伍秋月(美丽幽魂)：聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）

伍秋月(美丽幽魂)：

聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）


原文：

秦邮*王鼎，字仙湖。为人慷慨有力，广交游。年十八，未娶，妻殒。每远游，恒经岁不返。兄鼐，江北名士，友于*甚笃*。劝弟勿游，将为择偶。生不听，命舟*抵镇江访友，友他出，因税居*于逆旅*阁上。江水澄波，金山*在目，心甚快之。次日，友人来，请生移居，辞不去。


注释：

1．秦邮：古县，因秦时设邮亭，故得此名。现今江苏高邮县。2．友于：兄弟情谊深厚。友于，兄弟情谊。语出《尚书。君陈》：“惟孝友于兄弟”。“于”本来是介词，但后常“友于”连用，代称兄弟情谊。有时也指兄弟。3．笃：深厚。4．命舟：吩咐船只；也指乘船出发。本文指后者。另如“命驾”，吩咐人驾车。也作乘车出发。5．税居：:租赁房屋居住。6．逆旅：旅店。7．金山：位于江苏镇江西北，本在江中，现已与南岸连接。

白话：

秦邮县的王鼎，字仙湖。为人慷慨，身强力壮，交际广泛。十八岁那年，妻子还未娶过门就死了。每当远游，总是一年到头不回家。哥哥王鼐，江北名士，弟兄间情谊深厚。常劝弟弟不要出游，答应为他找媳妇。王生不听，乘船抵达镇江拜访友人，朋友外出，因此在旅馆租了间阁楼住下。大江东去，碧波荡漾，金山在目，心旷神怡。第二天，友人回来，请王生搬过去住，他推辞不去。


英译：

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：

居半月余，夜梦女郎，年可十四五，容华端妙，上床与合，既寤*而遗*。颇怪之，亦以为偶然。入夜，又梦之；如是三四夜。心大异，不敢息烛，身虽偃卧*，惕然自警。才交睫，梦女复来；方狎，忽自惊寤；急开目，则少女如仙，俨然犹在抱也。见生醒，顿自愧怯。生虽知非人，意亦甚得；无暇问讯，直与驰骤*。女若不堪，曰：“狂暴如此，无怪人不敢明告也。”生始诘之，答云：“妾伍氏秋月。先父名儒，邃*于易数*。常珍爱妾；但言不永寿，故不许字人*。后十五岁果夭殁*，即攒瘗*阁东，令与地平，亦无冢志*，惟立片石于棺侧，曰：‘女秋月，葬无冢，三十年，嫁王鼎。’今已三十年，君适至。心喜，亟欲自荐；寸心羞怯，故假之梦寐耳。”王亦喜，复求讫事*。曰：“妾少须阳气，欲求复生，实不禁此风雨*。后日好合*无限，何必今宵。”遂起而去。次日复至，坐对笑谑，欢若平生。灭烛登床，无异生人；但女既起，则遗泄流离，沾染茵褥。


注释：

1．寤：醒，读“物”。2．遗：梦遗，遗精。3．偃卧：仰卧。偃，仰面。读“演”。4．驰骤：骏马快跑狂奔。驰，奔跑。骤，快，急。本文比喻王生单刀直入，急忙想办那事。5．先父：已故的父亲。先，对死者的尊称，又如“先烈”、“先贤”等。6．邃：精通。读“岁”。7．易数：占卜术。易，指《周易》。数，技术。8．许字人：许配人家。许字，许婚。9．夭殁：夭折，未成年而死。也称“夭殇”。10．攒瘗：掩埋。攒，灵柩暂时掩藏不埋。瘗，埋，读“义”。
11．冢志 ：墓志，志，指标示。12．讫事：把是办妥。讫，完结。常有“收讫”、“付讫”、“验讫”之说。如在付款单据上加盖“付讫”图章，表示钱款已付。13．不禁此风雨：禁不住这番风雨。风雨，本处指王生这么急着办好事。14．好合：好事，指男女情事。


白话：

王生住了半个多月，夜里梦见一名女郎，大约十四五岁，容貌华美端庄，上床办事，醒来就遗精。感到非常奇怪，可又认为这只是偶然现象。入夜，又梦见那女郎；就这样折腾了三四夜。心里大为惊异，不敢吹灭蜡烛，虽然仰卧在床，但还是自我警惕。才一合眼，就梦见女郎又来了；刚和她亲近狎戏，忽然自己就惊醒了；急忙睁开眼睛，只见少女美丽如仙，就好像还在自己怀抱里。见到王生醒来，顿时自感羞愧难当。王生虽知她不是人，心里也十分满意；没工夫细问，单刀直入，急着办。女郎好像受不了，说：“你这么狂暴，难怪人家不敢明着告诉你。”王生这才开始问，女郎回答说：“我姓伍，叫秋月。先父是名儒，精通占卜术。总是非常宠爱我；但他说我寿命不长，所以没有许配人家。后来我在十五岁的时候果然夭亡，随即被埋在房屋东面，先父让我的坟墓和地面一平，没有墓志，只在棺木旁边立下一片石头，写道：‘女秋月，葬无冢，三十年，嫁王鼎。’如今已经十年，你正好到来。我心里非常欢喜，急着向自我推荐；心里实在羞答答的，所以才给你托梦。”王生也非常高兴，又要求急忙把好事办妥。女郎说：“我还稍微需要点阳气，想求复生，可确实又禁不住你这番狂风暴雨。往后办好事的日子过都过不完，何必急着非在今天夜里办呢。”于是起身离开了。第二天又来，坐下来和王生嬉笑打闹，欢欢喜喜就和往常一样。熄灭蜡烛上床办事，和活人相比没有两样；但是女郎一起来，他就大肆遗精，把被褥都弄脏了。


英译：

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，明月莹澈，小步庭中。问女：“冥中亦有城郭否？”答曰：“等耳。冥间城府，不在此处，去此可三四里。但以夜为昼。”问：“生人能见之否？”答云：“亦可。”生请往观，女诺之。乘月去，女飘忽若风，王极力追随，欻*至一处，女言：“不远矣。”生瞻望殊无所见。女以唾涂其两眦*，启之，明倍于常，视夜色不殊白昼。顿见雉堞*在杳霭中。路上行人，趋如墟市*。俄二皂*絷*三四人过，末一人怪类其兄。趋近视之，果兄。骇问：“兄那得来？”兄见生，潸然零涕，言：“自不知何事，强被拘囚。”王怒曰：“我兄秉礼君子，何至缧绁*如此！”便请二皂，幸且宽释。皂不肯，殊大傲睨*。生恚*，欲与争。兄止之曰：“此是官命，亦合奉法。但余乏用度*，索贿良苦。弟归，宜措置*。”生把兄臂，哭失声。皂怒，猛掣项索，兄顿颠蹶*。生见之，忿火填胸，不能制止，即解佩刀，立决皂首。一皂喊嘶，生又决之。女大惊曰：“杀官使，罪不宥！迟则祸及！请即觅舟北发，归家勿摘提幡*，杜门绝出入，七日保无虑也。”王乃挽兄夜买小舟，火急北渡。归见吊客*在门，知兄果死。闭门下钥，始入。视兄已渺，入室，则亡者已苏，便呼：“饿死矣！可急备汤饼。”时死已二日，家人尽骇。生乃备言其故。七日启关*，去丧幡，人始知其复苏。亲友集问，但伪对之。

注释：

1．欻：快速。快读“吃屋啊”。2．眦：读“自”，上下眼睑的接合处，靠近鼻子处叫内睑，靠近鬓角处叫外睑，统称眼角。3．雉堞：城墙的垛口。读“志碟”。4．墟市：集市。5．二皂：两名皂隶。皂隶，旧时衙门里的差役。因为穿黑衣，故名。皂，黑色。隶，差役。6．絷：栓捆。读“直”7．缧绁：读“雷谢”，捆绑犯人的绳索。此处指捆绑。8．傲睨：傲慢斜视。睨，读“逆”，斜眼看人，表示蔑视。如“睥睨”，睥，读“辟”。9．恚：怨恨。读“会”。10．余乏用度：我缺乏使用的钱。就是钱不够用。余，我。11．措置：筹措，办理。12．颠蹶：跌倒。13．提幡：办丧事在门口挂的幡。14．吊客：吊唁死者的客人。15．启关：开门。


白话：

一天夜晚，明月当空，皎洁清澈，二人小步庭中。王生问女郎：“阴间也有城郭吗？”女郎答道：“和阳间一样。阴间城府，不在此处，离这里大约有三四里。但以黑夜为百天。”王生问：“活人能见到吗？”女郎答道：“也能见到。”王生要去看看，女郎答应他。二人趁月色而去，女郎飘忽宛若清风，王生极力追随，突然到达一个地方，女郎说：“不远了。”王生抬头眺望根本什么也看不见。女郎就把唾沫涂在他两边的眼角上，王生睁开眼，比平常明亮多了，看夜间的东西和白天没什么两样。顿时看见城墙垛口隐现在茫茫暮霭之中。路上行人，步履匆匆，似乎去赶集。突然有两名差役捆绑着三四个人走过去，最后一人怪怪的，像是他的哥哥。他走上前去一看，果然是哥哥。他惊恐万状地问：“哥哥你怎么到这儿来啦？”哥哥见是王生，潸然泪下，说：“我也不知为什么事，就被迫关进牢房。”王生愤怒地说：“我哥哥处处秉持礼仪，是谦谦君子，怎么就这样被捆绑起来！”于是请求两名差役，宽宏大量释放哥哥。差役不肯，而且傲慢十足，对他斜眼相看。王生又气又恨，就和他们争论。哥哥制止他说：“这是当官的命令，他们这样也合法。只是我钱不够用，他们索贿非常厉害。弟弟回家，应该赶快筹措资金。”王生抓着哥哥的胳膊，痛哭失声。差役大怒，狠狠地拉扯哥哥脖子上的绳索，个个顿时跌倒在地。王生见此情景，怒火填胸，可又不能制止，于是立即解下佩刀，迅速地将差役斩首。另一名差役大声喊叫，王生又把他也杀了。女郎大惊失色地说：“杀官差，罪大不能宽恕！迟了就会大祸临头！请你赶快找条船往北方去吧，回家不要摘掉白幡，关起门来绝对不能出去，七天后才保你没事。”王生于是搀扶着哥哥连夜买一条小船，火速向被划去。回去后见到吊丧的客人都在家里，这才知道哥哥果然死了。于是关门拿下钥匙，走进家里。可一回头见哥哥已经无影无踪，但是进入房间，发现死去的哥哥已经苏醒，还喊道：“饿死我啦！赶紧给我准备吃喝。”哥哥当时已经死了两天，家人都很害怕。王生就把其中的缘故原原本本地说了一遍。七天后开门，摘掉吊丧幡，人们这才知道他起死回生了。亲友们一齐询问，也只是说假话回应。


英译：

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：

转思秋月，想念颇烦，遂复南下，至旧阁，秉烛久待，女竟不至。朦胧欲寝，见一妇人来，曰：“秋月小娘子致意郎君：前以公役被杀，凶犯逃亡，捉得娘子去，见在监押，押役遇之虐。日日盼郎君，当谋作经纪*。”王悲愤，便从妇去。至一城都，入西郭，指一门曰：“小娘子暂寄此间。”王入，见房舍颇繁，寄顿*囚犯甚多，并无秋月。又进一小扉，斗室中有灯火。王近窗以窥，则秋月坐榻上，掩袖呜泣。二役在侧，撮颐*捉履，引以嘲戏，女啼益急。一役挽颈曰：“既为罪犯，尚守贞耶？”王怒，不暇语，持刀直入，一役一刀，摧斩如麻，篡取女郎而出，幸无觉者。裁至旅舍，蓦然即醒。方怪幻梦之凶，见秋月含睇*而立。生惊起曳坐，告之以梦。女曰：“真也，非梦也。”生惊曰：“且为奈何！”女叹曰：“此有定数。妾待月尽，始是生期。今已如此，急何能待！当速发瘗处，载妾同归，日频唤妾名，三日可活。但未满时日，骨软足弱，不能为君任井臼*耳。”言已，草草欲出。又返身曰：“妾几忘之，冥追若何？生时，父传我符书，言三十年后可佩夫妇。”乃索笔疾书两符，曰：“一君自佩，一粘妾背。”


注释：

1．见在监押：被关押入狱。见，用在动词前表示被动。另如“见笑”，被人耻笑。2．谋作经纪：出主意，想办法。经纪，筹划管理；料理。3．寄顿：寄居困顿。此处指犯人在押。4．撮颐：用手搓腮。颐，面颊，腮。5．含睇：眉目含情；含情脉脉。睇，斜视，读“第”。6．定数：命中注定。7．任井臼：料理家务。任，充任，担任，做。井，在井边打水。臼，用石臼舂米。打水舂米，代指一般家务。


白话：

王生转而思念秋月，因想念感到很烦恼，于是又南下，回到原来的住处，夜间举着蜡烛久久等待，女郎竟然不到。当他朦胧欲睡的时候，只见一名妇人来到，说：“秋月小娘子让我前来向郎君表达心意：先前因为差役被杀，凶犯逃亡，就把你的娘子抓去，被关押入狱，差役经常虐待她。日日盼望郎君，你应当赶紧拿主意想办法经。”王生悲愤交加，就跟着妇人去了。来到一座城都，进入西城门，妇人指着一个门说：“小娘子暂时住在这里。”王生走进去，见房屋很多，布局复杂，寄居困顿的囚犯非常多，但是并没有秋月。又进入一道小门，小小的房间里有灯火。王生走近窗口窥视，正是秋月坐在床上，用衣袖遮着脸哭泣。两名差役在旁边，一边搓她的面颊，一边抓她的鞋，以此嘲弄调戏，女郎哭得越来越厉害。一名差役搂着她的脖子说：“既然成为罪犯，还坚守贞操干吗？”王生大怒，没等说话，就持刀径直进入房间，对着差役一人一刀，就像快刀斩乱麻，而后拉着女郎就往外走，幸好没有人察觉。才到旅店，就突然醒来。他正为幻梦的凶险感到怪异，就见秋月含情脉脉地站在眼前。王生惊起拉她坐下，把梦里的事情告诉她。女郎说：“是真的，不是梦。”王生惊奇地说：“这该怎么办呢！”女郎叹息道：“这都是命中注定的。我要等到这个月底，才是复生的日期。今天既然已经如此，事情这样急怎么能等呢！你应当赶快到埋我的地方去挖，让我和你一起回家，每天反复呼唤我的名字，三天我就能活了。不过因为没有到日期，我的骨头发软两脚虚弱，还不能给你操持家务。”她说完，就匆匆忙忙地想出去。可是又返过身来说：“差点给我忘了，阴间再派人来追该怎么办？活着的时候，父亲传给我一中符书，说是三十年后我可以和人结为夫妇。”于是她就找来笔，急忙写下两道符，说：“一道你自己带着，一道粘在我的后背上。”


英译：

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，志其没处*，掘尺许即见棺木，亦已败腐。侧有小碑，果如女言。发棺视之，女颜色如生。抱入房中，衣裳随风尽化。粘符已，以被褥严裹，负至江滨，呼拢泊舟，伪言妹急病，将送归其家。幸南风大竞*，甫晓已达里门。抱女安置，始告兄嫂。一家惊顾，亦莫敢直言其惑。生启衾，长呼秋月，夜辄拥尸而寝。日渐温暖，三日竟苏，七日能步。更衣拜嫂，盈盈然神仙不殊。但十步之外，须人而行；不则随风摇曳，屡欲倾侧。见者以为身有此病，转更增媚。每劝生曰：“君罪孽太深，宜积德诵经以忏之。不然，寿恐不永也。”生素不佞佛*，至此皈依*甚虔。后亦无恙。


注释：

1．志其没处：记住埋葬的地方。志，记住。没，死亡，湮没（消失）。读“莫”。2．大竞：大作。 3．佞佛：信佛，迷信佛教。佞，迷信，读“宁”第四声。佞，最常见的意思是贬义的“奸佞”，即用花言巧语去献媚的坏人。此外，也有褒义，如“不佞”，是旧时对自己的谦称，其中的“佞”是“有才智”的意思。4．皈依：归顺，信奉。 皈依，原指佛教的入教仪式。后指虔诚地信奉佛教，或参加其它宗教组织。皈，读“归”。有时也与“归”相同，因此也可以写作“归依”。


白话：

王生把女郎送出去。他还记得埋葬她的地点，就在那里挖掘大约一尺深，果然见到了棺木，不过已经腐烂。旁边有一块小碑，果真如女郎所言。打开棺木一看，女郎面色如生。抱进房中，衣裳随风化为乌有。把符粘过以后，用被褥把她裹得严严实实，背到江边，叫过摆渡船，假称妹妹急病，要送她回家。幸好南风大作，天刚亮晓就回到了家门口。王生抱着女郎安置好，才告诉兄嫂。一家人吃惊地互相看着，也不敢把疑惑直说出来。王生掀开被褥，拉长声音呼唤秋月，夜间就抱着尸体睡觉。女郎体温日益升高，三天后竟然苏醒过来，七天就能走路。换了衣服去拜见嫂嫂，婀娜多姿，妩媚至极，与神仙一般无二。只是十步以外，需要有人搀扶行走；否则就随风摇曳，屡次都要倾倒。看到的人都以为她得的就是这种病，不过反而更增添几分妩媚。她经常劝王生说：“你的罪孽太深，应该积德诵经表示忏悔。不然，寿命恐怕不长。”王生平时并不信佛，到现在才虔诚地信奉起来。后来也果真安然无恙。


英译：


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：

异史氏曰：“余欲上言*定律，‘凡杀公役者，罪减平人三等。’盖*此辈无有不可杀者也。故能诛锄蠹役*者，即为循良*；即稍苛之，不可谓虐。况冥中原无定法，倘有恶人，刀锯鼎镬，不以为酷。若人心之所快，即冥王之所善也。岂罪致冥追，遂可幸而逃哉！”


注释：

1．上言：上书。2．盖：承接上文，表示因为。3．蠹役：作恶多端的差役。4．循良：奉公守法，行为端正。5．刀锯鼎镬：用刀砍，用锯子锯，扔进油锅去煎炸。鼎镬，大锅。这一词组本处泛指严酷的刑罚。


白话：


作者感言：“我想上书，建议制定一条法律，‘凡杀差役的，罪过比平常人减少三等。’因为这类人没有不可杀的。因此，能够杀掉作恶的差役，这种人就是在秉公守法做好事；即便这样做稍微苛刻一些，也不能说是虐待。何况阴间原本就没有一定的法律，如有恶人，动用刀锯鼎镬，也不算惨酷。如果人心大快，即便是阎王干的，也算行善。果真如此，所犯罪过哪里还至于大到被阴间差役去追赶，这样的话，也就可以幸免被追逃了！　


英译：

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?