第二十二回　聽曲文寶玉悟禪機　製燈迷賈政悲讖語 Hearing an Aria Baoyu Grasps Chan Wisdom; Composing Lantern Riddles Jia Zheng Grieves at Omens

話說賈璉聽鳳姐兒說有話商量，因止步問是何話。The story goes that when Jia Lian heard Xifeng say she had something to discuss with him, he stopped and asked what it was.鳳姐道：“二十一是薛妹妹的生日，你到底怎麼樣呢？”賈璉道：“我知道怎麼樣！Xifeng said, "The twenty-first is Cousin Xue's birthday — what do you think we should do about it?" Jia Lian said, "What do you mean, what do I think!你連多少大生日都料理過了，這會子倒沒了主意？”鳳姐道：“大生日料理，不過是有一定的則例在那里。You've managed birthdays far grander than this one — how is it you're at a loss now?" Xifeng said, "Managing a grand birthday is easy enough — there are fixed precedents to follow.如今他這生日，大又不是，小又不是，所以和你商量。”賈璉聽了，低頭想了半日道：“你今兒糊涂了。But this birthday of hers is neither big nor small, so I'm consulting you about it." When Jia Lian heard this, he bowed his head and thought for a long while, then said, "You're being muddled today.現有比例，那林妹妹就是例。There's already a precedent right at hand — Cousin Lin is the precedent.往年怎麼給林妹妹過的，如今也照依給薛妹妹過就是了。”鳳姐聽了，冷笑道：“我難道連這個也不知道？Whatever was done for Cousin Lin's birthday in years past, just do the same now for Cousin Xue." When Xifeng heard this, she gave a cold laugh and said, "Do you think I don't even know that much?我原也這麼想定了。That is exactly what I had decided on originally.但昨兒聽見老太太說，問起大家的年紀生日來，聽見薛大妹妹今年十五歲，雖不是整生日，也算得將笄之年。But yesterday I heard the Old Ancestress asking about everyone's ages and birthdays, and heard that Cousin Xue is fifteen this year — not a milestone birthday exactly, but old enough to be counted as having reached the age of the hairpin.老太太說要替他作生日。The Old Ancestress said she wants to hold the birthday celebration for her herself.想來若果真替他作，自然比往年與林妹妹的不同了。”賈璉道：“既如此，比林妹妹的多增些。”鳳姐道：“我也這們想著，所以討你的口氣。I imagine that if she really does hold it herself, it will naturally have to be different from what was done for Cousin Lin in years past." Jia Lian said, "In that case, just make it somewhat more than what was done for Cousin Lin." Xifeng said, "That's exactly what I was thinking too, which is why I wanted to sound out your views.我若私自添了東西，你又怪我不告訴明白你了。”賈璉笑道：“罷，罷，這空頭情我不領。If I add extras on my own authority, you'll turn around and blame me for not telling you plainly." Jia Lian said with a laugh, "Enough, enough — I won't accept this empty show of consideration.你不盤察我就夠了，我還怪你！”說著，一徑去了，不在話下。It's enough that you don't scrutinize my accounts — how would I dare blame you!" So saying, he went off directly, and no more need be said of that.

话说贾琏听凤姐儿说有话商量，因止步问是何话。凤姐道：“二十一是薛妹妹的生日，你到底怎么样呢？”贾琏道：“我知道怎么样！你连多少大生日都料理过了，这会子倒没了主意？”凤姐道：“大生日料理，不过是有一定的则例在那里。如今他这生日，大又不是，小又不是，所以和你商量。”贾琏听了，低头想了半日道：“你今儿糊涂了。现有比例，那林妹妹就是例。往年怎么给林妹妹过的，如今也照依给薛妹妹过就是了。”凤姐听了，冷笑道：“我难道连这个也不知道？我原也这么想定了。但昨儿听见老太太说，问起大家的年纪生日来，听见薛大妹妹今年十五岁，虽不是整生日，也算得将笄之年。老太太说要替他作生日。想来若果真替他作，自然比往年与林妹妹的不同了。”贾琏道：“既如此，比林妹妹的多增些。”凤姐道：“我也这们想著，所以讨你的口气。我若私自添了东西，你又怪我不告诉明白你了。”贾琏笑道：“罢，罢，这空头情我不领。你不盘察我就够了，我还怪你！”说著，一径去了，不在话下。

且說史湘雲住了兩日，因要回去。Now to speak of Shi Xiangyun — she had been staying two days, and was about to return home.賈母因說：“等過了你寶姐姐的生日，看了戲再回去。”史湘雲聽了，只得住下。The Lady Dowager said, "Wait until your Cousin Bao's birthday is past, watch the operas, and then go back." When Shi Xiangyun heard this, she had no choice but to stay on.又一面遣人回去，將自己舊日作的兩色針線活計取來，為寶釵生辰之儀。She also sent someone back to fetch two kinds of needlework she had made in the past, to serve as her birthday gift for Baochai.

且说史湘云住了两日，因要回去。贾母因说：“等过了你宝姐姐的生日，看了戏再回去。”史湘云听了，只得住下。又一面遣人回去，将自己旧日作的两色针线活计取来，为宝钗生辰之仪。

誰想賈母自見寶釵來了，喜他穩重和平，正值他才過第一個生辰，便自己蠲資二十兩，喚了鳳姐來，交與他置酒戲。Who would have thought that ever since the Lady Dowager had first seen Baochai come to stay, she had been fond of her for being steady and even-tempered, and now that this happened to be Baochai's first birthday since arriving, she herself contributed twenty taels from her own purse, summoned Xifeng, and handed the money to her to arrange wine and opera.鳳姐湊趣笑道：“一個老祖宗給孩子們作生日，不拘怎樣，誰還敢爭，又辦什麼酒戲。Xifeng joined in the fun, saying with a laugh, "When an old ancestress gives a birthday party for the children, no matter how it's done, who would dare object — why go to the trouble of arranging wine and opera at all?既高興要熱鬧，就說不得自己花上幾兩。If you're in high spirits and want it lively, it goes without saying you'd spend a few taels of your own.巴巴的找出這霉爛的二十兩銀子來作東道，這意思還叫我賠上。To go to all the trouble of digging out this moldy, rotted twenty taels of silver to act as host — and the implication is that I'm supposed to make up the difference besides!果然拿不出來也罷了，金的、銀的，圓的、扁的，壓塌了箱子底，只是勒掯我們。If you truly couldn't produce the money, that would be one thing — but gold and silver, round pieces and flat, weigh down the bottom of your chests, and still you go pinching us.舉眼看看，誰不是兒女？Look around — whose children and grandchildren are they, if not yours?難道將來只有寶兄弟頂了你老人家上五台山不成？Surely it isn't the case that only Brother Bao will be left in the end to carry you, old ancestress, up to Mount Wutai?那些梯己只留于他，我們如今雖不配使，也別苦了我們。Keep those private savings just for him if you like — we, as things stand now, may not be entitled to spend them, but there's no need to be so hard on us either.這個夠酒的？Is this enough for the wine?夠戲的？”說的滿屋里都笑起來。Is it enough for the opera?" This set the whole room laughing.賈母亦笑道：“你們聽聽這嘴！The Lady Dowager laughed too and said, "Just listen to this mouth of hers!我也算會說的，怎麼說不過這猴兒。I consider myself rather good at talking, yet how is it I can't out-talk this little monkey.你婆婆也不敢強嘴，你和我綁綁的。”鳳姐笑道：“我婆婆也是一樣的疼寶玉，我也沒處去訴冤，倒說我強嘴。”說著，又引著賈母笑了一回，賈母十分喜悅。Even your mother-in-law wouldn't dare talk back to me like this — you and I ought to be bound hand and foot together." Xifeng said with a laugh, "My mother-in-law dotes on Baoyu just the same as you do, and I have nowhere to go to air my grievances — instead I'm accused of talking back." So saying, she set the Lady Dowager laughing again for a good while, and the old lady was thoroughly delighted.到晚間，眾人都在賈母前，定昏之餘，大家娘兒姊妹等說笑時，賈母因問寶釵愛聽何戲，愛吃何物等語。By evening, everyone was gathered before the Lady Dowager; after paying the evening respects, while the various ladies, mothers and daughters and sisters, were chatting and laughing together, the Lady Dowager asked Baochai what operas she liked to hear and what foods she liked to eat, and so on.寶釵深知賈母年老人，喜熱鬧戲文，愛吃甜爛之食，便總依賈母往日素喜者說了出來。Baochai well knew that the Lady Dowager, being elderly, liked lively, bustling operas and soft, sweet foods, so she simply named the things the Lady Dowager herself had always been fond of in the past.賈母更加歡悅。The Lady Dowager was all the more delighted.次日便先送過衣服玩物禮去，王夫人，鳳姐，黛玉等諸人皆有隨分不一，不須多記。The next day, gifts of clothing and playthings were sent over first; Lady Wang, Xifeng, Daiyu, and the others each gave according to their own means in varying amounts — there is no need to record them all in detail.至二十一日，就賈母內院中搭了家常小巧戲台，定了一班新出小戲，昆弋兩腔皆有。By the twenty-first, a small, homely stage had been set up within the Lady Dowager's own inner courtyard, and a newly emerged troupe of young actors had been engaged, versed in both the Kun and Yi vocal styles.就在賈母上房排了幾席家宴酒席，并無一個外客，只有薛姨媽、史湘雲、寶釵是客，餘者皆是自己人。Several tables for a family banquet were laid out in the Lady Dowager's own apartments; there were no outside guests at all — only Aunt Xue, Shi Xiangyun, and Baochai counted as guests, the rest all being family.這日早起，寶玉因不見林黛玉，便到他房中來尋，只見林黛玉歪在炕上。That morning, Baoyu, not seeing Lin Daiyu about, went to her room to look for her, and found Lin Daiyu lying sideways on the kang.寶玉笑道：“起來吃飯去，就開戲了。Baoyu said with a smile, "Get up and go eat — the opera's about to start.你愛看那一出？Which play do you want to watch?我好點。”林黛玉冷笑道：“你既這樣說，你特叫一班戲來，揀我愛的唱給我看。I'll go and choose it for you." Lin Daiyu said with a cold laugh, "Since you put it that way, why don't you specially engage a whole troupe of your own, and pick out the plays I like and have them performed just for me to watch.這會子犯不上跐著人借光兒問我。”寶玉笑道：“這有什麼難的。There's no need at this point to go riding on someone else's coattails and ask me." Baoyu said with a smile, "What's so hard about that.明兒就這樣行，也叫他們借咱們的光兒。”一面說，一面拉起他來，攜手出去。Tomorrow we'll do just that, and let them ride on our coattails for once." So saying, he pulled her up, and hand in hand they went out together.

谁想贾母自见宝钗来了，喜他稳重和平，正值他才过第一个生辰，便自己蠲资二十两，唤了凤姐来，交与他置酒戏。凤姐凑趣笑道：“一个老祖宗给孩子们作生日，不拘怎样，谁还敢争，又办什么酒戏。既高兴要热闹，就说不得自己花上几两。巴巴的找出这霉烂的二十两银子来作东道，这意思还叫我赔上。果然拿不出来也罢了，金的、银的，圆的、扁的，压塌了箱子底，只是勒掯我们。举眼看看，谁不是儿女？难道将来只有宝兄弟顶了你老人家上五台山不成？那些梯己只留于他，我们如今虽不配使，也别苦了我们。这个够酒的？够戏的？”说的满屋里都笑起来。贾母亦笑道：“你们听听这嘴！我也算会说的，怎么说不过这猴儿。你婆婆也不敢强嘴，你和我绑绑的。”凤姐笑道：“我婆婆也是一样的疼宝玉，我也没处去诉冤，倒说我强嘴。”说著，又引著贾母笑了一回，贾母十分喜悦。到晚间，众人都在贾母前，定昏之余，大家娘儿姊妹等说笑时，贾母因问宝钗爱听何戏，爱吃何物等语。宝钗深知贾母年老人，喜热闹戏文，爱吃甜烂之食，便总依贾母往日素喜者说了出来。贾母更加欢悦。次日便先送过衣服玩物礼去，王夫人，凤姐，黛玉等诸人皆有随分不一，不须多记。至二十一日，就贾母内院中搭了家常小巧戏台，定了一班新出小戏，昆弋两腔皆有。就在贾母上房排了几席家宴酒席，并无一个外客，只有薛姨妈、史湘云、宝钗是客，余者皆是自己人。这日早起，宝玉因不见林黛玉，便到他房中来寻，只见林黛玉歪在炕上。宝玉笑道：“起来吃饭去，就开戏了。你爱看那一出？我好点。”林黛玉冷笑道：“你既这样说，你特叫一班戏来，拣我爱的唱给我看。这会子犯不上跐著人借光儿问我。”宝玉笑道：“这有什么难的。明儿就这样行，也叫他们借咱们的光儿。”一面说，一面拉起他来，携手出去。

吃了飯點戲時，賈母一定先叫寶釵點。After eating, when it came time to choose plays, the Lady Dowager insisted that Baochai choose first.寶釵推讓一遍，無法，只得點了一折《西游記》。Baochai demurred and yielded a while, but having no way out, she finally chose a scene from Journey to the West.賈母自是歡喜，然後便命鳳姐點。The Lady Dowager was naturally delighted, and then told Xifeng to choose.鳳姐亦知賈母喜熱鬧，更喜謔笑科諢，便點了一出《劉二當衣》。Xifeng, too, knew that the Lady Dowager liked things lively, and even more liked joking, teasing scenes, so she chose a piece called Liu Er Pawns His Clothes.賈母果真更又喜歡，然後便命黛玉點。The Lady Dowager was indeed even more delighted, and then told Daiyu to choose.黛玉因讓薛姨媽王夫人等。Daiyu, however, deferred to Aunt Xue, Lady Wang, and the others.賈母道：“今日原是我特帶著你們取笑，咱們只管咱們的，別理他們。The Lady Dowager said, "Today I specially brought you all along for the fun — let's just do as we please and not mind them.我巴巴的唱戲擺酒，為他們不成？Do you think I'm going to all this trouble putting on operas and laying out wine for their sake?他們在這里白聽白吃，已經便宜了，還讓他們點呢！”說著，大家都笑了。They already have it good enough getting to watch and eat for free here — and now we're even letting them choose too!" At this, everyone laughed.黛玉方點了一出。Only then did Daiyu choose a play.然後寶玉，史湘雲，迎，探，惜，李紈等俱各點了，接出扮演。After that, Baoyu, Shi Xiangyun, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Li Wan, and the others each made their choices in turn, and the performances proceeded one after another.至上酒席時，賈母又命寶釵點。When it came time to serve the wine, the Lady Dowager again told Baochai to choose.寶釵點了一出《魯智深醉鬧五台山》。Baochai chose a piece called Lu Zhishen Gets Drunk and Makes a Scene at Mount Wutai.寶玉道：“只好點這些戲。”寶釵道：“你白聽了這幾年的戲，那里知道這出戲的好處，排場又好，詞藻更妙。”寶玉道：“我從來怕這些熱鬧。”寶釵笑道：“要說這一出熱鬧，你還算不知戲呢。Baoyu said, "All you ever pick is this kind of play." Baochai said, "You've listened to operas for nothing all these years — how would you know the merits of this piece? Its staging is excellent, and its lyrics are even more marvelous." Baoyu said, "I've always dreaded this kind of noisy, bustling stuff." Baochai said with a smile, "If you call this piece merely lively and bustling, then you really don't understand opera at all.你過來，我告訴你，這一出戲熱鬧不熱鬧。——是一套北《點絳唇》，鏗鏘頓挫，韻律不用說是好的了，只那詞藻中有一支《寄生草》，填的极妙，你何曾知道。”寶玉見說的這般好，便湊近來央告：“好姐姐，念與我聽聽。”寶釵便念道：Come here, let me tell you whether this play is lively and bustling or not. — It's a whole northern-style suite built on Dian Jiang Chun, resonant and full of dramatic cadence; needless to say the rhyme and rhythm are excellent, but among the lyrics there is a passage set to Ji Sheng Cao that is written with extraordinary skill — how could you ever have known of it?" Seeing how highly she praised it, Baoyu drew near and begged her, "Dear sister, recite it for me to hear." So Baochai recited:

吃了饭点戏时，贾母一定先叫宝钗点。宝钗推让一遍，无法，只得点了一折《西游记》。贾母自是欢喜，然后便命凤姐点。凤姐亦知贾母喜热闹，更喜谑笑科诨，便点了一出《刘二当衣》。贾母果真更又喜欢，然后便命黛玉点。黛玉因让薛姨妈王夫人等。贾母道：“今日原是我特带著你们取笑，咱们只管咱们的，别理他们。我巴巴的唱戏摆酒，为他们不成？他们在这里白听白吃，已经便宜了，还让他们点呢！”说著，大家都笑了。黛玉方点了一出。然后宝玉，史湘云，迎，探，惜，李纨等俱各点了，接出扮演。至上酒席时，贾母又命宝钗点。宝钗点了一出《鲁智深醉闹五台山》。宝玉道：“只好点这些戏。”宝钗道：“你白听了这几年的戏，那里知道这出戏的好处，排场又好，词藻更妙。”宝玉道：“我从来怕这些热闹。”宝钗笑道：“要说这一出热闹，你还算不知戏呢。你过来，我告诉你，这一出戏热闹不热闹。——是一套北《点绛唇》，铿锵顿挫，韵律不用说是好的了，只那词藻中有一支《寄生草》，填的极妙，你何曾知道。”宝玉见说的这般好，便凑近来央告：“好姐姐，念与我听听。”宝钗便念道：

漫搵英雄淚，相離處士家。Wipe not away the hero's tears in vain; from his home he parts, a man now retired from the world.謝慈悲剃度在蓮臺下。I give thanks for the mercy that let me take the tonsure before the lotus throne.沒緣法轉眼分離乍。Lacking the bond of fate, in the blink of an eye we part.赤條條來去無牽挂。Bare and unencumbered I came, and bare and unencumbered I shall go, with nothing to hold me back.那里討煙蓑雨笠卷單行？Where shall I find a rain cloak of reeds and a bamboo hat, to roll up and carry off alone?一任俺芒鞋破缽隨緣化！Let me simply go my way in straw sandals and a broken bowl, begging as fate provides!

漫揾英雄泪，相离处士家。谢慈悲剃度在莲台下。没缘法转眼分离乍。赤条条来去无牵挂。那里讨烟蓑雨笠卷单行？一任俺芒鞋破钵随缘化！

寶玉聽了，喜的拍膝畫圈，稱賞不已，又贊寶釵無書不知，林黛玉道：“安靜看戲罷，還沒唱《山門》，你倒《妝瘋》了。”說的湘雲也笑了。Hearing this, Baoyu was so delighted he slapped his knee and drew circles in the air, praising it without end, and further praised Baochai for there being no book she did not know. Lin Daiyu said, "Just watch the opera quietly — they haven't even sung The Mountain Gate yet, and here you are already putting on The Feigned Madness." This made even Xiangyun laugh.于是大家看戲。And so everyone settled down to watch the opera.至晚散時，賈母深愛那作小旦的與一個作小丑的，因命人帶進來，細看時益發可怜見。By the time it broke up in the evening, the Lady Dowager had grown quite fond of the young actor playing the second female lead and the one playing the clown, and so had someone bring them in, and looking at them closely up close, found them all the more pitiable.因問年紀，那小旦才十一歲，小丑才九歲，大家歎息一回。On asking their ages, it turned out the young actress-role player was only eleven, and the clown-role player only nine; everyone sighed over this for a while.賈母令人另拿些肉果與他兩個，又另外賞錢兩串。The Lady Dowager had people bring out extra meat and fruit for the two of them, and further rewarded them with two strings of cash apiece.鳳姐笑道：“這個孩子扮上活象一個人，你們再看不出來。”寶釵心里也知道，便只一笑不肯說。Xifeng said with a smile, "This child, in costume, looks the very image of someone — don't you all see it?" Baochai knew perfectly well in her heart who was meant, but only smiled and refused to say.寶玉也猜著了，亦不敢說。Baoyu had guessed it too, and likewise did not dare say.史湘雲接著笑道：“倒象林妹妹的模樣兒。”寶玉聽了，忙把湘雲瞅了一眼，使個眼色。Shi Xiangyun spoke up next and said with a laugh, "Why, she looks just like Cousin Lin." On hearing this, Baoyu hastily shot Xiangyun a glance, signaling her with his eyes.眾人卻都聽了這話，留神細看，都笑起來了，說果然不錯。But everyone else had already heard the remark, and looking closely now, they all burst out laughing, saying it was indeed true.一時散了。Presently the gathering broke up.

宝玉听了，喜的拍膝画圈，称赏不已，又赞宝钗无书不知，林黛玉道：“安静看戏罢，还没唱《山门》，你倒《妆疯》了。”说的湘云也笑了。于是大家看戏。至晚散时，贾母深爱那作小旦的与一个作小丑的，因命人带进来，细看时益发可怜见。因问年纪，那小旦才十一岁，小丑才九岁，大家叹息一回。贾母令人另拿些肉果与他两个，又另外赏钱两串。凤姐笑道：“这个孩子扮上活象一个人，你们再看不出来。”宝钗心里也知道，便只一笑不肯说。宝玉也猜著了，亦不敢说。史湘云接著笑道：“倒象林妹妹的模样儿。”宝玉听了，忙把湘云瞅了一眼，使个眼色。众人却都听了这话，留神细看，都笑起来了，说果然不错。一时散了。

晚間，湘雲更衣時，便命翠縷把衣包打開收拾，都包了起來。That evening, while Xiangyun was changing her clothes, she told Cuilü to open up her bundle of clothes and pack everything away.翠縷道：“忙什麼，等去的日子再包不遲。”湘雲道：“明兒一早就走。Cuilü said, "What's the hurry — there's no harm in packing when the day comes to leave." Xiangyun said, "Tomorrow morning early I'm off.在這里作什麼？——看人家的鼻子眼睛，什麼意思！”寶玉聽了這話，忙赶近前拉他說道：“好妹妹，你錯怪了我。What is there for me to do here — putting up with other people's moods and looks, what's the point!" Hearing this, Baoyu hurried over, caught up with her, and taking her hand said, "Dear sister, you're blaming me wrongly.林妹妹是個多心的人。Cousin Lin is a person who takes things too much to heart.別人分明知道，不肯說出來，也皆因怕他惱。Other people plainly knew it too, but wouldn't say it out loud, all for fear of making her angry.誰知你不防頭就說了出來，他豈不惱你。Who would have thought you, without stopping to think, would blurt it right out — how could she not be angry at you.我是怕你得罪了他，所以才使眼色。I was afraid you would offend her, and that's exactly why I signaled you with my eyes.你這會子惱我，不但辜負了我，而且反倒委曲了我。For you to be angry at me now not only wrongs me for nothing, but on top of that does me an injustice.若是別人，那怕他得罪了十個人，與我何干呢。”湘雲摔手道：“你那花言巧語別哄我。If it had been anyone else, even if they'd offended ten people over, what would that have to do with me?" Xiangyun flung her hand away and said, "Don't try to fool me with your smooth talk.我也原不如你林妹妹，別人說他，拿他取笑都使得，只我說了就有不是。I know I'm not the equal of your Cousin Lin to begin with — other people can say things about her, even tease her, and it's all fine, but the moment I say something, I'm in the wrong.我原不配說他。I was never fit to speak of her to begin with.他是小姐主子，我是奴才丫頭，得罪了他，使不得！”寶玉急的說道：“我倒是為你，反為出不是來了。She's a young lady, a mistress, and I'm a servant, a maid — if I offend her, that simply won't do!" Baoyu said anxiously, "I only meant well by you, and instead it's turned into a fault of mine.我要有外心，立刻就化成灰，叫萬人踐踹！”湘雲道：“大正月里，少信嘴胡說。If I ever had any two-faced intentions toward you, may I turn to ashes on the spot and be trampled underfoot by ten thousand people!" Xiangyun said, "It's the first month of the new year — don't go around babbling such nonsense.這些沒要緊的惡誓，散話，歪話，說給那些小性兒，行動愛惱的人，會轄治你的人聽去！Save these pointless vicious oaths, these idle and twisted words, for someone petty and quick to anger, someone who can keep you in check, and let them hear it!別叫我啐你。”說著，一徑至賈母里間，忿忿的躺著去了。Don't make me spit at you." So saying, she went straight into the Lady Dowager's inner room and lay down there, seething with resentment.

晚间，湘云更衣时，便命翠缕把衣包打开收拾，都包了起来。翠缕道：“忙什么，等去的日子再包不迟。”湘云道：“明儿一早就走。在这里作什么？——看人家的鼻子眼睛，什么意思！”宝玉听了这话，忙赶近前拉他说道：“好妹妹，你错怪了我。林妹妹是个多心的人。别人分明知道，不肯说出来，也皆因怕他恼。谁知你不防头就说了出来，他岂不恼你。我是怕你得罪了他，所以才使眼色。你这会子恼我，不但辜负了我，而且反倒委曲了我。若是别人，那怕他得罪了十个人，与我何干呢。”湘云摔手道：“你那花言巧语别哄我。我也原不如你林妹妹，别人说他，拿他取笑都使得，只我说了就有不是。我原不配说他。他是小姐主子，我是奴才丫头，得罪了他，使不得！”宝玉急的说道：“我倒是为你，反为出不是来了。我要有外心，立刻就化成灰，叫万人践踹！”湘云道：“大正月里，少信嘴胡说。这些没要紧的恶誓，散话，歪话，说给那些小性儿，行动爱恼的人，会辖治你的人听去！别叫我啐你。”说著，一径至贾母里间，忿忿的躺著去了。

寶玉沒趣，只得又來尋黛玉。Baoyu, left with no satisfaction, could only go and look for Daiyu instead.剛到門檻前，黛玉便推出來，將門關上。Just as he reached the threshold, Daiyu pushed him back out and shut the door.寶玉又不解其意，在窗外只是吞聲叫“好妹妹”。Baoyu, still not understanding what this meant, could only stand outside the window and call softly, "Dear sister."黛玉總不理他。Daiyu paid him no attention at all.寶玉悶悶的垂頭自審。Baoyu stood there gloomily, head bowed, examining himself.襲人早知端的，當此時斷不能勸。Xiren already knew the whole story, but at a moment like this she absolutely could not offer any advice.那寶玉只是呆呆的站在那里。Baoyu simply stood there in a daze.黛玉只當他回房去了，便起來開門，只見寶玉還站在那里。Daiyu, assuming he had gone back to his own room, got up to open the door, only to find Baoyu still standing there.黛玉反不好意思，不好再關，只得抽身上床躺著。Daiyu, on the contrary, felt too embarrassed to shut the door again, and had no choice but to withdraw and lie down on the bed.寶玉隨進來問道：“凡事都有個原故，說出來，人也不委曲。Baoyu followed her in and asked, "Everything has a reason behind it — if you say what it is, no one need feel wronged.好好的就惱了，終是什麼原故起的？”林黛玉冷笑道：“問的我倒好，我也不知為什麼原故。You were perfectly fine and then suddenly grew angry — what in the world started it?" Lin Daiyu gave a cold laugh and said, "A fine question to ask me — I don't even know the reason myself.我原是給你們取笑的，——拿我比戲子取笑。”寶玉道：“我并沒有比你，我并沒笑，為什麼惱我呢？”黛玉道：“你還要比？I was simply meant to be made fun of from the start — comparing me to an actor, to have a laugh at my expense." Baoyu said, "I never compared you to anyone, and I never laughed — why be angry at me?" Daiyu said, "So you still want to compare?你還要笑？You still want to laugh?你不比不笑，比人比了笑了的還利害呢！”寶玉聽說，無可分辯，不則一聲。Your not comparing and not laughing is even more cutting than if you had compared me and laughed!" Hearing this, Baoyu had no way to argue back, and said not a word.

宝玉没趣，只得又来寻黛玉。刚到门槛前，黛玉便推出来，将门关上。宝玉又不解其意，在窗外只是吞声叫“好妹妹”。黛玉总不理他。宝玉闷闷的垂头自审。袭人早知端的，当此时断不能劝。那宝玉只是呆呆的站在那里。黛玉只当他回房去了，便起来开门，只见宝玉还站在那里。黛玉反不好意思，不好再关，只得抽身上床躺著。宝玉随进来问道：“凡事都有个原故，说出来，人也不委曲。好好的就恼了，终是什么原故起的？”林黛玉冷笑道：“问的我倒好，我也不知为什么原故。我原是给你们取笑的，——拿我比戏子取笑。”宝玉道：“我并没有比你，我并没笑，为什么恼我呢？”黛玉道：“你还要比？你还要笑？你不比不笑，比人比了笑了的还利害呢！”宝玉听说，无可分辩，不则一声。

黛玉又道：“這一節還恕得。Daiyu went on, "That much could still be forgiven.再你為什麼又和雲兒使眼色？But then why did you go and signal Yun'er with your eyes as well?這安的是什麼心？What exactly were you scheming there?莫不是他和我頑，他就自輕自賤了？Is it perhaps that if she teases with me, she's somehow demeaning and cheapening herself?他原是公侯的小姐，我原是貧民的丫頭，他和我頑，設若我回了口，豈不他自惹人輕賤呢。She is, after all, the daughter of a duke or a marquis, while I'm merely the maid of some poor commoner — if she teases with me and I happen to answer back, wouldn't that just bring contempt on herself?是這主意不是？Was that your idea, or wasn't it?這卻也是你的好心，只是那一個偏又不領你這好情，一般也惱了。And yet this too was kindly meant on your part — only that the other person, as it happens, doesn't appreciate this kindness of yours either, and got just as angry.你又拿我作情，倒說我小性兒，行動肯惱。And you, taking my side as it were, instead call me petty and say I'm quick to take offense.你又怕他得罪了我，我惱他。You were afraid she would offend me, and that I'd be angry at her.我惱他，與你何干？But my being angry at her — what business is that of yours?他得罪了我，又與你何干？”And her offending me — what business is that of yours either?"

黛玉又道：“这一节还恕得。再你为什么又和云儿使眼色？这安的是什么心？莫不是他和我顽，他就自轻自贱了？他原是公侯的小姐，我原是贫民的丫头，他和我顽，设若我回了口，岂不他自惹人轻贱呢。是这主意不是？这却也是你的好心，只是那一个偏又不领你这好情，一般也恼了。你又拿我作情，倒说我小性儿，行动肯恼。你又怕他得罪了我，我恼他。我恼他，与你何干？他得罪了我，又与你何干？”

寶玉見說，方才與湘雲私談，他也聽見了。Hearing this, Baoyu realized that his private conversation with Xiangyun just now, she too had overheard.細想自己原為他二人，怕生隙惱，方在中調和，不想并未調和成功，反已落了兩處的貶謗。Thinking it over carefully, he had originally acted only for the sake of these two, afraid a rift might arise between them and cause bad feeling, and had stepped in to smooth things over — never expecting that not only had the smoothing-over failed, but he had instead earned reproach from both sides.正合著前日所看《南華經》上，有”巧者勞而智者憂，無能者無所求，飽食而遨游，泛若不繫之舟”，又曰“山木自寇，源泉自盜”等語。This happened to match exactly what he had read a few days before in the Nanhua Classic (Zhuangzi): "the clever labor and the wise worry, while the incapable seek nothing, filling their bellies and wandering free, drifting like an unmoored boat"; and again, "the mountain timber invites its own felling, the spring source its own plundering," and the like.因此越想越無趣。Because of this, the more he thought about it, the more joyless it all seemed.再細想來，目下不過這兩個人，尚未應酬妥協，將來猶欲為何？Thinking it over yet further: at present it was only these two people, and he had still not managed to reconcile things with them satisfactorily — what, then, could he hope to accomplish in the future?想到其間也無庸分辯回答自己轉身回房來。Having thought this far, he found there was no need to argue or answer further, and turned and went back to his own room.林黛玉見他去了，便知回思無趣，賭氣去了，一言也不曾發，不禁自己越發添了氣，便說道：“這一去，一輩子也別來，也別說話。”Seeing him go, Lin Daiyu knew that on reflection he had found it all joyless and had left in a huff without saying a single word, and this only made her own anger flare up all the more, so that she said, "Once you've gone this time, don't ever come again, and don't ever speak to me again."

宝玉见说，方才与湘云私谈，他也听见了。细想自己原为他二人，怕生隙恼，方在中调和，不想并未调和成功，反已落了两处的贬谤。正合著前日所看《南华经》上，有”巧者劳而智者忧，无能者无所求，饱食而遨游，泛若不系之舟”，又曰“山木自寇，源泉自盗”等语。因此越想越无趣。再细想来，目下不过这两个人，尚未应酬妥协，将来犹欲为何？想到其间也无庸分辩回答自己转身回房来。林黛玉见他去了，便知回思无趣，赌气去了，一言也不曾发，不禁自己越发添了气，便说道：“这一去，一辈子也别来，也别说话。”

寶玉不理，回房躺在床上，只是瞪瞪的。Baoyu paid no heed, went back to his room, and lay on the bed, simply staring blankly.襲人深知原委，不敢就說，只得以他事來解釋，因說道：“今兒看了戲，又勾出幾天戲來。Xiren knew full well what lay behind it all, but dared not say so directly, and could only bring up other matters to smooth things over, saying, "Watching the operas today has drawn out the prospect of several more days of opera to come.寶姑娘一定要還席的。”寶玉冷笑道：“他還不還，管誰什麼相干。”襲人見這話不是往日的口吻，因又笑道：“這是怎麼說？"Miss Bao is bound to return the treat." Baoyu said with a cold smile, "Whether she returns it or not, what business is that of mine?" Xiren, hearing that this was not his usual tone, said with a smile, "What kind of talk is this?好好的大正月里，娘兒們姊妹們都喜喜歡歡的，你又怎麼這個形景了？”寶玉冷笑道：“他們娘兒們姊妹們歡喜不歡喜，也與我無干。”襲人笑道：“他們既隨和，你也隨和，豈不大家彼此有趣。”寶玉道：“什麼是‘大家彼此’！Here it is, the happy first month of the New Year, and the ladies and sisters are all full of joy—why have you put on such a face?" Baoyu said with a cold smile, "Whether the ladies and sisters are joyful or not is no concern of mine either." Xiren said with a smile, "If they go along with things, you should go along too—wouldn't that be more amusing for everyone, each and all?" Baoyu said, "What do you mean, 'everyone, each and all'!他們有‘大家彼此’，我是‘赤條條來去無牽挂’。”談及此句，不覺淚下。They may have their 'everyone, each and all'—I am but 'naked I came and naked I shall go, with nothing to hold me.'" Speaking of this line, he could not help but shed tears.襲人見此光景，不肯再說。Seeing him in this state, Xiren did not dare say more.寶玉細想這句趣味，不禁大哭起來，翻身起來至案，遂提筆立占一偈云：Baoyu, turning over in his mind the flavor of that line, could not help bursting into tears; he rose and turned over, got up, went to his desk, and at once picked up his brush and composed a gatha on the spot, which read:

宝玉不理，回房躺在床上，只是瞪瞪的。袭人深知原委，不敢就说，只得以他事来解释，因说道：“今儿看了戏，又勾出几天戏来。宝姑娘一定要还席的。”宝玉冷笑道：“他还不还，管谁什么相干。”袭人见这话不是往日的口吻，因又笑道：“这是怎么说？好好的大正月里，娘儿们姊妹们都喜喜欢欢的，你又怎么这个形景了？”宝玉冷笑道：“他们娘儿们姊妹们欢喜不欢喜，也与我无干。”袭人笑道：“他们既随和，你也随和，岂不大家彼此有趣。”宝玉道：“什么是‘大家彼此’！他们有‘大家彼此’，我是‘赤条条来去无牵挂’。”谈及此句，不觉泪下。袭人见此光景，不肯再说。宝玉细想这句趣味，不禁大哭起来，翻身起来至案，遂提笔立占一偈云：

你證我證，心證意證。You bear witness for me, I bear witness for you; the heart bears witness, the mind bears witness.

你证我证，心证意证。

是無有證，斯可云證。Where there is nothing to witness—that may be called true witness.

是无有证，斯可云证。

無可云證，是立足境。Where nothing at all can be spoken of as witness—that is the ground on which one stands.

无可云证，是立足境。

寫畢，自雖解悟，又恐人看此不解，因此亦填一支《寄生草》，也寫在偈後。Having finished writing, though he himself felt he had reached understanding, he feared that others reading it would not grasp it, and so he also composed a song to the tune "Parasite Grass," writing it as well after the gatha.自己又念一遍，自覺無挂礙，中心自得，便上床睡了。He read it over to himself once more, and feeling that he was free of all attachment and entanglement, content at heart and satisfied within, he went to bed and slept.

写毕，自虽解悟，又恐人看此不解，因此亦填一支《寄生草》，也写在偈后。自己又念一遍，自觉无挂碍，中心自得，便上床睡了。

誰想黛玉見寶玉此番果斷而去，故以尋襲人為由，來視動靜。Who would have thought that Daiyu, seeing Baoyu leave so resolutely this time, used the pretext of looking for Xiren to come and see how things stood.襲人笑回：“已經睡了。”黛玉聽說，便要回去。Xiren answered with a smile, "He's already asleep." Hearing this, Daiyu was about to turn back.襲人笑道：“姑娘請站住，有一個字帖兒，瞧瞧是什麼話。”說著，便將方才那曲子與偈語悄悄拿來，遞與黛玉看。Xiren said with a smile, "Please wait a moment, Miss—there is a slip of paper with some words on it; do take a look and see what it says." So saying, she quietly fetched the song and the gatha from just now, and handed them to Daiyu to read.黛玉看了，知是寶玉一時感忿而作，不覺可笑可歎，便向襲人道：“作的是玩意兒，無甚關系。”說畢，便攜了回房去，與湘雲同看。Having read them, Daiyu understood that Baoyu had written them in a moment of wounded feeling, and found it both laughable and lamentable. She said to Xiren, "It's just something written for amusement—nothing of consequence." So saying, she took it back to her room with her, and looked at it together with Xiangyun.次日又與寶釵看。The next day she showed it to Baochai as well.寶釵看其詞曰：Baochai read the lyric, which said:

谁想黛玉见宝玉此番果断而去，故以寻袭人为由，来视动静。袭人笑回：“已经睡了。”黛玉听说，便要回去。袭人笑道：“姑娘请站住，有一个字帖儿，瞧瞧是什么话。”说著，便将方才那曲子与偈语悄悄拿来，递与黛玉看。黛玉看了，知是宝玉一时感忿而作，不觉可笑可叹，便向袭人道：“作的是玩意儿，无甚关系。”说毕，便携了回房去，与湘云同看。次日又与宝钗看。宝钗看其词曰：

無我原非你，從他不解伊。There was no 'I' to begin with, that was never 'you'; let others fail to understand it as they will.肆行無礙憑來去。Act freely, without hindrance, coming and going as you please.茫茫著甚悲愁喜，紛紛說甚親疏密。Vast and boundless—what is there to grieve over, to sorrow or rejoice over? Endlessly people speak of closeness and distance, of intimacy and estrangement—what does it matter?從前碌碌卻因何，到如今回頭試想真無趣！All that busy toil of the past—what was it for? Now that I look back and truly consider it, how tiresome and pointless it all was!

无我原非你，从他不解伊。肆行无碍凭来去。茫茫著甚悲愁喜，纷纷说甚亲疏密。从前碌碌却因何，到如今回头试想真无趣！

看畢，又看那偈語，又笑道：“這個人悟了。Having finished reading, she went on to look at the gatha as well, and said with a smile, "This person has attained enlightenment.都是我的不是，都是我昨兒一支曲子惹出來的。It is all my fault—all brought on by that one song of mine yesterday.這些道書禪机最能移性。These Taoist and Buddhist writings, this talk of Zen mysteries, are the very things most apt to unsettle one's nature.明兒認真說起這些瘋話來，存了這個意思，都是從我這一只曲子上來，我成了個罪魁了。”說著，便撕了個粉碎，遞與丫頭們說：“快燒了罷。”黛玉笑道：“不該撕，等我問他。If tomorrow he takes to spouting this kind of mad talk in earnest, and it becomes lodged in his mind, it will all have come from that one song of mine—I shall have become the chief culprit." So saying, she tore it to shreds and handed the pieces to the maids, saying, "Quick, go burn these." Daiyu said with a smile, "You shouldn't have torn it—let me question him first.你們跟我來，包管叫他收了這個痴心邪話。”三人果然都往寶玉屋里來。Come with me, the two of you, and I guarantee I'll make him give up this foolish, heterodox nonsense." The three of them then went together to Baoyu's room.一進來，黛玉便笑道：“寶玉，我問你：至貴者是‘寶’，至堅者是‘玉’。As soon as they entered, Daiyu said with a smile, "Baoyu, let me ask you: the most precious of things is 'precious' (bao), the hardest of things is 'jade' (yu).爾有何貴？In what way are you precious?爾有何堅？”寶玉竟不能答。In what way are you hard?" Baoyu could not answer at all.三人拍手笑道：“這樣鈍愚，還參禪呢。”黛玉又道：“你那偈末云，‘無可云證，是立足境’，固然好了，只是据我看，還未盡善。The three of them clapped their hands and laughed, saying, "So dull-witted, and yet you would study Zen!" Daiyu went on, "The closing lines of your gatha, 'nothing at all can be spoken of as witness, that is the ground on which one stands'—that is well enough, but to my mind it is not yet perfect.我再續兩句在後。”因念云：“無立足境，是方乾淨。”寶釵道：“實在這方悟徹。Let me add two more lines after it." And she recited: "Where there is no ground to stand on at all—that is truly clean and pure." Baochai said, "That is indeed the thorough enlightenment.當日南宗六祖惠能，初尋師至韶州，聞五祖弘忍在黃梅，他便充役火頭僧。Long ago the Sixth Patriarch of the Southern school, Huineng, when he first went seeking a teacher and arrived at Shaozhou, heard that the Fifth Patriarch Hongren was at Huangmei, and so he took up the humble post of a fire-tending monk in the kitchen.五祖欲求法嗣，令徒弟諸僧各出一偈。The Fifth Patriarch, wishing to choose a successor to transmit the Dharma to, had all the monk disciples each compose a gatha.上座神秀說道：‘身是菩提樹，心如明鏡台，時時勤拂拭，莫使有塵埃。’彼時惠能在廚房碓米，聽了這偈，說道：‘美則美矣，了則未了。’因自念一偈曰：‘菩提本非樹，明鏡亦非台，本來無一物，何處染塵埃？”五祖便將衣缽傳他。The head monk Shenxiu said: 'The body is the bodhi tree, the mind is like a bright mirror's stand; at all times diligently wipe and polish it, and let no dust settle upon it.' At that time Huineng was in the kitchen pounding rice; hearing this gatha, he said, 'Beautiful indeed, but not yet complete.' And so he composed a gatha of his own: 'Bodhi is originally no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand; from the beginning not one thing exists—where then could dust ever settle?' Whereupon the Fifth Patriarch transmitted the robe and bowl to him.今兒這偈語，亦同此意了。Today's gatha carries the very same meaning.只是方才這句机鋒，尚未完全了結，這便丟開手不成？”黛玉笑道：“彼時不能答，就算輸了，這會子答上了也不為出奇。It's only that the sharp exchange just now hasn't yet been properly settled—are we simply to drop the matter and let it go?" Daiyu said with a smile, "That he could not answer just now already counts as his having lost; that he can answer now is nothing remarkable.只是以後再不許談禪了。Only, from now on he is never again to be allowed to talk of Zen.連我們兩個所知所能的，你還不知不能呢，還去參禪呢。”寶玉自己以為覺悟，不想忽被黛玉一問，便不能答，寶釵又比出”語錄”來，此皆素不見他們能者。Even what the two of us know and are capable of, you still do not know and cannot do—and yet you would go off to study Zen!" Baoyu, who had believed himself enlightened, found that when Daiyu suddenly questioned him he could not answer, and then Baochai went and cited scriptural precedent besides—things he had never before known them capable of.自己想了一想：“原來他們比我的知覺在先，尚未解悟，我如今何必自尋苦惱。”想畢，便笑道：“誰又參禪，不過一時頑話罷了。”說著，四人仍复如舊。He thought it over to himself: "So it turns out their understanding is ahead of mine, and I have not yet truly attained enlightenment—why should I go on tormenting myself now?" Having thought this through, he said with a smile, "Who's studying Zen? It was only idle talk for the moment." So saying, the four of them were once again on their usual easy terms.忽然人報，娘娘差人送出一個燈謎兒，命你們大家去猜，猜著了每人也作一個進去。Suddenly word came that Her Grace the Imperial Consort had sent someone out with a lantern riddle, ordering all of them to go and guess it, and that whoever guessed it correctly should also compose one to send back in.四人聽說忙出去，至賈母上房。The four of them, hearing this, hurried out to Grandmother Jia's main apartments.只見一個小太監，拿了一盞四角平頭白紗燈，專為燈謎而制，上面已有一個，眾人都爭看亂猜。There they saw a young eunuch holding a square, flat-topped white gauze lantern made especially for lantern riddles, on which one riddle was already written; everyone crowded around, vying to look and guessing wildly.小太監又下諭道：“眾小姐猜著了，不要說出來，每人只暗暗的寫在紙上，一齊封進宮去，娘娘自驗是否。”寶釵等聽了，近前一看，是一首七言絕句，并無甚新奇，口中少不得稱贊，只說難猜，故意尋思，其實一見就猜著了。The young eunuch further conveyed the order: "When the young ladies have guessed it, they are not to say it aloud—each is only to write it down quietly on a slip of paper, and all the slips are to be sealed together and sent into the palace, for Her Grace herself to check whether they are right." Baochai and the others, hearing this, went up close to look: it was a seven-character quatrain, nothing especially novel, though of course they could not help but praise it, all declaring it hard to guess, and making a show of pondering it deeply—when in fact they had guessed it the instant they saw it.寶玉，黛玉，湘雲，探春四個人也都解了，各自暗暗的寫了半日。Baoyu, Daiyu, Xiangyun, and Tanchun, the four of them, also all worked it out, and each quietly spent a good while writing down her own answer.一并將賈環，賈蘭等傳來，一齊各揣机心都猜了，寫在紙上。Jia Huan and Jia Lan too were summoned along with the rest, and everyone racked their own brains and guessed away, writing their answers down on paper.然後各人拈一物作成一謎，恭楷寫了，挂在燈上。Then each person chose an object and composed a riddle of her own, wrote it out in careful formal script, and hung it upon a lantern.

看毕，又看那偈语，又笑道：“这个人悟了。都是我的不是，都是我昨儿一支曲子惹出来的。这些道书禅机最能移性。明儿认真说起这些疯话来，存了这个意思，都是从我这一只曲子上来，我成了个罪魁了。”说著，便撕了个粉碎，递与丫头们说：“快烧了罢。”黛玉笑道：“不该撕，等我问他。你们跟我来，包管叫他收了这个痴心邪话。”三人果然都往宝玉屋里来。一进来，黛玉便笑道：“宝玉，我问你：至贵者是‘宝’，至坚者是‘玉’。尔有何贵？尔有何坚？”宝玉竟不能答。三人拍手笑道：“这样钝愚，还参禅呢。”黛玉又道：“你那偈末云，‘无可云证，是立足境’，固然好了，只是据我看，还未尽善。我再续两句在后。”因念云：“无立足境，是方干净。”宝钗道：“实在这方悟彻。当日南宗六祖惠能，初寻师至韶州，闻五祖弘忍在黄梅，他便充役火头僧。五祖欲求法嗣，令徒弟诸僧各出一偈。上座神秀说道：‘身是菩提树，心如明镜台，时时勤拂拭，莫使有尘埃。’彼时惠能在厨房碓米，听了这偈，说道：‘美则美矣，了则未了。’因自念一偈曰：‘菩提本非树，明镜亦非台，本来无一物，何处染尘埃？”五祖便将衣钵传他。今儿这偈语，亦同此意了。只是方才这句机锋，尚未完全了结，这便丢开手不成？”黛玉笑道：“彼时不能答，就算输了，这会子答上了也不为出奇。只是以后再不许谈禅了。连我们两个所知所能的，你还不知不能呢，还去参禅呢。”宝玉自己以为觉悟，不想忽被黛玉一问，便不能答，宝钗又比出”语录”来，此皆素不见他们能者。自己想了一想：“原来他们比我的知觉在先，尚未解悟，我如今何必自寻苦恼。”想毕，便笑道：“谁又参禅，不过一时顽话罢了。”说著，四人仍复如旧。忽然人报，娘娘差人送出一个灯谜儿，命你们大家去猜，猜著了每人也作一个进去。四人听说忙出去，至贾母上房。只见一个小太监，拿了一盏四角平头白纱灯，专为灯谜而制，上面已有一个，众人都争看乱猜。小太监又下谕道：“众小姐猜著了，不要说出来，每人只暗暗的写在纸上，一齐封进宫去，娘娘自验是否。”宝钗等听了，近前一看，是一首七言绝句，并无甚新奇，口中少不得称赞，只说难猜，故意寻思，其实一见就猜著了。宝玉，黛玉，湘云，探春四个人也都解了，各自暗暗的写了半日。一并将贾环，贾兰等传来，一齐各揣机心都猜了，写在纸上。然后各人拈一物作成一谜，恭楷写了，挂在灯上。

太監去了，至晚出來傳諭：“前娘娘所製，俱已猜著，惟二小姐與三爺猜的不是。The eunuch left, and toward evening came out again to convey the decree: "As for the riddle Her Grace composed earlier, everyone has guessed it correctly, except that the Second Young Lady and the Third Young Master guessed wrongly.小姐們作的也都猜了，不知是否。”說著，也將寫的拿出來。As for the riddles the young ladies composed, Her Grace has also guessed them all, but does not know whether she is right or not." So saying, he also brought out the slips on which the answers had been written.也有猜著的，也有猜不著的，都胡亂說猜著了。Some had indeed been guessed correctly, some had not, but everyone claimed, however loosely, to have gotten it right.太監又將頒賜之物送與猜著之人，每人一個宮製詩筒，一柄茶筅，獨迎春，賈環二人未得。The eunuch then also handed out the rewards bestowed to those who had guessed correctly—each person receiving a palace-made poem tube and a tea whisk—only Yingchun and Jia Huan received nothing.迎春自為玩笑小事，并不介意，賈環便覺得沒趣。Yingchun, regarding it merely as a trifling joke, did not take it to heart at all, but Jia Huan felt quite put out.且又聽太監說：“三爺說的這個不通，娘娘也沒猜，叫我帶回問三爺是個什麼。”眾人聽了，都來看他作的什麼，寫道是：And then, hearing the eunuch say further, "The Third Young Master's riddle makes no sense at all—Her Grace could not guess it either, and has sent me back to ask the Third Young Master what it is," everyone came over to see what he had written, which read:

太监去了，至晚出来传谕：“前娘娘所制，俱已猜著，惟二小姐与三爷猜的不是。小姐们作的也都猜了，不知是否。”说著，也将写的拿出来。也有猜著的，也有猜不著的，都胡乱说猜著了。太监又将颁赐之物送与猜著之人，每人一个宫制诗筒，一柄茶筅，独迎春，贾环二人未得。迎春自为玩笑小事，并不介意，贾环便觉得没趣。且又听太监说：“三爷说的这个不通，娘娘也没猜，叫我带回问三爷是个什么。”众人听了，都来看他作的什么，写道是：

大哥有角只八個，二哥有角只兩根。Elder brother has horns, only eight of them; second brother has horns, only two.

大哥有角只八个，二哥有角只两根。

大哥只在床上坐，二哥愛在房上蹲。Elder brother only sits upon the bed; second brother likes to crouch upon the roof.

大哥只在床上坐，二哥爱在房上蹲。

眾人看了，大發一笑。Everyone read this and burst out laughing.賈環只得告訴太監說：“一個枕頭，一個獸頭。”太監記了，領茶而去。Jia Huan had no choice but to explain to the eunuch, "One is a pillow, the other is a roof-ridge beast-head ornament." The eunuch noted this down, and took his leave with the tea.

众人看了，大发一笑。贾环只得告诉太监说：“一个枕头，一个兽头。”太监记了，领茶而去。

賈母見元春這般有興，自己越發喜樂，便命速作一架小巧精致圍屏燈來，設于當屋，命他姊妹各自暗暗的作了，寫出來粘于屏上，然後預備下香茶細果以及各色玩物，為猜著之賀。Seeing Yuanchun so full of high spirits, Grandmother Jia herself grew all the more delighted, and at once ordered that a small, exquisitely made folding screen-lantern be set up in the middle of the hall without delay; she had her granddaughters each quietly compose a riddle, write it out, and paste it upon the screen, and then had fragrant tea, delicate fruits, and various playthings of every kind prepared beforehand, as rewards for whoever guessed correctly.賈政朝罷，見賈母高興，況在節間，晚上也來承歡取樂。Jia Zheng, having finished court that day, and seeing how pleased Grandmother Jia was, and it being moreover a festival season, came that evening as well to pay his respects and share in the merriment.設了酒果，備了玩物，上房懸了彩燈，請賈母賞燈取樂。Wine and fruit were laid out, playthings prepared, and colored lanterns hung in the main apartments, and Grandmother Jia was invited to enjoy the lanterns and make merry.上面賈母，賈政，寶玉一席，下面王夫人、寶釵、黛玉、湘雲又一席，迎、探、惜三個又一席。At the head sat Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng, and Baoyu at one table; below, Lady Wang, Baochai, Daiyu, and Xiangyun at another table; and Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun at yet another.地下婆娘丫鬟站滿。Below, the serving women and maids stood filling the room.李宮裁、王熙鳳二人在里間又一席。Li Gongcai (Li Wan) and Wang Xifeng sat together at still another table in the inner room.賈政因不見賈蘭，便問：“怎麼不見蘭哥？”地下婆娘忙進里間問李氏，李氏起身笑著回道：“他說方才老爺并沒去叫他，他不肯來。”婆娘回复了賈政。Jia Zheng, not seeing Jia Lan among them, asked, "How is it Lan-ge is not here?" A serving woman below hurried into the inner room to ask Madam Li about it, and Li Wan rose and answered with a smile, "He says that just now the Master did not go to call him himself, so he wouldn't come." The serving woman relayed this answer to Jia Zheng.眾人都笑說：“天生的牛心古怪。”賈政忙遣賈環與兩個婆娘將賈蘭喚來。Everyone said with a laugh, "Born with such a stubborn, contrary nature!" Jia Zheng at once sent Jia Huan and two serving women to fetch Jia Lan.賈母命他在身旁坐了，抓果品與他吃。Grandmother Jia had him sit beside her, and picked out fruits and sweets for him to eat.大家說笑取樂。Everyone talked and laughed and made merry.

贾母见元春这般有兴，自己越发喜乐，便命速作一架小巧精致围屏灯来，设于当屋，命他姊妹各自暗暗的作了，写出来粘于屏上，然后预备下香茶细果以及各色玩物，为猜著之贺。贾政朝罢，见贾母高兴，况在节间，晚上也来承欢取乐。设了酒果，备了玩物，上房悬了彩灯，请贾母赏灯取乐。上面贾母，贾政，宝玉一席，下面王夫人、宝钗、黛玉、湘云又一席，迎、探、惜三个又一席。地下婆娘丫鬟站满。李宫裁、王熙凤二人在里间又一席。贾政因不见贾兰，便问：“怎么不见兰哥？”地下婆娘忙进里间问李氏，李氏起身笑著回道：“他说方才老爷并没去叫他，他不肯来。”婆娘回复了贾政。众人都笑说：“天生的牛心古怪。”贾政忙遣贾环与两个婆娘将贾兰唤来。贾母命他在身旁坐了，抓果品与他吃。大家说笑取乐。

往常間只有寶玉長談闊論，今日賈政在這里，便惟有唯唯而已。On ordinary days it was always Baoyu who held forth at great length, but today, with Jia Zheng present, he could do no more than murmur yes, yes.餘者湘雲雖系閨閣弱女，卻素喜談論，今日賈政在席，也自緘口禁言。As for the rest, Xiangyun, though a young lady of the inner chambers, was ordinarily fond of talking freely, but today, with Jia Zheng at the table, she too kept her mouth firmly shut.黛玉本性懶與人共，原不肯多語。Daiyu, being by nature reluctant to mix much with others, was in any case not inclined to talk much.寶釵原不妄言輕動，便此時亦是坦然自若。Baochai, who never spoke rashly or acted lightly, remained composed and at ease even now as always.故此一席雖是家常取樂，反見拘束不樂。And so, though this gathering was meant as ordinary family merrymaking, it felt instead constrained and joyless.賈母亦知因賈政一人在此所致之故，酒過三巡，便攆賈政去歇息。Grandmother Jia, too, knew this was on account of Jia Zheng alone being present, and once the wine had gone round three times, she sent Jia Zheng off to rest.賈政亦知賈母之意，攆了自己去後，好讓他們姊妹兄弟取樂的。Jia Zheng also understood Grandmother Jia's intention—that by sending him away she meant to let the young cousins, brothers and sisters, enjoy themselves freely.賈政忙陪笑道：“今日原聽見老太太這里大設春燈雅謎，故也備了彩禮酒席，特來入會。Jia Zheng hurriedly said with a smiling face, "Today, hearing that Your Venerable Ladyship was holding this elegant gathering of spring lanterns and riddles, I too prepared some small gifts and a wine feast, and came especially to join in the fun.何疼孫子孫女之心，便不略賜以兒子半點？”賈母笑道：“你在這里，他們都不敢說笑，沒的倒叫我悶。How could I be so fond of my grandsons and granddaughters and not grant even a little of that affection to my own son?" Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "With you here, none of them dare laugh or talk freely, and it only makes things dull for me instead.你要猜謎時，我便說一個你猜，猜不著是要罰的。”賈政忙笑道：“自然要罰。If you want to guess riddles, I'll give you one to guess, and if you can't guess it you'll be punished." Jia Zheng said hastily with a smile, "Of course I should be punished.若猜著了，也是要領賞的。”賈母道：“這個自然。”說著便念道：And if I guess it right, I ought to receive a reward too." Grandmother Jia said, "That goes without saying." So saying, she recited:

往常间只有宝玉长谈阔论，今日贾政在这里，便惟有唯唯而已。余者湘云虽系闺阁弱女，却素喜谈论，今日贾政在席，也自缄口禁言。黛玉本性懒与人共，原不肯多语。宝钗原不妄言轻动，便此时亦是坦然自若。故此一席虽是家常取乐，反见拘束不乐。贾母亦知因贾政一人在此所致之故，酒过三巡，便撵贾政去歇息。贾政亦知贾母之意，撵了自己去后，好让他们姊妹兄弟取乐的。贾政忙陪笑道：“今日原听见老太太这里大设春灯雅谜，故也备了彩礼酒席，特来入会。何疼孙子孙女之心，便不略赐以儿子半点？”贾母笑道：“你在这里，他们都不敢说笑，没的倒叫我闷。你要猜谜时，我便说一个你猜，猜不著是要罚的。”贾政忙笑道：“自然要罚。若猜著了，也是要领赏的。”贾母道：“这个自然。”说著便念道：

猴子身輕站樹梢。The monkey, light of body, stands upon the treetop.

猴子身轻站树梢。

——打一果名。—Guess the name of a fruit.

賈政已知是荔枝，便故意亂猜別的，罰了許多東西，然後方猜著，也得了賈母的東西。Jia Zheng already knew it was lychee, but deliberately guessed all sorts of other wrong answers, letting himself be fined many things, and only then guessed correctly, thereby also receiving Grandmother Jia's reward.然後也念一個與賈母猜，念道：Then he too recited one for Grandmother Jia to guess, reciting:

贾政已知是荔枝，便故意乱猜别的，罚了许多东西，然后方猜著，也得了贾母的东西。然后也念一个与贾母猜，念道：

身自端方，体自堅硬。Upright and proper in itself, firm and hard in substance.

身自端方，体自坚硬。

雖不能言，有言必應。Though it cannot speak, whatever is said to it, it must respond.

虽不能言，有言必应。

——打一用物。—Guess a household object.

說畢，便悄悄的說與寶玉。Having finished, he quietly told the answer to Baoyu.寶玉意會，又悄悄的告訴了賈母。Baoyu, understanding the hint, quietly told it to Grandmother Jia in turn.賈母想了想，果然不差，便說：“是硯臺。”賈政笑道：“到底是老太太，一猜就是。”回頭說：“快把賀彩送上來。”地下婦女答應一聲，大盤小盤一齊捧上。Grandmother Jia thought it over, and indeed was not mistaken; she said, "It's an ink-slab." Jia Zheng said with a smile, "No wonder—it's Your Venerable Ladyship, guessing it the instant she hears it." Turning his head, he said, "Quick, bring up the congratulatory reward." The women below answered at once, and large trays and small trays were held up together and presented.賈母逐件看去，都是燈節下所用所頑新巧之物，甚喜，遂命：“給你老爺斟酒。”寶玉執壺，迎春送酒。Grandmother Jia looked over each item one by one; they were all novel and clever things for use or play at the Lantern Festival, and she was greatly pleased, and at once ordered, "Pour your master some wine." Baoyu held the pot, and Yingchun poured the wine.賈母因說：“你瞧瞧那屏上，都是他姊妹們做的，再猜一猜我聽。”Grandmother Jia then said, "Go and look at what's on that screen—they're all things your cousins made—and guess a few more for me to hear."

说毕，便悄悄的说与宝玉。宝玉意会，又悄悄的告诉了贾母。贾母想了想，果然不差，便说：“是砚台。”贾政笑道：“到底是老太太，一猜就是。”回头说：“快把贺彩送上来。”地下妇女答应一声，大盘小盘一齐捧上。贾母逐件看去，都是灯节下所用所顽新巧之物，甚喜，遂命：“给你老爷斟酒。”宝玉执壶，迎春送酒。贾母因说：“你瞧瞧那屏上，都是他姊妹们做的，再猜一猜我听。”

賈政答應，起身走至屏前，只見頭一個寫道是：Jia Zheng assented, rose, and went over to the screen; the first one he saw read:

贾政答应，起身走至屏前，只见头一个写道是：

能使妖魔膽盡摧，身如束帛氣如雷。It can crush the courage of demons and spirits utterly; its body is like bundled silk, its voice like thunder.

能使妖魔胆尽摧，身如束帛气如雷。

一聲震得人方恐，回首相看已化灰。One report, and people are struck with fear; turning to look again, it has already turned to ash.

一声震得人方恐，回首相看已化灰。

賈政道：“這是炮竹嗄。”寶玉答道：“是。”賈政又看道：Jia Zheng said, "This is a firecracker, is it not?" Baoyu answered, "Yes." Jia Zheng looked further and saw:

贾政道：“这是炮竹嗄。”宝玉答道：“是。”贾政又看道：

天運人功理不窮，有功無運也難逢。Heaven's workings and human effort—their principle is inexhaustible; with effort but without fortune, it too is hard to encounter.

天运人功理不穷，有功无运也难逢。

因何鎮日紛紛亂，只為陰陽數不同。Why is it that all day long it clacks in busy confusion? Only because yin and yang do not share the same number.

因何镇日纷纷乱，只为阴阳数不同。

賈政道：“是算盤。”迎春笑道：“是。”又往下看是：Jia Zheng said, "It's an abacus." Yingchun said with a smile, "Yes." Looking further down, there was:

贾政道：“是算盘。”迎春笑道：“是。”又往下看是：

階下兒童仰面時，清明妝點最堪宜。When children below the steps raise their faces to look up, it suits best the adornment of the Qingming season.

阶下儿童仰面时，清明妆点最堪宜。

游絲一斷渾無力，莫向東風怨別離。Once the trailing thread snaps, it has no strength left at all—do not, in the east wind, resent the parting.

游丝一断浑无力，莫向东风怨别离。

賈政道：“這是風箏。”探春笑道：“是。”又看道是：Jia Zheng said, "This is a kite." Tanchun said with a smile, "Yes." Looking further, there was:

贾政道：“这是风筝。”探春笑道：“是。”又看道是：

前身色相總無成，不聽菱歌聽佛經。In its former incarnation its form and substance came to nothing at all; it listens not to the water-caltrop songs but to the Buddhist sutras.

前身色相总无成，不听菱歌听佛经。

莫道此生沉黑海，性中自有大光明。Do not say that this life is sunk in a black sea—within its very nature there is already great and boundless light.

賈政道：“這是佛前海燈嗄。”惜春笑答道：“是海燈。”Jia Zheng said, "This is the oil lamp before the Buddha, is it not?" Xichun answered with a smile, "Yes, the sea-lamp."

贾政道：“这是佛前海灯嗄。”惜春笑答道：“是海灯。”

賈政心內沉思道：“娘娘所作爆竹，此乃一響而散之物。Jia Zheng, sunk in thought within his heart, said to himself: "The firecracker that Her Grace composed is a thing that scatters with a single burst.迎春所作算盤，是打動亂如麻。The abacus that Yingchun composed is a thing struck and set into disorder like tangled hemp.探春所作風箏，乃飄飄浮蕩之物。The kite that Tanchun composed is a thing that drifts and floats aimlessly.惜春所作海燈，一發清淨孤獨。The sea-lamp that Xichun composed turns wholly to pure, solitary emptiness.今乃上元佳節，如何皆作此不祥之物為戲耶？”心內愈思愈悶，因在賈母之前，不敢形于色，只得仍勉強往下看去。Now this is the joyous festival of the fifteenth of the first month—how is it that they have all, as their playthings, composed such inauspicious things?" The more he thought about it inwardly, the more troubled he grew, but being in Grandmother Jia's presence, he dared not let it show on his face, and could only force himself to go on looking further.只見後面寫著七言律詩一首，卻是寶釵所作，隨念道：He saw that behind these was written a seven-character regulated verse, which was Baochai's composition, and he read it aloud:

贾政心内沉思道：“娘娘所作爆竹，此乃一响而散之物。迎春所作算盘，是打动乱如麻。探春所作风筝，乃飘飘浮荡之物。惜春所作海灯，一发清净孤独。今乃上元佳节，如何皆作此不祥之物为戏耶？”心内愈思愈闷，因在贾母之前，不敢形于色，只得仍勉强往下看去。只见后面写著七言律诗一首，却是宝钗所作，随念道：

朝罷誰攜兩袖煙，琴邊衾里總無緣。After court, who is it that carries smoke on both sleeves home—by the lute, beneath the quilt, there is never any bond.

朝罢谁携两袖烟，琴边衾里总无缘。

曉籌不用雞人報，五夜無煩侍女添。It needs no cockcrow-watchman to announce the dawn hour, nor troubles the waiting maids through the five night-watches to tend it.

晓筹不用鸡人报，五夜无烦侍女添。

焦首朝朝還暮暮，煎心日日复年年。Its head scorches, morning after morning, evening after evening; its heart is fried, day after day, year after year.

焦首朝朝还暮暮，煎心日日复年年。

光陰荏苒須當惜，風雨陰晴任變遷。Time slips by swiftly and should be cherished—wind and rain, clear skies and clouded, come and go as they will.

光阴荏苒须当惜，风雨阴晴任变迁。

賈政看完，心內自忖道：“此物還倒有限。Having finished reading, Jia Zheng thought to himself: "This object, too, has but a limited span.只是小小之人作此詞句，更覺不祥，皆非永遠福壽之輩。”想到此處，愈覺煩悶，大有悲戚之狀，因而將适才的精神減去十分之八九，只垂頭沉思。It is only that for such young people to compose such lines feels all the more inauspicious—none of them seem the sort marked for lasting fortune and long life." Turning this over in his mind, he grew ever more troubled, showing something very much like sorrow and grief, and so the high spirits of a moment ago drained away by eight or nine parts out of ten, and he could only bow his head and sink into brooding silence.

贾政看完，心内自忖道：“此物还倒有限。只是小小之人作此词句，更觉不祥，皆非永远福寿之辈。”想到此处，愈觉烦闷，大有悲戚之状，因而将适才的精神减去十分之八九，只垂头沉思。

賈母見賈政如此光景，想到或是他身体勞乏亦未可定，又兼之恐拘束了眾姊妹不得高興頑耍，即對賈政：“你竟不必猜了，去安歇罷。Seeing Jia Zheng in such a state, Grandmother Jia thought it might perhaps be that he was worn out in body, and besides, feared that his presence was constraining the young cousins and keeping them from enjoying themselves freely, so she said to Jia Zheng, "You need not go on guessing—go and rest.讓我們再坐一會，也好散了。”賈政一聞此言，連忙答應幾個”是”字，又勉強勸了賈母一回酒，方才退出去了。Let us sit a little longer, and then it will be time enough to break up." As soon as Jia Zheng heard this, he hastily answered with several "Yes"es, and after forcing himself to urge a little more wine upon Grandmother Jia, at last withdrew.回至房中只是思索，翻來复去竟難成寐，不由傷悲感慨，不在話下。Back in his room he could do nothing but ponder, tossing and turning, quite unable to fall asleep, and could not help feeling sorrowful and moved to sighs—but that need not be dwelt on here.

贾母见贾政如此光景，想到或是他身体劳乏亦未可定，又兼之恐拘束了众姊妹不得高兴顽耍，即对贾政：“你竟不必猜了，去安歇罢。让我们再坐一会，也好散了。”贾政一闻此言，连忙答应几个”是”字，又勉强劝了贾母一回酒，方才退出去了。回至房中只是思索，翻来复去竟难成寐，不由伤悲感慨，不在话下。

且說賈母見賈政去了，便道：“你們可自在樂一樂罷。”一言未了，早見寶玉跑至圍屏燈前，指手畫腳，滿口批評，這個這一句不好，那一個破的不恰當，如同開了鎖的猴子一般。Now to tell of Grandmother Jia: seeing that Jia Zheng had gone, she said, "Now you may all enjoy yourselves freely." Before the words were even finished, there was Baoyu, already dashing up to the folding-screen lanterns, pointing and gesturing, mouth running on with criticisms—this line no good, that one's interpretation not quite apt—exactly like a monkey let loose from its chain.寶釵便道：“還象适才坐著，大家說說笑笑，豈不斯文些兒。”鳳姐自里間忙出來插口道：“你這個人，就該老爺每日令你寸步不離方好。Baochai said, "Wouldn't it be a little more refined if we all sat as we were just now, talking and laughing together?" Xifeng hurried out from the inner room to put in a word: "As for you, the Master really ought to keep you at his side every single day, never letting you a step away, and that would serve you right.适才我忘了，為什麼不當著老爺，攛掇叫你也作詩謎兒。Just now I forgot myself—why didn't I egg you on to compose a poem-riddle too, right in front of the Master?若果如此，怕不得這會子正出汗呢。”說的寶玉急了，扯著鳳姐兒，扭股兒糖似的只是廝纏。If that had happened, I daresay you'd be breaking out in a cold sweat about now." This so flustered Baoyu that he pulled at Xifeng and clung to her, twisting and pestering like a strand of taffy being pulled.賈母又與李宮裁并眾姊妹說笑了一會，也覺有些困倦起來。Grandmother Jia chatted and laughed with Li Gongcai and the girls for a while, and then began to feel somewhat drowsy.聽了聽已是漏下四鼓，命將食物撤去，賞散與眾人，隨起身道：“我們安歇罷。Listening a moment, she realized it was already the fourth watch, so she ordered the food cleared away and the remainder distributed among the servants as gifts, then rose to her feet and said, "Let us retire.明日還是節下，該當早起。Tomorrow is still a festival day, and we ought to rise early.明日晚間再玩罷。”且聽下回分解。We'll play again tomorrow evening." And what happened next will be told in the following chapter.

且说贾母见贾政去了，便道：“你们可自在乐一乐罢。”一言未了，早见宝玉跑至围屏灯前，指手画脚，满口批评，这个这一句不好，那一个破的不恰当，如同开了锁的猴子一般。宝钗便道：“还象适才坐著，大家说说笑笑，岂不斯文些儿。”凤姐自里间忙出来插口道：“你这个人，就该老爷每日令你寸步不离方好。适才我忘了，为什么不当著老爷，撺掇叫你也作诗谜儿。若果如此，怕不得这会子正出汗呢。”说的宝玉急了，扯著凤姐儿，扭股儿糖似的只是厮缠。贾母又与李宫裁并众姊妹说笑了一会，也觉有些困倦起来。听了听已是漏下四鼓，命将食物撤去，赏散与众人，随起身道：“我们安歇罢。明日还是节下，该当早起。明日晚间再玩罢。”且听下回分解。