萊州諸生彭好古，讀書別業，離家頗遠。中秋未歸，岑寂無偶。念村中無可共語；惟丘生者，是邑名士，而素有隱惡，彭常鄙之。月既上，倍益無聊，不得已，折簡邀丘。飲次，有剝啄者。齋僮出應門，則一書生，將謁主人。彭離席，肅客入。相揖環坐，便詢族居。客曰：「小生廣陵人，與君同姓，字海秋。值此良夜，旅邸倍苦。聞君高雅，遂乃不介而見。」視其人，布衣潔整，談笑風流。彭大喜曰：「是我宗人。今夕何夕，遘此嘉客！」即命酌，款若夙好。察其意，似甚鄙丘；丘仰與攀談，輒傲不為禮。彭代為之慚，因撓亂其詞，請先以俚歌侑飲。乃仰天再咳，歌「扶風豪士之曲」，相與歡笑。客曰：「僕不能韻，莫報陽春。倩代者可乎？」彭言：「如教。」客問：「萊城有名妓無也？」彭答云：「無。」客默然良久，謂齋僮曰：「適喚一人，在門外，可導入之。」僮出，果見一女子逡巡戶外。引之入。年二八已來，宛然若仙。彭驚絕，掖坐。衣柳黃帔；香溢四座。客便慰問：「千里頗煩跋涉也！」女含笑唯唯。彭異之，便致研詰。客曰：「貴鄉苦無佳人，適於西湖舟中喚得來。」謂女曰：「適舟中所唱『薄倖郎曲』，大佳。請再反之。」女歌云：「薄倖郎，牽馬洗春沼。人聲遠，馬聲杳；江天高，山月小。
掉頭去不歸，庭中生白曉。不怨別離多，但愁懽會少。
眠何處？勿作隨風絮。便是不封侯，莫向臨邛去！」客於襪中出玉笛，隨聲便串；曲終笛止。彭驚歎不已，曰：「西湖至此，何止千里，咄嗟招來，得非仙乎？」客曰：「仙何敢言，但視萬里猶庭戶耳。今夕西湖風月，尤盛曩時，不可不一觀也，能從遊否？」彭留心欲覘其異，諾言：「幸甚。」客問：「舟乎，騎乎？」彭思舟坐為逸，答言：「願舟。」客曰：「此處呼舟較遠，天河中當有渡者。」乃以手向空招曰：「舡來舡來！我等要西湖去，不吝償也。」無何，彩船一隻，自空飄落，煙雲繞之。眾俱登。見一人持短棹；棹末密排修翎，形類羽扇；一搖羽清風習習。舟漸上入雲霄，望南游行，其駛如箭。踰刻，舟落水中。但聞絃管敖曹，鳴聲喤聒。出舟一望，月印煙波，游船成市。榜人罷棹，任其自流。細視，真西湖也。客於艙後，取異肴佳釀，懽然對酌。
萊州的生員彭好古在別業讀書，離家很遠。中秋節沒有回家，身邊沒有伴，十分寂寞。他想，村裡沒有什麼可以談得來的人，只有一個丘生，是本縣名士，但一向有些不為人知的惡行，彭好古常常鄙視他。月亮升起來後，他越發無聊，迫不得已，寫了封簡訊邀請丘生。兩人正在喝酒，忽然有人敲門。書童出去開門，見是一個書生，要拜訪主人。彭好古離席，恭敬地迎客進來。大家相互行禮，圍坐下來，彭好古便問客人的姓氏和住處。客人說：「我是廣陵人，與您同姓，字海秋。碰上這樣的好夜晚，住在旅店裡格外難熬。聽說您為人高雅，所以沒有人引薦，就冒昧來拜訪。」看那客人，布衣乾淨整齊，談笑灑脫。彭好古十分高興，說：「原來是我的同宗！今晚是什麼好日子，竟遇上這樣的好客人！」立即叫人斟酒，像款待老朋友一樣招待他。看客人的神情，似乎很鄙視丘生；丘生仰慕他，想與他攀談，他卻態度傲慢，不肯以禮相待。彭好古替丘生難堪，便打斷他們的話，請先唱一支俗曲助酒。他仰起頭，清了兩次嗓子，唱起《扶風豪士之曲》，大家一起歡笑。客人說：「我不會唱歌，不能用同樣的好曲子答謝。請個人代唱，可以嗎？」彭好古說：「聽您的安排。」客人問：「萊州城裡有出名的妓女嗎？」彭好古回答：「沒有。」客人沉默了很久，對書童說：「我剛叫了一個人，她在門外，你去領進來。」書童出去，果然看見一個女子在門外徘徊，便領了進來。她年紀約十六歲，簡直像仙女一樣。彭好古驚歎不已，扶她坐下。她穿著柳黃色的帔，香氣飄滿四座。客人便慰問她：「走了千里路，很辛苦吧！」女子含笑應著。彭好古覺得奇怪，便追問緣由。客人說：「你們這裡實在沒有佳人，我剛才從西湖的船上把她叫來。」又對女子說：「你剛才在船上唱的《薄倖郎曲》很好，請再唱一遍。」女子唱道：「薄情的郎君，牽著馬到春天的池塘洗馬。 人聲已經遠去，馬聲也聽不見了；江上的天空高遠，山上的月亮小小。 你轉身離去，不再回來，庭院裡漸漸露出清晨的白光。 我不怨離別太多，只愁相聚太少。 你在哪裡過夜？別像柳絮一樣隨風飄蕩。 即使不能封侯，也別到臨邛去！」客人從襪子裡取出一支玉笛，隨著歌聲伴奏；歌唱完，笛聲也停了。彭好古驚歎不已，說：「西湖離這裡何止千里，轉眼就能把她叫來，您莫非是仙人？」客人說：「仙人可不敢當，不過在我看來，萬里也就像自家門前的庭院罷了。今晚西湖的風光月色，比以往更美，不可不去看看。您能跟我同遊嗎？」彭好古有心看看他的奇異本領，便答應說：「求之不得。」客人問：「乘船，還是騎馬？」彭好古覺得坐船舒服些，回答：「願意乘船。」客人說：「從這裡叫船，路程有些遠，天河裡應該有擺渡的。」便向空中招手喊道：「船來，船來！我們要到西湖去，報酬不會少！」不一會兒，一隻綵船從空中飄落，煙雲環繞。眾人都上了船，只見一個人拿著短槳，槳的末端密密排列著長羽毛，形狀像羽扇；每搖一下，便有清風徐徐吹來。船漸漸升入雲霄，向南飛去，快得像箭。過了一刻多，船落在水上，只聽四周弦管齊鳴，樂聲喧鬧。走出船艙一看，月光映在煙波上，遊船聚集得像集市。船伕停槳，讓船自行漂流。仔細看去，果然是西湖。客人從船艙後面取出珍奇的菜餚和美酒，大家高高興興地對飲。
莱州诸生彭好古，读书别业，离家颇远。中秋未归，岑寂无偶。念村中无可共语；惟丘生者，是邑名士，而素有隐恶，彭常鄙之。月既上，倍益无聊，不得已，折简邀丘。饮次，有剥啄者。斋僮出应门，则一书生，将谒主人。彭离席，肃客入。相揖环坐，便询族居。客曰：「小生广陵人，与君同姓，字海秋。值此良夜，旅邸倍苦。闻君高雅，遂乃不介而见。」视其人，布衣洁整，谈笑风流。彭大喜曰：「是我宗人。今夕何夕，遘此嘉客！」即命酌，款若夙好。察其意，似甚鄙丘；丘仰与攀谈，辄傲不为礼。彭代为之惭，因挠乱其词，请先以俚歌侑饮。乃仰天再咳，歌「扶风豪士之曲」，相与欢笑。客曰：「仆不能韵，莫报阳春。倩代者可乎？」彭言：「如教。」客问：「莱城有名妓无也？」彭答云：「无。」客默然良久，谓斋僮曰：「适唤一人，在门外，可导入之。」僮出，果见一女子逡巡户外。引之入。年二八已来，宛然若仙。彭惊绝，掖坐。衣柳黄帔；香溢四座。客便慰问：「千里颇烦跋涉也！」女含笑唯唯。彭异之，便致研诘。客曰：「贵乡苦无佳人，适于西湖舟中唤得来。」谓女曰：「适舟中所唱『薄幸郎曲』，大佳。请再反之。」女歌云：「薄幸郎，牵马洗春沼。人声远，马声杳；江天高，山月小。
掉头去不归，庭中生白晓。不怨别离多，但愁懽会少。
眠何处？勿作随风絮。便是不封侯，莫向临邛去！」客于袜中出玉笛，随声便串；曲终笛止。彭惊叹不已，曰：「西湖至此，何止千里，咄嗟招来，得非仙乎？」客曰：「仙何敢言，但视万里犹庭户耳。今夕西湖风月，尤盛曩时，不可不一观也，能从游否？」彭留心欲觇其异，诺言：「幸甚。」客问：「舟乎，骑乎？」彭思舟坐为逸，答言：「愿舟。」客曰：「此处呼舟较远，天河中当有渡者。」乃以手向空招曰：「舡来舡来！我等要西湖去，不吝偿也。」无何，彩船一只，自空飘落，烟云绕之。众俱登。见一人持短棹；棹末密排修翎，形类羽扇；一摇羽清风习习。舟渐上入云霄，望南游行，其驶如箭。逾刻，舟落水中。但闻弦管敖曹，鸣声喤聒。出舟一望，月印烟波，游船成市。榜人罢棹，任其自流。细视，真西湖也。客于舱后，取异肴佳酿，懽然对酌。
莱州的生员彭好古在别业读书，离家很远。中秋节没有回家，身边没有伴，十分寂寞。他想，村里没有什么可以谈得来的人，只有一个丘生，是本县名士，但一向有些不为人知的恶行，彭好古常常鄙视他。月亮升起来后，他越发无聊，迫不得已，写了封短信邀请丘生。两人正在喝酒，忽然有人敲门。书童出去开门，见是一个书生，要拜访主人。彭好古离席，恭敬地迎客进来。大家相互行礼，围坐下来，彭好古便问客人的姓氏和住处。客人说：“我是广陵人，与您同姓，字海秋。碰上这样的好夜晚，住在旅店里格外难熬。听说您为人高雅，所以没有人引荐，就冒昧来拜访。”看那客人，布衣干净整齐，谈笑洒脱。彭好古十分高兴，说：“原来是我的同宗！今晚是什么好日子，竟遇上这样的好客人！”立即叫人斟酒，像款待老朋友一样招待他。看客人的神情，似乎很鄙视丘生；丘生仰慕他，想与他攀谈，他却态度傲慢，不肯以礼相待。彭好古替丘生难堪，便打断他们的话，请先唱一支俗曲助酒。他仰起头，清了两次嗓子，唱起《扶风豪士之曲》，大家一起欢笑。客人说：“我不会唱歌，不能用同样的好曲子答谢。请个人代唱，可以吗？”彭好古说：“听您的安排。”客人问：“莱州城里有出名的妓女吗？”彭好古回答：“没有。”客人沉默了很久，对书童说：“我刚叫了一个人，她在门外，你去领进来。”书童出去，果然看见一个女子在门外徘徊，便领了进来。她年纪约十六岁，简直像仙女一样。彭好古惊叹不已，扶她坐下。她穿着柳黄色的帔，香气飘满四座。客人便慰问她：“走了千里路，很辛苦吧！”女子含笑应着。彭好古觉得奇怪，便追问缘由。客人说：“你们这里实在没有佳人，我刚才从西湖的船上把她叫来。”又对女子说：“你刚才在船上唱的《薄幸郎曲》很好，请再唱一遍。”女子唱道：“薄情的郎君，牵着马到春天的池塘洗马。 人声已经远去，马声也听不见了；江上的天空高远，山上的月亮小小。 你转身离去，不再回来，庭院里渐渐露出清晨的白光。 我不怨离别太多，只愁相聚太少。 你在哪里过夜？别像柳絮一样随风飘荡。 即使不能封侯，也别到临邛去！”客人从袜子里取出一支玉笛，随着歌声伴奏；歌唱完，笛声也停了。彭好古惊叹不已，说：“西湖离这里何止千里，转眼就能把她叫来，您莫非是仙人？”客人说：“仙人可不敢当，不过在我看来，万里也就像自家门前的庭院罢了。今晚西湖的风光月色，比以往更美，不可不去看看。您能跟我同游吗？”彭好古有心看看他的奇异本领，便答应说：“求之不得。”客人问：“乘船，还是骑马？”彭好古觉得坐船舒服些，回答：“愿意乘船。”客人说：“从这里叫船，路程有些远，天河里应该有摆渡的。”便向空中招手喊道：“船来，船来！我们要到西湖去，报酬不会少！”不一会儿，一只彩船从空中飘落，烟云环绕。众人都上了船，只见一个人拿着短桨，桨的末端密密排列着长羽毛，形状像羽扇；每摇一下，便有清风徐徐吹来。船渐渐升入云霄，向南飞去，快得像箭。过了一刻多，船落在水上，只听四周弦管齐鸣，乐声喧闹。走出船舱一看，月光映在烟波上，游船聚集得像集市。船夫停桨，让船自行漂流。仔细看去，果然是西湖。客人从船舱后面取出珍奇的菜肴和美酒，大家高高兴兴地对饮。
Peng Haogu, a licentiate of Laizhou, was studying at his country lodge, a good way from home. At the Mid-Autumn Festival he did not go home, and he was lonely, with no one for company. There was no one in the village worth talking to except a scholar named Qiu, a man of some name in the county, who had long had a secret vice; Peng had always despised him. When the moon rose he felt twice as dreary, and with nothing else for it he wrote a note inviting Qiu. While they were drinking, someone knocked. The study boy went to answer: it was a young scholar who wished to call on the master. Peng left his seat and bowed the guest in. They exchanged bows and sat down together, and Peng asked about his family and where he lived. “I am from Guangling,” said the guest. “My surname is the same as yours, and my courtesy name is Haiqiu. On so fine a night an inn is twice as dreary. I heard you were a man of refinement, so I have come without an introduction.” Peng looked him over: his cotton clothes were clean and neat, and his talk was easy and charming. Peng was delighted. “A kinsman of mine! What night is this, that brings me so fine a guest?” He called for wine at once and treated him like an old friend. The guest seemed to despise Qiu thoroughly. When Qiu looked up to him and tried to make conversation, he was haughty and would not return the courtesy. Peng was embarrassed for Qiu, so he broke into their talk and offered to start the drinking with a rustic song. He threw back his head, cleared his throat twice and sang the Song of the Hero of Fufeng, and they all laughed and made merry. “I cannot sing,” said the guest, “and have nothing to answer so fine a song. May I get someone to sing in my place?” “As you wish,” said Peng. “Are there any famous courtesans in Laizhou?” asked the guest. “No,” said Peng. The guest was silent a long while. Then he said to the study boy, “I have just called someone. She is outside the gate. Bring her in.” The boy went out and found, sure enough, a young woman hesitating outside the door. He showed her in. She was about sixteen, and looked every bit an immortal. Peng was astounded and helped her to a seat. She wore a willow-yellow cape, and her fragrance filled the room. The guest asked her kindly, “A thousand li — that was a hard journey for you!” She smiled and murmured yes. Peng thought this strange and pressed him with questions. “Your part of the world is sadly short of beauties,” said the guest, “so I called her just now from a boat on West Lake.” To the girl he said, “The song you sang in the boat just now, ‘The Faithless Lover’, was very fine. Please sing it again.” She sang: “Faithless lover, leading your horse to bathe in the spring pool. Voices far away, hoofbeats gone; the sky high over the river, the moon small over the hills.
You turned your head and left and did not come back;in the courtyard the dawn grows white.I do not grieve that our partings are many,only that our meetings are so few.
Where do you sleep tonight? Do not drift like willow down on the wind. Even if you never win a lord’s title, do not go to Linqiong!” The guest took a jade flute out of his sock and played along with her voice; when the song ended, the flute stopped. Peng could not stop marvelling. “West Lake is far more than a thousand li from here, and you called her in the blink of an eye. Are you not an immortal?” “I would not dare call myself an immortal,” said the guest. “It is only that ten thousand li are to me like the courtyard outside my door. The wind and moon on West Lake tonight are finer than ever; you really must see them. Will you come along?” Peng, curious to see what strange things he could do, agreed: “I would be delighted.” “By boat or on horseback?” asked the guest. Peng thought sitting in a boat would be easier, and said, “By boat.” “It is a long way to call a boat from here,” said the guest, “but there should be a ferry on the River of Heaven.” He beckoned at the sky. “Boat, come here! Boat, come here! We want to go to West Lake, and we will pay well!” Before long a painted boat came drifting down out of the sky, wrapped in mist and cloud. They all climbed in. There was a man holding a short oar. Its blade was set close with long feathers, like a feather fan, and at each stroke a cool breeze blew. The boat rose slowly into the clouds and sailed south, swift as an arrow. After a quarter of an hour it came down on water. All around was the din of strings and pipes, a clamour of music. They stepped out and looked: the moon lay on the misty waves, and the pleasure boats were crowded like a market. The boatman shipped his oar and let the boat drift. Peng looked closely: it really was West Lake. From the back of the cabin the guest brought out rare dishes and fine wine, and they drank together merrily.
少間，一樓船漸近，相傍而行。隔窗以窺，中有二三人，圍棋喧笑。客飛一觥向女曰：「引此送君行。」女飲間，彭依戀徘徊，惟恐其去，蹴之以足。女斜波送盼。彭益動，請要後期。女曰：「如相見愛，但問娟娘名字，無不知者。」客即以彭綾巾授女，曰：「我為若代訂三年之約。」即起，托女子於掌中，曰：「仙乎，仙乎！」乃扳鄰窗，捉女人，窗目如盤，女伏身蛇遊而進，殊不覺隘。俄聞鄰舟曰：「娟娘醒矣。」舟即蕩去。遙見舟已就泊，舟中人紛紛並去，游興頓消。遂與客言，欲一登岸，略同眺矚。纔作商榷，舟已自攏。因而離舟翔步，覺有里餘。客後至，牽一馬來，令彭捉之。即復去，曰：「待再假兩騎來。」久之不至。行人已稀；仰視斜月西轉，天色向曙。丘亦不知何往。捉馬營營，進退無主。振轡至泊舟所，則人船俱失。念腰橐空匱，倍益憂皇。天大明，見馬上有小錯囊；探之，得白金三四兩。買食凝待，不覺向午。計不如暫訪娟娘，可以徐察丘耗。比訊娟娘名字，並無知者，興轉蕭索。次日遂行。馬調良，幸不蹇劣，半月始歸。方三人之乘舟而上也，齋僮歸白：「主人已仙去。」舉家哀涕，謂其不返。彭歸，繫馬而入。家人驚喜集問，彭始具白其異。因念獨還鄉井，恐丘家聞而致詰；戒家人勿播。語次，道馬所由來。眾以仙人所遺，便悉詣廄驗視。及至，則馬頓渺，但有丘生，以草韁縶櫪邊。駭極，呼彭出視。見丘垂首棧下，面色灰死，問之不言，兩眸啟閉而已。彭大不忍，解扶榻上，若喪魂魄。灌以湯，稍稍能咽。中夜少蘇，急欲登廁；扶掖而往，下馬糞數枚。又少飲啜，始能言。彭就榻研問之。丘云：「下船後，彼引我閒語。至空處，戲拍項領，遂迷悶顛踣。伏定少刻，自顧已馬。心亦醒悟，但不能言耳。是大辱恥，誠不可以告妻子，乞勿洩也！」彭諾之，命僕馬馳送歸。彭自是不能忘情於娟娘。
過了一會兒，一隻樓船漸漸靠近，與他們的船並排前行。隔著窗子看去，裡面有兩三個人，正在下棋，喧鬧說笑。客人把一杯酒遞給女子，說：「喝了這杯，我就送你回去。」女子喝酒時，彭好古依依不捨，生怕她離開，便用腳輕輕碰她。女子斜著眼睛向他送來秋波。彭好古更加動情，請她約定以後相見的日子。女子說：「您若是喜歡我，只管打聽娟娘這個名字，沒有人不知道。」客人便把彭好古的綾巾交給女子，說：「我替你們約定，三年後再見。」隨即站起來，把女子托在手掌上，說：「仙人啊，仙人啊！」接著攀住鄰船的窗子，把女子送過去。窗格的空隙只有盤子大小，女子伏下身子，像蛇一樣遊了進去，竟絲毫不覺得狹窄。不一會兒，聽見鄰船有人說：「娟娘醒了。」那隻船隨即划走。遠遠看見船已靠岸，船上的人紛紛離去，彭好古的遊興頓時消失，便對客人說，想上岸一起略看看風景。才剛商量，船已經自行靠岸。他們離船散步，覺得走了一里多。客人隨後趕來，牽著一匹馬，讓彭好古牽住，便又離開，說：「等我再借兩匹馬來。」他去了很久也不回來。路上的行人已經稀少，抬頭看時，斜月向西落去，天快亮了，丘生也不知去了哪裡。彭好古牽著馬來回走動，不知該走還是該留。他騎馬來到停船的地方，人和船卻都不見了。想到自己口袋裡沒有錢，越發憂慮驚慌。天大亮後，他發現馬上有個繡花小袋，伸手一摸，得到三四兩銀子。他買些東西吃，守在那裡等，不知不覺已近中午。想來還不如暫且去找娟娘，也可以慢慢打聽丘生的訊息。可是打聽娟娘這個名字，竟沒有人知道，他更加心灰意冷。第二天，便動身回家。這匹馬溫順好騎，幸好也不遲鈍無力，走了半個月，才回到家裡。當初他們三人乘船升空時，書童回家報告說：「主人已經跟著仙人去了。」全家悲傷流淚，都以為他不會再回來。彭好古回到家，把馬拴好才進門。家裡人又驚又喜，圍過來詢問，他這才把奇遇全說了。接著想到自己獨自回鄉，恐怕丘家聽說後會來追問，便告誡家裡人不要傳出去。說話間，他講起馬的來歷。眾人聽說是仙人留下的，都到馬廄裡去看。到了那裡，馬忽然不見了，只有丘生被草繩拴在馬槽旁。眾人驚駭極了，叫彭好古出來看。只見丘生在馬廄裡低垂著頭，臉色灰白，像死人一樣，問他話也不回答，只有兩隻眼睛一開一合。彭好古十分不忍，解開繩子，扶他到床上，他像丟了魂魄。給他灌些湯，才漸漸能嚥下去。半夜裡，他稍微清醒，急著要上廁所，眾人扶他過去，解出幾塊馬糞。又喝了些湯水，這才說得出話。彭好古來到床邊，仔細問他。丘生說：「下船以後，他拉著我閒聊。到了沒人的地方，他像開玩笑似的拍了拍我的後頸，我便昏迷倒地。趴了一會兒，再看自己，已經成了馬。心裡倒是清醒，只是不能說話。這是莫大的恥辱，實在不能告訴妻子兒女，求您不要洩露！」彭好古答應了，吩咐僕人騎馬趕緊送他回家。從此，彭好古始終忘不了娟娘。
少间，一楼船渐近，相傍而行。隔窗以窥，中有二三人，围棋喧笑。客飞一觥向女曰：「引此送君行。」女饮间，彭依恋徘徊，惟恐其去，蹴之以足。女斜波送盼。彭益动，请要后期。女曰：「如相见爱，但问娟娘名字，无不知者。」客即以彭绫巾授女，曰：「我为若代订三年之约。」即起，托女子于掌中，曰：「仙乎，仙乎！」乃扳邻窗，捉女人，窗目如盘，女伏身蛇游而进，殊不觉隘。俄闻邻舟曰：「娟娘醒矣。」舟即荡去。遥见舟已就泊，舟中人纷纷并去，游兴顿消。遂与客言，欲一登岸，略同眺瞩。才作商榷，舟已自拢。因而离舟翔步，觉有里余。客后至，牵一马来，令彭捉之。即复去，曰：「待再假两骑来。」久之不至。行人已稀；仰视斜月西转，天色向曙。丘亦不知何往。捉马营营，进退无主。振辔至泊舟所，则人船俱失。念腰橐空匮，倍益忧皇。天大明，见马上有小错囊；探之，得白金三四两。买食凝待，不觉向午。计不如暂访娟娘，可以徐察丘耗。比讯娟娘名字，并无知者，兴转萧索。次日遂行。马调良，幸不蹇劣，半月始归。方三人之乘舟而上也，斋僮归白：「主人已仙去。」举家哀涕，谓其不返。彭归，系马而入。家人惊喜集问，彭始具白其异。因念独还乡井，恐丘家闻而致诘；戒家人勿播。语次，道马所由来。众以仙人所遗，便悉诣厩验视。及至，则马顿渺，但有丘生，以草缰絷枥边。骇极，呼彭出视。见丘垂首栈下，面色灰死，问之不言，两眸启闭而已。彭大不忍，解扶榻上，若丧魂魄。灌以汤，稍稍能咽。中夜少苏，急欲登厕；扶掖而往，下马粪数枚。又少饮啜，始能言。彭就榻研问之。丘云：「下船后，彼引我闲语。至空处，戏拍项领，遂迷闷颠踣。伏定少刻，自顾已马。心亦醒悟，但不能言耳。是大辱耻，诚不可以告妻子，乞勿泄也！」彭诺之，命仆马驰送归。彭自是不能忘情于娟娘。
过了一会儿，一只楼船渐渐靠近，与他们的船并排前行。隔着窗子看去，里面有两三个人，正在下棋，喧闹说笑。客人把一杯酒递给女子，说：“喝了这杯，我就送你回去。”女子喝酒时，彭好古依依不舍，生怕她离开，便用脚轻轻碰她。女子斜着眼睛向他送来秋波。彭好古更加动情，请她约定以后相见的日子。女子说：“您若是喜欢我，只管打听娟娘这个名字，没有人不知道。”客人便把彭好古的绫巾交给女子，说：“我替你们约定，三年后再见。”随即站起来，把女子托在手掌上，说：“仙人啊，仙人啊！”接着攀住邻船的窗子，把女子送过去。窗格的空隙只有盘子大小，女子伏下身子，像蛇一样游了进去，竟丝毫不觉得狭窄。不一会儿，听见邻船有人说：“娟娘醒了。”那只船随即划走。远远看见船已靠岸，船上的人纷纷离去，彭好古的游兴顿时消失，便对客人说，想上岸一起略看看风景。才刚商量，船已经自行靠岸。他们离船散步，觉得走了一里多。客人随后赶来，牵着一匹马，让彭好古牵住，便又离开，说：“等我再借两匹马来。”他去了很久也不回来。路上的行人已经稀少，抬头看时，斜月向西落去，天快亮了，丘生也不知去了哪里。彭好古牵着马来回走动，不知该走还是该留。他骑马来到停船的地方，人和船却都不见了。想到自己口袋里没有钱，越发忧虑惊慌。天大亮后，他发现马上有个绣花小袋，伸手一摸，得到三四两银子。他买些东西吃，守在那里等，不知不觉已近中午。想来还不如暂且去找娟娘，也可以慢慢打听丘生的消息。可是打听娟娘这个名字，竟没有人知道，他更加心灰意冷。第二天，便动身回家。这匹马温顺好骑，幸好也不迟钝无力，走了半个月，才回到家里。当初他们三人乘船升空时，书童回家报告说：“主人已经跟着仙人去了。”全家悲伤流泪，都以为他不会再回来。彭好古回到家，把马拴好才进门。家里人又惊又喜，围过来询问，他这才把奇遇全说了。接着想到自己独自回乡，恐怕丘家听说后会来追问，便告诫家里人不要传出去。说话间，他讲起马的来历。众人听说是仙人留下的，都到马厩里去看。到了那里，马忽然不见了，只有丘生被草绳拴在马槽旁。众人惊骇极了，叫彭好古出来看。只见丘生在马厩里低垂着头，脸色灰白，像死人一样，问他话也不回答，只有两只眼睛一开一合。彭好古十分不忍，解开绳子，扶他到床上，他像丢了魂魄。给他灌些汤，才渐渐能咽下去。半夜里，他稍微清醒，急着要上厕所，众人扶他过去，解出几块马粪。又喝了些汤水，这才说得出话。彭好古来到床边，仔细问他。丘生说：“下船以后，他拉着我闲聊。到了没人的地方，他像开玩笑似的拍了拍我的后颈，我便昏迷倒地。趴了一会儿，再看自己，已经成了马。心里倒是清醒，只是不能说话。这是莫大的耻辱，实在不能告诉妻子儿女，求您不要泄露！”彭好古答应了，吩咐仆人骑马赶紧送他回家。从此，彭好古始终忘不了娟娘。
Soon a big pleasure boat with an upper deck drew near and sailed alongside. Peering through its window, they saw two or three men playing go and laughing noisily. The guest sent a cup flying to the girl. “Drain this, and I will send you on your way.” While she drank, Peng, loath to part with her and afraid she would go, nudged her with his foot. She gave him a sidelong glance. Peng was more stirred than ever and begged her to name a day to meet again. “If you care for me,” she said, “just ask for Juanniang. Everyone knows the name.” The guest took Peng’s silk kerchief and gave it to her. “Let me fix a promise for you: three years.” He stood, lifted her up on the palm of his hand, and said, “An immortal! An immortal!” Then he pulled open the window of the next boat and put her in. The openings of the window were no bigger than a plate, but she lay flat and slid through like a snake, and it seemed no tight squeeze at all. A moment later they heard someone in the other boat say, “Juanniang has woken up.” Then that boat swung away. In the distance they saw it moor, and the people in it all went off together. Peng’s pleasure in the outing was gone at once. He told the guest he would like to go ashore and look around a little together. He had barely raised it when the boat came in to the bank of its own accord. They left the boat and strolled, a li or more as Peng reckoned. The guest came up behind him leading a horse and had Peng hold it. Then he went off again, saying, “I will go and borrow two more.” He was gone a long time and did not come back. The crowds had thinned. Looking up, Peng saw that the slanting moon had turned west and the sky was getting light. Qiu, too, had gone who knew where. Holding the horse, Peng wandered back and forth, not knowing whether to go or stay. He shook the reins and rode to where the boat had moored, but boat and men were both gone. Thinking of his empty purse, he grew more frightened than ever. In broad daylight he noticed a small embroidered bag on the horse. Inside he found three or four taels of silver. He bought food and waited, and before he knew it was nearly noon. He decided he had better look for Juanniang for the moment, and meanwhile find out what had become of Qiu. But when he asked after Juanniang, no one knew the name, and his spirits sank. The next day he set out. The horse was well trained and, luckily, no sluggard; even so it was half a month before he got home. Back when the three of them had boarded the boat and risen into the sky, the study boy had gone home and reported, “The master has gone off with the immortals.” The whole family wept, sure he would never return. Peng got home, tied up the horse and went in. The household gathered round in astonishment and joy, asking questions, and Peng told them the whole strange story. Then it struck him that he had come home alone, and if Qiu’s family heard of it they would demand to know where Qiu was. He warned the household not to spread it. As he talked, he told them where the horse came from. Since it was a gift from an immortal, they all went to the stable to see it. When they got there, the horse had vanished. There was only Qiu, tied by a straw halter beside the trough. Horrified, they called Peng out to see. Qiu stood with his head hanging under the stall, his face ashen like a dead man’s. He said nothing when spoken to; his eyes only opened and shut. Peng could not bear it. He untied him and helped him onto a bed. Qiu lay as if his soul had left him. They poured broth into him, and little by little he could swallow. In the middle of the night he came round a little and urgently needed the privy. They helped him there, and he passed several lumps of horse dung. After a little more to drink, he could speak at last. Peng sat by the bed and questioned him. “After we left the boat,” said Qiu, “he took me aside to chat. When we came to an empty spot he slapped the back of my neck as a joke, and I blacked out and fell. I lay there a moment, and when I looked at myself I was a horse. My mind was clear; I just could not speak. This is a great disgrace. I truly cannot tell my wife and children. Please don’t let it out!” Peng promised, and had a servant take him home quickly on horseback. From then on Peng could not stop thinking of Juanniang.