第五回　　　開生面夢演紅樓夢　立新場情傳幻境情 A Dream Enacts the Dream of Red Mansions; The Fairyland Conveys the Passions of Love

題曰：A verse reads:

题曰：

春困葳蕤擁繡衾，恍隨仙子到紅塵。Drowsy with spring lethargy, wrapped in an embroidered quilt, as if in a trance she followed an immortal maiden down into the red dust of the mortal world.

春困葳蕤拥绣衾，恍随仙子到红尘。

問誰幻入華胥境，千古風流造業人。Ask who it is that dreams his way into the realm of Huaxu — a man of romantic passion who, through the ages, creates his own karma.

问谁幻入华胥境，千古风流造业人。

第四回中既將薛家母子在榮府內寄居等事略已表明，此回則暫不能寫矣。Since the fourth chapter has already briefly related how the Xue family — mother and son — came to lodge within the Rong mansion, this chapter cannot go into that matter for now.

第四回中既将薛家母子在荣府内寄居等事略已表明，此回则暂不能写矣。

如今且說林黛玉自在榮府以來，賈母萬般憐愛，寢食起居，一如寶玉，迎春，探春，惜春三個親孫女倒且靠後，便是寶玉和黛玉二人之親密友愛處，亦自較別個不同，日則同行同坐，夜則同息同止，真是言和意順，略無參商。Now to tell of Lin Daiyu: ever since she had come to live in the Rong mansion, Grandmother Jia had cherished her in every way, and in matters of sleeping, eating, and daily life she was treated exactly the same as Baoyu — indeed her own granddaughters Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun were rather set aside by comparison; as for the close affection and friendship between Baoyu and Daiyu, it too was of a kind different from that with any other — by day they went about and sat together, by night they rested and lodged together, and truly their words and feelings were in harmony, without the slightest discord.不想如今忽然來了一個薛寶釵，年歲雖大不多，然品格端方，容貌豐美，人多謂黛玉所不及。Who could have expected that now, suddenly, a Xue Baochai should arrive — though not much older in years, yet of upright character and full, lovely looks, so that many said Daiyu could not compare to her.而且寶釵行為豁達，隨分從時，不比黛玉孤高自許，目無下塵，故比黛玉大得下人之心。Moreover, Baochai's conduct was open and generous, adapting herself to circumstance and going along with the times, unlike Daiyu, who held herself proudly aloof and looked down on those beneath her; hence Baochai won far more favor from the servants than Daiyu did.便是那些小丫頭子們，亦多喜與寶釵去頑。Even the little maidservants mostly loved to go off and play with Baochai.因此黛玉心中便有些悒鬱不忿之意，寶釵卻渾然不覺。Because of this, Daiyu harbored some melancholy resentment in her heart, while Baochai remained entirely unaware of it.那寶玉亦在孩提之間，況自天性所稟來的一片愚拙偏僻，視姊妹弟兄皆出一意，並無親疏遠近之別。As for Baoyu, he too was still but a child, and moreover, by the foolish, awkward, and eccentric nature he had been endowed with, he regarded all his sisters and brothers with the same single-minded feeling, making no distinction of closeness or distance.其中因與黛玉同隨賈母一處坐臥，故略比別個姊妹熟慣些。Among them, because he shared quarters with Daiyu, both sitting and resting in attendance on Grandmother Jia, he was somewhat more familiar and at ease with her than with his other sisters.既熟慣，則更覺親密，既親密，則不免一時有求全之毀，不虞之隙。Being familiar, he felt all the closer to her; being close, it was inevitable that at times there arose blame born of wanting perfection in each other, and unforeseen rifts.這日不知為何，他二人言語有些不合起來，黛玉又氣的獨在房中垂淚，寶玉又自悔言語冒撞，前去俯就，那黛玉方漸漸的回轉來。That day, for some reason, the two of them fell into a slight disagreement in words; Daiyu, angered, wept alone in her room, while Baoyu, regretting that his own words had been rash and offensive, went to make amends and humble himself before her, whereupon Daiyu gradually came around.

如今且说林黛玉自在荣府以来，贾母万般怜爱，寝食起居，一如宝玉，迎春，探春，惜春三个亲孙女倒且靠后，便是宝玉和黛玉二人之亲密友爱处，亦自较别个不同，日则同行同坐，夜则同息同止，真是言和意顺，略无参商。不想如今忽然来了一个薛宝钗，年岁虽大不多，然品格端方，容貌丰美，人多谓黛玉所不及。而且宝钗行为豁达，随分从时，不比黛玉孤高自许，目无下尘，故比黛玉大得下人之心。便是那些小丫头子们，亦多喜与宝钗去顽。因此黛玉心中便有些悒郁不忿之意，宝钗却浑然不觉。那宝玉亦在孩提之间，况自天性所禀来的一片愚拙偏僻，视姊妹弟兄皆出一意，并无亲疏远近之别。其中因与黛玉同随贾母一处坐卧，故略比别个姊妹熟惯些。既熟惯，则更觉亲密，既亲密，则不免一时有求全之毁，不虞之隙。这日不知为何，他二人言语有些不合起来，黛玉又气的独在房中垂泪，宝玉又自悔言语冒撞，前去俯就，那黛玉方渐渐的回转来。

因東邊寧府中花園內梅花盛開，賈珍之妻尤氏乃治酒，請賈母，邢夫人，王夫人等賞花。Because the plum blossoms in the garden of the Ning mansion to the east were in full bloom, You-shi, wife of Jia Zhen, prepared a feast and invited Grandmother Jia, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and the others to come admire the flowers.是日先攜了賈蓉之妻，二人來面請。That day she first brought along Jia Rong's wife, and the two of them came in person to extend the invitation.賈母等於早飯後過來，就在會芳園游頑，先茶後酒，不過皆是寧榮二府女眷家宴小集，並無別樣新文趣事可記。Grandmother Jia and the others came over after breakfast and amused themselves wandering in Huifang Garden; first tea, then wine — it was nothing more than a small family gathering of the womenfolk of the Ning and Rong mansions, with no other novel or interesting matters worth recording.

因东边宁府中花园内梅花盛开，贾珍之妻尤氏乃治酒，请贾母，邢夫人，王夫人等赏花。是日先携了贾蓉之妻，二人来面请。贾母等于早饭后过来，就在会芳园游顽，先茶后酒，不过皆是宁荣二府女眷家宴小集，并无别样新文趣事可记。

一時寶玉倦怠，欲睡中覺，賈母命人好生哄著，歇一回再來。After a while Baoyu grew tired and wished to take a midday nap; Grandmother Jia ordered someone to look after him well, letting him rest a while before coming back.賈蓉之妻秦氏便忙笑回道：「我們這裏有給寶叔收拾下的屋子，老祖宗放心，只管交與我就是了。」又向寶玉的奶娘丫鬟等道：「嬤嬤，姐姐們，請寶叔隨我這裏來。」賈母素知秦氏是個極妥當的人，生的裊娜纖巧，行事又溫柔和平，乃重孫媳中第一個得意之人，見他去安置寶玉，自是安穩的。Jia Rong's wife, Qin-shi, quickly answered with a smile, "We have a room here already made up for Uncle Bao; Old Ancestress, set your mind at ease — just leave it entirely to me." Then she said to Baoyu's wet-nurses and maids, "Nannies, sisters, please bring Uncle Bao along with me." Grandmother Jia had always known Qin-shi to be an extremely capable and proper person — graceful and delicate in form, gentle and even-tempered in her ways, the foremost favorite among the great-grandsons' wives — so seeing her go to settle Baoyu, she naturally felt at ease about it.

一时宝玉倦怠，欲睡中觉，贾母命人好生哄著，歇一回再来。贾蓉之妻秦氏便忙笑回道：「我们这里有给宝叔收拾下的屋子，老祖宗放心，只管交与我就是了。」又向宝玉的奶娘丫鬟等道：「嬷嬷，姐姐们，请宝叔随我这里来。」贾母素知秦氏是个极妥当的人，生的袅娜纤巧，行事又温柔和平，乃重孙媳中第一个得意之人，见他去安置宝玉，自是安稳的。

當下秦氏引了一簇人來至上房內間。Thereupon Qin-shi led the whole group into an inner room of the main apartment.寶玉抬頭看見一幅畫貼在上面，畫的人物固好，其故事乃是《燃藜圖》，也不看係何人所畫，心中便有些不快。Baoyu looked up and saw a painting hung on the wall — the figures were well painted enough, but its subject was "The Picture of Burning the Reed-Torch to Study"; without even looking to see who had painted it, he already felt some displeasure in his heart.又有一幅對聯，寫的是：There was also a pair of scrolls, on which was written:

当下秦氏引了一簇人来至上房内间。宝玉抬头看见一幅画贴在上面，画的人物固好，其故事乃是《燃藜图》，也不看系何人所画，心中便有些不快。又有一幅对联，写的是：

世事洞明皆學問，人情練達即文章。A thorough understanding of worldly affairs is itself true learning; a skilled mastery of human feeling is itself fine writing.

世事洞明皆学问，人情练达即文章。

及看了這兩句，縱然室宇精美，舖陳華麗，亦斷斷不肯在這裏了，忙說：「快出去！Upon reading these two lines, no matter how exquisite the room or how splendid its furnishings, he was absolutely unwilling to stay there, and hastily said, "Get out of here, quick!快出去！」秦氏聽了笑道：「這裏還不好，可往那裏去呢？Get out, quick!" Hearing this, Qin-shi laughed and said, "If even this place isn't good enough, then where could we go?不然往我屋裏去吧。」寶玉點頭微笑。Otherwise, let's go to my room instead." Baoyu nodded and smiled faintly.有一個嬤嬤說道：「那裏有個叔叔往侄兒房裏睡覺的理？」秦氏笑道：「噯喲喲，不怕他惱。One of the nannies said, "Whatever reason could there be for an uncle to go sleep in his nephew's wife's room?" Qin-shi laughed and said, "Oh come now, don't worry about him taking offense.他能多大呢，就忌諱這些個！How old is he anyway, that he should mind about such things!上月你沒看見我那個兄弟來了，雖然與寶叔同年，兩個人若站在一處，只怕那個還高些呢。」寶玉道：「我怎麼沒見過？Last month, didn't you see my own younger brother come? Although he's the same age as Uncle Bao, if the two of them stood together, I'm afraid my brother would even be the taller of the two." Baoyu said, "How is it I've never seen him?你帶他來我瞧瞧。」眾人笑道：「隔著二三十里，往那裏帶去，見的日子有呢。」說著大家來至秦氏房中。Bring him here for me to see." Everyone laughed and said, "He lives twenty or thirty li away — how could we just bring him like that? There will be plenty of days yet to meet him." So saying, they all came to Qin-shi's room.剛至房門，便有一股細細的甜香襲人而來。Just as they reached the door, a delicate, sweet fragrance came wafting toward them.寶玉覺得眼餳骨軟，連說「好香！」入房向壁上看時，有唐伯虎畫的《海棠春睡圖》，兩邊有宋學士秦太虛寫的一副對聯，其聯云：Baoyu felt his eyes grow heavy and his bones go soft, and he kept saying, "What lovely fragrance!" On entering the room and looking at the wall, he saw a painting by Tang Bohu, "Begonia Sleeping in Spring," flanked by a pair of scrolls in the hand of the Song scholar Qin Taixu, on which the couplet read:

及看了这两句，纵然室宇精美，铺陈华丽，亦断断不肯在这里了，忙说：「快出去！快出去！」秦氏听了笑道：「这里还不好，可往那里去呢？不然往我屋里去吧。」宝玉点头微笑。有一个嬷嬷说道：「那里有个叔叔往侄儿房里睡觉的理？」秦氏笑道：「嗳哟哟，不怕他恼。他能多大呢，就忌讳这些个！上月你没看见我那个兄弟来了，虽然与宝叔同年，两个人若站在一处，只怕那个还高些呢。」宝玉道：「我怎么没见过？你带他来我瞧瞧。」众人笑道：「隔著二三十里，往那里带去，见的日子有呢。」说著大家来至秦氏房中。刚至房门，便有一股细细的甜香袭人而来。宝玉觉得眼饧骨软，连说「好香！」入房向壁上看时，有唐伯虎画的《海棠春睡图》，两边有宋学士秦太虚写的一副对联，其联云：

嫩寒鎖夢因春冷，芳氣襲人是酒香。A tender chill locks in dreams, for spring is cold; a fragrant air assails one — it is the scent of wine.

嫩寒锁梦因春冷，芳气袭人是酒香。

案上設著武則天當日鏡室中設的寶鏡，一邊擺著飛燕立著舞過的金盤，盤內盛著安祿山擲過傷了太真乳的木瓜。On the table stood the precious mirror that Wu Zetian once kept in her mirror chamber; to one side was placed the golden tray upon which Feiyan once danced, and on the tray lay the quince that An Lushan had once thrown, wounding Taizhen's breast.上面設著壽昌公主於含章殿下臥的榻，懸的是同昌公主製的聯珠帳。Set above was the couch on which Princess Shouchang once lay beneath Hanzhang Hall, and hanging over it was the string-of-pearls canopy made by Princess Tongchang.寶玉含笑連說：「這裏好！」秦氏笑道：「我這屋子大約神仙也可以住得了。」說著親自展開了西子浣過的紗衾，移了紅娘抱過的鴛枕。Baoyu, smiling, kept saying, "This place is good!" Qin-shi laughed and said, "My room, I daresay, is fit even for an immortal to lodge in." So saying, she herself spread out the gauze quilt that Xi Shi had once washed, and set in place the mandarin-duck pillow that Hongniang had once held in her arms.於是眾奶母伏侍寶玉臥好，款款散了，只留襲人，媚人，晴雯，麝月四個丫鬟為伴。Thereupon the nurses settled Baoyu comfortably into bed and quietly withdrew, leaving only the four maids Xiren, Meiren, Qingwen, and Sheyue to keep him company.秦氏便吩咐小丫鬟們，好生在廊檐下看著貓兒狗兒打架。Qin-shi then instructed the young maidservants to keep careful watch under the eaves of the corridor for any cats or dogs fighting.

案上设著武则天当日镜室中设的宝镜，一边摆著飞燕立著舞过的金盘，盘内盛著安禄山掷过伤了太真乳的木瓜。上面设著寿昌公主于含章殿下卧的榻，悬的是同昌公主制的联珠帐。宝玉含笑连说：「这里好！」秦氏笑道：「我这屋子大约神仙也可以住得了。」说著亲自展开了西子浣过的纱衾，移了红娘抱过的鸳枕。于是众奶母伏侍宝玉卧好，款款散了，只留袭人，媚人，晴雯，麝月四个丫鬟为伴。秦氏便吩咐小丫鬟们，好生在廊檐下看著猫儿狗儿打架。

那寶玉剛合上眼，便惚惚的睡去，猶似秦氏在前，遂悠悠蕩蕩，隨了秦氏，至一所在。No sooner had Baoyu closed his eyes than he drifted into a hazy sleep, and it seemed as though Qin-shi were walking ahead of him; so, drifting and floating along, he followed her to a certain place.但見朱欄白石，綠樹清溪，真是人跡稀逢，飛塵不到。There he saw vermilion balustrades and white stones, green trees and clear streams — truly a place where human footprints were rarely met and not a speck of dust ever came.寶玉在夢中歡喜，想道：「這個去處有趣，我就在這裏過一生，縱然失了家也願意，強如天天被父母師傅打呢。」正胡思之間，忽聽山後有人作歌曰：In his dream Baoyu was delighted, and thought to himself, "This place is delightful — I would gladly spend my whole life here, even if it meant losing my home; that would be far better than being scolded and beaten every day by my parents and tutors." Just as he was lost in such idle thoughts, he suddenly heard someone behind the hill singing a song:

那宝玉刚合上眼，便惚惚的睡去，犹似秦氏在前，遂悠悠荡荡，随了秦氏，至一所在。但见朱栏白石，绿树清溪，真是人迹稀逢，飞尘不到。宝玉在梦中欢喜，想道：「这个去处有趣，我就在这里过一生，纵然失了家也愿意，强如天天被父母师傅打呢。」正胡思之间，忽听山后有人作歌曰：

春夢隨雲散，飛花逐水流。Spring dreams scatter with the clouds, falling blossoms drift with the flowing stream.

春梦随云散，飞花逐水流。

寄言眾兒女，何必覓閒愁。A word to all you young men and maidens — why go seeking idle sorrow?

寄言众儿女，何必觅闲愁。

寶玉聽了是女子的聲音。Baoyu, listening, recognized it as a woman's voice.歌聲未息，早見那邊走出一個人來，蹁躚裊娜，端的與人不同。Before the song had even ended, he saw someone come walking out from over there, moving with a graceful, swaying gait — truly unlike any ordinary person.有賦為證：There is a rhapsody to bear witness:

宝玉听了是女子的声音。歌声未息，早见那边走出一个人来，蹁跹袅娜，端的与人不同。有赋为证：

方離柳塢，乍出花房。Just leaving the willow bank, just emerging from the bower of flowers.但行處，鳥驚庭樹，將到時，影度迴廊。Wherever she walks, birds startle from the courtyard trees; as she draws near, her shadow crosses the winding gallery.仙袂乍飄兮，聞麝蘭之馥郁，荷衣欲動兮，聽環佩之鏗鏘。Her immortal sleeves suddenly flutter — one catches the rich scent of musk and orchid; her lotus robe seems about to stir — one hears the tinkling clash of girdle-jade.靨笑春桃兮，雲堆翠髻，唇綻櫻顆兮，榴齒含香。Her dimpled smile is like the spring peach, clouds of hair piled in kingfisher-dark coils; her lips part like a cherry, pomegranate-white teeth holding a fragrance.纖腰之楚楚兮，迴風舞雪，珠翠之輝輝兮，滿額鵝黃。Her slender waist so lovely, like whirling wind and dancing snow; her pearls and kingfisher ornaments gleaming bright, goose-yellow adorning her whole brow.出沒花間兮，宜嗔宜喜，徘徊池上兮，若飛若揚。Appearing and vanishing among the flowers, fit now for a frown, now for a smile; lingering above the pool, as if flying, as if soaring.蛾眉顰笑兮，將言而未語，蓮步乍移兮，待止而欲行。Her moth-brows knit and then smile, about to speak yet not yet speaking; her lotus steps just shift, about to halt yet wishing still to go.羡彼之良質兮，冰清玉潤，慕彼之華服兮，閃灼文章。One admires her fine nature — clear as ice, smooth as jade; one longs for her splendid dress — glittering and richly patterned.愛彼之貌容兮，香培玉琢，美彼之態度兮，鳳翥龍翔。One loves her lovely countenance — as if grown of fragrance and carved of jade; one delights in her bearing and manner — like a phoenix soaring, a dragon in flight.其素若何，春梅綻雪。How plain and pure is she? Like spring plum blossoms bursting through snow.其潔若何，秋菊被霜。How pure and clean is she? Like autumn chrysanthemums touched by frost.其靜若何，松生空谷。How still and serene is she? Like a pine tree growing in an empty valley.其艷若何，霞映澄塘。How radiant and lovely is she? Like sunset clouds reflected in a clear pool.其文若何，龍游曲沼。How graceful her pattern? Like a dragon roaming a winding pond.其神若何，月射寒江。How spirited her air? Like the moon casting its light upon a cold river.應慚西子，實愧王嬙。Xi Shi herself should feel ashamed before her; Wang Qiang, too, would truly feel unworthy.奇矣哉，生於孰地，來自何方，信矣乎，瑤池不二，紫府無雙。How wondrous indeed! Born in what land, come from what place? Truly it must be so — in the Jasper Pool there is none her equal, in the Purple Court there is none to match her.果何人哉？Who, indeed, could she be?如斯之美也！To be possessed of such beauty!

方离柳坞，乍出花房。但行处，鸟惊庭树，将到时，影度回廊。仙袂乍飘兮，闻麝兰之馥郁，荷衣欲动兮，听环佩之铿锵。靥笑春桃兮，云堆翠髻，唇绽樱颗兮，榴齿含香。纤腰之楚楚兮，回风舞雪，珠翠之辉辉兮，满额鹅黄。出没花间兮，宜嗔宜喜，徘徊池上兮，若飞若扬。蛾眉颦笑兮，将言而未语，莲步乍移兮，待止而欲行。羡彼之良质兮，冰清玉润，慕彼之华服兮，闪灼文章。爱彼之貌容兮，香培玉琢，美彼之态度兮，凤翥龙翔。其素若何，春梅绽雪。其洁若何，秋菊被霜。其静若何，松生空谷。其艳若何，霞映澄塘。其文若何，龙游曲沼。其神若何，月射寒江。应惭西子，实愧王嫱。奇矣哉，生于孰地，来自何方，信矣乎，瑶池不二，紫府无双。果何人哉？如斯之美也！

寶玉見是一個仙姑，喜的忙來作揖問道：「神仙姐姐不知從那裏來，如今要往那裏去？Baoyu, seeing that she was an immortal maiden, delightedly hurried forward, bowed with clasped hands, and asked, "Immortal sister, I wonder where you have come from, and where you are bound now?也不知這是何處，望乞攜帶攜帶。」那仙姑笑道：「吾居離恨天之上，灌愁海之中，乃放春山遣香洞太虛幻境警幻仙姑是也：司人間之風情月債，掌塵世之女怨男癡。Nor do I know what place this is — I beg you, please take me along with you." The immortal maiden smiled and said, "I dwell above the Heaven of Parting Sorrow, within the Sea of Nurtured Grief — I am the Fairy Disenchantment, of the Illusory Realm of the Great Void, in the Cave of Dispatched Fragrance on the Mountain of Diffused Spring. I govern the debts of romantic passion and moonlit love in the world of men, and preside over the resentment of women and the infatuation of men throughout the mortal dust.因近來風流冤孽，纏綿於此處，是以前來訪察機會，布散相思。Of late, because karmic entanglements of romantic passion have been lingering and clinging about this place, I have come to look into the occasion for it, and to sow abroad the seeds of longing.今忽與爾相逢，亦非偶然。That I should now suddenly meet with you here is likewise no mere chance.此離吾境不遠，別無他物，僅有自採仙茗一盞，親釀美酒一瓮，素練魔舞歌姬數人，新填「紅樓夢」仙曲十二支，試隨吾一遊否？」寶玉聽說，便忘了秦氏在何處，竟隨了仙姑，至一所在，有石牌橫建，上書「太虛幻境」四個大字，兩邊一副對聯，乃是：From here it is not far to my realm — I have nothing much to offer, only a cup of immortal tea I picked myself, a jar of fine wine I brewed with my own hands, a few singing girls well trained in dance, and twelve newly composed immortal songs entitled 'Dream of the Red Chamber.' Will you try coming along with me for a visit?" Hearing this, Baoyu quite forgot where Qin-shi had gone, and followed the immortal maiden until they came to a place where a stone archway stood across the way, on which was written in large characters "The Illusory Realm of the Great Void," with a pair of scrolls on either side reading:

宝玉见是一个仙姑，喜的忙来作揖问道：「神仙姐姐不知从那里来，如今要往那里去？也不知这是何处，望乞携带携带。」那仙姑笑道：「吾居离恨天之上，灌愁海之中，乃放春山遣香洞太虚幻境警幻仙姑是也：司人间之风情月债，掌尘世之女怨男痴。因近来风流冤孽，缠绵于此处，是以前来访察机会，布散相思。今忽与尔相逢，亦非偶然。此离吾境不远，别无他物，仅有自采仙茗一盏，亲酿美酒一瓮，素练魔舞歌姬数人，新填「红楼梦」仙曲十二支，试随吾一游否？」宝玉听说，便忘了秦氏在何处，竟随了仙姑，至一所在，有石牌横建，上书「太虚幻境」四个大字，两边一副对联，乃是：

假作真時真亦假，無為有處有還無。When the false is taken for true, the true becomes false as well; where nothing is taken for something, something turns again to nothing.

假作真时真亦假，无为有处有还无。

轉過牌坊，便是一座宮門，上面橫書四個大字，道是：「孽海情天」。Passing beyond the archway, one came at once to a palace gate, above which four large characters were written crosswise, reading: "Sea of Retribution, Heaven of Passion."又有一副對聯，大書云：There was also a pair of scrolls, written in large characters, which read:

转过牌坊，便是一座宫门，上面横书四个大字，道是：「孽海情天」。又有一副对联，大书云：

厚地高天，堪歎古今情不盡。Thick earth and high heaven — one can only sigh that passion, past and present, never comes to an end.

厚地高天，堪叹古今情不尽。

癡男怨女，可憐風月債難償。Infatuated men and resentful women — how pitiful, that debts of wind and moon are so hard to repay.

痴男怨女，可怜风月债难偿。

寶玉看了，心下自思道：「原來如此。Reading this, Baoyu thought to himself, "So that is how it is.但不知何為「古今之情」，何為「風月之債」？But I do not know what is meant by 'the passion of past and present,' or what is meant by 'the debts of wind and moon.'從今倒要領略領略。」寶玉只顧如此一想，不料早把些邪魔招入膏肓了。From now on I really must look into this and come to understand it." Baoyu, absorbed only in thinking this over, never expected that he had already, without knowing it, drawn some evil spirit deep into his very vitals.當下隨了仙姑進入二層門內，至兩邊配殿，皆有匾額對聯，一時看不盡許多，惟見有幾處寫的是：「癡情司」，「結怨司」，「朝啼司」，「夜怨司」，「春感司」，「秋悲司」。Thereupon he followed the immortal maiden in through the second gate, to the side halls on either hand, each of which had a tablet and a pair of scrolls; there were so many that he could not take them all in at once, but he did see that several of them read: "Bureau of Infatuation," "Bureau of Bound Resentment," "Bureau of Morning Weeping," "Bureau of Night Complaint," "Bureau of Spring Longing," "Bureau of Autumn Sorrow."看了，因向仙姑道：「敢煩仙姑引我到那各司中遊玩遊玩，不知可使得？」仙姑道：「此各司中皆貯的是普天之下所有的女子過去未來的簿冊，爾凡眼塵軀，未便先知的。」寶玉聽了，那裏肯依，復央之再三。Having seen these, he turned to the immortal maiden and said, "Might I trouble you, immortal sister, to lead me to look about in each of these bureaus — would that be permitted?" The immortal maiden said, "In each of these bureaus are stored the registers, past and future, of all the women under heaven; you, with your mortal eyes and dusty frame, ought not to know of them beforehand." Hearing this, Baoyu would by no means agree to let the matter drop, and begged her again and again.仙姑無奈，說：「也罷，就在此司內略隨喜隨喜罷了。」寶玉喜不自勝，抬頭看這司的匾上，乃是「薄命司」三字，兩邊對聯寫的是：Having no choice, the immortal maiden said, "Very well then — just take a brief look about within this one bureau." Baoyu, overjoyed beyond measure, looked up at the tablet of this bureau and saw the three characters "Bureau of Ill-Fated Destinies," with a pair of scrolls on either side reading:

宝玉看了，心下自思道：「原来如此。但不知何为「古今之情」，何为「风月之债」？从今倒要领略领略。」宝玉只顾如此一想，不料早把些邪魔招入膏肓了。当下随了仙姑进入二层门内，至两边配殿，皆有匾额对联，一时看不尽许多，惟见有几处写的是：「痴情司」，「结怨司」，「朝啼司」，「夜怨司」，「春感司」，「秋悲司」。看了，因向仙姑道：「敢烦仙姑引我到那各司中游玩游玩，不知可使得？」仙姑道：「此各司中皆贮的是普天之下所有的女子过去未来的簿册，尔凡眼尘躯，未便先知的。」宝玉听了，那里肯依，复央之再三。仙姑无奈，说：「也罢，就在此司内略随喜随喜罢了。」宝玉喜不自胜，抬头看这司的匾上，乃是「薄命司」三字，两边对联写的是：

春恨秋悲皆自惹，花容月貌為誰妍。Spring resentment and autumn sorrow — all brought upon oneself; flower-like looks and moonlike beauty — for whom, in the end, are they made lovely?

春恨秋悲皆自惹，花容月貌为谁妍。

寶玉看了，便知感歎。Reading this, Baoyu at once understood enough to sigh.進入門來，只見有十數個大櫥，皆用封條封著。Entering through the gate, he saw a dozen or more great cabinets, each sealed shut with a strip of paper.看那封條上，皆是各省的地名。Looking at the seals, he saw that each bore the name of a province.寶玉一心只揀自己的家鄉封條看，遂無心看別省的了。Baoyu, intent only on picking out the seal for his own native place, had no mind left to look at those of the other provinces.只見那邊櫥上封條上大書七字云：「金陵十二釵正冊」。He saw that on one cabinet over there the seal bore, written large, seven characters: "The Principal Register of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling."寶玉問道：「何為『金陵十二釵正冊』？」警幻道：「即貴省中十二冠首女子之冊，故為『正冊』。」寶玉道：「常聽人說，金陵極大，怎麼只十二個女子？Baoyu asked, "What is meant by 'The Principal Register of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling'?" Disenchantment said, "It is the register of the twelve foremost women of your honored province — hence it is called the 'Principal Register.'" Baoyu said, "I have often heard people say that Jinling is an enormous place — how can there be only twelve women?如今單我家裏，上上下下，就有幾百女孩子呢。」警幻冷笑道：「貴省女子固多，不過擇其緊要者錄之。Why, in my own household alone, high and low together, there are several hundred girls." Disenchantment gave a cold laugh and said, "The women of your honored province are indeed many, but only the most important among them have been chosen and recorded here.下邊二櫥則又次之。The two cabinets below hold those of the next rank.餘者庸常之輩，則無冊可錄矣。」寶玉聽說，再看下首二櫥上，果然寫著「金陵十二釵副冊」，又一個寫著「金陵十二釵又副冊」。As for the rest, being of common and ordinary sort, there is no register to record them in." Hearing this, Baoyu looked again at the two cabinets to the side, and indeed one was inscribed "Supplementary Register of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling," and the other "Second Supplementary Register of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling."寶玉便伸手先將「又副冊」櫥開了，拿出一本冊來，揭開一看，只見這首頁上畫著一幅畫，又非人物，也無山水，不過是水墨滃染的滿紙烏雲濁霧而已。Baoyu then reached out and first opened the cabinet marked "Second Supplementary Register," took out a volume, and opened it to look; on the very first page was painted a picture that was neither a figure nor a landscape, but merely ink-wash clouds and murky mist covering the whole page.後有幾行字跡，寫的是：Following this were a few lines of writing, which read:

宝玉看了，便知感叹。进入门来，只见有十数个大橱，皆用封条封著。看那封条上，皆是各省的地名。宝玉一心只拣自己的家乡封条看，遂无心看别省的了。只见那边橱上封条上大书七字云：「金陵十二钗正册」。宝玉问道：「何为『金陵十二钗正册』？」警幻道：「即贵省中十二冠首女子之册，故为『正册』。」宝玉道：「常听人说，金陵极大，怎么只十二个女子？如今单我家里，上上下下，就有几百女孩子呢。」警幻冷笑道：「贵省女子固多，不过择其紧要者录之。下边二橱则又次之。余者庸常之辈，则无册可录矣。」宝玉听说，再看下首二橱上，果然写著「金陵十二钗副册」，又一个写著「金陵十二钗又副册」。宝玉便伸手先将「又副册」橱开了，拿出一本册来，揭开一看，只见这首页上画著一幅画，又非人物，也无山水，不过是水墨滃染的满纸乌云浊雾而已。后有几行字迹，写的是：

霽月難逢，彩雲易散。A clear moon after rain is hard to meet; bright-colored clouds scatter all too easily.心比天高，身為下賤。Her heart was loftier than the sky, yet her station in life was low and mean.風流靈巧招人怨，壽夭多因毀謗生，多情公子空牽念。Her charm and cleverness drew others' resentment upon her; her early death came largely from slander; the tender-hearted young master pined for her all in vain.

霁月难逢，彩云易散。心比天高，身为下贱。风流灵巧招人怨，寿夭多因毁谤生，多情公子空牵念。

寶玉看了，又見後面畫著一簇鮮花，一床破席，也有幾句言詞，寫道是：After reading this, Baoyu saw further on a painting of a cluster of fresh flowers and a worn, tattered mat, with a few lines of verse as well, which read:

宝玉看了，又见后面画著一簇鲜花，一床破席，也有几句言词，写道是：

枉自溫柔和順，空云似桂如蘭。In vain was she gentle and yielding, in vain was she likened to cassia and orchid.

枉自温柔和顺，空云似桂如兰。

堪羡優伶有福，誰知公子無緣。One might well envy the actor his good fortune — who could have known the young master would have no such fate?

堪羡优伶有福，谁知公子无缘。

寶玉看了不解。Baoyu read this but could not understand it.遂擲下這個，又去開了副冊櫥門，拿起一本冊來，揭開看時，只見畫著一株桂花，下面有一池沼，其中水涸泥乾，蓮枯藕敗，後面書云：So he set this one down and went to open the door of the cabinet marked "Supplementary Register," took out a volume, and on opening it saw painted a cassia tree, beneath which was a pond where the water had dried up and the mud had cracked, the lotuses withered and their roots decayed; behind this was written:

宝玉看了不解。遂掷下这个，又去开了副册橱门，拿起一本册来，揭开看时，只见画著一株桂花，下面有一池沼，其中水涸泥干，莲枯藕败，后面书云：

根並荷花一莖香，平生遭際實堪傷。Her roots joined with the lotus, one stem of fragrance — yet what befell her in this life is truly lamentable.

根并荷花一茎香，平生遭际实堪伤。

自從兩地生孤木，致使香魂返故鄉。Ever since, in two lands, a lone tree grew — it brought her fragrant soul back to its native home.

自从两地生孤木，致使香魂返故乡。

寶玉看了仍不解。Baoyu read this but still could not understand it.便又擲了，再去取「正冊」看，只見頭一頁上便畫著兩株枯木，木上懸著一圍玉帶，又有一堆雪，雪下一股金簪。So he set this one down too, and went to take up the "Principal Register" to look; on the very first page was painted two withered trees, on which hung a jade belt, and there was also a heap of snow, beneath which lay a golden hairpin.也有四句言詞，道是：There were also four lines of verse, which read:

宝玉看了仍不解。便又掷了，再去取「正册」看，只见头一页上便画著两株枯木，木上悬著一围玉带，又有一堆雪，雪下一股金簪。也有四句言词，道是：

可歎停機德，誰憐詠絮才。Alas for her virtue of the loom-stopping wife; who pities her talent for singing of willow-down?

可叹停机德，谁怜咏絮才。

玉帶林中掛，金簪雪裏埋。A jade belt hangs among the woods; a golden hairpin lies buried in the snow.

玉带林中挂，金簪雪里埋。

寶玉看了仍不解。Baoyu read this but still could not understand it.待要問時，情知他必不肯洩漏，待要丟下，又不捨。He wished to ask about it, yet knew well she would surely not consent to reveal it; he wished to set it aside, yet could not bear to part with it.遂又往後看時，只見畫著一張弓，弓上挂著香櫞。So he looked further on, and saw painted a bow, with a citron hanging from it.也有一首歌詞云：There was also a song-verse, which read:

宝玉看了仍不解。待要问时，情知他必不肯泄漏，待要丢下，又不舍。遂又往后看时，只见画著一张弓，弓上挂著香橼。也有一首歌词云：

二十年來辨是非，榴花開處照宮闈。Twenty years spent discerning right from wrong; where pomegranate blossoms open, their light shines upon the palace halls.

二十年来辨是非，榴花开处照宫闱。

三春爭及初春景，虎兔相逢大夢歸。How can the third spring compare with the scene of the first spring? When tiger and hare meet, the great dream returns to its end.

三春争及初春景，虎兔相逢大梦归。

後面又畫著兩人放風箏，一片大海，一隻大船，船中有一女子掩面泣涕之狀。Further on was painted two people flying a kite, a vast sea, and a great ship, within which a woman was shown covering her face and weeping.也有四句寫云：There were also four lines written, which read:

后面又画著两人放风筝，一片大海，一只大船，船中有一女子掩面泣涕之状。也有四句写云：

才自精明志自高，生於末世運偏淆。Her talent was keen, her ambitions lofty of themselves; born into a declining age, her fortune ran contrary and confused.

才自精明志自高，生于末世运偏淆。

清明涕送江邊望，千里東風一夢遙。At Qingming, weeping, she is seen off at the riverside, gazing after; a thousand li on the east wind, a single dream grows distant.

清明涕送江边望，千里东风一梦遥。

後面又畫幾縷飛雲，一灣逝水。Further on were painted a few wisps of flying cloud, and a bend of flowing water passing away.其詞曰：Its verse read:

后面又画几缕飞云，一湾逝水。其词曰：

富貴又何為，襁褓之間父母違。What use, after all, are wealth and rank? While still in swaddling clothes, she was parted from her father and mother.

富贵又何为，襁褓之间父母违。

展眼吊斜暉，湘江水逝楚雲飛。In the twinkling of an eye she mourns the slanting sunlight; the waters of the Xiang River flow away, and the clouds of Chu drift off.

展眼吊斜晖，湘江水逝楚云飞。

後面又畫著一塊美玉，落在泥垢之中。Behind it was painted a piece of beautiful jade, fallen into mud and filth.其斷語云：Its verdict read:

后面又画著一块美玉，落在泥垢之中。其断语云：

欲潔何曾潔，云空未必空。She wished to be pure — but when was she ever pure? She called all things void — but was it truly void?

欲洁何曾洁，云空未必空。

可憐金玉質，終陷淖泥中。Pity the one of gold-and-jade substance, who in the end sank into the mire.

可怜金玉质，终陷淖泥中。

後面忽見畫著個惡狼，追撲一美女，欲啖之意。Next, suddenly there appeared a painting of a fierce wolf chasing and pouncing on a beautiful woman, meaning to devour her.其書云：Its text read:

后面忽见画著个恶狼，追扑一美女，欲啖之意。其书云：

子係中山狼，得志便猖狂。You are indeed the wolf of Zhongshan; once you got your way, you turned savage and wild.

子系中山狼，得志便猖狂。

金閨花柳質，一載赴黃粱。A maiden of the gentle boudoir, delicate as flower and willow, within a single year went off to a dream of yellow millet.

金闺花柳质，一载赴黄粱。

後面便是一所古廟，裏面有一美人在內看經獨坐。Next came an old temple, within which a beautiful woman sat alone reading sutras.其判云：Its judgment read:

后面便是一所古庙，里面有一美人在内看经独坐。其判云：

勘破三春景不長，緇衣頓改昔年妝。Having seen through that the glory of the three springs would not last long, she suddenly exchanged her former finery for a black nun's robe.

勘破三春景不长，缁衣顿改昔年妆。

可憐繡戶侯門女，獨臥青燈古佛旁。Pity the daughter of an embroidered chamber, of a noble household, now lying alone beside the green lamp and ancient Buddha.

可怜绣户侯门女，独卧青灯古佛旁。

後面便是一片冰山，上面有一隻雌鳳。Next came a stretch of ice-mountain, atop which stood a female phoenix.其判曰：Its judgment read:

后面便是一片冰山，上面有一只雌凤。其判曰：

凡鳥偏從末世來，都知愛慕此生才。An ordinary bird, she happened to come in this age of decline; all knew to love and admire her talent in this life.

凡鸟偏从末世来，都知爱慕此生才。

一從二令三人木，哭向金陵事更哀。First obedient, then commanding, then discarded like man and wood combined; weeping, she turns toward Jinling, where matters grow ever more grievous.

一从二令三人木，哭向金陵事更哀。

後面又是一座荒村野店，有一美人在那裏紡績。Next was a desolate village with a rustic inn, where a beautiful woman sat there spinning thread.其判云：Its judgment read:

后面又是一座荒村野店，有一美人在那里纺绩。其判云：

勢敗休云貴，家亡莫論親。When power falls, speak no more of nobility; when the family perishes, speak no more of kinship.

势败休云贵，家亡莫论亲。

偶因濟村婦，巧得遇恩人。By chance, for having once aided a country woman, she came fortunately to meet her benefactor.

偶因济村妇，巧得遇恩人。

後面又畫著一盆茂蘭，旁有一位鳳冠霞帔的美人。Next was painted a pot of flourishing orchids, beside which stood a beautiful woman wearing a phoenix coronet and rosy cape.也有判云：There was also a judgment, which read:

后面又画著一盆茂兰，旁有一位凤冠霞帔的美人。也有判云：

桃李春風結子完，到頭誰似一盆蘭。Peach and plum, in the spring wind, bear their fruit and are done; who in the end can compare to a single pot of orchid?

桃李春风结子完，到头谁似一盆兰。

如冰水好空相妒，枉與他人作笑談。Ice-like and water-pure, in vain do others envy her; for nothing do they make her the subject of gossip and mockery.

如冰水好空相妒，枉与他人作笑谈。

後面又畫著高樓大廈，有一美人懸梁自縊。Next was painted a tall mansion and great halls, with a beautiful woman hanging herself from a beam.其判云：Its judgment read:

后面又画著高楼大厦，有一美人悬梁自缢。其判云：

情天情海幻情身，情既相逢必主淫。In a heaven of passion, a sea of passion, an illusory body born of passion — once passion meets passion, it must lead to lust.

漫言不肖皆榮出，造釁開端實在寧。Do not say idly that all the unworthy offspring come from the Rong mansion; the beginning of ruin, in truth, lay at Ning.

漫言不肖皆荣出，造衅开端实在宁。

寶玉還欲看時，那仙姑知他天分高明，性情穎慧，恐把仙機洩漏，遂掩了卷冊，笑向寶玉道：「且隨我去游玩奇景，何必在此打這悶葫蘆！」Just as Baoyu wished to look further, the fairy, knowing that his gifts were lofty and his nature keen and clever, feared she might let slip the secrets of heaven, and so she closed the register, saying to Baoyu with a smile, "Come along with me now to view some wondrous sights — why must you go on puzzling over this closed gourd of riddles?"

宝玉还欲看时，那仙姑知他天分高明，性情颖慧，恐把仙机泄漏，遂掩了卷册，笑向宝玉道：「且随我去游玩奇景，何必在此打这闷葫芦！」

寶玉恍恍惚惚，不覺棄了卷冊，又隨了警幻來至後面。Baoyu, all in a daze, unknowingly set aside the register and once again followed Jinghuan further inside.但見珠簾繡幕，畫棟雕檐，說不盡那光搖朱戶金舖地，雪照瓊窗玉作宮。He saw pearl blinds and embroidered curtains, painted rafters and carved eaves — beyond all telling was that light shimmering on vermilion doors and gold-paved floors, that snow-bright gleam on jade lattice windows and halls built of jade.更見仙花馥郁，異草芬芳，真好個所在。He saw further immortal flowers rich in fragrance and rare herbs sweetly scented — truly a fine place indeed.又聽警幻笑道：「你們快出來迎接貴客！」一語未了，只見房中又走出幾個仙子來，皆是荷袂蹁躚，羽衣飄舞，姣若春花，媚如秋月。Then he heard Jinghuan call out with a laugh, "Come quickly, all of you, and welcome the honored guest!" Before the words were even finished, several fairy maidens came walking out from within the chamber, their lotus sleeves fluttering gracefully, their feathered robes billowing, each as lovely as a spring blossom and as charming as the autumn moon.一見了寶玉，都怨謗警幻道：「我們不知係何『貴客』，忙的接了出來！The moment they caught sight of Baoyu, they all reproached Jinghuan, saying, "We did not know what 'honored guest' this was, that you should hurry us out to receive him!姐姐曾說今日今時必有絳珠妹子的生魂前來游玩，故我等久待。Sister, you once told us that on this very day, at this very hour, the living soul of our little sister Jiangzhu would surely come to visit, and so we have been waiting long.何故反引這濁物來污染這清淨女兒之境？」Why instead have you brought this filthy creature here, to defile this pure realm of maidens?"

宝玉恍恍惚惚，不觉弃了卷册，又随了警幻来至后面。但见珠帘绣幕，画栋雕檐，说不尽那光摇朱户金铺地，雪照琼窗玉作宫。更见仙花馥郁，异草芬芳，真好个所在。又听警幻笑道：「你们快出来迎接贵客！」一语未了，只见房中又走出几个仙子来，皆是荷袂蹁跹，羽衣飘舞，姣若春花，媚如秋月。一见了宝玉，都怨谤警幻道：「我们不知系何『贵客』，忙的接了出来！姐姐曾说今日今时必有绛珠妹子的生魂前来游玩，故我等久待。何故反引这浊物来污染这清净女儿之境？」

寶玉聽如此說，便嚇得欲退不能退，果覺自形污穢不堪。Hearing them speak so, Baoyu was so frightened that he wished to withdraw but could not, and indeed he felt his own form to be unbearably filthy and foul.警幻忙攜住寶玉的手，向眾姊妹道：「你等不知原委：今日原欲往榮府去接絳珠，适從寧府所過，偶遇寧榮二公之靈，囑吾云：『吾家自國朝定鼎以來，功名奕世，富貴傳流，雖歷百年，奈運終數盡，不可挽回者。Jinghuan hastily took Baoyu's hand and said to the assembled sisters, "You do not know the whole story: today I originally meant to go to the Rong mansion to fetch Jiangzhu, but as I happened to pass by the Ning mansion, I chanced to meet the spirits of the two lords of Ning and Rong, who charged me, saying, 'Ever since our house was established at the founding of this dynasty, its merit and fame have passed down through generations, and its wealth and rank have been handed on; yet though it has lasted a hundred years, its fortune is now at its end and its allotted span exhausted — a thing that cannot be recalled or reversed.故遺之子孫雖多，竟無可以繼業。Therefore, though the descendants left behind are many, there is in truth not one among them fit to carry on the family enterprise.其中惟嫡孫寶玉一人，稟性乖張，生性怪譎，雖聰明靈慧，略可望成，無奈吾家運數合終，恐無人規引入正。Among them, only the legitimate grandson Baoyu remains; his nature is willful and his temperament strange and contrary, yet though he is clever and quick-witted, and might in some measure be hoped to succeed, still, since our family's fortune is fated to end, we fear there will be no one to guide and lead him onto the proper path.幸仙姑偶來，萬望先以情欲聲色等事警其癡頑，或能使彼跳出迷人圈子，然後入於正路，亦吾兄弟之幸矣。』如此囑吾，故發慈心，引彼至此。Fortunately the fairy happens to come by; we most earnestly hope that you will first use matters of passion, desire, sound and beauty to warn him out of his foolish stubbornness, so that he may perhaps leap free of this bewitching circle and afterward enter upon the right path — that would be the good fortune of us brothers indeed.' Having been so charged, I therefore felt moved to compassion, and brought him here.先以彼家上中下三等女子之終身冊籍，令彼熟玩，尚未覺悟，故引彼再至此處，令其再歷飲饌聲色之幻，或冀將來一悟，亦未可知也。」I first let him closely examine the registers of the lifelong fates of the women of upper, middle, and lower rank in that household, but he has not yet come to understanding; and so I have led him once more to this place, to let him further experience the illusions of food, drink, music and beauty, hoping perhaps that in time to come he may awaken — though even that cannot be known for certain."

宝玉听如此说，便吓得欲退不能退，果觉自形污秽不堪。警幻忙携住宝玉的手，向众姊妹道：「你等不知原委：今日原欲往荣府去接绛珠，适从宁府所过，偶遇宁荣二公之灵，嘱吾云：『吾家自国朝定鼎以来，功名奕世，富贵传流，虽历百年，奈运终数尽，不可挽回者。故遗之子孙虽多，竟无可以继业。其中惟嫡孙宝玉一人，禀性乖张，生性怪谲，虽聪明灵慧，略可望成，无奈吾家运数合终，恐无人规引入正。幸仙姑偶来，万望先以情欲声色等事警其痴顽，或能使彼跳出迷人圈子，然后入于正路，亦吾兄弟之幸矣。』如此嘱吾，故发慈心，引彼至此。先以彼家上中下三等女子之终身册籍，令彼熟玩，尚未觉悟，故引彼再至此处，令其再历饮馔声色之幻，或冀将来一悟，亦未可知也。」

說畢，攜了寶玉入室。Having finished speaking, she took Baoyu by the hand and led him into the chamber.但聞一縷幽香，竟不知其所焚何物。He caught only a wisp of subtle fragrance, and could not tell at all what it was that was being burned.寶玉遂不禁相問。Baoyu could not help but ask about it.警幻冷笑道：「此香塵世中既無，爾何能知！Jinghuan gave a cold smile and said, "This incense does not exist at all in the mortal world — how could you possibly know it!此香乃係諸名山胜境內初生異卉之精，合各种寶林珠樹之油所製，名『群芳髓』。」寶玉聽了，自是羡慕而已。This incense is made from the essence of rare blossoms newly grown within famous mountains and marvelous scenic realms, blended with the oils of every kind of precious grove and pearl tree, and it is called 'Marrow of Assembled Fragrances.'" Hearing this, Baoyu could only feel admiration for it.大家入座，小丫鬟捧上茶來。Everyone then took their seats, and little maidservants brought in tea.寶玉自覺清香異味，純美非常，因又問何名。Baoyu himself felt its fragrance was pure and its flavor unusual, exceedingly fine and delicate, and so he asked again what it was called.警幻道：「此茶出在放春山遣香洞，又以仙花靈葉上所帶之宿露而烹，此茶名曰『千紅一窟』。」寶玉聽了，點頭稱賞。Jinghuan said, "This tea grows on Fangchun Mountain in the Qianxiang Cave, and is brewed with dew gathered overnight from the leaves of immortal flowers and sacred plants; this tea is named 'A Thousand Red Flowers in One Cavern.'" Hearing this, Baoyu nodded in admiration.因看房內，瑤琴，寶鼎，古畫，新詩，無所不有，更喜窗下亦有唾絨，奩間時漬粉污。Looking about the room, he saw jade zithers, precious tripods, ancient paintings, and new poems — there was nothing lacking; and he was even more delighted to find, beneath the window, bits of discarded embroidery thread, and on the dressing case, occasional smudges of powder.壁上也見懸著一副對聯，書云：On the wall he also saw a pair of scrolls hanging, on which was written:

说毕，携了宝玉入室。但闻一缕幽香，竟不知其所焚何物。宝玉遂不禁相问。警幻冷笑道：「此香尘世中既无，尔何能知！此香乃系诸名山胜境内初生异卉之精，合各种宝林珠树之油所制，名『群芳髓』。」宝玉听了，自是羡慕而已。大家入座，小丫鬟捧上茶来。宝玉自觉清香异味，纯美非常，因又问何名。警幻道：「此茶出在放春山遣香洞，又以仙花灵叶上所带之宿露而烹，此茶名曰『千红一窟』。」宝玉听了，点头称赏。因看房内，瑶琴，宝鼎，古画，新诗，无所不有，更喜窗下亦有唾绒，奁间时渍粉污。壁上也见悬著一副对联，书云：

幽微靈秀地，無可奈何天。A realm secluded, subtle, spiritual, and fair; a heaven of helplessness, where nothing can be done.

幽微灵秀地，无可奈何天。

寶玉看畢，無不羡慕。When Baoyu had finished looking, there was nothing he did not admire.因又請問眾仙姑姓名：一名癡夢仙姑，一名鐘情大士，一名引愁金女，一名度恨菩提，各各道號不一。He then went on to ask the names of the fairy maidens: one was called the Fairy of Infatuated Dreams, one the Bodhisattva of Devoted Love, one the Golden Maiden Who Leads to Sorrow, one the Bodhi Who Delivers from Resentment — each had her own distinct Daoist title.少刻，有小丫鬟來調桌安椅，設擺酒饌。After a little while, little maidservants came to arrange the tables and set out the chairs, laying out wine and dishes.真是：瓊漿滿泛玻璃盞，玉液濃斟琥珀杯。It was truly: jade nectar brimming over cups of glass, and jade liquor poured thick into cups of amber.更不用再說那肴饌之盛。Still less need be said of how sumptuous were the dishes and delicacies.寶玉因聞得此酒清香甘冽，異乎尋常，又不禁相問。Baoyu, catching the scent of this wine, found it clear, fragrant, sweet, and strong, quite out of the ordinary, and again could not help asking about it.警幻道：「此酒乃以百花之蕊，萬木之汁，加以麟髓之醅，鳳乳之麯釀成，因名為『萬艷同杯』。」寶玉稱賞不迭。Jinghuan said, "This wine is brewed from the stamens of a hundred flowers and the sap of ten thousand trees, with the unfermented mash of unicorn marrow and the yeast of phoenix milk added in; and so it is named 'Ten Thousand Beauties in One Cup.'" Baoyu praised it again and again without stopping.

宝玉看毕，无不羡慕。因又请问众仙姑姓名：一名痴梦仙姑，一名钟情大士，一名引愁金女，一名度恨菩提，各各道号不一。少刻，有小丫鬟来调桌安椅，设摆酒馔。真是：琼浆满泛玻璃盏，玉液浓斟琥珀杯。更不用再说那肴馔之盛。宝玉因闻得此酒清香甘冽，异乎寻常，又不禁相问。警幻道：「此酒乃以百花之蕊，万木之汁，加以麟髓之醅，凤乳之曲酿成，因名为『万艳同杯』。」宝玉称赏不迭。

飲酒間，又有十二個舞女上來，請問演何詞曲。As they drank, twelve dancing girls came forward and asked what songs and tunes they should perform.警幻道：「就將新製《紅樓夢》十二支演上來。」舞女們答應了，便輕敲檀板，款按銀箏，聽他歌道是：「開闢鴻蒙……」方歌了一句，警幻便說道：「此曲不比塵世中所填傳奇之曲，必有生旦淨末之則，又有南北九宮之限。Jinghuan said, "Simply perform the twelve newly composed songs of Dream of the Red Chamber." The dancing girls assented, and lightly tapping their sandalwood clappers and gently plucking their silver zithers, began to sing: "When chaos was first parted..." No sooner had they sung this one line than Jinghuan spoke up, saying, "These songs are not like the songs written for romances in the mortal world, which must follow the fixed roles of sheng, dan, jing, and mo, and are bound by the rules of the southern and northern modes.此或詠歎一人，或感懷一事，偶成一曲，即可譜入管弦。These may either sing the praises of a single person, or express feeling over a single matter; a tune, once composed, can straightaway be set to pipe and string.若非個中人，不知其中之妙。Unless one is a person truly within the matter itself, one cannot know its subtle beauty.料爾亦未必深明此調。I suppose that you too may not fully grasp these tunes.若不先閱其稿，後聽其歌，翻成嚼蠟矣。」說畢，回頭命小丫鬟取了《紅樓夢》原稿來，遞與寶玉。If you do not first read the text and only afterward listen to the singing, it will turn out as tasteless as chewing wax." Having said this, she turned and told a little maidservant to fetch the original text of Dream of the Red Chamber, and handed it to Baoyu.寶玉接來，一面目視其文，一面耳聆其歌曰：Baoyu took it, and following the words with his eyes while listening to the singing with his ears, heard them sing as follows:

饮酒间，又有十二个舞女上来，请问演何词曲。警幻道：「就将新制《红楼梦》十二支演上来。」舞女们答应了，便轻敲檀板，款按银筝，听他歌道是：「开辟鸿蒙……」方歌了一句，警幻便说道：「此曲不比尘世中所填传奇之曲，必有生旦净末之则，又有南北九宫之限。此或咏叹一人，或感怀一事，偶成一曲，即可谱入管弦。若非个中人，不知其中之妙。料尔亦未必深明此调。若不先阅其稿，后听其歌，翻成嚼蜡矣。」说毕，回头命小丫鬟取了《红楼梦》原稿来，递与宝玉。宝玉接来，一面目视其文，一面耳聆其歌曰：

紅樓夢引子Prologue to Dream of the Red Chamber

红楼梦引子

開闢鴻蒙，誰為情種？When chaos was first parted, who was it that sowed the seed of love?都只為風月情濃；It was all because of the deep passion of wind and moon;趁著這奈何天，傷懷日，寂寥時，試遣愚衷，因此上演出這悲金悼玉的「紅樓夢」。Taking advantage of this heaven of helplessness, these days of sorrow, this hour of loneliness, I try to give vent to my foolish heart, and so I have staged this "Dream of the Red Chamber," grieving for Gold and mourning for Jade.

开辟鸿蒙，谁为情种？都只为风月情浓；趁著这奈何天，伤怀日，寂寥时，试遣愚衷，因此上演出这悲金悼玉的「红楼梦」。

終身誤The Error of a Lifetime

终身误

都道是金玉良緣，俺只念木石前盟。All speak of the wondrous match of gold and jade; I alone still think of the pledge made in a former life between plant and stone.空對著，山中高士晶瑩雪；In vain do I face the crystalline snow, that lofty recluse of the mountains;終不忘，世外仙姝寂寞林。Yet never can I forget the lonely Lin, that immortal beauty beyond the world.歎人間，美中不足今方信。I sigh that in this human world, only now do I believe that even beauty is never without flaw.縱然是齊眉舉案，到底意難平。Even though we raise the tray level with our brows in perfect mutual respect, in the end my heart cannot find peace.

都道是金玉良缘，俺只念木石前盟。空对著，山中高士晶莹雪；终不忘，世外仙姝寂寞林。叹人间，美中不足今方信。纵然是齐眉举案，到底意难平。

枉凝眉Vainly Knitted Brows

一個是閬苑仙葩，一個是美玉無瑕。One is an immortal blossom from the Fairy Garden of Langyuan; the other is a beautiful jade without a single flaw.若說沒奇緣，今生偏又遇著他；If one says there is no wondrous bond between them, why then in this life should they happen to meet;若說有奇緣，如何心事終虛化？If one says there is a wondrous bond, then why should all their heart's longing come to nothing in the end?一個枉自嗟呀，一個空勞牽掛；One sighs and grieves all in vain; the other frets and worries to no purpose;一個是水中月，一個是鏡中花。One is the moon reflected in water; the other is a flower reflected in a mirror.想眼中能有多少淚珠兒，怎經得秋流到冬，春流到夏？Consider how many tears one's eyes can truly hold — how could they endure flowing from autumn into winter, and from spring into summer?

一个是阆苑仙葩，一个是美玉无瑕。若说没奇缘，今生偏又遇著他；若说有奇缘，如何心事终虚化？一个枉自嗟呀，一个空劳牵挂；一个是水中月，一个是镜中花。想眼中能有多少泪珠儿，怎经得秋流到冬，春流到夏？

寶玉聽了此曲，散漫無稽，不見得好處，但其聲韻凄惋，竟能銷魂醉魄。Hearing this song, Baoyu found it rambling and hard to follow, and could see nothing especially good in it; yet its melody and rhythm were so mournful and plaintive that it was able to melt the soul and intoxicate the spirit.因此也不察其原委，問其來歷，就暫以此釋悶而已。For this reason, without inquiring into its origins or asking after its background, he simply used it for the moment to dispel his gloom.因又看下道：He then went on looking further, where it read:

宝玉听了此曲，散漫无稽，不见得好处，但其声韵凄惋，竟能销魂醉魄。因此也不察其原委，问其来历，就暂以此释闷而已。因又看下道：

恨無常Hatred of Impermanence

恨无常

喜榮華正好，恨無常又到。Just as I delight in glory and splendor at their height, impermanence, that hateful thing, arrives once more.眼睜睜，把萬事全拋；Wide-eyed and helpless, I must cast aside all ten thousand things;蕩悠悠，把芳魂消耗。Drifting and adrift, my fragrant soul is spent and wasted.望家鄉，路遠山高。I gaze toward my homeland, but the road is far and the mountains high.故向爹娘夢裏相尋告：兒命已入黃泉，天倫呵，須要退步抽身早。And so I go in a dream to seek out my father and mother and tell them: your child's life has already entered the Yellow Springs; oh, bond of heaven-given kinship, you must draw back and withdraw while there is still time.

喜荣华正好，恨无常又到。眼睁睁，把万事全抛；荡悠悠，把芳魂消耗。望家乡，路远山高。故向爹娘梦里相寻告：儿命已入黄泉，天伦呵，须要退步抽身早。

分骨肉Parting of Flesh and Blood

一帆風雨路三千，把骨肉家園齊來拋閃。One sail through wind and rain, three thousand li of road, casting aside at once both flesh-and-blood kin and native home.恐哭損殘年，告爹娘，休把兒懸念。Fearing that weeping might harm your remaining years, I tell you, father and mother: do not let your thoughts hang upon your child.自古窮通皆有定，離合豈無緣？Since ancient times, poverty and fortune have both been fixed by fate — how could parting and reunion be without cause?從今分兩地，各自保平安。From now on we part, each to a different place; let each of us keep ourselves safe and well.奴去也，莫牽連。Your child is going now — do not let your hearts be bound up in longing for me.

一帆风雨路三千，把骨肉家园齐来抛闪。恐哭损残年，告爹娘，休把儿悬念。自古穷通皆有定，离合岂无缘？从今分两地，各自保平安。奴去也，莫牵连。

樂中悲Sorrow Amid Joy

乐中悲

襁褓中，父母歎雙亡，縱居那綺羅叢，誰知嬌養？While still in swaddling clothes, she sighed for the death of both her parents; though she came to dwell amid silk and brocade, who was there to know or cherish and pamper her?幸生來，英豪闊大寬宏量，從未將兒女私情略縈心上，好一似，霽月光風耀玉堂。Fortunately, she was born with a heroic, broad-minded, and generous nature, never once letting the petty sentiments between man and woman weigh upon her heart in the least — truly like a clear moon and a gentle breeze illuminating a jade hall.廝配得才貌仙郎，博得個地久天長，凖折得幼年時坎坷形狀。She was matched with a talented and handsome, immortal-like young man, and won thereby a bond as lasting as heaven and earth, which made up for the hardships and misfortunes of her childhood years.終久是雲散高唐，水涸湘江。Yet in the end, the clouds dispersed over Gaotang, and the waters of the Xiang River ran dry.這是塵寰中消長數應當，何必枉悲傷。This is but the destined rise and decline within the mortal world — why then grieve for it in vain?

襁褓中，父母叹双亡，纵居那绮罗丛，谁知娇养？幸生来，英豪阔大宽宏量，从未将儿女私情略萦心上，好一似，霁月光风耀玉堂。厮配得才貌仙郎，博得个地久天长，凖折得幼年时坎坷形状。终久是云散高唐，水涸湘江。这是尘寰中消长数应当，何必枉悲伤。

世難容Hard to Be Tolerated by the World

世难容

氣質美如蘭，才華阜比仙，天生成孤癖人皆罕。Her bearing was as beautiful as orchid, her talent as abundant as an immortal's; born with a solitary, eccentric nature rarely found in others.你道是啖肉食腥膻，視綺羅俗厭；You might say she found meat and rank foods repugnant to eat, and looked on silks and fine brocades as vulgar and tiresome;卻不知太高人愈妒，過潔世同嫌。Yet you did not know that the too-lofty are all the more envied by others, and the too-pure are equally despised by the world.可歎這，青燈古殿人將老；How lamentable, that beside the green lamp of an ancient shrine, she should grow old;辜負了，紅粉朱樓春色闌；How she forsook the rouge and powder, the vermilion chambers, as the beauty of spring faded away;到頭來，依舊是風塵肮髒違心願。In the end, it was still the filth and grime of the dusty world that went against her heart's own wish.好一似，無瑕白玉遭泥陷；Truly like a flawless piece of white jade fallen into the mire;又何須，王孫公子歎無緣。And why then should princes and noble sons sigh over having no fated bond with her?

气质美如兰，才华阜比仙，天生成孤癖人皆罕。你道是啖肉食腥膻，视绮罗俗厌；却不知太高人愈妒，过洁世同嫌。可叹这，青灯古殿人将老；辜负了，红粉朱楼春色阑；到头来，依旧是风尘肮脏违心愿。好一似，无瑕白玉遭泥陷；又何须，王孙公子叹无缘。

喜冤家Joy Turned to Enmity

中山狼，無情獸，全不念當日根由，一味的驕奢淫蕩貪還構。A wolf of Zhongshan, a heartless beast, utterly forgetting the origins of that earlier day, given wholly over to arrogance, extravagance, lechery, and greed, forever contriving further wrongs.覷著那，侯門艷質同蒲柳；He looks upon that beauty of a noble household as no more than a common willow or rush;作踐的，公府千金似下流。He mistreats and degrades her, a young lady of a ducal house, as though she were of the lowest, meanest sort.歎芳魂艷魄，一載蕩悠悠。Alas, her fragrant soul and lovely spirit, within a single year, drifted away into nothingness.

中山狼，无情兽，全不念当日根由，一味的骄奢淫荡贪还构。觑著那，侯门艳质同蒲柳；作践的，公府千金似下流。叹芳魂艳魄，一载荡悠悠。

虛花悟Awakening to the Illusion of Flowers

虚花悟

將那三春看破，桃紅柳綠待如何？Having seen through the Three Springs, what use are peach-pink and willow-green?把這韶華打滅，覓那清淡天和。Extinguish this glorious youth, and seek instead the pure, plain harmony of Heaven.說什麼，天上夭桃盛，雲中杏蕊多；What use to speak of the tender peach blossoms lush in heaven, the apricot blooms abundant amid the clouds;到頭來，誰把秋捱過？in the end, who is able to endure through autumn?則看那，白楊村裏人嗚咽，青楓林下鬼吟哦；Just look — in the village of white poplars people weep and sob; beneath the green maple grove ghosts moan and chant;更兼著，連天衰草遮墳墓。and moreover, withered grass stretching to the sky covers over the graves.這的是，昨貧今富人勞碌，春榮秋謝花折磨。So it is: poor yesterday, rich today — people toil and labor; blooming in spring, withering in autumn — flowers suffer torment.似這般，生關死劫誰能躲？Being so, the passes of birth and the calamities of death — who can evade them?聞說道，西方寶樹喚婆娑，上結著長生果。I have heard that in the West grows a precious tree called Suopo, bearing upon it the fruit of eternal life.

将那三春看破，桃红柳绿待如何？把这韶华打灭，觅那清淡天和。说什么，天上夭桃盛，云中杏蕊多；到头来，谁把秋挨过？则看那，白杨村里人呜咽，青枫林下鬼吟哦；更兼著，连天衰草遮坟墓。这的是，昨贫今富人劳碌，春荣秋谢花折磨。似这般，生关死劫谁能躲？闻说道，西方宝树唤婆娑，上结著长生果。

聰明累Wearied by Cleverness

聪明累

機關算盡太聰明，反算了卿卿性命。Scheming and calculating, far too clever by half, she calculated away her own precious life instead.生前心已碎，死後性空靈。While alive, her heart was already broken; after death, her spirit drifts empty and forlorn.家富人寧，終有個家亡人散各奔騰。A rich household, a family at peace — yet in the end it comes to ruin, the family scattered, each fleeing their own way.枉費了，意懸懸半世心；All spent in vain was a heart held anxiously suspended for half a lifetime;好一似，蕩悠悠三更夢。it was just like a drifting, wavering dream at the third watch of night.忽喇喇似大廈傾，昏慘慘似燈將盡。Suddenly, with a crash, like a great mansion toppling; dim and dismal, like a lamp about to gutter out.呀，一場歡喜忽悲辛；Ah, a moment of joy that suddenly turns to grief and bitterness;歎人世，終難定。one can only sigh that in this human world, nothing is ever settled for long.

机关算尽太聪明，反算了卿卿性命。生前心已碎，死后性空灵。家富人宁，终有个家亡人散各奔腾。枉费了，意悬悬半世心；好一似，荡悠悠三更梦。忽喇喇似大厦倾，昏惨惨似灯将尽。呀，一场欢喜忽悲辛；叹人世，终难定。

留餘慶Bequeathing Blessings

留余庆

留餘慶，留餘慶，忽遇恩人；Blessings left behind, blessings left behind — suddenly she meets a benefactor;幸娘親，幸娘親，積得陰功。fortunate was her mother, fortunate was her mother, who accumulated hidden merit.勸人生，濟困扶窮，休似俺那愛銀錢忘骨肉的狠舅奸兄。I urge those in this life to aid the poor and help the destitute, and not be like that cruel uncle and treacherous brother of mine, who loved silver and money and forgot their own flesh and blood.正是乘除加減，上有蒼穹。Truly, in the multiplying and dividing, the adding and subtracting of fate, there is Heaven above keeping watch.

留余庆，留余庆，忽遇恩人；幸娘亲，幸娘亲，积得阴功。劝人生，济困扶穷，休似俺那爱银钱忘骨肉的狠舅奸兄。正是乘除加减，上有苍穹。

晚韶華Splendor Come Late

晚韶华

鏡裏恩情，更那堪夢裏功名；Love and affection seen as if in a mirror — how much less bearable is rank and fame glimpsed as if in a dream;那美韶華去之何迅，再休提繡帳鴛衾。how swiftly that beautiful springtime of youth departs — speak no more of embroidered curtains and mandarin-duck quilts.只這帶珠冠，披鳳襖，也抵不了無常性命。Even a coronet strung with pearls, a robe adorned with phoenixes, cannot ransom a life from impermanence.雖說是，人生莫受老來貧，也須要陰騭積兒孫。Though it is said one should not suffer poverty in old age, one must still store up hidden virtue for the sake of one's children and grandchildren.氣昂昂頭戴簪纓，光燦燦胸懸金印；Head held high, hairpin and cap-ribbon worn proudly upon it; chest gleaming bright, a golden seal hung upon it;威赫赫爵祿高登，昏慘慘黃泉路近。awesome and mighty, rank and stipend risen high; dim and dismal, the road to the Yellow Springs draws near.問古來將相可還存？Ask: of the generals and ministers of ages past, are any still remaining?也只是虛名兒與後人欽敬。It is only an empty name left behind for later generations to admire and revere.

镜里恩情，更那堪梦里功名；那美韶华去之何迅，再休提绣帐鸳衾。只这带珠冠，披凤袄，也抵不了无常性命。虽说是，人生莫受老来贫，也须要阴骘积儿孙。气昂昂头戴簪缨，光灿灿胸悬金印；威赫赫爵禄高登，昏惨惨黄泉路近。问古来将相可还存？也只是虚名儿与后人钦敬。

好事終The Good Times Come to an End

好事终

畫梁春盡落香塵，擅風情，秉月貌，便是敗家的根本；Spring ends beneath the painted rafters and fragrant dust falls; indulging in romance, possessed of moonlike beauty — this became the very root of the family's ruin;箕裘頹墮皆從敬，家事消亡首罪寧，宿孽總因情。the collapse of the ancestral inheritance began with Jing; the first blame for the household's decline falls on Ning; the karma of past lives all stemmed from passion.

画梁春尽落香尘，擅风情，秉月貌，便是败家的根本；箕裘颓堕皆从敬，家事消亡首罪宁，宿孽总因情。

收尾：飛鳥各投林Finale: Birds Scatter Each to Its Own Wood

收尾：飞鸟各投林

為官的、家業凋零，富貴的、金銀散盡，有恩的、死裏逃生，無情的、分明報應，欠命的、命已還，欠淚的、淚已盡。Those who held office — their family estates wither away; those who had wealth and rank — their gold and silver are all scattered and spent; those who showed kindness — escape death and live on; those who were heartless — meet their retribution plainly; those who owed a life — have already repaid it with their own; those who owed tears — have already wept them dry.冤冤相報實非輕，分離聚合皆前定；Grievance repaid with grievance is truly no small matter; separation and reunion are all fixed beforehand;欲知命短問前生，老來富貴也真僥幸。if you wish to know why a life was cut short, ask of its former incarnation; wealth and rank in old age are truly but a stroke of luck.看破的、遁入空門，痴迷的、枉送了性命；Those who saw through it all fled into the empty gate of monkhood; those who remained infatuated threw away their lives in vain;好一似食盡鳥投林，落了片白茫茫大地真乾淨。it is just like birds, their food all gone, flying back to the woods, leaving behind nothing but a stretch of bare earth, truly clean and empty.

为官的、家业凋零，富贵的、金银散尽，有恩的、死里逃生，无情的、分明报应，欠命的、命已还，欠泪的、泪已尽。冤冤相报实非轻，分离聚合皆前定；欲知命短问前生，老来富贵也真侥幸。看破的、遁入空门，痴迷的、枉送了性命；好一似食尽鸟投林，落了片白茫茫大地真干净。

歌畢，還要歌副曲。When the song ended, there was still a companion piece to be sung.警幻見寶玉甚無趣味，因歎：「癡兒竟尚未悟！」那寶玉忙止歌姬不必再唱，自覺朦朧恍惚，告醉求臥。Seeing that Baoyu found it all quite tedious, Jinghuan sighed, "The foolish boy still has not understood!" Baoyu hastily told the singing girls there was no need to continue, feeling himself grow hazy and dazed, and pleading drunkenness, asked to lie down.警幻便命撤去殘席，送寶玉至一香閨繡閣之中，其間舖陳之盛，乃素所未見之物。Jinghuan then ordered the remains of the feast cleared away, and had Baoyu escorted into a fragrant chamber, an embroidered boudoir, whose furnishings were so sumptuous that he had never before seen their like.更可駭者，早有一位女子在內，其鮮艷嫵媚，有似乎寶釵，風流裊娜，則又如黛玉。More startling still, a young woman was already waiting within, whose fresh, alluring beauty resembled Baochai, while her graceful, willowy charm was also like Daiyu.正不知何意，忽警幻道：「塵世中多少富貴之家，那些綠窗風月，繡閣煙霞，皆被淫污紈袴與那些流蕩女子悉皆玷辱。Just as he was wondering what this meant, Jinghuan suddenly spoke: "In however many wealthy and noble households there are in the mortal world, the romance behind green-gauzed windows, the misty splendor of embroidered boudoirs, have all alike been defiled by licentious young dandies and by dissolute, wayward women.更可恨者，自古來多少輕薄浪子，皆以『好色不淫』為飾，又以『情而不淫』作案，此皆飾非掩醜之語也。More hateful still, since ancient times how many frivolous rakes have decorated themselves with the excuse of 'loving beauty without lechery,' and used 'having feeling without lechery' as their pretext — these are all words that dress up wrongdoing and cover over shame.好色即淫，知情更淫。To love beauty is already lechery; to understand feeling is lechery all the more.是以巫山之會，雲雨之歡，皆由既悅其色，復戀其情所致也。Thus the tryst on Mount Wu, the joys of cloud and rain, all arise from first delighting in beauty of form, and then further cherishing the feeling itself.吾所愛汝者，乃天下古今第一淫人也。」The reason I cherish you is that you are the very first lecher under Heaven, past and present."

歌毕，还要歌副曲。警幻见宝玉甚无趣味，因叹：「痴儿竟尚未悟！」那宝玉忙止歌姬不必再唱，自觉朦胧恍惚，告醉求卧。警幻便命撤去残席，送宝玉至一香闺绣阁之中，其间铺陈之盛，乃素所未见之物。更可骇者，早有一位女子在内，其鲜艳妩媚，有似乎宝钗，风流袅娜，则又如黛玉。正不知何意，忽警幻道：「尘世中多少富贵之家，那些绿窗风月，绣阁烟霞，皆被淫污纨袴与那些流荡女子悉皆玷辱。更可恨者，自古来多少轻薄浪子，皆以『好色不淫』为饰，又以『情而不淫』作案，此皆饰非掩丑之语也。好色即淫，知情更淫。是以巫山之会，云雨之欢，皆由既悦其色，复恋其情所致也。吾所爱汝者，乃天下古今第一淫人也。」

寶玉聽了，唬的忙答道：「仙姑差了。Hearing this, Baoyu was so startled that he hastily replied, "Immortal Maiden, you are mistaken.我因懶於讀書，家父母尚每垂訓飭，豈敢再冒『淫』字。Because I am lazy about my studies, my father and mother are forever reproving and instructing me — how would I dare risk earning the name of 'lechery'?況且年紀尚小，不知『淫』字為何物。」警幻道：「非也。Besides, I am still young in years, and do not even know what the word 'lechery' means." Jinghuan said, "Not so.淫雖一理，意則有別。Though lechery is a single principle, its meanings differ.如世之好淫者，不過悅容貌，喜歌舞，調笑無厭，雲雨無時，恨不能盡天下之美女供我片時之趣興，此皆皮膚淫濫之蠢物耳。Take those in the world who love lechery — they merely delight in appearance, love song and dance, flirt and tease without ever tiring, seek the joys of cloud and rain at all hours, and regret only that they cannot have every beautiful woman under Heaven to supply their momentary pleasure; these are nothing but foolish creatures of skin-deep lechery.如爾則天分中生成一段癡情，吾輩推之為『意淫』。『意淫』二字，惟心會而不可口傳，可神通而不可語達。But you were born with an innate strain of foolish devotion in your very nature, which we of the immortal realm call 'lechery of the mind.' The two words 'lechery of the mind' can only be grasped in the heart, never conveyed in speech; they can be reached by spirit, but not expressed in words.汝今獨得此二字，在閨閣中，固可為良友，然於世道中未免迂闊怪詭，百口嘲謗，萬目睚眥。You alone have attained these two words. Within the women's chambers you may indeed be counted a good friend, but in the ways of the world you will inevitably seem impractical and strange, mocked and slandered by a hundred mouths, glared at with hatred by ten thousand eyes.今既遇令祖寧榮二公剖腹深囑，吾不忍君獨為我閨閣增光，見棄於世道，是以特引前來，醉以靈酒，沁以仙茗，警以妙曲，再將吾妹一人，乳名兼美字可卿者，許配於汝。Now, having met your ancestors the two dukes of Ning and Rong, who opened their hearts and entrusted me most earnestly, I cannot bear for you merely to add glory to my women's chambers while being cast aside by the ways of the world. For this reason I have specially brought you here, made you drunk with divine wine, steeped you in immortal tea, admonished you with wondrous songs, and now I will further betroth to you my own younger sister, whose infant name is Jianmei and courtesy name Keqing.今夕良時，即可成姻。This very night, at this auspicious hour, the marriage may be consummated.不過令汝領略此仙閨幻境之風光尚如此，何況塵境之情景哉？This is merely to let you taste the scenery of this immortal chamber within this realm of illusion, and it is already thus — how much more so the scenes and feelings of the mortal world?而今後萬萬解釋，改悟前情，留意於孔孟之間，委身於經濟之道。」說畢便秘授以雲雨之事，推寶玉入房，將門掩上自去。From now on you must by all means free yourself of this, awaken to and reform your former inclinations, turn your attention to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, and devote yourself to the way of statecraft." Having said this, she secretly instructed him in the matter of clouds and rain, pushed Baoyu into the chamber, closed the door, and departed on her own.

宝玉听了，唬的忙答道：「仙姑差了。我因懒于读书，家父母尚每垂训饬，岂敢再冒『淫』字。况且年纪尚小，不知『淫』字为何物。」警幻道：「非也。淫虽一理，意则有别。如世之好淫者，不过悦容貌，喜歌舞，调笑无厌，云雨无时，恨不能尽天下之美女供我片时之趣兴，此皆皮肤淫滥之蠢物耳。如尔则天分中生成一段痴情，吾辈推之为『意淫』。『意淫』二字，惟心会而不可口传，可神通而不可语达。汝今独得此二字，在闺阁中，固可为良友，然于世道中未免迂阔怪诡，百口嘲谤，万目睚眦。今既遇令祖宁荣二公剖腹深嘱，吾不忍君独为我闺阁增光，见弃于世道，是以特引前来，醉以灵酒，沁以仙茗，警以妙曲，再将吾妹一人，乳名兼美字可卿者，许配于汝。今夕良时，即可成姻。不过令汝领略此仙闺幻境之风光尚如此，何况尘境之情景哉？而今后万万解释，改悟前情，留意于孔孟之间，委身于经济之道。」说毕便秘授以云雨之事，推宝玉入房，将门掩上自去。

那寶玉恍恍惚惚，依警幻所囑之言，未免有兒女之事，難以盡述。Baoyu, all hazy and dazed, followed the words with which Jinghuan had charged him, and inevitably there occurred the affairs between man and woman, too much to relate in full.至次日，便柔情繾綣，軟語溫存，與可卿難解難分。By the next day, tender feelings lingered and clung, soft words warmed and comforted, and he and Keqing found it hard to bear parting from one another.因二人攜手出去遊頑之時，忽至一個所在，但見荊榛遍地，狼虎同群，迎面一道黑溪阻路，並無橋梁可通。As the two of them walked hand in hand out to wander and amuse themselves, they suddenly arrived at a certain place, where they saw brambles and thorns covering the ground everywhere, wolves and tigers roaming together in packs, and directly ahead a black stream blocking the way, with no bridge by which to cross.正在猶豫之間，忽見警幻後面追來，告道：「快休前進，作速回頭要緊！」寶玉忙止步問道：「此係何處？」警幻道：「此即迷津也。Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly saw Jinghuan hurrying up from behind, calling out, "Go no further! Turn back at once — it is urgent!" Baoyu quickly stopped and asked, "What place is this?" Jinghuan said, "This is none other than the Ford of Delusion.深有萬丈，遙亙千里，中無舟楫可通，只有一個木筏，乃木居士掌舵，灰侍者撐篙，不受金銀之謝，但遇有緣者渡之。It is ten thousand fathoms deep and stretches a thousand li into the distance; there is no boat or oar by which to cross it, only a single wooden raft, steered by the Lay Buddhist of Wood and poled by the Attendant of Ash, who accept no payment of gold or silver, but ferry across only those with whom they share karmic affinity.爾今偶游至此，設如墮落其中，則深負我從前諄諄警戒之語矣。」話猶未了，只聽迷津內水響如雷，竟有許多夜叉海鬼將寶玉拖將下去。You have now wandered here by chance; were you to fall into it, you would gravely betray all the earnest warnings I gave you before." The words were barely finished when the water within the Ford of Delusion suddenly roared like thunder, and a great many yakshas and sea demons dragged Baoyu down into it.嚇得寶玉汗下如雨，一面失聲喊叫：「可卿救我！」嚇得襲人輩眾丫鬟忙上來摟住，叫：「寶玉別怕，我們在這裏！」Baoyu was so terrified that sweat poured down like rain, and he cried out involuntarily, "Keqing, save me!" Xiren and the other maids, frightened, hurried up to hold him, calling out, "Baoyu, don't be afraid, we are here!"

那宝玉恍恍惚惚，依警幻所嘱之言，未免有儿女之事，难以尽述。至次日，便柔情缱绻，软语温存，与可卿难解难分。因二人携手出去游顽之时，忽至一个所在，但见荆榛遍地，狼虎同群，迎面一道黑溪阻路，并无桥梁可通。正在犹豫之间，忽见警幻后面追来，告道：「快休前进，作速回头要紧！」宝玉忙止步问道：「此系何处？」警幻道：「此即迷津也。深有万丈，遥亘千里，中无舟楫可通，只有一个木筏，乃木居士掌舵，灰侍者撑篙，不受金银之谢，但遇有缘者渡之。尔今偶游至此，设如堕落其中，则深负我从前谆谆警戒之语矣。」话犹未了，只听迷津内水响如雷，竟有许多夜叉海鬼将宝玉拖将下去。吓得宝玉汗下如雨，一面失声喊叫：「可卿救我！」吓得袭人辈众丫鬟忙上来搂住，叫：「宝玉别怕，我们在这里！」

卻說秦氏正在房外囑咐小丫頭們好生看著貓兒狗兒打架，忽聽寶玉在夢中喚他的小名，因納悶道：「我的小名這裏從沒人知道的，他如何知道，在夢裏叫出來？」正是：Now to tell of Qin-shi, who was just outside the room instructing the young maids to watch carefully so the cats and dogs would not fight, when she suddenly heard Baoyu calling out her childhood name in his dream, and thought to herself in puzzlement, "My childhood name — no one here has ever known it. How could he know it, and call it out in his dream?" Truly:

却说秦氏正在房外嘱咐小丫头们好生看著猫儿狗儿打架，忽听宝玉在梦中唤他的小名，因纳闷道：「我的小名这里从没人知道的，他如何知道，在梦里叫出来？」正是：

一場幽夢同誰訴，千古情人獨我知。This dream of hidden depths — to whom can it be told? Of lovers through the ages, I alone truly know.

一场幽梦同谁诉，千古情人独我知。

注释Notes