昨蒙亲劳抚嘱，又数遣侍儿问切，兼以鲜荔并真卿墨迹见赐，何癎療惠爱之深耶!今因伏几凭床处默之时，因思及历来古人中处名攻利敌之场，犹置一些山水之区，远招近揖，投辖攀辕，务结一二同志盘桓于其中，或竖词坛，或开吟社，虽一时之偶兴，遂成千古之佳谈。
You took the trouble to come in person and cheer me up yesterday, then sent your maids with gifts of fresh lichees and Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy.I was extremely touched by your kind concern.As I was resting quietly today it occurred to me that the ancients, even when pursuing fame and struggling for profit, kept a small hill or stream to which they could retire; and there, with a few friends from far or near, they amused themselves in their cups by organizing poetry clubs or literary forums.The fame of those impromptu gatherings has come down through the centuries.
妹虽不才，窃同叨栖处于泉石之间，而兼慕薛、林之技。
Though I myself have no talent I am lucky enough to live with others among rocks and fountains, and I admire the polished verses of Baochai and Daiyu.
孰谓莲社之雄才，独许须眉；直以东山之雅会，让余脂粉。
Why should the founding of poetry clubs be the sole prerogative of the whiskered male, and female versificators allowed a voice in the tunable concert of the muses only when some enlightened patriarch sees fit to invite them?
若蒙棹雪'而来，妹则扫花以待。
If you will condescend to come, I shall sweep the path clear of blossoms to wait for you.
刚到了沁芳亭，只见园中后门上值日的婆子，手里拿着一个字帖走来，见了宝玉，便迎上去，口内说道:"芸哥儿请安，在后门只等着，叫我送来的。”
But he had got no further than Drenched Blossoms Pavilion when he saw one of the old nannies on duty at the back gate of the Garden hurrying from the opposite direction with a note in her hand.
宝玉打开看时，写道：§不肖男芸恭请父亲大人万福金安：男思，自蒙天恩，认于膝下，§日夜思一享顺，竟无可孝顺之外。
Baoyu opened the letter and read: Your unworthy child Jia Yun sends his respectful greetings and wishes his noble father boundless health and happiness.
男思自蒙天恩，认于膝下，日夜思一孝顺，竟无可孝顺之处。
Since I had the good fortune to become your adopted son, I have been longing day and night to please you but found no way to show my filial piety.
前因买办花草，上托大人金福，竟认得许多花匠，并认得许多名园。
Recently I was entrusted with the purchase of flowers, and thanks to your great influence I have been able to make the acquaintance of many gardeners and visit many celebrated gardens.
大人若视男如亲男一般，便留下赏玩。
If you consider me as your own son, please keep these flowers to enjoy.
因天气暑热，恐园中姑娘们妨碍不便，故不敢面见。
However, owing to the present Hot Weather I did not like to call in Person as the Young Ladies are outside in the Garden a lot owing to the heat, and not wishing to give Inconvenience
婆子道："还有两盆花儿。”
"Just with two pots of flowers," said the old woman.
你就把花儿送到我屋里去就是了。”
You can put the flowers in my room.
一面说，一面同翠墨往秋爽斋来，只见宝钗、黛玉、迎春、惜春已都在那里了。
With that he went with Cuimo to the Studio of Autumn Freshness where Baochai, Daiyu, Yingchun and Xichun were assembled.
众人见他进来，都大笑说：“又来了一个。”
"Here comes another!"they cried, laughing, as he entered.
宝玉道："这是一件正经大事，大家鼓舞起来，不要你谦我让的。
"This is a serious business,"declared Baoyu."We should encourage each other, not back out of politeness.
秋爽斋偶结海棠社 蘅芫院夜拟菊花题
Begonia Club Takes Form One Day in the Studio of Autumn FreshnessThemes for Poems on Chrysanthemums Are Prepared One Evening in Alpinia Park
这年贾政又点了学差，择于八月二十日起身。
Jia Zheng, having been appointed this year an Examiner of Provincial Education, chose the twentieth of the eighth month to start his journey.
是日拜过宗祠及贾母起身，宝玉诸子弟等送至洒泪亭。
On that day, after paying his respects to the ancestral shrines and to the Lady Dowager, he was seen off by Baoyu and other young men of the family all the way to the Pavilion of Parting.
单表宝玉，自贾政起身之后，每日在园中任意纵性游荡，真把光阴虚度，岁月空添，这日甚觉无聊，便往贾母、王夫人处来混了一混，仍旧进园来了。
His father's departure left Baoyu free to do as he pleased in the Garden, and he frittered away whole months in idleness.
宝玉听说，便展开花笺看时，上面写道：§妹探谨启二兄文几：前夕新霁，月色如洗，因惜清景难逢，未忍就卧，
Bao-yu unfolded the elegant patterned notepaper and glanced at the contents: Dear Brother, Some nights ago, when the moon came out in a sky freshly clear after the rain, the garden seemed veritably awash with moonlight, and sleep in the face of so rare a spectacle was unthinkable.
宝钗道:"你忙什么，人还不全呢。”
‘What's the hurry?”said Bao-chai. ‘We're not even all here yet.”
前儿春天，我原有这个意思的，我想了一想，我又不会做诗，瞎闹什么，因而也忘了，就没有说。
The idea of having one did in fact occur to me earlier in the year, but I thought that as I can't write poetry myself, a proposal coming from me might seem a bit presumptuous, and I did nothing about it.
黛玉道:"既然定要起诗社，咱们都是诗翁了，先把这些姐妹叔嫂的字样改了才不俗。”
‘If we are definitely going to have a poetry club,' said Dai-yu, ‘then as members of the club we are all equals and fellow-poets.
We can't go on calling ourselves “cousin” and “sister-in-law” all the time;
我是定了 '稻香老农”再无人占的。
I'll be The Old Peasant of Sweet Paddy.No one else can have that name.