顧生，金陵人。博于材藝，而家綦貧。又以母老，不忍離膝下，惟日為人書畫，受贄以自給。行年二十有五，伉儷猶虛。對戶舊有空第，一老嫗及少女稅居其中。以其家無男子，故未問其誰何。一日，偶自外入，見女郎自母房中出，年約十八九，秀曼都雅，世罕其匹，見生甚避，而意凜如也。生入問母。母曰：「是對戶女郎，就吾乞刀尺。適言其家亦止一母。此女不似貧家產。問其何為不字，則以母老為辭。明日當往拜其母，便風以意；倘所望不奢，兒可代養其母。」明日造其室，其母一聾媼耳。視其室，並無隔宿糧。問所業，則仰女十指。徐以同食之謀試之，媼意似納，而轉商其女；女默然，意殊不樂。母乃歸。詳其狀而疑之曰：「女子得非嫌吾貧乎？為人不言亦不笑，艷如桃李，而冷如霜雪，奇人也！」母子猜嘆而罷。
顾生，金陵人。博于材艺，而家綦贫。又以母老，不忍离膝下，惟日为人书画，受贽以自给。行年二十有五，伉俪犹虚。对户旧有空第，一老妪及少女税居其中。以其家无男子，故未问其谁何。一日，偶自外入，见女郎自母房中出，年约十八九，秀曼都雅，世罕其匹，见生甚避，而意凛如也。生入问母。母曰：「是对户女郎，就吾乞刀尺。适言其家亦止一母。此女不似贫家产。问其何为不字，则以母老为辞。明日当往拜其母，便风以意；倘所望不奢，儿可代养其母。」明日造其室，其母一聋媪耳。视其室，并无隔宿粮。问所业，则仰女十指。徐以同食之谋试之，媪意似纳，而转商其女；女默然，意殊不乐。母乃归。详其状而疑之曰：「女子得非嫌吾贫乎？为人不言亦不笑，艳如桃李，而冷如霜雪，奇人也！」母子猜叹而罢。
Gu was a scholar of Jinling. He was gifted in many arts, but his family was very poor. And because his mother was old, he could not bear to leave her side; he simply painted pictures and wrote out calligraphy for people day after day and lived on the fees. He had reached twenty-five and still had no wife. Across the street there had long been an empty house, and an old woman and a young girl rented it. Since there was no man in their household, he had never asked who they were. One day, coming in from outside, he happened to see a young woman come out of his mother’s room. She was about eighteen or nineteen, graceful, lovely and refined, with few to match her in the world. When she saw Gu she kept well out of his way, and there was something cold and stern about her. Gu went in and asked his mother. “It is the girl from across the street,” she said. “She came to borrow my scissors and ruler. She told me that she too has only her mother at home. That girl does not look as if she was born to a poor family. I asked her why she is not yet promised to anyone, and she said her mother is old. Tomorrow I will go and call on her mother and drop a hint of what I have in mind. If they do not hope for too much, you could look after her mother for her.” The next day she went to their house. The mother was only a deaf old woman. Looking round the room, she saw that there was not even grain enough for the next day. She asked what they lived on: everything depended on the girl’s ten fingers. Little by little she sounded the old woman out on the idea of the two households eating together. The old woman seemed to take to it, and turned to talk it over with her daughter. The girl said nothing, but she was plainly not pleased. So Gu’s mother went home. She went over the girl’s manner and puzzled over it. “Could the girl think we are too poor?” she said. “She neither speaks nor smiles. Lovely as peach and plum blossom, and cold as frost and snow. A strange one!” Mother and son wondered and sighed, and left it there.
一日，生坐齋頭，有少年來求畫。姿容甚美，意頗儇佻。詰所自，以「鄰村」對。嗣後三兩日輒一至，稍稍稔熟，漸以嘲謔；生狎抱之，亦不甚拒，遂私焉。由此往來昵甚。會女郎過，少年目送之，問為誰。對以「鄰女」。少年曰：「艷麗如此，神情何可畏？」少間，生入內。母曰：「適女子來乞米，云不舉火者經日矣。此女至孝，貧極可憫，宜少周恤之。」生從母言，負斗米款門，達母意。女受之，亦不申謝。日嘗至生家，見母作衣履，便代縫紉；出入堂中，操作如婦。生益德之。每獲饋餌，必分給其母，女亦略不置齒頰。母適疽生隱處，宵旦號咷。女時就榻省視，為之洗創敷藥，日三四作。母意甚不自安，而女不厭其穢。母曰：「唉！安得新婦如兒，而奉老身以死也！」言訖，悲哽。女慰之曰：「郎子大孝，勝我寡母孤女什百矣。」母曰：「床頭蹀躞之役，豈孝子所能為者？且身已向暮，旦夕犯霧露，深以祧續為懮耳。」言間，生入。母泣曰：「虧娘子良多，汝無忘報德。」生伏拜之。女曰：「君敬我母，我勿謝也，君何謝焉？」於是益敬愛之。然其舉止生硬，毫不可干。
一日，生坐斋头，有少年来求画。姿容甚美，意颇儇佻。诘所自，以「邻村」对。嗣后三两日辄一至，稍稍稔熟，渐以嘲谑；生狎抱之，亦不甚拒，遂私焉。由此往来昵甚。会女郎过，少年目送之，问为谁。对以「邻女」。少年曰：「艳丽如此，神情何可畏？」少间，生入内。母曰：「适女子来乞米，云不举火者经日矣。此女至孝，贫极可悯，宜少周恤之。」生从母言，负斗米款门，达母意。女受之，亦不申谢。日尝至生家，见母作衣履，便代缝纫；出入堂中，操作如妇。生益德之。每获馈饵，必分给其母，女亦略不置齿颊。母适疽生隐处，宵旦号咷。女时就榻省视，为之洗创敷药，日三四作。母意甚不自安，而女不厌其秽。母曰：「唉！安得新妇如儿，而奉老身以死也！」言讫，悲哽。女慰之曰：「郎子大孝，胜我寡母孤女什百矣。」母曰：「床头蹀躞之役，岂孝子所能为者？且身已向暮，旦夕犯雾露，深以祧续为懮耳。」言间，生入。母泣曰：「亏娘子良多，汝无忘报德。」生伏拜之。女曰：「君敬我母，我勿谢也，君何谢焉？」于是益敬爱之。然其举止生硬，毫不可干。
One day, as Gu sat in his study, a young man came asking for a painting. He was very handsome, but rather frivolous and forward in his manner. Asked where he was from, he answered, “The next village.” After that he came every two or three days. They grew a little more familiar, and gradually he began to tease and banter. Gu took him in his arms, and he did not much resist, and so they became lovers in secret. From then on they were very close. Once the girl happened to pass by. The young man followed her with his eyes and asked who she was. “The girl next door,” said Gu. “So lovely,” said the young man, “and yet how frightening she looks!” A little later Gu went into the house. “The girl was just here begging for rice,” his mother said. “She says they have not lit their stove for a whole day. She is a most devoted daughter, and so poor it is pitiful. We ought to help her a little.” Gu did as his mother said. He carried a peck of rice over, knocked at their door and told them it was from his mother. The girl took it, but did not thank him. She often came to Gu’s house, and when she saw his mother making clothes and shoes, she did the sewing for her. She came and went about the hall and did the housework like a daughter-in-law. Gu was more and more grateful to her. Whenever he was given cakes or sweets, he always shared them with her mother, and the girl never said a word about it. Gu’s mother happened to get an abscess in her private parts, and she cried out with the pain night and day. The girl often came to her bedside to see her, washed the sore and put medicine on it, three or four times a day. The old woman felt very uneasy about it, but the girl did not mind the filth. “Ah!” said Gu’s mother. “If only I had a daughter-in-law like you to look after me till I die!” And she choked with sobs as she said it. The girl comforted her. “Your son is a very good son,” she said. “He does a hundred times more than a lone girl like me can do for her widowed mother.” “Running about at the bedside is not work a son can do,” said the old woman. “And I am near my end. Any day the cold and damp may carry me off. What I truly worry about is that the family line will die out.” As she spoke, Gu came in. His mother wept. “We owe this girl a great deal,” she said. “Don’t forget to repay her kindness.” Gu bowed down to the ground to her. “You are good to my mother,” said the girl, “and I have not thanked you. Why should you thank me?” After that Gu respected and loved her more than ever. But she was stiff and cold in her ways, and he could not make the slightest advance.
一日女出門，生目注之，女忽回首，嫣然而笑。生喜出意外，趨而從諸其家，挑之亦不拒，欣然交歡。已，戒生曰：「事可一而不可再。」生不應而歸。明日又約之，女厲色不顧而去。日頻來，時相遇，並不假以詞色。少遊戲之，則冷語冰人。忽於空處問生：「日來少年誰也？」生告之。女曰：「彼舉止態狀，無禮於妾頻矣。以君之狎暱，故置之。請更寄語：再復爾，是不欲生也已！」生至夕，以告少年，且曰：「子必慎之，是不可犯！」少年曰：「既不可犯，君何私犯之？」生白其無。曰：「如其無。則猥褻之語，何以達君聽哉？」生不能答。少年曰：「亦煩寄告：假惺惺勿作態；不然，我將遍播揚。」生甚怒之，情見於色，少年乃去。一夕方獨坐，女忽至，笑曰：「我與君情緣未斷，寧非天數。」生狂喜而抱於懷，欻聞履聲籍籍，兩人驚起，則少年推扉入矣。生驚問：「子胡為者？」笑曰：「我來觀貞潔人耳。」顧女曰：「今日不怪人耶？」女眉豎頰紅，默不一語，急翻上衣，露一革囊，應手而出，而尺許晶瑩匕首也。少年見之，駭而卻走。追出戶外，四顧渺然。女以匕首望空拋擲，戛然有聲，燦若長虹，俄一物墮地作響。生急燭之，則一白狐身首異處矣。大駭。女曰：「此君之孌童也。我固恕之，奈渠定不欲生何！」收刃入囊。生曳令入，曰：「適妖物敗意，請俟來宵。」出門徑去。次夕女果至，遂共綢繆。詰其術，女曰：「此非君所知。宜須慎秘，洩恐不為君福」又訂以嫁娶，曰：「枕席焉，提汲焉，非婦伊何也？業夫婦矣，何必復言嫁娶乎？」生曰：「將勿憎吾貧耶？」曰：「君固貧，妾富耶？今宵之聚，正以憐君貧耳。」臨別囑曰：「苟且之行，不可以屢。當來我自來，不當來相強無益。」後相值，每欲引與私語，女輒走避。然衣綻炊薪，悉為紀理，不啻婦也。
一日女出门，生目注之，女忽回首，嫣然而笑。生喜出意外，趋而从诸其家，挑之亦不拒，欣然交欢。已，戒生曰：「事可一而不可再。」生不应而归。明日又约之，女厉色不顾而去。日频来，时相遇，并不假以词色。少游戏之，则冷语冰人。忽于空处问生：「日来少年谁也？」生告之。女曰：「彼举止态状，无礼于妾频矣。以君之狎暱，故置之。请更寄语：再复尔，是不欲生也已！」生至夕，以告少年，且曰：「子必慎之，是不可犯！」少年曰：「既不可犯，君何私犯之？」生白其无。曰：「如其无。则猥亵之语，何以达君听哉？」生不能答。少年曰：「亦烦寄告：假惺惺勿作态；不然，我将遍播扬。」生甚怒之，情见于色，少年乃去。一夕方独坐，女忽至，笑曰：「我与君情缘未断，宁非天数。」生狂喜而抱于怀，欻闻履声籍籍，两人惊起，则少年推扉入矣。生惊问：「子胡为者？」笑曰：「我来观贞洁人耳。」顾女曰：「今日不怪人耶？」女眉竖颊红，默不一语，急翻上衣，露一革囊，应手而出，而尺许晶莹匕首也。少年见之，骇而却走。追出户外，四顾渺然。女以匕首望空抛掷，戛然有声，灿若长虹，俄一物堕地作响。生急烛之，则一白狐身首异处矣。大骇。女曰：「此君之娈童也。我固恕之，奈渠定不欲生何！」收刃入囊。生曳令入，曰：「适妖物败意，请俟来宵。」出门径去。次夕女果至，遂共绸缪。诘其术，女曰：「此非君所知。宜须慎秘，泄恐不为君福」又订以嫁娶，曰：「枕席焉，提汲焉，非妇伊何也？业夫妇矣，何必复言嫁娶乎？」生曰：「将勿憎吾贫耶？」曰：「君固贫，妾富耶？今宵之聚，正以怜君贫耳。」临别嘱曰：「苟且之行，不可以屡。当来我自来，不当来相强无益。」后相值，每欲引与私语，女辄走避。然衣绽炊薪，悉为纪理，不啻妇也。
One day as the girl went out, Gu’s eyes followed her. Suddenly she turned her head and gave him a sweet smile. Delighted beyond his hopes, Gu hurried after her to her house. He made advances, and she did not refuse; she lay with him gladly. When it was over, she warned him: “This can happen once, but not again.” Gu made no answer and went home. The next day he asked her again, but she gave him a stern look and walked off without a glance. She came every day and they often met, but she never gave him a kind word or look. If he joked with her a little, her words were cold enough to freeze. Once, when no one was about, she suddenly asked him, “Who is that young man who comes every day?” Gu told her. “His behaviour and his looks have insulted me many times,” she said. “Because he is your intimate, I have let it pass. Please give him a message from me: if he does it again, he does not want to live.” That evening Gu told the young man, and added, “You had better be careful. She is not one to be crossed!” “If she is not to be crossed,” said the young man, “why have you been crossing her in secret?” Gu protested that he had not. “If you have not,” said the young man, “then how would talk of such indecent things come to your ears?” Gu could not answer. “Then please give her a message from me too,” said the young man. “Tell her to drop her prim little act. Or I will spread it everywhere.” Gu was very angry, and it showed on his face, and the young man went away. One evening as Gu sat alone, the girl suddenly came. “The bond between you and me is not broken,” she said, smiling. “Is that not fate?” Wild with joy, Gu took her in his arms. All at once they heard footsteps clattering. The two of them started up in alarm: the young man had pushed open the door and come in. “What are you doing here?” Gu asked, startled. The young man laughed. “I have only come to look at the chaste lady.” He turned to the girl. “Not blaming anyone today?” The girl’s brows stood up and her cheeks flushed. Without a word she flung up her outer jacket, showing a leather bag, and at her touch out came a dagger a foot long, gleaming like crystal. At the sight of it the young man took fright and ran. She chased him out of the door, but when she looked all around there was no one to be seen. The girl hurled the dagger up into the sky. It rang out, flashing like a long rainbow, and in a moment something fell to the ground with a thud. Gu hurried out with a candle: it was a white fox, its head and body lying apart. He was horrified. “That was your catamite,” said the girl. “I had already forgiven him, but what can I do when he is set on dying?” She put the blade back in its bag. Gu pulled at her to come in. “That demon has spoiled the mood,” she said. “Please wait till tomorrow night.” And she went straight out of the door. The next evening she did come, and they made love. He asked about her art. “That is not something for you to know,” she said. “You must keep it secret. If it gets out, I fear it will not be good for you.” He also proposed that they marry. “I share your pillow and I draw your water. What am I if not your wife? We are husband and wife already. Why talk of marrying?” “Is it that you dislike my being poor?” said Gu. “You are poor, it is true. Am I rich? It is because I pity your poverty that we are together tonight.” As she left she warned him: “Stolen meetings like this must not happen often. When I should come, I will come of myself. When I should not, forcing me will do no good.” After that, whenever they met and he tried to draw her aside for a private word, she always slipped away. But she mended his torn clothes and saw to his cooking fire, managing everything for him, no less than a wife.
積數月，其母死，生竭力葬之。女由是獨居。生意孤寢可亂，逾垣入，隔窗頻呼，迄不應。視其門，則空室扁焉。竊疑女有他約。夜復往，亦如之。遂留佩玉於窗間而去之。越日，相遇於母所。既出，而女尾其後曰：「君疑妾耶？人各有心，不可以告人。今欲使君無疑，烏得可？然一事煩急為謀。」問之，曰：「妾體孕已八月矣，恐旦晚臨盆。『妾身未分明』，能為君生之，不能為君育之。可密告母覓乳媼，偽為討螟蛉者，勿言妾也。」生諾，以告母。母笑曰：「異哉此女！聘之不可，而顧私於我兒。」喜從其謀以待之。又月餘，女數日不至，母疑之，往探其門，蕭蕭閉寂。叩良久，女始蓬頭垢面自內出。啟而入之，則復闔之。入其室，則呱呱者在床上矣。母驚問：「誕幾時矣？」答云：「三日。」捉繃席而視之，則男也，且豐頤而廣額。喜曰：「兒已為老身育孫子，伶仃一身，將焉所託？」女曰：「區區隱衷，不敢掬示老母。俟夜無人，可即抱兒去。」母歸與子言，竊共異之。夜往抱子歸。
积数月，其母死，生竭力葬之。女由是独居。生意孤寝可乱，逾垣入，隔窗频呼，迄不应。视其门，则空室扁焉。窃疑女有他约。夜复往，亦如之。遂留佩玉于窗间而去之。越日，相遇于母所。既出，而女尾其后曰：「君疑妾耶？人各有心，不可以告人。今欲使君无疑，乌得可？然一事烦急为谋。」问之，曰：「妾体孕已八月矣，恐旦晚临盆。『妾身未分明』，能为君生之，不能为君育之。可密告母觅乳媪，伪为讨螟蛉者，勿言妾也。」生诺，以告母。母笑曰：「异哉此女！聘之不可，而顾私于我儿。」喜从其谋以待之。又月余，女数日不至，母疑之，往探其门，萧萧闭寂。叩良久，女始蓬头垢面自内出。启而入之，则复阖之。入其室，则呱呱者在床上矣。母惊问：「诞几时矣？」答云：「三日。」捉绷席而视之，则男也，且丰颐而广额。喜曰：「儿已为老身育孙子，伶仃一身，将焉所托？」女曰：「区区隐衷，不敢掬示老母。俟夜无人，可即抱儿去。」母归与子言，窃共异之。夜往抱子归。
Some months later her mother died, and Gu did all he could to bury her. From then on the girl lived alone. Gu thought that now she slept alone she might be won. He climbed over the wall and called to her through the window again and again, but she never answered. He looked at her door: it was locked on an empty room. He secretly suspected she was meeting someone else. He went again the next night and found it the same. So he left his jade pendant on the window sill and went away. The next day they met at his mother’s. When they came out, the girl followed him and said, “You suspect me? Everyone has something in their heart that cannot be told. If I wanted you to have no suspicions now, how could that be done? But there is one thing I must trouble you to arrange at once.” He asked what it was. “I am eight months with child,” she said. “I am afraid it may come any day. ‘My standing is not yet clear.’ I can bear the child for you, but I cannot raise it for you. Tell your mother in secret to find a wet nurse, and pretend you are adopting a child. Don’t mention me.” Gu promised, and told his mother. His mother laughed. “What a strange girl! She would not be betrothed, and yet she has been sleeping with my son on the quiet.” She was glad to fall in with the plan, and waited. After another month or so the girl did not come for several days. His mother grew suspicious and went to look at her door. It was shut, silent and desolate. She knocked for a long time, and at last the girl came out from inside, her hair tangled and her face dirty. She opened the door, let her in and shut it again. When she went into the room, there was a baby wailing on the bed. “When was it born?” the old woman asked in astonishment. “Three days ago.” She lifted the swaddling and looked: it was a boy, with full cheeks and a broad forehead. “So you have given me a grandson,” she said, overjoyed. “But you are all alone in the world. Who will you rely on?” “I have my private reasons,” said the girl, “and I dare not lay them before you, mother. Wait till night when no one is about, and then you can carry the child away.” The old woman went home and told her son, and they wondered at it together. That night she went and brought the baby home.
更數夕，夜將半，女忽款門入，手提革囊，笑曰：「我大事已了，請從此別。」急詢其故，曰：「養母之德，刻刻不去諸懷。向云『可一而不可再』者，以相報不在床第也。為君貧不能婚，將為君延一線之續。本期一索而得，不意信水復來，遂至破戒而再。今君德既酬，妾志亦遂，無憾矣。」問：「囊中何物？」曰：「仇人頭耳。」檢而窺之，鬚髮交而血模糊。駭絕，復致研詰。曰：「向不與君言者，以機事不密，懼有宣洩。今事已成，不妨相告：妾浙人。父官司馬，陷於仇，彼籍吾家。妾負老母出，隱姓名，埋頭項，已三年矣。所以不即報者，徒以有母在；母去，又一塊肉累腹中，因而遲之又久。曩夜出非他，道路門戶未稔，恐有訛誤耳。」言已出門，又囑曰：「所生兒，善視之。君福薄無壽，此兒可光門閭。夜深不得驚老母，我去矣！」方悽然欲詢所之，女一閃如電，瞥爾間遂不復見。生嘆惋木立，若喪魂魄。明以告母，相為嘆異而已。後三年生果卒。子十八舉進士，猶奉祖母以終老云。異史氏曰：「人必室有俠女，而後可以畜孌童也。不然，爾愛其艾豭，彼愛爾婁豬矣！」
更数夕，夜将半，女忽款门入，手提革囊，笑曰：「我大事已了，请从此别。」急询其故，曰：「养母之德，刻刻不去诸怀。向云『可一而不可再』者，以相报不在床第也。为君贫不能婚，将为君延一线之续。本期一索而得，不意信水复来，遂至破戒而再。今君德既酬，妾志亦遂，无憾矣。」问：「囊中何物？」曰：「仇人头耳。」检而窥之，须发交而血模糊。骇绝，复致研诘。曰：「向不与君言者，以机事不密，惧有宣泄。今事已成，不妨相告：妾浙人。父官司马，陷于仇，彼籍吾家。妾负老母出，隐姓名，埋头项，已三年矣。所以不即报者，徒以有母在；母去，又一块肉累腹中，因而迟之又久。曩夜出非他，道路门户未稔，恐有讹误耳。」言已出门，又嘱曰：「所生儿，善视之。君福薄无寿，此儿可光门闾。夜深不得惊老母，我去矣！」方凄然欲询所之，女一闪如电，瞥尔间遂不复见。生叹惋木立，若丧魂魄。明以告母，相为叹异而已。后三年生果卒。子十八举进士，犹奉祖母以终老云。异史氏曰：「人必室有侠女，而后可以畜娈童也。不然，尔爱其艾豭，彼爱尔娄猪矣！」
A few nights later, near midnight, the girl suddenly knocked at the door and came in, carrying a leather bag. She smiled. “My great task is done,” she said. “From now on we part.” He asked her urgently why. “Your kindness in caring for my mother has never been out of my mind for a moment,” she said. “When I said before, ‘once but not again’, it was because I did not mean to repay you in bed. You were too poor to marry, so I meant to carry on your line for you. I hoped to conceive at the first try, but my monthly flow came again, and so I broke my rule a second time. Now your kindness is repaid and my purpose fulfilled. I have no regrets.” “What is in the bag?” he asked. “My enemy’s head, that is all.” He opened it and looked: beard and hair tangled together, a blur of blood. He was horrified, and pressed her again with questions. “I did not tell you before,” she said, “because a plan that is not kept close will leak, and I was afraid it would. Now that it is done, I may as well tell you. I am from Zhejiang. My father was an assistant prefect. An enemy brought him down and had our whole family’s property seized. I carried my old mother out on my back. We changed our names and kept our heads down, and that was three years ago. The only reason I did not take my revenge at once was that I still had my mother. When she was gone, there was another lump of flesh weighing in my belly, so it was put off even longer. Those nights I was out, it was only that I did not yet know the roads and gates, and I was afraid of making a mistake.” With that she went out of the door, and added, “Take good care of the child. Your fortune is thin and you will not live long; this boy can bring glory to your house. It is late. Don’t wake your old mother. I am going!” As he was asking, heartsick, where she would go, she was gone in a flash like lightning, and in the blink of an eye she was nowhere to be seen. Gu stood there like a block of wood, sighing, as if he had lost his soul. In the morning he told his mother, and all they could do was sigh and marvel together. Three years later Gu did indeed die. His son became a jinshi at eighteen, and they say he still cared for his grandmother to the end of her days. The Historian of the Strange says: Only a man who has a lady knight-errant at home can afford to keep a catamite. Otherwise, while you fancy his handsome boar, he will fancy your sow!