南三復，晉陽世家也。有別墅，去所居十里餘，每馳騎日一詣之。適遇雨，途中有小村，見一農人家，門內寬敞，因投止焉。近村人固皆威重南。少頃，主人出邀，跼蹐甚恭。入其舍斗如。客既坐，主人始操篲，殷勤氾掃。既而潑蜜為茶。命之坐，始敢坐。問其姓名，自言：「廷章，姓竇。」未幾，進酒烹雛，給奉周至。有笄女行炙，時止戶外，稍稍露其半體，年十五六，端妙無比。南心動。雨歇既歸，繫念綦切。
南三復是晉陽世家子弟。他有一座別墅，離住處十多里，每天都騎馬去一趟。有一次，他在路上遇到下雨，附近有個小村莊，見一家農戶的大門裡面十分寬敞，就進去避雨。附近村民本來都敬畏南三復。不一會兒，主人出來請他進屋，拘謹小心，十分恭敬。進了屋，才發現屋子小得像個鬥。客人坐下後，主人才拿起掃帚，忙著四處打掃，接著用水衝了蜂蜜當茶。南三復叫他坐，他才敢坐下。問起姓名，他說：「我叫廷章，姓竇。」沒多久，他端來酒，又煮了小雞，招待得十分周到。一個已經挽起髮髻的姑娘來送烤肉，不時停在門外，只露出半邊身子。她十五六歲，容貌端莊秀美，無人可比。南三復動了心。雨停後，他回了家，卻一直惦記著她，思念得十分厲害。
南三复，晋阳世家也。有别墅，去所居十里余，每驰骑日一诣之。适遇雨，途中有小村，见一农人家，门内宽敞，因投止焉。近村人固皆威重南。少顷，主人出邀，跼蹐甚恭。入其舍斗如。客既坐，主人始操篲，殷勤泛扫。既而泼蜜为茶。命之坐，始敢坐。问其姓名，自言：「廷章，姓窦。」未几，进酒烹雏，给奉周至。有笄女行炙，时止户外，稍稍露其半体，年十五六，端妙无比。南心动。雨歇既归，系念綦切。
南三复是晋阳世家子弟。他有一座别墅，离住处十多里，每天都骑马去一趟。有一次，他在路上遇到下雨，附近有个小村庄，见一家农户的大门里面十分宽敞，就进去避雨。附近村民本来都敬畏南三复。不一会儿，主人出来请他进屋，拘谨小心，十分恭敬。进了屋，才发现屋子小得像个斗。客人坐下后，主人才拿起扫帚，忙着四处打扫，接着用水冲了蜂蜜当茶。南三复叫他坐，他才敢坐下。问起姓名，他说：“我叫廷章，姓窦。”没多久，他端来酒，又煮了小鸡，招待得十分周到。一个已经挽起发髻的姑娘来送烤肉，不时停在门外，只露出半边身子。她十五六岁，容貌端庄秀美，无人可比。南三复动了心。雨停后，他回了家，却一直惦记着她，思念得十分厉害。
Nan Sanfu came of an old, established family of Jinyang. He had a country house more than ten li from where he lived, and rode out to it once every day. Once he was caught in the rain on the way. There was a small village along the road, and seeing a farmhouse with a roomy yard inside the gate, he went in for shelter. The people of the villages round about all stood in awe of Nan. In a moment the master of the house came out to invite him in, bowing and shuffling most respectfully. The room he was led into was no bigger than a grain measure. When the guest was seated, the host took up a broom and swept all around, eager to please. Then he stirred honey into water to serve as tea. Only when Nan told him to sit did he dare to sit. Asked his name, he said, “Tingzhang. My surname is Dou.” Before long he brought out wine and cooked a young chicken, and waited on his guest with every attention. A girl old enough to wear the hairpin brought in the roast meat. Now and then she stopped outside the door, half of her showing. She was fifteen or sixteen, and lovely beyond compare. Nan’s heart was stirred. When the rain stopped he went home, but he could not stop thinking of her.
越日，具粟帛往酬，借此階進。是後常一過竇，時攜肴酒，相與留連。女漸稔，不甚忌避，輒奔走其前。睨之，則低鬟微笑。南益惑焉，無三日不往者。一日，值竇不在，坐良久，女出應客。南捉臂狎之。女慙急，峻拒曰：「奴雖貧，要嫁，何貴倨凌人也！」時南失偶，便揖之曰：「倘獲憐眷，定不他娶。」女要誓；南指矢天日，以堅永約，女乃允之。自此為始，瞰竇他出，即過繾綣。女促之曰：「桑中之約，不可長也。日在帡幪之下，倘肯賜以姻好，父母必以為榮，當無不諧。宜速為計！」南諾之。轉念農家豈堪匹耦？姑假其詞以因循之。
第二天，南三復帶著糧食和綢緞去答謝，借這個機會同竇家親近。此後，他常去竇家，有時帶著酒菜，兩人一起飲酒，久久不走。姑娘漸漸同他熟悉了，不再怎麼迴避，常在他面前來來往往。他斜眼看她，她就低下頭微笑。南三復越發迷戀她，隔不到三天就要去一趟。一天，正趕上竇廷章不在家，南三復坐了許久，姑娘出來招待他。南三復抓住她的胳膊，動手調戲。姑娘又羞又急，嚴厲地拒絕說：「我雖然窮，也是要正經嫁人的，你怎麼能仗著身份高貴，這樣傲慢地欺負人！」當時南三復的妻子已經去世，他便向她作揖說：「你若肯愛我，我一定不再娶別人。」姑娘要他發誓，南三復便指著天上的太陽起誓，保證永遠不變，她才答應了。從此，南三復一見竇廷章外出，就來同她親熱。姑娘催他說：「這樣偷偷約會，不能長久。我們家一直受你的庇護，你若肯同我成親，父母一定覺得光榮，婚事不會有什麼阻礙。你該趕快安排！」南三復答應了，心裡卻又想，農家的女兒怎麼配得上自己？姑且用好話哄著她，拖延下去。
越日，具粟帛往酬，借此阶进。是后常一过窦，时携肴酒，相与留连。女渐稔，不甚忌避，辄奔走其前。睨之，则低鬟微笑。南益惑焉，无三日不往者。一日，值窦不在，坐良久，女出应客。南捉臂狎之。女慙急，峻拒曰：「奴虽贫，要嫁，何贵倨凌人也！」时南失偶，便揖之曰：「倘获怜眷，定不他娶。」女要誓；南指矢天日，以坚永约，女乃允之。自此为始，瞰窦他出，即过缱绻。女促之曰：「桑中之约，不可长也。日在帡幪之下，倘肯赐以姻好，父母必以为荣，当无不谐。宜速为计！」南诺之。转念农家岂堪匹耦？姑假其词以因循之。
第二天，南三复带着粮食和绸缎去答谢，借这个机会同窦家亲近。此后，他常去窦家，有时带着酒菜，两人一起饮酒，久久不走。姑娘渐渐同他熟悉了，不再怎么回避，常在他面前来来往往。他斜眼看她，她就低下头微笑。南三复越发迷恋她，隔不到三天就要去一趟。一天，正赶上窦廷章不在家，南三复坐了许久，姑娘出来招待他。南三复抓住她的胳膊，动手调戏。姑娘又羞又急，严厉地拒绝说：“我虽然穷，也是要正经嫁人的，你怎么能仗着身份高贵，这样傲慢地欺负人！”当时南三复的妻子已经去世，他便向她作揖说：“你若肯爱我，我一定不再娶别人。”姑娘要他发誓，南三复便指着天上的太阳起誓，保证永远不变，她才答应了。从此，南三复一见窦廷章外出，就来同她亲热。姑娘催他说：“这样偷偷约会，不能长久。我们家一直受你的庇护，你若肯同我成亲，父母一定觉得光荣，婚事不会有什么阻碍。你该赶快安排！”南三复答应了，心里却又想，农家的女儿怎么配得上自己？姑且用好话哄着她，拖延下去。
The next day he took grain and silk to repay the man, and used this as a step to get closer. After that he often dropped in on Dou, sometimes bringing food and wine, and would stay a long while. The girl grew used to him and no longer kept out of his way; she would hurry back and forth in front of him. When he looked at her sidelong, she lowered her head and smiled. Nan was more infatuated than ever, and never let three days pass without going. One day Dou happened to be out. Nan sat a long while, and the girl came out to see to the guest. Nan seized her arm and took liberties with her. Ashamed and frantic, she pushed him away sternly. “I may be poor, but I mean to be married properly. How can you be so proud and bully people!” Nan had lost his wife at the time, so he bowed to her and said, “If you will take pity on me, I will marry no one else.” She demanded an oath. Nan swore by the sun in heaven that the promise would hold forever, and then she gave in. From then on, whenever he saw that Dou had gone out, he came over and they made love. The girl pressed him. “Meetings among the mulberries can’t go on for long. We live under your protection every day. If you would grant us a marriage, my parents would think it an honour; nothing could stand in the way. You must arrange it quickly!” Nan agreed. But on second thought: how could a farmer’s daughter be a fit match for him? For now he would use words to put her off.
會媒來為議姻於大家；初尚躊躇，既聞貌美財豐，志遂決。女以體孕，催併益急，南遂絕跡不往。無何，女臨蓐，產一男。父怒搒女。女以情告，且言：「南要我矣。」竇乃釋女，使人問南；南立即不承。竇乃棄兒，益扑女。女暗哀鄰婦，告南以苦。南亦置之。女夜亡，視棄兒猶活，遂抱以奔南。款關而告閽者曰：「但得主人一言，我可不死。彼即不念我，寧不念兒耶？」閽人具以達南，南戒勿內。女倚戶悲啼，五更始不復聞。質明視之，女抱兒坐僵矣。竇忿，訟之上官，悉以南不義，欲罪南。南懼，以千金行賂得免。
恰好有媒人來替南三復說親，對方是個大戶人家。他起初還猶豫，後來聽說那家的姑娘貌美、家財豐厚，就拿定了主意。竇家姑娘已經懷孕，催他成親催得更急，南三復索性再也不去。沒多久，姑娘臨產，生了一個男孩。父親大怒，打了她。她把事情經過告訴父親，又說：「南三復已經答應娶我了。」竇廷章這才停手，派人去問南三復；南三復立刻否認。竇廷章便把孩子丟棄了，對女兒打得更加厲害。姑娘暗中哀求鄰家婦人，把自己的苦處告訴南三復，南三復仍然不理。姑娘夜裡逃出家門，見被丟棄的孩子還活著，就抱著他奔向南家。她敲門，對看門人說：「只要主人肯說一句話，我就不必死了。他即使不顧念我，難道也不顧念孩子嗎？」看門人把這些話全告訴了南三復，南三復吩咐不許放她進來。姑娘倚著門悲傷地哭泣，直到五更，哭聲才聽不見了。天亮後出去一看，姑娘抱著孩子坐在那裡，身體已經僵硬，死了。竇廷章憤怒地向上級官府告狀，把南三復負心無義的行為全說了出來，要求治他的罪。南三復害怕，花了一千兩銀子行賄，才免受處罰。
会媒来为议姻于大家；初尚踌躇，既闻貌美财丰，志遂决。女以体孕，催并益急，南遂绝迹不往。无何，女临蓐，产一男。父怒搒女。女以情告，且言：「南要我矣。」窦乃释女，使人问南；南立即不承。窦乃弃儿，益扑女。女暗哀邻妇，告南以苦。南亦置之。女夜亡，视弃儿犹活，遂抱以奔南。款关而告阍者曰：「但得主人一言，我可不死。彼即不念我，宁不念儿耶？」阍人具以达南，南戒勿内。女倚户悲啼，五更始不复闻。质明视之，女抱儿坐僵矣。窦忿，讼之上官，悉以南不义，欲罪南。南惧，以千金行赂得免。
恰好有媒人来替南三复说亲，对方是个大户人家。他起初还犹豫，后来听说那家的姑娘貌美、家财丰厚，就拿定了主意。窦家姑娘已经怀孕，催他成亲催得更急，南三复索性再也不去。没多久，姑娘临产，生了一个男孩。父亲大怒，打了她。她把事情经过告诉父亲，又说：“南三复已经答应娶我了。”窦廷章这才停手，派人去问南三复；南三复立刻否认。窦廷章便把孩子丢弃了，对女儿打得更加厉害。姑娘暗中哀求邻家妇人，把自己的苦处告诉南三复，南三复仍然不理。姑娘夜里逃出家门，见被丢弃的孩子还活着，就抱着他奔向南家。她敲门，对看门人说：“只要主人肯说一句话，我就不必死了。他即使不顾念我，难道也不顾念孩子吗？”看门人把这些话全告诉了南三复，南三复吩咐不许放她进来。姑娘倚着门悲伤地哭泣，直到五更，哭声才听不见了。天亮后出去一看，姑娘抱着孩子坐在那里，身体已经僵硬，死了。窦廷章愤怒地向上级官府告状，把南三复负心无义的行为全说了出来，要求治他的罪。南三复害怕，花了一千两银子行贿，才免受处罚。
Just then a matchmaker came to propose a match with a great family. At first Nan hesitated, but when he heard that the girl was beautiful and rich, his mind was made up. The Dou girl, who was with child, pressed him harder and harder, and Nan stopped going there at all. Before long her time came and she bore a son. Her father in a rage beat her. She told him the truth, and said, “Nan has promised to marry me.” So Dou let her be and sent someone to ask Nan. Nan at once denied it. Dou then threw out the baby and beat the girl harder than before. She secretly begged a neighbour woman to tell Nan how she was suffering. Nan ignored this too. One night she ran away. Finding the abandoned baby still alive, she took it up and fled with it to Nan. She knocked at the gate and said to the gatekeeper, “If I can have one word from your master, I need not die. Even if he cares nothing for me, does he care nothing for the child?” The gatekeeper told Nan everything. Nan ordered him not to let her in. She leaned against the gate weeping bitterly, and only in the fifth watch, just before dawn, was she heard no more. At daybreak they looked: she was sitting stiff and dead, the child in her arms. Dou, furious, brought a suit against Nan before the higher authorities, who all held that Nan had acted wrongly and meant to punish him. Nan was frightened, and got off by paying a thousand taels in bribes.