楚某翁，賈於外。婦獨居，夢與人交；醒而捫之，小丈夫也。察其情，與人異，知為狐。未幾，下床去，門未開而已逝矣。入暮，邀庖媼伴焉。有子十歲，素別榻臥，亦招與俱。夜既深，媼兒皆寐，狐復來。婦喃喃如夢語。媼覺，呼之，狐遂去。自是，身忽忽若有亡。至夜，不敢息燭，戒子睡勿熟。夜闌，兒及媼倚壁少寐。既醒，失婦，意其出遺；久待不至，始疑。媼懼，不敢往覓。兒執火遍燭之，至他室，則母裸臥其中；近扶之，亦不羞縮。自是遂狂，歌哭叫詈，日萬狀。夜厭與人居，別榻寢兒，媼亦遣去。兒每聞母笑語，輒起火之。母反怒訶兒，兒亦不為意，因共壯兒膽。然嬉戲無節，日效杇者，以磚石疊窗上，止之不聽。或去其一石，則滾地作嬌啼，人無敢氣觸之。過數日，兩窗盡塞，無少明。已乃合泥涂壁孔，終日營營，不憚其勞。涂已，無所作，遂把廚刀霍霍磨之。見者皆憎其頑，不以人齒。
楚某翁，贾于外。妇独居，梦与人交；醒而扪之，小丈夫也。察其情，与人异，知为狐。未几，下床去，门未开而已逝矣。入暮，邀庖媪伴焉。有子十岁，素别榻卧，亦招与俱。夜既深，媪儿皆寐，狐复来。妇喃喃如梦语。媪觉，呼之，狐遂去。自是，身忽忽若有亡。至夜，不敢息烛，戒子睡勿熟。夜阑，儿及媪倚壁少寐。既醒，失妇，意其出遗；久待不至，始疑。媪惧，不敢往觅。儿执火遍烛之，至他室，则母裸卧其中；近扶之，亦不羞缩。自是遂狂，歌哭叫詈，日万状。夜厌与人居，别榻寝儿，媪亦遣去。儿每闻母笑语，辄起火之。母反怒诃儿，儿亦不为意，因共壮儿胆。然嬉戏无节，日效杇者，以砖石叠窗上，止之不听。或去其一石，则滚地作娇啼，人无敢气触之。过数日，两窗尽塞，无少明。已乃合泥涂壁孔，终日营营，不惮其劳。涂已，无所作，遂把厨刀霍霍磨之。见者皆憎其顽，不以人齿。
A man of Chu was away from home on business. His wife lived alone. One night she dreamed she was lying with someone; when she woke and felt about her, there was a little man. From the feel of him he was not like a human, and she knew him for a fox. Before long he got down from the bed and left; the door never opened, yet he was gone. When evening came she asked the old woman who did the cooking to keep her company. She had a son of ten who usually slept in a bed of his own, and she called him in too. Late in the night, when the old woman and the boy were both asleep, the fox came again. The wife murmured as if talking in her sleep. The old woman woke and called out to her, and the fox left. From then on she went about in a daze, as if she had lost something. At night she dared not put out the candle, and she warned her son not to sleep too soundly. In the small hours the boy and the old woman dozed off leaning against the wall. When they woke, the wife was gone. They thought she had gone out to relieve herself, but when they had waited a long time and she did not come back, they began to suspect. The old woman was frightened and dared not go looking. The boy took a light and searched everywhere. In another room he found his mother lying naked. He went to help her up, and she showed no shame and did not shrink from him. From then on she was mad: singing, weeping, shrieking, cursing, a thousand ways a day. At night she would not have anyone near her. She put the boy in a bed of his own and sent the old woman away too. Whenever the boy heard his mother laughing and talking, he got up and brought a light. His mother would turn on him in a rage, but he paid no attention, and so everyone thought him a brave boy. But there was no limit to his games. Every day he played at being a plasterer, piling bricks and stones up in the windows, and when he was told to stop, he would not listen. If anyone took away a single stone, he rolled on the ground and howled like a spoiled child, and no one dared cross him. In a few days both windows were blocked up and not a chink of light came in. Then he mixed mud and plastered over the holes in the walls, busy all day long and never minding the work. When the plastering was done and he had nothing else to do, he took the kitchen knife and whetted it, rasp, rasp. Everyone who saw him hated his wildness and would have nothing to do with him.
兒宵分隱刀于懷，以瓢覆燈。伺母囈語，急啟燈，杜門聲喊。久之無異，乃離門揚言，詐作欲搜狀。歘有一物，如狸，突奔門隙。急擊之，僅斷其尾，約二寸許，濕血猶滴。初，挑燈起，母便詬罵，兒若弗聞。擊之不中，懊恨而寢。自念雖不即戮，可以幸其不來。及明，視血跡逾垣而去。跡之，入何氏園中。至夜果絕，兒竊喜。但母痴臥如死。未幾，賈人歸，就榻問訊。婦謾罵，視若仇。兒以狀對。翁驚，延醫藥之。婦瀉藥詬罵。潛以藥入湯水雜飲之，數日漸安。父子俱喜。一夜睡醒，失婦所在；父子又覓得于別室。由是復顛，不欲與夫同室處。向夕，竟奔他室，挽之，罵益甚。翁無策，盡扃他扉。婦奔去，則門自闢。翁患之，驅禳備至，殊無少驗。
儿宵分隐刀于怀，以瓢覆灯。伺母呓语，急启灯，杜门声喊。久之无异，乃离门扬言，诈作欲搜状。歘有一物，如狸，突奔门隙。急击之，仅断其尾，约二寸许，湿血犹滴。初，挑灯起，母便诟骂，儿若弗闻。击之不中，懊恨而寝。自念虽不即戮，可以幸其不来。及明，视血迹逾垣而去。迹之，入何氏园中。至夜果绝，儿窃喜。但母痴卧如死。未几，贾人归，就榻问讯。妇谩骂，视若仇。儿以状对。翁惊，延医药之。妇泻药诟骂。潜以药入汤水杂饮之，数日渐安。父子俱喜。一夜睡醒，失妇所在；父子又觅得于别室。由是复颠，不欲与夫同室处。向夕，竟奔他室，挽之，骂益甚。翁无策，尽扃他扉。妇奔去，则门自辟。翁患之，驱禳备至，殊无少验。
At midnight the boy hid the knife in his clothes and covered the lamp with a gourd ladle. He waited until his mother began talking in her sleep, then quickly uncovered the lamp, blocked the door, and shouted. For a long while nothing happened. Then he moved away from the door, loudly making as if he meant to search the room. All at once something like a wildcat shot out toward the gap in the door. He struck at it quickly, but only cut off its tail, about two inches long, still dripping wet blood. When he had first lit up the lamp, his mother had started cursing him, but he acted as if he did not hear. Now that his blow had missed, he went to bed sore and vexed. He thought: though I didn’t kill it outright, maybe it won’t come back. At daybreak he saw that the trail of blood went over the wall. He followed it into the garden of the He family. That night, sure enough, it did not come, and the boy was secretly glad. But his mother lay stupefied, as if dead. Before long the merchant came home and went to her bedside to ask how she was. She railed at him and looked at him as if he were her enemy. The boy told him all that had happened. Shocked, the father called in a doctor to treat her. She poured the medicine away and cursed. So they secretly mixed it into her soup and water, and in a few days she grew calmer. Father and son were both glad. Then one night they woke and she was gone; again father and son found her in another room. From then on she was mad again and would not stay in the same room as her husband. Toward evening she would run off to another room, and if they tried to pull her back she cursed all the worse. At his wits’ end, the father locked every other door. But when she ran to them, the doors opened of themselves. He was in despair. He tried every kind of exorcism and charm, without the least effect.
兒薄暮潛入何氏園，伏莽中，將以探狐所在。月初昇，乍聞人語。暗撥蓬科，見二人來飲，一長鬣奴捧壺，衣老棕色。語俱細隱，不甚可辨。移時，聞一人曰：「明日可取白酒一瓶來。」頃之，俱去，惟長鬣獨留，脫衣臥庭石上。審顧之，四肢皆如人，但尾垂後部。兒欲歸，恐狐覺，遂終夜伏。未明，又聞二人以次復來，噥噥入竹叢中。兒乃歸。翁問所往，答：「宿阿伯家。」適從父入市，見帽肆掛狐尾，乞翁市之。翁不顧。兒牽父衣，嬌聒之。翁不忍過拂，市焉。父貿易廛中，兒戲弄其側，乘父他顧，盜錢去，沽白酒，寄肆廊。有舅氏城居，素業獵。兒奔其家。舅他出。妗詰母疾，答云：「連朝稍可，又以耗子嚙衣，怒涕不解，故遣我乞獵藥耳。」妗撿櫝，出錢許，裹付兒。兒少之。妗欲作湯餅啖兒。兒覷室無人，自發藥裹，竊盈掬而懷之。乃趨告妗，俾勿舉火，「父待市中，不遑食也」。遂徑出，隱以藥置酒中。遨游市上，抵暮方歸。父問所在，托在舅家。兒自是日游廛肆間。
儿薄暮潜入何氏园，伏莽中，将以探狐所在。月初升，乍闻人语。暗拨蓬科，见二人来饮，一长鬣奴捧壶，衣老棕色。语俱细隐，不甚可辨。移时，闻一人曰：「明日可取白酒一瓶来。」顷之，俱去，惟长鬣独留，脱衣卧庭石上。审顾之，四肢皆如人，但尾垂后部。儿欲归，恐狐觉，遂终夜伏。未明，又闻二人以次复来，哝哝入竹丛中。儿乃归。翁问所往，答：「宿阿伯家。」适从父入市，见帽肆挂狐尾，乞翁市之。翁不顾。儿牵父衣，娇聒之。翁不忍过拂，市焉。父贸易廛中，儿戏弄其侧，乘父他顾，盗钱去，沽白酒，寄肆廊。有舅氏城居，素业猎。儿奔其家。舅他出。妗诘母疾，答云：「连朝稍可，又以耗子啮衣，怒涕不解，故遣我乞猎药耳。」妗捡椟，出钱许，裹付儿。儿少之。妗欲作汤饼啖儿。儿觑室无人，自发药裹，窃盈掬而怀之。乃趋告妗，俾勿举火，「父待市中，不遑食也」。遂径出，隐以药置酒中。遨游市上，抵暮方归。父问所在，托在舅家。儿自是日游廛肆间。
At dusk the boy slipped into the He family’s garden and lay hidden in the undergrowth, meaning to find where the foxes were. As the moon was rising, he suddenly heard voices. Quietly parting the weeds, he saw two men come there to drink, with a long-bearded servant holding the wine pot, dressed in dark brown. They spoke low and close, and he could not make out much. After a while he heard one of them say, “Tomorrow, bring a jar of spirits.” Soon both of them left. Only the long-beard stayed behind. He took off his clothes and lay down on a stone in the courtyard. The boy looked him over carefully: his limbs were all like a man’s, but a tail hung down behind. The boy wanted to go home but was afraid the fox would notice, so he lay hidden all night. Before dawn he heard the two men come back one after the other and go muttering into the bamboo thicket. Then the boy went home. His father asked where he had been. “I stayed at Uncle’s,” he said. Later, going to market with his father, he saw a fox tail hanging in a hat shop and begged his father to buy it. His father ignored him. The boy tugged at his clothes and whined and pestered until his father could not bear to refuse him any longer, and bought it. While his father did business at his stall, the boy played beside him. When his father looked away, he stole some money, bought spirits, and left the jar under the arcade of a shop. His mother’s brother lived in the city and was a hunter by trade. The boy ran to his house. His uncle was out. His aunt asked after his mother’s illness. “She’s been a little better these few days,” he said, “but rats have been gnawing her clothes, and she’s so angry she can’t stop crying. So she sent me to ask for some of the hunting poison.” His aunt looked in a box, took out about a qian of it, wrapped it up and gave it to him. The boy thought it was too little. His aunt went off to make him noodles. Seeing no one in the room, the boy opened the packet himself, stole a full handful and tucked it into his clothes. Then he hurried to tell his aunt not to light the fire: “Father’s waiting for me in the market. There’s no time to eat.” He went straight out and secretly put the poison into the spirits. He wandered about the market and did not come home until dark. When his father asked where he had been, he said he had been at his uncle’s. From then on the boy roamed the shops and stalls every day.
一日，見長鬣人亦雜儔中。兒審之確，陰綴系之。漸與語，詰其居里。答言：「北村。」亦詢兒，兒偽云：「山洞。」長鬣怪其洞居。兒笑曰：「我世居洞府，君固否耶？」其人益驚，便詰姓氏。兒曰：「我胡氏之子。曾在何處，見君從兩郎，顧忘之耶？」其人熟審之，若信若疑。兒微啟下裳，少少露其假尾，曰：「我輩混跡人中，但此物猶存，為可恨耳。」其人問：「在市欲何作？」兒曰：「父遣我沽。」其人亦以沽告。兒問：「沽未？」曰：「吾儕多貧，故常竊時多。」兒曰：「此役亦良苦，耽驚懮。」其人曰：「受主人遣，不得不爾。」因問：「主人伊誰？」曰：「即曩所見兩郎兄弟也。一私北郭王氏婦，一宿東村某翁家。翁家兒大惡，被斷尾，十日始瘥，今復往矣。」言已，欲別，曰：「勿誤我事。」兒曰：「竊之難，不若沽之易。我先沽寄廊下，敬以相贈。我囊中尚有餘錢，不愁沽也。」其人愧無以報。兒曰：「我本同類，何靳些須？暇時，尚當與君痛飲耳。」遂與俱去，取酒授之，乃歸。
一日，见长鬣人亦杂俦中。儿审之确，阴缀系之。渐与语，诘其居里。答言：「北村。」亦询儿，儿伪云：「山洞。」长鬣怪其洞居。儿笑曰：「我世居洞府，君固否耶？」其人益惊，便诘姓氏。儿曰：「我胡氏之子。曾在何处，见君从两郎，顾忘之耶？」其人熟审之，若信若疑。儿微启下裳，少少露其假尾，曰：「我辈混迹人中，但此物犹存，为可恨耳。」其人问：「在市欲何作？」儿曰：「父遣我沽。」其人亦以沽告。儿问：「沽未？」曰：「吾侪多贫，故常窃时多。」儿曰：「此役亦良苦，耽惊懮。」其人曰：「受主人遣，不得不尔。」因问：「主人伊谁？」曰：「即曩所见两郎兄弟也。一私北郭王氏妇，一宿东村某翁家。翁家儿大恶，被断尾，十日始瘥，今复往矣。」言已，欲别，曰：「勿误我事。」儿曰：「窃之难，不若沽之易。我先沽寄廊下，敬以相赠。我囊中尚有余钱，不愁沽也。」其人愧无以报。儿曰：「我本同类，何靳些须？暇时，尚当与君痛饮耳。」遂与俱去，取酒授之，乃归。
One day he saw the long-bearded man among the crowd. When he was sure of him, he followed him in secret. By and by he fell into talk with him and asked where he lived. “North Village,” the man said. He asked the boy in turn, and the boy lied: “A mountain cave.” The long-beard was surprised that he lived in a cave. The boy laughed. “My family has lived in a cave for generations. Doesn’t yours?” The man was more startled still and asked his name. “I’m a son of the Hu family,” said the boy. “I’ve seen you somewhere, following two young gentlemen. Have you forgotten?” The man looked him over closely, half believing, half doubting. The boy lifted the hem of his robe a little and let a bit of his false tail show. “Our kind can pass among people,” he said, “but this thing is still with us. It’s a nuisance.” The man asked, “What are you doing in the market?” “My father sent me to buy liquor.” The man said he had come for liquor too. “Have you bought it yet?” asked the boy. “Our kind are mostly poor. Most of the time we steal it.” “That’s a hard job,” said the boy. “Always afraid of being caught.” “My masters send me. I have no choice.” “Who are your masters?” “The two young gentlemen you saw before. They’re brothers. One is carrying on with the wife of a man named Wang outside the north wall. The other spends his nights at an old man’s house in East Village. The old man’s boy is a vicious one. He cut off the young master’s tail, and it took ten days to heal. Now he’s gone back there again.” With that he made to leave. “Don’t make me late for my errand.” “Stealing is hard,” said the boy. “Buying is easier. I bought some earlier and left it under a shop arcade. Let me make you a present of it. I’ve still got money in my purse; I can buy more.” The man was embarrassed that he had nothing to give in return. “We’re the same kind,” said the boy. “Why grudge a trifle? Some day when we’re free, you and I will have a real drink together.” So they went off together. The boy fetched the liquor and handed it over, then went home.
至夜，母竟安寢，不復奔。心知有異，告父同往驗之，則兩狐斃于亭上，一狐死于草中，喙津津尚有血出。酒瓶猶在，持而搖之，未盡也。父驚問：「何不早告？」曰：「此物最靈，一泄，則彼知之。」翁喜曰：「我兒，討狐之陳平也。」於是父子荷狐歸。見一狐禿尾，刀痕儼然。自是遂安。而婦瘠殊甚，心漸明瞭，但益之嗽，嘔痰輒數升，尋愈。北郭王氏婦，向祟于狐；至是問之，則狐絕而病亦愈。翁由此奇兒，教之騎射。後貴至總戎。
至夜，母竟安寝，不复奔。心知有异，告父同往验之，则两狐毙于亭上，一狐死于草中，喙津津尚有血出。酒瓶犹在，持而摇之，未尽也。父惊问：「何不早告？」曰：「此物最灵，一泄，则彼知之。」翁喜曰：「我儿，讨狐之陈平也。」于是父子荷狐归。见一狐秃尾，刀痕俨然。自是遂安。而妇瘠殊甚，心渐明了，但益之嗽，呕痰辄数升，寻愈。北郭王氏妇，向祟于狐；至是问之，则狐绝而病亦愈。翁由此奇儿，教之骑射。后贵至总戎。
That night his mother slept peacefully and did not run off. The boy knew something had happened. He told his father, and they went together to look. Two foxes lay dead in the pavilion, and one lay dead in the grass, blood still oozing from its muzzle. The jar was still there. He picked it up and shook it: it was not empty. His father asked in astonishment, “Why didn’t you tell me before?” “These creatures are uncanny. If a word got out, they’d know.” The father was delighted. “My boy, you’re a Chen Ping among fox hunters!” So father and son carried the foxes home on their shoulders. One fox had a stump of a tail, the knife cut plain to see. After that the house was at peace. The wife was dreadfully thin. Her mind slowly cleared, but she took a cough and brought up phlegm by the pint; soon she was well. Wang’s wife outside the north wall had long been haunted by a fox. When they asked after her now, the fox had stopped coming and she was well again. From then on the father thought his son remarkable and had him taught to ride and shoot. In time the boy rose to be a regional commander.