交州徐姓，泛海為賈。忽被大風吹去。開眼至一處，深山蒼莽。冀有居人，遂纜船而登，負糗臘焉。
交州徐姓，泛海为贾。忽被大风吹去。开眼至一处，深山苍莽。冀有居人，遂缆船而登，负糗腊焉。
A man named Xu, of Jiaozhou, sailed the seas as a trader. One day a great wind caught him and blew him far off course. When he opened his eyes he had come to a place of deep mountains, dark and wild. Hoping there might be people living there, he moored his boat and went ashore, carrying a pack of dried provisions and cured meat.
方入，見兩崖皆洞口，密如蜂房；內隱有人聲。至洞處，佇足一窺，中有夜叉二，牙森列戟，目閃雙燈，爪劈生鹿而食。驚散魂魄，急欲奔下，則夜叉已顧見之，輟食執入。二物相語，如鳥獸鳴，爭裂徐衣，似欲啖。徐大懼，取橐中糗糒，並牛脯進之。分啖甚美。復翻徐橐，徐搖手以示其無。夜叉怒，又執之。徐哀之曰：「釋我。我舟中有釜甑，可烹飪。」夜叉不解其語，仍怒。徐再與手語，夜叉似微解。從至舟，取具入洞，束薪燃火，煮其殘鹿，熟而獻之。二物啖之喜。夜以巨石杜門，似恐徐遁。徐曲體遙臥，深懼不免。天明，二物出，又杜之。少頃，攜一鹿來付徐。徐剝革，于深洞處流水，汲煮數釜。俄有數夜叉至，群集吞啖訖，共指釜，似嫌其小。過三四日，一夜叉負一大釜來，似人所常用者。於是群夜叉各致狼麋。既熟，呼徐同啖。居數日，夜叉漸與徐熟，出亦不施禁錮，聚處如家人。徐漸能察聲知意，輒效其音，為夜叉語。夜叉益悅，攜一雌來妻徐。徐初畏懼，莫敢伸；雌自開其股就徐，徐乃與交。雌大歡悅。每留肉餌徐，若琴瑟之好。
方入，见两崖皆洞口，密如蜂房；内隐有人声。至洞处，伫足一窥，中有夜叉二，牙森列戟，目闪双灯，爪劈生鹿而食。惊散魂魄，急欲奔下，则夜叉已顾见之，辍食执入。二物相语，如鸟兽鸣，争裂徐衣，似欲啖。徐大惧，取橐中糗糒，并牛脯进之。分啖甚美。复翻徐橐，徐摇手以示其无。夜叉怒，又执之。徐哀之曰：「释我。我舟中有釜甑，可烹饪。」夜叉不解其语，仍怒。徐再与手语，夜叉似微解。从至舟，取具入洞，束薪燃火，煮其残鹿，熟而献之。二物啖之喜。夜以巨石杜门，似恐徐遁。徐曲体遥卧，深惧不免。天明，二物出，又杜之。少顷，携一鹿来付徐。徐剥革，于深洞处流水，汲煮数釜。俄有数夜叉至，群集吞啖讫，共指釜，似嫌其小。过三四日，一夜叉负一大釜来，似人所常用者。于是群夜叉各致狼麋。既熟，呼徐同啖。居数日，夜叉渐与徐熟，出亦不施禁锢，聚处如家人。徐渐能察声知意，辄效其音，为夜叉语。夜叉益悦，携一雌来妻徐。徐初畏惧，莫敢伸；雌自开其股就徐，徐乃与交。雌大欢悦。每留肉饵徐，若琴瑟之好。
As soon as he went in among the mountains, he saw that both cliffs were full of cave mouths, packed as close as the cells of a honeycomb, and from inside came the faint sound of voices. He stopped at one cave and peered in. Inside were two yakshas, their teeth bristling like a rack of halberds, their eyes flashing like a pair of lamps, tearing apart a live deer with their claws and eating it. Xu was frightened out of his wits and turned to run back down, but the yakshas had already seen him. They left their meal, seized him and dragged him in. The two creatures talked to each other with sounds like the cries of birds and beasts, and fought to tear off Xu’s clothes, as if they meant to eat him. In terror, Xu took the dried provisions from his pack, and some dried beef, and offered them. The yakshas shared them out and found them delicious. Then they turned out his pack again. Xu waved his hands to show there was no more. The yakshas were angry and seized him again. Xu pleaded with them: “Let me go. On my boat I have pots and a steamer. I can cook for you.” The yakshas did not understand his words and were still angry. Xu tried again with signs, and they seemed to understand a little. They went with him to the boat. He took his cooking things into the cave, tied up some firewood, lit a fire and boiled what was left of the deer. When it was cooked he offered it to them, and the two creatures ate it with delight. At night they blocked the cave mouth with a huge rock, as if afraid Xu would run away. Xu lay curled up at a distance, sure he would not escape alive. At daybreak the two creatures went out, and blocked the mouth again. A little later they came back with a deer and handed it to Xu. Xu skinned it, drew water from a stream deep in the cave, and boiled several pots of it. Before long several more yakshas arrived. They crowded round and gulped it all down, and then they all pointed at the pot, as if to say it was too small. Three or four days later a yaksha came carrying a great cauldron on its back, the kind that people commonly use. After that the yakshas all brought wolves and deer, and when the meat was cooked they called Xu to eat with them. After some days the yakshas grew used to Xu. When they went out they no longer shut him in, and they lived with him like family. Little by little Xu learned to make out their meaning from their sounds, and he would copy them and speak the yaksha tongue. The yakshas liked him all the more, and brought a female to be his wife. At first Xu was too frightened to do anything. The female spread her legs for him herself, and so Xu lay with her. She was delighted. She always saved meat for him, and they were as fond of each other as any married couple.
一日，諸夜叉早起，項下各掛明珠一串，更番出門，若伺貴客狀。命徐多煮肉。徐以問雌，雌云：「此天壽節。」雌出，謂眾夜叉曰：「徐郎無骨突子。」眾各摘其五，並付雌。雌又自解十枚，共得五十之數，以野苧為繩，穿掛徐項。徐視之，一珠可直百十金。俄頃俱出。徐煮肉畢，雌來邀去，云：「接天王。」至一大洞，廣闊數畝。中有石，滑平如幾；四圍俱有石座；上一座蒙一豹革，餘皆以鹿。夜叉二三十輩，列坐滿中。少頃，大風揚塵，張皇都出。見一巨物來，亦類夜叉狀，竟奔入洞，踞坐鶚顧。群隨入，東西列立，悉仰其首，以雙臂作十字交。大夜叉按頭點視，問：「臥眉山眾，盡于此乎？」群哄應之。顧徐曰：「此何來？」雌以婿對。眾又贊其烹調。即有二三夜叉，奔取熟肉陳幾上。大夜叉掬啖盡飽，極贊嘉美，且責常供。又顧徐云：「骨突子何短？」眾曰：「初來未備。」物于項上摘取珠串，脫十枚付之，俱大如指頂，圓如彈丸。雌急接，代徐穿掛。徐亦交臂作夜叉語謝之。物乃去，躡風而行，其疾如飛。眾始享其餘食而散。
一日，诸夜叉早起，项下各挂明珠一串，更番出门，若伺贵客状。命徐多煮肉。徐以问雌，雌云：「此天寿节。」雌出，谓众夜叉曰：「徐郎无骨突子。」众各摘其五，并付雌。雌又自解十枚，共得五十之数，以野苎为绳，穿挂徐项。徐视之，一珠可直百十金。俄顷俱出。徐煮肉毕，雌来邀去，云：「接天王。」至一大洞，广阔数亩。中有石，滑平如几；四围俱有石座；上一座蒙一豹革，余皆以鹿。夜叉二三十辈，列坐满中。少顷，大风扬尘，张皇都出。见一巨物来，亦类夜叉状，竟奔入洞，踞坐鹗顾。群随入，东西列立，悉仰其首，以双臂作十字交。大夜叉按头点视，问：「卧眉山众，尽于此乎？」群哄应之。顾徐曰：「此何来？」雌以婿对。众又赞其烹调。即有二三夜叉，奔取熟肉陈几上。大夜叉掬啖尽饱，极赞嘉美，且责常供。又顾徐云：「骨突子何短？」众曰：「初来未备。」物于项上摘取珠串，脱十枚付之，俱大如指顶，圆如弹丸。雌急接，代徐穿挂。徐亦交臂作夜叉语谢之。物乃去，蹑风而行，其疾如飞。众始享其余食而散。
One day the yakshas all got up early, each with a string of bright pearls hung round the neck, and went out of the cave by turns, as if they were expecting some honoured guest. They told Xu to cook plenty of meat. Xu asked his mate about it. “It is the Heavenly Birthday,” she said. She went out and said to the other yakshas, “Xu has no gutuzi.” Each of them took five pearls off their strings and gave them to her. She undid ten more from her own, which made fifty in all, strung them on a cord of wild hemp and hung them round Xu’s neck. Xu looked at them: a single pearl might be worth a hundred in gold or more. In a moment they had all gone out. When Xu had finished cooking the meat, his mate came to fetch him. “We are going to welcome the Heavenly King,” she said. They came to a great cave several mu across. In the middle was a stone as smooth and flat as a table, and all round it were stone seats. The seat at the head was covered with a leopard skin, the rest with deer skins. Twenty or thirty yakshas sat in rows, filling the cave. Shortly a great wind sprang up and raised the dust, and they all rushed out in a flurry. A huge creature came, something like a yaksha itself. It ran straight into the cave, sat down squatting and glared about like a hawk. The crowd followed it in and stood in rows to east and west, all with their heads raised and their arms crossed over their chests. The great yaksha counted them, nodding at each head. “Is this all the folk of Mount Womei?” it asked. They all shouted that it was. It looked at Xu. “Where has this one come from?” Xu’s mate answered that he was her husband, and the others praised his cooking. At once two or three yakshas ran to fetch the cooked meat and set it on the stone table. The great yaksha scooped it up in handfuls and ate its fill, praising it highly, and ordered that it be supplied regularly. Then it looked at Xu again. “Why is his gutuzi so short?” “He is new here,” they said, “and hasn’t a full one yet.” The creature took the string from its own neck, pulled off ten pearls and gave them to him. They were all as big as fingertips and round as pellets. Xu’s mate took them quickly and strung them on his necklace for him. Xu too crossed his arms and thanked it in the yaksha tongue. Then the creature left, treading on the wind as it went, fast as flying. Only then did the others eat what it had left, and go their ways.
居四年餘，雌忽產，一胎而生二雄一雌，皆人形，不類其母。眾夜叉皆喜其子，輒共拊弄。一日，皆出攫食，惟徐獨坐。忽別洞來一雌，欲與徐私，徐不肯。夜叉怒，扑徐踣地上。徐妻自外至，暴怒相搏，齕斷其耳。少頃，其夫亦歸，解釋令去。自此雌每守徐，動息不相離。又三年，子女俱能行步。徐輒教以人言，漸能語，啁啾之中，有人氣焉。雖童也，而奔山如履坦途；依依有父子意。一日，雌與一子一女出，半日不歸。而北風大作。徐惻然念故鄉，攜子至海岸，見故舟猶存，謀與同歸。子欲告母，徐止之。父子登舟，一晝夜達交。至家，妻已醮。出珠二枚，售金盈兆，家頗豐。子取名彪。十四五歲，能舉百鈞，粗莽好鬥。交帥見奇之，以為千總。值邊亂，所向有功，十八為副將。
居四年余，雌忽产，一胎而生二雄一雌，皆人形，不类其母。众夜叉皆喜其子，辄共拊弄。一日，皆出攫食，惟徐独坐。忽别洞来一雌，欲与徐私，徐不肯。夜叉怒，扑徐踣地上。徐妻自外至，暴怒相搏，龁断其耳。少顷，其夫亦归，解释令去。自此雌每守徐，动息不相离。又三年，子女俱能行步。徐辄教以人言，渐能语，啁啾之中，有人气焉。虽童也，而奔山如履坦途；依依有父子意。一日，雌与一子一女出，半日不归。而北风大作。徐恻然念故乡，携子至海岸，见故舟犹存，谋与同归。子欲告母，徐止之。父子登舟，一昼夜达交。至家，妻已醮。出珠二枚，售金盈兆，家颇丰。子取名彪。十四五岁，能举百钧，粗莽好斗。交帅见奇之，以为千总。值边乱，所向有功，十八为副将。
After he had lived there more than four years, his mate gave birth. At one birth she bore two boys and a girl, all in human form and not like their mother. The yakshas all loved the children and would gather round to pet and play with them. One day they had all gone out hunting for food and Xu was sitting alone, when a female from another cave came and tried to have her way with him. Xu would not. The yaksha flew into a rage and knocked him to the ground. Just then Xu’s wife came back. In a fury she fell on the other and fought her, and bit off her ear. A little later the other female’s husband came home too, settled the quarrel and sent her away. From then on Xu’s mate always kept watch over him, and never left his side whether he moved or rested. Three more years went by, and the children could all walk. Xu taught them human speech, and gradually they learned to talk: in their twittering there was something human. Though they were only children, they ran over the mountains as if on level ground, and they clung to Xu with real affection, as children to a father. One day Xu’s mate went out with one of the sons and the daughter and did not come back for half a day. A strong north wind was blowing. A pang of longing for home came over Xu. He took the other son down to the shore and found his old boat still there, and made up his mind to go home with him. The boy wanted to tell his mother, but Xu stopped him. Father and son boarded the boat, and in a day and a night they reached Jiao. When Xu got home he found that his wife had married again. He sold two of the pearls for a fortune, and the family was well off. He named the boy Biao. At fourteen or fifteen Biao could lift a hundred jun; he was rough and reckless and loved a fight. The commander at Jiao saw him, thought him a marvel, and made him a company commander. When there was trouble on the frontier he won merit wherever he went, and at eighteen he was a deputy general.
時一商泛海，亦遭風飄至臥眉。方登岸，見一少年，視之而驚。知為中國人，便問居里。商以告。少年曳入幽谷一小石洞，洞外皆叢棘；且囑勿出。去移時，挾鹿肉來啖商。自言：「父亦交人。」商問之，而知為徐。商在客中嘗識之。因曰：「我故人也。今其子為副將。」少年不解何名。商曰：「此中國之官名。」又問：「何以為官？」曰：「出則輿馬，入則高堂；上一呼而下百諾；見者側目視，側足立；此名為官。」少年甚歆動。商曰：「既尊君在交，何久淹此？」少年以情告。商勸南旋。曰：「余亦常作是念。但母非中國人，言貌殊異；且同類覺之，必見殘害；用是輾轉。」乃出曰：「待北風起，我來送汝行。煩于父兄處，寄一耗問。」商伏洞中幾半年。時自棘中外窺，見山中輒有夜叉往還；大懼，不敢少動。一日，北風策策，少年忽至，引與急竄。囑曰：「所言勿忘卻。」商應之。又以肉置幾上，商乃歸。
时一商泛海，亦遭风飘至卧眉。方登岸，见一少年，视之而惊。知为中国人，便问居里。商以告。少年曳入幽谷一小石洞，洞外皆丛棘；且嘱勿出。去移时，挟鹿肉来啖商。自言：「父亦交人。」商问之，而知为徐。商在客中尝识之。因曰：「我故人也。今其子为副将。」少年不解何名。商曰：「此中国之官名。」又问：「何以为官？」曰：「出则舆马，入则高堂；上一呼而下百诺；见者侧目视，侧足立；此名为官。」少年甚歆动。商曰：「既尊君在交，何久淹此？」少年以情告。商劝南旋。曰：「余亦常作是念。但母非中国人，言貌殊异；且同类觉之，必见残害；用是辗转。」乃出曰：「待北风起，我来送汝行。烦于父兄处，寄一耗问。」商伏洞中几半年。时自棘中外窥，见山中辄有夜叉往还；大惧，不敢少动。一日，北风策策，少年忽至，引与急窜。嘱曰：「所言勿忘却。」商应之。又以肉置几上，商乃归。
At this time a merchant sailing the seas was also caught by a storm and blown to Mount Womei. He had just landed when he saw a young man, who started at the sight of him. Seeing that he was Chinese, the young man asked where he came from, and the merchant told him. The young man pulled him into a little stone cave in a hidden valley, ringed with thorny scrub, and told him not to come out. He went away for a while, then came back with deer meat for the merchant to eat. He said, “My father is a man of Jiao too.” From his answers the merchant learned it was Xu, whom he had once known on his travels. “He is an old friend of mine,” he said. “His son is a deputy general now.” The young man did not know what that meant. “It is the name of an official in China,” said the merchant. “And what makes an official?” “When he goes out it is by carriage and horse, and at home he sits in a lofty hall. One shout from above, and a hundred voices answer from below. Those who see him dare only look at him sidelong and step aside to let him by. That is what we call an official.” The young man was much taken with this. “Since your honoured father is in Jiao,” said the merchant, “why have you stayed here so long?” The young man told him how things stood, and the merchant urged him to go south. “I often think of it myself,” said the young man. “But my mother is not Chinese; her speech and looks are strange. And if her kind found out, they would surely kill us. That is why I keep going back and forth.” Then he went out, saying, “When the north wind rises, I will come and see you off. Please take word of us to my father and brother.” The merchant hid in the cave for nearly half a year. Now and then he peered out through the thorns and saw yakshas coming and going in the hills, and he was so frightened he dared not stir. One day, when the north wind was soughing, the young man suddenly appeared and hurried him away. “Don’t forget what I told you,” he said. The merchant promised. The young man also set some meat out for him, and the merchant sailed home.
徑抵交，達副總府，備述所見。彪聞而悲，欲往尋之。父慮海濤妖藪，險惡難犯，力阻之。彪撫膺痛哭，父不能止。乃告交帥，攜兩兵至海內。逆風阻舟，擺簸海中者半月。四望無涯，咫尺迷悶，無從辨其南北。忽而涌波接漢，乘舟傾覆。彪落海中，逐浪浮沉。久之，被一物曳去；至一處，竟有舍宇。彪視之，一物如夜叉狀。彪乃作夜叉語。夜叉驚訊之，彪乃告以所往。夜叉喜曰：「臥眉，我故里也。唐突可罪！君離故道已八千里。此去為毒龍國，向臥眉非路。」乃覓舟來送彪。夜叉在水中推行如矢，瞬息千里，過一宵，已達北岸。見一少年，臨流瞻望。彪知山無人類，疑是弟；近之，果弟。因執手哭，既而問母及妹，並云健安。彪欲偕往，弟止之，倉忙便去。回謝夜叉，則已去。未幾，母妹俱至，見彪俱哭。彪告其意。母曰：「恐去為人所凌。」彪曰：「兒在中國甚榮貴，人不敢欺。」歸計已決，苦逆風難渡。母子方徊徨間，忽見布帆南動，其聲瑟瑟。彪喜曰：「天助吾也！」相繼登舟，波如箭激；三日抵岸。見者皆奔。彪向三人脫分袍褲。抵家，母夜叉見翁怒罵，恨其不謀。徐謝過不遑。家人拜見主母，無不戰慄。彪勸母學華言，衣錦，厭梁肉，乃大欣慰。
径抵交，达副总府，备述所见。彪闻而悲，欲往寻之。父虑海涛妖薮，险恶难犯，力阻之。彪抚膺痛哭，父不能止。乃告交帅，携两兵至海内。逆风阻舟，摆簸海中者半月。四望无涯，咫尺迷闷，无从辨其南北。忽而涌波接汉，乘舟倾覆。彪落海中，逐浪浮沉。久之，被一物曳去；至一处，竟有舍宇。彪视之，一物如夜叉状。彪乃作夜叉语。夜叉惊讯之，彪乃告以所往。夜叉喜曰：「卧眉，我故里也。唐突可罪！君离故道已八千里。此去为毒龙国，向卧眉非路。」乃觅舟来送彪。夜叉在水中推行如矢，瞬息千里，过一宵，已达北岸。见一少年，临流瞻望。彪知山无人类，疑是弟；近之，果弟。因执手哭，既而问母及妹，并云健安。彪欲偕往，弟止之，仓忙便去。回谢夜叉，则已去。未几，母妹俱至，见彪俱哭。彪告其意。母曰：「恐去为人所凌。」彪曰：「儿在中国甚荣贵，人不敢欺。」归计已决，苦逆风难渡。母子方徊徨间，忽见布帆南动，其声瑟瑟。彪喜曰：「天助吾也！」相继登舟，波如箭激；三日抵岸。见者皆奔。彪向三人脱分袍裤。抵家，母夜叉见翁怒骂，恨其不谋。徐谢过不遑。家人拜见主母，无不战栗。彪劝母学华言，衣锦，厌梁肉，乃大欣慰。
The merchant went straight to Jiao, to the deputy general’s headquarters, and told all he had seen. Biao wept at the news and wanted to go and find them. His father, fearing the stormy seas and the lairs of monsters, too dangerous to brave, did all he could to stop him. Biao beat his breast and wept bitterly, and his father could not hold him back. So Biao told the commander at Jiao, took two soldiers and put out to sea. Contrary winds held the boat back, and for half a month they were tossed about on the sea. On every side there was no shore in sight; they could not see a foot ahead, and had no way to tell north from south. Suddenly a surging wave rose to the sky, and the boat capsized. Biao fell into the sea and drifted up and down with the waves. After a long time something dragged him off. He came to a place where, astonishingly, there were houses. Biao looked: it was a creature like a yaksha. So Biao spoke to it in the yaksha tongue. The yaksha was startled and asked him who he was, and Biao told it where he was going. The yaksha was delighted. “Mount Womei is my old home! Forgive my rudeness. You have strayed eight thousand li off your course. This way leads to the Land of Poison Dragons. It is not the road to Mount Womei.” Then it found a boat to take Biao there. The yaksha pushed it through the water, swift as an arrow, a thousand li in a twinkling, and after a single night they reached the northern shore. There Biao saw a young man standing at the water’s edge, gazing out. Knowing there were no human beings on that mountain, Biao thought it might be his brother. He went closer: it was. They clasped hands and wept. Then Biao asked after his mother and sister, and his brother said they were both well. Biao wanted to go to them, but his brother stopped him and hurried off. Biao turned to thank the yaksha, but it had already gone. Before long his mother and sister both came, and when they saw Biao they all wept. Biao told them what he meant to do. “I am afraid that if we go, people will bully us,” said his mother. “I am a man of rank and honour in China,” said Biao. “No one would dare to bully you.” Their minds were made up to go home, but the wind was against them and they could not cross. As mother and sons stood wavering, they suddenly saw the canvas sail stir toward the south, flapping and rustling. “Heaven is helping us!” cried Biao, overjoyed. One after another they boarded, and the boat shot over the waves like an arrow. In three days they reached the shore. Everyone who saw them ran. Biao took off his robe and trousers and shared them out among the three. When they reached home, the yaksha mother saw the old man and cursed him furiously for slipping away without a word to her. Xu could not apologize enough. The household came to pay their respects to their new mistress, and every one of them was trembling. Biao urged his mother to learn Chinese, dressed her in silks and fed her her fill of fine grain and meat, and she was very happy.
母女皆男兒裝，類滿制。數月稍辨語言，弟妹亦漸白皙。弟曰豹，妹曰夜兒，俱強有力。彪恥不知書，教弟讀。豹最慧，經史一過輒了。又不欲操儒業；仍使挽強弩，馳怒馬。登武進士第。聘阿游擊女。夜兒以異種，無與為婚。會標下袁守備失偶，強妻之。夜兒開百石弓，百餘步射小鳥，無虛落。袁每征，輒與妻俱。歷任同知將軍，奇勛半出於閨門。豹三十四歲掛印。母嘗從之南征，每臨巨敵，輒擐甲執銳，為子接應，見者莫不辟易。詔封男爵。豹代母疏辭，封夫人。
母女皆男儿装，类满制。数月稍辨语言，弟妹亦渐白皙。弟曰豹，妹曰夜儿，俱强有力。彪耻不知书，教弟读。豹最慧，经史一过辄了。又不欲操儒业；仍使挽强弩，驰怒马。登武进士第。聘阿游击女。夜儿以异种，无与为婚。会标下袁守备失偶，强妻之。夜儿开百石弓，百余步射小鸟，无虚落。袁每征，辄与妻俱。历任同知将军，奇勋半出于闺门。豹三十四岁挂印。母尝从之南征，每临巨敌，辄擐甲执锐，为子接应，见者莫不辟易。诏封男爵。豹代母疏辞，封夫人。
Mother and daughter both dressed as men, much in the Manchu style. In a few months they could make out a little of the language, and the younger brother and sister were growing fairer. The brother was called Bao and the sister Ye’er, and both were very strong. Biao was ashamed that he could not read, and had his brother taught. Bao was very quick: he grasped the classics and histories after going through them once. But he did not want to make his way as a scholar, so Biao set him to drawing strong crossbows and riding spirited horses. He passed the military examinations as a jinshi, and was engaged to the daughter of a major named A. Because Ye’er was of a strange breed, no one would marry her. Then Captain Yuan, one of Biao’s officers, lost his wife, and Biao made him take her. Ye’er could draw a hundred-stone bow and hit a small bird at more than a hundred paces without ever missing. Every time Yuan went on campaign, he took his wife with him. He rose in the end to assistant commander and general, and half his remarkable victories came from his wife’s quarters. At thirty-four Bao held a general’s seal. His mother once went with him on a campaign in the south. Whenever they met a strong enemy, she put on armour and took up a weapon to back up her son, and all who saw her fell back before her. An imperial decree made her a baron. Bao petitioned on his mother’s behalf to decline, and she was made a Lady instead.
異史氏曰：「夜叉夫人，亦所罕聞，然細思之而不罕也：家家床頭有個夜叉在。」
异史氏曰：「夜叉夫人，亦所罕闻，然细思之而不罕也：家家床头有个夜叉在。」
The Historian of the Strange says: A yaksha for a wife is something one rarely hears of. But think it over carefully, and it is not so rare: in every household there is a yaksha at the head of the bed.