第三回　　　金陵城起複賈雨村　榮國府收養林黛玉 Jia Yucun Is Reinstated at Jinling; The Rong Mansion Takes In Lin Daiyu

卻說雨村忙回頭看時，不是別人，乃是當日同僚一案參革的號張如圭者。Now, when Yucun hastily turned to look, it was none other than a former colleague who had been impeached and dismissed in the same case, one Zhang Ruguo by name.他本系此地人，革後家居，今打聽得都中奏准起复舊員之信，他便四下裏尋情找門路，忽遇見雨村，故忙道喜。He was originally a native of this place, and after his dismissal had been living at home; now, having heard word that the capital had approved the reinstatement of former officials, he had been seeking connections and looking for a way in on all sides, when he suddenly ran into Yucun, and so hastened to offer congratulations.二人見了禮，張如圭便將此信告訴雨村，雨村自是歡喜，忙忙的敘了兩句，遂作別各自回家。The two exchanged greetings, and Zhang Ruguo told Yucun this news; Yucun was naturally delighted, and after hurriedly exchanging a few words, they took leave of each other and each went home.冷子興聽得此言，便忙獻計，令雨村央煩林如海，轉向都中去央煩賈政。When Leng Zixing heard this news, he hastily offered a plan, telling Yucun to ask Lin Ruhai for help, so that Ruhai might in turn write to the capital and ask Jia Zheng on his behalf.雨村領其意，作別回至館中，忙尋邸報看真确了。Yucun grasped his meaning, took his leave, and returned to his lodgings, where he hurriedly sought out the court gazette to confirm the truth of the matter.

却说雨村忙回头看时，不是别人，乃是当日同僚一案参革的号张如圭者。他本系此地人，革后家居，今打听得都中奏准起复旧员之信，他便四下里寻情找门路，忽遇见雨村，故忙道喜。二人见了礼，张如圭便将此信告诉雨村，雨村自是欢喜，忙忙的叙了两句，遂作别各自回家。冷子兴听得此言，便忙献计，令雨村央烦林如海，转向都中去央烦贾政。雨村领其意，作别回至馆中，忙寻邸报看真确了。

次日，面謀之如海。The next day, he went in person to consult Ruhai about it.如海道：「天緣湊巧，因賤荊去世，都中家岳母念及小女無人依傍教育，前已遣了男女船隻來接，因小女未曾大痊，故未及行。Ruhai said: "It happens that fate has arranged things well. Since my wife passed away, my mother-in-law in the capital, mindful that my daughter has no one to depend upon or educate her, earlier sent boats and attendants, men and women, to fetch her; but as my daughter had not yet fully recovered, she was unable to set out.此刻正思向蒙訓教之恩未經酬報，遇此机會，豈有不盡心圖報之理。Just now I was thinking that I have never repaid the kindness of your instruction in the past; now that this opportunity has arisen, how could I fail to do my utmost to repay it?但請放心。But please set your mind at ease.弟已預為籌畫至此，已修下荐書一封，轉託內兄務為周全協佐，方可稍盡弟之鄙誠，即有所費用之例，弟於內兄信中已注明白，亦不勞尊兄多慮矣。」雨村一面打恭，謝不釋口，一面又問：「不知令親大人現居何職？I have already made plans this far, and have written a letter of introduction, entrusting my brother-in-law with the task of seeing to it that you are looked after and assisted in every way — only thus can I express, however slightly, my humble sincerity. As for any expenses that may be incurred, I have already noted this clearly in my letter to my brother-in-law, so you need not trouble yourself with concern over it." Yucun, bowing repeatedly, thanked him without ceasing, and at the same time asked: "I wonder, what office does your honored relative presently hold?只怕晚生草率，不敢驟然入都干瀆。」如海笑道：「若論舍親，與尊兄猶系同譜，乃榮公之孫：大內兄現襲一等將軍，名赦，字恩侯，二內兄名政，字存周，現任工部員外郎，其為人謙恭厚道，大有祖父遺風，非膏粱輕薄仕宦之流，故弟方致書煩託。I fear that I, your unworthy junior, might act rashly, and dare not go to the capital so abruptly to intrude upon him." Ruhai said with a smile: "As for my relatives, they are in fact of the same clan register as you, sir — grandsons of Duke Rong. My elder brother-in-law currently holds by inheritance the rank of First-Class General; his name is She, his style Enhou. My second brother-in-law is named Zheng, styled Cunzhou, and presently holds the post of Vice Director in the Board of Works. He is by nature modest and generous, very much retaining the manner of his grandfather, and is not of the type of shallow, pampered officials — that is precisely why I am writing to trouble him on your behalf.否則不但有污尊兄之清操，即弟亦不屑為矣。」雨村聽了，心下方信了昨日子興之言，於是又謝了林如海。Otherwise, not only would it sully your own upright integrity, but I myself would disdain to do such a thing." Hearing this, Yucun's heart at last believed what Zixing had said the day before, and so he thanked Lin Ruhai once again.如海乃說：「已擇了出月初二日小女入都，尊兄即同路而往，豈不兩便？」雨村唯唯聽命，心中十分得意。Ruhai then said: "I have already chosen the second day of next month for my daughter to travel to the capital; if you, sir, were to travel the same road together with her, would that not be convenient for both?" Yucun assented respectfully and accepted the arrangement, feeling extremely pleased at heart.如海遂打點禮物並餞行之事，雨村一一領了。Ruhai then set about preparing gifts and a farewell banquet, all of which Yucun accepted in turn.

次日，面谋之如海。如海道：「天缘凑巧，因贱荆去世，都中家岳母念及小女无人依傍教育，前已遣了男女船只来接，因小女未曾大痊，故未及行。此刻正思向蒙训教之恩未经酬报，遇此机会，岂有不尽心图报之理。但请放心。弟已预为筹画至此，已修下荐书一封，转托内兄务为周全协佐，方可稍尽弟之鄙诚，即有所费用之例，弟于内兄信中已注明白，亦不劳尊兄多虑矣。」雨村一面打恭，谢不释口，一面又问：「不知令亲大人现居何职？只怕晚生草率，不敢骤然入都干渎。」如海笑道：「若论舍亲，与尊兄犹系同谱，乃荣公之孙：大内兄现袭一等将军，名赦，字恩侯，二内兄名政，字存周，现任工部员外郎，其为人谦恭厚道，大有祖父遗风，非膏粱轻薄仕宦之流，故弟方致书烦托。否则不但有污尊兄之清操，即弟亦不屑为矣。」雨村听了，心下方信了昨日子兴之言，于是又谢了林如海。如海乃说：「已择了出月初二日小女入都，尊兄即同路而往，岂不两便？」雨村唯唯听命，心中十分得意。如海遂打点礼物并饯行之事，雨村一一领了。

那女學生黛玉，身体方愈，原不忍棄父而往，無奈他外祖母致意務去，且兼如海說：「汝父年將半百，再無續室之意，且汝多病，年又极小，上無親母教養，下無姊妹兄弟扶持，今依傍外祖母及舅氏姊妹去，正好減我顧盼之憂，何反云不往？」黛玉聽了，方灑淚拜別，隨了奶娘及榮府幾個老婦人登舟而去。As for the girl student Daiyu, her health had only just recovered, and she could not bear to leave her father and go; but there was no help for it, since her maternal grandmother had earnestly insisted that she must come, and moreover Ruhai said: "Your father is nearing fifty, and has no intention of taking another wife; besides, you are often ill and still very young, with no mother of your own above you to raise you, and no sisters or brothers below you to support you. If you now go to rely upon your grandmother and your cousins, it will actually ease my worries on your account — why then do you speak of not going?" Hearing this, Daiyu at last shed tears and bowed her farewell, and following her wet-nurse and several elderly women of the Rong mansion, boarded the boat and departed.雨村另有一隻船，帶兩個小童，依附黛玉而行。Yucun had a separate boat of his own, and with two young page-boys, traveled along in company with Daiyu's party.

那女学生黛玉，身体方愈，原不忍弃父而往，无奈他外祖母致意务去，且兼如海说：「汝父年将半百，再无续室之意，且汝多病，年又极小，上无亲母教养，下无姊妹兄弟扶持，今依傍外祖母及舅氏姊妹去，正好减我顾盼之忧，何反云不往？」黛玉听了，方洒泪拜别，随了奶娘及荣府几个老妇人登舟而去。雨村另有一只船，带两个小童，依附黛玉而行。

有日到了都中，進入神京，雨村先整了衣冠，帶了小童，拿著宗侄的名帖，至榮府的門前投了。In due course they arrived in the capital and entered the imperial city; Yucun first straightened his robe and cap, and taking his page-boy with him, carrying a visiting card styling himself a clan nephew, went to the gate of the Rong mansion and presented it.彼時賈政已看了妹丈之書，即忙請入相會。By that time Jia Zheng had already read the letter from his brother-in-law, and at once hastened to invite him in for a meeting.見雨村相貌魁偉，言語不俗，且這賈政最喜讀書人，禮賢下士，濟弱扶危，大有祖風，況又系妹丈致意，因此优待雨村，更又不同，便竭力內中協助，題奏之日，輕輕謀了一個复職候缺，不上兩個月，金陵應天府缺出，便謀補了此缺，拜辭了賈政，擇日上任去了。Seeing that Yucun was imposing in bearing and refined in speech, and since this Jia Zheng was one who loved men of learning above all, treating worthy men with courtesy and humbling himself before scholars, aiding the weak and relieving the endangered — very much retaining the manner of his forebears — and moreover since this was at the request of his brother-in-law, he therefore treated Yucun with even greater favor than usual, and exerted himself to assist him from within. On the day the memorial was submitted, he easily arranged for Yucun's reinstatement pending a vacancy, and before two months had passed, a vacancy opened at Yingtian Prefecture in Jinling; Yucun then contrived to be appointed to fill it, took his leave of Jia Zheng, and on an auspicious day set off to take up his post.不在話下。No more need be said of this.

有日到了都中，进入神京，雨村先整了衣冠，带了小童，拿著宗侄的名帖，至荣府的门前投了。彼时贾政已看了妹丈之书，即忙请入相会。见雨村相貌魁伟，言语不俗，且这贾政最喜读书人，礼贤下士，济弱扶危，大有祖风，况又系妹丈致意，因此优待雨村，更又不同，便竭力内中协助，题奏之日，轻轻谋了一个复职候缺，不上两个月，金陵应天府缺出，便谋补了此缺，拜辞了贾政，择日上任去了。不在话下。

且說黛玉自那日棄舟登岸時，便有榮國府打發了轎子並拉行李的車輛久候了。Now, to speak of Daiyu: from the very day she left the boat and stepped ashore, the Rong mansion had already sent sedan chairs and carts for the luggage, which had been waiting for a long while.這林黛玉常聽得母親說過，他外祖母家與別家不同。This Lin Daiyu had often heard her mother say that her grandmother's household was different from other families.他近日所見的這幾個三等僕婦，吃穿用度，已是不凡了，何況今至其家。Even the few third-rank serving-women she had seen these past days had food, clothing, and daily expenses that were already out of the ordinary — how much more so, then, now that she had come to the house itself.因此步步留心，時時在意，不肯輕易多說一句話，多行一步路，惟恐被人恥笑了他去。For this reason she was watchful with every step and mindful at every moment, unwilling to speak one word more or take one step more than necessary, fearing only that others might laugh at her for it.自上了轎，進入城中從紗窗向外瞧了一瞧，其街市之繁華，人煙之阜盛，自與別處不同。Once she had gotten into the sedan chair and entered the city, she glanced out through the gauze window, and the bustle of the streets and markets, the density of the population, were indeed different from other places.又行了半日，忽見街北蹲著兩個大石獅子，三間獸頭大門，門前列坐著十來個華冠麗服之人。After traveling a good while longer, she suddenly saw, on the north side of the street, two great stone lions crouching, and a triple-bayed gate crowned with beast-head ornaments, before which sat ranged some ten men in fine caps and splendid robes.正門卻不開，只有東西兩角門有人出入。The central gate, however, was not open; only the two side gates, east and west, had people going in and out.正門之上有一匾，匾上大書「敕造宁國府」五個大字。Above the central gate hung a plaque, on which were written in large characters the five words: "Ningguo Mansion, Built by Imperial Decree."黛玉想道：這必是外祖之長房了。Daiyu thought to herself: this must be the residence of my grandmother's elder branch of the family.想著，又往西行，不多遠，照樣也是三間大門，方是榮國府了。So thinking, they continued westward, and before long came upon another triple-bayed gate just like it — this was the Rong mansion.卻不進正門，只進了西邊角門。But they did not enter through the central gate, only through the west side gate.那轎夫抬進去，走了一射之地，將轉彎時，便歇下退出去了。The chair-bearers carried her in, and after covering the distance of about a bowshot, just as they were about to turn a corner, they set the chair down and withdrew.後面的婆子們已都下了轎，赶上前來。The old women who had been following behind had already gotten down from their own chairs and hurried forward.另換了三四個衣帽周全十七八歲的小廝上來，复抬起轎子。Three or four other page-boys, seventeen or eighteen years old and neatly dressed, came up in their place and lifted the chair again.眾婆子步下圍隨至一垂花門前落下。The old women walked alongside on foot, escorting the chair until it was set down before a pendant flower gate.眾小廝退出，眾婆子上來打起轎帘，扶黛玉下轎。The page-boys then withdrew, and the old women came forward to lift the chair curtain and help Daiyu step out.林黛玉扶著婆子的手，進了垂花門，兩邊是抄手游廊，當中是穿堂，當地放著一個紫檀架子大理石的大插屏。Lin Daiyu, supported by the old women's hands, entered through the pendant flower gate; on either side were covered walkways running along the walls, and in the middle a passage hall, in which stood a large screen of marble set in a red sandalwood frame.轉過插屏，小小的三間廳，廳後就是後面的正房大院。Passing around the screen, there was a small hall of three bays, behind which lay the great courtyard of the main apartments.正面五間上房，皆雕梁畫棟，兩邊穿山游廊廂房，挂著各色鸚鵡，畫眉等鳥雀。Facing forward were five bays of principal chambers, all with carved beams and painted rafters; on either side, covered walkways ran through to wing-rooms, from which hung cages of parrots, thrushes, and other birds of every kind.臺磯之上，坐著幾個穿紅著綠的丫頭，一見他們來了，便忙都笑迎上來，說：「剛纔老太太還念呢，可巧就來了。」於是三四人爭著打起帘籠，一面聽得人回話：「林姑娘到了。」On the terrace steps sat several maids dressed in red and green; the moment they saw the party arrive, they hastened forward smiling to greet them, saying: "Just now the Old Lady was speaking of you, and here you are, right on time!" Whereupon three or four of them vied with one another to lift the door curtain, and at the same time someone could be heard announcing within: "Miss Lin has arrived."

且说黛玉自那日弃舟登岸时，便有荣国府打发了轿子并拉行李的车辆久候了。这林黛玉常听得母亲说过，他外祖母家与别家不同。他近日所见的这几个三等仆妇，吃穿用度，已是不凡了，何况今至其家。因此步步留心，时时在意，不肯轻易多说一句话，多行一步路，惟恐被人耻笑了他去。自上了轿，进入城中从纱窗向外瞧了一瞧，其街市之繁华，人烟之阜盛，自与别处不同。又行了半日，忽见街北蹲著两个大石狮子，三间兽头大门，门前列坐著十来个华冠丽服之人。正门却不开，只有东西两角门有人出入。正门之上有一匾，匾上大书「敕造宁国府」五个大字。黛玉想道：这必是外祖之长房了。想著，又往西行，不多远，照样也是三间大门，方是荣国府了。却不进正门，只进了西边角门。那轿夫抬进去，走了一射之地，将转弯时，便歇下退出去了。后面的婆子们已都下了轿，赶上前来。另换了三四个衣帽周全十七八岁的小厮上来，复抬起轿子。众婆子步下围随至一垂花门前落下。众小厮退出，众婆子上来打起轿帘，扶黛玉下轿。林黛玉扶著婆子的手，进了垂花门，两边是抄手游廊，当中是穿堂，当地放著一个紫檀架子大理石的大插屏。转过插屏，小小的三间厅，厅后就是后面的正房大院。正面五间上房，皆雕梁画栋，两边穿山游廊厢房，挂著各色鹦鹉，画眉等鸟雀。台矶之上，坐著几个穿红著绿的丫头，一见他们来了，便忙都笑迎上来，说：「刚才老太太还念呢，可巧就来了。」于是三四人争著打起帘笼，一面听得人回话：「林姑娘到了。」

黛玉方進入房時，只見兩個人攙著一位鬢髮如銀的老母迎上來，黛玉便知是他外祖母。Just as Daiyu entered the room, she saw two people supporting an elderly lady with hair as silver as her temples, coming forward to greet her; Daiyu knew at once that this must be her grandmother.方欲拜見時，早被他外祖母一把摟入怀中，心肝兒肉叫著大哭起來。Just as she was about to bow in greeting, her grandmother had already caught her up in an embrace, crying out "my heart and liver, my flesh and blood," and breaking into loud weeping.當下地下侍立之人，無不掩面涕泣，黛玉也哭個不住。At that moment, all those standing in attendance about the room covered their faces and wept, and Daiyu too could not stop crying.一時眾人慢慢解勸住了，黛玉方拜見了外祖母。After a while, everyone gradually managed to console and calm them, and only then did Daiyu formally pay her respects to her grandmother.此即冷子興所云之史氏太君，賈赦賈政之母也。This was none other than the Lady Dowager of the Shi clan whom Leng Zixing had spoken of — the mother of Jia She and Jia Zheng.當下賈母一一指與黛玉：「這是你大舅母，這是你二舅母，這是你先珠大哥的媳婦珠大嫂子。」黛玉一一拜見過。At once the Lady Dowager pointed them out to Daiyu one by one: "This is your elder uncle's wife, this is your second uncle's wife, and this is the wife of your late elder cousin Zhu — your sister-in-law Zhu." Daiyu paid her respects to each in turn.賈母又說：「請姑娘們來。The Lady Dowager then said further: "Send for the young ladies to come.今日遠客纔來，可以不必上學去了。」眾人答應了一聲，便去了兩個。Today a guest has just arrived from afar, so they need not go to their lessons." Those present assented, and two of them went off to fetch them.

黛玉方进入房时，只见两个人搀著一位鬓发如银的老母迎上来，黛玉便知是他外祖母。方欲拜见时，早被他外祖母一把搂入怀中，心肝儿肉叫著大哭起来。当下地下侍立之人，无不掩面涕泣，黛玉也哭个不住。一时众人慢慢解劝住了，黛玉方拜见了外祖母。此即冷子兴所云之史氏太君，贾赦贾政之母也。当下贾母一一指与黛玉：「这是你大舅母，这是你二舅母，这是你先珠大哥的媳妇珠大嫂子。」黛玉一一拜见过。贾母又说：「请姑娘们来。今日远客才来，可以不必上学去了。」众人答应了一声，便去了两个。

不一時，只見三個奶嬤嬤並五六個丫鬟，簇擁著三個姊妹來了。Before long, three wet-nurses and five or six maids came in, clustered about three young ladies.第一個肌膚微豐，合中身材，腮凝新荔，鼻膩鵝脂，溫柔沉默，觀之可親。The first was slightly plump of skin, of medium build, her cheeks like fresh lychee, her nose smooth as goose fat; gentle and reticent in manner, she seemed agreeable to look upon.第二個削肩細腰，長挑身材，鴨蛋臉面，俊眼修眉，顧盼神飛，文彩精華，見之忘俗。The second had sloping shoulders and a slender waist, tall and slim in figure, with an oval face, fine eyes and delicate brows; her glances were full of spirited animation, and her air of cultivated brilliance made one forget the mundane world upon seeing her.第三個身量未足，形容尚小。The third had not yet grown to her full height, her form and features still those of a child.其釵環裙襖，三人皆是一樣的妝飾。As for their hairpins, bracelets, skirts, and jackets, all three were adorned alike.黛玉忙起身迎上來見禮，互相廝認過，大家歸了坐。Daiyu hastily rose and came forward to greet them properly; once introductions had been made all around, everyone returned to their seats.丫鬟們斟上茶來。The maids poured out tea.不過說些黛玉之母如何得病，如何請醫服藥，如何送死發喪。They spoke of nothing more than how Daiyu's mother had fallen ill, how doctors had been called and medicine taken, and how the funeral had been carried out after her death.不免賈母又傷感起來，因說：「我這些兒女，所疼者獨有你母，今日一旦先舍我而去，連面也不能一見，今見了你，我怎不傷心！」說著，摟了黛玉在怀，又嗚咽起來。Inevitably the Lady Dowager grew sorrowful again, and said: "Of all my children, the one I loved most dearly was your mother; and now that she has gone before me in a single day, so that I could not even see her face one last time — now that I see you, how could I not grieve!" So saying, she drew Daiyu into her arms and began sobbing once more.眾人忙都寬慰解釋，方略略止住。Everyone hastened to comfort and console her, and only then did she gradually calm down a little.

不一时，只见三个奶嬷嬷并五六个丫鬟，簇拥著三个姊妹来了。第一个肌肤微丰，合中身材，腮凝新荔，鼻腻鹅脂，温柔沉默，观之可亲。第二个削肩细腰，长挑身材，鸭蛋脸面，俊眼修眉，顾盼神飞，文彩精华，见之忘俗。第三个身量未足，形容尚小。其钗环裙袄，三人皆是一样的妆饰。黛玉忙起身迎上来见礼，互相厮认过，大家归了坐。丫鬟们斟上茶来。不过说些黛玉之母如何得病，如何请医服药，如何送死发丧。不免贾母又伤感起来，因说：「我这些儿女，所疼者独有你母，今日一旦先舍我而去，连面也不能一见，今见了你，我怎不伤心！」说著，搂了黛玉在怀，又呜咽起来。众人忙都宽慰解释，方略略止住。

眾人見黛玉年貌雖小，其舉止言談不俗，身体面龐雖怯弱不勝，卻有一段自然的風流態度，便知他有不足之症。Seeing that though Daiyu was young in years, her bearing and speech were far from ordinary, and that though her body and face seemed frail and delicate, she possessed a natural air of grace and charm, everyone realized she must be suffering from some congenital weakness.因問：「常服何藥，如何不急為療治？」黛玉道：「我自來是如此，從會吃飲食時便吃藥，到今日未斷，請了多少名醫修方配藥，皆不見效。So they asked: "What medicine do you usually take, and why has this not been treated urgently?" Daiyu replied: "I have been like this ever since I can remember — from the time I was old enough to eat regular food, I have been taking medicine, and to this day it has never stopped. I have consulted any number of famous physicians who prescribed remedies and compounded medicines, but none has ever proven effective.那一年我三歲時，聽得說來了一個癩頭和尚，說要化我去出家，我父母固是不從。In the year I turned three, I heard that a scabby-headed monk came and said he wished to take me away to become a nun; my parents, of course, would not consent.他又說：既舍不得他，只怕他的病一生也不能好的了。He then said: since you cannot bear to part with her, I fear her illness will never be cured for as long as she lives.若要好時，除非從此以後總不許見哭聲，除父母之外，凡有外姓親友之人，一概不見，方可平安了此一世。』瘋瘋癲癲，說了這些不經之談，也沒人理他。If you wish her to recover, then from now on she must never be allowed to hear the sound of weeping, and aside from her parents, she must not see any relatives or friends of a different surname at all — only then can she pass through this life in safety.' He spoke these wild, incoherent words in such a mad and deranged manner that no one paid him any heed.如今還是吃人參養榮丸。」賈母道：「正好，我這裏正配丸藥呢。Even now I still take Ginseng Nourish-the-Constitution Pills." The Lady Dowager said: "How fortunate — I happen to be having pills compounded here just now.叫他們多配一料就是了。」I shall simply have them prepare an extra batch."

众人见黛玉年貌虽小，其举止言谈不俗，身体面庞虽怯弱不胜，却有一段自然的风流态度，便知他有不足之症。因问：「常服何药，如何不急为疗治？」黛玉道：「我自来是如此，从会吃饮食时便吃药，到今日未断，请了多少名医修方配药，皆不见效。那一年我三岁时，听得说来了一个癞头和尚，说要化我去出家，我父母固是不从。他又说：既舍不得他，只怕他的病一生也不能好的了。若要好时，除非从此以后总不许见哭声，除父母之外，凡有外姓亲友之人，一概不见，方可平安了此一世。』疯疯癫癫，说了这些不经之谈，也没人理他。如今还是吃人参养荣丸。」贾母道：「正好，我这里正配丸药呢。叫他们多配一料就是了。」

一語未了，只聽後院中有人笑聲，說：「我來遲了，不曾迎接遠客！」黛玉納罕道：「這些人個個皆斂聲屏氣，恭肅嚴整如此，這來者系誰，這樣放誕無禮？」心下想時，只見一群媳婦丫鬟圍擁著一個人從後房門進來。Before the words were finished, laughter could be heard from the rear courtyard, and someone said: "I've come too late — I failed to welcome the guest from afar!" Daiyu wondered to herself: "Everyone else here lowers their voice and holds their breath, so respectful and solemn and orderly — who could this newcomer be, so free and unrestrained?" As she was thinking this, she saw a group of married women and maids crowding around a single figure who came in through the rear door.這個人打扮與眾姑娘不同，彩繡輝煌，恍若神妃仙子：頭上戴著金絲八寶攢珠髻，綰著朝陽五鳳挂珠釵，項上戴著赤金盤螭瓔珞圈，裙邊系著豆綠宮絛，雙衡比目玫瑰佩，身上穿著縷金百蝶穿花大紅洋緞窄褙襖，外罩五彩刻絲石青銀鼠褂，下著翡翠撒花洋縐裙。This person's attire was different from that of the young ladies — resplendent with colorful embroidery, she looked as though she might be a divine consort or immortal maiden. On her head she wore a filigree chignon of gold thread set with pearls and the Eight Treasures, and pinned in it a hairpin of five phoenixes facing the sun with dangling pearls; about her neck hung a necklace of coiled hornless dragons in red gold; at the edge of her skirt was fastened a pea-green palace sash, from which hung a pair of rose-colored pendants carved as paired mandarin fish; on her body she wore a narrow-cut, thread-of-gold jacket of crimson foreign satin patterned with a hundred butterflies among flowers, over which was thrown a jacket of five-colored kesi silk in slate blue trimmed with silver squirrel fur; below she wore a skirt of kingfisher-green crepe scattered with a flower design.一雙丹鳳三角眼，兩彎柳葉吊梢眉，身量苗條，体格風騷，粉面含春威不露，丹唇未起笑先開。She had a pair of triangular phoenix eyes, and two arching willow-leaf brows swept up at the corners; slender in figure, her bearing was seductive and full of spirit — her powdered face held the bloom of spring though its authority remained veiled, and before her crimson lips had even parted, a smile had already begun to break forth.黛玉連忙起身接見。Daiyu hastily rose to receive her.賈母笑道，「你不認得他，他是我們這裏有名的一個潑皮破落戶兒，南省俗謂作『辣子』，你只叫他『鳳辣子』就是了。」黛玉正不知以何稱呼，只見眾姊妹都忙告訴他道：「這是璉嫂子。」黛玉雖不識，也曾聽見母親說過，大舅賈赦之子賈璉，娶的就是二舅母王氏之內侄女，自幼假充男兒教養的，學名王熙鳳。The Lady Dowager said with a smile, "You don't know her — she is a notorious rascal, a regular hoyden of our household; in the southern provinces they'd vulgarly call such a person a 'pepper.' Just call her 'Fiery Phoenix' and that will do." Daiyu, not knowing quite how to address her, saw all her cousins hasten to tell her: "This is Cousin Lian's wife." Though Daiyu did not know her personally, she had once heard her mother mention that the son of her elder uncle Jia She, named Jia Lian, had married the niece of her second aunt, Lady Wang — a girl who from childhood had been raised and educated as if she were a boy, with the formal name Wang Xifeng.黛玉忙陪笑見禮，以「嫂」呼之。Daiyu hastily returned her smile and greeted her properly, addressing her as "Cousin."這熙鳳攜著黛玉的手，上下細細打諒了一回，仍送至賈母身邊坐下，因笑道：「天下真有這樣標致的人物，我今兒纔算見了！This Xifeng took Daiyu's hand and looked her over carefully from head to toe, then led her back to sit beside the Lady Dowager, saying with a smile: "So there really is such an exquisite creature in this world — today I have finally seen one with my own eyes!況且這通身的氣派，竟不象老祖宗的外孫女兒，竟是個嫡親的孫女，怨不得老祖宗天天口頭心頭一時不忘。And besides, her whole bearing and manner don't look at all like those of a granddaughter on the daughter's side — she looks exactly like a granddaughter of the direct line. No wonder Grandmother has kept her on her lips and in her heart every single day, never once forgetting her.只可怜我這妹妹這樣命苦，怎麼姑媽偏就去世了！」說著，便用帕拭淚。It's only that I pity my poor cousin here for having such a hard fate — why did our aunt have to pass away, of all people!" So saying, she dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.賈母笑道：「我纔好了，你倒來招我。The Lady Dowager said with a smile: "I had only just calmed down, and here you come stirring me up again.你妹妹遠路纔來，身子又弱，也纔勸住了，快再休提前話。」這熙鳳聽了，忙轉悲為喜道：「正是呢！Your cousin has only just arrived from a long journey, and she's frail besides — we had only just gotten her calmed down, so don't bring up that talk again." Hearing this, Xifeng at once turned from sorrow to joy and said: "Just so!我一見了妹妹，一心都在他身上了，又是喜歡，又是傷心，竟忘記了老祖宗。The moment I saw my cousin, my whole heart was taken up with her — I was so happy, and so sad, that I quite forgot about Grandmother.該打，該打！」又忙攜黛玉之手，問：「妹妹幾歲了？I deserve a scolding, I really do!" Then she hastily took Daiyu's hand again and asked: "How old are you, cousin?可也上過學？Have you been going to school?現吃什麼藥？What medicine are you taking now?在這裏不要想家，想要什麼吃的，什麼玩的，只管告訴我，丫頭老婆們不好了，也只管告訴我。」一面又問婆子們：「林姑娘的行李東西可搬進來了？While you're here, don't be homesick — whatever you want to eat or whatever you want to play with, just tell me; and if any of the maids or old women treat you badly, tell me that too." At the same time she turned and asked the old women: "Has Miss Lin's luggage been brought in yet?帶了幾個人來？How many people did she bring with her?你們赶早打掃兩間下房，讓他們去歇歇。」You'd best hurry and sweep out a couple of side rooms so they can go and rest."

一语未了，只听后院中有人笑声，说：「我来迟了，不曾迎接远客！」黛玉纳罕道：「这些人个个皆敛声屏气，恭肃严整如此，这来者系谁，这样放诞无礼？」心下想时，只见一群媳妇丫鬟围拥著一个人从后房门进来。这个人打扮与众姑娘不同，彩绣辉煌，恍若神妃仙子：头上戴著金丝八宝攒珠髻，绾著朝阳五凤挂珠钗，项上戴著赤金盘螭璎珞圈，裙边系著豆绿宫绦，双衡比目玫瑰佩，身上穿著缕金百蝶穿花大红洋缎窄褙袄，外罩五彩刻丝石青银鼠褂，下著翡翠撒花洋绉裙。一双丹凤三角眼，两弯柳叶吊梢眉，身量苗条，体格风骚，粉面含春威不露，丹唇未起笑先开。黛玉连忙起身接见。贾母笑道，「你不认得他，他是我们这里有名的一个泼皮破落户儿，南省俗谓作『辣子』，你只叫他『凤辣子』就是了。」黛玉正不知以何称呼，只见众姊妹都忙告诉他道：「这是琏嫂子。」黛玉虽不识，也曾听见母亲说过，大舅贾赦之子贾琏，娶的就是二舅母王氏之内侄女，自幼假充男儿教养的，学名王熙凤。黛玉忙陪笑见礼，以「嫂」呼之。这熙凤携著黛玉的手，上下细细打谅了一回，仍送至贾母身边坐下，因笑道：「天下真有这样标致的人物，我今儿才算见了！况且这通身的气派，竟不象老祖宗的外孙女儿，竟是个嫡亲的孙女，怨不得老祖宗天天口头心头一时不忘。只可怜我这妹妹这样命苦，怎么姑妈偏就去世了！」说著，便用帕拭泪。贾母笑道：「我才好了，你倒来招我。你妹妹远路才来，身子又弱，也才劝住了，快再休提前话。」这熙凤听了，忙转悲为喜道：「正是呢！我一见了妹妹，一心都在他身上了，又是喜欢，又是伤心，竟忘记了老祖宗。该打，该打！」又忙携黛玉之手，问：「妹妹几岁了？可也上过学？现吃什么药？在这里不要想家，想要什么吃的，什么玩的，只管告诉我，丫头老婆们不好了，也只管告诉我。」一面又问婆子们：「林姑娘的行李东西可搬进来了？带了几个人来？你们赶早打扫两间下房，让他们去歇歇。」

說話時，已擺了茶果上來。Even as she spoke, tea and fruit had already been set out.熙鳳親為捧茶捧果。Xifeng herself served the tea and fruit with her own hands.又見二舅母問他：「月錢放過了不曾？」熙鳳道：「月錢已放完了。Then Daiyu saw her second aunt ask Xifeng: "Have the monthly allowances been distributed yet?" Xifeng replied: "The monthly allowances have already all been given out.纔剛帶著人到後樓上找緞子，找了這半日，也並沒有見昨日太太說的那樣的，想是太太記錯了？」王夫人道：「有沒有，什麼要緊。」因又說道：「該隨手拿出兩個來給你這妹妹去裁衣裳的，等晚上想著叫人再去拿罷，可別忘了。」熙鳳道：「這倒是我先料著了，知道妹妹不過這兩日到的，我已預備下了，等太太回去過了目好送來。」王夫人一笑，點頭不語。I just took some people up to the back loft to look for the satin you mentioned, and though we searched for a good long while, we never did find any like what you described yesterday, Madam — perhaps you were mistaken?" Lady Wang said: "Whether there is or isn't, it hardly matters." Then she added: "You ought to have taken out a couple of bolts offhand to give your cousin here for making clothes; wait until this evening, remember to send someone for them then — don't forget." Xifeng said: "As it happens, I thought of that already myself. Knowing that my cousin would be arriving within these last couple of days, I had already prepared some in advance, and was only waiting for you, Madam, to look them over before sending them along." Lady Wang smiled and nodded without a word.

说话时，已摆了茶果上来。熙凤亲为捧茶捧果。又见二舅母问他：「月钱放过了不曾？」熙凤道：「月钱已放完了。才刚带著人到后楼上找缎子，找了这半日，也并没有见昨日太太说的那样的，想是太太记错了？」王夫人道：「有没有，什么要紧。」因又说道：「该随手拿出两个来给你这妹妹去裁衣裳的，等晚上想著叫人再去拿罢，可别忘了。」熙凤道：「这倒是我先料著了，知道妹妹不过这两日到的，我已预备下了，等太太回去过了目好送来。」王夫人一笑，点头不语。

當下茶果已撤，賈母命兩個老嬤嬤帶了黛玉去見兩個母舅。Presently, once the tea and fruit had been cleared away, the Lady Dowager ordered two old women to take Daiyu to call upon her two maternal uncles.時賈赦之妻邢氏忙亦起身，笑回道：「我帶了外甥女過去，倒也便宜。」賈母笑道：「正是呢，你也去罷，不必過來了。」邢夫人答應了一聲「是」字，遂帶了黛玉與王夫人作辭，大家送至穿堂前。At that, Jia She's wife, Lady Xing, hastily rose as well and said with a smile: "Let me take my niece over there myself — that would be simplest." The Lady Dowager said with a smile: "Just so — you go too then, and there's no need to come back here afterward." Lady Xing assented with a word of "Yes," and taking Daiyu with her, took her leave of Lady Wang; everyone saw them off as far as the passage hall.出了垂花門，早有眾小廝們拉過一輛翠幄青紬車，邢夫人攜了黛玉，坐在上面，眾婆子們放下車帘，方命小廝們抬起，拉至寬處，方駕上馴騾，亦出了西角門，往東過榮府正門，便入一黑油大門中，至儀門前方下來。Once outside the pendant flower gate, several page-boys had already brought around a carriage with a kingfisher-blue canopy and dark blue silk curtains; Lady Xing took Daiyu with her and sat inside, and the old women let down the carriage curtains before telling the page-boys to lift and carry it. Only once they reached an open space did they harness the tame mules, and then they too went out through the west side gate, passed eastward by the main gate of the Rong mansion, and entered through a large black-lacquered gate, alighting only when they reached the ceremonial inner gate.眾小廝退出，方打起車帘，邢夫人攙著黛玉的手，進入院中。The page-boys withdrew, and only then was the carriage curtain lifted; Lady Xing, holding Daiyu's hand, led her into the courtyard.黛玉度其房屋院宇，必是榮府中花園隔斷過來的。Daiyu judged from the layout of the buildings and courtyards that this must be a section partitioned off from the garden of the Rong mansion.進入三層儀門，果見正房廂廡游廊，悉皆小巧別致，不似方纔那邊軒峻壯麗，且院中隨處之樹木山石皆在。Passing through three successive ceremonial gates, she indeed found that the main hall, side chambers, and covered walkways were all dainty and distinctive in style, quite unlike the lofty grandeur of the place she had just come from; and here and there throughout the courtyard were trees and rockeries as well.一時進入正室，早有許多盛妝麗服之姬妾丫鬟迎著，邢夫人讓黛玉坐了，一面命人到外面書房去請賈赦。Presently, upon entering the main chamber, a great many concubines and maids in elaborate dress and finery had already come forward to greet them; Lady Xing had Daiyu take a seat, and at the same time sent someone to the outer study to summon Jia She.一時人來回話說：「老爺說了：『連日身上不好，見了姑娘彼此倒傷心，暫且不忍相見。Presently someone came back with word: "The Master says: 'I have not been well these past few days, and if I were to see the young lady, it would only grieve us both — for the time being, I cannot bear to meet her.勸姑娘不要傷心想家，跟著老太太和舅母，即同家裏一樣。I would urge the young lady not to grieve or long for home — staying with the Old Lady and her aunts will be just the same as being at home.姊妹們雖拙，大家一處伴著，亦可以解些煩悶。Though the cousins are unrefined, having them all together as companions can still help ease some of her low spirits.或有委屈之處，只管說得，不要外道纔是。』」黛玉忙站起來，一一聽了。And if she should ever feel wronged or slighted in anything, she need only speak up about it — she must not stand on ceremony as though she were a stranger.'" Daiyu hastily stood up and listened to all of this respectfully.再坐一刻，便告辭。She sat for a while longer, and then took her leave.邢夫人苦留吃過晚飯去，黛玉笑回道：「舅母愛惜賜飯，原不應辭，只是還要過去拜見二舅舅，恐領了賜去不恭，异日再領，未為不可。Lady Xing earnestly pressed her to stay for dinner before leaving, but Daiyu replied with a smile: "Aunt's kindness in offering me a meal is something I ought not to decline; but I still have to go and pay my respects to my second uncle, and I fear it would be disrespectful to accept your kind offer and delay — there will surely be another occasion to accept it later.望舅母容諒。」邢夫人聽說，笑道：「這倒是了。」遂令兩三個嬤嬤用方纔的車好生送了姑娘過去，於是黛玉告辭。I hope Aunt will understand and forgive me." Hearing this, Lady Xing said with a smile: "That's quite right, then." She thereupon ordered two or three of the old women to see the young lady safely over in the same carriage as before, and so Daiyu took her leave.邢夫人送至儀門前，又囑咐了眾人幾句，眼看著車去了方回來。Lady Xing saw her off as far as the ceremonial gate, gave the attendants a few further instructions, and watched the carriage go before turning back inside.

当下茶果已撤，贾母命两个老嬷嬷带了黛玉去见两个母舅。时贾赦之妻邢氏忙亦起身，笑回道：「我带了外甥女过去，倒也便宜。」贾母笑道：「正是呢，你也去罢，不必过来了。」邢夫人答应了一声「是」字，遂带了黛玉与王夫人作辞，大家送至穿堂前。出了垂花门，早有众小厮们拉过一辆翠幄青䌷车，邢夫人携了黛玉，坐在上面，众婆子们放下车帘，方命小厮们抬起，拉至宽处，方驾上驯骡，亦出了西角门，往东过荣府正门，便入一黑油大门中，至仪门前方下来。众小厮退出，方打起车帘，邢夫人搀著黛玉的手，进入院中。黛玉度其房屋院宇，必是荣府中花园隔断过来的。进入三层仪门，果见正房厢庑游廊，悉皆小巧别致，不似方才那边轩峻壮丽，且院中随处之树木山石皆在。一时进入正室，早有许多盛妆丽服之姬妾丫鬟迎著，邢夫人让黛玉坐了，一面命人到外面书房去请贾赦。一时人来回话说：「老爷说了：『连日身上不好，见了姑娘彼此倒伤心，暂且不忍相见。劝姑娘不要伤心想家，跟著老太太和舅母，即同家里一样。姊妹们虽拙，大家一处伴著，亦可以解些烦闷。或有委屈之处，只管说得，不要外道才是。』」黛玉忙站起来，一一听了。再坐一刻，便告辞。邢夫人苦留吃过晚饭去，黛玉笑回道：「舅母爱惜赐饭，原不应辞，只是还要过去拜见二舅舅，恐领了赐去不恭，异日再领，未为不可。望舅母容谅。」邢夫人听说，笑道：「这倒是了。」遂令两三个嬷嬷用方才的车好生送了姑娘过去，于是黛玉告辞。邢夫人送至仪门前，又嘱咐了众人几句，眼看著车去了方回来。

一時黛玉進了榮府，下了車。Presently Daiyu arrived back at the Rong mansion and got down from the carriage.眾嬤嬤引著，便往東轉彎，穿過一個東西的穿堂，向南大廳之後，儀門內大院落，上面五間大正房，兩邊廂房鹿頂耳房鑽山，四通八達，軒昂壯麗，比賈母處不同。Led by the old women, they turned eastward, passed through a passage hall running east-west, and came to a great courtyard within a ceremonial gate, behind a great hall facing south. Above stood five bays of great main chambers, with side chambers, hip-roofed lean-tos, and connecting passages on either side, all interlinked in every direction — lofty and magnificent, different in character from the Lady Dowager's quarters.黛玉便知這方是正經正內室，一條大甬路，直接出大門的。Daiyu realized at once that this must be the true, proper inner residence, with a broad paved walkway leading straight out to the main gate.進入堂屋中，抬頭迎面先看見一個赤金九龍青地大匾，匾上寫著斗大的三個大字，是「榮禧堂」，後有一行小字：「某年月日，書賜榮國公賈源」，又有「萬幾宸翰之寶」。Entering the main hall, she raised her eyes and the first thing she saw, facing her, was a great plaque of red gold on a dark blue-green ground bearing nine dragons; on the plaque were written three characters as large as bushel measures: "Hall of Glory and Blessing." Below, in a line of small characters, it read: "Bestowed and inscribed on such-and-such a year, month, and day, to Jia Yuan, Duke of Rong," together with the seal "Treasure of the Imperial Brush Amid Ten Thousand Affairs of State."大紫檀雕螭案上，設著三尺來高青綠古銅鼎，懸著待漏隨朝墨龍大畫，一邊是金蜼彝，一邊是玻璃盒。On a great carved red-sandalwood table adorned with hornless dragons stood a bronze tripod, patinated blue-green with age, some three feet in height; above it hung a great ink painting of a black dragon awaiting the dawn to attend court, and to one side stood a bronze wine-vessel cast in the form of a long-tailed ape, and to the other a glass box.地下兩溜十六張楠木交椅，又有一副對聯，乃烏木聯牌，鑲著鏨銀的字跡，道是：On the floor stood two rows of sixteen folding chairs of nanmu wood; there was also a pair of scrolls, mounted as ebony tablets inlaid with characters chased in silver, which read:

一时黛玉进了荣府，下了车。众嬷嬷引著，便往东转弯，穿过一个东西的穿堂，向南大厅之后，仪门内大院落，上面五间大正房，两边厢房鹿顶耳房钻山，四通八达，轩昂壮丽，比贾母处不同。黛玉便知这方是正经正内室，一条大甬路，直接出大门的。进入堂屋中，抬头迎面先看见一个赤金九龙青地大匾，匾上写著斗大的三个大字，是「荣禧堂」，后有一行小字：「某年月日，书赐荣国公贾源」，又有「万几宸翰之宝」。大紫檀雕螭案上，设著三尺来高青绿古铜鼎，悬著待漏随朝墨龙大画，一边是金蜼彝，一边是玻璃盒。地下两溜十六张楠木交椅，又有一副对联，乃乌木联牌，镶著錾银的字迹，道是：

座上珠璣昭日月，堂前黼黻煥煙霞。"Upon the seat, pearls and gems shine bright as sun and moon; before the hall, embroidered robes of rank gleam like mist and cloud-glow."

座上珠玑昭日月，堂前黼黻焕烟霞。

下面一行小字，道是：「同鄉世教弟勳襲東安郡王穆蒔拜手書」。Below, in a line of small characters, it read: "Respectfully written and presented by your fellow townsman and hereditary junior in learning, Mu Shi, Prince of Dong'an by inheritance of merit."

下面一行小字，道是：「同乡世教弟勋袭东安郡王穆莳拜手书」。

原來王夫人時常居坐宴息，亦不在這正室，只在這正室東邊的三間耳房內。It turned out that Lady Wang did not, in fact, usually sit and rest in this main chamber, but rather in the three side chambers to the east of it.於是老嬤嬤引黛玉進東房門來。So the old women led Daiyu in through the door of the east chamber.臨窗大炕上舖著猩紅洋罽，正面設著大紅金錢蟒靠背，石青金錢蟒引枕，秋香色金錢蟒大條褥。On the large kang beneath the window was spread a scarlet foreign woolen rug; facing forward were arranged a bright red backrest embroidered with coiled-money dragons, a slate-blue bolster likewise embroidered with coiled-money dragons, and a long mattress-cover in autumn-fragrance yellow, also embroidered with coiled-money dragons.兩邊設一對梅花式洋漆小。On either side stood a pair of small plum-blossom-shaped foreign-lacquer stands.左邊上文王鼎匙箸香盒，右邊上汝窯美人觚——觚內插著時鮮花卉，並茗碗痰盒等物。On the stand to the left stood a King Wen tripod incense burner together with its spoon, chopsticks, and incense box; on the stand to the right stood a Ru-ware beauty vase — in the vase were arranged fresh seasonal flowers, along with a tea bowl, a spittoon, and other such items.地下面西一溜四張椅上，都搭著銀紅撒花椅搭，底下四副腳踏。On the floor, along the west-facing row of four chairs, each was draped with a silver-red chair-cover scattered with a flower pattern, and beneath each stood a footstool.椅之兩邊，也有一對高，上茗碗瓶花俱備。On either side of the chairs there was likewise a pair of tall stands, upon which tea bowls and vases of flowers were all set out.其餘陳設，自不必細說。As for the rest of the furnishings, there is no need to describe them in detail.老嬤嬤們讓黛玉炕上坐，炕沿上卻有兩個錦褥對設，黛玉度其位次，便不上炕，只向東邊椅子上坐了。The old women invited Daiyu to sit on the kang, where two brocade cushions were arranged facing each other along its edge; but Daiyu, judging the proper order of precedence, did not seat herself on the kang, and instead took a seat only on one of the chairs to the east.本房內的丫鬟忙捧上茶來。The maids of the household hastened to bring in tea.黛玉一面吃茶，一面打諒這些丫鬟們，妝飾衣裙，舉止行動，果亦與別家不同。As Daiyu sipped her tea, she took the measure of these maidservants — their dress and ornaments, their bearing and manner — and indeed found them different from those of other households.

原来王夫人时常居坐宴息，亦不在这正室，只在这正室东边的三间耳房内。于是老嬷嬷引黛玉进东房门来。临窗大炕上铺著猩红洋罽，正面设著大红金钱蟒靠背，石青金钱蟒引枕，秋香色金钱蟒大条褥。两边设一对梅花式洋漆小。左边上文王鼎匙箸香盒，右边上汝窑美人觚——觚内插著时鲜花卉，并茗碗痰盒等物。地下面西一溜四张椅上，都搭著银红撒花椅搭，底下四副脚踏。椅之两边，也有一对高，上茗碗瓶花俱备。其余陈设，自不必细说。老嬷嬷们让黛玉炕上坐，炕沿上却有两个锦褥对设，黛玉度其位次，便不上炕，只向东边椅子上坐了。本房内的丫鬟忙捧上茶来。黛玉一面吃茶，一面打谅这些丫鬟们，妆饰衣裙，举止行动，果亦与别家不同。

茶未吃了，只見一個穿紅綾襖青緞掐牙背心的丫鬟走來笑說道：「太太說，請林姑娘到那邊坐罷。」老嬤嬤聽了，於是又引黛玉出來，到了東廊三間小正房內。Before she had finished her tea, a maid came in wearing a red silk damask jacket over a black satin waistcoat trimmed with piping, and said with a smile, "Madam says, please ask Miss Lin to come and sit over there." Hearing this, the old nurse led Daiyu out again, to the three small main rooms along the east corridor.正房炕上橫設一張炕桌，桌上磊著書籍茶具，靠東壁面西設著半舊的青緞靠背引枕。On the kang in the main room a low table stood crosswise, piled with books and tea things; against the east wall, facing west, was set a somewhat worn black satin back-rest with a long bolster.王夫人卻坐在西邊下首，亦是半舊的青緞靠背坐褥。Lady Wang, however, sat at the lower west side, on a cushion likewise backed with somewhat worn black satin.見黛玉來了，便往東讓。Seeing Daiyu arrive, she gestured for her to take the east side.黛玉心中料定這是賈政之位。Daiyu guessed to herself that this must be Jia Zheng's seat.因見挨炕一溜三張椅子上，也搭著半舊的彈墨椅袱，黛玉便向椅上坐了。Noticing that a row of three chairs beside the kang were likewise draped with somewhat worn ink-splashed chair covers, Daiyu sat down in one of these chairs instead.王夫人再四攜他上炕，他方挨王夫人坐了。Only after Lady Wang urged her again and again to sit up on the kang did she finally go and sit beside her.王夫人因說：「你舅舅今日齋戒去了，再見罷。Lady Wang then said, "Your uncle has gone off today to observe a fast; you will see him another time.只是有一句話囑咐你：你三個姊妹倒都极好，以後一處念書認字學針線，或是偶一頑笑，都有盡讓的。There is just one thing I must tell you: your three cousins are all very good-natured — from now on, when you study together, learn characters, do needlework, or now and then have a bit of fun together, they will all give way to you readily enough.但我不放心的最是一件：我有一個孽根禍胎，是家裏的『混世魔王』，今日因廟裏還願去了，尚未回來，晚間你看見便知了。But the one thing that worries me most is this: I have a wretched root of trouble, a calamity in the making, who is the household's 'demon king who muddles the world' — he has gone to the temple today to fulfill a vow and has not yet come back; you will understand once you see him this evening.你只以後不要睬他，你這些姊妹都不敢沾惹他的。」From now on, simply pay him no mind — none of your cousins here dare provoke him either."

茶未吃了，只见一个穿红绫袄青缎掐牙背心的丫鬟走来笑说道：「太太说，请林姑娘到那边坐罢。」老嬷嬷听了，于是又引黛玉出来，到了东廊三间小正房内。正房炕上横设一张炕桌，桌上磊著书籍茶具，靠东壁面西设著半旧的青缎靠背引枕。王夫人却坐在西边下首，亦是半旧的青缎靠背坐褥。见黛玉来了，便往东让。黛玉心中料定这是贾政之位。因见挨炕一溜三张椅子上，也搭著半旧的弹墨椅袱，黛玉便向椅上坐了。王夫人再四携他上炕，他方挨王夫人坐了。王夫人因说：「你舅舅今日斋戒去了，再见罢。只是有一句话嘱咐你：你三个姊妹倒都极好，以后一处念书认字学针线，或是偶一顽笑，都有尽让的。但我不放心的最是一件：我有一个孽根祸胎，是家里的『混世魔王』，今日因庙里还愿去了，尚未回来，晚间你看见便知了。你只以后不要睬他，你这些姊妹都不敢沾惹他的。」

黛玉亦常聽得母親說過，二舅母生的有個表兄，乃銜玉而誕，頑劣异常，极惡讀書，最喜在內幃廝混，外祖母又极溺愛，無人敢管。Daiyu had also often heard her mother say that her second maternal uncle's wife had a son — a cousin — who had been born with a piece of jade in his mouth, was unusually wild and unruly, hated studying above all things, loved best to idle about among the women's quarters, and whom their grandmother doted on so excessively that no one dared discipline him.今見王夫人如此說，便知說的是這表兄了。Now, hearing Lady Wang speak this way, she knew at once it was this cousin she meant.因陪笑道：「舅母說的，可是銜玉所生的這位哥哥？So she said with a smile, "Aunt, is the cousin you speak of the one born holding the jade in his mouth?在家時亦曾聽見母親常說，這位哥哥比我大一歲，小名就喚寶玉，雖极憨頑，說在姊妹情中极好的。While at home I often heard my mother say that this cousin is a year older than I, and his childhood name is Baoyu; though he is very mischievous, she said he is exceedingly good to his female cousins.況我來了，自然只和姊妹同處，兄弟們自是別院另室的，豈得去沾惹之理？」王夫人笑道：「你不知道原故：他與別人不同，自幼因老太太疼愛，原系同姊妹們一處嬌養慣了的。Besides, now that I have come, I shall naturally spend my time only with my girl cousins; the boys will of course have their separate courtyards and rooms — how should there be any occasion for me to provoke him?" Lady Wang said with a smile, "You don't know the reason for it: he is not like other people. Since he was small, because our Old Ancestress dotes on him, he has always been raised together with the girls, indulged and spoiled.若姊妹們有日不理他，他倒還安靜些，縱然他沒趣，不過出了二門，背地裏拿著他兩個小么兒出氣，咕唧一會子就完了。If on some day his cousins pay him no attention, he actually stays fairly quiet; even if he feels put out, at most he goes out past the second gate and vents his temper on his two little pages behind everyone's back, grumbling for a while and then it's over.若這一日姊妹們和他多說一句話，他心裏一樂，便生出多少事來。But if on some day his cousins say even one word more to him than usual, he becomes so delighted at heart that all manner of trouble comes of it.所以囑咐你別睬他。That is why I tell you to pay him no mind.他嘴裏一時甜言蜜語，一時有天無日，一時又瘋瘋傻傻，只休信他。」His mouth will one moment pour out sweet, honeyed words, the next moment run on as if there were no heaven or earth, and the next turn quite mad and foolish — you must simply not believe him."

黛玉亦常听得母亲说过，二舅母生的有个表兄，乃衔玉而诞，顽劣异常，极恶读书，最喜在内帏厮混，外祖母又极溺爱，无人敢管。今见王夫人如此说，便知说的是这表兄了。因陪笑道：「舅母说的，可是衔玉所生的这位哥哥？在家时亦曾听见母亲常说，这位哥哥比我大一岁，小名就唤宝玉，虽极憨顽，说在姊妹情中极好的。况我来了，自然只和姊妹同处，兄弟们自是别院另室的，岂得去沾惹之理？」王夫人笑道：「你不知道原故：他与别人不同，自幼因老太太疼爱，原系同姊妹们一处娇养惯了的。若姊妹们有日不理他，他倒还安静些，纵然他没趣，不过出了二门，背地里拿著他两个小么儿出气，咕唧一会子就完了。若这一日姊妹们和他多说一句话，他心里一乐，便生出多少事来。所以嘱咐你别睬他。他嘴里一时甜言蜜语，一时有天无日，一时又疯疯傻傻，只休信他。」

黛玉一一的都答應著。Daiyu answered "yes" to every point in turn.只見一個丫鬟來回：「老太太那裏傳晚飯了。」王夫人忙攜黛玉從後房門由後廊往西，出了角門，是一條南北寬夾道。Just then a maid came in to report, "The Old Ancestress has had the evening meal announced." Lady Wang hurriedly took Daiyu by the hand and, going out through the back door of the room, along the back corridor westward, they passed through a corner gate into a wide passage running north and south.南邊是倒座三間小小的抱廈廳，北邊立著一個粉油大影壁，後有一半大門，小小一所房室。On the south side stood a small reception hall of three rooms facing north with a projecting front porch; on the north side stood a large screen wall painted with white lacquer, behind which was a medium-sized gate leading to a small compound of rooms.王夫人笑指向黛玉道：「這是你鳳姐姐的屋子，回來你好往這裏找他來，少什麼東西，你只管和他說就是了。」這院門上也有四五個纔總角的小廝，都垂手侍立。Lady Wang pointed it out to Daiyu with a smile, saying, "This is your Cousin Feng's place; later on you may come here to find her — if you're short of anything at all, just tell her and it will be seen to." At the gate of this courtyard there also stood four or five young pages, still wearing their hair in childhood tufts, standing respectfully with hands at their sides.王夫人遂攜黛玉穿過一個東西穿堂，便是賈母的後院了。Lady Wang then took Daiyu by the hand through a passage-hall running east and west, and they came to the Lady Dowager's rear courtyard.於是，進入後房門，已有多人在此伺候，見王夫人來了，方安設桌椅。As they entered through the back door of the rooms, a number of people were already there in attendance; only when they saw Lady Wang arrive did they set out the table and chairs.賈珠之妻李氏捧飯，熙鳳安箸，王夫人進羹。Jia Zhu's widow, Li, brought in the rice; Xifeng set out the chopsticks; Lady Wang served the soup.賈母正面榻上獨坐，兩邊四張空椅，熙鳳忙拉了黛玉在左邊第一張椅上坐了，黛玉十分推讓。The Lady Dowager sat alone facing forward on the couch, with four empty chairs on either side; Xifeng quickly drew Daiyu to sit in the first chair on the left, but Daiyu tried repeatedly to decline.賈母笑道：「你舅母你嫂子們不在這裏吃飯。The Lady Dowager said with a smile, "Your aunts and your sisters-in-law do not eat here.你是客，原應如此坐的。」黛玉方告了座，坐了。You are a guest, so it is only proper you sit there." Only then did Daiyu excuse herself for taking the seat, and sat down.賈母命王夫人坐了。The Lady Dowager bade Lady Wang be seated as well.迎春姊妹三個告了座方上來。Yingchun and her two sisters, having asked leave to be seated, then came forward.迎春便坐右手第一，探春左第二，惜春右第二。Yingchun took the first seat on the right, Tanchun the second on the left, and Xichun the second on the right.旁邊丫鬟執著拂塵，漱盂，巾帕。Maids stood to the side holding whisks, rinsing bowls, and napkins.李，鳳二人立於案旁布讓。Li and Xifeng stood beside the table serving and offering the dishes.外間伺候之媳婦丫鬟雖多，卻連一聲咳嗽不聞。Though many married maidservants and maids were in attendance in the outer room, not so much as a single cough was to be heard.寂然飯畢，各有丫鬟用小茶盤捧上茶來。The meal was finished in silence, after which maids each brought in tea on small trays.當日林如海教女以惜福養身，云飯後務待飯粒咽盡，過一時再吃茶，方不傷脾胃。Now, Lin Ruhai had taught his daughter to cherish good fortune and care for her health, saying that after a meal one must wait until every grain of rice has been swallowed and let some time pass before drinking tea, so as not to harm the spleen and stomach.今黛玉見了這裏許多事情不合家中之式，不得不隨的，少不得一一改過來，因而接了茶。Now Daiyu saw that many things here did not follow the ways of her own household, yet she had no choice but to conform, and could not avoid changing her habits one by one accordingly — and so she accepted the tea.早見人又捧過漱盂來，黛玉也照樣漱了口。She soon saw someone bring over a rinsing bowl as well, and Daiyu likewise rinsed her mouth in the same manner.盥手畢，又捧上茶來，這方是吃的茶。After washing her hands, tea was brought in again, and only this time was it tea meant for drinking.賈母便說：「你們去罷，讓我們自在說話兒。」王夫人聽了，忙起身，又說了兩句閒話，方引鳳，李二人去了。The Lady Dowager then said, "You may all go now, and let us talk at our ease." Hearing this, Lady Wang rose at once, exchanged a few more words of small talk, and then led Xifeng and Li away with her.賈母因問黛玉念何書。The Lady Dowager then asked Daiyu what books she had been studying.黛玉道：「只剛念了《四書》。」黛玉又問姊妹們讀何書。Daiyu said, "I have only just finished reading the Four Books." Daiyu then asked in turn what books her cousins studied.賈母道：「讀的是什麼書，不過是認得兩個字，不是睜眼的瞎子罷了！」The Lady Dowager said, "What books should they be reading — they've merely learned to recognize a few characters, just enough not to be blind with their eyes open!"

黛玉一一的都答应著。只见一个丫鬟来回：「老太太那里传晚饭了。」王夫人忙携黛玉从后房门由后廊往西，出了角门，是一条南北宽夹道。南边是倒座三间小小的抱厦厅，北边立著一个粉油大影壁，后有一半大门，小小一所房室。王夫人笑指向黛玉道：「这是你凤姐姐的屋子，回来你好往这里找他来，少什么东西，你只管和他说就是了。」这院门上也有四五个才总角的小厮，都垂手侍立。王夫人遂携黛玉穿过一个东西穿堂，便是贾母的后院了。于是，进入后房门，已有多人在此伺候，见王夫人来了，方安设桌椅。贾珠之妻李氏捧饭，熙凤安箸，王夫人进羹。贾母正面榻上独坐，两边四张空椅，熙凤忙拉了黛玉在左边第一张椅上坐了，黛玉十分推让。贾母笑道：「你舅母你嫂子们不在这里吃饭。你是客，原应如此坐的。」黛玉方告了座，坐了。贾母命王夫人坐了。迎春姊妹三个告了座方上来。迎春便坐右手第一，探春左第二，惜春右第二。旁边丫鬟执著拂尘，漱盂，巾帕。李，凤二人立于案旁布让。外间伺候之媳妇丫鬟虽多，却连一声咳嗽不闻。寂然饭毕，各有丫鬟用小茶盘捧上茶来。当日林如海教女以惜福养身，云饭后务待饭粒咽尽，过一时再吃茶，方不伤脾胃。今黛玉见了这里许多事情不合家中之式，不得不随的，少不得一一改过来，因而接了茶。早见人又捧过漱盂来，黛玉也照样漱了口。盥手毕，又捧上茶来，这方是吃的茶。贾母便说：「你们去罢，让我们自在说话儿。」王夫人听了，忙起身，又说了两句闲话，方引凤，李二人去了。贾母因问黛玉念何书。黛玉道：「只刚念了《四书》。」黛玉又问姊妹们读何书。贾母道：「读的是什么书，不过是认得两个字，不是睁眼的瞎子罢了！」

一語未了，只聽外面一陣腳步響，丫鬟進來笑道：「寶玉來了！」黛玉心中正疑惑著：「這個寶玉，不知是怎生個憊懶人物，懵懂頑童？」倒不見那蠢物也罷了。Before this remark was finished, a burst of footsteps sounded outside, and a maid came in laughing, "Baoyu is here!" Daiyu was just wondering to herself, "This Baoyu — what sort of tiresome, foolish, wild boy might he turn out to be?" — thinking it might be just as well not to have to see such a dolt after all.心中想著，忽見丫鬟話未報完，已進來了一位年輕的公子：頭上戴著束髮嵌寶紫金冠，齊眉勒著二龍搶珠金抹額，穿一件二色金百蝶穿花大紅箭袖，束著五彩絲攢花結長穗宮絛，外罩石青起花八團倭鍛排穗褂，登著青緞粉底小朝靴。Even as she was thinking this, before the maid had finished announcing him, a young gentleman had already stepped in: on his head he wore a purple-gold coronet set with gems, binding up his hair, with a gold browband, level with his eyebrows, embroidered with two dragons vying for a pearl; he wore a scarlet archer's-sleeve robe worked in two-tone gold with a pattern of a hundred butterflies threading through flowers, cinched with a long court sash of five-colored twisted silk knotted into tassels; over this was thrown a jacket of bluish-black satin worked in raised designs with eight rounded medallions, trimmed with a fringe; and on his feet were small black satin court boots with white soles.面若中秋之月，色如春曉之花，鬢若刀裁，眉如墨畫，面如桃瓣，目若秋波。His face was like the moon of mid-autumn, his complexion like a flower at spring dawn; his temple-hair looked as if cut by a knife's edge, his brows as if painted in ink; his cheeks were like peach petals, his eyes like autumn ripples.雖怒時而若笑，即瞋視而有情。Even when angry he seemed to smile, and even a glaring look from him carried feeling.項上金螭瓔珞，又有一根五色絲絛，繫著一塊美玉。Around his neck hung a gold necklet worked with hornless dragons, and also a cord of five-colored silk, from which was tied a fine piece of jade.黛玉一見，便吃一大驚，心下想道：「好生奇怪，倒象在那裏見過一般，何等眼熟到如此！」只見這寶玉向賈母請了安，賈母便命：「去見你娘來。」寶玉即轉身去了。The moment Daiyu saw him, she was greatly startled, and thought to herself, "How very strange — it is as though I had seen him somewhere before, how can he seem so familiar!" Just then this Baoyu paid his respects to the Lady Dowager, who at once instructed him, "Go and see your mother." Baoyu turned and went off immediately.一時回來，再看，已換了冠帶：頭上周圍一轉的短髮，都結成小辮，紅絲結束，共攢至頂中胎髮，總編一根大辮，黑亮如漆，從頂至梢，一串四顆大珠，用金八寶墜角，身上穿著銀紅撒花半舊大襖，仍舊帶著項圈，寶玉，寄名鎖，護身符等物，下面半露松花撒花綾褲腿，錦邊彈墨襪，厚底大紅鞋。In a little while he returned, and looking at him again, he had already changed his hat and dress: the short hairs all around his head had been gathered into small braids bound with red silk, and drawn up together at the crown with the long infant-lock of hair, all plaited into one large queue, black and glossy as lacquer; from crown to tip a string of four large pearls was threaded, weighted at the end with a gold ornament in the shape of the eight auspicious emblems; on his body he wore a somewhat worn silvery-red robe scattered with a floral pattern, and he still wore his neck-ring, his jade, his name-registration lock, and his protective amulet and other such things; below, the legs of his pine-green trousers scattered with a floral pattern showed partway, along with brocade-bordered ink-spattered stockings and thick-soled scarlet shoes.越顯得面如敷粉，唇若施脂，轉盼多情，語言常笑。This made his face seem all the more as if powdered, his lips as if rouged; his glances, when he turned them, were full of feeling, and he was forever smiling as he spoke.天然一段風騷，全在眉梢，平生萬种情思，悉堆眼角。A natural touch of romantic charm gathered wholly at the corners of his brows; a lifetime's worth of tender feeling seemed piled entirely at the corners of his eyes.看其外貌最是极好，卻難知其底細。Looking at his outward appearance, it was excellent indeed, yet it was hard to know what lay beneath.後人有《西江月》二詞，批寶玉极恰，其詞曰：Later writers left two lyrics to the tune "The Moon over the West River" that hit Baoyu off to perfection; the lyrics run thus:

一语未了，只听外面一阵脚步响，丫鬟进来笑道：「宝玉来了！」黛玉心中正疑惑著：「这个宝玉，不知是怎生个惫懒人物，懵懂顽童？」倒不见那蠢物也罢了。心中想著，忽见丫鬟话未报完，已进来了一位年轻的公子：头上戴著束发嵌宝紫金冠，齐眉勒著二龙抢珠金抹额，穿一件二色金百蝶穿花大红箭袖，束著五彩丝攒花结长穗宫绦，外罩石青起花八团倭锻排穗褂，登著青缎粉底小朝靴。面若中秋之月，色如春晓之花，鬓若刀裁，眉如墨画，面如桃瓣，目若秋波。虽怒时而若笑，即瞋视而有情。项上金螭璎珞，又有一根五色丝绦，系著一块美玉。黛玉一见，便吃一大惊，心下想道：「好生奇怪，倒象在那里见过一般，何等眼熟到如此！」只见这宝玉向贾母请了安，贾母便命：「去见你娘来。」宝玉即转身去了。一时回来，再看，已换了冠带：头上周围一转的短发，都结成小辫，红丝结束，共攒至顶中胎发，总编一根大辫，黑亮如漆，从顶至梢，一串四颗大珠，用金八宝坠角，身上穿著银红撒花半旧大袄，仍旧带著项圈，宝玉，寄名锁，护身符等物，下面半露松花撒花绫裤腿，锦边弹墨袜，厚底大红鞋。越显得面如敷粉，唇若施脂，转盼多情，语言常笑。天然一段风骚，全在眉梢，平生万种情思，悉堆眼角。看其外貌最是极好，却难知其底细。后人有《西江月》二词，批宝玉极恰，其词曰：

無故尋愁覓恨，有時似傻如狂。For no reason he seeks out sorrow, goes looking for resentment; at times he seems foolish, at times deranged.縱然生得好皮囊，腹內原來草莽。Though he was born with a fine outward frame, within, it turns out, he is nothing but rank weeds.

无故寻愁觅恨，有时似傻如狂。纵然生得好皮囊，腹内原来草莽。

潦倒不通世務，愚頑怕讀文章。Feckless and ignorant of worldly affairs, foolish and stubborn, he dreads reading proper essays.行為偏僻性乖張，那管世人誹謗！His conduct is eccentric, his nature perverse — what does he care for the world's slander!

潦倒不通世务，愚顽怕读文章。行为偏僻性乖张，那管世人诽谤！

富貴不知樂業，貧窮難耐凄涼。In wealth and rank he does not know how to enjoy his lot; in poverty he could not bear the desolation.可怜辜負好韶光，於國於家無望。How pitiable, to waste such fine springtime years — for the state, for the family, he offers no hope.

富贵不知乐业，贫穷难耐凄凉。可怜辜负好韶光，于国于家无望。

天下無能第一，古今不肖無雙。The most useless man under heaven, without peer in unworthiness, past or present.寄言紈绔與膏粱：莫效此兒形狀！A word to the silk-clad sons of the rich and well-fed: do not model yourselves after this fellow's ways!

天下无能第一，古今不肖无双。寄言纨绔与膏粱：莫效此儿形状！

賈母因笑道：「外客未見，就脫了衣裳，還不去見你妹妹！」寶玉早已看見多了一個姊妹，便料定是林姑媽之女，忙來作揖。The Lady Dowager then said with a smile, "You haven't even greeted the guest from outside, and already you've taken off your good clothes — go and see your cousin at once!" Baoyu had already noticed there was one more girl cousin present, and guessed at once that this must be the daughter of his Aunt Lin; he hurried over to make his bow.廝見畢歸坐，細看形容，與眾各別：兩灣似蹙非蹙罥煙眉，一雙似泣非泣含露目。[2]態生兩靨之愁，嬌襲一身之病。When the greeting was over he returned to his seat and looked at her closely: her form and features were quite unlike anyone else's — two crescent brows that seemed to knit yet not quite knit, veiled as if in mist; a pair of eyes that seemed on the verge of tears yet not quite, holding a dewy gleam. A wistful sorrow showed in the dimples of her cheeks; a delicate frailty pervaded her whole frame like an illness.淚光點點，嬌喘微微。Tears glistened faintly in her eyes; her breath came in soft, delicate gasps.閒靜時如姣花照水，行動處似弱柳扶風。At rest, she was like a lovely flower mirrored in water; in motion, like a slender willow swayed by the wind.心較比干多一竅，病如西子勝三分。Her heart had one more aperture of understanding than Bi Gan's; her frail beauty in illness surpassed even Xi Shi's by three parts.寶玉看罷，因笑道：「這個妹妹我曾見過的。」賈母笑道：「可又是胡說，你又何曾見過他？」寶玉笑道：「雖然未曾見過他，然我看著面善，心裏就算是舊相識，今日只作遠別重逢，亦未為不可。」賈母笑道：「更好，更好，若如此，更相和睦了。」寶玉便走近黛玉身邊坐下，又細細打量一番，因問：「妹妹可曾讀書？」黛玉道：「不曾讀，只上了一年學，些須認得幾個字。」寶玉又道：「妹妹尊名是那兩個字？」黛玉便說了名。Having looked her over, Baoyu said with a smile, "This cousin I have met before." The Lady Dowager said with a smile, "Now you're talking nonsense again — when could you ever have met her?" Baoyu said with a smile, "Although I have never met her, yet her face looks familiar to me, and in my heart it feels just like an old acquaintance — today let us simply take it as a reunion after a long parting, and there's no harm in that, is there?" The Lady Dowager said with a smile, "All the better, all the better — if it's so, you'll get along all the more warmly." Baoyu then went and sat down beside Daiyu, looked her over closely once more, and asked, "Cousin, have you studied any books?" Daiyu said, "I have not studied — I only attended school for a year, and know but a few characters." Baoyu then said, "Cousin, what are the two characters of your honored name?" Daiyu told him her name.寶玉又問表字。Baoyu then asked her courtesy name.黛玉道：「無字。」寶玉笑道：「我送妹妹一妙字，莫若『顰顰』二字极妙。」探春便問何出。Daiyu said, "I have no courtesy name." Baoyu said with a smile, "Then let me give my cousin a fine one — nothing could be better than the two characters 'Pinpin' (Knit-Brow)." Tanchun then asked what the source of this was.寶玉道：「《古今人物通考》上說：『西方有石名黛，可代畫眉之墨。』況這林妹妹眉尖若蹙，用取這兩個字，豈不兩妙！」探春笑道：「只恐又是你的杜撰。」寶玉笑道：「除《四書》外，杜撰的太多，偏只我是杜撰不成？」又問黛玉：「可也有玉沒有？」眾人不解其語，黛玉便忖度著因他有玉，故問我有也無，因答道：「我沒有那個。Baoyu said, "The Comprehensive Study of Men and Things Past and Present says, 'In the West there is a stone called dai, which can serve in place of the ink used to paint eyebrows.' Besides, this cousin Lin's brows are knit at the tips — taking these two characters, would it not be doubly apt!" Tanchun said with a smile, "I fear this is just another of your inventions." Baoyu said with a smile, "Apart from the Four Books, most everything else is someone's invention — must it be that I alone am not allowed to invent?" He then asked Daiyu, "Do you have a piece of jade too?" No one else understood what he meant by this, but Daiyu guessed to herself that, since he had a jade, he was asking whether she had one too, and so she answered, "I have no such thing.想來那玉是一件罕物，豈能人人有的。」寶玉聽了，登時發作起痴狂病來，摘下那玉，就狠命摔去，罵道：「什麼罕物，連人之高低不擇，還說『通靈』不『通靈』呢！I should think that jade must be a rare object — how could everyone have one?" On hearing this, Baoyu at once flew into one of his mad fits, tore off the jade, and dashed it down with all his might, cursing, "What kind of rare object is it — it can't even tell one person's worth from another's, and still they go on about whether it's 'spiritually understanding' or not!我也不要這勞什子了！」嚇的眾人一擁爭去拾玉。I don't even want this wretched thing anymore!" This gave everyone such a fright that they all rushed forward together, scrambling to pick up the jade.賈母急的摟了寶玉道：「孽障！The Lady Dowager, in her alarm, threw her arms around Baoyu, saying, "You wretched creature!你生氣，要打罵人容易，何苦摔那命根子！」寶玉滿面淚痕泣道：「家裏姐姐妹妹都沒有，單我有，我說沒趣，如今來了這們一個神仙似的妹妹也沒有，可知這不是個好東西。」賈母忙哄他道：「你這妹妹原有這個來的，因你姑媽去世時，舍不得你妹妹，無法處，遂將他的玉帶了去了：一則全殉葬之禮，盡你妹妹之孝心，二則你姑媽之靈，亦可權作見了女兒之意。If you're angry, it would be easy enough to scold or strike someone — why must you go and smash your very life-root of a jade!" Baoyu, his face streaked with tears, wept, "None of my sisters and cousins here at home have one, only I have it — I already found that tiresome enough; and now here comes this cousin like an immortal come down to earth, and she doesn't have one either — clearly this thing is no good object at all." The Lady Dowager hastily soothed him, saying, "Your cousin here did originally have one of these. It was only that when your aunt was dying, she could not bear to part with her jade, and having no other way to manage it, she had it buried with her along with your cousin's jade: first, to complete the rites of burial and fulfill your cousin's filial devotion, and second, so that your aunt's spirit might, in a sense, take it as seeing her daughter again.因此他只說沒有這個，不便自己夸張之意。That is why she simply said she had no such thing — not wishing to make a show of it herself.你如今怎比得他？How could you possibly compare yourself to her now?還不好生慎重帶上，仔細你娘知道了。」說著，便向丫鬟手中接來，親與他帶上。Now put it back on carefully and with due respect — mind that your mother doesn't hear of this." So saying, she took the jade from the maid's hands and put it on him herself.寶玉聽如此說，想一想大有情理，也就不生別論了。Hearing her explain it this way, Baoyu thought it over and found it full of good sense, and so raised no further objection.

贾母因笑道：「外客未见，就脱了衣裳，还不去见你妹妹！」宝玉早已看见多了一个姊妹，便料定是林姑妈之女，忙来作揖。厮见毕归坐，细看形容，与众各别：两湾似蹙非蹙罥烟眉，一双似泣非泣含露目。[2]态生两靥之愁，娇袭一身之病。泪光点点，娇喘微微。闲静时如姣花照水，行动处似弱柳扶风。心较比干多一窍，病如西子胜三分。宝玉看罢，因笑道：「这个妹妹我曾见过的。」贾母笑道：「可又是胡说，你又何曾见过他？」宝玉笑道：「虽然未曾见过他，然我看著面善，心里就算是旧相识，今日只作远别重逢，亦未为不可。」贾母笑道：「更好，更好，若如此，更相和睦了。」宝玉便走近黛玉身边坐下，又细细打量一番，因问：「妹妹可曾读书？」黛玉道：「不曾读，只上了一年学，些须认得几个字。」宝玉又道：「妹妹尊名是那两个字？」黛玉便说了名。宝玉又问表字。黛玉道：「无字。」宝玉笑道：「我送妹妹一妙字，莫若『颦颦』二字极妙。」探春便问何出。宝玉道：「《古今人物通考》上说：『西方有石名黛，可代画眉之墨。』况这林妹妹眉尖若蹙，用取这两个字，岂不两妙！」探春笑道：「只恐又是你的杜撰。」宝玉笑道：「除《四书》外，杜撰的太多，偏只我是杜撰不成？」又问黛玉：「可也有玉没有？」众人不解其语，黛玉便忖度著因他有玉，故问我有也无，因答道：「我没有那个。想来那玉是一件罕物，岂能人人有的。」宝玉听了，登时发作起痴狂病来，摘下那玉，就狠命摔去，骂道：「什么罕物，连人之高低不择，还说『通灵』不『通灵』呢！我也不要这劳什子了！」吓的众人一拥争去拾玉。贾母急的搂了宝玉道：「孽障！你生气，要打骂人容易，何苦摔那命根子！」宝玉满面泪痕泣道：「家里姐姐妹妹都没有，单我有，我说没趣，如今来了这们一个神仙似的妹妹也没有，可知这不是个好东西。」贾母忙哄他道：「你这妹妹原有这个来的，因你姑妈去世时，舍不得你妹妹，无法处，遂将他的玉带了去了：一则全殉葬之礼，尽你妹妹之孝心，二则你姑妈之灵，亦可权作见了女儿之意。因此他只说没有这个，不便自己夸张之意。你如今怎比得他？还不好生慎重带上，仔细你娘知道了。」说著，便向丫鬟手中接来，亲与他带上。宝玉听如此说，想一想大有情理，也就不生别论了。

當下，奶娘來請問黛玉之房舍。At this point the wet-nurse came to ask about arrangements for Daiyu's lodging.賈母說：「今將寶玉挪出來，同我在套間暖閣兒裏，把你林姑娘暫安置碧紗櫥裏。The Lady Dowager said, "For now, move Baoyu out to sleep with me in the little warm inner chamber, and put Miss Lin temporarily in the gauze-curtained alcove.等過了殘冬，春天再與他們收拾房屋，另作一番安置罷。」寶玉道：「好祖宗，我就在碧紗櫥外的床上很妥當，何必又出來鬧的老祖宗不得安靜。」賈母想了一想說：「也罷了。」每人一個奶娘並一個丫頭照管，餘者在外間上夜聽喚。Once the tail end of winter is past and spring comes, we can have rooms fixed up for them properly and arrange things anew." Baoyu said, "Dear Old Ancestress, the bed just outside the gauze-curtained alcove will suit me perfectly well — why should I need to move out again and disturb the Old Ancestress's peace?" The Lady Dowager thought it over and said, "Very well, then." Each of them was assigned one wet-nurse and one maid to look after them, with the rest to keep night watch and answer calls from the outer room.一面早有熙鳳命人送了一頂藕合色花帳，並幾件錦被緞褥之類。Meanwhile Xifeng had already sent someone with a lotus-pink floral bed-curtain, along with several brocade quilts, satin mattresses, and the like.

当下，奶娘来请问黛玉之房舍。贾母说：「今将宝玉挪出来，同我在套间暖阁儿里，把你林姑娘暂安置碧纱橱里。等过了残冬，春天再与他们收拾房屋，另作一番安置罢。」宝玉道：「好祖宗，我就在碧纱橱外的床上很妥当，何必又出来闹的老祖宗不得安静。」贾母想了一想说：「也罢了。」每人一个奶娘并一个丫头照管，余者在外间上夜听唤。一面早有熙凤命人送了一顶藕合色花帐，并几件锦被缎褥之类。

黛玉只帶了兩個人來：一個是自幼奶娘王嬤嬤，一個是十歲的小丫頭，亦是自幼隨身的，名喚作雪雁。Daiyu had brought only two people with her: one was her old wet-nurse from childhood, Nurse Wang; the other was a ten-year-old girl who had likewise attended her since infancy, named Xueyan.賈母見雪雁甚小，一團孩氣，王嬤嬤又极老，料黛玉皆不遂心省力的，便將自己身邊的一個二等丫頭，名喚鸚哥者與了黛玉。Seeing that Xueyan was quite young and still very much a child, and that Nurse Wang was extremely old, the Lady Dowager guessed that neither would suit Daiyu well or save her trouble, and so she gave Daiyu one of her own second-rank maids, named Yingge.外亦如迎春等例，每人除自幼乳母外，另有四個教引嬤嬤，除貼身掌管釵釧盥沐兩個丫鬟外，另有五六個灑掃房屋來往使役的小丫鬟。Besides this, following the same arrangement as for Yingchun and the others, each girl, apart from her own childhood wet-nurse, was given four matrons to instruct and guide her, and apart from two maids who personally managed her hairpins and bracelets and attended her washing, another five or six young maids to sweep the rooms and run errands back and forth.當下，王嬤嬤與鸚哥陪侍黛玉在碧紗櫥內。So it was that Nurse Wang and Yingge attended Daiyu within the gauze-curtained alcove.寶玉之乳母李嬤嬤，並大丫鬟名喚襲人者，陪侍在外面大床上。Baoyu's wet-nurse, Nurse Li, together with his chief maid named Xiren, attended him on the large bed outside.

黛玉只带了两个人来：一个是自幼奶娘王嬷嬷，一个是十岁的小丫头，亦是自幼随身的，名唤作雪雁。贾母见雪雁甚小，一团孩气，王嬷嬷又极老，料黛玉皆不遂心省力的，便将自己身边的一个二等丫头，名唤鹦哥者与了黛玉。外亦如迎春等例，每人除自幼乳母外，另有四个教引嬷嬷，除贴身掌管钗钏盥沐两个丫鬟外，另有五六个洒扫房屋来往使役的小丫鬟。当下，王嬷嬷与鹦哥陪侍黛玉在碧纱橱内。宝玉之乳母李嬷嬷，并大丫鬟名唤袭人者，陪侍在外面大床上。

原來這襲人亦是賈母之婢，本名珍珠。It turned out that this Xiren too was originally the Lady Dowager's own maid, whose original name was Zhenzhu (Pearl).賈母因溺愛寶玉，生恐寶玉之婢無竭力盡忠之人，素喜襲人心地純良，克盡職任，遂與了寶玉。Because the Lady Dowager doted on Baoyu, she feared that among his own maids there might be none devoted enough to serve him with all their heart; and since she had always been fond of Xiren's pure and good nature and her thorough attention to duty, she gave her to Baoyu.寶玉因知他本姓花，又曾見舊人詩句上有「花氣襲人」之句，遂回明賈母，更名襲人。Baoyu, knowing that her surname was originally Hua (Flower), and having once come across a line of poetry by an ancient poet reading "the scent of flowers assails one" (花氣襲人), reported this to the Lady Dowager and had her name changed to Xiren ("Assails Men").這襲人亦有些痴處：伏侍賈母時，心中眼中只有一個賈母，如今服侍寶玉，心中眼中又只有一個寶玉。This Xiren, too, had a certain single-mindedness about her: while serving the Lady Dowager, in her heart and eyes there had been only the Lady Dowager; now that she served Baoyu, in her heart and eyes there was only Baoyu.只因寶玉性情乖僻，每每規諫寶玉，心中著實憂郁。Only, because Baoyu's temperament was so willful and perverse, she was constantly remonstrating with him, and in her heart she was truly troubled and depressed over it.

原来这袭人亦是贾母之婢，本名珍珠。贾母因溺爱宝玉，生恐宝玉之婢无竭力尽忠之人，素喜袭人心地纯良，克尽职任，遂与了宝玉。宝玉因知他本姓花，又曾见旧人诗句上有「花气袭人」之句，遂回明贾母，更名袭人。这袭人亦有些痴处：伏侍贾母时，心中眼中只有一个贾母，如今服侍宝玉，心中眼中又只有一个宝玉。只因宝玉性情乖僻，每每规谏宝玉，心中著实忧郁。

是晚，寶玉李嬤嬤已睡了，他見裏面黛玉和鸚哥猶未安息，他自卸了妝，悄悄進來，笑問：「姑娘怎麼還不安息？」黛玉忙讓：「姐姐請坐。」襲人在床沿上坐了。That night, after Baoyu and Nurse Li had already gone to sleep, Xiren, seeing that Daiyu and Yingge inside had not yet settled down for the night, took off her own ornaments and slipped quietly in, asking with a smile, "Miss, why haven't you gone to rest yet?" Daiyu quickly invited her, "Sister, please sit down." Xiren sat down on the edge of the bed.鸚哥笑道：「林姑娘正在這裏傷心，自己淌眼抹淚的說：『今兒纔來，就惹出你家哥兒的狂病，倘或摔坏了那玉，豈不是因我之過！』因此便傷心，我好容易勸好了」。Yingge said with a smile, "Miss Lin has just been grieving here, wiping away her tears and saying to herself, 'I've only just arrived today, and already I've brought on your young master's mad fit — if that jade had been broken, wouldn't it have been my fault!' That's why she was so upset; it took quite some effort on my part to comfort her out of it."襲人道：「姑娘快休如此，將來只怕比這個更奇怪的笑話兒還有呢！Xiren said, "Miss, please don't take it so to heart — I'm afraid there will be even stranger goings-on than this in time to come!若為他這种行止，你多心傷感，只怕你傷感不了呢。If you're going to take his behavior so much to heart and grieve over it, I'm afraid you'll never be done grieving.快別多心！」黛玉道：「姐姐們說的，我記著就是了。Please don't be so sensitive about it!" Daiyu said, "What you sisters say, I shall keep in mind.究竟那玉不知是怎麼個來歷？But tell me, just what is the origin of that jade, really?上面還有字跡？」襲人道：「連一家子也不知來歷，上頭還有現成的眼兒，聽得說，落草時是從他口裏掏出來的。And are there characters written on it?" Xiren said, "Not even the whole family knows its origin. It even has a hole bored ready-made in it. I've heard it said that when he was born, it was drawn straight out from his mouth.等我拿來你看便知。」黛玉忙止道：「罷了，此刻夜深，明日再看也不遲。」大家又敘了一回，方纔安歇。Let me go and fetch it for you to see, and you'll know for yourself." Daiyu quickly stopped her, saying, "Never mind — it's late at night now; it won't be too late to look at it tomorrow." The three of them talked together a while longer before at last settling down to sleep.

是晚，宝玉李嬷嬷已睡了，他见里面黛玉和鹦哥犹未安息，他自卸了妆，悄悄进来，笑问：「姑娘怎么还不安息？」黛玉忙让：「姐姐请坐。」袭人在床沿上坐了。鹦哥笑道：「林姑娘正在这里伤心，自己淌眼抹泪的说：『今儿才来，就惹出你家哥儿的狂病，倘或摔坏了那玉，岂不是因我之过！』因此便伤心，我好容易劝好了」。袭人道：「姑娘快休如此，将来只怕比这个更奇怪的笑话儿还有呢！若为他这种行止，你多心伤感，只怕你伤感不了呢。快别多心！」黛玉道：「姐姐们说的，我记著就是了。究竟那玉不知是怎么个来历？上面还有字迹？」袭人道：「连一家子也不知来历，上头还有现成的眼儿，听得说，落草时是从他口里掏出来的。等我拿来你看便知。」黛玉忙止道：「罢了，此刻夜深，明日再看也不迟。」大家又叙了一回，方才安歇。

次日起來，省過賈母，因往王夫人處來，正值王夫人與熙鳳在一處拆金陵來的書信看，又有王夫人之兄嫂處遣了兩個媳婦來說話的。The next day, after rising and paying her respects to the Lady Dowager, Daiyu went on to Lady Wang's quarters, just as Lady Wang and Xifeng were together opening and reading a letter that had come from Jinling, and two married women sent over from the household of Lady Wang's elder brother and his wife were there as well to deliver a message.黛玉雖不知原委，探春等卻都曉得是議論金陵城中所居的薛家姨母之子姨表兄薛蟠，倚財仗勢，打死人命，現在應天府案下審理。Daiyu did not know the ins and outs of the matter, but Tanchun and the others all knew that they were discussing Xue Pan, the son of Daiyu's maternal aunt of the Xue family residing in Jinling — her cousin on the mother's side — who, relying on his family's wealth and power, had beaten a man to death, and whose case was now under trial before the Yingtian prefectural court.如今母舅王子騰得了信息，故遣他家內的人來告訴這邊，意欲喚取進京之意。Now that their maternal uncle Wang Ziteng had received word of this, he had sent someone from his own household to inform this side of the family, with the intention of having them summon the Xues to the capital.

次日起来，省过贾母，因往王夫人处来，正值王夫人与熙凤在一处拆金陵来的书信看，又有王夫人之兄嫂处遣了两个媳妇来说话的。黛玉虽不知原委，探春等却都晓得是议论金陵城中所居的薛家姨母之子姨表兄薛蟠，倚财仗势，打死人命，现在应天府案下审理。如今母舅王子腾得了信息，故遣他家内的人来告诉这边，意欲唤取进京之意。

畢竟怎的，下回分解。Just what would come of it will be told in the next chapter.

毕竟怎的，下回分解。

注释Notes