江西孟龍潭與朱孝廉客都中，偶涉一蘭若，殿宇禪舍，俱不甚弘敞，惟一老僧掛褡其中。見客入，肅衣出迓，導與隨喜。殿中塑誌公像，兩壁圖繪精妙，人物如生，東壁畫散花天女，內一垂髫者拈花微笑，櫻唇欲動，眼波將流。朱注目久，不覺神搖意奪，恍然凝想，身忽飄飄如駕雲霧，已到壁上。見殿閣重重，非復人世，一老僧說法座上，偏袒繞視者甚眾，朱亦雜立其中。
江西人孟龍潭和朱孝廉客居京城，一次偶然走進一座寺院。寺裡的殿堂和僧舍都不怎麼寬敞，只有一位老僧寄住在那裡。見有客人進來，老僧整理好衣服，出來迎接，領著他們參觀禮佛。殿裡塑著志公的像，兩邊牆上的畫十分精妙，畫中人物栩栩如生。東牆畫的是散花天女，其中一個頭發還垂著的少女，手拈鮮花，含笑而立，櫻桃般的嘴唇彷彿就要開口，眼裡的神采彷彿就要流動。朱孝廉久久望著她，不知不覺心神搖動，整個心思都被吸引過去。他恍恍惚惚地凝神想著，身體忽然輕飄飄的，像乘著雲霧一般，已經到了牆上的畫裡。只見殿堂樓閣層層相連，已不是人間的景象。一位老僧坐在高座上講說佛法，許多人袒露著一邊肩膀，圍在四周觀看，朱孝廉也混在他們中間站著。
江西孟龙潭与朱孝廉客都中，偶涉一兰若，殿宇禅舍，俱不甚弘敞，惟一老僧挂褡其中。见客入，肃衣出迓，导与随喜。殿中塑志公像，两壁图绘精妙，人物如生，东壁画散花天女，内一垂髫者拈花微笑，樱唇欲动，眼波将流。朱注目久，不觉神摇意夺，恍然凝想，身忽飘飘如驾云雾，已到壁上。见殿阁重重，非复人世，一老僧说法座上，偏袒绕视者甚众，朱亦杂立其中。
江西人孟龙潭和朱孝廉客居京城，一次偶然走进一座寺院。寺里的殿堂和僧舍都不怎么宽敞，只有一位老僧寄住在那里。见有客人进来，老僧整理好衣服，出来迎接，领着他们参观礼佛。殿里塑着志公的像，两边墙上的画十分精妙，画中人物栩栩如生。东墙画的是散花天女，其中一个头发还垂着的少女，手拈鲜花，含笑而立，樱桃般的嘴唇仿佛就要开口，眼里的神采仿佛就要流动。朱孝廉久久望着她，不知不觉心神摇动，整个心思都被吸引过去。他恍恍惚惚地凝神想着，身体忽然轻飘飘的，像乘着云雾一般，已经到了墙上的画里。只见殿堂楼阁层层相连，已不是人间的景象。一位老僧坐在高座上讲说佛法，许多人袒露着一边肩膀，围在四周观看，朱孝廉也混在他们中间站着。
Meng Longtan of Jiangxi and a provincial graduate named Zhu were staying in the capital. They happened to wander into a temple. Its halls and the monks’ quarters were none of them very large or grand, and only one old monk was lodging there. Seeing visitors come in, he straightened his robe, came out to greet them and showed them round. In the main hall stood a statue of Master Zhi. The two side walls were painted with marvellous skill, the figures as if alive. On the east wall were the heavenly maidens who scatter flowers, and among them was one whose hair still hung loose, a girl holding a flower and faintly smiling. Her cherry lips seemed about to move, her glance about to flow. Zhu gazed at her a long time, and before he knew it his spirit was shaken and his mind carried away. Lost in a daze, he stared and dreamed — and suddenly his body was floating, as if riding on clouds and mist, and he was already up in the wall. He saw halls and pavilions rising one behind another: this was no longer the world of men. An old monk sat on a high seat preaching the Law, and a great crowd of monks, one shoulder bared, stood all around him looking on. Zhu stood mixed in among them.
少間，似有人暗牽其裾，回視則垂髫兒囅然，竟去履即從之，過曲欄入一小舍，次且不敢前。女回首舉手中花，遙遙作招狀，乃趨之，舍內寂無人。遽擁之，亦不甚拒，遂與狎好。既而閉戶去，囑朱「勿欬」，夜乃復至，如此二日。女伴覺之，共搜得生。戲謂女曰：「腹內小郎已許大，尚髮蓬蓬學處子耶？」共捧簪珥，促令上鬟，女含羞不語。一女曰：「妹妹姊姊，吾等勿久住，恐人不歡。」群笑而去。
過了一會兒，朱孝廉覺得像是有人在暗暗拉他的衣角，回頭一看，正是那個垂著頭髮的少女，她嫣然一笑，竟自走開了。朱孝廉隨即邁步跟了上去。兩人經過曲折的欄杆，來到一間小屋前，朱孝廉遲疑著，不敢再往前走。少女回過頭，舉起手裡的花，遠遠地向他招手，他這才快步跟了進去。屋裡靜悄悄的，沒有別人。他立刻抱住少女，少女也沒有怎麼抗拒，兩人便親熱起來。隨後，少女關上門離開，囑咐朱孝廉：「不要咳嗽。」到了夜裡，她又回來，就這樣過了兩天。少女的同伴察覺了，一起搜尋，找到了朱孝廉。她們打趣少女說：「你肚子裡的小傢伙都這麼大了，還披散著頭髮，裝作沒出嫁的姑娘嗎？」大家捧來簪子和耳飾，催她把頭髮盤起來。少女羞得不說話。一個女子說：「姐姐妹妹們，咱們別待太久，免得有人不高興。」大家笑著離開了。
少间，似有人暗牵其裾，回视则垂髫儿冁然，竟去履即从之，过曲栏入一小舍，次且不敢前。女回首举手中花，遥遥作招状，乃趋之，舍内寂无人。遽拥之，亦不甚拒，遂与狎好。既而闭户去，嘱朱「勿欬」，夜乃复至，如此二日。女伴觉之，共搜得生。戏谓女曰：「腹内小郎已许大，尚发蓬蓬学处子耶？」共捧簪珥，促令上鬟，女含羞不语。一女曰：「妹妹姊姊，吾等勿久住，恐人不欢。」群笑而去。
过了一会儿，朱孝廉觉得像是有人在暗暗拉他的衣角，回头一看，正是那个垂着头发的少女，她嫣然一笑，竟自走开了。朱孝廉随即迈步跟了上去。两人经过曲折的栏杆，来到一间小屋前，朱孝廉迟疑着，不敢再往前走。少女回过头，举起手里的花，远远地向他招手，他这才快步跟了进去。屋里静悄悄的，没有别人。他立刻抱住少女，少女也没有怎么抗拒，两人便亲热起来。随后，少女关上门离开，嘱咐朱孝廉：“不要咳嗽。”到了夜里，她又回来，就这样过了两天。少女的同伴察觉了，一起搜寻，找到了朱孝廉。她们打趣少女说：“你肚子里的小家伙都这么大了，还披散着头发，装作没出嫁的姑娘吗？”大家捧来簪子和耳饰，催她把头发盘起来。少女羞得不说话。一个女子说：“姐姐妹妹们，咱们别待太久，免得有人不高兴。”大家笑着离开了。
A little later he seemed to feel someone tug secretly at the hem of his robe. He looked round: it was the girl with the loose hair. She smiled at him and walked off, and he followed at once. She passed along a winding balustrade into a small room, and there he hung back, not daring to go further. The girl turned her head, raised the flower in her hand and beckoned to him from a distance, so he hurried after her. Inside, the room was silent; there was no one there. At once he took her in his arms. She did not resist much, and they made love. Afterwards she shut the door and left, telling Zhu, “Don’t cough.” At night she came again. So it went for two days. Then her companions found out, and together they searched and found Zhu. Teasing the girl, they said, “The little one in your belly is this big already, and you still wear your hair all loose and play the maiden?” Together they held out hairpins and earrings and made her put her hair up. The girl blushed and said nothing. One of them said, “Sisters, little and big, let’s not stay long, or someone won’t be pleased.” They all laughed and went away.
朱視女髻雲高簇，鬟鳳低垂，比垂髫時尤艷絕也。四顧無人，漸入猥褻，蘭麝熏心。樂方未艾，忽聞吉莫靴鏗鏗甚厲，縲鎖鏘然，旋有紛囂騰辨之聲。女驚起，與朱竊窺，則見金甲使者，黑面如漆，綰鎖挈槌，眾女環繞之。使者曰：「全未？」答言：「已全。」使者曰：「如有藏匿下界人，即共出首，勿貽伊戚。」又同聲言「無。」使者反身愕顧，似將搜匿，女大懼，面如死灰，張皇謂朱曰：「可急匿榻下！」乃啟壁上小扉猝遁去。朱伏不敢少息。俄聞靴聲至房內，復出，未幾，煩喧漸遠，心稍安，然戶外輒有往來語論者。朱跼蹐既久，覺耳際蟬鳴，目中火出，景狀殆不可忍，惟靜聽以待女歸，竟不復憶身之何自來也。
朱孝廉看著少女，只見她的髮髻像雲一樣高高簇起，鳳形的髮飾低低垂著，比垂著頭髮時還要豔麗動人。兩人看看四周沒有別人，便漸漸又親熱起來，蘭花和麝香的香氣燻得他心神迷醉。歡樂還沒有盡興，忽然聽見吉莫靴踏地的聲音，鏗鏗作響，十分急厲，又有鎖鏈嘩啦作響，緊接著傳來一陣喧鬧爭辯聲。少女驚慌地起身，和朱孝廉偷偷向外窺看，只見一個身穿金甲的使者，臉黑得像漆，拿著鎖鏈和槌子，眾女子圍在他身邊。使者問：「人都到齊了嗎？」她們回答：「都到齊了。」使者說：「要是有人藏了下界的人，就一起出來告發，不要給自己招來禍患。」眾女子又齊聲說：「沒有。」使者轉過身，瞪著眼睛向四周看，像是要搜查藏匿的人。少女怕極了，臉色像死灰一樣，慌忙對朱孝廉說：「快藏到床底下！」隨後打開牆上的一扇小門，匆匆逃走了。朱孝廉伏在床底下，連大氣也不敢喘。不一會兒，他聽見靴子的聲音進了屋，又走了出去。沒過多久，喧鬧聲漸漸遠去，他心裡稍稍安定下來，可門外仍不時有人來往說話。朱孝廉蜷縮了很久，覺得耳邊像有蟬在鳴叫，眼前直冒火光，幾乎難以忍受。他只能靜靜聽著，等少女回來，竟然已經想不起自己是從哪裡來的了。
朱视女髻云高簇，鬟凤低垂，比垂髫时尤艳绝也。四顾无人，渐入猥亵，兰麝熏心。乐方未艾，忽闻吉莫靴铿铿甚厉，缧锁锵然，旋有纷嚣腾辨之声。女惊起，与朱窃窥，则见金甲使者，黑面如漆，绾锁挈槌，众女环绕之。使者曰：「全未？」答言：「已全。」使者曰：「如有藏匿下界人，即共出首，勿贻伊戚。」又同声言「无。」使者反身愕顾，似将搜匿，女大惧，面如死灰，张皇谓朱曰：「可急匿榻下！」乃启壁上小扉猝遁去。朱伏不敢少息。俄闻靴声至房内，复出，未几，烦喧渐远，心稍安，然户外辄有往来语论者。朱跼蹐既久，觉耳际蝉鸣，目中火出，景状殆不可忍，惟静听以待女归，竟不复忆身之何自来也。
朱孝廉看着少女，只见她的发髻像云一样高高簇起，凤形的发饰低低垂着，比垂着头发时还要艳丽动人。两人看看四周没有别人，便渐渐又亲热起来，兰花和麝香的香气熏得他心神迷醉。欢乐还没有尽兴，忽然听见吉莫靴踏地的声音，铿铿作响，十分急厉，又有锁链哗啦作响，紧接着传来一阵喧闹争辩声。少女惊慌地起身，和朱孝廉偷偷向外窥看，只见一个身穿金甲的使者，脸黑得像漆，拿着锁链和槌子，众女子围在他身边。使者问：“人都到齐了吗？”她们回答：“都到齐了。”使者说：“要是有人藏了下界的人，就一起出来告发，不要给自己招来祸患。”众女子又齐声说：“没有。”使者转过身，瞪着眼睛向四周看，像是要搜查藏匿的人。少女怕极了，脸色像死灰一样，慌忙对朱孝廉说：“快藏到床底下！”随后打开墙上的一扇小门，匆匆逃走了。朱孝廉伏在床底下，连大气也不敢喘。不一会儿，他听见靴子的声音进了屋，又走了出去。没过多久，喧闹声渐渐远去，他心里稍稍安定下来，可门外仍不时有人来往说话。朱孝廉蜷缩了很久，觉得耳边像有蝉在鸣叫，眼前直冒火光，几乎难以忍受。他只能静静听着，等少女回来，竟然已经想不起自己是从哪里来的了。
Zhu looked at the girl: her hair was piled high like clouds, with phoenix pins hanging low among the coils, and she was lovelier even than when it had hung loose. Seeing no one about, little by little they grew wanton again, the scent of orchid and musk filling his heart. Their pleasure was not yet spent when suddenly they heard the harsh clank of leather boots and the rattle of chains, and then a din of voices, clamouring and arguing. The girl sprang up in alarm, and she and Zhu peeped out. They saw an envoy in golden armour, his face black as lacquer, a coil of chain in one hand and a mallet in the other, with all the girls standing round him. “Are you all here?” said the envoy. “We are all here,” they answered. “If any of you is hiding someone from the world below,” said the envoy, “come out with it now, all of you. Don’t bring grief on yourselves.” Again they said with one voice, “No one.” The envoy turned and glared about him, as if about to search. The girl was terrified, her face the colour of dead ashes. In a panic she said to Zhu, “Quick, hide under the bed!” Then she opened a little door in the wall and fled. Zhu lay flat and dared not draw breath. In a moment he heard the boots come into the room and go out again. Before long the uproar faded into the distance and his heart grew a little easier, but outside the door there were still people coming and going and talking. Zhu had been huddled there so long that his ears were ringing like cicadas and sparks were flying before his eyes. It was almost more than he could bear. He could only listen in silence and wait for the girl to come back. He no longer remembered at all where he had come from.
時孟龍潭在殿中，轉瞬不見朱，疑以問僧，僧笑曰：「往聽說法去矣。」問：「何處？」曰：「不遠。」少時，以指彈壁而呼曰：「朱檀越何久遊不歸？」旋見壁間畫有朱像，傾耳佇立，若有聽察。僧又呼曰：「游侶久待矣。」遂飄忽自壁而下，灰心木立，目瞪足耎。孟大駭，從容問之，蓋方伏榻下，聞叩聲如雷，故出房窺聽也。共視拈花人，螺髻翹然，不復垂髫矣。朱驚拜老僧，而問其故，僧笑曰：「幻由人生，老僧何能解？」朱氣結而不揚，孟心駭而無主，即起歷階而出。
這時，孟龍潭還在殿裡，轉眼間不見了朱孝廉，便疑惑地詢問老僧。老僧笑著說：「他去聽講佛法了。」孟龍潭問：「在什麼地方？」老僧說：「不遠。」過了一會兒，老僧用手指彈了彈牆壁，喊道：「朱檀越，怎麼遊玩了這麼久還不回來？」隨即便看見牆上的畫裡出現了朱孝廉的身影，側著耳朵站在那裡，像是在仔細聽什麼。老僧又喊：「你的同伴已經等了很久了。」朱孝廉便輕飄飄地從牆上下來，心如死灰，像木頭一樣站著，眼睛發直，兩腿發軟。孟龍潭大為驚駭，緩緩問他發生了什麼事。原來，朱孝廉剛才正伏在床底下，聽見敲擊聲像雷鳴一樣，才走出房間窺看傾聽。兩人一起看那拈花的少女，只見她的頭髮已經盤成高高的螺髻，不再垂著了。朱孝廉驚訝地向老僧行禮，詢問其中的緣故。老僧笑著說：「幻象是由人自己生出來的，老僧哪裡能解釋呢？」朱孝廉心情鬱結，提不起精神；孟龍潭心裡驚慌，不知所措。兩人隨即起身，沿著臺階走了出去。
时孟龙潭在殿中，转瞬不见朱，疑以问僧，僧笑曰：「往听说法去矣。」问：「何处？」曰：「不远。」少时，以指弹壁而呼曰：「朱檀越何久游不归？」旋见壁间画有朱像，倾耳伫立，若有听察。僧又呼曰：「游侣久待矣。」遂飘忽自壁而下，灰心木立，目瞪足耎。孟大骇，从容问之，盖方伏榻下，闻叩声如雷，故出房窥听也。共视拈花人，螺髻翘然，不复垂髫矣。朱惊拜老僧，而问其故，僧笑曰：「幻由人生，老僧何能解？」朱气结而不扬，孟心骇而无主，即起历阶而出。
这时，孟龙潭还在殿里，转眼间不见了朱孝廉，便疑惑地询问老僧。老僧笑着说：“他去听讲佛法了。”孟龙潭问：“在什么地方？”老僧说：“不远。”过了一会儿，老僧用手指弹了弹墙壁，喊道：“朱檀越，怎么游玩了这么久还不回来？”随即便看见墙上的画里出现了朱孝廉的身影，侧着耳朵站在那里，像是在仔细听什么。老僧又喊：“你的同伴已经等了很久了。”朱孝廉便轻飘飘地从墙上下来，心如死灰，像木头一样站着，眼睛发直，两腿发软。孟龙潭大为惊骇，缓缓问他发生了什么事。原来，朱孝廉刚才正伏在床底下，听见敲击声像雷鸣一样，才走出房间窥看倾听。两人一起看那拈花的少女，只见她的头发已经盘成高高的螺髻，不再垂着了。朱孝廉惊讶地向老僧行礼，询问其中的缘故。老僧笑着说：“幻象是由人自己生出来的，老僧哪里能解释呢？”朱孝廉心情郁结，提不起精神；孟龙潭心里惊慌，不知所措。两人随即起身，沿着台阶走了出去。
Meanwhile, in the hall, Meng Longtan had looked away for an instant and Zhu was gone. Puzzled, he asked the monk. The monk laughed. “He has gone to hear the Law preached.” “Where?” “Not far.” Presently the monk tapped on the wall with his finger and called, “Patron Zhu, why are you so long away on your travels?” At once a picture of Zhu appeared on the wall, standing with his head cocked, as if listening. The monk called again: “Your companion has been waiting a long time.” Then Zhu came drifting down out of the wall. He stood there like a block of wood, his heart turned to ashes, his eyes staring and his legs weak. Meng was badly frightened. Gently he asked what had happened. It turned out that Zhu had been lying under the bed when he heard a knocking like thunder, and so had come out of the room to peep and listen. Together they looked at the girl holding the flower: her hair was coiled up high like a conch shell, no longer hanging loose. Astonished, Zhu bowed to the old monk and asked him the reason. The monk laughed. “Illusions arise from the man himself. How could an old monk explain them?” Zhu was choked and downcast, Meng shaken and at a loss. They got up at once, went down the steps and left.
異史氏曰：幻由人生，此言類有道者。人有淫心，是生褻境；人有褻心，是生怖境。菩薩點化愚蒙，千幻並作，皆人心所自動耳。老僧婆心切，惜不聞其言下大悟，披髮入山也。
異史氏說：幻象是由人自己生出來的，這話像是得道的人說的。人心裡有了淫慾，就會生出淫亂的情境；心裡有了褻瀆之念，就會生出恐怖的情境。菩薩點化愚昧無知的人，讓千般幻象同時出現，其實都是人心自己活動的結果。老僧苦口婆心，用心懇切，可惜沒有聽說朱孝廉聽了他的話便徹底醒悟，披散頭髮，走進山中。
异史氏曰：幻由人生，此言类有道者。人有淫心，是生亵境；人有亵心，是生怖境。菩萨点化愚蒙，千幻并作，皆人心所自动耳。老僧婆心切，惜不闻其言下大悟，披发入山也。
异史氏说：幻象是由人自己生出来的，这话像是得道的人说的。人心里有了淫欲，就会生出淫乱的情境；心里有了亵渎之念，就会生出恐怖的情境。菩萨点化愚昧无知的人，让千般幻象同时出现，其实都是人心自己活动的结果。老僧苦口婆心，用心恳切，可惜没有听说朱孝廉听了他的话便彻底醒悟，披散头发，走进山中。
The Historian of the Strange says: ‘Illusions arise from the man himself’ — these sound like the words of one who has found the Way. When a man has lust in his heart, scenes of lewdness are born; when he has lewdness in his heart, scenes of terror are born. When a bodhisattva enlightens the foolish and ignorant, a thousand illusions spring up at once, and all of them are only the stirrings of the man’s own heart. The old monk spoke with a grandmother’s kindness. What a pity we are not told that at his words Zhu suddenly saw the truth, let down his hair and went off into the mountains.