王夫人才要叫了众丫头来问，忽见紫鹃走上前去，在王夫人面前跪下，回道：“刚才太太问跟四姑娘的姐姐，太太看着怎么样？”
Before Lady Wang could question any more maids, Zijuan came forward and knelt down before her. "Just now you asked who would stay with Miss Xichun," She said. "Whom do you have in mind, madam? "
紫鹃道：“姑娘修行，自然姑娘愿意，并不是别的姐姐们的意思。
'Of course Miss Xichun's doing this of her own free will, but the girls in her service aren't willing to do the same," said Zijuan.
我有句话回太太，我也并不是拆开姐姐们，各人有各人的心。
"I have a request to make, madam.
It's not that I want to separate the other girls from Miss Xichun, but we each have our own ideas.
他死了，我恨不得跟了他去，但只他不是这里的人，我又受主子家的恩典，难以从死。
When she died I longed to follow her to the grave, but as she belonged to another family and I'm a bond-slave of this house I could hardly kill myself.
如今四姑娘既要修行，我就求太太们将我派了跟着姑娘，伏侍姑娘一辈子，不知太太们准不准？
Now that Miss Xichun wants to enter holy orders, I beg Your Ladyships to assign me to wait on her all my life.
邢、王二夫人尚未答言，只见宝玉听到那里，想起黛玉，一阵心酸，眼泪早下来了。
Before Lady Xing or Lady Wang could answer, Baoyu felt a pang at the thought of Daiyu and shed tears.
众人才要问他时，他又哈哈的大笑，走上来道：“我不该说的。
The others were about to ask the reason when he burst out laughing again. "It wasn't my place to propose this," he said, stepping forward.
这紫鹃蒙太太派给我屋里，我才敢说：求太太准了他罢，全了他的好心。”
"But as you assigned Zijuan to my service, madam, I'm emboldened to ask you to agree so that she can realize her aspirations."
王夫人道：“你头里姊妹出了嫁，还哭得死去活来，如今看见四妹妹要出家，不但不劝，倒说‘好事’，你如今到底是怎么个意思？
His mother objected, "When Tanchun married you nearly cried your heart out; yet now that Xichun wants to become a nun, instead of trying to dissuade her you approve.
What do you mean by this? "
宝玉道：“四妹妹修行是已经准了的，四妹妹也是一定的主意了？
‘First let me know whether this matter is settled,'said Bao-yu. ‘Has Xi-chun definitely made up her mind?”And has she definitely received your permission?”
若是真呢，我有一句话告诉太太：若是不定呢，我就不敢混说了。”
If that's the case, there's something I'd like to tell you; but if she hasn't decided yet I dare not speak out of turn."
惜春道：“二哥哥说话也好笑，一个人主意不定，便扭得过太太们来了？
‘What a peculiar way to talk!” exclaimed Xi-chun. ‘If I were not in earnest, do you honestly think I would have been able to convince my aunts?”
我也是象紫鹃的话，容我呢，是我的造化，不容我呢还有一个死呢，那怕什么。
I feel the same way as Nightingale: if they will let me do as I wish, I shall count myself blessed; if they will not, I should rather die than continue living my present life!
So, there's nothing to fear.
众人道：“人家苦得很的时候，你倒来做诗怄人。”
‘Honestly!” they chided him. ‘At a moment like this, with real people really suffering, all you can think about is poetry!It's sickening!”
众人道：“使得。
‘Oh very well.
Hurry up then.
宝玉也不分辩，便说道：§勘破三春景不长，缁衣顿改昔年妆。
Bao-yu did not try to explain himself any further, hut began to recite:‘When you see through the spring scene's transient state,A nun's black habit shall replace your own.
可怜绣户侯门女，独卧青灯古佛旁。
Pity this child of a wealthy noble house Who now sleeps alone by the dimly lit old shrine.
宝玉不便说出来，回道：“太太也不必问我，自有见的地方。”
Not liking to disclose his dream he answered, "Don't ask me the place, madam."
王夫人回过味来，细细一想，便更哭起来道：“你说前儿是玩话，怎么忽然有这首诗？
Having digested the meaning she burst out sobbing, "I thought at first you were joking, but then you came out with this poem.
我也没有法儿了，也只得由着你们去罢，但只等我合上了眼，各自干各自的就完了！”
I shall simply have to let you do as you choose; but just wait till I'm dead before you each go your own way!"
宝钗一面劝着，这个心比刀绞更甚，也掌不住，便放声大哭起来。
Baochai, trying to console her, felt such a stab of anguish that she could not help sobbing too,
宝玉也不啼哭，也不相劝，只不言语。
Baoyu neither wept nor attempted to comfort them, simply remaining silent.
李纨竭力的解说：“总是宝兄弟见四妹妹修行，他想来是痛极了，不顾前后的疯话，这也作不得准。
To soothe Lady Wang, Li Wan said, "Baoyu must have been so upset by Xichun's decision that he started raving.
Don't take his nonsense seriously, madam.
横竖一个人的主意定了，那也是扭不过来的。
‘Her mind is clearly made up in any case, and when a person's mind is made up there's no stopping them.