双语：聊斋志异《罗刹海市》| 中英对照

“Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio”

THE LO-CH‘A COUNTRY AND THE SEA-MARKET

聊斋志异《罗刹海市》

作者：蒲松龄

译文：Herbert A. Giles

原文：马骥，字龙媒，贾人子。美丰姿。少倜傥，喜歌舞。辄从梨园子弟[1]以锦帕缠头，美如好女，因复有“俊人”之号。十四岁，入郡庠，即知名。父衰老，罢贾而居。谓生曰：“数卷书，饥不可煮，寒不可衣。吾儿可仍继父贾。”马由是稍稍权子母。

白话文：马骥字龙媒，是商人的儿子。他生得风度翩翩，仪态优雅，从小风流倜傥，喜欢歌舞，经常跟梨园弟子一起演戏，扮成锦帕缠头的旦角，就像美女一样好看，所以他又有“俊人”的雅号。十四岁时，马骥在郡中考取了秀才，很有名气。父亲年老体衰，停了生意，在家闲居，他对马骥说：“就凭这几卷书，饿了不能当饭吃，冷了不能当衣穿。我儿还是接替老爹经商吧。”马骥从此便逐渐学起做买卖来。 

译文：Once upon a time there was a young man, named Ma Chün, who was also known as Lung-mei. He was the son of a trader, and a youth of surpassing beauty. His manners were courteous, and he loved nothing better than singing and playing. He used to associate with actors, and with an embroidered handkerchief round his head the effect was that of a beautiful woman. Hence he acquired the sobriquet of the Beauty. At fourteen years of age he graduated and began to make a name for himself; but his father, who was growing old and wished to retire from business, said to him, “My boy, book-learning will never fill your belly or put a coat on your back; you had much better stick to the old thing.” Accordingly, Ma from that time occupied himself with scales and weights, with principle and interest, and such matters.

原文：从人浮海，为飓风引去，数昼夜，至一都会。其人皆奇丑;见马至，以为妖，群哗而走。马初见其状，大惧;迨知国人之骇已也，遂反以此欺国人。遇饮食者，则奔而往，人惊遁，则啜其余。久之，入山村。其间形貌亦有似人者，然褴褛如丐。马息树下，村人不敢前，但遥望之。久之，觉马非噬人者，始稍稍近就之。马笑与语。其言虽异，亦半可解。马遂自陈所自。村人喜，遍告邻里：客非能搏噬者。然奇丑者望望即去，终不敢前;其来者，口鼻位置尚皆与中国同。共罗浆酒奉马。

白话文：马骥跟人到海外经商，船被狂风吹走，经过几天几夜，来到一座都市。那里的人都丑得出奇，看见马骥来了，认为是妖怪，连喊带叫，纷纷逃跑。马骥刚看到这种情景，也大为恐惧，及至知道这是该国人害怕自己时，反而借此来欺负该国人了。遇到吃东西的，马骥就跑上前去，人们惊慌逃跑，马骥便吃剩下的食物。 不久后，马骥进了一座小山村。那里也有相貌像人的，但是都衣衫褴褛，像乞丐。马骥在树下休息，村人不敢上前，只是在远处看他。时间长了，村人觉得马骥不会吃人，才逐渐凑上前来。马骥笑着和他们谈话，语言虽然不同，但仍能听懂一半。于是马骥讲述自己的来历。村人大喜，遍告邻里说，来客并不捉人吃。不过，奇丑的人看一看就走，终究不敢近前。那些近前的人，五官位置还都和中国人相同，他们一起摆下酒食来请马骥。

译文：He made a voyage across the sea, and was carried away by a typhoon. After being tossed about for many days and nights he arrived at a country where the people were hideously ugly. When these people saw Ma they thought he was a devil and all ran screeching away. Ma was somewhat alarmed at this, but finding that it was they who were frightened at him, he quickly turned their fear to his own advantage. If he came across people eating and drinking he would rush upon them, and when they fled away for fear, he would regale himself upon what they had left. By-and-by he went to a village among the hills, and there the people had at any rate some facial resemblance to ordinary men. But they were all in rags and tatters like beggars. So Ma sat down to rest under a tree, and the villagers, not daring to come near him, contented themselves with looking at him from a distance. They soon found, however, that he did not want to eat them, and by degrees approached a little closer to him. Ma, smiling, began to talk; and although their language was different, yet he was able to make himself tolerably intelligible, and told them whence he had come. The villagers were much pleased, and spread the news that the stranger was not a man-eater. Nevertheless, the very ugliest of all would only take a look and be off again; they would not come near him. Those who did go up to him were not very much unlike his own countrymen, the Chinese. They brought him plenty of food and wine.

原文：马问其相骇之故，答曰：“尝闻祖父言：西去二万六千里，有中国，其人民形象率诡异。但耳食之，今始信。”问其何贫。曰：“我国所重，不在文章，而在形貌。其美之极者，为上卿;次，任民社;下焉者，亦邀贵人宠，故得鼎烹以养妻子。若我辈，初生时，父母皆以为不详，往往置弃之;其不忍遽弃者，皆为宗嗣耳。”问：“此名何国?”曰：“大罗刹国。都城在北去三十里。”马请导往一观。于是鸡鸣而兴，引与俱去。天明，始达都。

白话文：马骥问他们怕自己的原因，回答说：“曾听祖父说，由此往西二万六千里，有一个中国，当地人的样子大都长得非常奇怪。但只是听说，今天才相信这是真的。”马骥问他们为什么穷，回答说：“我国所看重的，不是文章，而是体貌。那些体貌最美的当中央的上卿，次一点儿的当地方官，再差一点儿的也可以求得贵人的宠爱，能有残羹冷炙来养活妻子儿女。像我们这些人，刚生下来就被父母看作不祥之物，往往被抛弃了，那些不忍心抛弃的，其实都是为了传宗接代。”马骥问：“这国家叫什么？”回答说：“叫大罗刹国。都城在此地以北三十里处。”马骥请求领他前去观光。于是人们鸡叫起身，带领马骥一同前往。天色大亮后，他们才抵达都城。

译文：Ma asked them what they were afraid of. They replied, “We had heard from our forefathers that 26,000 li to the west there is a country called China. We had heard that the people of that land were the most extraordinary in appearance you can possibly imagine. Hitherto it has been hearsay; we can now believe it.” He then asked them how it was they were so poor. They answered, “You see, in our country everything depends, not on literary talent, but on beauty. The most beautiful are made ministers of state; the next handsomest are made judges and magistrates; and the third class in looks are employed in the palace of the king. Thus these are enabled out of their pay to provide for their wives and families. But we, from our very birth, are regarded by our parents as inauspicious, and are left to perish, some of us being occasionally preserved by more humane parents to prevent the extinction of the family.” Ma asked the name of their country, and they told him it was Lo-ch‘a. Also that the capital city was some 30 li to the north. He begged them to take him there, and next day at cock-crow he started thitherwards in their company, arriving just about dawn.

原文：都以黑石为墙，色如墨，楼阁近百尺。然少瓦，覆以红石;拾其残块磨甲上，无异丹砂。时值朝退，朝中有冠盖出，村人指曰：“此相国也。”视之，双耳皆背生，鼻三孔，睫毛覆目如帘。又数骑出，曰：“此大夫也。”以次各指其官职，率狰狞怪异。然位渐卑，丑亦渐杀。无何，马归，街衢人望见之，噪奔跌蹶，如逢怪物。村人百口解说，市人始敢遥立。既归，国中无大小，咸知村有异人，于是搢绅大夫争欲一广见闻，遂令村人要马。然每至一家，阍人辄阖户，丈夫女子窃自门隙中窥语，终一日，无敢延见者。村人曰：“此间一执戟郎，曾为先王出使异国，所阅人多，或不以子为惧。”造郎门。郎果喜，揖为上宾。视其貌，如八九十岁人。目睛突出，须卷如猬。曰：“仆少奉王命，出使最多，独未尝至中华。今一百二十余岁，又得睹上国人物，此不可不上闻于天子。然臣卧林下，十余年不践朝阶，早旦为君一行。”乃具饮馔，修主客礼。酒数行，出女乐十余人，更番歌舞。貌类夜叉，皆以白锦缠头，拖朱衣及地。扮唱不知何词，腔拍恢诡。主人顾而乐之，问：“中国亦有此乐乎?”曰：“有。”主人请拟其声，遂击桌为度一曲。主人喜曰：“异哉!声如凤鸣龙啸，得未曾闻。”

白话文：都城用黑石砌成城墙，颜色如墨。楼阁高近百尺。但屋顶很少用瓦，而是用红石覆盖，拣来红石碎块在指甲上磨，和丹砂没有两样。当时正值宫中退朝，朝廷中驶出一辆伞盖华美的车子，村人指点说：“这是相国。”马骥一看，相国的双耳都长反了，有三个鼻孔，睫毛盖着眼睛，像帘子一样。接着又有几人骑马出宫，村人说：“这是大夫。”并依次分别指明他们的官职，都长得狰狞怪异，然而随着职位逐渐降低，也相应不那么丑了。没过多久，马骥走上归程，街上的人望见马骥，都连喊带叫，跌跌撞撞地逃跑践踏，像遇到怪物似的。村人极力解释，街上的人才敢在远处站住。马骥回村后，国中无论大人小孩，都知道村中来了异人，于是士绅官宦争着要开开眼界，便让村人邀请马骥前去做客。然而马骥每到一家，看门人就关上大门，男人女人都偷偷地从门缝中边看边议，过了一整天，还是没人敢接见马骥。村人说：“这里有一位执戟郎，曾为先王出使外国，见过的人多了，或许不会怕你。” 马骥登门拜访执戟郎，执戟郎果然很高兴，把马骥奉为贵宾。一看执戟郎的长相，像个八九十岁的人，眼睛凸出，胡须卷曲浓密，就像刺猬。执戟郎说：“早年我奉国王之命，承担出使的使命最多，唯独不曾到过中国。现在我已一百二十多岁，又得以见到上国人物，这不能不上报天子。不过，我退隐山林，十馀年没踏朝廷的台阶了，明天早晨，我为你走一遭。”说罢摆上酒饭，尽主人待客之礼。酒过数巡，执戟郎叫出歌姬舞女十馀人，轮番表演歌舞。这些人长得像夜叉似的，都用白锦缠头，红衣拖在地上。她们也不知道唱的是什么歌词，唱腔与节拍都很离奇古怪。执戟郎看得高兴起来，问马骥：“中国也有这些音乐舞蹈吗？”马骥说：“有。”执戟郎请马骥学着唱一唱，马骥便敲着桌子唱了一支曲子。主人高兴地说：“真奇妙！歌声如同凤鸣龙啸，我从没听过。”

译文：The walls of the city were made of black stone, as black as ink, and the city gate-houses were about 100 feet high. Red stones were used for tiles, and picking up a broken piece Ma found that it marked his finger-nail like vermilion. They arrived just when the Court was rising, and saw all the equipages of the officials. The village people pointed out one who they said was Prime Minister. His ears drooped forward in flaps; he had three nostrils, and his eye-lashes were just like bamboo screens hanging in front of his eyes. Then several came out on horseback, and they said these were the privy councillors. So they went on, telling him the rank of all the ugly uncouth fellows he saw. The lower they got down in the official scale the less hideous the officials were. By-and-by Ma went back, the people in the streets marvelling very much to see him, and tumbling helter-skelter one over another as if they had met a goblin. The villagers shouted out to re-assure them, and then they stood at a distance to look at him. When he got back, there was not a man, woman, or child in the whole nation but knew that there was a strange man at the village; and the gentry and officials became very desirous to see him. However, if he went to any of their houses the porter always slammed the door in his face, and the master, mistress, and family, in general, would only peep at, and speak to him through the cracks. Not a single one dared receive him face to face; but, finally, the village people, at a loss what to do, bethought themselves of a man who had been sent by a former king on official business among strange nations. “He,” said they, “having seen many kinds of men, will not be afraid of you.” So they went to his house, where they were received in a very friendly way. He seemed to be about eighty or ninety years of age; his eye-balls protruded, and his beard curled up like a hedge-hog. He said, “In my youth I was sent by the king among many nations, but I never went to China. I am now one hundred and twenty years of age, and that I should be permitted to see a native of your country is a fact which it will be my duty to report to the Throne. For ten years and more I have not been to Court, but have remained here in seclusion; yet I will now make an effort on your behalf.” Then followed a banquet, and when the wine had already circulated pretty freely, some dozen singing girls came in and sang and danced before them. The girls all wore white embroidered turbans, and long scarlet robes which trailed on the ground. The words they uttered were unintelligible, and the tunes they played perfectly hideous. The host, however, seemed to enjoy it very much, and said to Ma, “Have you music in China?” He replied that they had, and the old man asked for a specimen. Ma hummed him a tune, beating time on the table, with which he was very much pleased, declaring that his guest had the voice of a phœnix and the notes of a dragon, such as he had never heard before.

原文：翼日，趋朝，荐诸国王。王忻然下诏。有二三大臣，言其怪状，恐惊圣体。王乃止。即出告马，深为扼腕。居久之，与主人饮而醉，把剑起舞，以煤涂面作张飞。主人以为美，曰：“请客以张飞见宰相，宰相必乐用之，厚禄不难致。”马曰：“嘻!游戏犹可，何能易面目图荣显?”主人固强之，马乃诺。主人设筵，邀当路者饮，令马绘面以待。未几，客至，呼马出见客。客讶曰：“异哉!何前媸而今妍也?”遂与共饮，甚欢。马婆娑歌“弋阳曲”，一座无不倾倒。明日，交章荐马。王喜，召以旌节。既见，问中国治安之道，马委曲上陈，大蒙嘉叹，赐宴离宫。酒酣，王曰：“闻卿善雅乐，可使寡人得而闻之乎?”马即起舞，亦效白锦缠头，作靡靡之音。王大悦，即日拜下大夫。时与私宴，恩宠殊异。

白话文：第二天，执戟郎前往朝廷，把马骥推荐给国王。国王欣然下诏接见。却有两三个大臣说马骥长得古怪，恐怕使圣体受惊，国王才没下诏。执戟郎出宫告知马骥，表示深为惋惜。过了很长时间，马骥与执戟郎喝酒喝醉了，舞起剑来，把煤涂在脸上，扮作张飞。执戟郎认为这样很美，说：“请你以张飞的面目去见宰相，宰相一定愿意任用你，丰厚的俸禄就不难得到啦。”马骥说：“唉！当作游戏还行，怎能改换面貌去谋求荣耀显达呢？”执戟郎坚持要他这么做，马骥才答应下来。执戟郎摆了宴席，邀请执政的要员喝酒，让马骥画好脸等待。不久，执政要员来到，执戟郎叫马骥出来见客，执政官员惊讶地说：“真奇怪！怎么原先丑陋，现在变漂亮啦？”便与马骥一起喝酒，喝得非常高兴。马骥婆娑起舞，唱起弋阳腔，满座无不为之倾倒。第二天，执政要员纷纷上奏章推荐马骥。国王大喜，派使者手持旌节去召马骥。见面后，国王问中国的治国安邦之道如何，马骥一一陈述，大受嘉许赞叹，便在离宫设宴款待马骥。酒兴正浓时，国王说：“听说你善于演奏雅乐，可以让寡人听一听吗？”马骥立刻即席起舞，也学着歌姬舞女的样子以白锦缠头，唱了一些靡靡之音。国王大悦，当天任命马骥为下大夫。马骥时常参加国王的私宴，受到的恩宠极不寻常。

译文：The next day he presented a memorial to the Throne, and the king at once commanded Ma to appear before him. Several of the ministers, however, represented that his appearance was so hideous it might frighten His Majesty, and the king accordingly desisted from his intention. The old man returned and told Ma, being quite upset about it. They remained together some time until they had drunk themselves tipsy. Then Ma, seizing a sword, began to attitudinize, smearing his face all over with coal-dust. He acted the part of ChangFei, at which his host was so delighted that he begged him to appear before the Prime Minister in the character of Chang Fei. Ma replied, “I don’t mind a little amateur acting, but how can I play the hypocrite for my own personal advantage?” On being pressed he consented, and the old man prepared a great feast, and asked some of the high officials to be present, telling Ma to paint himself as before. When the guests had arrived, Ma was brought out to see them; whereupon they all exclaimed, “Ai-yah! how is it he was so ugly before and is now so beautiful?” By-and-by, when they were all taking wine together, Ma began to sing them a most bewitching song, and they got so excited over it that next day they recommended him to the king. The king sent a special summons for him to appear, and asked him many questions about the government of China, to all of which Ma replied in detail, eliciting sighs of admiration from His Majesty. He was honoured with a banquet in the royal guest-pavilion, and when the king had made himself tipsy he said to him, “I hear you are a very skilful musician. Will you be good enough to let me hear you?” Ma then got up and began to attitudinize, singing a plaintive air like the girls with the turbans. The king was charmed, and at once made him a privy councillor, giving him a private banquet, and bestowing other marks of royal favour.

原文：久而官僚百执事颇觉其面目之假;所至，辄见人耳语，不甚与款洽。马至是孤立，憪然不自安。遂上疏乞休致，不许;又告休沐，乃给三月假。于是乘传载金宝，复归山村。村人膝行以迎。马以金资分给旧所与交好者，欢声雷动。村人曰：“吾侪小人，受大夫赐，明日赴海市，当求珍玩，用报大夫。”问：“海市何地?”曰，“海中市，四海鲛人，集货珠宝。四方十二国，均来贸易。中多神人游戏。云霞障天，波涛间作。贵人自重，不敢犯险阻，皆以金帛付我辈代购异珍。今其期不远矣。”问所自知，曰：“每见海上朱鸟来往，七日即市。”马问行期，欲同游瞩，村人劝使自重。马曰，“我顾沧海客，何畏风涛?”

白话文：时间长了，朝中百官对马骥假扮的面目颇有察觉，无论马骥走到哪里，总是看见人们交头接耳地议论他，与他不甚亲密。马骥至此感到孤立，才惴惴不安起来，随即上疏请求辞官退休，国王没有答应；又要求短期休假，国王便给他三个月的假。于是他乘坐驿车，载着黄金和珠宝，又回到山村。村人跪着迎接他。他把钱财分给往日与自己交好的人，村人欢声雷动。村人说：“我们这些小民受了大夫的赏赐，明天我们去赶海市，应能找到珍宝玩物来报答大夫。”马骥问：“海市在什么地方？”回答说：“那是海中的集市，四海的鲛人聚集在那里出售珍宝，四方十二国都来那里贸易。还有许多神人游戏其间，那里云霞遮天蔽日，间或波涛大作。贵人看重自己的性命，不敢经受艰难困苦，都把钱财交给我们，让我们去代买奇珍异宝。现在离赶海市的日子已经不远了。”马骥问他们怎么知道哪天有海市，回答说：“每当看见海上有朱鸟飞来飞去，七天后便有海市。”马骥问出发的日期，想与村人一起游观海市，村人劝马骥看重自己的身份，马骥说：“我本是漂洋过海的客商，还怕风浪吗？” 

译文：As time went on his fellow-officials found out the secret of his painted face, and whenever he was among them they were always whispering together, besides which they avoided being near him as much as possible. Thus Ma was left to himself, and found his position anything but pleasant in consequence. So he memorialized the Throne, asking to be allowed to retire from office, but his request was refused. He then said his health was bad, and got three months’ sick leave, during which he packed up his valuables and went back to the village. The villagers on his arrival went down on their knees to him, and he distributed gold and jewels amongst his old friends. They were very glad to see him, and said, “Your kindness shall be repaid when we go to the sea-market; we will bring you some pearls and things.” Ma asked them where that was. They said it was at the bottom of the sea, where the mermaidskept their treasures, and that as many as twelve nations were accustomed to go thither to trade. Also that it was frequented by spirits, and that to get there it was necessary to pass through red vapours and great waves. “Dear Sir,” they said, “do not yourself risk this great danger, but let us take your money and purchase these rare pearls for you. The season is now at hand.” Ma asked them how they knew this. They said, “Whenever we see red birds flying backwards and forwards over the sea, we know that within seven days the market will open.” He asked when they were going to start, that he might accompany them; but they begged him not to think of doing so. He replied, “I am a sailor: how can I be afraid of wind and waves?”

原文：未几，果有踵门寄资者，遂与装资入船。船容数十人，平底高栏。十人摇橹，激水如箭。凡三日，遥见水云晃漾之中，楼阁层叠;贸迁之舟，纷集如蚁。少时，抵城下。视墙上砖，皆长与人等。敌楼高接云汉。维舟而入，见市上所陈，奇珍异宝，光明射目，多人世所无。

白话文：不久，果然有人登门交钱托购珍宝，马骥便与村人把钱财装上船。船能容下几十人，平平的船底，高高的栏杆，十人一齐摇橹，激起层层浪花，船行如箭。大约走了三天，远远看见水云荡漾的海中，楼阁层层叠叠，贸易的船只密集如蚁。不一会儿，他们抵达城下，只见城墙上的砖都与人一样高，城楼高耸云天。他们系船停泊，登岸进城，只见海市上陈列的奇珍异宝光彩耀眼，大多是人间没有的。

译文：Very soon after this people came with merchandise to forward, and so Ma packed up and went on board the vessel that was going.

This vessel held some tens of people, was flat-bottomed with a railing all round, and, rowed by ten men, it cut through the water like an arrow. After a voyage of three days they saw afar off faint outlines of towers and minarets, and crowds of trading vessels. They soon arrived at the city, the walls of which were made of bricks as long as a man’s body, the tops of its buildings being lost in the Milky Way.Having made fast their boat they went in, and saw laid out in the market rare pearls and wondrous precious stones of dazzling beauty, such as are quite unknown amongst men.

一少年乘骏马来，市人尽奔避，云是“东洋三世子”。世子过，目生曰：“此非异域人?”即有前马者来诘乡籍。生揖道左，具展邦族。世子喜曰，“既蒙辱临，缘分不浅!”于是授生骑，请与连辔。乃出西城。方至岛岸，所骑嘶跃入水。生大骇失声，则见海水中分，屹如壁立。俄睹宫殿，玳瑁为梁，鲂鳞作瓦，四壁晶明，鉴影炫目。下马，揖入。仰见龙君在上，世子启奏：“臣游市廛，得中华贤士，引见大王。”生前拜舞。龙君乃言：“先生文学士，必能衙官屈、宋。欲烦椽笔赋‘海市’，幸无吝珠玉。”生稽首受命。授以水精之砚，龙鬣之毫，纸光似雪，墨气如兰。生立成千余言，献殿上。龙君击节曰：“先生雄才，有光水国多矣!”遂集诸龙族，宴集采霞宫。

白话文：这时，一个少年骑着骏马过来，市上的人纷纷奔逃躲避，说此人是“东洋三太子”。太子经过这里时，看着马骥说：“这不是异邦之人。”当即有为太子开道的人来问马骥的乡籍。马骥在路边行礼，把自己的籍贯姓氏一一陈述。太子高兴地说：“既然承蒙光临，真是缘分不浅！”于是给马骥一匹马，请他与自己并肩骑马同行。他们出了西城。

刚到海岛的岸边，他们骑的马嘶叫着跳进水中，马骥恐骇异常，惊叫失声。只见海水向两边分开，如同屹立的高墙。不久马骥看见一座宫殿，以玳瑁装饰屋梁，以鲂鱼的鳞铺成屋瓦，四壁亮晶晶的，光可照见人影，十分耀眼。马骥下马拱手行礼，进入宫殿。抬头看见龙王高高在上，太子启奏说：“臣在集市闲逛，遇到一位中国的贤士，领来进见大王。”马骥上前拜舞行礼。龙王说：“马先生是才学之士，文章定能超过屈原与宋玉。我想有劳马先生挥动如椽大笔，写一篇《海市赋》，万望不吝倾珠泻玉的妙笔，成此美文。”马骥伏地叩头，接受命令。于是给马骥拿来水晶砚、龙鬣笔，纸张光洁似雪，墨气芳香如兰。马骥立即写下一千馀言，献到殿上。龙王十分赞赏地说：“马先生才能出众，为水国增光不少！”便召集各支龙族，在采霞宫聚饮。

译文：Then they saw a young man come forth riding upon a beautiful steed. The people of the market stood back to let him pass, saying he was the third son of the king; but when the Prince saw Ma, he exclaimed, “This is no foreigner,” and immediately an attendant drew near and asked his name and country. Ma made a bow, and standing at one side told his name and family. The prince smiled, and said, “For you to have honoured our country thus is no small piece of good luck.” He then gave him a horse and begged him to follow. They went out of the city gate and down to the sea-shore, whereupon their horses plunged into the water. Ma was terribly frightened and screamed out; but the sea opened dry before them and formed a wall of water on either side. In a little time they reached the king’s palace, the beams of which were made of tortoise-shell and the tiles of fishes’ scales. The four walls were of crystal, and dazzled the eye like mirrors. They got down off their horses and went in, and Ma was introduced to the king. The young prince said, “Sire, I have been to the market, and have got a gentleman from China.” Whereupon Ma made obeisance before the king, who addressed him as follows:—“Sir, from a talented scholar like yourself I venture to ask for a few stanzas upon our sea-market. Pray do not refuse.” Ma thereupon made a kot‘ow and undertook the king’s command. Using an ink-slab of crystal, a brush of dragon’s beard, paper as white as snow, and ink scented like the larkspur,[362] Ma immediately threw off some thousand odd verses, which he laid at the feet of the king. When His Majesty saw them, he said, “Sir, your genius does honour to these marine nations of ours.” Then, summoning the members of the royal family, the king gave a great feast in the Coloured Cloud pavilion;

原文：酒炙数行，龙君执爵而向客曰：“寡人所怜女，未有良匹，愿累先生。先生倘有意乎?”生离席愧荷，唯唯而已。龙君顾左右语。无何，宫人数辈，扶女郎出。佩环声动，鼓吹暴作。拜竟，睨之，实仙人也。女拜已而去。少时，酒罢，双鬟挑画灯，导生入副宫。女浓妆坐伺。珊瑚之床，饰以八宝;帐外流苏，缀明珠如斗大;衾褥皆香耍。天方曙，则雏女妖鬟，奔入满侧。生起，趋出朝谢。拜为驸马都尉。以其赋驰传诸海。诸海龙君，皆专员来贺，争折简招驸马饮。生衣绣裳，驾青虬，呵殿而出。武士数十骑，背雕弧，荷白棓，晃耀填拥。马上弹筝，车中奏玉。三日间，遍历诸海。由是“龙媒”之名，噪于四海。

白话文：酒过数巡，龙王向马骥举杯说：“寡人有个心爱的女儿还没有如意的对象，希望能嫁给先生。先生或许还有意吧？”马骥离开坐席，充满感激，惭愧不安地应承下来。龙王对身边的人说了些什么。不久，便有几个宫女把龙女扶了出来。于是珮环“叮咚”作响，乐曲骤然奏起，拜礼结束后，马骥偷偷一看，龙女真是一位漂亮的仙女。龙女拜完后，起身离去。不多时，酒宴结束，头结双鬟的小宫女打着彩绘的宫灯，领马骥走进旁宫，龙女浓妆艳抹地坐在那里，等待马骥的到来。只见珊瑚床上装饰着金银、珍珠、玛瑙等八种珠宝，帷帐上的流苏缀着斗大的明珠，被褥芳香而轻软。天刚亮，妖艳年少的宫女便跑来侍候，在他们身旁站满。马骥起床后，赶紧快步走出上朝拜谢。马骥被封为驸马都尉，那篇赋被传送到诸海。诸海龙王都派专人前来祝贺，争先恐后地送请柬叫驸马赴宴。马骥穿着锦绣的衣裳，骑着无角的青龙，前面有人喝道，后面有人簇拥，一行人出得宫来。数十名骑马的武士一律身佩雕弓，肩扛白杖，光彩闪耀，填塞道路。一路上马上有人弹筝，车中有人吹笛。只用了三天，便游遍了诸海。从此“马龙媒”的名号响彻四海。

译文：and, when the wine had circulated freely, seizing a great goblet in his hand, the king rose and said before all the guests, “It is a thousand pities, Sir, that you are not married. What say you to entering the bonds of wedlock?” Ma rose blushing, and stammered out his thanks; upon which the king looking round spoke a few words to the attendants, and in a few moments in came a bevy of court ladies supporting the king’s daughter, whose ornaments went tinkle, tinkle, as she walked along. Immediately the nuptial drums and trumpets began to sound forth, and bride and bridegroom worshipped Heaven and Earth together.[363] Stealing a glance Ma saw that the princess was endowed with a fairy-like loveliness. When the ceremony was over she retired, and by-and-by the wine-party broke up. Then came several beautifully-dressed waiting-maids, who with painted candles escorted Ma within. The bridal couch was made of coral adorned with eight kinds of precious stones, and the curtains were thickly hung with pearls as big as acorns. Next day at dawn a crowd of young slave-girls trooped into the room to offer their services; whereupon Ma got up and went off to Court to pay his respects to the king. He was then duly received as royal son-in-law and made an officer of state. The fame of his poetical talents spread far and wide, and the kings of the various seas sent officers to congratulate him, vying with each other in their invitations to him. Ma dressed himself in gorgeous clothes, and went forth riding on a superb steed, with a mounted body-guard all splendidly armed. There were musicians on horseback and musicians in chariots, and in three days he had visited every one of the marine kingdoms, making his name known in all directions.

原文：宫中有玉树一株，围可合抱，本莹澈如曰琉璃，中有心，淡黄色，梢细于臂;叶类碧玉，厚一钱许，细碎有浓阴。常与女啸咏其下。花开满树，状类薝葡。每一瓣落，锵然作响。拾视之，如赤瑙雕镂，光明可爱。时有异鸟来鸣，毛金碧色，尾长于身，声等哀玉，恻人肺腑。生每闻，辄念乡土。因谓女曰：“亡出三年，恩慈间阻，每一念及，涕膺汗背。卿能从我归乎?”女曰：“仙尘路隔，不能相依。妾亦不忍以鱼水之爱，夺膝下之欢。容徐谋之。”生闻之，涕不自禁。女亦叹曰：“此势之不能两全者也!”明日，生自外归。龙君曰：“闻都尉有故土之思，诘旦趣装，可乎?”生谢曰：“逆旅孤臣，过蒙优宠，衔报之诚[78]，结于肺肝。容暂归省，当图复聚耳。”入暮，女置酒话别。生订后会。女曰：“情缘尽矣。”生大悲。女曰：“归养双亲，见君之孝。人生聚散，百年犹旦暮耳，何用作儿女哀泣?此后妾为君贞，君为妾义，两地同心，即伉俪也，何必旦夕相守，乃谓之偕老乎?若渝此盟，婚姻不吉。倘虑中馈乏人，纳婢可耳。更有一事相嘱：自奉裳衣，似有佳朕，烦君命名。”生曰：“其女耶，可名龙宫;男耶，可名福海。”女乞一物为信。生在罗刹国所得赤玉莲花一对，出以授女。女曰：“三年后四月八日，君当泛舟南岛，还君体胤。”女以鱼革为囊，实以珠宝，授生曰：“珍藏之，数世吃著不尽也。”天微明，王设祖帐，馈遗甚丰。生拜别出宫。女乘白羊车，送诸海涘。生上岸下马。女致声珍重，回车便去，少顷便远。海水复合，不可复见。生乃归。

白话文：龙宫中有一棵玉树：粗可合抱；树干像白琉璃一样晶莹透明；中间有淡黄色的树心，稍微比胳膊细些；树叶类似碧玉，约有一枚铜钱那么厚，细碎的叶片垂下浓密的树荫。马骥经常与龙女在树下歌唱吟咏。树上开满花，类似栀子花。每落一瓣，都发出清脆的金玉之声，拾起花瓣一看，如同红玛瑙雕镂的，亮光闪闪，逗人喜爱。龙宫时常有一种奇异的鸟飞来鸣叫，此鸟生着金碧间杂的羽毛，尾上的翎子比鸟身还长，发出的叫声如同玉制乐器奏出的凄清曲调，动人肺腑。马骥每当听到这种鸟的叫声，就会想念故乡，于是对龙女说：“我外出三年，远离父母，每当想到这里，就泪洒衣襟，汗流浃背。你能跟我回家去吗？”龙女说：“仙凡道路阻隔，我不能陪你回去。我也不忍心因夫妻之爱，夺去你与父母的天伦之乐。容我慢慢想个办法。”马骥听了不禁流下了眼泪。龙女也叹息说：“这势必不能两全其美了。”
第二天，马骥外出归来。龙王说：“听说你想家了，明天早晨整装启程行吗？”马骥表示感谢说：“作为旅居外乡的孤臣，承蒙错爱，加以优待宠爱，衔环报恩的心愿郁结在肺腑之中。请让我暂时回家探亲，我会想办法再来相聚。”晚上，龙女摆下酒宴，与马骥话别。马骥要订日后相会的日期，龙女说：“情缘已经了结啦。”马骥悲伤异常。龙女说：“要回家奉养父母，体现了你的孝心。人生的聚会离散，一辈子就像一朝一夕一样，作小儿女伤心哭泣之态又有何用？从此以后，我为你守贞，你为我守义，两地同心，就是夫妻，何必朝夕厮守，才算白头偕老？如果谁违背了今天的盟誓，婚姻就不吉祥。假如担心无人料理家务，纳一个丫环做妾就可以了。还有一事相告，自结婚以来，我似乎有了身孕，请你现在就为孩子起个名字。”马骥说：“是女孩，可叫龙宫；是男孩，可叫福海。”龙女要马骥留下一件信物，马骥拿出在罗刹国得到的一对红玉莲花，交给龙女。龙女说：“三年后的四月八日，你可乘船到南岛来，那时我把亲生骨肉还给你。”便拿出一个鱼皮袋子，装满珠宝，交给马骥说：“把这东西珍藏起来，几代人吃穿也用不完的。”天刚微微发亮，龙王摆下饯行的酒宴，送给马骥许多礼物。马骥施礼告别，出了龙宫，龙女坐着白羊车，把马骥送到海边。马骥登上海岸，跳下马来，龙女说了一句“请多珍重”，回车便走，一会儿就走远了。海水重新合拢，龙女再也无法望见，于是马骥返回家乡。

译文：In the palace there was a jade tree, about as big round as a man could clasp. Its roots were as clear as glass, and up the middle ran, as it were, a stick of pale yellow. The branches were the size of one’s arm; the leaves like white jade, as thick as a copper cash. The foliage was dense, and beneath its shade the ladies of the palace were wont to sit and sing. The flowers which covered the tree resembled grapes, and if a single petal fell to the earth it made a ringing sound. Taking one up, it would be found to be exactly like carved cornelian, very bright and pretty to look at. From time to time a wonderful bird came and sang there. Its feathers were of a golden hue, and its tail as long as its body. Its notes were like the tinkling of jade, very plaintive and touching to listen to. When Ma heard this bird sing, it called up in him recollections of his old home, and accordingly he said to the princess, “I have now been away from my own country for three years, separated from my father and mother. Thinking of them my tears flow and the perspiration runs down my back. Can you return with me?” His wife replied, “The way of immortals is not that of men. I am unable to do what you ask, but I cannot allow the feelings of husband and wife to break the tie of parent and child. Let us devise some plan.” When Ma heard this he wept bitterly, and the princess sighed and said, “We cannot both stay or both go.” The next day the king said to him, “I hear that you are pining after your old home. Will to-morrow suit you for taking leave?” Ma thanked the king for his great kindness, which he declared he could never forget, and promised to return very shortly. That evening the princess and Ma talked over their wine of their approaching separation. Ma said they would soon meet again; but his wife averred that their married life was at an end. Then he wept afresh, but the princess said, “Like a filial son you are going home to your parents. In the meetings and separations of this life, a hundred years seem but a single day; why, then, should we give way to tears like children? I will be true to you; do you be faithful to me; and then, though separated, we shall be united in spirit, a happy pair. Is it necessary to live side by side in order to grow old together? If you break our contract your next marriage will not be a propitious one; but if loneliness overtakes you then choose a concubine. There is one point more of which I would speak, with reference to our married life. I am about to become a mother, and I pray you give me a name for your child.” To this Ma replied, “If a girl I would have her called Lung-kung; if a boy, then name him Fu-hai.” The princess asked for some token of remembrance, and Ma gave her a pair of jade lilies that he had got during his stay in the marine kingdom. She added, “On the 8th of the 4th moon, three years hence, when you once more steer your course for this country, I will give you up your child.” She next packed a leather bag full of jewels and handed it to Ma, saying, “Take care of this; it will be a provision for many generations.” When the day began to break a splendid farewell feast was given him by the king, and Ma bade them all adieu. The princess, in a car drawn by snow-white sheep, escorted him to the boundary of the marine kingdom, where he dismounted and stepped ashore. “Farewell!” cried the princess, as her returning car bore her rapidly away, and the sea, closing over her, snatched her from her husband’s sight. Ma returned to his home across the ocean.

原文：自浮海去，咸谓其已死;及至家，家人无不诧异。幸翁媪无恙，独妻已他适。乃悟龙女“守义”之言，盖已先知也。父欲为生再婚，生不可，纳婢焉。谨志三年之期，泛舟岛中。见两儿坐浮水面，拍流嬉笑，不动，亦不沉。近引之，儿哑然捉生臂，跃入怀中。其一大啼，似嗔生之不援己者。亦引上之。细审之，一男一女，貌皆婉秀。额上花冠缀玉，则赤莲在焉。背有锦囊，拆视得书，云：

白话文：自从马骥乘船出海以后，大家都以为他已经死了，等马骥回到家里，家人无不感到诧异。幸好父母健在，只是妻子已经改嫁。马骥这才明白龙女说要他“守义”的话，是已经预知今日之事。父亲想让马骥再婚，马骥没同意，只是收了个丫环做妾。马骥牢记三年的期限，届时乘船来到南岛，看见两个小孩坐在水面上漂浮着，拍水嬉笑，位置不动，也不下沉。马骥近前去拉孩子，一个孩子呀呀地笑着，拽住马骥的胳膊，跳到他的怀里。另一个孩子大声哭泣，似乎在埋怨马骥没有来拉自己，马骥也把这个孩子拉上岸来。仔细一看，孩子是一男一女，全都容貌秀美。孩子头戴花冠，花冠缀着美玉，美玉便是那红玉莲花。孩子的背上有个锦囊，打开一看，有一封信，上面写道：

译文：Some had thought him long since dead and gone; all marvelled at his story. Happily his father and mother were yet alive, though his former wife had married another man; and so he understood why the princess had pledged him to constancy, for she already knew that this had taken place. His father wished him to take another wife, but he would not. He only took a concubine. Then, after the three years had passed away, he started across the sea on his return journey, when lo! he beheld, riding on the wave-crests and splashing about the water in playing, two young children. On going near, one of them seized hold of him and sprung into his arms; upon which the elder cried until he, too, was taken up. They were a boy and girl, both very lovely, and wearing embroidered caps adorned with jade lilies. On the back of one of them was a worked case, in which Ma found the following letter:—

原文：“翁姑计各无恙。忽忽三年，红尘永隔;盈盈一水，青鸟难通。结想为梦，引领成劳，茫茫蓝蔚，有恨如何也!顾念奔月姮娥，且虚桂府;投梭织女，犹怅银河。我何人斯，而能永好?兴思及此，辄复破涕为笑。别后两月，竟得孪生。今已啁啾怀抱，颇解言笑;觅枣抓梨，不母可活。敬以还君。所贻赤玉莲花，饰冠作信。膝头抱儿时，犹妾在左右也。闻君克践旧盟，意愿斯慰。妾此生不二，之死靡他。奁中珍物，不蓄兰膏;镜里新妆，久辞粉黛。君似征人，妾作荡妇，即置而不御，亦何得谓非琴瑟哉?独计翁姑亦既抱孙，曾未一觌新妇，揆之情理，亦属缺然。岁后阿姑窀穸，当往临穴，一尽妇职。过此以往，则‘龙宫’无恙，不少把握之期;‘福海’长生，或有往还之路。伏惟珍重，不尽欲言。”

白话文：“想来公婆均平安无恙。匆匆三年过去，一道红尘把我们永远隔开，一湾清浅的海水使我们音信难通。对你思念不已，终于郁结成梦；时时引领远望，徒然只增劳顿。面对蔚蓝的茫茫大海，满腔怨恨又能如何！想起奔月的嫦娥还在月宫孤身独处，投梭的织女仍在惆怅地面对天河。我是何人，却能与你永远相爱？一想到这里，我又总是破涕为笑。分别两个月后，竟生了一对孪生儿女。他们现在已经能在母亲怀里咿呀学语，对大人的言笑也颇能领会其意；已会找枣吃，抓梨吃，离开母亲也能生活了。所以我把他们恭敬地送给你。我把你赠送的红玉莲花缀在花冠上作为标记。当你把孩子抱在膝头时，就像我也在你身边一样。听说你能履行往日的盟誓，我的心愿得到抚慰。我这一生决不变心，至死也决无二心。梳妆盒中珍藏的物品，不再是芳香的润发香油；镜里照见新近的打扮，也久已不施粉黛。你像远行的游子，我是孤守空房的妻子，即使不能亲近，两地分隔，又怎能说不是夫妻和谐？只是我还在想，虽然公婆已经抱上孙子孙女，却不曾与儿媳见面，按情理推断，也算缺憾。
一年后婆婆去世，我会亲临墓穴送葬，以尽媳妇之道。从此以后，‘龙宫’平安无事，不会没有见面的日子；‘福海’长生不老，或许还有往来的途径。请多加珍重，说不尽的心里话就说到这里。”

译文：“I presume my father and mother-in-law are well. Three years have passed away and destiny still keeps us apart. Across the great ocean, the letter-bird would find no path.[366] I have been with you in my dreams until I am quite worn out. Does the blue sky look down upon any grief like mine? Yet Ch‘ang-ngo[367] lives solitary in the moon, and Chih Nü[368] laments that she cannot cross the Silver River. Who am I that I should expect happiness to be mine? Truly this thought turns my tears into joy. Two months after your departure I had twins, who can already prattle away in the language of childhood, at one moment snatching a date, at another a pear. Had they no mother they would still live. These I now send to you, with the jade lilies you gave me in their hats, in token of the sender. When you take them upon your knee, think that I am standing by your side. I know that you have kept your promise to me, and I am happy. I shall take no second husband, even unto death. All thoughts of dress and finery are gone from me; my looking-glass sees no new fashions; my face has long been unpowdered, my eyebrows unblacked. You are my Ulysses, I am your Penelope;[369] though not actually leading a married life, how can it be said that we are not husband and wife. Your father and mother will take their grandchildren upon their knees, though they have never set eyes upon the bride. Alas! there is something wrong in this. Next year your mother will enter upon the long night. I shall be there by the side of the grave as is becoming in her daughter-in-law. From this time forth our daughter will be well; later on she will be able to grasp her mother’s hand. Our boy, when he grows up, may possibly be able to come to and fro. Adieu, dear husband, adieu, though I am leaving much unsaid.”

原文：生反覆省书揽涕。两儿抱颈曰：“归休乎!”生益恸，抚之曰：“儿知家在何许?”儿亟啼，呕哑言归。生望海水茫茫，极天无际;雾鬟人渺，烟波路穷。抱儿返棹，怅然遂归。生知母寿不永，周身物悉为预具，墓中植松槚百余。逾岁，媪果亡。灵舆至殡宫，有女子缞绖临穴。众方惊顾，忽而风激雷轰，继以急雨，转瞬间已失所在。松柏新植多枯，至是皆活。

白话文：马骥反复看信，直抹眼泪。两个孩子抱着马骥的脖子说：“回家吧！”马骥愈加悲恸，抚摸着两个孩子说：“你们知道家在哪里？”两个孩子哭个没完，稚声稚气地只喊回家。马骥望茫茫海水，辽阔无际，与天相接，只是美丽的龙女却渺无所见，如烟的波涛间并无道路可通。只好抱着孩子登船返航，怅然回到家里。马骥知道母亲活不长了，就把殡葬时所用周身衣物用品都预备齐全，在墓地种了一百多棵松树和槚树。过了一年，母亲果然去世。当灵车来到墓穴旁边时，只见有一个女子披麻戴孝，站在墓穴前面。大家正在惊讶地打量她时，忽然急风骤起，雷声轰鸣，接着下起暴雨，转眼之间，那女子已不知去了哪里。而新种的松柏原先枯死许多，至此全都活了。

译文：Ma read the letter over and over again, his tears flowing all the time. His two children clung round his neck, and begged him to take them home. “Ah, my children,” said he, “where is your home?” Then they all wept bitterly, and Ma, looking at the great ocean stretching away to meet the sky, lovely and pathless, embraced his children, and proceeded sorrowfully to return. Knowing, too, that his mother could not last long, he prepared everything necessary for the ceremony of interment, and planted a hundred young pine-trees at her grave.The following year the old lady did die, and her coffin was borne to its last resting-place, when lo! there was the princess standing by the side of the grave. The lookers-on were much alarmed, but in a moment there was a flash of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder and a squall of rain, and she was gone. It was then noticed that many of the young pine-trees which had died were one and all brought to life.

原文：福海稍长，辄思其母，忽自投入海，数日始还。龙宫以女子不得往，时掩户泣。一日，昼瞑，龙女忽入，止之曰：“儿自成家，哭泣何为?”乃赐八尺珊瑚一树，龙脑香一帖，明珠百颗，八宝嵌金合一双，为作嫁资。生闻之，突入，执手啜泣。俄顷，疾雷破屋，女已无矣。异史氏曰：“花面逢迎，世情如鬼。嗜痂之癖，举世一辙。小惭小好，大惭大好，。若公然带须眉以游都市，其不骇而走者盖几希矣。彼陵阳痴子，将抱连城玉向何处哭也?呜呼!显荣富贵，当于蜃楼海市中求之耳!”

白话文：儿子福海渐渐长大，常常想念自己的母亲，有一次忽然自己跳到海里，几天后才回来。女儿龙宫因是女孩，不能前往，就时常关上房门流泪。有一天，白天骤然变暗，龙女忽然走进门来，劝龙宫说：“你自己也要成家的，为什么哭哭啼啼的？”便给她一株八尺高的珊瑚树、一包龙脑香、一百颗明珠、一对八宝嵌金盒，作为嫁妆。马骥听见龙女的声音，突然闯进屋里，拉着龙女的手哽咽哭泣。不一会儿，一声惊雷破屋而入，龙女已经无影无踪。异史氏说：装出一副虚假的面孔去迎合风俗，人情与鬼无异。有爱吃疮痂癖好的人，天下哪里都有。自觉屈意取悦小有惭愧的文章，人们说文章还不错；自觉大为惭愧的文章，人们说文章特别好。如果公然作为一个须眉男子到都市游玩，人们不被吓跑的恐怕很少。那被封为陵阳侯的痴人卞和，将抱着价值连城的璧玉到哪里去痛哭呢？唉，荣华富贵只能到蜃楼海市中去找了！ 

译文：Subsequently, Fu-hai went in search of the mother for whom he pined so much, and after some days’ absence returned. Lung-kung, being a girl, could not accompany him, but she mourned much in secret. One dark day her mother entered and bid her dry her eyes, saying, “My child, you must get married. Why these tears?” She then gave her a tree of coral eight feet in height, some Baroos camphor,[371] one hundred valuable pearls, and two boxes inlaid with gold and precious stones, as her dowry. Ma having found out she was there, rushed in and seizing her hand began to weep for joy, when suddenly a violent peal of thunder rent the building, and the princess had vanished.