濰邑李氏有別第。忽一翁來稅居，歲出直金五十，諾之。既去無耗，李囑家人別租。翌日，翁至，曰：「租宅已有關說，何欲更僦他人？」李白所疑。翁曰：「我將久居是；所以遲遲者，以涓吉在十日之後耳。」因先納一歲之直，曰：「終歲空之，勿問也。」李送出，問期，翁告之。過期數日，亦竟渺然。及往覘之，則雙扉內閉，炊煙起而人聲雜矣。訝之，投刺往謁。翁趨出，逆而入，笑語可親。既歸，遣人饋遺其家；翁犒賜豐隆。又數日筵邀翁，款洽甚歡。問其居里，以秦中對。李訝其遠。翁曰：「貴鄉福地也。秦中不可居，大難將作。」時方承平，置未深問。越日，翁折柬報居停之禮，供帳飲食，備極侈麗。李益驚，疑為貴官。翁以交好，因自言為狐。李駭絕，逢人輒道。
濰縣有個姓李的人，另有一處宅子。忽然有個老翁來租住，願意每年出五十兩銀子，李某答應了。老翁走後一直沒有訊息，李某便吩咐家裡人另租給別人。第二天，老翁來了，說：「租宅子的事已經說定，為什麼還要租給別人？」李某把自己的疑慮告訴他。老翁說：「我打算長久住在這裡。遲遲沒來，只是因為選定的吉日在十天以後。」於是先交了一年的租金，說：「就算空著一整年，您也不必過問。」李某送他出門，問他哪天來，老翁告訴了他。約定的日子過了好幾天，仍然不見動靜。等李某去檢視，卻見兩扇門從裡面關著，炊煙升起，人聲嘈雜。他很驚訝，便遞上名帖拜訪。老翁急忙出來迎接，領他進去，談笑十分親切。李某回家後，派人給老翁家送禮，老翁給送禮的人豐厚的賞賜。又過了幾天，李某設宴請老翁，兩人相處融洽，十分盡興。問起老翁的家鄉，他說在秦中。李某驚訝他來自那麼遠的地方。老翁說：「您這地方是福地。秦中已經不能住了，大災難就要發生。」當時天下太平，李某便沒有放在心上，也沒細問。第二天，老翁送來請帖，設宴答謝房東，室內佈置和酒食都極盡奢華。李某更加驚訝，猜他是位顯貴的官員。老翁因為和他交情好，便自己說出是狐狸。李某驚訝極了，見人就說這件事。
潍邑李氏有别第。忽一翁来税居，岁出直金五十，诺之。既去无耗，李嘱家人别租。翌日，翁至，曰：「租宅已有关说，何欲更僦他人？」李白所疑。翁曰：「我将久居是；所以迟迟者，以涓吉在十日之后耳。」因先纳一岁之直，曰：「终岁空之，勿问也。」李送出，问期，翁告之。过期数日，亦竟渺然。及往觇之，则双扉内闭，炊烟起而人声杂矣。讶之，投刺往谒。翁趋出，逆而入，笑语可亲。既归，遣人馈遗其家；翁犒赐丰隆。又数日筵邀翁，款洽甚欢。问其居里，以秦中对。李讶其远。翁曰：「贵乡福地也。秦中不可居，大难将作。」时方承平，置未深问。越日，翁折柬报居停之礼，供帐饮食，备极侈丽。李益惊，疑为贵官。翁以交好，因自言为狐。李骇绝，逢人辄道。
潍县有个姓李的人，另有一处宅子。忽然有个老翁来租住，愿意每年出五十两银子，李某答应了。老翁走后一直没有消息，李某便吩咐家里人另租给别人。第二天，老翁来了，说：“租宅子的事已经说定，为什么还要租给别人？”李某把自己的疑虑告诉他。老翁说：“我打算长久住在这里。迟迟没来，只是因为选定的吉日在十天以后。”于是先交了一年的租金，说：“就算空着一整年，您也不必过问。”李某送他出门，问他哪天来，老翁告诉了他。约定的日子过了好几天，仍然不见动静。等李某去查看，却见两扇门从里面关着，炊烟升起，人声嘈杂。他很惊讶，便递上名帖拜访。老翁急忙出来迎接，领他进去，谈笑十分亲切。李某回家后，派人给老翁家送礼，老翁给送礼的人丰厚的赏赐。又过了几天，李某设宴请老翁，两人相处融洽，十分尽兴。问起老翁的家乡，他说在秦中。李某惊讶他来自那么远的地方。老翁说：“您这地方是福地。秦中已经不能住了，大灾难就要发生。”当时天下太平，李某便没有放在心上，也没细问。第二天，老翁送来请帖，设宴答谢房东，室内布置和酒食都极尽奢华。李某更加惊讶，猜他是位显贵的官员。老翁因为和他交情好，便自己说出是狐狸。李某惊讶极了，见人就说这件事。
A man named Li of Wei County owned a second house. One day an old man came to rent it, offering fifty taels a year, and Li agreed. The old man left and nothing more was heard of him, so Li told his household to let the place to someone else. The next day the old man came. “The lease has already been agreed,” he said. “Why do you want to let it to anyone else?” Li told him what he had suspected. “I mean to live here a long time,” said the old man. “I have been slow only because the lucky day falls ten days from now.” He paid a year’s rent in advance and said, “If the house stands empty all year, don’t ask why.” Li saw him out and asked when he would come; the old man told him. That day passed, and several more, and still there was no sign of him. When Li went to look, the double gate was barred from inside, cooking smoke was rising, and there was a hubbub of voices. Surprised, Li sent in his card and went to call. The old man hurried out and welcomed him in, laughing and talking most amiably. When Li got home he sent a servant with gifts for the household; the old man rewarded the servant handsomely. Some days later Li gave a feast for the old man, and the two got on very well. Li asked where he came from. “From Qin,” he answered. Li was surprised it was so far. “Your part of the country is a blessed place,” said the old man. “Qin is no place to live. A great calamity is coming.” The land was at peace then, and Li let it pass without asking more. The next day the old man sent a written invitation to repay his landlord’s hospitality. The hangings, the food and the wine were lavish beyond anything. Li was more amazed than ever and took him for some great official. Because they were now good friends, the old man told him he was a fox. Li was utterly astonished, and told everyone he met.
邑搢紳聞其異，日結駟于門，願納交翁，翁無不傴僂接見。漸而郡官亦時還往。獨邑令求通，輒辭以故。令又托主人先容，翁辭。李詰其故。翁離席近客而私語曰：「君自不知，彼前身為驢，今雖儼然民上，乃飲䊚而亦醉者也。僕固異類，羞與為伍。」李乃託詞告令，謂狐畏其神明，故不敢見。令信之而止。此康熙十一年事。未幾，秦罹兵燹。狐能前知，信矣。
縣裡的鄉紳聽說這件奇事，天天乘車來到門前，都想和老翁結交，老翁無不恭敬地彎腰接待。漸漸地，郡裡的官員也不時來往。唯獨縣令想來拜訪，他總是找藉口推辭。縣令又托房東代為引見，老翁仍然拒絕。李某追問緣故，老翁離開座位，湊近客人，低聲說：「您還不知道，那人前世是頭驢。如今雖然威嚴地坐在百姓頭上，卻是喝點酒糟水也會醉的貨色。我雖是異類，也羞於和他為伍。」李某便編了個理由，告訴縣令，說狐狸敬畏他的神明，所以不敢見面。縣令相信了，不再要求。這是康熙十一年的事。沒多久，秦中果然遭了戰火。狐狸能預知未來，確實是真的。
邑搢绅闻其异，日结驷于门，愿纳交翁，翁无不伛偻接见。渐而郡官亦时还往。独邑令求通，辄辞以故。令又托主人先容，翁辞。李诘其故。翁离席近客而私语曰：「君自不知，彼前身为驴，今虽俨然民上，乃饮䊚而亦醉者也。仆固异类，羞与为伍。」李乃托词告令，谓狐畏其神明，故不敢见。令信之而止。此康熙十一年事。未几，秦罹兵燹。狐能前知，信矣。
县里的乡绅听说这件奇事，天天乘车来到门前，都想和老翁结交，老翁无不恭敬地弯腰接待。渐渐地，郡里的官员也不时来往。唯独县令想来拜访，他总是找借口推辞。县令又托房东代为引见，老翁仍然拒绝。李某追问缘故，老翁离开座位，凑近客人，低声说：“您还不知道，那人前世是头驴。如今虽然威严地坐在百姓头上，却是喝点酒糟水也会醉的货色。我虽是异类，也羞于和他为伍。”李某便编了个理由，告诉县令，说狐狸敬畏他的神明，所以不敢见面。县令相信了，不再要求。这是康熙十一年的事。没多久，秦中果然遭了战火。狐狸能预知未来，确实是真的。
When the gentry of the county heard of this marvel, their carriages crowded his gate day after day, all wanting to make the old man’s acquaintance, and he received every one of them with bows. In time even the officials of the prefecture came and went. Only when the county magistrate asked to call did he always excuse himself on some pretext. The magistrate then asked Li, as landlord, to put in a word for him; the old man refused. Li pressed him for the reason. The old man left his seat, came close to his guest and whispered, “You don’t know this, but in his last life that man was a donkey. He may sit so grandly over the people now, but he is the sort who gets drunk on mere dregs. I am not human, to be sure, but I would be ashamed to keep company with him.” So Li made up a story and told the magistrate that the fox stood in awe of his godlike discernment and dared not meet him. The magistrate believed it and let the matter drop. This happened in the eleventh year of the Kangxi reign. Not long afterwards, Qin was laid waste by war. That foxes can see what is to come is true indeed.
異史氏曰：「驢之為物，龐物也。一怒則踶趹嗥嘶，眼大於盎，氣粗于牛；不惟聲難聞，狀亦難見。倘執束芻而誘之，則帖耳輯首，喜受羈勒矣。以此居民上，宜其飲䊚而亦醉也。願臨民者，以驢為戒，而求齒于狐，則德日進矣。」
異史氏說：「驢這種東西，是個龐然大物。一發怒，就踢蹬跳躍，大聲嘶叫，眼睛瞪得比盆還大，喘氣比牛還粗；不但聲音難聽，樣子也難看。可要是拿一捆草引誘它，它就垂下耳朵，低下腦袋，高高興興地接受籠頭和韁繩。讓這樣的東西居於百姓之上，難怪喝點酒糟水也會醉。希望治理百姓的人以驢為戒，爭取讓狐狸也願意與自己交往，那麼德行就會一天比一天長進。」
异史氏曰：「驴之为物，庞物也。一怒则踶趹嗥嘶，眼大于盎，气粗于牛；不惟声难闻，状亦难见。倘执束刍而诱之，则帖耳辑首，喜受羁勒矣。以此居民上，宜其饮䊚而亦醉也。愿临民者，以驴为戒，而求齿于狐，则德日进矣。」
异史氏说：“驴这种东西，是个庞然大物。一发怒，就踢蹬跳跃，大声嘶叫，眼睛瞪得比盆还大，喘气比牛还粗；不但声音难听，样子也难看。可要是拿一捆草引诱它，它就垂下耳朵，低下脑袋，高高兴兴地接受笼头和缰绳。让这样的东西居于百姓之上，难怪喝点酒糟水也会醉。希望治理百姓的人以驴为戒，争取让狐狸也愿意与自己交往，那么德行就会一天比一天长进。”
The Historian of the Strange says: The donkey is a great hulking beast. When it is angry it kicks and bucks, brays and squeals, its eyes bigger than a basin, snorting harder than an ox. Its voice is hard to bear and its looks are no easier. But hold out a bundle of hay to coax it, and it lays back its ears and lowers its head and gladly takes the halter and bit. Set such a creature over the people, and no wonder it gets drunk on mere dregs. I hope that those who govern the people will take the donkey as a warning and strive to be counted with the fox. Then their virtue will grow day by day.