花間書齋
成功之門原來虛掩著
正文
伍秋月(美麗幽魂)：
聊齋故事係列四合一（原著-注釋-白話-英譯）
原文：
秦郵*王鼎，字仙湖。為人慷慨有力，廣交遊。年十八，未娶，妻殞。每遠遊，恒經歲不返。兄鼐，江北名士，友於*甚篤*。勸弟勿遊，將為擇偶。生不聽，命舟*抵鎮江訪友，友他出，因稅居*於逆旅*閣上。江水澄波，金山*在目，心甚快之。次日，友人來，請生移居，辭不去。
注釋：
1．秦郵：古縣，因秦時設郵亭，故得此名。現今江蘇高郵縣。2．友於：兄弟情誼深厚。友於，兄弟情誼。語出《尚書。君陳》：“惟孝友於兄弟”。“於”本來是介詞，但後常“友於”連用，代稱兄弟情誼。有時也指兄弟。3．篤：深厚。4．命舟：吩咐船隻；也指乘船出發。本文指後者。另如“命駕”，吩咐人駕車。也作乘車出發。5．稅居：:租賃房屋居住。6．逆旅：旅店。7．金山：位於江蘇鎮江西北，本在江中，現已與南岸連接。
白話：
秦郵縣的王鼎，字仙湖。為人慷慨，身強力壯，交際廣泛。十八歲那年，妻子還未娶過門就死了。每當遠遊，總是一年到頭不回家。哥哥王鼐，江北名士，弟兄間情誼深厚。常勸弟弟不要出遊，答應為他找媳婦。王生不聽，乘船抵達鎮江拜訪友人，朋友外出，因此在旅館租了間閣樓住下。大江東去，碧波蕩漾，金山在目，心曠神怡。第二天，友人回來，請王生搬過去住，他推辭不去。
英譯：
Wang Ding was an elegant young man of Gaoyou County, Jiangsu Province. Healthy and strong, he was bold and vigorous and generous in helping others. As a good mixer, he had a wide acquaintanceship. At the age of eighteen, his girl-friend died shortly before wedding day and he’d remained single ever since.
Wang was keen on traveling to distant lands. Whenever going on a long journey, he wouldn’t come back within a year. His elder brother Wang Nai was a celebrity in his hometown. He had deep brotherly affection for him. He often dissuaded Wang from making long journeys. He also promised to choose him a good wife.
But Wang didn’t listen to his brother and persisted in going south to Zhenjiang visiting his friend. Unluckily, his friend wasn’t at home. He had to stay in a hotel on the bank of the Yangtse River. Facing clear waves and green mountains, he felt relaxed and happy. Next day, his friend came back and invited him to move, yet he politely declined.
原文：
居半月餘，夜夢女郎，年可十四五，容華端妙，上床與合，既寤*而遺*。頗怪之，亦以為偶然。入夜，又夢之；如是三四夜。心大異，不敢息燭，身雖偃臥*，惕然自警。才交睫，夢女複來；方狎，忽自驚寤；急開目，則少女如仙，儼然猶在抱也。見生醒，頓自愧怯。生雖知非人，意亦甚得；無暇問訊，直與馳驟*。女若不堪，曰：“狂暴如此，無怪人不敢明告也。”生始詰之，答雲：“妾伍氏秋月。先父名儒，邃*於易數*。常珍愛妾；但言不永壽，故不許字人*。後十五歲果夭歿*，即攢瘞*閣東，令與地平，亦無塚誌*，惟立片石於棺側，曰：‘女秋月，葬無塚，三十年，嫁王鼎。’今已三十年，君適至。心喜，亟欲自薦；寸心羞怯，故假之夢寐耳。”王亦喜，複求訖事*。曰：“妾少須陽氣，欲求複生，實不禁此風雨*。後日好合*無限，何必今宵。”遂起而去。次日複至，坐對笑謔，歡若平生。滅燭登床，無異生人；但女既起，則遺泄流離，沾染茵褥。
注釋：
1．寤：醒，讀“物”。2．遺：夢遺，遺精。3．偃臥：仰臥。偃，仰麵。讀“演”。4．馳驟：駿馬快跑狂奔。馳，奔跑。驟，快，急。本文比喻王生單刀直入，急忙想辦那事。5．先父：已故的父親。先，對死者的尊稱，又如“先烈”、“先賢”等。6．邃：精通。讀“歲”。7．易數：占卜術。易，指《周易》。數，技術。8．許字人：許配人家。許字，許婚。9．夭歿：夭折，未成年而死。也稱“夭殤”。10．攢瘞：掩埋。攢，靈柩暫時掩藏不埋。瘞，埋，讀“義”。
11．塚誌 ：墓誌，誌，指標示。12．訖事：把是辦妥。訖，完結。常有“收訖”、“付訖”、“驗訖”之說。如在付款單據上加蓋“付訖”圖章，表示錢款已付。13．不禁此風雨：禁不住這番風雨。風雨，本處指王生這麽急著辦好事。14．好合：好事，指男女情事。
白話：
王生住了半個多月，夜裏夢見一名女郎，大約十四五歲，容貌華美端莊，上床辦事，醒來就遺精。感到非常奇怪，可又認為這隻是偶然現象。入夜，又夢見那女郎；就這樣折騰了三四夜。心裏大為驚異，不敢吹滅蠟燭，雖然仰臥在床，但還是自我警惕。才一合眼，就夢見女郎又來了；剛和她親近狎戲，忽然自己就驚醒了；急忙睜開眼睛，隻見少女美麗如仙，就好像還在自己懷抱裏。見到王生醒來，頓時自感羞愧難當。王生雖知她不是人，心裏也十分滿意；沒工夫細問，單刀直入，急著辦。女郎好像受不了，說：“你這麽狂暴，難怪人家不敢明著告訴你。”王生這才開始問，女郎回答說：“我姓伍，叫秋月。先父是名儒，精通占卜術。總是非常寵愛我；但他說我壽命不長，所以沒有許配人家。後來我在十五歲的時候果然夭亡，隨即被埋在房屋東麵，先父讓我的墳墓和地麵一平，沒有墓誌，隻在棺木旁邊立下一片石頭，寫道：‘女秋月，葬無塚，三十年，嫁王鼎。’如今已經十年，你正好到來。我心裏非常歡喜，急著向自我推薦；心裏實在羞答答的，所以才給你托夢。”王生也非常高興，又要求急忙把好事辦妥。女郎說：“我還稍微需要點陽氣，想求複生，可確實又禁不住你這番狂風暴雨。往後辦好事的日子過都過不完，何必急著非在今天夜裏辦呢。”於是起身離開了。第二天又來，坐下來和王生嬉笑打鬧，歡歡喜喜就和往常一樣。熄滅蠟燭上床辦事，和活人相比沒有兩樣；但是女郎一起來，他就大肆遺精，把被褥都弄髒了。
英譯：
One night half month later, Wang dreamt a pretty girl at the age of nearly fifteen. They slept together. Waking up, he found he had a wet dream. He felt quite strange about it but just considered it as an accidental case. Next day he did the same thing nevertheless. Worse of all, he repeated the same case time and again the next tree or four nights.
Much astonished, Wang didn’t dare to put out the candle. Although lying on his back, he till heightened his vigilance. Just closing his eyes, he dreamt that the girl came again. But he waked up at a start just at moment he was going to be on intimate terms with her. Abruptly opening his eyes, he found the girl extremely beautiful as a goddess and had a feeling that she had already been in his arms.
Finding Wang had already woken up, the girl looked quite shy.
Although he knew she wasn’t human being, he still felt very happy. Without asking anything, he had sexual activities with her violently. The girl seemed to be unable to bear his violent actions.
“You’re so wild,” she said. “Be cautious not to frighten girls away in future.”
To be asked, the girl said, “My name is Qiuyue Wu. My father is a famous scholar and good at fortune-telling. I’m dearly loved by him. He said I couldn’t live long, so he didn’t help me choose a boy friend.” Rose said continuously. “I really died at the age of fifteen. I was buried to the east of the pavilion. He made my tomb level with the ground without any signs of grave except a stone standing beside my coffin. There are a few words on the stone saying: ‘My daughter Qiuyue. Buried without grave, she’ll marry Wang Ding thirty years later.’ Just thirty years have passed over ever since up to now. And you’ve come, too. I’m delighted and want to introduce myself to you. But I feel quite shy so make you have a dream.”
Wang was very happy and asked her for sexual activities. But she declined.
“I’m now still a ghost and lack of energy,” said Wu. “so I’m too feeble to do this sort of things. Besides, I’ve been longing for rebirth. We have more than enough time to be dear and near in future. What’s the need to hurry tonight?”
Wu left.
Next day, she came again talking, laughing and joking as ever before. They put out the candle and went to bed. Comparing with living people, Wu had nothing different. She still refused to have sexual activities with him. But when she got up, he would shoot a heavy load of nut-juice which made the bed sheet terribly stained.
原文：
一夕，明月瑩澈，小步庭中。問女：“冥中亦有城郭否？”答曰：“等耳。冥間城府，不在此處，去此可三四裏。但以夜為晝。”問：“生人能見之否？”答雲：“亦可。”生請往觀，女諾之。乘月去，女飄忽若風，王極力追隨，欻*至一處，女言：“不遠矣。”生瞻望殊無所見。女以唾塗其兩眥*，啟之，明倍於常，視夜色不殊白晝。頓見雉堞*在杳靄中。路上行人，趨如墟市*。俄二皂*縶*三四人過，末一人怪類其兄。趨近視之，果兄。駭問：“兄那得來？”兄見生，潸然零涕，言：“自不知何事，強被拘囚。”王怒曰：“我兄秉禮君子，何至縲絏*如此！”便請二皂，幸且寬釋。皂不肯，殊大傲睨*。生恚*，欲與爭。兄止之曰：“此是官命，亦合奉法。但餘乏用度*，索賄良苦。弟歸，宜措置*。”生把兄臂，哭失聲。皂怒，猛掣項索，兄頓顛蹶*。生見之，忿火填胸，不能製止，即解佩刀，立決皂首。一皂喊嘶，生又決之。女大驚曰：“殺官使，罪不宥！遲則禍及！請即覓舟北發，歸家勿摘提幡*，杜門絕出入，七日保無慮也。”王乃挽兄夜買小舟，火急北渡。歸見吊客*在門，知兄果死。閉門下鑰，始入。視兄已渺，入室，則亡者已蘇，便呼：“餓死矣！可急備湯餅。”時死已二日，家人盡駭。生乃備言其故。七日啟關*，去喪幡，人始知其複蘇。親友集問，但偽對之。
注釋：
1．欻：快速。快讀“吃屋啊”。2．眥：讀“自”，上下眼瞼的接合處，靠近鼻子處叫內瞼，靠近鬢角處叫外瞼，統稱眼角。3．雉堞：城牆的垛口。讀“誌碟”。4．墟市：集市。5．二皂：兩名皂隸。皂隸，舊時衙門裏的差役。因為穿黑衣，故名。皂，黑色。隸，差役。6．縶：栓捆。讀“直”7．縲絏：讀“雷謝”，捆綁犯人的繩索。此處指捆綁。8．傲睨：傲慢斜視。睨，讀“逆”，斜眼看人，表示蔑視。如“睥睨”，睥，讀“辟”。9．恚：怨恨。讀“會”。10．餘乏用度：我缺乏使用的錢。就是錢不夠用。餘，我。11．措置：籌措，辦理。12．顛蹶：跌倒。13．提幡：辦喪事在門口掛的幡。14．吊客：吊唁死者的客人。15．啟關：開門。
白話：
一天夜晚，明月當空，皎潔清澈，二人小步庭中。王生問女郎：“陰間也有城郭嗎？”女郎答道：“和陽間一樣。陰間城府，不在此處，離這裏大約有三四裏。但以黑夜為百天。”王生問：“活人能見到嗎？”女郎答道：“也能見到。”王生要去看看，女郎答應他。二人趁月色而去，女郎飄忽宛若清風，王生極力追隨，突然到達一個地方，女郎說：“不遠了。”王生抬頭眺望根本什麽也看不見。女郎就把唾沫塗在他兩邊的眼角上，王生睜開眼，比平常明亮多了，看夜間的東西和白天沒什麽兩樣。頓時看見城牆垛口隱現在茫茫暮靄之中。路上行人，步履匆匆，似乎去趕集。突然有兩名差役捆綁著三四個人走過去，最後一人怪怪的，像是他的哥哥。他走上前去一看，果然是哥哥。他驚恐萬狀地問：“哥哥你怎麽到這兒來啦？”哥哥見是王生，潸然淚下，說：“我也不知為什麽事，就被迫關進牢房。”王生憤怒地說：“我哥哥處處秉持禮儀，是謙謙君子，怎麽就這樣被捆綁起來！”於是請求兩名差役，寬宏大量釋放哥哥。差役不肯，而且傲慢十足，對他斜眼相看。王生又氣又恨，就和他們爭論。哥哥製止他說：“這是當官的命令，他們這樣也合法。隻是我錢不夠用，他們索賄非常厲害。弟弟回家，應該趕快籌措資金。”王生抓著哥哥的胳膊，痛哭失聲。差役大怒，狠狠地拉扯哥哥脖子上的繩索，個個頓時跌倒在地。王生見此情景，怒火填胸，可又不能製止，於是立即解下佩刀，迅速地將差役斬首。另一名差役大聲喊叫，王生又把他也殺了。女郎大驚失色地說：“殺官差，罪大不能寬恕！遲了就會大禍臨頭！請你趕快找條船往北方去吧，回家不要摘掉白幡，關起門來絕對不能出去，七天後才保你沒事。”王生於是攙扶著哥哥連夜買一條小船，火速向被劃去。回去後見到吊喪的客人都在家裏，這才知道哥哥果然死了。於是關門拿下鑰匙，走進家裏。可一回頭見哥哥已經無影無蹤，但是進入房間，發現死去的哥哥已經蘇醒，還喊道：“餓死我啦！趕緊給我準備吃喝。”哥哥當時已經死了兩天，家人都很害怕。王生就把其中的緣故原原本本地說了一遍。七天後開門，摘掉吊喪幡，人們這才知道他起死回生了。親友們一齊詢問，也隻是說假話回應。
英譯：
One bright moonlit night, they had a walk in the compound.
“Are there any towns in the nether world?” Wang asked.
“Yes, same as this world,” Wu said. “But the nether towns weren’t located here. They were only three or four miles away. The people there take nights as days.”
“Our living people can see them?” he asked.
“Yes, of cause,” she replied.
Wang wanted to go and have a look. Wu promised to help him.
They set out immediately in the bluish moonlight. Drifting fast as wind, Wu did his best to follow her closely.
Suddenly stopping at a certain place, Wu said to him, “Not far from here.”
Scrutinizing a while, he didn’t see anything. Wu applied some spit of hers to his eyes. He felt his eyes clearer than before that he could see through the curtain of night like seeing things at daytime. Hid in a mist, some city walls were faintly visible. The people were busy on their way as if going to markets.
Suddenly, three or four people passed by who were escorted by two official attendants in black. The last one looked familiar as if he was his brother. Stepping up, he found it was really his brother.
“Why are you coming here?” he was frightened and asked his brother.
Meeting Wang here, his brother was greatly sorrowful with tears in eyes.
“I was forced to come here,” his brother told him. “I don’t know why.”
Wang burst into anger, saying, “My brother is a gentleman. Why do you truss him and force him to come here?”
Wang asked the attendants to treat his brother liberally and release him. The attendants in black not only refused his request but also showed a haughty manner.
Wang was very angry and wanted to argue with them. But his brother stopped him.
“They’re just carrying out instructions from the superior,” his brother said. “Their actions are completely legal.” His brother told him continuously, “They ask for bribes, but I don’t have enough money to meet their demand. Go back immediately and raise money.”
The two brothers cried bitterly in each other’s arms.
The attendants were very angry and malevolently pulled the rope binding his brother’s neck. His brother fell in a dead faint.
Flying into a rage, Wang pulled out a knife and had an attendant beheaded. The other attendant screamed and was beheaded, too.
Wu was astonished, saying, “Killed the official attendants! You can’t be forgiven. You’ll meet with disaster if you don’t take resolute measurements immediately. You must find a boat and go north. Don’t take off the funeral streamers from your door when you get home. Shut the door and stay at home in seven days. Then you’ll be safe.”
Wang took his brother and bought a boat at night and went north at top speed. Back at home, he found many people coming to express condolences on the death of his brother. Only at this moment, did he realize his brother had really died. He opened the door with a key and then took off the key and shut the door again, but he found his brother had disappeared. He entered the room and found his deceased brother had already waked up.
“We’re terrible hungry,” Wang shouted. “Please give us something to eat.”
Up to then, his brother had died for two days. The whole family was therefore scared to death when seeing his rebirth. Wang told the whole story to them. The door was opened and the funeral streamers were taken off seven days later. Kith and kin asked the details but they made false stories to deal with them.
原文：
轉思秋月，想念頗煩，遂複南下，至舊閣，秉燭久待，女竟不至。朦朧欲寢，見一婦人來，曰：“秋月小娘子致意郎君：前以公役被殺，凶犯逃亡，捉得娘子去，見在監押，押役遇之虐。日日盼郎君，當謀作經紀*。”王悲憤，便從婦去。至一城都，入西郭，指一門曰：“小娘子暫寄此間。”王入，見房舍頗繁，寄頓*囚犯甚多，並無秋月。又進一小扉，鬥室中有燈火。王近窗以窺，則秋月坐榻上，掩袖嗚泣。二役在側，撮頤*捉履，引以嘲戲，女啼益急。一役挽頸曰：“既為罪犯，尚守貞耶？”王怒，不暇語，持刀直入，一役一刀，摧斬如麻，篡取女郎而出，幸無覺者。裁至旅舍，驀然即醒。方怪幻夢之凶，見秋月含睇*而立。生驚起曳坐，告之以夢。女曰：“真也，非夢也。”生驚曰：“且為奈何！”女歎曰：“此有定數。妾待月盡，始是生期。今已如此，急何能待！當速發瘞處，載妾同歸，日頻喚妾名，三日可活。但未滿時日，骨軟足弱，不能為君任井臼*耳。”言已，草草欲出。又返身曰：“妾幾忘之，冥追若何？生時，父傳我符書，言三十年後可佩夫婦。”乃索筆疾書兩符，曰：“一君自佩，一粘妾背。”
注釋：
1．見在監押：被關押入獄。見，用在動詞前表示被動。另如“見笑”，被人恥笑。2．謀作經紀：出主意，想辦法。經紀，籌劃管理；料理。3．寄頓：寄居困頓。此處指犯人在押。4．撮頤：用手搓腮。頤，麵頰，腮。5．含睇：眉目含情；含情脈脈。睇，斜視，讀“第”。6．定數：命中注定。7．任井臼：料理家務。任，充任，擔任，做。井，在井邊打水。臼，用石臼舂米。打水舂米，代指一般家務。
白話：
王生轉而思念秋月，因想念感到很煩惱，於是又南下，回到原來的住處，夜間舉著蠟燭久久等待，女郎竟然不到。當他朦朧欲睡的時候，隻見一名婦人來到，說：“秋月小娘子讓我前來向郎君表達心意：先前因為差役被殺，凶犯逃亡，就把你的娘子抓去，被關押入獄，差役經常虐待她。日日盼望郎君，你應當趕緊拿主意想辦法經。”王生悲憤交加，就跟著婦人去了。來到一座城都，進入西城門，婦人指著一個門說：“小娘子暫時住在這裏。”王生走進去，見房屋很多，布局複雜，寄居困頓的囚犯非常多，但是並沒有秋月。又進入一道小門，小小的房間裏有燈火。王生走近窗口窺視，正是秋月坐在床上，用衣袖遮著臉哭泣。兩名差役在旁邊，一邊搓她的麵頰，一邊抓她的鞋，以此嘲弄調戲，女郎哭得越來越厲害。一名差役摟著她的脖子說：“既然成為罪犯，還堅守貞操幹嗎？”王生大怒，沒等說話，就持刀徑直進入房間，對著差役一人一刀，就像快刀斬亂麻，而後拉著女郎就往外走，幸好沒有人察覺。才到旅店，就突然醒來。他正為幻夢的凶險感到怪異，就見秋月含情脈脈地站在眼前。王生驚起拉她坐下，把夢裏的事情告訴她。女郎說：“是真的，不是夢。”王生驚奇地說：“這該怎麽辦呢！”女郎歎息道：“這都是命中注定的。我要等到這個月底，才是複生的日期。今天既然已經如此，事情這樣急怎麽能等呢！你應當趕快到埋我的地方去挖，讓我和你一起回家，每天反複呼喚我的名字，三天我就能活了。不過因為沒有到日期，我的骨頭發軟兩腳虛弱，還不能給你操持家務。”她說完，就匆匆忙忙地想出去。可是又返過身來說：“差點給我忘了，陰間再派人來追該怎麽辦？活著的時候，父親傳給我一中符書，說是三十年後我可以和人結為夫婦。”於是她就找來筆，急忙寫下兩道符，說：“一道你自己帶著，一道粘在我的後背上。”
英譯：
Missing Wu Qiuyue, Wang couldn’t simply sit still. He went south again and stayed in the same hotel waiting for Wu in candle light. But Wu didn’t appear.
Just at the moment he would fall asleep, he dazedly saw a woman coming in.
“Wu Qiuyue asked me to give you a message,” the woman said. “The official attendants were murdered but the murderer escaped. Wu was therefore arrested and put into jail. She suffered from ill-treatment. She’s been looking forward to hearing from you. She wishes you would help her.”
With mingled feelings of sorrow and anger, Wang followed the woman. They came to a town and entered through the west gate.
The woman pointed to a small door and said, “Wu is here.”
Wang walked in and found a large room filled with a lot of prisoners. But he couldn’t find Wu. He was then ushered to a small cabin lit by a dim oil lamp. He peeped through the window and found Wu sitting on a bed and sorrowfully weeping with her face covered by her sleeves. Worse of all, he also found two attendants sitting beside her and teasing her with their hands rubbing her neck or feet. Wu was chocked with tears.
One of the attendants firmly grasped her neck, saying, “Now you’ve become a prisoner, what’s the need to keep chastity?”
On hearing this, Wang burst into anger and rushed in with a knife in hand and then without saying anything killed the two attendants one after another and finally dragged Wu outside. It was lucky no one saw them.
But, when they went back to the hotel, Wang suddenly waked up.
Just at the moment Wang began to feel frightened by the ominous dream, did he find Wu standing there with her eyes beaming with affection on him. Feeling greatly surprised, he got up immediately and pulled her down on the bed and told her about his dream.
“It’s true,” said Wu. “It’s not a dream.”
“Why?” asked Wang.
“We’re destined to experience these hardships and setbacks,” she told him. “According to the original plan, my rebirth is to begin at the end of the month. Now that our situation has developed to such an extent, no need to wait. You should open my grave immediately and take back my body. So long as you call me repeatedly, I’ll be restored to life within three days. But at the beginning, I’ll be rather weak so that I cannot help you keep house.”
Finishing her words, Wu was going to leave in a hurry. Yet, she turned back again.
“I’ve forgotten something important,” Wu said. “What can we do if the officials in the nether world send some attendants to trail us? When I was alive, my father once gave me a written talisman. He said I could get a husband thirty years later with its help.”
Then she wrote some talisman words on two pieces of paper.
“You keep one,” Wu told him, “and stick the other one on my back.”
原文：
送之出，誌其沒處*，掘尺許即見棺木，亦已敗腐。側有小碑，果如女言。發棺視之，女顏色如生。抱入房中，衣裳隨風盡化。粘符已，以被褥嚴裹，負至江濱，呼攏泊舟，偽言妹急病，將送歸其家。幸南風大競*，甫曉已達裏門。抱女安置，始告兄嫂。一家驚顧，亦莫敢直言其惑。生啟衾，長呼秋月，夜輒擁屍而寢。日漸溫暖，三日竟蘇，七日能步。更衣拜嫂，盈盈然神仙不殊。但十步之外，須人而行；不則隨風搖曳，屢欲傾側。見者以為身有此病，轉更增媚。每勸生曰：“君罪孽太深，宜積德誦經以懺之。不然，壽恐不永也。”生素不佞佛*，至此皈依*甚虔。後亦無恙。
注釋：
1．誌其沒處：記住埋葬的地方。誌，記住。沒，死亡，湮沒（消失）。讀“莫”。2．大競：大作。 3．佞佛：信佛，迷信佛教。佞，迷信，讀“寧”第四聲。佞，最常見的意思是貶義的“奸佞”，即用花言巧語去獻媚的壞人。此外，也有褒義，如“不佞”，是舊時對自己的謙稱，其中的“佞”是“有才智”的意思。4．皈依：歸順，信奉。 皈依，原指佛教的入教儀式。後指虔誠地信奉佛教，或參加其它宗教組織。皈，讀“歸”。有時也與“歸”相同，因此也可以寫作“歸依”。
白話：
王生把女郎送出去。他還記得埋葬她的地點，就在那裏挖掘大約一尺深，果然見到了棺木，不過已經腐爛。旁邊有一塊小碑，果真如女郎所言。打開棺木一看，女郎麵色如生。抱進房中，衣裳隨風化為烏有。把符粘過以後，用被褥把她裹得嚴嚴實實，背到江邊，叫過擺渡船，假稱妹妹急病，要送她回家。幸好南風大作，天剛亮曉就回到了家門口。王生抱著女郎安置好，才告訴兄嫂。一家人吃驚地互相看著，也不敢把疑惑直說出來。王生掀開被褥，拉長聲音呼喚秋月，夜間就抱著屍體睡覺。女郎體溫日益升高，三天後竟然蘇醒過來，七天就能走路。換了衣服去拜見嫂嫂，婀娜多姿，嫵媚至極，與神仙一般無二。隻是十步以外，需要有人攙扶行走；否則就隨風搖曳，屢次都要傾倒。看到的人都以為她得的就是這種病，不過反而更增添幾分嫵媚。她經常勸王生說：“你的罪孽太深，應該積德誦經表示懺悔。不然，壽命恐怕不長。”王生平時並不信佛，到現在才虔誠地信奉起來。後來也果真安然無恙。
英譯：
Wang dug where Wu was buried immediately after seeing her off. He really found a coffin underground nearly one foot deep. The coffin was already completely rotten and there was indeed a small stone tablet near her grave. In a word, everything was just as what she said.
Opening the coffin, he found her complexion rosy and soft as if she was still alive. He carried her body into the room but her dress came to nothing immediately after being exposed to the wind.
He stuck the written talisman onto her back and closely wrapped her body with a quilt and carried her to the river bank. He called over a boat and told the boat man that his sister was suddenly ill and he’s going to take her home.
Lucky enough, there was much wind that evening. They got home before dawn on the wings of the south wind.
Wang laid Wu on bed and then told his brother and sister-in-law. The whole family was astonished but no one dared to say any suspicion straightforward.
Taking off the quilt, Wang called Wu repeatedly. And every night, he slept with his arms holding Wu’s remains.
With her body becoming warmer and warmer, Wu was finally restored to life within three days and could walk within seven days. Putting on new dress, Wu went to see Wang’s brother and sister-in-law. With a graceful carriage, Wu looked simply like a goddess.
But she needed to be supported with other’s hands after walking ten steps away because she was still rather feeble. Otherwise, she could only stagger along with the wind as if she would fall down at any time. Yet, it seemed to others that the feebler Wu became the more beautiful she looked.
Some people often persuaded Wang into believing Buddha, saying: “You’re too sinful, so you should chant Buddhist ures, say your prayers and confess everyday. Or you won’t live long.”
Wang had never believed in Buddha before. But from then on, he began to believe in it piously.
And therefore the whole family was well.
原文：
異史氏曰：“餘欲上言*定律，‘凡殺公役者，罪減平人三等。’蓋*此輩無有不可殺者也。故能誅鋤蠹役*者，即為循良*；即稍苛之，不可謂虐。況冥中原無定法，倘有惡人，刀鋸鼎鑊，不以為酷。若人心之所快，即冥王之所善也。豈罪致冥追，遂可幸而逃哉！”
注釋：
1．上言：上書。2．蓋：承接上文，表示因為。3．蠹役：作惡多端的差役。4．循良：奉公守法，行為端正。5．刀鋸鼎鑊：用刀砍，用鋸子鋸，扔進油鍋去煎炸。鼎鑊，大鍋。這一詞組本處泛指嚴酷的刑罰。
白話：
作者感言：“我想上書，建議製定一條法律，‘凡殺差役的，罪過比平常人減少三等。’因為這類人沒有不可殺的。因此，能夠殺掉作惡的差役，這種人就是在秉公守法做好事；即便這樣做稍微苛刻一些，也不能說是虐待。何況陰間原本就沒有一定的法律，如有惡人，動用刀鋸鼎鑊，也不算慘酷。如果人心大快，即便是閻王幹的，也算行善。果真如此，所犯罪過哪裏還至於大到被陰間差役去追趕，這樣的話，也就可以幸免被追逃了！
英譯：
Author’s Commentary:
I simply want to give an advice to the emperor asking him to make a law: Comparing with the ordinary criminals, whoever killing official attendants could have his punishment reduced by one-third. If so, I’m afraid all these people could be killed. Therefore, whoever killing the evil attendants could be considered good people abiding by the law. Even if beyond the limit more or less, their action cannot be considered running riot. And furthermore, there’re no fixed laws in nether world. If some evil doers are tortured by being sawed or fried in boiling oil, this cannot be considered too cruel. If Nether King can do whatever the ordinary people like, they can be considered doing good work. And if so, how can the evil doers run away from this world to the nether world to escape punishment?
聊齋故事係列四合一（原著-注釋-白話-英譯）
原文：
秦郵*王鼎，字仙湖。為人慷慨有力，廣交遊。年十八，未娶，妻殞。每遠遊，恒經歲不返。兄鼐，江北名士，友於*甚篤*。勸弟勿遊，將為擇偶。生不聽，命舟*抵鎮江訪友，友他出，因稅居*於逆旅*閣上。江水澄波，金山*在目，心甚快之。次日，友人來，請生移居，辭不去。
注釋：
1．秦郵：古縣，因秦時設郵亭，故得此名。現今江蘇高郵縣。2．友於：兄弟情誼深厚。友於，兄弟情誼。語出《尚書。君陳》：“惟孝友於兄弟”。“於”本來是介詞，但後常“友於”連用，代稱兄弟情誼。有時也指兄弟。3．篤：深厚。4．命舟：吩咐船隻；也指乘船出發。本文指後者。另如“命駕”，吩咐人駕車。也作乘車出發。5．稅居：:租賃房屋居住。6．逆旅：旅店。7．金山：位於江蘇鎮江西北，本在江中，現已與南岸連接。
白話：
秦郵縣的王鼎，字仙湖。為人慷慨，身強力壯，交際廣泛。十八歲那年，妻子還未娶過門就死了。每當遠遊，總是一年到頭不回家。哥哥王鼐，江北名士，弟兄間情誼深厚。常勸弟弟不要出遊，答應為他找媳婦。王生不聽，乘船抵達鎮江拜訪友人，朋友外出，因此在旅館租了間閣樓住下。大江東去，碧波蕩漾，金山在目，心曠神怡。第二天，友人回來，請王生搬過去住，他推辭不去。
英譯：
Wang Ding was an elegant young man of Gaoyou County, Jiangsu Province. Healthy and strong, he was bold and vigorous and generous in helping others. As a good mixer, he had a wide acquaintanceship. At the age of eighteen, his girl-friend died shortly before wedding day and he’d remained single ever since.
Wang was keen on traveling to distant lands. Whenever going on a long journey, he wouldn’t come back within a year. His elder brother Wang Nai was a celebrity in his hometown. He had deep brotherly affection for him. He often dissuaded Wang from making long journeys. He also promised to choose him a good wife.
But Wang didn’t listen to his brother and persisted in going south to Zhenjiang visiting his friend. Unluckily, his friend wasn’t at home. He had to stay in a hotel on the bank of the Yangtse River. Facing clear waves and green mountains, he felt relaxed and happy. Next day, his friend came back and invited him to move, yet he politely declined.
原文：
居半月餘，夜夢女郎，年可十四五，容華端妙，上床與合，既寤*而遺*。頗怪之，亦以為偶然。入夜，又夢之；如是三四夜。心大異，不敢息燭，身雖偃臥*，惕然自警。才交睫，夢女複來；方狎，忽自驚寤；急開目，則少女如仙，儼然猶在抱也。見生醒，頓自愧怯。生雖知非人，意亦甚得；無暇問訊，直與馳驟*。女若不堪，曰：“狂暴如此，無怪人不敢明告也。”生始詰之，答雲：“妾伍氏秋月。先父名儒，邃*於易數*。常珍愛妾；但言不永壽，故不許字人*。後十五歲果夭歿*，即攢瘞*閣東，令與地平，亦無塚誌*，惟立片石於棺側，曰：‘女秋月，葬無塚，三十年，嫁王鼎。’今已三十年，君適至。心喜，亟欲自薦；寸心羞怯，故假之夢寐耳。”王亦喜，複求訖事*。曰：“妾少須陽氣，欲求複生，實不禁此風雨*。後日好合*無限，何必今宵。”遂起而去。次日複至，坐對笑謔，歡若平生。滅燭登床，無異生人；但女既起，則遺泄流離，沾染茵褥。
注釋：
1．寤：醒，讀“物”。2．遺：夢遺，遺精。3．偃臥：仰臥。偃，仰麵。讀“演”。4．馳驟：駿馬快跑狂奔。馳，奔跑。驟，快，急。本文比喻王生單刀直入，急忙想辦那事。5．先父：已故的父親。先，對死者的尊稱，又如“先烈”、“先賢”等。6．邃：精通。讀“歲”。7．易數：占卜術。易，指《周易》。數，技術。8．許字人：許配人家。許字，許婚。9．夭歿：夭折，未成年而死。也稱“夭殤”。10．攢瘞：掩埋。攢，靈柩暫時掩藏不埋。瘞，埋，讀“義”。
11．塚誌 ：墓誌，誌，指標示。12．訖事：把是辦妥。訖，完結。常有“收訖”、“付訖”、“驗訖”之說。如在付款單據上加蓋“付訖”圖章，表示錢款已付。13．不禁此風雨：禁不住這番風雨。風雨，本處指王生這麽急著辦好事。14．好合：好事，指男女情事。
白話：
王生住了半個多月，夜裏夢見一名女郎，大約十四五歲，容貌華美端莊，上床辦事，醒來就遺精。感到非常奇怪，可又認為這隻是偶然現象。入夜，又夢見那女郎；就這樣折騰了三四夜。心裏大為驚異，不敢吹滅蠟燭，雖然仰臥在床，但還是自我警惕。才一合眼，就夢見女郎又來了；剛和她親近狎戲，忽然自己就驚醒了；急忙睜開眼睛，隻見少女美麗如仙，就好像還在自己懷抱裏。見到王生醒來，頓時自感羞愧難當。王生雖知她不是人，心裏也十分滿意；沒工夫細問，單刀直入，急著辦。女郎好像受不了，說：“你這麽狂暴，難怪人家不敢明著告訴你。”王生這才開始問，女郎回答說：“我姓伍，叫秋月。先父是名儒，精通占卜術。總是非常寵愛我；但他說我壽命不長，所以沒有許配人家。後來我在十五歲的時候果然夭亡，隨即被埋在房屋東麵，先父讓我的墳墓和地麵一平，沒有墓誌，隻在棺木旁邊立下一片石頭，寫道：‘女秋月，葬無塚，三十年，嫁王鼎。’如今已經十年，你正好到來。我心裏非常歡喜，急著向自我推薦；心裏實在羞答答的，所以才給你托夢。”王生也非常高興，又要求急忙把好事辦妥。女郎說：“我還稍微需要點陽氣，想求複生，可確實又禁不住你這番狂風暴雨。往後辦好事的日子過都過不完，何必急著非在今天夜裏辦呢。”於是起身離開了。第二天又來，坐下來和王生嬉笑打鬧，歡歡喜喜就和往常一樣。熄滅蠟燭上床辦事，和活人相比沒有兩樣；但是女郎一起來，他就大肆遺精，把被褥都弄髒了。
英譯：
One night half month later, Wang dreamt a pretty girl at the age of nearly fifteen. They slept together. Waking up, he found he had a wet dream. He felt quite strange about it but just considered it as an accidental case. Next day he did the same thing nevertheless. Worse of all, he repeated the same case time and again the next tree or four nights.
Much astonished, Wang didn’t dare to put out the candle. Although lying on his back, he till heightened his vigilance. Just closing his eyes, he dreamt that the girl came again. But he waked up at a start just at moment he was going to be on intimate terms with her. Abruptly opening his eyes, he found the girl extremely beautiful as a goddess and had a feeling that she had already been in his arms.
Finding Wang had already woken up, the girl looked quite shy.
Although he knew she wasn’t human being, he still felt very happy. Without asking anything, he had sexual activities with her violently. The girl seemed to be unable to bear his violent actions.
“You’re so wild,” she said. “Be cautious not to frighten girls away in future.”
To be asked, the girl said, “My name is Qiuyue Wu. My father is a famous scholar and good at fortune-telling. I’m dearly loved by him. He said I couldn’t live long, so he didn’t help me choose a boy friend.” Rose said continuously. “I really died at the age of fifteen. I was buried to the east of the pavilion. He made my tomb level with the ground without any signs of grave except a stone standing beside my coffin. There are a few words on the stone saying: ‘My daughter Qiuyue. Buried without grave, she’ll marry Wang Ding thirty years later.’ Just thirty years have passed over ever since up to now. And you’ve come, too. I’m delighted and want to introduce myself to you. But I feel quite shy so make you have a dream.”
Wang was very happy and asked her for sexual activities. But she declined.
“I’m now still a ghost and lack of energy,” said Wu. “so I’m too feeble to do this sort of things. Besides, I’ve been longing for rebirth. We have more than enough time to be dear and near in future. What’s the need to hurry tonight?”
Wu left.
Next day, she came again talking, laughing and joking as ever before. They put out the candle and went to bed. Comparing with living people, Wu had nothing different. She still refused to have sexual activities with him. But when she got up, he would shoot a heavy load of nut-juice which made the bed sheet terribly stained.
原文：
一夕，明月瑩澈，小步庭中。問女：“冥中亦有城郭否？”答曰：“等耳。冥間城府，不在此處，去此可三四裏。但以夜為晝。”問：“生人能見之否？”答雲：“亦可。”生請往觀，女諾之。乘月去，女飄忽若風，王極力追隨，欻*至一處，女言：“不遠矣。”生瞻望殊無所見。女以唾塗其兩眥*，啟之，明倍於常，視夜色不殊白晝。頓見雉堞*在杳靄中。路上行人，趨如墟市*。俄二皂*縶*三四人過，末一人怪類其兄。趨近視之，果兄。駭問：“兄那得來？”兄見生，潸然零涕，言：“自不知何事，強被拘囚。”王怒曰：“我兄秉禮君子，何至縲絏*如此！”便請二皂，幸且寬釋。皂不肯，殊大傲睨*。生恚*，欲與爭。兄止之曰：“此是官命，亦合奉法。但餘乏用度*，索賄良苦。弟歸，宜措置*。”生把兄臂，哭失聲。皂怒，猛掣項索，兄頓顛蹶*。生見之，忿火填胸，不能製止，即解佩刀，立決皂首。一皂喊嘶，生又決之。女大驚曰：“殺官使，罪不宥！遲則禍及！請即覓舟北發，歸家勿摘提幡*，杜門絕出入，七日保無慮也。”王乃挽兄夜買小舟，火急北渡。歸見吊客*在門，知兄果死。閉門下鑰，始入。視兄已渺，入室，則亡者已蘇，便呼：“餓死矣！可急備湯餅。”時死已二日，家人盡駭。生乃備言其故。七日啟關*，去喪幡，人始知其複蘇。親友集問，但偽對之。
注釋：
1．欻：快速。快讀“吃屋啊”。2．眥：讀“自”，上下眼瞼的接合處，靠近鼻子處叫內瞼，靠近鬢角處叫外瞼，統稱眼角。3．雉堞：城牆的垛口。讀“誌碟”。4．墟市：集市。5．二皂：兩名皂隸。皂隸，舊時衙門裏的差役。因為穿黑衣，故名。皂，黑色。隸，差役。6．縶：栓捆。讀“直”7．縲絏：讀“雷謝”，捆綁犯人的繩索。此處指捆綁。8．傲睨：傲慢斜視。睨，讀“逆”，斜眼看人，表示蔑視。如“睥睨”，睥，讀“辟”。9．恚：怨恨。讀“會”。10．餘乏用度：我缺乏使用的錢。就是錢不夠用。餘，我。11．措置：籌措，辦理。12．顛蹶：跌倒。13．提幡：辦喪事在門口掛的幡。14．吊客：吊唁死者的客人。15．啟關：開門。
白話：
一天夜晚，明月當空，皎潔清澈，二人小步庭中。王生問女郎：“陰間也有城郭嗎？”女郎答道：“和陽間一樣。陰間城府，不在此處，離這裏大約有三四裏。但以黑夜為百天。”王生問：“活人能見到嗎？”女郎答道：“也能見到。”王生要去看看，女郎答應他。二人趁月色而去，女郎飄忽宛若清風，王生極力追隨，突然到達一個地方，女郎說：“不遠了。”王生抬頭眺望根本什麽也看不見。女郎就把唾沫塗在他兩邊的眼角上，王生睜開眼，比平常明亮多了，看夜間的東西和白天沒什麽兩樣。頓時看見城牆垛口隱現在茫茫暮靄之中。路上行人，步履匆匆，似乎去趕集。突然有兩名差役捆綁著三四個人走過去，最後一人怪怪的，像是他的哥哥。他走上前去一看，果然是哥哥。他驚恐萬狀地問：“哥哥你怎麽到這兒來啦？”哥哥見是王生，潸然淚下，說：“我也不知為什麽事，就被迫關進牢房。”王生憤怒地說：“我哥哥處處秉持禮儀，是謙謙君子，怎麽就這樣被捆綁起來！”於是請求兩名差役，寬宏大量釋放哥哥。差役不肯，而且傲慢十足，對他斜眼相看。王生又氣又恨，就和他們爭論。哥哥製止他說：“這是當官的命令，他們這樣也合法。隻是我錢不夠用，他們索賄非常厲害。弟弟回家，應該趕快籌措資金。”王生抓著哥哥的胳膊，痛哭失聲。差役大怒，狠狠地拉扯哥哥脖子上的繩索，個個頓時跌倒在地。王生見此情景，怒火填胸，可又不能製止，於是立即解下佩刀，迅速地將差役斬首。另一名差役大聲喊叫，王生又把他也殺了。女郎大驚失色地說：“殺官差，罪大不能寬恕！遲了就會大禍臨頭！請你趕快找條船往北方去吧，回家不要摘掉白幡，關起門來絕對不能出去，七天後才保你沒事。”王生於是攙扶著哥哥連夜買一條小船，火速向被劃去。回去後見到吊喪的客人都在家裏，這才知道哥哥果然死了。於是關門拿下鑰匙，走進家裏。可一回頭見哥哥已經無影無蹤，但是進入房間，發現死去的哥哥已經蘇醒，還喊道：“餓死我啦！趕緊給我準備吃喝。”哥哥當時已經死了兩天，家人都很害怕。王生就把其中的緣故原原本本地說了一遍。七天後開門，摘掉吊喪幡，人們這才知道他起死回生了。親友們一齊詢問，也隻是說假話回應。
英譯：
One bright moonlit night, they had a walk in the compound.
“Are there any towns in the nether world?” Wang asked.
“Yes, same as this world,” Wu said. “But the nether towns weren’t located here. They were only three or four miles away. The people there take nights as days.”
“Our living people can see them?” he asked.
“Yes, of cause,” she replied.
Wang wanted to go and have a look. Wu promised to help him.
They set out immediately in the bluish moonlight. Drifting fast as wind, Wu did his best to follow her closely.
Suddenly stopping at a certain place, Wu said to him, “Not far from here.”
Scrutinizing a while, he didn’t see anything. Wu applied some spit of hers to his eyes. He felt his eyes clearer than before that he could see through the curtain of night like seeing things at daytime. Hid in a mist, some city walls were faintly visible. The people were busy on their way as if going to markets.
Suddenly, three or four people passed by who were escorted by two official attendants in black. The last one looked familiar as if he was his brother. Stepping up, he found it was really his brother.
“Why are you coming here?” he was frightened and asked his brother.
Meeting Wang here, his brother was greatly sorrowful with tears in eyes.
“I was forced to come here,” his brother told him. “I don’t know why.”
Wang burst into anger, saying, “My brother is a gentleman. Why do you truss him and force him to come here?”
Wang asked the attendants to treat his brother liberally and release him. The attendants in black not only refused his request but also showed a haughty manner.
Wang was very angry and wanted to argue with them. But his brother stopped him.
“They’re just carrying out instructions from the superior,” his brother said. “Their actions are completely legal.” His brother told him continuously, “They ask for bribes, but I don’t have enough money to meet their demand. Go back immediately and raise money.”
The two brothers cried bitterly in each other’s arms.
The attendants were very angry and malevolently pulled the rope binding his brother’s neck. His brother fell in a dead faint.
Flying into a rage, Wang pulled out a knife and had an attendant beheaded. The other attendant screamed and was beheaded, too.
Wu was astonished, saying, “Killed the official attendants! You can’t be forgiven. You’ll meet with disaster if you don’t take resolute measurements immediately. You must find a boat and go north. Don’t take off the funeral streamers from your door when you get home. Shut the door and stay at home in seven days. Then you’ll be safe.”
Wang took his brother and bought a boat at night and went north at top speed. Back at home, he found many people coming to express condolences on the death of his brother. Only at this moment, did he realize his brother had really died. He opened the door with a key and then took off the key and shut the door again, but he found his brother had disappeared. He entered the room and found his deceased brother had already waked up.
“We’re terrible hungry,” Wang shouted. “Please give us something to eat.”
Up to then, his brother had died for two days. The whole family was therefore scared to death when seeing his rebirth. Wang told the whole story to them. The door was opened and the funeral streamers were taken off seven days later. Kith and kin asked the details but they made false stories to deal with them.
原文：
轉思秋月，想念頗煩，遂複南下，至舊閣，秉燭久待，女竟不至。朦朧欲寢，見一婦人來，曰：“秋月小娘子致意郎君：前以公役被殺，凶犯逃亡，捉得娘子去，見在監押，押役遇之虐。日日盼郎君，當謀作經紀*。”王悲憤，便從婦去。至一城都，入西郭，指一門曰：“小娘子暫寄此間。”王入，見房舍頗繁，寄頓*囚犯甚多，並無秋月。又進一小扉，鬥室中有燈火。王近窗以窺，則秋月坐榻上，掩袖嗚泣。二役在側，撮頤*捉履，引以嘲戲，女啼益急。一役挽頸曰：“既為罪犯，尚守貞耶？”王怒，不暇語，持刀直入，一役一刀，摧斬如麻，篡取女郎而出，幸無覺者。裁至旅舍，驀然即醒。方怪幻夢之凶，見秋月含睇*而立。生驚起曳坐，告之以夢。女曰：“真也，非夢也。”生驚曰：“且為奈何！”女歎曰：“此有定數。妾待月盡，始是生期。今已如此，急何能待！當速發瘞處，載妾同歸，日頻喚妾名，三日可活。但未滿時日，骨軟足弱，不能為君任井臼*耳。”言已，草草欲出。又返身曰：“妾幾忘之，冥追若何？生時，父傳我符書，言三十年後可佩夫婦。”乃索筆疾書兩符，曰：“一君自佩，一粘妾背。”
注釋：
1．見在監押：被關押入獄。見，用在動詞前表示被動。另如“見笑”，被人恥笑。2．謀作經紀：出主意，想辦法。經紀，籌劃管理；料理。3．寄頓：寄居困頓。此處指犯人在押。4．撮頤：用手搓腮。頤，麵頰，腮。5．含睇：眉目含情；含情脈脈。睇，斜視，讀“第”。6．定數：命中注定。7．任井臼：料理家務。任，充任，擔任，做。井，在井邊打水。臼，用石臼舂米。打水舂米，代指一般家務。
白話：
王生轉而思念秋月，因想念感到很煩惱，於是又南下，回到原來的住處，夜間舉著蠟燭久久等待，女郎竟然不到。當他朦朧欲睡的時候，隻見一名婦人來到，說：“秋月小娘子讓我前來向郎君表達心意：先前因為差役被殺，凶犯逃亡，就把你的娘子抓去，被關押入獄，差役經常虐待她。日日盼望郎君，你應當趕緊拿主意想辦法經。”王生悲憤交加，就跟著婦人去了。來到一座城都，進入西城門，婦人指著一個門說：“小娘子暫時住在這裏。”王生走進去，見房屋很多，布局複雜，寄居困頓的囚犯非常多，但是並沒有秋月。又進入一道小門，小小的房間裏有燈火。王生走近窗口窺視，正是秋月坐在床上，用衣袖遮著臉哭泣。兩名差役在旁邊，一邊搓她的麵頰，一邊抓她的鞋，以此嘲弄調戲，女郎哭得越來越厲害。一名差役摟著她的脖子說：“既然成為罪犯，還堅守貞操幹嗎？”王生大怒，沒等說話，就持刀徑直進入房間，對著差役一人一刀，就像快刀斬亂麻，而後拉著女郎就往外走，幸好沒有人察覺。才到旅店，就突然醒來。他正為幻夢的凶險感到怪異，就見秋月含情脈脈地站在眼前。王生驚起拉她坐下，把夢裏的事情告訴她。女郎說：“是真的，不是夢。”王生驚奇地說：“這該怎麽辦呢！”女郎歎息道：“這都是命中注定的。我要等到這個月底，才是複生的日期。今天既然已經如此，事情這樣急怎麽能等呢！你應當趕快到埋我的地方去挖，讓我和你一起回家，每天反複呼喚我的名字，三天我就能活了。不過因為沒有到日期，我的骨頭發軟兩腳虛弱，還不能給你操持家務。”她說完，就匆匆忙忙地想出去。可是又返過身來說：“差點給我忘了，陰間再派人來追該怎麽辦？活著的時候，父親傳給我一中符書，說是三十年後我可以和人結為夫婦。”於是她就找來筆，急忙寫下兩道符，說：“一道你自己帶著，一道粘在我的後背上。”
英譯：
Missing Wu Qiuyue, Wang couldn’t simply sit still. He went south again and stayed in the same hotel waiting for Wu in candle light. But Wu didn’t appear.
Just at the moment he would fall asleep, he dazedly saw a woman coming in.
“Wu Qiuyue asked me to give you a message,” the woman said. “The official attendants were murdered but the murderer escaped. Wu was therefore arrested and put into jail. She suffered from ill-treatment. She’s been looking forward to hearing from you. She wishes you would help her.”
With mingled feelings of sorrow and anger, Wang followed the woman. They came to a town and entered through the west gate.
The woman pointed to a small door and said, “Wu is here.”
Wang walked in and found a large room filled with a lot of prisoners. But he couldn’t find Wu. He was then ushered to a small cabin lit by a dim oil lamp. He peeped through the window and found Wu sitting on a bed and sorrowfully weeping with her face covered by her sleeves. Worse of all, he also found two attendants sitting beside her and teasing her with their hands rubbing her neck or feet. Wu was chocked with tears.
One of the attendants firmly grasped her neck, saying, “Now you’ve become a prisoner, what’s the need to keep chastity?”
On hearing this, Wang burst into anger and rushed in with a knife in hand and then without saying anything killed the two attendants one after another and finally dragged Wu outside. It was lucky no one saw them.
But, when they went back to the hotel, Wang suddenly waked up.
Just at the moment Wang began to feel frightened by the ominous dream, did he find Wu standing there with her eyes beaming with affection on him. Feeling greatly surprised, he got up immediately and pulled her down on the bed and told her about his dream.
“It’s true,” said Wu. “It’s not a dream.”
“Why?” asked Wang.
“We’re destined to experience these hardships and setbacks,” she told him. “According to the original plan, my rebirth is to begin at the end of the month. Now that our situation has developed to such an extent, no need to wait. You should open my grave immediately and take back my body. So long as you call me repeatedly, I’ll be restored to life within three days. But at the beginning, I’ll be rather weak so that I cannot help you keep house.”
Finishing her words, Wu was going to leave in a hurry. Yet, she turned back again.
“I’ve forgotten something important,” Wu said. “What can we do if the officials in the nether world send some attendants to trail us? When I was alive, my father once gave me a written talisman. He said I could get a husband thirty years later with its help.”
Then she wrote some talisman words on two pieces of paper.
“You keep one,” Wu told him, “and stick the other one on my back.”
原文：
送之出，誌其沒處*，掘尺許即見棺木，亦已敗腐。側有小碑，果如女言。發棺視之，女顏色如生。抱入房中，衣裳隨風盡化。粘符已，以被褥嚴裹，負至江濱，呼攏泊舟，偽言妹急病，將送歸其家。幸南風大競*，甫曉已達裏門。抱女安置，始告兄嫂。一家驚顧，亦莫敢直言其惑。生啟衾，長呼秋月，夜輒擁屍而寢。日漸溫暖，三日竟蘇，七日能步。更衣拜嫂，盈盈然神仙不殊。但十步之外，須人而行；不則隨風搖曳，屢欲傾側。見者以為身有此病，轉更增媚。每勸生曰：“君罪孽太深，宜積德誦經以懺之。不然，壽恐不永也。”生素不佞佛*，至此皈依*甚虔。後亦無恙。
注釋：
1．誌其沒處：記住埋葬的地方。誌，記住。沒，死亡，湮沒（消失）。讀“莫”。2．大競：大作。 3．佞佛：信佛，迷信佛教。佞，迷信，讀“寧”第四聲。佞，最常見的意思是貶義的“奸佞”，即用花言巧語去獻媚的壞人。此外，也有褒義，如“不佞”，是舊時對自己的謙稱，其中的“佞”是“有才智”的意思。4．皈依：歸順，信奉。 皈依，原指佛教的入教儀式。後指虔誠地信奉佛教，或參加其它宗教組織。皈，讀“歸”。有時也與“歸”相同，因此也可以寫作“歸依”。
白話：
王生把女郎送出去。他還記得埋葬她的地點，就在那裏挖掘大約一尺深，果然見到了棺木，不過已經腐爛。旁邊有一塊小碑，果真如女郎所言。打開棺木一看，女郎麵色如生。抱進房中，衣裳隨風化為烏有。把符粘過以後，用被褥把她裹得嚴嚴實實，背到江邊，叫過擺渡船，假稱妹妹急病，要送她回家。幸好南風大作，天剛亮曉就回到了家門口。王生抱著女郎安置好，才告訴兄嫂。一家人吃驚地互相看著，也不敢把疑惑直說出來。王生掀開被褥，拉長聲音呼喚秋月，夜間就抱著屍體睡覺。女郎體溫日益升高，三天後竟然蘇醒過來，七天就能走路。換了衣服去拜見嫂嫂，婀娜多姿，嫵媚至極，與神仙一般無二。隻是十步以外，需要有人攙扶行走；否則就隨風搖曳，屢次都要傾倒。看到的人都以為她得的就是這種病，不過反而更增添幾分嫵媚。她經常勸王生說：“你的罪孽太深，應該積德誦經表示懺悔。不然，壽命恐怕不長。”王生平時並不信佛，到現在才虔誠地信奉起來。後來也果真安然無恙。
英譯：
Wang dug where Wu was buried immediately after seeing her off. He really found a coffin underground nearly one foot deep. The coffin was already completely rotten and there was indeed a small stone tablet near her grave. In a word, everything was just as what she said.
Opening the coffin, he found her complexion rosy and soft as if she was still alive. He carried her body into the room but her dress came to nothing immediately after being exposed to the wind.
He stuck the written talisman onto her back and closely wrapped her body with a quilt and carried her to the river bank. He called over a boat and told the boat man that his sister was suddenly ill and he’s going to take her home.
Lucky enough, there was much wind that evening. They got home before dawn on the wings of the south wind.
Wang laid Wu on bed and then told his brother and sister-in-law. The whole family was astonished but no one dared to say any suspicion straightforward.
Taking off the quilt, Wang called Wu repeatedly. And every night, he slept with his arms holding Wu’s remains.
With her body becoming warmer and warmer, Wu was finally restored to life within three days and could walk within seven days. Putting on new dress, Wu went to see Wang’s brother and sister-in-law. With a graceful carriage, Wu looked simply like a goddess.
But she needed to be supported with other’s hands after walking ten steps away because she was still rather feeble. Otherwise, she could only stagger along with the wind as if she would fall down at any time. Yet, it seemed to others that the feebler Wu became the more beautiful she looked.
Some people often persuaded Wang into believing Buddha, saying: “You’re too sinful, so you should chant Buddhist ures, say your prayers and confess everyday. Or you won’t live long.”
Wang had never believed in Buddha before. But from then on, he began to believe in it piously.
And therefore the whole family was well.
原文：
異史氏曰：“餘欲上言*定律，‘凡殺公役者，罪減平人三等。’蓋*此輩無有不可殺者也。故能誅鋤蠹役*者，即為循良*；即稍苛之，不可謂虐。況冥中原無定法，倘有惡人，刀鋸鼎鑊，不以為酷。若人心之所快，即冥王之所善也。豈罪致冥追，遂可幸而逃哉！”
注釋：
1．上言：上書。2．蓋：承接上文，表示因為。3．蠹役：作惡多端的差役。4．循良：奉公守法，行為端正。5．刀鋸鼎鑊：用刀砍，用鋸子鋸，扔進油鍋去煎炸。鼎鑊，大鍋。這一詞組本處泛指嚴酷的刑罰。
白話：
作者感言：“我想上書，建議製定一條法律，‘凡殺差役的，罪過比平常人減少三等。’因為這類人沒有不可殺的。因此，能夠殺掉作惡的差役，這種人就是在秉公守法做好事；即便這樣做稍微苛刻一些，也不能說是虐待。何況陰間原本就沒有一定的法律，如有惡人，動用刀鋸鼎鑊，也不算慘酷。如果人心大快，即便是閻王幹的，也算行善。果真如此，所犯罪過哪裏還至於大到被陰間差役去追趕，這樣的話，也就可以幸免被追逃了！
英譯：
Author’s Commentary:
I simply want to give an advice to the emperor asking him to make a law: Comparing with the ordinary criminals, whoever killing official attendants could have his punishment reduced by one-third. If so, I’m afraid all these people could be killed. Therefore, whoever killing the evil attendants could be considered good people abiding by the law. Even if beyond the limit more or less, their action cannot be considered running riot. And furthermore, there’re no fixed laws in nether world. If some evil doers are tortured by being sawed or fried in boiling oil, this cannot be considered too cruel. If Nether King can do whatever the ordinary people like, they can be considered doing good work. And if so, how can the evil doers run away from this world to the nether world to escape punishment?
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