第一百二十七篇第一百二十七篇Story One Hundred and Twenty-Seven

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余德

余德

Story One Hundred and Twenty-Seven · Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

Yu De

A line drawing in the manner of a late-Qing lithographed edition: in the inner room of a wealthy house, a laughing stout gentleman raises his sleeve, where a butterfly has landed, while a young scholar in a fur-trimmed gown holds out a big wine cup across a small feast table, and a boy beside a drum raises his drumstick, with a vase of blossoms, butterflies, peacock feathers and a lion censer behind them.

武昌尹圖南有別第,嘗為一秀才稅居,半年來亦未嘗過問。一日遇諸其門,年最少,而容儀裘馬,翩翩甚都。趨與語,卻又蘊藉可愛。異之,歸語妻,妻遣婢托遺問以窺其室。室有麗姝,美艷逾于仙人。一切花石服玩,俱非耳目所經。尹不測其何人,詣門投謁,適值他出。翼日卻來拜答,展其刺呼,始知余姓德名。語次細審官閥,言殊隱約,固詰之,則曰:「欲相還往,僕不敢自絕。應知非寇竊通逃者,何須必知來歷。」尹謝之。命酒款宴,言笑甚歡。向暮,有昆侖捉馬挑燈,迎導以去。

武昌尹图南有别第,尝为一秀才税居,半年来亦未尝过问。一日遇诸其门,年最少,而容仪裘马,翩翩甚都。趋与语,却又蕴藉可爱。异之,归语妻,妻遣婢托遗问以窥其室。室有丽姝,美艳逾于仙人。一切花石服玩,俱非耳目所经。尹不测其何人,诣门投谒,适值他出。翼日却来拜答,展其刺呼,始知余姓德名。语次细审官阀,言殊隐约,固诘之,则曰:「欲相还往,仆不敢自绝。应知非寇窃通逃者,何须必知来历。」尹谢之。命酒款宴,言笑甚欢。向暮,有昆仑捉马挑灯,迎导以去。

Yin Tunan of Wuchang owned a second house, which he had once let to a licentiate. For half a year he never asked about his tenant. One day he met him at the gate. He was very young, and in looks and bearing, in furs and horse, he was dashing and handsome. Yin went up to speak with him and found him gentle and refined, very likeable. Yin wondered at him, and when he got home he told his wife. She sent a maid with a gift on some pretext, to get a look inside his rooms. In the rooms was a lovely woman, more beautiful than an immortal. All the flowers and rocks, the clothes and curios, were things no one had ever seen or heard of. Yin could not guess who the young man was. He went to the gate and left his card, but the tenant happened to be out. The next day the tenant came to return the call. Yin unfolded his card and read the name: only then did he learn that his surname was Yu and his given name De. As they talked, Yin asked carefully about his rank and family. Yu’s answers were very vague. When Yin pressed him, he said, “If you wish us to visit one another, I would not dare refuse. You may be sure I am no bandit, thief or fugitive. Why must you know where I come from?” Yin apologized. He ordered wine and feasted him, and they talked and laughed very happily. Toward evening a Kunlun slave came with a horse and a lantern and led Yu away.

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