却说董承等问马腾曰：“公欲用何人？”
"Who is it?"was the question on the lips of the conspirators.
马腾曰：“见有豫州牧刘玄德在此，何不求之？”
Ma Teng's reply was, "The Imperial Protector of Yuzhou, Liu Bei.
He is here and we will ask him to help."
承曰：“此人虽系皇叔，今正依附曹操，安肯行此事耶？”
"Though he is an uncle of the Emperor, he is at present a partisan of our enemy, and he will not join," said Dong Cheng.
腾曰：“吾观前日围场之中，曹操迎受众贺之时，云长在玄德背后，挺刀欲杀操，玄德以目视之而止。
"But I saw something at the hunt," said Ma Teng. "When Cao Cao advanced to acknowledge the congratulations due to the Emperor, Liu Bei's sworn brother Guan Yu was behind him, and grasped his sword as if to cut down Cao Cao.
However, Liu Bei signed to him to hold his hand and Guan Yu did.
吴硕曰：“此事不宜太速，当从容商议。”
Here Wu Shi urged caution, saying, "Do not go too fast.
Let us consider the thing most carefully."
众皆散去。
They dispersed.
次日黑夜里，董承怀诏，径往玄德公馆中来。
Next day after dark Dong Cheng went to Liu Bei's lodging taking with him the decree.
门吏入报，玄德迎出，请入小阁坐定。
As soon as Dong Cheng was announced, Liu Bei came to greet him and led him into a private room +where they could talk freely.
关、张侍立于侧。
The two younger brothers were there as well.
承曰：“前日围场之中，云长欲杀曹操，将军动目摆头而退之，何也？”
+and while they were drinking, Dong Cheng said, "Why did you check your brother the other day at the hunt, when he was going to attack Cao Cao?”
操执玄德手，直至后园，曰：“玄德学圃不易！”
Cao Cao took him by the hand and led him straight to the private garden, saying, "The growth of vegetables that you are trying to learn is very difficult."
玄德方才放心，答曰：“无事消遣耳。”
Liu Bei breathed again.
He said, "That is hardly a business.
It is only a solace."
操曰：“适见枝头梅子青青，忽感去年征张绣时，道上缺水，将士皆渴；吾心生一计，以鞭虚指曰：‘前面有梅林。’
Cao Cao said, "I happened to notice the green plums on the trees today, and suddenly my thoughts went back to a year ago when we were thrashing Zhang Xiu.
We were marching through a parched county, and everyone was suffering from thirst.
Suddenly I lifted my whip, and pointing at something in the distance I said, ‘Look at those fruitful plum trees in the forest ahead.”
军士闻之，口皆生唾，由是不渴。
The soldiers heard it, and it made their mouths water. -
今见此梅，不可不赏。
Seeing the plums kindles my appreciation.
又值煮酒正熟，故邀使君小亭一会。”
+I owe something to the plums, and we will repay it today.
I ordered the servants to heat some wine very hot and sent to invite you to share it."
随至小亭，已设樽俎：盘置青梅，一樽煮酒。
He went with his host to a small spring pavilion in a plum garden, where the wine cups were already laid out and green plums filled the dishes.
二人对坐，开怀畅饮。
They sat down to a confidential talk and free enjoyment of their wine.
酒至半酣，忽阴云漠漠，聚雨将至。
As they drank, the weather gradually changed, clouds gathering and threatening rain.
从人遥指天外龙挂，操与玄德凭栏观之。
The servants pointed out a mass of cloud that looked like a dragon hung in the sky.
Both host and guest leaned over the balcony looking at it.
操曰：“使君知龙之变化否？”
"Do you understand the evolution of dragons? "asked Cao Cao of the guest.
操曰：“龙能大能小，能升能隐；大则兴云吐雾，小则隐介藏形；升则飞腾于宇宙之间，隐则潜伏于波涛之内。
"A dragon can assume any size, can rise in glory or hide from sight.
Bulky, it generates clouds and evolves mist; attenuated, it can scarcely hide a mustard stalk or conceal a shadow.
Mounting, it can soar to the empyrean; subsiding, it lurks in the uttermost depths of the ocean.
方今春深，龙乘时变化，犹人得志而纵横四海。
This is the midspring season, and the dragon chooses this moment for its transformations like a person realizing his own desires and overrunning the world.
龙之为物，可比世之英雄。
The dragon among animals compares with the hero among people.