東郡某甲，以弄蛇為業。嘗蓄馴蛇二，皆青色：其大者呼之大青，小曰二青。二青額有赤點，尤靈馴，盤旋無不如意。蛇人愛之，異于他蛇。期年，大青死，思補其缺，未暇遑也。一夜，寄宿山寺。既明，啟笥，二青亦渺。蛇人悵恨欲死。冥搜亟呼，迄無影兆。然每值豐林茂草，輒縱之去，俾得自適，尋復返；以此故，冀其自至。坐伺之，日既高，亦已絕望，怏怏遂行。出門數武，聞叢薪錯楚中，窸窣作響。停趾愕顧，則二青來也。大喜，如獲拱璧。息肩路隅，蛇亦頓止。視其後，小蛇從焉。撫之曰：「我以汝為逝矣。小侶而所薦耶？」出餌飼之，兼飼小蛇。小蛇雖不去，然瑟縮不敢食。二青含哺之，宛似主人之讓客者。蛇人又飼之，乃食。食已，隨二青俱入笥中。荷去教之，旋折輒中規矩，與二青無少異，因名之小青。炫技四方，獲利無算。
東郡有個人，以耍蛇為生。他曾養著兩條馴服的蛇，都是青色的，大的叫大青，小的叫二青。二青額頭上有個紅點，尤其機靈溫順，盤繞轉動都能照著他的意思來。耍蛇人十分喜愛它，待它與別的蛇不同。一年後，大青死了，他想再找一條補上，卻一直沒有空閒。有一晚，他借宿在一座山寺裡。天亮後打開竹箱，二青也不見了。耍蛇人悲傷懊惱，幾乎不想活了。他到處仔細搜尋，急切地呼喚，始終找不到一點蹤跡。不過，他每次遇到茂密的樹林草叢，總會把二青放出去，讓它自在遊玩，不久它就會回來。因此，他還盼著它自己回來。他坐著等候，直到太陽已經升高，也徹底失了指望，便悶悶不樂地上路了。出了寺門沒幾步，他聽見雜亂的柴草叢中傳來窸窸窣窣的響聲。他停下腳步，驚訝地回頭看，原來是二青來了。他喜出望外，像得到了珍貴的玉璧。他在路旁放下擔子，二青也停了下來。再看它身後，還有一條小蛇跟著。他撫摸著二青說：「我還以為你已經死了。這位小夥伴，是你介紹來的吧？」他拿出食物喂二青，也喂那條小蛇。小蛇雖然沒有離開，卻縮著身子不敢吃。二青把食物含在嘴裡餵它，簡直像主人在勸客人吃東西。耍蛇人又拿食物餵它，它這才吃了。吃完後，它跟著二青一起鑽進竹箱。耍蛇人挑著它們上路，訓練這條小蛇。它盤旋轉折，總能合乎要求，與二青沒有什麼差別，於是他給它起名叫小青。他帶著它們到各地表演，賺了數不清的錢。
东郡某甲，以弄蛇为业。尝蓄驯蛇二，皆青色：其大者呼之大青，小曰二青。二青额有赤点，尤灵驯，盘旋无不如意。蛇人爱之，异于他蛇。期年，大青死，思补其缺，未暇遑也。一夜，寄宿山寺。既明，启笥，二青亦渺。蛇人怅恨欲死。冥搜亟呼，迄无影兆。然每值丰林茂草，辄纵之去，俾得自适，寻复返；以此故，冀其自至。坐伺之，日既高，亦已绝望，怏怏遂行。出门数武，闻丛薪错楚中，窸窣作响。停趾愕顾，则二青来也。大喜，如获拱璧。息肩路隅，蛇亦顿止。视其后，小蛇从焉。抚之曰：「我以汝为逝矣。小侣而所荐耶？」出饵饲之，兼饲小蛇。小蛇虽不去，然瑟缩不敢食。二青含哺之，宛似主人之让客者。蛇人又饲之，乃食。食已，随二青俱入笥中。荷去教之，旋折辄中规矩，与二青无少异，因名之小青。炫技四方，获利无算。
东郡有个人，以耍蛇为生。他曾养着两条驯服的蛇，都是青色的，大的叫大青，小的叫二青。二青额头上有个红点，尤其机灵温顺，盘绕转动都能照着他的意思来。耍蛇人十分喜爱它，待它与别的蛇不同。一年后，大青死了，他想再找一条补上，却一直没有空闲。有一晚，他借宿在一座山寺里。天亮后打开竹箱，二青也不见了。耍蛇人悲伤懊恼，几乎不想活了。他到处仔细搜寻，急切地呼唤，始终找不到一点踪迹。不过，他每次遇到茂密的树林草丛，总会把二青放出去，让它自在游玩，不久它就会回来。因此，他还盼着它自己回来。他坐着等候，直到太阳已经升高，也彻底失了指望，便闷闷不乐地上路了。出了寺门没几步，他听见杂乱的柴草丛中传来窸窸窣窣的响声。他停下脚步，惊讶地回头看，原来是二青来了。他喜出望外，像得到了珍贵的玉璧。他在路旁放下担子，二青也停了下来。再看它身后，还有一条小蛇跟着。他抚摸着二青说：“我还以为你已经死了。这位小伙伴，是你介绍来的吧？”他拿出食物喂二青，也喂那条小蛇。小蛇虽然没有离开，却缩着身子不敢吃。二青把食物含在嘴里喂它，简直像主人在劝客人吃东西。耍蛇人又拿食物喂它，它这才吃了。吃完后，它跟着二青一起钻进竹箱。耍蛇人挑着它们上路，训练这条小蛇。它盘旋转折，总能合乎要求，与二青没有什么差别，于是他给它起名叫小青。他带着它们到各地表演，赚了数不清的钱。
A man of Dongjun made his living as a snake charmer. He once kept two tame snakes, both green. The bigger he called Big Green and the smaller Second Green. Second Green had a red spot on its forehead and was especially clever and tame; it coiled and turned exactly as he wished. The snake man loved it more than any of his other snakes. After a year Big Green died. He meant to find another to fill its place, but had not yet had the chance. One night he lodged at a temple in the hills. In the morning he opened his basket, and Second Green was gone as well. The snake man was so wretched he could have died. He searched everywhere and called for it, but found no trace. Yet whenever they came to thick woods or deep grass, he used to let it go off to roam as it pleased, and it always came back before long; and so he hoped it would come back by itself. He sat and waited. The sun rose high, and he gave up hope. Dejected, he set off. A few steps out of the gate he heard a rustling in a tangle of brushwood. He stopped short and looked round in surprise: it was Second Green coming. He was overjoyed, as if he had found a priceless jade. He set down his load by the roadside, and the snake stopped too. Behind it a little snake was following. He stroked Second Green and said, “I thought you were gone for good. Is this little companion someone you’re bringing me?” He took out some food and fed it, and fed the little snake too. The little snake did not go away, but it cowered and would not eat. Second Green took food in its mouth and fed it, just like a host pressing food on a guest. The snake man fed it again, and this time it ate. When it had eaten, it followed Second Green into the basket. He carried it off and trained it, and it was soon turning and coiling exactly as it should, no different from Second Green. So he named it Little Green. He showed off their tricks everywhere he went and made more money than he could count.
大抵蛇人之弄蛇也，止以二尺為率；大則過重，輒便更易。──緣二青馴，故未遽棄。又二三年，長三尺餘，臥則笥為之滿，遂決去之。一日，至淄邑東山間，飼以美餌，祝而縱之。既去，頃之復來，蜿蜒笥外。蛇人揮曰：「去之！世無百年不散之筵。從此隱身大谷，必且為神龍，笥中何可以久居也？」蛇乃去。蛇人目送之。已而復返，揮之不去，以首觸笥。小青在中，亦震震而動。蛇人悟曰：「得毋欲別小青也？」乃發笥。小青徑出，因與交首吐舌，似相告語。已而委蛇並去。方意小青不返，俄而踽踽獨來，竟入笥臥。由此隨在物色，迄無佳者。而小青亦漸大，不可弄。後得一頭，亦頗馴，然終不如小青良。而小青粗于兒臂矣。先是，二青在山中，樵人多見之。又數年，長數尺，圍如碗；漸出逐人，因而行旅相戒，罔敢出其途。一日，蛇人經其處，蛇暴出如風。蛇人大怖而奔。蛇逐益急，回顧已將及矣。而視其首，朱點儼然，始悟為二青。下擔呼曰：「二青，二青！」蛇頓止。昂首久之，縱身繞蛇人，如昔弄狀。覺其意殊不惡，但軀巨重，不勝其繞；仆地呼禱，乃釋之。又以首觸笥。蛇人悟其意，開笥出小青。二蛇相見，交纏如飴糖狀，久之始開。蛇人乃祝小青：「我久欲與汝別，今有伴矣。」謂二青曰：「原君引之來，可還引之去。更囑一言：深山不乏食飲，勿擾行人，以犯天譴。」二蛇垂頭，似相領受。遽起，大者前，小者後，過處林木為之中分。蛇人佇立望之，不見乃去。自此行人如常，不知其何往也。
耍蛇人所用的蛇，一般以兩尺長為準，再大就太重了，往往要換一條。因為二青馴服，他才沒有急著放棄它。又過了兩三年，二青長到三尺多，躺在竹箱裡便把箱子佔滿了，他終於決定把它放走。一天，他來到淄邑東邊的山裡，拿好食物餵飽二青，對它叮囑了一番，便放它離開。二青走了，過了一會兒卻又回來，在竹箱外蜿蜒遊動。耍蛇人揮手說：「走吧！世上沒有一百年都不散的宴席。從此你藏身在大山谷裡，將來一定能成為神龍，怎麼能長久住在竹箱裡呢？」二青這才離開，耍蛇人目送著它。過了一會兒，它又回來了，怎麼揮手趕它都不肯走，還用頭碰竹箱。小青在箱裡，也不停地動著。耍蛇人明白過來，說：「難道你是想和小青告別嗎？」於是打開竹箱。小青徑直爬了出來，兩條蛇把頭湊在一起，吐著舌頭，像在互相說話。過了一會兒，它們一起蜿蜒遊走。他正以為小青不會再回來了，不久小青卻孤零零地獨自回來，鑽進竹箱躺下。從此，耍蛇人到處尋找別的蛇，始終沒有找到好的。小青也漸漸長大，不能再用來表演。後來他得到一條蛇，也頗為馴服，但終究不如小青好。這時，小青已經比小孩子的胳膊還粗了。在這以前，樵夫們常在山裡看見二青。又過了幾年，二青又長了幾尺，身子有碗那麼粗，漸漸開始出來追趕人。過路的人因此互相告誡，誰也不敢走那條路。一天，耍蛇人經過那裡，一條蛇突然像風一樣衝了出來。他嚇得轉身就跑，蛇卻越追越急。他回頭一看，蛇已經快要追上了。再看蛇頭，那個紅點清清楚楚，他這才認出是二青。他放下擔子，喊道：「二青，二青！」蛇立刻停住，昂著頭看了好一會兒，隨後撲過來，繞著耍蛇人盤纏，像從前表演時一樣。他覺得二青並沒有惡意，只是它的身軀又大又重，自己承受不住，被纏得倒在地上，連聲呼喊求它鬆開，它才放開了他。二青又用頭碰竹箱。耍蛇人明白它的意思，打開竹箱，把小青放出來。兩條蛇一見面，就像麥芽糖一樣纏在一起，過了很久才分開。耍蛇人便對小青說：「我早就想和你分別，如今你有伴了。」又對二青說：「當初是你把它帶來的，如今你也可以把它帶走。我再囑咐你一句：深山裡不缺吃喝，不要騷擾過路的人，招來上天的懲罰。」兩條蛇低下頭，像是聽懂並接受了他的囑咐。隨後，它們猛然起身，大的在前，小的在後，經過的地方，林木都被它們從中間推開。耍蛇人站在那裡望著它們，直到看不見了才離開。從此，過路的人又能照常通行，誰也不知道兩條蛇去了哪裡。
大抵蛇人之弄蛇也，止以二尺为率；大则过重，辄便更易。──缘二青驯，故未遽弃。又二三年，长三尺余，卧则笥为之满，遂决去之。一日，至淄邑东山间，饲以美饵，祝而纵之。既去，顷之复来，蜿蜒笥外。蛇人挥曰：「去之！世无百年不散之筵。从此隐身大谷，必且为神龙，笥中何可以久居也？」蛇乃去。蛇人目送之。已而复返，挥之不去，以首触笥。小青在中，亦震震而动。蛇人悟曰：「得毋欲别小青也？」乃发笥。小青径出，因与交首吐舌，似相告语。已而委蛇并去。方意小青不返，俄而踽踽独来，竟入笥卧。由此随在物色，迄无佳者。而小青亦渐大，不可弄。后得一头，亦颇驯，然终不如小青良。而小青粗于儿臂矣。先是，二青在山中，樵人多见之。又数年，长数尺，围如碗；渐出逐人，因而行旅相戒，罔敢出其途。一日，蛇人经其处，蛇暴出如风。蛇人大怖而奔。蛇逐益急，回顾已将及矣。而视其首，朱点俨然，始悟为二青。下担呼曰：「二青，二青！」蛇顿止。昂首久之，纵身绕蛇人，如昔弄状。觉其意殊不恶，但躯巨重，不胜其绕；仆地呼祷，乃释之。又以首触笥。蛇人悟其意，开笥出小青。二蛇相见，交缠如饴糖状，久之始开。蛇人乃祝小青：「我久欲与汝别，今有伴矣。」谓二青曰：「原君引之来，可还引之去。更嘱一言：深山不乏食饮，勿扰行人，以犯天谴。」二蛇垂头，似相领受。遽起，大者前，小者后，过处林木为之中分。蛇人伫立望之，不见乃去。自此行人如常，不知其何往也。
耍蛇人所用的蛇，一般以两尺长为准，再大就太重了，往往要换一条。因为二青驯服，他才没有急着放弃它。又过了两三年，二青长到三尺多，躺在竹箱里便把箱子占满了，他终于决定把它放走。一天，他来到淄邑东边的山里，拿好食物喂饱二青，对它叮嘱了一番，便放它离开。二青走了，过了一会儿却又回来，在竹箱外蜿蜒游动。耍蛇人挥手说：“走吧！世上没有一百年都不散的宴席。从此你藏身在大山谷里，将来一定能成为神龙，怎么能长久住在竹箱里呢？”二青这才离开，耍蛇人目送着它。过了一会儿，它又回来了，怎么挥手赶它都不肯走，还用头碰竹箱。小青在箱里，也不停地动着。耍蛇人明白过来，说：“难道你是想和小青告别吗？”于是打开竹箱。小青径直爬了出来，两条蛇把头凑在一起，吐着舌头，像在互相说话。过了一会儿，它们一起蜿蜒游走。他正以为小青不会再回来了，不久小青却孤零零地独自回来，钻进竹箱躺下。从此，耍蛇人到处寻找别的蛇，始终没有找到好的。小青也渐渐长大，不能再用来表演。后来他得到一条蛇，也颇为驯服，但终究不如小青好。这时，小青已经比小孩子的胳膊还粗了。在这以前，樵夫们常在山里看见二青。又过了几年，二青又长了几尺，身子有碗那么粗，渐渐开始出来追赶人。过路的人因此互相告诫，谁也不敢走那条路。一天，耍蛇人经过那里，一条蛇突然像风一样冲了出来。他吓得转身就跑，蛇却越追越急。他回头一看，蛇已经快要追上了。再看蛇头，那个红点清清楚楚，他这才认出是二青。他放下担子，喊道：“二青，二青！”蛇立刻停住，昂着头看了好一会儿，随后扑过来，绕着耍蛇人盘缠，像从前表演时一样。他觉得二青并没有恶意，只是它的身躯又大又重，自己承受不住，被缠得倒在地上，连声呼喊求它松开，它才放开了他。二青又用头碰竹箱。耍蛇人明白它的意思，打开竹箱，把小青放出来。两条蛇一见面，就像麦芽糖一样缠在一起，过了很久才分开。耍蛇人便对小青说：“我早就想和你分别，如今你有伴了。”又对二青说：“当初是你把它带来的，如今你也可以把它带走。我再嘱咐你一句：深山里不缺吃喝，不要骚扰过路的人，招来上天的惩罚。”两条蛇低下头，像是听懂并接受了他的嘱咐。随后，它们猛然起身，大的在前，小的在后，经过的地方，林木都被它们从中间推开。耍蛇人站在那里望着它们，直到看不见了才离开。从此，过路的人又能照常通行，谁也不知道两条蛇去了哪里。
As a rule, a snake charmer’s snakes are no more than two feet long; a bigger one is too heavy, and he trades it for another. Because Second Green was so tame, he had not been in a hurry to get rid of it. Two or three more years went by, and it grew to over three feet long; when it lay down it filled the basket. So he decided to let it go. One day he came to the hills east of Zichuan. He gave it a good meal, prayed over it and set it free. It went off, but soon came back and wound about outside the basket. The snake man waved it away. “Go! There is no feast in the world that lasts a hundred years. From now on, hide yourself in some great valley, and you are sure to become a divine dragon. How can you live in a basket for long?” The snake went away. The snake man watched it go. Then it came back again, and would not leave though he waved at it, but nudged the basket with its head. Inside, Little Green was stirring too. The snake man understood. “Could it be that you want to say goodbye to Little Green?” He opened the basket. Little Green came straight out, and the two touched heads and flicked their tongues, as if talking to each other. Then they wound away together. Just as he was thinking Little Green would not come back, it came creeping back alone, went into the basket and lay down. From then on he looked everywhere for another snake, but never found a good one. And Little Green was growing too, and could no longer be used in the act. Later he got another snake, fairly tame, but never as good as Little Green. By then Little Green was thicker than a child’s arm. Before this, woodcutters had often seen Second Green in the hills. Several more years passed, and it grew several feet long and as thick around as a bowl. It began to come out and chase people, so travellers warned each other, and no one dared take that road. One day the snake man passed that way, and a snake shot out at him like the wind. Terrified, the snake man ran. The snake chased him all the harder, and when he looked back it was almost on him. But when he looked at its head, there was the red spot, plain as could be, and he realized it was Second Green. He set down his load and called out, “Second Green! Second Green!” The snake stopped short. It held its head high for a long while, then threw itself around him and coiled about him as it had in the old days. He could tell it meant no harm, but its body was so huge and heavy that he could not bear its coils. He fell to the ground, crying out and praying, and it let him go. Then it nudged the basket with its head again. The snake man understood, and opened the basket and let Little Green out. When the two snakes saw each other, they wound together like taffy, and only after a long time did they come apart. Then the snake man spoke to Little Green: “I have long wanted to part with you, and now you have a companion.” And he said to Second Green, “It was you who brought him to me, sir, and now you may take him away. But one more word: there is no lack of food and drink in the deep hills. Do not trouble travellers, or you will bring down the punishment of Heaven.” The two snakes lowered their heads, as if they took his words to heart. Then they rose, the big one in front, the small one behind, and wherever they passed, the trees parted for them. The snake man stood watching until they were out of sight, and then went on his way. From then on travellers used the road as before. No one knows where the snakes went.
異史氏曰：「蛇，蠢然一物耳，乃戀戀有故人之意。且其從諫也如轉圜。獨怪儼然而人也者，以十年把臂之交，數世蒙恩之主，輒思下井復投石焉；又不然，則藥石相投，悍然不顧，且怒而仇焉者，亦羞此蛇也已。」
異史氏說：「蛇不過是一種愚笨的動物，竟然也有留戀老朋友的情意，而且聽從勸告，就像轉動圓球一樣容易。奇怪的是，有些看上去儼然是人的人，對親密相交十年的朋友，對自己一家幾代都承受過恩惠的主人，一見他們落難，就想往井裡再扔石頭加害他們。還有些人，別人拿良言勸告他，他卻蠻橫地置之不理，甚至發怒，把勸告的人當成仇敵。這些人面對這條蛇，也該感到羞愧了。」
异史氏曰：「蛇，蠢然一物耳，乃恋恋有故人之意。且其从谏也如转圜。独怪俨然而人也者，以十年把臂之交，数世蒙恩之主，辄思下井复投石焉；又不然，则药石相投，悍然不顾，且怒而仇焉者，亦羞此蛇也已。」
异史氏说：“蛇不过是一种愚笨的动物，竟然也有留恋老朋友的情意，而且听从劝告，就像转动圆球一样容易。奇怪的是，有些看上去俨然是人的人，对亲密相交十年的朋友，对自己一家几代都承受过恩惠的主人，一见他们落难，就想往井里再扔石头加害他们。还有些人，别人拿良言劝告他，他却蛮横地置之不理，甚至发怒，把劝告的人当成仇敌。这些人面对这条蛇，也该感到羞愧了。”
The Historian of the Strange says: A snake is only a dull creature, and yet it clung to an old friend with such affection, and took advice as readily as a ball rolls. How strange, then, that some who look every inch like men will turn on a friend they have walked arm in arm with for ten years, or a master whose family has shown theirs kindness for generations, and drop stones on him once he has fallen down a well. Or else, when good advice is given them like medicine, they defiantly ignore it, and even turn on the giver in anger as an enemy. They ought to be ashamed before this snake.