尚生，太山人。獨居清齋。會值秋夜，銀河高耿，明月在天，徘徊花陰，頗存遐想。忽一女子逾垣來，笑曰：「秀才何思之深？」生就視，容華若仙。驚喜擁入，窮極狎昵。自言：「胡氏，名三姐。」問其居第，但笑不言。生亦不復置問，惟相期永好而已。自此，臨無虛夕。
尚生，太山人。独居清斋。会值秋夜，银河高耿，明月在天，徘徊花阴，颇存遐想。忽一女子逾垣来，笑曰：「秀才何思之深？」生就视，容华若仙。惊喜拥入，穷极狎昵。自言：「胡氏，名三姐。」问其居第，但笑不言。生亦不复置问，惟相期永好而已。自此，临无虚夕。
A scholar named Shang, of Mount Tai, lived alone in a quiet study. One autumn night, with the Milky Way shining high and a bright moon in the sky, he was pacing in the shadows of the flowers, his thoughts far away. Suddenly a girl came over the wall. “What are you thinking about so deeply, licentiate?” she said, laughing. Shang went up to look at her: she was as lovely as an immortal. Amazed and delighted, he took her in his arms and led her inside, and there was no intimacy they did not share. She told him, “My family name is Hu, and I am called Sanjie.” When he asked where she lived, she only laughed and said nothing. He did not ask again; they simply promised to love each other always. From then on, not a night passed without her coming.
一夜，與生促膝燈幕，生愛之，矚盼不轉。女笑曰：「眈眈視妾何為？」曰：「我視卿如紅藥碧桃，即竟夜視，不為厭也。」三姐曰：「妾陋質，遂蒙青盼如此；若見吾家四妹，不知如何顛倒。」生益傾動，恨不一見顏色，長跽哀請。逾夕，果偕四姐來，年方及笄，荷粉露垂，杏花煙潤，嫣然含笑，媚麗欲絕。生狂喜，引坐。三姐與生同笑語，四姐惟手引繡帶，俯首而已。未幾，三姐起別，妹欲從行，生曳之不釋，顧三姐曰：「卿卿煩一致聲。」三姐乃笑曰：「狂郎情急矣！妹子一為少留。」四姐無語，姊遂去。二人備盡歡好，既而引臂替枕，傾吐生平，無復隱諱。四姐自言為狐。生依戀其美，亦不之怪。四姐因言：「阿姊狠毒，業殺三人矣。惑之，罔不斃者。妾幸承溺愛，不忍見滅亡，當早絕之。」生懼，求所以處。四姐曰：「妾雖狐，得仙人正法，當書一符粘寢門，可以卻之。」遂書之。既曉，三姐來，見符卻退，曰：「婢子負心，傾意新郎，不憶引線人矣。汝兩人合有夙分，余亦不相仇，但何必爾？」乃徑去。
一夜，与生促膝灯幕，生爱之，瞩盼不转。女笑曰：「眈眈视妾何为？」曰：「我视卿如红药碧桃，即竟夜视，不为厌也。」三姐曰：「妾陋质，遂蒙青盼如此；若见吾家四妹，不知如何颠倒。」生益倾动，恨不一见颜色，长跽哀请。逾夕，果偕四姐来，年方及笄，荷粉露垂，杏花烟润，嫣然含笑，媚丽欲绝。生狂喜，引坐。三姐与生同笑语，四姐惟手引绣带，俯首而已。未几，三姐起别，妹欲从行，生曳之不释，顾三姐曰：「卿卿烦一致声。」三姐乃笑曰：「狂郎情急矣！妹子一为少留。」四姐无语，姊遂去。二人备尽欢好，既而引臂替枕，倾吐生平，无复隐讳。四姐自言为狐。生依恋其美，亦不之怪。四姐因言：「阿姊狠毒，业杀三人矣。惑之，罔不毙者。妾幸承溺爱，不忍见灭亡，当早绝之。」生惧，求所以处。四姐曰：「妾虽狐，得仙人正法，当书一符粘寝门，可以却之。」遂书之。既晓，三姐来，见符却退，曰：「婢子负心，倾意新郎，不忆引线人矣。汝两人合有夙分，余亦不相仇，但何必尔？」乃径去。
One night she sat knee to knee with him by the lamp, behind the bed curtains. Shang loved her so much that he could not take his eyes off her. She laughed. “Why do you stare at me so?” “To me you are like a red peony or a jade-peach blossom,” he said. “I could look at you all night and never tire of it.” “I am plain,” said Sanjie, “and still you favour me like this. If you saw our fourth sister, who knows how you would lose your head.” Shang was more stirred than ever. Longing for one sight of her face, he went down on his knees and begged. The next evening Sanjie did indeed bring Sijie. She was just fifteen, like a pink lotus hung with dew, like apricot blossom moist in the mist; she smiled sweetly, lovely beyond words. Shang was wild with joy and drew her to a seat. Sanjie laughed and chatted with him, but Sijie only toyed with her embroidered sash and kept her head down. Before long Sanjie rose to leave, and her sister made to go with her. Shang caught hold of her and would not let go. “Do put in a word for me, my dear,” he said to Sanjie. Sanjie laughed. “The madman can’t wait! Little sister, stay a while for his sake.” Sijie said nothing, and her sister left. The two of them took every pleasure together. Afterwards, with his arm for her pillow, she told him all about herself, keeping nothing back. She told him she was a fox. Shang was too taken with her beauty to hold it against her. Then Sijie said, “My sister is vicious. She has already killed three men. Whoever she bewitches dies. You love me so dearly that I can’t bear to see you destroyed. You must break with her soon.” Shang was afraid and asked what he should do. “Though I am a fox,” said Sijie, “I have learned the true arts of the immortals. I will write a charm to paste on your bedroom door. It will keep her away.” And she wrote it. When it was light, Sanjie came, saw the charm and drew back. “The faithless little wretch!” she said. “Her heart is all for her new man, and she has forgotten who made the match. You two were meant for each other from a former life, and I bear you no grudge. But why go this far?” And she went straight off.
數日，四姐他適，約以隔夜。是日，生偶出門眺望，山下故有槲林，蒼莽中，出一少婦，亦頗風韻。近謂生曰：「秀才何必日沾沾戀胡家姊妹？渠又不能以一錢相贈。」即以一貫授生，曰：「先持歸，貫良醞，我即攜小餚饌來，與君為歡。」生懷錢歸，果如所教。少間，婦果至，置幾上燔雞﹑咸彘肩各一，即抽刀子縷切為臠；釃酒調謔，歡洽異常。繼而滅燭登床，狎情蕩甚。既曙始起。方坐床頭，捉足易舄，忽聞人聲；傾聽，已入幃幕，則胡姊妹也。婦乍睹，倉惶而遁，遺舄于床。二女遂叱曰：「騷狐！何敢與人同寢處！」追去，移時始反。四姐怨生曰：「君不長進，與騷狐相匹偶，不可復近！」遂悻悻欲去。生惶恐自投，情詞哀懇。三姊從旁解免。四姐怒稍釋，由此相好如初。
数日，四姐他适，约以隔夜。是日，生偶出门眺望，山下故有槲林，苍莽中，出一少妇，亦颇风韵。近谓生曰：「秀才何必日沾沾恋胡家姊妹？渠又不能以一钱相赠。」即以一贯授生，曰：「先持归，贯良酝，我即携小肴馔来，与君为欢。」生怀钱归，果如所教。少间，妇果至，置几上燔鸡﹑咸彘肩各一，即抽刀子缕切为脔；酾酒调谑，欢洽异常。继而灭烛登床，狎情荡甚。既曙始起。方坐床头，捉足易舄，忽闻人声；倾听，已入帏幕，则胡姊妹也。妇乍睹，仓惶而遁，遗舄于床。二女遂叱曰：「骚狐！何敢与人同寝处！」追去，移时始反。四姐怨生曰：「君不长进，与骚狐相匹偶，不可复近！」遂悻悻欲去。生惶恐自投，情词哀恳。三姊从旁解免。四姐怒稍释，由此相好如初。
A few days later Sijie went away somewhere, promising to come back the night after next. That day Shang happened to step out of his gate to look around. At the foot of the hill there had long been an oak wood, and out of its dark tangle came a young woman, quite charming herself. She came up to him and said, “Why must the licentiate dote day after day on the Hu sisters? They can’t give you a single cash.” And she handed him a string of cash. “Take this home first and buy some good wine,” she said. “I’ll bring a few dishes and we’ll have a merry time.” Shang put the money inside his robe, went home, and did as she told him. Soon she came, as she had said, and set on the table a roast chicken and a salted shoulder of pork. She drew a knife and sliced them thin. She poured the wine and teased him, and they got on wonderfully well. Then they put out the candle and went to bed, and their play was wanton in the extreme. Only at daybreak did they get up. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her foot to put on her shoe, when they heard voices. As they listened, the speakers were already inside the bed curtains: it was the Hu sisters. The moment the woman saw them she fled in a panic, leaving a shoe on the bed. “Rank fox!” the two girls shouted. “How dare you share a bed with a human!” They chased after her and only came back after a while. Sijie scolded Shang. “You are hopeless, pairing off with a rank fox! I can never come near you again!” And she made to leave in a huff. Shang threw himself at her feet in terror and pleaded with her piteously. Sanjie spoke up for him. Sijie’s anger eased a little, and from then on they were as loving as before.
一日，有陝人騎驢造門曰：「吾尋妖物，匪伊朝夕，乃今始得之。」生父以其言異，訊所由來。曰：「小人日泛煙波，游四方，終歲十餘月，常八九離桑梓，被妖物蠱殺吾弟。歸甚悼恨，誓必尋而殄滅之。奔波數千里，殊無跡兆。今在君家，不剪，當有繼吾弟而亡者。」時生與女密邇，父母微察之，聞客言，大懼，延入，令作法。出二瓶，列地上，符咒良久。有黑霧四團，分投瓶中。客喜曰：「全家都到矣。」遂以豬脬裹瓶口，緘封甚固。生父亦喜，堅留客飲。生心惻然，近瓶竊視，聞四姐在瓶中言曰：「坐視不救，君何負心？」生益感動。急啟所封，而結不可解。四姐又曰：「勿須爾，但放倒壇上旗，以針刺脬作空，予即出矣。」生如其言。果見白氣一絲，自孔中出，凌霄而去。客出，見旗橫地，大驚曰：「遁矣！此必公子所為。」搖瓶俯聽，曰：「幸止亡其一。此物合不死，猶可赦。」乃攜瓶別去。
一日，有陕人骑驴造门曰：「吾寻妖物，匪伊朝夕，乃今始得之。」生父以其言异，讯所由来。曰：「小人日泛烟波，游四方，终岁十余月，常八九离桑梓，被妖物蛊杀吾弟。归甚悼恨，誓必寻而殄灭之。奔波数千里，殊无迹兆。今在君家，不剪，当有继吾弟而亡者。」时生与女密迩，父母微察之，闻客言，大惧，延入，令作法。出二瓶，列地上，符咒良久。有黑雾四团，分投瓶中。客喜曰：「全家都到矣。」遂以猪脬裹瓶口，缄封甚固。生父亦喜，坚留客饮。生心恻然，近瓶窃视，闻四姐在瓶中言曰：「坐视不救，君何负心？」生益感动。急启所封，而结不可解。四姐又曰：「勿须尔，但放倒坛上旗，以针刺脬作空，予即出矣。」生如其言。果见白气一丝，自孔中出，凌霄而去。客出，见旗横地，大惊曰：「遁矣！此必公子所为。」摇瓶俯听，曰：「幸止亡其一。此物合不死，犹可赦。」乃携瓶别去。
One day a man from Shaanxi rode up to the gate on a donkey. “I have been hunting an evil thing,” he said, “not for a day or two but for a long time, and only now have I found it.” Shang’s father thought this strange and asked what had brought him. “I spend my days drifting on misty waters, roaming in all directions,” he said. “Of the ten-odd months in a year, eight or nine I’m away from home. An evil thing bewitched my younger brother to death. When I came home I grieved and raged, and swore to hunt it down and destroy it. I have travelled thousands of li and found no trace of it. Now it is in your house. If it isn’t rooted out, someone will die after my brother.” By then Shang and the girl were very close, and his parents had begun to suspect something. Hearing what the stranger said, they were terrified. They invited him in and had him work his magic. He brought out two bottles and set them on the ground, and spent a long time on charms and spells. Four clouds of black mist appeared and went into the bottles. “The whole family is here!” cried the stranger, delighted. He tied pig’s bladder over the mouths of the bottles and sealed them very tight. Shang’s father was delighted too and pressed the stranger to stay for a drink. Shang was sick at heart. He crept up to the bottles to peep, and heard Sijie speaking inside. “You sit and watch and won’t save me? How can you be so heartless?” Shang was more moved than ever. He hurried to undo the seal, but the knot would not come loose. “No need for that,” said Sijie. “Just knock over the flag on the altar and prick a hole in the bladder with a needle, and I’ll get out.” Shang did as she said. Sure enough, a thread of white vapour came out of the hole and rose away into the sky. The stranger came out and, seeing the flag lying on the ground, cried out in alarm. “Escaped! The young master must have done this.” He shook the bottles and bent his ear to them. “Lucky that only one got away,” he said. “That one was not fated to die. It can be spared.” And he took his bottles and left.
後生在野，督佣刈麥，遙見四姐坐樹下。生近就之，執手慰問。且曰：「別後十易春秋，今大丹已成。但思君之念未忘，故復一拜問。」生欲與偕歸，女曰：「妾今非昔比，不可以塵情染，後當復見耳。」言已，不知所在。又二十年余，生適獨居，見四姐自外至。生喜與語。女曰：「我今名列仙籍，本不應再履塵世。但感君情，敬報撤瑟之期。可早處分後事；亦勿悲懮，妾當度君為鬼仙，亦無苦也。」乃別而去。至日，生果卒。尚生乃友人李文玉之戚好，嘗親見之。
后生在野，督佣刈麦，遥见四姐坐树下。生近就之，执手慰问。且曰：「别后十易春秋，今大丹已成。但思君之念未忘，故复一拜问。」生欲与偕归，女曰：「妾今非昔比，不可以尘情染，后当复见耳。」言已，不知所在。又二十年余，生适独居，见四姐自外至。生喜与语。女曰：「我今名列仙籍，本不应再履尘世。但感君情，敬报撤瑟之期。可早处分后事；亦勿悲懮，妾当度君为鬼仙，亦无苦也。」乃别而去。至日，生果卒。尚生乃友人李文玉之戚好，尝亲见之。
Later Shang was out in the fields overseeing the hired men at the wheat harvest when he saw Sijie in the distance, sitting under a tree. He went over to her, took her hand and asked how she had been. “Ten springs and autumns have passed since we parted,” she said, “and now I have completed the Great Elixir. But I have not forgotten my longing for you, so I have come to pay my respects once more.” Shang wanted her to come home with him. “I am not what I was,” she said. “I must not be stained by worldly passion. We will meet again later.” With that, she was gone, and he could not tell where. More than twenty years after that, Shang happened to be alone when he saw Sijie come in from outside. He was overjoyed and talked with her. “My name is now on the register of the immortals,” she said. “I ought never to set foot in the dusty world again. But I am moved by your love, and I have come to tell you, with respect, the day your zither will be put away. Settle your affairs in good time. And do not grieve: I will bring you across to become a ghost immortal, and there will be no suffering in it.” Then she took her leave. On that day, just as she had said, Shang died. He was a relative and close friend of my friend Li Wenyu, who had seen him in person.