花间书斋
成功之门原来虚掩着
正文
香玉（人花生死恋）：聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）
原文：
劳山下清宫*，耐冬*高二丈*，大数十围*，牡丹高丈余，花时璀璨似锦。
注释：
1．下清宫:山东崂山的道观。2．耐冬：山茶。3．丈：中国的长度丈量单位。按十尺是一丈算，两丈相当于二十尺。而三尺为一米，则二十尺，也就是两丈，则相当于七米差一点。那么，英译中这棵山茶的高就是大约七米。4．围：古代周长的计量单位。周长一尺为一围，也有半尺为一围之说。如按前者，数十围，就是数十尺，而按十尺为一丈来算，这棵山茶树干周长数丈。一丈为十尺，相当于三米多，那么数丈，就是数个三米多，如果是五丈，那就是五十尺，三尺为一米，大概的周长不妨按这个数来翻译，就算十五六米吧。这个数字似乎有点离谱。不过也别在意，这不是一个神话故事吗？
加注：
蒲松龄曾到过崂山下清宫，住在三官殿东厢房，看到院中一棵花团锦簇的山茶，灵感油然而生，写下了脍炙人口的《香玉》。下文中提到的花神“绛雪”就是这株山茶的化身。蒲松龄写作《香玉》的背景据说是：一天晚上他正在看书，忽然觉得一股香味扑鼻而来，朦胧中，发现窗外一女子的身影一闪而过，起身推门一看，没见着人影，只有满院香气袭人。这一夜，蒲松龄怎么也睡不着，恍如梦中，只见上清宫的牡丹仙子和院子里的耐冬仙子来访，求他为他们立传，于是这株山茶便成了流传至今的花神“绛雪”，时至今日，崂山还设有一名为“绛雪”的旅游景点。其实，绛为紫色，雪为白色，一紫一白构成奇特景致，因此作者便把花神称为“绛雪”。而香玉，其实是牡丹的一种，株壮花硕，为白色，在皎洁的月光之下，冰清玉洁，越发显得高洁脱俗。
白话：
劳山有座道观叫下清宫，观内有一棵山茶，高两丈，粗数十围，牡丹则高一丈多，花开时艳丽似锦，尽态极妍。
英译：
There was a Taoist temple named Xiaqing Palace in Mt. Lao. A gigantic camellia there was about seven meters high with a perimieter of about fifteen meters,while the peonies, more than three meters high, were especially eye-catching when bursting into flower, bright and colorful.
原文：
胶州黄生舍读*其中。一日自窗中见女郎，素衣掩映花间。心疑观中焉得此，趋出已遁去。自此屡见之。遂隐身丛树中以伺其至。未几，女郎又偕一红裳者来，遥望之，艳丽双绝。行渐近，红裳者却退，曰：“此处有生人！”生暴起。二女惊奔，袖裙飘拂，香风洋溢，追过短墙，寂然已杳，爱慕弥切，因题句树下云：“无限相思苦，含情对短缸*。恐归沙吒利*，何处觅无双？*”归斋冥思。女郎忽入，惊喜承迎。女笑曰：“君汹汹似强寇，令人恐怖；不知君乃骚雅士，无妨相见。”生略叩生平，曰：“妾小字香玉，隶籍平康巷*。被道士闭置山中，实非所愿。”生问：“道士何名？当为卿一涤此垢。”女曰：“不必，彼亦未敢相逼。借此与风流士长作幽会，亦佳。”问：“红衣者谁？”曰：“此名绛雪，乃妾义姊。”遂相狎。及醒，曙色已红。女急起，曰：“贪欢忘晓矣。”着衣易履，且曰：“妾酬君作，勿笑：‘良夜更易尽，朝暾*已上窗。愿如梁上燕，栖处自成双。’“生握腕曰：“卿秀外惠中*，令人爱而忘死。顾一日之去，如千里之别。卿乘间当来，勿待夜也。”女诺之。由此夙夜必偕。每使邀绛雪来，辄不至，生以为恨。女曰：“绛姐性殊落落*，不似妾情痴也。当从容劝驾*，不必过急。
注释：
1．舍读：住在某处读书。2．短缸：短灯。缸，应该是“釭”，读“缸”，灯座短的灯叫“釭”。3．恐归：这联诗的意思是：唯恐心上人被别人抢走，从而无处寻觅。诗句中有两个传奇人物，一是沙吒利，二是无双。沙吒利，唐代番将，即外族将领的名字。据唐人《柳氏传》记载，韩翊（读“义”）与柳氏相恋。安史之乱时，柳氏被番将沙吒利掠走，后在虞侯许俊帮助之下，二人终得团圆。无双，即刘无双。据唐人薛调《无双传》记载，无双与王仙客早有婚约，但因政治动乱，被收入宫中。王仙客在侠客古押衙的帮助之下，设计从宫中救出无双。4．隶籍平康巷：户籍隶属平康巷。平康巷，泛指妓院。唐代长安丹凤街有平康坊，也称平康里，是妓女的聚居区，后人因此将平康巷作为妓院的代称，等同“青楼”。5．相逼：接近，靠近。6．酬：以诗文应和。“和”，应对，读“贺”。7．朝暾：即朝阳。暾，初升的太阳，读“吞”。8．秀外惠中：外貌秀丽，内心聪慧，即表里皆美。惠，与“慧”通用。9．夙夜必偕：日夜不离。夙，早，读“诉”。偕，在一起，读“斜”。另如，偕同，和别人在一起（前往某地）；偕夫人，和夫人一起（前往某处参观等）。10．殊落落：特别孤高不凡。11．劝驾：劝某人驾临。驾临，对某人到来的敬语。
白话：
胶州的黄生住在道观里读书。一天，见窗外有一名女郎，身穿素净的衣服，掩映在花丛之中。黄生心里疑惑，道观中怎么能有这样的美人，急忙走出去，可是女郎早已消失得无影无踪。从此之后经常看到她。于是就隐蔽在树丛中，等着她来。不久，女郎又带来一名红裳女子，远远望去，两人都艳丽无比。渐渐走近时，红衣女郎直往后退，说：“这里有生人！”黄生突然站起来。两名女子惊慌失措地跑着躲开，衣袖长裙随风飘舞，香风迎面扑来。黄生追过短墙，却已静寂无声，于是对她们越发地爱慕起来，因此在树上题写诗句：“无限相思苦，含情对短缸。恐归沙吒利，何处觅无双？”回到书斋冥思苦想。女郎忽然进来，黄生立即惊喜地上前迎接。女郎笑着说：“你气势汹汹好像盗贼，令人恐怖；真不知你原来还是一名儒雅的斯文郎，见见你倒也无妨。” 黄生略微询问一下女郎的生平，她说：“我的字叫香玉，委身青楼。被道士关在山中，实在不是心甘情愿。”黄生问：“道士叫什么名字？我应当为你洗净这一耻辱。”女郎说：“不必了，他也没敢逼迫我。再说借此机会与风流人士长期幽会，倒也不错。”黄生问：“穿红衣服的是谁？” 女郎说：“她名叫绛雪，是我的干姐姐。” 于是就与她互相嬉戏调情。等到醒来时，天色已经泛红。女郎急忙起床，说：“贪图欢乐连天亮都忘记了。” 连忙穿衣换鞋，而且还说：“我和你一首诗，可别笑话：‘良夜更易尽，朝暾已上窗。愿如梁上燕，栖处自成双。’”黄生握着她的手腕说：“你真是外貌美丽，心里聪明，让人爱到忘死的程度。所以你离开一天，就如同分别一千里。你要抽空常来，不要非等到黑夜。” 女郎答应了他。从此日夜厮守，总不分离。每次都叫她去邀请绛雪，可她就是不到，黄生以为红衣女子恨他。女郎说：“绛雪姐特别孤高不凡，不像我这么痴情。应当慢慢劝她来，不必过急。
英译：
Huang, a scholar of Jiaozhou County, temporarily stayed and studied there. One day, through the window, he saw a girl in white appear among the peonies every now and then. Doubting whether it was only his optical illusion, he was going to have a look. But the girl had already vanished when he walked out.
From then on, Huang saw the girl frequently. One evening, he hid himself among the bushes waiting for her.
Shortly, the girl came together with another one in red. Even far off, he could see clearly that the girl in red was extremely beautiful. Coming near, the girl in red suddenly halted.
“Here’s a stranger!” she cried.
Huang stood up abruptly. Panic-stricken, the girls ran away with their long sleeves flying in fragrant wind. Climbing over the wall, he found they’d already disappeared.
On a big tree expressing admiration for them, Huang wrote a poem reading as follows:
Suffer serious lovesickness bitterly,
Stare the short lamp with a deep affection;
Fear lover will be kidnapped suddenly,
And maybe no where to be found again.
Back in his room, he was still buried in thought. The girl suddenly came in. He was so excited that he sprang to his feet immediately and greeted her cordially.
“You look ferocious like a bandit and scare me,” said the girl. “I don’t know you’re a gentleman.” She said continuously. “Now that you’re not a bad guy, there’s no harm to meet you.”
Huang asked her something about her life.
“My name is Fragrant Jade.” She said. “I’m shut here by the Taoist. I can do nothing but give in.”
“What’s the name of the Taoist?” he asked. “I’m willing to help you wipe out an disgrace.”
“Unnecessary,” Fragrant Jade said. “He didn’t dare to force me to do anything. It’s not so bad for me to take this opportunity to meet a gentleman frequently and secretly.”
“Who is the girl in red?” asked Huang.
“She’s Red Snow,” said the girl. “We’re sworn sisters.”
The two then lay in his bed. When waking up, it was already daybreak. Getting up abruptly, Fragrant Jade said, “I’v indulged myself in happiness so deeply that I’ve forgotten daybreak.” While putting on her address and changing shoes, she said, “I’d like to respond you with a poem. Please don’t laugh at me. The poem reads:
Time flies like an arrow on a nice night,
Morning sun shines window with golden light;
Hope we’re like swallows on the house beam,
Who live in pairs for ever with delight.
On hearing her poem, Huang said, “You’re really elegant outside and clever inside. It makes me love you so much that I can even forget death. I feel a thousand-mile separation though parting with you only one day. Please try to find time to come here frequently later on and stay overnight.” The girl pomised.
From then on, Fragrant Jade came every night. But whenever he invited Red Snow, she would refused. Huang thought maybe that girl didn’t like him.
“My sister is aloof and proud like a lone flower appreciating its own beauty and fragrance. She’s quite different with me and doesn’t have wild and foolish love,” said Fragrant Jade. “We’d better persuade her patiently. It’s unnecessary to act too hastily.”
原文：
一夕，女惨然入曰：“君陇不能守，尚望蜀耶？*今长别矣。”问：“何之？*”以袖拭泪，曰：“此有定数*，难为君言。昔日佳作，今成谶语*矣。‘佳人已属沙吒利，义士今无古押衙*’，可为妾咏。诘之不言，但有呜咽。竟夜不眠，早旦而去。生怪之。次日有即墨蓝氏*，入宫游瞩，见白牡丹，悦之，掘移径去。生始悟香玉乃花妖也，怅惋不已。过数日闻蓝氏移花至家，日就萎悴。恨极，作《哭花》诗五十首，日日临穴*涕洟*。一日凭吊方返，遥见红衣人挥涕穴侧。从容近就，女亦不避。生因把袂*，相向汍澜*。已而挽请入室，女亦从之。叹曰：“童稚姊妹，一朝断绝！闻君哀伤，弥增妾恸。泪堕九泉，或当感诚再作*；然死者神气已散，仓卒何能与吾两人共谈笑也。”生曰：“小生薄命，妨害情人，当亦无福可消双美。曩频烦香玉，道达微忱*，胡再不临？”女曰：“妾以年少书生，什九*薄幸*；不知君固至情人*也。然妾与君交，以情不以淫。若昼夜狎昵，则妾所不能矣。”言已告别。生曰：“香玉长离，使人寝食俱废。赖卿少留，慰此怀思，何决绝如此！”女乃止，过宿而去。数日不复至。冷雨幽窗，苦怀香玉，辗转床头，泪凝枕席。揽衣更起，挑灯复踵前韵*曰：“山院黄昏雨，垂帘坐小窗。相思人不见，中夜泪双双。”诗成自吟。忽窗外有人曰：“作者不可无和*。”听之，绛雪也。启户内*之。女视诗，即续其后曰：“连袂人*何处？孤灯照晚窗。空山人一个，对影自成双。”生读之泪下，因怨相见之疏。女曰：“妾不能如香玉之热，但可少慰君寂寞耳。”生欲与狎。曰：“相见之欢，何必在此。”于是至无聊时，女辄一至。至则宴饮唱酬*，有时不寝遂去，生亦听之。谓曰：“香玉吾爱妻，绛雪吾良友也。”每欲相问：“卿是院中第几株？乞早见示，仆将抱植家中，免似香玉被恶人夺去，贻恨*百年。”女曰：“故土难移，告君亦无益也。妻尚不能终从，况友乎！”生不听，捉臂而出，每至牡丹下，辄问：“此是卿否？”女不言，掩口笑之。
注释：
1．君陇：这两句诗的意思是，连我都保不住，还指望得到绛雪吗？诗中用的是“得陇望蜀”这一典故，语出《后汉书。岑彭传》：“人苦不知足，既平陇，复望蜀。”2．何之：到哪里去。之，动词，去，望。何，哪里。本来语序因该是“之何”，但宾语“何”是（疑问）代词，按古汉语语法，在问句或否定句中，代词应置于谓语动词之前。3．定数：命中注定。4．谶语：语言吉凶的话。谶，读“趁”。本文指被应验的凶言。5．古押衙：设计救刘无双的人。这里指设计救人者。见前“无双”的注释。古，姓。押衙，官名，掌管皇帝仪仗并担任侍卫。6．即墨蓝氏：即墨县姓蓝的人。即墨，县名，在今青岛市东北部。7．穴：指把花挖走后留下的大坑。8．涕洟：（流）鼻涕。洟，音义皆同“涕”。9．袂：袖子，读“妹”。10．汍澜：流泪。汍，读“玩”。11．再作：再生。12．忱：情谊。热忱，热情。13．什九：十之八九。14．薄幸：薄情，负心。15．至情人：极其重视情感的人。16．复踵前韵：依照前诗的韵脚。17．和：读“贺”，和诗。和他人之诗，而用其韵。18．内：音与义皆通“纳”，接纳。19．．连袂人：伴侣。20．唱酬，用诗互相赠答。21．贻恨：遗留下仇恨。贻，音义皆与“遗”。
白话：
一天夜里，女郎神情凄凉地进来说：“你连我都不能守住，还指望她吗？今天就长久分手吧。”黄生问：“到哪里去？”女郎一边用衣袖擦泪，一边说：“这是命中注定的，很难对你说清。那天你的佳作，今天变成谶语啦。‘佳人已属沙吒利，义士今无古押衙’，这可真是为我吟诵的。黄生问她，她却一言不发，只是呜咽哭泣。整夜都没睡着，早晨天一亮她就走了。黄生感到奇怪。第二天有个即墨县姓蓝的人到下清宫游览，见到白牡丹，非常喜欢，掘出来就拿走了。黄生这才恍然大悟，原来香玉是花神，于是非常郁闷惋惜。过几天听说姓蓝的把花移栽到他家，当天就枯萎死掉了。悲恨至极，就作《哭花》诗五十首，天天到坑边痛哭流涕。一天，黄生凭吊刚刚返回，远远看见红衣女子在土坑旁边痛哭流涕。他不慌不忙地走上前去，她也不回避。黄生趁势抓住她的衣袖，相对泪流满面。随后他搀扶着请她进屋，她也欣然听从。女子叹息说：“从小一起长大的姐妹，一早晨的时间就断然分离了！听到你这么哀伤，更增添了我的悲痛。你的泪水落入九泉，或许应当感动牡丹；然而死者的神气已经散尽，你这样仓促行事，怎么能和我们两人一起谈笑呢？”黄生说：“小生命太薄，连自己的情人都伤害了，应当也没有和两位美人同时交往的艳福。从前屡次麻烦香玉，让过来热情地嘘寒问暖，她怎么再也不来了呢？”女子说：“我以为你一个年轻的书生，十之八九会薄情；可不知你原来还是一个极重情谊的性情中人。但我和你交往，是以情感相交，而不是以淫乱相交。如果日夜在一起粘粘乎乎，我可办不到。”说完话她就告辞了。黄生说：“香玉长久离开，令我废寝忘食。我还仰赖你能在这里小住，以慰藉我对她的思念之心，你办事为什么这样绝！”闻听此言，女子这才留下来，住一宿才走。此后好几天都没来。冷雨幽窗，黄生苦苦怀念香玉，躺在床上辗转反侧，泪水洒在枕席上。于是揽衣起床，坐在灯下，依照以前的诗韵念道：“山院黄昏雨，垂帘坐小窗。相思人不见，中夜泪双双。”诗写成后自对自地吟诵起来。忽然窗外有人说：“有人作诗，不能没有人和。”一听，原来是绛雪。黄生连忙开门请她进屋。女子看到诗后，随即接续着道：“联袂人何处？孤灯照晚窗。空山人一个，对影自成双。”黄生读后落下泪来，因此怪女子和他见面的次数太少。女子说：“我不能像香玉那样热乎，但也可以稍微缓解一下你的寂寞。”黄生想和她亲热。女子说：“相见的欢乐，何必以这种方式来表达。”于是每当无聊时，女子就来一次。来到就和黄生一起设宴，边饮边用诗互相赠答，女子有时不睡觉就离开，黄生也随她的便。他对人说：“香玉是我的爱妻，绛雪是我的良友。”每次一想问：“你是院中第几棵？请早点让我见识见识，然后把它抱到家中栽上，免得像香玉那样被恶人夺去遗恨百年。”女子说：“故土难移，告诉你也没有好处。妻子尚且不能始终如一，何况友人呢！”黄生不听，抓起她的胳臂就往外走，每到牡丹花前，就问：“这是你吗？”女子不说话，只是捂着嘴笑。
英译：
One evening, Fragrant Jade came sadly.
“You’re even unable to safeguard me. Let alone Red Snow,” said she. “I come here only for a long separation from you.”
“Where to go?” Huang asked.
“We’re doomed to separate from each other,” she wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “You previous master piece has become a mysterious code which has made disaster come true. There is an ancient poem with two sentences reading:
The nice sweetheart has belonged to others,
No hero can save her from disasters.
Huang asked her about the details. But she only sobbed without saying anything. Worse of all, she couldn’t fall asleep all night. She left very early next morning. Huang felt quite curious.
Next day, a higher official came here making a tour of the temple. Catching sight of the white peony, he was very happy and uprooted it and took it away. Only after seeing this did he realize Fragrant Jade was a flower goddess. This made him suffer great mental agony.
A few days later, Huang learnt the white peony died on the very day it was transplanted in the garden of the higher official. With a deep hatred, he wrote fifty poems mourning over the death of the white peony and read them every day in front of the pit which was left after the white peony was uprooted.
One day, back into his room after his everyday mourning, Huang found a girl in red was weeping beside the pit. He readily stepped up but she didn’t evade him. Tears in eyes, he grasped her dress and asked her to go into his room. She didn’t refuse.
“My young sister was too simple and unaffected. She died before she knew it!” said the girl in red. “I felt much more sorrowful when I heard you sobbing. Your tears have already seeped into the nether world. This may be able to help my sister revive. But I think she has completely lost her vitality. How can she come here to have a talk with us?”
“I don’t have good luck so I can’t enjoy the happiness of being accompanied by two beautiful girls,” said Huang. “Fragrant Jade came here frequently before so I could reveal all my innermost feelings to her. But she doesn’t come again. Why?”
“I thought scholars like you were mostly lack of true feelings. I really didn’t realize that you should be so rich in feeling,” she said. “Yet I lay stress on friendship but not sex. So I cannot stay here day and night and keep an ambiguous relation with you.”
Finishing her words, she wanted to leave.
“Fragrant Jade has left for so long a time. I feel uneasy even when eating and sleeping,” he said. “I hope you can stay for a while so as I can stop thinking of Fragrant Jade all the time.”
Hearing his words, the girl stayed overnight and then left. But she didn’t appear for several days.
Cold rain dripping outside the silent window, Huang deeply missed Fragrant Jade and couldn’t fall asleep with tears wetting his pillow. Putting on clothes and getting up, he composed a new poem:
T’s raining at dusk in the mountain compound;
Sitting at the window with curtain down,
Suffering from lovesickness, no one in sight,
He’s in a flood of tears throughout the night.
Huang read it again and again. Suddenly he heard someone saying outside the window, “You’re composing poems. But how is it there is no one to respond you?”
Listening carefully, he realized it was Red Snow. Opening the door, she led her in. After reading his poem, she composed one too:
Where ’s my beloved sweetheart for the time being?
A lone night lamp shines over window.
On empty mount’n only one man sighing,
In pair I’m sitting with my own shadow.
Reading her poem, he was chocked with tears and complained of her indifference to him.
“I can’t treat you as cordially as Fragrant Jade. But I can still comfort you a little bit,” she said.
Huang wanted to do something intimate. But she didn’t agree.
“We’re very happy to meet each other. That’s enough. What’s the need to do that sort of things?”
Whenever he felt bored, Red Snow would come. What they did included eating, drinking, singing or poem-composing. Sometimes she left without staying overnight. Huang let her do whater she liked in her own way.
“Fragrant Jade is my wife. Red Snow is my friend,” he used to say like this.
Sometimes, Huang asked Red Snow, “Which one is you? Please tell me as soon as possible so that I can transplant you into my garden lest the evil doers should take you away like Fragrant Jade.”
“It’s hard for me to leave my native place,” said Red Snow. “And it’s no use to tell you the details. You can’t even save your wife, let alone a friend.”
Huang didn’t listen to her and dragged her out. Facing a certain peony, he usually asked, “It’s you?”
Covering her mouth with one hand, Red Snow only smiled without saying anything.
原文：
旋*生以腊*归过岁。至二月间，忽梦绛雪至，愀然曰：“妾有大难！君急往尚得相见；迟无及矣。”醒而异之，急命仆马，星驰至山。则道士将建屋，有一耐冬，碍其营造，工师将纵斤*矣。生急止之。入夜，绛雪来谢。生笑曰：“向不实告，宜遭此厄！今已知卿；如卿不至，当以炷艾*相炙。”女曰：“妾固知君如此，曩故不敢相告也。”坐移时，生曰：“今对良友，益思艳妻。久不哭香玉，卿能从我哭乎？”二人乃往，临穴洒涕。更*余，绛雪收泪劝止。又数夕，生方寂坐，绛雪笑入曰：“报君喜信：花神感君至情，俾*香玉复降宫中。”生问：“何时？”答曰：“不知，约不远耳。”天明下榻，生嘱曰：“仆为卿来。勿长使人孤寂。”女笑诺。两夜不至。生往抱树，摇动抚摩，频唤无声。乃返，对灯团艾，将往灼树。女遽入，夺艾弃之，曰：“君恶作剧，使人创痏*，当与君绝矣！”生笑拥之。坐未定，香玉盈盈而入。生望见，泣下流离，急起把握香玉。以一手握绛雪，相对悲哽。及坐，生把之觉虚，如手自握，惊问之，香玉泫然曰：“昔，妾花之神，故凝；今，妾花之鬼，故散也。今虽相聚，勿以为真，但作梦寐观可耳。”绛雪曰：“妹来大好！我被汝家男子纠缠死矣。”遂去。
注释：
1．旋：立即，不久。2．腊：腊月。3．愀然：深色凝重或不快。愀，读“巧”。4．斤：斧头。5．炷艾：点燃艾绒球。炷，点，读“住”。艾，即艾蒿，可入药。把艾叶晒干捣碎，团成绒球，针灸时点燃可以配合薰烤经络穴位。6．更：旧时一夜分五更天。一更大约两小时。更，读“耕”。7．俾：使，读“比”。8．创痏：创伤导致的疤痕。痏，疮；伤口。读“伟”。9．泫然：伤心落泪。
白话：
不久，黄生因为腊月来临就回老家过年去了。到二月间，忽然梦见绛雪到来，她神色严肃地说：“我有大难！你赶紧去还能相见；晚了就来不及了。”醒来后感到很奇怪，就急忙叫仆人备马，火速赶到山中。原来道士要盖房，有一棵山茶，影响施工，工程人员要用斧头砍掉。黄生急忙拦住了。夜间，绛雪来表示感谢。黄生笑着说：“从前你不实话告诉我，应该遭此厄运！今天我已经知道你了；如果你不到，我就点艾薰。”女子说：“我早就知道你会如此，所以从前我才不敢告诉你。”坐了一会儿，黄生说：“今天面对良友，更加思念艳妻。好久没去哭香玉了，你能跟我去哭她吗？”二人于是前往庭院，在土坑边涕泪纵横。过了一更多的时间，绛雪擦干泪水劝黄生停止哭泣。又过几夜，黄生刚静静地坐下，绛雪笑着走进屋说：“给你报个喜信：花神被你真挚的感情所感动，让香玉再次降临宫中。”黄生问：“什么时候？”女子答道：“不知道，大概日子不远了。”天亮下床，黄生嘱咐说：“我这次是为你而来。不要长期让我孤独寂寞。”女子笑着答应了。两夜不到。黄生就到庭院去抱树，边摇动边抚摩，频频呼唤可是没有回声。于是返回去，对着灯点燃团艾，想拿去薰树。女子突然进来，夺过艾团扔掉，说：“你搞恶作剧，让人大吃薰烤之苦，应该和你断绝来往！”黄生笑着将她拥抱起来。可还没坐定，香玉飘然而入。黄生望见，涕泗横流，急起握住香玉的手。另一只手握住绛雪，相对悲伤哭泣。等到坐下来，黄生握着香玉觉得十分空虚，好像在握自己的手，于是吃惊地问她，香玉泪流满面地说：“从前，我是花之神，所以实在；今天，我是花之鬼，所以空虚。现在虽然相聚，那你也别当真，只把这当成作梦来看就可以了。”绛雪说：“妹妹一来实在太好啦！我可被你的男人纠缠死了。”说完她就离开了。
英译：
During Spring Festival, Huang went back to his native place and stayed with his family. One night in February, he dreamt Red Snow came to see him.
“I’m facing with imminent disaster,” she said sadly. “If you come right away, we still have an opportunity to meet the last time. Or we’ll never meet again.”
Waking up, he felt very curious and asked his servants to make a quick preparation for departure. Back to the temple, he found that the Taoist was going to build a new house and the evergreen tree had to be chopped down because it hindered their work. Huang firmly stopped them from doing so.
At night, Red Snow came to thank him and told him that the evergreen tree was the protector of the peonies. On hearing her words, Huang suddenly remembered that Fragrant Jade had already told him something about the evergreen tree. She said that if he missed her he could light a worm-wood and then use the lighted wormwood to smoke the evergreen tree. Then she would appear immediately.
“You ought to meet this misfortune, because you didn’t tell me the truth,” smiled Huang. “It’s lucky you’ve come. Otherwise, I’ll smoke the evergreen tree.”
“I know you’ll do it,” said she, “so I didn’t dare to tell you about it.”
Sitting for a while, Huang said, “Facing you, my good friend, I miss my beautiful wife. I haven’t cried over her death for a long time. Would you please accompany me to cry?”
They came to the pit and cried sadly. Some time later, Red Snow dissuaded him from crying continuously.
A few days later, Red Snow came again shortly after his sitting down silently.
She said smilingly, “I come here just to report good news. The flower goddess was moved by your deep feelings. She allows Fragrant Jade to come here.”
“When?” he asked.
“Don’t know. But very soon, I think.”
At dawn, they got up. He said to her, “It’s just for you that I come back from my native place. Don’t let me feel lonely, please.”
Red Snow made him a promise. But she didn’t come over in the next two nights. Huang went to the evergreen tree. He encircled it with his arms, shook it, and caressed it. He cried and cried. But there was no echo at all. He came back into his room and lighted a worm-wood. Just at the moment he wanted to go out to smoke the evergreen tree, Red Snow suddenly came in and snatched over the worm-wood.
“What mischief are you up to?” she asked. “If you hurt me, I’ll cut off all relations with you forever!”
Huang smilingly hugged her. But Fragrant Jade drifted in before they could sit still.
Chocked with tears on seeing her, Huang stood up and hugged her at once. With one hand grasping Red Snow, Fragrant Jade faced Huang sweeping sorrowfully.
Sitting down, Huang firmly grasped her hands but he felt strange as if holding nothing at all.
To be asked, she replied, “Before, I was a flower goddess. But now, a flower ghost. So you’d better consider our meeting as something non-existing. Just treat it as a dream.”
Hearing her words, Red Snow joked, “It’s good for you to come. I have been deadly harassed by your man.”
After saying this, Red Snow left.
原文：
香玉款*笑如前；但偎傍之间，仿佛以身就影。生悒悒不乐。香玉亦俯仰自恨，乃曰：“君以白蔹*屑*，少杂硫黄，日酹*妾一杯水，明年此日报君恩。”别去。明日往观故处，则牡丹萌生矣。生乃日加培植，又作雕栏以护之。香玉来，感激倍至。生谋移植其家，女不可，曰：“妾弱质，不堪复戕*。且物生各有定处，妾来原不拟生君家，违之反促年寿。但相怜爱，合好自有日耳。”生恨绛雪不至。香玉曰：“必欲强之使来，妾能致之。”乃与生挑灯至树下，取草一茎，布掌作度*，以度树本，自下而上至四尺六寸，按其处，使生以两爪齐搔之。俄见绛雪从背后出，笑骂曰：“婢子来，助桀为虐耶！”牵挽并入。香玉曰：“姊勿怪！暂烦陪侍郎君，一年后不相扰矣。”从此遂以为常。
注释：
1．款：诚恳。另如“款待”，热情接待。2．白蔹屑：白蔹的碎末。白蔹，中草药名。蔹，读“脸”。屑，碎末，读“谢”。据《群芳谱》记载，牡丹有两种栽种法。一是播种，二是插条。前者，则需用白蔹的碎末拌种，后者则需用少量硫磺涂抹枝条破口。3．酹：把酒洒在地上祭奠死者。酹，读“泪”。4．戕：伤害。读“枪”。此处指用斧头砍下来移栽。5．布掌作度：用手掌衡量长度。6．助桀为虐：帮坏人做坏事。也作“助纣为虐”。桀和纣，夏代末期的暴君。
白话：
香玉热情的笑容还像从前一样；但和她互相依偎，仿佛用身体接近影子。黄生闷闷不乐。香玉也坐立不安自感惭愧，于是就说：“你用白蔹的碎末，再掺一点硫黄泡水，每天日给我洒一杯水，明年的今天我就能报答你的恩情了。”香玉说完就分别了。第二天黄生到道观里原来的地方一看，牡丹萌芽了。黄生就每天精心培植，还做雕栏保护起来。香玉来到，非常感激。黄生想把牡丹移植到他家，女子不答应，说：“我体质柔弱，再遭斧砍我可受不了。再说什么东西该生长在哪里，各有一定的地方，我本来就不适合生长在你家，违反这一条反而会让我短命。只管相怜相爱，自然会有团聚的好日子。”黄生埋怨绛雪不到。香玉说：“如果你非想强迫她来，我能让她来。”于是就和黄生一起，举着灯来到树下，拿一根草，用手掌笔划着，量树干，从下而上到四尺六寸的地方，用手按住，让黄生用两手一齐抓挠。不一会儿，绛雪从背后出现了，笑着骂道：“你这丫头，来这里助桀为虐呀！”于是和香玉手挽手一起走进屋内。香玉说：“姐姐别怪！暂时麻烦你陪侍我的郎君，一年后就不会再打扰了。”从此以后互相往来还和平常一样。
英译：
Fragrant Jade spoke and smiled as ever before. But Huang still felt she was like a shadow whenever touching her. He was very unhappy. Fragrant Jade felt much ashamed for this.
“Put some sulphide into clear water and give me a cup of it everyday. This day next year, I’ll come to repay you for your kindness.”
Fragrant Jade went away.
Next day, Huang went to the garden to have a look and surprisingly found the peony revived. From then on he took pains to cultivate the peony and also made a surrounding railing to protect it. When Fragrant Jade came, he expressed his heartfelt thanks to her.
Huang was going to transplant the peony in his home. But she didn’t agree with him.
“I’m too weak to bear harms anymore. Besides, all things have their own fixed places to live. I’m not suitable to live in your home. If you do exactly the opposite, my life will be shortened.”
Huang was afraid that Red Snow wouldn’t come again.
“We can let her come only by forcing her,” she said. “I can do it.”
With a lantern in her hand, Fragrant Jade led him to the evergreen tree and then picked up a straw. She measured the straw with her palm and then used the straw to measure the trunk, from below to above, and finally pressed the place four and half inches high. She asked Huang to scratch the bark. Shortly, they found Red Snow come from behind them.
Red Snow smilingly cursed Fragrant Jade, “I asked you to come here only for helping a bad egg to do evil?”
Huang brought them into his room.
“Don’t blame me, sister.” Fragrant Jade said. “I just want you to take the trouble to accompany him one year. After that I won’t bother you anymore.”
From then on, they got along with each other as usual.
原文：
生视花芽，日益肥茂，春尽，盈*二尺许。归后，以金遗道士，嘱令朝夕培养之。次年四月至宫，则花一朵含苞未放；方流连间，花摇摇欲拆*；少时已开，花大如盘，俨然有小美人坐蕊中，裁*三四指许；转瞬飘然欲下，则香玉也。笑曰：“妾忍风雨以待君，君来何迟也！”遂入室。绛雪亦至，笑曰：“日日代人作妇，今幸退而为友。”遂相谈宴。至中夜，绛雪乃去，二人同寝，款洽*一如从前。
注释：
1．盈：增长。2．拆：开，绽放。3．裁：同“才”。4．款洽：热情融洽。
白话：
黄生去看花芽，日益肥大茂盛，春天结束时，已经长了两尺左右。黄生返回家之后，还向道士馈送金钱，嘱咐他一早一晚精心培植。第二年四月王上回到下清宫，只见一支花蕾含苞待放；他在花间流连踱步，花蕾摇曳将要绽放；不多时已经开放，花大如盘，居然还有小美人坐在花蕊中，才大约三四指长；转瞬间飘然而下，原来是香玉。她笑着说：“我忍着风雨等待你，可你为什么来得这么晚！”于是就走进屋内。绛雪也到了，笑着说：“我天天代你作媳妇，亏得今天能引退作朋友。”于是设宴相谈。一直到午夜，绛雪来离开，二人这才同床共枕，热络融洽一如从前。
英译：
Huang found the peonies had shot out buds which growing bigger and bigger. By the end of spring, the new buds had become about two feet high above ground. He went back to his native place again. Before leaving, he gave some money to the Taoist and exhorted him to take a good care of the peonies.
Next April, he came back to the temple. He found a flower which was in fact in bud. He walked back and forth. The bud began to come into flower. And shortly it had already come into a flower which was large as a plate. A little beauty, as tall as a finger’s length, was sitting among the pistil. And in a twinkle, she drifted down onto the ground. She was Fragrant Jade!
Fragrant Jade said to Huang, “I’ve been waiting for you, braving wind and rain. Why are you so late?”
Then, Fragrant Jade entered his room. Red Snow came in too.
“I’ve been playing the role of a wife everyday.” Red Snow said smilingly. “It is only today that I can resume the role of a friend.”
They talked and talked. At midnight, Red Snow left. Huang and Fragrant Jade went to bed with their feelings profound as ever before.
原文：
后生妻卒，生遂入山不归。是时牡丹已大如臂。生每指之曰：“我他日寄魂于此，当生卿之左。”二女笑曰：“君勿忘之。” 后十余年，忽病。其子至，对之而哀。生笑曰：“此我生期，非死期也，何哀为！”谓道士曰：“他日牡丹下有赤芽怒生，一放五叶者，即我也。”遂不复言。子舆*之归家。即卒。次年，果有肥芽突出，叶如其数。道士以为异，益灌溉之。三年，高数尺，大拱把*，但不花。老道士死，其弟子不知爱惜，斫*去之。白牡丹亦憔悴死；无何耐冬亦死。
注释：
1．舆：车。读“鱼”。此处是动词，用车载他回家。2．拱把：用手握起来。3．斫：用刀斧砍。读“琢”。4。无何：没过多久。
白话：
后来黄生的妻子死了，他就进山不归了。当时牡丹已经粗大如手臂。黄生经常指着说：“我将来有一天死了埋在这里，应当埋在你们的左边。”两名女子笑道：“你可别忘记。” 此后过了十多年，黄生忽然生病。他儿子来这里，看着他非常悲哀。黄生笑道：“这是我的生期，不是死期，为什么要悲痛！”又对道士说：“将来有一天牡丹下有红芽茂盛地生出来，有一个放开五片叶子的芽，那就是我。”随后就不再说话。儿子用车把他拉回家。随即死去。第二年，果然有肥大的花芽冒出来，叶片正如他说的那个数。道士感到非常奇怪，就越发精心浇灌。三年后，已经高数尺，粗得能用手掌握起来，但是不开花。老道士死后，弟子们不知爱惜，就把它砍掉了。于是白牡丹也憔悴而死；没过多久，山茶也死掉了。
英译：
Later on, Huang’s wife died. He left his home and came into Mt. Lao and never went back home gain. The peonies had become large as pans.
Pointing the flowers, Huang used to say, “I once settled my soul in here during those years, so I should live here on your left side.”
The two girls laughed and said to him, “Don’t forget it.”
Over ten years later, Huang suddenly fell ill. His son came to take care of him. Facing his father, the young boy felt sorrowful.
Huang smilingly said to his son, “Today is a day for me to live, but not to die. Why do you feel so sorrowful?”
Huang then said to the Taoist, “All the peonies will shoot out red buds. The one with buds bursting into five leaves is me.”
After saying this, Huang kept silence forever. He was brought home and died right away.
Next year, some large buds were really shot out and each of them really burst into five large fresh leaves as Huang said. The Taoist felt very strange about it and took care of the peonies much more painstakingly.
Three years later, the peonies became several feet tall and their stalks were as thick as one could hold them by hands. The only problem was that there were no flowers.
After the Taoist died, his disciples didn’t take good care of it and worse of all they even chopped and removed it. The white peony gradually withered away and died at last. Shortly, the evergreen tree died, too.
原文：
异史氏曰：“情之至者，鬼神可通。花以鬼从*，而人以魂寄*，非其结于情者深耶？一去而两殉之，即非坚贞，亦为情死矣。人不能贞，亦其情之不笃耳。仲尼读《唐棣》*而曰‘未思”，信矣哉！*”
注释：
1．花以鬼从：香玉死后为花之鬼。2．人以魂寄：黄生死后灵魂依附香玉之侧。3．《唐棣》：古诗名。全诗四句：“唐棣之华，偏其反而。岂不尔思？室是远而。”意思是：“唐棣树开花，翩翩摇曳，难道不思念你？只因家室离得太远。”孔子读后说：“未思，信矣哉！”意思是：还是不思念，你信不信！不然，再远也无妨！此处引用孔子的话，表示如果情真意切，哪怕天高地远也能忠贞相爱。
白话：
作者感言：“情感深厚，鬼神都能被感动。香玉死后为花之鬼，黄生死后灵魂依附在香玉旁边，二人结交的情谊不可谓不深吧？一个死去两个殉情而亡，即便不算坚贞，也是为情而死呀。人不能坚贞，感情就不会深厚。孔子读过《唐棣》后就表示，如果情真意切，哪怕天高地远也能忠贞相爱。
英译：
Author’s Commentary:
If someone’s feelings are too deep, even the gods and ghosts can be moved. Xiang Yu died but she changed into a flower ghost who still followed her beloved Huang. Huang died but his soul still adhered to Xiang Yu. How deep their feelings are! After Huang’s death, both the white peony and the evergreen died one after another. Even if being far from being pure and chaste, they died because of true and deep feelings at least. Without being honest, he can’t have devoted feelings. After reading a classic poem, Confucius said: “If two lovers have true feelings, they would love each other profoundly no mater how far they are separated.”
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原文：
劳山下清宫*，耐冬*高二丈*，大数十围*，牡丹高丈余，花时璀璨似锦。
注释：
1．下清宫:山东崂山的道观。2．耐冬：山茶。3．丈：中国的长度丈量单位。按十尺是一丈算，两丈相当于二十尺。而三尺为一米，则二十尺，也就是两丈，则相当于七米差一点。那么，英译中这棵山茶的高就是大约七米。4．围：古代周长的计量单位。周长一尺为一围，也有半尺为一围之说。如按前者，数十围，就是数十尺，而按十尺为一丈来算，这棵山茶树干周长数丈。一丈为十尺，相当于三米多，那么数丈，就是数个三米多，如果是五丈，那就是五十尺，三尺为一米，大概的周长不妨按这个数来翻译，就算十五六米吧。这个数字似乎有点离谱。不过也别在意，这不是一个神话故事吗？
加注：
蒲松龄曾到过崂山下清宫，住在三官殿东厢房，看到院中一棵花团锦簇的山茶，灵感油然而生，写下了脍炙人口的《香玉》。下文中提到的花神“绛雪”就是这株山茶的化身。蒲松龄写作《香玉》的背景据说是：一天晚上他正在看书，忽然觉得一股香味扑鼻而来，朦胧中，发现窗外一女子的身影一闪而过，起身推门一看，没见着人影，只有满院香气袭人。这一夜，蒲松龄怎么也睡不着，恍如梦中，只见上清宫的牡丹仙子和院子里的耐冬仙子来访，求他为他们立传，于是这株山茶便成了流传至今的花神“绛雪”，时至今日，崂山还设有一名为“绛雪”的旅游景点。其实，绛为紫色，雪为白色，一紫一白构成奇特景致，因此作者便把花神称为“绛雪”。而香玉，其实是牡丹的一种，株壮花硕，为白色，在皎洁的月光之下，冰清玉洁，越发显得高洁脱俗。
白话：
劳山有座道观叫下清宫，观内有一棵山茶，高两丈，粗数十围，牡丹则高一丈多，花开时艳丽似锦，尽态极妍。
英译：
There was a Taoist temple named Xiaqing Palace in Mt. Lao. A gigantic camellia there was about seven meters high with a perimieter of about fifteen meters,while the peonies, more than three meters high, were especially eye-catching when bursting into flower, bright and colorful.
原文：
胶州黄生舍读*其中。一日自窗中见女郎，素衣掩映花间。心疑观中焉得此，趋出已遁去。自此屡见之。遂隐身丛树中以伺其至。未几，女郎又偕一红裳者来，遥望之，艳丽双绝。行渐近，红裳者却退，曰：“此处有生人！”生暴起。二女惊奔，袖裙飘拂，香风洋溢，追过短墙，寂然已杳，爱慕弥切，因题句树下云：“无限相思苦，含情对短缸*。恐归沙吒利*，何处觅无双？*”归斋冥思。女郎忽入，惊喜承迎。女笑曰：“君汹汹似强寇，令人恐怖；不知君乃骚雅士，无妨相见。”生略叩生平，曰：“妾小字香玉，隶籍平康巷*。被道士闭置山中，实非所愿。”生问：“道士何名？当为卿一涤此垢。”女曰：“不必，彼亦未敢相逼。借此与风流士长作幽会，亦佳。”问：“红衣者谁？”曰：“此名绛雪，乃妾义姊。”遂相狎。及醒，曙色已红。女急起，曰：“贪欢忘晓矣。”着衣易履，且曰：“妾酬君作，勿笑：‘良夜更易尽，朝暾*已上窗。愿如梁上燕，栖处自成双。’“生握腕曰：“卿秀外惠中*，令人爱而忘死。顾一日之去，如千里之别。卿乘间当来，勿待夜也。”女诺之。由此夙夜必偕。每使邀绛雪来，辄不至，生以为恨。女曰：“绛姐性殊落落*，不似妾情痴也。当从容劝驾*，不必过急。
注释：
1．舍读：住在某处读书。2．短缸：短灯。缸，应该是“釭”，读“缸”，灯座短的灯叫“釭”。3．恐归：这联诗的意思是：唯恐心上人被别人抢走，从而无处寻觅。诗句中有两个传奇人物，一是沙吒利，二是无双。沙吒利，唐代番将，即外族将领的名字。据唐人《柳氏传》记载，韩翊（读“义”）与柳氏相恋。安史之乱时，柳氏被番将沙吒利掠走，后在虞侯许俊帮助之下，二人终得团圆。无双，即刘无双。据唐人薛调《无双传》记载，无双与王仙客早有婚约，但因政治动乱，被收入宫中。王仙客在侠客古押衙的帮助之下，设计从宫中救出无双。4．隶籍平康巷：户籍隶属平康巷。平康巷，泛指妓院。唐代长安丹凤街有平康坊，也称平康里，是妓女的聚居区，后人因此将平康巷作为妓院的代称，等同“青楼”。5．相逼：接近，靠近。6．酬：以诗文应和。“和”，应对，读“贺”。7．朝暾：即朝阳。暾，初升的太阳，读“吞”。8．秀外惠中：外貌秀丽，内心聪慧，即表里皆美。惠，与“慧”通用。9．夙夜必偕：日夜不离。夙，早，读“诉”。偕，在一起，读“斜”。另如，偕同，和别人在一起（前往某地）；偕夫人，和夫人一起（前往某处参观等）。10．殊落落：特别孤高不凡。11．劝驾：劝某人驾临。驾临，对某人到来的敬语。
白话：
胶州的黄生住在道观里读书。一天，见窗外有一名女郎，身穿素净的衣服，掩映在花丛之中。黄生心里疑惑，道观中怎么能有这样的美人，急忙走出去，可是女郎早已消失得无影无踪。从此之后经常看到她。于是就隐蔽在树丛中，等着她来。不久，女郎又带来一名红裳女子，远远望去，两人都艳丽无比。渐渐走近时，红衣女郎直往后退，说：“这里有生人！”黄生突然站起来。两名女子惊慌失措地跑着躲开，衣袖长裙随风飘舞，香风迎面扑来。黄生追过短墙，却已静寂无声，于是对她们越发地爱慕起来，因此在树上题写诗句：“无限相思苦，含情对短缸。恐归沙吒利，何处觅无双？”回到书斋冥思苦想。女郎忽然进来，黄生立即惊喜地上前迎接。女郎笑着说：“你气势汹汹好像盗贼，令人恐怖；真不知你原来还是一名儒雅的斯文郎，见见你倒也无妨。” 黄生略微询问一下女郎的生平，她说：“我的字叫香玉，委身青楼。被道士关在山中，实在不是心甘情愿。”黄生问：“道士叫什么名字？我应当为你洗净这一耻辱。”女郎说：“不必了，他也没敢逼迫我。再说借此机会与风流人士长期幽会，倒也不错。”黄生问：“穿红衣服的是谁？” 女郎说：“她名叫绛雪，是我的干姐姐。” 于是就与她互相嬉戏调情。等到醒来时，天色已经泛红。女郎急忙起床，说：“贪图欢乐连天亮都忘记了。” 连忙穿衣换鞋，而且还说：“我和你一首诗，可别笑话：‘良夜更易尽，朝暾已上窗。愿如梁上燕，栖处自成双。’”黄生握着她的手腕说：“你真是外貌美丽，心里聪明，让人爱到忘死的程度。所以你离开一天，就如同分别一千里。你要抽空常来，不要非等到黑夜。” 女郎答应了他。从此日夜厮守，总不分离。每次都叫她去邀请绛雪，可她就是不到，黄生以为红衣女子恨他。女郎说：“绛雪姐特别孤高不凡，不像我这么痴情。应当慢慢劝她来，不必过急。
英译：
Huang, a scholar of Jiaozhou County, temporarily stayed and studied there. One day, through the window, he saw a girl in white appear among the peonies every now and then. Doubting whether it was only his optical illusion, he was going to have a look. But the girl had already vanished when he walked out.
From then on, Huang saw the girl frequently. One evening, he hid himself among the bushes waiting for her.
Shortly, the girl came together with another one in red. Even far off, he could see clearly that the girl in red was extremely beautiful. Coming near, the girl in red suddenly halted.
“Here’s a stranger!” she cried.
Huang stood up abruptly. Panic-stricken, the girls ran away with their long sleeves flying in fragrant wind. Climbing over the wall, he found they’d already disappeared.
On a big tree expressing admiration for them, Huang wrote a poem reading as follows:
Suffer serious lovesickness bitterly,
Stare the short lamp with a deep affection;
Fear lover will be kidnapped suddenly,
And maybe no where to be found again.
Back in his room, he was still buried in thought. The girl suddenly came in. He was so excited that he sprang to his feet immediately and greeted her cordially.
“You look ferocious like a bandit and scare me,” said the girl. “I don’t know you’re a gentleman.” She said continuously. “Now that you’re not a bad guy, there’s no harm to meet you.”
Huang asked her something about her life.
“My name is Fragrant Jade.” She said. “I’m shut here by the Taoist. I can do nothing but give in.”
“What’s the name of the Taoist?” he asked. “I’m willing to help you wipe out an disgrace.”
“Unnecessary,” Fragrant Jade said. “He didn’t dare to force me to do anything. It’s not so bad for me to take this opportunity to meet a gentleman frequently and secretly.”
“Who is the girl in red?” asked Huang.
“She’s Red Snow,” said the girl. “We’re sworn sisters.”
The two then lay in his bed. When waking up, it was already daybreak. Getting up abruptly, Fragrant Jade said, “I’v indulged myself in happiness so deeply that I’ve forgotten daybreak.” While putting on her address and changing shoes, she said, “I’d like to respond you with a poem. Please don’t laugh at me. The poem reads:
Time flies like an arrow on a nice night,
Morning sun shines window with golden light;
Hope we’re like swallows on the house beam,
Who live in pairs for ever with delight.
On hearing her poem, Huang said, “You’re really elegant outside and clever inside. It makes me love you so much that I can even forget death. I feel a thousand-mile separation though parting with you only one day. Please try to find time to come here frequently later on and stay overnight.” The girl pomised.
From then on, Fragrant Jade came every night. But whenever he invited Red Snow, she would refused. Huang thought maybe that girl didn’t like him.
“My sister is aloof and proud like a lone flower appreciating its own beauty and fragrance. She’s quite different with me and doesn’t have wild and foolish love,” said Fragrant Jade. “We’d better persuade her patiently. It’s unnecessary to act too hastily.”
原文：
一夕，女惨然入曰：“君陇不能守，尚望蜀耶？*今长别矣。”问：“何之？*”以袖拭泪，曰：“此有定数*，难为君言。昔日佳作，今成谶语*矣。‘佳人已属沙吒利，义士今无古押衙*’，可为妾咏。诘之不言，但有呜咽。竟夜不眠，早旦而去。生怪之。次日有即墨蓝氏*，入宫游瞩，见白牡丹，悦之，掘移径去。生始悟香玉乃花妖也，怅惋不已。过数日闻蓝氏移花至家，日就萎悴。恨极，作《哭花》诗五十首，日日临穴*涕洟*。一日凭吊方返，遥见红衣人挥涕穴侧。从容近就，女亦不避。生因把袂*，相向汍澜*。已而挽请入室，女亦从之。叹曰：“童稚姊妹，一朝断绝！闻君哀伤，弥增妾恸。泪堕九泉，或当感诚再作*；然死者神气已散，仓卒何能与吾两人共谈笑也。”生曰：“小生薄命，妨害情人，当亦无福可消双美。曩频烦香玉，道达微忱*，胡再不临？”女曰：“妾以年少书生，什九*薄幸*；不知君固至情人*也。然妾与君交，以情不以淫。若昼夜狎昵，则妾所不能矣。”言已告别。生曰：“香玉长离，使人寝食俱废。赖卿少留，慰此怀思，何决绝如此！”女乃止，过宿而去。数日不复至。冷雨幽窗，苦怀香玉，辗转床头，泪凝枕席。揽衣更起，挑灯复踵前韵*曰：“山院黄昏雨，垂帘坐小窗。相思人不见，中夜泪双双。”诗成自吟。忽窗外有人曰：“作者不可无和*。”听之，绛雪也。启户内*之。女视诗，即续其后曰：“连袂人*何处？孤灯照晚窗。空山人一个，对影自成双。”生读之泪下，因怨相见之疏。女曰：“妾不能如香玉之热，但可少慰君寂寞耳。”生欲与狎。曰：“相见之欢，何必在此。”于是至无聊时，女辄一至。至则宴饮唱酬*，有时不寝遂去，生亦听之。谓曰：“香玉吾爱妻，绛雪吾良友也。”每欲相问：“卿是院中第几株？乞早见示，仆将抱植家中，免似香玉被恶人夺去，贻恨*百年。”女曰：“故土难移，告君亦无益也。妻尚不能终从，况友乎！”生不听，捉臂而出，每至牡丹下，辄问：“此是卿否？”女不言，掩口笑之。
注释：
1．君陇：这两句诗的意思是，连我都保不住，还指望得到绛雪吗？诗中用的是“得陇望蜀”这一典故，语出《后汉书。岑彭传》：“人苦不知足，既平陇，复望蜀。”2．何之：到哪里去。之，动词，去，望。何，哪里。本来语序因该是“之何”，但宾语“何”是（疑问）代词，按古汉语语法，在问句或否定句中，代词应置于谓语动词之前。3．定数：命中注定。4．谶语：语言吉凶的话。谶，读“趁”。本文指被应验的凶言。5．古押衙：设计救刘无双的人。这里指设计救人者。见前“无双”的注释。古，姓。押衙，官名，掌管皇帝仪仗并担任侍卫。6．即墨蓝氏：即墨县姓蓝的人。即墨，县名，在今青岛市东北部。7．穴：指把花挖走后留下的大坑。8．涕洟：（流）鼻涕。洟，音义皆同“涕”。9．袂：袖子，读“妹”。10．汍澜：流泪。汍，读“玩”。11．再作：再生。12．忱：情谊。热忱，热情。13．什九：十之八九。14．薄幸：薄情，负心。15．至情人：极其重视情感的人。16．复踵前韵：依照前诗的韵脚。17．和：读“贺”，和诗。和他人之诗，而用其韵。18．内：音与义皆通“纳”，接纳。19．．连袂人：伴侣。20．唱酬，用诗互相赠答。21．贻恨：遗留下仇恨。贻，音义皆与“遗”。
白话：
一天夜里，女郎神情凄凉地进来说：“你连我都不能守住，还指望她吗？今天就长久分手吧。”黄生问：“到哪里去？”女郎一边用衣袖擦泪，一边说：“这是命中注定的，很难对你说清。那天你的佳作，今天变成谶语啦。‘佳人已属沙吒利，义士今无古押衙’，这可真是为我吟诵的。黄生问她，她却一言不发，只是呜咽哭泣。整夜都没睡着，早晨天一亮她就走了。黄生感到奇怪。第二天有个即墨县姓蓝的人到下清宫游览，见到白牡丹，非常喜欢，掘出来就拿走了。黄生这才恍然大悟，原来香玉是花神，于是非常郁闷惋惜。过几天听说姓蓝的把花移栽到他家，当天就枯萎死掉了。悲恨至极，就作《哭花》诗五十首，天天到坑边痛哭流涕。一天，黄生凭吊刚刚返回，远远看见红衣女子在土坑旁边痛哭流涕。他不慌不忙地走上前去，她也不回避。黄生趁势抓住她的衣袖，相对泪流满面。随后他搀扶着请她进屋，她也欣然听从。女子叹息说：“从小一起长大的姐妹，一早晨的时间就断然分离了！听到你这么哀伤，更增添了我的悲痛。你的泪水落入九泉，或许应当感动牡丹；然而死者的神气已经散尽，你这样仓促行事，怎么能和我们两人一起谈笑呢？”黄生说：“小生命太薄，连自己的情人都伤害了，应当也没有和两位美人同时交往的艳福。从前屡次麻烦香玉，让过来热情地嘘寒问暖，她怎么再也不来了呢？”女子说：“我以为你一个年轻的书生，十之八九会薄情；可不知你原来还是一个极重情谊的性情中人。但我和你交往，是以情感相交，而不是以淫乱相交。如果日夜在一起粘粘乎乎，我可办不到。”说完话她就告辞了。黄生说：“香玉长久离开，令我废寝忘食。我还仰赖你能在这里小住，以慰藉我对她的思念之心，你办事为什么这样绝！”闻听此言，女子这才留下来，住一宿才走。此后好几天都没来。冷雨幽窗，黄生苦苦怀念香玉，躺在床上辗转反侧，泪水洒在枕席上。于是揽衣起床，坐在灯下，依照以前的诗韵念道：“山院黄昏雨，垂帘坐小窗。相思人不见，中夜泪双双。”诗写成后自对自地吟诵起来。忽然窗外有人说：“有人作诗，不能没有人和。”一听，原来是绛雪。黄生连忙开门请她进屋。女子看到诗后，随即接续着道：“联袂人何处？孤灯照晚窗。空山人一个，对影自成双。”黄生读后落下泪来，因此怪女子和他见面的次数太少。女子说：“我不能像香玉那样热乎，但也可以稍微缓解一下你的寂寞。”黄生想和她亲热。女子说：“相见的欢乐，何必以这种方式来表达。”于是每当无聊时，女子就来一次。来到就和黄生一起设宴，边饮边用诗互相赠答，女子有时不睡觉就离开，黄生也随她的便。他对人说：“香玉是我的爱妻，绛雪是我的良友。”每次一想问：“你是院中第几棵？请早点让我见识见识，然后把它抱到家中栽上，免得像香玉那样被恶人夺去遗恨百年。”女子说：“故土难移，告诉你也没有好处。妻子尚且不能始终如一，何况友人呢！”黄生不听，抓起她的胳臂就往外走，每到牡丹花前，就问：“这是你吗？”女子不说话，只是捂着嘴笑。
英译：
One evening, Fragrant Jade came sadly.
“You’re even unable to safeguard me. Let alone Red Snow,” said she. “I come here only for a long separation from you.”
“Where to go?” Huang asked.
“We’re doomed to separate from each other,” she wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “You previous master piece has become a mysterious code which has made disaster come true. There is an ancient poem with two sentences reading:
The nice sweetheart has belonged to others,
No hero can save her from disasters.
Huang asked her about the details. But she only sobbed without saying anything. Worse of all, she couldn’t fall asleep all night. She left very early next morning. Huang felt quite curious.
Next day, a higher official came here making a tour of the temple. Catching sight of the white peony, he was very happy and uprooted it and took it away. Only after seeing this did he realize Fragrant Jade was a flower goddess. This made him suffer great mental agony.
A few days later, Huang learnt the white peony died on the very day it was transplanted in the garden of the higher official. With a deep hatred, he wrote fifty poems mourning over the death of the white peony and read them every day in front of the pit which was left after the white peony was uprooted.
One day, back into his room after his everyday mourning, Huang found a girl in red was weeping beside the pit. He readily stepped up but she didn’t evade him. Tears in eyes, he grasped her dress and asked her to go into his room. She didn’t refuse.
“My young sister was too simple and unaffected. She died before she knew it!” said the girl in red. “I felt much more sorrowful when I heard you sobbing. Your tears have already seeped into the nether world. This may be able to help my sister revive. But I think she has completely lost her vitality. How can she come here to have a talk with us?”
“I don’t have good luck so I can’t enjoy the happiness of being accompanied by two beautiful girls,” said Huang. “Fragrant Jade came here frequently before so I could reveal all my innermost feelings to her. But she doesn’t come again. Why?”
“I thought scholars like you were mostly lack of true feelings. I really didn’t realize that you should be so rich in feeling,” she said. “Yet I lay stress on friendship but not sex. So I cannot stay here day and night and keep an ambiguous relation with you.”
Finishing her words, she wanted to leave.
“Fragrant Jade has left for so long a time. I feel uneasy even when eating and sleeping,” he said. “I hope you can stay for a while so as I can stop thinking of Fragrant Jade all the time.”
Hearing his words, the girl stayed overnight and then left. But she didn’t appear for several days.
Cold rain dripping outside the silent window, Huang deeply missed Fragrant Jade and couldn’t fall asleep with tears wetting his pillow. Putting on clothes and getting up, he composed a new poem:
T’s raining at dusk in the mountain compound;
Sitting at the window with curtain down,
Suffering from lovesickness, no one in sight,
He’s in a flood of tears throughout the night.
Huang read it again and again. Suddenly he heard someone saying outside the window, “You’re composing poems. But how is it there is no one to respond you?”
Listening carefully, he realized it was Red Snow. Opening the door, she led her in. After reading his poem, she composed one too:
Where ’s my beloved sweetheart for the time being?
A lone night lamp shines over window.
On empty mount’n only one man sighing,
In pair I’m sitting with my own shadow.
Reading her poem, he was chocked with tears and complained of her indifference to him.
“I can’t treat you as cordially as Fragrant Jade. But I can still comfort you a little bit,” she said.
Huang wanted to do something intimate. But she didn’t agree.
“We’re very happy to meet each other. That’s enough. What’s the need to do that sort of things?”
Whenever he felt bored, Red Snow would come. What they did included eating, drinking, singing or poem-composing. Sometimes she left without staying overnight. Huang let her do whater she liked in her own way.
“Fragrant Jade is my wife. Red Snow is my friend,” he used to say like this.
Sometimes, Huang asked Red Snow, “Which one is you? Please tell me as soon as possible so that I can transplant you into my garden lest the evil doers should take you away like Fragrant Jade.”
“It’s hard for me to leave my native place,” said Red Snow. “And it’s no use to tell you the details. You can’t even save your wife, let alone a friend.”
Huang didn’t listen to her and dragged her out. Facing a certain peony, he usually asked, “It’s you?”
Covering her mouth with one hand, Red Snow only smiled without saying anything.
原文：
旋*生以腊*归过岁。至二月间，忽梦绛雪至，愀然曰：“妾有大难！君急往尚得相见；迟无及矣。”醒而异之，急命仆马，星驰至山。则道士将建屋，有一耐冬，碍其营造，工师将纵斤*矣。生急止之。入夜，绛雪来谢。生笑曰：“向不实告，宜遭此厄！今已知卿；如卿不至，当以炷艾*相炙。”女曰：“妾固知君如此，曩故不敢相告也。”坐移时，生曰：“今对良友，益思艳妻。久不哭香玉，卿能从我哭乎？”二人乃往，临穴洒涕。更*余，绛雪收泪劝止。又数夕，生方寂坐，绛雪笑入曰：“报君喜信：花神感君至情，俾*香玉复降宫中。”生问：“何时？”答曰：“不知，约不远耳。”天明下榻，生嘱曰：“仆为卿来。勿长使人孤寂。”女笑诺。两夜不至。生往抱树，摇动抚摩，频唤无声。乃返，对灯团艾，将往灼树。女遽入，夺艾弃之，曰：“君恶作剧，使人创痏*，当与君绝矣！”生笑拥之。坐未定，香玉盈盈而入。生望见，泣下流离，急起把握香玉。以一手握绛雪，相对悲哽。及坐，生把之觉虚，如手自握，惊问之，香玉泫然曰：“昔，妾花之神，故凝；今，妾花之鬼，故散也。今虽相聚，勿以为真，但作梦寐观可耳。”绛雪曰：“妹来大好！我被汝家男子纠缠死矣。”遂去。
注释：
1．旋：立即，不久。2．腊：腊月。3．愀然：深色凝重或不快。愀，读“巧”。4．斤：斧头。5．炷艾：点燃艾绒球。炷，点，读“住”。艾，即艾蒿，可入药。把艾叶晒干捣碎，团成绒球，针灸时点燃可以配合薰烤经络穴位。6．更：旧时一夜分五更天。一更大约两小时。更，读“耕”。7．俾：使，读“比”。8．创痏：创伤导致的疤痕。痏，疮；伤口。读“伟”。9．泫然：伤心落泪。
白话：
不久，黄生因为腊月来临就回老家过年去了。到二月间，忽然梦见绛雪到来，她神色严肃地说：“我有大难！你赶紧去还能相见；晚了就来不及了。”醒来后感到很奇怪，就急忙叫仆人备马，火速赶到山中。原来道士要盖房，有一棵山茶，影响施工，工程人员要用斧头砍掉。黄生急忙拦住了。夜间，绛雪来表示感谢。黄生笑着说：“从前你不实话告诉我，应该遭此厄运！今天我已经知道你了；如果你不到，我就点艾薰。”女子说：“我早就知道你会如此，所以从前我才不敢告诉你。”坐了一会儿，黄生说：“今天面对良友，更加思念艳妻。好久没去哭香玉了，你能跟我去哭她吗？”二人于是前往庭院，在土坑边涕泪纵横。过了一更多的时间，绛雪擦干泪水劝黄生停止哭泣。又过几夜，黄生刚静静地坐下，绛雪笑着走进屋说：“给你报个喜信：花神被你真挚的感情所感动，让香玉再次降临宫中。”黄生问：“什么时候？”女子答道：“不知道，大概日子不远了。”天亮下床，黄生嘱咐说：“我这次是为你而来。不要长期让我孤独寂寞。”女子笑着答应了。两夜不到。黄生就到庭院去抱树，边摇动边抚摩，频频呼唤可是没有回声。于是返回去，对着灯点燃团艾，想拿去薰树。女子突然进来，夺过艾团扔掉，说：“你搞恶作剧，让人大吃薰烤之苦，应该和你断绝来往！”黄生笑着将她拥抱起来。可还没坐定，香玉飘然而入。黄生望见，涕泗横流，急起握住香玉的手。另一只手握住绛雪，相对悲伤哭泣。等到坐下来，黄生握着香玉觉得十分空虚，好像在握自己的手，于是吃惊地问她，香玉泪流满面地说：“从前，我是花之神，所以实在；今天，我是花之鬼，所以空虚。现在虽然相聚，那你也别当真，只把这当成作梦来看就可以了。”绛雪说：“妹妹一来实在太好啦！我可被你的男人纠缠死了。”说完她就离开了。
英译：
During Spring Festival, Huang went back to his native place and stayed with his family. One night in February, he dreamt Red Snow came to see him.
“I’m facing with imminent disaster,” she said sadly. “If you come right away, we still have an opportunity to meet the last time. Or we’ll never meet again.”
Waking up, he felt very curious and asked his servants to make a quick preparation for departure. Back to the temple, he found that the Taoist was going to build a new house and the evergreen tree had to be chopped down because it hindered their work. Huang firmly stopped them from doing so.
At night, Red Snow came to thank him and told him that the evergreen tree was the protector of the peonies. On hearing her words, Huang suddenly remembered that Fragrant Jade had already told him something about the evergreen tree. She said that if he missed her he could light a worm-wood and then use the lighted wormwood to smoke the evergreen tree. Then she would appear immediately.
“You ought to meet this misfortune, because you didn’t tell me the truth,” smiled Huang. “It’s lucky you’ve come. Otherwise, I’ll smoke the evergreen tree.”
“I know you’ll do it,” said she, “so I didn’t dare to tell you about it.”
Sitting for a while, Huang said, “Facing you, my good friend, I miss my beautiful wife. I haven’t cried over her death for a long time. Would you please accompany me to cry?”
They came to the pit and cried sadly. Some time later, Red Snow dissuaded him from crying continuously.
A few days later, Red Snow came again shortly after his sitting down silently.
She said smilingly, “I come here just to report good news. The flower goddess was moved by your deep feelings. She allows Fragrant Jade to come here.”
“When?” he asked.
“Don’t know. But very soon, I think.”
At dawn, they got up. He said to her, “It’s just for you that I come back from my native place. Don’t let me feel lonely, please.”
Red Snow made him a promise. But she didn’t come over in the next two nights. Huang went to the evergreen tree. He encircled it with his arms, shook it, and caressed it. He cried and cried. But there was no echo at all. He came back into his room and lighted a worm-wood. Just at the moment he wanted to go out to smoke the evergreen tree, Red Snow suddenly came in and snatched over the worm-wood.
“What mischief are you up to?” she asked. “If you hurt me, I’ll cut off all relations with you forever!”
Huang smilingly hugged her. But Fragrant Jade drifted in before they could sit still.
Chocked with tears on seeing her, Huang stood up and hugged her at once. With one hand grasping Red Snow, Fragrant Jade faced Huang sweeping sorrowfully.
Sitting down, Huang firmly grasped her hands but he felt strange as if holding nothing at all.
To be asked, she replied, “Before, I was a flower goddess. But now, a flower ghost. So you’d better consider our meeting as something non-existing. Just treat it as a dream.”
Hearing her words, Red Snow joked, “It’s good for you to come. I have been deadly harassed by your man.”
After saying this, Red Snow left.
原文：
香玉款*笑如前；但偎傍之间，仿佛以身就影。生悒悒不乐。香玉亦俯仰自恨，乃曰：“君以白蔹*屑*，少杂硫黄，日酹*妾一杯水，明年此日报君恩。”别去。明日往观故处，则牡丹萌生矣。生乃日加培植，又作雕栏以护之。香玉来，感激倍至。生谋移植其家，女不可，曰：“妾弱质，不堪复戕*。且物生各有定处，妾来原不拟生君家，违之反促年寿。但相怜爱，合好自有日耳。”生恨绛雪不至。香玉曰：“必欲强之使来，妾能致之。”乃与生挑灯至树下，取草一茎，布掌作度*，以度树本，自下而上至四尺六寸，按其处，使生以两爪齐搔之。俄见绛雪从背后出，笑骂曰：“婢子来，助桀为虐耶！”牵挽并入。香玉曰：“姊勿怪！暂烦陪侍郎君，一年后不相扰矣。”从此遂以为常。
注释：
1．款：诚恳。另如“款待”，热情接待。2．白蔹屑：白蔹的碎末。白蔹，中草药名。蔹，读“脸”。屑，碎末，读“谢”。据《群芳谱》记载，牡丹有两种栽种法。一是播种，二是插条。前者，则需用白蔹的碎末拌种，后者则需用少量硫磺涂抹枝条破口。3．酹：把酒洒在地上祭奠死者。酹，读“泪”。4．戕：伤害。读“枪”。此处指用斧头砍下来移栽。5．布掌作度：用手掌衡量长度。6．助桀为虐：帮坏人做坏事。也作“助纣为虐”。桀和纣，夏代末期的暴君。
白话：
香玉热情的笑容还像从前一样；但和她互相依偎，仿佛用身体接近影子。黄生闷闷不乐。香玉也坐立不安自感惭愧，于是就说：“你用白蔹的碎末，再掺一点硫黄泡水，每天日给我洒一杯水，明年的今天我就能报答你的恩情了。”香玉说完就分别了。第二天黄生到道观里原来的地方一看，牡丹萌芽了。黄生就每天精心培植，还做雕栏保护起来。香玉来到，非常感激。黄生想把牡丹移植到他家，女子不答应，说：“我体质柔弱，再遭斧砍我可受不了。再说什么东西该生长在哪里，各有一定的地方，我本来就不适合生长在你家，违反这一条反而会让我短命。只管相怜相爱，自然会有团聚的好日子。”黄生埋怨绛雪不到。香玉说：“如果你非想强迫她来，我能让她来。”于是就和黄生一起，举着灯来到树下，拿一根草，用手掌笔划着，量树干，从下而上到四尺六寸的地方，用手按住，让黄生用两手一齐抓挠。不一会儿，绛雪从背后出现了，笑着骂道：“你这丫头，来这里助桀为虐呀！”于是和香玉手挽手一起走进屋内。香玉说：“姐姐别怪！暂时麻烦你陪侍我的郎君，一年后就不会再打扰了。”从此以后互相往来还和平常一样。
英译：
Fragrant Jade spoke and smiled as ever before. But Huang still felt she was like a shadow whenever touching her. He was very unhappy. Fragrant Jade felt much ashamed for this.
“Put some sulphide into clear water and give me a cup of it everyday. This day next year, I’ll come to repay you for your kindness.”
Fragrant Jade went away.
Next day, Huang went to the garden to have a look and surprisingly found the peony revived. From then on he took pains to cultivate the peony and also made a surrounding railing to protect it. When Fragrant Jade came, he expressed his heartfelt thanks to her.
Huang was going to transplant the peony in his home. But she didn’t agree with him.
“I’m too weak to bear harms anymore. Besides, all things have their own fixed places to live. I’m not suitable to live in your home. If you do exactly the opposite, my life will be shortened.”
Huang was afraid that Red Snow wouldn’t come again.
“We can let her come only by forcing her,” she said. “I can do it.”
With a lantern in her hand, Fragrant Jade led him to the evergreen tree and then picked up a straw. She measured the straw with her palm and then used the straw to measure the trunk, from below to above, and finally pressed the place four and half inches high. She asked Huang to scratch the bark. Shortly, they found Red Snow come from behind them.
Red Snow smilingly cursed Fragrant Jade, “I asked you to come here only for helping a bad egg to do evil?”
Huang brought them into his room.
“Don’t blame me, sister.” Fragrant Jade said. “I just want you to take the trouble to accompany him one year. After that I won’t bother you anymore.”
From then on, they got along with each other as usual.
原文：
生视花芽，日益肥茂，春尽，盈*二尺许。归后，以金遗道士，嘱令朝夕培养之。次年四月至宫，则花一朵含苞未放；方流连间，花摇摇欲拆*；少时已开，花大如盘，俨然有小美人坐蕊中，裁*三四指许；转瞬飘然欲下，则香玉也。笑曰：“妾忍风雨以待君，君来何迟也！”遂入室。绛雪亦至，笑曰：“日日代人作妇，今幸退而为友。”遂相谈宴。至中夜，绛雪乃去，二人同寝，款洽*一如从前。
注释：
1．盈：增长。2．拆：开，绽放。3．裁：同“才”。4．款洽：热情融洽。
白话：
黄生去看花芽，日益肥大茂盛，春天结束时，已经长了两尺左右。黄生返回家之后，还向道士馈送金钱，嘱咐他一早一晚精心培植。第二年四月王上回到下清宫，只见一支花蕾含苞待放；他在花间流连踱步，花蕾摇曳将要绽放；不多时已经开放，花大如盘，居然还有小美人坐在花蕊中，才大约三四指长；转瞬间飘然而下，原来是香玉。她笑着说：“我忍着风雨等待你，可你为什么来得这么晚！”于是就走进屋内。绛雪也到了，笑着说：“我天天代你作媳妇，亏得今天能引退作朋友。”于是设宴相谈。一直到午夜，绛雪来离开，二人这才同床共枕，热络融洽一如从前。
英译：
Huang found the peonies had shot out buds which growing bigger and bigger. By the end of spring, the new buds had become about two feet high above ground. He went back to his native place again. Before leaving, he gave some money to the Taoist and exhorted him to take a good care of the peonies.
Next April, he came back to the temple. He found a flower which was in fact in bud. He walked back and forth. The bud began to come into flower. And shortly it had already come into a flower which was large as a plate. A little beauty, as tall as a finger’s length, was sitting among the pistil. And in a twinkle, she drifted down onto the ground. She was Fragrant Jade!
Fragrant Jade said to Huang, “I’ve been waiting for you, braving wind and rain. Why are you so late?”
Then, Fragrant Jade entered his room. Red Snow came in too.
“I’ve been playing the role of a wife everyday.” Red Snow said smilingly. “It is only today that I can resume the role of a friend.”
They talked and talked. At midnight, Red Snow left. Huang and Fragrant Jade went to bed with their feelings profound as ever before.
原文：
后生妻卒，生遂入山不归。是时牡丹已大如臂。生每指之曰：“我他日寄魂于此，当生卿之左。”二女笑曰：“君勿忘之。” 后十余年，忽病。其子至，对之而哀。生笑曰：“此我生期，非死期也，何哀为！”谓道士曰：“他日牡丹下有赤芽怒生，一放五叶者，即我也。”遂不复言。子舆*之归家。即卒。次年，果有肥芽突出，叶如其数。道士以为异，益灌溉之。三年，高数尺，大拱把*，但不花。老道士死，其弟子不知爱惜，斫*去之。白牡丹亦憔悴死；无何耐冬亦死。
注释：
1．舆：车。读“鱼”。此处是动词，用车载他回家。2．拱把：用手握起来。3．斫：用刀斧砍。读“琢”。4。无何：没过多久。
白话：
后来黄生的妻子死了，他就进山不归了。当时牡丹已经粗大如手臂。黄生经常指着说：“我将来有一天死了埋在这里，应当埋在你们的左边。”两名女子笑道：“你可别忘记。” 此后过了十多年，黄生忽然生病。他儿子来这里，看着他非常悲哀。黄生笑道：“这是我的生期，不是死期，为什么要悲痛！”又对道士说：“将来有一天牡丹下有红芽茂盛地生出来，有一个放开五片叶子的芽，那就是我。”随后就不再说话。儿子用车把他拉回家。随即死去。第二年，果然有肥大的花芽冒出来，叶片正如他说的那个数。道士感到非常奇怪，就越发精心浇灌。三年后，已经高数尺，粗得能用手掌握起来，但是不开花。老道士死后，弟子们不知爱惜，就把它砍掉了。于是白牡丹也憔悴而死；没过多久，山茶也死掉了。
英译：
Later on, Huang’s wife died. He left his home and came into Mt. Lao and never went back home gain. The peonies had become large as pans.
Pointing the flowers, Huang used to say, “I once settled my soul in here during those years, so I should live here on your left side.”
The two girls laughed and said to him, “Don’t forget it.”
Over ten years later, Huang suddenly fell ill. His son came to take care of him. Facing his father, the young boy felt sorrowful.
Huang smilingly said to his son, “Today is a day for me to live, but not to die. Why do you feel so sorrowful?”
Huang then said to the Taoist, “All the peonies will shoot out red buds. The one with buds bursting into five leaves is me.”
After saying this, Huang kept silence forever. He was brought home and died right away.
Next year, some large buds were really shot out and each of them really burst into five large fresh leaves as Huang said. The Taoist felt very strange about it and took care of the peonies much more painstakingly.
Three years later, the peonies became several feet tall and their stalks were as thick as one could hold them by hands. The only problem was that there were no flowers.
After the Taoist died, his disciples didn’t take good care of it and worse of all they even chopped and removed it. The white peony gradually withered away and died at last. Shortly, the evergreen tree died, too.
原文：
异史氏曰：“情之至者，鬼神可通。花以鬼从*，而人以魂寄*，非其结于情者深耶？一去而两殉之，即非坚贞，亦为情死矣。人不能贞，亦其情之不笃耳。仲尼读《唐棣》*而曰‘未思”，信矣哉！*”
注释：
1．花以鬼从：香玉死后为花之鬼。2．人以魂寄：黄生死后灵魂依附香玉之侧。3．《唐棣》：古诗名。全诗四句：“唐棣之华，偏其反而。岂不尔思？室是远而。”意思是：“唐棣树开花，翩翩摇曳，难道不思念你？只因家室离得太远。”孔子读后说：“未思，信矣哉！”意思是：还是不思念，你信不信！不然，再远也无妨！此处引用孔子的话，表示如果情真意切，哪怕天高地远也能忠贞相爱。
白话：
作者感言：“情感深厚，鬼神都能被感动。香玉死后为花之鬼，黄生死后灵魂依附在香玉旁边，二人结交的情谊不可谓不深吧？一个死去两个殉情而亡，即便不算坚贞，也是为情而死呀。人不能坚贞，感情就不会深厚。孔子读过《唐棣》后就表示，如果情真意切，哪怕天高地远也能忠贞相爱。
英译：
Author’s Commentary:
If someone’s feelings are too deep, even the gods and ghosts can be moved. Xiang Yu died but she changed into a flower ghost who still followed her beloved Huang. Huang died but his soul still adhered to Xiang Yu. How deep their feelings are! After Huang’s death, both the white peony and the evergreen died one after another. Even if being far from being pure and chaste, they died because of true and deep feelings at least. Without being honest, he can’t have devoted feelings. After reading a classic poem, Confucius said: “If two lovers have true feelings, they would love each other profoundly no mater how far they are separated.”
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