甄士隐：甄士隐家住姑苏城十里街仁清巷葫芦庙旁。姓甄名费，字士隐；嫡妻封氏，性情贤淑，深明礼义；家中虽不甚富贵，然本地也推他为望族了。因这甄士隐禀性恬淡，不以功名为念，每日只以观花种竹、酌酒吟诗为乐，倒是神仙一流人物；只是一件不足：年过半百，膝下无儿，只有一女，乳名英莲，年方三岁。倏忽又是元宵佳节。士隐令家仆霍启抱了英莲去看社火花灯，半夜中，霍启因要小解，便将英莲放在一家门槛上坐着，待他小解完了来抱时，哪有英莲的踪影？急得霍启直寻了半夜，至天明不见，那霍启也不敢回来见主人，便逃往他乡去了。那士隐夫妇见女儿一夜不归，便知有些不好，再使几人去找寻，回来皆云影响全无。夫妻二人半世只生此女，一旦失去，何等烦恼，因此昼夜啼哭，几乎不顾性命。

看看一月，士隐已先得病，夫人封氏也因思女构疾，日日请医问卦。

zhenshiyin：zheshiyinlivedbesidehegourdempleinheneofhumaniyandpuriyoffacerainenlisreeofgusuciyhisfamilynameiszhen，namedfei，hiscouresynameisshiyinhiswifenéefeng，isaworhyviruouswomanwihasrongsenseofproprieyandrighalhoughneiherveryrichnornoble，heirfamilyishighlyregardedinhalocaliyzhenshiyinhasaquiedisposiioninseadofhankeringaferwealhorrank，heisquiehappyendingflowers，growingbamboos，sippingwineorwriingpoems—spendinghisimeverymuchlikeanimmoralohingaloneiscking：heisnowoverfifybuhasnoson，onlyahreeyearolddaughernamedyinglianinafshhemerryfesivalofnernscameroundandshiyinoldhisservanhuoqioakeyinglianouoseehefireworksandornamenalnerns

owardsmidnighhuoqisehelilegirldownonadoorsepwhileheseppedroundhecornerourinae

whenhecamebackshehadgonehemadeafranicsearchforherallnighandadawn，nodaringofacehismaserwihouher，heranawayoanoherdisricshiyinandhiswifewerenaurallyarmedwhenheirdaugherfailedocomehomeheysensearchpariesou，buallreurnedwihouanywordofhershewashemiddleagedcouple’sonlychild，andherlossnearlydrovehemdisracedheywepdayandnighandwereempedoakeheirownlivesaferamonh’sgriefshiyinfellill，andhenhiswifeeverydayheysenfordocors

不想这日三月十五，葫芦庙中炸供，那和尚不小心，油锅火逸，便烧着窗纸。此方人家俱用竹篱木壁，——也是劫数应当如此，——于是接二连三，牵五挂四，将一条街烧得如“火焰山”一般；彼时虽有军民来救，那火已成了势了，如何救得下，直烧了一夜方息，也不知烧了多少人家。只可怜甄家在隔壁，早成一堆瓦砾场了。只有他夫妇并几个家人的性命不曾伤了，急得士隐惟跌足长叹而已。与妻子商议且到田庄上去住，偏值近年水旱不收，贼盗蜂起，官兵剿捕，田庄上又难以安身，只得将田地都折变了，携了妻子与两个丫鬟，投他岳丈家去。

hen，onhefifeenhdayofhehirdmonh，afirebrokeouingourdemple—hemonkpreparinghesacrificecarelesslyleapanofoilcachfireandsoonhewindowpaperwasalighsincemosofhenearbybuildingshadbamboowallsandwereprobablydoomedodesrucion，hefmesspreadfromhouseohouseunilhewholesreewasabzelikeafmingmounainsoldiersandciviliansriedopuouhefire，buiwasbeyondconrolheconfgraionragedforawholenighanddesroyednoneknewhowmanyhousesbeforeiburnediselfouhezhens’home，beingnexoheemple，wasreducedoapileofrubble

alhoughheyandheirfewservanswereluckyenoughoescapewihheirlives，poorshiyincoulddonohingbusamphisfeeandsighheandhiswifedecidedhenogoandliveonheirfarmbuhesfewyears’harvesshadbeenruinedbyfloodanddraughandhecounrysidewasoverrunbybandiswhoseizedfieldsandnd，givinghepeoplenopeacehepuniiveexpediionsbygovernmenroopsonlymademaersworsefindingiimpossibleoselehere，shiyinhadomorgagehisndandakehiswifeandwomaidsofindrefugewihhisfaherinwfengsu

封肃，本贯大如州人氏，虽是务农，家中却还殷实，今见女婿这等狼狈而来，心中便有些不乐。幸而士隐还有折变田产的银子在身边，拿出来托他随便置买些房地，以为日后衣食之计；那封肃便半用半赚的，略与他些薄田破屋。士隐乃读书之人，不惯生理稼穑等事，勉强支持了一二年，越发穷了，封肃见面时，便说些现成话儿，且人前人后，又怨他不会过、只一味好吃懒做。士隐知道了，心中未免悔恨，再兼上年惊唬，急忿怨痛，暮年之人，哪禁得贫病交攻，竟渐渐地露出了那下世的光景来。可巧这日拄了拐扎挣到街前散散心时，忽见那边来了一个跛足道人，口内吟诵着《好了歌》。士隐本是有夙慧的，一闻此言，心中早已悟彻，因笑道：“且往！待我将你这《好了歌》注解出来何如？”道人笑道：“你就请解。”士隐乃说道：

陋室空堂，当年笏满床；衰草枯杨，曾为歌舞场；蛛丝儿结满雕梁，绿纱今又在蓬窗上。说甚么脂正浓、粉正香，如何两鬓又成霜？昨日黄土陇头埋白骨，今宵红绡帐底卧鸳鸯。金满箱，银满箱，转眼乞丐人皆谤；正叹他人命不长，那知自己归来丧？训有方，保不定日后作强梁。择膏粱，谁承望流落在烟花巷！因嫌纱帽小，致使锁枷扛；昨怜破袄寒，今嫌紫蟒长：乱烘烘你方唱罢我登场，反认他乡是故乡；甚荒唐，至头来都是为他人作嫁衣裳。

那疯跛道人听了，拍掌大笑道：“解得切！解得切！”士隐便说一声“走罢”，将道人肩上的搭裢抢过来背上，竟不回家，同着疯道人飘飘而去。真是：“看破的，遁入空门；痴迷的，枉送了性命。”

fengsu，anaiveofdaruzhou，alhoughonlyafarmerisquiecomforablyoffhewasnopleasedbyhearrivalofhisdaugherandsoninwinhissorrysaeforunaelyshiyinhadsomemoneyleffromhemorgageofhisnd，andheaskedfengsuoinveshisforhiminsomeesaeonwhichhecouldliveinfuurehisfaherinwrickedhim，however，bypockeinghalfhesumandbuyinghimsomepoorfieldsandaramshacklecoageasaschor，shiyinhadnoknowledgeofbusinessorfarminghesruggledalongforayearorwo，losingmoneyallheime，whilefengsukepadmonishinghimohisfaceandcompiningoallandsundrybehindhisbackofhisincompeence，idlenessandexravaganceoheshockshiyinhadsufferedhepreviousyearandheollakenbyhissubsequenmisforuneswasnowaddedhebierrealizaionhahehadmispcedhisrus，ageingandapreyopoveryandillhealh，hebeganolooklikeamanwihonefooinhegravehemadeheefforonedayofindsomedisracionbyakingawalkinhesree，leaningonhiscanesuddenlyaaoislimpedowardshim，chaninghesongallgoodhingsmusendshiyinwihhisi

aeinelligenceaoncegraspedhemeaningpuingonasmilehesaid，“waiaminuewillyoulemeexpoundhissongofyours？”“byallmeansdo，”saidheaoisshiyinhendecimed：

“meanhusandempyhallswhereemblemsofnobiliyoncehung；deadweedsandwiheredrees，wheremenhaveoncedancedandsung

carvedbeamsareswahedincobwebsbubriarchokedcasemensscreenedagainwihgauze；whileyeherougeisfresh，hepowderfragran，hehairaheemplesurnshoary—forwhacause？

yeserday，yellowcyreceivedwhiebones；oday，rednernslighhelove—birds’nes；whilemenwihgoldandsilverbyhechesurnbeggars，scornedbyallhedispossessed

alifecushoronemomenmakesonesigh，whowouldhaveknowni’sherurnnexodie？

nomaerwihwhapainsheschoolshissons，whoknowsifheywillurnobrigandry？

apamperedgirlbroughupinluxurymayslipinoaquarerofillfame；resenmenalowofficialrankmayleadofeersandafelon’sshame

inraggedcoaoneshiveredyeserday，odayapurplerobehefrownsupon；all’ssrifeandumulonhesage，asonemanendshissonghenexcomeson

oakesrangeparsashome

isfollypascompare；andallourbourinheendismakingclohesforsomeoneelseowear”

heme，eccenricaoiscppedhishands“youhavehihenailonhehead，”hecried“le’sgo，”wasshiyin’sbriefreplyheransferredhesackfromheaois’sshoulderohisown，andhen，wihouevencallinginahishome，hesrodeoffwihhepriesruly：“hosewhoseehroughheworldescapefromheworld，whilefoolishloversforfeiheirlivesfornohing”

贾雨村：贾雨村姓贾名化（贾化，谐音假话），表字时飞、别号雨村，原系湖州人氏，也是诗书仕宦之族，因他生于末世，父母祖宗根基已尽，人口衰丧，只剩得他一身一口，在家乡无益，因进京求取功名，再整基业。自前岁来此，钱已用完，只得到葫芦庙中安身，每日卖字作文为生，故士隐常与他交接。一日到了中秋佳节，雨村因思及平生抱负，苦未逢时，乃搔首对天长叹，复又高吟一联云：玉在匮中求善价，钗于奁内待时飞。恰值士隐邀雨村到他书房饮酒听见。他二人越饮越添豪兴，酒到杯干。雨村饮干，忽叹道：“非晚生酒后狂言，若论时尚之学，晚生也或可去充数沽名，只是如今行李路费，一概无措，神京路远，非赖卖字撰文即能到得——”士隐不待说完，便道：“兄何不早言？且喜明岁正当大比，兄宜作速入都，春闱一捷，方不负兄之所学。其盘费余事，弟自代为处置，亦不枉兄之谬识矣。”当下即命小童进去，速封五十两白银，并两套冬衣。雨村收了银衣，不过略谢一语，并不介意，仍是吃酒谈笑。次日五鼓雨村不及面辞，便离开赴京了。

jiayucun：hisnameisjiahua(homophonefor“falsealk”)，hiscouresynameshifei，andhispennameyucunanaiveofhuzhou，hewashesofalineofschorsandofficialshisparenshadexhausedhefamilyproperyanddiedleavinghimaloneinheworldsincenohingwasobegainedbysayingahome，hehadseouforhecapialinhehopeofsecuringaposiionandresoringhefamilyforunesbubyheimehehadreachedhereacoupleofyearsagohismoneyhadrunouandhehadgooliveingourdemplewherehemadeaprecariouslivingbyworkingasascrivenerforhisreasonshiyinsawagooddealofhiminimehemidauumnfesivalcameround，yucunrumpledhishairandsighedashereflecedhowfarhewasfromrealizinghisambiionshechanedhecouple：“hejadeinheboxhopesofechagoodprice；hepininhecaskelongsosoaronhigh”hewasoverheardbyshiyinwhojusarrivedoinviehimohaveadrinkinhissudyhewomenbecameverymerryanddrainedcupafercupyucunossedacupofwineoffandhensighed“don’hinkhisisjusdrunkenalk，”hesaid“i’msureicouldacquimyselfquiecrediablyinheexaminaions；buihavenomoneyinmywalleforravellingexpensesandhecapialisfarawayican’raiseenoughasascrivener”“whydidn’yousaysobefore？”inerposedshiyin“luckilyhemeropolianexaminaionsarecomingupnexyearyoumusgoasfasasyoucanohecapialandproveyourlearninginhespringesishallcouniaprivilegeoakecareofheravellingexpensesandoherbusinessforyou”shiyinsenhisboyinofechfifyaelsofsilverandwosuisofwinerclohesyucunaccepedhesilverandcloheswihnomorehanperfuncoryhanks，hensaidnomoreofhemaerbuwenonfeasingandalkingahefifhwachnexmorningyucunlefforhecapial；sohehadnoimeosaygoodbyeinperson

雨村因那年士隐赠银之后，他于十六日便起身赴京，大比之期，十分得意，中了进士，选入外班，今已升了本县太爷。虽才干优长，未免贪酷；且恃才侮上，那同寅皆侧目而视，不上一年，便被上司参了一本，说他貌似有才、性实狡猾；又题了一两件狗庇蠢役、交结乡绅之事。龙颜大怒，即命革职。部文一到，本府各官无不喜悦。那雨村虽十分惭恨，面上却全无一点怨色，仍是嘻笑自若，交代过了公事，将历年所积的宦囊，并家属人等，送至原籍安顿妥当了，却自己担风袖月，游览天下胜迹。恰巧雨村偶感风寒，在旅店待了一月有余，愈后又因盘费不继，正欲得一个居停之所，以为息肩之地，偶遇两个旧友，认得新盐政林如海，知他正要请一西席教训女儿林黛玉，遂将雨村荐进衙门去。这女学生年纪幼小，身体又弱，工课不限多寡，其余不过两个伴读丫鬟，故雨村十分省力，正好养病。看看又是一载有余。今听说都中奏准起复旧员之信，雨村便四下里寻情找门路，央求林如海，转向都中去央烦贾政。如海道：“天缘凑巧：因贱荆去世，都中家岳母念及小女无人依傍，前已遣了男女船只来接，如吾兄同路而往，岂不两便？因向蒙教训之恩，未经酬报，遇此机会，岂有不尽心图报之理，弟已预筹之，修下荐书一封，托内兄务为周全，方可稍尽弟之鄙诚；即有所费，弟于内家信中写明，不劳吾兄多虑。”一日到了京都，雨村先整了衣冠，带着童仆，拿了“宗侄”的名帖，至荣府门上投了。彼时贾政已看了妹丈之书，即忙请入相会……因此优待雨村，更又不同：便极力帮助，题奏之日，谋了一个复职，不上两月，便选了金陵应天府，辞了贾政，择日到任去了。

yucun，aferreceivingshiyin’sgifofsilverhayear，hadlefonhesixeenhforhecapialhedidsowellinheexaminaionshahebecameapacegraduaeandwasgivenaprovincialappoinmenhehadnowbeenpromoedohisprefecshipbualhoughacapableadminisraoryucunwasgraspingandruhless，whilehisarroganceandinsolenceohissuperiorsmadehemviewhimwihdisfavourinlesshanwoyearsheyfoundachanceoimpeachhimhewasaccusedof“ingraineddupliciy，amperingwihheriesand，underashowofprobiy，conspiringwihhisferociousunderlingsofomenroubleinhisdisricandmakelifeinolerableforhelocalpeople”heemperor，muchincensed，sancionedhisdismissalhearrivalofhisedicrejoicedhehearsofallofficialsinheprefecurebuyucun，alhoughmorifiedandenraged，berayednoindignaionandwenaboulookingascheerfulasbeforeaferhandingoverhisaffairshegaheredogeherhecapialaccumuedduringhisyearsinofficeandmovedhishouseholdbackohisnaivepcehavingseledhemhereheseoff，“hewindonhisback，moonlighinhissleeves，”oseehefamoussighsofheempireisohappenedhayucunhadcaughachillwhichidhimupinhisi

foramonhandmoreexhausedbyhisillness，andshoroffunds，hewassearchingforsomewhereorecuperaeforunaelyhehadwooldfriendsherewhoknewhahesalcommissionerlinruhaiwaslookingforauorforhisdaugherlindaiyuuponheirrecommendaionyucunwasgivenhepos，whichprovidedhesecuriyheneededhewaslucky，oo，ohaveaspupilonlyonesmallgirlaccompaniedbywomaidssincehechildwassodelicae，herlessonswereirregurandhismeanhahisduieswereligh

inawinklinganoheryearwenbynowherewaswordfromhecapialhaarequesforhereinsaemenofformerofficialshadbeensancioned，yucunwasbusilypullingsringsofindsomeopeningheaskedlinruhaioenlishesupporofjiazhenginhecapial“whaaluckycoincidence！”excimedruhai“sincemywife’sdeahmymoherinwinhecapialhasbeenworriedbecausemydaugherhasnooobringherupshehassenwoboaswihmaleandfemaleaendansofechhechildiwouldsuibohparies，surelyifyouwereoravelogeher？iwaswonderinghoworepayyouforyourgoodnessineachingher：nowhisgivesmeachanceoshowmyappreciaionseyourmindaresiforesawhispossibiliyandhavewrienaleeromybroherinwurginghimodoallhecanforyouasasmallreurnforwhaioweyouyoumusn’worryeiherabouanyexpenseshamaybeincurred—i’vemadehapoinclearomybroherinw”induecourseheyreachedhecapialandeneredheciyyucunsprucedhimselfupandwenwihhispagesohegaeofherongmansion，wherehehandedinhisvisiing罥cardonwhichhehadsyledhimselfjiazheng’s“nephew”jiazheng，whohadreceivedhisbroherinw’sleer，losnoimeinaskinghiminandreaedhimuncommonlywellanddidallinhispowerohelphimhesamedayhahepresenedapeiionohehroneyucunwasrehabiliaedandorderedoawaianappoinmeninlesshanwomonhshewassenojinlingofillhevacaedposofprefecofyingian

akingleaveofjiazhenghechoseadayoproceedohisnewpos