招遠張于旦，性疏狂不羈。讀書蕭寺。時邑令魯公，三韓人。有女好獵。生適遇諸野，見其風姿娟秀，著錦貂裘，跨小驪駒，翩然若畫。歸憶容華，極意欽想。後聞女暴卒，悼嘆欲絕。魯以家遠，寄靈寺中，即生讀所。生敬禮如神明，朝必香，食必祭。每酹而祝曰：「睹卿半面，長系夢魂；不圖玉人，奄然物化。今近在咫尺，而邈若河山，恨如何也！然生有拘束，死無禁忌，九泉有靈，當珊珊而來，慰我傾慕。」日夜祝之，幾半月。
招远张于旦，性疏狂不羁。读书萧寺。时邑令鲁公，三韩人。有女好猎。生适遇诸野，见其风姿娟秀，着锦貂裘，跨小骊驹，翩然若画。归忆容华，极意钦想。后闻女暴卒，悼叹欲绝。鲁以家远，寄灵寺中，即生读所。生敬礼如神明，朝必香，食必祭。每酹而祝曰：「睹卿半面，长系梦魂；不图玉人，奄然物化。今近在咫尺，而邈若河山，恨如何也！然生有拘束，死无禁忌，九泉有灵，当珊珊而来，慰我倾慕。」日夜祝之，几半月。
Zhang Yudan of Zhaoyuan was careless and wild by nature, and would take no bridle. He was studying at a Buddhist temple. The county magistrate at that time was Lu, a man of Sanhan, who had a daughter fond of hunting. Zhang happened to come across her in the open country. She was lovely and graceful, in a sable coat faced with brocade, astride a little black colt, light as a figure in a painting. He went home thinking of her beauty and longed for her with all his heart. Later he heard that the girl had died suddenly, and he grieved almost past bearing. Because Lu’s home was far away, he lodged her coffin in the temple, in the very place where Zhang studied. Zhang revered her like a god: he burned incense every morning and made an offering at every meal. Each time he poured out wine he prayed: “I saw only half your face, and it has held my dreaming soul ever since. I never thought one fair as jade would pass away so suddenly. Now you are a foot away, yet as far from me as mountains and rivers. How bitter it is! But the living are bound by rules; the dead have none. If there is any spirit in the Nine Springs, come to me with your pendants chiming, and comfort my longing.” He prayed so day and night for nearly half a month.
一夕，挑燈夜讀，忽舉首，則女子含笑立燈下。生驚起致問。女曰：「感君之情，不能自已，遂不避私奔之嫌。」生大喜。遂共歡好。自此無虛夜。謂生曰：「妾生好弓馬，以射獐殺鹿為快，罪孽深重，死無歸所。如誠心愛妾，煩代誦《金剛經》一藏數，生生世世不忘也。」生敬受教，每夜起，即柩前撚珠諷誦。偶值節序，欲與偕歸，女憂足弱，不能跋履。生請抱負以行，女笑從之。如抱嬰兒，殊不重累。遂以為常。考試亦載與俱。然行必以夜。生將赴秋闈，女曰：「君福薄，徒勞馳驅。」遂聽其言而止。積四五年，魯罷官，貧不能輿其櫬，將就窆之，苦無葬地。生乃自陳：「某有薄壤近寺，願葬女公子。」魯公喜。生又力為營葬。魯德之，而莫解其故。魯去，二人綢繆如平日。
一夕，挑灯夜读，忽举首，则女子含笑立灯下。生惊起致问。女曰：「感君之情，不能自已，遂不避私奔之嫌。」生大喜。遂共欢好。自此无虚夜。谓生曰：「妾生好弓马，以射獐杀鹿为快，罪孽深重，死无归所。如诚心爱妾，烦代诵《金刚经》一藏数，生生世世不忘也。」生敬受教，每夜起，即柩前撚珠讽诵。偶值节序，欲与偕归，女忧足弱，不能跋履。生请抱负以行，女笑从之。如抱婴儿，殊不重累。遂以为常。考试亦载与俱。然行必以夜。生将赴秋闱，女曰：「君福薄，徒劳驰驱。」遂听其言而止。积四五年，鲁罢官，贫不能舆其榇，将就窆之，苦无葬地。生乃自陈：「某有薄壤近寺，愿葬女公子。」鲁公喜。生又力为营葬。鲁德之，而莫解其故。鲁去，二人绸缪如平日。
One evening he had trimmed the lamp and was reading late when he looked up and saw the girl standing under the lamp, smiling. Zhang started up and asked who she was. “Your feeling for me moved me so that I could not help myself,” she said, “and I came, though it may look like a girl running off with a lover.” Zhang was overjoyed, and they made love. After that not a night passed without her. She told him, “All my life I loved the bow and the saddle, and took my pleasure in shooting river deer and killing stags. My sins are heavy, and in death I have nowhere to go. If you truly love me, please recite the Diamond Sutra a full canon of times for me. I will not forget it, life after life.” Zhang respectfully did as she asked. Every night he got up and told his beads before the coffin, chanting the sutra. Once, when a festival came round, he wanted to take her home with him, but she was afraid her feet were too weak for the walk. Zhang offered to carry her on his back, and she laughed and agreed. It was like carrying a baby; she was no burden at all. After that it became their habit. When he went to sit examinations he took her along too, but they always travelled by night. When Zhang was about to set out for the autumn provincial examination, she said, “Your fortune is thin. You would make the journey for nothing.” So he took her advice and stayed home. Four or five years went by. Lu left office, and was too poor to carry the coffin home. He meant to bury her where she was, but had no ground to bury her in. Zhang came forward: “I have a poor plot of land near the temple. I would be glad to bury your daughter there.” Lu was pleased. Zhang also did all he could to arrange the funeral. Lu was grateful to him, but could not understand why. After Lu left, the two of them were as loving as ever.
一夜，側倚生懷，淚落如豆，曰：「五年之好，于今別矣！受君恩義，數世不足以酬！」生驚問之。曰：「蒙惠及泉下人，經咒藏滿，今得生河北盧戶部家。如不忘今日，過此十五年，八月十六日，煩一往會。」生泣下曰：「生三十餘年矣；又十五年，將就木焉，會將何為？」女亦泣曰：「願為奴婢以報。」少間曰：「君送妾六七里，此去多荊棘，妾衣長難度。」乃抱生項。生送至通衢，見路傍車馬一簇，馬上或一人，或二人；車上或三人﹑四人﹑十數人不等；獨一鈿車，繡纓朱幰，僅一老媼在焉。見女至，呼曰：「來乎？」女應曰：「來矣。」乃回顧生雲：「盡此，且去；勿忘所言。」生諾。女行近車，媼引手上之，展軨即發，車馬闐咽而去。
一夜，侧倚生怀，泪落如豆，曰：「五年之好，于今别矣！受君恩义，数世不足以酬！」生惊问之。曰：「蒙惠及泉下人，经咒藏满，今得生河北卢户部家。如不忘今日，过此十五年，八月十六日，烦一往会。」生泣下曰：「生三十余年矣；又十五年，将就木焉，会将何为？」女亦泣曰：「愿为奴婢以报。」少间曰：「君送妾六七里，此去多荆棘，妾衣长难度。」乃抱生项。生送至通衢，见路傍车马一簇，马上或一人，或二人；车上或三人﹑四人﹑十数人不等；独一钿车，绣缨朱幰，仅一老媪在焉。见女至，呼曰：「来乎？」女应曰：「来矣。」乃回顾生云：「尽此，且去；勿忘所言。」生诺。女行近车，媪引手上之，展軨即发，车马阗咽而去。
One night she leaned against his breast and wept tears as big as beans. “Our five years of love end now,” she said. “What you have done for me could not be repaid in several lifetimes!” Zhang, alarmed, asked what she meant. “Your kindness has reached one in the Yellow Springs. The count of the sutra is complete, and now I am to be born into the family of Lu of the Board of Revenue, north of the Yellow River. If you do not forget this day, come and meet me fifteen years from now, on the sixteenth day of the eighth month.” Zhang wept. “I am past thirty already,” he said. “In another fifteen years I will be ready for my coffin. What good will meeting do?” She wept too. “I will be your maidservant to repay you.” After a little she said, “See me on my way six or seven li. The road ahead is thick with brambles, and my skirts are too long to get through.” She put her arms around his neck. Zhang took her as far as the highway. Beside the road was a cluster of carriages and horses. On each horse rode one or two; in the carriages were three, four, a dozen or more. Only one, an inlaid carriage with embroidered tassels and red curtains, held no one but an old woman. When she saw the girl coming she called, “Are you here?” “I am here,” the girl answered. Then she turned back to Zhang. “This is as far as you come. I am going. Don’t forget what I said.” Zhang promised. The girl went up to the carriage; the old woman reached out a hand and helped her in, the rail was opened, and they set off at once, the carriages and horses rumbling away in a crowd.
生悵悵而歸，志時日于壁。因思經咒之效，持誦益虔。夢神人告曰：「汝志良嘉。但須要到南海去。」問：「南海多遠？」曰：「近在方寸地。」醒而會其旨，念切菩提，修行倍潔。三年後，次子明﹑長子政，相繼擢高科。生雖暴貴，而善行不替。夜夢青衣人邀去，見宮殿中坐一人，如菩薩狀，逆之曰：「子為善可喜。惜無修齡，幸得請于上帝矣。」生伏地稽首。喚起，賜坐；飲以茶，味芳如蘭。又令童子引去，使浴于池。池水清潔，游魚可數，入之而溫，掬之有荷葉香。移時，漸入深處，失足而陷，過涉滅頂。驚寤，異之。由此身益健，目益明。自捋其須，白者盡簌簌落，又久之，黑者亦落。面紋亦漸舒。至數月後，頷禿童面，宛如十五六時。輒兼好游戲事，亦猶童。過飾邊幅；二子輒匡救之。未幾，夫人以老病卒。子欲為求繼室于朱門。生曰：「待吾至河北，來而後娶。」
生怅怅而归，志时日于壁。因思经咒之效，持诵益虔。梦神人告曰：「汝志良嘉。但须要到南海去。」问：「南海多远？」曰：「近在方寸地。」醒而会其旨，念切菩提，修行倍洁。三年后，次子明﹑长子政，相继擢高科。生虽暴贵，而善行不替。夜梦青衣人邀去，见宫殿中坐一人，如菩萨状，逆之曰：「子为善可喜。惜无修龄，幸得请于上帝矣。」生伏地稽首。唤起，赐坐；饮以茶，味芳如兰。又令童子引去，使浴于池。池水清洁，游鱼可数，入之而温，掬之有荷叶香。移时，渐入深处，失足而陷，过涉灭顶。惊寤，异之。由此身益健，目益明。自捋其须，白者尽簌簌落，又久之，黑者亦落。面纹亦渐舒。至数月后，颔秃童面，宛如十五六时。辄兼好游戏事，亦犹童。过饰边幅；二子辄匡救之。未几，夫人以老病卒。子欲为求继室于朱门。生曰：「待吾至河北，来而后娶。」
Zhang went home desolate and wrote the date on the wall. Thinking how the sutra had worked, he recited it more devoutly than ever. In a dream a divine being told him, “Your purpose is good. But you must go to the South Sea.” “How far is the South Sea?” he asked. “It is close by, in the square inch.” He woke and understood. He set his mind on enlightenment and kept his practice twice as pure. Three years later his second son, Ming, and then his eldest, Zheng, passed high in the examinations. Though Zhang had suddenly risen to wealth and rank, he did not slacken in good works. One night he dreamed that a man in black came to fetch him. In a palace hall sat someone who looked like a bodhisattva, who greeted him: “Your good deeds are gratifying. It is a pity you have not long to live, but happily I have petitioned the Lord on High for you.” Zhang bowed his head to the ground. He was told to rise and given a seat, and served tea fragrant as orchids. Then a boy was told to lead him away and have him bathe in a pool. The water was so clear you could count the fish; it was warm when he stepped in, and when he cupped it in his hands it smelled of lotus leaves. After a while he waded deeper, lost his footing and went under, the water closing over his head. He woke with a start and marvelled at it. From then on his body grew stronger and his eyes keener. When he stroked his beard, the white hairs all came rustling out; after a while the black ones fell out too. The lines in his face slowly smoothed. In a few months his chin was bare and his face a boy’s, just as he had been at fifteen or sixteen. He took to games and amusements, too, like a boy, and fussed so much over his dress that his two sons had to set him right. Before long his lady died of old age and illness. His sons wanted to find him a second wife from some great family. Zhang said, “Wait until I have been north of the river. When I come back I will marry.”
屈指已及約期，遂命仆馬至河北。訪之，果有盧戶部。先是，盧公生一女，生而能言，長益慧美，父母最鐘愛之。貴家委禽，女輒不欲。怪問之，具述生前約。共計其年，大笑曰：「痴婢！張郎計今年已半百，人事變遷，其骨已朽；縱其尚在，發童而齒壑矣。」女不聽。母見其志不搖，與盧公謀，戒閽人勿通客，過期以絕其望。未幾，生至，閽人拒之。退返旅舍，悵恨無所為計。閑游郊郭，因循而暗訪之。女謂生負約，涕不食。母言：「渠不來，必已殂謝；即不然，背盟之罪，亦不在汝。」女不語，但終日臥。盧患之，亦思一見生之為人，乃托游遨，遇生于野。視之，少年也，訝之。班荊略談，甚倜儻。公喜，邀至其家。方將探問，盧即遽起，囑客暫獨坐，匆匆入內告女。女喜，自力起。窺審其狀不符，零涕而返，怨父欺罔。公力白其是。女無言，但泣不止。公出，意緒懊喪，對客殊不款曲。生問：「貴族有為戶部者乎？」公漫應之。首他顧，似不屬客。生覺其慢，辭出。女啼數日而卒。生夜夢女來，曰：「下顧者果君耶？年貌舛異，覿面遂致違隔。妾已懮憤死。煩向土地祠速招我魂，可得活，遲則無及矣。」既醒，急探盧氏之門，果有女亡二日矣。生大慟，進而吊諸其室。已而以夢告盧。盧從其言，招魂而歸。啟其衾，撫其尸，呼而祝之。俄聞喉中咯咯有聲，忽見朱櫻乍啟，墜痰塊如冰。扶移榻上，漸復吟呻。盧公悅，肅客出，置酒讌會。細展官閥，知其巨家，益喜。擇吉成禮。居半月，攜女而歸。盧送至家，半年乃去。夫婦居室，儼如小耦。不知者多誤以子婦為姑嫜焉。盧公逾年卒。子最幼，為豪強所中傷，家產幾盡。生迎養之，遂家焉。
屈指已及约期，遂命仆马至河北。访之，果有卢户部。先是，卢公生一女，生而能言，长益慧美，父母最钟爱之。贵家委禽，女辄不欲。怪问之，具述生前约。共计其年，大笑曰：「痴婢！张郎计今年已半百，人事变迁，其骨已朽；纵其尚在，发童而齿壑矣。」女不听。母见其志不摇，与卢公谋，戒阍人勿通客，过期以绝其望。未几，生至，阍人拒之。退返旅舍，怅恨无所为计。闲游郊郭，因循而暗访之。女谓生负约，涕不食。母言：「渠不来，必已殂谢；即不然，背盟之罪，亦不在汝。」女不语，但终日卧。卢患之，亦思一见生之为人，乃托游遨，遇生于野。视之，少年也，讶之。班荆略谈，甚倜傥。公喜，邀至其家。方将探问，卢即遽起，嘱客暂独坐，匆匆入内告女。女喜，自力起。窥审其状不符，零涕而返，怨父欺罔。公力白其是。女无言，但泣不止。公出，意绪懊丧，对客殊不款曲。生问：「贵族有为户部者乎？」公漫应之。首他顾，似不属客。生觉其慢，辞出。女啼数日而卒。生夜梦女来，曰：「下顾者果君耶？年貌舛异，觌面遂致违隔。妾已懮愤死。烦向土地祠速招我魂，可得活，迟则无及矣。」既醒，急探卢氏之门，果有女亡二日矣。生大恸，进而吊诸其室。已而以梦告卢。卢从其言，招魂而归。启其衾，抚其尸，呼而祝之。俄闻喉中咯咯有声，忽见朱樱乍启，坠痰块如冰。扶移榻上，渐复吟呻。卢公悦，肃客出，置酒䜩会。细展官阀，知其巨家，益喜。择吉成礼。居半月，携女而归。卢送至家，半年乃去。夫妇居室，俨如小耦。不知者多误以子妇为姑嫜焉。卢公逾年卒。子最幼，为豪强所中伤，家产几尽。生迎养之，遂家焉。
Counting on his fingers, he found the appointed time had come, and he set out north of the river with servants and horses. He made inquiries, and there was indeed a Lu of the Board of Revenue. Some years before, Lu had had a daughter who could talk at birth and grew up ever cleverer and lovelier; her parents doted on her above all. Great families sent betrothal gifts, but the girl would have none of them. Puzzled, her parents asked why, and she told them all about the promise from her former life. They worked out the years and laughed aloud. “Silly girl! By now this Zhang is fifty. Things change in this world; his bones have likely rotted away. Even if he is still alive, he will be bald and gap-toothed.” The girl would not listen. Seeing that she would not be moved, her mother plotted with Lu: they told the gatekeeper to admit no visitors, so that the date would pass and her hopes would die. Before long Zhang arrived, and the gatekeeper turned him away. He went back to his inn, wretched, with no idea what to do. He wandered about the outskirts of the town, lingering and making quiet inquiries. The girl thought Zhang had broken his word, and wept and would not eat. Her mother said, “If he hasn’t come, he must be dead. And even if he isn’t, the fault of breaking the pledge is not yours.” The girl said nothing, but lay in bed all day. Lu was worried, and he also wanted to see for himself what sort of man Zhang was. So he went out as if for a stroll, and met Zhang in the countryside. He looked at him and saw a young man, which surprised him. They sat down on the grass and talked a little; Zhang was dashing and free in his manner. Lu was pleased and invited him to his house. Zhang was about to ask his questions when Lu abruptly rose, asked his guest to sit alone a moment, and hurried in to tell his daughter. The girl was overjoyed and forced herself up. She peeped at him and, seeing he did not look as he should, went back in tears, blaming her father for deceiving her. Lu insisted it was the man. The girl said nothing, only wept and would not stop. Lu came out downcast and paid his guest no attention at all. Zhang asked, “Is there anyone in your honoured family who serves in the Board of Revenue?” Lu answered vaguely, his head turned away, as if his guest were nothing to him. Zhang felt the slight, took his leave and went. The girl cried for several days and died. That night Zhang dreamed she came to him. “Was it really you who called on us? Your age and looks were so different that we met face to face and still missed each other. I have died of grief and anger. Go quickly to the shrine of the Earth God and call back my soul, and I can live. If you are late it will be too late.” As soon as he woke he hurried to the Lus’ gate to ask. A daughter had indeed died two days before. Zhang wailed bitterly and went in to mourn her in her room. Then he told Lu of his dream. Lu did as he said: he called back her soul and came home. He drew back her quilt, stroked her body, and called to her in prayer. In a moment they heard a gurgling in her throat; then her cherry lips parted and a lump of phlegm like ice fell out. They lifted her onto a bed, and slowly she began to moan. Lu was delighted. He ushered his guest out to the hall and set out wine for a feast. When he asked closely about Zhang’s rank and family and learned that his was a great house, he was gladder still. A lucky day was chosen and the marriage performed. After half a month Zhang took his bride home. Lu went with them and stayed half a year before he left. As husband and wife they were just like a young couple. People who did not know them often took his son and daughter-in-law for the couple’s parents. Lu died the next year. His son was very young, and was ruined by the local bullies until the family property was nearly all gone. Zhang took the boy in and raised him, and he made his home with them.