話表三藏別了朱紫國王，整頓鞍馬西進。行夠多少山原，歷盡無窮水道，不覺的秋去冬殘，又值春光明媚。師徒們正在路踏青玩景，忽見一座庵林。三藏滾鞍下馬，站立大道之傍。行者問道：「師父，這條路平坦無邪，因何不走？」八戒道：「師兄好不通情。師父在馬上坐得困了，也讓他下來關關風是。」三藏道：「不是關風，我看那裡是個人家，意欲自去化些齋吃。」行者笑道：「你看師父說的是那裡話，你要吃齋，我自去化。俗語云：『一日為師，終身為父。』豈有為弟子者高坐，教師父去化齋之理？」三藏道：「不是這等說。平日間一望無邊無際，你們沒遠沒近的去化齋。今日人家逼近，可以叫應，也讓我去化一個來。」八戒道：「師父沒主張。常言道：『三人出外，小的兒苦。』你況是個父輩，我等俱是弟子。古書云：『有事弟子服其勞。』等我老豬去。」三藏道：「徒弟啊，今日天氣晴明，與那風雨之時不同。那時節，汝等必定遠去。此個人家，等我去，有齋無齋，可以就回走路。」沙僧在傍笑道：「師兄，不必多講，師父的心性如此，不必違拗。若惱了他，就化將齋來，他也不吃。」
话表三藏别了朱紫国王，整顿鞍马西进。行够多少山原，历尽无穷水道，不觉的秋去冬残，又值春光明媚。师徒们正在路踏青玩景，忽见一座庵林。三藏滚鞍下马，站立大道之傍。行者问道：「师父，这条路平坦无邪，因何不走？」八戒道：「师兄好不通情。师父在马上坐得困了，也让他下来关关风是。」三藏道：「不是关风，我看那里是个人家，意欲自去化些斋吃。」行者笑道：「你看师父说的是那里话，你要吃斋，我自去化。俗语云：『一日为师，终身为父。』岂有为弟子者高坐，教师父去化斋之理？」三藏道：「不是这等说。平日间一望无边无际，你们没远没近的去化斋。今日人家逼近，可以叫应，也让我去化一个来。」八戒道：「师父没主张。常言道：『三人出外，小的儿苦。』你况是个父辈，我等俱是弟子。古书云：『有事弟子服其劳。』等我老猪去。」三藏道：「徒弟啊，今日天气晴明，与那风雨之时不同。那时节，汝等必定远去。此个人家，等我去，有斋无斋，可以就回走路。」沙僧在傍笑道：「师兄，不必多讲，师父的心性如此，不必违拗。若恼了他，就化将斋来，他也不吃。」
Now, Sanzang took his leave of the king of Scarlet and Purple, readied the horse and saddle, and journeyed west. They crossed many a mountain and plain and passed along endless waterways. Before they knew it, autumn had gone, winter was over, and spring shone bright again. Master and disciples were walking along, enjoying the fresh greenery and the view, when they suddenly saw a hermitage among the trees. Sanzang slipped from the saddle and stood beside the highway. Pilgrim asked, “Master, this road is level and perfectly safe. Why have you stopped?” Bajie said, “Brother, you have no feeling at all. Master’s tired of sitting on the horse. Let him get down and take the air.” Sanzang said, “It isn’t the air I want. I see a household over there and would like to go myself to beg a little vegetarian food.” Pilgrim laughed. “Master, what are you saying? If you want food, I’ll beg it for you. As the saying goes, ‘A teacher for a day is a father for life.’ What disciple would sit at ease and send his master out to beg?” Sanzang said, “That isn’t what I mean. Usually there’s nothing in sight as far as the eye can see, and you go begging somewhere or other, near or far. Today the house is close enough for us to call to one another. Let me beg a meal for once.” Bajie said, “Master, you’ve got this all wrong. As the saying goes, ‘When three go travelling, the youngest does the drudgery.’ You’re our father’s generation, and we’re all your disciples. The old books say, ‘When there is work to do, the disciple takes the trouble.’ Let Old Zhu go.” Sanzang said, “Disciples, the weather is bright and clear today. It’s quite different when wind and rain come, and you have to go far afield. Let me visit this house. Whether there’s food or not, I can come straight back and we can be on our way.” Sha Monk smiled beside them. “Brothers, there’s no need to argue. That’s Master’s nature. Don’t cross him. If you make him angry, he won’t eat even if you bring the food back.”
八戒依言，即取出缽盂，與他換了衣帽。拽開步，直至那莊前觀看，卻也好座住場。但見：
石橋高聳，古樹森齊。石橋高聳，潺潺流水接長溪；古樹森齊，聒聒幽禽鳴遠岱。橋那邊有數椽茅屋，清清雅雅若仙庵；又有那一座蓬窗，白白明明欺道院。窗前忽見四佳人，都在那裡刺鳳描鸞做針線。
長老見那人家沒個男兒，只有四個女子，不敢進去，將身立定，閃在喬林之下。只見那女子一個個：
閨心堅似石，蘭性喜如春。嬌臉紅霞襯，朱唇絳脂勻。蛾眉橫月小，蟬鬢疊雲新。若到花間立，遊蜂錯認真。
少停有半個時辰，一發靜悄悄，雞犬無聲。自家思慮道：「我若沒本事化頓齋飯，也惹那徒弟笑我：敢道為師的化不出齋來，為徒的怎能去拜佛？」
八戒依言，即取出钵盂，与他换了衣帽。拽开步，直至那庄前观看，却也好座住场。但见：
石桥高耸，古树森齐。石桥高耸，潺潺流水接长溪；古树森齐，聒聒幽禽鸣远岱。桥那边有数椽茅屋，清清雅雅若仙庵；又有那一座蓬窗，白白明明欺道院。窗前忽见四佳人，都在那里刺凤描鸾做针线。
长老见那人家没个男儿，只有四个女子，不敢进去，将身立定，闪在乔林之下。只见那女子一个个：
闺心坚似石，兰性喜如春。娇脸红霞衬，朱唇绛脂匀。蛾眉横月小，蝉鬓叠云新。若到花间立，游蜂错认真。
少停有半个时辰，一发静悄悄，鸡犬无声。自家思虑道：「我若没本事化顿斋饭，也惹那徒弟笑我：敢道为师的化不出斋来，为徒的怎能去拜佛？」
Bajie did as he said, took out the begging bowl and helped Sanzang change his clothes and headgear. The elder strode off to the farmstead and looked it over. It was a fine place to live. This is what he saw:
A stone bridge rises high;ancient trees stand thick and even.The stone bridge rises high,with murmuring water joining a long stream;The ancient trees stand thick and even,with woodland birds calling toward distant peaks.Beyond the bridge stand a few thatched cottages,neat and quiet as an immortal’s hermitage;There too is a cottage window,pale and bright enough to outshine a Daoist cloister.Before the window four beauties sit at needlework,embroidering phoenixes and tracing luan birds.
Seeing no man in the household, only four women, the elder did not dare go in. He stopped and kept out of sight beneath the tall trees. Each of the women looked like this:
Their maiden hearts are firm as stone;their orchid natures glad as spring.Rosy clouds set off their lovely faces;crimson rouge lies smooth upon their lips.Slender moth brows cross a little moon;cicada tresses rise in fresh-piled clouds.Should they stand among the flowers,wandering bees would take them for the real thing.
He waited for about an hour. All grew quieter still, with not a sound from dog or chicken. He thought to himself, “If I can’t even beg a meal, my disciples will laugh at me. They’ll say, ‘If the master can’t beg food, how can his disciples go to worship the Buddha?’”
長老沒計奈何，也帶了幾分不是，趨步上橋。又走了幾步，只見那茅屋裡面有一座木香亭子，亭子下又有三個女子在那裡踢氣毬哩。你看那三個女子，比那四個又生得不同。但見那：
飄揚翠袖，搖拽緗裙。飄揚翠袖，低籠著玉筍纖纖；搖拽緗裙，半露出金蓮窄窄。形容體勢十分全，動靜腳跟千樣屣。拿頭過論有高低，張泛送來真又楷。轉身踢個出牆花，退步翻成大過海。輕接一團泥，單槍急對拐。明珠上佛頭，實捏來尖靴。窄磚偏會拿，臥魚將腳抷。平腰折膝蹲，扭頂翹跟屣。扳凳能喧泛，披肩甚脫灑。絞襠任往來，鎖項隨搖擺。踢的是黃河水倒流，金魚灘上買。那個錯認是頭兒，這個轉身就打拐。端然捧上臁，周正尖來捽。提跟潠草鞋，倒插回頭採。退步泛肩妝，鉤兒只一歹。販簍下來長，便把奪門揣。踢到美心時，佳人齊喝采。一個個汗流粉膩透羅裳，興懶情疏方叫海。
言不盡，又有詩為證。詩曰：
蹴踘當場三月天，仙風吹下素嬋娟。汗沾粉面花含露，塵染蛾眉柳帶煙。翠袖低垂籠玉筍，緗裙斜拽露金蓮。幾回踢罷嬌無力，雲鬢蓬鬆寶髻偏。
三藏看得時辰久了，只得走上橋頭，應聲高叫道：「女菩薩，貧僧這裡隨緣佈施些兒齋吃。」那些女子聽見，一個個喜喜歡歡拋了針線，撇了氣毬，都笑笑吟吟的接出門來道：「長老，失迎了。今到荒莊，決不敢攔路齋僧，請裡面坐。」三藏聞言，心中暗道：「善哉，善哉！西方正是佛地，女流尚且注意齋僧，男子豈不虔心向佛？」
长老没计奈何，也带了几分不是，趋步上桥。又走了几步，只见那茅屋里面有一座木香亭子，亭子下又有三个女子在那里踢气毬哩。你看那三个女子，比那四个又生得不同。但见那：
飘扬翠袖，摇拽缃裙。飘扬翠袖，低笼着玉笋纤纤；摇拽缃裙，半露出金莲窄窄。形容体势十分全，动静脚跟千样屣。拿头过论有高低，张泛送来真又楷。转身踢个出墙花，退步翻成大过海。轻接一团泥，单枪急对拐。明珠上佛头，实捏来尖靴。窄砖偏会拿，卧鱼将脚抷。平腰折膝蹲，扭顶翘跟屣。扳凳能喧泛，披肩甚脱洒。绞裆任往来，锁项随摇摆。踢的是黄河水倒流，金鱼滩上买。那个错认是头儿，这个转身就打拐。端然捧上臁，周正尖来捽。提跟潠草鞋，倒插回头采。退步泛肩妆，钩儿只一歹。贩篓下来长，便把夺门揣。踢到美心时，佳人齐喝采。一个个汗流粉腻透罗裳，兴懒情疏方叫海。
言不尽，又有诗为证。诗曰：
蹴踘当场三月天，仙风吹下素婵娟。汗沾粉面花含露，尘染蛾眉柳带烟。翠袖低垂笼玉笋，缃裙斜拽露金莲。几回踢罢娇无力，云鬓蓬松宝髻偏。
三藏看得时辰久了，只得走上桥头，应声高叫道：「女菩萨，贫僧这里随缘布施些儿斋吃。」那些女子听见，一个个喜喜欢欢抛了针线，撇了气毬，都笑笑吟吟的接出门来道：「长老，失迎了。今到荒庄，决不敢拦路斋僧，请里面坐。」三藏闻言，心中暗道：「善哉，善哉！西方正是佛地，女流尚且注意斋僧，男子岂不虔心向佛？」
The elder could think of nothing else to do. Feeling a little in the wrong, he hurried onto the bridge. A few steps farther on, he saw a banksia-rose pavilion within the thatched compound, with three more women kicking a ball beneath it. Look at these three! Their beauty was different again from that of the other four. This is what he saw:
Green sleeves flutter;pale-yellow skirts sway.The fluttering green sleeveshang low over slender jade-bamboo fingers;The swaying pale-yellow skirtshalf reveal their narrow golden lotuses.Perfect in figure and bearing,they set their heels a thousand ways, in motion and at rest.They receive and pass with the head, high and low;their lifted returns are true and neat.A turn sends up the flower over the wall;a backward step becomes the great crossing of the sea.Lightly they catch the clod of earth;the single spear meets a swift side kick.A bright pearl rises onto the Buddha’s head;a firm catch brings the pointed boot.They are deft at catching the narrow brick;the reclining fish scoops with the foot.Waists level, knees bent, they crouch;they twist the crown and lift their heels.The bench move sends it soaring;over the shoulder it flies free and easy.The crossed-crotch move goes back and forth at will;the neck lock follows every sway.Their kicks send Yellow River water flowing backwardand buy goldfish on the shoal.One mistakes the stroke for a header;another turns and strikes it sideways.Steadily they lift it on the shin,then neatly flick and swing it from the toe.A raised heel sprays the straw sandal;a backward thrust plucks it with a turn.They step back for a floating shoulder move;a little hook takes just one sweep.The basket move brings it down in a long arc;then comes the kick that seizes the gate.When a kick delights their hearts,the beauties all cry bravo.Sweat and creamy powder soak each gauze gown;only when their pleasure flags do they call a halt.
Words cannot tell it all. There is a poem to prove it. A poem says:
On the ball field in the third month,an immortal breeze has blown these fair beauties down.Sweat on powdered cheeks is dew upon flowers;dust on moth brows is mist upon willows.Green sleeves droop low over jade-bamboo fingers;pale-yellow skirts trail sideways, showing golden lotuses.After many rounds of kicking, their charms grow languid;cloudlike hair comes loose, jewelled buns tilt awry.
Sanzang had watched for a long time. At last he went to the end of the bridge and called out loudly, “Lady Bodhisattvas, please give this poor monk a little vegetarian food, as your generosity allows.” At his voice the women happily dropped their needlework and left their ball. All came out smiling to meet him. “Elder, forgive us for not coming to welcome you. Now that you’ve reached our humble farmstead, we would never leave a monk out on the road to eat his meal. Please come inside and sit.” Sanzang thought, “Excellent, excellent! The West truly is the Buddha’s land. Even the women take care to feed monks. Surely the men must be still more devoted to the Buddha!”