長山徐遠公，故明諸生，鼎革後，棄儒訪道，稍稍學敕勒之術，遠近多耳其名。某邑一巨公，具幣，致誠款書，招之以騎。徐問：「召某何意？」僕曰：「不知。但囑小人務屈降臨。」徐乃行。至則中亭宴饌，禮遇甚恭，然終不道其相迎之旨。徐因問曰：「實欲何為？」幸祛疑抱。主人輒言：「無他。」但勸杯酒。言詞閃爍，殊所不解。談話之間，不覺向暮，邀徐飲園中。園頗佳勝，而竹樹蒙翳，景物陰森，雜花叢叢，半沒草萊。抵一閣，覆板之上懸蛛錯綴，似久無人住者。酒數行，天色曛暗，命燭復飲。徐辭不勝酒，主人即罷酒呼茶。諸僕倉皇撤肴器，盡納閣之左室幾上。茶啜未半，主人托故竟去。僕人持燭引宿左室，燭置案上，遽返身去，頗甚草草。徐疑或攜襆被來伴，久之，人聲杳然，乃自起扃戶就寢。
長山的徐遠公，原是明朝的秀才。改朝換代後，他放棄儒學，訪求道術，漸漸學了一點用符咒驅使鬼神的本領，遠近很多人聽過他的名聲。某縣有位顯貴，備好禮物，寫了誠懇客氣的信，又派人帶著馬來接他。徐遠公問：「請我去做什麼？」僕人說：「不知道。主人只囑咐小人，務必請您屈尊前往。」徐遠公便去了。到了那裡，主人在中亭設宴，接待得十分恭敬，卻始終不說為什麼請他來。徐遠公便問：「你究竟想讓我做什麼？」希望主人解開自己心裡的疑惑。主人總說：「沒有別的事。」只勸他喝酒。話說得閃閃躲躲，實在讓他不明白。兩人交談之間，不知不覺到了傍晚，主人又邀徐遠公去園中飲酒。園子景緻很好，但竹子和樹木濃密遮蔽，景物陰森，各種花一叢叢生長，半埋在雜草裡。他們來到一座樓閣，天花板上蛛網交錯懸掛，像是很久沒有人住過。喝了幾輪酒，天色暗下來，主人叫人點上蠟燭，繼續喝。徐遠公推辭，說自己不能再喝，主人便停止勸酒，叫人上茶。僕人們慌忙撤下菜餚和器具，全放到樓閣左邊房間的桌上。茶還沒喝到一半，主人便藉故離開了。僕人拿著蠟燭，引徐遠公到左邊的房間住宿，把蠟燭放在桌上，立即轉身離去，十分倉促。徐遠公以為他也許會拿鋪蓋來作伴，可等了很久，一點人聲也沒有，便自己起身關好門，躺下睡了。
长山徐远公，故明诸生，鼎革后，弃儒访道，稍稍学敕勒之术，远近多耳其名。某邑一巨公，具币，致诚款书，招之以骑。徐问：「召某何意？」仆曰：「不知。但嘱小人务屈降临。」徐乃行。至则中亭宴馔，礼遇甚恭，然终不道其相迎之旨。徐因问曰：「实欲何为？」幸祛疑抱。主人辄言：「无他。」但劝杯酒。言词闪烁，殊所不解。谈话之间，不觉向暮，邀徐饮园中。园颇佳胜，而竹树蒙翳，景物阴森，杂花丛丛，半没草莱。抵一阁，覆板之上悬蛛错缀，似久无人住者。酒数行，天色曛暗，命烛复饮。徐辞不胜酒，主人即罢酒呼茶。诸仆仓皇撤肴器，尽纳阁之左室几上。茶啜未半，主人托故竟去。仆人持烛引宿左室，烛置案上，遽返身去，颇甚草草。徐疑或携襆被来伴，久之，人声杳然，乃自起扃户就寝。
长山的徐远公，原是明朝的秀才。改朝换代后，他放弃儒学，访求道术，渐渐学了一点用符咒驱使鬼神的本领，远近很多人听过他的名声。某县有位显贵，备好礼物，写了诚恳客气的信，又派人带着马来接他。徐远公问：“请我去做什么？”仆人说：“不知道。主人只嘱咐小人，务必请您屈尊前往。”徐远公便去了。到了那里，主人在中亭设宴，接待得十分恭敬，却始终不说为什么请他来。徐远公便问：“你究竟想让我做什么？”希望主人解开自己心里的疑惑。主人总说：“没有别的事。”只劝他喝酒。话说得闪闪躲躲，实在让他不明白。两人交谈之间，不知不觉到了傍晚，主人又邀徐远公去园中饮酒。园子景致很好，但竹子和树木浓密遮蔽，景物阴森，各种花一丛丛生长，半埋在杂草里。他们来到一座楼阁，天花板上蛛网交错悬挂，像是很久没有人住过。喝了几轮酒，天色暗下来，主人叫人点上蜡烛，继续喝。徐远公推辞，说自己不能再喝，主人便停止劝酒，叫人上茶。仆人们慌忙撤下菜肴和器具，全放到楼阁左边房间的桌上。茶还没喝到一半，主人便借故离开了。仆人拿着蜡烛，引徐远公到左边的房间住宿，把蜡烛放在桌上，立即转身离去，十分仓促。徐远公以为他也许会拿铺盖来作伴，可等了很久，一点人声也没有，便自己起身关好门，躺下睡了。
Xu Yuangong of Changshan had been a licentiate under the Ming. When the dynasty changed, he gave up Confucian learning to seek the Way, and picked up a little of the art of commanding spirits with spells. People far and near had heard of him. A great gentleman of a certain county prepared gifts, sent a sincere and courteous letter, and had a horse brought to fetch him. “Why does he send for me?” Xu asked. “I don’t know,” said the servant. “He only told me I must be sure to beg you to come.” So Xu went. When he arrived, a banquet was laid in the central hall and he was received with great respect, but his host never said why he had invited him. At last Xu asked, “What is it you really want of me? Please put my doubts to rest.” “Nothing in particular,” said the host, and only pressed more wine on him. His answers were evasive, and Xu could make nothing of them. As they talked, evening came on before they noticed it, and the host invited Xu to drink in the garden. It was a fine garden, but the bamboo and trees grew thick and overshadowing, the whole place was gloomy, and clumps of flowers of every kind lay half buried in weeds. They came to a two-storey pavilion. Spiders’ webs hung tangled from the ceiling boards; it looked as if no one had lived there for a long time. After several rounds of wine it grew dark, and the host called for candles and went on drinking. When Xu declined, saying he could hold no more, the host at once stopped the wine and called for tea. The servants hurriedly cleared away the dishes and put them all on the table in the left-hand room of the pavilion. The tea was not half drunk when the host made some excuse and left. A servant took a candle and showed Xu to the left-hand room to sleep. He set the candle on the table and hurried straight out again, very offhand about it. Xu thought he might be fetching bedding to keep him company, but a long time passed and not a voice was to be heard, so he got up himself, barred the door, and went to bed.
窗外皎月，入室侵床，夜鳥秋蟲，一時啾唧，心中怛然，寢不成寐。頃之，板上橐橐似踏蹴聲，甚厲。俄下護梯，俄近寢門。徐駭，毛發猬立，急引被蒙首，而門已豁然頓開。徐展被角微伺之，見一物獸首人身，毛周遍體，長如馬鬐，深黑色；牙粲群蜂，目炯雙炬。及幾，伏餂器中剩肴，舌一過，數器輒凈如掃。已而趨近榻，嗅徐被。徐驟起，翻被冪怪頭，按之狂喊。怪出不意，驚脫，啟外戶竄去。徐披衣起遁，則園門外扃，不可得出。緣墻而走，躍逾短垣，則主人馬廄。廄人驚，徐告以故，即就乞宿。
窗外明月皎潔，月光照進屋裡，灑到床上，夜鳥和秋蟲一齊啾啾唧唧地叫。徐遠公心裡不安，躺著睡不著。不一會兒，樓板上傳來很響的橐橐聲，像有人在踏踩。不久，聲音下了樓梯，又來到臥室門前。徐遠公大驚，汗毛全都豎了起來，急忙拉過被子矇住頭，可房門已經猛然大開。他掀起被角，偷偷看去，見一個東西長著獸頭人身，全身都是深黑色的毛，長得像馬鬃；牙齒亮閃閃的，參差排列，像一列山峰，眼睛像兩支火炬一樣明亮。怪物來到桌邊，俯下身舔器具裡的剩菜，舌頭一過，幾個盤碗便乾淨得像掃過一樣。隨後，它走近床榻，嗅徐遠公的被子。徐遠公猛然起身，翻過被子矇住怪物的頭，按住它，大聲狂喊。怪物猝不及防，驚慌掙脫，打開外門逃走了。徐遠公披上衣服，也起身逃跑，卻發現園門從外面鎖著，出不去。他沿牆奔走，跳過一段矮牆，到了主人的馬廄。看馬的人吃了一驚，徐遠公告訴他們經過，便求在那裡住下。
窗外皎月，入室侵床，夜鸟秋虫，一时啾唧，心中怛然，寝不成寐。顷之，板上橐橐似踏蹴声，甚厉。俄下护梯，俄近寝门。徐骇，毛发猬立，急引被蒙首，而门已豁然顿开。徐展被角微伺之，见一物兽首人身，毛周遍体，长如马鬐，深黑色；牙粲群蜂，目炯双炬。及几，伏餂器中剩肴，舌一过，数器辄净如扫。已而趋近榻，嗅徐被。徐骤起，翻被幂怪头，按之狂喊。怪出不意，惊脱，启外户窜去。徐披衣起遁，则园门外扃，不可得出。缘墙而走，跃逾短垣，则主人马厩。厩人惊，徐告以故，即就乞宿。
窗外明月皎洁，月光照进屋里，洒到床上，夜鸟和秋虫一齐啾啾唧唧地叫。徐远公心里不安，躺着睡不着。不一会儿，楼板上传来很响的橐橐声，像有人在踏踩。不久，声音下了楼梯，又来到卧室门前。徐远公大惊，汗毛全都竖了起来，急忙拉过被子蒙住头，可房门已经猛然大开。他掀起被角，偷偷看去，见一个东西长着兽头人身，全身都是深黑色的毛，长得像马鬃；牙齿亮闪闪的，参差排列，像一列山峰，眼睛像两支火炬一样明亮。怪物来到桌边，俯下身舔器具里的剩菜，舌头一过，几个盘碗便干净得像扫过一样。随后，它走近床榻，嗅徐远公的被子。徐远公猛然起身，翻过被子蒙住怪物的头，按住它，大声狂喊。怪物猝不及防，惊慌挣脱，打开外门逃走了。徐远公披上衣服，也起身逃跑，却发现园门从外面锁着，出不去。他沿墙奔走，跳过一段矮墙，到了主人的马厩。看马的人吃了一惊，徐远公告诉他们经过，便求在那里住下。
Bright moonlight came in at the window and fell across the bed. Night birds and autumn insects were all chirping at once. Xu felt uneasy and could not sleep. Presently there was a thudding on the boards overhead, like stamping and kicking, very loud. Soon it was coming down the stairs; soon it was at the bedroom door. Xu was terrified, his hair bristling like a hedgehog’s quills. He pulled the quilt over his head, but the door had already burst wide open. Lifting a corner of the quilt, Xu peeped out and saw a creature with a beast’s head and a man’s body. Hair covered it all over, long as a horse’s mane and deep black. Its teeth gleamed like a range of peaks; its eyes blazed like two torches. At the table it bent down and licked up the leftovers in the dishes: one pass of its tongue, and several dishes were clean as if swept. Then it came to the bed and sniffed at Xu’s quilt. Xu sprang up, flung the quilt over the monster’s head, held it down and yelled like a madman. Taken by surprise, the monster wrenched itself free in fright, opened the outer door and fled. Xu threw on his clothes and ran for it, but the garden gate was locked from outside and he could not get out. He ran along the wall and leapt over a low stretch of it, and found himself in his host’s stable. The grooms were startled. Xu told them what had happened and begged to sleep there.