青州道陳公寶鑰，閩人。夜獨坐，有女子搴幃入。視之，不識；而艷絕，長袖宮裝。笑云：「清夜兀坐，得勿寂耶？」公驚問：「何人？」曰：「妾家不遠，近在西鄰。」公意其鬼，而心好之。捉袂挽坐，談詞風雅，大悅。擁之，不甚抗拒。顧曰：「他無人耶？」公急闔戶，曰：「無。」促其緩裳，意殊羞怯。公代為之慇懃。女曰：「妾年二十，猶處子也，狂將不堪。」狎褻既竟，流丹浹席。既而枕邊私語，自言「林四娘」。公詳詰之。曰：「一世堅貞，業為君輕薄殆盡矣。有心愛妾，但圖永好可耳，絮絮何為？」無何，雞鳴，遂起而去。由此夜夜必至。每與闔戶雅飲。談及音律，輒能剖悉宮商。公遂意其工于度曲。曰：「兒時之所習也。」公請一領雅奏，女曰：「久矣不托于音，節奏強半遺忘，恐為知者笑耳。」再強之，乃俯首擊節，唱伊涼之調，其聲哀婉。歌已，泣下。公亦為酸惻，抱而慰之曰：「卿勿為亡國之音，使人悒悒。」女曰：「聲以宣意，哀者不能使樂，亦猶樂者不能使哀。」兩人燕昵，過於琴瑟。
青州道陳寶鑰是閩地人。一天夜裡，他獨自坐著，有個女子掀開簾子走了進來。他看了看，並不認識她，只見她美豔無比，穿著長袖宮裝。她笑著說：「這樣清靜的夜晚，獨自呆坐著，難道不寂寞嗎？」陳公吃驚地問：「你是什麼人？」她說：「我家離這裡不遠，就在西邊近鄰。」陳公猜她是鬼，心裡卻很喜歡她。他拉住她的衣袖，牽她坐下。她談吐風雅，讓陳公十分歡喜。他摟住她，她也沒有怎麼抗拒，只回頭看了看，說：「這裡沒有別人嗎？」陳公趕緊關上門，說：「沒有。」他催她解開衣裙，她顯得十分羞怯，陳公便殷勤地替她解開。女子說：「我今年二十歲，還是處女，你要是太放肆，我會受不了。」兩人親熱過後，鮮血浸透了席子。隨後，她在枕邊低聲說話，自稱林四娘。陳公詳細追問她的來歷。她說：「我一生堅守的貞潔，已經讓你毀得差不多了。你若真心愛我，只要想著我們能永遠相好就夠了，何必問個不停？」不久，雞叫了，她便起身離去。從此，她每夜都來。兩人總是關上門，一邊飲酒，一邊清談。談到音律，她總能把宮商各音分析得十分透徹，陳公便猜她擅長唱曲。她說：「這是小時候學的。」陳公請她唱一曲，讓自己領略一下。女子說：「我已經很久沒有唱過了，曲子的節奏忘了大半，怕讓懂行的人笑話。」陳公再次懇求，她才低下頭，打著拍子，唱起伊州、涼州的曲調，歌聲哀傷婉轉。唱完，她流下了眼淚。陳公也聽得心酸，抱著她安慰道：「你別唱這些亡國的曲子了，讓人聽著滿心憂鬱。」女子說：「歌聲是用來表達心意的，心裡悲哀的人，不能把歌唱得歡快，就像心裡歡快的人，也不能把歌唱得悲哀一樣。」兩人親密恩愛，感情比夫妻還深。
青州道陈公宝钥，闽人。夜独坐，有女子搴帏入。视之，不识；而艳绝，长袖宫装。笑云：「清夜兀坐，得勿寂耶？」公惊问：「何人？」曰：「妾家不远，近在西邻。」公意其鬼，而心好之。捉袂挽坐，谈词风雅，大悦。拥之，不甚抗拒。顾曰：「他无人耶？」公急阖户，曰：「无。」促其缓裳，意殊羞怯。公代为之慇懃。女曰：「妾年二十，犹处子也，狂将不堪。」狎亵既竟，流丹浃席。既而枕边私语，自言「林四娘」。公详诘之。曰：「一世坚贞，业为君轻薄殆尽矣。有心爱妾，但图永好可耳，絮絮何为？」无何，鸡鸣，遂起而去。由此夜夜必至。每与阖户雅饮。谈及音律，辄能剖悉宫商。公遂意其工于度曲。曰：「儿时之所习也。」公请一领雅奏，女曰：「久矣不托于音，节奏强半遗忘，恐为知者笑耳。」再强之，乃俯首击节，唱伊凉之调，其声哀婉。歌已，泣下。公亦为酸恻，抱而慰之曰：「卿勿为亡国之音，使人悒悒。」女曰：「声以宣意，哀者不能使乐，亦犹乐者不能使哀。」两人燕昵，过于琴瑟。
青州道陈宝钥是闽地人。一天夜里，他独自坐着，有个女子掀开帘子走了进来。他看了看，并不认识她，只见她美艳无比，穿着长袖宫装。她笑着说：“这样清静的夜晚，独自呆坐着，难道不寂寞吗？”陈公吃惊地问：“你是什么人？”她说：“我家离这里不远，就在西边近邻。”陈公猜她是鬼，心里却很喜欢她。他拉住她的衣袖，牵她坐下。她谈吐风雅，让陈公十分欢喜。他搂住她，她也没有怎么抗拒，只回头看了看，说：“这里没有别人吗？”陈公赶紧关上门，说：“没有。”他催她解开衣裙，她显得十分羞怯，陈公便殷勤地替她解开。女子说：“我今年二十岁，还是处女，你要是太放肆，我会受不了。”两人亲热过后，鲜血浸透了席子。随后，她在枕边低声说话，自称林四娘。陈公详细追问她的来历。她说：“我一生坚守的贞洁，已经让你毁得差不多了。你若真心爱我，只要想着我们能永远相好就够了，何必问个不停？”不久，鸡叫了，她便起身离去。从此，她每夜都来。两人总是关上门，一边饮酒，一边清谈。谈到音律，她总能把宫商各音分析得十分透彻，陈公便猜她擅长唱曲。她说：“这是小时候学的。”陈公请她唱一曲，让自己领略一下。女子说：“我已经很久没有唱过了，曲子的节奏忘了大半，怕让懂行的人笑话。”陈公再次恳求，她才低下头，打着拍子，唱起伊州、凉州的曲调，歌声哀伤婉转。唱完，她流下了眼泪。陈公也听得心酸，抱着她安慰道：“你别唱这些亡国的曲子了，让人听着满心忧郁。”女子说：“歌声是用来表达心意的，心里悲哀的人，不能把歌唱得欢快，就像心里欢快的人，也不能把歌唱得悲哀一样。”两人亲密恩爱，感情比夫妻还深。
Lord Chen Baoyao, Circuit Intendant of Qingzhou, was a man of Fujian. One night as he sat alone, a woman lifted the curtain and came in. He looked at her and did not know her, but she was dazzlingly beautiful, in palace dress with long sleeves. She smiled. “Sitting up alone on so clear a night — aren’t you lonely?” Startled, Chen asked, “Who are you?” “My home is not far,” she said. “Just next door, to the west.” Chen guessed she was a ghost, but his heart went out to her. He caught her sleeve and drew her down to sit. Her talk was elegant and refined, and he was delighted. He put his arms around her, and she did not resist much. She glanced round. “Is there no one else here?” Chen hurriedly shut the door. “No one.” He urged her to loosen her skirt; she seemed very shy, and Chen attentively did it for her. “I am twenty,” she said, “and still a virgin. If you are wild, I won’t be able to bear it.” When they had done, red flowed and soaked the mat. Afterwards, whispering by the pillow, she said that she was Lin Siniang. Chen questioned her closely. “A whole life of chastity,” she said, “and you have already all but squandered it in your wantonness. If you love me, only think of how we may be happy for ever. Why all these questions?” Before long the cock crowed, and she got up and left. From then on she came every night without fail. Each time they shut the door and drank together in refined talk. When the talk turned to music, she could always analyse every note and mode. So Chen guessed that she was skilled at singing. “I learned it as a child,” she said. Chen asked to hear her sing. “It has been so long since I gave voice to music,” she said, “that I have forgotten more than half of it. I am afraid a connoisseur would laugh at me.” He pressed her again, and at last she bowed her head and, beating time, sang airs of Yizhou and Liangzhou. Her voice was sad and tender. When the song ended, she wept. Chen too was pained and moved. He held her and comforted her. “Don’t sing the music of a fallen kingdom, my dear. It makes one so melancholy.” “Music speaks what is in the heart,” she said. “A sad heart cannot make it joyful, just as a joyful heart cannot make it sad.” The two of them were closer and more loving than any husband and wife.
既久，家人竊聽之，聞其歌者，無不流涕。夫人窺見其容，疑人世無此妖麗，非鬼必狐；懼為厭蠱，勸公絕之。公不能聽，但固詰之。女愀然曰：「妾，衡府宮人也。遭難而死，十七年矣。以君高義，托為燕婉，然實不敢禍君。倘見疑畏，即從此辭。」公曰：「我不為嫌，但燕好若此，不可不知其實耳。」乃問宮中事。女緬述，津津可聽。談及式微之際，則哽嚥不能成語。女不甚睡，每夜輒起誦准提﹑金剛諸經咒。公問：「九原能自懺耶？」曰：「一也。妾思終身淪落，欲度來生耳。」又每與公評騭詩詞，瑕輒疵之；至好句，則曼聲嬌吟。意緒風流，使人忘倦。公問：「工詩乎？」曰：「生時亦偶為之。」公索其贈。笑曰：「兒女之語，烏足為高人道。」
時間久了，家裡人暗中偷聽，凡是聽過她唱歌的，沒有不流淚的。陳公的夫人偷偷看見她的容貌，覺得人世間不會有這樣妖豔的美人，不是鬼就一定是狐，怕她用邪術害陳公，便勸他和她斷絕來往。陳公不肯聽，只是執意追問女子的來歷。女子神色憂傷地說：「我是衡府的宮人，遇難而死，已經十七年了。因為敬重你的高尚情義，才來與你相愛，但我實在不敢害你。你若懷疑我、害怕我，我就從此告辭。」陳公說：「我並不嫌棄你，只是我們這樣相愛，我不能不知道你的真實來歷。」於是，他問起宮中的事。女子追述往事，講得十分動聽。說到衰敗的時候，她就哽咽得說不出話來。女子很少睡覺，每夜總要起身唸誦準提、金剛等經咒。陳公問：「死後也能自己懺悔嗎？」她說：「這也是一個緣故。我想到自己一生淪落至此，只想求得來世的解脫。」她還常常和陳公品評詩詞，有毛病就指出來，遇到好句子，便用柔美的聲音拖長聲調吟誦。她的情致風韻，讓人忘了疲倦。陳公問：「你擅長作詩嗎？」她說：「活著的時候，也偶爾寫過。」陳公請她作詩相贈。她笑著說：「不過是些兒女情話，哪裡值得說給你這樣的高雅之士聽。」
既久，家人窃听之，闻其歌者，无不流涕。夫人窥见其容，疑人世无此妖丽，非鬼必狐；惧为厌蛊，劝公绝之。公不能听，但固诘之。女愀然曰：「妾，衡府宫人也。遭难而死，十七年矣。以君高义，托为燕婉，然实不敢祸君。倘见疑畏，即从此辞。」公曰：「我不为嫌，但燕好若此，不可不知其实耳。」乃问宫中事。女缅述，津津可听。谈及式微之际，则哽咽不能成语。女不甚睡，每夜辄起诵准提﹑金刚诸经咒。公问：「九原能自忏耶？」曰：「一也。妾思终身沦落，欲度来生耳。」又每与公评骘诗词，瑕辄疵之；至好句，则曼声娇吟。意绪风流，使人忘倦。公问：「工诗乎？」曰：「生时亦偶为之。」公索其赠。笑曰：「儿女之语，乌足为高人道。」
时间久了，家里人暗中偷听，凡是听过她唱歌的，没有不流泪的。陈公的夫人偷偷看见她的容貌，觉得人世间不会有这样妖艳的美人，不是鬼就一定是狐，怕她用邪术害陈公，便劝他和她断绝来往。陈公不肯听，只是执意追问女子的来历。女子神色忧伤地说：“我是衡府的宫人，遇难而死，已经十七年了。因为敬重你的高尚情义，才来与你相爱，但我实在不敢害你。你若怀疑我、害怕我，我就从此告辞。”陈公说：“我并不嫌弃你，只是我们这样相爱，我不能不知道你的真实来历。”于是，他问起宫中的事。女子追述往事，讲得十分动听。说到衰败的时候，她就哽咽得说不出话来。女子很少睡觉，每夜总要起身念诵准提、金刚等经咒。陈公问：“死后也能自己忏悔吗？”她说：“这也是一个缘故。我想到自己一生沦落至此，只想求得来世的解脱。”她还常常和陈公品评诗词，有毛病就指出来，遇到好句子，便用柔美的声音拖长声调吟诵。她的情致风韵，让人忘了疲倦。陈公问：“你擅长作诗吗？”她说：“活着的时候，也偶尔写过。”陈公请她作诗相赠。她笑着说：“不过是些儿女情话，哪里值得说给你这样的高雅之士听。”
As time went on, the household listened in secret, and no one who heard her sing could keep from tears. Chen’s wife caught a glimpse of her face, and thought that so bewitching a beauty could not belong to the human world: if she was not a ghost, she must be a fox. Afraid she would cast a spell on him, she urged Chen to break with her. Chen would not listen, but he questioned the girl closely. Her face fell. “I was a palace lady in the household of the Prince of Heng. I died in the disaster, seventeen years ago. Moved by your noble spirit, I gave myself to you in love, but truly I would never dare bring you harm. If you suspect or fear me, I will leave you now.” “I don’t hold it against you,” said Chen. “But when we love each other like this, I must know the truth.” Then he asked her about life in the palace. She told it all in detail, and it was absorbing to hear. When she came to the time of the fall, she choked with sobs and could not go on. She slept little. Every night she would get up and recite the Cundi spell, the Diamond Sutra and other scriptures and spells. Chen asked, “Can the dead repent for themselves down there?” “It is the same there,” she said. “I think I am lost for good in this life, and I want to be saved in the next.” She would often discuss poetry with Chen, picking out every flaw; and when she came to a fine line she would chant it in a soft, lingering voice. Her feeling and grace made him forget all weariness. Chen asked, “Do you write poetry?” “Now and then, when I was alive.” He asked her for a poem. She laughed. “The words of a girl — how could they be worth showing to a man of refinement?”
居三年，一夕忽慘然告別。公驚問之。答云：「冥王以妾生前無罪，死猶不忘經咒，俾生王家。別在今宵，永無見期。」言已，愴然。公亦淚下。乃置酒相與痛飲。女慷慨而歌，為哀曼之音，一字百轉，每至悲處，輒便嗚咽。數停數起，而後終曲。飲不能暢。乃起，逡巡欲別。公固挽之，又坐少時。雞聲忽唱，乃曰：「必不可以久留矣。然君每怪妾不肯獻醜，今將長別，當率成一章。」索筆構成，曰：「心悲意亂，不能推敲，乖音錯節，慎勿出以示人。」掩袖而去。公送諸門外，湮然沒。公悵悼良久。視其詩，字態端好，珍而藏之。詩曰：
「靜鎖深宮十七年，誰將故國問青天？閑看殿宇封喬木，泣望君王化杜鵑。海國波濤斜夕照，漢家簫鼓靜烽煙。紅顏力弱難為厲，惠質心悲只問禪。日誦菩提千百句，閑看貝葉兩三篇。高唱梨園歌代哭，請君獨聽亦潸然。」
詩中重複脫節，疑有錯誤。
過了三年，一天晚上，她忽然滿懷悲傷地來告別。陳公吃驚地問她緣故。她回答說：「冥王認為我生前沒有罪過，死後仍不忘唸誦經咒，讓我投生到王侯之家。今晚我們就要分別，再也沒有相見的日子了。」說完，她悲痛不已，陳公也流下了眼淚。於是擺上酒，兩人一同痛飲。女子放聲唱起歌來，曲調哀傷悠長，每個字都唱得百轉千回，每到悲傷之處，她就嗚咽起來。停了幾次，又唱了幾次，才把一曲唱完。兩人喝酒也不能盡興。她便起身，想要告別，卻徘徊著捨不得走。陳公執意挽留，她又坐了一會兒。忽然傳來雞叫聲，她說：「我實在不能再久留了。不過，你總是怪我不肯拿詩出來獻醜，如今就要永別，我就匆匆寫一首吧。」她要來筆，寫成了詩，說：「我心裡悲傷，思緒紛亂，顧不上推敲，音韻和節奏都有不合的地方，千萬不要拿給別人看。」她用衣袖掩著臉，走了出去。陳公送她到門外，她便消失不見了。陳公惆悵悲傷了很久。再看她的詩，字跡端正秀美，便珍惜地收藏起來。詩中寫道：「寂靜的深宮把我困了十七年，誰肯為故國向蒼天問個究竟？ 閒來望著宮殿被高大的樹木遮蔽，含淚遙望君王化作了杜鵑。 海國的波濤映著斜斜的夕陽，漢家的簫鼓聲中，戰火的煙塵已經平息。 我一個女子，力量微弱，難以化作厲鬼，性情柔善，滿心悲傷，只能求問禪理。 每天唸誦佛經千百句，閒時讀上兩三篇貝葉經。 我放聲唱起梨園的歌，用歌聲代替哭泣，請你獨自聽聽，也會潸然落淚。」詩中有重複和不連貫的地方，懷疑有些字句出了差錯。
居三年，一夕忽惨然告别。公惊问之。答云：「冥王以妾生前无罪，死犹不忘经咒，俾生王家。别在今宵，永无见期。」言已，怆然。公亦泪下。乃置酒相与痛饮。女慷慨而歌，为哀曼之音，一字百转，每至悲处，辄便呜咽。数停数起，而后终曲。饮不能畅。乃起，逡巡欲别。公固挽之，又坐少时。鸡声忽唱，乃曰：「必不可以久留矣。然君每怪妾不肯献丑，今将长别，当率成一章。」索笔构成，曰：「心悲意乱，不能推敲，乖音错节，慎勿出以示人。」掩袖而去。公送诸门外，湮然没。公怅悼良久。视其诗，字态端好，珍而藏之。诗曰：
「静锁深宫十七年，谁将故国问青天？闲看殿宇封乔木，泣望君王化杜鹃。海国波涛斜夕照，汉家箫鼓静烽烟。红颜力弱难为厉，惠质心悲只问禅。日诵菩提千百句，闲看贝叶两三篇。高唱梨园歌代哭，请君独听亦潸然。」
诗中重复脱节，疑有错误。
过了三年，一天晚上，她忽然满怀悲伤地来告别。陈公吃惊地问她缘故。她回答说：“冥王认为我生前没有罪过，死后仍不忘念诵经咒，让我投生到王侯之家。今晚我们就要分别，再也没有相见的日子了。”说完，她悲痛不已，陈公也流下了眼泪。于是摆上酒，两人一同痛饮。女子放声唱起歌来，曲调哀伤悠长，每个字都唱得百转千回，每到悲伤之处，她就呜咽起来。停了几次，又唱了几次，才把一曲唱完。两人喝酒也不能尽兴。她便起身，想要告别，却徘徊着舍不得走。陈公执意挽留，她又坐了一会儿。忽然传来鸡叫声，她说：“我实在不能再久留了。不过，你总是怪我不肯拿诗出来献丑，如今就要永别，我就匆匆写一首吧。”她要来笔，写成了诗，说：“我心里悲伤，思绪纷乱，顾不上推敲，音韵和节奏都有不合的地方，千万不要拿给别人看。”她用衣袖掩着脸，走了出去。陈公送她到门外，她便消失不见了。陈公惆怅悲伤了很久。再看她的诗，字迹端正秀美，便珍惜地收藏起来。诗中写道：“寂静的深宫把我困了十七年，谁肯为故国向苍天问个究竟？ 闲来望着宫殿被高大的树木遮蔽，含泪遥望君王化作了杜鹃。 海国的波涛映着斜斜的夕阳，汉家的箫鼓声中，战火的烟尘已经平息。 我一个女子，力量微弱，难以化作厉鬼，性情柔善，满心悲伤，只能求问禅理。 每天念诵佛经千百句，闲时读上两三篇贝叶经。 我放声唱起梨园的歌，用歌声代替哭泣，请你独自听听，也会潸然落泪。”诗中有重复和不连贯的地方，怀疑有些字句出了差错。
After three years, one evening she came to him in sorrow to say goodbye. Startled, Chen asked her why. “The King of the Underworld finds that I did no wrong in life,” she said, “and that even in death I have not forgotten the sutras and spells, so he is letting me be reborn in a prince’s house. We part tonight, and we shall never meet again.” With that she was overcome with grief. Chen too shed tears. So they set out wine and drank deeply together. She sang with all her heart, a sad, lingering melody, every word turning a hundred times, and whenever she came to a sad passage she broke into sobs. She stopped and began again several times before the song was done. They could not drink with any joy. She got up and lingered, wanting to go. Chen held her back, and she sat a little longer. Suddenly the cock crowed. “I really cannot stay any longer,” she said. “But you always reproached me for refusing to show you my poor verses. Now that we part for ever, I will dash off a poem.” She asked for a brush and composed it. “My heart is grieved and my thoughts are confused,” she said. “I could not polish it. The tones are off and the rhythm is broken. Please, do not show it to anyone.” She covered her face with her sleeve and left. Chen saw her out of the gate, where she faded away and was gone. He grieved for her a long while. He looked at her poem: the handwriting was neat and graceful, and he treasured it and kept it. The poem said:
“Locked in silence in the deep palace seventeen years,who will ask blue Heaven about my fallen land?Idly I watch the palace halls sealed in by tall trees;weeping, I gaze at my prince, turned into a cuckoo.Over the sea kingdom’s waves the evening sun slants;the pipes and drums of the Han sound as the smoke of war subsides.A rosy face, too weak to become an avenging ghost,a gentle heart in grief, I only seek the way of Chan.Each day I chant the Bodhi words, a thousand lines and more;idly I read the palm-leaf sutras, two or three.I sing aloud the Pear Garden songs in place of weeping;listen alone, I pray you, sir, and you too will shed tears.”
The poem repeats itself and is broken in places; I suspect there are errors in it.