梦狼（虎狼之官非梦）：聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）

梦狼（虎狼之官非梦）：聊斋故事系列四合一（原著-注释-白话-英译）

　　
Dream Wolves



原文：


白翁，直隶*人。长子甲，筮仕南服*，二年无耗。适有瓜葛*丁姓造谒，翁款之。丁素走无常*。谈次，翁辄问以冥事，丁对语涉幻；翁不深信，但微哂*之。

注释：

1．直隶：旧时指现今北京、天津、河北省大部以及河南、山东小部分地区。2．筮仕南服：在南方做官。筮，读“是”，用蓍（读“是”）草占卜。古人出外做官前要先占卜吉凶，后人便以“筮仕”代指做官。南服，古代王畿（读“基”），也就是国都四周每五百里为一区划，按照距离分五等，称“五服”。据此，南方则被称为“南服”。3．瓜葛：远亲。4．走无常：旧时迷信指“当阴差”。传说阴间当差的鬼使不够用时，就勾摄阳间的人去补充。这种人被勾魂时，突然蹦跳四下，之后倒地而亡，等阴差结束还阳再生时，因为在阴间打过一次“临时工”，所以对阴间所历之事记忆犹新。因此常有人请他们咨询阴间的事情。5．哂：微笑。读“审”。

白话：

白姓老翁，是直隶人。大儿子甲，到南方做官，去了两年也没有消息。正好有一位姓丁的远房亲戚来拜访他，老翁热情款待。丁经常当阴差。谈了一会儿，老翁就向他打听阴间的事，丁在说话间提到了一些虚幻的事情；老翁不怎么相信，只是报以微笑。

英译：


There was an old man Bai in Zhili Province. His first son Jia went south to his post without giving any news to him for two years.
Bai had a remote kinsfolk Ding. One day, Ding visited him. Ding once served in the nether world. Bai asked him something about there.
Ding answered Bai with something mysterious. Not deeply believing him, Bai only smiled.


原文：

别后数日，翁方卧，见丁又来，邀与同游。从之去，入一城阙，移时，丁指一门曰：“此间君家甥也。”时翁有姊子为晋令，讶曰：“乌*在此？”丁曰：“倘不信，入便知之。”翁入，果见甥，蝉冠豸绣*坐堂上，戟幢行列*，无人可通。丁曳之出，曰：“公子衙署，去此不远，亦愿见之否？”翁诺。少间至一第，丁曰：“人之。”窥其门，见一巨狼当道，大惧不敢进。丁又曰：“入之。”又入一门，见堂上、堂下，坐者、卧者，皆狼也。又视墀中，白骨如山，益惧。丁乃以身翼*翁而进。公子甲方自内出，见父及丁良喜。少坐，唤侍者治肴蔌*。忽一巨狼，衔死人入。翁战惕而起，曰：“此胡*为者？”甲曰：“聊充庖厨。”翁急止之。心怔忡不宁，辞欲出，而群狼阻道。进退方无所主，忽见诸狼纷然嗥避，或窜床下，或伏几底。错愕不解其故，俄有两金甲猛士努目入，出黑索索甲。甲扑地化为虎，牙齿巉，一人出利剑，欲枭其首。一人曰：“且勿，且勿，此明年四月间事，不如姑敲齿去。”乃出巨锤锤齿，齿零落堕地。虎大吼，声震山岳。翁大惧，忽醒，乃知其梦。心异之，遣人招丁，丁辞不至。

注释：

1．城阙：城门两边的了望楼。此处泛指城。2．乌：为什么。3．蝉冠豸绣：穿着官服。蝉冠，以貂尾蝉纹装饰的帽子，古代官帽。豸绣，绣着獬豸的官服。獬豸，神羊。读“谢志”。4．戟幢行列：仪仗队排列在堂前。戟，指用作仪仗的棨（读“起”）戟，并非作战的兵器。幢，读“床”，用羽毛装饰的仪仗旗幡。5．翼：遮蔽，掩护。6．胡：为什么。7．肴蔌：饭菜，蔌，菜。读“素”。8．黑索，即纆（读“墨”）索，官府捆绑囚犯的专用绳索。姑且称之为“囚绳”。


白话：

分别几天之后，老翁刚躺下，见丁又来了，邀请他一同出游。老翁跟着他，进入一座城。过一会儿，丁指着一个门说：“你的外甥就在这里。”当时老翁姐姐有个儿子在山西做官，他很惊讶地说：“为什么在这里？”丁说：“如果不信，进去就知道了。”老翁进去，果然见到了外甥，戴着官帽，穿着官服坐在大堂之上，仪仗队排列成行，谁也无法走上前去。丁把老翁拉出来，说：“你儿子的官府，离这里不远，也想去看看吗？”老翁同意。片刻之后，来到一处官府，丁说：“进去。”老翁往门口一看，只见一条狼挡住他们的去路，就惊恐万状地不敢进去。又进了一道门，见堂上，堂下，坐着的，卧着的，全都是狼。又看到台阶前，白骨如山，越发害怕起来。丁就以身子护着老翁往里进。他儿子甲从里面走出来，看到父亲和丁非常高兴。坐了一会儿，就叫侍者准备饭菜。忽然一头大狼，叼着死人进来。老翁战战兢兢地站起身，说：“这是干什么？”甲说：“这是给厨房用的。”老翁急忙加以制止。心神不宁，想告辞出去，可是狼群挡道。进退两难，忽然看到这些狼都嗥叫着躲避开了，有的窜到床底下，有的趴在桌子底下。老翁惊愕至极，不明白其中的原因。突然之间有两名身穿铠甲的猛士瞪着眼睛走进来，拿出黑色的囚绳把甲捆绑起来。甲倒在地上变成一只虎，牙齿十分锋利。有一人拿出利剑，要砍掉他的头。另一人说：“别砍，别砍，这是明年四月的事，不如先把牙敲掉。”于是那人就拿出巨大的锤子敲牙齿，牙齿散落在地上。老虎大声吼叫，声震山岳。老翁惊恐至极，忽然醒过来，才知是梦。心里感到非常奇怪，就派人去请丁，可是丁却推辞不来。


英译：


Several days later, Ding came again as soon as Bai went to bed. Ding asked Bai to go for a trip with him.
Following Ding, Bai went into a town. Shortly, Ding pointed a gate to Bai.
“Your niece is here,” Ding said.
Bai’s sister really had a son. But he was at his post in Shanxi Province.
“Why here?” Bai asked.
“If you don’t believe, just go in and have a look，” Ding said to Bai.
Going into the gate, Bai really found his niece sit in the court wearing sparkling official robe. With a dignified and awe-inspiring look, the young man seemed so severe that no one dared to step up to him. Ding pulled Bai out.
“Your son is not far from here,” Ding said to Bai. “Are you willing to see him?”
Bai agreed. Shortly, they came to a government office.
“Go in,” Ding said to Bai.
Glancing at the gate, Bai found a large wolf blocking their way. Scared to death, he didn’t dare to go in.
“Go in,” Ding urged again.
Going through the first gate and then anther one, Bai found wolves everywhere, inside or outside the court, sitting or lying. In a word, he could see nothing but wolves.
Then glancing at the steps, Bai terribly found a large amount of white bones piling up like a mountain. Bai became much more frightened. He was then pushed in by Ding who was covering Bai with his own body.
His son, Jia, came out. Seeing his father and Ding, Jia was very happy. Sitting for a few minutes, Jia asked the servants to prepare a meal for these two guests.
Suddenly, a large wolf ran out holding a dead person between its lips.
Deadly scared, Bai jumped to his feet.
“What’s the use of the dead body?” asked Bai.
“For cooking,” he was told.
Bai immediately stopped them from doing so. Greatly anxious, he wanted to leave. But the wolves blocked his way.
Just at the moment of falling into an awkward situation, Bai found the wolf crowd began to roar loudly and then swiftly dispersed and finally hided under a bed or tables. Extremely astonished, he just couldn’t understand all these horrible things before his own eyes.
Suddenly, there came two fearful men in golden armors with anger looks. Taking out a black rope, they wanted to bind Jia.
Falling onto the ground, Jia immediately changed into a tiger with his teeth grinding aloud. A person drew out a sharp sword and wanted to cut off his head.
“Stop, stop,” another man cried. “He should be beheaded next April. We’d better strike off his teeth for the time being.”
Then, they took out a big hammer and violently struck his teeth which fell down onto the ground one after another. The tiger roaring loudly, the mountains shook and the earth quaked terribly.
Frightened to death, Bai was startled from his dream.
Although knowing this was only a dream, Bai still felt strange and asked someone to give a message to Ding inviting him to come. But Ding refused to appear again.


原文：

翁志其梦*，使次子诣*甲，函戒哀切。既至，见兄门齿尽脱；骇而问之，醉中坠马所折，考其时,则父梦之日也。益骇。出父书。甲读之变色，间曰：“此幻梦之适符耳，何足怪。”时方赂当路者，得首荐，故不以妖梦为意。弟居数日，见其蠹役*满堂，纳贿关说者中夜不绝，流涕谏止之。甲曰：“弟日居衡茅*，故不知仕途之关窍*耳。黜陟*之权，在上台*不在百姓。上台喜，便是好官；爱百姓，何术能令上台喜也？”弟知不可劝止，遂归,告父，翁闻之大哭。无可如何，惟捐家济贫，日祷于神，但求逆子之报，不累妻孥*。次年，报甲以荐举作吏部*，贺者盈门；翁惟欷歔，伏枕托疾不出。未几，闻子归途遇寇，主仆殒命。翁乃起，谓人曰：“鬼神之怒，止及其身，祐我家者不可谓不厚也。”因焚香而报谢之。慰藉翁者，咸以为道路讹传，惟翁则深信不疑，刻日*为之营兆*。而甲固*未死。


注释：

1．志其梦：记住他的梦。志，记住，不忘记。如“永志不忘”，就是说永远记住不忘。2．诣：到某人所在的地方，到某地去看望某人，含敬意。3．蠹役：害民的役吏。蠹，蠹虫，泛指贪渎。4．纳贿关说：收受贿赂，到处游说，替他人打通关节。关节，旧时指暗中行贿，勾通官吏。5．衡茅：横门茅草。指简陋的平民居所。横门，横木做的门。6．关窍：诀窍。7．黜陟：官吏的废黜及提升。黜，罢免，读“处”；陟，提升，读“志”。8．上台：上级，上面的官。9．妻孥：妻子儿女。10．吏部：明清时州县级官员，如常说的“员外郎”之类。所谓“员外郎”，指在郎官定员之外的官职。从下文看，本处指县令，即县长“县太爷”。11．刻日：成天，每天。此外，刻，有“仔细认真”、“用尽心思”之义。如“刻意求工”。12．营兆：占卜风水，寻找墓地。营，占卜。兆，墓地。13．固：原本，本来。


白话：


老翁念念不忘其梦，派二儿子去看望甲，还在信里诚恳地嘱咐他。到那里一看，只见哥哥的门牙都掉光了，就很害怕地问他，哥哥说是喝醉酒从马上掉下来摔断的，再问什么时候,正是老父做梦的那天。弟弟越发害怕起来。拿出老父的信。甲读了之后立即变脸，还说：“这是梦幻正巧和事实相符，有什么奇怪的。”当时他刚刚通过贿赂当权者，成了被举荐的首选人物，所以对妖梦邪说并不在意。弟弟住了几天，只见满屋都是贪官污吏，受贿为人打关节的说客，到夜晚还络绎不绝，于是流着泪规劝他停止这种行为。甲说：“弟弟你成天住在破烂的茅草房里，所以不知道官场的诀窍。罢免升迁的大权，全由上司掌握，而不在百姓手里。上司喜欢，就是好官；光爱百姓，有什么办法能讨上司的喜欢呢？”弟弟知道劝不住他，就回家，告诉父亲，老翁听到后大哭一场。没有办法，只好拿出家里的东西捐赠帮助穷人，天天向神祷告，只求逆子将来遭到的报应，不连累妻小。第二年，有人报喜说甲已经被荐举作了吏部，贺喜的人满满一屋子；可老翁却一个劲儿地叹息，趴在枕头上推说有病不出去。没过多久，听说儿子在回家的路上遇到了强盗，主人和奴仆都丧了命。老翁这才起来，对人说：“鬼神发怒，只惩治他一人，保祐我家其他人，这种恩德不可说不大呀。”因此烧香拜谢神灵。宽慰老翁的人，都以为是道听途说的假传闻，只有老翁深信不疑，成天为他占卜寻找墓地。而甲其实并没有死。


英译：

Constantly bearing the horrible dream in mind and feeling much troubled, Bai sent his second son to visit Jia with a letter exhorting him to take good care of himself.
On his arrival, the second son found that his elder brother had his two front teeth lost. Greatly frightened, he asked. Jia said that his two front teeth were broken down when falling down from his horse because of being drunk. Asking the date, the second son found his elder brother lost his teeth just on the very day his father had that horrible dream. He therefore felt much more frightened than ever before.
Then, the young brother gave his father’s letter to Jia. After reading, Jia put on a long face immediately.
“It’s only a coincidence between his dream and my condition,” said Jia. “Such a simple thing is not worth feeling strange.”
Having just been promoted to a higher position by offering bribes to higher officials, he didn’t care about his father’s dream at all.
The second son stayed with his elder brother only a few days. He found Jia’s home full of evil officials all the time. Day and night, the dregs of society came and went endlessly, busy giving or taking bribes. With tears, he did his best to dissuade his elder brother from doing evil things continuously. But Jia didn’t listen to him.
“Dear brother, you live in the thatched cottage all the time, so you don’t know anything about the knack in official carrier. Dismiss a person from office or promote him to a higher position, the right is in the hands of higher officials but not in that of ordinary people. So long as the higher officials like you, you’re a good official. If you only know how to love ordinary people, how can you make the higher officials to love you?”
Knowing unable to talk his brother into changing his mind, the second son went back home and told his father about Jia’s conditions. After learning the whole story, Bai was chocked with tears.
Without knowing what to do next, the old man had to donate what he had to the poor and prayed for his family everyday. He asked the gods not to get his family, especially his daughter-in-law and grandson into trouble when his unworthy son was punished in future.
Next year, Jia was promoted to an even higher position. Various kinds of people constantly came to congratulate the old man for his son’s great success in official carrier. But Bai hid himself in the room lying on pillow and groaning bitterly. He refused to come out to entertain these congratulators on the pretext of illness.
Shortly, he learned Jia and his servants were all killed by robbers on his way back home. Only at this news, did he get up and go out.
“Though the gods and demons were very angry, they only punished him alone,” said the old man. “The gods already did us a favor.”
Bai burned incense expressing his heartfelt thanks to the gods. All the people comforting Bai thought that the news of Jia’s death was merely hearsay. Only Bai firmly believed it without any suspect and asked a fortune-teller to help him choose a proper graveyard for his unworthy son. Yet, in fact, his son was still alive.

原文：

先是,四月间，甲解任，甫离境，即遭寇，甲倾装以献之。诸寇曰：“我等来，为一邑之民泄冤愤耳，宁*专为此哉！”遂决其首。又问家人*：“有司大成者谁是？”司故甲之腹心，助纣为虐者。家人共指之，贼亦杀之。更有蠹役四人，甲聚敛臣*也，将携入都。---- 并搜决讫*，始分资入囊，骛驰而去。甲魂伏道旁，见一宰官*过，问：“杀者何人？”前驱者*曰：“某县白知县也。”宰官曰：“此白某之子，不宜使老后见此凶惨，宜续其头。”即有一人掇头置腔*上，曰：“邪人不宜使正，以肩承颌*可也。”遂去。移时复苏。妻子往收其尸，见有余息，载之以行；从容灌之，亦受饮。但寄旅邸，贫不能归。半年许，翁始得确耗，遣次子致之而归*。甲虽复生，而目能自顾其背，不复齿人数*矣。翁姊子有政声，是年行取*为御史*，悉符所梦。
　　

注释：
宁：岂，难道。读“宁第四声”。2．家人：本文不是指甲的老父妻儿等家里的人，因为他是单身在外做官。此处是指平时为甲掌管饮食起居等的仆从们。3．聚敛臣:为上司搜刮民财的走狗。4．讫：完结，读“气”。5．宰官：宰相。辅助君主掌管国事的最高官员的通称。6．前驱者：官员出行时开路打前站的人。7．腔：身躯空的部分。如胸腔，颅腔邓。此处是指砍头后脖子上出现的空洞，姑且称之为“脖腔”。8．承颌：连接着下颌。承，承接。颌，读“合”，构成口腔上部和下部的骨头和肌肉组织。上部叫上颌，下部叫下颌。此处泛指嘴巴。全句意思是说，肩膀承接着嘴巴，头脸侧向而不朝前。整个一怪物。9．致之而归：使他（甲）归家。致，导致，使。10．不复齿人数：这句话有点麻烦。原因就是这里有两个关键字的意思比较灵活。一是“齿”；二是“数”。“齿”，除了作“牙齿；年龄”解之外，还有两种解释。其一，列；其二，提及，说到。如“齿及”，提及。“数”，基本意思是数目，还可由此引申为类别，比如“我也在数”，意思是说“我也在这类里”。此外还可作动词“数落”解，就是列举劣迹不住地指责。如“齿数”，说起来加以数落。“数”读“属”。如果“齿”作“列”解，“数”作“类别”解，“不复齿人数”的意思就是“不再和人类并列在一起”，说白了就是“不再被当人看待”。如果“齿”作“提起”解，“数”作“数落”解，“不复齿人数”的意思就是“不再被人提起来加以数落”。言外之意就是早已被人遗忘。我选择了后者。10．行取：明代升迁制度，按照规定的年限，州县官员经地方高官保举，可以调任京城，称为“行取”。

白话：

此前,四月间，甲卸任还乡，刚离开他那个县，就遭遇到劫匪，甲把所有的东西都交了出去。劫匪们说：“我们来，是为一城的民众泄愤申冤的，哪是专门为这个呢！”于是砍了他的头。又问他随行的仆从：“有个叫司大成的，谁是呀？”司大成原来是甲的心腹，是个助纣为虐的家伙。仆从们（对他恨之入骨）就一起把他指出来，劫匪也把他杀了。还有四名残害百姓的仆役，都是帮助甲搜刮民财的歹徒，将被带到都城去惩处。---- 劫匪们把甲的财物都收敛完毕，才开始分赃塞入私囊，继而挥鞭跃马，扬长而去。甲的灵魂伏卧在道旁，见到一位宰相路过，宰相问：“被杀的是什么人？”开路的人说：“是某县的白知县。”宰相说：“这个人是白某的儿子，不应该让老人家看到这么残酷的情形，应该把他的头再接上。”随即有一个人提起他的头放到脖腔上，说：“邪人的脑袋不应该放正，用肩膀接着就可以了。”这一干人马随后离开。不久甲还阳苏醒过来。妻儿前往收尸，见他还剩一口气，就把他放到车上往前走；慢慢给他往嘴里灌水，他也喝。只是寄宿在旅店里，穷得回不了家。过去半年左右，老翁才得知确切的消息，就派二儿子把甲运回家。甲虽然活过来，但是眼睛只能看到自己的后背，后来慢慢也就不再被人提起来加以数落。老翁姐姐的儿子为官声誉很高，当年被擢升为御史，这些也都和老翁的梦相符。

英译：

In April, leaving his old post, Jia went to take up a new one. Shortly after being
on his way, he encountered some highwaymen. Emptying his purse and turning out his boxes and suitcases, he gave all he had to the highwaymen.
“How can we come here only for this?” the highwaymen said. “Our goal is to help the poor redress their grievances against the corrupt officials.”
Finishing their words, they had Jia beheaded.
The highwaymen asked, “Is there anyone named Si Dacheng?”
This henchman of Jia always did his best to help his master do evil. He was also guilty of innumerable crimes. All subordinates of Jia hated him to the bone. So he was also beheaded. As for Jia’s four other official attendants, they were also his accessories because they always helped their superior grab money from the broad masses. But they would be punished separately. After searching completely and dividing up the money, these highwaymen ran away.
Lying prostrate at the roadside, Jia’s soul found a higher official passing by.
“Who is the beheaded man?” the higher official asked.
“Jia, a county magistrate,” an attendant told him.
“He is,” the higher official said,“the son of Bai. ” He said continiouly,“ I have no heart to let the honest old man see this sort of horrible thing. Join his head to his neck.”
Picking up his head from the ground and putting it onto his neck, an attendant said: “This sort of evil doer is unworthy of having a straight head. Just put it on his shoulders. Let his shoulders support his lower jaw. His face will be slanting forever, but that’s more than enough.”
Shortly after they left, Jia came round.
His wife and son came to take his dead body. But they found he still had a weak breath left. The family decided to give special care in nursing him. Yet, because of lacking money, they could only stay in a hotel for the time being.
Only half year later, did the old man get the true information about Jia. But what he did was only to send his second son to the hotel and have a look.
Although Jia was restored to life, yet the poor man could only see his own back.
Worse of all, with passage of time, he was no longer mentioned and censured by others.
As far as Bai’s niece was concerned, the young man really became an official and enjoyed high reputation. This was also in keeping with Bai’s dream.



原文：

异史氏曰：“窃叹*天下之官虎而吏狼者，比比也。即官不为虎，而吏且将为狼，况有猛于虎者耶！夫人患不能自顾其后耳；苏而使之自顾，鬼神之教微矣哉！”
　　
注释：

1．窃叹：我不禁感叹。窃，谦称自己的意见等。如“窃以为不可”，我以为不可。2．比比：到处，到处都是。3．患：担心，怕。4．自顾其后：首先要注意“顾”的意思。这个词有两种意思，其一，看到；其二，顾及，即：照顾到，考虑到。如果按第一个意思理解，“自顾其后”就是“自己看到他以后的事情”；如果按第二个意思理解，“自顾其后”就是“顾及他做事的后果”。我倾向于第二种解释。5．微矣哉：多么微妙啊。
　　
白话：

作者感言：“我不禁感叹天下像虎的官，像狼的吏，到处都是啊。即使官不成为虎，可吏却将要成为狼，何况还有比虎还凶猛的呢！人哪，就怕自己不能顾及以后的事情；先使人清醒，再提醒他们做事要顾及后果，鬼神教育人的方法是何等微妙呀！”

英译：

Author’s Commentary:
There’re so many tiger-and-wolf government officials in the world! Even if the ones in higher position don’t behave as tigers, the ones in lower position would do evil as wolves. And worse of all, these ones were sometimes even more ferocious than tigers! The worst thing in the world is that some people only do whatever they like without thinking about the final results; but fortunately, gods and ghosts make people awaken first and then enable them to attend to the final results while doing something. How magical is it!

原文：

邹平李进士匡九，居官颇廉明。常有富民为人罗织*，门役吓之曰：“官索汝二百金，宜速办；不然，败矣！”富民惧，诺备半数。役摇手不可，富民苦哀之，役曰：“我无不极力，但恐不允耳。待听鞫*时，汝目睹我为若白之，其允与否，亦可明我意之无他也。”少间，公按是事*。役知李戒烟，近问：“饮烟否？”李摇其首。役即趋下曰：“适言其数，官摇首不许，汝见之耶？”富民信之，惧，许如数。役知李嗜茶，近问：“饮茶否？”李颔*之。役托烹茶，趋下曰：“谐*矣！适首肯*，汝见之耶？”既而审结，富民果获免，役即收其苞苴*，且索谢金。呜呼！官自以为廉，而骂其贪者载道焉。此又纵狼而不自知者矣。世之如此类者更多，可为居官者备一鉴也。
　　

注释：

1.为人罗织：被人诬陷。罗织，虚构、诬陷。如“罗织罪名”，虚构罪名。2.听鞫：听审。鞫，审讯，读“菊”。3.按是事：审理此事。按，考察、核对；审讯。是，此，这个。4.颔：点头表示同意。颔，下巴，读“和”或“格”。5.谐：办妥了。6.首肯：点头同意。7.苞苴：行贿的财物, 读“包居”。语出《荀子。大略》：“苞苴行与？谗夫兴与？”《注》：“货贿比以物包裹，故总谓之苞苴。”


白话：

邹平县进士李匡九，做官非常廉洁清明。常有富人遭诬陷，（如果他们找李大人告状，）李大人门下的差役就恐吓他们说：“大人向你要二百金，必须赶快办；不然，你的官司就输啦！”（当时就有这样一个富人，）他很害怕，但只答应拿一半金子。差役摇手表示不行，富人苦苦哀求，差役说：“我为你办事没有不尽力的，但只怕大人不答应啊。等到审讯时，你看我在他面前为你去说情，看看他是否答应，这也可以表明我决没有别的意思。”不久，李大人审理此事。差役知道李大人已经戒烟，故意走上前去问：“您吸烟不吸？”李大人摇摇头。差役立即下堂来说：“刚才我说了你要拿多少金子，大人摇头表示不同意，你见到了吗？”富人（不知李大人摇头的真实意思）就信以为真，很害怕，就答应如数交纳金子。差役知道李大人非常爱喝茶，就走上前去问：“喝茶不喝？”李大人点头说喝。差役就托着泡好的茶，走到大堂下说：“办妥了！刚才他点头同意了，你见到了吗？”随后此案审结完毕，富人果然获得免罪处理，差役随即收取他的贿赂，此外，还敲他一笔酬谢金。哎！当官的自以为廉洁，但骂他贪婪的人却到处都有。这就是因为他放纵恶狼似的下属而他自己却不知道哇。世上这类人很多，这个故事可为当官的提供一个借鉴哪。


英译：

Li Kuangjiu, an imperial scholar of Zouping County, Shandong Province, was an honest official. But there were often some rich men, framed without reason. If they sued at law, Li’s official attendants would say to them: “My superior asks you to pay two hundred dollars. You should pay the money as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’ll lose a lawsuit.”
And here was a rich man of this kind right then. But he only agreed to pay half. The attendant waved his hand indicating his disagreement. The rich man begged for pity.
“It’s not that I’m not willing to help you,” said the attendant. “I’m afraid my superior Mr. Li doesn’t agree.” He said to the rich man continuously，“When you are called in, you will see that I put in a good word for you. So long as you see my superior’s decision, you will know I have no ill attention.”
Shortly, the court began to hear the case. Knowing his superior Li didn’t smoke, the attendant stepped up and deliberately asked in a low voice, “You want to smoke?”
Li shook his head.
Back to the side of the rich man, the attendant whispered, “Just now, I told him about your half payment. He shook his head indicating his disapproval. Did you see it?”
The rich man believed his nonsense and felt much frightened. As a result, he paid two hundred dollars on the spot.
Knowing his superior Li loved tea, the attendant stepped up again and deliberately asked in a low voice, “You want to have a cup of tea?”
Li nodded his head.
The attendant asked someone to serve a cup of tea to his superior and then turned back to the side of the rich man. He whispered to the rich man, “That settles the matter. Mr. Li nodded his approval of your payment of two hundred dollars. Did you see it?”
The case was thus wound up. The rich man was really exempt from punishment. The attendant returned with satisfactory results including a remarkable amount of bribes and rewards.
Alas! Many officials consider themselves incorruptible, but there is still widespread popular resentment against them. Why? It’s only because they don’t know they have many wolf-tiger-like subordinates. And in fact, their actions usually amounted to feeding simple and unaffected babies to beasts. This sort of officials don’t amount to a small number. All officials should take warning from these stories.

原文：

又，邑宰杨公，性刚鲠，撄*其怒者必死；尤恶*隶皂，小过不宥。每凛坐堂上，胥吏之属无敢咳者。此属间有所白，必反而用之。适有邑人犯重罪，惧死。一吏索重赂，为之缓颊*。邑人不信，且曰：“若能之，我何靳*报焉！”乃与要盟。少顷，公鞫是事。邑人不肯服。吏在侧呵语曰：“不速实供，大人械梏死矣！”公怒曰：“何知我必械梏之耶？想其赂未到耳。”遂责吏，释邑人。邑人乃以百金报吏。要知狼诈多端，此辈败我阴?*，甚至丧我身家。不知居官者作何心腑，偏要以赤子饲麻胡也！

注释：

1．撄其怒：惹人发怒。撄，触犯。读“英”。2．恶：痛恨，厌恶。3．吏皂：旧时衙门里的差役。4．宥：宽恕。读“又”。5．胥吏：小官。胥，读“虚”。6．有所白：有说话出主意的。白，说话，这里指提建议，出主意。7．适：正好，刚好。8．邑人：城里人，县里人。邑，城；县。9．重罪:就是平常说的“十恶不赦”里的“十恶”，即十项大罪。北齐律所规定的重罪十条：“一曰反逆，二曰大逆，三曰叛，四曰降，五曰恶逆，六曰不道，七曰不敬，八曰不孝，九曰不义，十曰内乱”。10．缓颊：为人求情。11．靳：吝啬。12．械梏：刑具。此处做动词用，指上刑。就是常说的“大刑伺候”。13．责吏：处罚了小官。14．责，责备，斥责；责罚，即处罚。15．伤我：伤害我，其实这里所指并非是我，而是泛指。因此不如翻译成泛指一般的“人”。16．阴?：阴气。?，音义都同“气”。17．身家：名声，甚至仕途官运。18．何心腑：用心何在，就是心里怎么想的。19．以赤子饲麻胡：用天真无邪的儿童去喂野兽。麻胡，一解是貌丑而多胡须的人。胡，指西北少数民族。 宋曾慥《高斋漫录》：“ 毗陵有成郎中， 宣和中为省官，貌不扬而多髭。再娶之夕，岳母陋之，曰：‘我女如菩萨，乃嫁一麻胡。’” 。二解是山西俗语，指传说中一种凶恶的吃人怪兽。常有小孩夜间哭闹，母亲就以“麻胡”来吓唬。


白话：

还有，县令杨大人，性情刚烈鲠直，触怒他的人必死无疑；尤其痛恨那些行为不端的差役，即便有小过失也不宽恕。只要他威风凛凛地在大堂上一坐，下面的小官没有敢咳嗽的。这类小官中如果有人出主意，他就偏反着办。正好有一个城里人犯了重罪，怕被判处死刑。一名小官就向他索要一大笔贿赂金，以便为他去说情。城里人不信，而且说：“如果能行，我为什么要吝惜酬金呢！”于是就与小官订立盟约。不久，杨大人审理此事。城里人不服。小官就（故意）在一旁大声呵斥说：“不赶快如实招供，大人就要大刑伺候整死你啦！”杨大人愤怒地说：“你怎么知道我就一定要对他大刑伺候呢？想必是他给你的贿赂还没到手吧。”于是就处罚小官，释放城里人。城里人事后就以百金酬报小吏。要知道豺狼狡诈多端，（豺狼似的）这种人会伤人阴气，甚至会使人身败名裂。不知当官的用心何在，偏偏要用小孩子去喂野兽！

英译：

PS:

As a county magistrate with a fiery disposition, Mr. Yang was stern but honest to people. Anyone who angered him would certainly die beyond doubt. He especially hated the attendants who were up to all kinds of evil. They wouldn’t be tolerated even if having made only a minor mistake. So long as he sat in the court no subordinate of his dared to cough. If anyone among these attendants put forward a proposal, he would do exactly the opposite. There happened to be a townsman who had committed felonies but was afraid of being sentenced to death. A small official asked for a large amount of bribes so as to plead for mercy for him. Not believing this, the man said: “If this is really useful, why should I stint money?” Hence a treaty of alliance. Shortly after that, Mr. Yang hold a court and heard this case. The man pleaded no guilty. “If you don’t make a quick confession strictly according to the facts, ” the small official deliberately scolded him in a loud voice, “ the Lord’ll put you to torture and you’ll die!” “How can you know I’ll put him to torture?”asked the county magistrate.“ It must be that you haven’t got his bribes yet.” Therefore the small official was punished while the townsman was released. And later on, the townsman gave a hundred liangs( Chinese weight unit) of gold to the small official in reward for his help. You should know that all wolves are extremely sly and greedy. The wolflike evildoers not only do harm to people’s health but also make them to lose all standing and reputation. The officials’ behavior simply amounted to feeding children to wild beasts. What are they up to? I really don’t know.