小翠（狐报恩,人忘恩）:聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）

聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）

小翠（狐报恩，人忘恩）


原文：
　　
王太常*，越*人。总角*时，昼卧榻上。忽阴晦，巨霆暴作，一物大于猫，来伏身下，展转不离。移时晴霁，物即径出。视之非猫，始怖，隔房呼兄。兄闻，喜曰：“弟必大贵，此狐来避雷霆劫也。”后果少年登进士，以县令入为侍御。 生一子名元丰，绝痴，十六岁不能知牝牡*，因而乡党无于为婚。王忧之。适有妇人率少女登门，自请为妇。视其女，嫣然展笑，真仙品也。喜问姓名。自言：“虞氏。女小翠，年二八矣。”与议聘金。曰：“是从我糠覈*不得饱，一旦置身广厦，役婢仆，厌*膏梁，彼意适，我愿慰矣，岂卖菜也而索直乎！”夫人大悦，优厚之。妇即命女拜王及夫人，嘱曰：“此尔翁姑，奉侍宜谨。我大忙，且去，三数日当复来。”王命仆马送之，妇言：“里巷不远，无烦多事。”遂出门去。 小翠殊不悲恋，便即奁中翻取花样。夫人亦爱乐之。

注释：

1．太常：也叫侍御宫廷中负责祭祀礼乐的官员。2．越：今浙江一带。3．总角：古时未成年人把头发扎成角状发髻，借指幼年。4．以县令入为侍御：从宫外的县令入宫任侍御。 侍御，宫中高层司法官，负责检举弹劾赃官；有时受命执行办案。5．牝牡：雌雄。鸟兽雌性称牝，读“贫”；雄性称牡。此处代指人的性别。6．年二八：女子十六岁。7．糠覈：粗饭。覈，米的粗渣，读“和”8．厌：吃饱。此处是“餍”，吃饱，满足的意思，读“厌”，但不是讨厌的“厌”。9．奁：原指梳妆盒。读“连”。此处指闺中箱匣等。

白话：

王太常，浙江人。小时候有一天，白天躺在床上。天忽然阴下来，霹雳一声，一个比猫大的东西，进来卧在他身边，腻腻歪歪不离开。片刻之后天晴起来，那东西就马上出去了。见它不是猫，就感到很害怕，隔着房门喊哥哥。哥哥知道后，高兴地说：“弟弟将来一定会当大官，那是狐狸来避雷劈的劫难。”王公后来果然少年得志，考取进士，从宫外的县令入宫当上了侍御。 生一个儿子叫元丰，极其痴呆，十六岁还不知人分男女，因而乡里乡亲没有人愿意和他结亲。王公为此非常苦恼。正好有一位妇人领着一个少女找上门，主动要求把女儿嫁给王家当媳妇。看那女孩，面带笑容，貌美如仙。王公满心欢喜地问姓名。妇人说：“我家姓虞。女儿叫小翠，刚十六岁。”和她们商议聘礼。妇人说：“从前我家总是吃糠咽菜不得温饱，一旦进入豪门，有婢女仆人伺候，好吃好喝管够，对方满意，我也心甘情愿，如果要聘礼，这岂不是在卖菜！”王夫人非常高兴，热情款待。妇人就叫女儿拜见王公及夫人，嘱咐说：“这就是你的公婆，要好好伺候。我太忙，先回去，三两天再来。”王公派仆人用马车送她，妇人说：“家里离这儿不远，不必麻烦了。”于是出门就走了。 小翠也不感到悲伤留恋，随即从闺中箱盒里取出花样做起针线活。夫人非常喜欢她。

英译：

Wang from Zhejiang Province was a higher official in the emperial palace.
One day when he was a young boy, Wang was lying in bed in daytime. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered in the sky and accompanied by peals of thunder, a storm started swiftly. With a thunderclap, an animal, larger than a cat, came in and hid under his body. The animal just stayed there without any signs to leave.
Only after the thunderstorm finished, did the animal come out. Finding it wasn’t a cat, Wang became terrified and called his brother who was then in another room. Learning what’d happened, his brother was very happy.
“You’ll have good luck, bother.” He was told. “This is a fox. It came here to avoid the thunderbolt calamity.”
Later on, indeed very lucky, Wang was created a higher official from local county into the imperial palace. Yet the only pity was that he had a dull-witted son named Yuan Feng. The son was so foolish that at the age of sixteen, he even couldn’t distinguish male from female Therefore no one wanted to marry his daughter to him. Wang was very much anxious about it.
One day, a middle-aged lady came together with a young girl, saying she was willing to marry her daughter to Yuan Feng. .
Giving a charming smile, the girl was as beautiful as a fairy. Seeing this, Wang was delighted and asked their names.
“We come from Yu family,” the lady said. “My daughter Xiao Cui is fourteen.”
Being asked what sort of betrothal presents they wanted, the lady said, “Our family is very poor so we’re often underfed. But from now on, as a member of your rich family, my daughter won’t have to worry about food and clothing. So long as she is happy, my wish will come true. What’s the need to bargain as vegetable sellers?”
Hearing this, Wang’s wife was very happy and warmly entertained the guests. The lady asked her daughter to kowtow to Wang and his wife.
“They’re your parents-in-law. You should well attend on them.” the lady said to Xiao Cui. “I’m leaving now because I’m very busy. Three days later I’ll come again.”
Wang asked his servant to send her off. But she said, “It’s not very far. No need to bother you.”
After saying this, the lady left at once. Showing no sign of sorrow for the separation with her mother, the girl happily ransacked her dowry box instead. Wang’s wife beamed with joy on her new daughter-in-law.


原文：

数日妇不至，以居里问女，女亦憨然不能言其道路。遂治*别院，使夫妇成礼。诸戚闻拾得贫家儿作新妇，共笑姗*之；见女皆惊，群议始息。女又甚慧，能窥翁姑喜怒。王公夫妇，宠惜过于常情，然惕惕焉惟恐其憎子痴，而女殊欢笑不为嫌。第*善谑，刺布作圆，蹋蹴为笑。着小皮靴，蹴去数十步，绐*公子奔拾之，公子及婢恒流汗相属。一日王偶过，圆訇然来，直中面目。女与婢俱敛迹去，公子犹踊跃奔逐之。王怒，投之以石，始伏而啼。王以告夫人，夫人往责女，女俯首微笑，以手劥?。既退，憨跳如故，以脂粉涂公子，作花面如鬼。夫人见之，怒甚，呼女诟骂。女倚几弄带，不惧亦不言。夫人无奈之，因杖其子。元丰大号，女始色变，屈膝乞宥。夫人怒顿解，释杖去。女笑拉公子入室，代扑衣上尘，拭眼泪，摩挲*杖痕，饵以枣栗。公子乃收涕以忻*。女阖庭户，复装公子作霸王，作沙漠人*；己乃艳服，束细腰，婆娑作帐下舞；或髻插雉尾，拨琵琶，丁丁缕缕然，喧笑一室，日以为常。王公以子痴，不忍过责妇，即微闻焉，亦若置之。
　　
注释：


1．治：安置，安顿。2．笑姗：嘲笑讥讽。3．第：但。4．绐：哄骗。5．劊嚎袒?６痢巴辍薄４舜χ赶乱馐兜孛?鞲???．摩挲：爱抚。7．忻：高兴。读“新”。8．霸王：指楚霸王项羽。此句说两人扮演戏剧霸王别姬中的男女角色。9．沙漠人：在沙漠里生活的人。此处指匈奴王。此句说两人扮演戏剧昭君出塞中的那女角色。


白话：

几天之后，妇人没有来，就问小翠到底住在哪里，小翠表现天真，但说不出个所以然。于是就把她安置在另外一个院落里，让她和元丰结为夫妇。亲戚们听说王家拾一个穷人家的女儿作新媳妇，都直嘲笑他们；可是一见小翠的面都很惊讶，各种议论这才消除。小翠又非常聪慧，能看公婆的喜怒行事。王公夫妇，虽然宠爱她过于常情，然而总是提心吊胆，只怕她嫌弃儿子的痴呆，不过小翠总是欢笑着一点不嫌弃。她非常喜欢开玩笑，用布缝成圆球，踢着取笑。穿着小皮靴，一踢就踢出数十步，哄骗公子跑去拾，公子和婢女经常累得汗流浃背。一天王公偶然路过，球正打在他的脸上。小翠和婢女都跑得无影无踪，公子还蹦蹦跳跳地跑着去追球。王公很生气，就向他扔石头，他这才趴在地上哭叫起来。王公把这件事告诉夫人，夫人就去指责小翠，小翠低头微笑，用手抚弄床边。夫人离开之后，她又和从前一样天真地蹦蹦跳跳，还用脂粉给公子涂抹，弄得满脸花里胡哨像鬼。夫人见了，非常气愤，对小翠连喊带骂。小翠靠着桌子摆弄衣带，既不恐惧也不言语。夫人没有办法，就用棍棒责打儿子。元丰大哭起来，小翠这才花容失色，双膝跪地请求宽恕。夫人的火气立即解除，扔掉棍棒离开。小翠笑着把公子拉进屋，替他拍打衣服上的灰尘，擦掉眼泪，抚摸着被棍棒打出的伤痕，给他枣和栗子吃。公子这才破涕为笑。小翠关上门窗，又把公子装扮成楚霸王，或者匈奴王；自己也华装艳服，把腰扎得细细的，或像虞姬在帐下那样婆娑起舞；或像王昭君那样在发髻上插雉尾，拨弄琵琶，发出丁丁冬冬的声音，满屋欢声笑语，每天习以为常。王公因为儿子痴呆，不忍心过于责备小翠，即便知道一些情况，也听之任之。
　　




英译：

Yet several days later, the lady didn’t come. To be asked, even the girl couldn’t make an explanation.
Wang let the girl live in another compound and then held a wedding ceremony for the young couple.
Learning they got a girl from a poor family and even married her as their son’s bride, many relatives laughed at them. But when they saw the bride, they were greatly surprised and various gossips finished automatically.
Xiao Cui was very clever so that she could understand the old lady by examining her words and watching her mood. The old couple loved her with extraordinarily profound feelings, but they were still in a nervous state being afraid the girl would detest their son’s dementia. Yet Xiao Cui was happy all the time without any sign of detestation.
The only problem was that she liked joking. She made a ball with colorful cloth and kicked it and laughed. Kicking the ball several decades of feet away, she would ask Yuan Feng to run and pick it up. This often made the boy and his maid wet with sweat.
Passing by on an occasion one day, Wang was struck directly in his face by the ball. Xiao Cui and the maid all left, but his son still chased the ball. Wang was very angry and threw a stone to his son who was hit and fell down onto the ground and cried.
Wang told his wife all about it. The old lady reproached their daughter-in-law. Bending her head and smiling, Xiao Cui only stroked her bed subconsciously. But after that, being simpleminded and straightforward, she acted as usual. Moreover, she even rouged Yuan Feng’s face so that he looked just like a ghost.
Seeing this, the old lady burst into anger and scolded Xiao Cui. But she wasn’t afraid at all only leaning against a table, playing with her cloth subconsciously and saying nothing. Unable to do anything about it, the old lady could not but beat Yuan Feng with a stick.
Yuan Feng cried loudly. Only at this moment, did Xiao Cui begin to change her expression and kneel down begging for mercy. Seeing this, with her anger vanishing immediately, the old lady threw the stick away and left.
Smilingly, she dragged Yuan Feng into their room, patted the dust off his coat, wiped the tears off his face, caressed the wound on his body and gave him some dates and chestnuts to eat. Yuan Feng couldn’t refrain from smiling through tears.
But after closing the door, she was joking again. Carefully dressing Yuan Feng, she made him look like a king. And she was just like a queen. This made the young couple very happy. And the room was filled with laughter all the time.
Considering his son’s dementia, Wang had no heart to blame his new daughter-in-law too seriously. Even if learning something about it, he still left things as they were.


原文：

同巷有王给谏*者，相隔十余户，然素不相能*；时值三年大计吏*，忌公握河南道篆*，思中伤之。公知其谋，忧虑无所为计。一夕早寝，女冠带，饰冢宰*状，剪素丝作浓髭，又以青衣饰两婢为虞候，窃跨厩马而出，戏云：“将谒王先生。”驰至给谏之门，即又鞭挝从人，大言曰：“我谒侍御王，宁谒给谏王耶！”回辔而归。比至家门，门者误以为真，奔白王公。公急起承迎，方知为子妇之戏。怒甚，谓夫人曰：“人方蹈我之瑕*，反以闺阁之丑登门而告之，余祸不远矣！”夫人怒，奔女室，诟让*之。女惟憨笑，并不一置词。挞之，不忍，出之，则无家，夫妻懊怨，终夜不寝。时冢宰某公赫甚，其仪采服从，与女伪装无少殊别，王给谏亦误为真。屡侦公门，中夜而客未出，疑冢宰与公有阴谋。次日早期，见而问曰：“夜相公*至君家耶？”公疑其相讥，惭言唯唯，不甚响答。给谏愈疑，谋遂寝*，由此益交欢公。公探知其情窃喜，而阴嘱夫人劝女改行，女笑应之。
　　
注释：

1．给谏：官名。清朝隶属都察院，负责检举，查处弊案。2。侍御王：指王太常。 3．素不相能：向来不相容。4．三年大计吏：每三年对官吏考绩一次。5．忌公握河南道篆：怕王公掌管河南道监察御史大印。6．冢宰：官名，就是吏部尚书，掌管全国官吏的任免考选，是吏部的最高长官。唐宋是正三品，明代是正二品，清代为从一品。通常称为天官、冢宰、太宰。7．虞候：宫中禁卫官，掌侦察、巡逻。后指富贵人家雇用的侍从。8．蹈我之瑕：找我的毛病，挑我的刺儿。9．让：责备。10．寝：消食。
　　
白话：

在同一条巷子里有一位王给谏，住的相隔十余户，然而关系一直很紧张；正赶上皇上对下属三年一次的大考绩，他怕王公掌握河南道监察御史的大印，就想暗中算计他。王公知道他的阴谋，愁得不知如何。一天晚上王公早早地睡下了，小翠穿官服戴官帽装成冢宰的样子，剪掉头发作成浓密的短胡子，又让两名婢女穿上黑衣服装扮成虞候，偷偷地骑着马厩里的马跑出去，开玩笑说：“去拜见王先生。”骑着马跑王给谏的门口，又用马鞭打随从人员，大声说：“我要拜见的是王侍御，怎么来拜见王给谏呢！”驳回马头就返回去了。等到了自己家门前，看门的误以为真，就急忙跑去告诉王公。王公急忙起身去迎接，这才知道是儿媳在演戏。愤怒已极，对夫人曰：“他正在挑我的毛病，躲都躲不及，反而让妇道人家出丑，而且还登门去告诉他，我的祸不远啦！”夫人怒火万丈，跑到小翠房间，边骂边责备她。小翠只是憨笑，一句话也不说。打她不忍心，休掉她又无家可归，夫妻俩很窝火，整夜都睡不着。冢宰声名显赫，他的仪容风采以及侍从，都和小翠假装的没什么差别，王给谏也误以为真。于是屡次派人到王公门前观察，一直到半夜客人也没有出来，就怀疑冢宰与王公在搞阴谋。第二天早晨上朝，见到王公就问：“夜里冢宰到你家去啦？”王公怀疑他是在讥讽，心里感到很惭愧，就支支吾吾，没说出痛快话。给谏更加怀疑，于是就打消了搞阴谋的念头，从此和王公的关系日益好起来。王公探知真情后心中窃喜，可是也暗自嘱咐夫人劝小翠改掉搞恶作剧的毛病，小翠笑着答应了。


英译：

There was another higher official also named Wang who lived only several blocks away from Wang. These two Wangs were incompatible as fire and water. Deliberately, the second Wang had long been trying to find fault with Wang so as to defame him. Knowing this, Wang was always heavy-hearted.
One night, Wang went to bed early. Xiao Cui got into mischief again. She dressed herself a male higher official by putting on an official coat and sticking some silk on her jaw as bears, while dressed two maids as attendants.
Xiao Cui stealthily rode a horse, joking, “Let’s go to visit Mr. Wang.”
But, when they arrived at the second Wang’s gate, she said aloud to her servants, “We want to visit another Mr. Wang, not this one.”
In fact, her real purpose was to draw the attention of the second Wang.
When they were back at home, the doorman wrongly thought the higher official was visiting his master Wang,, namely Xiao Cui’s father-in-law, and hurriedly went to report. Firmly believing the report to be true, Wang came out to meet them without any delay. But he found this was just a joking of his daughter-in-law.
Filled with indignation, Wang said to his wife, “That Wang tries to find fault with me all the time.” He said continuously. “But our daughter-in-law did nothing to prevent it. And worse of all, she went to that Wang on her own initiative to cause me more trouble. My disaster’s coming near!”
Flying into a rage, the old lady went to Xiao Cui’s room and seriously scolded her. But Xiao Cui only smiled without saying anything.
If beating her, the old couple didn’t have the heart. If driving her out, she had no home to go. Not knowing what to do, they were very much annoyed and were sitting up all night.
On the other hand, the second Wang really believed a higher official went to visit his mortal enemy Wang because the makeup of Xiao Cui was very true to life. Secretly, he went to observe Wang’s gate time and again. Without seeing any higher officials coming out, he suspected that Wang and the higher official were making a plot to cause him trouble.
Next morning, the second Wang asked Wang, “A higher official paid a visit to you last night?”
Suspecting the second Wang was sneering at him, Wang felt quite ashamed and could do nothing but say yes in a low voice. Hearing Wang’s hem and haw, the second Wang became more doubtful than ever before so that he stopped plotting to frame up Wang anymore and instead tried his best to curry favor with him.
Learning the true story, Wang was very happy but secretly asked his wife to dissuade their daughter-in-law from doing the same foolish thing as before. Xiao Cui smilingly made a promise.


原文：

逾岁，首相*免，适有以私函致公者误投给谏。给谏大喜，先托善公者往假*万金，公拒之。给谏自诣公所。公觅巾袍并不可得；给谏伺候久，怒公慢，愤将行。忽见公子衮衣旒冕*，有女子自门内推之以出，大骇；已而笑抚之，脱其服冕而去。公急出，则客去远。闻其故，惊颜如土，大哭曰：“此祸水*也！指日赤吾族矣！”与夫人操杖往。女已知之，阖扉任其诟厉。公怒，斧其门，女在内含笑而告之曰：“翁无烦怒。有新妇在，刀锯斧钺妇自受之，必不令贻害双亲。翁若此，是欲杀妇以灭口耶？”公乃止。给谏归，果抗疏揭王不轨，衮冕作据。上惊验之，其旒冕乃梁黠心所制，袍则败布黄袱也。上怒其诬。又召元丰至，见其憨状可掬，笑曰：“此可以作天子耶？”乃下之法司。给谏又讼公家有妖人，法司严诘臧获，并言无他，惟颠妇痴儿日事戏笑，邻里亦无异词。案乃定，以给谏充云南军。 王由是奇女。又以母久不至，意其非人，使夫人探诘之，女但笑不言。再复穷问，则掩口曰：“儿玉皇女，母不知耶？”

注释：

1．首相：就是冢宰。2。假：借用。3。衮衣旒冕：穿戴帝王冠服。衮衣，皇帝穿的衮龙袍，衮读“滚”；旒冕，帝王戴的帽子。旒，前后悬垂玉串。读“流”。4。祸水，指败坏国家的女人。5。赤吾族：杀我全家。赤族，全家族被杀。6。抗疏：上疏直陈。7。下之法司：交由下面的司法部门处置。8。臧获：奴婢。



白话：

一年之后，冢宰被免职。有个人写给王公一封私信，可是却误投给了王给谏。给谏非常高兴，先托和王公关系好的人去找王公借万两黄金，王公拒绝了。给谏就亲自前往王公的住处。王公立即寻找官服，可是很久也没找到；王给谏等候多时不见王公出来，就对他的怠慢感到非常恼火，气得他直想离开。可忽然看见公子穿戴帝王衣冠，有女子从门里把他推出来，先是非常害怕；后来又笑着爱抚他，并脱掉他的衣冠离开。王公急忙出来，可是客人已经走远了。知道原因后，惊吓得面色如土，大哭着说：“这个祸水呀！我一家人被砍头的日子不远了！”于是和夫人一起拿着棍棒去找小翠算账。小翠已经知道，关起门来任由他们严加责骂。王公大怒，用斧头砍门，小翠在里面含笑告诉他：“公公不要恼怒。有新媳妇在，刀锯斧钺媳妇自己承受，一定不会加害于双亲。公公如果这样，是想杀媳妇灭口吧？”王公这才止住。给谏回去后，果然上疏检举王公的不法行为，以公子穿戴的帝王冠服作证据。皇上吃惊，要检查，可是发现公子的皇冠是高梁秸秆的心做成的，龙袍则是破布和黄色的包袱皮做的。皇上发怒怪他诬告。又召见元丰，见他憨态可掬，笑着说：“这样的人可以作天子吗？”于是把王给谏交由司法处置。给谏又指控王公家有妖精，司法部门对奴婢严加盘问后，都没有说别的，只说有个大大咧咧的媳妇和傻儿子成天耍笑，邻里也没有说别的。案子于是裁定下来，把王给谏发配云南充军。 王公从此对小翠感到很奇怪。又因为她母亲久久不到，意识到她们不是人类，就让夫人探听盘问，小翠只笑不说话。再反复盘问，就捂着嘴说：“儿媳妇是玉皇大帝的女儿，婆婆不知道吗？”


英译：

One year later, a locale higher official was promoted again. Somebody wrote Wang a letter telling him the news. But by mistake, the letter mailed to the second Wang. After reading the letter, the second Wang thought that Wang will surely be able to share in that higher official. Feeling delighted, he wanted to curry favor with Wang again. He gave Wang bribes of ten thousand dollars with the help of one of Wang’s friends. But Wang refused.
Facing Wang’s refusal, the second Wang had to pay a visit personally. Learning the second Wang’s coming, Wang was hurriedly searching for a proper official suit to put on. But he didn’t find one. Awaiting Wang for a long time, the second Wang became very angry with Wang’s slow action and wanted to leave.
Just at this moment, the second Wang suddenly saw Wang’s son Yuan Feng was pushed out by a lady. And the son was wearing elegant imperial dress. Seeing a stranger, Yuan Feng was afraid at first, but then laughed and took off the imperial dress and walked away.
Wang came out but the second Wang already left. Learning the reasons, he was frightened and cried. Wang knew that if an ordinary people should have the gut to putt on the imperial suit, he would be considered to have committed a capital crime.
“This woman is really the bane of my life.” He said. “Our whole family will be finished very soon!”
With a stick in hand, he went to Xiao Cui’s room together with his wife. Learning their coming, Xiao Cui closed the door and let them scold her at will.
Exploding with anger, Wang chopped the door with an ax. Xiao Cui smilingly said in her room, “Don’t be worried. One must bear the consequences of his own acts. Now that I’m here, I can deal with all kinds of disasters so that not to do any harm to you. ” She said continuously. “If you kill me, you would make the false appearance to be seemingly true. And they would think you did away with a witness.”
Hearing her words, Wang stopped.
The second Wang made a report to the imperial court saying that Wang was plotting treason and that his son’s imperial dress could be taken as evidence. The Emperor was very angry and asked someone to collect the evidence. But they found the so-called imperial dress of Yuan Feng was made of ordinary yellow cloth and the ornaments were made of maize stalk.
The Emperor was angry with the second Wang’s sheer slanderous accusation and issued an order to call in Wang’s son. Seeing the funny appearance of the simple-minded but lovely young man, the Emperor asked, “He can be an emperor?”
And because of this, the Emperor demanded the Supreme Court to punish the second Want. Hating to be outdone, the second Wang brought another charge against Wang saying Wang hid an evildoer in his home. After a careful research, nothing was found but an unrestrained young lady and a foolish son laughing and joking all the time. And moreover, the neighbors took no dislike to them at all.
Finally, a judgment passed on this case, the second Wang was sent to exile. From then on, Wang began to have doubts about his daughter-in-law. Besides, her mother hadn’t appeared again for so long a time, he even thought she wasn’t human being. He requested his wife to ask Xiao Cui about this matter. Xiao Cui only smiled without saying anything. If to be asked again, with her hand covering her mouth, she would say, “I’m the daughter of Kind of Heaven. But I don’t know who my mother is.”



原文：

无何，公擢京卿*。五十余每患无孙。女居三年，夜夜与公子异寝，似未尝有所私。夫人异榻去，嘱公子与妇同寝。过数日，公子告母曰：“借榻去，悍不还！小翠夜夜以足股加腹上，喘气不得；又惯掐人股里。”婢妪无不粲然。夫人呵拍令去。一日女浴于室，公子见之，欲与偕；女笑止之，谕使姑待。既去，乃更泻热汤于瓮，解其袍裤，与婢扶之入。公子觉蒸闷，大呼欲出。女不听，以衾蒙之。少时无声，启视已绝。女坦笑不惊，曳置床上，拭体干洁，加复被焉。夫人闻之，哭而入，骂曰：“狂婢何杀吾儿！”女冁然曰：“如此痴儿，不如勿有。”夫人益恚，以首触女；婢辈争曳劝之。方纷噪间，一婢告曰：“公子呻矣！”辍涕抚之，则气息休休，而大汗浸淫，沾浃裀褥。食顷汗已，忽开目四顾遍视家人，似不相识，曰：“我今回忆往昔，都如梦寐，何也？”夫人以其言语不痴，大异之。携参其父，屡试之果不痴，大喜，如获异宝。至晚，还榻故处，更设衾枕以觇之。公子入室，尽遣婢去。早窥之，则榻虚设。自此痴颠皆不复作，而琴瑟静好如形影焉。
　　


注释：

1．擢京卿：提升为京卿。指王公从侍御提升为太常寺卿。卿，清代对三品或四品京官的尊称，或称“京堂”。2．冁然：笑的样子，读“产”。3．浸淫：大汗淋漓。


白话：

没过过久，王公被提升为太常寺卿。五十多岁经常发愁没有孙子。小翠过门三年，夜夜都和公子分床而睡，似乎从来没有和公子亲近过。夫人就把另一张床撤掉，嘱咐公子和媳妇同睡。过几天，公子告诉母亲说：“你把床借去，怎么总不还！小翠夜夜都把脚和大腿放到我肚子上，喘不过气；还总用手掐我大腿的里边。”婢女和老保姆都笑成一团。夫人呵斥着把她们赶走。一天小翠在房间里洗澡，公子见到，就想和他一起洗；小翠笑着制止他，叫他稍微等一会儿。公子走开，她就换了一缸热水，解开他的袍裤，和婢女一起扶着他进入浴缸。公子觉得蒸腾发闷，大喊大叫着要出来。小翠不听，还用被子蒙上他。片刻之后公子就没了声息，掀开一看已经断气。小翠坦然而笑丝毫不惊讶，把他拉到床上，擦干净他的身体，又加盖一床棉被。夫人闻讯，哭着跑进来，骂道：“你这个发疯的小贱人为什么要杀我儿子！”小翠笑着说：“这么个傻儿子，不如没有。”夫人越发气愤，用头撞小翠；婢女仆人急忙过来相劝。正在乱糟糟的时候，一个婢女告诉说：“公子直哼哼！”夫人停止哭闹抚摸着公子，他在慢慢喘气，大汗淋漓，洇湿了被褥。吃顿饭的功夫就停止出汗了，忽然睁开眼睛四下张望看着家里的人，似乎不认识，说：“我现在回想起过去，都像做梦，为什么呢？”夫人因为他说话不痴不呆，非常吃惊。领着他去看父亲，试了好几次都不傻，于是大家非常高兴，就像得到宝贝一样。到晚上，把搬走的床放回原处，还放上被褥枕头对他加以观察。公子走进房间，叫婢女都走开。早晨偷偷一看，那张床白放到那里了。从此痴呆疯癫一概不再复发，代之而来的则是和小翠卿卿我我，形影不离。


英译：

Shortly, Wang was promoted again. But he was quite unhappy because he still didn’t have any grandsons at the age of fifty.
Within a long period of three years, Xiao Cui always slept separately with Yuan Feng. It seemed that this young couple didn’t have any private things at all. The old lady urged her son to sleep together with his wife. But he told his mother his wife always refused him.
“Every night, Xiao Cui put her legs and bottom on my belly. I nearly lost my breath,” said Yuan Feng. “She often pinched my bottom.”
Hearing this, the old lady and the servants felt surprised.
One day, Xiao Cui was going to take a bath in the bathroom. Yuan Feng wanted to be with her. She smilingly stopped him and asked him to wait. Stepping out of the bath room some time later, she filled a large jar with hot water, took off her husband’s clothes and helped him into the jar.
Feeling extremely sultry, Yuan Feng shouted wanting to go out. Not listening to him, Xiao Cui covered him with a quilt. Shortly, he became silent. Taking off the quilt, they found him breathless.
Only smiling without being surprised, Xiao Cui dragged his husband onto the bed, wiped the water off his body and then covered him again with a quilt.
Learning this, the old lady ran into the room crying aloud.
“You mad woman! Why do you kill my son?” the old lady scolded her daughter-in-law.
Xiao Cui smilingly replied, “What a silly son! You’d better not to have him.”
Being angrier than ever before, the old lady hit Xiao Cui in her head. The maids immediately dragged her away dissuading her from being too sorrowful.
Just at the moment all people were clamoring, a maid cried out, “Yuan Feng is groaning!”
Touching her son with tears streaming down like raindrops, the old lady found her son lightly breathing with his sweat wetting the quilt. Shortly, he stopped sweating and opened his eyes and looked at the people around. He seemed to be unable to recognize any of them.
“Recalling the past, I feel everything is seemingly in a dream,” he asked. “Why?”
Finding her son wasn’t speaking nonsense, the old lady felt much astonished. She brought him to see his father. Testing time and again, they found Yuan Feng indeed was no longer foolish at all. The old couple were greatly excited as if acquiring something priceless.
In the evening, they let him sleep in the old place and had a careful observation. They found Yuan Feng went into the room readily and asked the maid to leave.
From then on, Yuan Feng never had a recurrence of his old illness. Moreover, the young couple lived in perfect harmony, inseparable as body and shadow.


原文：

年余，公为给谏之党奏劾免官，小有罣误*。旧有广西中丞*所赠玉瓶，价累千金，将出以贿当路。女爱而把玩之，失手堕碎，惭而自投*。公夫妇方以免官不快，闻之，怒，交口呵骂。女奋而出，谓公子曰：“我在汝家，所保全者不止一瓶，何遂不少存面目？实与君言：我非人也。以母遭雷霆之劫，深受而翁庇翼；又以我两人有五年夙分*，故以我来报曩恩、了夙愿耳。身受唾骂、擢发不足以数，所以不即行者，五年之爱未盈。今何可以暂止乎！”盛气而出，追之已杳。公爽然*自失，而悔无及矣。公子入室，睹其剩粉遗钩，恸哭欲死；寝食不甘，日就羸瘁。公大忧，急为胶续*以解之，而公子不乐。惟求良工画小翠像，日夜浇祷*其下，几二年。


注释：

1罣误：官吏因公事受谴责。罣，音义都同“挂”。2。中丞：就是巡抚。3。自投：自己主动去认错。4。而翁：你父亲。而，你。5。夙分：缘分。6。爽然：惭愧。7。胶续：续娶。8。浇祷：酹酒祈祷。酹酒，把酒洒在地上祭奠。酹，读“类”。


白话：

过了一年多，王公因为公事办理的有点差误，被王给谏的党羽上疏遭弹劾被罢免。广西中丞曾经赠送给他一只玉瓶，价指千金，打算拿出去贿赂当权者。小翠非常喜爱就拿着把玩，不料失手落地摔得粉碎，感到非常惭愧，就主动向主人承认错误。王公夫妇刚因为被罢官而不愉快，听到这件事，勃然大怒，两人都破口大骂。小翠一气之下，站起来就走出去，对公子说：“我在你家，所保全的东西不只是一只瓶子，可为什么不稍微给我留点面子呢？实话对你说：我不是人。因为母亲那次遭雷霆劫难，多亏你父亲的庇护；又因为我们两人有五年的缘分，所以我才来报答你们从前的大恩，有实现自己的夙愿。可我经常遭受唾骂，次数多得擢发难数，可我所以不马上离开的原因，就是五年的恩爱还没有够。可这段情份今天就该暂时打住！”小翠气冲冲地走出去，公子追到外面她早已不见踪影。王公因为失礼感到非常惭愧，但是已经后悔不及。公子走进房间，看到小翠用剩下的胭脂粉和撇下的发簪等物，嚎啕大哭，想一死了之；吃不好睡不着，日益憔悴瘦弱。王公忧心忡忡，急着为他续娶，想以此安慰儿子，可公子依然闷闷不乐。只是求能工巧匠为小翠画像，日夜在画像下面洒酒祈祷，几乎二年没有间断。

英译：

One year later, Wang offended the second Wang’s friends. As a result, he was removed from office. In order to be restored to his original post, Wang was going to buy a certain higher official’s help by offering him a very precious jade vase.
Extremely liking the jade vase, Xiao Cui took it into her room and played with it, but she lost hold of the vase which fell down onto the ground and was broken into pieces. Feeling much ashamed, she went to the old couple acknowledging her fault.
Already unhappy enough because of Wang’s being removed from office, the old couple flew into a rage immediately after learning this and began to scold her, severe in voice and countenance.
“Don’t worry!” said Xiao Cui.
Without saying any more, she just waved her right hand to the broken vase. Strange enough, all the pieces flew up into her hand and turned into the original vase automatically.
“Here you are!” She handed the perfect vase to her mother-in-law.
The old lady was astonished.
Angrily went out, Xiao Cui said to Yuan Feng, “In your family, I saved not only a vase. Why didn’t they save a bit of my face?” she said continuously. “To tell the truth, I’m not human being. Long ago, my mother once suffered from a thunderbolt disaster. But thanks to your father’s help, she was saved. What’s more, you and me are destined to live together for five years. So I came here to repay your father for his kindness in order to realize my long-cherished wish. I’ve been scolded endlessly but I still live with you. The only reason why I don’t leave is that the five-year-time-limit for my love with you hasn’t finished. But today, it finished!”
Blazing with anger, Xiao Cui ran out. Yuan Feng tried to chase her but she already vanished. Greatly ashamed, Wang realized he had made a big mistake but was too late to make amends for what he did.
Going into his room and seeing whatever his wife left, Yuan Feng sorrowfully cried, cried and cried, and simply wanted to die. Uneasy even when eating and sleeping, he became thinner and thinner with every passing day.
Wang worried about his son and wanted to find him a new wife so as to preclude his sorrow. But Yuan Feng always felt gloomy. He could do nothing but ask a fine artist to draw him a portrait of Xiao Cui. And he’d kept praying for his wife before the portrait day and night for nearly two years.


原文：　

偶以故自他里归，明月已皎，村外有公家亭园，骑马墙外过，闻笑语声，停辔，使厩卒*捉鞚*，登鞍一望，则二女郎游戏其中。云月昏蒙，不甚可辨，但闻一翠衣者曰：“婢子当逐出门！”一红衣者曰：“汝在吾家园亭，反逐阿谁？”翠衣人曰：“婢子不羞！不能作妇，被人驱遣，犹冒认物产*也？”红衣者曰：“索胜*老大婢无主顾者！”听其音酷类小翠，疾呼之。翠衣人去曰：“姑不与若争，汝汉子来矣。”既而红衣人来，果小翠。喜极。女令登垣承接而下之，曰：“二年不见，骨瘦一把矣！”公子握手泣下，具道相思。女言：“妾亦知之，但无颜复见家人。今与大姊游戏，又相邂逅，足知前因不可逃也。”请与同归，不可；请止园中，许之。公子遣仆奔白夫人。夫人惊起，驾肩舆*而往，启钥入亭。女即趋下迎拜；夫人捉臂流涕，力白前过，几不自容，曰：“若不少记榛梗*，请偕归慰我迟暮*。”女峻辞不可。夫人虑野亭荒寂，谋以多人服役。女曰：“我诸人悉不愿见，惟前两婢朝夕相从，不能无眷注耳；外惟一老仆应门，余都无所复须。”夫人悉如其言。托公子养疴园中，日供食用而已。
　　

注释：

1．厩卒：马夫。2。鞚：马洛头。3。冒认物产：冒充好人。4。索胜：总胜过。总比什么强。5。肩舆：轿。舆，车子。放到肩膀上抬的车子，自然就是轿子。6。榛梗：草木丛生，阻塞不通。比喻前嫌，以往的怨恨。7。迟暮：黄昏之后。指人的晚年。


白话：

公子因为什么缘故偶然从外地回家，此时皎洁的明月已经当空而挂，村外有王公家的亭园，公子骑马从墙外过，听到里面欢声笑语，于是停下马，让马夫牵着洛头，然后登上马鞍朝里一望，只见两个女郎正在做游戏。云月昏蒙，看不清楚，只听一个穿绿衣的说：“你这小妮子应当被赶出门！”另外一个穿红衣的说：“你在我家园亭里，反而要把谁赶出去？”绿衣女说：“小妮子不害羞！不能作人家媳妇，被人赶出来，还冒充好人呢？”红衣女说：“那也总比大龄闺女找不着主儿强！”听她的声音酷似小翠，急忙呼喊她。绿衣人就走开了，还说：“现在暂且不喝你争辩，因为你汉子来了。”红衣女很快就来了，果真是小翠。他心里非常高兴。小翠让公子登着墙接她下去，说：“两年不见，简直瘦成了一把骨头！”公子握着小翠的手哭泣，如实倒出相思的苦水。小翠说：“我也知道，但是没有脸面再去见家人。今天和大姐到这里游玩，没想到又和你见面了，由此可知前缘是不可逃避的。”公子请她和他一起回去，小翠不答应；请求她留在园中，她答应了。公子派仆人赶紧跑回去告诉老夫人。夫人吃惊地站起来，然后让人用轿子抬着，来到园外用钥匙打开门。小翠立即跪下迎拜；夫人拉着她的手臂痛哭流涕，极力述说自己从前的过错，惭愧得简直无地自容，说：“如果你不记前仇，请和我一起回家，也好使老身我在晚年得到安慰。”小翠坚决不肯。老夫人怕小翠在荒郊野外太寂寞，就打算多叫几个人来伺候她。小翠说：“所有的人我都不愿见，我只要从前那两个婢女来和我朝夕相从，我也不能没有人照顾；另外就是需要一位老仆来看门，其他人都不需要。”夫人完全按照她的话去做。也正好让公子在园中养病，每天只给他们送些日常吃用的东西。


英译：

One evening with a bright full moon in the sky, Yuan Feng was riding a horse on his way back home from somewhere else. Passing by the wall of a garden of his family located in the suburb, he heard some people speaking and laughing.
Stopping his horse and asking his servant to hold the reins for him. Yuan Feng stood on the saddle and had a look and found two girls playing there. Owing to the clouds, he couldn’t recognize them in the dim moon light.
He heard a girl in green saying, “You should be driven out of the garden!”
A girl in red said, “You’re in the garden of my family. But you want to drive others out!”
The girl in green answered back sarcastically, “What a shame! You couldn’t be someone’s wife and was driven out. But now you still pretend to be a member of that family and falsely claim the garden is yours.”
The girl in red retorted, “Anyway, I’m still better than you because even up to now, you still don’t have any family to rely on.”
According to her voice, Yuan Feng could recognize the girl in red was very like Xiao Cui. He called her immediately. The girl in green walked away saying, “I don’t want to argue with you. Your man has come!”
Shortly, the girl in red came to him. She was really Xiao Cui. Yuan Feng was beside himself with joy. Xiao Cui asked him to climb down the walls and helped him to set his feet onto the ground.
“We haven’t met each other for only two years, but you’ve already reduced to a mere skeleton!” she exclaimed.
Firmly holding her hands and sorrowfully weeping, Yuan Feng said to Xiao Cui, “I miss you terribly！”
“Yes, I know. But I feel too ashamed to see your family again.” She said. “Today my elder sister and I come here to have fun. I’m glad to meet you by chance. It fully shows that our destined relationship shouldn’t be finished.”
To be asked to go back home, she refused. To be asked to stay in the garden, she agreed.
Yuan Feng asked the servant to go back and make a report to the old lady.
Greatly surprised, the old lady got up quickly and hurriedly went to the garden. Immediately after arriving there, she opened the garden gate and rushed into the pavilion. Xiao Cui stepped up at once and made a salute to her mother-in-law. Holding Xiao Cui’s arms in a flood of tears, the old lady sincerely acknowledged her mistakes and simply wished to sink into the ground.
“If you can remove your previous ill will, you are welcome to go back home with me so that I can feel relieved in my remaining years,” said the old lady.
Xiao Cui firmly refused. Considering Xiao Cui would feel lonely in the deserted pavilion, the old lady was going to send more people to come here to serve her daughter-in-law.
“I don’t want to see too more people except for the two maids,” said Xiao Cui. “We once lived together every day. I have no heart not to take care of them. Besides, an old man is needed to be the door man. Others are not needed.”
Readily agreed to what her daughter-in-law said, the old lady asked Yuan Feng to live in the garden. Firstly he could recuperate from his illness; and secondly he could take care of his wife. Food and articles for daily use were offered abundantly.


原文：

女每劝公子别婚，公子不从。后年余，女眉目音声渐与曩*异，出像质*之，迥若两人。大怪之。女曰：“视妾今日何如畴昔*美？”公子曰：“今日美则美矣，然较畴昔则似不如。”女曰：“意妾老矣！”公子曰：“二十余岁何得速老！”女笑而焚图，救之已烬。一日谓公子曰：“昔在家时，阿翁谓妾抵死*不作茧*，今亲老君孤，妾实不能产，恐误君宗嗣。请娶妇于家，旦晚侍奉公姑，君往来于两间，亦无所不便。”公子然之，纳币*于锺太史之家。吉期将近，女为新人制衣履，赍*送母所。及新人入门，则言貌举止，与小翠无毫发之异。大奇之。往至园亭，则女亦不知所在。问婢，婢出红巾曰：“娘子暂归宁*，留此贻公子。”展巾，则结玉玦一枚，心知其不返，遂携婢俱归。虽顷刻不忘小翠，幸而对新人如觌*旧好焉。始悟锺氏之姻，女预知之，故先化其貌，以慰他日之思云。
　　

注释：

1．曩：从前。读“囊”第三声。2。质：本为对质。对质是对证的意思。由此引申为对照，对比。3。。畴昔：从前。4。抵死：至死。5。不作茧：以蚕不作茧比喻不生育。6。纳币：下聘礼。7。赍：把东西送个别人。读“基”。8。归宁：回娘家看望父母。9。觌：见面。读“敌”。

白话：

小翠经常劝公子另行结婚，公子不听。一年多之后，小翠的眉目声音逐渐和从前不一样了，他拿出画像对照，简直判若两人，感到非常奇怪。小翠说：“你看我今天和从前哪个样子美？”公子说：“今天美是美，可总觉得不如从前。”小翠说：“意思是说我老啦！”公子说：“二十多岁怎么就老得这么快！”小翠笑着把画像烧掉了，想挽救可早已烧成灰烬。一天对公子说：“从前在家时，老爸说我到死也生不了孩子，今天老爸已经故去，而你又孤身一人，我实在是不能生育，恐怕耽误你传宗接代。你快另娶个媳妇回家，一早一晚地服侍公婆，你可以往来于我和你媳妇两人之间，这样也没有什么不便。”公子答应了，于是向锺太史家下了聘礼。吉日良辰将近，小翠为新人做了衣服鞋子，送到王夫人那里。等新人进门，音容笑貌，言谈举止，都和小翠没有丝毫的差异。大家非常奇怪。等赶到亭园一看，小翠也不知到哪里去了。问婢女，婢女拿出红丝巾说：“娘子暂时回娘家了，留下这条丝巾送给公子。”公子打开丝巾，里面有一枚玉佩，心知他再也不会返回来，就带着婢女一起回家了。虽然时刻不忘小翠，幸好面而对新人如同看到旧日恋人。他这才恍然大悟，与锺氏的因缘，小翠早已预先知道，所以先变成锺氏小姐的容貌，以便宽慰公子日后的思念之心。


英译：

Xiao Cui repeatedly persuaded Yuan Feng into marrying another girl, but he refused.
One year later, there was gradually much alteration in Xiao Cui’s appearance and voice. Compared with the portrait, the previous Xiao Cui and the present one were poles part, simply two different people.
Yuan Feng felt greatly astonished.
Xiao Cui said, “Compare my present appearance with the previous one, which one is beautiful?”
“You’re just over twenty.” He asked. “Why do you become old so quickly?”
She burned the portrait which reduced to ashes too swiftly to be saved.
One day, Xiao Cui said to Yuan Feng, “When I lived in your family before, your father said I could never be able to have a baby. Now your parents already became old and shaky. And you’re alone all by yourself. I’m really unable to have a baby. I’m afraid I may prevent you from going down to posterity. Please marry the girl of Yu family. She can carefully attend your parents day and night. And you can come and go between your new wife and me. It isn’t inconvenient at all for you.”
Agreeing with her, Yuan Feng immediately entrusted a matchmaker with the task of talking about betrothal with his parents. With the wedding day drawing nearer and nearer, Xiao Cui was busy making new dresses and shoes for the will-be newlyweds. After finishing, she sent them to the old lady.
When the bride entered the house, they were greatly astonished to find the girl was exactly the same as Xiao Cui without any differences at all, including speech, deportment and appearance.
When they went back to the garden, Xiao Cui had already vanished. To be asked, the maids showed them a piece of red silk kerchief.
“Xiao Cui went back home for a temporary visit,” said the maid. “She left this kerchief to Yuan Feng.”
Unfolding the kerchief, Yuan Feng found a jade tied to it. Knowing she wouldn’t come for ever, he went back with the maids.
Unable to forget Xiao Cui at any time, yet it was lucky for him to face the new beauty as if seeing the old beloved. Only at this moment, did he realize the true story of his second marriage. Before coming to Yuan Feng’s family with her mother, Xiao Cui had already foreseen Yuan Feng would marry the girl of Yu family and therefore changed her original face beforehand into a new one same as that of the girl Yu. In other words, at the very moment Xiao Cui entered Yuan Feng’s family, Xiao Cui already had the face of the girl Yu. The purpose of hers was to make Yuan Feng relieved from sorrow whenever missing her.

原文：

异史氏曰：“一狐也，以无心之德，而犹思所报；而身受再造之福者，顾失声于破甑*，何其鄙哉！月缺重圆，从容而去，始知仙人之情亦更深于流俗也！”
　　



注释：

甑：古代厨具。本文指古瓶之类的艺术品。读“赠”。


白话：

作者说：“一只狐，因为他人曾经对自己有过恩德，哪怕只是无意之中的事，也还在思量如何报答；而身受再生之福的人，居然为一只破瓶子（对恩人）大吵大闹，多么卑鄙呀！（小翠等自己恩人的儿子）如月缺重圆那样再次完婚，从容而去，这才知道仙人之情比世俗之情要深厚得多！”


Author’s Commentary:
As a fox, Xiao Cui knew clearly that she should repay the unintentional kindness shown by Wang. But as a man who had got the kindness of rebirth, Wang made a hullabaloo even about a broken vase. How mean and shameless! Xiao Cui left easily at the very moment when her benefactor’s son got remarried as a half-moon got full. But at the end, she left for ever. Only at this moment, did the beneficiary realize that the feelings of a fairy were really deeper than that of the vulgarians!