陳生弼教，字明允，燕人也。家貧，從副將軍賈綰作記室。泊舟洞庭。適豬婆龍浮水面，賈射之中背。有魚啣龍尾不去，並獲之。鎖置桅間，奄存氣息；而龍吻張翕，似求援拯。生惻然心動，請於賈而釋之。攜有金創藥，戲敷患處，縱之水中，浮沉踰刻而沒。後年餘，生北歸，復經洞庭，大風覆舟。幸扳一竹簏，漂泊終夜，絓木而止。援岸方升，有浮尸繼至，則其僮僕。力引出之，已就斃矣。慘怛無聊，坐對憩息。但見小山聳翠，細柳搖青，行人絕少，無可問途。自遲明以及辰後，悵悵靡之。忽僮僕肢體微動，喜而捫之。無何，嘔水數斗，醒然頓蘇。相與曝衣石上，近午始燥可著。而枵腸轆轆，飢不可堪。於是越山疾行，冀有村落。纔至半山，聞鳴鏑聲。方疑聽所，有二女郎乘駿馬來，騁如撒菽。各以紅綃抹額，髻插雉尾；著小袖紫衣，腰束綠錦；一挾彈，一臂青鞲。度過嶺頭，則數十騎獵於榛莽，並皆姝麗，裝束若一。生不敢前。有男子步馳，似是馭卒，因就問之。答曰：「此西湖主獵首山也。」生述所來，且告之餒。馭卒解裹糧授之。囑云：「宜即遠避，犯駕當死！」生懼，疾趨下山。茂林中隱有殿閣，謂是蘭若。近臨之，粉垣圍沓，溪水橫流；朱門半啟，石橋通焉。攀扉一望，則臺榭環雲，擬於上苑，又疑是貴家園亭。逡巡而入，橫藤礙路，香花撲人。過數折曲欄，又是別一院宇，垂楊數十株，高拂朱簷。山鳥一鳴，則花片齊飛；深苑微風，則榆錢自落。怡目快心，殆非人世。穿過小亭，有鞦韆一架，上與雲齊；而罥索沉沉，杳無人蹟。因疑地近閨閣，恇怯未敢深入。俄聞馬騰於門，似有女子笑語。生與僮潛伏叢花中。未幾，笑聲漸近。聞一女子曰：「今日獵興不佳，獲禽絕少。」又一女曰：「非是公主射得雁落，幾空勞僕馬也。」無何，紅裝數輩，擁一女郎至亭上坐。禿袖戎裝，年可十四五。鬟多斂霧，腰細驚風，玉蕊瓊英未足方喻。諸女子獻茗熏香，燦如堆錦。移時，女起，歷階而下。一女曰：「公主鞍馬勞頓，尚能鞦韆否？」公主笑諾。遂有駕肩者，捉臂者，褰裙者，持履者，挽扶而上。公主舒皓腕，躡利屣，輕如飛燕，蹴入雲霄。已而扶下。群曰：「公主真仙人也！」嘻笑而去。生睨良久，神志飛揚。迨人聲既寂，出詣鞦韆下，徘徊凝想。見籬下有紅巾，知為群美所遺，喜內袖中。登其亭，見案上設有文具，遂題巾曰：
「雅戲何人擬半仙？分明瓊女散金蓮。廣寒隊裏應相妒，莫信凌波上九天。」
題已，吟誦而出。復尋故徑，則重門扃錮矣。踟躕罔計，返而樓閣亭臺，涉歷幾盡。一女掩入，驚問：「何得來此？」生揖之曰：「失路之人，幸能垂救。」女問：「拾得紅巾否？」生曰：「有之。然已玷染，如何？」因出之。女大驚曰：「汝死無所矣！此公主所常御，塗鴉若此，何能為地？」生失色，哀求脫免。女曰：「竊窺宮儀，罪已不赦。念汝儒冠蘊藉，欲以私意相全；今孽乃自作，將何為計！」遂皇皇持巾去。生心悸肌慄，恨無翅翎，惟延頸俟死。
陳生名叫弼教，字明允，是燕地人。他家境貧寒，在副將軍賈綰手下做記室。有一次，他們把船停泊在洞庭湖上，恰好有一條豬婆龍浮出水面，賈綰一箭射中了它的背。有條魚咬著豬婆龍的尾巴不肯鬆口，也被一起捉了上來。他們把豬婆龍鎖在桅杆旁，它只剩下一口氣，嘴卻不停地張開閉上，彷彿在求救。陳生心生憐憫，向賈綰請求放了它。他隨身帶著金創藥，便抱著試試看的心情，把藥塗在傷口上，然後把它放回水中。豬婆龍在水裡浮浮沉沉，過了一刻多鐘才沉下去。一年多以後，陳生返回北方，又經過洞庭湖，遇上大風，船翻了。他幸好抓住一個竹簍，在水上漂了一夜，竹簍掛住樹木，這才停下來。他攀著河岸剛爬上去，又有一具浮屍漂來，原來是他的僮僕。他用盡力氣把僮僕拖上岸，人卻已經死了。陳生悲痛無措，坐在僮僕身旁歇息。只見四周小山青翠，細柳搖曳，幾乎沒有行人，找不到人問路。他從天剛亮一直等到上午，滿心惆悵，不知往哪裡去。忽然，僮僕的手腳微微動了一下，陳生高興地伸手摸他。沒過多久，僮僕吐出幾鬥水，一下子清醒過來。兩人把衣服攤在石頭上曬，快到中午才曬乾穿上。這時肚子餓得咕咕直叫，實在難以忍受，便快步翻山，希望找到村莊。剛到半山腰，就聽見響箭的聲音。陳生正疑惑聲音從哪裡傳來，兩個年輕女子騎著駿馬奔來，馬蹄飛快，像撒豆子似的。她們額頭上各繫著一條紅綃，髮髻上插著雉尾，穿著窄袖紫衣，腰間束著綠錦。一人挾著彈弓，一人胳膊上套著青色皮護套。越過山頭，只見幾十名騎馬的女子在草木叢中打獵，個個容貌美麗，裝束都一樣。陳生不敢上前。有個男子徒步跑來，看樣子是個馬伕，陳生便過去向他打聽。那人回答：「這是西湖公主在首山打獵。」陳生說明自己怎麼來到這裡，又說兩人飢餓難忍。馬伕解開乾糧包，把食物給了他們，叮囑道：「趕快躲得遠遠的，衝撞了公主的車駕，可是要處死的！」陳生害怕，趕緊下山。茂密的樹林中隱約有些殿堂樓閣，他以為是寺院。走近一看，白色圍牆一重接著一重，一條溪水橫在前面，硃紅大門半開著，有座石橋通向門口。他扶著門往裡看，只見樓臺亭榭環繞在雲氣中，像皇家的上苑，又疑心這是富貴人家的園林。他遲疑了一會兒，還是走了進去。藤蔓橫在路上，花香撲面而來。繞過幾處曲折的欄杆，又到了另一座院子，幾十株垂楊長得很高，枝條拂著硃紅屋簷。山鳥一聲啼鳴，花瓣便紛紛飛起；深深的園子裡微風吹過，榆錢便自行飄落。這景色看得人心曠神怡，簡直不像在人間。穿過一座小亭，有一架鞦韆，高得彷彿與雲齊平，懸著的繩索靜靜下垂，四周不見人影。他猜想這裡已靠近女子的住處，心裡害怕，不敢再往深處走。不一會兒，門口傳來馬蹄聲，似乎還有女子說笑的聲音。陳生和僮僕躲進花叢。沒多久，笑聲漸漸近了。只聽一個女子說：「今天打獵不怎麼盡興，獵物少得很。」另一個女子說：「要不是公主射下那隻雁，差點就讓人馬白忙一場了。」隨後，一群穿著紅衣的女子簇擁著一個年輕姑娘，來到亭上坐下。她穿著短袖戎裝，年紀大約十四五歲，濃密的頭髮盤起，彷彿收攏了一團雲霧；腰肢纖細，彷彿一陣風就能驚動。即使玉雕的花蕊和美玉般的鮮花，也不足以比喻她的美貌。女子們獻上茶，燃起香，聚在一起，燦爛得如同堆疊的錦繡。過了一會兒，姑娘起身，沿著臺階走下來。一個女子問：「公主騎馬勞累，還能盪鞦韆嗎？」公主笑著答應了。於是有人讓她扶著肩膀，有人托住她的胳膊，有人提起她的裙子，有人拿著她的鞋，大家扶著她登上鞦韆。公主伸展雪白的手腕，腳踏輕便的鞋，身子輕得像飛燕，一蹬便蕩入雲霄。隨後，眾人又扶她下來，齊聲說：「公主真是神仙！」說笑著離去了。陳生偷偷看了許久，早已心神飛蕩。等到人聲寂靜，他才出來走到鞦韆下，來回徘徊，出神地想著剛才的情景。他看見籬笆下有條紅巾，知道是那些美人遺落的，便高興地收進袖中。他登上亭子，看見桌上擺著筆墨，就在紅巾上題詩：「這雅緻的遊戲，誰把它比作半個神仙？ 分明是美麗的仙女，舞動著蓮花般的雙腳。 月宮中的仙女們，想必也要彼此嫉妒， 可別讓這踏波的仙子登上九重天。」題完，他一邊吟誦，一邊走出來。再去尋找來時的路，卻發現一道道門都鎖住了。他徘徊不定，想不出辦法，只好回頭，幾乎走遍了所有樓閣亭臺。一個女子悄悄進來，吃驚地問：「你怎麼進到這裡來的？」陳生向她作揖，說：「我是迷了路的人，盼望你能救救我。」女子問：「你有沒有撿到一條紅巾？」陳生說：「撿到了，可是已經被我寫上了字，這可怎麼辦？」說著便取出來。女子大驚，說：「你死定了！這是公主平日用的東西，你竟在上面亂寫成這樣，還怎麼替你求情？」陳生臉色變了，哀求她救自己脫身。女子說：「你偷看宮中女子，本來就犯了不能赦免的罪。我看你是個文雅的讀書人，想私下保全你；如今卻是你自己闖下禍來，還能想什麼辦法！」她慌慌張張地拿著紅巾走了。陳生心驚肉跳，渾身發抖，恨自己沒有翅膀飛走，只能伸著脖子等死。
陈生弼教，字明允，燕人也。家贫，从副将军贾绾作记室。泊舟洞庭。适猪婆龙浮水面，贾射之中背。有鱼啣龙尾不去，并获之。锁置桅间，奄存气息；而龙吻张翕，似求援拯。生恻然心动，请于贾而释之。携有金创药，戏敷患处，纵之水中，浮沉逾刻而没。后年余，生北归，复经洞庭，大风覆舟。幸扳一竹簏，漂泊终夜，絓木而止。援岸方升，有浮尸继至，则其僮仆。力引出之，已就毙矣。惨怛无聊，坐对憩息。但见小山耸翠，细柳摇青，行人绝少，无可问途。自迟明以及辰后，怅怅靡之。忽僮仆肢体微动，喜而扪之。无何，呕水数斗，醒然顿苏。相与曝衣石上，近午始燥可着。而枵肠辘辘，饥不可堪。于是越山疾行，冀有村落。才至半山，闻鸣镝声。方疑听所，有二女郎乘骏马来，骋如撒菽。各以红绡抹额，髻插雉尾；着小袖紫衣，腰束绿锦；一挟弹，一臂青鞲。度过岭头，则数十骑猎于榛莽，并皆姝丽，装束若一。生不敢前。有男子步驰，似是驭卒，因就问之。答曰：「此西湖主猎首山也。」生述所来，且告之馁。驭卒解裹粮授之。嘱云：「宜即远避，犯驾当死！」生惧，疾趋下山。茂林中隐有殿阁，谓是兰若。近临之，粉垣围沓，溪水横流；朱门半启，石桥通焉。攀扉一望，则台榭环云，拟于上苑，又疑是贵家园亭。逡巡而入，横藤碍路，香花扑人。过数折曲栏，又是别一院宇，垂杨数十株，高拂朱檐。山鸟一鸣，则花片齐飞；深苑微风，则榆钱自落。怡目快心，殆非人世。穿过小亭，有秋千一架，上与云齐；而罥索沉沉，杳无人迹。因疑地近闺阁，恇怯未敢深入。俄闻马腾于门，似有女子笑语。生与僮潜伏丛花中。未几，笑声渐近。闻一女子曰：「今日猎兴不佳，获禽绝少。」又一女曰：「非是公主射得雁落，几空劳仆马也。」无何，红装数辈，拥一女郎至亭上坐。秃袖戎装，年可十四五。鬟多敛雾，腰细惊风，玉蕊琼英未足方喻。诸女子献茗熏香，灿如堆锦。移时，女起，历阶而下。一女曰：「公主鞍马劳顿，尚能秋千否？」公主笑诺。遂有驾肩者，捉臂者，褰裙者，持履者，挽扶而上。公主舒皓腕，蹑利屣，轻如飞燕，蹴入云霄。已而扶下。群曰：「公主真仙人也！」嘻笑而去。生睨良久，神志飞扬。迨人声既寂，出诣秋千下，徘徊凝想。见篱下有红巾，知为群美所遗，喜内袖中。登其亭，见案上设有文具，遂题巾曰：
「雅戏何人拟半仙？分明琼女散金莲。广寒队里应相妒，莫信凌波上九天。」
题已，吟诵而出。复寻故径，则重门扃锢矣。踟蹰罔计，返而楼阁亭台，涉历几尽。一女掩入，惊问：「何得来此？」生揖之曰：「失路之人，幸能垂救。」女问：「拾得红巾否？」生曰：「有之。然已玷染，如何？」因出之。女大惊曰：「汝死无所矣！此公主所常御，涂鸦若此，何能为地？」生失色，哀求脱免。女曰：「窃窥宫仪，罪已不赦。念汝儒冠蕴藉，欲以私意相全；今孽乃自作，将何为计！」遂皇皇持巾去。生心悸肌栗，恨无翅翎，惟延颈俟死。
陈生名叫弼教，字明允，是燕地人。他家境贫寒，在副将军贾绾手下做记室。有一次，他们把船停泊在洞庭湖上，恰好有一条猪婆龙浮出水面，贾绾一箭射中了它的背。有条鱼咬着猪婆龙的尾巴不肯松口，也被一起捉了上来。他们把猪婆龙锁在桅杆旁，它只剩下一口气，嘴却不停地张开闭上，仿佛在求救。陈生心生怜悯，向贾绾请求放了它。他随身带着金创药，便抱着试试看的心情，把药涂在伤口上，然后把它放回水中。猪婆龙在水里浮浮沉沉，过了一刻多钟才沉下去。一年多以后，陈生返回北方，又经过洞庭湖，遇上大风，船翻了。他幸好抓住一个竹篓，在水上漂了一夜，竹篓挂住树木，这才停下来。他攀着河岸刚爬上去，又有一具浮尸漂来，原来是他的僮仆。他用尽力气把僮仆拖上岸，人却已经死了。陈生悲痛无措，坐在僮仆身旁歇息。只见四周小山青翠，细柳摇曳，几乎没有行人，找不到人问路。他从天刚亮一直等到上午，满心惆怅，不知往哪里去。忽然，僮仆的手脚微微动了一下，陈生高兴地伸手摸他。没过多久，僮仆吐出几斗水，一下子清醒过来。两人把衣服摊在石头上晒，快到中午才晒干穿上。这时肚子饿得咕咕直叫，实在难以忍受，便快步翻山，希望找到村庄。刚到半山腰，就听见响箭的声音。陈生正疑惑声音从哪里传来，两个年轻女子骑着骏马奔来，马蹄飞快，像撒豆子似的。她们额头上各系着一条红绡，发髻上插着雉尾，穿着窄袖紫衣，腰间束着绿锦。一人挟着弹弓，一人胳膊上套着青色皮护套。越过山头，只见几十名骑马的女子在草木丛中打猎，个个容貌美丽，装束都一样。陈生不敢上前。有个男子徒步跑来，看样子是个马夫，陈生便过去向他打听。那人回答：“这是西湖公主在首山打猎。”陈生说明自己怎么来到这里，又说两人饥饿难忍。马夫解开干粮包，把食物给了他们，叮嘱道：“赶快躲得远远的，冲撞了公主的车驾，可是要处死的！”陈生害怕，赶紧下山。茂密的树林中隐约有些殿堂楼阁，他以为是寺院。走近一看，白色围墙一重接着一重，一条溪水横在前面，朱红大门半开着，有座石桥通向门口。他扶着门往里看，只见楼台亭榭环绕在云气中，像皇家的上苑，又疑心这是富贵人家的园林。他迟疑了一会儿，还是走了进去。藤蔓横在路上，花香扑面而来。绕过几处曲折的栏杆，又到了另一座院子，几十株垂杨长得很高，枝条拂着朱红屋檐。山鸟一声啼鸣，花瓣便纷纷飞起；深深的园子里微风吹过，榆钱便自行飘落。这景色看得人心旷神怡，简直不像在人间。穿过一座小亭，有一架秋千，高得仿佛与云齐平，悬着的绳索静静下垂，四周不见人影。他猜想这里已靠近女子的住处，心里害怕，不敢再往深处走。不一会儿，门口传来马蹄声，似乎还有女子说笑的声音。陈生和僮仆躲进花丛。没多久，笑声渐渐近了。只听一个女子说：“今天打猎不怎么尽兴，猎物少得很。”另一个女子说：“要不是公主射下那只雁，差点就让人马白忙一场了。”随后，一群穿着红衣的女子簇拥着一个年轻姑娘，来到亭上坐下。她穿着短袖戎装，年纪大约十四五岁，浓密的头发盘起，仿佛收拢了一团云雾；腰肢纤细，仿佛一阵风就能惊动。即使玉雕的花蕊和美玉般的鲜花，也不足以比喻她的美貌。女子们献上茶，燃起香，聚在一起，灿烂得如同堆叠的锦绣。过了一会儿，姑娘起身，沿着台阶走下来。一个女子问：“公主骑马劳累，还能荡秋千吗？”公主笑着答应了。于是有人让她扶着肩膀，有人托住她的胳膊，有人提起她的裙子，有人拿着她的鞋，大家扶着她登上秋千。公主伸展雪白的手腕，脚踏轻便的鞋，身子轻得像飞燕，一蹬便荡入云霄。随后，众人又扶她下来，齐声说：“公主真是神仙！”说笑着离去了。陈生偷偷看了许久，早已心神飞荡。等到人声寂静，他才出来走到秋千下，来回徘徊，出神地想着刚才的情景。他看见篱笆下有条红巾，知道是那些美人遗落的，便高兴地收进袖中。他登上亭子，看见桌上摆着笔墨，就在红巾上题诗：“这雅致的游戏，谁把它比作半个神仙？ 分明是美丽的仙女，舞动着莲花般的双脚。 月宫中的仙女们，想必也要彼此嫉妒， 可别让这踏波的仙子登上九重天。”题完，他一边吟诵，一边走出来。再去寻找来时的路，却发现一道道门都锁住了。他徘徊不定，想不出办法，只好回头，几乎走遍了所有楼阁亭台。一个女子悄悄进来，吃惊地问：“你怎么进到这里来的？”陈生向她作揖，说：“我是迷了路的人，盼望你能救救我。”女子问：“你有没有捡到一条红巾？”陈生说：“捡到了，可是已经被我写上了字，这可怎么办？”说着便取出来。女子大惊，说：“你死定了！这是公主平日用的东西，你竟在上面乱写成这样，还怎么替你求情？”陈生脸色变了，哀求她救自己脱身。女子说：“你偷看宫中女子，本来就犯了不能赦免的罪。我看你是个文雅的读书人，想私下保全你；如今却是你自己闯下祸来，还能想什么办法！”她慌慌张张地拿着红巾走了。陈生心惊肉跳，浑身发抖，恨自己没有翅膀飞走，只能伸着脖子等死。
Chen Bijiao, styled Mingyun, was a man of Yan, in the north. His family was poor, and he served as secretary to Jia Wan, an assistant general. Once they moored their boat on Lake Dongting. An alligator happened to come up to the surface, and Jia shot it in the back. A fish had the alligator’s tail in its mouth and would not let go, and they caught it as well. They chained the alligator to the mast. It was barely breathing, but its jaws kept opening and closing, as if it were begging to be saved. Chen was moved to pity and asked Jia to let it go. He had some salve for wounds with him, and half in play he dabbed it on the wound and set the creature back in the water. It floated and sank for a quarter of an hour, and then it was gone. More than a year later Chen was going home to the north and passed Dongting again. A great wind overturned the boat. By luck he caught hold of a bamboo basket and drifted all night, until it snagged on a tree and stopped. He was pulling himself up the bank when a floating corpse came drifting after him: it was his servant boy. He dragged him out with all his strength, but the boy was already dead. Wretched and at a loss, Chen sat down beside him to rest. All he could see were small hills rising green and slender willows waving. There was hardly anyone about, and no one to ask the way. From daybreak until well into the morning he sat there forlorn, with nowhere to go. Suddenly the boy’s limbs twitched. Overjoyed, Chen felt him all over. Before long the boy vomited up several pecks of water and came back to life. Together they spread their clothes on the rocks to dry, and not until nearly noon were they dry enough to wear. But their empty bellies rumbled and their hunger was more than they could bear. So they set off over the hills at a fast pace, hoping to find a village. They were only halfway up when they heard the whistle of arrows. While Chen was still wondering where the sound came from, two young women came riding up on fine horses, galloping like scattered beans. Each wore a band of red silk round her forehead and pheasant tail feathers in her hair; they wore purple jackets with narrow sleeves, belted with green brocade. One carried a pellet bow; the other wore a blue falconer’s guard on her arm. When he came over the ridge, there were dozens of riders hunting in the thickets, all of them lovely girls, all dressed alike. Chen did not dare go nearer. A man came running along on foot, a groom by the look of him, so Chen went up and asked him. “This is the Princess of West Lake hunting on Mount Shou,” the man answered. Chen told him how he had come there, and that they were starving. The groom untied his bundle of food and gave it to him. “Get well away from here, and quickly,” he warned. “Anyone who crosses the royal party must die!” Chen was frightened and hurried down the mountain. In a dense wood he glimpsed halls and pavilions and took them for a temple. When he came closer, there were whitewashed walls all round and a stream flowing across in front; a red gate stood half open, with a stone bridge leading to it. He held on to the door and looked in: terraces and towers were ringed with cloud, like an imperial park. Then he thought it might be the garden of some noble family. He hesitated, then went in. Trailing vines blocked the path, and the scent of the flowers came at him in waves. Past several turns of winding balustrade there was another courtyard, where dozens of weeping willows brushed the high red eaves. When a mountain bird called, the petals flew up all together; when a breeze stirred in the deep garden, the elm seeds fell of themselves. It delighted the eye and gladdened the heart; this could hardly be the world of men. Passing through a small pavilion, he came to a swing that rose level with the clouds. Its ropes hung heavy and still, and there was no trace of anyone. He suspected he was close to the women’s quarters, and in his fear he did not dare go further in. Soon he heard horses prancing at the gate, and what sounded like women laughing and talking. Chen and the boy hid among the flowering bushes. Before long the laughter came closer. He heard a girl say, “The hunting was poor today. We hardly took any game.” Another said, “If the Princess hadn’t shot down that wild goose, we’d have worn out men and horses for nothing.” Presently a crowd of girls in red brought a young lady up to the pavilion and seated her. She was in riding dress with short sleeves, and was perhaps fourteen or fifteen. Her thick hair was gathered like mist, her waist so slender the wind might startle it; jade blossoms were no comparison. The girls served her tea and burned incense, dazzling as heaped brocade. After a while she rose and went down the steps. One girl said, “Princess, you are tired from riding. Could you still manage the swing?” The Princess laughed and said she could. Then one offered her shoulders, one took her arm, one held up her skirts and one held her shoes, and they helped her up. The Princess stretched out her white wrists and, in her pointed slippers, light as a flying swallow, kicked off into the clouds. Then they helped her down. “The Princess is truly an immortal!” they all said, and went off laughing. Chen had watched sidelong for a long time, his spirit soaring. When the voices had died away, he came out and went to the swing, and lingered there, lost in thought. Under the hedge he saw a red kerchief and knew one of the beauties had dropped it. Delighted, he tucked it into his sleeve. He climbed up into the pavilion, and seeing writing things set out on the table, he wrote on the kerchief:
“Who devised this elegant game of ‘half an immortal’? Plainly it is a jade maiden scattering golden lotuses.The ranks of the Palace of Vast Cold must envy her;never let her tread the waves up to the Ninth Heaven.”
When he had written it, he went out chanting it aloud. He looked for the path he had come by, but gate after gate was locked fast. He paced back and forth with no idea what to do, then turned back and wandered through nearly every tower, hall and pavilion. A girl slipped in and asked in alarm, “How did you get in here?” Chen bowed to her. “I have lost my way. I hope you will be kind enough to help me.” “Did you pick up a red kerchief?” she asked. “I did,” said Chen. “But I have soiled it. What shall I do?” And he took it out. She was horrified. “You are a dead man! The Princess uses this every day. You have scrawled all over it like this — how can anything be done for you?” Chen turned pale and begged her to get him off. “Spying on the palace ladies is already a crime beyond pardon,” she said. “Still, seeing you are a refined scholar, I wanted to save you on my own account. But now you have brought this on yourself. What can I do?” And she hurried off in a fluster with the kerchief. Chen’s heart pounded and his flesh crept. He wished he had wings; all he could do was stretch out his neck and wait for death.