第五十回　　蘆雪爭聯即景詩　暖香塢創製春燈謎 At Reed Snow Hut Verses Are Linked Impromptu; In Warm Fragrance Cove Spring Riddles Are Devised

話說薛寶釵道：“到底分個次序，讓我寫出來。”說著，便令眾人拈鬮為序。Now, Xue Baochai said, "We really ought to fix an order, so let me write it down." So saying, she had everyone draw lots to set the sequence.起首恰是李氏，然後按次各各開出。[2]鳳姐兒說道：“既是這樣說，我也說一句在上頭。”眾人都笑說道：“更妙了！”寶釵便將稻香老農之上補了一個“鳳”字，李紈又將題目講與他聽。As it happened, Li Wan drew first, and then each of the others in turn opened their slips. Xifeng said, "Since that's how it is, let me add a line at the very top too." Everyone laughed and said, "Even better!" So Baochai added the character 'Feng' above 'Old Farmer of Paddy-Fragrance,' and Li Wan explained the topic to her.鳳姐兒想了半日，笑道：“你們別笑話我。Xifeng thought it over for a good while, then said with a laugh, "Don't any of you laugh at me.我只有一句粗話，下剩的我就不知道了。”眾人都笑道：“越是粗話越好，你說了只管幹正事去罷。”鳳姐兒笑道：“我想下雪必刮北風。I have only one crude line, and beyond that I don't know anything." Everyone laughed and said, "The cruder the better — just say it and then go tend to your business." Xifeng said with a smile, "I think it's bound to blow a north wind when it snows.昨夜聽見了一夜的北風，我有了一句，就是‘一夜北風緊’，可使得？”眾人聽了，都相視笑道：“這句雖粗，不見底下的，這正是會作詩的起法。Last night I heard the north wind blowing all night long, so I have a line: 'All night the north wind blew fierce.' Will that do?" Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and said with a smile, "Though the line is crude, without yet seeing what follows, this is exactly the way a true poet opens a poem.不但好，而且留了多少地步與後人。Not only is it good, it leaves ever so much room for those who follow.就是這句為首，稻香老農快寫上續下去。”鳳姐和李嬸平兒又吃了兩杯酒，自去了。Let this very line be the opening one — Old Farmer of Paddy-Fragrance, quickly write it down and carry it on." Xifeng, Aunt Li, and Ping'er then drank two more cups of wine and went off on their own.這里李紈便寫了：Here Li Wan then wrote:

话说薛宝钗道：“到底分个次序，让我写出来。”说著，便令众人拈阄为序。起首恰是李氏，然后按次各各开出。[2]凤姐儿说道：“既是这样说，我也说一句在上头。”众人都笑说道：“更妙了！”宝钗便将稻香老农之上补了一个“凤”字，李纨又将题目讲与他听。凤姐儿想了半日，笑道：“你们别笑话我。我只有一句粗话，下剩的我就不知道了。”众人都笑道：“越是粗话越好，你说了只管干正事去罢。”凤姐儿笑道：“我想下雪必刮北风。昨夜听见了一夜的北风，我有了一句，就是‘一夜北风紧’，可使得？”众人听了，都相视笑道：“这句虽粗，不见底下的，这正是会作诗的起法。不但好，而且留了多少地步与后人。就是这句为首，稻香老农快写上续下去。”凤姐和李婶平儿又吃了两杯酒，自去了。这里李纨便写了：

一夜北風緊，All night the north wind blew fierce,

一夜北风紧，

自己聯道：and she herself continued the linked verse:

自己联道：

開門雪尚飄。Opening the door, snow was still drifting down.入泥怜洁白，Sinking into the mud, one pities its purity and whiteness,

开门雪尚飘。入泥怜洁白，

香菱道：Xiangling said:

匝地惜瓊瑤。Blanketing the ground, one treasures it like fine jade.有意榮枯草，As if with feeling, it makes the withered grass flourish,

匝地惜琼瑶。有意荣枯草，

探春道：Tanchun said:

無心飾萎苕。and unthinking, it adorns the drooping reeds.价高村釀熟，Prices climb high as the village wine matures,

无心饰萎苕。价高村酿熟，

李綺道：Li Qi said:

李绮道：

年稔府粱饒。the year is bountiful, the manor's grain plentiful.葭動灰飛管，The reed-ash stirs and flies from the pitch-pipes,

年稔府粱饶。葭动灰飞管，

李紋道：Li Wen said:

李纹道：

陽回斗轉杓。yang returns, and the Dipper's handle turns.寒山已失翠，The cold mountains have already lost their green,

阳回斗转杓。寒山已失翠，

岫煙道：Xiuyan said:

岫烟道：

凍浦不聞潮。the frozen shoals no longer hear the tide.易挂疏枝柳，Easily it hangs upon the sparse willow branches,

冻浦不闻潮。易挂疏枝柳，

湘雲道：Xiangyun said:

湘云道：

難堆破葉蕉。hard to pile upon the torn leaves of the plantain.麝煤融寶鼎，Musk-ink melts within the precious tripod,

难堆破叶蕉。麝煤融宝鼎，

寶琴道：Baoqin said:

宝琴道：

綺袖籠金貂。embroidered sleeves gather round golden sable.光奪窗前鏡，Its brightness outshines the mirror before the window,

绮袖笼金貂。光夺窗前镜，

黛玉道：Daiyu said:

香粘壁上椒。its fragrance clings to the pepper-plastered wall.斜風仍故故，The slanting wind still blows on and on,

香粘壁上椒。斜风仍故故，

寶玉道：Baoyu said:

宝玉道：

清夢轉聊聊。and pure dreams turn fitful and thin.何處梅花笛？From where comes the flute playing 'Plum Blossoms'?

清梦转聊聊。何处梅花笛？

寶釵道：Baochai said:

宝钗道：

誰家碧玉簫？Whose household is it, that jade-green flute?鰲愁坤軸陷，The great sea-turtle frets that the earth's axis sinks,

谁家碧玉箫？鳌愁坤轴陷，

李紈笑道：“我替你們看熱酒去罷。”Li Wan said with a laugh, "Let me go and see to warming the wine for you all."

李纨笑道：“我替你们看热酒去罢。”

寶釵命寶琴續聯，只見湘雲站起來道：Baochai told Baoqin to continue the verse, when suddenly Xiangyun stood up and said:

宝钗命宝琴续联，只见湘云站起来道：

龍鬪陣雲銷。the dragons do battle, and the massed clouds melt away.野岸回孤棹，Along the wild shore a lone oar turns back,

龙鬪阵云销。野岸回孤棹，

寶琴也站起道：Baoqin also stood up and said:

宝琴也站起道：

吟鞭指灞橋。the chanting rider's whip points toward Ba Bridge.賜裘怜撫戍，Fur robes are bestowed, in pity for the frontier guards,

吟鞭指灞桥。赐裘怜抚戍，

湘雲那里肯讓人，且別人也不如他敏捷，都看他揚眉挺身的說道：Xiangyun was in no mood to yield to anyone, and besides, no one else was as quick as she — everyone watched as she arched her brows, sat up straight, and said:

湘云那里肯让人，且别人也不如他敏捷，都看他扬眉挺身的说道：

加絮念征徭。padded cotton is added, mindful of those on distant duty.坳垤審夷險，On hollow and hillock one gauges the smooth from the treacherous,

加絮念征徭。坳垤审夷险，

寶釵連聲贊好，也便聯道：Baochai praised it again and again, and then continued the verse:

宝钗连声赞好，也便联道：

枝柯怕動搖。the branches and twigs fear to be shaken loose.皚皚輕趁步，Glistening white, it lightly keeps pace with each step,

枝柯怕动摇。皑皑轻趁步，

黛玉忙聯道：Daiyu quickly continued:

黛玉忙联道：

翦翦舞隨腰。cutting and swaying, it dances along with the waist.煮芋成新賞，Boiling taro makes for a fresh delight,

翦翦舞随腰。煮芋成新赏，

一面說，一面推寶玉，命他聯。So saying, she pushed at Baoyu at the same time, telling him to continue the line.寶玉正看寶釵，寶琴，黛玉三人共戰湘雲，十分有趣，那里還顧得聯詩，今見黛玉推他，方聯道：Baoyu had been watching Baochai, Baoqin, and Daiyu all three matching wits against Xiangyun, finding it thoroughly delightful, and had spared no thought at all for the linked verse; only now, when Daiyu pushed him, did he continue:

一面说，一面推宝玉，命他联。宝玉正看宝钗，宝琴，黛玉三人共战湘云，十分有趣，那里还顾得联诗，今见黛玉推他，方联道：

撒鹽是舊謠。'scattering salt' is an old saying.葦蓑猶泊釣，In a reed cloak one still moors the boat to fish,

撒盐是旧谣。苇蓑犹泊钓，

湘雲笑道：“你快下去，你不中用，倒耽擱了我。”一面只聽寶琴聯道：Xiangyun laughed and said, "Get out of the way quick — you're no use, and you're only holding me up." Even as she spoke, Baoqin could be heard continuing:

湘云笑道：“你快下去，你不中用，倒耽搁了我。”一面只听宝琴联道：

林斧不聞樵。in the woods, the woodcutter's axe is not heard.伏象千峰凸，Like crouching elephants, a thousand peaks jut up,

林斧不闻樵。伏象千峰凸，

湘雲忙聯道：Xiangyun hastened to continue:

湘云忙联道：

盤蛇一徑遙。like a coiled snake, a single path winds far off.花緣經冷聚，Flowers, by chance of the cold, cluster together,

盘蛇一径遥。花缘经冷聚，

寶釵與眾人又忙贊好。Baochai and everyone else again hastened to praise it.探春又聯道：Tanchun continued once more:

宝钗与众人又忙赞好。探春又联道：

色豈畏霜凋。how should their color fear to wither in the frost?深院驚寒雀，In the deep courtyard the cold sparrows are startled,

色岂畏霜凋。深院惊寒雀，

湘雲正渴了，忙忙的吃茶，已被岫煙搶著聯道：Xiangyun, thirsty just then, was hastily drinking her tea, when Xiuyan seized the chance to continue:

湘云正渴了，忙忙的吃茶，已被岫烟抢著联道：

空山泣老鴞。in the empty mountains the old owl weeps.階墀隨上下，Along the steps and terrace it follows up and down,

空山泣老鸮。阶墀随上下，

湘雲忙丟了茶杯，忙聯道：Xiangyun hastily set down her teacup and quickly continued:

湘云忙丢了茶杯，忙联道：

池水任浮漂。on the pond's water it drifts and floats at will.照耀臨清曉，It shines forth as the clear dawn draws near,

池水任浮漂。照耀临清晓，

黛玉聯道：Daiyu continued:

黛玉联道：

繽紛入永宵。in bright profusion it enters the endless night.誠忘三尺冷，Truly one forgets the three-foot cold,

缤纷入永宵。诚忘三尺冷，

湘雲忙笑聯道：Xiangyun quickly continued with a laugh:

湘云忙笑联道：

瑞釋九重焦。its auspicious token relieves the cares of the ninefold heavens.僵臥誰相問，Lying stiff and frozen, who comes to ask after one?

瑞释九重焦。僵卧谁相问，

寶琴也忙笑聯道：Baoqin too quickly continued with a laugh:

宝琴也忙笑联道：

狂游客喜招。the wild wandering guest is glad to be beckoned in.天机斷縞帶，Heaven's loom snaps off a length of white silk sash,

狂游客喜招。天机断缟带，

湘雲又忙道：Xiangyun again quickly said:

湘云又忙道：

海市失鮫綃。the mirage-city loses its mermaid-woven gauze.

海市失鲛绡。

林黛玉不容他出，接著便道：Lin Daiyu would not let her finish getting it out, and broke in at once to say:

寂寞對臺榭，in solitude it faces the terraces and pavilions,

寂寞对台榭，

湘雲忙聯道：Xiangyun quickly continued:

湘云忙联道：

清貧怀簞瓢。in pure poverty it recalls the basket of rice and gourd of water.

清贫怀箪瓢。

寶琴也不容情，也忙道：Baoqin too showed no mercy, and likewise quickly said:

宝琴也不容情，也忙道：

烹茶冰漸沸，brewing tea, the ice gradually comes to a boil,

烹茶冰渐沸，

湘雲見這般，自為得趣，又是笑，又忙聯道：Seeing this, Xiangyun found it great fun herself, and laughing, quickly continued:

湘云见这般，自为得趣，又是笑，又忙联道：

煮酒葉難燒。warming the wine, the leaves are hard to kindle.

煮酒叶难烧。

黛玉也笑道：Daiyu too said with a laugh:

沒帚山僧掃，lacking a broom, the mountain monk sweeps it away,

没帚山僧扫，

寶琴也笑道：Baoqin too said with a laugh:

宝琴也笑道：

埋琴稚子挑。burying the zither, the young child digs it out again.

湘雲笑的彎了腰，忙念了一句，眾人問“到底說的什麼？”湘雲喊道：Xiangyun laughed until she was bent double, and hastily recited a line; everyone asked, "What in the world did you say?" Xiangyun called out:

湘云笑的弯了腰，忙念了一句，众人问“到底说的什么？”湘云喊道：

石樓閒睡鶴，in the stone tower, idle, the crane sleeps on,

石楼闲睡鹤，

黛玉笑的握著胸口，高聲嚷道：Daiyu, laughing so hard she clutched her chest, cried out loudly:

黛玉笑的握著胸口，高声嚷道：

錦罽暖親貓。on the brocade rug, warm, the cat snuggles close.

锦罽暖亲猫。

寶琴也忙笑道：Baoqin too quickly said with a laugh:

宝琴也忙笑道：

月窟翻銀浪，in the moon's cave, silver waves turn over,

月窟翻银浪，

湘雲忙聯道：Xiangyun quickly continued:

湘云忙联道：

霞城隱赤標。in the city of rosy cloud, a red pennant lies hidden.

霞城隐赤标。

黛玉忙笑道：Daiyu quickly said with a laugh:

沁梅香可嚼，steeped in plum blossom, its fragrance seems fit to chew,

寶釵笑稱好，也忙聯道：Baochai laughingly praised it as fine, and likewise quickly continued:

宝钗笑称好，也忙联道：

淋竹醉堪調。dripping over bamboo, one grows drunk as if freshly tuned.

淋竹醉堪调。

寶琴也忙道：Baoqin too quickly said:

宝琴也忙道：

或濕鴛鴦帶，perhaps it dampens the mandarin-duck sash,

或湿鸳鸯带，

湘雲忙聯道：Xiangyun quickly continued:

湘云忙联道：

時凝翡翠翹。at times it freezes upon the kingfisher-jade hairpin.

时凝翡翠翘。

黛玉又忙道：Daiyu again quickly said:

無風仍脈脈，even without wind it still lingers softly,

无风仍脉脉，

寶琴又忙笑聯道：Baoqin again quickly continued with a laugh:

宝琴又忙笑联道：

不雨亦瀟瀟。Even without rain, it is bleak and dreary.

不雨亦潇潇。

湘雲伏著已笑軟了。Xiangyun, bent double, had already gone weak with laughing.眾人看他三人對搶，也都不顧作詩，看著也只是笑。Watching the three of them snatch lines from one another, everyone else gave up on composing too, and simply watched and laughed.黛玉還推他往下聯，又道：“你也有才盡之時。Daiyu still pushed her to add the next line, saying, "So you too have moments when your wit runs dry.我聽聽還有什麼舌根嚼了！”湘雲只伏在寶釵怀里，笑個不住。Let me hear what other gossip you've got left to chew on!" Xiangyun only buried herself in Baochai's arms, laughing without stop.寶釵推他起來道：“你有本事，把‘二蕭’的韻全用完了，我才伏你。”湘雲起身笑道：“我也不是作詩，竟是搶命呢。”眾人笑道：“倒是你說罷。”探春早已料定沒有自己聯的了，便早寫出來，因說：“還沒收住呢。”李紈聽了，接過來便聯了一句道：Baochai pushed her upright, saying, "If you have it in you to use up every rhyme word in the 'xiao' rhyme group, then I'll grant you've beaten me." Xiangyun sat up laughing and said, "I wasn't even composing poetry, I was fighting for my life." Everyone laughed and said, "Well then, you finish it." Tanchun had already reckoned there was no line left for her to add, so she had written hers out ahead of time, and now said, "It still hasn't been brought to a close." Hearing this, Li Wan took up the thread and added a line, saying:

湘云伏著已笑软了。众人看他三人对抢，也都不顾作诗，看著也只是笑。黛玉还推他往下联，又道：“你也有才尽之时。我听听还有什么舌根嚼了！”湘云只伏在宝钗怀里，笑个不住。宝钗推他起来道：“你有本事，把‘二萧’的韵全用完了，我才伏你。”湘云起身笑道：“我也不是作诗，竟是抢命呢。”众人笑道：“倒是你说罢。”探春早已料定没有自己联的了，便早写出来，因说：“还没收住呢。”李纨听了，接过来便联了一句道：

欲志今朝樂，Wishing to record today's joy,

欲志今朝乐，

李綺收了一句道：Li Qi capped it with a line, saying:

李绮收了一句道：

憑詩祝舜堯。through poetry we offer wishes worthy of Shun and Yao.

凭诗祝舜尧。

李紈道：“夠了，夠了。Li Wan said, "Enough, enough.雖沒作完了韻，剩的字若生扭用了，倒不好了。”說著，大家來細細評論一回，獨湘雲的多，都笑道：“這都是那塊鹿肉的功勞。”Although we haven't used up all the rhymes, if we force in the remaining words awkwardly, it will only spoil things." So saying, everyone went over the verses carefully one by one, and finding that Xiangyun alone had contributed the most, they all laughed and said, "This is all thanks to that venison."

李纨道：“够了，够了。虽没作完了韵，剩的字若生扭用了，倒不好了。”说著，大家来细细评论一回，独湘云的多，都笑道：“这都是那块鹿肉的功劳。”

李紈笑道：“逐句評去都還一氣，只是寶玉又落了第了。”寶玉笑道：“我原不會聯句，只好擔待我罷。”李紈笑道：“也沒有社社擔待你的。Li Wan said with a laugh, "Read line by line it all hangs together well enough — only Baoyu has come in last again." Baoyu said with a laugh, "I was never any good at linked verse to begin with, so you'll just have to make allowances for me." Li Wan said with a laugh, "We can't make allowances for you at every single gathering.又說韻險了，又整誤了，又不會聯句了，今日必罰你。First you say the rhymes were too hard, then you say you kept making mistakes, and now you say you can't do linked verse — today you must be punished.我才看見櫳翠庵的紅梅有趣，我要折一枝來插瓶。I just noticed that the red plum blossoms at Long Cui An looked lovely, and I want a branch broken off to put in a vase.可厭妙玉為人，我不理他。But I find Miaoyu's manner so disagreeable that I don't care to deal with her.如今罰你去取一枝來。”眾人都道這罰的又雅又有趣。So now, as your punishment, you're to go and fetch a branch." Everyone said this punishment was both elegant and amusing.寶玉也樂為，答應著就要走。Baoyu was only too glad to do it, and agreeing at once, made to leave.湘雲黛玉一齊說道：“外頭冷得很，你且吃杯熱酒再去。”湘雲早執起壺來，黛玉遞了一個大杯，滿斟了一杯。Xiangyun and Daiyu said together, "It's bitterly cold outside — drink a cup of hot wine before you go." Xiangyun had already taken up the pot, and Daiyu handed over a large cup, filling it to the brim.湘雲笑道：“你吃了我們的酒，你要取不來，加倍罰你。”寶玉忙吃了一杯，冒雪而去。Xiangyun said with a laugh, "Once you've drunk our wine, if you fail to bring it back, you'll be punished doubly." Baoyu hastily drank the cup down and went off through the snow.李紈命人好好跟著。Li Wan told the servants to follow along and look after him well.黛玉忙攔說：“不必，有了人反不得了。”李紈點頭說：“是。”一面命丫鬟將一個美女聳肩瓶拿來，貯了水准備插梅，因又笑道：“回來該詠紅梅了。”湘雲忙道：“我先作一首。”寶釵忙道：“今日斷乎不容你再作了。Daiyu quickly stopped her, saying, "No need — if someone goes along, he won't get it after all." Li Wan nodded and said, "True." At the same time she told a maid to bring a slender 'beauty's-shoulder' vase, filled it with water ready to hold the plum blossoms, and then added with a laugh, "When he's back, we ought to compose poems on red plum blossoms." Xiangyun said quickly, "Let me compose the first one." Baochai said quickly, "Today I absolutely won't let you compose again.你都搶了去，別人都閒著，也沒趣。You've snatched up every chance already, leaving everyone else idle, which is no fun.回來還罰寶玉，他說不會聯句，如今就叫他自己作去。”黛玉笑道：“這話很是。Besides, we're punishing Baoyu — he claims he can't do linked verse, so now let's have him compose one on his own." Daiyu said with a laugh, "That's very true.我還有個主意，方才聯句不夠，莫若揀著聯的少的人作紅梅。”寶釵笑道：“這話是极。I have another idea besides — since just now not everyone got enough turns at the linked verse, why not have those who contributed the fewest lines compose the red-plum poems." Baochai said with a laugh, "That's an excellent idea.方才邢李三位屈才，且又是客。Just now the three young ladies of the Xing and Li families had little chance to show their talent, and besides, they are guests.琴兒和顰兒、雲兒三個人也搶了許多，我們一概都別作，只讓他三個作才是。”李紈因說：“綺兒也不大會作，還是讓琴妹妹作罷。”寶釵只得依允，又道：“就用‘紅梅花’三個字作韻，每人一首七律。Qin'er, Pin'er, and Yun'er, the three of them, also grabbed a great many lines — let the rest of us not compose at all, and let just those three do it." Li Wan then said, "Qi'er isn't very skilled at composing either — better let Sister Qin do it instead." Baochai had no choice but to agree, and added, "Let's use the three characters 'red plum blossom' as the rhymes, one seven-character regulated verse each.邢大妹妹作‘紅’字，你們李大妹妹作‘梅’字，琴兒作‘花’字。”李紈道：“饒過寶玉去，我不服。”湘雲忙道：“有個好題目命他作。”眾人問何題目？Cousin Xing shall take the character 'red,' your Cousin Li shall take 'plum,' and Qin'er shall take 'blossom.'" Li Wan said, "Letting Baoyu off so easily doesn't sit right with me." Xiangyun said quickly, "There's a good topic to set him." Everyone asked what topic.湘雲道：“命他就作‘訪妙玉乞紅梅’，豈不有趣？”眾人聽了，都說有趣。Xiangyun said, "Have him compose on 'Visiting Miaoyu to Beg for Red Plum Blossoms' — wouldn't that be amusing?" Hearing this, everyone agreed it was amusing.

李纨笑道：“逐句评去都还一气，只是宝玉又落了第了。”宝玉笑道：“我原不会联句，只好担待我罢。”李纨笑道：“也没有社社担待你的。又说韵险了，又整误了，又不会联句了，今日必罚你。我才看见栊翠庵的红梅有趣，我要折一枝来插瓶。可厌妙玉为人，我不理他。如今罚你去取一枝来。”众人都道这罚的又雅又有趣。宝玉也乐为，答应著就要走。湘云黛玉一齐说道：“外头冷得很，你且吃杯热酒再去。”湘云早执起壶来，黛玉递了一个大杯，满斟了一杯。湘云笑道：“你吃了我们的酒，你要取不来，加倍罚你。”宝玉忙吃了一杯，冒雪而去。李纨命人好好跟著。黛玉忙拦说：“不必，有了人反不得了。”李纨点头说：“是。”一面命丫鬟将一个美女耸肩瓶拿来，贮了水准备插梅，因又笑道：“回来该咏红梅了。”湘云忙道：“我先作一首。”宝钗忙道：“今日断乎不容你再作了。你都抢了去，别人都闲著，也没趣。回来还罚宝玉，他说不会联句，如今就叫他自己作去。”黛玉笑道：“这话很是。我还有个主意，方才联句不够，莫若拣著联的少的人作红梅。”宝钗笑道：“这话是极。方才邢李三位屈才，且又是客。琴儿和颦儿、云儿三个人也抢了许多，我们一概都别作，只让他三个作才是。”李纨因说：“绮儿也不大会作，还是让琴妹妹作罢。”宝钗只得依允，又道：“就用‘红梅花’三个字作韵，每人一首七律。邢大妹妹作‘红’字，你们李大妹妹作‘梅’字，琴儿作‘花’字。”李纨道：“饶过宝玉去，我不服。”湘云忙道：“有个好题目命他作。”众人问何题目？湘云道：“命他就作‘访妙玉乞红梅’，岂不有趣？”众人听了，都说有趣。

一語未了，只見寶玉笑嘻嘻的掮了一枝紅梅進來，眾丫鬟忙已接過，插入瓶內。Before the words were even finished, in came Baoyu, grinning, a branch of red plum blossoms slung over his shoulder; the maids hurried to take it from him and set it in the vase.眾人都笑稱謝。Everyone laughed and thanked him.寶玉笑道：“你們如今賞罷，也不知費了我多少精神呢。”說著，探春早又遞過一鐘暖酒來，眾丫鬟走上來接了蓑笠撣雪。Baoyu said with a laugh, "Go ahead and admire it now — you have no idea how much effort it cost me." As he spoke, Tanchun had already handed him a cup of warm wine, and the maids came up to take his straw cape and hat and brush off the snow.各人房中丫鬟都添送衣服來，襲人也遣人送了半舊的狐腋褂來。The maids from each of their rooms all came bringing extra clothes; Xiren too sent someone over with a half-worn fox-underarm jacket.李紈命人將那蒸的大芋頭盛了一盤，又將朱橘，黃橙，橄欖等物盛了兩盤，命人帶與襲人去。Li Wan had a plate of steamed taro brought out, and two more plates of things like vermilion tangerines, yellow oranges, and olives, and had them sent along to Xiren.湘雲且告訴寶玉方才的詩題，又催寶玉快作。Xiangyun told Baoyu the poem topic just decided, and urged him to compose it quickly.寶玉道：“姐姐妹妹們，讓我自己用韻罷，別限韻了。”眾人都說：“隨你作去罷。”Baoyu said, "Sisters and cousins, let me choose my own rhymes — don't set them for me." Everyone said, "Compose it however you like, then."

一语未了，只见宝玉笑嘻嘻的掮了一枝红梅进来，众丫鬟忙已接过，插入瓶内。众人都笑称谢。宝玉笑道：“你们如今赏罢，也不知费了我多少精神呢。”说著，探春早又递过一钟暖酒来，众丫鬟走上来接了蓑笠掸雪。各人房中丫鬟都添送衣服来，袭人也遣人送了半旧的狐腋褂来。李纨命人将那蒸的大芋头盛了一盘，又将朱橘，黄橙，橄榄等物盛了两盘，命人带与袭人去。湘云且告诉宝玉方才的诗题，又催宝玉快作。宝玉道：“姐姐妹妹们，让我自己用韵罢，别限韵了。”众人都说：“随你作去罢。”

一面說一面大家看梅花。As they talked, everyone examined the plum blossoms.原來這枝梅花只有二尺來高，旁有一橫枝縱橫而出，約有五六尺長，其間小枝分歧，或如蟠螭，或如僵蚓，或孤削如筆，或密聚如林，花吐胭脂，香欺蘭蕙，各各稱賞。It turned out this branch of plum blossom was only about two feet high, but from its side a horizontal branch shot out this way and that, some five or six feet long; among it the smaller twigs branched off, some coiling like hornless dragons, some stiff as dead earthworms, some standing alone and slender as a writing brush, some clustered thick as a forest; the blossoms breathed out a rouge-red color, their fragrance outdoing orchids — everyone admired it, each in turn.誰知邢岫煙、李紋、薛寶琴三人都已吟成，各自寫了出來。Who would have guessed that Xing Xiuyan, Li Wen, and Xue Baoqin had all three already finished composing, and had each written her poem out.眾人便依“紅梅花”三字之序看去，寫道是：So everyone read them in the order of the three characters 'red plum blossom,' which read as follows:

一面说一面大家看梅花。原来这枝梅花只有二尺来高，旁有一横枝纵横而出，约有五六尺长，其间小枝分歧，或如蟠螭，或如僵蚓，或孤削如笔，或密聚如林，花吐胭脂，香欺兰蕙，各各称赏。谁知邢岫烟、李纹、薛宝琴三人都已吟成，各自写了出来。众人便依“红梅花”三字之序看去，写道是：

詠紅梅花得“紅”字On Red Plum Blossoms, Given the Character 'Red'

咏红梅花得“红”字

邢岫煙Xing Xiuyan

邢岫烟

桃未芳菲杏未紅，沖寒先已笑東風。Before the peach turns fragrant, before the apricot turns red, defying the cold it already smiles into the east wind.

桃未芳菲杏未红，冲寒先已笑东风。

魂飛庾岭春難辨，霞隔羅浮夢未通。Its soul flies to Yu Ridge, where spring is hard to tell apart; rosy clouds screen Luofu, and the dream has not yet come through.

魂飞庾岭春难辨，霞隔罗浮梦未通。

綠萼添妝融寶炬，縞仙扶醉跨殘虹。Green calyxes add to her adornment, melting like a jeweled candle; the white-robed immortal, propped up in drunkenness, straddles a fading rainbow.

绿萼添妆融宝炬，缟仙扶醉跨残虹。

看來豈是尋常色，濃淡由他冰雪中。Looking closer, how could this be an ordinary color? Deep or pale, it all belongs amid ice and snow.

看来岂是寻常色，浓淡由他冰雪中。

詠紅梅花得“梅”字On Red Plum Blossoms, Given the Character 'Plum'

咏红梅花得“梅”字

李紋Li Wen

李纹

白梅懶賦賦紅梅，逞艷先迎醉眼開。Too lazy to compose on white plum, I compose on red plum instead; flaunting its beauty, it opens first before drunken eyes.

白梅懒赋赋红梅，逞艳先迎醉眼开。

凍臉有痕皆是血，醉心無恨亦成灰。Its frozen face bears marks that are all blood; its intoxicated heart, though without regret, still turns to ash.

冻脸有痕皆是血，醉心无恨亦成灰。

誤吞丹藥移真骨，偷下瑤池脫舊胎。By mistake it swallowed the cinnabar elixir and its very bones were transformed; stealing down from the Jasper Pool, it shed its old mortal form.

误吞丹药移真骨，偷下瑶池脱旧胎。

江北江南春燦爛，寄言蜂蝶漫疑猜。North of the river and south of the river, spring blazes bright everywhere; a message to the bees and butterflies — do not idly wonder and guess.

江北江南春灿烂，寄言蜂蝶漫疑猜。

詠紅梅花得“花”字On Red Plum Blossoms, Given the Character 'Blossom'

咏红梅花得“花”字

薛寶琴Xue Baoqin

薛宝琴

疏是枝條艷是花，春妝兒女競奢華。Sparse are its branches, gorgeous is its bloom, like a girl in spring finery vying in splendor.

疏是枝条艳是花，春妆儿女竞奢华。

閒庭曲檻無餘雪，流水空山有落霞。In the quiet courtyard, along the winding balustrade, no snow remains; over flowing water and empty hills, fallen sunset clouds linger.

闲庭曲槛无余雪，流水空山有落霞。

幽夢冷隨紅袖笛，游仙香泛絳河槎。A hidden dream turns cold, following the flute in red sleeves; a wandering immortal's fragrance drifts on a raft upon the Crimson River.

幽梦冷随红袖笛，游仙香泛绛河槎。

前身定是瑤臺种，無復相疑色相差。In its former life it surely was a seedling from the Jasper Terrace — no longer need one wonder why its color differs from the rest.

前身定是瑶台种，无复相疑色相差。

眾人看了，都笑稱賞了一番，又指末一首說更好。Having read them, everyone praised them with delight, and pointed to the last poem, saying it was even better.寶玉見寶琴年紀最小，才又敏捷，深為奇异。Seeing that Baoqin, the youngest of them all, had a talent so quick and ready, Baoyu found it truly remarkable.黛玉湘雲二人斟了一小杯酒，齊賀寶琴。Daiyu and Xiangyun poured a small cup of wine and together offered their congratulations to Baoqin.寶釵笑道：“三首各有各好。Baochai said with a laugh, "Each of the three has its own merits.你們兩個天天捉弄厭了我，如今捉弄他來了。”李紈又問寶玉：“你可有了？”寶玉忙道：“我倒有了，才一看見那三首，又嚇忘了，等我再想。”湘雲聽了，便拿了一支銅火箸擊著手爐，笑道：“我擊鼓了，若鼓絕不成，又要罰的。”寶玉笑道：“我已有了。”黛玉提起筆來，說道：“你念，我寫。”湘雲便擊了一下笑道：“一鼓絕。”寶玉笑道：“有了，你寫吧。”眾人聽他念道：The two of you have teased and pestered me every day until I'm sick of it, and now you've gone and started teasing her instead." Li Wan then asked Baoyu, "Do you have yours yet?" Baoyu said quickly, "I did have it, but the moment I saw those three poems, I was so startled I forgot it again — let me think it over once more." Hearing this, Xiangyun picked up a pair of copper fire-tongs and struck her hand-warmer, saying with a laugh, "I'll beat the drum — if the beats run out and you still haven't finished, you'll be punished again." Baoyu said with a laugh, "I have it now." Daiyu took up her brush and said, "You recite, I'll write." Xiangyun struck once and said with a laugh, "One beat, and it's done." Baoyu said with a laugh, "I have it — go ahead and write." Everyone listened as he recited:

众人看了，都笑称赏了一番，又指末一首说更好。宝玉见宝琴年纪最小，才又敏捷，深为奇异。黛玉湘云二人斟了一小杯酒，齐贺宝琴。宝钗笑道：“三首各有各好。你们两个天天捉弄厌了我，如今捉弄他来了。”李纨又问宝玉：“你可有了？”宝玉忙道：“我倒有了，才一看见那三首，又吓忘了，等我再想。”湘云听了，便拿了一支铜火箸击著手炉，笑道：“我击鼓了，若鼓绝不成，又要罚的。”宝玉笑道：“我已有了。”黛玉提起笔来，说道：“你念，我写。”湘云便击了一下笑道：“一鼓绝。”宝玉笑道：“有了，你写吧。”众人听他念道：

酒未開樽句未裁，The wine jar not yet opened, the verse not yet shaped,

酒未开樽句未裁，

黛玉寫了，搖頭笑道：“起的平平。”湘雲又道：“快著！”寶玉笑道：Daiyu wrote it down, then shook her head with a smile and said, "An ordinary enough opening." Xiangyun said again, "Hurry up!" Baoyu said with a laugh:

黛玉写了，摇头笑道：“起的平平。”湘云又道：“快著！”宝玉笑道：

尋春問腊到蓬萊。seeking spring, inquiring after the last month of winter, I went as far as Penglai.

寻春问腊到蓬莱。

黛玉湘雲都點頭笑道：“有些意思了。”寶玉又道：Daiyu and Xiangyun both nodded and said with a smile, "Now that has some flavor to it." Baoyu went on:

黛玉湘云都点头笑道：“有些意思了。”宝玉又道：

不求大士瓶中露，為乞嫦娥檻外梅。I did not seek the dew from the Bodhisattva's vase, but came instead to beg Chang'e for the plum beyond her balustrade.

不求大士瓶中露，为乞嫦娥槛外梅。

黛玉寫了，又搖頭道：“湊巧而已。”湘雲忙催二鼓，寶玉又笑道：Daiyu wrote it down, then shook her head again and said, "Just a lucky coincidence." Xiangyun hastily called for the second round of beats, and Baoyu said with a laugh again:

黛玉写了，又摇头道：“凑巧而已。”湘云忙催二鼓，宝玉又笑道：

入世冷挑紅雪去，離塵香割紫雲來。Entering the mortal world in the cold, I picked out red snow to carry away; leaving the dusty world in fragrance, I cut off purple clouds to bring back.

入世冷挑红雪去，离尘香割紫云来。

槎枒誰惜詩肩瘦，衣上猶沾佛院苔。Amid the jagged branches, who pities my poet's shoulders grown thin? On my robe there still clings the moss of the Buddhist cloister.

槎枒谁惜诗肩瘦，衣上犹沾佛院苔。

黛玉寫畢，湘雲大家才評論時，只見幾個小丫鬟跑進來道：“老太太來了。”眾人忙迎出來。No sooner had Daiyu finished writing it down, and just as Xiangyun and the others were about to discuss it, than several young maids came running in and said, "The Old Ancestress is here!" Everyone hurried out to greet her.大家又笑道：“怎麼這等高興！”說著，遠遠見賈母圍了大斗篷，帶著灰鼠暖兜，坐著小竹轎，打著青綢油傘，鴛鴦琥珀等五六個丫鬟，每個人都是打著傘，擁轎而來。Everyone said with a laugh, "What's put her in such high spirits!" As they spoke, they saw in the distance Grandmother Jia wrapped in a great cloak, wearing a squirrel-fur hood, seated in a small bamboo palanquin, a blue silk oiled-paper umbrella held over her; Yuanyang, Hupo, and five or six other maids, each holding an umbrella, escorted the palanquin as it came.李紈等忙往上迎，賈母命人止住說：“只在那里就是了。”來至跟前，賈母笑道：“我瞞著你太太和鳳丫頭來了。Li Wan and the others hurried forward to meet her, but Grandmother Jia had them told to stop, saying, "Just stay where you are." When she had drawn near, Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "I slipped off without telling your aunt or Feng'er.大雪地下坐著這個無妨，沒的叫他們來踩雪。”眾人忙一面上前接斗篷，攙扶著，一面答應著。Sitting out here in the deep snow does me no harm — no need to have them come tramping through the snow too." Everyone hurried forward, taking her cloak and supporting her, all the while answering her.賈母來至室中，先笑道：“好俊梅花！When Grandmother Jia entered the room, she said first with a laugh, "What handsome plum blossoms!你們也會樂，我來著了。”說著，李紈早命拿了一個大狼皮褥來舖在當中。So you all know how to enjoy yourselves too — I've come at just the right moment." As she spoke, Li Wan had already ordered a large wolf-skin cushion brought and spread in the middle.賈母坐了，因笑道：’你們只管頑笑吃喝。Grandmother Jia sat down, and said with a laugh, "Go right on with your fun and your eating and drinking.我因為天短了，不敢睡中覺，抹了一回牌想起你們來了，我也來湊個趣兒。”李紈早又捧過手爐來，探春另拿了一副杯箸來，親自斟了暖酒，奉與賈母。Since the days have grown short, I dared not take my midday nap; after a round of cards I thought of you all, so I've come to join in the fun myself." Li Wan had already brought over a hand-warmer, and Tanchun fetched another set of cup and chopsticks, personally pouring warm wine to offer to Grandmother Jia.賈母便飲了一口，問那個盤子里是什麼東西。Grandmother Jia took a sip, then asked what was in that dish.眾人忙捧了過來，回說是糟鵪鶉。Everyone hastened to bring it over, answering that it was quail preserved in wine lees.賈母道：“這倒罷了，撕一兩點腿子來。”李紈忙答應了，要水洗手，親自來撕。Grandmother Jia said, "That will do — tear off a bit of the leg for me." Li Wan quickly assented, called for water to wash her hands, and tore it apart herself.賈母又道：“你們仍舊坐下說笑我聽。”又命李紈：“你也坐下，就如同我沒來的一樣才好，不然我就去了。”眾人聽了，方依次坐下，這李紈便挪到盡下邊。Grandmother Jia also said, "Sit back down, all of you, and go on talking and laughing so I can listen." She also told Li Wan, "You sit down too — it would be best as though I hadn't come at all; otherwise I'll leave." Hearing this, everyone finally sat down in order, and Li Wan moved to the very lowest seat.賈母因問作何事了，眾人便說作詩。Grandmother Jia then asked what they had been doing, and everyone told her they had been composing poems.賈母道：“有作詩的，不如作些燈謎，大家正月里好頑的。”眾人答應了。Grandmother Jia said, "Rather than composing poems, better to make some lantern riddles, so everyone can enjoy them during the first month of the year." Everyone agreed.說笑了一回，賈母便說：“這里潮濕，你們別久坐，仔細受了潮濕。”因說：“你四妹妹那里暖和，我們到那里瞧瞧他的畫兒，赶年可有了。”眾人笑道：“那里能年下就有了？After talking and laughing for a while, Grandmother Jia said, "It's damp here — don't sit too long, mind you don't catch the damp." She went on, "It's warm over at your Fourth Sister's — let's go see how her painting is coming along, whether it will be ready in time for the New Year." Everyone said with a laugh, "How could it possibly be ready by the New Year?只怕明年端陽有了。”賈母道：“這還了得！I'm afraid it won't be done until Dragon Boat Festival next year." Grandmother Jia said, "That's outrageous!他竟比蓋這園子還費工夫了。”She's taking even more time over it than it took to build this whole garden!"

黛玉写毕，湘云大家才评论时，只见几个小丫鬟跑进来道：“老太太来了。”众人忙迎出来。大家又笑道：“怎么这等高兴！”说著，远远见贾母围了大斗篷，带著灰鼠暖兜，坐著小竹轿，打著青绸油伞，鸳鸯琥珀等五六个丫鬟，每个人都是打著伞，拥轿而来。李纨等忙往上迎，贾母命人止住说：“只在那里就是了。”来至跟前，贾母笑道：“我瞒著你太太和凤丫头来了。大雪地下坐著这个无妨，没的叫他们来踩雪。”众人忙一面上前接斗篷，搀扶著，一面答应著。贾母来至室中，先笑道：“好俊梅花！你们也会乐，我来著了。”说著，李纨早命拿了一个大狼皮褥来铺在当中。贾母坐了，因笑道：’你们只管顽笑吃喝。我因为天短了，不敢睡中觉，抹了一回牌想起你们来了，我也来凑个趣儿。”李纨早又捧过手炉来，探春另拿了一副杯箸来，亲自斟了暖酒，奉与贾母。贾母便饮了一口，问那个盘子里是什么东西。众人忙捧了过来，回说是糟鹌鹑。贾母道：“这倒罢了，撕一两点腿子来。”李纨忙答应了，要水洗手，亲自来撕。贾母又道：“你们仍旧坐下说笑我听。”又命李纨：“你也坐下，就如同我没来的一样才好，不然我就去了。”众人听了，方依次坐下，这李纨便挪到尽下边。贾母因问作何事了，众人便说作诗。贾母道：“有作诗的，不如作些灯谜，大家正月里好顽的。”众人答应了。说笑了一回，贾母便说：“这里潮湿，你们别久坐，仔细受了潮湿。”因说：“你四妹妹那里暖和，我们到那里瞧瞧他的画儿，赶年可有了。”众人笑道：“那里能年下就有了？只怕明年端阳有了。”贾母道：“这还了得！他竟比盖这园子还费工夫了。”

說著，仍坐了竹轎，大家圍隨，過了藕香榭，穿入一條夾道，東西兩邊皆有過街門，門樓上里外皆嵌著石頭匾，如今進的是西門，向外的匾上鑿著“穿雲”二字，向里的鑿著“度月”兩字。So saying, she got back into the bamboo palanquin, and with everyone gathered round following, they passed Lotus Fragrance Pavilion and entered a narrow covered passage; on both the east and west sides there were street-crossing gates, and on the gate towers, both facing outward and inward, stone tablets were set into the wall. Now they entered by the west gate, on whose outward-facing tablet were carved the two characters "Piercing the Clouds," and on the inward-facing one the two characters "Crossing the Moon."來至當中，進了向南的正門，賈母下了轎，惜春已接了出來。Reaching the middle, they entered the south-facing main gate; Grandmother Jia got down from the palanquin, and Xichun had already come out to receive her.從里邊游廊過去，便是惜春臥房，門斗上有“暖香塢”三個字。Passing along the covered walkway within, they came to Xichun's bedroom; over the doorway hung a board with the three characters "Warm Fragrance Hollow."早有幾個人打起猩紅氈帘，已覺溫香拂臉。Several attendants had already lifted the scarlet felt curtain, and at once a warm fragrance brushed against their faces.大家進入房中，賈母并不歸坐，只問畫在那里。Everyone went into the room, but Grandmother Jia did not sit down at once — she only asked where the painting was.惜春因笑問：“天氣寒冷了，膠性皆凝澀不潤，畫了恐不好看，故此收起來。”賈母笑道：“我年下就要的。Xichun answered with a smile, "Now that the weather has turned cold, the glue has all congealed and lost its smoothness; if I paint now, I'm afraid it won't look good, so I've put it away." Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "I want it done by the end of the year.你別拖懶兒，快拿出來給我快畫。”一語未了，忽見鳳姐兒披著紫羯褂，笑嘻嘻的來了，口內說道：“老祖宗今兒也不告訴人，私自就來了，要我好找。”賈母見他來了，心中自是喜悅，便道：“我怕你們冷著了，所以不許人告訴你們去。Don't drag your feet being lazy — hurry up and bring it out for me to watch you paint." Before she had even finished speaking, in came Xifeng, all smiles, wrapped in a purple wild-goat-down jacket, saying as she entered, "Old Ancestress, you didn't even tell anyone today, and slipped off on your own — you made me hunt high and low for you." Seeing her come in, Grandmother Jia was of course delighted at heart, and said, "I was afraid you'd all catch cold, so I forbade anyone to tell you and come looking.你真是個鬼靈精兒，到底找了我來。You really are a sharp little imp — you tracked me down after all.以理，孝敬也不在這上頭。”鳳姐兒笑道：“我那里是孝敬的心找來了？By rights, filial devotion has nothing to do with a matter like this." Xifeng said with a laugh, "Do you think it was out of filial devotion that I came looking for you?我因為到了老祖宗那里，鴉沒雀靜的，問小丫頭子們，他又不肯說，叫我找到園里來。It's just that when I went to your rooms, Old Ancestress, it was silent as the grave — not a crow or sparrow stirring; I asked the little maids, but they wouldn't say a word, and told me to go look for you in the garden instead.我正疑惑，忽然來了兩三個姑子，我心里才明白。I was still puzzled when suddenly two or three nuns turned up, and only then did it dawn on me.我想姑子必是來送年疏，或要年例香例銀子，老祖宗年下的事也多，一定是躲債來了。I thought to myself, these nuns must have come to deliver the year-end prayer memorials, or to collect the yearly incense-money allowance — with the Old Ancestress having so much to see to at year's end, she must have come here to dodge her debts.我赶忙問了那姑子，果然不錯。I hurried to ask the nuns, and sure enough, I was right.我連忙把年例給了他們去了。So I quickly gave them their yearly allowance and sent them on their way.如今來回老祖宗，債主已去，不用躲著了。Now I've come to report to the Old Ancestress that the creditors are gone, and there's no more need to hide.已預備下希嫩的野雞，請用晚飯去，再遲一回就老了。”他一行說，眾人一行笑。I've already had tender young pheasant prepared — please come and take your evening meal, for if we wait any longer it will toughen and grow old." As she talked on, everyone else laughed along.

说著，仍坐了竹轿，大家围随，过了藕香榭，穿入一条夹道，东西两边皆有过街门，门楼上里外皆嵌著石头匾，如今进的是西门，向外的匾上凿著“穿云”二字，向里的凿著“度月”两字。来至当中，进了向南的正门，贾母下了轿，惜春已接了出来。从里边游廊过去，便是惜春卧房，门斗上有“暖香坞”三个字。早有几个人打起猩红毡帘，已觉温香拂脸。大家进入房中，贾母并不归坐，只问画在那里。惜春因笑问：“天气寒冷了，胶性皆凝涩不润，画了恐不好看，故此收起来。”贾母笑道：“我年下就要的。你别拖懒儿，快拿出来给我快画。”一语未了，忽见凤姐儿披著紫羯褂，笑嘻嘻的来了，口内说道：“老祖宗今儿也不告诉人，私自就来了，要我好找。”贾母见他来了，心中自是喜悦，便道：“我怕你们冷著了，所以不许人告诉你们去。你真是个鬼灵精儿，到底找了我来。以理，孝敬也不在这上头。”凤姐儿笑道：“我那里是孝敬的心找来了？我因为到了老祖宗那里，鸦没雀静的，问小丫头子们，他又不肯说，叫我找到园里来。我正疑惑，忽然来了两三个姑子，我心里才明白。我想姑子必是来送年疏，或要年例香例银子，老祖宗年下的事也多，一定是躲债来了。我赶忙问了那姑子，果然不错。我连忙把年例给了他们去了。如今来回老祖宗，债主已去，不用躲著了。已预备下希嫩的野鸡，请用晚饭去，再迟一回就老了。”他一行说，众人一行笑。

鳳姐兒也不等賈母說話，便命人抬過轎子來。Without even waiting for Grandmother Jia to answer, Xifeng at once ordered the palanquin brought round.賈母笑著，攙了鳳姐的手，仍舊上轎，帶著眾人，說笑出了夾道東門。Grandmother Jia, laughing, took hold of Xifeng's hand and got back into the palanquin, and with everyone in attendance, talking and laughing, they went out through the east gate of the covered passage.一看四面粉妝銀砌，忽見寶琴披著鳧靨裘站在山坡上遙等，身後一個丫鬟抱著一瓶紅梅。Looking around, everything was powdered white and paved with silver; suddenly they saw Baoqin, wrapped in her duck-down cape, standing on the hillside waiting in the distance, a maid behind her holding a vase of red plum blossoms.眾人都笑道：“少了兩個人，他卻在這里等著，也弄梅花去了。”賈母喜的忙笑道：“你們瞧，這山坡上配上他的這個人品，又是這件衣裳，後頭又是這梅花，象個什麼？”眾人都笑道：“就象老太太屋里挂的仇十洲畫的《雙艷圖》。”賈母搖頭笑道：“那畫的那里有這件衣裳？Everyone said with a laugh, "We were missing two people — so she's been out here waiting, and getting plum blossoms too." Grandmother Jia, delighted, said quickly with a laugh, "Just look — set against this hillside, with her looks, and this cape she's wearing, and the plum blossoms behind her — what does that put you in mind of?" Everyone said with a laugh, "Just like the 'Painting of Two Beauties' by Qiu Shizhou that hangs in the Old Ancestress's room." Grandmother Jia shook her head and said with a laugh, "Where in that painting is there a cape like this one?人也不能這樣好！”一語未了，只見寶琴背後轉出一個披大紅猩氈的人來。No real person could ever be so lovely!" Before she had finished speaking, from behind Baoqin there appeared a figure wrapped in a great scarlet felt cloak.賈母道：“那又是那個女孩兒？”眾人笑道：“我們都在這里，那是寶玉。”賈母笑道：“我的眼越發花了。”說話之間，來至跟前，可不是寶玉和寶琴。Grandmother Jia said, "And who's that girl now?" Everyone said with a laugh, "We're all here already — that's Baoyu." Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "My eyes really have grown dim." As they spoke, the two came up close, and sure enough, it was none other than Baoyu and Baoqin.寶玉笑向寶釵黛玉等道：“我才又到了櫳翠庵。Baoyu said with a laugh to Baochai, Daiyu, and the others, "I just went back to Long Cui An again.妙玉每人送你們一枝梅花，我已經打發人送去了。”眾人都笑說：“多謝你費心。”Miaoyu is sending each of you a branch of plum blossom — I've already had someone take them over." Everyone said with a laugh, "Thank you for the trouble."

凤姐儿也不等贾母说话，便命人抬过轿子来。贾母笑著，搀了凤姐的手，仍旧上轿，带著众人，说笑出了夹道东门。一看四面粉妆银砌，忽见宝琴披著凫靥裘站在山坡上遥等，身后一个丫鬟抱著一瓶红梅。众人都笑道：“少了两个人，他却在这里等著，也弄梅花去了。”贾母喜的忙笑道：“你们瞧，这山坡上配上他的这个人品，又是这件衣裳，后头又是这梅花，象个什么？”众人都笑道：“就象老太太屋里挂的仇十洲画的《双艳图》。”贾母摇头笑道：“那画的那里有这件衣裳？人也不能这样好！”一语未了，只见宝琴背后转出一个披大红猩毡的人来。贾母道：“那又是那个女孩儿？”众人笑道：“我们都在这里，那是宝玉。”贾母笑道：“我的眼越发花了。”说话之间，来至跟前，可不是宝玉和宝琴。宝玉笑向宝钗黛玉等道：“我才又到了栊翠庵。妙玉每人送你们一枝梅花，我已经打发人送去了。”众人都笑说：“多谢你费心。”

說話之間，已出了園門，來至賈母房中。As they talked, they had already come out through the garden gate and arrived at Grandmother Jia's rooms.吃畢飯大家又說笑了一回。After finishing the meal, everyone talked and laughed together for a while longer.忽見薛姨媽也來了，說：“好大雪，一日也沒過來望候老太太。Suddenly Aunt Xue arrived too, saying, "What heavy snow! I haven't come by all day to pay my respects to you, Old Ancestress.今日老太太倒不高興？Aren't you in good spirits today?正該賞雪才是。”賈母笑道：“何曾不高興！Today of all days is just right for admiring the snow." Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "When have I ever not been in good spirits!我找了他們姊妹們去頑了一會子。”薛姨媽笑道：“昨日晚上，我原想著今日要和我們姨太太借一日園子，擺兩桌粗酒，請老太太賞雪的，又見老太太安息的早。I went and joined the young ladies for a bit of fun." Aunt Xue said with a laugh, "Last night I had been thinking that today I'd borrow the garden from Lady Wang for a day, set out a couple of tables of simple wine, and invite you, Old Ancestress, to enjoy the snow — but then I heard you had retired early.我聞得女兒說，老太太心下不大爽，因此今日也沒敢驚動。I heard from my daughter that you weren't feeling quite yourself, Old Ancestress, and so today I didn't dare disturb you.早知如此，我正該請。”賈母笑道：“這才是十月里頭場雪，往後下雪的日子多呢，再破費不遲。”薛姨媽笑道：“果然如此，算我的孝心虔了。”鳳姐兒笑道：“姨媽仔細忘了，如今先稱五十兩銀子來，交給我收著，一下雪，我就預備下酒，姨媽也不用操心，也不得忘了。”賈母笑道：“既這麼說，姨太太給他五十兩銀子收著，我和他每人分二十五兩，到下雪的日子，我裝心里不快，混過去了，姨太太更不用操心，我和鳳丫頭倒得了實惠。”鳳姐將手一拍，笑道：“妙极了，這和我的主意一樣。”眾人都笑了。Had I known this, I really ought to have invited you." Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "This is only the first snowfall of the tenth month — there will be plenty more snowy days ahead, no hurry to go to the expense." Aunt Xue said with a laugh, "If that's really so, then let it count as my devotion having been sincere." Xifeng said with a laugh, "Auntie, mind you don't forget — why not weigh out fifty taels of silver right now and hand it to me to keep; then the moment it snows, I'll have the wine all ready, and Auntie won't need to trouble herself, nor risk forgetting." Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "Since that's how it is, let your Aunt give her the fifty taels to keep, and she and I will split it, twenty-five taels each; then on the day it snows, I'll pretend to be feeling out of sorts and let the matter slide by, so your Aunt won't need to trouble herself at all, and Feng'er and I will come out with the real benefit." Xifeng clapped her hands and said with a laugh, "Splendid! That's exactly what I had in mind." Everyone laughed.賈母笑道：“呸，沒臉的！Grandmother Jia said with a laugh, "Pah, you shameless thing!就順著竿子爬上來了。And simply climbed right up along the pole.你不該說姨太太是客，在咱們家受屈，我們該請姨太太才是，那里有破費姨太太的理！You shouldn't say Aunt Xue is a guest suffering hardship in our house — we ought to be the ones treating Aunt Xue, how could we let her spend the money instead!不這樣說呢，還有臉先要五十兩銀子，真不害臊！”鳳姐兒笑道：“我們老祖宗最是有眼色的，試一試，姨媽若松呢，拿出五十兩來，就和我分。"If you don't put it that way, you'd have the nerve to ask for fifty taels of silver up front first — how shameless!" Xifeng laughed and said, "Our Old Ancestress has the sharpest eye of all — she was just testing it out: if Auntie loosened up, she'd take out fifty taels and split it with me.這會子估量著不中用了，翻過來拿我作法子，說出這些大方話來。Now that she reckons it won't work, she's turned it around and used me as an excuse, coming out with all these generous-sounding words.如今我也不和姨媽要銀子，竟替姨媽出銀子治了酒，請老祖宗吃了，我另外再封五十兩銀子孝敬老祖宗，算是罰我個包攬閒事。Now I won't even ask Auntie for the silver — I'll pay for the wine myself on Auntie's behalf and treat Old Ancestress to it, and on top of that I'll wrap up another fifty taels as a tribute to Old Ancestress, call it a fine on me for meddling in other people's business.這可好不好？”話未說完，眾人已笑倒在炕上。How's that, isn't it good?" Before she had even finished speaking, everyone had already collapsed with laughter onto the kang.

说话之间，已出了园门，来至贾母房中。吃毕饭大家又说笑了一回。忽见薛姨妈也来了，说：“好大雪，一日也没过来望候老太太。今日老太太倒不高兴？正该赏雪才是。”贾母笑道：“何曾不高兴！我找了他们姊妹们去顽了一会子。”薛姨妈笑道：“昨日晚上，我原想著今日要和我们姨太太借一日园子，摆两桌粗酒，请老太太赏雪的，又见老太太安息的早。我闻得女儿说，老太太心下不大爽，因此今日也没敢惊动。早知如此，我正该请。”贾母笑道：“这才是十月里头场雪，往后下雪的日子多呢，再破费不迟。”薛姨妈笑道：“果然如此，算我的孝心虔了。”凤姐儿笑道：“姨妈仔细忘了，如今先称五十两银子来，交给我收著，一下雪，我就预备下酒，姨妈也不用操心，也不得忘了。”贾母笑道：“既这么说，姨太太给他五十两银子收著，我和他每人分二十五两，到下雪的日子，我装心里不快，混过去了，姨太太更不用操心，我和凤丫头倒得了实惠。”凤姐将手一拍，笑道：“妙极了，这和我的主意一样。”众人都笑了。贾母笑道：“呸，没脸的！就顺著竿子爬上来了。你不该说姨太太是客，在咱们家受屈，我们该请姨太太才是，那里有破费姨太太的理！不这样说呢，还有脸先要五十两银子，真不害臊！”凤姐儿笑道：“我们老祖宗最是有眼色的，试一试，姨妈若松呢，拿出五十两来，就和我分。这会子估量著不中用了，翻过来拿我作法子，说出这些大方话来。如今我也不和姨妈要银子，竟替姨妈出银子治了酒，请老祖宗吃了，我另外再封五十两银子孝敬老祖宗，算是罚我个包揽闲事。这可好不好？”话未说完，众人已笑倒在炕上。

賈母因又說及寶琴雪下折梅比畫兒上還好，因又細問他的年庚八字并家內景況。Grandmother Jia then went on to remark that Baoqin picking plum blossoms in the snow looked even better than a painting, and went on to ask in detail about her birth date and horoscope and the circumstances of her family.薛姨媽度其意思，大約是要與寶玉求配。Aunt Xue guessed her meaning — it was probably that she wanted to arrange a match with Baoyu.薛姨媽心中固也遂意，只是已許過梅家了，因賈母尚未明說，自己也不好擬定，遂半吐半露告訴賈母道：“可惜這孩子沒福，前年他父親就沒了。In her heart Aunt Xue was certainly willing enough, but the girl had already been promised to the Mei family; and since Grandmother Jia had not spoken of it outright, she herself did not think it proper to bring it up plainly, so half-hinting and half-revealing, she told Grandmother Jia: "It's a pity this child has no such good fortune — her father passed away the year before last.他從小兒見的世面倒多，跟他父母四山五岳都走遍了。Ever since she was small she's seen a great deal of the world — she traveled everywhere with her parents, over every mountain and range.他父親是好樂的，各處因有買賣，帶著家眷，這一省逛一年，明年又往那一省逛半年，所以天下十停走了有五六停了。Her father was fond of pleasure, and since he had business dealings in various places, he took his family along — spending a year roaming one province, and the next year half a year roaming another — so that of all the provinces under heaven, he had traveled through five or six parts out of ten.那年在這里，把他許了梅翰林的兒子，偏第二年他父親就辭世了，他母親又是痰症。”鳳姐也不等說完，便嗐聲跺腳的說：“偏不巧，我正要作個媒呢，又已經許了人家。”賈母笑道：“你要給誰說媒？”鳳姐兒說道：“老祖宗別管，我心里看准了他們兩個是一對。That year, while they were here, she was promised to the son of Hanlin Mei; but as luck would have it, the very next year her father passed away, and her mother too suffers from a phlegm ailment." Xifeng, without even waiting for her to finish, sighed aloud and stamped her foot, saying, "What rotten luck — I was just about to play matchmaker, and she's already promised to someone!" Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Whom did you want to match her with?" Xifeng said, "Never mind, Old Ancestress — in my heart I'd already picked the two of them out as a perfect pair.如今已許了人，說也無益，不如不說罷了。”賈母也知鳳姐兒之意，聽見已有了人家，也就不提了。But now that she's already promised to someone, there's no use in talking about it — better not to say anything at all." Grandmother Jia too understood what Xifeng meant, and on hearing she was already spoken for, let the matter drop.大家又閒話了一會方散。Everyone chatted idly a while longer before breaking up.一宿無話。Nothing happened that night.

贾母因又说及宝琴雪下折梅比画儿上还好，因又细问他的年庚八字并家内景况。薛姨妈度其意思，大约是要与宝玉求配。薛姨妈心中固也遂意，只是已许过梅家了，因贾母尚未明说，自己也不好拟定，遂半吐半露告诉贾母道：“可惜这孩子没福，前年他父亲就没了。他从小儿见的世面倒多，跟他父母四山五岳都走遍了。他父亲是好乐的，各处因有买卖，带著家眷，这一省逛一年，明年又往那一省逛半年，所以天下十停走了有五六停了。那年在这里，把他许了梅翰林的儿子，偏第二年他父亲就辞世了，他母亲又是痰症。”凤姐也不等说完，便嗐声跺脚的说：“偏不巧，我正要作个媒呢，又已经许了人家。”贾母笑道：“你要给谁说媒？”凤姐儿说道：“老祖宗别管，我心里看准了他们两个是一对。如今已许了人，说也无益，不如不说罢了。”贾母也知凤姐儿之意，听见已有了人家，也就不提了。大家又闲话了一会方散。一宿无话。

次日雪晴。The next day the snow cleared.飯後，賈母又親囑惜春：“不管冷暖，你只畫去，赶到年下，十分不能便罷了。After the meal, Grandmother Jia personally instructed Xichun again: "Never mind the cold or warmth, just go on with the painting — try to have it done by the end of the year; if it's simply impossible to finish it perfectly, then let it be.第一要緊把昨日琴兒和丫頭梅花，照模照樣，一筆別錯，快快添上。”惜春聽了雖是為難，只得應了。The most important thing is to add in, exactly as they appeared, without a single stroke wrong, Qin'er and the maid among the plum blossoms from yesterday — and do it quickly." Xichun, hearing this, found it difficult, but had no choice but to agree.一時眾人都來看他如何畫，惜春只是出神。Presently everyone came to see how she would paint it, while Xichun could only sit lost in thought.李紈因笑向眾人道：“讓他自己想去，咱們且說話兒。Li Wan then laughed and said to the group, "Let her think it over by herself — let's talk among ourselves for now.昨兒老太太只叫作燈謎，回家和綺兒紋兒睡不著，我就編了兩個‘四書’的。Yesterday Old Ancestress simply told us to make lantern riddles; when I got back I couldn't sleep, what with Qi'er and Wen'er, so I made up two riddles from the Four Books.他兩個每人也編了兩個。”眾人聽了，都笑道：“這倒該作的。The two of them each made up two as well." Hearing this, everyone laughed and said, "This is just the thing to do.先說了，我們猜猜。”李紈笑道：“‘觀音未有世家傳’，打‘四書’一句。”湘雲接著就說“在止于至善。”寶釵笑道：“你也想一想‘世家傳’三個字的意思再猜。”李紈笑道：“再想。”黛玉笑道：“哦，是了。Tell them first, and let us guess." Li Wan laughed and said, "'Guanyin has no hereditary house recorded' — guess a line from the Four Books." Xiangyun immediately said, "'Resting in the highest good.'" Baochai laughed and said, "Think a bit more about the meaning of the three words 'hereditary house recorded' before you guess." Li Wan laughed, "Let me think again." Daiyu laughed, "Oh, I have it.是‘雖善無徵’。”眾人都笑道：“這句是了。”李紈又道：“一池青草青何名。”湘雲忙道：“這一定是‘蒲蘆也’。It's 'though good, it is without evidence.'" Everyone laughed and said, "That's the one." Li Wan went on, "A pond full of green grass — what is that green called?" Xiangyun quickly said, "This must be 'it is the reed and rush.'再不是不成？”李紈笑道：“這難為你猜。Could it be anything else?" Li Wan laughed, "That was no easy one for you to guess.紋兒的是‘水向石邊流出冷’，打一古人名。”探春笑問道：“可是山濤？”李紋笑道：“是。”李紈又道：“綺兒的是個‘螢’字，打一個字。”眾人猜了半日，寶琴笑道：“這個意思卻深，不知可是花草的‘花’字？”李綺笑道：“恰是了。”眾人道：“螢與花何干？”黛玉笑道：“妙得很！Wen'er's is 'water flows past the rock's edge, cold' — guess the name of a person from ancient times." Tanchun asked with a laugh, "Could it be Shan Tao?" Li Wen laughed, "Yes." Li Wan went on, "Qi'er's is the character 'firefly' — guess a character." Everyone guessed for a long while, until Baoqin laughed and said, "This meaning is rather deep — could it not be the character 'flower,' from plants and grasses?" Li Qi laughed, "Exactly right." Everyone said, "What connection does a firefly have with a flower?" Daiyu laughed, "How clever indeed!螢可不是草化的？”眾人會意，都笑了說“好！”寶釵道：“這些雖好，不合老太太的意思，不如作些淺近的物兒，大家雅俗共賞才好。”眾人都道：“也要作些淺近的俗物才是。”湘雲笑道：“我編了一枝《點絳唇》，恰是俗物，你們猜猜。”說著便念道：Isn't a firefly transformed out of grass?" Everyone caught the meaning at once and laughed, saying, "Good!" Baochai said, "These are all clever enough, but they don't suit Old Ancestress's taste — better to make up some simple, easy things, so refined and common folk alike can enjoy them." Everyone said, "Yes, we ought to make some simple, common objects." Xiangyun laughed, "I've composed a 'Dian Jiang Chun' lyric, and it's just such a common object — guess it." So saying, she recited:

次日雪晴。饭后，贾母又亲嘱惜春：“不管冷暖，你只画去，赶到年下，十分不能便罢了。第一要紧把昨日琴儿和丫头梅花，照模照样，一笔别错，快快添上。”惜春听了虽是为难，只得应了。一时众人都来看他如何画，惜春只是出神。李纨因笑向众人道：“让他自己想去，咱们且说话儿。昨儿老太太只叫作灯谜，回家和绮儿纹儿睡不著，我就编了两个‘四书’的。他两个每人也编了两个。”众人听了，都笑道：“这倒该作的。先说了，我们猜猜。”李纨笑道：“‘观音未有世家传’，打‘四书’一句。”湘云接著就说“在止于至善。”宝钗笑道：“你也想一想‘世家传’三个字的意思再猜。”李纨笑道：“再想。”黛玉笑道：“哦，是了。是‘虽善无征’。”众人都笑道：“这句是了。”李纨又道：“一池青草青何名。”湘云忙道：“这一定是‘蒲芦也’。再不是不成？”李纨笑道：“这难为你猜。纹儿的是‘水向石边流出冷’，打一古人名。”探春笑问道：“可是山涛？”李纹笑道：“是。”李纨又道：“绮儿的是个‘萤’字，打一个字。”众人猜了半日，宝琴笑道：“这个意思却深，不知可是花草的‘花’字？”李绮笑道：“恰是了。”众人道：“萤与花何干？”黛玉笑道：“妙得很！萤可不是草化的？”众人会意，都笑了说“好！”宝钗道：“这些虽好，不合老太太的意思，不如作些浅近的物儿，大家雅俗共赏才好。”众人都道：“也要作些浅近的俗物才是。”湘云笑道：“我编了一枝《点绛唇》，恰是俗物，你们猜猜。”说著便念道：

溪壑分離，紅塵游戲，真何趣？Parted from stream and ravine, playing games in the red dust of the world — what true pleasure is there in that?名利猶虛，後事終難繼。Fame and gain remain empty still, and what comes after is hard indeed to carry on.

溪壑分离，红尘游戏，真何趣？名利犹虚，后事终难继。

眾人不解，想了半日，也有猜是和尚的，也有猜是道士的，也有猜是偶戲人的。No one could understand it; they pondered for a long while — some guessed it was a monk, some guessed a Daoist priest, some guessed a puppet-show performer.寶玉笑了半日，道：“都不是，我猜著了，一定是耍的猴兒。”湘雲笑道：“正是這個了。”眾人道：“前頭都好，末後一句怎麼解？”湘雲道：“那一個耍的猴子不是剁了尾巴去的？”眾人聽了，都笑起來，說：“他編個謎兒也是刁鑽古怪的。”李紈道：“昨日姨媽說，琴妹妹見的世面多，走的道路也多，你正該編謎兒，正用著了。Baoyu laughed for a long while and said, "None of those — I've got it, it must be a performing monkey." Xiangyun laughed, "That's exactly it." Everyone said, "The opening lines are all fine, but how do you explain the last line?" Xiangyun said, "Isn't it true that every performing monkey has had its tail cut off?" Hearing this, everyone burst out laughing and said, "Even her riddles are tricky and outlandish." Li Wan said, "Yesterday Auntie said that Sister Qin has seen a great deal of the world and traveled far and wide — you're just the one to make up riddles, this is exactly the occasion for it.你的詩且又好，何不編幾個我們猜一猜？”寶琴聽了，點頭含笑，自去尋思。And your poetry is good besides — why not compose a few for us to guess?" Hearing this, Baoqin nodded with a smile and went off by herself to think it over.寶釵也有了一個，念道：Baochai had one ready too, and recited:

众人不解，想了半日，也有猜是和尚的，也有猜是道士的，也有猜是偶戏人的。宝玉笑了半日，道：“都不是，我猜著了，一定是耍的猴儿。”湘云笑道：“正是这个了。”众人道：“前头都好，末后一句怎么解？”湘云道：“那一个耍的猴子不是剁了尾巴去的？”众人听了，都笑起来，说：“他编个谜儿也是刁钻古怪的。”李纨道：“昨日姨妈说，琴妹妹见的世面多，走的道路也多，你正该编谜儿，正用著了。你的诗且又好，何不编几个我们猜一猜？”宝琴听了，点头含笑，自去寻思。宝钗也有了一个，念道：

鏤檀鍥梓一層層，豈系良工堆砌成？Carved sandalwood, chiseled catalpa, layer upon layer — could this be something a skilled craftsman simply piled together?

镂檀锲梓一层层，岂系良工堆砌成？

雖是半天風雨過，何曾聞得梵鈴聲！Though the wind and rain have passed through half the sky, when has one ever heard the sound of a temple bell!

虽是半天风雨过，何曾闻得梵铃声！

打一物。Guess an object.

眾人猜時，寶玉也有了一個，念道：While everyone was guessing, Baoyu had one ready too, and recited:

众人猜时，宝玉也有了一个，念道：

天上人間兩渺茫，琅玕節過謹提防。Between heaven above and the world of men, both are vast and dim — when the jade-bamboo season passes, take careful precaution.

天上人间两渺茫，琅玕节过谨提防。

鸞音鶴信須凝睇，好把唏噓答上蒼。For the simurgh's call and the crane's tidings one must fix one's gaze — so as to answer high heaven with a sigh.

鸾音鹤信须凝睇，好把唏嘘答上苍。

黛玉也有了一個，念道是：Daiyu had one ready too, and recited:

黛玉也有了一个，念道是：

騄駬何勞縛紫繩？Why trouble to tie the fine steed Lü'er with a purple rope?馳城逐塹勢猙獰。Racing over walls and moats, its bearing fierce and wild.

𫘧駬何劳缚紫绳？驰城逐堑势狰狞。

主人指示風雷動，鰲背三山獨立名。At the master's bidding, wind and thunder stir — upon the turtle's back the Three Mountains stand alone in name.

主人指示风雷动，鳌背三山独立名。

探春也有了一個，方欲念時，寶琴走過來笑道：“我從小兒所走的地方的古跡不少。Tanchun had one ready too, and just as she was about to recite it, Baoqin came over and said with a smile, "There are no few historic sites among the places I've traveled since I was a child.我今揀了十個地方的古跡，作了十首怀古的詩。I've now picked historic sites from ten places and composed ten poems reflecting on the past.詩雖粗鄙，卻怀往事，又暗隱俗物十件，姐姐們請猜一猜。”眾人聽了，都說：“這倒巧，何不寫出來大家一看？”要知端的，下回分解。The poems are crude, but they dwell on things past, and each also hides within it a common object — ten in all. Sisters, please guess them." Hearing this, everyone said, "How clever indeed — why not write them out for us all to see?" To know what happened, the next chapter will explain.

探春也有了一个，方欲念时，宝琴走过来笑道：“我从小儿所走的地方的古迹不少。我今拣了十个地方的古迹，作了十首怀古的诗。诗虽粗鄙，却怀往事，又暗隐俗物十件，姐姐们请猜一猜。”众人听了，都说：“这倒巧，何不写出来大家一看？”要知端的，下回分解。

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