第四十九回　琉璃世界白雪紅梅　脂粉香娃割腥啖膻 In a Crystal World of White Snow and Red Plum; Perfumed Maidens Feast on Roast Venison

話說香菱見眾人正說笑，他便迎上去笑道：“你們看這一首。Now, seeing that everyone was talking and laughing, Xiangling went up to them and said with a smile: "Take a look at this poem.若使得，我便還學，若還不好，我就死了這作詩的心了。”說著，把詩遞與黛玉及眾人看時，只見寫道是：If it will do, I'll go on studying; if it's still no good, I'll give up on this idea of writing poetry once and for all." So saying, she handed the poem to Daiyu and the others to read, and this is what was written:

话说香菱见众人正说笑，他便迎上去笑道：“你们看这一首。若使得，我便还学，若还不好，我就死了这作诗的心了。”说著，把诗递与黛玉及众人看时，只见写道是：

精華欲掩料應難，影自娟娟魄自寒。Its radiance, though it would hide itself, can hardly be concealed; its shadow is graceful of itself, its soul cold of itself.

精华欲掩料应难，影自娟娟魄自寒。

一片砧敲千里白，半輪雞唱五更殘。The sound of fulling-blocks pounding carries its whiteness a thousand li; at the cock's crow the half-wheel moon fades at the fifth watch.

一片砧敲千里白，半轮鸡唱五更残。

綠蓑江上秋聞笛，紅袖樓頭夜倚欄。In a green rain-cape on the river, one hears a flute in autumn; in red sleeves at the tower, one leans on the railing at night.

绿蓑江上秋闻笛，红袖楼头夜倚栏。

博得嫦蛾應借問，緣何不使永團圓！Might one venture to ask the Moon Goddess Chang'e — why not let it stay forever full and round?

博得嫦蛾应借问，缘何不使永团圆！

眾人看了笑道：“這首不但好，而且新巧有意趣。When the others had read it, they said with a smile: "Not only is this one good, it's also fresh, clever, and full of charm.可知俗語說‘天下無難事，只怕有心人。’社里一定請你了。”香菱聽了心下不信，料著是他們瞞哄自己的話，還只管問黛玉寶釵等。It just goes to show that the saying is true: 'Nothing under heaven is hard, if only one sets one's heart to it.' The club is sure to invite you now." Hearing this, Xiangling did not believe it in her heart, thinking it must be words meant to tease and deceive her, and she kept on questioning Daiyu, Baochai, and the others.

众人看了笑道：“这首不但好，而且新巧有意趣。可知俗语说‘天下无难事，只怕有心人。’社里一定请你了。”香菱听了心下不信，料著是他们瞒哄自己的话，还只管问黛玉宝钗等。

正說之間，只見幾個小丫頭并老婆子忙忙的走來，都笑道：“來了好些姑娘奶奶們，我們都不認得，奶奶姑娘們快認親去。”李紈笑道：“這是那里的話？Just as they were talking, several young maids and old women came hurrying in, all saying with smiles: "A whole lot of young ladies and mistresses have arrived, and we don't recognize any of them — mistresses and young ladies, go quickly and claim your relations!" Li Wan said with a smile: "What kind of talk is this?你到底說明白了是誰的親戚？”那婆子丫頭都笑道：“奶奶的兩位妹子都來了。Just tell us clearly whose relatives they are." The old woman and the maids all said with smiles: "Both of the mistress's younger sisters have come.還有一位姑娘，說是薛大姑娘的妹妹，還有一位爺，說是薛大爺的兄弟。And there's also a young lady, said to be a younger sister of Miss Xue the elder, and a young gentleman too, said to be a younger brother of Master Xue the elder.我這會子請姨太太去呢，奶奶和姑娘們先上去罷。”說著，一徑去了。I'm off now to fetch Aunt Xue — the mistress and young ladies had best go on ahead." So saying, she went straight off.寶釵笑道：“我們薛蝌和他妹妹來了不成？”李紈也笑道：“我們嬸子又上京來了不成？Baochai said with a smile: "Could it be that our Xue Ke and his sister have come?" Li Wan too said with a smile: "Could it be that my aunt has come up to the capital again?他們也不能湊在一處，這可是奇事。”大家納悶，來至王夫人上房，只見烏壓壓一地的人。There's no way they could all turn up together — this really is strange." Everyone was puzzled, and when they reached Lady Wang's main room, they found it packed black with people.

正说之间，只见几个小丫头并老婆子忙忙的走来，都笑道：“来了好些姑娘奶奶们，我们都不认得，奶奶姑娘们快认亲去。”李纨笑道：“这是那里的话？你到底说明白了是谁的亲戚？”那婆子丫头都笑道：“奶奶的两位妹子都来了。还有一位姑娘，说是薛大姑娘的妹妹，还有一位爷，说是薛大爷的兄弟。我这会子请姨太太去呢，奶奶和姑娘们先上去罢。”说著，一径去了。宝钗笑道：“我们薛蝌和他妹妹来了不成？”李纨也笑道：“我们婶子又上京来了不成？他们也不能凑在一处，这可是奇事。”大家纳闷，来至王夫人上房，只见乌压压一地的人。

原來邢夫人之兄嫂帶了女兒岫煙進京來投邢夫人的，可巧鳳姐之兄王仁也正進京，兩親家一處打幫來了。It turned out that Lady Xing's elder brother and his wife had brought their daughter Xiuyan up to the capital to seek refuge with Lady Xing, and as luck would have it, Xifeng's brother Wang Ren was also coming up to the capital at the same time, so the two related families had banded together and traveled up together.走至半路泊船時，正遇見李紈之寡嬸帶著兩個女兒——大名李紋，次名李綺——也上京。When their boat had moored partway along the journey, they happened to meet Li Wan's widowed aunt, who, bringing her two daughters — the elder named Li Wen, the younger named Li Qi — was also on her way up to the capital.大家敘起來又是親戚，因此三家一路同行。When they got to talking, it turned out they were relations as well, and so the three families traveled the rest of the way together.後有薛蟠之從弟薛蝌，因當年父親在京時已將胞妹薛寶琴許配都中梅翰林之子為婚，正欲進京發嫁，聞得王仁進京，他也帶了妹子隨後赶來。Besides these, there was Xue Ke, a cousin of Xue Pan's, whose father, back when he was in the capital, had already betrothed his younger sister Xue Baoqin to the son of Hanlin Mei of the capital; now, just as he was about to go up to the capital to see her married, he heard that Wang Ren was heading there too, and so he brought his sister along and hurried after them.所以今日會齊了來訪投各人親戚。And so today they had all gathered together and come to call on and seek out their various relations.于是大家見禮敘過，賈母王夫人都歡喜非常。Thereupon everyone exchanged greetings and pleasantries, and Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were both extremely delighted.賈母因笑道：“怪道昨日晚上燈花爆了又爆，結了又結，原來應到今日。”一面敘些家常，一面收看帶來的禮物，一面命留酒飯。Grandmother Jia said with a smile: "No wonder the lamp-wick sparked and sparked again last night, and formed little knots over and over — so it was an omen for today." All the while she chatted of family matters, looked over the gifts they had brought, and gave orders to keep them for wine and a meal.鳳姐兒自不必說，忙上加忙。As for Xifeng, needless to say, she grew busier than busy.李紈寶釵自然和嬸母姊妹敘離別之情。Li Wan and Baochai naturally spent the time with their aunt and sisters, talking over all that had happened since their parting.黛玉見了，先是歡喜，次後想起眾人皆有親眷，獨自己孤單，無個親眷，不免又去垂淚。Seeing all this, Daiyu was glad at first, but then, reflecting that everyone else had kinfolk while she alone was solitary, with no relatives of her own, she could not help going off to shed tears again.寶玉深知其情，十分勸慰了一番方罷。Baoyu, well aware of her feelings, spent a great deal of effort comforting and consoling her before the matter was let drop.

原来邢夫人之兄嫂带了女儿岫烟进京来投邢夫人的，可巧凤姐之兄王仁也正进京，两亲家一处打帮来了。走至半路泊船时，正遇见李纨之寡婶带著两个女儿——大名李纹，次名李绮——也上京。大家叙起来又是亲戚，因此三家一路同行。后有薛蟠之从弟薛蝌，因当年父亲在京时已将胞妹薛宝琴许配都中梅翰林之子为婚，正欲进京发嫁，闻得王仁进京，他也带了妹子随后赶来。所以今日会齐了来访投各人亲戚。于是大家见礼叙过，贾母王夫人都欢喜非常。贾母因笑道：“怪道昨日晚上灯花爆了又爆，结了又结，原来应到今日。”一面叙些家常，一面收看带来的礼物，一面命留酒饭。凤姐儿自不必说，忙上加忙。李纨宝钗自然和婶母姊妹叙离别之情。黛玉见了，先是欢喜，次后想起众人皆有亲眷，独自己孤单，无个亲眷，不免又去垂泪。宝玉深知其情，十分劝慰了一番方罢。

然後寶玉忙忙來至怡紅院中，向襲人，麝月，晴雯等笑道：“你們還不快看人去！Afterward Baoyu hurried off to Happy Red Court, and said to Xiren, Sheyue, Qingwen, and the others with a smile: "Why haven't you gone to see the new arrivals yet!誰知寶姐姐的親哥哥是那個樣子，他這叔伯兄弟形容舉止另是一樣了，倒象是寶姐姐的同胞弟兄似的。Who would have thought — Sister Bao's own elder brother looks the way he does, yet this cousin of his has an entirely different look and bearing, quite as though he were Sister Bao's own full brother.更奇在你們成日家只說寶姐姐是絕色的人物，你們如今瞧瞧他這妹子，更有大嫂嫂這兩個妹子，我竟形容不出了。What's even stranger is that all this time you've been saying Sister Bao is a peerless beauty — now go and look at this younger sister of hers, and then at these two sisters of Elder Sister-in-law's besides — I simply can't find words to describe them.老天，老天，你有多少精華靈秀，生出這些人上之人來！Heaven above, heaven above, how much refined and spiritual essence must you hold, to have given birth to such paragons among people!可知我井底之蛙，成日家自說現在的這幾個人是有一無二的，誰知不必遠尋，就是本地風光，一個賽似一個，如今我又長了一層學問了。It just shows what a frog at the bottom of a well I've been, going about all day saying that the few people we already have here are unmatched in all the world — who would have known that without looking far at all, right here on our own doorstep, one surpasses another, each finer than the last. Now I've gained another layer of understanding.除了這幾個，難道還有幾個不成？”一面說，一面自笑自歎。Besides these, could there possibly be still more?" As he spoke, he laughed and sighed to himself by turns.襲人見他又有了魔意，便不肯去瞧。Seeing that he had fallen into one of his fits of foolish fancy again, Xiren refused to go and look.晴雯等早去瞧了一遍回來，嘻嘻笑向襲人道：“你快瞧瞧去！Qingwen and the others had already gone to take a look and come back, and said to Xiren, giggling: "Go and have a look, quick!大太太的一個侄女兒，寶姑娘一個妹妹，大奶奶兩個妹妹，倒象一把子四根水蔥兒。”The Elder Mistress's niece, Miss Bao's younger sister, and Elder Mistress Li's two younger sisters — the four of them together are just like a bunch of four fresh scallion-stalks."

然后宝玉忙忙来至怡红院中，向袭人，麝月，晴雯等笑道：“你们还不快看人去！谁知宝姐姐的亲哥哥是那个样子，他这叔伯兄弟形容举止另是一样了，倒象是宝姐姐的同胞弟兄似的。更奇在你们成日家只说宝姐姐是绝色的人物，你们如今瞧瞧他这妹子，更有大嫂嫂这两个妹子，我竟形容不出了。老天，老天，你有多少精华灵秀，生出这些人上之人来！可知我井底之蛙，成日家自说现在的这几个人是有一无二的，谁知不必远寻，就是本地风光，一个赛似一个，如今我又长了一层学问了。除了这几个，难道还有几个不成？”一面说，一面自笑自叹。袭人见他又有了魔意，便不肯去瞧。晴雯等早去瞧了一遍回来，嘻嘻笑向袭人道：“你快瞧瞧去！大太太的一个侄女儿，宝姑娘一个妹妹，大奶奶两个妹妹，倒象一把子四根水葱儿。”

一語未了，只見探春也笑著進來找寶玉，因說道：“咱們的詩社可興旺了。”寶玉笑道：“正是呢。Before she had finished speaking, Tanchun came in laughing too, looking for Baoyu, and said: "Our poetry club is really flourishing now." Baoyu said with a smile: "Exactly so.這是你一高興起詩社，所以鬼使神差來了這些人。It's because you were so pleased to start the poetry club that, as if by the working of gods and ghosts, all these people have come.但只一件，不知他們可學過作詩不曾？”探春道：“我纔都問了他們，雖是他們自謙，看其光景，沒有不會的。There's just one thing though — I don't know whether they've ever studied the writing of poetry." Tanchun said: "I just asked all of them — although they modestly demurred, judging by their manner, there's not one among them who doesn't know how.便是不會也沒難處，你看香菱就知道了。”襲人笑道：“他們說薛大姑娘的妹妹更好，三姑娘看著怎麼樣？”探春道：“果然的話。And even if one doesn't know how, it's no great difficulty — just look at Xiangling and you'll see." Xiren said with a smile: "They say Miss Xue the elder's younger sister is even better — Third Miss, what do you think, looking at her?" Tanchun said: "It's quite true.据我看，連他姐姐并這些人總不及他。”襲人聽了，又是詫异，又笑道：“這也奇了，還從那里再好的去呢？As I see it, even her elder sister and all the rest of them together don't come up to her." Hearing this, Xiren was both astonished and amused, and said: "Now that really is strange — how could anyone be better still?我倒要瞧瞧去。”探春道：“老太太一見了，喜歡的無可不可，已經逼著太太認了乾女兒了。I really must go and have a look." Tanchun said: "The moment Old Ancestress saw her, she was so pleased there was nothing she wouldn't do — she's already pressed Lady Wang into taking her as a goddaughter.老太太要養活，纔剛已經定了。”寶玉喜的忙問：“這果然的？”探春道：“我幾時說過謊！”又笑道：“有了這個好孫女兒，就忘了這孫子了。”寶玉笑道：“這倒不妨，原該多疼女兒些才是正理。Old Ancestress wants to raise her herself — it's just been settled a moment ago." Baoyu, delighted, hastily asked: "Is this really true?" Tanchun said: "When have I ever told a lie!" And she added with a smile: "Now that she's got this fine granddaughter, she's forgotten all about this grandson of hers." Baoyu said with a smile: "That's no matter at all — it's only right and proper to dote more on granddaughters.明兒十六，咱們可該起社了。”探春道：“林丫頭剛起來了，二姐姐又病了，終是七上八下的。”寶玉道：“二姐姐又不大作詩，沒有他又何妨。”探春道：“越性等幾天，他們新來的混熟了，咱們邀上他們豈不好？Tomorrow is the sixteenth — we really ought to start up the club again." Tanchun said: "Cousin Lin has only just gotten out of bed, and Second Sister has fallen ill again, so things are all in a muddle, up and down." Baoyu said: "Second Sister doesn't write much poetry anyway, so it hardly matters if she's not there." Tanchun said: "We might as well just wait a few days, until these newcomers have gotten familiar with us, and then invite them along — wouldn't that be better?這會子大嫂子寶姐姐心里自然沒有詩興的，況且湘雲沒來，顰兒剛好了，人人不合式。Right now Elder Sister-in-law and Sister Bao naturally have no heart for poetry, and besides, Xiangyun hasn't come, and Pin'er has only just recovered — nothing about the timing suits.不如等著雲丫頭來了，這幾個新的也熟了，顰兒也大好了，大嫂子和寶姐姐心也閒了，香菱詩也長進了，如此邀一滿社豈不好？Better to wait until Cousin Yun comes, until these several newcomers have grown familiar too, until Pin'er is fully well, until Elder Sister-in-law and Sister Bao are more at leisure in their minds, and until Xiangling's poetry has improved further — then to call a full gathering of the club, wouldn't that be better?咱們兩個如今且往老太太那里去聽聽，除寶姐姐的妹妹不算外，他一定是在咱們家住定了的。Let the two of us go now to Old Ancestress's place and listen in a while — setting aside Sister Bao's younger sister, she is certain to be settled here to stay with us for good.倘或那三個要不在咱們這里住，咱們央告著老太太留下他們在園子里住下，咱們豈不多添幾個人，越發有趣了。”寶玉聽了，喜的眉開眼笑，忙說道：“倒是你明白。Should it happen that the other three are not going to be living with us, we can entreat Old Ancestress to keep them and let them live in the Garden — wouldn't that give us several more people, and make things all the more delightful?" Hearing this, Baoyu was so pleased his brows lifted and his eyes lit with smiles, and he hastily said: "You really do understand things well.我終久是個糊涂心腸，空喜歡一會子，卻想不到這上頭來。”I'm hopelessly muddle-headed after all — I just get pleased for a moment, and never think to take things this far."

一语未了，只见探春也笑著进来找宝玉，因说道：“咱们的诗社可兴旺了。”宝玉笑道：“正是呢。这是你一高兴起诗社，所以鬼使神差来了这些人。但只一件，不知他们可学过作诗不曾？”探春道：“我才都问了他们，虽是他们自谦，看其光景，没有不会的。便是不会也没难处，你看香菱就知道了。”袭人笑道：“他们说薛大姑娘的妹妹更好，三姑娘看著怎么样？”探春道：“果然的话。据我看，连他姐姐并这些人总不及他。”袭人听了，又是诧异，又笑道：“这也奇了，还从那里再好的去呢？我倒要瞧瞧去。”探春道：“老太太一见了，喜欢的无可不可，已经逼著太太认了干女儿了。老太太要养活，才刚已经定了。”宝玉喜的忙问：“这果然的？”探春道：“我几时说过谎！”又笑道：“有了这个好孙女儿，就忘了这孙子了。”宝玉笑道：“这倒不妨，原该多疼女儿些才是正理。明儿十六，咱们可该起社了。”探春道：“林丫头刚起来了，二姐姐又病了，终是七上八下的。”宝玉道：“二姐姐又不大作诗，没有他又何妨。”探春道：“越性等几天，他们新来的混熟了，咱们邀上他们岂不好？这会子大嫂子宝姐姐心里自然没有诗兴的，况且湘云没来，颦儿刚好了，人人不合式。不如等著云丫头来了，这几个新的也熟了，颦儿也大好了，大嫂子和宝姐姐心也闲了，香菱诗也长进了，如此邀一满社岂不好？咱们两个如今且往老太太那里去听听，除宝姐姐的妹妹不算外，他一定是在咱们家住定了的。倘或那三个要不在咱们这里住，咱们央告著老太太留下他们在园子里住下，咱们岂不多添几个人，越发有趣了。”宝玉听了，喜的眉开眼笑，忙说道：“倒是你明白。我终久是个糊涂心肠，空喜欢一会子，却想不到这上头来。”

說著，兄妹兩個一齊往賈母處來。”果然王夫人已認了寶琴作乾女兒，賈母歡喜非常，連園中也不命住，晚上跟著賈母一處安寢。So saying, brother and sister went off together to Grandmother Jia's place. Sure enough, Lady Wang had already taken Baoqin as her goddaughter, and Grandmother Jia was overjoyed — she would not even have her live in the Garden, but kept her to sleep in her own quarters at night.薛蝌自向薛蟠書房中住下。Xue Ke, for his part, went to lodge in Xue Pan's study.賈母便和邢夫人說：“你姪女兒也不必家去了，園里住幾天，逛逛再去。”邢夫人兄嫂家中原艱難，這一上京，原仗的是邢夫人與他們治房舍，幫盤纏，聽如此說，豈不願意。Grandmother Jia then said to Lady Xing: "There's no need for your niece to go home either — let her stay a few days in the Garden and look around before she goes." Lady Xing's elder brother and his wife were in straitened circumstances at home, and this trip up to the capital had really been made relying on Lady Xing to arrange lodgings and help with travel funds for them, so hearing this, how could they not be willing?邢夫人便將岫煙交與鳳姐兒。Lady Xing accordingly handed Xiuyan over into Xifeng's charge.鳳姐兒籌算得園中姊妹多，性情不一，且又不便另設一處，莫若送到迎春一處去，倘日後邢岫煙有些不遂意的事，縱然邢夫人知道了，與自己無干。Xifeng calculated that there were already many sisters in the Garden, of all different temperaments, and that it would be inconvenient to set up yet another separate place for her — better to send her to stay with Yingchun; that way, if something later went amiss to Xing Xiuyan's dissatisfaction, even should Lady Xing come to hear of it, it would have nothing to do with herself.從此後若邢岫煙家去住的日期不算，若在大觀園住到一個月上，鳳姐兒亦照迎春的分例送一分與岫煙。From then on, not counting any days when Xing Xiuyan went home to stay, so long as she remained in the Grand View Garden for up to a full month, Xifeng would provide her with an allowance equal to Yingchun's own share.鳳姐兒冷眼掂掇岫煙心性為人，竟不象邢夫人及他的父母一樣，卻是溫厚可疼的人。Watching coolly, Xifeng weighed up Xiuyan's disposition and character, and found that she was nothing at all like Lady Xing or her own parents, but was instead a gentle, warm-hearted person one could not help but love.因此鳳姐兒又怜他家貧命苦，比別的姊妹多疼他些，邢夫人倒不大理論了。And so, pitying her too for her poor family and hard lot, Xifeng doted on her rather more than on the other sisters, while Lady Xing, for her part, paid little heed to the matter.

说著，兄妹两个一齐往贾母处来。”果然王夫人已认了宝琴作干女儿，贾母欢喜非常，连园中也不命住，晚上跟著贾母一处安寝。薛蝌自向薛蟠书房中住下。贾母便和邢夫人说：“你姪女儿也不必家去了，园里住几天，逛逛再去。”邢夫人兄嫂家中原艰难，这一上京，原仗的是邢夫人与他们治房舍，帮盘缠，听如此说，岂不愿意。邢夫人便将岫烟交与凤姐儿。凤姐儿筹算得园中姊妹多，性情不一，且又不便另设一处，莫若送到迎春一处去，倘日后邢岫烟有些不遂意的事，纵然邢夫人知道了，与自己无干。从此后若邢岫烟家去住的日期不算，若在大观园住到一个月上，凤姐儿亦照迎春的分例送一分与岫烟。凤姐儿冷眼掂掇岫烟心性为人，竟不象邢夫人及他的父母一样，却是温厚可疼的人。因此凤姐儿又怜他家贫命苦，比别的姊妹多疼他些，邢夫人倒不大理论了。

賈母王夫人因素喜李紈賢惠，且年輕守節，令人敬伏，今見他寡嬸來了，便不肯令他外頭去住。Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, having always been fond of Li Wan for her virtue and good sense, and respecting her for keeping her widow's faith at so young an age, would not, now that her widowed aunt had come, allow her to lodge outside.那李嬸雖十分不肯，無奈賈母執意不從，只得帶著李紋李綺在稻香村住下來。Though Aunt Li was most unwilling, there was nothing to be done against Grandmother Jia's firm insistence, and so she had no choice but to bring Li Wen and Li Qi to settle down and live at Paddy-Sweet Cottage.

贾母王夫人因素喜李纨贤惠，且年轻守节，令人敬伏，今见他寡婶来了，便不肯令他外头去住。那李婶虽十分不肯，无奈贾母执意不从，只得带著李纹李绮在稻香村住下来。

當下安插既定，誰知保齡侯史鼐又遷委了外省大員，不日要帶了家眷去上任。Once these arrangements had all been settled, who should have expected that the Marquis of Baoling, Shi Nai, had just been transferred and appointed to a high post in another province, and would soon be taking his household with him to assume his new office.賈母因捨不得湘雲，便留下他了，接到家中，原要命鳳姐兒另設一處與他住。Grandmother Jia, unwilling to part with Xiangyun, kept her behind, bringing her into the household, and originally meant to have Xifeng set up a separate place for her to live.史湘雲執意不肯，只要與寶釵一處住，因此就罷了。But Shi Xiangyun firmly refused, insisting on living together with Baochai instead, and so the matter was let drop.

当下安插既定，谁知保龄侯史鼐又迁委了外省大员，不日要带了家眷去上任。贾母因舍不得湘云，便留下他了，接到家中，原要命凤姐儿另设一处与他住。史湘云执意不肯，只要与宝钗一处住，因此就罢了。

此時大觀園中比先更熱鬧了多少。By this time the Grand View Garden had grown ever so much more lively than before.李紈為首，餘者迎春，探春，惜春，寶釵，黛玉，湘雲，李紋，李綺，寶琴，邢岫煙，再添上鳳姐兒和寶玉，一共十三個。With Li Wan at the head, the rest were Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Baochai, Daiyu, Xiangyun, Li Wen, Li Qi, Baoqin, and Xing Xiuyan — and adding Xifeng and Baoyu besides, they numbered thirteen in all.敘起年庚，除李紈年紀最長，他十二個人皆不過十五六七歲，或有這三個同年，或有那五個共歲，或有這兩個同月同日，那兩個同刻同時，所差者大半是時刻月分而已。Reckoning up their ages, aside from Li Wan, who was the eldest, the other twelve were none of them more than fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen years old — some three of them shared the same year of birth, some five shared the same age, some two shared the same month and day, and yet another two shared the very same hour and moment; for the most part the only differences among them were a matter of hours or months.連他們自己也不能細細分晰，不過是“弟”“兄”“姊”“妹”四個字隨便亂叫。Even they themselves could not sort it all out in detail, and simply called each other "younger brother," "elder brother," "elder sister," "younger sister," quite at random.

此时大观园中比先更热闹了多少。李纨为首，余者迎春，探春，惜春，宝钗，黛玉，湘云，李纹，李绮，宝琴，邢岫烟，再添上凤姐儿和宝玉，一共十三个。叙起年庚，除李纨年纪最长，他十二个人皆不过十五六七岁，或有这三个同年，或有那五个共岁，或有这两个同月同日，那两个同刻同时，所差者大半是时刻月分而已。连他们自己也不能细细分晰，不过是“弟”“兄”“姊”“妹”四个字随便乱叫。

如今香菱正滿心滿意只想作詩，又不敢十分羅皂寶釵，可巧來了個史湘雲。Now Xiangling, with her whole heart set on nothing but the writing of poetry, yet not daring to pester Baochai too persistently about it, was fortunate enough to have Shi Xiangyun arrive just at this time.那史湘雲又是极愛說話的，那里禁得起香菱又請教他談詩，越發高了興，沒晝沒夜高談闊論起來。And Shi Xiangyun, being someone who loved to talk more than almost anyone, how could she resist when Xiangling kept asking her to discuss poetry with her? She grew all the more excited, and fell to holding forth at great length, without regard to day or night.寶釵因笑道：“我實在聒噪的受不得了。Baochai said with a smile: "I really can't bear the racket of it any longer.一個女孩兒家，只管拿著詩作正經事講起來，叫有學問的人聽了，反笑話說不守本分的。Here's a girl treating the writing of poems as though it were some serious business — if learned people were to hear it, they would only laugh and say she wasn't keeping to her proper place.一個香菱沒鬧清，偏又添了你這麼個話口袋子，滿嘴里說的是什麼：怎麼是杜工部之沉郁，韋蘇州之淡雅，又怎麼是溫八叉之綺靡，李義山之隱僻。Xiangling alone hadn't got things straightened out yet, and now on top of that we have you, a regular sack of words, going on and on with a mouth full of this and that — how Du Gongbu is all weighty melancholy, how Wei Suzhou is all pale elegance, how Wen Bacha is all ornate and lush, how Li Yishan is all veiled and obscure.放著兩個現成的詩家不知道，提那些死人做什麼！”湘雲聽了，忙笑問道：“是那兩個？Here you have two ready-made poets right at hand that you don't even mention, and instead you go bringing up all these dead men — whatever for!" Hearing this, Xiangyun hastily asked with a smile: "Who are the two?好姐姐，你告訴我。”寶釵笑道：“呆香菱之心苦，瘋湘雲之話多。”湘雲香菱聽了，都笑起來。Dear sister, do tell me." Baochai said with a smile: "Silly Xiangling, so earnest of heart; mad Xiangyun, so full of talk." Hearing this, both Xiangyun and Xiangling burst out laughing.

如今香菱正满心满意只想作诗，又不敢十分罗皂宝钗，可巧来了个史湘云。那史湘云又是极爱说话的，那里禁得起香菱又请教他谈诗，越发高了兴，没昼没夜高谈阔论起来。宝钗因笑道：“我实在聒噪的受不得了。一个女孩儿家，只管拿著诗作正经事讲起来，叫有学问的人听了，反笑话说不守本分的。一个香菱没闹清，偏又添了你这么个话口袋子，满嘴里说的是什么：怎么是杜工部之沉郁，韦苏州之淡雅，又怎么是温八叉之绮靡，李义山之隐僻。放著两个现成的诗家不知道，提那些死人做什么！”湘云听了，忙笑问道：“是那两个？好姐姐，你告诉我。”宝钗笑道：“呆香菱之心苦，疯湘云之话多。”湘云香菱听了，都笑起来。

正說著，只見寶琴來了，披著一領斗篷，金翠輝煌，不知何物。Just as they were talking, Baoqin came in, wearing a cloak draped over her shoulders, gleaming with gold and kingfisher-green, of some material no one could identify.寶釵忙問：“這是那里的？”寶琴笑道：“因下雪珠兒，老太太找了這一件給我的。”香菱上來瞧道：“怪道這麼好看，原來是孔雀毛織的。”湘雲道：“那里是孔雀毛，就是野鴨子頭上的毛作的。Baochai hastily asked: "Where did this come from?" Baoqin said with a smile: "Because it's snowing sleet, Old Ancestress found this one and gave it to me." Xiangling came up to look and said: "No wonder it's so lovely — it's woven of peacock feathers!" Xiangyun said: "That's not peacock feathers at all, it's made from the feathers on the heads of wild ducks.可見老太太疼你了，這樣疼寶玉，也沒給他穿。”寶釵道：“真俗語說‘各人有緣法’。This just shows how much Old Ancestress dotes on you — fond as she is of Baoyu, she's never given him one like this to wear." Baochai said: "It's truly as the saying goes, 'each person has their own destined fortune.'他也再想不到他這會子來，既來了，又有老太太這麼疼他。”湘雲道：“你除了在老太太跟前，就在園里來，這兩處只管頑笑吃喝。She herself could never have imagined coming here just at this time, and now that she has come, Old Ancestress dotes on her so." Xiangyun said: "Apart from being in front of Old Ancestress, you're here in the Garden — in these two places you may play, laugh, eat, and drink as you please.到了太太屋里，若太太在屋里，只管和太太說笑，多坐一回無妨，若太太不在屋里，你別進去，那屋里人多心坏，都是要害咱們的。”說的寶釵，寶琴，香菱，鶯兒等都笑了。But when you go to the mistress's rooms, if the mistress herself is in, you may go right on talking and laughing with her, and it's fine to sit a good while longer; but if the mistress isn't in the room, don't go in — there are too many people in there with bad hearts, all of them out to do us harm." This made Baochai, Baoqin, Xiangling, Yingr, and the rest all burst out laughing.寶釵笑道：“說你沒心，卻又有心，雖然有心，到底嘴太直了。Baochai said with a smile: "Say you have no guile, and yet you do have some; but even having some, your tongue in the end is far too blunt.我們這琴兒就有些象你。This Qin'er of ours is rather like you in some ways.你天天說要我作親姐姐，我今兒竟叫你認他作親妹妹罷了。”湘雲又瞅了寶琴半日，笑道：“這一件衣裳也只配他穿，別人穿了，實在不配。”正說著，只見琥珀走來笑道：“老太太說了，叫寶姑娘別管緊了琴姑娘。Every day you say you want me for your own elder sister — today I'll just have you take her as your own younger sister instead." Xiangyun gazed at Baoqin for a good while longer, then said with a smile: "This one garment really only suits her to wear — on anyone else it truly wouldn't do." Just as she spoke, Hupo came in and said with a smile: "Old Ancestress says Miss Bao is not to keep too tight a rein on Miss Qin.他還小呢，讓他愛怎麼樣就怎麼樣。She's still young — let her do as she pleases in whatever way she likes.要什麼東西只管要去，別多心。”寶釵忙起身答應了，又推寶琴笑道：“你也不知是那里來的福氣！Whatever she wants, let her simply ask for it, and don't fuss too much over her." Baochai hastily rose and acknowledged the message, then pushed at Baoqin and said with a smile: "Goodness knows where you got such good fortune from!你倒去罷，仔細我們委曲著你。Off you go, then — take care, or we might end up doing you some wrong.我就不信我那些兒不如你。”說話之間，寶玉黛玉都進來了，寶釵猶自嘲笑。I simply don't believe that anything of mine falls short of yours." While they were talking, Baoyu and Daiyu both came in, and Baochai was still teasing and laughing over it.湘雲因笑道：“寶姐姐，你這話雖是頑話，恰有人真心是這樣想呢。”琥珀笑道：“真心惱的再沒別人，就只是他。”口里說，手指著寶玉。Xiangyun said with a smile: "Sister Bao, though what you say is only in jest, there really is someone who truly feels that way in earnest." Hupo said with a smile: "The one who's truly annoyed is no one else but him" — and as she spoke, she pointed her finger at Baoyu.寶釵湘雲都笑道：“他倒不是這樣人。”琥珀又笑道：“不是他，就是他。”說著又指著黛玉。Both Baochai and Xiangyun said with a smile: "He's not the sort to feel that way." Hupo said again with a smile: "If it's not him, then it's her" — and so saying, she pointed at Daiyu instead.湘雲便不則聲。At this Xiangyun fell silent and said nothing more.寶釵忙笑道：“更不是了。Baochai hastily said with a smile: "Even less so.我的妹妹和他的妹妹一樣。My own younger sister and her younger sister are just the same to me.他喜歡的比我還疼呢，那里還惱？She's even fonder of her than I am — how could she possibly be annoyed?你信口兒混說。You're just talking nonsense, whatever comes into your mouth.他的那嘴有什麼實据。”寶玉素習深知黛玉有些小性兒，且尚不知近日黛玉和寶釵之事，正恐賈母疼寶琴他心中不自在，今見湘雲如此說了，寶釵又如此答，再審度黛玉聲色亦不似往時，果然與寶釵之說相符，心中悶悶不解[2]。That mouth of hers, what proof does it ever offer?" Baoyu, who had long known that Daiyu was somewhat touchy and narrow of temper, and who did not yet know of the recent understanding between Daiyu and Baochai, had just been worried that Daiyu might feel uneasy at heart over Grandmother Jia's fondness for Baoqin; but now, seeing Xiangyun speak as she had, and Baochai answer as she had, and observing further that Daiyu's manner and expression were unlike her usual self and indeed matched what Baochai had said, he was left puzzled and unable to make sense of it in his heart.因想：“他兩個素日不是這樣的好，今看來竟更比他人好十倍。”一時林黛玉又赶著寶琴叫妹妹，并不提名道姓，直是親姊妹一般。He thought to himself: "These two were never on such good terms before — yet now it looks as if they're even ten times better than they are with anyone else." Before long, Lin Daiyu was calling after Baoqin, addressing her as "little sister" without ever using her name, exactly as though they were own sisters.那寶琴年輕心熱，且本性聰敏，自幼讀書識字，今在賈府住了兩日，大概人物已知。As for Baoqin, being young and warm-hearted, and by nature clever and quick, having studied and learned her letters since childhood, she had, after only two days living in the Jia household, already gotten a general sense of the various people there.又見諸姊妹都不是那輕薄脂粉，且又和姐姐皆和契，故也不肯怠慢，其中又見林黛玉是個出類拔萃的，便更與黛玉親敬异常。Seeing too that all the sisters here were none of them frivolous, painted creatures, and that they all got along well with her own elder sister besides, she was not willing to be careless or aloof with any of them; and among them, seeing that Lin Daiyu stood out as someone truly exceptional, she grew all the more affectionate and respectful toward Daiyu than toward any of the rest.寶玉看著只是暗暗的納罕。Baoyu, watching all this, could only marvel at it secretly to himself.

正说著，只见宝琴来了，披著一领斗篷，金翠辉煌，不知何物。宝钗忙问：“这是那里的？”宝琴笑道：“因下雪珠儿，老太太找了这一件给我的。”香菱上来瞧道：“怪道这么好看，原来是孔雀毛织的。”湘云道：“那里是孔雀毛，就是野鸭子头上的毛作的。可见老太太疼你了，这样疼宝玉，也没给他穿。”宝钗道：“真俗语说‘各人有缘法’。他也再想不到他这会子来，既来了，又有老太太这么疼他。”湘云道：“你除了在老太太跟前，就在园里来，这两处只管顽笑吃喝。到了太太屋里，若太太在屋里，只管和太太说笑，多坐一回无妨，若太太不在屋里，你别进去，那屋里人多心坏，都是要害咱们的。”说的宝钗，宝琴，香菱，莺儿等都笑了。宝钗笑道：“说你没心，却又有心，虽然有心，到底嘴太直了。我们这琴儿就有些象你。你天天说要我作亲姐姐，我今儿竟叫你认他作亲妹妹罢了。”湘云又瞅了宝琴半日，笑道：“这一件衣裳也只配他穿，别人穿了，实在不配。”正说著，只见琥珀走来笑道：“老太太说了，叫宝姑娘别管紧了琴姑娘。他还小呢，让他爱怎么样就怎么样。要什么东西只管要去，别多心。”宝钗忙起身答应了，又推宝琴笑道：“你也不知是那里来的福气！你倒去罢，仔细我们委曲著你。我就不信我那些儿不如你。”说话之间，宝玉黛玉都进来了，宝钗犹自嘲笑。湘云因笑道：“宝姐姐，你这话虽是顽话，恰有人真心是这样想呢。”琥珀笑道：“真心恼的再没别人，就只是他。”口里说，手指著宝玉。宝钗湘云都笑道：“他倒不是这样人。”琥珀又笑道：“不是他，就是他。”说著又指著黛玉。湘云便不则声。宝钗忙笑道：“更不是了。我的妹妹和他的妹妹一样。他喜欢的比我还疼呢，那里还恼？你信口儿混说。他的那嘴有什么实据。”宝玉素习深知黛玉有些小性儿，且尚不知近日黛玉和宝钗之事，正恐贾母疼宝琴他心中不自在，今见湘云如此说了，宝钗又如此答，再审度黛玉声色亦不似往时，果然与宝钗之说相符，心中闷闷不解[2]。因想：“他两个素日不是这样的好，今看来竟更比他人好十倍。”一时林黛玉又赶著宝琴叫妹妹，并不提名道姓，直是亲姊妹一般。那宝琴年轻心热，且本性聪敏，自幼读书识字，今在贾府住了两日，大概人物已知。又见诸姊妹都不是那轻薄脂粉，且又和姐姐皆和契，故也不肯怠慢，其中又见林黛玉是个出类拔萃的，便更与黛玉亲敬异常。宝玉看著只是暗暗的纳罕。

一時寶釵姊妹往薛姨媽房內去後，湘雲往賈母處來，林黛玉回房歇著。Presently, after Baochai and her sister had gone off to Aunt Xue's rooms, and Xiangyun had gone to Grandmother Jia's place, Lin Daiyu returned to her own room to rest.寶玉便找了黛玉來，笑道：“我雖看了《西廂記》，也曾有明白的幾句，說了取笑，你曾惱過。Baoyu then went and sought Daiyu out, and said with a smile: "Although I've read the Romance of the Western Chamber, and once quoted a few lines I understood well enough to tease you with, and you were angry with me over it that time.如今想來，竟有一句不解，我念出來你講講我聽。”黛玉聽了，便知有文章，因笑道：“你念出來我聽聽。”寶玉笑道：“那《鬧簡》上有一句說得最好，‘是幾時孟光接了梁鴻案？’這句最妙。‘孟光接了梁鴻案’這五個字，不過是現成的典，難為他這‘是幾時’三個虛字問的有趣。Now, thinking it over, there's actually one line I don't understand — let me recite it, and you explain it to me." Hearing this, Daiyu knew at once there must be more to it than that, and said with a smile: "Go on and recite it, let me hear." Baoyu said with a smile: "In the scene 'Uproar over the Letter' there's a line that's put most finely: 'When was it that Meng Guang came to raise the tray to match Liang Hong's brows?' This line is simply marvelous. The five characters 'Meng Guang raised the tray to match Liang Hong' are only a ready-made allusion, but it's remarkable how those three empty words 'when was it' ask the question with such wit.是幾時接了？When was it that she came to do so?你說說我聽聽。”黛玉聽了，禁不住也笑起來，因笑道：“這原問的好。Tell me, let me hear what you think." Hearing this, Daiyu could not help but laugh too, and said with a smile: "That's indeed a fine question to ask.他也問的好，你也問的好。”寶玉道：“先時你只疑我，如今你也沒的說，我反落了單。”黛玉笑道：“誰知他竟真是個好人，我素日只當他藏奸。”因把說錯了酒令起，連送燕窩病中所談之事，細細告訴了寶玉。Both he and you ask it well." Baoyu said: "Before, you were the one who always suspected me — now you've nothing left to say either, and instead I'm the one left out alone." Daiyu said with a smile: "Who would have thought she really is a good person after all — I used to think all along that she was hiding some scheme." And she went on to tell Baoyu in detail, starting from the time she misspoke in the drinking game, right up through the matter of the sent bird's-nest and everything discussed during her illness.寶玉方知緣故，因笑道：“我說呢，正納悶‘是幾時孟光接了梁鴻案’，原來是從‘小孩兒口沒遮攔’就接了案了。”黛玉因又說起寶琴來，想起自己沒有姊妹，不免又哭了。Only then did Baoyu understand the reason for it all, and said with a smile: "I thought as much — I was just puzzling over 'when was it that Meng Guang raised the tray to match Liang Hong' — so it turns out the matter was settled from the moment of 'a child's mouth speaks without restraint.'" Daiyu, going on to speak of Baoqin, was reminded that she herself had no sisters of her own, and could not help crying again.寶玉忙勸道：“你又自尋煩惱了。Baoyu hastily tried to comfort her, saying: "There you go, seeking out worries for yourself again.你瞧瞧，今年比舊年越發瘦了，你還不保養。Just look at yourself — you've grown even thinner this year than last, and still you won't take care of yourself.每天好好的，你必是自尋煩惱，哭一會子，才算完了這一天的事。”黛玉拭淚道：“近來我只覺心酸，眼淚卻象比舊年少了些的。Every day, even when things are perfectly fine, you're bound to go hunting for troubles and have yourself a good cry, as if the day weren't complete without it." Daiyu, wiping away her tears, said: "Lately I only feel a soreness in my heart, yet my tears seem to be fewer than they were last year.心里只管酸痛，眼淚卻不多。”寶玉道：“這是你哭慣了心里疑的，豈有眼淚會少的！”My heart aches and aches, and yet the tears don't come in any great number." Baoyu said: "That's just your own suspicion, from being so used to crying — how could your tears possibly grow fewer!"

一时宝钗姊妹往薛姨妈房内去后，湘云往贾母处来，林黛玉回房歇著。宝玉便找了黛玉来，笑道：“我虽看了《西厢记》，也曾有明白的几句，说了取笑，你曾恼过。如今想来，竟有一句不解，我念出来你讲讲我听。”黛玉听了，便知有文章，因笑道：“你念出来我听听。”宝玉笑道：“那《闹简》上有一句说得最好，‘是几时孟光接了梁鸿案？’这句最妙。‘孟光接了梁鸿案’这五个字，不过是现成的典，难为他这‘是几时’三个虚字问的有趣。是几时接了？你说说我听听。”黛玉听了，禁不住也笑起来，因笑道：“这原问的好。他也问的好，你也问的好。”宝玉道：“先时你只疑我，如今你也没的说，我反落了单。”黛玉笑道：“谁知他竟真是个好人，我素日只当他藏奸。”因把说错了酒令起，连送燕窝病中所谈之事，细细告诉了宝玉。宝玉方知缘故，因笑道：“我说呢，正纳闷‘是几时孟光接了梁鸿案’，原来是从‘小孩儿口没遮拦’就接了案了。”黛玉因又说起宝琴来，想起自己没有姊妹，不免又哭了。宝玉忙劝道：“你又自寻烦恼了。你瞧瞧，今年比旧年越发瘦了，你还不保养。每天好好的，你必是自寻烦恼，哭一会子，才算完了这一天的事。”黛玉拭泪道：“近来我只觉心酸，眼泪却象比旧年少了些的。心里只管酸痛，眼泪却不多。”宝玉道：“这是你哭惯了心里疑的，岂有眼泪会少的！”

正說著，只見他屋里的小丫頭子送了猩猩氈斗篷來，又說：“大奶奶才打發人來說，下了雪，要商議明日請人作詩呢。”一語未了，只見李紈的丫頭走來請黛玉。Just as they were speaking, a young maid from her room came bringing a scarlet felt cloak, and said as well: "The Mistress just sent someone to say that, since it has snowed, they want to discuss inviting everyone tomorrow to write poems." Before she had even finished speaking, one of Li Wan's maids came to invite Daiyu over.寶玉便邀著黛玉同往稻香村來。Baoyu then invited Daiyu to go together with him to Paddy-Sweet Cottage.黛玉換上掐金挖雲紅香羊皮小靴，罩了一件大紅羽紗面白狐狸里的鶴氅，束一條青金閃綠雙環四合如意絛，頭上罩了雪帽。Daiyu changed into a pair of small red fragrant-leather boots trimmed with gold-inlaid cloud patterns, put on over them a bright red felt-faced cloak lined with white fox fur, bound about her waist a sash of blue-gold shot with green in a double-ring, four-part "as-you-wish" pattern, and covered her head with a snow-hood.二人一齊踏雪行來。The two of them set off together, treading through the snow.只見眾姊妹都在那邊，都是一色大紅猩猩氈與羽毛緞斗篷，獨李紈穿一件青哆羅呢對襟褂子，薛寶釵穿一件蓮青斗紋錦上添花洋線番羓絲的鶴氅；There they found all the sisters already gathered, every one of them dressed alike in bright red scarlet-felt or feather-satin cloaks, save that Li Wan wore a blue woolen jacket with a front opening, and Xue Baochai wore a lotus-blue cloak of foreign woven silk, patterned with a brocade of flowers upon a diamond ground;邢岫煙仍是家常舊衣，并無避雪之衣。Xing Xiuyan, however, still wore her ordinary everyday clothes, having no garment at all suited to keeping off the snow.一時史湘雲來了，穿著賈母與他的一件貂鼠腦袋面子大毛黑灰鼠里子里外發燒大褂子，頭上帶著一頂挖雲鵝黃片金里大紅猩猩氈昭君套，又圍著大貂鼠風領。Presently Shi Xiangyun arrived, wearing a heavy sable-faced long coat that Grandmother Jia had given her, with a thick lining of black-grey squirrel fur, warm through and through both inside and out; on her head she wore a Zhaojun-style hood of bright red scarlet felt, lined with gold-flecked goose-yellow and cut with cloud patterns, and around her neck was wrapped a great sable collar against the wind.黛玉先笑道：“你們瞧瞧，孫行者來了。Daiyu was the first to say with a smile: "Look, everyone — here comes Sun the Novice (Sun Wukong)!他一般的也拿著雪褂子，故意裝出個小騷達子來。”湘雲笑道：“你們瞧瞧我里頭打扮的。”一面說，一面脫了褂子。She's got a snow-cloak on just like the rest of us, and yet she deliberately makes herself up to look like some little Tartar rascal." Xiangyun said with a smile: "Just look at how I'm dressed underneath." So saying, she took off her coat.只見他里頭穿著一件半新的靠色三鑲領袖秋香色盤金五色繡龍窄褙小袖掩衿銀鼠短襖，里面短短的一件水紅裝緞狐肷褶子，腰里緊緊束著一條蝴蝶結子長穗五色宮絛，腳下也穿著麀皮小靴，越顯的蜂腰猿背，鶴勢螂形。Underneath she wore a half-new short jacket of squirrel fur, autumn-brown in color and matching in tone, with a triple-trimmed collar and cuffs, gold-couched and embroidered in five colors with dragons, narrow of back and small of sleeve, with an overlapping front closure; beneath that, a short pink satin pleated skirt lined with fox fur; about her waist was tightly bound a five-colored palace sash with a butterfly-knot and long tassels, and on her feet she wore small boots of doe-skin — all of which made her look all the more slender-waisted and straight-backed, with the graceful poise of a crane and the lithe form of a mantis.眾人都笑道：“偏他只愛打扮成個小子的樣兒，原比他打扮女兒更俏麗了些。”湘雲道：“快商議作詩！Everyone said with a smile: "Of all things, she loves nothing so much as dressing herself up to look like a boy — and she really does look even more fetching that way than when she's dressed as a girl." Xiangyun said: "Let's get on quickly and discuss the writing of poems!我聽聽是誰的東家？”李紈道：“我的主意。Let me hear whose treat it's to be this time." Li Wan said: "It's my idea.想來昨兒的正日已過了，再等正日又太遠，可巧又下雪，不如大家湊個社，又替他們接風，又可以作詩。Thinking it over, yesterday's proper birthday date has already gone by, and waiting for the next proper occasion is much too far off; and as luck would have it, it's snowing now besides — so it seems better for everyone to get together and hold a gathering, both to welcome the newcomers and to write poems at the same time.你們意思怎麼樣？”寶玉先道：“這話很是。What do you all think of that?" Baoyu was the first to speak: "That's exactly right.只是今日晚了，若到明兒，晴了又無趣。”眾人看道：“這雪未必晴，縱晴了，這一夜下的也夠賞了。”李紈道：“我這里雖好，又不如蘆雪庵好。"It's just that it's late today; if we wait until tomorrow and it clears up, it won't be as fun." Everyone looked out and said, "This snow won't necessarily clear up, and even if it does, what fell tonight will be enough to enjoy." Li Wan said, "Nice as my place is, it's still not as good as Luxue Hermitage.我已經打發人籠地炕去了，咱們大家擁爐作詩。I've already sent someone to light the heated kang, so we can all huddle around the stove and compose poems.老太太想來未必高興，況且咱們小頑意兒，單給鳳丫頭個信兒就是了。Grandmother probably won't feel like joining in, and besides this is just a little amusement of ours — let's just send word to Feng girl.你們每人一兩銀子就夠了，送到我這里來。”指著香菱，寶琴，李紋，李綺，岫煙，“五個不算外，咱們里頭二丫頭病了不算，四丫頭告了假也不算，你們四分子送了來，我包總五六兩銀子也盡夠了。”寶釵等一齊應諾。One tael of silver apiece from each of you will be enough; send it to me." Pointing at Xiangling, Baoqin, Li Wen, Li Qi, and Xiuyan, "these five aren't counted as outsiders. Among us, Second Sister is ill, so she doesn't count, and Fourth Sister has taken leave, so she doesn't count either. If the four of you send your shares, I'll take care of the rest — five or six taels in all will be plenty." Baochai and the others all agreed at once.因又擬題限韻，李紈笑道：“我心里自己定了，等到了明日臨期，橫豎知道。”說畢，大家又閒話了一回，方往賈母處來。Then, on the matter of setting the topic and rhyme scheme, Li Wan said with a smile, "I already have it decided in my own mind; wait until tomorrow when the time comes, and you'll find out either way." Having said this, everyone chatted idly for a while longer before finally going to Grandmother Jia's place.本日無話。Nothing more happened that day.到了次日一早，寶玉因心里記挂著這事，一夜沒好生得睡，天亮了就爬起來。The next morning, Baoyu, with this matter on his mind, had not slept well all night, and as soon as it grew light he scrambled out of bed.掀開帳子一看，雖門窗尚掩，只見窗上光輝奪目，心內早躊躇起來，埋怨定是晴了，日光已出。He lifted the bed-curtain and looked out — though the doors and windows were still closed, he saw a dazzling brightness on the windows, and his heart at once grew uneasy; he complained to himself that it must surely have cleared up, and the sun was already out.一面忙起來揭起窗屜，從玻璃窗內往外一看，原來不是日光，竟是一夜大雪，下將有一尺多厚，天上仍是搓綿扯絮一般。Hurriedly getting up, he raised the window lattice and looked out through the glass pane — it turned out not to be sunlight at all, but a heavy snow that had fallen all night, already more than a foot deep, and the sky was still churning like carded cotton and torn floss.寶玉此時歡喜非常，忙喚人起來，盥漱已畢，只穿一件茄色哆羅呢狐皮襖子，罩一件海龍皮小小鷹膀褂，束了腰，披了玉針蓑，戴上金藤笠，登上沙棠屐，忙忙的往蘆雪庵來。Baoyu was overjoyed at this, and hurriedly called for someone to help him rise; once he had washed and rinsed, he put on nothing more than an eggplant-colored duoluo-wool robe lined with fox fur, topped with a small sea-otter-fur cape cut in "hawk-wing" style, cinched his sash, draped on a jade-needle rain cape, put on a gold-rattan hat, stepped into sandalwood clogs, and hurried off to Luxue Hermitage.出了院門，四顧一望，并無二色，遠遠的是青松翠竹，自己卻如裝在玻璃盒內一般。Once outside the courtyard gate, he looked all around — there was no other color anywhere; far off stood green pines and jade-green bamboo, and he himself felt as though he were shut inside a glass box.於是走至山坡之下，順著山腳剛轉過去，已聞得一股寒香拂鼻。He walked down to the foot of the slope, and just as he turned along the base of the hill, a cold fragrance already brushed past his nose.回頭一看，恰是妙玉門前櫳翠庵中有十數株紅梅如胭脂一般，映著雪色，分外顯得精神，好不有趣！He turned to look, and there it was — before Miaoyu's gate, within Longcui Nunnery, a dozen or more red plum trees, red as rouge, set against the whiteness of the snow, looked especially vivid and full of life — utterly delightful!寶玉便立住，細細的賞玩一回方走。Baoyu stopped and admired them closely for a while before moving on.只見蜂腰扳橋上一個人打著傘走來，是李紈打發了請鳳姐兒去的人。Just then he saw someone crossing the narrow "wasp-waist" plank bridge with an umbrella — it was the person Li Wan had sent to invite Xifeng.

正说著，只见他屋里的小丫头子送了猩猩毡斗篷来，又说：“大奶奶才打发人来说，下了雪，要商议明日请人作诗呢。”一语未了，只见李纨的丫头走来请黛玉。宝玉便邀著黛玉同往稻香村来。黛玉换上掐金挖云红香羊皮小靴，罩了一件大红羽纱面白狐狸里的鹤氅，束一条青金闪绿双环四合如意绦，头上罩了雪帽。二人一齐踏雪行来。只见众姊妹都在那边，都是一色大红猩猩毡与羽毛缎斗篷，独李纨穿一件青哆罗呢对襟褂子，薛宝钗穿一件莲青斗纹锦上添花洋线番羓丝的鹤氅；邢岫烟仍是家常旧衣，并无避雪之衣。一时史湘云来了，穿著贾母与他的一件貂鼠脑袋面子大毛黑灰鼠里子里外发烧大褂子，头上带著一顶挖云鹅黄片金里大红猩猩毡昭君套，又围著大貂鼠风领。黛玉先笑道：“你们瞧瞧，孙行者来了。他一般的也拿著雪褂子，故意装出个小骚达子来。”湘云笑道：“你们瞧瞧我里头打扮的。”一面说，一面脱了褂子。只见他里头穿著一件半新的靠色三镶领袖秋香色盘金五色绣龙窄褙小袖掩衿银鼠短袄，里面短短的一件水红装缎狐肷褶子，腰里紧紧束著一条蝴蝶结子长穗五色宫绦，脚下也穿著麀皮小靴，越显的蜂腰猿背，鹤势螂形。众人都笑道：“偏他只爱打扮成个小子的样儿，原比他打扮女儿更俏丽了些。”湘云道：“快商议作诗！我听听是谁的东家？”李纨道：“我的主意。想来昨儿的正日已过了，再等正日又太远，可巧又下雪，不如大家凑个社，又替他们接风，又可以作诗。你们意思怎么样？”宝玉先道：“这话很是。只是今日晚了，若到明儿，晴了又无趣。”众人看道：“这雪未必晴，纵晴了，这一夜下的也够赏了。”李纨道：“我这里虽好，又不如芦雪庵好。我已经打发人笼地炕去了，咱们大家拥炉作诗。老太太想来未必高兴，况且咱们小顽意儿，单给凤丫头个信儿就是了。你们每人一两银子就够了，送到我这里来。”指著香菱，宝琴，李纹，李绮，岫烟，“五个不算外，咱们里头二丫头病了不算，四丫头告了假也不算，你们四分子送了来，我包总五六两银子也尽够了。”宝钗等一齐应诺。因又拟题限韵，李纨笑道：“我心里自己定了，等到了明日临期，横竖知道。”说毕，大家又闲话了一回，方往贾母处来。本日无话。到了次日一早，宝玉因心里记挂著这事，一夜没好生得睡，天亮了就爬起来。掀开帐子一看，虽门窗尚掩，只见窗上光辉夺目，心内早踌躇起来，埋怨定是晴了，日光已出。一面忙起来揭起窗屉，从玻璃窗内往外一看，原来不是日光，竟是一夜大雪，下将有一尺多厚，天上仍是搓绵扯絮一般。宝玉此时欢喜非常，忙唤人起来，盥漱已毕，只穿一件茄色哆罗呢狐皮袄子，罩一件海龙皮小小鹰膀褂，束了腰，披了玉针蓑，戴上金藤笠，登上沙棠屐，忙忙的往芦雪庵来。出了院门，四顾一望，并无二色，远远的是青松翠竹，自己却如装在玻璃盒内一般。于是走至山坡之下，顺著山脚刚转过去，已闻得一股寒香拂鼻。回头一看，恰是妙玉门前栊翠庵中有十数株红梅如胭脂一般，映著雪色，分外显得精神，好不有趣！宝玉便立住，细细的赏玩一回方走。只见蜂腰扳桥上一个人打著伞走来，是李纨打发了请凤姐儿去的人。

寶玉來至蘆雪庵，只見丫鬟婆子正在那里掃雪開徑。When Baoyu reached Luxue Hermitage, he found the maids and old women there sweeping snow to clear a path.原來這蘆雪庵蓋在傍山臨水河灘之上，一帶幾間，茅檐土壁，槿篱竹牖，推窗便可垂釣，四面都是蘆葦掩覆，一條去徑逶迤穿蘆度葦過去，便是藕香榭的竹橋了。It turned out that Luxue Hermitage was built beside the hill, right on a sandbar overlooking the water — a row of several rooms with thatched eaves and earthen walls, hibiscus hedges and bamboo lattice windows; one could push open a window and fish right there. On every side it was screened by reeds, and a winding path threading through the reeds led on to the bamboo bridge at Ouxiang Pavilion.眾丫鬟婆子見他披蓑戴笠而來，卻笑道：“我們才說正少一個漁翁，如今都全了。Seeing him arrive wearing his rain cape and hat, the maids and old women laughed and said, "We were just saying we were short one old fisherman, and now here he is — everything's complete.姑娘們吃了飯才來呢，你也太性急了。”寶玉聽了，只得回來。The young ladies won't be coming until after they've eaten — you're really too impatient." Hearing this, Baoyu had no choice but to turn back.剛至沁芳亭，見探春正從秋爽齋來，圍著大紅猩猩氈斗篷，戴著觀音兜，扶著小丫頭，後面一個婦人打著青綢油傘。Just as he reached Qinfang Pavilion, he saw Tanchun coming from Qiushuang Studio, wrapped in a bright-red scarlet-felt cloak, wearing a Guanyin hood, leaning on a young maid's arm, with a woman behind her holding a blue oiled-silk umbrella.寶玉知他往賈母處去，便立在亭邊，等他來到，二人一同出園前去。Knowing she was on her way to Grandmother Jia's, Baoyu stood waiting by the pavilion, and when she arrived the two of them went out of the garden together.寶琴正在里間房內梳洗更衣。Baoqin was still in the inner room, washing up and changing her clothes.

宝玉来至芦雪庵，只见丫鬟婆子正在那里扫雪开径。原来这芦雪庵盖在傍山临水河滩之上，一带几间，茅檐土壁，槿篱竹牖，推窗便可垂钓，四面都是芦苇掩覆，一条去径逶迤穿芦度苇过去，便是藕香榭的竹桥了。众丫鬟婆子见他披蓑戴笠而来，却笑道：“我们才说正少一个渔翁，如今都全了。姑娘们吃了饭才来呢，你也太性急了。”宝玉听了，只得回来。刚至沁芳亭，见探春正从秋爽斋来，围著大红猩猩毡斗篷，戴著观音兜，扶著小丫头，后面一个妇人打著青绸油伞。宝玉知他往贾母处去，便立在亭边，等他来到，二人一同出园前去。宝琴正在里间房内梳洗更衣。

一時眾姊妹來齊，寶玉只嚷餓了，連連催飯。Before long all the sisters had gathered, and Baoyu did nothing but cry that he was hungry, urging again and again for the meal to be brought.好容易等擺上來，頭一樣菜便是牛乳蒸羊羔。When at last the food was set out, the very first dish was milk-steamed lamb.賈母便說：“這是我們有年紀的人的藥，沒見天日的東西，可惜你們小孩子們吃不得。Grandmother Jia said, "This is medicine for us old folks — something raised never seeing the light of day. It's a pity you children can't eat it.今兒另外有新鮮鹿肉，你們等著吃。”眾人答應了。Today there's also fresh venison besides — you can wait and eat that." Everyone assented.寶玉卻等不得，只拿茶泡了一碗飯，就著野雞瓜齏忙忙的咽完了。But Baoyu could not wait; he simply poured tea over a bowl of rice and, with pickled melon relish and pheasant, gulped it down in a hurry.賈母道：“我知道你們今兒又有事情，連飯也不顧吃了。”便叫”留著鹿肉與他晚上吃”，鳳姐忙說”還有呢”，方才罷了。Grandmother Jia said, "I know you all have something going on again today, that you can't even be bothered to eat properly." She then said to save the venison for him to eat that evening, and Xifeng quickly said, "There's plenty left," and only then did the matter drop.史湘雲便悄和寶玉計較道：“有新鮮鹿肉，不如咱們要一塊，自己拿了園里弄著，又頑又吃。”寶玉聽了，巴不得一聲兒，便真和鳳姐要了一塊，命婆子送入園去。Shi Xiangyun then quietly plotted with Baoyu, saying, "Since there's fresh venison, why don't we ask for a piece and take it into the garden ourselves to cook up — it'll be fun, and we can eat it too." The moment Baoyu heard this he jumped at the idea, and indeed asked Xifeng for a piece, telling an old woman to carry it into the garden.

一时众姊妹来齐，宝玉只嚷饿了，连连催饭。好容易等摆上来，头一样菜便是牛乳蒸羊羔。贾母便说：“这是我们有年纪的人的药，没见天日的东西，可惜你们小孩子们吃不得。今儿另外有新鲜鹿肉，你们等著吃。”众人答应了。宝玉却等不得，只拿茶泡了一碗饭，就著野鸡瓜齑忙忙的咽完了。贾母道：“我知道你们今儿又有事情，连饭也不顾吃了。”便叫”留著鹿肉与他晚上吃”，凤姐忙说”还有呢”，方才罢了。史湘云便悄和宝玉计较道：“有新鲜鹿肉，不如咱们要一块，自己拿了园里弄著，又顽又吃。”宝玉听了，巴不得一声儿，便真和凤姐要了一块，命婆子送入园去。

一時大家散後，進園齊往蘆雪庵來，聽李紈出題限韻，獨不見湘雲寶玉二人。After a while, once everyone had dispersed, they all went into the garden together toward Luxue Hermitage to hear Li Wan give out the topic and rhyme scheme — only Xiangyun and Baoyu were nowhere to be seen.黛玉道：“他兩個再到不了一處，若到一處，生出多少故事來。Daiyu said, "Those two can never just stay apart — whenever they do get together, no end of trouble comes of it.這會子一定算計那塊鹿肉去了。”正說著，只見李嬸也走來看熱鬧，因問李紈道：“怎麼一個帶玉的哥兒和那一個挂金麒麟的姐兒，那樣乾淨清秀，又不少吃的，他兩個在那里商議著要吃生肉呢，說的有來有去的。Right now they must be scheming over that piece of venison." Just as she was speaking, Aunt Li came over too, to see what the fun was about, and asked Li Wan, "How is it that the young master who wears the jade and that young lady who wears the gold qilin — both so neat and refined-looking, and it's not as if there's a shortage of food — the two of them are over there discussing eating raw meat, going back and forth about it quite seriously.我只不信肉也生吃得的。”眾人聽了，都笑道：“了不得，快拿了他兩個來。”黛玉笑道：“這可是雲丫頭鬧的，我的卦再不錯。”I simply can't believe meat can be eaten raw." Hearing this, everyone laughed and said, "Outrageous! Quick, go and fetch those two here." Daiyu said with a laugh, "This must be Cloud girl's doing — my guess is never wrong."

一时大家散后，进园齐往芦雪庵来，听李纨出题限韵，独不见湘云宝玉二人。黛玉道：“他两个再到不了一处，若到一处，生出多少故事来。这会子一定算计那块鹿肉去了。”正说著，只见李婶也走来看热闹，因问李纨道：“怎么一个带玉的哥儿和那一个挂金麒麟的姐儿，那样干净清秀，又不少吃的，他两个在那里商议著要吃生肉呢，说的有来有去的。我只不信肉也生吃得的。”众人听了，都笑道：“了不得，快拿了他两个来。”黛玉笑道：“这可是云丫头闹的，我的卦再不错。”

李紈等忙出來找著他兩個說道：“你們兩個要吃生的，我送你們到老太太那里吃去。Li Wan and the others hurried out to find the two of them and said, "If you two want to eat things raw, I'll send you off to Grandmother's place to eat there instead.那怕吃一只生鹿，撐病了不與我相干。Even if you eat a whole raw deer, if you make yourselves sick I'll have nothing to do with it.這麼大雪，怪冷的，替我作禍呢。”寶玉笑道：“沒有的事，我們燒著吃呢。”李紈道：“這還罷了。”只見老婆們拿了鐵爐，鐵叉，鐵絲幪來，李紈道：“仔細割了手，不許哭！”說著，同探春進去了。In weather this snowy and bitterly cold, you two are just making trouble for me." Baoyu said with a laugh, "It's nothing like that — we're roasting it to eat." Li Wan said, "Well, that's not so bad then." Just then the old women brought over an iron brazier, iron forks, and an iron-wire grate, and Li Wan said, "Mind you don't cut your hands, and no crying about it!" So saying, she went inside with Tanchun.

李纨等忙出来找著他两个说道：“你们两个要吃生的，我送你们到老太太那里吃去。那怕吃一只生鹿，撑病了不与我相干。这么大雪，怪冷的，替我作祸呢。”宝玉笑道：“没有的事，我们烧著吃呢。”李纨道：“这还罢了。”只见老婆们拿了铁炉，铁叉，铁丝幪来，李纨道：“仔细割了手，不许哭！”说著，同探春进去了。

鳳姐打發了平兒來回复不能來，為發放年例正忙。Xifeng sent Pinger to report that she could not come, being busy handing out the year-end allowances.湘雲見了平兒，那里肯放。When Xiangyun saw Pinger, she would not let her go.平兒也是個好頑的，素日跟著鳳姐兒無所不至，見如此有趣，樂得頑笑，因而褪去手上的鐲子，三個圍著火爐兒，便要先燒三塊吃。Pinger, too, was fond of fun, and having gone everywhere and seen everything at Xifeng's side, she was delighted to join in the amusement. So she slipped the bracelet off her wrist, and the three of them gathered around the brazier, ready to roast three pieces first and eat.那邊寶釵黛玉平素看慣了，不以為异，寶琴等及李嬸深為罕事。Over there, Baochai and Daiyu, used to such sights already, thought nothing strange of it, but Baoqin and the others, and Aunt Li, found it a most curious spectacle.探春與李紈等已議定了題韻。Tanchun and Li Wan and the others had by now already settled on the topic and rhyme.探春笑道：“你聞聞，香氣這里都聞見了，我也吃去。”說著，也找了他們來。Tanchun said with a laugh, "Just smell that — the fragrance reaches even here. I'm going to go eat some too." So saying, she went to find them as well.李紈也隨來說：“客已齊了，你們還吃不夠？”湘雲一面吃，一面說道：“我吃這個方愛吃酒，吃了酒才有詩。Li Wan followed along too and said, "The guests are all assembled — haven't you had enough to eat yet?" Xiangyun, eating away, said, "It's only after eating this that I really feel like drinking wine, and only after drinking wine that the poetry comes.若不是這鹿肉，今兒斷不能作詩。”說著，只見寶琴披著鳧靨裘站在那里笑。If it weren't for this venison, there's no way I could write poems today." As she spoke, there was Baoqin, standing there laughing, wrapped in her duck-down cape.湘雲笑道：“傻子，過來嘗嘗。”寶琴笑說：“怪髒的。”寶釵道：“你嘗嘗去，好吃的。Xiangyun laughed and said, "Silly girl, come try some." Baoqin said with a laugh, "It looks disgustingly dirty." Baochai said, "Go on and try it, it's delicious.你林姐姐弱，吃了不消化，不然他也愛吃。”寶琴聽了，便過去吃了一塊，果然好吃，便也吃起來。Your Cousin Lin is delicate, and it wouldn't agree with her digestion, otherwise she'd love it too." Hearing this, Baoqin went over and ate a piece, and indeed found it delicious, so she too started eating.一時鳳姐兒打發小丫頭來叫平兒。After a while Xifeng sent a young maid to summon Pinger.平兒說：“史姑娘拉著我呢，你先走罷。”小丫頭去了。Pinger said, "Miss Shi is holding onto me — you go on back first." The young maid left.一時只見鳳姐也披了斗篷走來，笑道：“吃這樣好東西，也不告訴我！”說著也湊著一處吃起來。Before long Xifeng herself came, wrapped in a cloak, and said with a laugh, "Eating something this good and not even telling me!" So saying, she too crowded in and began eating with them.黛玉笑道：“那里找這一群花子去！Daiyu said with a laugh, "Wherever could one find such a pack of beggars!罷了，罷了，今日蘆雪庵遭劫，生生被雲丫頭作踐了。Enough, enough — today Luxue Hermitage has met with disaster, ruined outright by that Cloud girl.我為蘆雪庵一大哭！”湘雲冷笑道：“你知道什麼！‘是真名士自風流’，你們都是假清高，最可厭的。I could weep aloud for Luxue Hermitage!" Xiangyun said with a cold laugh, "What do you know! 'A true man of taste is naturally free and unrestrained' — you're all just fake refinement, and it's the most tiresome thing there is.我們這會子腥膻大吃大嚼，回來卻是錦心繡口。”寶釵笑道：“你回來若作的不好了，把那肉掏了出來，就把這雪壓的蘆葦子揌上些，以完此劫。”Right now we're gorging ourselves on raw meat and mutton, and later we'll turn right around and produce brocade-hearted, embroidery-mouthed poetry." Baochai said with a laugh, "If your poem turns out badly later, we'll dig that meat right back out of you and stuff you instead with some of this snow-crushed reed stubble, to complete the calamity."

凤姐打发了平儿来回复不能来，为发放年例正忙。湘云见了平儿，那里肯放。平儿也是个好顽的，素日跟著凤姐儿无所不至，见如此有趣，乐得顽笑，因而褪去手上的镯子，三个围著火炉儿，便要先烧三块吃。那边宝钗黛玉平素看惯了，不以为异，宝琴等及李婶深为罕事。探春与李纨等已议定了题韵。探春笑道：“你闻闻，香气这里都闻见了，我也吃去。”说著，也找了他们来。李纨也随来说：“客已齐了，你们还吃不够？”湘云一面吃，一面说道：“我吃这个方爱吃酒，吃了酒才有诗。若不是这鹿肉，今儿断不能作诗。”说著，只见宝琴披著凫靥裘站在那里笑。湘云笑道：“傻子，过来尝尝。”宝琴笑说：“怪脏的。”宝钗道：“你尝尝去，好吃的。你林姐姐弱，吃了不消化，不然他也爱吃。”宝琴听了，便过去吃了一块，果然好吃，便也吃起来。一时凤姐儿打发小丫头来叫平儿。平儿说：“史姑娘拉著我呢，你先走罢。”小丫头去了。一时只见凤姐也披了斗篷走来，笑道：“吃这样好东西，也不告诉我！”说著也凑著一处吃起来。黛玉笑道：“那里找这一群花子去！罢了，罢了，今日芦雪庵遭劫，生生被云丫头作践了。我为芦雪庵一大哭！”湘云冷笑道：“你知道什么！‘是真名士自风流’，你们都是假清高，最可厌的。我们这会子腥膻大吃大嚼，回来却是锦心绣口。”宝钗笑道：“你回来若作的不好了，把那肉掏了出来，就把这雪压的芦苇子揌上些，以完此劫。”

說著，吃畢，洗漱了一回。So saying, once they had finished eating, they washed up for a while.平兒帶鐲子時卻少了一個，左右前後亂找了一番，蹤跡全無。When Pinger went to put her bracelet back on, one was missing; she searched all around, this way and that, but found no trace of it at all.眾人都詫异。Everyone was astonished.鳳姐兒笑道：“我知道這鐲子的去向。Xifeng said with a laugh, "I know where that bracelet has gone.你們只管作詩去，我們也不用找，只管前頭去，不出三日包管就有了。”說著又問：“你們今兒作什麼詩？You all just go ahead and write your poems — there's no need for us to search either, just go on ahead. Within three days, I guarantee it'll turn up." Then she asked, "What poem are you writing today?老太太說了，離年又近了，正月里還該作些燈謎兒大家頑笑。”眾人聽了，都笑道：“可是倒忘了。Grandmother said that with the year-end drawing near again, come the first month you all ought to make some lantern riddles for everyone to enjoy." Hearing this, everyone laughed and said, "Why, we'd quite forgotten about that.如今赶著作幾個好的，預備正月里頑。”說著，一齊來至地炕屋內，只見杯盤果菜俱已擺齊，牆上已貼出詩題‘韻腳’格式來了。We'd better hurry and come up with a few good ones now, ready for the fun in the first month." So saying, they all went together into the room with the heated kang, where they found the cups, plates, fruit, and dishes already all set out, and on the wall was already posted the poem topic and rhyme-scheme format.寶玉湘雲二人忙看時，只見題目是“即景聯句，五言排律一首，限二蕭韻。”後面尚未列次序。When Baoyu and Xiangyun hurried over to look, they saw the topic read: "Linked verses on the scene at hand, one five-character regulated poem, restricted to the 'Two Xiao' rhyme." Below it, the order [of composers] had not yet been listed.李紈道：“我不大會作詩，我只起三句罷，然後誰先得了誰先聯。”寶釵道：“到底分個次序。”要知端的，且聽下回分解。Li Wan said, "I'm not much good at composing poetry, so I'll just open with three lines, and after that whoever gets it first can link on next." Baochai said, "Still, we ought to settle on an order." To know how it turned out, listen to the explanation in the next chapter.

说著，吃毕，洗漱了一回。平儿带镯子时却少了一个，左右前后乱找了一番，踪迹全无。众人都诧异。凤姐儿笑道：“我知道这镯子的去向。你们只管作诗去，我们也不用找，只管前头去，不出三日包管就有了。”说著又问：“你们今儿作什么诗？老太太说了，离年又近了，正月里还该作些灯谜儿大家顽笑。”众人听了，都笑道：“可是倒忘了。如今赶著作几个好的，预备正月里顽。”说著，一齐来至地炕屋内，只见杯盘果菜俱已摆齐，墙上已贴出诗题‘韵脚’格式来了。宝玉湘云二人忙看时，只见题目是“即景联句，五言排律一首，限二萧韵。”后面尚未列次序。李纨道：“我不大会作诗，我只起三句罢，然后谁先得了谁先联。”宝钗道：“到底分个次序。”要知端的，且听下回分解。

注释Notes