not having met him at the door. Every beat of it is correct hospitality, delivered faster than any real household could manage. They were waiting.