第三十回　　寶釵借扇機帶雙敲　齡官劃薔痴及局外 Baochai Uses a Fan to Strike Two Blows; Lingguan Traces the Word 'Qiang' Lost in Devotion

話說林黛玉與寶玉角口後，也自後悔，但又無去就他之理，因此日夜悶悶，如有所失。After Lin Daiyu’s quarrel with Baoyu, she too regretted it, yet saw no reason to go and make up with him; thus she brooded day and night, feeling as though she had lost something.紫鵑度其意，乃勸道：“若論前日之事，竟是姑娘太浮躁了些。Zijuan guessed what was on her mind and advised her, “As for what happened the other day, Miss, you really were a little too hasty.別人不知寶玉那脾氣，難道咱們也不知道的。Others may not know Baoyu’s temper, but surely we do.為那玉也不是鬧了一遭兩遭了。”黛玉啐道：“你倒來替人派我的不是。That jade has caused trouble more than once or twice already.” Daiyu spat and said, “So now you have come to take his side and find fault with me.我怎麼浮躁了？”紫鵑笑道：“好好的，為什麼又剪了那穗子？How was I hasty?” Zijuan laughed. “Why did you cut off the tassel for no good reason?豈不是寶玉只有三分不是，姑娘倒有七分不是。Does that not mean Baoyu was only three parts at fault, while you, Miss, were seven parts at fault?我看他素日在姑娘身上就好，皆因姑娘小性兒，常要歪派他，才這麼樣。”From what I see, he has always treated you well; it is only because you are so touchy and forever accuse him unjustly that things turn out this way.”

话说林黛玉与宝玉角口后，也自后悔，但又无去就他之理，因此日夜闷闷，如有所失。紫鹃度其意，乃劝道：“若论前日之事，竟是姑娘太浮躁了些。别人不知宝玉那脾气，难道咱们也不知道的。为那玉也不是闹了一遭两遭了。”黛玉啐道：“你倒来替人派我的不是。我怎么浮躁了？”紫鹃笑道：“好好的，为什么又剪了那穗子？岂不是宝玉只有三分不是，姑娘倒有七分不是。我看他素日在姑娘身上就好，皆因姑娘小性儿，常要歪派他，才这么样。”

林黛玉正欲答話，只聽院外叫門。Lin Daiyu was just about to answer when she heard someone calling at the courtyard gate.紫鵑聽了一聽，笑道：“這是寶玉的聲音，想必是來賠不是來了。”林黛玉聽了道：“不許開門！”紫鵑道：“姑娘又不是了。Zijuan listened and laughed. “That is Baoyu’s voice; he must have come to apologize.” Hearing this, Lin Daiyu said, “You are not to open the gate!” Zijuan said, “There you go being unreasonable again, Miss.這麼熱天毒日頭地下，晒坏了他如何使得呢！”口里說著，便出去開門，果然是寶玉。How could we let him broil in such fierce sunlight on a hot day like this!” Even as she spoke, she went out and opened the gate, and sure enough it was Baoyu.一面讓他進來，一面笑道：“我只當是寶二爺再不上我們這門了，誰知這會子又來了。”寶玉笑道：“你們把极小的事倒說大了。As she ushered him in, she laughed and said, “I thought Second Master Bao would never darken our door again; who would have thought you would come back now?” Baoyu laughed. “You have made a great matter out of the tiniest thing.好好的為什麼不來？Why should I stop coming when all is well?我便死了，魂也要一日來一百遭。Even if I died, my spirit would still come a hundred times a day.妹妹可大好了？”紫鵑道：“身上病好了，只是心里氣不大好。”寶玉笑道：“我曉得有什麼氣。”一面說著，一面進來，只見林黛玉又在床上哭。Is Younger Sister quite well again?” Zijuan said, “Her bodily illness is better, but the anger in her heart is not.” Baoyu laughed. “I know what she is angry about.” As he spoke, he went inside and saw Lin Daiyu weeping on the bed again.

林黛玉正欲答话，只听院外叫门。紫鹃听了一听，笑道：“这是宝玉的声音，想必是来赔不是来了。”林黛玉听了道：“不许开门！”紫鹃道：“姑娘又不是了。这么热天毒日头地下，晒坏了他如何使得呢！”口里说著，便出去开门，果然是宝玉。一面让他进来，一面笑道：“我只当是宝二爷再不上我们这门了，谁知这会子又来了。”宝玉笑道：“你们把极小的事倒说大了。好好的为什么不来？我便死了，魂也要一日来一百遭。妹妹可大好了？”紫鹃道：“身上病好了，只是心里气不大好。”宝玉笑道：“我晓得有什么气。”一面说著，一面进来，只见林黛玉又在床上哭。

那林黛玉本不曾哭，聽見寶玉來，由不得傷了心，止不住滾下淚來。Lin Daiyu had not actually been crying, but when she heard Baoyu had come, her heart ached despite herself, and tears began rolling down uncontrollably.寶玉笑著走近床來，道：“妹妹身上可大好了？”林黛玉只顧拭淚，并不答應。Baoyu approached the bed with a smile and said, “Are you quite well again, Younger Sister?” Lin Daiyu merely wiped away her tears and made no reply.寶玉因便挨在床沿上坐了，一面笑道：“我知道妹妹不惱我。Baoyu therefore sat close beside her on the edge of the bed and said with a smile, “I know you are not angry with me.但只是我不來，叫旁人看著，倒象是咱們又拌了嘴的似的。But if I stayed away and others saw it, they would think we had quarreled again.若等他們來勸咱們，那時節豈不咱們倒覺生分了？If we waited for them to come and reconcile us, would that not make us feel estranged from each other?不如這會子，你要打要罵，憑著你怎麼樣，千萬別不理我。”說著，又把”好妹妹”叫了幾萬聲。So now, whether you want to hit or scold me, do whatever you please—only, whatever you do, do not ignore me.” With that, he called her “dear Younger Sister” thousands upon thousands of times.林黛玉心里原是再不理寶玉的，這會子見寶玉說別叫人知道他們拌了嘴就生分了似的這一句話，又可見得比人原親近，因又撐不住哭道：“你也不用哄我。Lin Daiyu had originally resolved never to speak to Baoyu again, but when she heard him say that letting others know of their quarrel would make them seem estranged, it showed that they were closer than other people after all; unable to hold out, she wept and said, “You need not coax me.從今以後，我也不敢親近二爺，二爺也全當我去了。”寶玉聽了笑道：“你往那去呢？”林黛玉道：“我回家去。”寶玉笑道：“我跟了你去。”林黛玉道：“我死了。”寶玉道：“你死了，我做和尚！”林黛玉一聞此言，登時將臉放下來，問道：“想是你要死了，胡說的是什麼！From now on, I shall not presume to be close to Second Master, and Second Master may simply regard me as gone.” Baoyu laughed. “Where would you go?” Lin Daiyu said, “Back home.” Baoyu laughed. “Then I shall go with you.” Lin Daiyu said, “I shall die.” Baoyu said, “If you die, I shall become a monk!” The moment Lin Daiyu heard this, her face fell, and she demanded, “Are you bent on dying, that you talk such nonsense?你家倒有幾個親姐姐親妹妹呢，明兒都死了，你幾個身子去作和尚？You have several own sisters and girl cousins in your family; if they all die tomorrow, how many bodies have you to become a monk with?明兒我倒把這話告訴別人去評評。”Tomorrow I shall tell others what you said and ask them to judge it.”

那林黛玉本不曾哭，听见宝玉来，由不得伤了心，止不住滚下泪来。宝玉笑著走近床来，道：“妹妹身上可大好了？”林黛玉只顾拭泪，并不答应。宝玉因便挨在床沿上坐了，一面笑道：“我知道妹妹不恼我。但只是我不来，叫旁人看著，倒象是咱们又拌了嘴的似的。若等他们来劝咱们，那时节岂不咱们倒觉生分了？不如这会子，你要打要骂，凭著你怎么样，千万别不理我。”说著，又把”好妹妹”叫了几万声。林黛玉心里原是再不理宝玉的，这会子见宝玉说别叫人知道他们拌了嘴就生分了似的这一句话，又可见得比人原亲近，因又撑不住哭道：“你也不用哄我。从今以后，我也不敢亲近二爷，二爷也全当我去了。”宝玉听了笑道：“你往那去呢？”林黛玉道：“我回家去。”宝玉笑道：“我跟了你去。”林黛玉道：“我死了。”宝玉道：“你死了，我做和尚！”林黛玉一闻此言，登时将脸放下来，问道：“想是你要死了，胡说的是什么！你家倒有几个亲姐姐亲妹妹呢，明儿都死了，你几个身子去作和尚？明儿我倒把这话告诉别人去评评。”

寶玉自知這話說的造次了，後悔不來，登時臉上紅脹起來，低著頭不敢則一聲。Baoyu knew that he had spoken rashly and regretted it bitterly; his face instantly flushed scarlet, and he lowered his head without daring to utter a sound.幸而屋里沒人。Fortunately, no one else was in the room.林黛玉直瞪瞪的瞅了他半天，氣的一聲兒也說不出來。Lin Daiyu stared fixedly at him for a long while, too angry to say a word.見寶玉憋的臉上紫脹，便咬著牙用指頭狠命的在他額顱上戳了一下，哼了一聲，咬牙說道：“你這——”剛說了兩個字，便又歎了一口氣，仍拿起手帕子來擦眼淚。Seeing Baoyu’s face turn purple from holding everything in, she clenched her teeth and jabbed him hard on the forehead with one finger; then, with a snort, she said through gritted teeth, “You—” But after those two words she sighed again, picked up her handkerchief, and went on wiping away her tears.寶玉心里原有無限的心事，又兼說錯了話，正自後悔，又見黛玉戳他一下，要說又說不出來，自歎自泣，因此自己也有所感，不覺滾下淚來。Baoyu already had countless troubles on his mind, and having misspoken, he was full of regret; now, seeing Daiyu jab him and try but fail to speak, then sigh and weep, he too was overcome with emotion, and tears rolled down his cheeks before he knew it.要用帕子揩拭，不想又忘了帶來，便用衫袖去擦。He meant to wipe them with a handkerchief, but found that he had forgotten to bring one, so he used his sleeve instead.林黛玉雖然哭著，卻一眼看見了，見他穿著簇新藕合紗衫，竟去拭淚，便一面自己拭著淚，一面回身將枕邊搭的一方綃帕子拿起來，向寶玉怀里一摔，一語不發，仍掩面自泣。Though Lin Daiyu was crying, she caught sight of this at once; seeing him wipe his tears on his brand-new gauze jacket of lotus-root pink, she wiped her own tears while turning to pick up a silk handkerchief lying by her pillow, then flung it into Baoyu’s lap without a word and once more covered her face and wept.寶玉見他摔了帕子來，忙接住拭了淚，又挨近前些，伸手拉了林黛玉一只手，笑道：“我的五髒都碎了，你還只是哭。When Baoyu saw her toss him the handkerchief, he quickly caught it and dried his tears; edging still closer, he took one of Lin Daiyu’s hands and said with a smile, “My heart and all my vitals are shattered, yet you do nothing but cry.走罷，我同你往老太太跟前去。”林黛玉將手一摔道：“誰同你拉拉扯扯的。Come, let us go together to the Old Lady.” Lin Daiyu snatched her hand away. “Who wants you pawing and tugging at her?一天大似一天的，還這麼涎皮賴臉的，連個道理也不知道。”You grow older by the day, yet you are still so brazen and shameless, without the least sense of propriety.”

宝玉自知这话说的造次了，后悔不来，登时脸上红胀起来，低著头不敢则一声。幸而屋里没人。林黛玉直瞪瞪的瞅了他半天，气的一声儿也说不出来。见宝玉憋的脸上紫胀，便咬著牙用指头狠命的在他额颅上戳了一下，哼了一声，咬牙说道：“你这——”刚说了两个字，便又叹了一口气，仍拿起手帕子来擦眼泪。宝玉心里原有无限的心事，又兼说错了话，正自后悔，又见黛玉戳他一下，要说又说不出来，自叹自泣，因此自己也有所感，不觉滚下泪来。要用帕子揩拭，不想又忘了带来，便用衫袖去擦。林黛玉虽然哭著，却一眼看见了，见他穿著簇新藕合纱衫，竟去拭泪，便一面自己拭著泪，一面回身将枕边搭的一方绡帕子拿起来，向宝玉怀里一摔，一语不发，仍掩面自泣。宝玉见他摔了帕子来，忙接住拭了泪，又挨近前些，伸手拉了林黛玉一只手，笑道：“我的五脏都碎了，你还只是哭。走罢，我同你往老太太跟前去。”林黛玉将手一摔道：“谁同你拉拉扯扯的。一天大似一天的，还这么涎皮赖脸的，连个道理也不知道。”

一句沒說完，只聽喊道：“好了！”寶林二人不防，都唬了一跳，回頭看時，只見鳳姐兒跳了進來，笑道：“老太太在那里抱怨天抱怨地，只叫我來瞧瞧你們好了沒有。Before she had finished, they heard someone cry, “All made up!” Baoyu and Daiyu were taken unawares and both jumped; turning, they saw Xifeng skip into the room, laughing. “The Old Lady is blaming Heaven and Earth and has sent me to see whether you two have made up yet.我說不用瞧，過不了三天，他們自己就好了。I told her there was no need to look—in less than three days you would make up by yourselves.老太太罵我，說我懶。The Old Lady scolded me and called me lazy.我來了，果然應了我的話了。Well, I came, and sure enough, just as I said!也沒見你們兩個人有些什麼可拌的，三日好了，兩日惱了，越大越成了孩子了！I cannot see what you two ever find to quarrel about: friends again for three days, angry for two—the older you grow, the more childish you become!有這會子拉著手哭的，昨兒為什麼又成了烏眼雞呢！If you can hold hands and cry together now, why were you at each other’s throats like fighting cocks yesterday?還不跟我走，到老太太跟前，叫老人家也放些心。”說著拉了林黛玉就走。Come along with me to the Old Lady at once, and set the old lady’s mind at rest.” With that, she took Lin Daiyu by the hand and pulled her away.林黛玉回頭叫丫頭們，一個也沒有。Lin Daiyu turned back and called for her maids, but not one of them was there.鳳姐道：“又叫他們作什麼，有我伏侍你呢。”一面說，一面拉了就走。Xifeng said, “What do you want them for? You have me to wait on you.” Still speaking, she pulled her away.寶玉在後面跟著出了園門。Baoyu followed behind them out through the garden gate.到了賈母跟前，鳳姐笑道：“我說他們不用人費心，自己就會好的。When they reached Grandmother Jia, Xifeng laughed and said, “I told you there was no need for anyone to worry about them; they know how to make up by themselves.老祖宗不信，一定叫我去說合。But our Old Ancestress would not believe me and insisted on sending me to reconcile them.我及至到那里要說合，誰知兩個人倒在一處對賠不是了。By the time I got there to play peacemaker, who would have thought they were already together, apologizing to each other?對笑對訴，倒象‘黃鷹抓住了鷂子的腳’，兩個都扣了環了，那里還要人去說合。”說的滿屋里都笑起來。They were smiling and pouring out their hearts face-to-face, like ‘the oriole that catches hold of the sparrow-hawk’s foot’—both of them locked fast in the same ring; where was the need for anyone to reconcile them?” At this, the whole room burst into laughter.

一句没说完，只听喊道：“好了！”宝林二人不防，都唬了一跳，回头看时，只见凤姐儿跳了进来，笑道：“老太太在那里抱怨天抱怨地，只叫我来瞧瞧你们好了没有。我说不用瞧，过不了三天，他们自己就好了。老太太骂我，说我懒。我来了，果然应了我的话了。也没见你们两个人有些什么可拌的，三日好了，两日恼了，越大越成了孩子了！有这会子拉著手哭的，昨儿为什么又成了乌眼鸡呢！还不跟我走，到老太太跟前，叫老人家也放些心。”说著拉了林黛玉就走。林黛玉回头叫丫头们，一个也没有。凤姐道：“又叫他们作什么，有我伏侍你呢。”一面说，一面拉了就走。宝玉在后面跟著出了园门。到了贾母跟前，凤姐笑道：“我说他们不用人费心，自己就会好的。老祖宗不信，一定叫我去说合。我及至到那里要说合，谁知两个人倒在一处对赔不是了。对笑对诉，倒象‘黄鹰抓住了鹞子的脚’，两个都扣了环了，那里还要人去说合。”说的满屋里都笑起来。

此時寶釵正在這里。Baochai was there at the time.那林黛玉只一言不發，挨著賈母坐下。Lin Daiyu said not a word, but sat down close beside Grandmother Jia.寶玉沒甚說的，便向寶釵笑道：“大哥哥好日子，偏生我又不好了，沒別的禮送，連個頭也不得磕去。Baoyu, having nothing else to say, smiled at Baochai. “It is Elder Brother’s birthday, yet I had to fall ill; I had no other gift for him and could not even go and kowtow.大哥哥不知我病，倒象我懶，推故不去的。Elder Brother does not know I was ill, so he may think me lazy and suppose I made an excuse not to go.倘或明兒惱了，姐姐替我分辨分辨。”寶釵笑道：“這也多事。If he should be offended tomorrow, Elder Sister, please explain matters for me.” Baochai laughed. “That is worrying over nothing.你便要去也不敢驚動，何況身上不好，弟兄們日日一處，要存這個心倒生分了。”寶玉又笑道：“姐姐知道体諒我就好了。”又道：“姐姐怎麼不看戲去？”寶釵道：“我怕熱，看了兩出，熱的很。Even if you had wanted to go, no one would have dared disturb you; still less when you were unwell. Brothers see one another every day, and to stand on such ceremony would only make you seem estranged.” Baoyu laughed again. “So long as Elder Sister understands me, all is well.” Then he asked, “Why are you not watching the plays?” Baochai said, “I cannot bear the heat. I watched two scenes, but it was stifling.要走，客又不散。I wanted to leave, but the guests had not dispersed.我少不得推身上不好，就來了。”寶玉聽說，自己由不得臉上沒意思，只得又搭訕笑道：“怪不得他們拿姐姐比楊妃，原來也体丰怯熱。”寶釵聽說，不由的大怒，待要怎樣，又不好怎樣。So I had no choice but to plead indisposition and come away.” Hearing this, Baoyu could not help looking embarrassed, and could only cover it with a jest: “No wonder they compare Elder Sister to Yang Guifei; it turns out you too have a plump figure and cannot bear the heat.” Baochai was furious when she heard this, yet could neither give vent to her anger nor let it pass.回思了一回，臉紅起來，便冷笑了兩聲，說道：“我倒象楊妃，只是沒一個好哥哥好兄弟可以作得楊國忠的！”二人正說著，可巧小丫頭靛兒因不見了扇子，和寶釵笑道：“必是寶姑娘藏了我的。After thinking for a moment, her face reddened; she gave two cold laughs and said, “I may resemble Yang Guifei, but I have no fine elder or younger brother fit to play Yang Guozhong!” Just as they were speaking, a young maid named Dian’er, who had lost her fan, said jokingly to Baochai, “It must have been Miss Bao who hid mine.好姑娘，賞我罷。”寶釵指他道：“你要仔細！Dear Miss, please give it back to me.” Baochai pointed at her and said, “You had better watch yourself!我和你頑過，你再疑我。Just because I have joked with you before, you now dare suspect me.和你素日嘻皮笑臉的那些姑娘們跟前，你該問他們去。”說的個靛兒跑了。Go and ask those young ladies who are always grinning and joking with you.” Her words sent Dian’er running away.寶玉自知又把話說造次了，當著許多人，更比才在林黛玉跟前更不好意思，便急回身又同別人搭訕去了。Baoyu knew that once again he had spoken rashly; with so many people present, he felt even more embarrassed than he had before Lin Daiyu, and hurriedly turned away to make conversation with someone else.

此时宝钗正在这里。那林黛玉只一言不发，挨著贾母坐下。宝玉没甚说的，便向宝钗笑道：“大哥哥好日子，偏生我又不好了，没别的礼送，连个头也不得磕去。大哥哥不知我病，倒象我懒，推故不去的。倘或明儿恼了，姐姐替我分辨分辨。”宝钗笑道：“这也多事。你便要去也不敢惊动，何况身上不好，弟兄们日日一处，要存这个心倒生分了。”宝玉又笑道：“姐姐知道体谅我就好了。”又道：“姐姐怎么不看戏去？”宝钗道：“我怕热，看了两出，热的很。要走，客又不散。我少不得推身上不好，就来了。”宝玉听说，自己由不得脸上没意思，只得又搭讪笑道：“怪不得他们拿姐姐比杨妃，原来也体丰怯热。”宝钗听说，不由的大怒，待要怎样，又不好怎样。回思了一回，脸红起来，便冷笑了两声，说道：“我倒象杨妃，只是没一个好哥哥好兄弟可以作得杨国忠的！”二人正说著，可巧小丫头靛儿因不见了扇子，和宝钗笑道：“必是宝姑娘藏了我的。好姑娘，赏我罢。”宝钗指他道：“你要仔细！我和你顽过，你再疑我。和你素日嘻皮笑脸的那些姑娘们跟前，你该问他们去。”说的个靛儿跑了。宝玉自知又把话说造次了，当著许多人，更比才在林黛玉跟前更不好意思，便急回身又同别人搭讪去了。

林黛玉聽見寶玉奚落寶釵，心中著實得意，才要搭言也趁勢兒取個笑，不想靛兒因找扇子，寶釵又發了兩句話，他便改口笑道：“寶姐姐，你聽了兩出什麼戲？”寶釵因見林黛玉面上有得意之態，一定是聽了寶玉方才奚落之言，遂了他的心願，忽又見問他這話，便笑道：“我看的是李逵罵了宋江，後來又賠不是。”寶玉便笑道：“姐姐通今博古，色色都知道，怎麼連這一出戲的名字也不知道，就說了這麼一串子。Lin Daiyu had been thoroughly delighted to hear Baoyu mock Baochai and was just about to join in and seize the chance for a joke; but when Dian’er’s search for her fan drew two sharp remarks from Baochai, Daiyu changed tack and asked with a smile, “Elder Sister Bao, which two plays did you see?” Baochai had noticed the triumphant look on Lin Daiyu’s face and knew that Baoyu’s earlier taunt had gratified her; now, hearing her suddenly ask this, she smiled and replied, “I saw Li Kui abuse Song Jiang and then apologize to him afterward.” Baoyu laughed. “Elder Sister, you are so widely versed in ancient and modern lore and know about everything; how can you not even know the name of this play, but give us that whole string of description?這叫《負荊請罪》。”寶釵笑道：“原來這叫作《負荊請罪》！It is called Bearing the Rod to Plead Guilty.” Baochai laughed. “So it is called Bearing the Rod to Plead Guilty!你們通今博古，才知道‘負荊請罪’，我不知道什麼是‘負荊請罪’！”一句話還未說完，寶玉林黛玉二人心里有病，聽了這話早把臉羞紅了。You two, being so versed in ancient and modern lore, naturally know all about ‘bearing the rod to plead guilty’; I have no idea what ‘bearing the rod to plead guilty’ means!” Before she had finished, Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, both conscious of their own guilty secret, had already flushed crimson.鳳姐于這些上雖不通達，但見他三人形景，便知其意，便也笑著問人道：“你們大暑天，誰還吃生姜呢？”眾人不解其意，便說道：“沒有吃生姜。”鳳姐故意用手摸著腮，詫异道：“既沒人吃姜，怎麼這麼辣辣的？”寶玉黛玉二人聽見這話，越發不好過了。Though Xifeng was not learned in such allusions, she saw the expressions of the three and understood what was meant; smiling, she asked the others, “Who has been eating raw ginger in this scorching weather?” No one understood her meaning, and they replied, “No one has eaten any ginger.” Xifeng deliberately touched her cheek and exclaimed in surprise, “If no one has eaten ginger, why is it so terribly hot and spicy here?” Hearing this, Baoyu and Daiyu felt more uncomfortable than ever.寶釵再要說話，見寶玉十分討愧，形景改變，也就不好再說，只得一笑收住。Baochai was about to say more, but seeing how deeply ashamed Baoyu was and how his expression had changed, she felt it would be awkward to continue, so she merely smiled and let the matter drop.別人總未解得他四個人的言語，因此付之流水。None of the others understood the exchanges among the four of them, and so let them pass unnoticed.

林黛玉听见宝玉奚落宝钗，心中著实得意，才要搭言也趁势儿取个笑，不想靛儿因找扇子，宝钗又发了两句话，他便改口笑道：“宝姐姐，你听了两出什么戏？”宝钗因见林黛玉面上有得意之态，一定是听了宝玉方才奚落之言，遂了他的心愿，忽又见问他这话，便笑道：“我看的是李逵骂了宋江，后来又赔不是。”宝玉便笑道：“姐姐通今博古，色色都知道，怎么连这一出戏的名字也不知道，就说了这么一串子。这叫《负荆请罪》。”宝钗笑道：“原来这叫作《负荆请罪》！你们通今博古，才知道‘负荆请罪’，我不知道什么是‘负荆请罪’！”一句话还未说完，宝玉林黛玉二人心里有病，听了这话早把脸羞红了。凤姐于这些上虽不通达，但见他三人形景，便知其意，便也笑著问人道：“你们大暑天，谁还吃生姜呢？”众人不解其意，便说道：“没有吃生姜。”凤姐故意用手摸著腮，诧异道：“既没人吃姜，怎么这么辣辣的？”宝玉黛玉二人听见这话，越发不好过了。宝钗再要说话，见宝玉十分讨愧，形景改变，也就不好再说，只得一笑收住。别人总未解得他四个人的言语，因此付之流水。

一時寶釵鳳姐去了，林黛玉笑向寶玉道：“你也試著比我利害的人了。After a while Baochai and Xifeng left, and Lin Daiyu said to Baoyu with a smile, “Now you too have had a taste of someone more formidable than I am.誰都象我心拙口笨的，由著人說呢。”寶玉正因寶釵多了心，自己沒趣，又見林黛玉來問著他，越發沒好氣起來。Not everyone is as slow-witted and tongue-tied as I, meekly letting people say whatever they please.” Baoyu was already annoyed because Baochai had taken offense and he had made a fool of himself; when Lin Daiyu came to question him as well, he grew more irritated still.待要說兩句，又恐林黛玉多心，說不得忍著氣，無精打采一直出來。He was about to retort, but feared Lin Daiyu would take it to heart; he had no choice but to swallow his anger and walk straight out, listless and dejected.

一时宝钗凤姐去了，林黛玉笑向宝玉道：“你也试著比我利害的人了。谁都象我心拙口笨的，由著人说呢。”宝玉正因宝钗多了心，自己没趣，又见林黛玉来问著他，越发没好气起来。待要说两句，又恐林黛玉多心，说不得忍著气，无精打采一直出来。

誰知目今盛暑之時，又當早飯已過，各處主仆人等多半都因日長神倦之時，寶玉背著手，到一處，一處鴉雀無聞。It was now the height of summer, and breakfast was already over; with the days so long and everyone weary, most masters and servants had gone to rest. Baoyu wandered about with his hands behind his back, and wherever he went, not a sound was to be heard.從賈母這里出來，往西走了穿堂，便是鳳姐的院落。Leaving Grandmother Jia’s quarters, he walked west through the passage hall and came to Xifeng’s courtyard.到他們院門前，只見院門掩著。When he reached their courtyard gate, he found it ajar.知道鳳姐素日的規矩，每到天熱，午間要歇一個時辰的，進去不便，遂進角門，來到王夫人上房內。He knew Xifeng’s usual rule: in hot weather she always rested for an hour at noon; it would be inconvenient to enter, so he went through the side gate instead and came to Lady Wang’s principal rooms.只見幾個丫頭子手里拿著針線，卻打盹兒呢。There he saw several young maids holding needlework in their hands, though they were nodding off.王夫人在里間涼榻上睡著，金釧兒坐在旁邊捶腿，也乜斜著眼亂恍。Lady Wang lay asleep on a cool couch in the inner room, while Jinchuan’er sat beside her massaging her legs, her own eyes half closed as her head nodded to and fro.

谁知目今盛暑之时，又当早饭已过，各处主仆人等多半都因日长神倦之时，宝玉背著手，到一处，一处鸦雀无闻。从贾母这里出来，往西走了穿堂，便是凤姐的院落。到他们院门前，只见院门掩著。知道凤姐素日的规矩，每到天热，午间要歇一个时辰的，进去不便，遂进角门，来到王夫人上房内。只见几个丫头子手里拿著针线，却打盹儿呢。王夫人在里间凉榻上睡著，金钏儿坐在旁边捶腿，也乜斜著眼乱恍。

寶玉輕輕的走到跟前，把他耳上帶的墜子一摘，金釧兒睜開眼，見是寶玉。Baoyu crept up softly and plucked the pendant from Jinchuan’er’s ear; she opened her eyes and saw that it was Baoyu.寶玉悄悄的笑道：“就困的這麼著？”金釧抿嘴一笑，擺手令他出去，仍合上眼，寶玉見了他，就有些戀戀不舍的，悄悄的探頭瞧瞧王夫人合著眼，便自己向身邊荷包里帶的香雪潤津丹掏了出來，便向金釧兒口里一送。Baoyu whispered with a smile, “Can you really be so sleepy?” Jinchuan’er pursed her lips in a smile and waved him away, then closed her eyes again. Baoyu was reluctant to leave her; peeping quietly at Lady Wang and seeing her eyes shut, he took a Fragrant-Snow Saliva-Moistening Pill from the purse at his side and popped it into Jinchuan’er’s mouth.金釧兒并不睜眼，只管噙了。Without opening her eyes, Jinchuan’er simply held it between her lips.寶玉上來便拉著手，悄悄的笑道：“我明日和太太討你，咱們在一處罷。”金釧兒不答。Baoyu moved closer, took her hand, and whispered with a smile, “Tomorrow I shall ask Madam to give you to me, and then we can be together.” Jinchuan’er made no reply.寶玉又道：“不然，等太太醒了我就討。”金釧兒睜開眼，將寶玉一推，笑道：“你忙什麼！‘金簪子掉在井里頭，有你的只是有你的”，連這句話語難道也不明白？Baoyu continued, “Otherwise, I shall ask her as soon as she wakes.” Jinchuan’er opened her eyes, pushed Baoyu away, and laughed. “What is your hurry? ‘Though a gold hairpin falls into a well, what is yours will always remain yours’—can you not even understand that saying?我倒告訴你個巧宗兒，你往東小院子里拿環哥兒同彩雲去。”寶玉笑道：“憑他怎麼去罷，我只守著你。”只見王夫人翻身起來，照金釧兒臉上就打了個嘴巴子，指著罵道：“下作小娼婦，好好的爺們，都叫你教坏了。”寶玉見王夫人起來，早一溜煙去了。Here is a clever lead for you instead: go to the little eastern courtyard and catch Master Huan with Caiyun.” Baoyu laughed. “Let them do whatever they please; I only want to stay with you.” Just then Lady Wang turned over and sat up; she slapped Jinchuan’er across the face and cursed, pointing at her, “You filthy little whore! It is sluts like you who corrupt perfectly respectable young masters.” The moment Baoyu saw Lady Wang rise, he vanished like a puff of smoke.

宝玉轻轻的走到跟前，把他耳上带的坠子一摘，金钏儿睁开眼，见是宝玉。宝玉悄悄的笑道：“就困的这么著？”金钏抿嘴一笑，摆手令他出去，仍合上眼，宝玉见了他，就有些恋恋不舍的，悄悄的探头瞧瞧王夫人合著眼，便自己向身边荷包里带的香雪润津丹掏了出来，便向金钏儿口里一送。金钏儿并不睁眼，只管噙了。宝玉上来便拉著手，悄悄的笑道：“我明日和太太讨你，咱们在一处罢。”金钏儿不答。宝玉又道：“不然，等太太醒了我就讨。”金钏儿睁开眼，将宝玉一推，笑道：“你忙什么！‘金簪子掉在井里头，有你的只是有你的”，连这句话语难道也不明白？我倒告诉你个巧宗儿，你往东小院子里拿环哥儿同彩云去。”宝玉笑道：“凭他怎么去罢，我只守著你。”只见王夫人翻身起来，照金钏儿脸上就打了个嘴巴子，指著骂道：“下作小娼妇，好好的爷们，都叫你教坏了。”宝玉见王夫人起来，早一溜烟去了。

這里金釧兒半邊臉火熱，一聲不敢言語。Jinchuan’er was left with one side of her face burning, not daring to utter a sound.登時眾丫頭聽見王夫人醒了，都忙進來。As soon as the other maids heard that Lady Wang was awake, they all hurried inside.王夫人便叫玉釧兒：“把你媽叫來，帶出你姐姐去。”金釧兒聽說，忙跪下哭道：“我再不敢了。Lady Wang called to Yuchuan’er, “Fetch your mother and have her take your sister away.” Hearing this, Jinchuan’er hastily knelt and sobbed, “I shall never do it again.太太要打罵，只管發落，別叫我出去就是天恩了。Madam may beat or scold me and punish me however she pleases; if only you do not send me away, it will be the greatest mercy.我跟了太太十來年，這會子攆出去，我還見人不見人呢！”王夫人固然是個寬仁慈厚的人，從來不曾打過丫頭們一下，今忽見金釧兒行此無恥之事，此乃平生最恨者，故氣忿不過，打了一下，罵了幾句。I have served Madam for more than ten years; if I am driven out now, how can I ever face anyone again?” Lady Wang was ordinarily generous, kind, and compassionate, and had never struck any of her maids; but now she had suddenly caught Jinchuan’er behaving so shamelessly—something she had always detested above all else—and in her uncontrollable anger had slapped her once and cursed her a few times.雖金釧兒苦求，亦不肯收留，到底喚了金釧兒之母白老媳婦來領了下去。Despite Jinchuan’er’s desperate pleas, Lady Wang refused to keep her and eventually summoned her mother, old Mrs. Bai, to take her away.那金釧兒含羞忍辱的出去，不在話下。Jinchuan’er departed, swallowing shame and humiliation; no more need be said of that.

这里金钏儿半边脸火热，一声不敢言语。登时众丫头听见王夫人醒了，都忙进来。王夫人便叫玉钏儿：“把你妈叫来，带出你姐姐去。”金钏儿听说，忙跪下哭道：“我再不敢了。太太要打骂，只管发落，别叫我出去就是天恩了。我跟了太太十来年，这会子撵出去，我还见人不见人呢！”王夫人固然是个宽仁慈厚的人，从来不曾打过丫头们一下，今忽见金钏儿行此无耻之事，此乃平生最恨者，故气忿不过，打了一下，骂了几句。虽金钏儿苦求，亦不肯收留，到底唤了金钏儿之母白老媳妇来领了下去。那金钏儿含羞忍辱的出去，不在话下。

且說那寶玉見王夫人醒來，自己沒趣，忙進大觀園來。Now Baoyu, embarrassed at being caught when Lady Wang awoke, hurried back into Prospect Garden.只見赤日當空，樹陰合地，滿耳蟬聲，靜無人語。The red sun blazed overhead, the trees cast a dense carpet of shade, and the air rang with cicadas, but no human voice disturbed the stillness.剛到了薔薇花架，只聽有人哽噎之聲。He had just reached the rose trellis when he heard someone sobbing.寶玉心中疑惑，便站住細聽，果然架下那邊有人。Puzzled, Baoyu stopped and listened closely; sure enough, someone was on the other side beneath the trellis.如今五月之際，那薔薇正是花葉茂盛之際，寶玉便悄悄的隔著篱笆洞兒一看，只見一個女孩子蹲在花下，手里拿著根綰頭的簪子在地下摳土，一面悄悄的流淚，寶玉心中想道：“難道這也是個痴丫頭，又象顰兒來葬花不成？”因又自歎道：“若真也葬花，可謂‘東施效顰’，不但不為新特，且更可厭了。”想畢，便要叫那女子，說：“你不用跟著那林姑娘學了。”話未出口，幸而再看時，這女孩子面生，不是個侍兒，倒象是那十二個學戲的女孩子之內的，卻辨不出他是生旦淨丑那一個角色來。It was now the fifth month, when the roses were at their most luxuriant in leaf and blossom. Baoyu quietly peered through a hole in the fence and saw a girl crouching beneath the flowers, holding in her hand the hairpin with which she fastened her hair and scratching at the earth, while tears slipped silently down her cheeks. Baoyu thought, “Can this be another foolish girl, imitating Pin’er by burying flowers?” Then he sighed to himself, “If she really is burying flowers, it is a case of ‘Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi’s frown’; far from being novel, it is positively tiresome.” With this thought, he was about to call to the girl, “There is no need for you to imitate Miss Lin.” Fortunately, before the words left his mouth, he looked again and saw that the girl’s face was unfamiliar; she was not one of the maids, but appeared to be among the twelve girls trained for the opera, though he could not tell which male, female, painted-face, or clown role she played.寶玉忙把舌頭一伸，將口掩住，自己想道：“幸而不曾造次。Baoyu hurriedly stuck out his tongue and covered his mouth, thinking, “Luckily I did not speak rashly.上兩次皆因造次了，顰兒也生氣，寶兒也多心，如今再得罪了他們，越發沒意思了。”一面想，一面又恨認不得這個是誰。The last two times it was all because I spoke rashly: Pin’er became angry and Bao’er took offense; if I offend them again now, it will be more mortifying than ever.” As he thought this, he also fretted at being unable to recognize the girl.再留神細看，只見這女孩子眉蹙春山，眼顰秋水，面薄腰纖，裊裊婷婷，大有林黛玉之態。Looking more intently, he saw that her brows were knit like spring hills, her eyes troubled like autumn waters; she had a delicate face and slender waist, and moved with a graceful, willowy charm strongly reminiscent of Lin Daiyu.寶玉早又不忍棄他而去，只管痴看。Baoyu could no longer bear to leave her and simply gazed at her, entranced.只見他雖然用金簪划地，并不是掘土埋花，竟是向土上畫字。He saw that though she was tracing the ground with her gold hairpin, she was not digging earth to bury flowers at all, but writing a character on the soil.寶玉用眼隨著簪子的起落，一直一畫一點一勾的看了去，數一數，十八筆。Baoyu’s eyes followed every rise and fall of the hairpin, watching each horizontal stroke, vertical stroke, dot, and hook; when he counted them, there were eighteen strokes.自己又在手心里用指頭按著他方才下筆的規矩寫了，猜是個什麼字。He then traced the same strokes with a finger on his palm, following the order in which she had written them, and tried to guess what character it was.寫成一想，原來就是個薔薇花的“薔”字。When he had finished and thought about it, he realized it was qiang, the character for “rose.”寶玉想道：“必定是他也要作詩填詞。Baoyu thought, “She must be composing a poem or lyric.這會子見了這花，因有所感，或者偶成了兩句，一時興至恐忘，在地下畫著推敲，也未可知。Perhaps the sight of these flowers has stirred some feeling in her, or a couple of lines have suddenly come to her; carried away by inspiration and afraid she might forget them, she may be tracing them on the ground while she weighs her wording.且看他底下再寫什麼。”一面想，一面又看，只見那女孩子還在那里畫呢，畫來畫去，還是個“薔”字。I shall see what she writes next.” Thinking this, he continued to watch, but the girl went on tracing the same character qiang over and over.再看，還是個“薔”字。He looked again: it was still qiang.里面的原是早已痴了，畫完一個又畫一個，已經畫了有幾千個“薔”。The girl inside the trellis had long since become lost in her obsession, drawing one character after another; she had already traced several thousand qiang characters.外面的不覺也看痴了，兩個眼睛珠兒只管隨著簪子動，心里卻想：“這女孩子一定有什麼話說不出來的大心事，才這樣個形景。Before he knew it, the watcher outside had become equally entranced; his eyes followed every movement of the hairpin, while he thought, “This girl must have some tremendous sorrow she cannot put into words, to be behaving like this.外面既是這個形景，心里不知怎麼熬煎。If it shows so plainly on the outside, what torment must she be enduring within?看他的模樣兒這般單薄，心里那里還擱的住熬煎。She looks so frail—how can her heart bear such anguish?可恨我不能替你分些過來。”If only I could take some of it upon myself for you!”

且说那宝玉见王夫人醒来，自己没趣，忙进大观园来。只见赤日当空，树阴合地，满耳蝉声，静无人语。刚到了蔷薇花架，只听有人哽噎之声。宝玉心中疑惑，便站住细听，果然架下那边有人。如今五月之际，那蔷薇正是花叶茂盛之际，宝玉便悄悄的隔著篱笆洞儿一看，只见一个女孩子蹲在花下，手里拿著根绾头的簪子在地下抠土，一面悄悄的流泪，宝玉心中想道：“难道这也是个痴丫头，又象颦儿来葬花不成？”因又自叹道：“若真也葬花，可谓‘东施效颦’，不但不为新特，且更可厌了。”想毕，便要叫那女子，说：“你不用跟著那林姑娘学了。”话未出口，幸而再看时，这女孩子面生，不是个侍儿，倒象是那十二个学戏的女孩子之内的，却辨不出他是生旦净丑那一个角色来。宝玉忙把舌头一伸，将口掩住，自己想道：“幸而不曾造次。上两次皆因造次了，颦儿也生气，宝儿也多心，如今再得罪了他们，越发没意思了。”一面想，一面又恨认不得这个是谁。再留神细看，只见这女孩子眉蹙春山，眼颦秋水，面薄腰纤，袅袅婷婷，大有林黛玉之态。宝玉早又不忍弃他而去，只管痴看。只见他虽然用金簪划地，并不是掘土埋花，竟是向土上画字。宝玉用眼随著簪子的起落，一直一画一点一勾的看了去，数一数，十八笔。自己又在手心里用指头按著他方才下笔的规矩写了，猜是个什么字。写成一想，原来就是个蔷薇花的“蔷”字。宝玉想道：“必定是他也要作诗填词。这会子见了这花，因有所感，或者偶成了两句，一时兴至恐忘，在地下画著推敲，也未可知。且看他底下再写什么。”一面想，一面又看，只见那女孩子还在那里画呢，画来画去，还是个“蔷”字。再看，还是个“蔷”字。里面的原是早已痴了，画完一个又画一个，已经画了有几千个“蔷”。外面的不觉也看痴了，两个眼睛珠儿只管随著簪子动，心里却想：“这女孩子一定有什么话说不出来的大心事，才这样个形景。外面既是这个形景，心里不知怎么熬煎。看他的模样儿这般单薄，心里那里还搁的住熬煎。可恨我不能替你分些过来。”

伏中陰晴不定，片雲可以至雨，忽一陣涼風過了，唰唰的落下一陣雨來。During the dog days the weather shifts unpredictably from sunshine to cloud, and a mere wisp of cloud may bring rain; suddenly a cool wind swept by, and a shower came pattering down.寶玉看著那女子頭上滴下水來，紗衣裳登時濕了。Baoyu watched water drip from the girl’s head, and in an instant her gauze clothes were soaked.寶玉想道：“這時下雨。Baoyu thought, “It is raining now.他這個身子，如何禁得驟雨一激！”因此禁不住便說道：“不用寫了。How can her frail body stand the shock of such a sudden downpour?” Unable to restrain himself, he called, “Stop writing.你看下大雨，身上都濕了。”那女孩子聽說倒唬了一跳，抬頭一看，只見花外一個人叫他不要寫了，下大雨了。Look, it is pouring; your clothes are soaked through.” The girl was startled to hear him and looked up to see someone beyond the flowers calling to her to stop writing because it was pouring.一則寶玉臉面俊秀，二則花葉繁茂，上下俱被枝葉隱住，剛露著半邊臉，那女孩子只當是個丫頭，再不想是寶玉，因笑道：“多謝姐姐提醒了我。For one thing, Baoyu’s face was fine and handsome; for another, the luxuriant leaves and flowers concealed him above and below, leaving only half his face visible. The girl took him for a maid and never imagined that he was Baoyu, so she smiled and said, “Thank you, Elder Sister, for reminding me.難道姐姐在外頭有什麼遮雨的？”一句提醒了寶玉，“噯喲”了一聲，才覺得渾身冰涼。But have you any shelter from the rain out there, Elder Sister?” Her words brought Baoyu to his senses; with an “Aiya!” he suddenly realized that his whole body was icy cold.低頭一看，自己身上也都濕了。Looking down, he saw that his own clothes were soaked as well.說聲“不好”，只得一氣跑回怡紅院去了，心里卻還記挂著那女孩子沒處避雨。Crying, “This is bad!” he had no choice but to run straight back to Happy Red Court, though he still worried about the girl, who had nowhere to shelter from the rain.

伏中阴晴不定，片云可以至雨，忽一阵凉风过了，唰唰的落下一阵雨来。宝玉看著那女子头上滴下水来，纱衣裳登时湿了。宝玉想道：“这时下雨。他这个身子，如何禁得骤雨一激！”因此禁不住便说道：“不用写了。你看下大雨，身上都湿了。”那女孩子听说倒唬了一跳，抬头一看，只见花外一个人叫他不要写了，下大雨了。一则宝玉脸面俊秀，二则花叶繁茂，上下俱被枝叶隐住，刚露著半边脸，那女孩子只当是个丫头，再不想是宝玉，因笑道：“多谢姐姐提醒了我。难道姐姐在外头有什么遮雨的？”一句提醒了宝玉，“嗳哟”了一声，才觉得浑身冰凉。低头一看，自己身上也都湿了。说声“不好”，只得一气跑回怡红院去了，心里却还记挂著那女孩子没处避雨。

原來明日是端陽節，那文官等十二個女子都放了學，進園來各處頑耍。It turned out that the next day was the Duanyang Festival, so Wenguan and the other twelve girls had been excused from lessons and had come into the garden to amuse themselves here and there.可巧小生寶官，正旦玉官等兩個女孩子，正在怡紅院和襲人玩笑，被大雨阻住。As it happened, two of the girls—the young-male-role Baoguan and the leading-lady Yuguan—were joking with Xiren in Yihongyuan when the heavy rain kept them there.大家把溝堵了，水積在院內，把些綠頭鴨，花鸂，彩鴛鴦，捉的捉，赶的赶，縫了翅膀，放在院內頑耍，將院門關了。They blocked the drains so that water pooled in the courtyard, then caught or chased about some green-headed ducks, ornamental waterfowl, and brightly colored mandarin ducks, stitched their wings to keep them from flying, and released them in the courtyard for sport, shutting the courtyard gate.襲人等都在游廊上嘻笑。Xiren and the others were all laughing under the covered walk.

原来明日是端阳节，那文官等十二个女子都放了学，进园来各处顽耍。可巧小生宝官，正旦玉官等两个女孩子，正在怡红院和袭人玩笑，被大雨阻住。大家把沟堵了，水积在院内，把些绿头鸭，花㶉，彩鸳鸯，捉的捉，赶的赶，缝了翅膀，放在院内顽耍，将院门关了。袭人等都在游廊上嘻笑。

寶玉見關著門，便以手扣門，里面諸人只顧笑，那里聽見。When Baoyu found the gate shut, he knocked on it with his hand, but those inside were too intent on their laughter to hear him.叫了半日，拍的門山響，里面方聽見了，估諒著寶玉這會子再不回來的。Only after he had called for a long while and pounded until the gate thundered did they hear; they had assumed that Baoyu could not possibly be returning just then.襲人笑道：“誰這會子叫門，沒人開去。”寶玉道：“是我。”麝月道：“是寶姑娘的聲音。”晴雯道：“胡說！Xiren laughed. “Whoever is calling at this hour, no one is going to open the gate.” “It’s me,” said Baoyu. Sheyue said, “That sounds like Miss Bao.” “Nonsense!” said Qingwen.寶姑娘這會子做什麼來。”襲人道：“讓我隔著門縫兒瞧瞧，可開就開，要不可開，叫他淋著去。”說著，便順著游廊到門前，往外一瞧，只見寶玉淋的雨打雞一般。“What would Miss Bao be coming here for at this hour?” Xiren said, “Let me look through the crack. If it is someone we can admit, I’ll open up; if not, we can leave them to get soaked.” With that, she went along the covered walk to the gate and peered outside, where she saw Baoyu drenched like a chicken in a downpour.襲人見了又是著忙又是可笑，忙開了門，笑的彎著腰拍手道：“這麼大雨地里跑什麼？At the sight of him, Xiren was both alarmed and amused. She hurriedly opened the gate, then doubled over laughing and clapped her hands. “What were you doing running about in such heavy rain?那里知道爺回來了。”How were we to know you had come back, Master?”

宝玉见关著门，便以手扣门，里面诸人只顾笑，那里听见。叫了半日，拍的门山响，里面方听见了，估谅著宝玉这会子再不回来的。袭人笑道：“谁这会子叫门，没人开去。”宝玉道：“是我。”麝月道：“是宝姑娘的声音。”晴雯道：“胡说！宝姑娘这会子做什么来。”袭人道：“让我隔著门缝儿瞧瞧，可开就开，要不可开，叫他淋著去。”说著，便顺著游廊到门前，往外一瞧，只见宝玉淋的雨打鸡一般。袭人见了又是著忙又是可笑，忙开了门，笑的弯著腰拍手道：“这么大雨地里跑什么？那里知道爷回来了。”

寶玉一肚子沒好氣，滿心里要把開門的踢幾腳，及開了門，并不看真是誰，還只當是那些小丫頭子們，便抬腿踢在肋上。Baoyu was already full of pent-up anger and had set his heart on giving whoever opened the gate a few kicks. When it opened, he did not look to see who it was, but assumed it must be one of the little maids and kicked her in the ribs.襲人”噯喲”了一聲。“Aiyo!” cried Xiren.寶玉還罵道：“下流東西們！Baoyu went on cursing, “You shameless creatures!我素日擔待你們得了意，一點兒也不怕，越發拿我取笑兒了。”口里說著，一低頭見是襲人哭了，方知踢錯了，忙笑道：“噯喲，是你來了！I am usually so indulgent with you that you have grown insolent and lost all fear, and now you go so far as to make a laughingstock of me!” As he spoke, he lowered his head and saw Xiren in tears. Realizing that he had kicked the wrong person, he hastily smiled and said, “Aiyo, it was you!踢在那里了？”襲人從來不曾受過大話的，今兒忽見寶玉生氣踢他一下，又當著許多人，又是羞，又是氣，又是疼，真一時置身無地。Where did I kick you?” Xiren had never before been subjected to harsh words; now Baoyu had suddenly lost his temper and kicked her, in front of so many people besides. Ashamed, angry, and in pain, she truly wished the ground would swallow her up.待要怎麼樣，料著寶玉未必是安心踢他，少不得忍著說道：“沒有踢著。Yet what could she do? She supposed that Baoyu could hardly have meant to kick her, so she had no choice but to bear it and say, “You didn’t hit me.還不換衣裳去。”寶玉一面進房來解衣，一面笑道：“我長了這麼大，今日是頭一遭兒生氣打人，不想就偏遇見了你！”襲人一面忍痛換衣裳，一面笑道：“我是個起頭兒的人，不論事大事小事好事歹，自然也該從我起。Go and change your clothes.” As Baoyu entered the room and undressed, he said with a smile, “In all the years I have lived, today was the first time I ever struck someone in anger—and of all people, it had to be you!” Suppressing the pain, Xiren helped him change and replied with a smile, “I am the one who always has to set the precedent; whether the matter is great or small, good or bad, naturally it must begin with me.但只是別說打了我，明兒順了手也打起別人來。”寶玉道：“我才也不是安心。”襲人道：“誰說你是安心了！But never mind your striking me—what worries me is that tomorrow, once your hand has learned the way, you may start striking others too.” “I didn’t do it deliberately,” said Baoyu. “Who says you did?” replied Xiren.素日開門關門，都是那起小丫頭子們的事。“Ordinarily, opening and shutting the gate is the work of those little maids.他們是憨皮慣了的，早已恨的人牙痒痒，他們也沒個怕懼兒。They are accustomed to being impudent and tiresome; they have long since made everyone itch to grind their teeth at them, and they are afraid of nothing.你當是他們，踢一下子，唬唬他們也好些。You thought I was one of them, so a kick might at least have frightened them into behaving better.才剛是我淘氣，不叫開門的。”It was my own mischief just now—I was the one who told them not to open the gate.”

宝玉一肚子没好气，满心里要把开门的踢几脚，及开了门，并不看真是谁，还只当是那些小丫头子们，便抬腿踢在肋上。袭人”嗳哟”了一声。宝玉还骂道：“下流东西们！我素日担待你们得了意，一点儿也不怕，越发拿我取笑儿了。”口里说著，一低头见是袭人哭了，方知踢错了，忙笑道：“嗳哟，是你来了！踢在那里了？”袭人从来不曾受过大话的，今儿忽见宝玉生气踢他一下，又当著许多人，又是羞，又是气，又是疼，真一时置身无地。待要怎么样，料著宝玉未必是安心踢他，少不得忍著说道：“没有踢著。还不换衣裳去。”宝玉一面进房来解衣，一面笑道：“我长了这么大，今日是头一遭儿生气打人，不想就偏遇见了你！”袭人一面忍痛换衣裳，一面笑道：“我是个起头儿的人，不论事大事小事好事歹，自然也该从我起。但只是别说打了我，明儿顺了手也打起别人来。”宝玉道：“我才也不是安心。”袭人道：“谁说你是安心了！素日开门关门，都是那起小丫头子们的事。他们是憨皮惯了的，早已恨的人牙痒痒，他们也没个怕惧儿。你当是他们，踢一下子，唬唬他们也好些。才刚是我淘气，不叫开门的。”

說著，那雨已住了，寶官，玉官也早去了。As they spoke, the rain stopped, and Baoguan and Yuguan soon left.襲人只覺肋下疼的心里發鬧，晚飯也不曾好生吃。Xiren only felt such pain beneath her ribs that it made her sick at heart, and she could scarcely eat any supper.至晚間洗澡時脫了衣服，只見肋上青了碗大一塊，自己倒唬了一跳，又不好聲張。That evening, when she undressed to bathe, she saw a bruise on her ribs as large as a bowl. She herself was startled, but did not like to make a fuss.一時睡下，夢中作痛，由不得“噯喲”之聲從睡中哼出。After she went to sleep, the pain troubled her dreams, and she could not help moaning “aiyo” in her sleep.寶玉雖說不是安心，因見襲人懶懶的，也睡不安穩。Though Baoyu had not kicked her deliberately, seeing Xiren so listless left him unable to sleep soundly either.忽夜間聽得“噯喲”，便知踢重了，自己下床悄悄的秉燈來照。When he suddenly heard her cry “aiyo” in the night, he knew he must have kicked her badly, so he got out of bed and quietly brought a lamp to examine her.剛到床前，只見襲人嗽了兩聲，吐出一口痰來，“噯喲”一聲，睜開眼見了寶玉，倒唬了一跳道：“作什麼？”寶玉道：“你夢里‘噯喲’，必定踢重了。He had just reached the bedside when Xiren coughed twice and spat out a mouthful of phlegm. With a cry of “aiyo,” she opened her eyes and, seeing Baoyu, started in alarm. “What are you doing?” she asked. Baoyu said, “You cried ‘aiyo’ in your sleep. I must have kicked you badly.我瞧瞧。”襲人道：“我頭上發暈，嗓子里又腥又甜，你倒照一照地下罷。”寶玉聽說，果然持燈向地下一照，只見一口鮮血在地。Let me look.” Xiren said, “My head is spinning, and my throat tastes both fishy and sweet. Shine the lamp on the floor instead.” Hearing this, Baoyu held the lamp toward the floor and saw a mouthful of fresh blood there.寶玉慌了，只說“了不得了！”襲人見了，也就心涼了半截。Baoyu panicked and could only exclaim, “This is terrible!” When Xiren saw it, her heart too turned half cold.要知端的，且聽下回分解。To learn exactly what came of this, listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

说著，那雨已住了，宝官，玉官也早去了。袭人只觉肋下疼的心里发闹，晚饭也不曾好生吃。至晚间洗澡时脱了衣服，只见肋上青了碗大一块，自己倒唬了一跳，又不好声张。一时睡下，梦中作痛，由不得“嗳哟”之声从睡中哼出。宝玉虽说不是安心，因见袭人懒懒的，也睡不安稳。忽夜间听得“嗳哟”，便知踢重了，自己下床悄悄的秉灯来照。刚到床前，只见袭人嗽了两声，吐出一口痰来，“嗳哟”一声，睁开眼见了宝玉，倒唬了一跳道：“作什么？”宝玉道：“你梦里‘嗳哟’，必定踢重了。我瞧瞧。”袭人道：“我头上发晕，嗓子里又腥又甜，你倒照一照地下罢。”宝玉听说，果然持灯向地下一照，只见一口鲜血在地。宝玉慌了，只说“了不得了！”袭人见了，也就心凉了半截。要知端的，且听下回分解。

注释Notes