入話
混沌初分世界，陰陽配合成人。
入话
混沌初分世界，阴阳配合成人。
Prologue
When chaos first divided into a world,yin and yang came together to make humankind.
黃芽白雪幾更新，烏兔迴環不定。
黄芽白雪几更新，乌兔回环不定。
How many times have the yellow shoots and white snow come round again?The crow and the hare wheel on and never rest.
曾見滄田變海，旋看松柏凋零。
曾见沧田变海，旋看松柏凋零。
I have seen green fields turn into sea,and soon after watched the pines and cypresses wither.
青牛白犬吠天津，轉眼棋枰相應。
青牛白犬吠天津，转眼棋枰相应。
The green ox and the white dog clamour at the Heavenly Ford;in the blink of an eye it all plays out like a game of chess.
蓋天地之間，九州八極。土有九山，山有九塞，澤有九氣，風有八等，水有九品。
盖天地之间，九州八极。土有九山，山有九塞，泽有九气，风有八等，水有九品。
Now between heaven and earth lie the Nine Provinces and the Eight Extremities. The land has nine mountains, the mountains have nine passes and the marshes nine vapours; the winds are of eight kinds and the waters of nine grades.
何謂九州？東南神州曰農土，正南坎州曰沃土，西南戎州曰滔土，正西弇州曰並土，正中冀州曰中土，西北台州曰肥土，正北濟州曰成土，東北薄州曰隱土，正東陽州曰申土。
何谓九州？东南神州曰农土，正南坎州曰沃土，西南戎州曰滔土，正西弇州曰并土，正中冀州曰中土，西北台州曰肥土，正北济州曰成土，东北薄州曰隐土，正东阳州曰申土。
What are the Nine Provinces? In the southeast, Shenzhou, called the Farming Land; due south, Kanzhou, the Fertile Land; in the southwest, Rongzhou, the Flooded Land; due west, Yanzhou, the Joined Land; in the very centre, Jizhou, the Middle Land; in the northwest, Taizhou, the Rich Land; due north, Jizhou, the Completed Land; in the northeast, Bozhou, the Hidden Land; and due east, Yangzhou, the Extended Land.
何謂九山？會稽、泰山、王屋、首山、泰華、岐山、太行、羊腸、孟門。
何谓九山？会稽、泰山、王屋、首山、泰华、岐山、太行、羊肠、孟门。
What are the nine mountains? Kuaiji, Mount Tai, Wangwu, Shoushan, Taihua, Qishan, Taihang, Yangchang and Mengmen.
何謂九塞？曰大汾、澠阨、荊沅、方城、殽阪、井陘、令疵、句注、居庸。
何谓九塞？曰大汾、渑阨、荆沅、方城、殽阪、井陉、令疵、句注、居庸。
What are the nine passes? Dafen, Mian’ai, Jingyuan, Fangcheng, Yaoban, Jingxing, Lingci, Gouzhu and Juyong.
何謂九藪？曰楚具區、越雲夢、秦陽紆、晉大陸、鄭圃田、宋孟諸、齊海隅、趙鉅鹿、燕昭餘。
何谓九薮？曰楚具区、越云梦、秦阳纡、晋大陆、郑圃田、宋孟诸、齐海隅、赵巨鹿、燕昭余。
What are the nine marshes? Juqu in Chu, Yunmeng in Yue, Yangyu in Qin, Dalu in Jin, Putian in Zheng, Mengzhu in Song, Haiyu in Qi, Julu in Zhao and Zhaoyu in Yan.
何謂八風？東北曰炎風，東方曰條風，東南曰景風，南方曰巨風，西南曰涼風，西方曰飂風，西北曰麗風，北方曰寒風。
何谓八风？东北曰炎风，东方曰条风，东南曰景风，南方曰巨风，西南曰凉风，西方曰飂风，西北曰丽风，北方曰寒风。
What are the eight winds? From the northeast blows the Blazing Wind; from the east, the Sprouting Wind; from the southeast, the Bright Wind; from the south, the Great Wind; from the southwest, the Cool Wind; from the west, the Soughing Wind; from the northwest, the Fair Wind; and from the north, the Cold Wind.
何謂六水？曰河水、赤水、遼水、黑水、江水、淮水。
何谓六水？曰河水、赤水、辽水、黑水、江水、淮水。
What are the six waters? The Yellow River, the Red Water, the Liao, the Black Water, the Yangzi and the Huai.
闔四海之內，東西二萬八千里，南北二萬六千里。水道八千里通谷，其名川六百，陸徑三千里。禹乃使大章步自東極，至於西極，二億三萬三千五百里，七十五步；使豎亥步自北極，至於南極，二億三萬三千五百里，七十五步。凡鴻水淵藪，自三仞以上，二億三萬三千五百五十五里，有九淵。禹乃以息土填洪水以為名山。握崑崙以下，地中有增城九重，其高萬一千里，百一十四步，二尺六寸。上有木禾，其修五尋。珠樹、玉樹、璇樹、不死樹在其西；沙棠樹、琅玕樹在其東；絳樹在其南；碧瑤樹在其北。一邊名曰熊耳山，一邊名曰雉衡山。詩云「雲連熊耳峰齊秀，水出雉衡山更高」是也。真個好山，有詞賦為證：
阖四海之内，东西二万八千里，南北二万六千里。水道八千里通谷，其名川六百，陆径三千里。禹乃使大章步自东极，至于西极，二亿三万三千五百里，七十五步；使竖亥步自北极，至于南极，二亿三万三千五百里，七十五步。凡鸿水渊薮，自三仞以上，二亿三万三千五百五十五里，有九渊。禹乃以息土填洪水以为名山。握昆仑以下，地中有增城九重，其高万一千里，百一十四步，二尺六寸。上有木禾，其修五寻。珠树、玉树、璇树、不死树在其西；沙棠树、琅玕树在其东；绛树在其南；碧瑶树在其北。一边名曰熊耳山，一边名曰雉衡山。诗云「云连熊耳峰齐秀，水出雉衡山更高」是也。真个好山，有词赋为证：
All that lies within the four seas measures twenty-eight thousand li from east to west and twenty-six thousand from north to south. Its waterways run eight thousand li through the valleys, with six hundred famous rivers, and its roads run three thousand li overland. Yu sent Dazhang to pace it out from the eastern extremity to the western: two hundred and thirty-three thousand five hundred li and seventy-five paces. He sent Shuhai to pace it out from the northern extremity to the southern: two hundred and thirty-three thousand five hundred li and seventy-five paces. The deeps and fens of the great flood, where they were more than three fathoms deep, covered two hundred and thirty-three thousand five hundred and fifty-five li, and among them were nine abysses. Then Yu took the swelling soil and filled in the flood with it to make the famous mountains. He dug down at Kunlun, and within the earth was a city of nine tiered walls, rising eleven thousand li, one hundred and fourteen paces, two feet and six inches. On it grows the tree-grain, five fathoms tall. Pearl trees, jade trees, jasper trees and the tree of deathlessness stand to its west; sand-pear trees and langgan trees to its east; crimson trees to its south; and trees of green jasper to its north. On one side rises Mount Xiong’er, on the other Mount Zhiheng. It is of these that the poem says, ‘Clouds join the peaks of Xiong’er in matching grace; the waters spring from Zhiheng, a mountain higher still.’ A fine mountain indeed! There is a rhapsody to prove it:
遠望嵯峨，近觀崒嵂。山勢嵯峨，定汪洋，海翻雪浪；石形崒嵂，鎮蛟蜃，穴湧銀濤。土龍在木火方隅，雲母藏東南境界。高崖峭壁，怪壑奇峰。聽不盡雙鳳齊鳴，看不了孤鸞獨舞。霧靄靄，豹隱深山；風簌簌，虎來峻嶺。瑤草奇花不謝，青松翠柏長春。仙桃紅豔豔，修竹綠森森，一片雲霞連樹蔭，兩條澗水落藤根。正是：千山高聳擎天柱，萬壑橫衝大地痕。
远望嵯峨，近观崒嵂。山势嵯峨，定汪洋，海翻雪浪；石形崒嵂，镇蛟蜃，穴涌银涛。土龙在木火方隅，云母藏东南境界。高崖峭壁，怪壑奇峰。听不尽双凤齐鸣，看不了孤鸾独舞。雾霭霭，豹隐深山；风簌簌，虎来峻岭。瑶草奇花不谢，青松翠柏长春。仙桃红艳艳，修竹绿森森，一片云霞连树荫，两条涧水落藤根。正是：千山高耸擎天柱，万壑横冲大地痕。
Seen from afar, it towers;seen up close, it soars.Towering, it holds the vast ocean steady, where the sea rolls up waves of snow;soaring, its rocks keep down flood dragons and sea monsters, where silver billows surge from its caves.Its earth-dragon lies in the quarter of Wood and Fire;its mica is hidden in the southeast.High cliffs and sheer walls,strange gorges and wondrous peaks.You never tire of hearing paired phoenixes sing,never weary of watching the lone luan dance.In the thick mist,leopards hide deep in the hills;in the rustling wind,tigers come down the steep ridges.Jade grasses and rare flowers never fade;green pines and emerald cypresses are ever in leaf.Immortal peaches glow red, tall bamboos stand thick and green; a sheet of rosy cloud runs into the shade of the trees, and two mountain streams fall among the roots of the vines.Truly:a thousand peaks soar high, pillars that hold up the sky;ten thousand gorges cut across, the scars of the great earth.
那雉衡山頂上有一株大樹，樹上有一隻白鶴，乃是稟精金火，受氣陽陰，頂朱翼素，吭員趾纖，為胎化之仙禽，羽毛之宗長也。有詞賦為證：
那雉衡山顶上有一株大树，树上有一只白鹤，乃是禀精金火，受气阳阴，顶朱翼素，吭员趾纤，为胎化之仙禽，羽毛之宗长也。有词赋为证：
On the top of Mount Zhiheng stood a great tree, and in the tree was a white crane. It had drawn its essence from Metal and Fire and taken its breath from yang and yin. Its crown was red and its wings white, its throat round and its toes slender. It was the immortal bird born from the womb, the elder of all feathered things. There is a rhapsody to prove it:
瘦頭露眼，豐毛疏肉，鳳翼龜背，燕膺鱉腹。鳴必戒露，止金穴而迴翔；白非浴日，集蘭岩而顧足。或乘軒於衛國，馭江夏之樓；或取箭於耶溪，飴潭臯之粟。長比鳧脛，群非雞齪。侶鸞鳳以遐征，薄雲霄而高啄。真個是緱山王子之遺，遼東丁令之屬。
瘦头露眼，丰毛疏肉，凤翼龟背，燕膺鳖腹。鸣必戒露，止金穴而回翔；白非浴日，集兰岩而顾足。或乘轩于卫国，驭江夏之楼；或取箭于耶溪，饴潭臯之粟。长比凫胫，群非鸡龊。侣鸾凤以遐征，薄云霄而高啄。真个是缑山王子之遗，辽东丁令之属。
Lean of head, with eyes that stand out; thick of feather, spare of flesh; phoenix wings and a tortoise back, a swallow’s breast and a turtle’s belly.Its cry is always a warning of the dew;it alights at the golden cave and wheels about.It is white without bathing each day;it gathers on orchid crags and looks down at its feet.Some rode in carriages in the state of Wei,some carried riders from the tower at Jiangxia;some fetched arrows at the Ye Stream,some fed on grain by the pools and the marshes.Its legs are long beside a duck’s;in a crowd, it is no petty barnyard fowl.It journeys far with luan and phoenix for companions,and pecks on high at the edge of the clouds.Truly, it is of the line the prince of Mount Gou left behind,of the kind of Ding Ling of Liaodong.
白鶴兒在那雉衡山中，雖然是一個羽族，凡禽唳八公而戢寇，毛群野鳥，鳴九臯而徹天。恰因那三十三天兜率宮中太上元始天尊駕前一隻仙鶴，一日飛下這山上來，白鶴兒見他飛來，就便是福至心靈的一般去與他交媾了一遍。那仙鶴就把仙家的妙理、學道的真詮一一泄漏與這白鶴兒。白鶴兒依了仙鶴的傳授，便在山中樹上朝吞日液，暮採月華，飲露含風，餐霞吸露，修行了三四百年。只是盜學無師，有翅不飛，脫不得羽殼毛軀，上不得瑤池閬苑。
白鹤儿在那雉衡山中，虽然是一个羽族，凡禽唳八公而戢寇，毛群野鸟，鸣九臯而彻天。恰因那三十三天兜率宫中太上元始天尊驾前一只仙鹤，一日飞下这山上来，白鹤儿见他飞来，就便是福至心灵的一般去与他交媾了一遍。那仙鹤就把仙家的妙理、学道的真诠一一泄漏与这白鹤儿。白鹤儿依了仙鹤的传授，便在山中树上朝吞日液，暮采月华，饮露含风，餐霞吸露，修行了三四百年。只是盗学无师，有翅不飞，脱不得羽壳毛躯，上不得瑶池阆苑。
There on Mount Zhiheng the white crane was one of the feathered tribe and no more — yet as a common bird, its kind had cried on Mount Bagong and put invaders to flight, and as a wild bird among the herds of fur and feather, its kind had called from the nine marshes and been heard in heaven. Then one day it so happened that an immortal crane from before the throne of the Most High Celestial Worthy of the Primal Beginning, in the Tushita Palace of the Thirty-three Heavens, flew down onto this mountain. When the white crane saw it coming, it went and mated with it, as though good fortune had opened its wits; and the immortal crane let slip to the white crane, one by one, the wondrous secrets of the immortals and the true teachings of the Way. Following the immortal crane’s instruction, the white crane stayed in its tree on the mountain, swallowing the sun’s liquor at dawn and gathering the moon’s brilliance at dusk, drinking the dew and breathing the wind, feasting on rosy clouds and sipping the dew, and so it cultivated itself for three or four hundred years. But it had stolen its learning without a master. It had wings, yet could not fly up; it could not shed its shell of feathers and its body of down, nor rise to the Jasper Pool and the Langyuan Gardens.
湊巧著這山中有一個香獐，也是百餘年不死的毛團，慣會興妖作怪，駕霧騰雲。與白鶴結識，做了弟兄。逐日在江口閒遊，山中玩耍。正是逍遙自在無拘束，不怕閻君不怕天也。
凑巧着这山中有一个香獐，也是百余年不死的毛团，惯会兴妖作怪，驾雾腾云。与白鹤结识，做了弟兄。逐日在江口闲游，山中玩耍。正是逍遥自在无拘束，不怕阎君不怕天也。
As chance would have it, there was also a musk deer on this mountain, another furry creature that had lived more than a hundred years without dying. It was well practised at stirring up mischief and working uncanny tricks, riding the mist and soaring on the clouds. It made friends with the white crane, and the two became sworn brothers. Day after day they roamed idly at the river mouth and played on the mountain. Truly: free and easy, bound by nothing, they feared neither Yama nor Heaven.
說話的，從頭至尾要說得有原委。這閻浮大千世界生著白鶴、香獐，也不知有幾億億萬萬數，為何這只鶴，這只獐，就會成精作孽？蓋因天地間有四生、六道。且說那四生，佛經上說胎生、卵生、濕生、化生是也；那六道，佛說仙道、佛道、鬼道、人道、畜生道、修羅道是也。投托得胞胎好，就有好結果；投托得胞胎不好，就沒好結果。這便是報應輪回、天地無私的道理。原來這白鶴、香獐，都是漢朝時兩個人轉世，所以今番有這般結果。怎見得是漢朝的人過了三四百年又來做神做鬼？看官仔細聽著，說出家門大意，便見這本希奇的故事。
说话的，从头至尾要说得有原委。这阎浮大千世界生著白鹤、香獐，也不知有几亿亿万万数，为何这只鹤，这只獐，就会成精作孽？盖因天地间有四生、六道。且说那四生，佛经上说胎生、卵生、湿生、化生是也；那六道，佛说仙道、佛道、鬼道、人道、畜生道、修罗道是也。投托得胞胎好，就有好结果；投托得胞胎不好，就没好结果。这便是报应轮回、天地无私的道理。原来这白鹤、香獐，都是汉朝时两个人转世，所以今番有这般结果。怎见得是汉朝的人过了三四百年又来做神做鬼？看官仔细听着，说出家门大意，便见这本希奇的故事。
Now, a storyteller must tell his tale from beginning to end and show where everything comes from. In all the vast world of Jambudvipa, who knows how many millions upon millions of white cranes and musk deer are born — so why should this crane and this deer become spirits and work mischief? Because between heaven and earth there are the four kinds of birth and the six paths. The four kinds of birth, as the Buddhist scriptures say, are birth from the womb, birth from the egg, birth from moisture and birth by transformation. The six paths, as the Buddha taught, are the path of immortals, the path of buddhas, the path of ghosts, the path of humans, the path of animals and the path of asuras. Lodge in a good womb and you come to a good end; lodge in a bad one and you come to no good end. This is the law of retribution and the wheel of rebirth, for Heaven and Earth play no favourites. Now, this white crane and this musk deer were both reincarnations of two people from the Han dynasty, and that is why they had come to this. How could people of the Han come back three or four hundred years later as spirits and goblins? Listen closely, reader, while I give you the outline, and you will see what a strange and wonderful story this is.
昔日漢帝朝內，有一位左丞相安撫，生下一女，四歲上母亡，將女交與乳母撫養。這女兒到得七歲，各色俱不待人指點，自然會得。一日，安丞相朝回，聽見女兒房中有人彈琴品簫。安撫問：「是誰人？」丫頭說：「是小姐。」安撫聽了一回，走進房中，問女兒道：「老夫朝中回來，只聽得汝在房中彈琴品簫，這是誰人教汝的？」小姐道：「孩兒百藝俱通，不消人教得。」安撫道：「我止生汝一人，上無哥姐，下無弟妹，汝這般天賜聰明，我就取汝叫做靈靈小姐。過了十歲，才與汝議親招贅，定要與首相做個繼室，恁你狀元來說婚，我也決不與他。」乳母道：「為何不與狀元，到要與首相做繼室？」安撫道：「嫁與狀元做結髮夫妻，也要遲十年五載方才做得一品夫人；若嫁與首相做繼室，進門就是一品夫人了。」乳母道：「世上的事只等你撞著，不等你算著，只怕老爺要賠了夫人又折兵。」安撫叱退乳母，以後有許多家來說媒，安撫只是不從。
昔日汉帝朝内，有一位左丞相安抚，生下一女，四岁上母亡，将女交与乳母抚养。这女儿到得七岁，各色俱不待人指点，自然会得。一日，安丞相朝回，听见女儿房中有人弹琴品箫。安抚问：「是谁人？」丫头说：「是小姐。」安抚听了一回，走进房中，问女儿道：「老夫朝中回来，只听得汝在房中弹琴品箫，这是谁人教汝的？」小姐道：「孩儿百艺俱通，不消人教得。」安抚道：「我止生汝一人，上无哥姐，下无弟妹，汝这般天赐聪明，我就取汝叫做灵灵小姐。过了十岁，才与汝议亲招赘，定要与首相做个继室，恁你状元来说婚，我也决不与他。」乳母道：「为何不与状元，到要与首相做继室？」安抚道：「嫁与状元做结发夫妻，也要迟十年五载方才做得一品夫人；若嫁与首相做继室，进门就是一品夫人了。」乳母道：「世上的事只等你撞着，不等你算着，只怕老爷要赔了夫人又折兵。」安抚叱退乳母，以后有许多家来说媒，安抚只是不从。
Long ago, at the court of an emperor of the Han, there was a Chancellor of the Left named An Fu. He had a daughter, whose mother died when she was four, and he gave the girl to a wet nurse to raise. By the time she was seven, there was nothing she needed to be shown; she could do it all of her own accord. One day, coming home from court, Chancellor An heard someone in his daughter’s room playing the zither and the flute. “Who is that?” asked An Fu. “It’s the young lady,” said a maid. An Fu listened for a while, then went into the room and asked his daughter, “I come home from court and hear you in here playing the zither and the flute. Who taught you that?” “Your child is versed in every art,” said the young lady. “I need no one to teach me.” “You are my only child,” said An Fu, “with no brother or sister above you or below. Since Heaven has made you so clever, I shall call you Miss Lingling (‘Bright’). When you are past ten, we shall talk of finding you a husband, and it must be as second wife to the Chief Minister. Even if the Top Graduate himself comes asking for you, I shall never give you to him.” “Why not the Top Graduate?” asked the nurse. “Why would you rather make her a second wife to the Chief Minister?” “Married to the Top Graduate as his first wife,” said An Fu, “she would still have to wait five or ten years to become a lady of the first rank. Married to the Chief Minister as his second wife, she is a lady of the first rank the moment she comes through the door.” “Things in this world come as they come,” said the nurse, “not as you reckon them. I’m afraid, sir, you’ll lose the lady and the soldiers too.” An Fu sent the nurse away with a scolding. After that many families sent matchmakers, but An Fu would not hear of any of them.
一日，漢帝宣安撫上殿，說道：「朕有姪男，年方二十二歲，喪偶未娶。朕聞相國有一位靈靈小姐，肯與人為繼室，何不嫁與姪男？」安撫道：「臣昔年有言，願定與首相為繼室，不敢嫁與皇姪。」漢帝道：「嫁與首相，怎見得勝似我皇姪？」安撫奏道：「進了首相的門，就是一品夫人；若皇姪，不知是將軍是奉尉，便有許多不同。」漢帝道：「依卿所奏，朕就賜為一品夫人，何如？」安撫道：「賜稱一品夫人，還是越禮犯分，終不如首相的好。」漢帝大怒，要把安撫丞相斬首市曹，以警百官。百官替他討饒，才得放還。
一日，汉帝宣安抚上殿，说道：「朕有姪男，年方二十二岁，丧偶未娶。朕闻相国有一位灵灵小姐，肯与人为继室，何不嫁与姪男？」安抚道：「臣昔年有言，愿定与首相为继室，不敢嫁与皇姪。」汉帝道：「嫁与首相，怎见得胜似我皇姪？」安抚奏道：「进了首相的门，就是一品夫人；若皇姪，不知是将军是奉尉，便有许多不同。」汉帝道：「依卿所奏，朕就赐为一品夫人，何如？」安抚道：「赐称一品夫人，还是越礼犯分，终不如首相的好。」汉帝大怒，要把安抚丞相斩首市曹，以警百官。百官替他讨饶，才得放还。
One day the Han emperor summoned An Fu to the throne hall and said, “We have a nephew, just twenty-two, who has lost his wife and not yet remarried. We hear that you, Lord Chancellor, have a daughter, Miss Lingling, whom you are willing to give as a second wife. Why not marry her to Our nephew?” “Your servant said long ago,” An Fu replied, “that she should be second wife to the Chief Minister. I dare not marry her to Your Majesty’s nephew.” “And how,” said the Emperor, “is marrying the Chief Minister better than marrying Our nephew?” “Once she enters the Chief Minister’s door,” An Fu replied, “she is a lady of the first rank. But Your Majesty’s nephew — who can say whether he will be a general or a commandant? That makes all the difference.” “Then, as you put it,” said the Emperor, “We shall make her a lady of the first rank Ourselves. What do you say to that?” “To be called a lady of the first rank by gift,” said An Fu, “would still overstep the rites and her station. It can never be as good as the Chief Minister.” The Emperor flew into a rage. He would have had Chancellor An Fu beheaded in the marketplace as a warning to all his officials, and only when they pleaded for him was he let go.
當下漢帝把他削去官爵，貶在遠方安置。又差當駕官宣靈靈小姐入朝相見。卻說靈靈小姐聽得宣召，父親又為他幾乎性命不保，吃了一驚，乃不梳不洗，含著淚眼入朝見帝。帝命抬頭，一看，果然婀娜絕世，娉婷無雙。隨命當駕發到山西紅銅山內，嫁了一個村夫，叫做挬不動。那挬不動生得身長三尺，醜陋粗惡，三推不上肩，四推和身轉，因此上，人取他一個諢名，叫做「挬不動」。這靈靈小姐，色藝雙全的人，嫁了這般一個蠢物，真所謂駿馬常馱癡漢走，巧妻常伴拙夫眠也。那靈靈小姐心懷抑鬱，不上數年，得病身亡。這挬不動見靈靈小姐死了，也就懸樑縊死，一魂兒追趕靈靈小姐。他兩個三魂縹渺，七魄悠揚，一直走到陰司地府閻羅案前。只見牛頭馬面攔住道：「你兩個是何等人？奉何人勾攝前來？怎的不與差人同來？」靈靈小姐道：「我是安撫丞相的女兒，喚做靈靈小姐。只因那月老錯配姻緣，把我嫁與這挬不動為妻，故此抑鬱而死，魂魄來見閻羅皇帝說一個明白。」挬不動道：「我是山西紅銅山內挬不動便是。蒙漢帝旨意，把這靈靈小姐與我為妻，我百依百隨，盡力奉承他，不料他還不中意，鬱悶逃走，我舍他不得，故此一路裡趕來，要他回去。」牛頭馬面道：「你真是個挬不動的東西！你妻子如今是死的了，怎麼還思量他同你轉去？」那挬不動聽見這話，才曉得他也是死的了，遂放聲大哭起來。驚動了閻羅天子。當下，閻羅天子升殿。便問：「外邊是恁麼人這般哀苦？」牛頭馬面嚇得不敢出聲，判官上前，把靈靈小姐、挬不動的話奏聞一遍。閻羅天子叫他兩個進來，跪在案下。他兩個又把生前的苦情哭訴一遍，要閻羅天子放他回轉陽世。閻羅天子道：「這是你自來投到，非是我這裡差人錯拿來的，要回去也不能夠了。我今判汝兩個轉世去，又做一塊，了汝兩人心願罷。」當下，閻羅天子判道：「夫者，婦之天；夫婦者，人之始。婦得所天，便宜安靜以守閨門，不宜憎嫌以生釁隙。今靈靈小姐，生前怨望，已乖人道之常，死後妄陳，應墮畜生之報；幸是性靈不昧，骨氣猶存，合無轉世為胎，化仙禽羽蟲宗長，候三百年後遇仙點化，還復成人。挬不動稟醜陋形容，賦愚癡氣質，只合棲身蓬蓽，養命村莊，辭婚娶於九重，置妍媸於度外；乃敢妄婚相府，眷戀紅妝，致佳人抑鬱而死，捐微軀追奔不捨，昏迷性地，應墮毛群，合無（轉世為胎）貶為香獐，於三百年後與白鶴結為知識，以完宿果。」
当下汉帝把他削去官爵，贬在远方安置。又差当驾官宣灵灵小姐入朝相见。却说灵灵小姐听得宣召，父亲又为他几乎性命不保，吃了一惊，乃不梳不洗，含着泪眼入朝见帝。帝命抬头，一看，果然婀娜绝世，娉婷无双。随命当驾发到山西红铜山内，嫁了一个村夫，叫做挬不动。那挬不动生得身长三尺，丑陋粗恶，三推不上肩，四推和身转，因此上，人取他一个诨名，叫做「挬不动」。这灵灵小姐，色艺双全的人，嫁了这般一个蠢物，真所谓骏马常驮痴汉走，巧妻常伴拙夫眠也。那灵灵小姐心怀抑郁，不上数年，得病身亡。这挬不动见灵灵小姐死了，也就悬梁缢死，一魂儿追赶灵灵小姐。他两个三魂缥渺，七魄悠扬，一直走到阴司地府阎罗案前。只见牛头马面拦住道：「你两个是何等人？奉何人勾摄前来？怎的不与差人同来？」灵灵小姐道：「我是安抚丞相的女儿，唤做灵灵小姐。只因那月老错配姻缘，把我嫁与这挬不动为妻，故此抑郁而死，魂魄来见阎罗皇帝说一个明白。」挬不动道：「我是山西红铜山内挬不动便是。蒙汉帝旨意，把这灵灵小姐与我为妻，我百依百随，尽力奉承他，不料他还不中意，郁闷逃走，我舍他不得，故此一路里赶来，要他回去。」牛头马面道：「你真是个挬不动的东西！你妻子如今是死的了，怎么还思量他同你转去？」那挬不动听见这话，才晓得他也是死的了，遂放声大哭起来。惊动了阎罗天子。当下，阎罗天子升殿。便问：「外边是恁么人这般哀苦？」牛头马面吓得不敢出声，判官上前，把灵灵小姐、挬不动的话奏闻一遍。阎罗天子叫他两个进来，跪在案下。他两个又把生前的苦情哭诉一遍，要阎罗天子放他回转阳世。阎罗天子道：「这是你自来投到，非是我这里差人错拿来的，要回去也不能够了。我今判汝两个转世去，又做一块，了汝两人心愿罢。」当下，阎罗天子判道：「夫者，妇之天；夫妇者，人之始。妇得所天，便宜安静以守闺门，不宜憎嫌以生衅隙。今灵灵小姐，生前怨望，已乖人道之常，死后妄陈，应堕畜生之报；幸是性灵不昧，骨气犹存，合无转世为胎，化仙禽羽虫宗长，候三百年后遇仙点化，还复成人。挬不动禀丑陋形容，赋愚痴气质，只合栖身蓬荜，养命村庄，辞婚娶于九重，置妍媸于度外；乃敢妄婚相府，眷恋红妆，致佳人抑郁而死，捐微躯追奔不舍，昏迷性地，应堕毛群，合无（转世为胎）贬为香獐，于三百年后与白鹤结为知识，以完宿果。」
Then and there the Emperor stripped him of office and rank and banished him to a distant place. He also sent the officer in attendance to summon Miss Lingling to court. When Miss Lingling heard the summons, and that her father had nearly lost his life on her account, she was badly frightened. Without combing her hair or washing her face, she came to court with tears in her eyes to see the Emperor. The Emperor told her to raise her head, and when he looked at her, she was indeed graceful beyond all the world, lovely without peer. Then he ordered the officer to send her off to Mount Hongtong in Shanxi, and there she was married to a country lout called Can’t-Budge (Bobudong). This Can’t-Budge was three feet tall, ugly, coarse and brutish: push him three times and he wouldn’t go up on your shoulder, push him four times and he only turned round where he stood — and that was why people had given him the nickname Can’t-Budge. So Miss Lingling, a girl of beauty and talent both, was married to this dolt. Truly, as they say, a fine horse often carries a fool, and a clever wife often sleeps beside a clod. Miss Lingling’s heart was heavy with gloom, and within a few years she fell ill and died. When Can’t-Budge saw that she was dead, he hanged himself from a beam, and his soul went chasing after her. With their three souls drifting and their seven spirits wafting, the two of them went all the way to the Underworld, before the desk of King Yama. There Ox-Head and Horse-Face barred their way. “What sort of people are you two?” they said. “Who summoned you here? Why didn’t you come with a constable?” “I am the daughter of Chancellor An Fu,” said Miss Lingling, “and I am called Lingling. The Old Man under the Moon made a wrong match and married me to this Can’t-Budge as his wife, so I died of grief, and my soul has come to King Yama to have the matter made plain.” “I’m Can’t-Budge from Mount Hongtong in Shanxi, that’s who,” said Can’t-Budge. “By the Han emperor’s decree, this Miss Lingling was given to me as my wife. I gave in to her in everything and did all I could to please her, but she still wasn’t satisfied — she moped and ran away. I couldn’t bear to lose her, so I chased her all the way here to take her home.” “Can’t-Budge is right — you really can’t be budged!” said Ox-Head and Horse-Face. “Your wife is dead. How can you still think of taking her back with you?” Only when he heard this did Can’t-Budge realize that he was dead too, and he burst out wailing. The noise disturbed King Yama, who at once ascended his throne hall and asked, “Who is that outside, wailing so bitterly?” Ox-Head and Horse-Face were too frightened to make a sound, so the Judge stepped forward and reported what Miss Lingling and Can’t-Budge had said. King Yama had the two of them brought in to kneel before his desk. Weeping, they told him all over again the sorrows of their lives and begged him to let them go back to the world of the living. “You came here of your own accord,” said King Yama. “My constables didn’t seize you by mistake, so there’s no going back now. I shall sentence you both to be reborn and to be together again, and so settle what your hearts desire.” And then and there King Yama passed sentence: “The husband is the wife’s heaven; husband and wife are the beginning of humankind. A wife who has her heaven should keep quietly to the inner chambers and not breed quarrels out of resentment. Now Miss Lingling nursed grievances while she lived, which already goes against the constant way of humankind, and after death she has made reckless complaints: she should fall into the retribution of the animal path. Yet happily her spirit is not darkened and her backbone remains. Let her be reborn from the womb as an immortal bird, the elder of all feathered creatures, to wait three hundred years until she meets immortals who will enlighten her, and then become human again. Can’t-Budge was born ugly in looks and endowed with a foolish nature. He ought to have kept to his thatched hut and lived out his days in his village, declined a marriage from the ninefold palace and put beauty and ugliness out of his mind. Instead he dared to make a reckless match with a chancellor’s house and doted on his painted beauty, so that the lovely lady died of grief; then he threw away his own worthless life to chase after her, refusing to let her go, his mind clouded and lost. He should fall among the furred beasts. Let him — reborn from the womb — be banished into the form of a musk deer, and after three hundred years become friends with the white crane, to fulfil the karma of their former lives.”
判訖，靈靈小姐與挬不動低首無言，各尋頭路。這便是白鶴、香獐前生的結證。如今只說韓湘子十二度韓文公的故事，且把這段因果丟下一邊。
判讫，灵灵小姐与挬不动低首无言，各寻头路。这便是白鹤、香獐前生的结证。如今只说韩湘子十二度韩文公的故事，且把这段因果丢下一边。
When the sentence had been passed, Miss Lingling and Can’t-Budge hung their heads without a word and each went off to find the road ahead. That is the full account of the former lives of the white crane and the musk deer. But our story is of how Han Xiangzi set out twelve times to bring Han Yu, Lord Wen, to the Way, so let us put this tale of cause and effect to one side.
單表玉帝殿前有一個左捲簾大將軍沖和子，因在蟠桃會上與雲陽子爭奪蟠桃，打碎玻璃玉盞，玉帝大怒，把那沖和子、雲陽子都貶到下界去。一個投托在永平州昌黎縣韓家的，便是沖和子，叫名韓愈；一個投托在永平州昌黎縣林家的，便是雲陽子，叫名林圭。原來這韓家九代積善，專誦黃庭內景仙經。韓太公生下兩個兒子，大的叫做韓會，娶妻鄭氏；次的就是韓愈，字退之，娶妻竇氏。他兩個兄友弟恭，夫和婦順，藹藹一堂之上，且是好得緊，只是都不曾養得兒子。那韓會終日憂悶，常對兄弟退之說道：「有壽無財，有財無祿，有祿無子，造化緣分不齊，惟有孤身最苦。我和你這般年紀，還沒曾有男女花兒，如何是好！」有詩為證：
单表玉帝殿前有一个左卷帘大将军冲和子，因在蟠桃会上与云阳子争夺蟠桃，打碎玻璃玉盏，玉帝大怒，把那冲和子、云阳子都贬到下界去。一个投托在永平州昌黎县韩家的，便是冲和子，叫名韩愈；一个投托在永平州昌黎县林家的，便是云阳子，叫名林圭。原来这韩家九代积善，专诵黄庭内景仙经。韩太公生下两个儿子，大的叫做韩会，娶妻郑氏；次的就是韩愈，字退之，娶妻窦氏。他两个兄友弟恭，夫和妇顺，蔼蔼一堂之上，且是好得紧，只是都不曾养得儿子。那韩会终日忧闷，常对兄弟退之说道：「有寿无财，有财无禄，有禄无子，造化缘分不齐，惟有孤身最苦。我和你这般年纪，还没曾有男女花儿，如何是好！」有诗为证：
Our story turns to a Curtain-Raising Grand General of the Left named Chonghezi, who served before the Jade Emperor’s throne. At the Peach Banquet he fought with Yunyangzi over the peaches and smashed a crystal cup of jade, and the Jade Emperor in a great rage banished both Chonghezi and Yunyangzi to the world below. The one born into the Han family of Changli County, Yongping Prefecture, was Chonghezi, and he was named Han Yu; the one born into the Lin family of Changli County, Yongping Prefecture, was Yunyangzi, and he was named Lin Gui. Now, the Han family had done good for nine generations and devoted themselves to reciting the immortals’ Yellow Court Scripture of the Inner Radiance. Old Master Han had two sons. The elder, Han Hui, had married Lady Zheng; the younger was Han Yu, styled Tuizhi, who had married Lady Dou. The brothers were kind and respectful to each other, the husbands gentle and the wives obliging, and the whole household lived in warm harmony and got on famously — except that neither couple had had a son. Han Hui was gloomy all day long and often said to his brother, Han Yu, “Some have long life but no wealth, some have wealth but no office, some have office but no son. Fate never deals out its portions evenly, and to be left alone is the bitterest of all. At our age, you and I haven’t had a single flower of a child, boy or girl. What are we to do?” There is a poem to prove it:
默默常嗟歎，昏昏似失迷。
默默常嗟叹，昏昏似失迷。
Silent, he sighed and sighed again,dazed, as if he had lost his way;
只因無子息，日夜苦難支。
只因无子息，日夜苦难支。
all because he had no son,his grief by day and night was more than he could bear.
退之道：「然雖如此，哥哥也不必憂慮。我家九代積善，少不得天生一個好兒郎出來，以為積善之報。難道倒做了一個沒尾巴趕蒼蠅的不成？這般憂也徒然，只是終日焚香禮拜，禱告天地祖宗，必定有報應了。」當下韓會依了退之言語，每日虔誠禱祝。感動得本處城隍、土地、東廚司命六神，各各上天奏聞玉帝，要降生一個孩兒與韓會。那奏章如何寫的？奏云：
退之道：「然虽如此，哥哥也不必忧虑。我家九代积善，少不得天生一个好儿郎出来，以为积善之报。难道倒做了一个没尾巴赶苍蝇的不成？这般忧也徒然，只是终日焚香礼拜，祷告天地祖宗，必定有报应了。」当下韩会依了退之言语，每日虔诚祷祝。感动得本处城隍、土地、东厨司命六神，各各上天奏闻玉帝，要降生一个孩儿与韩会。那奏章如何写的？奏云：
“Even so, brother,” said Han Yu, “there’s no need for you to worry. Our family has done good for nine generations, so Heaven is sure to give us a fine son as the reward for it. Do you think we’ll be left with no one to come after us, like a beast with no tail to swat the flies? Worrying like this does no good. Just burn incense and bow day after day, pray to Heaven and Earth and to our ancestors, and there’s bound to be an answer.” So Han Hui did as Han Yu said and prayed devoutly every day. This so moved the local City God, the Earth God, the Kitchen God of the Eastern Stove and the Six Gods that each of them went up to Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor and ask that a child be born to Han Hui. And how did their memorial read? It said:
永平州昌黎縣城隍、土地、司命六神臣某某等稽首頓首，奏聞昊天金闕至尊玉皇上帝：臣聞高皇璇極，總庶民錫福之權；大梵金尊，開群品自新之路，凡伸祈禱，無不感通。茲有昌黎縣韓會、韓愈，積善根於九代，奉秘典於一生，情因無子，意切吁天。伏望證明修奉，展布祥光，鑒翼翼之丹衷，賜翩翩之令子。庶乎永沾道庇－，不負誠心；飽沃恩波，益堅崇奉。月輪常轉，願力無邊。臣等無任瞻天仰聖、激切待命之至，謹奏以聞。
永平州昌黎县城隍、土地、司命六神臣某某等稽首顿首，奏闻昊天金阙至尊玉皇上帝：臣闻高皇璇极，总庶民锡福之权；大梵金尊，开群品自新之路，凡伸祈祷，无不感通。兹有昌黎县韩会、韩愈，积善根于九代，奉秘典于一生，情因无子，意切吁天。伏望证明修奉，展布祥光，鉴翼翼之丹衷，赐翩翩之令子。庶乎永沾道庇－，不负诚心；饱沃恩波，益坚崇奉。月轮常转，愿力无边。臣等无任瞻天仰圣、激切待命之至，谨奏以闻。
Your servants So-and-so, the City God, the Earth God, the Kitchen God and the Six Gods of Changli County in Yongping Prefecture, bowing and knocking their heads upon the ground, report to the Most Honoured Jade Emperor, Supreme God of the Vast Heaven at the Golden Gates. Your servants have heard that the High Sovereign at the Jasper Pole holds the power to bless all the people, and the Golden Honoured One of the Great Brahma Heaven opens to every kind of being the road to renewal, so that every prayer offered up is answered. Now in Changli County there are Han Hui and Han Yu, who have laid down roots of goodness for nine generations and kept to the secret scripture all their lives. Having no son, they cry to Heaven with all their hearts. We humbly beg You to bear witness to their devotion and spread abroad Your auspicious light, to look upon their reverent and loyal hearts and grant them a fine and graceful son, that they may bathe for ever in the shelter of the Way and their sincerity not go unrewarded, and, steeped in the waves of Your grace, hold all the more firmly to their worship. May the wheel of the moon turn for ever and the power of their vows know no bounds. Your servants, gazing up to Heaven and looking up to Your Holiness, await Your command with unbearable eagerness, and respectfully submit this memorial.
玉帝覽奏，遂將金書玉誥、道法神術付與神仙鍾離權、呂岩兩個，到於下界，普度有德有行之人，上天選用；如有修行未到，還該轉世為人的，便著他往韓會家投胎脫化，待日後積功累行，不昧前因，才去度他，以成正果。鍾、呂二仙領了敕旨，按下雲頭。
玉帝览奏，遂将金书玉诰、道法神术付与神仙钟离权、吕岩两个，到于下界，普度有德有行之人，上天选用；如有修行未到，还该转世为人的，便着他往韩会家投胎脱化，待日后积功累行，不昧前因，才去度他，以成正果。钟、吕二仙领了敕旨，按下云头。
When the Jade Emperor had read the memorial, he gave golden writs and jade decrees, with the arts of the Way and divine powers, to two immortals, Zhongli Quan and Lü Yan, and sent them down to the world below to save all who had virtue and good conduct and bring them up to Heaven for appointment. If they found one whose cultivation was not yet complete, and who still had to be reborn as human, they were to send it to be born into Han Hui’s family; later, when it had piled up merit and good works and had not lost sight of its former life, they would go and save it, so that it might attain the true fruit. The two immortals, Zhongli and Lü, received the imperial decree and brought their cloud down.
一路上，鍾仙問呂仙道：「為仙者，屍解昇天，赴蟠桃大會，食交梨火棗，享壽萬年，九玄七祖，俱登仙界。為何閻浮世境三千，大千人眾，只知沉淪欲海，冥溺愛河，恣酒色猖狂，逞財勢氣燄，不肯拋妻棄子，脫屣離家，煉就九轉還丹，長生不老？」呂仙道：「人生處世，如魚在水中，本是悠悠自在，無奈綸竿墜水，香餌相投，以致吞鉤上釣，受刀釜煎熬耳。幾能息心火，停濁浪，固守鴻濛，採先天種子，兩手捧日月乎？」鍾仙道：「五濁迷心，三途錯足，拈花惹草，怨綠愁紅，若不吞一粒金丹，終難脫形骸軀殼。我兩人今日領旨下凡，不知那州那縣得遇知音？」呂仙未及回答，忽見東南上一道白氣衝徹雲霄，有若虹霓之狀，怎見這氣的異處：
一路上，钟仙问吕仙道：「为仙者，尸解升天，赴蟠桃大会，食交梨火枣，享寿万年，九玄七祖，俱登仙界。为何阎浮世境三千，大千人众，只知沉沦欲海，冥溺爱河，恣酒色猖狂，逞财势气燄，不肯抛妻弃子，脱屣离家，炼就九转还丹，长生不老？」吕仙道：「人生处世，如鱼在水中，本是悠悠自在，无奈纶竿坠水，香饵相投，以致吞钩上钓，受刀釜煎熬耳。几能息心火，停浊浪，固守鸿蒙，采先天种子，两手捧日月乎？」钟仙道：「五浊迷心，三途错足，拈花惹草，怨绿愁红，若不吞一粒金丹，终难脱形骸躯壳。我两人今日领旨下凡，不知那州那县得遇知音？」吕仙未及回答，忽见东南上一道白气冲彻云霄，有若虹霓之状，怎见这气的异处：
On the way, the immortal Zhongli asked the immortal Lü, “An immortal sheds his corpse and rises to Heaven. He goes to the great Peach Banquet, eats the pears of union and the fire dates, and enjoys a life of ten thousand years, and his ancestors, nine generations back and seven, all rise to the realm of the immortals. Why is it, then, that the teeming multitudes in the three thousand worlds of Jambudvipa know only how to sink in the sea of desire and drown in the river of love, run riot with wine and women and flaunt their wealth and power, and will not cast off wife and children, leave home as lightly as stepping out of a pair of sandals, and refine the ninefold elixir of return, to live for ever and never grow old?” “People living in the world,” said the immortal Lü, “are like fish in the water, free and easy by nature. But alas, a line drops into the water and a fragrant bait is cast to them, so they swallow the hook and are caught, to suffer the knife and the frying pan. How many can quench the fire in their hearts and still its muddy waves, hold fast to the primal chaos, gather the seed of the Before-Heaven and hold the sun and moon in their two hands?” “The five defilements cloud their hearts,” said the immortal Zhongli, “and their feet stray onto the three evil paths. They pluck the flowers and toy with the grasses, and pine over the green and sigh over the red. Unless they swallow a grain of the golden elixir, they will never escape the husk of the body. Now the two of us have come down to earth by imperial decree — I wonder in what prefecture, what county, we shall find a kindred spirit?” Before the immortal Lü could answer, they suddenly saw a column of white vapour in the southeast shoot right up through the clouds to the sky, shaped like a rainbow. And what was so strange about this vapour?
非煙非霧，似雲似霞，非煙非霧，氤氤氳氳布晴空；似雲似霞，靄靄騰騰彌碧落。凌霄徹漢，衝日遮天。兩耳不聞雷，原無風雨；一天光皎潔，驟起虹霓。占氣者，不辨為天子氣、神仙氣、妖邪氣、海蜃氣；望雲者，不識為帝王雲、卿相雲，將軍雲、處士雲。端的這一道白的，還是氣？還是雲？仔細看來，團團簇簇半空中，未定其間吉與凶。一陣仙風吹撲去，管教平地露根蹤。
非烟非雾，似云似霞，非烟非雾，氤氤氲氲布晴空；似云似霞，霭霭腾腾弥碧落。凌霄彻汉，冲日遮天。两耳不闻雷，原无风雨；一天光皎洁，骤起虹霓。占气者，不辨为天子气、神仙气、妖邪气、海蜃气；望云者，不识为帝王云、卿相云，将军云、处士云。端的这一道白的，还是气？还是云？仔细看来，团团簇簇半空中，未定其间吉与凶。一阵仙风吹扑去，管教平地露根踪。
Not smoke, not mist; like cloud, like rosy haze. Not smoke, not mist, it spread across the clear sky in dense and swirling folds;like cloud, like haze,it filled the blue void, billowing and rising.It mounted to the empyrean and pierced the River of Heaven,struck at the sun and blotted out the sky.No thunder reached the ear,and there was no wind or rain;the whole sky was bright and clear,yet suddenly a rainbow rose.Readers of vapourscould not tell whether it was the aura of a Son of Heaven, of immortals, of evil demons or of a sea mirage;watchers of clouds could not say whether it was the cloud of an emperor, of a minister, of a general or of a recluse.This streak of white —was it vapour,or was it cloud?Look closely: there it hung in mid-air, massed and clustered, and none could yet tell whether it boded good or ill.But let a gust of immortal wind blow upon it,and it will surely show its roots on the level ground.
呂仙用手指與鍾仙道：「這一股白氣沖天而起，主在蒼梧之間，湘江之岸，非聖非凡，當是妖邪之氣，且把仙氣吹一陣去。若是仙氣，氣影了風；若是邪氣，風影了氣。」於是鍾仙掀起了那落腮鬍鬚，張開了獅子大口，望著東南方上吹了一口氣去。果然起一陣大風，把那沖天的白氣都影住了。呂仙睜開慧眼，望那方一看，就認得是兩個毛團在那裡吐氣。一個是香獐造孽，一個是白鶴弄喧。
吕仙用手指与钟仙道：「这一股白气冲天而起，主在苍梧之间，湘江之岸，非圣非凡，当是妖邪之气，且把仙气吹一阵去。若是仙气，气影了风；若是邪气，风影了气。」于是钟仙掀起了那落腮胡须，张开了狮子大口，望着东南方上吹了一口气去。果然起一阵大风，把那冲天的白气都影住了。吕仙睁开慧眼，望那方一看，就认得是两个毛团在那里吐气。一个是香獐造孽，一个是白鹤弄喧。
The immortal Lü pointed it out to the immortal Zhongli. “This plume of white vapour shooting up to the sky,” he said, “comes from somewhere around Cangwu, on the banks of the Xiang. It is neither holy nor mortal; it must be the vapour of some evil sprite. Blow a gust of immortal breath at it. If it is the vapour of immortals, the vapour will swallow the wind; if it is evil vapour, the wind will swallow the vapour.” So the immortal Zhongli lifted his full beard, opened his great lion’s mouth and blew a breath toward the southeast. Sure enough, a great wind sprang up and swallowed all the white vapour that had shot up to the sky. The immortal Lü opened his eyes of wisdom and looked that way, and at once he saw that it was two creatures of fur and feather breathing out their vapour there: one a musk deer making mischief, the other a white crane stirring up a commotion.
不說兩個仙師隨風便至。且說白鶴、香獐正在那湘江岸上各自顯出神通，隨心遊戲，忽見這一陣風吹將來，影住了白氣，就知是兩個神仙到來。他也不慌不忙，搖身一變，都變做全真模樣，立在那江邊，等候著仙師。這全真怎生打扮：
不说两个仙师随风便至。且说白鹤、香獐正在那湘江岸上各自显出神通，随心游戏，忽见这一阵风吹将来，影住了白气，就知是两个神仙到来。他也不慌不忙，摇身一变，都变做全真模样，立在那江边，等候着仙师。这全真怎生打扮：
We shall not tell how the two immortal masters rode the wind and were there in a moment. Our story turns to the white crane and the musk deer, who were on the bank of the Xiang, each showing off its magic powers and playing as it pleased. When they saw this gust of wind blow up and swallow their white vapour, they knew that two immortals had come. Not in the least alarmed, they gave themselves a shake and changed into the form of Quanzhen Daoists, and stood by the river waiting for the immortal masters. And how were these Daoists dressed?
一個頭頂著竹籜冠，一個頭綰著陰陽髻。一個穿一領皂氅衣，腰繫絲縧；一個穿一件黃布袍，圍條軟帶；一個腳踏著多耳麻鞋，好似追風逐日的夸父，一個腳著草履，有如乘雲步月的神仙。正是容顏瀟灑更清奇，裝束新鮮多古怪。
一个头顶着竹箨冠，一个头绾着阴阳髻。一个穿一领皂氅衣，腰系丝绦；一个穿一件黄布袍，围条软带；一个脚踏着多耳麻鞋，好似追风逐日的夸父，一个脚着草履，有如乘云步月的神仙。正是容颜潇洒更清奇，装束新鲜多古怪。
One wore a cap of bamboo sheath on his head;the other had his hair done up in a yin-yang topknot.One wore a black cloakwith a silk cord about his waist;the other a robe of yellow clothwith a soft sash around it.One had hemp sandals with many loops on his feet, like Kuafu who chased the wind and raced the sun; the other wore straw sandals, like an immortal who rides the clouds and walks upon the moon.Truly: their faces free and easy, rare and pure besides;their dress fresh and new, and full of oddity.
他兩個遠遠地望見祖師到來，便上前稽首再拜道：「師父，俺兩個是蒼梧郡湘江岸修行的全真，接待師父得遲，萬望恕罪！」呂師指著白鶴道：「你本是鳳匹鸞儔，如何敢藏頭匿尾！」又指著香獐說道：「你本是狐群狗黨，如何敢隱姓埋名！」老鶴見說出他本相，低首無言，不敢答應。獨這香獐向前道：「俺們委是全真，師父休得錯認，將人比畜。」呂師道：「汝這謊頑皮，巧語花言，待要瞞我，將謂我劍不利乎？」只這一句話，嚇得那白鶴兒魂飛天外，魄散九霄，雙膝跪倒在地上，道：「老師父，人身難得，盛世難逢。雖然是皮殼毛團，也是精靈變化。如今弟子骨格已全，羽毛未脫，逐日在此迎風吸露，也不是結果，望師父垂憫弟子，舍一粒金丹，使弟子脫去羽毛，恩銜再世。」鍾師聽了白鶴言語，便道：「這鶴兒性靈識見，盡通人意，再世之言，成先讖矣！我們且度他去見玉帝，另作區分。這獐兒罪業山重，我這裡用汝不著，饒汝去罷。汝若不依本分，妄作妄為，我自有慧鍔神鋒，盤空取汝。」香獐道：「師父不肯度我也罷，弟子這江邊景致也不弱於三島崑崙，我依師父守著本分，也盡過得日子。」鍾師道：「怎見得湘江景致不弱於三島崑崙？」香獐道：「不是弟子誇口說，據著弟子這蒼梧江口：
他两个远远地望见祖师到来，便上前稽首再拜道：「师父，俺两个是苍梧郡湘江岸修行的全真，接待师父得迟，万望恕罪！」吕师指著白鹤道：「你本是凤匹鸾俦，如何敢藏头匿尾！」又指着香獐说道：「你本是狐群狗党，如何敢隐姓埋名！」老鹤见说出他本相，低首无言，不敢答应。独这香獐向前道：「俺们委是全真，师父休得错认，将人比畜。」吕师道：「汝这谎顽皮，巧语花言，待要瞒我，将谓我剑不利乎？」只这一句话，吓得那白鹤儿魂飞天外，魄散九霄，双膝跪倒在地上，道：「老师父，人身难得，盛世难逢。虽然是皮壳毛团，也是精灵变化。如今弟子骨格已全，羽毛未脱，逐日在此迎风吸露，也不是结果，望师父垂悯弟子，舍一粒金丹，使弟子脱去羽毛，恩衔再世。」钟师听了白鹤言语，便道：「这鹤儿性灵识见，尽通人意，再世之言，成先谶矣！我们且度他去见玉帝，另作区分。这獐儿罪业山重，我这里用汝不着，饶汝去罢。汝若不依本分，妄作妄为，我自有慧锷神锋，盘空取汝。」香獐道：「师父不肯度我也罢，弟子这江边景致也不弱于三岛昆仑，我依师父守着本分，也尽过得日子。」钟师道：「怎见得湘江景致不弱于三岛昆仑？」香獐道：「不是弟子夸口说，据着弟子这苍梧江口：
Seeing the patriarchs approaching in the distance, the two of them went forward, bowed with clasped hands, bowed again and said, “Masters, we two are Daoists practising the Way on the bank of the Xiang in Cangwu Commandery. Forgive us, we beg you, for being so slow to welcome you!” Master Lü pointed at the white crane. “By nature you are a mate for phoenixes, a companion of the luan,” he said. “How dare you hide your head and tail?” Then he pointed at the musk deer. “By nature you belong with the pack of foxes and curs. How dare you hide your name and bury who you are?” When the old crane heard its true form named, it hung its head without a word and dared not answer. Only the musk deer stepped forward. “We really are Daoists,” it said. “Master, you mustn’t mistake us and take people for beasts.” “You lying rascal,” said Master Lü, “with your clever words and flowery talk — you think you can fool me? Do you take my sword for a blunt one?” That one remark frightened the white crane so badly that its soul flew beyond the sky and its spirits scattered to the highest heaven. It dropped to its knees on the ground and said, “Venerable Master, a human body is hard to come by, and a golden age hard to meet. Though I am only a feathered creature in a shell of skin, I have become a spirit all the same. Now your disciple’s bones are fully formed, but I have not shed my feathers, and facing the wind and sipping the dew here day after day will never bring me to the end of the road. I beg you, Master, have pity on your disciple and spare me a grain of the golden elixir, so that I can cast off my feathers — I will carry your kindness with me into my next life.” When Master Zhongli heard the white crane’s words, he said, “This crane has a quick spirit and real insight; it understands everything a human does. Its words about a next life have already become a prophecy! Let us take it to see the Jade Emperor and decide there what is to be done with it. As for this deer, its sins are heavy as a mountain. We have no use for you here, so I’ll spare you — be off. But if you don’t keep to your place, and run wild again, I have a blade of wisdom, a divine edge, that will come whirling through the air to take you.” “If you won’t take me, Master, never mind,” said the musk deer. “The scenery here by your disciple’s river is no worse than the Three Islands or Kunlun. If I keep to my place as you say, I’ll get along well enough.” “How is the scenery of the Xiang any match for the Three Islands and Kunlun?” said Master Zhongli. “It isn’t your disciple boasting,” said the musk deer, “but take this river mouth of mine at Cangwu:
晨鳧夕雁，泛濫其上；黛甲素鱗，潛躍其下。晴光初旭，落照斜暉；翠映霜文，陸離眩目。閒花野草，罩霧含煙；俯仰天淵，愛深魚鳥。煞強如蓬萊弱水，苦海無邊，舟楫難通，夢魂難越。」
晨凫夕雁，泛滥其上；黛甲素鳞，潜跃其下。晴光初旭，落照斜晖；翠映霜文，陆离眩目。闲花野草，罩雾含烟；俯仰天渊，爱深鱼鸟。煞强如蓬莱弱水，苦海无边，舟楫难通，梦魂难越。」
Wild ducks at dawn and geese at duskfloat upon it;dark-shelled turtles and white-scaled fishdive and leap beneath.The clear light of the rising sun,the slanting glow of evening;green mirrored in frost-white ripples,a dazzling medley to the eye.Idle flowers and wild grasses,wrapped in mist and veiled in haze;look up to the sky and down into the deep,and you love the fish and birds the more.It beats Penglai and the Weak Water hollow — that sea of bitterness without a shore, where no boat can pass and not even a dreaming soul can cross.”
呂師道：「據汝這般說，也不見得十分強過我仙家，你誇這大口也沒用。」香獐道：「弟子有詩為證：
吕师道：「据汝这般说，也不见得十分强过我仙家，你夸这大口也没用。」香獐道：「弟子有诗为证：
“From what you say,” said Master Lü, “it isn’t so very much better than our immortal realms. All your big talk will do you no good.” The musk deer said, “Your disciple has a poem to prove it:
蒼梧一席景新鮮，湘水山嵐飽暖眠。泛泛白鷗知落日，喃喃紫燕語晴煙。
苍梧一席景新鲜，湘水山岚饱暖眠。泛泛白鸥知落日，喃喃紫燕语晴烟。
Here at Cangwu the scenery is ever fresh;by the Xiang, in the mountain haze, I sleep warm and full.Drifting white gulls know when the sun goes down;chattering purple swallows talk in the sunlit mist.
紅紅拂拂花含笑，綠綠芊芊草滿前。若是老師來此處，也應撇卻大羅天。」
红红拂拂花含笑，绿绿芊芊草满前。若是老师来此处，也应撇却大罗天。」
Red and swaying, the flowers smile;green and lush, the grass spreads all before me.If you, old Master, came here once,you too would turn your back on the Great Canopy Heaven.”
呂師道：「汝這業畜十分無禮，我仙家無愛無欲，始得成真證果。汝無端造孽，有意貪私，枉自誇張，有何益處？」又暗自忖道：他不知死活，妄語矜爭，我且度鶴兒上天，把這業畜貶下深潭去處，不見天日，待鶴兒成仙，才來度他去做一個守山大神，顯我仙家妙用。於是口中唸唸有詞，喝聲道：「疾！」只見天光灼爍，黑霧朦朧，半空中閃出一員天將，立在面前。那天將怎生打扮：
吕师道：「汝这业畜十分无礼，我仙家无爱无欲，始得成真证果。汝无端造孽，有意贪私，枉自夸张，有何益处？」又暗自忖道：他不知死活，妄语矜争，我且度鹤儿上天，把这业畜贬下深潭去处，不见天日，待鹤儿成仙，才来度他去做一个守山大神，显我仙家妙用。于是口中念念有词，喝声道：「疾！」只见天光灼烁，黑雾朦胧，半空中闪出一员天将，立在面前。那天将怎生打扮：
“You wicked beast, you are thoroughly insolent!” said Master Lü. “We immortals become true and attain the fruit only because we are free of love and desire. You make mischief for no reason and set your heart on selfish greed — what good will all your empty boasting do you?” And he thought to himself: “It doesn’t know what’s good for it, with its wild talk and boasting. I’ll take the crane up to Heaven and banish this wicked beast to the bottom of a deep pool, where it will never see the light of day. When the crane has become an immortal, then this one shall be saved, to be a great god guarding a mountain — and that will show the wondrous workings of us immortals.” So he muttered a spell and shouted, “Quick!” At once the sky flashed and flickered, a black fog rolled in, and a heavenly general appeared in mid-air and stood before him. And how was this heavenly general arrayed?
頭上戴著漆黑殷鐵盔一頂，手中持銀絲嵌鋼鞭一條。皂羅袍金龍盤繞；獅蠻帶玉佩高懸。臉似鍋底煤般黑，唇似朱涂血樣紅。左站著黃巾力士，右站著黑虎大神。燄燄火輪環繞，飄飄皂蓋招揚。他正是降龍伏虎趙玄壇，那怕你興妖作孽香獐怪。
头上戴着漆黑殷铁盔一顶，手中持银丝嵌钢鞭一条。皂罗袍金龙盘绕；狮蛮带玉佩高悬。脸似锅底煤般黑，唇似朱涂血样红。左站着黄巾力士，右站着黑虎大神。燄燄火轮环绕，飘飘皂盖招扬。他正是降龙伏虎赵玄坛，那怕你兴妖作孽香獐怪。
On his head, a helmet of dark iron, lacquer-black;in his hand, a steel whip inlaid with silver wire.A robe of black silk, coiled about with golden dragons;a lion-and-barbarian belt, with jade pendants hanging high.His face was black as the soot on the bottom of a pot,his lips as red as blood, as if painted with cinnabar.On his left stood the Yellow-Turbaned Strongmen,on his right the Great God of the Black Tiger.Blazing wheels of fire whirled all about him;a black canopy fluttered and streamed on high.He was none other than Zhao Xuantan, tamer of dragons and subduer of tigers —what did he care for you, musk deer sprite, and all your mischief?
一陣風過處，那天將躬身喏道：「吾師有何法旨？」呂師道：「香獐造孽，天所不容！」那天將一手拿起鋼鞭，一手拿住香獐，正欲下手，鍾師道：「且饒這孽畜性命，貶他在江潭深處，永不許出頭，直待鶴兒成了正果，證了仙階，然後來度他去看守洞門。若不依本分，再作風雷，損害往來客旅，即時把他打下陰山背後。」天將依命，把那香獐一提，提到江潭中間極深極邃的一個去處，鎖固住了，不放一些兒鬆。那香獐有威沒處使，有力沒處用，只得哀懇天將道：「弟子衝突仙師，罪應萬死，遭此貶厄，固所甘心。但弟子原是山中走獸，食草餐花，以過日子，今沉埋水底，豈不淹死了性命，餓斷了肝腸？望大神救我一救！」天將道：「仙家作用，汝所不知，饒汝性命，自然不死，怎麼怕淹死餓死？汝但收心服氣，見性完神，以待鶴兒救汝便了。」香獐拜道：「多謝指教，但不知鶴兄幾時才來救我耳。」天將既去，香獐被鎖在那個去處，果然，四邊沒水，只是沒有得吃，不得散誕逍遙。乃依前仰伸俯縮，閉息吞精，再不敢妄肆顛狂，以招罪譴。這正是：
一阵风过处，那天将躬身喏道：「吾师有何法旨？」吕师道：「香獐造孽，天所不容！」那天将一手拿起钢鞭，一手拿住香獐，正欲下手，钟师道：「且饶这孽畜性命，贬他在江潭深处，永不许出头，直待鹤儿成了正果，证了仙阶，然后来度他去看守洞门。若不依本分，再作风雷，损害往来客旅，即时把他打下阴山背后。」天将依命，把那香獐一提，提到江潭中间极深极邃的一个去处，锁固住了，不放一些儿松。那香獐有威没处使，有力没处用，只得哀恳天将道：「弟子冲突仙师，罪应万死，遭此贬厄，固所甘心。但弟子原是山中走兽，食草餐花，以过日子，今沉埋水底，岂不淹死了性命，饿断了肝肠？望大神救我一救！」天将道：「仙家作用，汝所不知，饶汝性命，自然不死，怎么怕淹死饿死？汝但收心服气，见性完神，以待鹤儿救汝便了。」香獐拜道：「多谢指教，但不知鹤兄几时才来救我耳。」天将既去，香獐被锁在那个去处，果然，四边没水，只是没有得吃，不得散诞逍遥。乃依前仰伸俯缩，闭息吞精，再不敢妄肆颠狂，以招罪谴。这正是：
When the gust of wind had passed, the heavenly general bowed and called out his assent: “What is my master’s command?” “This musk deer is making mischief,” said Master Lü, “and Heaven will not suffer it!” The heavenly general raised his steel whip in one hand and seized the musk deer with the other, and was about to strike when Master Zhongli said, “Spare the wretched creature’s life for now. Banish it to the depths of a pool in the river and never let it show its head, until the crane has attained the true fruit and risen to the ranks of the immortals; then let it be saved and set to guard the gate of a grotto. If it does not keep to its place, but raises wind and thunder again and harms travellers coming and going, strike it down at once behind the Yin Mountains.” The heavenly general did as he was told. He picked the musk deer up, carried it to the deepest, darkest spot in the middle of a pool in the river, and locked it fast there, without the least slack. The musk deer had might it could not use and strength it could not put to work, so all it could do was plead with the heavenly general: “Your disciple offended the immortal masters and deserves ten thousand deaths, and I accept this banishment willingly. But I was a beast of the mountains, and I lived on grass and flowers. Now I’m sunk at the bottom of the water — won’t I drown, or starve till my insides waste away? Great god, save me, I beg you!” “The workings of the immortals are beyond your understanding,” said the heavenly general. “Your life has been spared, so naturally you won’t die. Why be afraid of drowning or starving? Just gather in your mind and swallow your breath, see your true nature and make your spirit whole, and wait for the crane to come and rescue you.” The musk deer bowed. “Thank you for your teaching. But I wonder when Brother Crane will come to rescue me.” When the heavenly general had gone, the musk deer, locked fast in that place, found that there was indeed no water anywhere around it; only there was nothing to eat, and it could no longer roam free and easy. So, as before, it stretched up and curled down, held its breath and swallowed its essence, and never again dared run wild and bring punishment down on itself. Truly:
是非只為多開口，煩惱皆因強出頭。
是非只为多开口，烦恼皆因强出头。
Trouble comes only from opening your mouth too much;sorrow, from pushing yourself to the front.
如今學得團魚法，得縮頭時且縮頭。
如今学得团鱼法，得缩头时且缩头。
Now it has learned the softshell turtle’s way:when it can draw in its head, it draws in its head.
畢竟不知後來如何，且聽下回逐一分解。
毕竟不知后来如何，且听下回逐一分解。
To learn what happened next, read the next chapter, where all will be told in turn.