却说周瑜被诸葛亮预先埋伏关公、黄忠、魏延三枝军马,一击大败。
The ambuscade into which Zhou Yu had fallen had been prepared by the orders of Zhuge Liang and was triple.
黄盖、韩当急救下船,折却水军无数。
However, Huang Gai and Han Dang contrived to get clear and found refuge in the ships, though with the loss of many troops.
箭疮未愈,因怒气冲激,疮口迸裂,昏绝于地。
And with the access of rage, his wound, not yet healed, burst open once again.
He swooned and fell.
众将救醒,开船逃去。
They raised him and his ship set sail.
孔明教休追赶,自和玄德归荆州庆喜,赏赐众将。
Zhuge Liang ordered no pursuit, the southern fleet departed undisturbed, and Liu Bei proceeded to Jingzhou City, where were great rejoicings in honor of his recent marriage.
周瑜自回柴桑。
Meanwhile Zhou Yu had gone to Chaisang ^+1 while Jiang Qin and those with him bore to Nanxu the sad tidings to Sun Quan.
曹操日夜思报赤壁之恨,因恐孙、刘同心,故未敢兴兵。
"Cao Cao has never forgotten his defeat at the Red Cliffs, but he dares not attempt to avenge himself while the Sun family are friendly with Liu Bei.
操欲观武官比试弓箭,乃使近侍将西川红锦战袍一领,挂于垂杨枝上,下设一箭垛,以百步为界。
So clad he took his seat as host, while his officers, civil and military, were drawn up below the terrace.
For the military officers was arranged an archery competition, and one of his attendants brought forth a robe of red crimson Xichuan silk as a prize.
This was suspended from one of the drooping branches of a willow tree, beneath which was the target.
The distance was a hundred paces.
分武官为两队:曹氏宗族俱穿红,其余将士俱穿绿;各带雕弓长箭,跨鞍勒马,听候指挥。
The competitors were divided into two bands, those of Cao Cao's own family being dressed in red and the others in green.
They all had carved bows and long arrows and were mounted.
They stood holding in their steeds till the signal should be given for the games to begin.
操传令曰:“有能射中箭垛红心者,即以锦袍赐之;如射不中,罚水一杯。”
Each was to shoot one arrow, and the robe was the guerdon for hitting the target in the red; misses were to pay a forfeit of drinking a cup of cold water.
号令方下,红袍队中,一个少年将军骤马而出,众视之,乃曹休也。
As soon as the signal was given, a red-robed youth rode quickly forth.
He was Cao Xiu.
休飞马往来,奔驰三次,扣上箭,拽满弓,一箭射去,正中红心。
Swiftly he galloped to and fro thrice.
Then he adjusted the notch of his arrow to the string, pulled the bow to its full, and the arrow flew straight to the bull's eye.
金鼓齐鸣,众皆喝采。
The clang of the gongs and the roll of the drums announced the feat, which astonished them all.
曹操于台上望见大喜曰:“此吾家千里驹也!”
And Cao Cao, as he sat on the terrace, was delighted. "A very promising colt of my own,"
方欲使人取锦袍与曹休,只见绿袍队中,一骑飞出,叫曰:“丞相锦袍,合让俺外姓先取,宗族中不宜搀越。”
said he to those about him, and he sent a messenger for the red robe that the winner might receive it from his own hands.
But suddenly from the green side rode out one who cried, "It were more fitting to let outsiders compete for the Prime Minister's silken robe.
It is not right that members of the family monopolize the contest."
操视其人,乃文聘也。
Cao Cao looked at the speaker, who was Wen Ping.
众官曰:“且看文仲业射法。”
And some of the officers cried, "Let us see what his shooting is like!"
文聘拈弓纵马,一箭亦中红心。
So Wen Ping fitted an arrow to the string and fired also from horseback while galloping.
To the surprise of the onlookers, he also made a bull's eye,
众皆喝采,金鼓乱鸣。
which was honored by another salute from gongs and drums.
聘大呼曰:“快取袍来!”
"Quickly bring me the robe," cried Wen Ping.
只见红袍队中,又一将飞马而出,厉声曰:“文烈先射,汝何得争夺?
But at once from the ranks of the red-robed another competitor dashed forward, shouting fiercely, "How can you win what has been already won?”
拽满弓,一箭射去,也中红心。
He drew his bow to the full, and the arrow flew straight to the heart of the red.
众人齐声喝采。
The surprised onlookers saw ^+2that this new competitor was Cao Hong, +who now became also a claimant for the robe.
洪方欲取袍,只见绿袍队里又一将出,扬弓叫曰:“你三人射法,何足为奇!
However, yet another archer came forth from the green-robed ranks, playing with his bow and crying, "What is there amazing in your shooting, you three?”