第八回　　　薛寶釵小恙梨香院　賈寶玉大醉絳芸軒 Xue Baochai Falls Ill in Pear Fragrance Court; Jia Baoyu Gets Drunk in Crimson Cloud Studio

話說鳳姐和寶玉回家，見過眾人。This tells how Xifeng and Baoyu returned home and paid their respects to everyone.寶玉先便回明賈母秦鐘要上家塾之事，自己也有了個伴讀的朋友，正好發奮，又著實的稱贊秦鐘的人品行事，最使人怜愛。Baoyu first reported to Grandmother Jia the matter of Qin Zhong going to the family school, and that he himself now had a companion in study, which would be just the thing to spur him to diligence; he also warmly praised Qin Zhong's character and conduct, saying he was the sort of person one could not help but love.鳳姐又在一旁幫著說“過日他還來拜老祖宗”等語，說的賈母喜歡起來。Xifeng chimed in from the side, adding remarks like "in a few days he'll come pay his respects to you, Old Ancestress," until she had Grandmother Jia quite pleased.鳳姐又趁勢請賈母後日過去看戲。Xifeng then seized the moment to invite Grandmother Jia to go watch the opera the day after next.賈母雖年老，卻极有興頭。Old as she was, Grandmother Jia still had a great zest for such things.至後日，又有尤氏來請，遂攜了王夫人林黛玉寶玉等過去看戲。When the day came, You-shi also sent to invite her, and so she took Lady Wang, Lin Daiyu, Baoyu, and the others over to watch the opera.至晌午，賈母便回來歇息了。By noon, Grandmother Jia had gone back to rest.王夫人本是好清淨的，見賈母回來也就回來了。Lady Wang had always preferred quiet, and seeing Grandmother Jia return, she returned as well.然後鳳姐坐了首席，盡歡至晚無話。After that Xifeng took the seat of honor, and the merrymaking continued in full until evening, with nothing further to tell.

话说凤姐和宝玉回家，见过众人。宝玉先便回明贾母秦钟要上家塾之事，自己也有了个伴读的朋友，正好发奋，又著实的称赞秦钟的人品行事，最使人怜爱。凤姐又在一旁帮著说“过日他还来拜老祖宗”等语，说的贾母喜欢起来。凤姐又趁势请贾母后日过去看戏。贾母虽年老，却极有兴头。至后日，又有尤氏来请，遂携了王夫人林黛玉宝玉等过去看戏。至晌午，贾母便回来歇息了。王夫人本是好清净的，见贾母回来也就回来了。然后凤姐坐了首席，尽欢至晚无话。

卻說寶玉因送賈母回來，待賈母歇了中覺，意欲還去看戲取樂，又恐扰的秦氏等人不便，因想起近日薛寶釵在家養病，未去親候，意欲去望他一望。Now, Baoyu, having seen Grandmother Jia home and waited until she had settled into her midday nap, meant to go back and enjoy more of the opera, but feared it would inconvenience Qin-shi and the others by disturbing them; recalling that Xue Baochai had lately been unwell and staying home, and that he had not yet gone in person to inquire after her, he decided to go pay her a visit.若從上房後角門過去，又恐遇見別事纏繞，再或可巧遇見他父親，更為不妥，宁可繞遠路罷了。If he went by the back gate behind the upper apartments, he worried he might run into some other entanglement, or by chance even encounter her father, which would be still more awkward; better, he thought, to take the roundabout way.當下眾嬤嬤丫鬟伺候他換衣服，見他不換，仍出二門去了，眾嬤嬤丫鬟只得跟隨出來，還只當他去那府中看戲。At that the various nurses and maids attending him made to change his clothes, but seeing he would not change, and that he was going straight out through the second gate, the nurses and maids had no choice but to follow him out, still supposing he meant to go to that other mansion to watch the opera.誰知到穿堂，便向東向北繞廳後而去。Who would have guessed that on reaching the covered passage he turned east and then north, going round behind the hall instead.偏頂頭遇見了門下清客相公詹光單聘仁二人走來，一見了寶玉，便都笑著赶上來，一個抱住腰，一個攜著手，都道：“我的菩薩哥兒，我說作了好夢呢，好容易得遇見了你。”說著，請了安，又問好，勞叨半日，方才走開。Just then he happened to run head-on into the two hangers-on retained by the household, Zhan Guang and Shan Pinren, who came toward him; the moment they saw Baoyu they both hurried up laughing, one throwing an arm about his waist, the other taking his hand, saying, "Our Bodhisattva young master! I said I must have had a lucky dream — and here, what luck, we've run into you." So saying, they made their bows and asked after his health, chattering on for a good while before finally taking their leave.老嬤嬤叫住，因問：“二位爺是從老爺跟前來的不是？”二人點頭道：“老爺在夢坡齋小書房里歇中覺呢，不妨事的。”一面說，一面走了。One of the old nurses stopped them to ask, "Are you two gentlemen coming from His Lordship's presence?" The two nodded and said, "His Lordship is resting from his midday nap in the little study at Mengpo Studio — no need to worry." So saying, they went on their way.說的寶玉也笑了。This made even Baoyu laugh.于是轉彎向北奔梨香院來。So he turned the corner and headed north toward Pear Fragrance Court.可巧銀庫房的總領名喚吳新登與倉上的頭目名戴良，還有幾個管事的頭目，共有七個人，從帳房里出來，一見了寶玉，赶來都一齊垂手站住。As it happened, the chief steward of the silver vault, one Wu Xindeng, together with the head of the granary, Dai Liang, and several other stewards in charge of affairs — seven men in all — were just then coming out of the accounts office, and the moment they saw Baoyu they all hurried over and stood with hands folded respectfully.獨有一個買辦名喚錢華，因他多日未見寶玉，忙上來打千兒請安，寶玉忙含笑攜他起來。Only one of them, a purchasing agent named Qian Hua, who had not seen Baoyu in many days, hastened forward and dropped to one knee in greeting; Baoyu quickly and smilingly took his hand and raised him up.眾人都笑說：“前兒在一處看見二爺寫的斗方兒，字法越發好了，多早晚兒賞我們幾張貼貼。”寶玉笑道：“在那里看見了？”眾人道：“好幾處都有，都稱贊的了不得，還和我們尋呢。”寶玉笑道：“不值什麼，你們說與我的小幺兒們就是了。”一面說，一面前走，眾人待他過去，方都各自散了。The others all said with a smile, "The other day we saw a square scroll somewhere with Young Master's writing on it — your calligraphy has come along even better. When might we be given a few sheets to paste up?" Baoyu laughed and asked, "Where did you see it?" They said, "It's to be found in quite a few places, and everyone praises it no end — they were all looking to us to get some too." Baoyu said with a laugh, "It's nothing much — just tell my little pages and that will do." So saying, he walked on, and the men, once he had passed, each went their separate ways.

却说宝玉因送贾母回来，待贾母歇了中觉，意欲还去看戏取乐，又恐扰的秦氏等人不便，因想起近日薛宝钗在家养病，未去亲候，意欲去望他一望。若从上房后角门过去，又恐遇见别事缠绕，再或可巧遇见他父亲，更为不妥，宁可绕远路罢了。当下众嬷嬷丫鬟伺候他换衣服，见他不换，仍出二门去了，众嬷嬷丫鬟只得跟随出来，还只当他去那府中看戏。谁知到穿堂，便向东向北绕厅后而去。偏顶头遇见了门下清客相公詹光单聘仁二人走来，一见了宝玉，便都笑著赶上来，一个抱住腰，一个携著手，都道：“我的菩萨哥儿，我说作了好梦呢，好容易得遇见了你。”说著，请了安，又问好，劳叨半日，方才走开。老嬷嬷叫住，因问：“二位爷是从老爷跟前来的不是？”二人点头道：“老爷在梦坡斋小书房里歇中觉呢，不妨事的。”一面说，一面走了。说的宝玉也笑了。于是转弯向北奔梨香院来。可巧银库房的总领名唤吴新登与仓上的头目名戴良，还有几个管事的头目，共有七个人，从帐房里出来，一见了宝玉，赶来都一齐垂手站住。独有一个买办名唤钱华，因他多日未见宝玉，忙上来打千儿请安，宝玉忙含笑携他起来。众人都笑说：“前儿在一处看见二爷写的斗方儿，字法越发好了，多早晚儿赏我们几张贴贴。”宝玉笑道：“在那里看见了？”众人道：“好几处都有，都称赞的了不得，还和我们寻呢。”宝玉笑道：“不值什么，你们说与我的小幺儿们就是了。”一面说，一面前走，众人待他过去，方都各自散了。

閒言少述，且說寶玉來至梨香院中，先入薛姨媽室中來，正見薛姨媽打點針黹與丫鬟們呢。To pass over the idle talk — Baoyu now arrived at Pear Fragrance Court, and went first into Aunt Xue's room, where he found her just then busy overseeing needlework with her maids.寶玉忙請了安，薛姨媽忙一把拉了他，抱入怀內，笑說：“這們冷天，我的兒，難為你想著來，快上炕來坐著罷。”命人倒滾滾的茶來。Baoyu hastily made his bow, and Aunt Xue at once pulled him close and took him into her arms, saying with a smile, "Such cold weather, my child, and you still thought to come — it's good of you. Come up on the kang and sit." She had someone pour him a cup of freshly boiled tea.寶玉因問：“哥哥不在家？”薛姨媽歎道：“他是沒籠頭的馬，天天忙不了，那里肯在家一日。”寶玉道：“姐姐可大安了？”薛姨媽道：“可是呢，你前兒又想著打發人來瞧他。Baoyu then asked, "Isn't your son at home?" Aunt Xue sighed, "He's like a horse with no bridle, too busy every single day to stay home even one day." Baoyu said, "Is your daughter quite recovered now?" Aunt Xue said, "So it happens you thought again to send someone to look in on her the other day.他在里間不是，你去瞧他，里間比這里暖和，那里坐著，我收拾收拾就進去和你說話兒。”寶玉聽說，忙下了炕來至里間門前，只見吊著半舊的紅紬軟帘。She's right in the inner room — go see her, it's warmer in there than out here. Sit there a while, and once I've tidied up a bit I'll come in and talk with you." Hearing this, Baoyu hurried down off the kang to the door of the inner room, where he saw a half-worn portière of soft red silk hanging.寶玉掀帘一邁步進去，先就看見薛寶釵坐在炕上作針線，頭上挽著漆黑油光的䰖兒，蜜合色棉襖，玫瑰紫二色金銀鼠比肩褂，蔥黃綾棉裙，一色半新不舊，看去不覺奢華。Baoyu lifted the portière and stepped inside, and the first thing he saw was Xue Baochai sitting on the kang doing needlework, her hair coiled up in a lacquer-black, glossy chignon, wearing a honey-colored quilted jacket, a rose-and-purple vest trimmed with gold-and-silver squirrel fur, and a scallion-yellow damask quilted skirt — all of it neither wholly new nor old in the same tone, so that looking at it one felt nothing of extravagance.唇不點而紅，眉不畫而翠，臉若銀盆，眼如水杏。Her lips were red without rouge, her brows dark without paint; her face was like a silver basin, her eyes like water-caltrop blossoms.罕言寡語，人謂藏愚，安分隨時，自云守拙。Sparing of words, she let others think her simple-minded; content to keep her place and go along with the times, she called it, in her own words, guarding her plainness.寶玉一面看，一面問：“姐姐可大愈了？”寶釵抬頭只見寶玉進來，連忙起身含笑答說：“已經大好了，倒多謝記挂著。”說著，讓他在炕沿上坐了，即命鶯兒斟茶來。As Baoyu looked her over, he asked, "Are you quite recovered, sister?" Baochai raised her head, and seeing Baoyu come in, rose at once with a smile and answered, "Already much better, thank you for keeping me in your thoughts." So saying, she had him sit on the edge of the kang and at once told Yingr to pour tea.一面又問老太太姨娘安，別的姐妹們都好。At the same time she asked after Grandmother Jia's and her aunt's health, and whether the other young ladies were all well.一面看寶玉頭上戴著纍絲嵌寶紫金冠，額上勒著二龍搶珠金抹額，身上穿著秋香色立蟒白狐腋箭袖，系著五色蝴蝶鸞絛，項上挂著長命鎖，記名符，另外有一塊落草時銜下來的寶玉。As she spoke she also noticed that Baoyu wore on his head a gold coronet inlaid with gems and worked in filigree thread, and across his forehead a gold fillet in the shape of two dragons snatching a pearl; on his body he wore an archer's sleeved robe of aromatic sedge color with white fox fur under the arms, girdled with a five-colored sash embroidered with butterflies and simurghs; about his neck hung a long-life lock, an amulet recording his name in the temple registers, and besides these a piece of jade that he had been born with in his mouth.寶釵因笑說道：“成日家說你的這玉，究竟未曾細細的賞鑒，我今兒倒要瞧瞧。”說著便挪近前來。At this Baochai said with a smile, "I've heard people talk about this jade of yours every day, but I've never yet had a good close look at it — let me examine it properly today." So saying, she moved in closer.寶玉亦湊了上去，從項上摘了下來，遞在寶釵手內。Baoyu too leaned in, took it off from around his neck, and placed it in Baochai's hand.寶釵托于掌上，只見大如雀卵，燦若明霞，瑩潤如酥，五色花紋纏護。Baochai held it in her palm and saw that it was as large as a sparrow's egg, radiant as the morning glow, glossy and lustrous as congealed cream, wound about with veins of five colors.這就是大荒山中青埂峰下的那塊頑石的幻相。This was none other than the transfigured semblance of that block of unwanted stone from beneath Blue Ridge Peak on Boundless Mountain.後人曾有詩嘲云：A later poet once mocked it in verse, saying:

闲言少述，且说宝玉来至梨香院中，先入薛姨妈室中来，正见薛姨妈打点针黹与丫鬟们呢。宝玉忙请了安，薛姨妈忙一把拉了他，抱入怀内，笑说：“这们冷天，我的儿，难为你想著来，快上炕来坐著罢。”命人倒滚滚的茶来。宝玉因问：“哥哥不在家？”薛姨妈叹道：“他是没笼头的马，天天忙不了，那里肯在家一日。”宝玉道：“姐姐可大安了？”薛姨妈道：“可是呢，你前儿又想著打发人来瞧他。他在里间不是，你去瞧他，里间比这里暖和，那里坐著，我收拾收拾就进去和你说话儿。”宝玉听说，忙下了炕来至里间门前，只见吊著半旧的红䌷软帘。宝玉掀帘一迈步进去，先就看见薛宝钗坐在炕上作针线，头上挽著漆黑油光的䰖儿，蜜合色棉袄，玫瑰紫二色金银鼠比肩褂，葱黄绫棉裙，一色半新不旧，看去不觉奢华。唇不点而红，眉不画而翠，脸若银盆，眼如水杏。罕言寡语，人谓藏愚，安分随时，自云守拙。宝玉一面看，一面问：“姐姐可大愈了？”宝钗抬头只见宝玉进来，连忙起身含笑答说：“已经大好了，倒多谢记挂著。”说著，让他在炕沿上坐了，即命莺儿斟茶来。一面又问老太太姨娘安，别的姐妹们都好。一面看宝玉头上戴著累丝嵌宝紫金冠，额上勒著二龙抢珠金抹额，身上穿著秋香色立蟒白狐腋箭袖，系著五色蝴蝶鸾绦，项上挂著长命锁，记名符，另外有一块落草时衔下来的宝玉。宝钗因笑说道：“成日家说你的这玉，究竟未曾细细的赏鉴，我今儿倒要瞧瞧。”说著便挪近前来。宝玉亦凑了上去，从项上摘了下来，递在宝钗手内。宝钗托于掌上，只见大如雀卵，灿若明霞，莹润如酥，五色花纹缠护。这就是大荒山中青埂峰下的那块顽石的幻相。后人曾有诗嘲云：

女媧煉石已荒唐，又向荒唐演大荒。Absurd enough it was when Nügua smelted stone; more absurd still, it went to act out the vast absurdity of this Waste itself.

女娲炼石已荒唐，又向荒唐演大荒。

失去幽靈真境界，幻來親就臭皮囊。Having lost its true realm of numinous spirit, it came in illusion to take up with this stinking sack of skin.

失去幽灵真境界，幻来亲就臭皮囊。

好知運敗金無彩，堪歎時乖玉不光。Know well: when fortune fails, gold shows no luster; and sigh too, for when times go awry, even jade loses its sheen.

好知运败金无彩，堪叹时乖玉不光。

白骨如山忘姓氏，無非公子與紅妝。White bones pile up like hills, their very names forgotten — nothing more, in the end, than young lords and their painted beauties.

白骨如山忘姓氏，无非公子与红妆。

那頑石亦曾記下他這幻相并癩僧所鐫的篆文，今亦按圖畫于後。That block of stone had also once recorded this transfigured semblance of itself, together with the seal-script characters engraved on it by the mangy monk, and these are now likewise set down in a picture that follows.但其真体最小，方能從胎中小兒口內銜下。But its true substance was smallest of all, so small that it could be held in the mouth of an infant still fresh from the womb.今若按其体畫，恐字跡過于微細，使觀者大廢眼光，亦非暢事。Were it now drawn true to its actual size, the characters would surely be too minute, and would strain the reader's eyes to no good purpose, which would hardly be a pleasant thing.故今只按其形式，無非略展些規矩，使觀者便于燈下醉中可閱。And so here it is rendered only in outward form, merely spread out a little according to convention, so that the reader may find it easy to peruse by lamplight or in his cups.今注明此故，方無胎中之兒口有多大，怎得銜此狼犺蠢大之物等語之謗。This explanation is noted here so that no one may ask, in reproach, just how large an infant's mouth in the womb could be, that it should hold so clumsy and unwieldy a thing.

那顽石亦曾记下他这幻相并癞僧所镌的篆文，今亦按图画于后。但其真体最小，方能从胎中小儿口内衔下。今若按其体画，恐字迹过于微细，使观者大废眼光，亦非畅事。故今只按其形式，无非略展些规矩，使观者便于灯下醉中可阅。今注明此故，方无胎中之儿口有多大，怎得衔此狼犺蠢大之物等语之谤。

寶釵看畢，又從新翻過正面來細看，口內念道：“莫失莫忘，仙壽恒昌。”念了兩遍，乃回頭向鶯兒笑道：“你不去倒茶，也在這里發呆作什麼？”鶯兒嘻嘻笑道：“我聽這兩句話，倒象和姑娘的項圈上的兩句話是一對兒。”寶玉聽了，忙笑道：“原來姐姐那項圈上也有八個字，我也賞鑒賞鑒。”寶釵道：“你別聽他的話，沒有什麼字。”寶玉笑央：“好姐姐，你怎麼瞧我的了呢。”寶釵被纏不過，因說道：“也是個人給了兩句吉利話兒，所以鏨上了，叫天天帶著，不然，沉甸甸的有什麼趣兒。”一面說，一面解了排扣，從里面大紅襖上將那珠寶晶瑩黃金燦爛的瓔珞掏將出來。When Baochai had finished looking, she turned it over again to examine the front closely, reading aloud, "Never lose me, never forget me; eternal life, unending prosperity." She read it over twice, then turned to Yingr with a smile and said, "Instead of going to pour the tea, what are you standing there in a daze for?" Yingr said with a giggling laugh, "Hearing these two lines, it struck me — they seem to make a pair with the two lines on Miss's own necklet." On hearing this Baoyu said quickly with a smile, "So there are eight characters on your necklet too, sister — let me have a look and appreciate them as well." Baochai said, "Don't listen to her, there's nothing written on it." Baoyu pleaded with a smile, "Dear sister, how can you look at mine and not let me see yours?" Pestered past bearing, Baochai said, "Someone gave me two lucky phrases, and so they were engraved on it, to be worn every day — otherwise, what fun would there be in carrying around something so heavy?" So saying, she undid the row of buttons and drew out from beneath the crimson jacket the necklet, glittering with pearls and gems and radiant gold.寶玉忙托了鎖看時，果然一面有四個篆字，兩面八字，共成兩句吉讖。Baoyu at once took the lock in his hand to look, and indeed on one side were four seal-script characters, eight in all on the two sides, making together two lines of a lucky prophecy.亦曾按式畫下形相：These too have been drawn out according to their form, giving the likeness:

宝钗看毕，又从新翻过正面来细看，口内念道：“莫失莫忘，仙寿恒昌。”念了两遍，乃回头向莺儿笑道：“你不去倒茶，也在这里发呆作什么？”莺儿嘻嘻笑道：“我听这两句话，倒象和姑娘的项圈上的两句话是一对儿。”宝玉听了，忙笑道：“原来姐姐那项圈上也有八个字，我也赏鉴赏鉴。”宝钗道：“你别听他的话，没有什么字。”宝玉笑央：“好姐姐，你怎么瞧我的了呢。”宝钗被缠不过，因说道：“也是个人给了两句吉利话儿，所以錾上了，叫天天带著，不然，沉甸甸的有什么趣儿。”一面说，一面解了排扣，从里面大红袄上将那珠宝晶莹黄金灿烂的璎珞掏将出来。宝玉忙托了锁看时，果然一面有四个篆字，两面八字，共成两句吉谶。亦曾按式画下形相：

寶玉看了，也念了兩遍，又念自己的兩遍，因笑問：“姐姐這八個字倒真與我的是一對。”鶯兒笑道：“是個癩頭和尚送的，他說必須鏨在金器上-”寶釵不待說完，便嗔他不去倒茶，一面又問寶玉從那里來。Baoyu looked at them, and read them over twice, then read his own two lines over twice more, and said with a laugh, "Why, sister, these eight characters of yours really do make a pair with mine." Yingr said with a laugh, "They were given by a mangy-headed monk, who said they must be engraved on a piece of gold—" But before she could finish, Baochai cut her off, scolding her for not going to pour the tea, and turned at once to ask Baoyu where he had come from.

宝玉看了，也念了两遍，又念自己的两遍，因笑问：“姐姐这八个字倒真与我的是一对。”莺儿笑道：“是个癞头和尚送的，他说必须錾在金器上-”宝钗不待说完，便嗔他不去倒茶，一面又问宝玉从那里来。

寶玉此時與寶釵就近，只聞一陣陣涼森森甜絲絲的幽香，竟不知系何香氣，遂問：“姐姐熏的是什麼香？Just then, being so close to Baochai, Baoyu caught a faint, cool, sweetish fragrance, and not knowing what scent it could be, he asked, "Sister, what is this incense you've been perfuming yourself with?我竟從未聞見過這味兒。”寶釵笑道：“我最怕熏香，好好的衣服，熏的煙燎火氣的。”寶玉道：“既如此，這是什麼香？”寶釵想了一想，笑道：“是了，是我早起吃了丸藥的香氣。”寶玉笑道：“什麼丸藥這麼好聞？I don't believe I've ever smelled anything quite like it." Baochai said with a smile, "I'm the last person to burn incense on my clothes — good clothes, and you smoke them up with soot and fumes." Baoyu said, "Well then, what is this scent?" Baochai thought a moment, then said with a smile, "Ah, I know — it must be the smell of the pills I took this morning." Baoyu said with a laugh, "What sort of pill smells this good?好姐姐，給我一丸嘗嘗。”寶釵笑道：“又混鬧了，一個藥也是混吃的？”Dear sister, give me one to try." Baochai said with a laugh, "There you go being silly again — is medicine something to be eaten just for fun?"

宝玉此时与宝钗就近，只闻一阵阵凉森森甜丝丝的幽香，竟不知系何香气，遂问：“姐姐熏的是什么香？我竟从未闻见过这味儿。”宝钗笑道：“我最怕熏香，好好的衣服，熏的烟燎火气的。”宝玉道：“既如此，这是什么香？”宝钗想了一想，笑道：“是了，是我早起吃了丸药的香气。”宝玉笑道：“什么丸药这么好闻？好姐姐，给我一丸尝尝。”宝钗笑道：“又混闹了，一个药也是混吃的？”

一語未了，忽聽外面人說：“林姑娘來了。”話猶未了，林黛玉已搖搖的走了進來，一見了寶玉，便笑道：“噯喲，我來的不巧了！”寶玉等忙起身笑讓坐，寶釵因笑道：“這話怎麼說？”黛玉笑道：“早知他來，我就不來了。”寶釵道：“我更不解這意。”黛玉笑道：“要來一群都來，要不來一個也不來，今兒他來了，明兒我再來，如此間錯開了來著，豈不天天有人來了？Before she had finished speaking, they suddenly heard someone outside say, "Miss Lin has arrived." The words were scarcely out when Lin Daiyu came swaying in, and the moment she saw Baoyu she said with a laugh, "Oh dear, I've come at a bad time!" Baoyu and the others hastily rose with a smile to offer her a seat, and Baochai asked with a smile, "What do you mean by that?" Daiyu said with a laugh, "If I'd known he'd be here, I wouldn't have come." Baochai said, "Now I understand you even less." Daiyu said with a laugh, "Come all together in a crowd, or don't come at all — today he comes, tomorrow I'll come instead, and so we'll take turns coming on different days — won't that mean someone comes every day?也不至于太冷落，也不至于太熱鬧了。That way it won't be too lonely, and it won't be too lively either.姐姐如何反不解這意思？”How is it you, of all people, don't understand that, sister?"

一语未了，忽听外面人说：“林姑娘来了。”话犹未了，林黛玉已摇摇的走了进来，一见了宝玉，便笑道：“嗳哟，我来的不巧了！”宝玉等忙起身笑让坐，宝钗因笑道：“这话怎么说？”黛玉笑道：“早知他来，我就不来了。”宝钗道：“我更不解这意。”黛玉笑道：“要来一群都来，要不来一个也不来，今儿他来了，明儿我再来，如此间错开了来著，岂不天天有人来了？也不至于太冷落，也不至于太热闹了。姐姐如何反不解这意思？”

寶玉因見他外面罩著大紅羽緞對衿褂子，因問：“下雪了么？”地下婆娘們道：“下了這半日雪珠兒了。”寶玉道：“取了我的斗篷來不曾？”黛玉便道：“是不是，我來了他就該去了。”寶玉笑道：“我多早晚兒說要去了？Noticing that Daiyu had on over her clothes a crimson felted cape with matching front closures, Baoyu asked, "Is it snowing?" The old women on the floor said, "It's been snowing pellets for some while now." Baoyu said, "Has my cloak been brought?" Daiyu then said, "Just as I thought — the moment I come, he has to be going." Baoyu said with a laugh, "When did I ever say I was leaving?不過拿來預備著。”寶玉的奶母李嬤嬤因說道：“天又下雪，也好早晚的了，就在這里同姐姐妹妹一處頑頑罷。It's only being brought to have ready." Baoyu's wet-nurse, Nurse Li, then said, "It's snowing besides, and it's about time anyway — you might as well stay here and enjoy yourself a while with your sisters and cousins.姨媽那里擺茶果子呢。Your aunt has laid out tea and refreshments there.我叫丫頭去取了斗篷來，說給小幺兒們散了罷。”寶玉應允。I'll send a maid to fetch the cloak, and tell the little pages they may go on and disperse." Baoyu agreed.李嬤嬤出去，命小廝們都各散去不提。Nurse Li went out and told the young servants to all disperse — no more of that for now.

宝玉因见他外面罩著大红羽缎对衿褂子，因问：“下雪了么？”地下婆娘们道：“下了这半日雪珠儿了。”宝玉道：“取了我的斗篷来不曾？”黛玉便道：“是不是，我来了他就该去了。”宝玉笑道：“我多早晚儿说要去了？不过拿来预备著。”宝玉的奶母李嬷嬷因说道：“天又下雪，也好早晚的了，就在这里同姐姐妹妹一处顽顽罢。姨妈那里摆茶果子呢。我叫丫头去取了斗篷来，说给小幺儿们散了罢。”宝玉应允。李嬷嬷出去，命小厮们都各散去不提。

這里薛姨媽已擺了幾樣細茶果來留他們吃茶。Here, Aunt Xue had already laid out several kinds of fine teas and delicacies to keep them for tea.寶玉因夸前日在那府里珍大嫂子的好鵝掌鴨信。Baoyu happened to praise the fine goose feet and duck tongues he had had the other day at Sister-in-law Zhen's place in that other mansion.薛姨媽聽了，忙也把自己糟的取了些來與他嘗。Hearing this, Aunt Xue at once had some of her own home-pickled ones brought out for him to try.寶玉笑道：“這個須得就酒才好。”薛姨媽便令人去灌了最上等的酒來。Baoyu said with a smile, "These really need wine to go with them to be at their best." Aunt Xue at once sent someone to warm up the very finest wine.李嬤嬤便上來道：“姨太太，酒倒罷了。”寶玉央道：“媽媽，我只喝一鐘。”李嬤嬤道：“不中用！Nurse Li came forward and said, "Madam, perhaps the wine had best be left off." Baoyu pleaded, "Nanny, I'll only have one cup." Nurse Li said, "It won't do!當著老太太，太太，那怕你吃一壇呢。In front of Grandmother and Madam, you might drink a whole jarful for all it matters.想那日我眼錯不見一會，不知是那一個沒調教的，只圖討你的好兒，不管別人死活，給了你一口酒吃，葬送的我挨了兩日罵。But I remember the other day, the one moment I took my eyes off you, some ill-taught person or other, just to curry favor with you and never mind anyone else's welfare, gave you a mouthful of wine to drink, and it was I who ended up taking the blame and getting scolded for two whole days.姨太太不知道，他性子又可惡，吃了酒更弄性。You don't know it, Madam, but his temper is a difficult one, and once he's had wine he only grows more willful.有一日老太太高興了，又盡著他吃，什麼日子又不許他吃，何苦我白賠在里面。”薛姨媽笑道：“老貨，你只放心吃你的去。There are days when Grandmother is in good spirits and lets him drink his fill, and other days when he's not allowed a drop — why should I be the one left to suffer for it for nothing?" Aunt Xue said with a laugh, "Now, old dear, don't you worry, just go and have your own drink.我也不許他吃多了。I won't let him drink too much either.便是老太太問，有我呢。”一面令小丫鬟：“來，讓你奶奶們去，也吃杯搪搪雪氣。”那李嬤嬤聽如此說，只得和眾人去吃些酒水。And even if Grandmother should ask, I'll answer for it." Then she told a young maid, "Here, take the nannies off to have a cup too, to keep out the chill of the snow." Hearing this, Nurse Li had no choice but to go off with the others to have some wine.這里寶玉又說：“不必溫暖了，我只愛吃冷的。”薛姨媽忙道：“這可使不得，吃了冷酒，寫字手打颭兒。”寶釵笑道：“寶兄弟，虧你每日家雜學旁收的，難道就不知道酒性最熱，若熱吃下去，發散的就快，若冷吃下去，便凝結在內，以五臟去暖他，豈不受害？Here Baoyu said again, "No need to warm it — I only care for it cold." Aunt Xue said quickly, "That will never do — drink cold wine and your hand will shake when you write." Baochai said with a smile, "Brother Bao, with all the odd bits of learning you pick up every day, can it be you don't know that wine by nature is very hot — if you drink it warm, it disperses quickly, but if you drink it cold, it congeals inside you, and your five organs then have to work to warm it — isn't that harmful?從此還不快不要吃那冷的了。”寶玉聽這話有情理，便放下冷酒，命人暖來方飲。From now on, hurry and stop drinking it cold." Baoyu found this reasoning sound, so he set aside the cold wine and had it warmed before he drank.

这里薛姨妈已摆了几样细茶果来留他们吃茶。宝玉因夸前日在那府里珍大嫂子的好鹅掌鸭信。薛姨妈听了，忙也把自己糟的取了些来与他尝。宝玉笑道：“这个须得就酒才好。”薛姨妈便令人去灌了最上等的酒来。李嬷嬷便上来道：“姨太太，酒倒罢了。”宝玉央道：“妈妈，我只喝一钟。”李嬷嬷道：“不中用！当著老太太，太太，那怕你吃一坛呢。想那日我眼错不见一会，不知是那一个没调教的，只图讨你的好儿，不管别人死活，给了你一口酒吃，葬送的我挨了两日骂。姨太太不知道，他性子又可恶，吃了酒更弄性。有一日老太太高兴了，又尽著他吃，什么日子又不许他吃，何苦我白赔在里面。”薛姨妈笑道：“老货，你只放心吃你的去。我也不许他吃多了。便是老太太问，有我呢。”一面令小丫鬟：“来，让你奶奶们去，也吃杯搪搪雪气。”那李嬷嬷听如此说，只得和众人去吃些酒水。这里宝玉又说：“不必温暖了，我只爱吃冷的。”薛姨妈忙道：“这可使不得，吃了冷酒，写字手打飐儿。”宝钗笑道：“宝兄弟，亏你每日家杂学旁收的，难道就不知道酒性最热，若热吃下去，发散的就快，若冷吃下去，便凝结在内，以五脏去暖他，岂不受害？从此还不快不要吃那冷的了。”宝玉听这话有情理，便放下冷酒，命人暖来方饮。

黛玉磕著瓜子兒，只抿著嘴笑。Daiyu, cracking melon seeds, only pressed her lips together and smiled.可巧黛玉的小丫鬟雪雁走來與黛玉送小手爐，黛玉因含笑問他：“誰叫你送來的？Just then Daiyu's little maid Xueyan happened to come in bringing her a small hand-warmer, and Daiyu asked her with a smile, "Who told you to bring this?難為他費心，那里就冷死了我！”雪雁道：“紫鵑姐姐怕姑娘冷，使我送來的。”黛玉一面接了，抱在怀中，笑道：“也虧你倒聽他的話。It's good of her to trouble herself, but was I really about to freeze to death!" Xueyan said, "Sister Zijuan was afraid you'd be cold, Miss, so she sent me with it." Daiyu, taking it and holding it in her arms, said with a smile, "So you actually do as she tells you.我平日和你說的，全當耳旁風，怎麼他說了你就依，比圣旨還快些！”寶玉聽這話，知是黛玉借此奚落他，也無回复之詞，只嘻嘻的笑兩陣罷了。Whatever I tell you every day goes in one ear and out the other like the wind, but the moment she says something you obey it, quicker even than an imperial edict!" Hearing this, Baoyu knew Daiyu was using the remark to needle him, and having no reply to make, could only laugh it off with a couple of chuckles.寶釵素知黛玉是如此慣了的，也不去睬他。Baochai, well used to Daiyu being like this as a rule, paid her no mind.薛姨媽因道：“你素日身子弱，禁不得冷的，他們記挂著你倒不好？”黛玉笑道：“姨媽不知道。Aunt Xue then said, "You've always been delicate and can't stand the cold — is it so wrong of them to be concerned for you?" Daiyu said with a smile, "Aunt, you don't know.幸虧是姨媽這里，倘或在別人家，人家豈不惱？It's lucky it's here at your place, Aunt — if it were at someone else's house, wouldn't they be offended?好說就看的人家連個手爐也沒有，巴巴的從家里送個來。They might well say, look, a household that can't even provide a hand-warmer for its guest, that a maid has to send one specially from home.不說丫鬟們太小心過餘，還只當我素日是這等輕狂慣了呢。”薛姨媽道：“你這個多心的，有這樣想，我就沒這樣心。”Not to mention, they'd say the maids are being overly fussy, or else think that I've simply always been spoiled and unruly like this." Aunt Xue said, "You and your suspicious mind — you may think of it that way, but I never had any such thought."

黛玉磕著瓜子儿，只抿著嘴笑。可巧黛玉的小丫鬟雪雁走来与黛玉送小手炉，黛玉因含笑问他：“谁叫你送来的？难为他费心，那里就冷死了我！”雪雁道：“紫鹃姐姐怕姑娘冷，使我送来的。”黛玉一面接了，抱在怀中，笑道：“也亏你倒听他的话。我平日和你说的，全当耳旁风，怎么他说了你就依，比圣旨还快些！”宝玉听这话，知是黛玉借此奚落他，也无回复之词，只嘻嘻的笑两阵罢了。宝钗素知黛玉是如此惯了的，也不去睬他。薛姨妈因道：“你素日身子弱，禁不得冷的，他们记挂著你倒不好？”黛玉笑道：“姨妈不知道。幸亏是姨妈这里，倘或在别人家，人家岂不恼？好说就看的人家连个手炉也没有，巴巴的从家里送个来。不说丫鬟们太小心过余，还只当我素日是这等轻狂惯了呢。”薛姨妈道：“你这个多心的，有这样想，我就没这样心。”

說話時，寶玉已是三杯過去。By the time they were speaking of this, Baoyu had already gone through three cups.李嬤嬤又上來攔阻。Nurse Li again came forward to stop him.寶玉正在心甜意洽之時，和寶黛姊妹說說笑笑的，那肯不吃。But Baoyu, just then in the sweetest and most contented of moods, laughing and talking with his cousins Bao and Dai, was in no mind to stop drinking.寶玉只得屈意央告：“好媽媽，我再吃兩鐘就不吃了。”李嬤嬤道：“你可仔細老爺今兒在家，提防問你的書！”寶玉聽了這話，便心中大不自在，慢慢的放下酒，垂了頭。Baoyu had no choice but to plead humbly, "Dear Nanny, let me have just two more cups and I'll stop." Nurse Li said, "You'd best be careful — His Lordship is home today, mind he doesn't quiz you on your reading!" Hearing this, Baoyu felt at once thoroughly out of sorts, and slowly set down his cup, hanging his head.黛玉先忙的說：“別掃大家的興！Daiyu was quick to say, "Don't spoil everyone's fun!舅舅若叫你，只說姨媽留著呢。If Uncle sends for you, just say Aunt Xue has been keeping you here.這個媽媽，他吃了酒，又拿我們來醒脾了！”一面悄推寶玉，使他賭氣，一面悄悄的咕噥說：“別理那老貨，咱們只管樂咱們的。”那李嬤嬤不知黛玉的意思，因說道：“林姐兒，你不要助著他了。As for this old nanny of yours, once she's had a bit of wine she goes and takes it out on us to sober herself up!" So saying, she gave Baoyu a secret nudge to make him hold his ground, while muttering under her breath, "Never mind that old thing, let's just go on enjoying ourselves." Nurse Li, not catching Daiyu's drift, said, "Miss Lin, you oughtn't to be encouraging him.你倒勸勸他，只怕他還聽些。”林黛玉冷笑道：“我為什麼助他？You'd do better to urge him to stop — he might actually listen to you." Lin Daiyu said with a cold laugh, "Why should I be the one to encourage him?我也不犯著勸他。Nor is it my place to go urging him to stop, either.你這媽媽太小心了，往常老太太又給他酒吃，如今在姨媽這里多吃一口，料也不妨事。You, Nanny, are too overcautious — ordinarily Grandmother herself gives him wine to drink, so surely it can't matter if he has a little extra here at his aunt's.必定姨媽這里是外人，不當在這里的也未可定。”李嬤嬤聽了，又是急，又是笑，說道：“真真這林姐兒，說出一句話來，比刀子還尖。Unless, of course, this house of Aunt's counts as outsiders' territory, not a proper place for him to be — that could be it too, who's to say." Hearing this, Nurse Li was half exasperated and half amused, and said, "Really, this Miss Lin — let her open her mouth and out comes something sharper than a knife.你這算了什麼。”寶釵也忍不住笑著，把黛玉腮上一擰，說道：“真真這個顰丫頭的一張嘴，叫人恨又不是，喜歡又不是。”薛姨媽一面又說：“別怕，別怕，我的兒！What do you call this now." Baochai too could not help laughing, and pinched Daiyu's cheek, saying, "Really, this sharp tongue of our little Frowner's — it makes people unable either to be angry or to be pleased with her." Aunt Xue meanwhile kept saying, "Never fear, never fear, my child!來這里沒好的你吃，別把這點子東西唬的存在心里，倒叫我不安。There's nothing good to eat here, and if you let a little thing like this weigh on your mind, it will only make me uneasy.只管放心吃，都有我呢。Just relax and eat your fill, I'll answer for everything.越發吃了晚飯去，便醉了，就跟著我睡罷。”因命：“再燙熱酒來！In fact, why not stay and have supper before you go — if you get a little drunk, you can just sleep over here with me." She then ordered, "Warm up the wine again!姨媽陪你吃兩杯，可就吃飯罷。”寶玉聽了，方又鼓起興來。I'll have a couple of cups with you myself, and then we'll have our meal." Hearing this, Baoyu's spirits picked up once more.

说话时，宝玉已是三杯过去。李嬷嬷又上来拦阻。宝玉正在心甜意洽之时，和宝黛姊妹说说笑笑的，那肯不吃。宝玉只得屈意央告：“好妈妈，我再吃两钟就不吃了。”李嬷嬷道：“你可仔细老爷今儿在家，提防问你的书！”宝玉听了这话，便心中大不自在，慢慢的放下酒，垂了头。黛玉先忙的说：“别扫大家的兴！舅舅若叫你，只说姨妈留著呢。这个妈妈，他吃了酒，又拿我们来醒脾了！”一面悄推宝玉，使他赌气，一面悄悄的咕哝说：“别理那老货，咱们只管乐咱们的。”那李嬷嬷不知黛玉的意思，因说道：“林姐儿，你不要助著他了。你倒劝劝他，只怕他还听些。”林黛玉冷笑道：“我为什么助他？我也不犯著劝他。你这妈妈太小心了，往常老太太又给他酒吃，如今在姨妈这里多吃一口，料也不妨事。必定姨妈这里是外人，不当在这里的也未可定。”李嬷嬷听了，又是急，又是笑，说道：“真真这林姐儿，说出一句话来，比刀子还尖。你这算了什么。”宝钗也忍不住笑著，把黛玉腮上一拧，说道：“真真这个颦丫头的一张嘴，叫人恨又不是，喜欢又不是。”薛姨妈一面又说：“别怕，别怕，我的儿！来这里没好的你吃，别把这点子东西唬的存在心里，倒叫我不安。只管放心吃，都有我呢。越发吃了晚饭去，便醉了，就跟著我睡罢。”因命：“再烫热酒来！姨妈陪你吃两杯，可就吃饭罢。”宝玉听了，方又鼓起兴来。

李嬤嬤因吩咐小丫頭子們：“你們在這里小心著，我家里換了衣服就來，悄悄的回姨太太，別由著他，多給他吃。”說著便家去了。Nurse Li then instructed the young maids, "You girls mind him carefully here — I'll go home, change my clothes, and come right back; quietly report to Madam Xue, and don't let him have too much to drink." So saying, she went off home.這里雖還有三兩個婆子，都是不關痛痒的，見李嬤嬤走了，也都悄悄去尋方便去了。Here, though two or three old women were still about, none of them cared one way or another, and once they saw Nurse Li gone, they too slipped off quietly to find some excuse of their own.只剩了兩個小丫頭子，樂得討寶玉的歡喜。That left only the two young maids, who were only too pleased to keep Baoyu happy.幸而薛姨媽千哄萬哄的，只容他吃了幾杯，就忙收過了。Fortunately Aunt Xue, coaxing him this way and that, let him have only a few more cups before hastily having everything cleared away.作酸筍雞皮湯，寶玉痛喝了兩碗，吃了半碗碧粳粥。They then made a sour-bamboo-shoot and chicken-skin soup, of which Baoyu drank two bowls with relish, and ate half a bowl of jade-green rice congee besides.一時薛林二人也吃完了飯，又釅釅的沏上茶來大家吃了。Presently Baochai and Daiyu too finished their meal, and strong tea was poured out and they all drank it together.薛姨媽方放了心。Only then did Aunt Xue feel at ease.雪雁等三四個丫頭已吃了飯，進來伺候。Xueyan and three or four other maids, having finished their own meal, came in to attend them.黛玉因問寶玉道：“你走不走？”寶玉乜斜倦眼道：“你要走，我和你一同走。”黛玉聽說，遂起身道：“咱們來了這一日，也該回去了。Daiyu then asked Baoyu, "Are you going or not?" Baoyu, his sleepy eyes half closed, said, "If you're going, I'll go along with you." Hearing this, Daiyu rose and said, "We've been here a whole day now, it's time we went back.還不知那邊怎麼找咱們呢。”說著，二人便告辭。Who knows how they've been looking for us over there." So saying, the two of them took their leave.

李嬷嬷因吩咐小丫头子们：“你们在这里小心著，我家里换了衣服就来，悄悄的回姨太太，别由著他，多给他吃。”说著便家去了。这里虽还有三两个婆子，都是不关痛痒的，见李嬷嬷走了，也都悄悄去寻方便去了。只剩了两个小丫头子，乐得讨宝玉的欢喜。幸而薛姨妈千哄万哄的，只容他吃了几杯，就忙收过了。作酸笋鸡皮汤，宝玉痛喝了两碗，吃了半碗碧粳粥。一时薛林二人也吃完了饭，又酽酽的沏上茶来大家吃了。薛姨妈方放了心。雪雁等三四个丫头已吃了饭，进来伺候。黛玉因问宝玉道：“你走不走？”宝玉乜斜倦眼道：“你要走，我和你一同走。”黛玉听说，遂起身道：“咱们来了这一日，也该回去了。还不知那边怎么找咱们呢。”说著，二人便告辞。

小丫頭忙捧過斗笠來，寶玉便把頭略低一低，命他戴上。A young maid hastily brought over the felt hat, and Baoyu lowered his head slightly to let her put it on him.那丫頭便將著大紅猩氈斗笠一抖，才往寶玉頭上一合，寶玉便說：“罷，罷！The maid gave the crimson felted hat a shake and was just settling it down onto Baoyu's head when Baoyu said, "Stop, stop!好蠢東西，你也輕些兒！You clumsy thing, be a bit gentler!難道沒見過別人戴過的？Haven't you ever seen anyone else put one on before?讓我自己戴罷。”黛玉站在炕沿上道：“羅唆什麼，過來，我瞧瞧罷。”寶玉忙就近前來。Let me put it on myself." Daiyu, standing on the edge of the kang, said, "What a fuss — come here, let me look at it." Baoyu hurried over close to her.黛玉用手整理，輕輕籠住束髮冠，將笠沿掖在抹額之上，將那一顆核桃大的絳絨簪纓扶起，顫巍巍露于笠外。Daiyu adjusted it with her hands, gently gathering it around the hair-binding coronet, tucking the brim of the hat up under the gold fillet, and setting upright the walnut-sized crimson tassel-button so that it showed trembling above the brim.整理已畢，端相了端相，說道：“好了，披上斗篷罷。”寶玉聽了，方接了斗篷披上。Once she had finished arranging it, she looked him over carefully and said, "There, that's it — now put on your cloak." Hearing this, Baoyu then took the cloak and put it on.薛姨媽忙道：“跟你們的媽媽都還沒來呢，且略等等不遲。”寶玉道：“我們倒去等他們，有丫頭們跟著也夠了。”薛姨媽不放心，到底命兩個婦女跟隨他兄妹方罷。Aunt Xue said quickly, "The nannies who came with you haven't arrived yet — better wait a little, there's no hurry." Baoyu said, "We'll just go on ahead and let them catch up to us — the maids following us are enough." But Aunt Xue was not easy in her mind, and in the end had two of the women go along to attend the brother and sister before she would let them go.他二人道了扰，一徑回至賈母房中。The two of them thanked her for the trouble and went straight back to Grandmother Jia's rooms.

小丫头忙捧过斗笠来，宝玉便把头略低一低，命他戴上。那丫头便将著大红猩毡斗笠一抖，才往宝玉头上一合，宝玉便说：“罢，罢！好蠢东西，你也轻些儿！难道没见过别人戴过的？让我自己戴罢。”黛玉站在炕沿上道：“罗唆什么，过来，我瞧瞧罢。”宝玉忙就近前来。黛玉用手整理，轻轻笼住束发冠，将笠沿掖在抹额之上，将那一颗核桃大的绛绒簪缨扶起，颤巍巍露于笠外。整理已毕，端相了端相，说道：“好了，披上斗篷罢。”宝玉听了，方接了斗篷披上。薛姨妈忙道：“跟你们的妈妈都还没来呢，且略等等不迟。”宝玉道：“我们倒去等他们，有丫头们跟著也够了。”薛姨妈不放心，到底命两个妇女跟随他兄妹方罢。他二人道了扰，一径回至贾母房中。

賈母尚未用晚飯，知是薛姨媽處來，更加喜歡。Grandmother Jia had not yet had her evening meal, and learning they had come from Aunt Xue's, was all the more pleased.因見寶玉吃了酒，遂命他自回房去歇著，不許再出來了。Seeing that Baoyu had been drinking, she then told him to go back to his own room and rest, and not to come out again.因命人好生看侍著。She also gave orders that he be looked after carefully.忽想起跟寶玉的人來，遂問眾人：“李奶子怎麼不見？”眾人不敢直說家去了，只說：“才進來的，想有事才去了。”寶玉踉蹌回頭道：“他比老太太還受用呢，問他作什麼！Just then she suddenly thought of the attendant who accompanied Baoyu, and asked the others, "How is it Nurse Li is nowhere to be seen?" No one dared say outright that she had gone home, and only said, "She just came in a moment ago — she must have gone off again on some errand." Baoyu, staggering as he turned his head, said, "She has it even better than Grandmother does — why ask after her at all!沒有他只怕我還多活兩日。”一面說，一面來至自己的臥室。"Without him, I'm afraid I'd have lived a few days longer." So saying, he made his way to his own bedroom.只見筆墨在案，晴雯先接出來，笑說道：“好，好，要我研了那些墨，早起高興，只寫了三個字，丟下筆就走了，哄的我們等了一日。There he saw brush and ink still set out on the desk. Qingwen came out first to meet him, laughing as she said, "Fine, just fine! You had me grind all that ink, and this morning, in high spirits, you wrote only three characters, threw down the brush, and left — keeping us waiting the whole day.快來與我寫完這些墨才罷！”寶玉忽然想起早起的事來，因笑道：“我寫的那三個字在那里呢？”晴雯笑道：“這個人可醉了。Come quickly and use up all this ink before you stop!" Baoyu suddenly remembered what had happened that morning, and said with a laugh, "Where are those three characters I wrote?" Qingwen said with a laugh, "This man really must be drunk.你頭里過那府里去，囑咐貼在這門斗上，這會子又這麼問。Earlier, when you went over to that mansion, you told us to paste them up over this door lintel — and now here you are asking such a thing.我生怕別人貼坏了，我親自爬高上梯的貼上，這會子還凍的手僵冷的呢。”寶玉聽了，笑道：“我忘了。I was so afraid someone else would paste it up crooked that I climbed the ladder myself and put it up — my hands are still stiff with cold from it." Hearing this, Baoyu laughed and said, "I forgot.你的手冷，我替你渥著。”說著便伸手攜了晴雯的手，同仰首看門斗上新書的三個字。Your hands are cold — let me warm them for you." So saying, he reached out and took Qingwen's hand, and together they looked up at the three newly written characters over the door lintel.

贾母尚未用晚饭，知是薛姨妈处来，更加喜欢。因见宝玉吃了酒，遂命他自回房去歇著，不许再出来了。因命人好生看侍著。忽想起跟宝玉的人来，遂问众人：“李奶子怎么不见？”众人不敢直说家去了，只说：“才进来的，想有事才去了。”宝玉踉跄回头道：“他比老太太还受用呢，问他作什么！没有他只怕我还多活两日。”一面说，一面来至自己的卧室。只见笔墨在案，晴雯先接出来，笑说道：“好，好，要我研了那些墨，早起高兴，只写了三个字，丢下笔就走了，哄的我们等了一日。快来与我写完这些墨才罢！”宝玉忽然想起早起的事来，因笑道：“我写的那三个字在那里呢？”晴雯笑道：“这个人可醉了。你头里过那府里去，嘱咐贴在这门斗上，这会子又这么问。我生怕别人贴坏了，我亲自爬高上梯的贴上，这会子还冻的手僵冷的呢。”宝玉听了，笑道：“我忘了。你的手冷，我替你渥著。”说著便伸手携了晴雯的手，同仰首看门斗上新书的三个字。

一時黛玉來了，寶玉笑道：“好妹妹，你別撒謊，你看這三個字那一個好？”黛玉仰頭看里間門斗上，新貼了三個字，寫著”絳云軒”。Presently Daiyu arrived, and Baoyu said with a smile, "Dear cousin, don't lie to me now — tell me which of these three characters is best." Daiyu raised her head to look at the door lintel of the inner room, where three characters had newly been pasted up, reading "Jiangyun Xuan."黛玉笑道：“個個都好。Daiyu said with a smile, "Every one of them is good.怎麼寫的這麼好了？How ever did you come to write so well?明兒也與我寫一個匾。”寶玉嘻嘻的笑道：“又哄我呢。”說著又問：“襲人姐姐呢？”晴雯向里間炕上努嘴。Write me a plaque too, one of these days." Baoyu grinned and said, "Now you're teasing me again." Then he asked, "Where's Sister Xiren?" Qingwen pointed with her lips toward the kang in the inner room.寶玉一看，只見襲人和衣睡著在那里。Baoyu looked, and there was Xiren, lying asleep in her clothes.寶玉笑道：“好，太渥早了些。”因又問晴雯道：“今兒我在那府里吃早飯，有一碟子豆腐皮的包子，我想著你愛吃，和珍大奶奶說了，只說我留著晚上吃，叫人送過來的，你可吃了？”晴雯道：“快別提。Baoyu laughed and said, "Well now, turning in a bit early, aren't we." Then he asked Qingwen, "Today when I had breakfast over at that mansion, there was a plate of tofu-skin dumplings. I thought you'd be fond of them, so I told Mrs. Zhen Da I was saving them to eat this evening, and had someone send them over — did you get to eat them?" Qingwen said, "Don't even mention it.一送了來，我知道是我的，偏我才吃了飯，就放在那里。As soon as they were sent over I knew they were meant for me, but I had just eaten, so I set them aside there.後來李奶奶來了看見，說：‘寶玉未必吃了，拿了給我孫子吃去罷。’他就叫人拿了家去了。”接著茜雪捧上茶來。Then Nurse Li came in, saw them, and said, 'Baoyu probably won't eat these — take them for my grandson to eat instead.' And she had someone carry them off to her own home." Just then Qianxue came in carrying tea.寶玉因讓”林妹妹吃茶。”眾人笑說：“林妹妹早走了，還讓呢。”Baoyu, out of habit, said, "Cousin Lin, have some tea." Everyone laughed and said, "Cousin Lin left long ago, and you're still offering her tea."

一时黛玉来了，宝玉笑道：“好妹妹，你别撒谎，你看这三个字那一个好？”黛玉仰头看里间门斗上，新贴了三个字，写著”绛云轩”。黛玉笑道：“个个都好。怎么写的这么好了？明儿也与我写一个匾。”宝玉嘻嘻的笑道：“又哄我呢。”说著又问：“袭人姐姐呢？”晴雯向里间炕上努嘴。宝玉一看，只见袭人和衣睡著在那里。宝玉笑道：“好，太渥早了些。”因又问晴雯道：“今儿我在那府里吃早饭，有一碟子豆腐皮的包子，我想著你爱吃，和珍大奶奶说了，只说我留著晚上吃，叫人送过来的，你可吃了？”晴雯道：“快别提。一送了来，我知道是我的，偏我才吃了饭，就放在那里。后来李奶奶来了看见，说：‘宝玉未必吃了，拿了给我孙子吃去罢。’他就叫人拿了家去了。”接著茜雪捧上茶来。宝玉因让”林妹妹吃茶。”众人笑说：“林妹妹早走了，还让呢。”

寶玉吃了半碗茶，忽又想起早起的茶來，因問茜雪道：“早起沏了一碗楓露茶，我說過，那茶是三四次後才出色的，這會子怎麼又沏了這個來？”茜雪道：“我原是留著的，那會子李奶奶來了，他要嘗嘗，就給他吃了。”寶玉聽了，將手中的茶杯只順手往地下一擲，豁啷一聲，打了個粉碎，潑了茜雪一裙子的茶。Baoyu drank half a bowl of tea, then suddenly remembered the tea from that morning, and asked Qianxue, "This morning you brewed a pot of maple-dew tea. I told you that tea only comes into its own after the third or fourth steeping — why have you brought me this instead?" Qianxue said, "I was saving it, but then Nurse Li came by and wanted a taste, so I gave it to her." At this, Baoyu flung the teacup in his hand straight down onto the floor — with a crash it shattered to pieces, splashing tea all over the front of Qianxue's skirt.又跳起來問著茜雪道：“他是你那一門子的奶奶，你們這麼孝敬他？Then he jumped up and demanded of Qianxue, "Just what kind of nurse of yours is she, that you all dote on her so?不過是仗著我小時候吃過他幾日奶罷了。It's only because she nursed me for a few days when I was small that she puts on such airs now.如今逞的他比祖宗還大了。Now she carries on as if she outranked the very ancestors.如今我又吃不著奶了，白白的養著祖宗作什麼！I don't even drink her milk anymore — what's the use of keeping such an 'ancestor' around for nothing!攆了出去，大家乾淨！”說著便要去立刻回賈母，攆他乳母。Throw her out, and be done with it once and for all!" So saying, he made to go at once and report it to Grandmother Jia, to have his wet-nurse dismissed.原來襲人實未睡著，不過故意裝睡，引寶玉來慪他頑耍。In fact Xiren had not been asleep at all, but had only pretended to be, meaning to tease Baoyu and have some fun at his expense.先聞得說字問包子等事，也還可不必起來，後來摔了茶鐘，動了氣，遂連忙起來解釋勸阻。At first, hearing him talk about the characters and ask after the dumplings, she saw no need to get up; but once he smashed the teacup and lost his temper, she hurried up to explain things and calm him down.早有賈母遣人來問是怎麼了。Grandmother Jia had already sent someone to ask what the matter was.襲人忙道：“我才倒茶來，被雪滑倒了，失手砸了鐘子。”一面又安慰寶玉道：“你立意要攆他也好，我們也都願意出去，不如趁勢連我們一齊攆了，我們也好，你也不愁再有好的來伏侍你。”寶玉聽了這話，方無了言語，被襲人等扶至炕上，脫換了衣服。Xiren hastily said, "I was just pouring tea when I slipped on some spilled water and dropped the cup by accident." At the same time she comforted Baoyu, saying, "If you're set on having her sent away, that's fine too — we'd all just as soon leave ourselves. Better to seize the chance and have the rest of us dismissed along with her — that would suit us well enough, and you needn't worry about finding no one good to wait on you afterward." Hearing this, Baoyu fell silent, and let Xiren and the others help him onto the kang and change out of his clothes.不知寶玉口內還說些什麼，只覺口齒纏綿，眼眉愈加餳澀，忙伏侍他睡下。No one could quite make out what else Baoyu was murmuring; his speech grew more and more slurred and tangled, his eyes heavier and more sleepy-lidded, and they hurried to settle him down to sleep.襲人伸手從他項上摘下那通靈玉來，用自己的手帕包好，塞在褥下，次日帶時便冰不著脖子。Xiren reached over, took the Jade of Spiritual Understanding from around his neck, wrapped it carefully in her own handkerchief, and tucked it under the mattress, so that the next day, when he put it on again, it would not feel cold against his neck.那寶玉就枕便睡著了。Baoyu, the moment his head touched the pillow, fell fast asleep.彼時李嬤嬤等已進來了，聽見醉了，不敢前來再加触犯，只悄悄的打聽睡了，方放心散去。By then Nurse Li and the others had already come in; hearing that he was drunk, they dared not come near and risk offending him further, but only quietly asked whether he had fallen asleep, and, once reassured, dispersed with easy minds.

宝玉吃了半碗茶，忽又想起早起的茶来，因问茜雪道：“早起沏了一碗枫露茶，我说过，那茶是三四次后才出色的，这会子怎么又沏了这个来？”茜雪道：“我原是留著的，那会子李奶奶来了，他要尝尝，就给他吃了。”宝玉听了，将手中的茶杯只顺手往地下一掷，豁啷一声，打了个粉碎，泼了茜雪一裙子的茶。又跳起来问著茜雪道：“他是你那一门子的奶奶，你们这么孝敬他？不过是仗著我小时候吃过他几日奶罢了。如今逞的他比祖宗还大了。如今我又吃不著奶了，白白的养著祖宗作什么！撵了出去，大家干净！”说著便要去立刻回贾母，撵他乳母。原来袭人实未睡著，不过故意装睡，引宝玉来怄他顽耍。先闻得说字问包子等事，也还可不必起来，后来摔了茶钟，动了气，遂连忙起来解释劝阻。早有贾母遣人来问是怎么了。袭人忙道：“我才倒茶来，被雪滑倒了，失手砸了钟子。”一面又安慰宝玉道：“你立意要撵他也好，我们也都愿意出去，不如趁势连我们一齐撵了，我们也好，你也不愁再有好的来伏侍你。”宝玉听了这话，方无了言语，被袭人等扶至炕上，脱换了衣服。不知宝玉口内还说些什么，只觉口齿缠绵，眼眉愈加饧涩，忙伏侍他睡下。袭人伸手从他项上摘下那通灵玉来，用自己的手帕包好，塞在褥下，次日带时便冰不著脖子。那宝玉就枕便睡著了。彼时李嬷嬷等已进来了，听见醉了，不敢前来再加触犯，只悄悄的打听睡了，方放心散去。

次日醒來，就有人回：“那邊小蓉大爺帶了秦相公來拜。”寶玉忙接了出去，領了拜見賈母。The next day, when he woke, someone came to report, "Young Master Rong from over there has brought Master Qin to pay a call." Baoyu hurried out to receive him, and brought him in to pay his respects to Grandmother Jia.賈母見秦鐘形容標致，舉止溫柔，堪陪寶玉讀書，心中十分歡喜，便留茶留飯，又命人帶去見王夫人等。Seeing that Qin Zhong was handsome in looks and gentle in manner, well suited to keep Baoyu company in his studies, Grandmother Jia was delighted, and kept him for tea and a meal, then had someone take him along to meet Lady Wang and the others.眾人因素愛秦氏，今見了秦鐘是這般人品，也都歡喜，臨去時都有表禮。Since everyone had always been fond of Qin Shi, and now saw that Qin Zhong was of such fine character too, they were all pleased as well, and when he took his leave each of them gave him a parting gift.賈母又與了一個荷包并一個金魁星，取“文星和合”之意。Grandmother Jia also gave him a purse-pouch and a gold figure of Kuixing, the God of Letters, taking the auspicious meaning of "the Star of Literature bringing harmony."又囑咐他道：“你家住的遠，或有一時寒熱饑飽不便，只管住在這里，不必限定了。She further told him, "Your home is far from here, and if ever it's inconvenient on account of cold or heat, hunger or the like, feel free simply to stay on here — there's no need to hold to any fixed schedule.只和你寶叔在一處，別跟著那些不長進的東西們學。”秦鐘一一的答應，回去稟知。Just stay together with your Uncle Bao, and don't go learning bad ways from those good-for-nothings." Qin Zhong agreed to everything, and went home to report it all.

次日醒来，就有人回：“那边小蓉大爷带了秦相公来拜。”宝玉忙接了出去，领了拜见贾母。贾母见秦钟形容标致，举止温柔，堪陪宝玉读书，心中十分欢喜，便留茶留饭，又命人带去见王夫人等。众人因素爱秦氏，今见了秦钟是这般人品，也都欢喜，临去时都有表礼。贾母又与了一个荷包并一个金魁星，取“文星和合”之意。又嘱咐他道：“你家住的远，或有一时寒热饥饱不便，只管住在这里，不必限定了。只和你宝叔在一处，别跟著那些不长进的东西们学。”秦钟一一的答应，回去禀知。

他父親秦業現任營繕郎，年近七十，夫人早亡。His father, Qin Ye, currently held the post of Undersecretary of Works; he was close to seventy, and his wife had died long before.因當年無兒女，便向養生堂抱了一個兒子并一個女兒。Having had no children in his younger years, he had adopted a son and a daughter from a foundling home.誰知兒子又死了，只剩女兒，小名喚可兒，長大時，生的形容裊娜，性格風流。As it happened, the son later died, leaving only the daughter, whose childhood name was Ke'er; when she grew up she turned out graceful in bearing and romantic in temperament.因素與賈家有些瓜葛，故結了親，許與賈蓉為妻。Since the family had long had some connection with the Jias, a match was arranged, and she was given in marriage to Jia Rong.那秦業至五旬之上方得了秦鐘。Qin Ye did not have Qin Zhong until he was past fifty.因去歲業師亡故，未暇延請高明之士，只得暫時在家溫習舊課。Because his tutor had died the year before, and there had been no time to engage a more accomplished scholar, Qin Zhong had for the time being to stay home reviewing his old lessons.正思要和親家去商議送往他家塾中，暫且不致荒廢，可巧遇見了寶玉這個机會。Qin Ye was just thinking of consulting with his in-laws about sending the boy to study in their family school, so his studies would not lapse in the meantime, when he happened upon this opportunity through Baoyu.又知賈家塾中現今司塾的是賈代儒，乃當今之老儒，秦鐘此去，學業料必進益，成名可望，因此十分喜悅。Learning further that the one presiding over the Jia family school at present was Jia Dairu, a venerable scholar of the day, he reckoned that if Qin Zhong went there his studies would surely advance and he might well make a name for himself — and so he was overjoyed.只是宦囊羞澀，那賈家上上下下都是一雙富貴眼睛，容易拿不出來，為兒子的終身大事，說不得東拼西湊的恭恭敬敬封了二十四兩贄見禮，親自帶了秦鐘，來代儒家拜見了。Only his official's purse was rather thin, and everyone in the Jia household, high and low, had eyes accustomed to wealth and rank, so it was not easy for him to come up with a fitting sum; but for the sake of his son's lifelong prospects, he could not help scraping funds together from here and there, and respectfully sealed up twenty-four taels of silver as an initiation gift, then personally took Qin Zhong to Jia Dairu's home to pay his respects.然後聽寶玉上學之日，好一同入塾。After that, he waited to hear on what day Baoyu would begin school, so the two boys could enter together.正是：Truly it is:

他父亲秦业现任营缮郎，年近七十，夫人早亡。因当年无儿女，便向养生堂抱了一个儿子并一个女儿。谁知儿子又死了，只剩女儿，小名唤可儿，长大时，生的形容袅娜，性格风流。因素与贾家有些瓜葛，故结了亲，许与贾蓉为妻。那秦业至五旬之上方得了秦钟。因去岁业师亡故，未暇延请高明之士，只得暂时在家温习旧课。正思要和亲家去商议送往他家塾中，暂且不致荒废，可巧遇见了宝玉这个机会。又知贾家塾中现今司塾的是贾代儒，乃当今之老儒，秦钟此去，学业料必进益，成名可望，因此十分喜悦。只是宦囊羞涩，那贾家上上下下都是一双富贵眼睛，容易拿不出来，为儿子的终身大事，说不得东拼西凑的恭恭敬敬封了二十四两贽见礼，亲自带了秦钟，来代儒家拜见了。然后听宝玉上学之日，好一同入塾。正是：

早知日後閒爭氣，豈肯今朝錯讀書。Had he known that in later days he'd strive so vainly for glory, would he ever have been willing to waste today on idle study?

早知日后闲争气，岂肯今朝错读书。

注释Notes