白翁，直隸人。長子甲，筮仕南服，三年無耗。適有瓜葛丁姓造謁，翁款之。丁素走無常。談次，翁輒問以冥事，丁對語涉幻；翁不深信，但微哂之。別後數日，翁方臥，見丁又來，邀與同遊。從之去，入一城闕。移時，丁指一門曰：「此間君家甥也。」時翁有姊子為晉令，訝曰：「烏在此？」丁曰：「倘不信，入便知之。」翁入，果見甥，蟬冠豸繡坐堂上，戟幢行列，無人可通。丁曳之出，曰：「公子衙署，去此不遠，亦願見之否？」翁諾。少間，至一第，丁曰：「入之。」窺其門，見一巨狼當道，大懼不敢進。丁又曰：「入之。」又入一門，見堂上、堂下，坐者、臥者，皆狼也。又視墀中，白骨如山，益懼。丁乃以身翼翁而進。公子甲方自內出，見父及丁良喜。少坐，喚侍者治肴蔌。忽一巨狼，啣死人入。翁戰惕而起曰：「此胡為者？」甲曰：「聊充庖廚。」翁急止之。心怔忡不寧，辭欲出，而群狼阻道。進退方無所主，忽見諸狼紛然嗥避，或竄床下，或伏几底。錯愕不解其故。俄有兩金甲猛士努目入，出黑索索甲。甲撲地化為虎，牙齒巉巉，一人出利劍，欲梟其首。一人曰：「且勿，且勿，此明年四月間事，不如姑敲齒去。」乃出巨錘錘齒，齒零落墮地。虎大吼，聲震山岳。翁大懼，忽醒，乃知其夢。心異之，遣人招丁，丁辭不至。翁誌其夢，使次子詣甲，函戒哀切。既至，見兄門齒盡脫；駭而問之，則醉中墜馬所折。考其時，則父夢之日也。益駭。出父書。甲讀之變色，為間曰：「此幻夢之適符耳，何足怪。」時方賂當路者，得首薦，故不以妖夢為意。弟居數日，見其蠹役滿堂，納賄關說者，中夜不絕，流涕諫止之。甲曰：「弟日居衡茅，故不知仕途之關竅耳。黜陟之權，在上臺不在百姓。上臺喜，便是好官；愛百姓，何術能令上臺喜也？」弟知不可勸止，遂歸。告父。翁聞之大哭。無可如何，惟捐家濟貧，日禱於神，但求逆子之報，不累妻孥。次年，報甲以薦舉作吏部，賀者盈門；翁惟欷歔，伏枕託疾不出。未幾，聞子歸途遇寇，主僕殞命。翁乃起，謂人曰：「鬼神之怒，止及其身，祐我家者不可謂不厚也。」因焚香而報謝之。慰藉翁者，咸以為道路訛傳，惟翁則深信不疑，刻日為之營兆。──而甲固未死。先是，四月間，甲解任，甫離境，即遭寇，甲傾裝以獻之。諸寇曰：「我等來，為一邑之民洩冤憤耳，寧耑為此哉！」遂決其首。又問家人：「有司大成者誰是？」──司故甲之腹心，助桀為虐者。──家人共指之。賊亦殺之。更有蠹役四人，──甲聚斂臣也，將攜入都。──并搜決訖，始分貲入囊，騖馳而去。甲魂伏道旁，見一宰官過，問：「殺者何人？」前驅者曰：「某縣白知縣也。」宰官曰：「此白某之子，不宜使老後見此兇慘，宜續其頭。」即有一人掇頭置腔上，曰：「邪人不宜使正，以肩承領可也。」遂去。移時復甦。妻子往收其尸，見有餘息，載之以行；從容灌之，亦受飲。但寄旅邸，貧不能歸。半年許，翁始得確耗，遣次子致之而歸。甲雖復生，而目能自顧其背，不復齒人數矣。翁姊子有政聲，是年行取為御史，悉符所夢。
白翁是直隸人。他的大兒子甲初次出仕，在南方任職，三年沒有音信。恰好有個姓丁的遠親來拜訪，白翁熱情招待了他。丁某平日常到陰間當差。談話時，白翁不斷向他打聽陰間的事情，丁某說的都是些離奇的事。白翁不大相信，只是微微一笑。分別幾天後，白翁正躺在床上，看見丁某又來了，邀他一起出去遊玩。白翁跟著他走，進了一座城。過了一會兒，丁某指著一扇門說：「這裡住的是您的外甥。」當時白翁有個姐姐的兒子在山西做縣令，便驚訝地說：「他怎麼會在這裡？」丁某說：「您要是不信，進去就知道了。」白翁進去，果然看見外甥戴著蟬冠，穿著繡有獬豸的官服，坐在大堂上，戟和旗幡排列兩旁，卻沒有人能替他們通報。丁某拉著白翁出來，說：「您兒子的衙署離這裡不遠，您也想去看看嗎？」白翁答應了。不一會兒，他們來到一處宅院，丁某說：「進去吧。」白翁朝門裡一看，只見一隻巨狼擋著路，嚇得不敢進去。丁某又說：「進去吧。」白翁又進了一道門，看見堂上堂下，坐著的、躺著的，全都是狼。再看院子裡，白骨堆積如山，他越發害怕。丁某便用身體護著白翁，陪他走了進去。甲正從裡面出來，看見父親和丁某，十分高興。坐了一會兒，甲叫侍從準備飯菜。忽然，一隻巨狼叼著一個死人進來。白翁嚇得渾身發抖，站起來問：「這是要幹什麼？」甲說：「拿來做點飯菜。」白翁趕緊制止。他心裡怦怦直跳，無法安定，便告辭要走，群狼卻擋住去路。他正不知該進還是該退，忽然看見群狼紛紛嚎叫著躲避，有的鑽到床下，有的伏在桌子底下。他驚愕不已，不明白是怎麼回事。片刻後，兩個身穿金甲的壯士瞪著眼睛走進來，拿出黑繩捆住甲。甲撲倒在地，變成一隻老虎，牙齒尖利高聳。一個壯士拔出利劍，要砍下它的腦袋。另一個說：「先別動手，先別動手，這是明年四月的事，不如暫且把它的牙齒敲掉。」於是拿出一把大錘，敲打老虎的牙齒，牙齒紛紛掉在地上。老虎大聲吼叫，聲音震動山嶽。白翁嚇得厲害，忽然醒來，才知道是在做夢。他覺得這夢很奇怪，派人去請丁某，丁某推辭不來。白翁把夢記下來，讓二兒子去見甲，並帶去一封言辭悲切、懇切告誡的信。二兒子到了以後，看見哥哥的門牙全掉了，驚訝地詢問緣故，原來是喝醉後從馬上摔下來，摔斷了牙齒。核對日期，正是父親做夢的那一天。他越發驚駭，拿出父親的信。甲讀後臉色大變，過了一會兒說：「這不過是一個荒誕的夢碰巧應驗了，有什麼值得奇怪的？」當時甲正在賄賂掌權的人，已經被列為薦舉的第一名，所以沒把這個怪夢放在心上。弟弟住了幾天，看見滿堂都是貪汙害民的差役，送賄賂、託人說情的，直到半夜還絡繹不絕，便流著眼淚勸哥哥停止這些勾當。甲說：「你整天住在茅屋裡，所以不懂官場的門道。升官降職的權力，在上司手裡，不在百姓手裡。上司高興了，就是好官；愛護百姓，又有什麼辦法能讓上司高興呢？」弟弟知道勸不住他，便回家告訴父親。白翁聽後放聲大哭。他無可奈何，只能拿出家財救濟窮人，每天向神祈禱，只求報應落在那逆子身上，不要牽連他的妻子兒女。第二年，傳來訊息，說甲因薦舉到吏部任職，前來道賀的人擠滿了門口。白翁卻只是嘆息抽泣，躺在床上，以生病為由不出來。不久，又聽說兒子在回鄉途中遇到強盜，主僕都丟了性命。白翁這才起身，對人說：「鬼神的怒氣只落在他自己身上，對我家的庇佑，不能說不深厚啊。」於是燒香答謝神靈。來安慰白翁的人，都認為這是路上傳來的謠言，只有白翁深信不疑，定下日期為兒子準備墓地。然而，甲其實並沒有死。原來在四月間，甲卸了職，剛離開縣境，就遇上強盜。他把行李中的財物全拿出來獻給他們。強盜們說：「我們來，是替全縣百姓發洩冤屈和憤恨，難道只是為了這些財物嗎！」說完便砍下了他的腦袋。又問他的家人：「哪個是司大成？」司大成原是甲的心腹，幫著他作惡害人。家人都指向他，強盜也把他殺了。還有四個貪汙害民的差役，都是替甲搜刮錢財的人，甲正要帶他們進京。強盜把這四個人也搜出來，一併砍了頭，這才分了財物，裝進口袋，策馬離去。甲的魂魄伏在路旁，看見一位官員經過。那官員問：「被殺的是什麼人？」前面開路的人說：「是某縣的白知縣。」官員說：「這是白某的兒子，不該讓他的父親在晚年見到這樣兇殘悲慘的情景，應該把他的頭接回去。」立刻有人撿起腦袋，安在他的脖頸上，說：「邪惡的人，不該讓他的頭安得端正，讓肩膀托著他的脖頸就行了。」隨後便走了。過了一會兒，甲又活了過來。他的妻子兒女來收屍，發現他還有一絲氣息，便把他裝上車帶走。慢慢給他灌些水，他也能喝下去。但他們只能寄住在客店裡，窮得沒錢回家。大約過了半年，白翁才得到確切訊息，派二兒子去接他回來。甲雖然復活了，眼睛卻能看見自己的後背，再也不能算是個正常人了。白翁的外甥有善於治理地方的名聲，這一年被召進京，擔任御史，與夢中所見全都相符。
白翁，直隶人。长子甲，筮仕南服，三年无耗。适有瓜葛丁姓造谒，翁款之。丁素走无常。谈次，翁辄问以冥事，丁对语涉幻；翁不深信，但微哂之。别后数日，翁方卧，见丁又来，邀与同游。从之去，入一城阙。移时，丁指一门曰：「此间君家甥也。」时翁有姊子为晋令，讶曰：「乌在此？」丁曰：「倘不信，入便知之。」翁入，果见甥，蝉冠豸绣坐堂上，戟幢行列，无人可通。丁曳之出，曰：「公子衙署，去此不远，亦愿见之否？」翁诺。少间，至一第，丁曰：「入之。」窥其门，见一巨狼当道，大惧不敢进。丁又曰：「入之。」又入一门，见堂上、堂下，坐者、卧者，皆狼也。又视墀中，白骨如山，益惧。丁乃以身翼翁而进。公子甲方自内出，见父及丁良喜。少坐，唤侍者治肴蔌。忽一巨狼，啣死人入。翁战惕而起曰：「此胡为者？」甲曰：「聊充庖厨。」翁急止之。心怔忡不宁，辞欲出，而群狼阻道。进退方无所主，忽见诸狼纷然嗥避，或窜床下，或伏几底。错愕不解其故。俄有两金甲猛士努目入，出黑索索甲。甲扑地化为虎，牙齿巉巉，一人出利剑，欲枭其首。一人曰：「且勿，且勿，此明年四月间事，不如姑敲齿去。」乃出巨锤锤齿，齿零落堕地。虎大吼，声震山岳。翁大惧，忽醒，乃知其梦。心异之，遣人招丁，丁辞不至。翁志其梦，使次子诣甲，函戒哀切。既至，见兄门齿尽脱；骇而问之，则醉中坠马所折。考其时，则父梦之日也。益骇。出父书。甲读之变色，为间曰：「此幻梦之适符耳，何足怪。」时方赂当路者，得首荐，故不以妖梦为意。弟居数日，见其蠹役满堂，纳贿关说者，中夜不绝，流涕谏止之。甲曰：「弟日居衡茅，故不知仕途之关窍耳。黜陟之权，在上台不在百姓。上台喜，便是好官；爱百姓，何术能令上台喜也？」弟知不可劝止，遂归。告父。翁闻之大哭。无可如何，惟捐家济贫，日祷于神，但求逆子之报，不累妻孥。次年，报甲以荐举作吏部，贺者盈门；翁惟欷歔，伏枕托疾不出。未几，闻子归途遇寇，主仆殒命。翁乃起，谓人曰：「鬼神之怒，止及其身，祐我家者不可谓不厚也。」因焚香而报谢之。慰藉翁者，咸以为道路讹传，惟翁则深信不疑，刻日为之营兆。──而甲固未死。先是，四月间，甲解任，甫离境，即遭寇，甲倾装以献之。诸寇曰：「我等来，为一邑之民泄冤愤耳，宁耑为此哉！」遂决其首。又问家人：「有司大成者谁是？」──司故甲之腹心，助桀为虐者。──家人共指之。贼亦杀之。更有蠹役四人，──甲聚敛臣也，将携入都。──并搜决讫，始分赀入囊，骛驰而去。甲魂伏道旁，见一宰官过，问：「杀者何人？」前驱者曰：「某县白知县也。」宰官曰：「此白某之子，不宜使老后见此凶惨，宜续其头。」即有一人掇头置腔上，曰：「邪人不宜使正，以肩承领可也。」遂去。移时复苏。妻子往收其尸，见有余息，载之以行；从容灌之，亦受饮。但寄旅邸，贫不能归。半年许，翁始得确耗，遣次子致之而归。甲虽复生，而目能自顾其背，不复齿人数矣。翁姊子有政声，是年行取为御史，悉符所梦。
白翁是直隶人。他的大儿子甲初次出仕，在南方任职，三年没有音信。恰好有个姓丁的远亲来拜访，白翁热情招待了他。丁某平日常到阴间当差。谈话时，白翁不断向他打听阴间的事情，丁某说的都是些离奇的事。白翁不大相信，只是微微一笑。分别几天后，白翁正躺在床上，看见丁某又来了，邀他一起出去游玩。白翁跟着他走，进了一座城。过了一会儿，丁某指着一扇门说：“这里住的是您的外甥。”当时白翁有个姐姐的儿子在山西做县令，便惊讶地说：“他怎么会在这里？”丁某说：“您要是不信，进去就知道了。”白翁进去，果然看见外甥戴着蝉冠，穿着绣有獬豸的官服，坐在大堂上，戟和旗幡排列两旁，却没有人能替他们通报。丁某拉着白翁出来，说：“您儿子的衙署离这里不远，您也想去看看吗？”白翁答应了。不一会儿，他们来到一处宅院，丁某说：“进去吧。”白翁朝门里一看，只见一只巨狼挡着路，吓得不敢进去。丁某又说：“进去吧。”白翁又进了一道门，看见堂上堂下，坐着的、躺着的，全都是狼。再看院子里，白骨堆积如山，他越发害怕。丁某便用身体护着白翁，陪他走了进去。甲正从里面出来，看见父亲和丁某，十分高兴。坐了一会儿，甲叫侍从准备饭菜。忽然，一只巨狼叼着一个死人进来。白翁吓得浑身发抖，站起来问：“这是要干什么？”甲说：“拿来做点饭菜。”白翁赶紧制止。他心里怦怦直跳，无法安定，便告辞要走，群狼却挡住去路。他正不知该进还是该退，忽然看见群狼纷纷嚎叫着躲避，有的钻到床下，有的伏在桌子底下。他惊愕不已，不明白是怎么回事。片刻后，两个身穿金甲的壮士瞪着眼睛走进来，拿出黑绳捆住甲。甲扑倒在地，变成一只老虎，牙齿尖利高耸。一个壮士拔出利剑，要砍下它的脑袋。另一个说：“先别动手，先别动手，这是明年四月的事，不如暂且把它的牙齿敲掉。”于是拿出一把大锤，敲打老虎的牙齿，牙齿纷纷掉在地上。老虎大声吼叫，声音震动山岳。白翁吓得厉害，忽然醒来，才知道是在做梦。他觉得这梦很奇怪，派人去请丁某，丁某推辞不来。白翁把梦记下来，让二儿子去见甲，并带去一封言辞悲切、恳切告诫的信。二儿子到了以后，看见哥哥的门牙全掉了，惊讶地询问缘故，原来是喝醉后从马上摔下来，摔断了牙齿。核对日期，正是父亲做梦的那一天。他越发惊骇，拿出父亲的信。甲读后脸色大变，过了一会儿说：“这不过是一个荒诞的梦碰巧应验了，有什么值得奇怪的？”当时甲正在贿赂掌权的人，已经被列为荐举的第一名，所以没把这个怪梦放在心上。弟弟住了几天，看见满堂都是贪污害民的差役，送贿赂、托人说情的，直到半夜还络绎不绝，便流着眼泪劝哥哥停止这些勾当。甲说：“你整天住在茅屋里，所以不懂官场的门道。升官降职的权力，在上司手里，不在百姓手里。上司高兴了，就是好官；爱护百姓，又有什么办法能让上司高兴呢？”弟弟知道劝不住他，便回家告诉父亲。白翁听后放声大哭。他无可奈何，只能拿出家财救济穷人，每天向神祈祷，只求报应落在那逆子身上，不要牵连他的妻子儿女。第二年，传来消息，说甲因荐举到吏部任职，前来道贺的人挤满了门口。白翁却只是叹息抽泣，躺在床上，以生病为由不出来。不久，又听说儿子在回乡途中遇到强盗，主仆都丢了性命。白翁这才起身，对人说：“鬼神的怒气只落在他自己身上，对我家的庇佑，不能说不深厚啊。”于是烧香答谢神灵。来安慰白翁的人，都认为这是路上传来的谣言，只有白翁深信不疑，定下日期为儿子准备墓地。然而，甲其实并没有死。原来在四月间，甲卸了职，刚离开县境，就遇上强盗。他把行李中的财物全拿出来献给他们。强盗们说：“我们来，是替全县百姓发泄冤屈和愤恨，难道只是为了这些财物吗！”说完便砍下了他的脑袋。又问他的家人：“哪个是司大成？”司大成原是甲的心腹，帮着他作恶害人。家人都指向他，强盗也把他杀了。还有四个贪污害民的差役，都是替甲搜刮钱财的人，甲正要带他们进京。强盗把这四个人也搜出来，一并砍了头，这才分了财物，装进口袋，策马离去。甲的魂魄伏在路旁，看见一位官员经过。那官员问：“被杀的是什么人？”前面开路的人说：“是某县的白知县。”官员说：“这是白某的儿子，不该让他的父亲在晚年见到这样凶残悲惨的情景，应该把他的头接回去。”立刻有人捡起脑袋，安在他的脖颈上，说：“邪恶的人，不该让他的头安得端正，让肩膀托着他的脖颈就行了。”随后便走了。过了一会儿，甲又活了过来。他的妻子儿女来收尸，发现他还有一丝气息，便把他装上车带走。慢慢给他灌些水，他也能喝下去。但他们只能寄住在客店里，穷得没钱回家。大约过了半年，白翁才得到确切消息，派二儿子去接他回来。甲虽然复活了，眼睛却能看见自己的后背，再也不能算是个正常人了。白翁的外甥有善于治理地方的名声，这一年被召进京，担任御史，与梦中所见全都相符。
Old Bai was a man of Zhili. His eldest son, Jia, had gone to the far south to take up his first post, and for three years there had been no word of him. It happened that a distant relative named Ding came to call, and the old man entertained him. Ding had long been running errands for the underworld. As they talked, the old man kept asking him about the world of the dead, and Ding’s answers strayed into the fantastic. The old man did not really believe him, and only smiled faintly. Some days after they parted, the old man was lying in bed when he saw Ding come again and invite him out for a stroll. He went with him, and they entered a walled city. After a while Ding pointed to a gate. “This is where your nephew is,” he said. The old man had a sister’s son who was then a county magistrate in Shanxi. “How can he be here?” he asked in surprise. “If you don’t believe me,” said Ding, “go in and you’ll see.” The old man went in, and there indeed was his nephew, sitting in the hall in a cicada cap and a robe embroidered with a xiezhi, with halberds and banners ranged in rows. There was no getting a word through to him. Ding pulled him out. “Your son’s offices are not far from here,” he said. “Would you like to see him too?” The old man said he would. In a little while they came to a mansion. “Go in,” said Ding. The old man peered through the gate and saw a huge wolf blocking the way, and he was too frightened to go in. “Go in,” said Ding again. He went through another gate. In the hall and below it, sitting or lying, every one of them was a wolf. He looked into the courtyard: white bones were heaped there like a mountain. He was more frightened than ever. So Ding shielded him with his own body, and they went in. Jia was just coming out from the inner rooms, and was delighted to see his father and Ding. They sat a little while, and Jia called his servants to prepare a meal. Suddenly a huge wolf came in with a dead man in its jaws. The old man jumped up, trembling. “What is that for?” “Just something for the kitchen,” said Jia. The old man hastily stopped him. His heart was pounding and he could not settle. He made his excuses to leave, but the wolves crowded into his way. He did not know whether to go on or turn back, when all at once the wolves scattered, howling, some darting under the couches, some crouching under the tables. He was dumbfounded and could not see why. A moment later two fierce warriors in golden armour strode in, glaring. They took out a black rope and bound Jia. Jia fell to the ground and turned into a tiger, with jagged teeth. One of the warriors drew a sharp sword to cut off its head. “Not yet, not yet,” said the other. “That is for the fourth month of next year. For now we had better just knock out its teeth.” He took out a great hammer and hammered at its teeth, and they fell scattering to the ground. The tiger gave a great roar that shook the mountains. The old man was terrified — and suddenly woke, and knew it had been a dream. He thought it strange and sent someone to fetch Ding, but Ding sent his excuses and did not come. The old man wrote down his dream and sent his second son to Jia with a letter of warning, earnest and full of grief. When the second son arrived, he found his brother’s front teeth all gone. Shocked, he asked what had happened: Jia had broken them falling from his horse when drunk. He worked out when it had happened, and it was the very day of their father’s dream. He was more shocked still. He brought out his father’s letter. Jia read it and changed colour. After a moment he said, “It’s just a dream that happens to fit. What is so strange about that?” He had just then bribed the men in power and been put first on the list for promotion, so he gave no thought to an uncanny dream. His brother stayed some days. He saw the hall swarming with corrupt runners, and people bringing bribes or putting in a word for someone, coming and going till the middle of the night. In tears, he begged Jia to stop. “You spend your days in a thatched hut,” said Jia, “so you don’t know how things work in office. The power to promote or dismiss lies with your superiors, not with the common people. Please your superiors and you’re a good official. Love the common people — and how will that please your superiors?” His brother saw there was no talking him round. He went home and told their father, and when the old man heard, he wept aloud. There was nothing he could do. He gave away the family’s wealth to help the poor, and prayed to the gods every day, asking only that the punishment of his wicked son should not fall on his wife and children. The next year word came that Jia had been recommended for promotion and given a post in the Ministry of Personnel. Well-wishers crowded the gate, but the old man only sighed and sobbed, kept to his pillow, pleaded illness and would not come out. Before long he heard that his son had met bandits on the way home, and that master and servants had all been killed. Then the old man got up. “The anger of the spirits has fallen on him alone,” he told people. “They have been more than kind to my family.” And he burned incense to thank them. Those who came to comfort him all said it must be a false rumour from the road. Only the old man believed it without a doubt, and set a day to prepare a grave for him. But Jia was not, in fact, dead. In the fourth month, Jia had handed over his post. He had barely left the county when he ran into bandits. Jia emptied out all his baggage and offered it to them. “We have come,” said the bandits, “to avenge the wrongs of the people of a whole county. Do you think we came just for this?” And they cut off his head. Then they asked his household, “Which of you is Si Dacheng?” Si had been Jia’s right-hand man, the one who helped the tyrant in his cruelties. The household all pointed him out, and the bandits killed him too. There were also four corrupt runners, the men who squeezed money for Jia, whom he was taking with him to the capital. These too the bandits hunted out and beheaded. Only then did they share out the money, stuff it into their bags and gallop away. Jia’s soul lay crouching by the roadside. He saw an official passing, who asked, “Who is the dead man?” “Bai, the magistrate of such-and-such county,” said one of the outriders. “This is the son of Bai So-and-so,” said the official. “His father should not have to see such a horror in his old age. The head should be put back on.” At once a man picked up the head and set it on the neck. “A crooked man shouldn’t be put on straight,” he said. “Rest his chin on his shoulder — that will do.” And they went on. After a while Jia came back to life. When his wife and children went to collect his body, they found there was still a little breath in him and took him along in a cart. They gave him sips to drink, slowly, and he could swallow. But they had to stay at an inn, too poor to go home. After about half a year the old man at last had reliable news, and sent his second son to bring Jia home. Jia had come back to life, but his eyes could see his own back, and he was never again counted among men. The old man’s nephew had a name for good government. That year he was called to the capital and made a censor, all just as in the dream.