且說展爺他那裡是為聯姻。皆因游過西湖一次，他時刻在念，不能去懷；因此謊言，特為賞玩西湖的景致。這也是他性之所愛。
且说展爷他那里是为联姻。皆因游过西湖一次，他时刻在念，不能去怀；因此谎言，特为赏玩西湖的景致。这也是他性之所爱。
Now, Zhan Zhao was not going to Hangzhou to see about any marriage at all. He had once been to West Lake, and ever since it had been on his mind every moment; he could not put it out of his thoughts. So he had told a fib, and his real purpose was to go and enjoy the sights of West Lake. It was in his nature to love such things.
一日來至杭州，離西湖不遠，將從者馬匹寄在五柳居。他便慢慢步行至斷橋亭上，徘徊瞻眺，真令人心曠神怡。正在暢快之際，忽見那邊堤岸上有一老者將衣摟起，把頭一蒙，縱身跳入水內。展爺見了不覺失聲道：「哎喲不好了！有人投了水了。」自己又不會水，急得他在亭子上搓手跺腳，無法可施。猛然見有一隻小小漁舟，猶如弩箭一般，飛也似趕來。到了老兒落水之處，見個少年漁郎把身體向水中一順，彷彿把水刺開的一般，雖有聲息，卻不咕咚。展爺看了，便知此人水勢精通，不由得凝眸注視。不多時，見少年漁郎將老者托起身子，浮於水面，蕩悠悠竟奔岸邊而來。展爺滿心歡喜，下了亭子，繞在那邊堤岸之上。見少年漁郎將老者兩足高高提起，頭向下，控出多少水來。
一日来至杭州，离西湖不远，将从者马匹寄在五柳居。他便慢慢步行至断桥亭上，徘徊瞻眺，真令人心旷神怡。正在畅快之际，忽见那边堤岸上有一老者将衣搂起，把头一蒙，纵身跳入水内。展爷见了不觉失声道：「哎哟不好了！有人投了水了。」自己又不会水，急得他在亭子上搓手跺脚，无法可施。猛然见有一只小小渔舟，犹如弩箭一般，飞也似赶来。到了老儿落水之处，见个少年渔郎把身体向水中一顺，仿佛把水刺开的一般，虽有声息，却不咕咚。展爷看了，便知此人水势精通，不由得凝眸注视。不多时，见少年渔郎将老者托起身子，浮于水面，荡悠悠竟奔岸边而来。展爷满心欢喜，下了亭子，绕在那边堤岸之上。见少年渔郎将老者两足高高提起，头向下，控出多少水来。
One day he reached Hangzhou. Not far from West Lake, he left his attendant and the horses at the Wuliu House, and strolled at his ease to the pavilion at the Broken Bridge. There he lingered, pacing to and fro and gazing out over the water: truly, it was a sight to open the heart and make the spirits soar. Just as he was enjoying it to the full, he saw an old man on the embankment over the way gather up his robe, throw it over his head and leap into the water. At the sight Zhan Zhao cried out before he could stop himself: “Oh no! Someone’s thrown himself in the lake!” He could not swim, and he was so frantic that he wrung his hands and stamped his feet up in the pavilion, with no idea what to do. Then all at once a tiny fishing boat came racing up, swift as a bolt from a crossbow. When it reached the spot where the old man had gone in, a young fisherman slid into the water as cleanly as if he were slicing it open: there was a sound, but no splash. Seeing that, Zhan Zhao knew the man was a master of the water, and he could not help watching intently. Before long the young fisherman came up holding the old man so that he floated on the surface, and swam with him, unhurried, straight for the bank. Zhan Zhao was overjoyed. He came down from the pavilion and went round to the embankment on the far side, where he saw the young fisherman lift the old man high by both feet, head down, and drain no end of water out of him.
展爺且不看老者性命如何，他細細端詳漁郎，見他年紀不過二旬光景，英華滿面，氣度不凡，心中暗暗稱羨。又見少年漁郎將老者扶起，盤上雙膝，在對面慢慢喚道：「老丈醒來，老丈醒來。」此時展爺方看老者，見他白髮蒼髯，形容枯瘦，半日方哼了一聲，又吐了好些清水。哎喲了一聲，甦醒過來，微微把眼一睜，道：「你這人好生多事。為何將我救活？我是活不得的人了。」
展爷且不看老者性命如何，他细细端详渔郎，见他年纪不过二旬光景，英华满面，气度不凡，心中暗暗称羡。又见少年渔郎将老者扶起，盘上双膝，在对面慢慢唤道：「老丈醒来，老丈醒来。」此时展爷方看老者，见他白发苍髯，形容枯瘦，半日方哼了一声，又吐了好些清水。哎哟了一声，苏醒过来，微微把眼一睁，道：「你这人好生多事。为何将我救活？我是活不得的人了。」
Zhan Zhao did not even stop to see whether the old man would live. Instead he studied the fisherman closely. He looked no more than twenty, his face full of brilliance and spirit and his bearing far from common, and Zhan Zhao admired him silently. Then he saw the young fisherman raise the old man up, settle him with his legs crossed beneath him and, facing him, call gently, “Wake up, old sir! Wake up, old sir!” Only now did Zhan Zhao look at the old man. His hair was white and his beard grizzled, and he was gaunt and wasted. After a long while he gave a groan and brought up a good deal more water. Then he let out an “Oh!” and came round. He opened his eyes a crack and said, “What a busybody you are! Why did you bring me back to life? I’m a man who can’t go on living.”