柴廷賓，太平人。妻金氏，不育，又奇妒。柴百金買妾，金暴遇之，經歲而死。柴忿出，獨宿數月，不踐閨闥。
柴廷宾，太平人。妻金氏，不育，又奇妒。柴百金买妾，金暴遇之，经岁而死。柴忿出，独宿数月，不践闺闼。
Chai Tingbin was a man of Taiping. His wife, Mrs. Jin, bore him no children and was fiercely jealous besides. Chai paid a hundred taels for a concubine; Mrs. Jin treated her so brutally that within a year she was dead. Chai moved out in anger and slept alone for several months, never setting foot in his wife’s rooms.
一日，柴初度，金卑詞莊禮，為丈夫壽。柴不忍拒，始通言笑。金設筵內寢，招柴。柴辭以醉。金華妝自詣柴所，曰：「妾竭誠終日，君即醉，請一琖而別。」柴乃入，酌酒話言。妻從容曰：「前日誤殺婢子，今甚悔之。何便仇忌，遂無結發情耶？後請納金釵十二，妾不汝瑕疵也。」柴益喜，燭盡見跋，遂止宿焉。由此敬愛如初。金便呼媒媼來，囑為物色佳媵；而陰使遷延勿報，己則故督促之。如是年餘。柴不能待，遍囑戚好為之購致，得林氏之養女。金一見，喜形於色，飲食共之，脂澤花釧，任其所取。然林固燕產，不習女紅，繡履之外，須人而成。金曰：「我家素勤儉，非似王侯家，買作畫圖看者。」於是授美錦，使學製，若嚴師誨弟子。初猶呵罵，繼而鞭楚。柴痛切於心，不能為地。而金之憐愛林，尤倍於昔，往往自為汝束，勻鉛黃焉。但履跟稍有摺痕，則以鐵杖擊雙彎；髮少亂，則批兩頰：林不堪其虐，自經死。柴悲慘心目，頗致怨懟。妻怒曰：「我代汝教娘子，有何罪過？」柴始悟其奸，因復反目，永絕琴瑟之好。陰於別業修房闥，思購麗人而別居之。荏苒半載，未得其人。偶會友人之葬，見二八女郎，光豔溢目，停睇神馳。女怪其狂顧，秋波斜轉之。詢諸人，知為邵氏。邵貧士，止此女，少聰慧，教之讀，過目能了。尤喜讀內經及冰鑑書。父愛溺之，有議婚者，輒令自擇，而貧富皆少所可，故十七歲猶未字也。柴得其端末，知不可圖，然心低徊之。又翼其家貧，或可利動。謀之數媼，無敢媒者，遂亦灰心，無所復望。忽有賈媼者，以貨珠過柴。柴告所願，賂以重金，曰：「止求一通誠意，其成與否，所勿責也。萬一可圖，千金不惜。」媼利其有，諾之。登門，故與邵妻絮語。睹女，驚贊曰：「好個美姑姑！假到昭陽院，趙家姊妹何足數得！」又問：「婿家阿誰？」邵妻答：「尚未。」媼言：「若個娘子，何愁無王侯作貴客也！」邵妻嘆曰：「王侯家所不敢望；只要個讀書種子，便是佳耳。我家小孽冤，翻復遴選，十無一當，不解是何意向？」媼曰：「夫人勿須煩怨。恁個麗人，不知前身修何福澤，才能消受得！昨一大笑事：柴家郎君云：於某家塋邊，望見顏色，願以千金為聘。此非餓鴟作天鵝想耶？早被老身呵斥去矣！」邵妻微笑不答。媼曰：「便是秀才家，難與較計；若在別個，失尺而得丈，宜若可為矣。」邵妻復笑不言。媼撫掌曰：「果爾，則為老身計亦左矣。日蒙夫人愛，登堂便促膝賜漿酒；若得千金，出車馬，入樓閣，老身再到門，則閽者呵叱及之矣。」邵妻沉吟良久，起而去，與夫語；移時，喚其女；又移時，三人並出。邵妻笑曰：「婢子奇特，多少良匹悉不就，聞為賤媵則就之。但恐為儒林笑也！」媼曰：「倘入門，得一小哥子，大夫人便如何耶！」言已，告以別居之謀。邵益喜，喚女曰：「試同賈姥言之。此汝自主張，勿後悔，致懟父母。」女腆然曰：「父母安享厚奉，則養有濟矣。況自顧命薄，若得嘉耦，必減壽數，少受折磨，未必非福。前見柴郎亦福相，子孫必有興者。」媼大喜，奔告。柴喜出非望，即置千金，備輿馬，娶女於別業，家人無敢言者。女謂柴曰：「君之計，所謂燕巢於幕，不謀朝夕者也。塞口防舌，以冀不漏，何可得乎？請不如早歸，猶速發而禍小。」柴慮摧殘。女曰：「天下無不可化之人。我苟無過，怒何由起？」柴曰：「不然。此非常之悍，不可情理動者。」女曰：「身為賤婢，摧折亦自分耳。不然，買日為活，何可長也？」柴以為是，終躊躕而不敢決。
一日，柴初度，金卑词庄礼，为丈夫寿。柴不忍拒，始通言笑。金设筵内寝，招柴。柴辞以醉。金华妆自诣柴所，曰：「妾竭诚终日，君即醉，请一琖而别。」柴乃入，酌酒话言。妻从容曰：「前日误杀婢子，今甚悔之。何便仇忌，遂无结发情耶？后请纳金钗十二，妾不汝瑕疵也。」柴益喜，烛尽见跋，遂止宿焉。由此敬爱如初。金便呼媒媪来，嘱为物色佳媵；而阴使迁延勿报，己则故督促之。如是年余。柴不能待，遍嘱戚好为之购致，得林氏之养女。金一见，喜形于色，饮食共之，脂泽花钏，任其所取。然林固燕产，不习女红，绣履之外，须人而成。金曰：「我家素勤俭，非似王侯家，买作画图看者。」于是授美锦，使学制，若严师诲弟子。初犹呵骂，继而鞭楚。柴痛切于心，不能为地。而金之怜爱林，尤倍于昔，往往自为汝束，匀铅黄焉。但履跟稍有折痕，则以铁杖击双弯；发少乱，则批两颊：林不堪其虐，自经死。柴悲惨心目，颇致怨怼。妻怒曰：「我代汝教娘子，有何罪过？」柴始悟其奸，因复反目，永绝琴瑟之好。阴于别业修房闼，思购丽人而别居之。荏苒半载，未得其人。偶会友人之葬，见二八女郎，光艳溢目，停睇神驰。女怪其狂顾，秋波斜转之。询诸人，知为邵氏。邵贫士，止此女，少聪慧，教之读，过目能了。尤喜读内经及冰鉴书。父爱溺之，有议婚者，辄令自择，而贫富皆少所可，故十七岁犹未字也。柴得其端末，知不可图，然心低徊之。又翼其家贫，或可利动。谋之数媪，无敢媒者，遂亦灰心，无所复望。忽有贾媪者，以货珠过柴。柴告所愿，赂以重金，曰：「止求一通诚意，其成与否，所勿责也。万一可图，千金不惜。」媪利其有，诺之。登门，故与邵妻絮语。睹女，惊赞曰：「好个美姑姑！假到昭阳院，赵家姊妹何足数得！」又问：「婿家阿谁？」邵妻答：「尚未。」媪言：「若个娘子，何愁无王侯作贵客也！」邵妻叹曰：「王侯家所不敢望；只要个读书种子，便是佳耳。我家小孽冤，翻复遴选，十无一当，不解是何意向？」媪曰：「夫人勿须烦怨。恁个丽人，不知前身修何福泽，才能消受得！昨一大笑事：柴家郎君云：于某家茔边，望见颜色，愿以千金为聘。此非饿鸱作天鹅想耶？早被老身呵斥去矣！」邵妻微笑不答。媪曰：「便是秀才家，难与较计；若在别个，失尺而得丈，宜若可为矣。」邵妻复笑不言。媪抚掌曰：「果尔，则为老身计亦左矣。日蒙夫人爱，登堂便促膝赐浆酒；若得千金，出车马，入楼阁，老身再到门，则阍者呵叱及之矣。」邵妻沉吟良久，起而去，与夫语；移时，唤其女；又移时，三人并出。邵妻笑曰：「婢子奇特，多少良匹悉不就，闻为贱媵则就之。但恐为儒林笑也！」媪曰：「倘入门，得一小哥子，大夫人便如何耶！」言已，告以别居之谋。邵益喜，唤女曰：「试同贾姥言之。此汝自主张，勿后悔，致怼父母。」女腆然曰：「父母安享厚奉，则养有济矣。况自顾命薄，若得嘉耦，必减寿数，少受折磨，未必非福。前见柴郎亦福相，子孙必有兴者。」媪大喜，奔告。柴喜出非望，即置千金，备舆马，娶女于别业，家人无敢言者。女谓柴曰：「君之计，所谓燕巢于幕，不谋朝夕者也。塞口防舌，以冀不漏，何可得乎？请不如早归，犹速发而祸小。」柴虑摧残。女曰：「天下无不可化之人。我苟无过，怒何由起？」柴曰：「不然。此非常之悍，不可情理动者。」女曰：「身为贱婢，摧折亦自分耳。不然，买日为活，何可长也？」柴以为是，终踌蹰而不敢决。
One day, on Chai’s birthday, Mrs. Jin came with humble words and proper ceremony to wish her husband long life. Chai could not bring himself to turn her away, and they began to talk and laugh again. She laid a feast in her bedroom and invited him. Chai excused himself as drunk. Mrs. Jin dressed in her finest and came to his rooms herself. “I have worked at this all day with my whole heart,” she said. “Even if you are drunk, take one cup with me before we part.” So Chai went in, and they drank and talked. Calmly his wife said, “The other day I killed that girl by mistake, and now I bitterly regret it. But why bear such a grudge that you forget the love between us since we were first married? From now on, take twelve concubines in golden hairpins if you like; I will find no fault with you.” Chai was more pleased still. The candles burned down to their stubs, and he stayed the night. From then on they were as loving and respectful as at the start.
一日，柴他往。女青衣而出，命蒼頭控老牝馬，一嫗攜襆從之，竟詣嫡所，伏地而陳。妻始而怒；既念其自首可原，又見容飾兼卑，氣亦稍平。乃命婢子出錦衣衣之。曰：「彼薄倖人播惡於眾，使我橫被口語。其實皆男子不義，諸婢無行，有以激之。汝試念背妻而立家室，此豈復是人矣？」女曰：「細察渠似稍悔之，但不肯下氣耳。諺云：「大者不伏小。』以禮論：妻之於夫，猶子之於父，庶之於嫡也。夫人若肯假以詞色，則積怨可以盡捐。」妻云：「彼自不來，我何與焉？」即命婢媼為之除舍。心雖不樂，亦暫安之。柴聞女歸，驚惕不已，竊意羊入虎群，狼藉已不堪矣。疾奔而至，見家中寂然，心始穩貼。女迎門而勸，令詣嫡所。柴有難色。女泣下，柴意少納。女往見妻曰：「郎適歸，自慚無以見夫人，乞夫人往一姍笑之也。」妻不肯行。女曰：「妾已言：夫之於妻，猶嫡之於庶。孟光舉案，而人不以為諂，何哉？分在則然耳。」妻乃從之，見柴曰：「汝狡兔三窟，何歸為？」柴俛不對。女肘之，柴始強顏笑。妻色稍霽，將返。女推柴從之，又囑庖人備酌。自是夫妻復和。女早起青衣往朝；盥已，授帨，執婢禮甚恭。柴入其室，苦辭之，十餘夕始肯一納。妻亦心賢之；然自愧弗如，積慚成忌。但女奉侍謹，無可蹈瑕；或薄施訶譴，女惟順受。
一日，柴他往。女青衣而出，命苍头控老牝马，一妪携襆从之，竟诣嫡所，伏地而陈。妻始而怒；既念其自首可原，又见容饰兼卑，气亦稍平。乃命婢子出锦衣衣之。曰：「彼薄幸人播恶于众，使我横被口语。其实皆男子不义，诸婢无行，有以激之。汝试念背妻而立家室，此岂复是人矣？」女曰：「细察渠似稍悔之，但不肯下气耳。谚云：「大者不伏小。』以礼论：妻之于夫，犹子之于父，庶之于嫡也。夫人若肯假以词色，则积怨可以尽捐。」妻云：「彼自不来，我何与焉？」即命婢媪为之除舍。心虽不乐，亦暂安之。柴闻女归，惊惕不已，窃意羊入虎群，狼藉已不堪矣。疾奔而至，见家中寂然，心始稳贴。女迎门而劝，令诣嫡所。柴有难色。女泣下，柴意少纳。女往见妻曰：「郎适归，自惭无以见夫人，乞夫人往一姗笑之也。」妻不肯行。女曰：「妾已言：夫之于妻，犹嫡之于庶。孟光举案，而人不以为谄，何哉？分在则然耳。」妻乃从之，见柴曰：「汝狡兔三窟，何归为？」柴俛不对。女肘之，柴始强颜笑。妻色稍霁，将返。女推柴从之，又嘱庖人备酌。自是夫妻复和。女早起青衣往朝；盥已，授帨，执婢礼甚恭。柴入其室，苦辞之，十余夕始肯一纳。妻亦心贤之；然自愧弗如，积惭成忌。但女奉侍谨，无可蹈瑕；或薄施诃谴，女惟顺受。
One day Chai was away. Miss Shao came out in a maid’s plain blue, had an old manservant lead an old mare, and with an old woman carrying her bundle behind, went straight to the first wife’s house, threw herself on the ground and told her everything. At first the wife was furious; but then she thought that coming forward of her own accord deserved some pardon, and seeing how humble the girl’s looks and dress were, her temper cooled a little. She had a maid bring out brocade clothes and dressed her in them. “That faithless man spreads my bad name to everyone,” she said, “so that I am slandered for nothing. In truth it is all the men’s wickedness and those maids’ bad conduct that provoked me. Just think: a man who turns his back on his wife and sets up another household — is that any kind of man?” “Looking closely,” said Miss Shao, “I think he regrets it a little, only he won’t humble himself. As the saying goes, ‘The great won’t bow to the small.’ By the rites, a wife is to her husband as a son is to his father, and as a concubine is to the first wife. If you would show him a kind word and a kind look, madam, all the old resentment could be put away.” “He won’t come himself,” said the wife. “What has it to do with me?” But she had the maids and old women clear rooms for her. Though not happy about it, she let it be for the time being.