话说当时周谨、杨志两个勒马在于旗下，正欲出战交锋，只见兵马都监闻达喝道：“且住。”
Zhou Jin and Yang Zhi sat their chargers beneath the pennants, ready to enter the field and joust with lances. “Wait!” shouted General Wen Da.
自上厅来禀复梁中书道：“复恩相：论这两个比试武艺，虽然未见本事高低，枪刀本是无情之物，只宜杀贼剿寇。
He crossed to the pavilion and addressed himself to Governor Liang. “Although we don't know which of these two is more skilled, Your Honor,” he said, “the point of a lance is merciless, meant only for destroying robbers and brigands.
今日军中自家比试，恐有伤损，轻则残疾，重则致命，此乃于军不利。
These are men of our own army, and they may be hurt.
A slight wound can cripple, a heavy wound can kill.
It would have a bad effect on our forces.
可将两根枪去了枪头，各用毡片包裹，地下蘸了石灰，再各上马，都与皂衫穿着。
I suggest that the lance tips be removed and the ends bound in felt and dabbed in lime.
Let each of the mounted men wear black tunics when they fight.
但是枪尖厮搠，如白点多者当输。
The man with the most white spots loses.”
两个领了言语，向这演武厅后去了枪尖，都用毡片包了，缚成骨朵，身上各换了皂衫；各用枪去石灰桶里蘸了石灰，再各上马，出到阵前。
The two contestants went to the rear of the pavilion, where the points of their lances were taken off.
The ends were wrapped so thickly that they became knobs of felt.
Each then donned a black tunic, dabbed his lance?head in a bucket of lime, mounted, and rode out onto the field.
那周谨跃马挺枪，直取杨志，这杨志也拍战马捻手中枪来战周谨。
Lance erect, Zhou Jin kicked his horse and cantered towards Yang Zhi.
The former military aide slapped his mount and advanced to give battle, twirling his weapon.
两个在阵前来来往往，番番复复，搅做一团，纽做一块。
Back and forth they clashed, to and fro, wheeling, circling,
两个斗了四五十合。
They fought forty or fifty rounds.
梁中书大喜，叫唤周谨上厅，看了迹道：“前官参你做个军中副牌，量你这般武艺，如何南征北讨，怎生做的正请受的副牌？
Liang was delighted.
He shouted for Zhou Jin to mount the pavilion. “My predecessor made you a lieutenant,” he said. “But after seeing the way you fight I don't consider you fit to lead troops into battle— and as a lieutenant, no less!
管军兵马都监李成上厅禀复梁中书道：“周谨枪法生疏，弓马熟闲。
General Li Cheng entered the pavilion. “Zhou Jin isn't very good with lances,” he admitted, “but he's a fine mounted archer.
梁中书道：“言之极当。”
The governor nodded. “Well said.”
再传下将令来，叫杨志与周谨比箭。
He issued the order. -
两个得了将令，都紥了枪，各关了弓箭。
Zhou and Yang stabbed their lances into the ground and were given bows and arrows.
杨志就弓袋内取出那张弓来，扣得端正，擎了弓，跳上马，跑到厅前，立在马上，欠身禀复道：“恩相，弓箭发处，事不容情，恐有伤损，乞请钧旨。”
Yang took his bow from its sheath, strung it, jumped on his horse, cantered up to the pavilion, and reined in.
He rose in his stirrups and bowed. “Excellency, an arrow in flight knows no mercy.
It can cause a grievous wound.
Please issue your instructions.”
梁中书道：“武夫比试，何虑伤残，但有本事，射死勿论。”
“When warriors fight, who thinks of wounds?” Even if death results, there will be no consequences.”
杨志得令，回到阵前。
Yang returned to the battle arena.
将台上又把青旗磨动。
Again the blue flag waved.
周谨撇了弓箭，拿了傍牌在手，拍马望南而走。
Zhou cast his bow and arrows aside, grasped the shield firmly in his hand and rode south.
杨志在马上把腰只一纵，略将脚一拍，那马勃啦啦的便赶。
Yang straightened up in the saddle, clapped his mount with his heels and drummed after.
周谨在马上听得脑后弓弦响，扭转身来，便把傍牌来迎，却早接个空。
Hearing the sound behind him, Zhou twisted around and raised his shield.
But there was nothing.
等我待他第二枝箭再虚诈时，我便喝住了他，便算我赢了。”
“I'll wait till he makes his second false shot and demand that he forfeit the match.
I'll be proclaimed the winner.”
周谨的马早到教场南尽头，那马便转望演武厅来。
Zhou's mount by then had reached the far southern end of the field.
It turned and started back towards the pavilion.
杨志早去壶中掣出一枝箭来，搭在弓弦上。
while Yang drew an arrow from his quiver and fitted it to the bow.