| Chinese Text Project |
《捉姦情鄆哥定計 飲鴆藥武大遭殃 - Plotting to Catch an Adulterer: Yinge Plans a Scheme; Drinking Arsenic Medicine: Wu Dalang Meets Misfortune》 | English translation: AI and Chinese Text Project users [?] | Library Resources |
| 1 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 詩曰： |
| The poem says: | ||
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參透風流二字禪，好姻緣是惡姻緣。痴心做處人人愛，冷眼觀時個個嫌。 野草閑花休採折，真姿勁質自安然。山妻稚子家常飯，不害相思不損錢。 | ||
| To comprehend the Chan of "romance" is to see through it; a good love match is but an ill one. With a foolish heart, everyone loves what you do; with cold eyes watching, everyone dislikes it. Wild grass and idle flowers should not be picked or broken; their true grace and strong nature remain naturally at ease. My mountain wife, young children, and home-cooked meals—no longing for love harms me, nor does it cost a penny. | ||
| 2 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 話說當下鄆哥被王婆打了，心中正沒出氣處，提了雪梨籃兒，一逕奔來街上尋武大郎。轉了兩條街，只見武大挑著炊餅擔兒，正從那條街過來。鄆哥見了，立住了腳，看著武大道：「這幾時不見你，吃得肥了！」武大歇下擔兒道：「我只是這等模樣，有甚吃得肥處？」鄆哥道：「我前日要糴些麥稃，一地裡沒糴處，人都道你屋裡有。」武大道：「我屋裡並不養鵝鴨，那裡有這麥稃？」鄆哥道：「你說沒麥稃，怎的賺得你恁肥耷耷的，便顛倒提你起來也不妨，煮你在鍋里也沒氣。」武大道：「小囚兒，倒罵得我好。我的老婆又不偷漢子，我如何是鴨？」鄆哥道：「你老婆不偷漢子，只偷子漢。」武大扯住鄆哥道：「還我主兒來！」鄆哥道：「我笑你只會扯我，卻不道咬下他左邊的來。」武大道：「好兄弟，你對我說是誰，我把十個炊餅送你。」鄆哥道：「炊餅不濟事。你只做個東道，我吃三杯，便說與你。」武大道：「你會吃酒？跟我來。」 |
| Now, at this moment, Yunguo had been beaten by Wang Po and was just looking for a way to vent his anger. He took up the basket of snow pears and went straight out onto the street in search of Wu Dalang. After turning down two streets, he saw Wu Dalang carrying his steamed buns on a pole coming from that street. Yunguo, upon seeing him, stopped in his tracks and looked at Wu Dalang, saying, "I haven't seen you for a few days, and now you've gotten fat!" Wu Dalang set down his pole and said, "I have always looked like this; how could I possibly get fatter?" Yunguo said, "The other day I wanted to buy some wheat husks but couldn't find any place to buy them. People all said you had some at your house." Wu Dalang said, "I don't raise geese or ducks in my house; where would I have these wheat husks?" Yunguo said, "If you don't have wheat husks, how come you've gotten so fat and flabby? Even if I turned you upside down, it wouldn't matter; even if I boiled you in a pot, there would be no gas." Wu Dalang said, "Little brat, you're cursing me well." "My wife hasn't stolen any man; how am I a duck?" Yunguo said, "Your wife didn't steal men, she just stole sons." Wu Dalang grabbed Yunguo and said, "Give me my son back!" Yunguo said, "I was just laughing at you for only knowing how to pull me around, but I didn't expect you to bite off the left side." Wu Dalang said, "Good brother, tell me who it is and I'll give you ten steamed buns." Yunguo said, "Steamed buns won't do." "Just host a feast for me. Once I've had three cups of wine, I'll tell you." Wu Dalang said, "You know how to drink wine?" "Come with me." | ||
| 3 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 武大挑了擔兒，引著鄆哥，到個小酒店裡，歇下擔兒，拿幾個炊餅，買了些肉，討了一鏇酒，請鄆哥吃著。武大道：「好兄弟，你說與我則個。」鄆哥道：「且不要慌，等我一發吃完了，卻說與你。你卻不要氣苦，我自幫你打捉。」武大看那猴子吃了酒肉：「你如今卻說與我。」鄆哥道：「你要得知，把手來摸我頭上的疙瘩。」武大道：「卻怎地來有這疙瘩？」鄆哥道：「我對你說，我今日將這籃雪梨去尋西門大官，一地裡沒尋處。街上有人道：『他在王婆茶坊里來，和武大娘子勾搭上了，每日只在那裡行走。』我指望見了他，撰他三五十文錢使。叵耐王婆那老豬狗，不放我去房裡尋他，大慄暴打出我來。我特地來尋你。我方纔把兩句話來激你，我不激你時，你須不來問我。」武大道：「真個有這等事？」鄆哥道：「又來了，我道你這般屁鳥人！那廝兩個落得快活，只專等你出來，便在王婆房裡做一處。你問道真個也是假，難道我哄你不成？」武大聽罷，道：「兄弟，我實不瞞你說，我這婆娘每日去王婆家裡做衣服，做鞋腳，歸來便臉紅。我先妻丟下個女孩兒，朝打暮罵，不與飯吃，這兩日有些精神錯亂，見了我，不做歡喜。我自也有些疑忌在心裡，這話正是了。我如今寄了擔兒，便去捉姦如何？」鄆哥道：「你老大一條漢，元來沒些見識！那王婆老狗，什麼利害怕人的人！你如何出得他手？他二人也有個暗號兒，見你入來拿他，把你老婆藏過了。那西門慶須了得！打你這般二十個。若捉他不著，反吃他一頓好拳頭。他又有錢有勢，反告你一狀子，你須吃他一場官司，又沒人做主，乾結果了你性命！」武大道：「兄弟，你都說得是。我卻怎的出得這口氣？」鄆哥道：「我吃那王婆打了，也沒出氣處。我教你一著：今日歸去，都不要發作，也不要說，只自做每日一般。明朝便少做些炊餅出來賣，我自在巷口等你。若是見西門慶入去時，我便來叫你。你便挑著擔兒只在左近等我。我先去惹那老狗，他必然來打我。我先把籃兒丟出街心來，你卻搶入。我便一頭頂住那婆子，你便奔入房裡去，叫起屈來。此計如何？」武大道：「既是如此，卻是虧了兄弟。我有兩貫錢，我把你去，你到明日早早來紫石街巷口等我。」鄆哥得了錢並幾個炊餅，自去了。武大還了酒錢，挑了擔兒，自去賣了一遭歸去。 |
| Wu Dalang carried his pole and led Yunguo to a small wine shop. He set down the pole, took out several steamed buns, bought some meat, ordered a pot of wine, and invited Yunguo to eat. Wu Dalang said, "Good brother, just tell me." Yunguo said, "Don't be in a hurry. Let me finish eating first, and then I'll tell you." "Just don't get upset; I will help you catch her myself." Wu Dalang, watching the monkey eat wine and meat, said, "Now then, tell me what it is." Yunguo said, "If you want to know the truth, put your hand on my head and feel the bump." Wu Dalang asked, "How did this bump come to be here?" Yunguo said, "Let me tell you. Today I took this basket of snow pears to look for Ximen Daquan, but couldn't find him anywhere." Someone on the street said: "He is at Wang Po's teahouse, and he has gotten involved with Wu Da's wife. Every day he just walks around there." I was hoping to see him and get thirty or fifty coins from him. Unbearable that old pig-dog Wang Po, who wouldn't let me go into the room to look for him and instead beat me out with a big bamboo stick. That's why I specially came looking for you. "I just used two sentences to provoke you. If I hadn't provoked you, you wouldn't have come to ask me." Wu Dalang asked, "Is there really such a thing?" Yunguo said, "Here we go again. I call you this kind of useless person!" Those two are having a good time, just waiting for you to come out so they can be together in Wang Po's room. "If you're asking whether it is true or false, do you think I would deceive you?" After hearing this, Wu Dalang said to his brother, "I won't hide it from you. My wife goes every day to Wang Po's house to make clothes and shoes; when she comes back, her face is red." "My first wife left behind a little girl, and I beat her in the morning and scolded her at night, not giving her food to eat. These past few days she has been somewhat mentally unbalanced; when she sees me, she doesn't show any joy." "I have also had some suspicions in my heart. Now these words are exactly right." Now that I've left the pole here, shall I go and catch them in the act?" Yunguo said, "You're a grown man, yet you have no sense at all!" "That old dog Wang Po is not someone who fears any profit or shies away from people!" "How could you possibly get out of her hands?" "They two have a secret signal. When they see you coming to catch them, they will hide your wife away." "That Ximen Qing is quite capable!" "He could beat twenty men like you." "If you can't catch him, he'll give you a good beating instead." "He has both money and power. If you get reported by him, you'll end up in court, with no one to defend you, and he might just kill you!" Wu Dalang said: "Brother, what you've said is all true." "But how can I possibly get this anger out of my chest?" Yunguo said, "I was beaten by that Wang Po and had no way to vent my anger." "I'll teach you a trick: today, when you go home, don't show any anger or say anything. Just act as usual." "Tomorrow, make fewer steamed buns to sell; I'll wait for you at the mouth of the alley." "If I see Ximen Qing go in, I will come and call you." "You just carry your pole and wait for me nearby." "I'll go first to provoke that old dog, and she will certainly come to beat me." "I'll throw the basket into the middle of the street first; you then rush in." "I will charge at that old woman and hold her off, while you run into the room and cry out for justice." "How is this plan?" Wu Dalang said: "If it's like that, then I owe you a great deal, brother." "I have two guan of money. I'll give it to you; come early tomorrow morning to the mouth of Zishi Street alley and wait for me." Yunguo took the money and several steamed buns and left on his own. Wu Dalang paid for the wine, picked up his pole, went out to sell some more steamed buns, and returned home. | ||
| 4 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 原來這婦人，往常時只是罵武大，百般的欺負他。近日來也自知無禮，只得窩盤他些個。當晚武大挑了擔兒歸來，也是和往日一般，並不題起別事。那婦人道：「大哥，買盞酒吃？」武大道：「卻才和一般經紀人買了三盞吃了。」那婦人便安排晚飯與他吃了。當夜無話。次日飯後，武大隻做三兩扇炊餅，安在擔兒上。這婦人一心只想著西門慶，那裡來理會武大的做多做少。當日武大挑了擔兒，自出去做買賣。這婦人巴不的他出去了，便踅過王婆茶坊里來等西門慶。 |
| Originally, this woman had always just scolded Wu Dalang and in a hundred different ways bullied him. Recently, however, she herself realized her rudeness and could only treat him with some degree of tolerance. That evening Wu Dalang came back carrying his pole, just as usual, and did not mention anything else. The woman said, "Big brother, buy a cup of wine to drink?" Wu Dalang replied, "I just had three cups with some business associates." The woman then prepared dinner for him and he ate. There was nothing more to say that night. The next day, after lunch, Wu Dalang made only three or four steamed buns and placed them on his pole. The woman's heart was entirely set on Ximen Qing; she had no interest in whether Wu Dalang made more or fewer buns. On that day, Wu Dalang carried his pole and went out to do business on his own. The woman was eager for him to leave, so she turned around and went into Wang Po's teahouse to wait for Ximen Qing. | ||
| 5 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 且說武大挑著擔兒，出到紫石街巷口，迎見鄆哥提著籃兒在那裡張望。武大道：「如何？」鄆哥道：「還早些個。你自去賣一遭來，那廝七八也將來也。你只在左近處伺候，不可遠去了。」武大雲飛也似去賣了一遭回來。鄆哥道：「你只看我籃兒拋出來，你便飛奔入去。」武大把擔兒寄下，不在話下。 |
| Meanwhile, Wu Dalang was carrying his pole when he came out to the mouth of Zishi Jie alley and saw Yunguo holding a basket waiting there. Wu Dalang asked: "What's up?" Yunguo said, "It's still a bit early." "Just go sell your buns for a while; he will come in seven or eight minutes." "You just stay nearby and wait, don't go too far away." Wu Dalang went off to sell his buns as if flying. Yunguo said, "Just watch for me to throw my basket out; when I do, you run in quickly." Wu Dalang left his pole behind and that is not further mentioned. | ||
| 6 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 卻說鄆哥提著籃兒，走入茶坊里來，向王婆罵道：「老豬狗！你昨日為甚麼便打我？」那婆子舊性不改，便跳身起來喝道：「你這小猢猻！老娘與你無干，你如何又來罵我？」鄆哥道：「便罵你這馬伯六，做牽頭的老狗肉，直我雞巴！」那婆子大怒，揪住鄆哥便打。鄆哥叫一聲：「你打我！」把那籃兒丟出當街上來。那婆子卻待揪他，被這小猴子叫一聲「你打」時，就打王婆腰裡帶個住，看著婆子小肚上，只一頭撞將去，險些兒不跌倒，卻得壁子礙住不倒。那猴子死頂在壁上。只見武大從外裸起衣裳，大踏步直搶入茶坊里來。那婆子見是武大，來得甚急，待要走去阻當，卻被這小猴子死力頂住，那裡肯放！婆子只叫得「武大來也！」那婦人正和西門慶在房裡，做手腳不迭，先奔來頂住了門。這西門慶便鑽入床下躲了。武大搶到房門首，用手推那房門時，那裡推得開！口裡只叫「做得好事！」那婦人頂著門，慌做一團，口裡便說道：「你閑常時只好鳥嘴，賣弄殺好拳棒，臨時便沒些用兒！見了紙虎兒也嚇一交！」那婦人這幾句話，分明叫西門慶來打武大，奪路走。西門慶在床底下聽了婦人這些話，提醒他這個念頭，便鑽出來說道：「不是我沒這本事，一時間沒這智量。」便來拔開門，叫聲「不要來！」武大卻待揪他，被西門慶早飛起腳來。武大矮小，正踢中心窩，撲地望後便倒了。西門慶打鬧里一直走了。鄆哥見勢頭不好，也撇了王婆，撒開跑了。街坊鄰舍，都知道西門了得，誰敢來管事？王婆當時就地下扶起武大來，見他口裡吐血，面皮臘渣也似黃了，便叫那婦人出來，舀碗水來救得蘇醒，兩個上下肩攙著，便從後門歸到家中樓上去，安排他床上睡了。當夜無話。次日，西門慶打聽得沒事，依前自來王婆家，和這婦人頑耍，只指望武大自死。 |
| Meanwhile, Yunguo entered the teahouse carrying his basket and shouted at Wang Po: "Old pig-dog!" "Why did you beat me yesterday?" That old woman, not having changed her nature, jumped up and shouted, "You little monkey!" "I have nothing to do with you; how dare you come back to scold me?" Yunguo said, "I'll call you a maboliu, an old dog meat who arranges affairs for others, and curse your cock!" The old woman became furious and grabbed Yunguo to beat him. Yunguo shouted, "You hit me!" He threw the basket into the middle of the road. Just as the old woman was about to grab him, this little monkey shouted "You hit me!" and struck Wang Po's waistband with a blow. He then rammed his head into her lower abdomen, nearly knocking her over; only the wall prevented her from falling. The monkey was stuck against the wall, holding on for dear life. Just then Wu Dalang came from outside, his clothes half-off, and stormed into the teahouse with big steps. The old woman saw it was Wu Dalang coming in a great hurry. She tried to go and block him, but the little monkey held her fast; she could not get free! The old woman only managed to cry out, "Wu Dalang is coming!" The woman was just in the room with Ximen Qing, busily trying to cover up their actions, and ran over first to block the door. Ximen Qing immediately crawled under the bed to hide. Wu Dalang rushed to the door of the room and tried to push it open, but could not budge it at all! He shouted only, "What a fine thing you've done!" The woman, blocking the door in a panic, said, "You always act so tough with your big mouth and show off your martial arts skills, but when it really matters you're completely useless!" "You even fall for a paper tiger!" These few words from the woman clearly signaled to Ximen Qing that he should attack Wu Dalang and clear a path for escape. Ximen Qing, hearing the woman's words from under the bed, was reminded of this idea and crawled out to say, "It's not that I lack the ability; it's just that at this moment I didn't have the presence of mind." He then came over and pulled open the door, shouting, "Don't come any closer!" Wu Dalang was about to grab him when Ximen Qing kicked out first. Wu Dalang, who was short and stocky, was struck right in the chest by the kick and fell backward with a thud. Ximen Qing ran away amid the commotion. Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Yunguo let go of Old Woman Wang and took off running. The neighbors all knew Ximen Qing was a tough character; who dared to get involved? Old Woman Wang immediately helped Wu Dalang up from the ground. Seeing that he was spitting blood and his face had turned a waxy yellow, she called out to the woman to come out and fetch a bowl of water to revive him. The two supported each other as they went through the back door home upstairs, where they laid him down on the bed. There was nothing more that night. The next day, after learning that nothing had happened, Ximen Qing came to Old Woman Wang's house as usual and played around with the woman, hoping only that Wu Dalang would die on his own. | ||
| 7 | 捉姦情鄆... : |
武大一病五日不起，更兼要湯不見，要水不見，每日叫那婦人又不應。只見他濃妝艷抹了出去，歸來便臉紅。小女迎兒又吃婦人禁住，不得向前，嚇道：「小賤人，你不對我說，與了他水吃，都在你身上！」那迎兒見婦人這等說，怎敢與武大一點湯水吃！武大幾遍只是氣得發昏，又沒人來採問。一日，武大叫老婆過來，分咐他道：「你做的勾當，我親手捉著你姦，你倒挑撥姦夫踢了我心。至今求生不生，求死不死，你們卻自去快活。我死自不妨，和你們爭執不得了。我兄弟武二，你須知他性格，倘或早晚歸來，他肯干休？你若肯可憐我，早早扶得我好了，他歸來時，我都不提起。你若不看顧我時，待他歸來，卻和你們說話。」這婦人聽了，也不回言，卻踅過王婆家來，一五一十都對王婆和西門慶說了。那西門慶聽了這話，似提在冷水盆內一般，說道：「苦也！我須知景陽岡上打死大蟲的武都頭。我如今卻和娘子眷戀日久，情孚意合，拆散不開。據此等說時，正是怎生得好？卻是苦也！」王婆冷笑道：「我倒不曾見，你是個把舵的，我是個撐船的，我倒不慌，你倒慌了手腳！」西門慶道：「我枉自做個男子漢，到這般去處，卻擺佈不開。你有甚麼主見，遮藏我們則個。」王婆道：「既然我遮藏你們，我有一條計。你們卻要長做夫妻，短做夫妻？」西門慶道：「乾娘，你且說如何是長做夫妻、短做夫妻？」王婆道：「若是短做夫妻，你們就今日便分散。等武大將息好了起來，與他陪了話。武二歸來都沒言語，待他再差使出去，卻又來相會。這是短做夫妻。你們若要長做夫妻，每日同在一處，不耽驚受怕，我卻有這條妙計，只是難教你們！」西門慶道：「乾娘，周旋了我們則個，只要長做夫妻。」王婆道：「這條計用著件東西，別人家裡都沒，天生天化，大官人家裡卻有。」西門慶道：「便是要我的眼睛，也剜來與你。卻是甚麼東西？」王婆道：「如今這搗子病得重，趁他狼狽，好下手。大官人家裡取些砒霜，卻交大娘子自去贖一帖心疼的藥來，卻把這砒霜下在裡面，把這矮子結果了，一把火燒得乾乾凈凈，沒了蹤跡。便是武二回來，他待怎的？自古道：『幼嫁從親，再嫁由身。』小叔如何管得暗地裡事！半年一載，等待夫孝滿日，大官人娶到家去。這不是長遠夫妻，偕老同歡！此計如何？」西門慶道：「乾娘此計甚妙。自古道：欲救生快活，須下死功夫。罷罷罷！一不做，二不休。」王婆道：「可知好哩！這是剪草除根，萌芽不發。大官人往家裡去快取此物來，我自教娘子下手。事了時，卻要重重謝我。」西門慶道：「這個自然，不消你說。」 雲情雨意兩綢繆，戀色迷花不肯休。畢竟人生如泡影，何須死下殺人謀？ |
| Wu Dalang lay ill for five days without getting up, and not only was no soup or water brought to him when he asked for it, but whenever he called out for the woman she did not respond. He could only see her going out in heavy makeup and returning with a flushed face. His daughter Ying'er was also forbidden by the woman from coming forward and was frightened, being told, "You little wretch! If you don't tell me that you gave him water to drink, it will all be on your head!" Poor Ying'er, hearing the woman speak in such a way, dared not give Wu Dalang even a drop of soup or water! Wu Dalang became so angry several times that he nearly fainted, yet no one came to inquire about his condition. One day, Wu Dalang called his wife over and said to her, "What you've done, I caught you in the act of adultery myself. Yet it was you who incited your lover to kick me in the chest." "Ever since then, I have been neither able to live nor die. Yet you two go on being happy and carefree." "If I were to die, that would be no problem for me, but I can't fight with the two of you anymore." "My younger brother Wu Er—you must know his character. If he happens to return one day, do you think he would let this rest?" "If you can take pity on me and help me recover soon, when he returns I won't mention a thing." "But if you don't look after me, then when he comes back, it will be your turn to answer for everything." After hearing this, the woman said nothing in reply but went straight to Old Woman Wang's place and told both her and Ximen Qing everything that had happened. Ximen Qing, upon hearing these words, felt as if he had been dunked into a basin of cold water and said, "Oh no!" "I know the Inspector Wu who killed the tiger on Jingyang Ridge." "But now I have been in love with your wife for a long time, and our feelings are so deep that we can't be separated." "With things standing as they do, what should I do now?" "This is really a problem!" Old Woman Wang coldly laughed and said, "I have never seen such a thing. You are the one steering the boat, while I am just rowing it. I'm not the one panicking; you're the one losing your composure!" Ximen Qing said, "I've been a man all this time, yet now I find myself in such a predicament and can't even get out of it." "You must have some idea. Just help us cover things up." Old Woman Wang said, "Since I'm going to help you two hide this, I've got a plan." "Do you want to be husband and wife for the long term or just for a short while?" Ximen Qing asked, "Auntie Wang, please tell me what you mean by being husband and wife for the long or short term?" Old Woman Wang said, "If it's to be a short-term affair, then you two should part ways today." "Wait until Wu Dalang recovers and apologize to him." If Wu Er returns, don't say anything. Wait for another opportunity to send him out on a mission before meeting again. This is the short-term option. "If you want to be a real married couple, living together every day without fear and worry, I do have an excellent plan—but it will not be easy for the two of you!" Ximen Qing said, "Auntie Wang, help us out. We just want to be a real couple." Old Woman Wang said, "This plan requires an item that no ordinary household has. It is something rare and special, but only the households of high-ranking officials have it." Ximen Qing said, "Even if you need my eyes, I would pluck them out for you. "But what is this item?" Old Woman Wang said, "Now that the little man is seriously ill, while he's in such a mess, it would be a good time to act." "Get some arsenic from the household of a high-ranking official, then have your wife go out and buy a dose of heart medicine. Mix in this arsenic, kill off that short man, burn everything up with fire so there's no trace left." "Even if Wu Er returns, what can he do about it?" As the old saying goes: "The first marriage follows the parents' wishes; the second is up to oneself." "How can a younger brother-in-law possibly manage affairs behind closed doors!" "Wait half a year or more until the mourning period for Wu Dalang ends, then you may marry into your family." "This is how to become husband and wife in the long term, growing old together with joy!" "How about this plan?" Ximen Qing said, "Auntie Wang, your plan is excellent. "As the old saying goes: To achieve a life of happiness, one must make deadly efforts." "Enough! Enough! Enough!" "One thing not done, another will follow. Better to do it completely and leave no loose ends." Old Woman Wang said, "That's exactly right!" "This is cutting the grass to remove its roots so no new sprouts can grow." "Master Ximen, go home quickly and fetch this item. I will personally teach the lady how to proceed." "When the matter is settled, you must reward me handsomely." Ximen Qing said, "Of course that's understood. You needn't say it." Cloud-like emotions and rain-like desires intertwine; infatuated with beauty, they refuse to stop. After all, life is but a fleeting illusion—why resort to deadly schemes? | ||
| 8 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 且說西門慶去不多時，包了一包砒霜，遞與王婆收了。這婆子看著那婦人道：「大娘子，我教你下藥的法兒。如今武大不對你說教你救活他？你便乘此把些小意兒貼戀他。他若問你討藥吃時，便把這砒霜調在心疼藥里。待他一覺身動，你便把藥灌將下去。他若毒氣發時，必然腸胃迸斷，大叫一聲。你卻把被一蓋，不要使人聽見，緊緊的按住被角。預先燒下一鍋湯，煮著一條抹布。他那藥發之時，必然七竅內流血，口唇上有牙齒咬的痕跡。他若放了命，你便揭起被來，卻將煮的抹布只一揩，都揩沒了血跡，便入在材里，扛出去燒了，有甚麼不了事！」那婦人道：「好卻是好，只是奴家手軟，臨時安排不得屍首。」婆子道：「這個易得。你那邊只敲壁子，我自過來幫扶你。」西門慶道：「你們用心整理，明日五更，我來討話。」說罷，自歸家去了。王婆把這砒霜用手捻為細末，遞與婦人，將去藏了。 |
| Let us return to Ximen Qing. Not long after, he bought a packet of arsenic and handed it over to Old Woman Wang for safekeeping. The old woman looked at the woman and said, "Madam, I will teach you how to administer the poison." "Now that Wu Dalang has not told you to save him?" "You should take this opportunity to show a little affection and care for him." "If he asks you for medicine, mix the arsenic into his heart medicine." "Once he is asleep and still, you pour the medicine down his throat." "When the poison takes effect, his intestines will surely rupture, and he will let out a loud cry." "You must cover him up with the quilt so no one can hear, and press down tightly on the corners of the blanket." "Boil a pot of soup in advance and have a cloth soaked in it ready." "When the poison takes effect, blood will certainly flow from his seven orifices, and there will be tooth marks on his lips." "If he dies, you lift up the quilt and wipe away all traces of blood with the hot cloth. Then place his body in a coffin, carry it out, and burn it—what could possibly go wrong!" The woman said, "That's a good plan indeed, but my hands are too weak; I might not be able to handle the body at the last moment." Old Woman Wang replied, "That is easy enough. "Just knock on the wall from your side, and I will come over to help you." Ximen Qing said, "You two be careful with everything. Tomorrow at the fifth watch of the night, I will come to check in." After saying this, he went home and left. Old Woman Wang took the arsenic in her hand and ground it into a fine powder, handing it to the woman, who then took it away and hid it. | ||
| 9 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 那婦人回到樓上，看著武大，一絲沒了兩氣，看看待死。那婦人坐在床邊假哭。武大道：「你做甚麼來哭？」婦人拭著眼淚道：「我的一時間不是，吃那西門慶局騙了。誰想腳踢中了你心。我問得一處有好藥，我要去贖來醫你，又怕你疑忌，不敢去取。」武大道：「你救我活，無事了，一筆都勾。武二來家，亦不提起。你快去贖藥來救我則個！」那婦人拿了銅錢，逕來王婆家裡坐地，卻教王婆贖得藥來。把到樓上，交武大看了，說道：「這帖心疼藥，太醫交你半夜裡吃了，倒頭一睡，蓋一兩床被，發些汗，明日便起得來。」武大道：「卻是好也。生受大嫂，今夜醒睡些，半夜調來我吃。」那婦人道：「你放心睡，我自扶持你。」看看天色黑了，婦人在房裡點上燈，下麵燒了大鍋湯，拿了一方抹布煮在鍋里。聽那更鼓時，卻正好打三更。那婦人先把砒霜傾在盞內，卻舀一碗白湯，把到樓上，叫聲：「大哥，藥在那裡？」武大道：「在我席子底下枕頭邊，你快調來我吃！」那婦人揭起席子，將那藥抖在盞子里，將白湯沖在盞內，把頭上銀簪兒只一攪，調得勻了。左手扶起武大，右手把藥便灌。武大呷了一口，說道：「大嫂，這藥好難吃！」那婦人道：「只要他醫得病好，管甚麼難吃！」武大再呷第二口時，被這婆娘就勢只一灌，一盞藥都灌下喉嚨去了。那婦人便放倒武大，慌忙跳下床來。武大哎了一聲，說道：「大嫂，吃下這藥去，肚裡倒疼起來。苦呀，苦呀！倒當不得了。」這婦人便去腳後扯過兩床被來，沒頭沒臉只顧蓋。武大叫道：「我也氣悶！」那婦人道：「太醫吩咐，教我與你發些汗，便好的快。」武大再要說時，這婦人怕他掙扎，便跳上床來，騎在武大身上，把手緊緊的按住被角，那裡肯放些松寬！正是： |
| The woman returned upstairs and looked at Wu Dalang, whose breath was faint and who seemed on the verge of death. The woman sat by his bedside feigning tears. Wu Dalang asked, "Why are you crying?" The woman wiped her tears and said, "It was my momentary mistake to be deceived by Ximen Qing. "I never expected that his kick would hit your chest." "I found a place where there is good medicine, and I want to go get it for you. But I was afraid you would be suspicious and didn't dare to go." Wu Dalang said, "If you save my life and everything is resolved, I will forget all about it. When Wu Er came home, he also did not mention anything. "Go quickly and get the medicine to save me!" The woman took some copper coins, went straight to Old Woman Wang's house and sat down there, instructing Old Woman Wang to go get the medicine for her. She brought it upstairs and gave it to Wu Dalang, who looked at it. She said, "This chest pain medicine was given by the imperial physician for you to take in the middle of the night. After taking it, lie down and sleep, cover yourself with one or two blankets, sweat a bit, and tomorrow you will be able to get up." Wu Dalang said, "That's good. I'm indebted to my elder sister-in-law. Tonight I'll stay awake a bit and you can prepare it for me in the middle of the night." The woman said, "Don't worry, sleep soundly. I will take care of you myself." As the sky gradually darkened, the woman lit a lamp in her room and boiled a large pot of soup on the stove below. She also put a piece of cloth into the pot to boil. When she listened for the drum marking the hours, it was exactly the third watch of the night. The woman first poured the arsenic into a cup, then took a bowl of plain soup upstairs and called out, "Brother Wu, here is your medicine!" Wu Dalang replied, "It's under my mat by the pillow. You quickly prepare it for me to take!" The woman lifted the mat, poured the poison into the cup, added hot water to it, and stirred it with a silver hairpin on her head until it was well mixed. With her left hand she supported Wu Dalang's upper body, while with her right hand she poured the medicine down his throat. Wu Dalang took a sip and said, "Elder sister-in-law, this medicine is really hard to swallow!" The woman replied, "As long as it cures the illness, who cares if it's hard to take?" As Wu Dalang took a second sip, the woman seized the opportunity and poured the entire cup of medicine down his throat in one go. The woman then let Wu Dalang lie back down and hurriedly jumped off the bed. Wu Dalang groaned, saying, "Elder sister-in-law, after taking this medicine, my stomach hurts even more." "It's painful! It's so painful!" "I can't take it anymore." The woman then went to the foot of the bed and pulled over two blankets, covering him up without regard for his face. Wu Dalang shouted, "I feel suffocated!" The woman said, "The imperial physician instructed me to make you sweat a bit so that you will recover more quickly." As Wu Dalang was about to say something else, the woman feared he might struggle and jumped onto the bed, straddling him. She tightly held down the corners of the blanket with her hands, not allowing any loosening at all! It was precisely: | ||
| 油煎肺腑，火燎肝腸。心窩裡如霜刀相侵，滿腹中似鋼刀亂攪。渾身冰冷，七竅血流。牙關緊咬，三魂赴在枉死城中；喉管枯幹，七魄投望鄉臺上。地獄新添食毒鬼，陽間沒了捉姦人。 | ||
| The lungs and viscera were fried in oil, the liver and intestines scorched by fire. Inside his chest it felt as if a frosty blade was piercing him; in his entire abdomen, like steel blades were stirring wildly. His whole body turned icy cold, and blood flowed from the seven orifices of his face. His jaw was tightly clenched; his three souls had already departed to the City of Premature Death. His throat became dry and parched, while his seven spirits ascended toward the Lookout Platform for the Lost Souls. The hellish realm had just added a new poison-eating ghost, while the mortal world lost one who had committed adultery. | ||
| 10 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 那武大當時哎了兩聲，喘息了一回，腸胃迸斷，嗚呼哀哉，身體動不得了。那婦人揭起被來，見了武大咬牙切齒，七竅流血，怕將起來，只得跳下床來，敲那壁子。王婆聽得，走過後門頭咳嗽。那婦人便下樓來，開了後門。王婆問道：「了也未？」那婦人道：「了便了了，只是我手腳軟了，安排不得。」王婆道：「有甚麼難處，我幫你便了。」那婆子便把衣袖捲起，舀了一桶湯，把抹布撇在裡面，掇上樓來。捲過了被，先把武大口邊唇上都抹了，卻把七竅淤血痕跡拭凈，便把衣裳蓋在身上。兩個從樓上一步一掇扛將下來，就樓下尋扇舊門停了。與他梳了頭，戴上巾幘，穿了衣裳，取雙鞋襪與他穿了，將片白絹蓋了臉，揀床乾凈被蓋在死屍身上。卻上樓來，收拾得乾凈了，王婆自轉將歸去了。那婆娘卻號號地假哭起「養家人」來。看官聽說：原來但凡世上婦人哭有三樣：有淚有聲謂之哭，有淚無聲謂之泣，無淚有聲謂之號。當下那婦人乾號了半夜。 |
| At that moment, Wu Dalang let out two groans and took a few labored breaths before his intestines ruptured. Alas! He was dead, his body no longer moving at all. The woman lifted the blanket and saw Wu Dalang gnashing his teeth, blood flowing from all seven orifices. Frightened by what she saw, she could do nothing but jump off the bed and knock on the wall. Old Woman Wang heard this and walked to the back of the house, coughing as if by coincidence. The woman then came downstairs and opened the back door. Old Woman Wang asked, "Is it done yet?" The woman replied, "It's over, but I'm so weak in my limbs that I can't manage anything." Old Woman Wang said, "What is there to worry about? Just let me help you." The old woman rolled up her sleeves, took a bucket of water, threw the cloth into it, and carried it upstairs. She pulled back the blanket, first wiping Wu Dalang's lips and mouth with it. Then she cleaned away all traces of blood from his seven orifices before covering him up with his clothes. The two women carried Wu Dalang down the stairs, one step at a time, and placed him on an old door they found downstairs. They combed his hair, placed a head covering on him, dressed him in clothes, put shoes and socks on his feet, covered his face with a piece of white silk, and selected a clean blanket to cover the corpse. Then they went back upstairs, tidied everything up, and Old Woman Wang returned home on her own. The woman began to fake wailing loudly as if mourning for "the breadwinner of the family." Dear audience, please listen carefully: originally, in the world there are three types of crying by women. Crying with tears and sound is called "kū," crying with tears but no sound is called "qì," and crying without tears but with loud wailing is called "hào." At that time, the woman wailed loudly all night long. | ||
| 11 | 捉姦情鄆... : | 次早五更，天色未曉，西門慶奔來討信。王婆說了備。西門慶取銀子把與王婆，教買棺材發送，就叫那婦人商議。這婆娘過來和西門慶說道：「我的武大今日已死，我只靠著你做主！不到後來網巾圈兒打靠後。」西門慶道：「這個何須你費心！」婦人道：「你若負了心，怎的說？」西門慶道：「我若負了心，就是武大一般！」王婆道：「大官人，如今只有一件事要緊：天明就要入殮，只怕被仵作看出破綻來怎了？團頭何九，他也是個精細的人，只怕他不肯殮。」西門慶笑道：「這個不妨事。何九我自吩咐他，他不敢違我的言語。」王婆道：「大官人快去吩咐他，不可遲了。」西門慶自去對何九說去了。正是： |
| The next morning at the fifth watch, before dawn broke, Ximen Qing rushed over to inquire about the news. Old Woman Wang gave him a detailed account. Ximen Qing took out some silver and gave it to Old Woman Wang, instructing her to buy a coffin for the funeral arrangements. He also asked the woman to discuss the matter with them. The woman came over and said to Ximen Qing, "My Wu Dalang is dead today; I can only rely on you for support! I won't be left behind with a net-like headband tied at the back." Ximen Qing said, "There is no need for you to worry about this!" The woman asked, "What if you break your promise? What will you do then?" Ximen Qing replied, "If I betray my word, may I meet the same fate as Wu Dalang!" Old Woman Wang said, "Master Ximen, there is now only one urgent matter: the body must be placed in a coffin before dawn. I am afraid that if the coroner discovers any inconsistencies, what will we do?" He Jiu, the head of the burial team, is also a very meticulous person. I'm afraid he won't agree to handle the funeral." Ximen Qing smiled and said, "This need not be a problem. I will personally give instructions to He Jiu; he dares not disobey my words." Old Woman Wang said, "Master Ximen, you should go and instruct him quickly. Do not delay." Ximen Qing went to speak with He Jiu himself. Indeed: | ||
| 三光有影誰能待，萬事無根只自生。雪隱鷺鷥飛始見，柳藏鸚鵡語方聞。 | ||
| The three lights cast shadows, but who can wait? All matters arise from nothingness by themselves. Snow hides the heron until it flies and is seen; willows conceal the parrot until its voice is heard. |
URN: ctp:jinpingmei/ch5