武承休，遼陽人。喜交遊，所與皆知名士。夜夢一人告之曰：「子交遊遍海內，皆濫交耳。惟一人可共患難，何反不識？」問：「何人？」曰：「田七郎非與？」醒而異之。詰朝，見所與遊，輒問七郎。客或識為東村業獵者。武敬謁諸家，以馬箠撾門。未幾，一人出，年二十餘，貙目蜂腰，著膩帢，衣皂犢鼻，多白補綴。拱手於額而問所自。武展姓字；且託途中不快，借廬憩息。問七郎，答云：「即我是也。」遂延客入。見破屋數椽，木岐支壁。入一小室，虎皮狼蛻，懸布楹間，更無杌榻可坐。七郎就地設皋比焉。武與語，言詞樸質，大悅之。遽貽金作生計。七郎不受。固予之。七郎受以白母。俄頃將還，固辭不受。武強之再四。母龍鐘而至，厲色曰：「老身止此兒，不欲令事貴客！」武慚而退。歸途展轉，不解其意。適從人於舍後聞母言，因以告武。
武承休是遼陽人，喜歡結交朋友，來往的都是有名望的讀書人。一天夜裡，他夢見一個人告訴他：「你結交的朋友遍佈天下，卻都是不加選擇結交的。只有一個人能與你共患難，你怎麼偏偏不認識？」武承休問：「是誰？」那人說：「不就是田七郎嗎？」他醒來，覺得這夢很奇怪。第二天早晨，見到與自己來往的人，就問起七郎。有個客人認識他，說他是東村以打獵為生的人。武承休鄭重地前去拜訪，用馬鞭敲門。不久，一個人走了出來，二十多歲，眼睛像猛獸，腰身細瘦，戴著油膩的帢帽，穿著黑色犢鼻褲，上面補了許多白色補丁。他把雙手拱到額前，問客人從哪裡來。武承休報了姓名，又藉口在路上身體不舒服，想借他的屋子歇歇。問起七郎，那人回答：「我就是。」便請客人進去。武承休看見只有幾間破屋，用分叉的木頭支撐著牆壁。進了一間小屋，虎皮、狼皮掛滿柱子之間，連一張能坐的凳子或床榻也沒有。七郎便在地上鋪了一張虎皮。武承休與他交談，見他說話樸實，十分喜歡他，當即贈給他銀子，讓他維持生計。七郎不肯收。武承休堅持給他，七郎便拿進去稟告母親。過了一會兒，他把銀子拿回來，堅決推辭。武承休再三相勸，七郎的母親顫巍巍地走來，板著臉說：「我只有這個兒子，不願讓他侍奉貴客！」武承休慚愧地退了出去。回去的路上，他反覆思量，不明白她的意思。恰好一個隨從在屋後聽見了七郎母親說的話，便告訴了武承休。
武承休，辽阳人。喜交游，所与皆知名士。夜梦一人告之曰：「子交游遍海内，皆滥交耳。惟一人可共患难，何反不识？」问：「何人？」曰：「田七郎非与？」醒而异之。诘朝，见所与游，辄问七郎。客或识为东村业猎者。武敬谒诸家，以马箠挝门。未几，一人出，年二十余，䝙目蜂腰，着腻帢，衣皂犊鼻，多白补缀。拱手于额而问所自。武展姓字；且托途中不快，借庐憩息。问七郎，答云：「即我是也。」遂延客入。见破屋数椽，木岐支壁。入一小室，虎皮狼蜕，悬布楹间，更无杌榻可坐。七郎就地设皋比焉。武与语，言词朴质，大悦之。遽贻金作生计。七郎不受。固予之。七郎受以白母。俄顷将还，固辞不受。武强之再四。母龙钟而至，厉色曰：「老身止此儿，不欲令事贵客！」武惭而退。归途展转，不解其意。适从人于舍后闻母言，因以告武。
武承休是辽阳人，喜欢结交朋友，来往的都是有名望的读书人。一天夜里，他梦见一个人告诉他：“你结交的朋友遍布天下，却都是不加选择结交的。只有一个人能与你共患难，你怎么偏偏不认识？”武承休问：“是谁？”那人说：“不就是田七郎吗？”他醒来，觉得这梦很奇怪。第二天早晨，见到与自己来往的人，就问起七郎。有个客人认识他，说他是东村以打猎为生的人。武承休郑重地前去拜访，用马鞭敲门。不久，一个人走了出来，二十多岁，眼睛像猛兽，腰身细瘦，戴着油腻的帢帽，穿着黑色犊鼻裤，上面补了许多白色补丁。他把双手拱到额前，问客人从哪里来。武承休报了姓名，又借口在路上身体不舒服，想借他的屋子歇歇。问起七郎，那人回答：“我就是。”便请客人进去。武承休看见只有几间破屋，用分叉的木头支撑着墙壁。进了一间小屋，虎皮、狼皮挂满柱子之间，连一张能坐的凳子或床榻也没有。七郎便在地上铺了一张虎皮。武承休与他交谈，见他说话朴实，十分喜欢他，当即赠给他银子，让他维持生计。七郎不肯收。武承休坚持给他，七郎便拿进去禀告母亲。过了一会儿，他把银子拿回来，坚决推辞。武承休再三相劝，七郎的母亲颤巍巍地走来，板着脸说：“我只有这个儿子，不愿让他侍奉贵客！”武承休惭愧地退了出去。回去的路上，他反复思量，不明白她的意思。恰好一个随从在屋后听见了七郎母亲说的话，便告诉了武承休。
Wu Chengxiu was a man of Liaoyang. He loved company, and his friends were all men of note. One night he dreamt that someone said to him, “You have friends all over the land, but they are friends made without judgement. There is only one man who would share your troubles, and him, of all people, you do not know.” “Who?” he asked. “Is it not Tian Qilang?” He woke and wondered at it. The next morning he asked every friend he met about Qilang. One of his guests knew him: he was a hunter in the eastern village. Wu went respectfully to call at his house and rapped on the gate with his riding whip. Before long a man came out, a little over twenty, with a wildcat’s eyes and a wasp’s waist. He wore a greasy cap and black breeches covered in white patches. He raised his clasped hands to his brow and asked where the visitor was from. Wu gave his name and, pretending he had been taken unwell on the road, asked to rest in the house. When he asked for Qilang, the man answered, “That’s me,” and invited him in. Wu saw a broken-down house of a few rafters, its walls propped up with forked poles. They went into a small room. Tiger skins and wolf pelts hung everywhere between the pillars, and there was not so much as a stool or a bed to sit on. Qilang spread a tiger skin on the ground for him. Wu talked with him and found his speech plain and honest, and was delighted with him. He at once offered him money to live on. Qilang would not take it. Wu insisted. Qilang took it in to tell his mother, and in a moment came back to return it, firmly refusing. Wu pressed him again and again. Then the mother came tottering out and said sternly, “This boy is all I have. I won’t have him serving a rich gentleman!” Wu withdrew, ashamed. All the way home he turned it over and could not understand what she meant. As it happened, one of his attendants had overheard the mother behind the house, and he told Wu what she had said.
先是，七郎持金白母。母曰：「我適睹公子，有晦紋，必罹奇禍。聞之：受人知者分人憂，受人恩者急人難。富人報人以財，貧人報人以義。無故而得重賂，不祥，恐將取死報於子矣。」武聞之。深歎母賢；然益傾慕七郎。翼日，設筵招之，辭不至。武登其堂，坐而索飲。七郎自行酒，陳鹿脯，殊盡情禮。越日，武邀酬之，乃至。款洽甚懽。贈以金，即不受。武託購虎皮，乃受之。歸視所蓄，計不足償，思再獵而後獻之。入山三日，無所獵獲。會妻病，守視湯藥，不遑操業。浹旬，妻奄忽以死。為營齋葬，所受金，稍稍耗去。武親臨唁送，禮儀優渥。既葬，負弩山林，益思所以報武；而迄無所得。武探得其故，輒勸勿亟。切望七郎姑一臨存；而七郎終以負債為憾，不肯至。武因先索舊藏，以速其來。七郎檢視故革，則蠹蝕殃敗，毛盡脫，懊喪益甚。武知之，馳行其庭，極意慰解之。又視敗革，曰：「此亦復佳。僕所欲得，原不以毛。」遂軸鞟出，兼邀同往。七郎不可，乃自歸。七郎念終不足以報武，裹糧入山，凡數夜得一虎，全而餽之。武喜，治具，請三日留。七郎辭之堅。武鍵庭戶，使不得出。賓客見七郎樸陋，竊謂公子妄交。武周旋七郎，殊異諸客。為易新服，卻不受；承其寐而潛易之，不得已而受之。既去，其子奉媼命，返新衣，索其敝裰。武笑曰：「歸語老姥，故衣已拆作履襯矣。」自是，七郎日以兔鹿相貽，召之即不復至。
原來，七郎拿銀子去告訴母親時，母親說：「我剛才看見那位公子，臉上有晦暗的紋路，必定會遭遇大禍。我聽說，受到別人賞識的人，就要分擔那人的憂愁；受到別人恩惠的人，就要趕去救那人的危難。富人拿錢財報答別人，窮人拿義氣報答別人。無緣無故得到厚贈，不是好兆頭，恐怕將來要你拿性命來報答。」武承休聽了，深深感嘆這位母親賢明，卻更加傾心仰慕七郎。第二天，他設宴邀請七郎，七郎推辭，沒有來。武承休便到他家，進屋坐下，索酒喝。七郎親自斟酒，擺出鹿肉乾，盡到了情分和禮數。又過了一天，武承休請他來回飲，這次他才來了。兩人談得投機，十分歡喜。武承休贈他銀子，他立即拒絕。武承休說是買虎皮的錢，他才收下。回家後，他檢視積存的虎皮，估計不夠抵償，想再去打獵，然後送給武承休。他進山三天，什麼也沒獵到。恰逢妻子生病，他守著照料湯藥，顧不上打獵。十來天后，妻子突然死了。他為妻子辦齋事、安排安葬，收下的銀子漸漸花掉了。武承休親自前來弔唁送葬，禮物十分豐厚。安葬後，七郎揹著弩進山，更加一心想報答武承休，卻始終沒有收穫。武承休打聽到緣故，便勸他不要著急，只盼七郎能來看看自己。七郎卻始終因欠債而不安，不肯前來。武承休於是先索取他原來存下的虎皮，好讓他早些來。七郎檢視舊皮，發現都被蟲蛀壞了，毛也脫光了，更加懊喪。武承休知道後，騎馬趕到他家，盡力安慰開解他，又看了那些破皮，說：「這些也很好。我原本要的就不是皮上的毛。」便把皮捲起來拿出去，同時邀七郎一起走。七郎不肯，他只好獨自回去。七郎想，這些終究不足以報答武承休，便帶上乾糧進山，過了幾個晚上，獵到一隻虎，完整地送給武承休。武承休大喜，備下酒菜，請他留下住三天。七郎堅決推辭，武承休便鎖上院門，讓他出不去。賓客們見七郎樸實粗陋，私下說公子亂交朋友。武承休招待七郎，卻與招待其他客人大不相同。給他新衣服換，他不肯接受；等他睡著，偷偷替他換上，他不得已才收下。七郎走後，他的兒子奉祖母之命，來退還新衣服，索取那件破舊的衣裳。武承休笑道：「回去告訴老奶奶，舊衣服已經拆開，拿去做鞋襯了。」從此，七郎每天送兔子、鹿來，卻再也不肯應邀前來。
先是，七郎持金白母。母曰：「我适睹公子，有晦纹，必罹奇祸。闻之：受人知者分人忧，受人恩者急人难。富人报人以财，贫人报人以义。无故而得重赂，不祥，恐将取死报于子矣。」武闻之。深叹母贤；然益倾慕七郎。翼日，设筵招之，辞不至。武登其堂，坐而索饮。七郎自行酒，陈鹿脯，殊尽情礼。越日，武邀酬之，乃至。款洽甚懽。赠以金，即不受。武托购虎皮，乃受之。归视所蓄，计不足偿，思再猎而后献之。入山三日，无所猎获。会妻病，守视汤药，不遑操业。浃旬，妻奄忽以死。为营斋葬，所受金，稍稍耗去。武亲临唁送，礼仪优渥。既葬，负弩山林，益思所以报武；而迄无所得。武探得其故，辄劝勿亟。切望七郎姑一临存；而七郎终以负债为憾，不肯至。武因先索旧藏，以速其来。七郎检视故革，则蠹蚀殃败，毛尽脱，懊丧益甚。武知之，驰行其庭，极意慰解之。又视败革，曰：「此亦复佳。仆所欲得，原不以毛。」遂轴鞟出，兼邀同往。七郎不可，乃自归。七郎念终不足以报武，裹粮入山，凡数夜得一虎，全而餽之。武喜，治具，请三日留。七郎辞之坚。武键庭户，使不得出。宾客见七郎朴陋，窃谓公子妄交。武周旋七郎，殊异诸客。为易新服，却不受；承其寐而潜易之，不得已而受之。既去，其子奉媪命，返新衣，索其敝裰。武笑曰：「归语老姥，故衣已拆作履衬矣。」自是，七郎日以兔鹿相贻，召之即不复至。
原来，七郎拿银子去告诉母亲时，母亲说：“我刚才看见那位公子，脸上有晦暗的纹路，必定会遭遇大祸。我听说，受到别人赏识的人，就要分担那人的忧愁；受到别人恩惠的人，就要赶去救那人的危难。富人拿钱财报答别人，穷人拿义气报答别人。无缘无故得到厚赠，不是好兆头，恐怕将来要你拿性命来报答。”武承休听了，深深感叹这位母亲贤明，却更加倾心仰慕七郎。第二天，他设宴邀请七郎，七郎推辞，没有来。武承休便到他家，进屋坐下，索酒喝。七郎亲自斟酒，摆出鹿肉干，尽到了情分和礼数。又过了一天，武承休请他来回饮，这次他才来了。两人谈得投机，十分欢喜。武承休赠他银子，他立即拒绝。武承休说是买虎皮的钱，他才收下。回家后，他查看积存的虎皮，估计不够抵偿，想再去打猎，然后送给武承休。他进山三天，什么也没猎到。恰逢妻子生病，他守着照料汤药，顾不上打猎。十来天后，妻子突然死了。他为妻子办斋事、安排安葬，收下的银子渐渐花掉了。武承休亲自前来吊唁送葬，礼物十分丰厚。安葬后，七郎背着弩进山，更加一心想报答武承休，却始终没有收获。武承休打听到缘故，便劝他不要着急，只盼七郎能来看看自己。七郎却始终因欠债而不安，不肯前来。武承休于是先索取他原来存下的虎皮，好让他早些来。七郎查看旧皮，发现都被虫蛀坏了，毛也脱光了，更加懊丧。武承休知道后，骑马赶到他家，尽力安慰开解他，又看了那些破皮，说：“这些也很好。我原本要的就不是皮上的毛。”便把皮卷起来拿出去，同时邀七郎一起走。七郎不肯，他只好独自回去。七郎想，这些终究不足以报答武承休，便带上干粮进山，过了几个晚上，猎到一只虎，完整地送给武承休。武承休大喜，备下酒菜，请他留下住三天。七郎坚决推辞，武承休便锁上院门，让他出不去。宾客们见七郎朴实粗陋，私下说公子乱交朋友。武承休招待七郎，却与招待其他客人大不相同。给他新衣服换，他不肯接受；等他睡着，偷偷替他换上，他不得已才收下。七郎走后，他的儿子奉祖母之命，来退还新衣服，索取那件破旧的衣裳。武承休笑道：“回去告诉老奶奶，旧衣服已经拆开，拿去做鞋衬了。”从此，七郎每天送兔子、鹿来，却再也不肯应邀前来。
What had happened was this. When Qilang took the money to his mother, she said, “I just saw that young gentleman. There are dark lines on his face: he is bound to meet some terrible disaster. I have heard it said: he who is understood by a man shares that man’s sorrows; he who takes a man’s kindness hastens to save him in trouble. The rich repay with money; the poor repay with their loyalty. To be given a large gift for no reason is a bad omen. I fear he will want you to repay him with your life.” When Wu heard this he sighed deeply at the mother’s wisdom, but he admired Qilang all the more. The next day he laid on a feast and invited him; Qilang declined and did not come. So Wu went to his house, sat down in the hall and asked for a drink. Qilang poured the wine himself and set out dried venison, doing everything that friendship and courtesy required. The day after, Wu invited him to return the hospitality, and this time he came. They got on very happily. Wu offered him money, and he refused at once. Wu said it was to buy tiger skins, and then he took it. At home he looked over the skins he had stored and reckoned they were not enough to repay it, so he thought he would hunt again before presenting them. He spent three days in the mountains and caught nothing. Then his wife fell ill, and he stayed by her to nurse her with medicines, with no time for his trade. Ten days later she suddenly died. The funeral services and burial ate up, little by little, the money he had been given. Wu came himself to condole and see her off, and his gifts were generous. After the burial Qilang took his crossbow into the hills, more set than ever on repaying Wu, but he caught nothing at all. Wu found out why and told him not to hurry. He longed for Qilang just to come and visit him, but Qilang was troubled by his debt and would not come. So Wu asked first for the skins he already had, to bring him sooner. Qilang looked over his old hides: they were moth-eaten and rotten, the hair all fallen out. He was more downcast than ever. When Wu heard of it he rode to his house and did all he could to comfort him. Looking at the spoiled hides, he said, “These are fine too. It was never the fur I wanted.” He rolled up the bare hides and carried them out, and asked Qilang to come along with him. Qilang would not, so Wu went home alone. Qilang thought that this still fell short of repaying Wu. He packed food and went into the mountains, and after several nights he got a tiger, which he sent to Wu whole. Wu was delighted. He laid on a feast and asked him to stay three days. Qilang firmly declined. Wu locked the gates so that he could not leave. The guests, seeing how plain and rough Qilang was, whispered that the young master had made a foolish friend. But Wu attended to Qilang quite unlike all his other guests. He gave him new clothes to change into; Qilang would not take them. Wu waited till he was asleep and secretly changed them, and he had no choice but to accept. After he left, his son came on the old woman’s orders to return the new clothes and ask for the old rags. Wu laughed. “Go home and tell the old lady the old clothes have been unpicked to line shoes.” From then on Qilang sent him hares and deer every day, but when invited he would no longer come.
武一日詣七郎，值出獵未返。媼出，踦門語曰：「再勿引致吾兒，大不懷好意！」武敬禮之，慚而退。半年許，家人忽白：「七郎為爭獵豹，毆死人命，捉將官裏去。」武大驚，馳視之，已械收在獄。見武無言，但云：「此後煩恤老母。」武慘然出；急以重金賂邑宰，又以百金賂仇主。月餘無事，釋七郎歸。母慨然曰：「子髮膚受之武公子，非老身所得而愛惜者矣。但祝公子終百年，無災患，即兒福。」七郎欲詣謝武。母曰：「往則往耳，見武公子勿謝也。小恩可謝，大恩不可謝。」七郎見武；武溫言慰藉，七郎唯唯。家人咸怪其疏；武喜其誠篤，益厚遇之。由是恆數日留公子家。餽遺輒受，不復辭，亦不言報。
一天，武承休去找七郎，恰逢他出獵還沒回來。老婦人走出來，靠著門說：「別再來招引我的兒子，你實在沒安好心！」武承休恭敬地向她行禮，慚愧地退了回去。大約半年後，家人忽然稟報：「七郎為了爭一隻獵獲的豹子，打死了人，被捉到官府去了。」武承休大驚，騎馬趕去探望，七郎已經戴上刑具，關進牢裡。見到武承休，他沒有別的話，只說：「今後煩你照顧我的老母親。」武承休悲傷地出來，趕緊拿重金賄賂邑宰，又拿一百兩銀子賄賂死者家屬。一個多月後，案件平息，七郎被釋放回家。母親感慨地說：「你的身體性命，如今都是武公子給的，已經不是我能夠愛惜保全的了。只盼公子一生平安，沒有災禍，那就是你的福氣。」七郎想去向武承休道謝。母親說：「去就去吧，見到武公子，不要道謝。小恩可以謝，大恩不能謝。」七郎見了武承休，武承休溫言安慰，他只是連聲答應。家人都奇怪他這樣冷淡，武承休卻喜歡他的真誠厚道，對他更加優厚。從此，七郎常常在公子家一住就是幾天。送他東西，他就收下，不再推辭，也不說報答的話。
武一日诣七郎，值出猎未返。媪出，踦门语曰：「再勿引致吾儿，大不怀好意！」武敬礼之，惭而退。半年许，家人忽白：「七郎为争猎豹，殴死人命，捉将官里去。」武大惊，驰视之，已械收在狱。见武无言，但云：「此后烦恤老母。」武惨然出；急以重金赂邑宰，又以百金赂仇主。月余无事，释七郎归。母慨然曰：「子发肤受之武公子，非老身所得而爱惜者矣。但祝公子终百年，无灾患，即儿福。」七郎欲诣谢武。母曰：「往则往耳，见武公子勿谢也。小恩可谢，大恩不可谢。」七郎见武；武温言慰藉，七郎唯唯。家人咸怪其疏；武喜其诚笃，益厚遇之。由是恒数日留公子家。餽遗辄受，不复辞，亦不言报。
一天，武承休去找七郎，恰逢他出猎还没回来。老妇人走出来，靠着门说：“别再来招引我的儿子，你实在没安好心！”武承休恭敬地向她行礼，惭愧地退了回去。大约半年后，家人忽然禀报：“七郎为了争一只猎获的豹子，打死了人，被捉到官府去了。”武承休大惊，骑马赶去探望，七郎已经戴上刑具，关进牢里。见到武承休，他没有别的话，只说：“今后烦你照顾我的老母亲。”武承休悲伤地出来，赶紧拿重金贿赂邑宰，又拿一百两银子贿赂死者家属。一个多月后，案件平息，七郎被释放回家。母亲感慨地说：“你的身体性命，如今都是武公子给的，已经不是我能够爱惜保全的了。只盼公子一生平安，没有灾祸，那就是你的福气。”七郎想去向武承休道谢。母亲说：“去就去吧，见到武公子，不要道谢。小恩可以谢，大恩不能谢。”七郎见了武承休，武承休温言安慰，他只是连声答应。家人都奇怪他这样冷淡，武承休却喜欢他的真诚厚道，对他更加优厚。从此，七郎常常在公子家一住就是几天。送他东西，他就收下，不再推辞，也不说报答的话。
One day Wu went to see Qilang, who was out hunting and not yet back. The old woman came out and, standing in the doorway, said, “Don’t come luring my boy away again. You mean him no good!” Wu bowed to her respectfully and withdrew, ashamed. About half a year later a servant suddenly announced, “Qilang got into a fight over a leopard and beat a man to death. They’ve taken him off to the magistrate.” Wu was horrified and rode to see him. He was already in irons in the jail. When he saw Wu he said nothing but, “From now on, please look after my old mother.” Wu came out stricken. He hurried to bribe the county magistrate with a large sum, and gave a hundred taels of silver to the dead man’s family. After a month or so the case was dropped and Qilang was set free. His mother said with feeling, “Your hair and skin you now owe to Master Wu. They are no longer mine to cherish. I pray only that the young gentleman lives out his hundred years without disaster or trouble. That will be your good fortune.” Qilang wanted to go and thank Wu. His mother said, “Go if you must, but don’t thank Master Wu when you see him. A small kindness can be thanked; a great kindness cannot.” Qilang went to see Wu. Wu comforted him warmly; Qilang only said yes, yes. Wu’s household all thought it strange that he was so cool, but Wu liked his sincerity and treated him more generously still. From then on Qilang often stayed several days at a time at Wu’s house. He took the gifts Wu gave him and no longer refused them, nor did he speak of repaying.