《聊斋志异》2. 聂小倩(二)
Strange
Tales of a Lonely Studio·Pretty
Girl and Lonely Soul
蒲松龄著
宋德利译
5.
原文:
宁斋临野,因营坟葬诸斋外。祭而祝曰:“怜卿狐魂,葬近蜗居,歌哭相闻,庶*不见陵于雄鬼*。一瓯*浆水饮,殊不清旨,幸不为嫌!”祝毕而返。后有人呼曰:“缓待同行!”回顾,则小倩也。欢喜谢曰:“君信义,十死不足以报。请从归,拜识姑嫜*,媵御无悔。“审谛之,肌映流霞,足翘细笋,白昼端相,娇艳尤绝。遂与俱至斋中。嘱坐少待,先入白母。母愕然。时宁妻久病,母戒勿言,恐所骇惊。言次,女已翩然入,拜伏地下。宁曰:“此小倩也。”母惊顾不遑。女谓母曰:“儿飘然一身,远父母兄弟。蒙公子露覆*,泽被发肤*,愿执箕帚,以报高义。”母见其绰约可爱,始敢与言,曰:“小娘子惠顾吾儿,老身喜不可已。但生平止此儿,用承祧绪*,不敢令有鬼偶。”女曰:“儿实无二心。泉下人,既不见信于老母,请以兄事,依高堂,奉晨昏,如何?”母怜其诚,允之。即欲拜嫂。母辞以疾,乃止。女即入厨下,代母尸饔*。入房穿户,似熟居者。日暮,母畏惧之,辞使归寝,不为设床褥。女窥知母意,即竟去。过斋俗入,却退,徘徊户外,似有所惧。生呼之。女曰:“室有剑气畏人。向道途中不奉见者,良以此故。”宁悟为革囊,取悬他室。女乃入,就烛下坐。移时,殊不一语。久之,问:“夜读否?妾少诵《楞严经》*,今强半遗忘。浼*求一卷,夜暇,就兄正之。”宁诺。又坐,默然,二更向尽,不言去。宁促之。愀然曰:“异域孤魂,殊怯荒墓。”宁曰:“斋中别无订寝,且兄妹亦宜远嫌。”女起,眉颦蹙而欲啼,足【亻匡】【亻襄】*而懒步,从容出门,涉阶而没。宁窃怜之,欲留宿别榻,又惧母嗔。女朝旦朝母,捧匜沃盥*,下堂操作,无不曲承母志。黄昏告退,辄过斋头,就烛诵经。觉宁将寝,始惨然去。
注释:
1.庶:“庶几乎”和“庶几”的简略。“庶几乎”,连词,表示在上述情况下才能避免某种后果,或实现某种愿望。相当于“以便”。2.雄鬼:是凶恶强悍之鬼,不是“雄性”之鬼。3.瓯:盅,方言,都“欧”。又如“瓯子”就是“盅子”。4.露覆:蒙受恩泽。5.泽被发肤:恩泽施于我身。被,覆盖。发肤:全身。《孝经》:“身体发肤,受之父母。”6.姑嫜:丈夫的母亲和父亲。姑,婆婆。嫜,公公,读“章”。7.承祧绪:传宗接代。承,继承。祧绪,祖宗后代。祧,祖庙。读“挑”,平声。绪,残余。8.尸饔:料理饮食。尸,主持。饔,熟食。读”庸“。《诗。小雅。祈父》:“胡转予于恤,有母之尸饔。”9.《楞严经》:佛经名。全称为《大佛顶如来密因修正了义诸菩萨万行首楞严经》。10.浼
:读“美”,请托。11.【亻匡】【亻襄】:电脑无此二字,故而各用两个偏旁拼成,同“劻勷”,读“筐嚷”,慌忙胆怯。12.嗔:发怒,生气。读“琛”。13.捧匜沃盥:侍奉盥洗。匜,古盥器,用来盛水,读“谊”。沃盥,浇洗。
白话:
宁采臣的书斋面对田野,他就在那外面建了一座坟莹。他将灵柩下葬之后,就地追悼,诵读祭文:“怜卿孤魂,葬近蜗居,歌哭相闻,庶不见陵于雄鬼。一瓯浆水饮,殊不清旨,幸不为嫌!”
祭文的意思是:“可怜你的孤魂,把你埋葬在我家附近,以便互通悲欢,彼此关照,不至于使你受恶鬼凌辱。请饮我清水一盅,味道虽不甘美,切勿嫌弃!
”
追思祭奠结束,采臣准备起身回家。可就在此时,他听到背后有人在说话:“请留步。我想和你一起走。”
转身一看,他才发现原来是聂小倩!他的心上人已经起死回生。
“你真坚守信义,我就是死十回也难报答你的恩情。”她说。“我愿意和你一起走,好去见一见我的公婆呀。我就是被当作奴仆对待也丝毫不后悔。”
他仔细审视,发现小倩在阳光之下容光焕发。她皮肤佼好如霞,一双美足宛如小巧玲珑的竹笋。小倩跟着采臣进入书斋。他让她在此稍候,而他自己则连忙向母亲通报她的到来。闻听此事,他母亲感到十分惊诧,嘱咐他什么也不要说,以免吓坏久病缠身的妻子。
母子俩话音刚落,小倩便翩然而至,随即拜伏在老夫人的脚下。
“她就是小倩,”采臣说。老太太望着她,只是感到吃惊,并不感到害怕。
“长期以来,我一直远离父母兄弟。”她说。“没有您儿子的帮助,就不会有我这条命。我甘愿作您的奴仆,以报答他的恩情。”看到她美丽的容貌和高雅的气质之后,老太太才敢开口说话。
“你这么高看我的儿子,实在难得。我真的很开心。”宁老夫人说。“不过我就只有这么一个儿子传宗接代,所以不敢让他娶个鬼媳妇。”
“我确实没有什么恶意。”小倩说。“作为一个阴间的女鬼,我既然有幸得到您的信任,那就让我试着把您儿子当成我亲兄弟对待,让我从早到晚地服侍您。您的意下如何?”为她的诚恳所动,老夫人同意了。小倩想看一看嫂子,也就是采臣的媳妇。但是被老太太以儿媳生病为借口谢绝了。姑娘也只好打消这个念头。小倩走进厨房,替老太太点火做饭。她进进出出,忙里忙外,动作娴熟,手艺高强,每件事都料理得井井有条,真像在这里长期居住过一样。
夜幕降临,老太太胆战心惊,让小倩停下手里的一切,催她赶紧去睡觉,但是却不给她床和被褥。她明白老太太的心意,于是就立刻离开了。走过书斋的时候,她想进去,但又退出来,在外面徘徊不定,似乎有所畏惧。采臣叫住了她。
“屋里有剑的气味。我很害怕。”姑娘说。“所以那天在回家的路上,我没要你把剑拿给我看。”
采臣意识到她指的就是那只皮袋,于是他就把它挂在另外的房间里。姑娘这才走进来,坐在烛光下,可一时间没有吱声。随着时间的推移,她才终于开口讲话。“请问你夜间读什么东西吗?”姑娘问。“我小时候曾经诵读过《楞严经》。不过现在已忘掉大半了。请给我抄写一份,以便夜间有空时和兄长你在一起读一读。”
采臣欣然应允。不过她依然默默地坐在那里。二更天都已经过了,她还不说走。于是他就催她离开。
“作为阴间的一个孤魂,我特别害怕孤坟野冢。”姑娘神色黯然地说。
“可是书斋里只有一张床呀,”采臣说。“再说,兄妹之间也应该尽量避免嫌疑。”
姑娘起身,双眉紧锁,似乎要哭。她不愿意离开,但是别无选择。一出门,她便立即在阶前消失了。出于怜悯,采臣本想留她住在另外一个房间,但又怕母亲怪罪。每天一大早,姑娘就来。她首先向老夫人请安,然后就整天为家务忙得不可开交。迫使自己对老太太有求必应。天一擦黑,她就离开。每次走过采臣的书斋,她都要进去,就着烛光诵读佛经。什么时候一感觉到采臣想睡觉,她就郁郁寡欢地离开。
英译:
Ning built a grave just outside his study which was facing the
field. Burying the coffin, he held a memorial service with a
funeral oration saying, “I take pity on your lonely soul and buried
you near my study. W can hear each other’s singing and crying, so
that you can free yourself from being bullied by the violent
demons. Do accept my clear water and have a drink,
please.
Don’t detest and reject it. ”
The memorial service was finished and he was ready to go back. Just
at this instant he heard someone behind him saying, “A moment
please. I’d like to go with you.”
Turning back, he found it was Xiaoqian Nie ! His beloved had
already been restored to life.
“You’re
really honest. I couldn’t repay you for your obligation even if I
die ten times,” said she. “I’m willing to go with you in order to
get acquainted with my parents-in-law. I wouldn’t have any regrets
at all even if I should be treated as a servant.”
Scrutinizing, he found that Xiaoqian was extremely gorgeous in
broad daylight with her skin as beautiful as morning glow and her
feet as elegant as little bamboo shoots.
Xiaoqian followed Ning. Entering his study, he asked her to wait
there temporarily and he himself went to notify his mother of her
arrival.
Hearing this, his mother was astonished and told him to say nothing
about this so as not to scare his wife who had been ill for a long
time.
Immediately after their conversation was finished, Xiaoqian
trippingly came in and prostrated herself at the feet of his
mother.
“She’s Xiaoqian,” said Ning.
Looking at her, the mother felt surprised but not panic.
“I’m alone all by myself and far away from my parents and bothers,”
said she. “But for your son’s help I would not have had this life.
I’m willing to be your servant in order to reciprocate his
kindness.”
It’s only after seeing her beautiful appearance and elegant manner
did the old lady dare to speak.
“It’s very kind of you to think highly of my son. I’m really
happy,” said Ning’s mother. “But I only have this son to go down to
the future generation, so I don’t dare to let him have a ghost
wife.”
“I really don’t have any bad intentions,” said Xiaoqian. “As a girl
of the nether world, now that I can’t enjoy your trust, let me try
to treat your son as my brother and attend you from morning till
night. How about it?”
Moved by her sincerity, the mother agreed. Xiaoqian wanted to see
her sister-in-law, namely, Ning’s wife. Yet being refused by the
old lady on the excuse of the disease of Ning’s wife, the girl
dismissed her idea.
Xiaoqian entered the kitchen and did the cooking in the old lady’s
stead. Getting in and out, she did everything skillfully as if she
had been living here for a long time.
The curtain of night fell. Being frightened, the old lady stopped
the girl from doing anything and asked her to go to sleep but gave
her neither a bed nor sheets. Knowing what the old
lady was up to, she left immediately.
While passing by the study, the girl wanted to enter but shrank
back and wandered outside as if she was afraid of something. Ning
called her.
“There’s a sword smell in the room. It scares me,” said the girl.
“That’s why I didn’t dare to ask you to show me the sword that day
on the way back home.”
Ning realized what she meant was the leather bag so he hang it in
the other room. And then the girl came in and sat by the candle
without saying a word for a moment. As time went on, she opened her
mouth at last.
“Do you read anything at night? ” asked the girl. “When
I was a child, I once recited the Buddhist Scriptures Leng Yan Buddhist Scriptures. But
I've forgotten more than half. Would you please give me a copy so
as I can read it with your help whenever I’m free at night.
”
Ning agreed. But she still sat there silently. It was already over
the second watch of the night, but she still didn’t say a word
about leaving. He urged her to go.
“As a lonely soul of the nether world, I’m particularly afraid of
the deserted graves.” The girl said plaintively.
“But there was no other bed in my study,” said Ning. “Besides, a
brother and a sister should try to avoid being
suspected.”
The girl stood up with knitted brows and seemed to cry. She did not
like to leave but had no other way out. Walking out, she vanished
on the steps.
Taking pity upon her, Ning wanted to let her stay in another room
but was afraid of being blamed by his mother.
Early in the morning the girl came to greeted the old lady first
and then kept busy with every kind of household duties all day
long. She forced herself to cater to all the needs of the old lady
without any exception. At dusk she retreated. Whenever passing by
Ning’s study she would go in and read the Buddhist Scriptures with
the help of a candle. She would start to leave depressingly
whenever she felt that Ning wanted to go to sleep.
6.
原文:
先是,宁妻病废,母劬*不可堪;自得女,逸甚,心德之。日渐稔*,亲爱如己出,竟忘其为鬼;不忍晚令去,留与同卧起。女初来未尝食饮,半年渐啜稀【左饣,右拖无扌】*。母子
皆溺爱之,讳言其鬼,人亦不之辨也。无何,宁妻亡。母隐有纳女意,然恐于子不利。女微
窥之,乘间告母曰:“居年余,当知儿肝膈。为不欲祸行人,故从郎君来。区区无他意,止以公子光明磊落,为天人所钦瞩*,实欲依赞*三数年,借博封诰*,以光泉壤。”母亦知无恶,但惧不能延宗嗣。女曰:“子女惟天所授。郎君注福籍*,有亢宗子*三,不以鬼妻而遂夺也。”母信之,与子议。宁喜,因列筵告戚党。或请觌新妇,女慨然华妆出,一堂尽眙*,反不疑其鬼,疑为仙。由是五党*诸内眷,咸执贽*以贺,争拜识之。女善画兰梅,辄以尺幅酬答,得者藏什袭*,以为荣。
注释:
1.劬:
劳累。劬,读“渠”。2.稔:熟悉,多指对人熟悉。读“忍”。3.【左饣,右拖无扌】:电脑无此字,用两个偏旁拼成。读“义”,粥。4.区区:自称的谦辞。5.钦瞩:钦佩敬重。
6.依赞:依靠帮助。赞,帮助,赞助。7.封诰:明、清制度。一至五品官员,皇帝授予诰命,称为“封诰”。本文指因丈夫得官,妻子受封。8.注福籍:意味命中注定有福。9.亢宗子:旧时某人儿子中能够扩展宗族地位的那个就叫“亢宗子”。10.眙:因为惊诧而目光直视,读“赤”。11.五党:不详。疑为“五宗”,指五服内的亲戚。五服,五服指的是五种丧服,在中国古代社会,以丧服来表示亲属之间血缘关系的远近以及尊卑关系。基本上分为五等,即:斩榱、齐榱、大功、小功、缌麻。12.执贽:带着礼物。贽,古人初次拜见长辈所带的礼物。读“志”。13.什袭:珍藏。
白话:
先前,宁采臣的妻子患病不能动,老太太累得半死,不过自从小倩来到之后,她才如释重负,从心里感激她。渐渐地,两人日益熟悉起来。老夫人把她当成自己的女儿一样对待,竟然已经忘记这姑娘是鬼。
最后,老太太终于不忍心在夜间赶她走,而是让她留宿。起初姑娘什么也不吃。半年之后,她才开始吃点东西。出与疼爱,母子俩都忌讳说她是鬼。而别人也认不出这个鬼姑娘的庐山真面目。
不久,采臣的妻子不幸离开人世。老夫人有意收留这姑娘,但又怕对儿子不利。注意到这一点之后,小倩就找机会说服老夫人。
“我在这里已经住了一年多。您应该知道我是怎样的人。”姑娘说。“就是因为不想伤害无辜的人,我才跟着您的儿子,我实在没有任何恶意。我想和他在一起过上几年。万一他能封个一官半职,我也好跟着沾点光。就是这样。”虽然知道姑娘并无恶意,但老太太依然怕她不能生育,以至使她断后。
“有没有儿女,这都是天意。”姑娘说。“您儿子托老天的福,注定会有三个儿子为您继承烟火。老天不会因为您儿子有个鬼媳妇就把他的儿子收回去。”老夫人相信了她,就和儿子商量。采臣喜出望外,设宴款待亲朋好友。无论是谁想见一见新娘的面,小倩都是浓妆艳抹,盛装丽服,大方地出头露面。所有的人都会惊艳不已,可就是没人会想到她居然是鬼。不过许多人都怀疑她是仙女下凡。五服内众多的亲族随后都带着贺礼,源源不断地蜂拥而至,拜见这对新人。新娘擅长丹青笔墨,尤其以画兰梅见长,于是她亲手绘制以作回赠之礼。人们都以能获赠她的画作而感到荣幸。
英译:
Previously, the old lady was dead tired everyday because of her
daughter-in-law’s serious illness, but felt quite easy ever since
Xiaoqian’s coming. And the ghost girl had become a lovable one in
the old lady’s eyes. Gradually, these two became more and more
familiar with each other. The old lady even forgot the girl was a
ghost and treated her as if she was her own daughter. At the end,
the old one could not had the heart to ask her to leave at night
but let her stay with herself.
At the beginning, the girl did not eat anything. Half year later,
she started to take some food. Greatly doting on her, either the
mother or the son refrained from saying she was a ghost. And other
people could not recognized this ghost girl.
Not long after, Ning’s wife died. The old lady was going to adopt
the girl but was afraid it might be harmful to his son. Noticing
this, Xiaoqian took the opportunity to speak to the old
lady.
“I’ve been living here more than one year. You should know what
kind of people I am.” Said the girl. “Only for the purpose not to
do any harm to the innocent people did I follow your son really
without any evil intent. I know your son is a good man and will
surely have a bright future. Maybe he’ll be offered with some high
posts and favors. I want to be with him for several years so as to
share his honor. That’s all.”
Knowing the girl had no bad intent, yet the old lady worried she
might be sterile and cut off her offspring.
“Children are given by Heaven.” The girl said. “Your son is the
blessed and he is doom to have three sons to continue the offspring
for you. Heaven doesn’t take back offspring from your son just
because he has a ghost wife.”
The mother believed and had a discussion with the son. Quite happy,
Ning prepared a banquet and invited many relatives and friends. No
matter whoever wanted to look at the bride, she, gorgeously
dressed, would come out graciously. All the people were much
surprised but no one thought that she was a ghost. Yet many of them
suspected that she was a fairy.
Carrying congratulatory gifts, the kinsfolk came in a continuous
stream to make respectful calls on this new couple. Good at
painting orchids and plum blossom, the bride usually returned them
some pictures drawn with her own hands. They all took pride in
getting her paintings.
7.
原文:
一日,俯颈窗前,怊怅若失*。忽问:“革囊何在?”曰:“以卿畏之,故缄置他所。”曰:“妾受生气已久,当不复畏,宜取挂订头。”宁诘其意,曰:“三日来,心怔忡*无停息,意金华妖物,恨妾远遁,恐旦晚寻及也。”宁果携革囊来。女反复审视,曰:“此剑仙将盛人头者也。敝败*至此,不知杀人几何许!妾今日视之,肌犹粟慄*。”乃悬之。次日,又命移悬户上。夜对烛坐,约宁勿寝。欻有一物,如飞鸟堕。女惊匿夹幕*间。宁视之,物如夜叉状,电目血舌,睒闪攫拿而前。至门却步;逡巡久之,渐近革囊,以爪摘取,似将抓裂。囊忽格然一响,大可合篑*;恍惚有鬼物,突出半身,揪夜叉入,声遂寂然,囊亦顿缩如故。宁骇诧。女亦出,大喜曰:“无恙矣!”共视囊中,清水数斗*而已。后数年,宁果登进士。女举一男。纳妾后,又各生一男,皆仕进有声*。
注释:
1.怊怅若失:感伤失意。怊,悲伤失意,读“超”。2.怔忡:心悸,恐惧不安。读“争冲”。
3.敝败:破烂败坏。4.粟慄:吓得起鸡皮疙瘩。粟,米粒。此处指皮肤上起米粒状疙瘩。读“诉”。慄,惊恐。读“利”。5.夹幕:帷幕。6.合篑:(两个)筐合起来。篑,盛土的筐,读“溃”。7.斗:盛粮食的器具,也用作粮食的计量单位,是“市斗”的通称。一斗本来很多。此处只是用来形容水多,并非特指几斗,因为一斗的容量就已经很大,恐怕这样一个小小的盛剑箱子连一斗都容不下的。8.有声:政绩上很有名声,就是口碑不错。此处的“声”指政绩上的名声。
白话:
一天,小倩神色忧伤地坐在窗前,低着头,一言不发。很久之后,她才突然开口讲话。 “那个皮袋在哪儿?”她问。
“想到你很怕它,我就把它藏在别处了。”采臣说。
“我一直和生人在一起过了这么长时间,应该是不再怕它了。你最好还是把它拿来挂在你的床头。”她说。采臣惑然不解,询问其中原因。
“三天来,我一直忧心忡忡。我逃得这么远,想必那金华妖怪一定对我恨之入骨。也许一两天之内他就会来找我算帐。”闻听此言,采臣立即把皮袋拿回来。她仔仔细细,翻来复去地审视着。
“这袋子是仙人用来装人头用的。谁知道它已经装过多少人头。”她说。“现在一看到它,我还吓得直哆嗦呢。”起初采臣只是把它挂在床头。第二天,她又叫他把它挂在窗户上方。夜间,她面对烛光,坐在那里,不叫丈夫睡觉。片刻之后,有个象大鸟一样的东西突然掉下来。她惊恐万状的迅速躲藏在帘幕后面。定睛一看,采臣发现那怪物有两只闪电般的眼睛,和一只血淋淋的舌头。怪物迅速地向前冲,而后停在门口,徘徊良久,最后才继续往前走。它逐渐靠近皮袋,用爪子把它扯下来,似乎要打开。就在这个节骨眼儿上,随着一种震耳欲聋的声音,皮袋迅速膨胀,最后变得和衣箱那么大。紧接着,有个怪物似的东西从里面冒出来,露出半截身子,顺手抓住妖精,把它重新放入袋内。随后,一切归于平静。而就在这鸦雀无声之际,那袋子突然之间又缩回到原来那样大小。采臣吓得魂飞魄散,而他的新娘这才走出来。
“平安无事啦!”她兴高采烈地说。往袋子一看,他们才发现里面只是清水一汪。数年之后,宁采臣果然荣登进士。爱妻也为他生一娇儿。纳妾之后,两房太太又各添一丁。三名小辈,日后为官都享有盛誉。
英译:
One day, lowering her head with a sad look, Xiaoqian sat at the
window without speaking. Long after, she suddenly opened her
mouth.
“Where is the leather bag?” asked she.
“Considering you’re afraid of it, I sealed it in other place.” She
was told.
“I’ve been living together with strangers so long a time and should
not be afraid of it anymore. It’s proper for you to take it back
and hang it at the bed,” said the young lady.
Without understanding, Ning asked why.
“I’ve been distracted with anxiety for three days. I thought the
demon in Jinhua must hate me to the bone because of my long
distance escape. Maybe within one or two days, he’ll come here to
search me.”
On hearing this, Ning took back the leather bag immediately. She
examined it carefully and repeatedly.
“This sword bag belongs to supernatural beings. It’s a tool to
contain people’s heads. Who knows how many heads it has ever
contained up to now,” said she. “Looking at it now, I still shiver
with fright.”
At first he hung it above the bed. And the next day, she asked Ning
to hang it above the window. At night, facing the candle, she sat
there and asked her husband not to sleep.
A moment later, something like a large flying bird suddenly fell
down. Alarmed and panicky, she promptly hid herself behind the
curtain. Taking a look, Ning found the demon with lightning eyes
and bloody tongue.
The demon rapidly rushed forward and stopped at the
door.
Shilly-shally for a long while, the demon stepped up at last,
gradually drew close to the leather bag, took it down with its paw
and seemly wanted to tear it open. Just at that moment, with a
deafening cracking sound, the bag quickly enlarged as big as a
suitcase. And then, something like a monster came out revealing
only half of its body, and grasped the demon and put him into the
bag again. After all these, everything became soundless and in a
sudden, the bag shrank into the original size.
Ning was terribly frightened and his new wife came out.
“Everything is all right!” she said, extremely happy.
Looked into the bag, they found only some clear water in
it.
Several years later, as expected, Ning Caichen successfully passed
an imperial examination while the lady gave birth to a boy. After
taking a concubine, Ning got two more boys, one from Xiaoqian, one
from the concubine. And moreover, all these boys enjoyed a very
high reputation in official circles.