五猖會 The Fair of the Five Fierce Gods

孩子們所盼望的，過年過節之外，大概要數迎神賽會的時候了。Apart from New Year and other festivals, what children looked forward to most was probably the time of the temple fairs that welcomed the gods.但我家的所在很偏僻，待到賽會的行列經過時，一定已在下午，儀仗之類，也減而又減，所剩的極其寥寥。But my home was in a very remote place, and by the time the fair's procession passed by, it would always already be afternoon, and the ceremonial guard of honor and the like had been cut down again and again, until what was left was extremely scanty.往往伸著頸子等候多時，卻只見十幾個人擡著一個金臉或藍臉紅臉的神像匆匆地跑過去。Often I would crane my neck and wait a long while, only to see a dozen or so men hurrying past, carrying a god's image with a golden face, or a blue face and red face.於是，完了。And then, it was over.

孩子们所盼望的，过年过节之外，大概要数迎神赛会的时候了。但我家的所在很偏僻，待到赛会的行列经过时，一定已在下午，仪仗之类，也减而又减，所剩的极其寥寥。往往伸著颈子等候多时，却只见十几个人抬著一个金脸或蓝脸红脸的神像匆匆地跑过去。于是，完了。

我常存著這樣的一個希望：這一次所見的賽會，比前一次繁盛些。I always cherished one particular hope: that the fair I saw this time would be more splendid than the last.可是結果總是一個“差不多”；But the result was always "much the same";也總是只留下一個紀念品，就是當神像還未擡過之前，化一文錢買下的，用一點爛泥，一點顏色紙，一枝竹簽和兩三枝雞毛所做的，吹起來會發出一種刺耳的聲音的哨子，叫作“吹都都”的，吡吡地吹它兩三天。and it always left me with just one keepsake — a whistle bought for a single copper coin before the god's image had even been carried past, made of a bit of mud, a bit of colored paper, a bamboo peg, and two or three chicken feathers, which gave off a piercing sound when blown, called a "chui-dou-dou," and I would blow it, pi-pi, for two or three days.

我常存著这样的一个希望：这一次所见的赛会，比前一次繁盛些。可是结果总是一个“差不多”；也总是只留下一个纪念品，就是当神像还未抬过之前，化一文钱买下的，用一点烂泥，一点颜色纸，一枝竹签和两三枝鸡毛所做的，吹起来会发出一种刺耳的声音的哨子，叫作“吹都都”的，吡吡地吹它两三天。

現在看看《陶庵夢憶》，覺得那時的賽會，真是豪奢極了，雖然明人的文章，怕難免有些誇大。Now, reading Tao'an Meng Yi, I feel that the fairs of that era were truly extravagant in the extreme — though writings by men of the Ming dynasty, I fear, are probably not without some exaggeration.因為禱雨而迎龍王，現在也還有的，但辦法卻已經很簡單，不過是十多人盤旋著一條龍，以及村童們扮些海鬼。Even nowadays there are still occasions of welcoming the Dragon King to pray for rain, but the method has grown very simple — nothing more than a dozen or so people coiling about with a single dragon, and village children dressed up as sea-goblins.那時卻還要扮故事，而且實在奇拔得可觀。In those days, though, they still had to act out stories, and these were truly striking and remarkable to behold.他記扮《水滸傳》中人物云：“……He recorded the impersonation of characters from Water Margin, writing: "...於是，尋黑矮漢，尋梢長大漢，尋頭陀，尋胖大和尚，尋茁壯婦人，尋姣長婦人，尋青面，尋歪頭，尋赤須，尋美髯，尋黑大漢，尋赤臉長須。So they sought out a short, dark-skinned man; sought a tall, lanky fellow; sought a mendicant monk; sought a big fat monk; sought a robust woman; sought a tall, comely woman; sought a blue-faced man; sought a crook-headed man; sought a red-bearded man; sought a man with a fine beard; sought a big dark-skinned man; sought a man with a red face and a long beard.大索城中；They searched the whole city thoroughly;無，則之郭，之村，之山僻，之鄰府州縣。finding none, they went on to the outskirts, to the villages, to remote mountain places, to neighboring prefectures, departments, and counties.用重價聘之，得三十六人，梁山泊好漢，個個呵活，臻臻至至，人馬稱娖而行……”這樣的白描的活古人，誰能不動一看的雅興呢？They engaged them at great expense, and got thirty-six men — the good fellows of Liangshan Marsh, each and every one brought vividly to life, every detail exact and complete, men and horses moving along in perfect order..." Such vivid, unadorned depictions of ancients brought back to life — who could fail to be moved by the refined urge to see them?可惜這種盛舉，早已和明社一同消滅了。It is a pity that such a grand spectacle vanished long ago, together with the fall of the Ming state.

现在看看《陶庵梦忆》，觉得那时的赛会，真是豪奢极了，虽然明人的文章，怕难免有些夸大。因为祷雨而迎龙王，现在也还有的，但办法却已经很简单，不过是十多人盘旋著一条龙，以及村童们扮些海鬼。那时却还要扮故事，而且实在奇拔得可观。他记扮《水浒传》中人物云：“……于是，寻黑矮汉，寻梢长大汉，寻头陀，寻胖大和尚，寻茁壮妇人，寻姣长妇人，寻青面，寻歪头，寻赤须，寻美髯，寻黑大汉，寻赤脸长须。大索城中；无，则之郭，之村，之山僻，之邻府州县。用重价聘之，得三十六人，梁山泊好汉，个个呵活，臻臻至至，人马称娖而行……”这样的白描的活古人，谁能不动一看的雅兴呢？可惜这种盛举，早已和明社一同消灭了。

賽會雖然不象現在上海的旗袍，北京的談國事，為當局所禁止，然而婦孺們是不許看的，讀書人即所謂士子，也大抵不肯趕去看。Although temple fairs were not forbidden by the authorities the way qipao are in Shanghai today, or discussing affairs of state in Beijing, women and children were nonetheless not permitted to watch, and educated men — the so-called scholars — for the most part were unwilling to go and watch as well.只有遊手好閑的閑人，這才跑到廟前或衙門前去看熱鬧；Only idle men with nothing better to do would run to the front of the temple or the yamen to watch the excitement;我關於賽會的知識，多半是從他們的敘述上得來的，並非考據家所貴重的“眼學”。most of what I know about the fairs I learned from their accounts, and not from what textual scholars prize as "learning through one's own eyes."然而記得有一回，也親見過較盛的賽會。Yet I recall that once, I too witnessed with my own eyes a rather grand fair.開首是一個孩子騎馬先來，稱為“塘報”；It began with a child riding ahead on horseback, called the "tangbao," or advance herald;過了許久，“高照”到了，長竹竿揭起一條很長的旗，一個汗流浹背的胖大漢用兩手托著；after a long while, the "gaozhao," or tall banner, arrived — a long bamboo pole hoisting a very long flag, held aloft with both hands by a big, fat man drenched in sweat;他高興的時候，就肯將竿頭放在頭頂或牙齒上，甚而至於鼻尖。when he was in high spirits, he would rest the tip of the pole on the crown of his head, or on his teeth, or even on the tip of his nose.其次是所謂“高蹺”、“擡閣”、“馬頭”了；Next came the so-called "stilt-walkers," "carried pavilions," and "horse-heads";還有扮犯人的，紅衣枷鎖，內中也有孩子。there were also those got up as convicts, in red clothing and cangues, and among them were children too.我那時覺得這些都是有光榮的事業，與聞其事的即全是大有運氣的人，——大概羨慕他們的出風頭罷。At the time I felt that all these were glorious undertakings, and that anyone who took part in them was a person of great good fortune — I suppose I simply envied them their moment in the spotlight.我想，我為什麼不生一場重病，使我的母親也好到廟裡去許下一個“扮犯人”的心願的呢？……I thought: why don't I fall gravely ill, so that my mother too might go to the temple and make a vow that I be dressed up as a convict? ...然而我到現在終於沒有和賽會發生關係過。Yet to this day I have, in the end, never had any part in a temple fair.

赛会虽然不象现在上海的旗袍，北京的谈国事，为当局所禁止，然而妇孺们是不许看的，读书人即所谓士子，也大抵不肯赶去看。只有游手好闲的闲人，这才跑到庙前或衙门前去看热闹；我关于赛会的知识，多半是从他们的叙述上得来的，并非考据家所贵重的“眼学”。然而记得有一回，也亲见过较盛的赛会。开首是一个孩子骑马先来，称为“塘报”；过了许久，“高照”到了，长竹竿揭起一条很长的旗，一个汗流浃背的胖大汉用两手托著；他高兴的时候，就肯将竿头放在头顶或牙齿上，甚而至于鼻尖。其次是所谓“高跷”、“抬阁”、“马头”了；还有扮犯人的，红衣枷锁，内中也有孩子。我那时觉得这些都是有光荣的事业，与闻其事的即全是大有运气的人，——大概羡慕他们的出风头罢。我想，我为什么不生一场重病，使我的母亲也好到庙里去许下一个“扮犯人”的心愿的呢？……然而我到现在终于没有和赛会发生关系过。

要到東關看五猖會去了。We were going to Dongguan to see the Wuchang Fair.這是我兒時所罕逢的一件盛事，因為那會是全縣中最盛的會，東關又是離我家很遠的地方，出城還有六十多里水路，在那裏有兩座特別的廟。This was a grand event I seldom encountered as a child, for that fair was the grandest in the whole county, and Dongguan, moreover, was a place very far from my home — more than sixty li of waterway beyond the city walls — and there were two special temples there.一是梅姑廟，就是《聊齋誌異》所記，室女守節，死後成神，卻篡取別人的丈夫的；One was the Meigu Temple, the very one recorded in Liaozhai Zhiyi: an unmarried woman who kept her chastity, became a deity after death, and then usurped another woman's husband;現在神座上確塑著一對少年男女，眉開眼笑，殊與“禮教”有妨。and indeed, on the altar there were now molded a young man and woman, beaming with smiles — which was rather at odds with "the moral teachings."其一便是五猖廟了，名目就奇特。The other was the Wuchang Temple, whose very name was strange.據有考據癖的人說：這就是五通神。According to people with a fondness for scholarly research, this referred to the Wutong deities.然而也並無確據。But there was no firm evidence for this either.神像是五個男人，也不見有什麼猖獗之狀；The images were of five men, and showed no sign whatsoever of being "rampant";後面列坐著五位太太，卻並不“分坐”，遠不及北京戲園裏界限之謹嚴。behind them sat five ladies in a row, yet they were not seated apart by sex — far less strict than the boundary observed in the theaters of Beijing.其實呢，這也是殊與“禮教”有妨的，——但他們既然是五猖，便也無法可想，而且自然也就“又作別論”了。In fact, this too was rather at odds with "the moral teachings" — but since they were the Five Rampant Ones, nothing could be done about it, and naturally it became "a separate matter" altogether.

要到东关看五猖会去了。这是我儿时所罕逢的一件盛事，因为那会是全县中最盛的会，东关又是离我家很远的地方，出城还有六十多里水路，在那里有两座特别的庙。一是梅姑庙，就是《聊斋志异》所记，室女守节，死后成神，却篡取别人的丈夫的；现在神座上确塑著一对少年男女，眉开眼笑，殊与“礼教”有妨。其一便是五猖庙了，名目就奇特。据有考据癖的人说：这就是五通神。然而也并无确据。神像是五个男人，也不见有什么猖獗之状；后面列坐著五位太太，却并不“分坐”，远不及北京戏园里界限之谨严。其实呢，这也是殊与“礼教”有妨的，——但他们既然是五猖，便也无法可想，而且自然也就“又作别论”了。

因為東關離城遠，大清早大家就起來。Because Dongguan was far from the city, everyone rose very early in the morning.昨夜預定好的三道明瓦窗的大船，已經泊在河埠頭，船椅、飯菜、茶炊、點心盒子，都在陸續搬下去了。The large boat with three rows of clam-shell-paned windows, arranged the night before, was already moored at the river landing, and the boat chairs, meals, tea urn, and boxes of snacks were being carried down one after another.我笑著跳著，催他們要搬得快。I laughed and jumped about, urging them to carry things faster.忽然，工人的臉色很謹肅了，我知道有些蹊蹺，四面一看，父親就站在我背後。Suddenly the servant's expression turned very solemn, and I sensed something was amiss; looking all around, I found my father standing right behind me.

因为东关离城远，大清早大家就起来。昨夜预定好的三道明瓦窗的大船，已经泊在河埠头，船椅、饭菜、茶炊、点心盒子，都在陆续搬下去了。我笑著跳著，催他们要搬得快。忽然，工人的脸色很谨肃了，我知道有些蹊跷，四面一看，父亲就站在我背后。

“去拿你的書來。”他慢慢地說。"Go and fetch your book," he said slowly.

“去拿你的书来。”他慢慢地说。

這所謂“書”，是指我開蒙時候所讀的《鑒略》，因為我再沒有第二本了。This so-called "book" referred to the Jianlüe I had read when I first started my schooling, for I had no second book besides it.我們那裡上學的歲數是多揀單數的，所以這使我記住我其時是七歲。In our region, the age for beginning school was usually chosen to be an odd number, and that is how I remember that I was seven at the time.

这所谓“书”，是指我开蒙时候所读的《鉴略》，因为我再没有第二本了。我们那里上学的岁数是多拣单数的，所以这使我记住我其时是七岁。

我忐忑著，拿了書來了。Uneasy at heart, I fetched the book.他使我同坐在堂中央的桌子前，教我一句一句地讀下去。He had me sit beside him at the table in the middle of the hall, and made me read it aloud, sentence by sentence.我擔著心，一句一句地讀下去。Full of dread, I read on, sentence by sentence.

我忐忑著，拿了书来了。他使我同坐在堂中央的桌子前，教我一句一句地读下去。我担著心，一句一句地读下去。

兩句一行，大約讀了二三十行罷，他說：Two lines to a row — after I had read some twenty or thirty rows or so, he said:

两句一行，大约读了二三十行罢，他说：

“給我讀熟。"Read it until you know it by heart.背不出，就去看會。”If you can't recite it, you won't be allowed to go see the fair."

“给我读熟。背不出，就去看会。”

他說完，便站起來，走進房裡去了。Having said this, he stood up and walked into the inner room.

他说完，便站起来，走进房里去了。

我似乎從頭上澆了一盆冷水。It was as if a basin of cold water had been poured over my head.但是，有什麼法子呢？But what could I do?自然是讀著，讀著，強記著，——而且要背出來。Naturally, I went on reading, reading, forcing myself to memorize it — and I would have to recite it besides.

我似乎从头上浇了一盆冷水。但是，有什么法子呢？自然是读著，读著，强记著，——而且要背出来。

就是這樣的書，我現在只記得前四句，別的都忘卻了；Of that very book, all I remember now are its first four lines; everything else I have forgotten;那時所強記的二三十行，自然也一齊忘卻在裏面了。and the twenty or thirty rows I forced myself to memorize back then have naturally all been forgotten right along with it.記得那時聽人說，讀《鑒略》比讀《千字文》、《百家姓》有用得多，因為可以知道從古到今的大概。I remember hearing people say at the time that reading the Jianlüe was far more useful than reading the Thousand Character Classic or the Hundred Family Surnames, because from it one could learn the general course of history from ancient times to the present.知道從古到今的大概，那當然是很好的，然而我一字也不懂。“粵自盤古”就是“粵自盤古”，讀下去，記住它，“粵自盤古”呵！“生於太荒”呵！……Knowing the general course of history from ancient times to the present would, of course, have been a fine thing — yet I did not understand a single character of it. "Since Pangu of old" was just "Since Pangu of old"; I read it on, and memorized it — "Since Pangu of old"! "Born amid the great wilderness"! ...

就是这样的书，我现在只记得前四句，别的都忘却了；那时所强记的二三十行，自然也一齐忘却在里面了。记得那时听人说，读《鉴略》比读《千字文》、《百家姓》有用得多，因为可以知道从古到今的大概。知道从古到今的大概，那当然是很好的，然而我一字也不懂。“粤自盘古”就是“粤自盘古”，读下去，记住它，“粤自盘古”呵！“生于太荒”呵！……

應用的物件已經搬完，家中由忙亂轉成靜肅了。The things needed for the trip had all been carried down, and the household turned from bustle into stillness.朝陽照著西牆，天氣很清朗。The morning sun shone on the western wall, and the weather was very clear.母親、工人、長媽媽即阿長，都無法營救，只默默地靜候著我讀熟，而且背出來。My mother, the servants, and Chang Ma — that is, Ah Chang — could none of them do anything to help me, and could only wait in silence for me to read it fluently, and recite it besides.在百靜中，我似乎頭裡要伸出許多鐵鉗，將什麼“生於太荒”之流夾住；In the utter stillness, I seemed to feel many iron pincers reaching out from inside my head, to clamp down on things like "born amid the great wilderness";也聽到自己急急誦讀的聲音發著抖，仿佛深秋的蟋蟀，在夜中鳴叫似的。I also heard the sound of my own hurried recitation, trembling, as though it were a cricket chirping deep in autumn, crying out in the night.

应用的物件已经搬完，家中由忙乱转成静肃了。朝阳照著西墙，天气很清朗。母亲、工人、长妈妈即阿长，都无法营救，只默默地静候著我读熟，而且背出来。在百静中，我似乎头里要伸出许多铁钳，将什么“生于太荒”之流夹住；也听到自己急急诵读的声音发著抖，仿佛深秋的蟋蟀，在夜中鸣叫似的。

他們都等候著；They all waited;太陽也升得更高了。and the sun climbed higher still.

他们都等候著；太阳也升得更高了。

我忽然似乎已經很有把握，便即站了起來，拿書走進父親的書房，一氣背將下去，夢似的就背完了。Suddenly I seemed to feel quite confident, and at once I stood up, took the book, and walked into my father's study, reciting it straight through in one breath — and as if in a dream, I finished reciting it.

我忽然似乎已经很有把握，便即站了起来，拿书走进父亲的书房，一气背将下去，梦似的就背完了。

“不錯。"Correct.去罷。”父親點著頭，說。You may go." My father nodded and said.

“不错。去罢。”父亲点著头，说。

大家同時活動起來，臉上都露出笑容，向河埠走去。Everyone sprang into motion at once, smiles breaking out on every face, and we all walked toward the river landing.工人將我高高地抱起，仿佛在祝賀我的成功一般，快步走在最前頭。The servant lifted me up high in his arms, as though celebrating my success, and strode along at the very front.

大家同时活动起来，脸上都露出笑容，向河埠走去。工人将我高高地抱起，仿佛在祝贺我的成功一般，快步走在最前头。

我卻並沒有他們那麼高興。But I was not nearly as happy as they were.開船以後，水路中的風景，盒子裏的點心，以及到了東關的五猖會的熱鬧，對於我似乎都沒有什麼大意思。Once the boat had set off, the scenery along the waterway, the snacks in the box, and even the excitement of the Wuchang Fair once we reached Dongguan, all seemed to hold little meaning for me.

我却并没有他们那么高兴。开船以后，水路中的风景，盒子里的点心，以及到了东关的五猖会的热闹，对于我似乎都没有什么大意思。

直到現在，別的完全忘卻，不留一點痕跡了，只有背誦《鑒略》這一段，卻還分明如昨日事。Even now, everything else has been utterly forgotten, without leaving a trace — only that episode of reciting the Jianlüe remains as vivid as if it happened yesterday.

直到现在，别的完全忘却，不留一点痕迹了，只有背诵《鉴略》这一段，却还分明如昨日事。

我至今一想起，還詫異我的父親何以要在那時候叫我來背書。To this day, whenever I think of it, I am still puzzled as to why my father should have called me to recite my lessons at that particular moment.

我至今一想起，还诧异我的父亲何以要在那时候叫我来背书。

五月二十五日。The twenty-fifth of the fifth month.