| | 說楔子敷... : |
這一首詞，也是個老生常談。不過說人生富貴功名，是身外之物；但世人一見了功名，便捨著性命去求他，及至到手之後，味同嚼蠟。自古及今，那一個是看得破的！ |
| In which an introductory...: |
The idea expressed in this poem is the commonplace one that in human life riches, rank, success and fame are external things. Men will risk their lives in the search for them; yet once they have them within their grasp, the taste is no better than chewed tallow. But from ancient times till now, how many have accepted this? |
| | 說楔子敷... : |
一日，正和秦老坐著，只見外邊走進一個人來，頭帶瓦楞帽，身穿青布衣服。秦老迎接，敘禮坐下。這人姓翟，是諸暨縣一個頭役，又是買辦。因秦老的兒子秦大漢拜在他名下，叫他乾爺，所以常時下鄉來看親家。秦老慌忙叫兒子烹茶，殺雞、煮肉款留他；就要王冕相陪。彼此道過姓名。那翟買辦道：「只位王相公，可就是會畫沒骨花的麼？」秦老道：「便是了。親家，你怎得知道？」翟買辦道：「縣裏人那個不曉得。因前日本縣老爺吩咐：要畫二十四副花卉冊頁送上司，此事交在我身上。我聞有王相公的大名，故此一徑來尋親家。今日有緣，遇著王相公，是必費心大筆畫一畫。在下半個月後，下鄉來取。老爺少不得還有幾兩潤筆的銀子，一併送來。」秦老在傍，著實攛掇。王冕屈不過秦老的情，只得應諾了。回家用心用意，畫了二十四副花卉，都題了詩在上面。翟頭役稟過了本官，那知縣時仁，發出二十四兩銀子來。翟買辦扣剋了十二兩，只拿十二兩銀子送與王冕，將冊頁取去。時知縣又辦了幾樣禮物，送與危素，作候問之禮。 |
| In which an introductory...: |
One day Wang Mian was sitting in Old Qin's cottage when a man wearing a bailiff's cap and blue cloth gown came in. Old Qin welcomed him, and after an exchange of courtesies they sat down. This newcomer's name was Zhai. He was a county runner and also a bailiff, but since Old Qin's son was his godchild he often came to the village to visit their family. Old Qin hastily called his son to make tea, kill a chicken and cook some meat to entertain the bailiff, and asked Wang Mian to accompany them.
When Bailiff Zhai heard Wang Mian's name, he asked, 「Is this Mr. Wang the flower painter?」
「Yes,」 said Old Qin. 「How did you get to know of him?」
「Is there anyone in the county who doesn't know him?」 retorted the bailiff. 「The other day the county magistrate commissioned me to get twenty-four paintings of flowers to send to a superior. Knowing Mr. Wang's great reputation, I've come straight here; and now I'm lucky enough to meet Mr. Wang himself.」 Then he turned to Wang Mian and said: 「I must trouble you to do some paintings. In two weeks I shall come to fetch them, bringing the payment from Magistrate Shi.」
Old Qin pressed Wang Mian to consent and, to please the old man, he agreed.
He went home and took infinite pains to paint twenty-four pictures of flowers, each with a poem appended. Bailiff Zhai reported his meeting with Wang Mian to the magistrate, who gave him twenty-four taels of silver. Of this sum Zhai appropriated half, giving twelve taels only to Wang Mian. He took the flower album away with him, and then the magistrate sent it with some other presents to Mr. Wei. |
| | 說楔子敷... : |
危素受了禮物，只把這本冊頁看了又看，愛玩不忍釋手。次日，備了一席酒，請時知縣來家致謝。當下寒暄已畢，酒過數巡，危素道：「前日承老父臺所惠冊頁花卉，還是古人的呢，還是現在人畫的？」時知縣不敢隱瞞，便道：「這就是門生治下一個鄉下農民，叫做王冕，年紀也不甚大。想是纔學畫幾筆，難入老師的法眼。」 |
| In which an introductory...: |
When Mr. Wei accepted the gifts, the album alone attracted his attention. He looked at the paintings again and again, liking them so much that he could scarcely take his eyes off them. The next day he invited Magistrate Shi to a feast to thank him. They exchanged greetings, and drank several cups of wine.
「Yesterday I received your gift of a flower album,」 said Mr. Wei. 「Is it the work of an old master or of a contemporary?」
Not daring to conceal the truth, the magistrate told him, 「It was painted by a peasant in one of the villages in my county. His name is Wang Mian, and he is quite young. I believe he has just learnt to paint; but his work is unworthy of your distinguished notice.」 |
| | 說楔子敷... : |
王冕一路風餐露宿，九十里大站，七十里小站，一徑來到山東濟南府地方。這山東雖是近北省分，這會城卻也人物富庶，房舍稠密。王冕到了此處，盤費用盡了，只得租個小菴門面屋，賣卜測字，也畫兩張沒骨的花卉貼在那裏，賣與過往的人。每日問卜賣畫，倒也擠個不開。彈指間，過了半年光景。 |
| In which an introductory...: |
Braving the wind and dew, Wang Mian travelled day after day past large posting stations and small, till he came to the city of Jinan. Although Shandong is a northern province, its chief city was rich and populous, packed with buildings. By the time Wang Mian arrived here, his money was spent, and he had to rent a small front room in a temple and tell fortunes there. He also painted pictures of flowers, and posted up a couple to sell to passers-by. Every day he told fortunes and sold paintings, and customers flocked to him. In this way six months flew by. |
| | 王孝廉村... : |
說著，就猛然回頭，一眼看見那小學生的倣紙上的名字是荀玫，不覺就喫了一驚。一會兒咂嘴弄唇的，臉上做出許多怪物像。周進又不好問他，批完了倣，依舊陪他坐著。他就問道：「方纔這小學生幾歲了？」周進道：「他纔七歲。」王舉人道：「是今年纔開蒙？這名字是你替他起的？」周進道：「這名字不是晚生起的。開蒙的時候，他父親央及集上新進梅朋友替他起名。梅朋友說自己的名字叫做『玖』，也替他起個『王』旁的名字發發兆，將來好同他一樣的意思。」 |
| Provincial Graduate Wang meets...: |
While he was speaking, he caught sight of the name Xun Mei on the little boy's exercise, and gave an involuntary start. He pursed his lips and his face was a study, but Zhou Jin could not very well question him. When Zhou Jin had finished correcting the exercise and sat down again as before, Wang Hui asked, 「How old is that boy?」
「Seven.」
「Did he start school this year? Did you choose that name for him?」
「I didn't choose the name. At the beginning of the term his father asked the new village scholar, Mei Jiu, to choose a name for him. And Mr. Mei said, 'My own name seems to be an auspicious one, so I will give it to him and hope that he will turn out like me.'」 |
