Baike-Baidu
白話譯文
Google Translation (modified and changed to make more sense and add some notes to help understanding by sptt)
Yu Shen, courtesy name Jin'an, was born to a family of officials in Shuntian （1）. When he went to Beijing to take the exam, he lived in a house in the suburbs. He often in the house of the opposite door a young boy, who was as beautiful as a crown jade (2), and Yu Shen liked him very much. Yu Shen got closer to him and talked to him. The young man's conversation was particularly elegant, so Yu Shen liked him even more. Yu Shen took the young man's arm to his residence and hosted a banquet. When asked about his surname, the young man claimed to be from Jinling (3), his surname was Yu, the given name was Shichen, and his courtesy name was Xunjiu. When Yu Shen heard that this young boy had the same surname as himself, Yu Shen felt even more close to the boy, so he swore to him as being brothers. The young man changed his name to Yu Chen after subtracting the word "shi" from Yu Shichen,
The next day, Yu Shen came to Yu Xunjiu's house and saw that the study and residence were bright and tidy, but the courtyard was deserted, and there were no servants or book boys (4). Yu Xunjiu led Yu Shen into the room and asked his sister to come out to greet Yu Shen. His sister was about thirteen or fourteen years old, and her skin was fair and clear, even pink jade was not so beautiful as hers. After a while, Yu Xunjiu's sister brought tea to the guest, as if there were no maids at home. Yu Shen felt strange and said a few words. From then on, the two of them were as friendly as brothers. Yu Xunjiu came to Yu Shen's residence every day, and sometimes Yu Shen tried to keep him there, but he refused because his sister was weak and unaccompanied. Yu Shen said: "My younger brother is thousands of miles away from home, and there is no book boy who answers the door. The brother and sister are fragile, how can they live! I think, why don't you go with me home and live with me?" Yu Xunjiu was very happy and agreed to to go back with him after the exam.
After the exam, Yu Xunjiu invited Yu Shen home and said, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moon is bright as day. My sister Su Qiu has prepared wine and food, I hope you will not let her down." After that, he took Yu Shen's hand to come to the inner room. Su Qiu came out, said a few polite words, then entered the inner room again, lowered the curtain to prepare the meal. Not long after, Su Qiu brought out the dishes by herself. Yu Shen stood up and said, "My sister is running back and forth, how can I feel so bad." Su Qiu smiled and went in the inner room again. After a while, there was a maid in blue clothes holding a jug, and an old woman came out with a plate of cooked fish. Yu Shen said in surprise: "Where did they come from? Why didn't you come out to serve earlier, but trouble your sister?" Yu Xunjiu smiled and said, "Su Qiu is doing something wrong again." Only the laughter from inside the curtain could be heard, Yu Shen wondered why. When the feast was over, the old woman and the maid came out to collect the dishes and chopsticks. Yu Shen was coughing and accidentally spit saliva on the maid's clothes, the maid fell down, and the bowls and chopsticks and vegetable soup were scattered all over the floor. Looking at the maid again, it turned out to be a villain cut out of cloth, only four inches in size. Yu Xunjiu laughed, Su Qiu also laughed, picked up the cloth and left. After a while, the maid came out again, busy as before. Yu Shen was even more surprised. Yu Xunjiu said, "This is just a little magic trick that my sister learned when she was a child." Yu Shen then asked, "My younger siblings have grown up, why haven't they married yet?" He replied, "My parents have passed away. , We haven't made up our minds on whether to stay or go, so we put it off." Then the two agreed on a departure date, Yu Xunjiu sold the house and went west with Yu Shen with his sister.
After returning home, Yu Shen asked people to clean out the house, let Yu Xunjiu and his sister live there, and sent a maid to wait on them. Yu Shen's wife, Han Shilang's (5) niece, loved Su Qiu very much and had every meal together. Yu Shen and Yu Xunjiu did the same. Yu Xunjiu was very smart. When he was reading, he tried to write an article. Even the famous old scholars couldn't match him. Yu Shen persuaded him to take the Xiucai exam (6). Yu Xunjiu said, "I'm reading some books for the time being, but I just want to share some of the hard work for you. I know that my blessings are shallow and I can't be an official; I am always worried and worry about gains and losses, so I don’t want to take the exam.”
After living for three years， Yu Shen failed again in the exam. (7) Yu Xunjiu held grievances for him, and said eagerly: "It's so difficult to put a name on the list! I was confused by success or failure, so I would rather live quietly. Now I see that my brother can't display his literary talents, and I don't realize it. Hot. I, nineteen-year-old Tongsheng (8), is going to run like a horse." Yu Shen was very happy when he heard it. When it was time for the test, he sent him to the test room. Yu Xunjiu got all first place at local three exams. From then on, Yu Xunjiu and Yu Shen studied harder together. After a year of participating in the examinations, the two were tied for the local exam champions. Since then, Yu Xunjiu has become famous, and people from far and near are vying to propose marriage, but Yu Xunjiu has refused. Yu Shen tried his best to persuade him. But Yu Xunjiu said that we could talk about it after the next (township) exam was over. Before long the township examination (9) was over, people who admired Yu Xunjiu scrambled to transcribe his articles and read them to each other. Yu Xunjiu himself felt that he must be at the top of the list. When the list was released, both were not on the list. At that time, they were sitting and drinking, Yu Shen was able to force a laugh when he heard the news, but Yu Xunjiu turned pale in shock, the wine glass fell on the ground, and he threw himself under the table. Yu Shen hurriedly helped him to the bed, but Xunjiu's condition was already very dangerous. He hurriedly called his sister to come, Yu Xunjiu opened his eyes and said to Yu Shen, "Although we are like siblings, we are not actually of the same clan. My little brother feels that he is about to die, and he cannot repay your favor. Su Qiu has grown up, and she is loved by her mother-in-law. Take her as your concubine." Yu Shen said angrily, "Brother, what nonsense are you talking about! Do you think I'm that kind of beast?" Yu Xunjiu was moved to tears. Yu Shen used a lot of money to buy a first-class coffin for him. Yu Xunjiu had the coffin be carried to him and climbed in with all his strength. He instructed his sister, "After I die, immediately close the lid of the coffin, and don't let anyone open it." Yu Shen still had something to say, Yu Xunjiu had already closed his eyes and died. Yu Shen was very sad, like a a real brother died. But in private, he suspected that Yu Xunjiu's will was strange. While Su Qiu was out, he secretly opened the coffin and saw that the robes inside looked like the skins shed by cicadas and snakes. Uncovering the clothes, there was a silverfish over a foot long, lying stiffly inside. Yu Shen was surprised when Su Qiu came in in a hurry and said bitterly: "What is the estrangement between your brothers? The reason we do this is not to avoid the elder brother, you; we are just afraid of spreading the word, and I can't live here for long!" Yu Shen said: "Etiquette is judged by human feelings. As long as the feelings are sincere, what difference does it make if they are not of the same kind? Does my sister still know my heart? Even your mother-in-law, I will not reveal a word, please don't worry." The date of burial was quickly selected and Yu Xunjiu was buried with care.
At the beginning, Yu Shen wanted to make Su Qiu marry to an aristocratic family, but Yu Xunjiu disagreed. After Yu Xunjiu died, Yu Shen discussed the matter with Su Qiu again, but Su Qiu refused. Yu Shen said, "My younger sister is already twenty years old. If you don't get married, what will people say about me?" Su Qiu replied, "If that's the case, I'll listen to my elder brother. But I don't feel blessed and don't want to marry to rich and noble people. If you want me to marry, I want to marry a poor scholar." Yu Shen said, "Yes." After a few days, matchmakers came one after another, but Su Qiu didn't like them. Earlier, Yu Shen's brother-in-law Han Quan came to pay his respects. He saw Su Qiu and loved her very much. He wanted to buy her as a concubine and discuss with with his sister. His sister hurriedly warned him not to say any more, for fear that Yu Shen would be angry. After Han Quan returned home, he never gave up, and asked a matchmaker to send a letter to Yu Shen, promising to buy joints (10) for his brother-in-law and ensure that he would pass the test at the highest level local test. After Yu Shen heard this, he got furious, scolded the person who sent the letter, and kicked out the door. Since then, he has cut off contact with Han Quan. Later, there was another man,Mr A, a grandson of the late Shang Shu (11). When he was about to marry, his daughter-in-law, who had never been there, died suddenly, and a matchmaker was also sent to Yu Shen's house to propose marriage. Yu Shen knew that a certain A's family house was very high and big and rich, but he wanted to see Mr A in person, so he made an appointment with a matchmaker and asked Mr A to come to see him in person. On that day, Yu Shen asked Su Qiu to see each other through the curtain. Mr A came, wearing a leather robe and riding a horse, leading a large group of followers, showing off his wealth to the neighbors. Seeing that other people are beautiful, like a girl, Yu Shen likes them very much. Everyone who saw it also praised it, but Su Qiu was very unhappy. Yu Shen did not listen to Su Qiu, and promised this marriage, prepared a generous dowry for Su Qiu, and did not care about the money. Su Qiu repeatedly stopped it, saying that it was enough to only bring a girl to wait on her, but Yu Shen didn't listen, and in the end, she was accompanied by a generous amount.
After Su Qiu got married, the relationship between the husband and wife was very good, but as her brother and sister-in-law often missed her, she came back home every month. When she came back, she always took back a few pieces of jewelry in the makeup box and gave them to her sister-in-law for storage. The sister-in-law didn't know what she meant, but she took them for the time being. Mr A's father died when he was young, and his widowed mother spoiled him too much. He often came into contact with bad people, and was gradually lured into whoring prostitutes, gambling, and he sold all the paintings and precious things to pay off his debts. When Han Quan met him, he invited him to drink, and secretly tested him, saying that he would exchange two concubines plus five hundred taels of silver for Su Qiu. Mr A began to disagree, and Han Quan asked again and again, Mr A's heart moved a little, but he was afraid that Yu Shen would know that he would not agree. Han Quan said: "I am close relative to him, and Su Qiu is not in his family. If the matter is done, he will have nothing to do with me. If something happens, I will take it upon myself. With my father here, what's so scary about Yu Shen!" He then asked the two concubines to dress up beautifully and come out to persuade him to drink, and said, "If you do as I say, these two women will belong to your family." Confused, but he agreed on an exchange date and went back. On that day, Mr A was afraid that Han Quan would deceive him, so he waited on the road in the middle of the night and saw that there was a car coming. He opened the curtain and saw that the people inside were true, so he took them home and placed them in the study for the time being. Han Quan's servant took out another five hundred taels of silver and handed it over in person. Mr A ran into the inner room and lied to Su Qiu that Yu Shen was seriously ill and told her to go home quickly. Su Qiu didn't have time to dress up, so she came out in a hurry, got in the car and left. At night, they couldn't see the direction clearly. The car got lost and walked a long way without reaching Han Quan's house. Suddenly seeing two huge candles approaching, everyone was secretly happy, thinking they could ask for directions. After a while, when they came to the front, it turned out to be a giant python, staring with two big eyes like lamps. The people were so frightened that the people and horses fled and left their cars by the roadside. When it was dawn, they went back together to take a look, and there was only one empty car left. They thought that Su Qiu must had been eaten by the python, so they went back and told the master. Han Quan was only depressed.
A few days later, Yu Shen sent someone to visit her sister, only to find out that Su Qiu was deceived by the bad guys. At that time, there was no suspicion that Su Qiu's husband was doing the trick. It wasn't until the dowry girl came back and detailed what happened that Yu Shen realized that there was a change in it. Mr A was very frightened and asked Han Quan for help. Han Quan was depressed because he was short of money and manpower, and refused his request and refused to help. Mr A was dumbfounded, and there was nothing he could do. The prefectural and county arrest warrants came. He had to bribe the yamen (12) and was not taken away for the time being. After more than a month, the gold and silver jewelry and clothing were all sold out by him. Yu Shen pursued the investigation urgently in the provincial government, and the county official also received an order from his superior to pursue the investigation. Mr A knew that he could no longer hide, so he came out to the court and told the whole truth. The provincial government issued another subpoena and arrested Han Quan for confrontation. Han Quan was frightened and told his father what had happened. His father had retired at the time and was angry with his son for his unlawful behavior, so he tied him up and handed him over to the yamen. When Han Quan went to the various government offices, when it came to encountering the accident of the python, the officials thought that he was making up a mess, and tortured his servants severely. Fortunately, his mother sold her property all day long and bribed them to rescue him. Han Quan was not severely punished and was spared death, but Han Quan's servant had already died in prison. Han Quan has been imprisoned for a long time, and he was willing to help Mr A send 1,000 taels of silver to Yu Shen. Mr A's mother asked for two more concubines, just to put the case on hold for a while until they went to look for Su Qiu. Yu Shen's wife was entrusted by her aunt again, and persuaded her every day, but only after Yu Shen agreed to stop urging. Mr A’s family was already very poor and wanted to sell the house to get some silver taels, but the house could not be sold for a while, so Mr A sent a concubine first and begged Yu Shen to postpone the date of payment of the money.
A few days later, while Yu Shen was sitting in his study at night, Su Qiu suddenly came in with an old woman. Yu Shen asked in amazement, "Is your younger sister safe?" Su Qiu said with a smile, "That big python was a little spell performed by your younger sister. That night I fled to a scholar's house and lived with his mother. He said I know my brother, now outside the door, please invite him in." Yu Shen was so anxious that he put on his shoes to greet him and took a light to show that it was none other than Zhou Sheng, a celebrity from Wanping County, and the two had always been on the same page. Yu Shen took Zhou Sheng's hand into the study, set up a banquet and entertained, and had a long conversation before he knew the whole story.
It turned out that Su Qiu knocked on Zhou Sheng's door in the morning, Zhou's mother took her in, and asked carefully, knowing that she was Yu Sheng's younger sister, she would send someone to notify Yu Shen, Su Qiu stopped her, and lived with Zhou's mother . Mother Zhou saw her as smart and considerate, and liked her very much. Because Zhou Sheng hadn't married yet, he wanted to marry her as her son's daughter-in-law, and he revealed this implicitly. Su Qiu refused because he did not get the consent of his brother. Zhou Sheng also refused to get married with a matchmaker because he had a good relationship with Yu Shen. I just often inquired about news and learned that the lawsuit had been interceded, so Su Qiu told Mother Zhou that she wanted to go home. Zhou's mother asked Zhou Sheng to bring his old woman to send her, and asked the old woman to be a matchmaker to propose marriage.
Because Su Qiu lived in Zhou's house for a long time, Yu Shen also intended to let Su Qiu marry to Zhou Sheng. I heard that the old woman was here as a matchmaker, and she liked it very much, so she arranged the marriage with Zhou Sheng in person. Originally, when Su Qiu came back in the night, she wanted Yu Shen to get the money and then tell others, but Yu Shen refused to do so, saying, "Because there was nowhere to vent my anger, I wanted to ask them for money to let them experience the hardships of being a loser. Now when I see my sister again, 10,000 taels of silver can't be exchanged!" Immediately, someone was sent to tell the two families, and the lawsuit was over. Thinking that Zhou Sheng's family is not very rich, the journey is long, and it is very difficult to welcome the relatives, so Zhou Sheng's mother and son moved in and lived in the house where Yu Xunjiu used to live. Zhou Sheng also prepared dowry gifts, invited a drum band, and held a wedding.
One day Su Qiu's sister-in-law joked with her: "Now that you have a new son-in-law, do you still remember the love you had on a pillow seat with Mr A?" Su Qiu smiled and asked the girl (13), "Do you remember?" It turned out that Su Qiu had been in the Mr A's house for three years, and all the pillow seats were replaced by the girl. Every night, Su Qiu used a pen to draw the girl's eyebrows and asked her to accompany Mr A. Even if he was sitting in front of the candle, Mr A couldn't tell the difference. The sister-in-law was even more surprised and asked Su Qiu to teach her spells, but Su Qiu just smiled and did not speak.
In the second year when the general examination which was held every three years was held. Zhou Sheng was going to take the exam together with Yu Shen, but Su Qiu said, "There's no need to go." Yu Shen forced Zhou Sheng to go to take the exam. Yu Shen passed the exam, and Zhou Sheng fell off the list. When he came back, he decided not to take the exam again. After the new year, Zhou's mother passed away, and Zhou Sheng never mentioned the matter of rushing for the exam.
One day, Su Qiu told her sister-in-law, "You asked me about magic before, but I didn't want to use them to scare others. Now I have to leave and let me teach you secretly, so as to avoid the fire." My sister-in-law asked her in surprise. , Su Qiu replied: "Three years later, there will be no people here. I am weak and can't stand the fright, so I will go to the seaside to live in seclusion. Your eldest brother is a rich and noble person, so I can't go together, so I say goodbye!" Teach all the spells to my sister-in-law. A few days later, Su Qiu told Yu Shen again. Yu Shen couldn't keep her, and was so sad that he cried, and asked, "Where are you going?" Su Qiu didn't say anything. When the rooster crowed, he got up early, took an old servant with a white beard, and rode away on two donkeys. Yu Shen asked someone to follow her secretly to see her. When they arrived in Jiaozhou and Laizhou, the dust and fog covered the sky. After the sunny day, they didn't know where they went.
Three years later, Li Zicheng led the rebellion, and the houses in the village were turned into ruins. Mrs. Han cut a piece of cloth and placed it inside the gate. The volunteer soldiers came. Seeing the clouds and mist in the yard surrounded by the gods who were more than ten feet tall, they were scared away. So the whole family was safe and sound.
Later, a merchant in the village went to sea and met an old man who looked like Su Qiu's old servant. But the old man's beard and hair were all black, so he didn't dare to recognize each other rashly. The old man stopped and smiled and said, "Is my son still in good health? Please send me a message. Miss Su Qiu is also very happy." The businessman asked him where he lived. . After Yu Shen heard about it, he sent people to search around the seaside, but there was no trace.
Yi Shi said: "It has a long history that literati and writers do not have the blessing of being an official. Yu Chen's original idea was very wise, but unfortunately he couldn't stick to it. How could he know that a blind examiner only values the fate of people, not talent. Ah! He failed in a township test and died silently. How sad is this bookworm like a silverfish! The male wants to fly and die young, but the female lurks and lives forever."
sptt notes
(1) Shuntian（-Fu） (順天（府）) - a Ming and Qing era political division around Beijing （wiki)
(2) crown jade - a good looking man.
(3) Jinling (金陵) - the old name of Nanjing.
(4)book boys -
(5) Han Shilang - Han (韓) is a surname. Shilang (侍郎) is the name of high ranking official serving in the court.
(6) (to take)Xiucai exam (考秀才). Xiucai (秀才) - See below:
Shengyuan (生員, lit. "student member"), also commonly called xiucai (秀才, lit. "distinguished talent"), an entry-level licentiate who had passed the college exam. Xiucai enjoyed officially sanctioned social privileges such as exemption from statute labour, access into local government facilities and limited immunity against corporal punishments. They were further divided into three classes according to exam performance. (Wiki: Imperial Examination)
(7) three years- the test (Imperial Examination at the highest level local exam was held every three (3) years.
Some knowledge of Imperial Examination is required to read this book - Liaozhai zhiyi (Liaozhai; Chinese: 聊齋誌異), known in English as Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (wiki)
Pu Songling (Chinese: 蒲松齡, 1640 – 1715)
Pu was born into a poor merchant family from Zichuan (淄川, in Zibo, Shandong). At the age of 18, he received the Xiucai degree in the Imperial examination. It was not until he was 71 that he was awarded the Gongsheng ("tribute student") degree for his achievement in literature rather than for passing the Imperial examinations.
Gongsheng ("tribute student")
Linsheng (廩生, lit. "granary student"), the first class of shengyuan, who were the best performers in the college exam, and got to receive government-issued rations and pay for their academic achievements. The top performers within this class would get accepted into the Imperial Academy as gongsheng (貢生, lit. "tribute student"), who will then be eligible to sit the provincial or even the national exam directly.
(8) Tongsheng
Again this is another terminology of Imperial Examination.
Tong means 'boy" and sheng means "student" literally. Tongsheng is a student who has passed some local exams
(9) township examination
Again this is another terminology of Imperial Examination.
"township" (Google Translation) is misleading as this exam may be a very high or the highest level local exam so it was difficult to pass.
(10) joints (關節) - Again this is another terminology of Imperial Examination. This is a kind of bribe.
(11)Shang Shu (尚書) - The name of one of the very high officials.
(12)yamen - This is Chinese.
Wiki
A yamen (ya-men; traditional Chinese: 衙門; simplified Chinese: 衙门; pinyin: yámén; Wade–Giles: ya2-men2; Manchu: ᠶᠠᠮᡠᠨyamun) was the administrative office or residence of a local bureaucrat or mandarin in imperial China. A yamen can also be any governmental office or body headed by a mandarin, at any level of government: the offices of one of the Six Ministries is a yamen, but so is a prefectural magistracy. The term has been widely used in China for centuries, but appeared in English during the Qing dynasty.
A yamen (ya-men; traditional Chinese: 衙門; simplified Chinese: 衙门; pinyin: yámén; Wade–Giles: ya2-men2; Manchu: ᠶᠠᠮᡠᠨyamun) was the administrative office or residence of a local bureaucrat or mandarin in imperial China. A yamen can also be any governmental office or body headed by a mandarin, at any level of government: the offices of one of the Six Ministries is a yamen, but so is a prefectural magistracy. The term has been widely used in China for centuries, but appeared in English during the Qing dynasty.
A yamen (ya-men; traditional Chinese: 衙門; simplified Chinese: 衙门; pinyin: yámén; Wade–Giles: ya2-men2; Manchu: ᠶᠠᠮᡠᠨyamun) was the administrative office or residence of a local bureaucrat or mandarin in imperial China. A yamen can also be any governmental office or body headed by a mandarin, at any level of government: the offices of one of the Six Ministries is a yamen, but so is a prefectural magistracy. The term has been widely used in China for centuries, but appeared in English during the Qing dynasty.
(13) the girl - Chinese 丫頭.
This was introduced when Su Qiu got married with Mr A.
"
Mr A came, wearing a leather robe and riding a horse, leading a large group of followers, showing off his wealth to the neighbors. Seeing that other people are beautiful, like a girl, Yu Shen likes them very much. Everyone who saw it also praised it, but Su Qiu was very unhappy. Yu Shen did not listen to Su Qiu, and promised this marriage, prepared a generous dowry for Su Qiu, and did not care about the money. Su Qiu repeatedly stopped it, saying that it was enough to only bring a girl to wait on her, but Yu Shen didn't listen, and in the end, she was accompanied by a generous amount.
"
白話譯文編輯
俞慎，字謹庵，出身於順天一個官宦世家。他進京趕考時，住在郊區一所房子裏，經常看見對門有一個少年，生得美如冠玉，心中很喜歡他。使漸漸接近他，同他交談。少年談吐尤其風雅，俞慎更加喜愛，拉着他的胳膊來到自己的住處，設酒宴款待。問他的姓氏，少年自稱是金陵人，姓俞名士忱，字恂九。俞慎聽到與自己同姓，更覺親近，就同他結拜為兄弟。少年便將自己的名字減去“士”字，改為俞忱。
第二天，俞慎來到俞恂九家，見書房、住處明亮整潔，但門庭冷落，也沒有僕人、書僮。俞恂九領着俞慎進入室內，招呼妹妹出來拜見，他妹妹年約十三四歲，肌膚晶瑩明澈，就是粉玉也不如她白。一會兒，俞恂九的妹妹又端來茶敬客，好像家裏也沒有丫鬟、女傭。俞慎感到奇怪，説了幾句話出來了。從此他們二人就像親兄弟一樣友愛。俞恂九沒有一天不來俞慎的住所，有時留他住下，他就以妹妹弱小無伴而推辭。俞慎説：“弟弟離家千里，也沒有個應門的書僮；兄妹倆又纖弱，怎麼生活啊！我想，你們不如跟我去，一同住在我那兒，怎樣？”俞恂九很高興，約定考完試後隨他回去。
考試完畢，俞恂九把俞慎請到家，説：“今天是中秋佳節，月明如晝。妹妹素秋準備了酒菜，希望不要辜負了她的一番心意。”説完，拉着俞慎的手來到內室。素秋出來，説了幾句客套話，就又進屋，放下簾子準備飯菜。不多時，素秋親手端出菜餚來。俞慎站起來説：“妹妹來回奔波，讓我怎麼過意得去。”素秋笑着進去了。一會兒，就有一個穿青衣的丫鬟捧着酒壺，還有一個老媽媽端着一盤燒好的魚出來。俞慎驚訝地説：“她們是從哪裏來的？為什麼不早點出來侍候，卻麻煩妹妹呢？”俞恂九微笑着説：“素秋又作怪了。”只聽到簾內吃吃的笑聲傳來，俞慎不解其中的緣故。到了散席的時侯，老媽媽同丫鬟出來收抬碗筷。俞慎正在咳嗽，不小心將唾沫吐到丫鬟衣服上，丫鬟應聲摔倒，碗筷菜湯撒了一地。再看那丫鬟，原來是個用布剪的小人，只有四寸大小。俞恂九大笑起來，素秋也笑着出來，撿起布人走了。不一會兒，丫鬟又出來，像剛才一樣奔忙。俞慎更加驚異，俞恂九説：“這不過是妹妹小時候學的一點小魔術罷了。”俞慎於是又問：“弟弟妹妹都已長大成人，為什麼還沒成親呢？”回答説：“父母已經去世，我們是留是走還沒有拿定主意，所以拖了下來。”接着兩人商定了動身的日子，俞恂九將房子賣了，帶着妹妹同俞慎一塊西去。
回到家後，俞慎教人打掃出一所房子，讓俞恂九兄妹住下，又派了個丫鬟侍候他們。俞慎的妻子，是韓侍郎的侄女，非常愛憐素秋，每頓飯都在一塊吃。俞慎同俞恂九也是這樣。俞恂九非常聰明，讀書時一目十行，試着作了一篇文章，就是那些名望的老儒也比不上他。俞慎勸他去考秀才，俞恂九説：“我暫時讀點書，不過是想替你分擔些辛苦罷了。我自知福分淺薄，不能做官；況且一旦走上這條路，就不能不時時擔憂，患得患失，所以不想去考試。”
住了三年，俞慎考試又落了榜。俞恂九為他抱不平，奮然説：“榜上掛個名字，怎麼就艱難到這種地步！我當初為成敗所迷惑，所以寧願清清靜靜地生活。如今看到大哥不能施展文才，不覺心熱。我這十九歲的老童生，也要像馬駒一樣去奔馳一番了。”俞慎聽了很高興，到了考試的日期，送他去考場，結果他縣、郡、道三場都考了第一名。從此俞恂九與俞慎一塊更加刻苦攻讀。過了一年參加科試，兩人並列為郡、縣冠軍。俞恂九從此名聲大噪，遠近的人都爭着來提親，俞恂九都拒絕了。俞慎竭力勸説他，他就推説等參加鄉試以後再説。不久，鄉試完畢，傾慕俞恂九的人都爭着抄錄他的文章，互相傳誦。俞恂九自己也覺得必定名列榜首了。等到放榜，兄弟兩人卻都榜上無名。當時他們正在對坐飲酒，聽到這消息，俞慎還能強作笑語；俞恂九卻大驚失色，酒杯掉在地上，一頭撲倒在桌子下面。俞慎急忙把他扶到牀上，恂九的病情卻已經十分危險了。急忙喊妹妹來，俞恂九睜開眼對俞慎説：“我們倆交情雖如同胞，其實不是同族。小弟自己感到快要死了，受你的恩惠無法報答。素秋已長大成人，既蒙嫂嫂撫愛，你就納她為妾吧。”俞慎生氣地説：“兄弟這是胡説什麼呀！你以為我是那種衣冠禽獸嗎？”俞恂九感動地流下眼淚。俞慎用重金為他購置了上等棺材，俞恂九讓人把棺材抬到跟前，竭力支撐着爬進去，囑咐妹妹説：“我死以後，立即蓋好棺蓋，不要讓任何人打開看。”俞慎還有話想説，俞恂九已經閉上眼睛死了。俞慎十分哀傷，如同死了親兄弟。可是私下裏卻懷疑俞恂九的遺囑奇怪。趁素秋外出，他偷偷打開棺材一看，見裏面的袍服像蟬蛇褪下的皮。揭開衣服，有一條一尺多長的蠹魚，僵卧在裏面。俞慎正在驚訝，素秋急匆匆地進來了，慘痛地説：“你們兄弟之間有什麼隔閡？我們所以這樣做，並不是避諱兄長；只是怕傳播聲揚出去，我也不能在這裏久住了！”俞慎説：“禮法因人情而判定，只要感情真摯，不是同類又有什麼區別呢？妹妹難道還不知道我的心嗎？就是你嫂嫂我也不會泄漏一句的，請你不要憂慮。”於是很快選定了下葬的日期，把俞恂九厚葬了。
當初，俞慎想把素秋嫁給官宦世家，俞恂九不同意。俞恂九死後，俞慎又同素秋商量這事，素秋不肯。俞慎説：“妹妹已經二十歲了，再不嫁人，人家會説我什麼呢？”素秋回答説：“如果是這樣，我就聽兄長的。但是我自覺得沒福分，不願嫁給富貴人家。要嫁，就嫁給一個窮書生吧。”俞慎説：“可以。”不幾天，媒人一個接一個的來，但素秋都不中意。先前，俞慎的妻弟韓荃來弔喪，見到過素秋，心裏非常喜愛她，想買她作妾，同他姐姐商量。姐姐急忙告誡他不要再説了，怕俞慎知道生氣。韓荃回家後，始終不死心，又託媒人傳信給俞慎，許諾為姐夫買通關節，保證他鄉試得中。俞慎聽了後，勃然大怒，將捎信的臭罵了一頓，打出門去。從此與韓荃斷絕了交往。後來又有個已故尚書的孫子某甲，將要娶親時，沒過門的媳婦忽然死了，也派媒人來俞慎家提親。某甲家宅第高大，家財萬貫，俞慎平素就知道，但想親眼見一見某甲本人，就同媒人約定日期，讓某甲親自來見。到了那天，俞慎讓素秋隔着簾子，在裏邊自己相看。某甲來了，身穿皮袍騎着駿馬，帶領一大幫隨從，向街坊四鄰炫耀自己的富有。再看他人長得秀雅漂亮，像個姑娘，俞慎非常喜歡。看見的人也都紛紛稱讚，但素秋卻很不樂意。俞慎沒聽素秋的，竟許了這門親事，給素秋準備了豐厚的嫁妝，花錢毫不計較。素秋再三制止，説是隻帶一個大丫頭侍候就行了，俞慎也不聽，終究還是陪送得很豐厚。
素秋出嫁以後，夫妻感情很好，但是兄嫂常掛念她，每月總要回來一趟。來時，妝盒中的首飾，總要拿回幾件，交給嫂子收存。嫂嫂不知她的意思，姑且依從她。某甲從小父親就沒了，守寡的母親對他過分溺愛。他經常和壞人接觸，漸漸被引誘去嫖妓、賭博，家傳書畫、珍貴的古玩，都讓他賣掉還債了。韓荃與他相識，便請他喝酒，暗中試探他，説願用兩個小妾加上五百兩銀子交換素秋。某甲開始不同意，韓荃再三請求，某甲的心有些動了，但又怕俞慎知道不答應。韓荃説：“我與他是至親，況且素秋又不是他家中的人，如果事情辦成了，他也拿我沒辦法。萬一有什麼事，由我出面承擔。有我父親在，一個俞慎有什麼可怕的！”接着讓兩個侍妾打扮得漂漂亮亮出來勸酒，並且説：“如按我説的辦，這兩個女子就是你家的人了。”某甲被韓荃迷惑住了，約定好交換日期，就回去了。到了那天，某甲怕韓荃欺詐他，半夜就在路上等着，看到果然有輛車子前來。掀開簾子，見裏面的人果然不假，就領她們回家，暫且安置在書房裏。韓荃的僕人又拿出五百兩銀子，當面交清。某甲便跑入內室，騙素秋説，俞慎得了急病，叫她趕快回家。素秋來不及梳妝，急匆匆地出來，上車就走了。夜裏看不清方向，車子迷了路，走了很遠，也沒有到韓荃家。忽然看見兩支巨大的蠟燭迎面而來，大家暗暗高興，以為可以問路了。不一會，走到跟前，原來是一條巨蟒，瞪着兩隻像燈一樣的大眼睛。眾人害怕極了，人和馬都逃竄了，把車子丟在路旁。天明瞭才會齊回去一看，只剩下一輛空車子了。他們認為素秋一定是被大蟒吃了，回去告訴主人，韓荃只有垂頭喪氣而已。
幾天後，俞慎派人來看望妹妹，才知道素秋被壞人騙走了。當時也沒有懷疑是素秋的女婿搞鬼。直到陪嫁的丫頭回來，細説了事情的經過，俞慎才覺出其中有變故，不禁氣憤至極，跑遍了縣府到處告狀。某甲很害怕，向韓荃求救。韓荃因為人財兩空，正在懊喪，拒絕了他的要求，不肯幫忙。某甲傻了眼，沒有一點辦法。府、縣拘票來到。他只好賄賂衙役，才暫時沒被帶走。過了一個多月，金銀珠寶連同服飾全被他典賣一空。俞慎在省衙追究得很急，縣官也接到上司嚴加追查的命令。某甲知道再也不能躲藏了，才出來到公堂説出全部實情。省衙又下傳票，拘捕韓荃對質。韓荃害怕，把事情的經過告訴了父親。他父親當時已退職在家，惱怒兒子的作為不守法，把他綁起來交給了衙役。韓荃到了各官府，説到遇見大蟒的變故，官府以為他是胡編亂造，將他的僕人嚴刑拷打，某甲也捱了好幾次板子。幸虧他母親整日變賣田產，上下賄賂營救，韓荃才受刑不重，免於一死，韓荃的僕人卻已經病死在獄中。韓荃長期囚禁牢中，願意幫助某甲送一千兩銀子給俞慎，哀救撤銷這樁案子，俞慎不答應。某甲的母親又請求再加上兩個侍妾，只求暫作疑案擱一擱，等他們去尋訪素秋。俞慎的妻子又受了叔母的囑託，天天勸解，俞慎才應允不再去催。某甲家中已經很貧窮，想賣掉宅子湊點銀兩，宅子一時又賣不出去，就先送了侍妾來，乞求俞慎暫緩交銀日期。
過了幾天，俞慎夜裏正坐在書房中，素秋同一個老媽媽忽然進來了。俞慎驚奇地問：“妹妹原來平安無事啊？”素秋笑着説：“那條大蟒是妹妹施的小法術。那天夜裏我逃到一個秀才家裏，和他母親住在一起。他説認識哥哥，現在門外，請他進來吧。”俞慎急得倒穿鞋子迎出去，拿燈一照，不是別人，原來是周生，是宛平縣的名士，兩人一向意氣相投。俞慎拉着周生的手進了書房，擺酒宴招待，親熱地談了很久，才知道事情的原委。
原來，素秋天將明時，去敲周生的門，周母接她進去，仔細詢問，知道是俞公子的妹妹，就要派人通知俞慎，素秋制止了，就和周母住在一起。周母看她聰慧，善解人意，很喜歡她。因為周生還沒有娶親，就想把她娶來給兒子作媳婦，還含蓄地透露了這個意思。素秋以沒有得到哥哥的同意而推辭。周生也因為與俞公子交情很好，不肯沒有媒人就成親。只是經常打聽消息，得知官司已經説情調解，素秋便告訴周母想回家。周母讓周生帶一老媽媽送她，並囑咐老媽媽作媒提親。
俞慎因為素秋在周家住了很長時間，也有意把素秋嫁給周生。聽説老媽媽是來作媒的，非常喜歡，就同周生當面訂好了這門親事。原先，素秋夜裏回來，是想讓俞慎得了銀子後再告訴別人，俞慎不肯這麼辦，説：“以前是因為氣憤無處發泄，所以想借索取錢財讓他們嚐嚐敗家的苦頭。如今又見到妹妹，一萬兩銀子也換不來啊！”馬上派人告訴那兩家，官司算了結了。又想到周生家不太富裕，路途遙遠，迎親很艱難，就讓周生母子搬來，住在俞恂九原來住過的房子裏。周生也備了彩禮，請了鼓樂隊，舉行了婚禮。
一天，嫂嫂同素秋開玩笑：“你如今有了新女婿，從前和某甲的枕蓆之愛還記得嗎？”素秋笑着問丫頭説：“還記得嗎？”嫂嫂感到疑惑，就追問她。原來素秋在某甲家三年，枕蓆之事都是讓丫頭代替的。每到晚上，素秋用筆給大丫頭畫好雙眉，讓她過去陪某甲。即便是對着蠟燭坐着，某甲也分辨不出來。嫂嫂更加驚奇，請求素秋教給她法術，素秋只笑不説話。
第二年，是三年一次的大會考。周生準備同俞慎一塊去趕考，素秋説：“不必去。”俞慎強拉着周生去了，結果俞慎考中了，周生落了榜。回來後便打算不再去應考了。過了年，周母去世，周生再也不提趕考應試的事了。
一天，素秋告訴嫂嫂説：“以前你問我法術，我本不肯用這些來惹別人驚駭。現在要離別遠去，讓我秘密傳授給你，也可以躲避兵火。”嫂嫂吃驚地問她緣故，素秋回答説：“三年後，這裏就沒有人煙了。我身體弱，受不住驚嚇，要去海濱隱居。大哥是富貴中的人，不能一起去，所以説要離別了！”就將法術全部教給嫂嫂。幾天後，素秋又告訴俞慎。俞慎留不住她，難過得流淚，問：“到什麼地方去？”素秋也不説。雞一叫就早早起來，帶一個白鬍須的老僕，騎着兩頭驢走了。俞慎叫人暗暗跟在後邊送她，到了膠州、萊州一帶，塵霧遮天，晴天后已經不知道她們往哪裏去了。
三年後，李自成率眾造反，村裏的房屋變成了一片廢墟。韓夫人剪個布人放在大門裏面，義兵來了，看到院子裏雲霧圍繞着一丈多高的天神守着，就嚇跑了。因此，全家得以安然無恙。
後來，村中有一個商人到海上，遇見一個老頭，像是素秋的老僕。但是老頭的鬍子頭髮全是黑的，不敢貿然相認。老頭停下笑着説：“我家公子還安康吧？請你捎個口信，素秋姑娘也很安樂。”商人問他住在什麼地方，老頭説：“很遠，很遠，”就急忙走了。俞慎聽説後，派人到海邊四處尋訪，竟沒有一點蹤跡。
異史氏説：“文人墨客沒有做官的福相，由來已久。俞忱其初的想法非常明智，可惜他不能堅持到底。他哪裏知道瞎眼的考官，只看重人的命相，並不看重人的才華啊！一次鄉試落了榜，便默然死去，這蠹魚一般的書痴，何等可悲！雄的想飛而夭亡，何如雌的潛伏而長存。”
作品原文
俞慎[shèn ]，字謹庵[ān]，順天舊家子[1]。赴試入都，舍於郊郭，時見對户一少年，美如冠玉[2]，心好之，漸近與語，風雅尤絕。大悦，捉臂邀至寓所，相與款宴。問其姓氏，自言金陵人，姓俞名士忱[chén]，字恂[xún]九。公子聞與同姓，又益親洽，因訂為昆仲[3]；少年遂以名減字為忱[4]。明日，過其家，書舍光潔；然門庭踧[cù]落[5]，更無廝僕。引公子入內，呼妹出拜，年約十三四，肌膚瑩澈，粉玉無其白也。少頃，託茗獻客，家中亦無婢媪。公子異之，數語遂出。由是友愛如胞。恂九無日不來寓所，或留共宿，則以弱妹無伴為辭。公子曰：“吾弟留寓千里，曾無應門之僮，兄妹纖弱，何以為生矣？計不如從我去，有鬥舍可共棲止，如何？”恂九喜，約以闈[wéi]後。試畢，恂九邀公子去，曰：“中秋月明如晝，妹子素秋，具有蔬酒，勿違其意。”竟挽入內。素秋出， 略道温涼，便入復室，下簾治具。少間，自出行炙[6]。公子起曰：“妹子奔波，情何以忍！”素秋笑入。頃之，搴[qiān]簾出，則一青衣婢[bì]捧壺；又一媪[ǎo]託柈（[pán]，古同“盤”）進烹魚。公子訝曰：“此輩何來？不早從事，而煩妹子？”恂九微哂曰：“素秋又弄怪矣。”但聞簾內吃吃作笑聲，公子不解其故。既而筵終，婢媪撤器， 公子適嗽，誤墮（[huī]，古同“隳”，毀壞）婢衣；婢隨唾而倒，碎碗流炙。視婢，則帛剪小人，僅四寸許。恂九大笑，素秋笑出，拾之而去。俄而婢復出，奔走如故。公子大異之。 恂九曰：“此不過妹子幼時，卜紫姑之小技耳[7]。”公子因問：“弟妹都已長成，何未婚姻？”答雲：“先人即世[8]，去留尚無定所，故此遲遲。”遂與商定行期，鬻[yù]宅，攜妹與公子俱西。既歸，除舍舍之；又遣一婢為之服役。公子妻，韓侍郎之猶女也[9]，尤憐愛素秋，飲食共之。公子與恂九亦然。而恂九又最慧，目下十行，試作一藝[10]，老宿不能及之[11]。公子勸赴童試。恂九曰：“姑為此業者，聊與君分苦耳。自審福薄，不堪仕進；且一入此途，遂不能不慼慼於得失，故不為也。”居三年，公子又下第[12]。恂九大為扼腕，奮然曰：“榜上一名，何遂艱難若此！我初不欲為成敗所惑，故寧寂寂耳。今見大哥不能發舒，不覺中熱[13]，十九歲老童，當效駒馳也。”公子喜，試期送入場[14]，邑、郡、道皆第一[15]。益與公子下帷攻苦。逾年科試，併為郡、邑冠軍。恂九名大噪，遠近爭婚之，恂九悉卻去。公子力勸之，乃以場後為解[16]。無何，試畢，傾慕者爭錄其文，相與傳頌；恂九亦自覺第二人不屑居也。榜既放，兄弟皆黜。時方對酌，公子尚強作噱[17]；恂九失色，酒盞傾墮，身僕案下。扶置榻上，病已困殆。急呼妹至，張目謂公子曰：“吾兩人情雖如胞，實非同族。弟自分已登鬼籙[18]。銜恩無可相報，素秋已長成，既蒙嫂氏撫愛，媵[yìng]之可也[19]。”公子作色曰：“是真吾弟之亂命也[20]！其將謂我人頭畜鳴者耶[21]！”恂九泣下。公子即以重金為購良材[22]。恂九命舁至，力疾而入[23]，囑妹曰：“我沒後，即闔棺，無令一人開視。”公子尚欲有言，而目已瞑矣。公子哀傷，如喪手足。然竊疑其囑異，俟素秋他出，啓而視之， 則棺中袍服如蜕[24]；揭之，有蠹[dù]魚徑尺[25]，僵卧其中。駭異間，素秋促入，慘然曰：“兄弟何所隔閡？所以然者，非避兄也；但恐傳佈飛揚[26]，妾亦不能久居耳。”公子曰：“禮緣情制[27]，情之所在，異族何殊焉？妹寧不知我心乎？即中饋當無漏言，請勿慮。”遂速卜古期，厚葬之。
初，公子欲以素秋論婚於世家，恂九不欲。既歿[mò]，公子以商素秋，素秋不應。公子曰：“妹子年已二十矣，長而不嫁，人其謂我何？”對曰：“若然，但惟兄命。然自顧無福相，不願入侯門，寒士而可。”公子曰：“諾。” 不數日，冰媒相屬，卒無所可[28]。先是，公子之妻弟韓荃來吊，得窺素秋，心愛悦之，欲購作小妻[29]。謀之姊，姊急戒勿言，恐公子知。韓去，終不能釋，託媒風示公子，許為買鄉場關節[30]。公子聞之，大怒詬[gòu]罵，將致意者批逐出門[31]，自此交往遂絕。適有故尚書之孫某甲，將娶而婦忽卒，亦遣冰來。其甲第雲連[32]，公子之所素識，然欲一見其人，因與媒約，使甲躬謁[yè][33]。及期，垂簾於內，令素秋自相之。甲至，裘馬騶從，炫耀閭里；人又秀雅如處子。公子大悦，見者鹹讚美之，而素秋殊不樂。公子不聽，竟 許之，盛備奩[lián]裝[34]，計費不貲[zī]，素秋固止之，但討一老大婢，供給使而已。公子亦不之聽，卒厚贈焉。既嫁，琴瑟甚敦。然兄嫂常繫念之，每月輒一歸寧。來時，奩中珠繡，必攜數事，付嫂收貯。嫂未知其意，亦姑從之。甲少孤，有寡母溺愛過於尋常，日近匪人[35]，漸誘淫賭，家傳書畫鼎彝[36]， 皆以鬻償戲債[37]。而韓荃與有瓜葛，因招飲而竊探之，願以兩妾及五百金易素秋。甲初不肯；韓固求之，甲意似搖，然恐公子不甘。韓曰：“我與彼至戚，此又非其支系[38]，若事已成，彼亦無如何；萬一有他，我身任之。有家君在，何畏一俞謹庵哉！”遂盛妝兩姬出行酒，且曰：“果如所約，此即君家人矣。”甲惑之，約期而去。至日，慮韓詐諼[xuān][39]，夜候於途，果有輿來，啓簾照驗不虛，乃導去，姑置齋中。韓僕以五百金交兑俱明。甲奔入，偽告素秋，言：“公子暴病相呼。”素秋未遑理妝，草草遂出。輿既發，夜迷不知何所，逴行良遠[40]，殊不可到。忽見二巨燭來，眾竊喜其可以問途。無何，至前，則巨蟒兩目如燈。眾大駭，人馬俱竄，委輿路側。將曙復集，則空輿存焉。意必葬於蛇腹，歸告主人，垂首喪氣而已。
數日後，公子遣人詣[yì]妹，始知為惡人賺去，初不疑其婿之偽也。取婢歸， 細詰[jié]情跡[41]，微窺其變。忿甚，遍愬（[sù] ，同“訴”）郡邑[42]。某甲懼，求救於韓。韓以金妾兩亡，正復懊夾，斥絕不為力。甲呆憨無所復計，各處勾牒至，俱以賂囑免行。月餘，金珠服飾，典貨一空。公子於憲府究理甚急[43]，邑官皆奉嚴令，甲知不可復匿，始出，至公堂實情盡吐。蒙憲票拘韓對質。韓懼，以情告父。父時已休致[44]，怒其所為不法，執付隸。既見諸官府，言及遇蟒之變，悉謂其詞枝[45]；家人搒掠殆遍，甲亦屢被敲楚[46]。幸母日鬻田產，上下營救，刑輕得不死，而韓僕已瘐斃矣[47]。韓久困囹圄，願助甲賂公子千金，哀求罷訟。公子不許。甲母又請益以二姬，但求姑存疑案，以待尋訪； 妻又承叔母命，朝夕解免，公子乃許之。甲家綦貧，貨宅辦金，而急切不能得售，因先送姬來，乞其延緩。
逾數日，公子夜坐齋頭，素秋偕一媪，驀然忽入。公子駭問：“妹固無恙耶？”笑曰：“蟒變乃妹之小術耳。當夜竄入一秀才家，依於其母。彼自言識兄，今在門外。請入之也。”公子倒屣而出[48]，燭之，非他，乃周生， 宛平之名士也[49]，素以聲氣相善。把臂入齋，款洽臻至。傾談既久，始知 顛末[50]。初，素秋昧爽款生門，母納入，詰之，知為公子妹，便欲馳報。 素秋止之，因與母居。慧能解意，母悦之。以子無婦，竊屬意素秋，微言之[51]。素秋以未奉兄命為辭。生亦以公子交契[52]，故不肯作無媒之合，但頻頻偵聽。知訟事已有關説[52]，素秋乃告母欲歸。母遣生率一媪送之，即囑媪媒焉。公子以素秋居生家久，竊有心而未言也；及聞媪言，大喜，即與 生面訂為好。先是，素秋夜歸，將使公子得金而後宣之。公子不可，曰：“向 憤無所泄，故索金以敗之耳。今復見妹，萬金何能易哉！”即遣人告諸兩家，頓罷之[54]。又念生家故不甚豐，道賒遠[55]，親迎殊艱，因移生母來，居 以恂九舊第；生亦備幣帛鼓樂[56]，婚嫁成禮。一日，嫂戲素秋：“今得新婿，曩[nǎng]年枕蓆之愛，猶憶之否？”素秋笑，因顧婢曰：“憶之否？”嫂不解， 研問之，蓋三年牀第，皆以婢代。每夕，以筆畫其兩眉，驅之去，即對燭獨 坐，婿亦不之辨也。益奇之，求其術，但笑不言。
次年大比[57]，生將與公子偕往。素秋曰：“不必。”公子強挽之而去。 是科，公子中式，生落第歸，隱有退志。逾年，母卒，遂不復言進取矣。一 日，素秋告嫂曰：“向問我術，固未肯以此駭物聽也。今遠別，行有日矣， 請秘授之，亦可以避兵燹[xiǎn]。”驚而問之。答曰：“三年後，此處當無人煙。 妾荏[rěn]弱不堪驚恐，將蹈海濱而隱。大哥富貴中人，不可以偕，故言別也。” 乃以術悉授嫂。數日，又告公子。留之不得，至於泣下，問：“往何所？” 即亦不言。雞鳴早起，攜一白鬚奴，控雙衞而去[58]。公子陰使人尾送之[59]， 至膠菜之界[60]，塵霧幛天，既晴，已迷所往。三年後，闖寇犯順[61]，村 舍為墟。韓夫人剪帛置門內，寇至，見雲繞韋馱高丈餘[62]，遂駭走，以是 得保無恙焉。
後村中有賈客至海上，遇一叟似老奴，而髭發盡黑，猝不能認[63]。叟停足笑曰：“我家公子尚健耶？藉口寄語：秋姑亦甚安樂。”問其居何裏，曰：“遠矣，遠矣！”匆匆遂去。公子聞之，使人於所在遍訪之，竟無蹤跡。
異史氏曰：“管城子無食肉相[64]，其來舊矣。初念甚明，而乃持之不 堅。寧知糊眼主司[65]，固衡命不衡文耶？一擊不中[66]，冥然遂死，蠹[dù]魚之痴，一何可憐！傷哉雄飛，不如雌伏[67]。” [1]
註釋
編輯
據《聊齋志異》手稿本，缺文據鑄雪齋抄本補
[1]舊家：猶言世家。
[2]冠玉：裝飾於帽上之玉。此用以比喻美男子。
[3]訂為昆仲：結為兄弟。
[4]以名減字為忱：指減去原名的“士”字，單名為忱。
[5]踧（cù促）落：猶言冷落。
[6]行炙：端送菜餚。
[7]卜紫姑之小技：紫姑，詳見《花姑子》注。自唐以來有祭紫姑之俗， 正月十五日圖其形，夜間迎之，以卜禍福。此指其剪帛為人之幻術。
[8]即世：去世。
[9]侍郎：明清時，中央各部的副長官。猶女：侄女。
[10]藝：制藝，指八股文。
[11]老宿：老成有名望的人。此指宿儒。
[12]下第：落榜。
[13]中熱：躁急心熱，指熱心功名仕進。
[14]試期：此指“童子試”試期。
[15]邑、郡、道皆第一：在童試中，縣試、府試、院試都獲得第一。
[16]場後：此指參加鄉試以後。
[17]強作噱（iué決）：意謂強作笑語，表示曠達。噱，談笑，大笑。
[18]已登鬼籙：意謂必死。鬼籙，死者名冊。陶淵明《擬輓歌辭》：“昨
暮同為人，今且在鬼籙。”
[19]媵之：收之為姬妾。媵，指姬妾婢女，這裏作動詞。
[20]亂命：病重昏迷時的遺言：謂其主張荒謬。《左傳·宣公十五年》： 魏武子有嬖妾無子。武子生病時命其子顆曰：“必嫁是。”病重時又説：“必 以為殉。”武子死後，顆將嬖妾嫁出，曰“疾病則亂，我從其治也。”
[21]人頭畜鳴：意思是，外貌是人但行為像畜牲。
[22]良材：上等棺木。
[23]力疾：竭力支撐着病體。
[24]蜕（tuì退）：蟬蛇之類脱下的皮。
[25]蠹魚：蛀蝕書籍的小蟲。銀粉細鱗，形似魚，故名。
[26]傳佈飛揚：傳播聲揚。
[27]禮緣情制：禮法因人情而制定。
[28]卒無所可：始終沒有稱心的。可、可意、中意。
[29]小妻：妾。
[30]買鄉場關節：意謂代公子行賄，買通關節，使之鄉試中式。鄉場： 鄉試。
[31]致意者：轉達意向的人，指媒者。批逐：掌嘴驅逐。批，批頰。
[32]甲第：舊時顯貴者的宅第。雲連：與雲相接，形容高大眾多。
[33]躬謁：親自來見。
[34]奩（lián 連）裝：猶妝奩，陪送嫁妝。
[35]匪人：行為不正的人。
[36]鼎彝：鼎和彝都是古代青銅器，這裏指珍貴的古玩。
[37]戲債：賭債。
[38]支系：宗族的分支；此指同族。
[39]詐諼（xuān 宣）：欺詐。
[40]逴（chuó綽）行：遠行。
[41]情跡：事情的經過。
[42]遍愬郡邑：向府、縣都提出訴訟。愬，同“訴“，訴訟。
[43]憲府：舊時稱御史為“憲府”。此專指朝廷委駐各行省的高級官吏 衙門。如清代稱巡撫、布政使和按察使為“三大憲”。
[44]休致：官吏年老去職。清制，自陳衰老，經朝廷允許休致的，稱自 請休致：老不稱職，諭旨今其休致的，稱勒今體致。
[45]詞枝：意謂胡扯亂編。《易·繫辭下》：“中心疑者其辭枝。”《疏》：“枝，謂樹枝也，中心於事疑惑，則其心不定，其辭分散若間枝也。”
[46]敲楚：撲責。楚，刑杖。
[47]瘐斃：病死獄中。
[48]倒屣（xǐ喜）：古人席地而坐，客人來，急於出迎，把鞋子倒穿。 形容熱情歡迎。
[49]宛平：舊縣名，在今北京市南部。
[50]顛末：事情的原委。
51]微言之：婉轉含蓄他説明心意。
[52]交契：交情很好。契，意氣相合。
[53]關説：調解説情。
[54]罷之：指罷訟。
[55]賒遠：遙遠。
[56]幣帛：作納聘之禮。鼓樂：供迎親之用。
[57]大些：明清科舉制度，每三年舉行一次鄉試，叫“大比”。
[58]衞：驢的別稱。
[59]尾送：據鑄雪齋抄本，原作“委送”。
[60]膠萊之界：膠州、萊州一帶，今山東省東北部沿海地區。
61]闖寇犯順：指明末農民起義軍李自成率眾造反，反對明朝統洽。李 自成稱李闖王。闖寇，是作者對闖王的蔑稱。犯順，以逆犯順，謂造反作亂。
[62]韋馱：佛教天神，居四天王三十二神將之首，佛教列為護法神。其 塑像一般穿古武將服，手持金剛杵，威武高大。
[63]“猝不”以下及“異史氏曰”中個別闕字，均據鑄雪齋抄本補。
[64]管城子無食肉相：意謂文墨之士沒有做官的福相。黃庭堅《戲呈孔 毅父》詩：“管城子無食肉相，孔方兄有絕文書。”韓愈《毛穎傳》以筆擬 人，稱之為管城子，這裏藉以代指讀書人。
[65]糊眼：謂眼睛昏眊，喻無辨識能力。主司：主管官員，此指科場試 官。
[66]一擊不中：漢張良曾使力士操鐵錐，擊秦始皇於博浪沙，沒有擊中 而失敗。見《史記·留侯世家》。這裏借喻俞忱鄉試未中。
[67]“傷哉雄飛”二句：意謂可悲的是，俞憂奮然參加鄉試，被黜而死， 倒不如周生落第歸隱，竟可仙去。《後漢書·趙典傳》：“大丈夫當雄飛， 安能雌伏！”雄飛，喻奮發。雌伏，喻退讓不爭。 [1]
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