汪士秀，廬州人。剛勇有力，能舉石舂。父子善蹴鞠。父四十餘，過錢塘沒焉。積八九年，汪以故詣湖南，夜泊洞庭。時望月東昇，澄江如練。方眺矚間，忽有五人自湖中出，攜大席，平鋪水面，略可半畝。紛陳酒饌，饌器磨觸作響，然聲溫厚，不類陶瓦。已而三人踐席坐，二人侍飲。坐者一衣黃，二衣白；頭上巾皆皂色，峨峨然下連肩背，制絕奇古，而月色微茫，不甚可晰。侍者俱褐衣；其一似童，其一似叟也。但聞黃衣人曰：「今夜月色大佳，足供快飲。」白衣者曰：「此夕風景，大似廣利王宴梨花島時。」三人互勸，引釂競浮白。但語略小，即不可聞。舟人隱伏，不敢動息。
汪士秀，庐州人。刚勇有力，能举石舂。父子善蹴鞠。父四十余，过钱塘没焉。积八九年，汪以故诣湖南，夜泊洞庭。时望月东升，澄江如练。方眺瞩间，忽有五人自湖中出，携大席，平铺水面，略可半亩。纷陈酒馔，馔器磨触作响，然声温厚，不类陶瓦。已而三人践席坐，二人侍饮。坐者一衣黄，二衣白；头上巾皆皂色，峨峨然下连肩背，制绝奇古，而月色微茫，不甚可晰。侍者俱褐衣；其一似童，其一似叟也。但闻黄衣人曰：「今夜月色大佳，足供快饮。」白衣者曰：「此夕风景，大似广利王宴梨花岛时。」三人互劝，引釂竞浮白。但语略小，即不可闻。舟人隐伏，不敢动息。
Wang Shixiu was a man of Luzhou. He was bold and very strong, and could lift a stone mortar. He and his father were both good at kickball. When his father was in his forties, he drowned crossing the Qiantang River. Eight or nine years passed. Then some business took Wang to Hunan, and one night his boat moored on Lake Dongting. The full moon was rising in the east, and the clear water lay smooth as white silk. As he gazed out over it, five figures suddenly came up out of the lake carrying a great mat, which they spread flat on the water. It covered about half a mu. They set out wine and food in profusion. The dishes clinked as they touched, but the sound was warm and mellow, not like pottery. Then three of them stepped onto the mat and sat down, while the other two waited on them. Of the three seated, one wore yellow and two wore white. On their heads were black kerchiefs that rose up tall and hung down to the shoulders and back, of a most strange and ancient cut; but the moonlight was hazy, and they could not be made out clearly. Both attendants wore brown: one looked like a boy, the other like an old man. Wang heard the one in yellow say, “The moon is very fine tonight. It calls for some hearty drinking.” One of those in white said, “This evening is very like the night the Prince of Guangli feasted on Pear Blossom Isle.” The three pressed wine on one another, tossing off their cups and vying to drain them. But whenever they lowered their voices a little, nothing could be heard. The boatmen lay hidden, not daring to move or breathe.
汪細審侍者，叟酷類父；而聽其言，又非父聲。二漏將殘，忽一人曰：「趁此明月，宜一擊毬為樂。」即見僮汲水中，取一圓出，大可盈抱，中如水銀滿貯，表裏通明。坐者盡起。黃衣人呼叟共蹴之。蹴起丈余，光搖搖射人眼。俄而𥔀然遠起，飛墮舟中。汪技癢，極力踏去，覺異常輕軟，踏猛似破，騰尋丈；中有漏光，下射如虹，蚩然疾落；又如經天之彗，直投水中，滾滾作沸泡聲而滅。席中共怒曰：「何物生人，敗我清興！」叟笑曰：「不惡不惡，此吾家流星拐也。」白衣人嗔其語戲，怒曰：「都方厭惱，老奴何得作歡？便同小烏皮捉得狂子來；不然，脛股當有椎吃也！」汪計無所逃，即亦不畏，捉刀立舟中。
汪细审侍者，叟酷类父；而听其言，又非父声。二漏将残，忽一人曰：「趁此明月，宜一击毬为乐。」即见僮汲水中，取一圆出，大可盈抱，中如水银满贮，表里通明。坐者尽起。黄衣人呼叟共蹴之。蹴起丈余，光摇摇射人眼。俄而𥔀然远起，飞堕舟中。汪技痒，极力踏去，觉异常轻软，踏猛似破，腾寻丈；中有漏光，下射如虹，蚩然疾落；又如经天之彗，直投水中，滚滚作沸泡声而灭。席中共怒曰：「何物生人，败我清兴！」叟笑曰：「不恶不恶，此吾家流星拐也。」白衣人嗔其语戏，怒曰：「都方厌恼，老奴何得作欢？便同小乌皮捉得狂子来；不然，胫股当有椎吃也！」汪计无所逃，即亦不畏，捉刀立舟中。
Wang studied the attendants closely. The old man looked exactly like his father, yet when he spoke, it was not his father’s voice. The second watch was nearly over when one of them said, “With the moon so bright, we ought to have a game of ball.” At once the boy reached into the water and drew out a ball as big as a man could get his arms around. It seemed to be filled with quicksilver and was clear right through. Those who were seated all rose, and the one in yellow called the old man to kick with them. Kicked ten feet and more into the air, it flickered and dazzled the eye. Then all at once it flew off with a thud, far into the distance, and dropped into Wang’s boat. Wang itched to show his skill. He kicked it with all his might. It felt strangely light and soft, and he kicked so hard it seemed to burst. It shot up eight or ten feet; light leaked from inside it and streamed down like a rainbow. Then with a hiss it plunged, like a comet crossing the sky, straight into the water, and went out with a seething, bubbling sound. Those on the mat cried out in anger, “What mortal is this, spoiling our fun?” The old man laughed. “Not bad, not bad! That is our family’s shooting-star kick.” One of those in white, annoyed at his joking, said angrily, “We are all put out, and you, old slave, make merry? Go with Little Blackskin (Xiao Wupi) and bring that madman here. If not, your legs will get a taste of the mallet!” Wang reckoned there was no escaping, so he was not afraid either. He took up a knife and stood in the boat.