话说林黛玉正自情思萦逗、缠绵固结之时,忽有人从背后击了他一掌,说道:"你作什么一个人在这里?"
As Dai-yu continued to crouch there, a prisoner of her own sorrowful thoughts and emotions, someone suddenly came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder: 'What are you doing here all on your own?”
你们紫鹃也找你呢,说琏二奶奶送了什么茶叶来给你的。
1Your Zijuan is looking for you too.
She says the Second Mistress has sent you some tea.
一面说,一面拉着黛玉的手,回潇湘馆来,果然凤姐送了两小瓶上用新茶叶来。
She took her by the hand and accompanied her back to the Naiad's House.
The present from Xi-feng she had mentioned was waiting there when they arrived:two little cylindrical containers of a new tea supplied to the Palace for the Emperor's own use.
果然凤姐儿送了两小瓶上用新茶来。
where they found two small flasks of new tea from the Palace sent over by Xifeng.
林黛玉和香菱坐了。
1The two girls sat down.
黛玉和香菱坐了,谈讲些这一个绣的好,那一个扎的精,又下一回棋,看两句书,香菱便走了,不在话下。
If you ask what serious matters they discussed.
These were merely the relative merits of different pieces of embroidery and tapestry.
They also played a game of chess and read some passages from a book together before Xiangling took her leave.
如今且说宝玉因被袭人找回房去,果见鸳鸯歪在床上看袭人的针线呢,见宝玉来了,便说道:"你往那里去了?
But let us return to Baoyu.When Xiren fetched him back he discovered Yuanyang leaning over the couch in his outer room examining some of Xiren's needlework. "Where have you been?”"she asked him.
老太太等着你呢,叫你过那边请大老爷的安去。
"The old lady is waiting for you.
She wants you to go over to the other house to inquire after the Elder Master's health.
袭人便进房去取衣服。
Aroma went into the next room to get his clothes.
宝玉坐在床沿上褪了鞋,等靴子穿的工夫,回头见鸳鸯穿着水红绫子袄儿,青缎子坎肩儿,下面露着玉色绸袜,大红绣鞋,向那边低着头看针线,脖子上围着紫绸绢子。
Bao-yu sat on the edge of the couch and kicked his shoes off.While he was waiting for his boots to come, he turned and scrutinized Faithful.She was wearing a pale strawberry-coloured dress of silk damask, a sleeveless black satin jacket, stockings of eggshell blue, and dark-red embroidered slippers.
Her neck, which was towards him as she bent down once more to inspect the needlework, was encircled at its base by a reddish-purple silk scarf.A fascinating neck.
宝玉便把脸凑在他脖项上,闻那香油气,不住用手摩挲,其白腻不在袭人之下,便猴上身去,涎皮笑道:"好姐姐,把你嘴上的胭脂赏我吃了罢。”
Laying his cheek against the nape of the neck he inhaled her scent and could not resist stroking her, for her skin was just as white and smooth as Xiren's.
Re mischievously nestled close to her. "Good sister, let me taste the rouge on your lips!"
你跟他一辈子,也不劝劝他,还是这么着。”
All the years you've been with him now ― haven't you managed to cure him yet?”
袭人抱了衣服出来,向宝玉道:"左劝也不改,右劝也不改,你到底是怎么样?
Xiren, walking in with her arms full of clothes, protested to Baoyu:"I wear out my tongue talking, but you still carry on like this.
What's to become of you?”
一边说,一边催他穿了衣服,同鸳鸯往前面来。
She made him change quickly and go with Yuanyang to the front apartment.
见过贾母,出至外面,人马俱已齐备。
After seeing the Lady Dowager he went out to where his pages and horse were waiting;
刚欲上马,只见贾琏请安回来了,正下马,二人对面,彼此问了两句话。
and was about to get into the saddle, when he noticed Jia Lian dismounting opposite, having just returned from his visit.
宝玉看时,只见这人俊容长脸,长挑身材,年纪只好十八九岁,生得着实斯文清秀,倒也十分面善,只是想不起是那一房的,叫什么名字。
This was a tall youth in his late teens with an oval face and intelligent, handsome appearance.
But familiar though his face was.
Baoyu could not remember his name or which branch of the clan he belonged to.
他是后廊上住的五嫂子的儿子芸儿。”
"Don't you know Yun, the son of Fifth Sister-in-law who lives in the back lane?”
因问他母亲好,这会子什么勾当。
Baoyu asked after Yun's mother and inquired his business.
贾芸指贾琏道:"找二叔说句话。”
Indicating Jia Lian, the young man said, "I've come to have a word with Second Uncle."
原来这贾芸最伶俐乖巧的,听宝玉说象他的儿子,便笑道:“俗话说的好,‘摇车儿里的爷爷,拄拐棍儿的孙子’。
Jia Yun had all his wits about him.
He seized this chance to add:"As the proverb says. 'A grandfather in the cradle may have a grandson who leans on a stick.”
虽然年纪大,‘山高遮不住太阳’。
you know; and even if I am older than you, “the highest mountain can't shut out the sun”!
只从我父亲死了,这几年也没人照管,宝叔要不嫌侄儿蠢,认做儿子,就是侄儿的造化了。”
I've had no one to care for me during these last few years since my father died, and if you don't mind having so stupid a person for your son, I should certainty be very happy to have you for a father.”
宝玉笑道:"明儿你闲了,只管来找我,别和他们鬼鬼祟祟的。
"If you're free tomorrow," said Baoyu to Yun, ‘lust drop in and see me.
Don't learn their sneaky ways.