鞏道人，無名字，亦不知何里人。嘗求見魯王，閽人不為通。有中貴人出，揖求之。中貴見其鄙陋，逐去之；已而復來。中貴怒，且逐且扑。至無人處，道人笑出黃金二百兩，煩逐者覆中貴：「為言我亦不要見王；但聞後苑花木樓臺，極人間佳勝，若能導我一游，生平足矣。」又以白金賂逐者。其人喜，反命。中貴亦喜，引道人自後宰門入，諸景俱歷。又從登樓上。中貴方凭窗，道人一推，但覺身墮樓外，有細葛繃腰，懸於空際；下視，則高深暈目，葛隱隱作斷聲。懼極，大號。無何，數監至，駭極。見其去地絕遠，登樓共視，則葛端繫櫺上；欲解援之，則葛細不堪用力。遍索道人已杳矣。束手無計，奏之魯王。王詣視，大奇之，命樓下藉茅鋪絮，將因而斷之。甫畢，葛崩然自絕，去地乃不咫耳。相與失笑。王命訪道士所在。聞館於尚秀才家，往問之，則出游未復。既，遇於途，遂引見王。王賜宴坐，便請作劇。道士曰：「臣草野之夫，無他庸能。既承優寵，敢獻女樂為大王壽。」遂探袖中出美人，置地上，向王稽拜已。道士命扮「瑤池宴」本，祝王萬年。女子弔場數語。道士又出一人，自白「王母」。少間，董雙成、許飛瓊……一切仙姬，次第俱出。末有織女來謁，獻天衣一襲，金彩絢爛，光映一室。王意其偽，索觀之。道士急言：「不可！」王不聽，卒觀之，果無縫之衣，非人工所能制也。道士不樂曰：「臣竭誠以奉大王，暫而假諸天孫，今為濁氣所染，何以還故主乎？」王又意歌者必仙姬，思欲留其一二；細視之，則皆宮中樂妓耳。轉疑此曲，非所夙諳，問之，果茫然不自知。道士以衣置火燒之，然後納諸袖中，再搜之，則已無矣。王於是深重道士，留居府內。道士曰：「野人之性，視宮殿如藩籠，不如秀才家得自由也。」每至中夜，必還其所；時而堅留，亦遂宿止。輒於筵間顛倒四時花木為戲。王問曰：「聞仙人亦不能忘情，果否？」對曰：「或仙人然耳；臣非仙人，故心如枯木矣。」一夜，宿府中，王遣少妓往試之。入其室，數呼不應；燭之，則瞑坐榻上。搖之，目一閃即復合；再搖之，齁聲作矣。推之，則遂手而倒，酣臥如雷；彈其額，逆指作鐵釜聲。返以白王。王使刺以針，針弗入。推之，重不可搖；加十餘人舉擲床下，若千斤石墮地者。旦而窺之，仍眠地上。醒而笑曰：「一場惡睡，墮床下不覺耶！」後女子輩每於其坐臥時，按之為戲：初按猶軟，再按則鐵石矣。道士舍秀才家，恆中夜不歸。尚鎖其戶，及旦啟扉，道士已臥室中。初，尚與曲妓惠哥善，矢志嫁娶。惠雅善歌，絃索傾一時。魯王聞其名，召入供奉，遂絕情好。每繫念之，苦無由通。一夕，問道士：「見惠哥否？」答言：「諸姬皆見，但不知其惠哥為誰。」尚述其貌，道其年，道士乃憶之。尚求轉寄一語。道士笑曰：「我世外人，不能為君塞鴻。」尚哀之不已。道士展其袖曰：「必欲一見，請入此。」尚窺之，中大如屋。伏身入，則光明洞徹，寬若廳堂，几案床榻，無物不有。居其內，殊無悶苦。道士入府，與王對弈。望惠哥至，陽以袍袖拂塵，惠哥已納袖中，而他人不之睹也。尚方獨坐凝想時，忽有美人自簷間墮，視之，惠哥也。兩相驚喜，綢繆臻至。尚曰：「今日奇緣，不可不誌。請與卿聯之。」書壁上曰：「候門似海久無蹤。」惠續云：「誰識蕭郎今又逢。」尚曰：「袖裏乾坤真箇大。」惠曰：「離人思婦盡包容。」書甫畢，忽有五人入，八角冠，淡紅衣，認之，都與無素。默然不言，捉惠哥去。尚驚駭，不知所由。道士既歸，呼之出，問其情事，隱諱不以盡言。道士微笑，解衣反袂示之。尚審視，隱隱有字蹟，細裁如蟣，蓋即所題句也。後十數日，又求一人。前後凡三入。
鞏道人沒有名字，也沒人知道他是哪裡人。他曾經請求拜見魯王，守門人不肯替他通報。有一位中貴人從裡面出來，他便上前作揖，向那人請求。中貴人見他衣著寒酸、相貌粗陋，就把他趕走了。沒多久，他又回來。中貴人大怒，叫人一邊趕他，一邊打他。到了沒人的地方，道人笑著拿出二百兩黃金，請趕他的人回去告訴中貴人：「請替我說，我也不是非要見魯王不可。只是聽說後花園裡的花木樓臺，是人間最美的景緻，要是能帶我遊覽一次，我這一輩子也就滿足了。」他又拿銀子送給趕他的人。那人十分高興，回去傳了話。中貴人也很高興，從後宰門把道人領進去，各處景緻都遊覽了一遍，又帶他登上樓。中貴人正靠著窗戶，道人突然推了他一下。他只覺得身體跌到了樓外，一根細葛繩勒著腰，把他懸在半空。他往下一看，高得令人頭暈，葛繩還隱約發出快要斷裂的聲音。他害怕極了，放聲大叫。不一會兒，幾個太監趕來，都嚇壞了。見他離地極遠，便一起上樓檢視，發現葛繩的一端繫在窗欞上。他們想解開繩子，把他拉上來，可繩子太細，經不起用力。到處尋找道人，他卻早已不見蹤影。眾人束手無策，只得報告魯王。魯王前來檢視，也覺得十分奇怪，命人在樓下鋪上茅草和棉絮，打算鋪好後再割斷繩子。剛鋪完，葛繩便啪的一聲自行斷了，這才發現那人離地還不到一尺。眾人忍不住一起笑了起來。魯王命人查訪道人的住處。聽說他住在尚秀才家，便派人去問，道人卻出門遊覽，還沒回來。後來有人在路上遇見他，就領他去見魯王。魯王賜他座位，設宴招待，隨即請他表演點戲法。道人說：「臣是個鄉野之人，沒有什麼本領。既然蒙大王這樣厚待，斗膽獻上歌舞，祝大王長壽。」說著，他從袖中掏出一個美人，放到地上。美人向魯王叩拜之後，道人命她演《瑤池宴》，祝魯王萬壽無疆。那女子先上場說了幾句開場白。道人又拿出一個女子，她自稱是王母。不一會兒，董雙成、許飛瓊等眾位仙女，都依次出來了。最後織女前來拜見，獻上一件天衣，金色和彩色交相輝映，照得滿屋生輝。魯王覺得這是假東西，要求拿來看看。道人急忙說：「不可！」魯王不聽，還是拿來看了，果然是一件沒有接縫的衣服，絕非人手所能做成。道人不高興地說：「臣盡心盡力侍奉大王，暫時向天孫借了這件衣服，如今被人間的濁氣沾染，還怎麼還給原主呢？」魯王又覺得這些歌舞女子一定是仙女，想留下其中一兩個。仔細一看，卻都是自己宮中的樂妓。他又覺得奇怪，這出戲並不是她們原先熟悉的，便問她們。她們果然一臉茫然，連自己也不知道怎麼回事。道人把那件衣服放進火裡燒，隨後收進袖中，再去搜尋，已經沒有了。魯王從此十分敬重道人，留他住在王府。道人說：「鄉野之人的性情，覺得宮殿就像牢籠，還是在秀才家自在些。」每到半夜，他一定要回住處，有時魯王執意挽留，他也就留下過夜。他常在宴席上變出不同季節的花木，供眾人取樂。魯王問：「聽說仙人也不能忘卻情慾，是真的嗎？」道人回答：「也許仙人是這樣吧。臣不是仙人，所以心裡像枯木一樣。」一天夜裡，他住在王府，魯王派一個年輕樂妓去試探他。她進了他的房間，叫了好幾聲，他都不答應。拿燭火一照，見他閉著眼睛坐在榻上。搖了搖他，他的眼睛微微一睜，馬上又閉上；再搖，他便打起鼾來。推了他一下，他順勢倒下，鼾聲如雷。彈他的額頭，手指碰上去，竟發出敲鐵鍋一樣的聲音。女子回去報告魯王。魯王叫人用針刺他，針卻刺不進去。再推他，他重得無法撼動。十多個人一起把他抬起來，扔到床下，落地時就像一塊千斤巨石。天亮後去看，他還睡在地上。醒來後，他笑著說：「這一覺睡得真沉，連掉到床下都不知道！」後來那些女子常趁他坐著或躺著時，按他的身體取樂。初按時還柔軟，再按就像鐵石一樣了。道人住在秀才家時，也常到半夜還不回來。尚秀才鎖上他的房門，第二天早晨開門，道人卻已經躺在屋裡。先前，尚秀才與一個名叫惠哥的樂妓相好，兩人立誓要結為夫妻。惠哥很會唱歌，彈奏絃樂的技藝也風靡一時。魯王聽說她的名聲，把她召進王府供奉，兩人從此斷了來往。尚秀才時常思念她，卻苦於沒有辦法傳遞訊息。一天晚上，他問道人：「你見過惠哥嗎？」道人說：「那些女子我都見過，只是不知道誰是惠哥。」尚秀才描述了她的相貌，又說了她的年紀，道人這才想起來。尚秀才求他替自己捎句話。道人笑著說：「我是世外之人，不能替你當傳信的大雁。」尚秀才苦苦哀求。道人張開袖子說：「你一定要見她，就請進這裡來。」尚秀才往裡一看，裡面大得像一間房子。他彎腰鑽進去，只見裡面光線明亮，寬敞得像廳堂，桌案、床榻，樣樣都有。待在裡面，一點也不覺得憋悶難受。道人進了王府，與魯王下棋。看見惠哥走來，他假裝用袍袖拂去灰塵，惠哥就已經被收進袖中，旁人卻沒有看見。尚秀才正獨自坐著出神，忽然一個美人從屋簷間落下來，仔細一看，正是惠哥。兩人又驚又喜，親熱纏綿到了極點。尚秀才說：「今天這樣奇妙的相逢，不能不記下來。請你和我一起聯句吧。」他在牆上寫道：「侯門深似大海，久久不見你的蹤影。」惠哥接著寫：「誰想到如今又能與心上人重逢。」尚秀才寫：「袖子裡的天地，實在廣大。」惠哥寫：「離別的情郎和相思的女子，都能容下。」剛寫完，忽然進來五個人，戴著八角帽，穿著淡紅衣服。尚秀才仔細看去，一個也不認識。他們一言不發，抓住惠哥就走。尚秀才又驚又怕，不知道是怎麼回事。道人回來後，叫他從袖中出來，問起兩人相會的情形，他卻遮遮掩掩，沒有全說。道人微微一笑，脫下衣服，把袖子翻過來給他看。尚秀才仔細檢視，隱約看見一些字跡，細小得像蟣子，正是兩人題寫的詩句。十多天後，他又請求與惠哥相見，前後一共進了三次袖子。
巩道人，无名字，亦不知何里人。尝求见鲁王，阍人不为通。有中贵人出，揖求之。中贵见其鄙陋，逐去之；已而复来。中贵怒，且逐且扑。至无人处，道人笑出黄金二百两，烦逐者覆中贵：「为言我亦不要见王；但闻后苑花木楼台，极人间佳胜，若能导我一游，生平足矣。」又以白金赂逐者。其人喜，反命。中贵亦喜，引道人自后宰门入，诸景俱历。又从登楼上。中贵方凭窗，道人一推，但觉身堕楼外，有细葛绷腰，悬于空际；下视，则高深晕目，葛隐隐作断声。惧极，大号。无何，数监至，骇极。见其去地绝远，登楼共视，则葛端系櫺上；欲解援之，则葛细不堪用力。遍索道人已杳矣。束手无计，奏之鲁王。王诣视，大奇之，命楼下藉茅铺絮，将因而断之。甫毕，葛崩然自绝，去地乃不咫耳。相与失笑。王命访道士所在。闻馆于尚秀才家，往问之，则出游未复。既，遇于途，遂引见王。王赐宴坐，便请作剧。道士曰：「臣草野之夫，无他庸能。既承优宠，敢献女乐为大王寿。」遂探袖中出美人，置地上，向王稽拜已。道士命扮「瑶池宴」本，祝王万年。女子吊场数语。道士又出一人，自白「王母」。少间，董双成、许飞琼……一切仙姬，次第俱出。末有织女来谒，献天衣一袭，金彩绚烂，光映一室。王意其伪，索观之。道士急言：「不可！」王不听，卒观之，果无缝之衣，非人工所能制也。道士不乐曰：「臣竭诚以奉大王，暂而假诸天孙，今为浊气所染，何以还故主乎？」王又意歌者必仙姬，思欲留其一二；细视之，则皆宫中乐妓耳。转疑此曲，非所夙谙，问之，果茫然不自知。道士以衣置火烧之，然后纳诸袖中，再搜之，则已无矣。王于是深重道士，留居府内。道士曰：「野人之性，视宫殿如藩笼，不如秀才家得自由也。」每至中夜，必还其所；时而坚留，亦遂宿止。辄于筵间颠倒四时花木为戏。王问曰：「闻仙人亦不能忘情，果否？」对曰：「或仙人然耳；臣非仙人，故心如枯木矣。」一夜，宿府中，王遣少妓往试之。入其室，数呼不应；烛之，则瞑坐榻上。摇之，目一闪即复合；再摇之，齁声作矣。推之，则遂手而倒，酣卧如雷；弹其额，逆指作铁釜声。返以白王。王使刺以针，针弗入。推之，重不可摇；加十余人举掷床下，若千斤石堕地者。旦而窥之，仍眠地上。醒而笑曰：「一场恶睡，堕床下不觉耶！」后女子辈每于其坐卧时，按之为戏：初按犹软，再按则铁石矣。道士舍秀才家，恒中夜不归。尚锁其户，及旦启扉，道士已卧室中。初，尚与曲妓惠哥善，矢志嫁娶。惠雅善歌，弦索倾一时。鲁王闻其名，召入供奉，遂绝情好。每系念之，苦无由通。一夕，问道士：「见惠哥否？」答言：「诸姬皆见，但不知其惠哥为谁。」尚述其貌，道其年，道士乃忆之。尚求转寄一语。道士笑曰：「我世外人，不能为君塞鸿。」尚哀之不已。道士展其袖曰：「必欲一见，请入此。」尚窥之，中大如屋。伏身入，则光明洞彻，宽若厅堂，几案床榻，无物不有。居其内，殊无闷苦。道士入府，与王对弈。望惠哥至，阳以袍袖拂尘，惠哥已纳袖中，而他人不之睹也。尚方独坐凝想时，忽有美人自檐间堕，视之，惠哥也。两相惊喜，绸缪臻至。尚曰：「今日奇缘，不可不志。请与卿联之。」书壁上曰：「候门似海久无踪。」惠续云：「谁识萧郎今又逢。」尚曰：「袖里乾坤真个大。」惠曰：「离人思妇尽包容。」书甫毕，忽有五人入，八角冠，淡红衣，认之，都与无素。默然不言，捉惠哥去。尚惊骇，不知所由。道士既归，呼之出，问其情事，隐讳不以尽言。道士微笑，解衣反袂示之。尚审视，隐隐有字迹，细裁如虮，盖即所题句也。后十数日，又求一人。前后凡三入。
巩道人没有名字，也没人知道他是哪里人。他曾经请求拜见鲁王，守门人不肯替他通报。有一位中贵人从里面出来，他便上前作揖，向那人请求。中贵人见他衣着寒酸、相貌粗陋，就把他赶走了。没多久，他又回来。中贵人大怒，叫人一边赶他，一边打他。到了没人的地方，道人笑着拿出二百两黄金，请赶他的人回去告诉中贵人：“请替我说，我也不是非要见鲁王不可。只是听说后花园里的花木楼台，是人间最美的景致，要是能带我游览一次，我这一辈子也就满足了。”他又拿银子送给赶他的人。那人十分高兴，回去传了话。中贵人也很高兴，从后宰门把道人领进去，各处景致都游览了一遍，又带他登上楼。中贵人正靠着窗户，道人突然推了他一下。他只觉得身体跌到了楼外，一根细葛绳勒着腰，把他悬在半空。他往下一看，高得令人头晕，葛绳还隐约发出快要断裂的声音。他害怕极了，放声大叫。不一会儿，几个太监赶来，都吓坏了。见他离地极远，便一起上楼查看，发现葛绳的一端系在窗棂上。他们想解开绳子，把他拉上来，可绳子太细，经不起用力。到处寻找道人，他却早已不见踪影。众人束手无策，只得报告鲁王。鲁王前来查看，也觉得十分奇怪，命人在楼下铺上茅草和棉絮，打算铺好后再割断绳子。刚铺完，葛绳便啪的一声自行断了，这才发现那人离地还不到一尺。众人忍不住一起笑了起来。鲁王命人查访道人的住处。听说他住在尚秀才家，便派人去问，道人却出门游览，还没回来。后来有人在路上遇见他，就领他去见鲁王。鲁王赐他座位，设宴招待，随即请他表演点戏法。道人说：“臣是个乡野之人，没有什么本领。既然蒙大王这样厚待，斗胆献上歌舞，祝大王长寿。”说着，他从袖中掏出一个美人，放到地上。美人向鲁王叩拜之后，道人命她演《瑶池宴》，祝鲁王万寿无疆。那女子先上场说了几句开场白。道人又拿出一个女子，她自称是王母。不一会儿，董双成、许飞琼等众位仙女，都依次出来了。最后织女前来拜见，献上一件天衣，金色和彩色交相辉映，照得满屋生辉。鲁王觉得这是假东西，要求拿来看看。道人急忙说：“不可！”鲁王不听，还是拿来看了，果然是一件没有接缝的衣服，绝非人手所能做成。道人不高兴地说：“臣尽心尽力侍奉大王，暂时向天孙借了这件衣服，如今被人间的浊气沾染，还怎么还给原主呢？”鲁王又觉得这些歌舞女子一定是仙女，想留下其中一两个。仔细一看，却都是自己宫中的乐妓。他又觉得奇怪，这出戏并不是她们原先熟悉的，便问她们。她们果然一脸茫然，连自己也不知道怎么回事。道人把那件衣服放进火里烧，随后收进袖中，再去搜寻，已经没有了。鲁王从此十分敬重道人，留他住在王府。道人说：“乡野之人的性情，觉得宫殿就像牢笼，还是在秀才家自在些。”每到半夜，他一定要回住处，有时鲁王执意挽留，他也就留下过夜。他常在宴席上变出不同季节的花木，供众人取乐。鲁王问：“听说仙人也不能忘却情欲，是真的吗？”道人回答：“也许仙人是这样吧。臣不是仙人，所以心里像枯木一样。”一天夜里，他住在王府，鲁王派一个年轻乐妓去试探他。她进了他的房间，叫了好几声，他都不答应。拿烛火一照，见他闭着眼睛坐在榻上。摇了摇他，他的眼睛微微一睁，马上又闭上；再摇，他便打起鼾来。推了他一下，他顺势倒下，鼾声如雷。弹他的额头，手指碰上去，竟发出敲铁锅一样的声音。女子回去报告鲁王。鲁王叫人用针刺他，针却刺不进去。再推他，他重得无法撼动。十多个人一起把他抬起来，扔到床下，落地时就像一块千斤巨石。天亮后去看，他还睡在地上。醒来后，他笑着说：“这一觉睡得真沉，连掉到床下都不知道！”后来那些女子常趁他坐着或躺着时，按他的身体取乐。初按时还柔软，再按就像铁石一样了。道人住在秀才家时，也常到半夜还不回来。尚秀才锁上他的房门，第二天早晨开门，道人却已经躺在屋里。先前，尚秀才与一个名叫惠哥的乐妓相好，两人立誓要结为夫妻。惠哥很会唱歌，弹奏弦乐的技艺也风靡一时。鲁王听说她的名声，把她召进王府供奉，两人从此断了来往。尚秀才时常思念她，却苦于没有办法传递消息。一天晚上，他问道人：“你见过惠哥吗？”道人说：“那些女子我都见过，只是不知道谁是惠哥。”尚秀才描述了她的相貌，又说了她的年纪，道人这才想起来。尚秀才求他替自己捎句话。道人笑着说：“我是世外之人，不能替你当传信的大雁。”尚秀才苦苦哀求。道人张开袖子说：“你一定要见她，就请进这里来。”尚秀才往里一看，里面大得像一间房子。他弯腰钻进去，只见里面光线明亮，宽敞得像厅堂，桌案、床榻，样样都有。待在里面，一点也不觉得憋闷难受。道人进了王府，与鲁王下棋。看见惠哥走来，他假装用袍袖拂去灰尘，惠哥就已经被收进袖中，旁人却没有看见。尚秀才正独自坐着出神，忽然一个美人从屋檐间落下来，仔细一看，正是惠哥。两人又惊又喜，亲热缠绵到了极点。尚秀才说：“今天这样奇妙的相逢，不能不记下来。请你和我一起联句吧。”他在墙上写道：“侯门深似大海，久久不见你的踪影。”惠哥接着写：“谁想到如今又能与心上人重逢。”尚秀才写：“袖子里的天地，实在广大。”惠哥写：“离别的情郎和相思的女子，都能容下。”刚写完，忽然进来五个人，戴着八角帽，穿着淡红衣服。尚秀才仔细看去，一个也不认识。他们一言不发，抓住惠哥就走。尚秀才又惊又怕，不知道是怎么回事。道人回来后，叫他从袖中出来，问起两人相会的情形，他却遮遮掩掩，没有全说。道人微微一笑，脱下衣服，把袖子翻过来给他看。尚秀才仔细查看，隐约看见一些字迹，细小得像虮子，正是两人题写的诗句。十多天后，他又请求与惠哥相见，前后一共进了三次袖子。
There was a Daoist named Gong. He had no given name, and no one knew where he came from. He once sought an audience with the Prince of Lu, but the gatekeeper would not announce him. A palace eunuch came out, and Gong bowed and begged him instead. Seeing how shabby and coarse he was, the eunuch drove him off. Before long he was back. The eunuch, enraged, had him chased away with blows. When they reached a spot where no one was about, the Daoist laughed, brought out two hundred taels of gold, and asked the man chasing him to take a message back to the eunuch: “Tell him I don’t really need to see the Prince. Only I hear that the flowers and trees, towers and terraces of the rear garden are the finest sight in the world of men. If he would show me round them once, I’d ask nothing more of life.” He also bribed the man himself with silver. The man was delighted and went back with the message. The eunuch was delighted too. He led the Daoist in by the rear gate of the palace, and they went round every sight. Then he took him up into a tower. The eunuch was just leaning on the window when the Daoist gave him a push. All he knew was that he had fallen out of the tower, and a thin kudzu cord was tight round his waist, holding him hanging in mid-air. He looked down: the height made his head swim, and the cord gave faint sounds of snapping. In utter terror he howled. Before long several eunuchs came running, appalled. Seeing how far he hung above the ground, they climbed the tower together to look: the end of the cord was tied to the window lattice. They wanted to untie it and haul him up, but the cord was too thin to bear any pull. They searched everywhere for the Daoist; he had vanished. At their wits’ end, they reported it to the Prince. The Prince came to look and was astonished. He ordered thatch laid under the tower and cotton wadding spread over it, meaning to cut the cord once that was done. The moment it was ready, the cord snapped of itself with a twang — and the eunuch had been less than a foot from the ground. They all burst out laughing. The Prince had inquiries made for the Daoist. Learning that he lodged at the house of a licentiate named Shang, they went to ask for him, but he had gone out wandering and not come back. Later they met him on the road and brought him before the Prince. The Prince gave him a seat at a banquet and asked him to put on some show. “I am a rustic from the wilds,” said the Daoist, “with no other talents. But since Your Highness honours me so, I venture to present a troupe of singing girls to wish Your Highness long life.” He reached into his sleeve, brought out a beautiful woman and set her on the floor, and she bowed low to the Prince. The Daoist bade them play The Banquet at the Jade Pool and wish the Prince ten thousand years. The woman spoke a few lines alone to open the scene. The Daoist brought out another, who announced herself as the Queen Mother. Presently Dong Shuangcheng, Xu Feiqiong … all the fairy maidens came out one after another. Last came the Weaving Maid to pay her respects, and she presented a heavenly robe, so brilliant with gold and colour that its light filled the room. The Prince thought it a fake and asked to look at it. “You mustn’t!” the Daoist said hastily. The Prince would not listen and looked at it anyway. It was indeed a seamless robe, beyond the power of human hands to make. The Daoist was displeased. “I did my utmost to serve Your Highness, and borrowed it for a moment from Heaven’s Granddaughter. Now it has been tainted by foul mortal air. How can I return it to its owner?” The Prince also supposed the singers must be fairy maidens, and thought of keeping one or two of them. But when he looked closely, they were only the singing girls of his own palace. Then it struck him as odd that they knew this piece, which they had never learned. He asked them, and sure enough they were at a loss and knew nothing of it themselves. The Daoist put the robe in the fire and burned it, then tucked it into his sleeve; when they searched the sleeve afterwards, it was gone. From then on the Prince held the Daoist in deep esteem and kept him in the palace. “A man of the wilds,” said the Daoist, “looks on palaces as cages. I’d sooner be at the scholar’s house, where I’m free.” Every night at midnight he would go back to his lodging, though sometimes, when pressed hard to stay, he stayed. At banquets he would often amuse them by making the flowers and trees of the four seasons bloom out of turn. The Prince asked him, “I hear that even immortals cannot forget desire. Is it so?” “Perhaps immortals are like that,” he replied. “I am no immortal, so my heart is like a withered tree.” One night when he stayed in the palace, the Prince sent a young singing girl to test him. She went into his room and called him several times without an answer. She held up a candle: he was sitting on the couch with his eyes shut. She shook him; his eyes flickered open and shut again. She shook him again, and he began to snore. She pushed him, and he toppled over at her touch and lay snoring like thunder. She flicked his forehead, and it rang against her finger like an iron pot. She went back and told the Prince. The Prince had him pricked with a needle; the needle would not go in. They pushed him: he was too heavy to budge. More than ten men together lifted him and threw him off the bed, and he hit the floor like a half-ton boulder. At dawn they peeked in: he was still asleep on the floor. When he woke he laughed. “What a dead sleep! Fell off the bed and never noticed!” After that the girls would often amuse themselves by pressing on him as he sat or lay: at the first press he was still soft, at the second he was iron and stone. When the Daoist stayed at the scholar’s house, he was often still out at midnight. Shang would lock his door, yet when he opened it at dawn, the Daoist would be lying inside. Earlier, Shang had been close to a singing girl named Huige, and they had sworn to marry. Huige sang beautifully, and her playing on the strings was the rage of her day. The Prince of Lu heard of her and summoned her into his palace to serve him, and that was the end of their love. Shang thought of her constantly, but had no way to reach her. One evening he asked the Daoist, “Have you seen Huige?” “I’ve seen all the girls,” he answered, “but I don’t know which of them is Huige.” Shang described her looks and told him her age, and the Daoist remembered her. Shang begged him to carry a message. The Daoist laughed. “I am a man outside the world. I can’t be the wild goose that carries your letters.” Shang pleaded with him without end. The Daoist spread open his sleeve. “If you must see her, get in here.” Shang peered in: inside it was as big as a house. He crouched down and went in, and found it full of light, as spacious as a hall, with tables, desks, a bed and couches — there was nothing it lacked. Staying inside was no hardship at all. The Daoist went to the palace and sat down to a game of go with the Prince. When he saw Huige coming, he made as if to brush away some dust with the sleeve of his robe — and Huige was already inside it, without anyone else seeing. Shang was sitting alone, lost in thought, when suddenly a beauty dropped down from the eaves. He looked: it was Huige. Both were amazed and overjoyed, and they could not have been more tender with each other. “Such a strange meeting today must be recorded,” said Shang. “Let us make a poem together, line by line.” He wrote on the wall: “The noble’s gate is deep as the sea; long no trace of you.” Huige went on: “Who’d have thought I’d meet my Xiao Lang again?” Shang wrote: “Heaven and earth in a sleeve — how vast they truly are!” Huige wrote: “Parted lovers and longing wives, it holds them all.” They had just finished writing when five men suddenly came in, wearing eight-cornered caps and pale red robes. Shang looked at them; he knew none of them. Without a word they seized Huige and took her away. Shang was horrified and could not think what had happened. When the Daoist got home, he called Shang out of the sleeve and asked him how things had gone. Shang was evasive and would not tell him everything. The Daoist smiled, took off his robe, turned the sleeve inside out and showed him. Shang looked closely: there were faint traces of writing, as tiny as nits — the very lines they had written. Some ten days later Shang asked to go in again. In all he went in three times.