劉孝廉，能記前身事。與先文賁兄為同年，嘗歷歷言之：一世為晉紳，行多玷。六十二歲而歿。初見冥王，待如鄉先生禮，賜坐，飲以茶。覷冥王盞中，茶色清澈；己盞中，濁如醪。暗疑迷魂湯得勿此耶？乘冥王他顧，以盞就案角瀉之，偽為盡者。俄頃，稽前生惡錄；怒，命群鬼捽下，罰作馬。即有厲鬼縶去。行至一家，門限甚高，不可逾。方趑趄間，鬼力楚之，痛甚而蹶。自顧，則身已在櫪下矣。但聞人曰：「驪馬生駒矣，牡也。」心甚明瞭，但不能言。覺大餒，不得已，就牝馬求乳。逾四五年，體修偉。甚畏撻楚，見鞭則懼而逸。主人騎，必覆障泥，緩轡徐徐，猶不甚苦；惟奴僕圉人，不加韉裝以行，兩踝夾擊，痛徹心腑。於是憤甚，三日不食，遂死。
劉孝廉能記得前世的事情。他與我已故的哥哥文賁同年考中舉人，曾清清楚楚地講過這些經歷：有一世，他是個鄉紳，做過不少有損品行的事，六十二歲時死了。初見冥王，冥王按接待鄉中長者的禮節對待他，給他座位，請他喝茶。他偷偷看冥王杯裡的茶，清澈透明，自己杯裡的卻像濁酒。他暗自懷疑，莫非這就是迷魂湯？便趁冥王看向別處時，把杯子湊到桌角，將茶倒掉，裝作已經喝完。過了一會兒，冥王查閱他前世的惡行記錄，大怒，命群鬼把他拖下去，罰他變成馬。立即有個惡鬼綁著他帶走。來到一家，門檻很高，跨不過去。他正遲疑不前，鬼便狠狠打他，他痛得跌倒了。再看自己，身體已經在馬槽下面，只聽人說：「黑母馬下了個公駒。」他心裡十分明白，卻不能說話。覺得餓極了，不得已，便到母馬身邊吃奶。過了四五年，身體長得高大健壯。他非常怕捱打，見到鞭子就害怕地跑開。主人騎他時，總會蓋上障泥，放鬆韁繩，慢慢行走，他還不覺得太苦；只有僕人和馬伕，連鞍韉也不裝就騎上去，用兩腳踝夾住他的身體踢打，痛得直透心肺。他因此十分憤怒，三天不吃東西，便死了。
刘孝廉，能记前身事。与先文贲兄为同年，尝历历言之：一世为晋绅，行多玷。六十二岁而殁。初见冥王，待如乡先生礼，赐坐，饮以茶。觑冥王盏中，茶色清澈；己盏中，浊如醪。暗疑迷魂汤得勿此耶？乘冥王他顾，以盏就案角泻之，伪为尽者。俄顷，稽前生恶录；怒，命群鬼捽下，罚作马。即有厉鬼絷去。行至一家，门限甚高，不可逾。方趑趄间，鬼力楚之，痛甚而蹶。自顾，则身已在枥下矣。但闻人曰：「骊马生驹矣，牡也。」心甚明了，但不能言。觉大馁，不得已，就牝马求乳。逾四五年，体修伟。甚畏挞楚，见鞭则惧而逸。主人骑，必覆障泥，缓辔徐徐，犹不甚苦；惟奴仆圉人，不加鞯装以行，两踝夹击，痛彻心腑。于是愤甚，三日不食，遂死。
刘孝廉能记得前世的事情。他与我已故的哥哥文贲同年考中举人，曾清清楚楚地讲过这些经历：有一世，他是个乡绅，做过不少有损品行的事，六十二岁时死了。初见冥王，冥王按接待乡中长者的礼节对待他，给他座位，请他喝茶。他偷偷看冥王杯里的茶，清澈透明，自己杯里的却像浊酒。他暗自怀疑，莫非这就是迷魂汤？便趁冥王看向别处时，把杯子凑到桌角，将茶倒掉，装作已经喝完。过了一会儿，冥王查阅他前世的恶行记录，大怒，命群鬼把他拖下去，罚他变成马。立即有个恶鬼绑着他带走。来到一家，门槛很高，跨不过去。他正迟疑不前，鬼便狠狠打他，他痛得跌倒了。再看自己，身体已经在马槽下面，只听人说：“黑母马下了个公驹。”他心里十分明白，却不能说话。觉得饿极了，不得已，便到母马身边吃奶。过了四五年，身体长得高大健壮。他非常怕挨打，见到鞭子就害怕地跑开。主人骑他时，总会盖上障泥，放松缰绳，慢慢行走，他还不觉得太苦；只有仆人和马夫，连鞍鞯也不装就骑上去，用两脚踝夹住他的身体踢打，痛得直透心肺。他因此十分愤怒，三天不吃东西，便死了。
A provincial graduate named Liu could remember his former lives. He had passed the provincial examination in the same year as my late elder brother Wenben, and used to tell the whole story in vivid detail. In his first life he was a member of the gentry, and his conduct was much stained. He died at sixty-two. When he first came before the King of the Underworld, the King received him with the courtesy due to a gentleman of his district, gave him a seat and served him tea. Liu peeped into the King’s cup: the tea was clear. In his own it was cloudy, like unstrained wine. He wondered privately whether this could be the Broth of Oblivion. While the King was looking elsewhere, he tipped the cup against the corner of the table and poured it away, pretending he had drunk it all. In a moment the record of his evil deeds in his past life was examined. The King was angry, ordered the ghosts to drag him down, and sentenced him to become a horse. At once a vicious fiend tied him up and led him off. They came to a house with a threshold so high he could not get over it. As he hung back, the fiend beat him hard; the pain was so great that he stumbled and fell. He looked at himself: he was lying under a manger. He heard someone say, “The black mare has foaled. It’s a colt.” His mind was perfectly clear, but he could not speak. He felt very hungry, and having no choice, he went to the mare and sucked her milk. After four or five years he had grown tall and powerful. He was terrified of being whipped, and at the sight of a whip would bolt in fear. When his master rode him, he always put on the saddle flaps, held the reins loose and went slowly, so it was not too hard. But the servants and grooms rode him bare, with no saddle cloth, and clamped and kicked his sides with both heels, and the pain went through to his heart. At this he grew so bitter that he would not eat for three days, and died.
至冥司，冥王查其罰限未滿，責其規避，剝其皮革，罰為犬。意懊喪，不欲行。群鬼亂撻之，痛極而竄于野。自念不如死，憤投絕壁，顛，莫能起。自顧，則身伏竇中，牝犬舐而腓字之，乃知身已復生于人世矣。稍長，見便液亦知穢；然嗅之而香，但立念不食耳。為犬經年，常忿欲死，又恐罪其規避。而主人又豢養，不肯戮。乃故嚙主人，脫股肉。主人怒，杖殺之。
到了陰間，冥王查出他的受罰期限還沒滿，責備他逃避處罰，剝了他的皮，罰他變成狗。他心裡懊喪，不肯走，群鬼便亂打一通。他痛得跑到野外，心想還不如死了，憤怒地從懸崖上跳下，跌倒後無法起來。再看自己，已經趴在一個洞裡，一隻母狗正在舔他，照料他，這才知道自己又投生到人世了。稍稍長大後，他看見糞便和尿液，也知道骯髒，可是聞起來卻很香，只能堅定念頭，不去吃。做狗過了一年，他常常憤恨得想死，又怕因逃避處罰而獲罪。主人又一直好好養著他，不肯殺他。他便故意咬主人，咬掉了主人大腿上的一塊肉。主人大怒，用棍子把他打死了。
至冥司，冥王查其罚限未满，责其规避，剥其皮革，罚为犬。意懊丧，不欲行。群鬼乱挞之，痛极而窜于野。自念不如死，愤投绝壁，颠，莫能起。自顾，则身伏窦中，牝犬舐而腓字之，乃知身已复生于人世矣。稍长，见便液亦知秽；然嗅之而香，但立念不食耳。为犬经年，常忿欲死，又恐罪其规避。而主人又豢养，不肯戮。乃故啮主人，脱股肉。主人怒，杖杀之。
到了阴间，冥王查出他的受罚期限还没满，责备他逃避处罚，剥了他的皮，罚他变成狗。他心里懊丧，不肯走，群鬼便乱打一通。他痛得跑到野外，心想还不如死了，愤怒地从悬崖上跳下，跌倒后无法起来。再看自己，已经趴在一个洞里，一只母狗正在舔他，照料他，这才知道自己又投生到人世了。稍稍长大后，他看见粪便和尿液，也知道肮脏，可是闻起来却很香，只能坚定念头，不去吃。做狗过了一年，他常常愤恨得想死，又怕因逃避处罚而获罪。主人又一直好好养着他，不肯杀他。他便故意咬主人，咬掉了主人大腿上的一块肉。主人大怒，用棍子把他打死了。
When he reached the court of the Underworld, the King found that his term of punishment was not yet served, rebuked him for trying to evade it, had him stripped of his hide and sentenced him to be a dog. Liu was downcast and would not go. The ghosts beat him all over, and in his agony he ran off into the wilds. Thinking he was better off dead, he flung himself in fury from a cliff, fell, and could not get up. He looked at himself: he was lying in a hole, and a bitch was licking him and suckling him. Then he knew he had been born again into the world of men. As he grew a little, he knew that dung and urine were filthy when he saw them; yet they smelled good to him, and he only held firm in his resolve not to eat them. He was a dog for a year or more, and was always angry enough to want to die, but he was afraid of being punished again for evading his sentence. And his master kept him well and would not kill him. So he deliberately bit his master and tore a lump of flesh from his thigh. The master was furious and beat him to death with a stick.
冥王鞫狀，怒其狂猘，笞數百，俾作蛇。囚于幽室，暗不見天。悶甚，緣壁而上，穴屋而出。自視，則伏身茂草，居然蛇矣。遂矢志不殘生類，飢吞木實。積年余，每思自盡不可，害人而死又不可；欲求一善死之策而未得也。一日，臥草中，聞車過，遽出當路；車馳壓之，斷為兩。
冥王審問了事情的經過，怒斥他狂暴兇狠，責打了幾百下，讓他變成蛇，把他關在黑暗的屋子裡，看不見天。他悶極了，沿著牆往上爬，鑽破屋頂出去。再看自己，正伏在茂密的草叢裡，已經成了一條蛇。他便發誓不傷害其他生靈，餓了就吞吃樹木的果實。過了一年多，他常想，自盡不行，害人後被殺也不行，想找個妥當的死法，卻一直沒有辦法。一天，他躺在草裡，聽見車經過，便突然竄出去，橫在路上。車飛馳著碾過，將他軋成了兩截。
冥王鞫状，怒其狂猘，笞数百，俾作蛇。囚于幽室，暗不见天。闷甚，缘壁而上，穴屋而出。自视，则伏身茂草，居然蛇矣。遂矢志不残生类，饥吞木实。积年余，每思自尽不可，害人而死又不可；欲求一善死之策而未得也。一日，卧草中，闻车过，遽出当路；车驰压之，断为两。
冥王审问了事情的经过，怒斥他狂暴凶狠，责打了几百下，让他变成蛇，把他关在黑暗的屋子里，看不见天。他闷极了，沿着墙往上爬，钻破屋顶出去。再看自己，正伏在茂密的草丛里，已经成了一条蛇。他便发誓不伤害其他生灵，饿了就吞吃树木的果实。过了一年多，他常想，自尽不行，害人后被杀也不行，想找个妥当的死法，却一直没有办法。一天，他躺在草里，听见车经过，便突然窜出去，横在路上。车飞驰着碾过，将他轧成了两截。
The King of the Underworld heard the case and, angry at his mad-dog savagery, gave him several hundred strokes and made him a snake. He was shut in a dark chamber where he could not see the sky. Stifled, he climbed the wall, broke a hole through the roof and got out. He looked at himself: he was lying in thick grass, and he was indeed a snake. So he vowed never to harm a living thing, and when hungry swallowed the fruit of trees. A year or more went by. He kept thinking: to kill himself would not do, and to harm someone and be killed for it would not do either. He wanted a good way to die but could not find one. One day, lying in the grass, he heard a cart coming, and darted out into the road. The cart ran over him at speed and cut him in two.
冥王訝其速至，因蒲伏自剖。冥王以無罪見殺，原之，准其滿限復為人，是為劉公。公生而能言，文章書史，過輒成誦。辛酉舉孝廉。每勸人：乘馬必厚其障泥；股夾之刑，勝于鞭楚也。
冥王驚訝他這麼快就回來了，他便趴在地上，說明自己的情形。冥王認為他沒有犯罪卻被殺了，便寬恕了他，准許他等受罰期限滿後，重新做人，這就是劉孝廉。他出生就能說話，文章、經書和史書，看一遍便能背誦。辛酉年，他考取了孝廉。他常勸人：「騎馬一定要把障泥墊厚些。用腿夾著馬的痛苦，比鞭打還厲害。」
冥王讶其速至，因蒲伏自剖。冥王以无罪见杀，原之，准其满限复为人，是为刘公。公生而能言，文章书史，过辄成诵。辛酉举孝廉。每劝人：乘马必厚其障泥；股夹之刑，胜于鞭楚也。
冥王惊讶他这么快就回来了，他便趴在地上，说明自己的情形。冥王认为他没有犯罪却被杀了，便宽恕了他，准许他等受罚期限满后，重新做人，这就是刘孝廉。他出生就能说话，文章、经书和史书，看一遍便能背诵。辛酉年，他考取了孝廉。他常劝人：“骑马一定要把障泥垫厚些。用腿夹着马的痛苦，比鞭打还厉害。”
The King of the Underworld was surprised to see him back so soon. Liu crawled forward and explained himself. Since he had been killed through no fault of his own, the King pardoned him, ruled his term served, and allowed him to be a man again. This was Liu. He could speak from birth, and essays, classics and histories he could recite after reading them once. In the xinyou year he passed the provincial examination. He always urged people: when you ride a horse, give it thick saddle flaps; being clamped between the thighs is a worse torture than the whip.
異史氏曰：「毛角之儔，乃有王公大人在其中；所以然者，王公大人之內，原未必無毛角者在其中也。故賤者為善，如求花而種其樹；貴者為善，如已花而培其本：種者可大，培者可久。不然，且將負鹽車，受羈馽，與之為馬；不然，且將啖便液，受烹割，與之為犬；又不然，且將披鱗介，葬鶴鸛，與之為蛇。」
異史氏說：「長毛長角的牲畜中，竟有王公大人在裡面。之所以這樣，是因為王公大人中，原本也未必沒有禽獸。所以，地位低微的人行善，就像想得到花，先種下花樹；地位尊貴的人行善，就像樹已經開花，再給樹根培土。種下的樹可以長大，培護的樹可以長久。否則，就會拉著鹽車，套上馬籠頭，絆住馬腳，和它們一起做馬；否則，就會吃糞便、喝尿液，遭人宰割烹煮，和它們一起做狗；再不然，就會披上鱗甲，葬身鶴和鸛的腹中，和它們一起做蛇。」
异史氏曰：「毛角之俦，乃有王公大人在其中；所以然者，王公大人之内，原未必无毛角者在其中也。故贱者为善，如求花而种其树；贵者为善，如已花而培其本：种者可大，培者可久。不然，且将负盐车，受羁馽，与之为马；不然，且将啖便液，受烹割，与之为犬；又不然，且将披鳞介，葬鹤鹳，与之为蛇。」
异史氏说：“长毛长角的牲畜中，竟有王公大人在里面。之所以这样，是因为王公大人中，原本也未必没有禽兽。所以，地位低微的人行善，就像想得到花，先种下花树；地位尊贵的人行善，就像树已经开花，再给树根培土。种下的树可以长大，培护的树可以长久。否则，就会拉着盐车，套上马笼头，绊住马脚，和它们一起做马；否则，就会吃粪便、喝尿液，遭人宰割烹煮，和它们一起做狗；再不然，就会披上鳞甲，葬身鹤和鹳的腹中，和它们一起做蛇。”
The Historian of the Strange says: Among the creatures of fur and horn there are kings, dukes and great men. The reason is that among kings, dukes and great men there may well have been creatures of fur and horn all along. So when a humble man does good, it is like wanting flowers and planting the tree; when a noble man does good, it is like a tree already in flower whose roots are banked up. What is planted can grow great; what is banked up can last long. Otherwise one will haul a salt cart and bear the bridle and the hobble, a horse among horses; otherwise one will eat dung and drink urine and be butchered and cooked, a dog among dogs and be butchered and cooked, a dog among dogs; or else one will wear scales and armour and be buried in the bellies of cranes and storks, a snake among snakes.