韋公子，咸陽世家。放縱好淫，婢婦有色，無不私者。嘗載金數千，欲盡覽天下名妓，凡繁麗之區，無不至。其不甚佳者，信宿即去；當意，則作百日留。叔亦名宦，休致歸，怒其行，延明師置別業，使與諸公子鍵戶讀。公子夜伺師寢，踰垣歸，遲明而返。以為常。一夜，失足折肱，師始知之。告公，公益施夏楚，俾不能起而始藥之。及愈，公與之約：能讀倍諸弟，文字佳，出勿禁；若私逸，撻如前。然公子最慧，讀常過程。數年，中鄉榜。欲自敗約，公箝制之。赴都，以老僕從，授日記籍，使誌其言動。故數年無過行。後成進士，公乃稍弛其禁。公子或將有作，惟恐公聞，入曲巷中，輒託姓魏。一日，過西安，見優僮羅惠卿，年十六七，秀麗如好女，悅之。夜留繾綣，贈貽豐隆。聞其新娶婦尤韻妙，私示意惠卿。惠卿無難色，夜果攜婦至，三人共一榻。留數日，眷愛臻至。謀與俱歸。問其家口，答云：『母早喪，父存。某原非羅姓。母少服役於咸陽韋氏，賣至羅家，四月即生余。倘得從公子去，亦可察其音耗。」公子驚問母姓。曰：「姓呂。」生駭極，汗下浹體，蓋其母即生家婢也。生無言。時天已明，厚贈之，勸令改業。偽託他適，約歸時召致之，遂別去。後令蘇州，有樂妓沈韋娘，雅麗絕倫，愛留與狎。戲曰：「卿小字取『春風一曲杜韋娘』耶？」答曰：「非也。妾母十七為名妓，有咸陽公子，與公同姓，留三月，訂盟婚娶。公子去，八月生妾，因名韋，實妾姓也。公子臨別時，贈黃金鴛鴦，今尚在。一去竟無音耗，妾母以是憤悒死。妾三歲，受撫於沈媼，故從其姓。」公子聞言，愧恨無以自容。默移時，頓生一策。忽起挑燈，喚韋娘飲，暗置鴆毒盃中。韋娘纔下咽，潰亂呻嘶。眾集視，則已斃矣。呼優人至，付以尸，重賂之。而韋娘所與交好者盡勢家，聞之，皆不平，賄激優人，訟於上官。生懼，瀉橐彌縫，卒以浮躁免官。歸家年才三十八，頗悔前行。而妻妾五六人，皆無子。欲繼公孫；公以門無內行，恐兒染習氣，雖許過嗣，但待其老而後歸之。公子憤欲招惠卿，家人皆以為不可，乃止。又數年，忽病，輒撾心曰：「淫婢宿妓者，非人也！」公聞而嘆曰：「是殆將死矣！」乃以次子之子，送詣其家，使定省之。月餘果死。
韋公子出身咸陽世家，行為放縱，貪戀淫樂，婢女、僕婦中凡是長得好看的，沒有不被他私下勾搭的。他曾帶著幾千兩金子出門，想把天下有名的妓女都見識一遍，凡是繁華富麗的地方，沒有不去的。遇上不太中意的，住兩夜就走；合他心意的，便住上百日。他的叔父也是有名的官員，退休回家後，對他的行為很生氣，便請來一位好老師，在另一處宅院裡安排他和堂弟們關起門來讀書。公子夜裡等老師睡下，便翻牆回家，快天亮時再回來，常常如此。一天夜裡，他失足摔斷了胳膊，老師這才知道，便告訴了他的叔父。叔父又用木杖狠狠打他，打得他起不來，才給他治傷。等他好了，叔父便和他約定：如果他讀的書能比堂弟們多一倍，文章也寫得好，就不禁止他出門；要是偷偷逃出去，就照先前那樣打他。公子卻非常聰明，讀書常常超過規定的功課。幾年後，他考中了舉人，想自行廢掉這個約定，叔父仍嚴加管束。他去京城時，叔父派一個老僕跟著，還給老僕一本日記簿，讓他記下公子的言行。因此，公子幾年間都沒有越軌的行為。後來他考中了進士，叔父才稍稍放鬆了限制。公子偶爾想尋歡作樂，總怕叔父聽說，所以一到妓院所在的小巷裡，就冒稱姓魏。一天，他經過西安，見到一個叫羅惠卿的少年伶人，十六七歲，長得像美麗的女子一樣秀氣，便喜歡上了他。夜裡把他留下，兩人親熱纏綿，又送給他許多財物。聽說他新娶的妻子更加嬌美動人，公子便私下向惠卿透露了自己的意思。惠卿毫不為難，夜裡果然帶著妻子來了，三人同睡一張床。公子留了幾天，對他們愛戀到了極點，打算把他們一起帶回家。他問惠卿家裡還有什麼人，惠卿回答：「母親早已去世，父親還在。我原本不姓羅。母親年輕時在咸陽韋家做婢女，後來被賣到羅家，四個月後就生下了我。倘若能跟公子走，也可以打聽打聽韋家的訊息。」公子吃驚地問他母親姓什麼。惠卿說：「姓呂。」公子驚駭極了，汗水溼透全身，原來惠卿的母親就是他家的婢女。他一句話也說不出來。這時天已經亮了，他送給惠卿許多財物，勸他改行，又假說自己要去別處，約定回來時再叫他來，便告別走了。後來，公子做了蘇州的縣令。當地有個歌妓叫沈韋娘，文雅美麗，無人能比，公子喜歡她，便留下她親暱相處。他開玩笑說：「你的小名，是取自『春風中唱一曲的杜韋娘』這句詩嗎？」韋娘回答：「不是。我母親十七歲時是有名的妓女，有一位咸陽公子，和您同姓，在她那裡住了三個月，立下誓約，要娶她為妻。公子走後八個月，母親生下我，所以給我取名韋娘，其實韋才是我的姓。公子臨別時送給她一對黃金鴛鴦，現在還在。他一走就再沒有訊息，母親因此悲憤憂鬱而死。我三歲時被沈老太太收養，所以跟了她的姓。」公子聽了，羞愧悔恨，無地自容。他沉默了好一會兒，忽然想出一個辦法，起身挑亮燈芯，叫韋娘喝酒，暗中把鴆毒放進杯裡。韋娘剛喝下去，便痛苦掙扎，呻吟嘶叫。眾人聚過來看時，她已經死了。公子叫來伶人，把屍體交給他們，又給了他們一大筆錢。韋娘來往親密的人都是權勢人家，聽說這件事，都憤憤不平，便給伶人錢，激勵他們向公子的上司告狀。公子害怕了，傾盡錢財疏通遮掩，最終以性情浮躁為由被免了官。他回家時才三十八歲，很後悔過去的行為。可是妻妾一共有五六人，都沒有生下兒子。他想過繼叔父的孫子，叔父卻認為他家裡品行不好，怕孩子染上壞習氣，雖然答應過繼，仍要等他老了才把孩子交給他。公子氣憤之下，想把惠卿叫來，家裡人都說不行，這才作罷。又過了幾年，他忽然病倒，常常捶著胸口說：「姦淫婢女、留宿妓院的人，簡直不是人！」叔父聽了，嘆息說：「他恐怕快要死了！」於是把自己第二個兒子的兒子送到公子家裡，讓孩子早晚問候照料他。一個多月後，公子果然死了。
韦公子，咸阳世家。放纵好淫，婢妇有色，无不私者。尝载金数千，欲尽览天下名妓，凡繁丽之区，无不至。其不甚佳者，信宿即去；当意，则作百日留。叔亦名宦，休致归，怒其行，延明师置别业，使与诸公子键户读。公子夜伺师寝，逾垣归，迟明而返。以为常。一夜，失足折肱，师始知之。告公，公益施夏楚，俾不能起而始药之。及愈，公与之约：能读倍诸弟，文字佳，出勿禁；若私逸，挞如前。然公子最慧，读常过程。数年，中乡榜。欲自败约，公箝制之。赴都，以老仆从，授日记籍，使志其言动。故数年无过行。后成进士，公乃稍弛其禁。公子或将有作，惟恐公闻，入曲巷中，辄托姓魏。一日，过西安，见优僮罗惠卿，年十六七，秀丽如好女，悦之。夜留缱绻，赠贻丰隆。闻其新娶妇尤韵妙，私示意惠卿。惠卿无难色，夜果携妇至，三人共一榻。留数日，眷爱臻至。谋与俱归。问其家口，答云：『母早丧，父存。某原非罗姓。母少服役于咸阳韦氏，卖至罗家，四月即生余。倘得从公子去，亦可察其音耗。」公子惊问母姓。曰：「姓吕。」生骇极，汗下浃体，盖其母即生家婢也。生无言。时天已明，厚赠之，劝令改业。伪托他适，约归时召致之，遂别去。后令苏州，有乐妓沈韦娘，雅丽绝伦，爱留与狎。戏曰：「卿小字取『春风一曲杜韦娘』耶？」答曰：「非也。妾母十七为名妓，有咸阳公子，与公同姓，留三月，订盟婚娶。公子去，八月生妾，因名韦，实妾姓也。公子临别时，赠黄金鸳鸯，今尚在。一去竟无音耗，妾母以是愤悒死。妾三岁，受抚于沈媪，故从其姓。」公子闻言，愧恨无以自容。默移时，顿生一策。忽起挑灯，唤韦娘饮，暗置鸩毒杯中。韦娘才下咽，溃乱呻嘶。众集视，则已毙矣。呼优人至，付以尸，重赂之。而韦娘所与交好者尽势家，闻之，皆不平，贿激优人，讼于上官。生惧，泻橐弥缝，卒以浮躁免官。归家年才三十八，颇悔前行。而妻妾五六人，皆无子。欲继公孙；公以门无内行，恐儿染习气，虽许过嗣，但待其老而后归之。公子愤欲招惠卿，家人皆以为不可，乃止。又数年，忽病，辄挝心曰：「淫婢宿妓者，非人也！」公闻而叹曰：「是殆将死矣！」乃以次子之子，送诣其家，使定省之。月余果死。
韦公子出身咸阳世家，行为放纵，贪恋淫乐，婢女、仆妇中凡是长得好看的，没有不被他私下勾搭的。他曾带着几千两金子出门，想把天下有名的妓女都见识一遍，凡是繁华富丽的地方，没有不去的。遇上不太中意的，住两夜就走；合他心意的，便住上百日。他的叔父也是有名的官员，退休回家后，对他的行为很生气，便请来一位好老师，在另一处宅院里安排他和堂弟们关起门来读书。公子夜里等老师睡下，便翻墙回家，快天亮时再回来，常常如此。一天夜里，他失足摔断了胳膊，老师这才知道，便告诉了他的叔父。叔父又用木杖狠狠打他，打得他起不来，才给他治伤。等他好了，叔父便和他约定：如果他读的书能比堂弟们多一倍，文章也写得好，就不禁止他出门；要是偷偷逃出去，就照先前那样打他。公子却非常聪明，读书常常超过规定的功课。几年后，他考中了举人，想自行废掉这个约定，叔父仍严加管束。他去京城时，叔父派一个老仆跟着，还给老仆一本日记簿，让他记下公子的言行。因此，公子几年间都没有越轨的行为。后来他考中了进士，叔父才稍稍放松了限制。公子偶尔想寻欢作乐，总怕叔父听说，所以一到妓院所在的小巷里，就冒称姓魏。一天，他经过西安，见到一个叫罗惠卿的少年伶人，十六七岁，长得像美丽的女子一样秀气，便喜欢上了他。夜里把他留下，两人亲热缠绵，又送给他许多财物。听说他新娶的妻子更加娇美动人，公子便私下向惠卿透露了自己的意思。惠卿毫不为难，夜里果然带着妻子来了，三人同睡一张床。公子留了几天，对他们爱恋到了极点，打算把他们一起带回家。他问惠卿家里还有什么人，惠卿回答：“母亲早已去世，父亲还在。我原本不姓罗。母亲年轻时在咸阳韦家做婢女，后来被卖到罗家，四个月后就生下了我。倘若能跟公子走，也可以打听打听韦家的消息。”公子吃惊地问他母亲姓什么。惠卿说：“姓吕。”公子惊骇极了，汗水湿透全身，原来惠卿的母亲就是他家的婢女。他一句话也说不出来。这时天已经亮了，他送给惠卿许多财物，劝他改行，又假说自己要去别处，约定回来时再叫他来，便告别走了。后来，公子做了苏州的县令。当地有个歌妓叫沈韦娘，文雅美丽，无人能比，公子喜欢她，便留下她亲昵相处。他开玩笑说：“你的小名，是取自‘春风中唱一曲的杜韦娘’这句诗吗？”韦娘回答：“不是。我母亲十七岁时是有名的妓女，有一位咸阳公子，和您同姓，在她那里住了三个月，立下誓约，要娶她为妻。公子走后八个月，母亲生下我，所以给我取名韦娘，其实韦才是我的姓。公子临别时送给她一对黄金鸳鸯，现在还在。他一走就再没有消息，母亲因此悲愤忧郁而死。我三岁时被沈老太太收养，所以跟了她的姓。”公子听了，羞愧悔恨，无地自容。他沉默了好一会儿，忽然想出一个办法，起身挑亮灯芯，叫韦娘喝酒，暗中把鸩毒放进杯里。韦娘刚喝下去，便痛苦挣扎，呻吟嘶叫。众人聚过来看时，她已经死了。公子叫来伶人，把尸体交给他们，又给了他们一大笔钱。韦娘来往亲密的人都是权势人家，听说这件事，都愤愤不平，便给伶人钱，激励他们向公子的上司告状。公子害怕了，倾尽钱财疏通遮掩，最终以性情浮躁为由被免了官。他回家时才三十八岁，很后悔过去的行为。可是妻妾一共有五六人，都没有生下儿子。他想过继叔父的孙子，叔父却认为他家里品行不好，怕孩子染上坏习气，虽然答应过继，仍要等他老了才把孩子交给他。公子气愤之下，想把惠卿叫来，家里人都说不行，这才作罢。又过了几年，他忽然病倒，常常捶着胸口说：“奸淫婢女、留宿妓院的人，简直不是人！”叔父听了，叹息说：“他恐怕快要死了！”于是把自己第二个儿子的儿子送到公子家里，让孩子早晚问候照料他。一个多月后，公子果然死了。
Young Master Wei came of an old official family of Xianyang. He was dissolute and lecherous: there was no maid or servant’s wife with any looks whom he had not had. Once he set out with several thousand in gold, meaning to see every famous courtesan in the empire, and there was no rich and glittering city he did not visit. If a woman was not much to his taste, he left after two nights; if she suited him, he stayed a hundred days. His uncle, also a well-known official, retired and came home. Angered by the young man’s conduct, he engaged a good tutor, set up a separate villa, and had him study there behind locked doors with his cousins. At night the young master waited until the tutor was asleep, climbed over the wall and went home, and came back toward dawn. This became a habit. One night he slipped and broke his arm, and only then did the tutor find out. The tutor told the uncle, who caned him on top of it, beating him until he could not get up, and only then had him treated. When he had recovered, his uncle made a pact with him: if he read twice as much as his cousins and wrote good essays, he would not be kept from going out; if he slipped off on the sly, he would be beaten as before. Now the young master was very bright, and always read beyond his set task. After some years he passed the provincial examination. He wanted to break the pact himself, but his uncle kept a tight hold on him. When he went to the capital, his uncle sent an old servant with him and gave the man a daybook in which to record everything he said and did. So for some years he did nothing wrong. Later he became a jinshi, and only then did his uncle relax the restrictions a little. Whenever the young master was up to something, he was afraid his uncle would hear of it, so when he went into the back lanes he always gave a false surname, Wei. One day, passing through Xi’an, he saw a boy actor named Luo Huiqing, sixteen or seventeen years old, as fine-featured as a pretty girl, and took a fancy to him. He kept him for the night in tender dalliance and gave him lavish gifts. Hearing that the boy’s new bride was still more charming, he dropped a private hint to Huiqing. Huiqing showed no reluctance, and that night he did bring his wife, and the three of them shared one bed. The young master stayed several days, utterly besotted, and planned to take the two of them home with him. He asked about the boy’s family. “My mother died young. My father is living. Luo was not my name to begin with. When my mother was young she was in service with the Wei family of Xianyang. She was sold into the Luo family, and four months later she gave birth to me. If I can go with you, sir, I might also get some news of them.” Startled, the young master asked his mother’s surname. “Lü,” said the boy. The young master was horrified; sweat poured down and soaked him through. The boy’s mother had been a maid in his own house. He said nothing. By then it was light. He gave the boy rich gifts and urged him to change his trade. Pretending he had to go elsewhere, he promised to send for him on his way back, and took his leave. Later he was appointed a magistrate in Suzhou. There was a singing girl there, Shen Weiniang, elegant and lovely beyond compare. He took a liking to her and kept her as his lover. “Did you take your pet name from the line ‘A tune in the spring wind: Du Weiniang’?” he teased. “No,” she said. “At seventeen my mother was a famous courtesan. A young gentleman of Xianyang, with the same surname as you, sir, stayed with her three months and swore to marry her. Eight months after he left, I was born, so I was named Wei. It is really my surname. When he went away, he gave her a pair of golden mandarin ducks; I have them still. Once gone, he never sent a word, and my mother died of grief and bitterness. At three I was taken in by old Mrs. Shen, so I took her name.” Hearing this, the young master was so ashamed and vexed that he did not know where to put himself. He sat silent for a while. Then a plan came to him. He got up suddenly, trimmed the lamp, called Weiniang to drink, and secretly dropped poison into her cup. No sooner had she swallowed it than she was writhing, moaning and shrieking. When people gathered to look, she was already dead. He called in the players, handed over the body, and bribed them heavily. But the men Weiniang had been close to were all from powerful families. When they heard of it they were all indignant; they bribed the players and egged them on to bring a suit before his superiors. Frightened, he emptied his purse to patch the matter up, and in the end he was only dismissed from office for “rashness.” He came home just thirty-eight years old, and much regretted his past conduct. But of his wife and concubines, five or six in all, not one had borne him a son. He wanted to adopt one of his uncle’s grandsons as his heir. His uncle, because there was no decent conduct within the young master’s walls, feared the boy would pick up bad habits: though he agreed to the adoption, he would hand the boy over only when the young master was old. In anger the young master wanted to send for Huiqing, but his whole household said it would not do, so he gave it up. Some years later he suddenly fell ill, and kept beating his breast and crying, “A man who debauches maids and sleeps with harlots is not human!” His uncle heard of it and sighed. “He must be about to die.” So he sent his second son’s son to the young master’s house, to wait on him morning and evening. A month or so later he did die.