小翠（狐報恩,人忘恩）:聊齋故事係列四合一（原著-注釋-白話-英譯）

聊齋故事係列四合一（原著-注釋-白話-英譯）

小翠（狐報恩，人忘恩）


原文：
　　
王太常*，越*人。總角*時，晝臥榻上。忽陰晦，巨霆暴作，一物大於貓，來伏身下，展轉不離。移時晴霽，物即徑出。視之非貓，始怖，隔房呼兄。兄聞，喜曰：“弟必大貴，此狐來避雷霆劫也。”後果少年登進士，以縣令入為侍禦。 生一子名元豐，絕癡，十六歲不能知牝牡*，因而鄉黨無於為婚。王憂之。適有婦人率少女登門，自請為婦。視其女，嫣然展笑，真仙品也。喜問姓名。自言：“虞氏。女小翠，年二八矣。”與議聘金。曰：“是從我糠覈*不得飽，一旦置身廣廈，役婢仆，厭*膏梁，彼意適，我願慰矣，豈賣菜也而索直乎！”夫人大悅，優厚之。婦即命女拜王及夫人，囑曰：“此爾翁姑，奉侍宜謹。我大忙，且去，三數日當複來。”王命仆馬送之，婦言：“裏巷不遠，無煩多事。”遂出門去。 小翠殊不悲戀，便即奩中翻取花樣。夫人亦愛樂之。

注釋：

1．太常：也叫侍禦宮廷中負責祭祀禮樂的官員。2．越：今浙江一帶。3．總角：古時未成年人把頭發紮成角狀發髻，借指幼年。4．以縣令入為侍禦：從宮外的縣令入宮任侍禦。 侍禦，宮中高層司法官，負責檢舉彈劾贓官；有時受命執行辦案。5．牝牡：雌雄。鳥獸雌性稱牝，讀“貧”；雄性稱牡。此處代指人的性別。6．年二八：女子十六歲。7．糠覈：粗飯。覈，米的粗渣，讀“和”8．厭：吃飽。此處是“饜”，吃飽，滿足的意思，讀“厭”，但不是討厭的“厭”。9．奩：原指梳妝盒。讀“連”。此處指閨中箱匣等。

白話：

王太常，浙江人。小時候有一天，白天躺在床上。天忽然陰下來，霹靂一聲，一個比貓大的東西，進來臥在他身邊，膩膩歪歪不離開。片刻之後天晴起來，那東西就馬上出去了。見它不是貓，就感到很害怕，隔著房門喊哥哥。哥哥知道後，高興地說：“弟弟將來一定會當大官，那是狐狸來避雷劈的劫難。”王公後來果然少年得誌，考取進士，從宮外的縣令入宮當上了侍禦。 生一個兒子叫元豐，極其癡呆，十六歲還不知人分男女，因而鄉裏鄉親沒有人願意和他結親。王公為此非常苦惱。正好有一位婦人領著一個少女找上門，主動要求把女兒嫁給王家當媳婦。看那女孩，麵帶笑容，貌美如仙。王公滿心歡喜地問姓名。婦人說：“我家姓虞。女兒叫小翠，剛十六歲。”和她們商議聘禮。婦人說：“從前我家總是吃糠咽菜不得溫飽，一旦進入豪門，有婢女仆人伺候，好吃好喝管夠，對方滿意，我也心甘情願，如果要聘禮，這豈不是在賣菜！”王夫人非常高興，熱情款待。婦人就叫女兒拜見王公及夫人，囑咐說：“這就是你的公婆，要好好伺候。我太忙，先回去，三兩天再來。”王公派仆人用馬車送她，婦人說：“家裏離這兒不遠，不必麻煩了。”於是出門就走了。 小翠也不感到悲傷留戀，隨即從閨中箱盒裏取出花樣做起針線活。夫人非常喜歡她。

英譯：

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：

數日婦不至，以居裏問女，女亦憨然不能言其道路。遂治*別院，使夫婦成禮。諸戚聞拾得貧家兒作新婦，共笑姍*之；見女皆驚，群議始息。女又甚慧，能窺翁姑喜怒。王公夫婦，寵惜過於常情，然惕惕焉惟恐其憎子癡，而女殊歡笑不為嫌。第*善謔，刺布作圓，蹋蹴為笑。著小皮靴，蹴去數十步，紿*公子奔拾之，公子及婢恒流汗相屬。一日王偶過，圓訇然來，直中麵目。女與婢俱斂跡去，公子猶踴躍奔逐之。王怒，投之以石，始伏而啼。王以告夫人，夫人往責女，女俯首微笑，以手劥?。既退，憨跳如故，以脂粉塗公子，作花麵如鬼。夫人見之，怒甚，呼女詬罵。女倚幾弄帶，不懼亦不言。夫人無奈之，因杖其子。元豐大號，女始色變，屈膝乞宥。夫人怒頓解，釋杖去。女笑拉公子入室，代撲衣上塵，拭眼淚，摩挲*杖痕，餌以棗栗。公子乃收涕以忻*。女闔庭戶，複裝公子作霸王，作沙漠人*；己乃豔服，束細腰，婆娑作帳下舞；或髻插雉尾，撥琵琶，丁丁縷縷然，喧笑一室，日以為常。王公以子癡，不忍過責婦，即微聞焉，亦若置之。
　　
注釋：


1．治：安置，安頓。2．笑姍：嘲笑譏諷。3．第：但。4．紿：哄騙。5．劊嚎袒?６痢巴輟薄４舜χ趕亂饈兜孛?鞲???．摩挲：愛撫。7．忻：高興。讀“新”。8．霸王：指楚霸王項羽。此句說兩人扮演戲劇霸王別姬中的男女角色。9．沙漠人：在沙漠裏生活的人。此處指匈奴王。此句說兩人扮演戲劇昭君出塞中的那女角色。


白話：

幾天之後，婦人沒有來，就問小翠到底住在哪裏，小翠表現天真，但說不出個所以然。於是就把她安置在另外一個院落裏，讓她和元豐結為夫婦。親戚們聽說王家拾一個窮人家的女兒作新媳婦，都直嘲笑他們；可是一見小翠的麵都很驚訝，各種議論這才消除。小翠又非常聰慧，能看公婆的喜怒行事。王公夫婦，雖然寵愛她過於常情，然而總是提心吊膽，隻怕她嫌棄兒子的癡呆，不過小翠總是歡笑著一點不嫌棄。她非常喜歡開玩笑，用布縫成圓球，踢著取笑。穿著小皮靴，一踢就踢出數十步，哄騙公子跑去拾，公子和婢女經常累得汗流浹背。一天王公偶然路過，球正打在他的臉上。小翠和婢女都跑得無影無蹤，公子還蹦蹦跳跳地跑著去追球。王公很生氣，就向他扔石頭，他這才趴在地上哭叫起來。王公把這件事告訴夫人，夫人就去指責小翠，小翠低頭微笑，用手撫弄床邊。夫人離開之後，她又和從前一樣天真地蹦蹦跳跳，還用脂粉給公子塗抹，弄得滿臉花裏胡哨像鬼。夫人見了，非常氣憤，對小翠連喊帶罵。小翠靠著桌子擺弄衣帶，既不恐懼也不言語。夫人沒有辦法，就用棍棒責打兒子。元豐大哭起來，小翠這才花容失色，雙膝跪地請求寬恕。夫人的火氣立即解除，扔掉棍棒離開。小翠笑著把公子拉進屋，替他拍打衣服上的灰塵，擦掉眼淚，撫摸著被棍棒打出的傷痕，給他棗和栗子吃。公子這才破涕為笑。小翠關上門窗，又把公子裝扮成楚霸王，或者匈奴王；自己也華裝豔服，把腰紮得細細的，或像虞姬在帳下那樣婆娑起舞；或像王昭君那樣在發髻上插雉尾，撥弄琵琶，發出丁丁冬冬的聲音，滿屋歡聲笑語，每天習以為常。王公因為兒子癡呆，不忍心過於責備小翠，即便知道一些情況，也聽之任之。
　　




英譯：

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：

同巷有王給諫*者，相隔十餘戶，然素不相能*；時值三年大計吏*，忌公握河南道篆*，思中傷之。公知其謀，憂慮無所為計。一夕早寢，女冠帶，飾塚宰*狀，剪素絲作濃髭，又以青衣飾兩婢為虞候，竊跨廄馬而出，戲雲：“將謁王先生。”馳至給諫之門，即又鞭撾從人，大言曰：“我謁侍禦王，寧謁給諫王耶！”回轡而歸。比至家門，門者誤以為真，奔白王公。公急起承迎，方知為子婦之戲。怒甚，謂夫人曰：“人方蹈我之瑕*，反以閨閣之醜登門而告之，餘禍不遠矣！”夫人怒，奔女室，詬讓*之。女惟憨笑，並不一置詞。撻之，不忍，出之，則無家，夫妻懊怨，終夜不寢。時塚宰某公赫甚，其儀采服從，與女偽裝無少殊別，王給諫亦誤為真。屢偵公門，中夜而客未出，疑塚宰與公有陰謀。次日早期，見而問曰：“夜相公*至君家耶？”公疑其相譏，慚言唯唯，不甚響答。給諫愈疑，謀遂寢*，由此益交歡公。公探知其情竊喜，而陰囑夫人勸女改行，女笑應之。
　　
注釋：

1．給諫：官名。清朝隸屬都察院，負責檢舉，查處弊案。2。侍禦王：指王太常。 3．素不相能：向來不相容。4．三年大計吏：每三年對官吏考績一次。5．忌公握河南道篆：怕王公掌管河南道監察禦史大印。6．塚宰：官名，就是吏部尚書，掌管全國官吏的任免考選，是吏部的最高長官。唐宋是正三品，明代是正二品，清代為從一品。通常稱為天官、塚宰、太宰。7．虞候：宮中禁衛官，掌偵察、巡邏。後指富貴人家雇用的侍從。8．蹈我之瑕：找我的毛病，挑我的刺兒。9．讓：責備。10．寢：消食。
　　
白話：

在同一條巷子裏有一位王給諫，住的相隔十餘戶，然而關係一直很緊張；正趕上皇上對下屬三年一次的大考績，他怕王公掌握河南道監察禦史的大印，就想暗中算計他。王公知道他的陰謀，愁得不知如何。一天晚上王公早早地睡下了，小翠穿官服戴官帽裝成塚宰的樣子，剪掉頭發作成濃密的短胡子，又讓兩名婢女穿上黑衣服裝扮成虞候，偷偷地騎著馬廄裏的馬跑出去，開玩笑說：“去拜見王先生。”騎著馬跑王給諫的門口，又用馬鞭打隨從人員，大聲說：“我要拜見的是王侍禦，怎麽來拜見王給諫呢！”駁回馬頭就返回去了。等到了自己家門前，看門的誤以為真，就急忙跑去告訴王公。王公急忙起身去迎接，這才知道是兒媳在演戲。憤怒已極，對夫人曰：“他正在挑我的毛病，躲都躲不及，反而讓婦道人家出醜，而且還登門去告訴他，我的禍不遠啦！”夫人怒火萬丈，跑到小翠房間，邊罵邊責備她。小翠隻是憨笑，一句話也不說。打她不忍心，休掉她又無家可歸，夫妻倆很窩火，整夜都睡不著。塚宰聲名顯赫，他的儀容風采以及侍從，都和小翠假裝的沒什麽差別，王給諫也誤以為真。於是屢次派人到王公門前觀察，一直到半夜客人也沒有出來，就懷疑塚宰與王公在搞陰謀。第二天早晨上朝，見到王公就問：“夜裏塚宰到你家去啦？”王公懷疑他是在譏諷，心裏感到很慚愧，就支支吾吾，沒說出痛快話。給諫更加懷疑，於是就打消了搞陰謀的念頭，從此和王公的關係日益好起來。王公探知真情後心中竊喜，可是也暗自囑咐夫人勸小翠改掉搞惡作劇的毛病，小翠笑著答應了。


英譯：

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：

逾歲，首相*免，適有以私函致公者誤投給諫。給諫大喜，先托善公者往假*萬金，公拒之。給諫自詣公所。公覓巾袍並不可得；給諫伺候久，怒公慢，憤將行。忽見公子袞衣旒冕*，有女子自門內推之以出，大駭；已而笑撫之，脫其服冕而去。公急出，則客去遠。聞其故，驚顏如土，大哭曰：“此禍水*也！指日赤吾族矣！”與夫人操杖往。女已知之，闔扉任其詬厲。公怒，斧其門，女在內含笑而告之曰：“翁無煩怒。有新婦在，刀鋸斧鉞婦自受之，必不令貽害雙親。翁若此，是欲殺婦以滅口耶？”公乃止。給諫歸，果抗疏揭王不軌，袞冕作據。上驚驗之，其旒冕乃梁黠心所製，袍則敗布黃袱也。上怒其誣。又召元豐至，見其憨狀可掬，笑曰：“此可以作天子耶？”乃下之法司。給諫又訟公家有妖人，法司嚴詰臧獲，並言無他，惟顛婦癡兒日事戲笑，鄰裏亦無異詞。案乃定，以給諫充雲南軍。 王由是奇女。又以母久不至，意其非人，使夫人探詰之，女但笑不言。再複窮問，則掩口曰：“兒玉皇女，母不知耶？”

注釋：

1．首相：就是塚宰。2。假：借用。3。袞衣旒冕：穿戴帝王冠服。袞衣，皇帝穿的袞龍袍，袞讀“滾”；旒冕，帝王戴的帽子。旒，前後懸垂玉串。讀“流”。4。禍水，指敗壞國家的女人。5。赤吾族：殺我全家。赤族，全家族被殺。6。抗疏：上疏直陳。7。下之法司：交由下麵的司法部門處置。8。臧獲：奴婢。



白話：

一年之後，塚宰被免職。有個人寫給王公一封私信，可是卻誤投給了王給諫。給諫非常高興，先托和王公關係好的人去找王公借萬兩黃金，王公拒絕了。給諫就親自前往王公的住處。王公立即尋找官服，可是很久也沒找到；王給諫等候多時不見王公出來，就對他的怠慢感到非常惱火，氣得他直想離開。可忽然看見公子穿戴帝王衣冠，有女子從門裏把他推出來，先是非常害怕；後來又笑著愛撫他，並脫掉他的衣冠離開。王公急忙出來，可是客人已經走遠了。知道原因後，驚嚇得麵色如土，大哭著說：“這個禍水呀！我一家人被砍頭的日子不遠了！”於是和夫人一起拿著棍棒去找小翠算賬。小翠已經知道，關起門來任由他們嚴加責罵。王公大怒，用斧頭砍門，小翠在裏麵含笑告訴他：“公公不要惱怒。有新媳婦在，刀鋸斧鉞媳婦自己承受，一定不會加害於雙親。公公如果這樣，是想殺媳婦滅口吧？”王公這才止住。給諫回去後，果然上疏檢舉王公的不法行為，以公子穿戴的帝王冠服作證據。皇上吃驚，要檢查，可是發現公子的皇冠是高梁秸稈的心做成的，龍袍則是破布和黃色的包袱皮做的。皇上發怒怪他誣告。又召見元豐，見他憨態可掬，笑著說：“這樣的人可以作天子嗎？”於是把王給諫交由司法處置。給諫又指控王公家有妖精，司法部門對奴婢嚴加盤問後，都沒有說別的，隻說有個大大咧咧的媳婦和傻兒子成天耍笑，鄰裏也沒有說別的。案子於是裁定下來，把王給諫發配雲南充軍。 王公從此對小翠感到很奇怪。又因為她母親久久不到，意識到她們不是人類，就讓夫人探聽盤問，小翠隻笑不說話。再反複盤問，就捂著嘴說：“兒媳婦是玉皇大帝的女兒，婆婆不知道嗎？”


英譯：

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：

無何，公擢京卿*。五十餘每患無孫。女居三年，夜夜與公子異寢，似未嚐有所私。夫人異榻去，囑公子與婦同寢。過數日，公子告母曰：“借榻去，悍不還！小翠夜夜以足股加腹上，喘氣不得；又慣掐人股裏。”婢嫗無不粲然。夫人嗬拍令去。一日女浴於室，公子見之，欲與偕；女笑止之，諭使姑待。既去，乃更瀉熱湯於甕，解其袍褲，與婢扶之入。公子覺蒸悶，大呼欲出。女不聽，以衾蒙之。少時無聲，啟視已絕。女坦笑不驚，曳置床上，拭體幹潔，加複被焉。夫人聞之，哭而入，罵曰：“狂婢何殺吾兒！”女囅然曰：“如此癡兒，不如勿有。”夫人益恚，以首觸女；婢輩爭曳勸之。方紛噪間，一婢告曰：“公子呻矣！”輟涕撫之，則氣息休休，而大汗浸淫，沾浹裀褥。食頃汗已，忽開目四顧遍視家人，似不相識，曰：“我今回憶往昔，都如夢寐，何也？”夫人以其言語不癡，大異之。攜參其父，屢試之果不癡，大喜，如獲異寶。至晚，還榻故處，更設衾枕以覘之。公子入室，盡遣婢去。早窺之，則榻虛設。自此癡顛皆不複作，而琴瑟靜好如形影焉。
　　


注釋：

1．擢京卿：提升為京卿。指王公從侍禦提升為太常寺卿。卿，清代對三品或四品京官的尊稱，或稱“京堂”。2．囅然：笑的樣子，讀“產”。3．浸淫：大汗淋漓。


白話：

沒過過久，王公被提升為太常寺卿。五十多歲經常發愁沒有孫子。小翠過門三年，夜夜都和公子分床而睡，似乎從來沒有和公子親近過。夫人就把另一張床撤掉，囑咐公子和媳婦同睡。過幾天，公子告訴母親說：“你把床借去，怎麽總不還！小翠夜夜都把腳和大腿放到我肚子上，喘不過氣；還總用手掐我大腿的裏邊。”婢女和老保姆都笑成一團。夫人嗬斥著把她們趕走。一天小翠在房間裏洗澡，公子見到，就想和他一起洗；小翠笑著製止他，叫他稍微等一會兒。公子走開，她就換了一缸熱水，解開他的袍褲，和婢女一起扶著他進入浴缸。公子覺得蒸騰發悶，大喊大叫著要出來。小翠不聽，還用被子蒙上他。片刻之後公子就沒了聲息，掀開一看已經斷氣。小翠坦然而笑絲毫不驚訝，把他拉到床上，擦幹淨他的身體，又加蓋一床棉被。夫人聞訊，哭著跑進來，罵道：“你這個發瘋的小賤人為什麽要殺我兒子！”小翠笑著說：“這麽個傻兒子，不如沒有。”夫人越發氣憤，用頭撞小翠；婢女仆人急忙過來相勸。正在亂糟糟的時候，一個婢女告訴說：“公子直哼哼！”夫人停止哭鬧撫摸著公子，他在慢慢喘氣，大汗淋漓，洇濕了被褥。吃頓飯的功夫就停止出汗了，忽然睜開眼睛四下張望看著家裏的人，似乎不認識，說：“我現在回想起過去，都像做夢，為什麽呢？”夫人因為他說話不癡不呆，非常吃驚。領著他去看父親，試了好幾次都不傻，於是大家非常高興，就像得到寶貝一樣。到晚上，把搬走的床放回原處，還放上被褥枕頭對他加以觀察。公子走進房間，叫婢女都走開。早晨偷偷一看，那張床白放到那裏了。從此癡呆瘋癲一概不再複發，代之而來的則是和小翠卿卿我我，形影不離。


英譯：

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：

年餘，公為給諫之黨奏劾免官，小有罣誤*。舊有廣西中丞*所贈玉瓶，價累千金，將出以賄當路。女愛而把玩之，失手墮碎，慚而自投*。公夫婦方以免官不快，聞之，怒，交口嗬罵。女奮而出，謂公子曰：“我在汝家，所保全者不止一瓶，何遂不少存麵目？實與君言：我非人也。以母遭雷霆之劫，深受而翁庇翼；又以我兩人有五年夙分*，故以我來報曩恩、了夙願耳。身受唾罵、擢發不足以數，所以不即行者，五年之愛未盈。今何可以暫止乎！”盛氣而出，追之已杳。公爽然*自失，而悔無及矣。公子入室，睹其剩粉遺鉤，慟哭欲死；寢食不甘，日就羸瘁。公大憂，急為膠續*以解之，而公子不樂。惟求良工畫小翠像，日夜澆禱*其下，幾二年。


注釋：

1罣誤：官吏因公事受譴責。罣，音義都同“掛”。2。中丞：就是巡撫。3。自投：自己主動去認錯。4。而翁：你父親。而，你。5。夙分：緣分。6。爽然：慚愧。7。膠續：續娶。8。澆禱：酹酒祈禱。酹酒，把酒灑在地上祭奠。酹，讀“類”。


白話：

過了一年多，王公因為公事辦理的有點差誤，被王給諫的黨羽上疏遭彈劾被罷免。廣西中丞曾經贈送給他一隻玉瓶，價指千金，打算拿出去賄賂當權者。小翠非常喜愛就拿著把玩，不料失手落地摔得粉碎，感到非常慚愧，就主動向主人承認錯誤。王公夫婦剛因為被罷官而不愉快，聽到這件事，勃然大怒，兩人都破口大罵。小翠一氣之下，站起來就走出去，對公子說：“我在你家，所保全的東西不隻是一隻瓶子，可為什麽不稍微給我留點麵子呢？實話對你說：我不是人。因為母親那次遭雷霆劫難，多虧你父親的庇護；又因為我們兩人有五年的緣分，所以我才來報答你們從前的大恩，有實現自己的夙願。可我經常遭受唾罵，次數多得擢發難數，可我所以不馬上離開的原因，就是五年的恩愛還沒有夠。可這段情份今天就該暫時打住！”小翠氣衝衝地走出去，公子追到外麵她早已不見蹤影。王公因為失禮感到非常慚愧，但是已經後悔不及。公子走進房間，看到小翠用剩下的胭脂粉和撇下的發簪等物，嚎啕大哭，想一死了之；吃不好睡不著，日益憔悴瘦弱。王公憂心忡忡，急著為他續娶，想以此安慰兒子，可公子依然悶悶不樂。隻是求能工巧匠為小翠畫像，日夜在畫像下麵灑酒祈禱，幾乎二年沒有間斷。

英譯：

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：　

偶以故自他裏歸，明月已皎，村外有公家亭園，騎馬牆外過，聞笑語聲，停轡，使廄卒*捉鞚*，登鞍一望，則二女郎遊戲其中。雲月昏蒙，不甚可辨，但聞一翠衣者曰：“婢子當逐出門！”一紅衣者曰：“汝在吾家園亭，反逐阿誰？”翠衣人曰：“婢子不羞！不能作婦，被人驅遣，猶冒認物產*也？”紅衣者曰：“索勝*老大婢無主顧者！”聽其音酷類小翠，疾呼之。翠衣人去曰：“姑不與若爭，汝漢子來矣。”既而紅衣人來，果小翠。喜極。女令登垣承接而下之，曰：“二年不見，骨瘦一把矣！”公子握手泣下，具道相思。女言：“妾亦知之，但無顏複見家人。今與大姊遊戲，又相邂逅，足知前因不可逃也。”請與同歸，不可；請止園中，許之。公子遣仆奔白夫人。夫人驚起，駕肩輿*而往，啟鑰入亭。女即趨下迎拜；夫人捉臂流涕，力白前過，幾不自容，曰：“若不少記榛梗*，請偕歸慰我遲暮*。”女峻辭不可。夫人慮野亭荒寂，謀以多人服役。女曰：“我諸人悉不願見，惟前兩婢朝夕相從，不能無眷注耳；外惟一老仆應門，餘都無所複須。”夫人悉如其言。托公子養屙園中，日供食用而已。
　　

注釋：

1．廄卒：馬夫。2。鞚：馬洛頭。3。冒認物產：冒充好人。4。索勝：總勝過。總比什麽強。5。肩輿：轎。輿，車子。放到肩膀上抬的車子，自然就是轎子。6。榛梗：草木叢生，阻塞不通。比喻前嫌，以往的怨恨。7。遲暮：黃昏之後。指人的晚年。


白話：

公子因為什麽緣故偶然從外地回家，此時皎潔的明月已經當空而掛，村外有王公家的亭園，公子騎馬從牆外過，聽到裏麵歡聲笑語，於是停下馬，讓馬夫牽著洛頭，然後登上馬鞍朝裏一望，隻見兩個女郎正在做遊戲。雲月昏蒙，看不清楚，隻聽一個穿綠衣的說：“你這小妮子應當被趕出門！”另外一個穿紅衣的說：“你在我家園亭裏，反而要把誰趕出去？”綠衣女說：“小妮子不害羞！不能作人家媳婦，被人趕出來，還冒充好人呢？”紅衣女說：“那也總比大齡閨女找不著主兒強！”聽她的聲音酷似小翠，急忙呼喊她。綠衣人就走開了，還說：“現在暫且不喝你爭辯，因為你漢子來了。”紅衣女很快就來了，果真是小翠。他心裏非常高興。小翠讓公子登著牆接她下去，說：“兩年不見，簡直瘦成了一把骨頭！”公子握著小翠的手哭泣，如實倒出相思的苦水。小翠說：“我也知道，但是沒有臉麵再去見家人。今天和大姐到這裏遊玩，沒想到又和你見麵了，由此可知前緣是不可逃避的。”公子請她和他一起回去，小翠不答應；請求她留在園中，她答應了。公子派仆人趕緊跑回去告訴老夫人。夫人吃驚地站起來，然後讓人用轎子抬著，來到園外用鑰匙打開門。小翠立即跪下迎拜；夫人拉著她的手臂痛哭流涕，極力述說自己從前的過錯，慚愧得簡直無地自容，說：“如果你不記前仇，請和我一起回家，也好使老身我在晚年得到安慰。”小翠堅決不肯。老夫人怕小翠在荒郊野外太寂寞，就打算多叫幾個人來伺候她。小翠說：“所有的人我都不願見，我隻要從前那兩個婢女來和我朝夕相從，我也不能沒有人照顧；另外就是需要一位老仆來看門，其他人都不需要。”夫人完全按照她的話去做。也正好讓公子在園中養病，每天隻給他們送些日常吃用的東西。


英譯：

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：

女每勸公子別婚，公子不從。後年餘，女眉目音聲漸與曩*異，出像質*之，迥若兩人。大怪之。女曰：“視妾今日何如疇昔*美？”公子曰：“今日美則美矣，然較疇昔則似不如。”女曰：“意妾老矣！”公子曰：“二十餘歲何得速老！”女笑而焚圖，救之已燼。一日謂公子曰：“昔在家時，阿翁謂妾抵死*不作繭*，今親老君孤，妾實不能產，恐誤君宗嗣。請娶婦於家，旦晚侍奉公姑，君往來於兩間，亦無所不便。”公子然之，納幣*於鍾太史之家。吉期將近，女為新人製衣履，齎*送母所。及新人入門，則言貌舉止，與小翠無毫發之異。大奇之。往至園亭，則女亦不知所在。問婢，婢出紅巾曰：“娘子暫歸寧*，留此貽公子。”展巾，則結玉玦一枚，心知其不返，遂攜婢俱歸。雖頃刻不忘小翠，幸而對新人如覿*舊好焉。始悟鍾氏之姻，女預知之，故先化其貌，以慰他日之思雲。
　　

注釋：

1．曩：從前。讀“囊”第三聲。2。質：本為對質。對質是對證的意思。由此引申為對照，對比。3。。疇昔：從前。4。抵死：至死。5。不作繭：以蠶不作繭比喻不生育。6。納幣：下聘禮。7。齎：把東西送個別人。讀“基”。8。歸寧：回娘家看望父母。9。覿：見麵。讀“敵”。

白話：

小翠經常勸公子另行結婚，公子不聽。一年多之後，小翠的眉目聲音逐漸和從前不一樣了，他拿出畫像對照，簡直判若兩人，感到非常奇怪。小翠說：“你看我今天和從前哪個樣子美？”公子說：“今天美是美，可總覺得不如從前。”小翠說：“意思是說我老啦！”公子說：“二十多歲怎麽就老得這麽快！”小翠笑著把畫像燒掉了，想挽救可早已燒成灰燼。一天對公子說：“從前在家時，老爸說我到死也生不了孩子，今天老爸已經故去，而你又孤身一人，我實在是不能生育，恐怕耽誤你傳宗接代。你快另娶個媳婦回家，一早一晚地服侍公婆，你可以往來於我和你媳婦兩人之間，這樣也沒有什麽不便。”公子答應了，於是向鍾太史家下了聘禮。吉日良辰將近，小翠為新人做了衣服鞋子，送到王夫人那裏。等新人進門，音容笑貌，言談舉止，都和小翠沒有絲毫的差異。大家非常奇怪。等趕到亭園一看，小翠也不知到哪裏去了。問婢女，婢女拿出紅絲巾說：“娘子暫時回娘家了，留下這條絲巾送給公子。”公子打開絲巾，裏麵有一枚玉佩，心知他再也不會返回來，就帶著婢女一起回家了。雖然時刻不忘小翠，幸好麵而對新人如同看到舊日戀人。他這才恍然大悟，與鍾氏的因緣，小翠早已預先知道，所以先變成鍾氏小姐的容貌，以便寬慰公子日後的思念之心。


英譯：

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：

異史氏曰：“一狐也，以無心之德，而猶思所報；而身受再造之福者，顧失聲於破甑*，何其鄙哉！月缺重圓，從容而去，始知仙人之情亦更深於流俗也！”
　　



注釋：

甑：古代廚具。本文指古瓶之類的藝術品。讀“贈”。


白話：

作者說：“一隻狐，因為他人曾經對自己有過恩德，哪怕隻是無意之中的事，也還在思量如何報答；而身受再生之福的人，居然為一隻破瓶子（對恩人）大吵大鬧，多麽卑鄙呀！（小翠等自己恩人的兒子）如月缺重圓那樣再次完婚，從容而去，這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!