第十回 · 守誠識龍 The Diviner Unmasks the Dragon — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

守誠識龍 The Diviner Unmasks the Dragon

守shǒu誠chéng猶yóu公gōng然rán不bú懼jù分fēn毫háo，仰yǎng面miàn朝cháo天tiān冷lěng笑xiào道dào：「我wǒ不bú怕pà，我wǒ不bú怕pà。我wǒ無wú死sǐ罪zuì，只zhǐ怕pà你nǐ倒dào有yǒu個gè死sǐ罪zuì哩lī。別bié人rén好hǎo瞞mán，只zhǐ是shì難nán瞞mán我wǒ也yě。我wǒ認rèn得de你nǐ，你nǐ不bú是shì秀xiù士shì，乃nǎi是shì涇jīng河hé龍lóng王wáng。你nǐ違wéi了le玉yù帝dì敕chì旨zhǐ，改gǎi了le時shí辰chén，剋kè了le點diǎn數shù，犯fàn了le天tiān條tiáo。你nǐ在zài那nà剮guǎ龍lóng臺tái上shàng，恐kǒng難nán免miǎn一yì刀dāo，你nǐ還hái在zài此cǐ罵mà我wǒ？」龍lóng王wáng見jiàn說shuō，心xīn驚jīng膽dǎn戰zhàn，毛máo骨gǔ悚sǒng然rán。急jí丟diū了le門mén板bǎn，整zhěng衣yī伏fú禮lǐ，向xiàng先xiān生shēng跪guì下xià道dào：「先xiān生shēng休xiū怪guài。前qián言yán戲xì之zhī耳ěr，豈qǐ知zhī弄nòng假jiǎ成chéng真zhēn，果guǒ然rán違wéi犯fàn天tiān條tiáo，奈nài何hé？望wàng先xiān生shēng救jiù我wǒ一yí救jiù；不bù然rán，我wǒ死sǐ也yě不bú放fàng你nǐ。」守shǒu誠chéng曰yuē：「我wǒ救jiù你nǐ不bù得dé，只zhǐ是shì指zhǐ條tiáo生shēng路lù與yǔ你nǐ投tóu生shēng便biàn了liǎo。」龍lóng曰yuē：「願yuàn求qiú指zhǐ教jiào。」先xiān生shēng曰yuē：「你nǐ明míng日rì午wǔ時shí三sān刻kè，該gāi赴fù人rén曹cáo官guān魏wèi徵zhēng處chù聽tīng斬zhǎn。你nǐ果guǒ要yào性xìng命mìng，須xū當dāng急jí急jí去qù告gào當dāng今jīn唐táng太tài宗zōng皇huáng帝dì方fāng好hǎo。那nà魏wèi徵zhēng是shì唐táng王wáng駕jià下xià的de丞chéng相xiàng，若ruò是shì討tǎo他tā個gè人rén情qíng，方fāng保bǎo無wú事shì。」守shǒu诚chéng犹yóu公gōng然rán不bú惧jù分fēn毫háo，仰yǎng面miàn朝cháo天tiān冷lěng笑xiào道dào：「我wǒ不bú怕pà，我wǒ不bú怕pà。我wǒ无wú死sǐ罪zuì，只zhǐ怕pà你nǐ倒dào有yǒu个gè死sǐ罪zuì哩lī。别bié人rén好hǎo瞒mán，只zhǐ是shì难nán瞒mán我wǒ也yě。我wǒ认rèn得de你nǐ，你nǐ不bú是shì秀xiù士shì，乃nǎi是shì泾jīng河hé龙lóng王wáng。你nǐ违wéi了le玉yù帝dì敕chì旨zhǐ，改gǎi了le时shí辰chén，克kè了le点diǎn数shù，犯fàn了le天tiān条tiáo。你nǐ在zài那nà剐guǎ龙lóng台tái上shàng，恐kǒng难nán免miǎn一yì刀dāo，你nǐ还hái在zài此cǐ骂mà我wǒ？」龙lóng王wáng见jiàn说shuō，心xīn惊jīng胆dǎn战zhàn，毛máo骨gǔ悚sǒng然rán。急jí丢diū了le门mén板bǎn，整zhěng衣yī伏fú礼lǐ，向xiàng先xiān生shēng跪guì下xià道dào：「先xiān生shēng休xiū怪guài。前qián言yán戏xì之zhī耳ěr，岂qǐ知zhī弄nòng假jiǎ成chéng真zhēn，果guǒ然rán违wéi犯fàn天tiān条tiáo，奈nài何hé？望wàng先xiān生shēng救jiù我wǒ一yí救jiù；不bù然rán，我wǒ死sǐ也yě不bú放fàng你nǐ。」守shǒu诚chéng曰yuē：「我wǒ救jiù你nǐ不bù得dé，只zhǐ是shì指zhǐ条tiáo生shēng路lù与yǔ你nǐ投tóu生shēng便biàn了liǎo。」龙lóng曰yuē：「愿yuàn求qiú指zhǐ教jiào。」先xiān生shēng曰yuē：「你nǐ明míng日rì午wǔ时shí三sān刻kè，该gāi赴fù人rén曹cáo官guān魏wèi征zhēng处chù听tīng斩zhǎn。你nǐ果guǒ要yào性xìng命mìng，须xū当dāng急jí急jí去qù告gào当dāng今jīn唐táng太tài宗zōng皇huáng帝dì方fāng好hǎo。那nà魏wèi征zhēng是shì唐táng王wáng驾jià下xià的de丞chéng相xiàng，若ruò是shì讨tǎo他tā个gè人rén情qíng，方fāng保bǎo无wú事shì。」

逐句解 Line by line

守shǒu誠chéng猶yóu公gōng然rán不bú懼jù分fēn毫háo，仰yǎng面miàn朝cháo天tiān冷lěng笑xiào道dào：「我wǒ不bú怕pà，我wǒ不bú怕pà。我wǒ無wú死sǐ罪zuì，只zhǐ怕pà你nǐ倒dào有yǒu個gè死sǐ罪zuì哩lī。別bié人rén好hǎo瞞mán，只zhǐ是shì難nán瞞mán我wǒ也yě。守shǒu诚chéng犹yóu公gōng然rán不bú惧jù分fēn毫háo，仰yǎng面miàn朝cháo天tiān冷lěng笑xiào道dào：「我wǒ不bú怕pà，我wǒ不bú怕pà。我wǒ无wú死sǐ罪zuì，只zhǐ怕pà你nǐ倒dào有yǒu个gè死sǐ罪zuì哩lī。别bié人rén好hǎo瞒mán，只zhǐ是shì难nán瞒mán我wǒ也yě。

Shoucheng, still not showing the least fear, lifted his face to the sky and laughed coldly: 'I am not afraid, I am not afraid. I bear no death-sentence — I only fear that it is you who bear one. Others may be deceived; but me you can hardly deceive.'

仰面朝天 ('to lift the face toward heaven') takes 朝 as cháo, 'toward'; 不懼分毫 is 'not afraid in the least.' 好瞞 / 難瞞 ('easy to deceive / hard to deceive') turn the confrontation about: the accuser becomes the accused.

我wǒ認rèn得de你nǐ，你nǐ不bú是shì秀xiù士shì，乃nǎi是shì涇jīng河hé龍lóng王wáng。你nǐ違wéi了le玉yù帝dì敕chì旨zhǐ，改gǎi了le時shí辰chén，剋kè了le點diǎn數shù，犯fàn了le天tiān條tiáo。你nǐ在zài那nà剮guǎ龍lóng臺tái上shàng，恐kǒng難nán免miǎn一yì刀dāo，你nǐ還hái在zài此cǐ罵mà我wǒ？」我wǒ认rèn得de你nǐ，你nǐ不bú是shì秀xiù士shì，乃nǎi是shì泾jīng河hé龙lóng王wáng。你nǐ违wéi了le玉yù帝dì敕chì旨zhǐ，改gǎi了le时shí辰chén，克kè了le点diǎn数shù，犯fàn了le天tiān条tiáo。你nǐ在zài那nà剐guǎ龙lóng台tái上shàng，恐kǒng难nán免miǎn一yì刀dāo，你nǐ还hái在zài此cǐ骂mà我wǒ？」

'I know you: you are no scholar, but the Dragon King of the Jing. You have defied the Jade Emperor's decree, altered the hours, docked the amount, and broken the law of Heaven. On the Dragon-Execution Terrace you will scarcely escape the blade — and yet here you stand, cursing me?'

認得 ('to recognize') takes 得 as de; 那 is nà, 還 is hái. 犯了天條 is 'to have violated the ordinance of Heaven'; 剮龍臺 ('the terrace where dragons are sliced') is the place of a dragon's execution.

龍lóng王wáng見jiàn說shuō，心xīn驚jīng膽dǎn戰zhàn，毛máo骨gǔ悚sǒng然rán。急jí丟diū了le門mén板bǎn，整zhěng衣yī伏fú禮lǐ，向xiàng先xiān生shēng跪guì下xià道dào：「先xiān生shēng休xiū怪guài。前qián言yán戲xì之zhī耳ěr，豈qǐ知zhī弄nòng假jiǎ成chéng真zhēn，果guǒ然rán違wéi犯fàn天tiān條tiáo，奈nài何hé？望wàng先xiān生shēng救jiù我wǒ一yí救jiù；不bù然rán，我wǒ死sǐ也yě不bú放fàng你nǐ。」龙lóng王wáng见jiàn说shuō，心xīn惊jīng胆dǎn战zhàn，毛máo骨gǔ悚sǒng然rán。急jí丢diū了le门mén板bǎn，整zhěng衣yī伏fú礼lǐ，向xiàng先xiān生shēng跪guì下xià道dào：「先xiān生shēng休xiū怪guài。前qián言yán戏xì之zhī耳ěr，岂qǐ知zhī弄nòng假jiǎ成chéng真zhēn，果guǒ然rán违wéi犯fàn天tiān条tiáo，奈nài何hé？望wàng先xiān生shēng救jiù我wǒ一yí救jiù；不bù然rán，我wǒ死sǐ也yě不bú放fàng你nǐ。」

Hearing this, the Dragon King was struck to the heart with terror, his hair and flesh crawling. He flung down the door-plank at once, straightened his robes and made obeisance, and knelt before the master: 'Do not blame me, master. My earlier words were spoken in jest — who could have known the pretense would come true, that I should truly break the law of Heaven? What am I to do? I beg you, master, save me, save me! If you do not, I will not let you go, though I die for it.'

心驚膽戰 and 毛骨悚然 are stock phrases for shuddering dread; 弄假成真 ('to make the false become real') is the reversal at the heart of the scene. The dragon who came to smash the shop now kneels in it.

守shǒu誠chéng曰yuē：「我wǒ救jiù你nǐ不bù得dé，只zhǐ是shì指zhǐ條tiáo生shēng路lù與yǔ你nǐ投tóu生shēng便biàn了liǎo。」守shǒu诚chéng曰yuē：「我wǒ救jiù你nǐ不bù得dé，只zhǐ是shì指zhǐ条tiáo生shēng路lù与yǔ你nǐ投tóu生shēng便biàn了liǎo。」

Shoucheng said: 'Save you I cannot; I can only point out to you a road to life, that you may find a way to survive.'

救你不得 ('cannot save you') takes 得 as dé; 指條生路 is 'to point out a path of life,' 投生 'to find a living way out.' The diviner offers not rescue but direction.

龍lóng曰yuē：「願yuàn求qiú指zhǐ教jiào。」龙lóng曰yuē：「愿yuàn求qiú指zhǐ教jiào。」

The dragon said: 'I beg your instruction.'

願求指教 is 'I earnestly seek your guidance,' 指教 (zhǐjiào) a polite 'to instruct.'

先xiān生shēng曰yuē：「你nǐ明míng日rì午wǔ時shí三sān刻kè，該gāi赴fù人rén曹cáo官guān魏wèi徵zhēng處chù聽tīng斬zhǎn。你nǐ果guǒ要yào性xìng命mìng，須xū當dāng急jí急jí去qù告gào當dāng今jīn唐táng太tài宗zōng皇huáng帝dì方fāng好hǎo。那nà魏wèi徵zhēng是shì唐táng王wáng駕jià下xià的de丞chéng相xiàng，若ruò是shì討tǎo他tā個gè人rén情qíng，方fāng保bǎo無wú事shì。」先xiān生shēng曰yuē：「你nǐ明míng日rì午wǔ时shí三sān刻kè，该gāi赴fù人rén曹cáo官guān魏wèi征zhēng处chù听tīng斩zhǎn。你nǐ果guǒ要yào性xìng命mìng，须xū当dāng急jí急jí去qù告gào当dāng今jīn唐táng太tài宗zōng皇huáng帝dì方fāng好hǎo。那nà魏wèi征zhēng是shì唐táng王wáng驾jià下xià的de丞chéng相xiàng，若ruò是shì讨tǎo他tā个gè人rén情qíng，方fāng保bǎo无wú事shì。」

The master said: 'Tomorrow, at the third quarter of the hour of wu, you are to go before the Registrar of Human Affairs, Wei Zheng, to be beheaded. If you truly wish to keep your life, you must go with all haste to appeal to the reigning Emperor Taizong of Tang. Wei Zheng is a chancellor in the Tang king's service; if you can obtain his favor, only so will you be safe.'

午時三刻 is the third quarter of the noon double-hour, the traditional hour of execution; 人曹官 ('officer of the human bureau') is Wei Zheng's role in the celestial administration. 那 is nà; 丞相 ('chancellor') takes 相 as xiàng. The escape is to reach the executioner's own sovereign.

總評 Commentary

The scene's reversal is total. Yuan Shoucheng, unmoved throughout, lifts his face and laughs, and in a few sentences turns accuser into condemned: he knows the scholar is the Dragon King, knows the crime — the defied decree, the altered hours, the docked measure — and names the sentence, execution on the 剮龍臺. The dragon who came brandishing a door-plank flings it down and kneels, and the phrase 弄假成真, 'the pretense has come true,' names the mechanism of the whole tragedy: an idle boast and a petty deception have become a capital reality.

What the diviner offers is not rescue but a road. The executioner named is 魏徵, the 人曹官 or celestial Registrar of Human Affairs — who is also, in the waking world, a minister at the court of Taizong. The one hope is to reach the executioner's own sovereign and beg him to stay his minister's hand. With this, the chapter pivots from the water-world to the imperial court, and the dragon's desperate petition to Taizong — which will unfold in his dream that very night — is set in motion. The machinery that began with two woodsmen's overheard chatter now reaches the throne of Tang.