第二十九回 · 修書解縛 The Letter Sealed, the Captive Freed — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

修書解縛 The Letter Sealed, the Captive Freed

那nà公gōng主zhǔ急jí轉zhuǎn後hòu面miàn，即jí修xiū了le一yì紙zhǐ家jiā書shū，封fēng固gù停tíng當dāng。到dào樁zhuāng前qián解jiě放fàng了le唐táng僧sēng，將jiāng書shū付fù與yǔ。唐táng僧sēng得dé解jiě脫tuō，捧pěng書shū在zài手shǒu道dào：「女nǚ菩pú薩sà，多duō謝xiè你nǐ活huó命mìng之zhī恩ēn。貧pín僧sēng這zhè一yí去qù，過guò貴guì處chù，定dìng送sòng國guó王wáng處chù。只zhǐ恐kǒng日rì久jiǔ年nián深shēn，你nǐ父fù母mǔ不bù肯kěn相xiāng認rèn，奈nài何hé？切qiè莫mò怪guài我wǒ貧pín僧sēng打dǎ了le誑kuáng語yǔ。」公gōng主zhǔ道dào：「不bù妨fáng，我wǒ父fù王wáng無wú子zǐ，止zhǐ生shēng我wǒ三sān個gè姊zǐ妹mèi，若ruò見jiàn此cǐ書shū，必bì有yǒu相xiāng看kàn之zhī意yì。」三sān藏zàng緊jǐn緊jǐn袖xiù了le家jiā書shū，謝xiè了le公gōng主zhǔ，就jiù往wǎng外wài走zǒu。被bèi公gōng主zhǔ扯chě住zhù道dào：「前qián門mén裡lǐ你nǐ出chū不bú去qù，那nà些xiē大dà小xiǎo妖yāo精jīng都dōu在zài門mén外wài搖yáo旗qí吶nà喊hǎn，擂léi鼓gǔ篩shāi鑼luó，助zhù著zhe大dà王wáng，與yǔ你nǐ徒tú弟dì廝sī殺shā哩lī。你nǐ往wǎng後hòu門mén裡lǐ去qù罷bà。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng拿ná住zhù，還hái審shěn問wèn審shěn問wèn；只zhǐ恐kǒng小xiǎo妖yāo兒er捉zhuō了le，不bù分fēn好hǎo歹dǎi，挾xié生shēng兒er傷shāng了le你nǐ的de性xìng命mìng。等děng我wǒ去qù他tā面miàn前qián說shuō個gè方fāng便biàn。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng放fàng了le你nǐ啊a，待dài你nǐ徒tú弟dì討tǎo個gè示shì下xià，尋xún著zháo你nǐ一yì同tóng好hǎo走zǒu。」三sān藏zàng聞wén言yán，磕kē了le頭tóu，謹jǐn依yī吩fēn咐fù，辭cí別bié公gōng主zhǔ，躲duǒ離lí後hòu門mén之zhī外wài，不bù敢gǎn自zì行xíng，將jiāng身shēn藏cáng在zài荊jīng棘jí叢cóng中zhōng。那nà公gōng主zhǔ急jí转zhuǎn后hòu面miàn，即jí修xiū了le一yì纸zhǐ家jiā书shū，封fēng固gù停tíng当dāng。到dào桩zhuāng前qián解jiě放fàng了le唐táng僧sēng，将jiāng书shū付fù与yǔ。唐táng僧sēng得dé解jiě脱tuō，捧pěng书shū在zài手shǒu道dào：「女nǚ菩pú萨sà，多duō谢xiè你nǐ活huó命mìng之zhī恩ēn。贫pín僧sēng这zhè一yí去qù，过guò贵guì处chù，定dìng送sòng国guó王wáng处chù。只zhǐ恐kǒng日rì久jiǔ年nián深shēn，你nǐ父fù母mǔ不bù肯kěn相xiāng认rèn，奈nài何hé？切qiè莫mò怪guài我wǒ贫pín僧sēng打dǎ了le诳kuáng语yǔ。」公gōng主zhǔ道dào：「不bù妨fáng，我wǒ父fù王wáng无wú子zǐ，止zhǐ生shēng我wǒ三sān个gè姊zǐ妹mèi，若ruò见jiàn此cǐ书shū，必bì有yǒu相xiāng看kàn之zhī意yì。」三sān藏zàng紧jǐn紧jǐn袖xiù了le家jiā书shū，谢xiè了le公gōng主zhǔ，就jiù往wǎng外wài走zǒu。被bèi公gōng主zhǔ扯chě住zhù道dào：「前qián门mén里lǐ你nǐ出chū不bú去qù，那nà些xiē大dà小xiǎo妖yāo精jīng都dōu在zài门mén外wài摇yáo旗qí呐nà喊hǎn，擂léi鼓gǔ筛shāi锣luó，助zhù著zhe大dà王wáng，与yǔ你nǐ徒tú弟dì厮sī杀shā哩lī。你nǐ往wǎng后hòu门mén里lǐ去qù罢bà。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng拿ná住zhù，还hái审shěn问wèn审shěn问wèn；只zhǐ恐kǒng小xiǎo妖yāo儿er捉zhuō了le，不bù分fēn好hǎo歹dǎi，挟xié生shēng儿er伤shāng了le你nǐ的de性xìng命mìng。等děng我wǒ去qù他tā面miàn前qián说shuō个gè方fāng便biàn。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng放fàng了le你nǐ啊a，待dài你nǐ徒tú弟dì讨tǎo个gè示shì下xià，寻xún著zháo你nǐ一yì同tóng好hǎo走zǒu。」三sān藏zàng闻wén言yán，磕kē了le头tóu，谨jǐn依yī吩fēn咐fù，辞cí别bié公gōng主zhǔ，躲duǒ离lí后hòu门mén之zhī外wài，不bù敢gǎn自zì行xíng，将jiāng身shēn藏cáng在zài荆jīng棘jí丛cóng中zhōng。

逐句解 Line by line

那nà公gōng主zhǔ急jí轉zhuǎn後hòu面miàn，即jí修xiū了le一yì紙zhǐ家jiā書shū，封fēng固gù停tíng當dāng。到dào樁zhuāng前qián解jiě放fàng了le唐táng僧sēng，將jiāng書shū付fù與yǔ。那nà公gōng主zhǔ急jí转zhuǎn后hòu面miàn，即jí修xiū了le一yì纸zhǐ家jiā书shū，封fēng固gù停tíng当dāng。到dào桩zhuāng前qián解jiě放fàng了le唐táng僧sēng，将jiāng书shū付fù与yǔ。

The princess turned quickly to the inner chamber, wrote out a letter home upon a single sheet, and sealed it fast. Coming to the post, she loosed Tripitaka and put the letter into his hands.

修書 = "to compose a letter"; 封固停當 = "sealed and made all secure." 將書付與 uses 將 as the coverb of handing-over (jiāng). The brisk chain of verbs — 轉, 修, 封, 解放, 付 — conveys the dispatch of her contrivance.

唐táng僧sēng得dé解jiě脫tuō，捧pěng書shū在zài手shǒu道dào：「女nǚ菩pú薩sà，多duō謝xiè你nǐ活huó命mìng之zhī恩ēn。貧pín僧sēng這zhè一yí去qù，過guò貴guì處chù，定dìng送sòng國guó王wáng處chù。只zhǐ恐kǒng日rì久jiǔ年nián深shēn，你nǐ父fù母mǔ不bù肯kěn相xiāng認rèn，奈nài何hé？切qiè莫mò怪guài我wǒ貧pín僧sēng打dǎ了le誑kuáng語yǔ。」唐táng僧sēng得dé解jiě脱tuō，捧pěng书shū在zài手shǒu道dào：「女nǚ菩pú萨sà，多duō谢xiè你nǐ活huó命mìng之zhī恩ēn。贫pín僧sēng这zhè一yí去qù，过guò贵guì处chù，定dìng送sòng国guó王wáng处chù。只zhǐ恐kǒng日rì久jiǔ年nián深shēn，你nǐ父fù母mǔ不bù肯kěn相xiāng认rèn，奈nài何hé？切qiè莫mò怪guài我wǒ贫pín僧sēng打dǎ了le诳kuáng语yǔ。」

Freed at last, Tripitaka held the letter up in both hands and said, 'Bodhisattva-lady, I thank you for the gift of my life. On this journey, when I pass through your honored land, I shall be sure to deliver it to the king. My one fear is that, after so long a lapse of years, your father and mother may be unwilling to own the connection — and what then? Do not blame me, this poor monk, if I must speak a falsehood.'

得解脫 = "obtained release" (得 = dé). 相認 = "to acknowledge [a kinship]." Tripitaka's scruple against 打誑語 ("to tell a lie") invokes the Buddhist precept against false speech: he flags in advance the untruth he foresees having to tell at court, a moral thread the chapter will resume. 奈何 = "what is to be done?"

公gōng主zhǔ道dào：「不bù妨fáng，我wǒ父fù王wáng無wú子zǐ，止zhǐ生shēng我wǒ三sān個gè姊zǐ妹mèi，若ruò見jiàn此cǐ書shū，必bì有yǒu相xiāng看kàn之zhī意yì。」公gōng主zhǔ道dào：「不bù妨fáng，我wǒ父fù王wáng无wú子zǐ，止zhǐ生shēng我wǒ三sān个gè姊zǐ妹mèi，若ruò见jiàn此cǐ书shū，必bì有yǒu相xiāng看kàn之zhī意yì。」

Said the princess, 'No matter. My royal father has no son; he begot only us three sisters. If he sees this letter, he will surely wish to receive you.'

無子 (子 = zǐ, "son") establishes that the king has only daughters — the detail that lends the letter its persuasive force and, presently, motivates the whole court's grief. 相看之意 = "the intention to see [you]," 相 the directional xiāng.

三sān藏zàng緊jǐn緊jǐn袖xiù了le家jiā書shū，謝xiè了le公gōng主zhǔ，就jiù往wǎng外wài走zǒu。被bèi公gōng主zhǔ扯chě住zhù道dào：「前qián門mén裡lǐ你nǐ出chū不bú去qù，那nà些xiē大dà小xiǎo妖yāo精jīng都dōu在zài門mén外wài搖yáo旗qí吶nà喊hǎn，擂léi鼓gǔ篩shāi鑼luó，助zhù著zhe大dà王wáng，與yǔ你nǐ徒tú弟dì廝sī殺shā哩lī。你nǐ往wǎng後hòu門mén裡lǐ去qù罷bà。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng拿ná住zhù，還hái審shěn問wèn審shěn問wèn；只zhǐ恐kǒng小xiǎo妖yāo兒er捉zhuō了le，不bù分fēn好hǎo歹dǎi，挾xié生shēng兒er傷shāng了le你nǐ的de性xìng命mìng。等děng我wǒ去qù他tā面miàn前qián說shuō個gè方fāng便biàn。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng放fàng了le你nǐ啊a，待dài你nǐ徒tú弟dì討tǎo個gè示shì下xià，尋xún著zháo你nǐ一yì同tóng好hǎo走zǒu。」三sān藏zàng紧jǐn紧jǐn袖xiù了le家jiā书shū，谢xiè了le公gōng主zhǔ，就jiù往wǎng外wài走zǒu。被bèi公gōng主zhǔ扯chě住zhù道dào：「前qián门mén里lǐ你nǐ出chū不bú去qù，那nà些xiē大dà小xiǎo妖yāo精jīng都dōu在zài门mén外wài摇yáo旗qí呐nà喊hǎn，擂léi鼓gǔ筛shāi锣luó，助zhù著zhe大dà王wáng，与yǔ你nǐ徒tú弟dì厮sī杀shā哩lī。你nǐ往wǎng后hòu门mén里lǐ去qù罢bà。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng拿ná住zhù，还hái审shěn问wèn审shěn问wèn；只zhǐ恐kǒng小xiǎo妖yāo儿er捉zhuō了le，不bù分fēn好hǎo歹dǎi，挟xié生shēng儿er伤shāng了le你nǐ的de性xìng命mìng。等děng我wǒ去qù他tā面miàn前qián说shuō个gè方fāng便biàn。若ruò是shì大dà王wáng放fàng了le你nǐ啊a，待dài你nǐ徒tú弟dì讨tǎo个gè示shì下xià，寻xún著zháo你nǐ一yì同tóng好hǎo走zǒu。」

Tripitaka tucked the letter snugly into his sleeve, thanked the princess, and made to leave; but she caught him back, saying, 'By the front gate you cannot get out — all the demons great and small are out there waving flags and shouting, beating drums and clashing gongs, aiding the Great King in his fight with your disciples. Go out by the back gate. Should the Great King seize you, he would at least question you first; but I fear the lesser imps might take you, and, drawing no distinction, do you a rough and mortal harm. Wait while I go before him and put in a good word. If the Great King lets you go, then wait for word from your disciples, find them, and make off together.'

搖旗吶喊 and 擂鼓篩鑼 are stock four-character phrases for the din of battle. 還審問審問 (還 = hái) — "would still interrogate first": she reasons that the Great King, unlike his rabble, would not simply kill him. 小妖兒 / 挾生兒 take 兒 as the colloquial suffix (er); 挾生 = "brutally, while yet alive." 說個方便 = "to put in a helpful word."

三sān藏zàng聞wén言yán，磕kē了le頭tóu，謹jǐn依yī吩fēn咐fù，辭cí別bié公gōng主zhǔ，躲duǒ離lí後hòu門mén之zhī外wài，不bù敢gǎn自zì行xíng，將jiāng身shēn藏cáng在zài荊jīng棘jí叢cóng中zhōng。三sān藏zàng闻wén言yán，磕kē了le头tóu，谨jǐn依yī吩fēn咐fù，辞cí别bié公gōng主zhǔ，躲duǒ离lí后hòu门mén之zhī外wài，不bù敢gǎn自zì行xíng，将jiāng身shēn藏cáng在zài荆jīng棘jí丛cóng中zhōng。

Hearing her, Tripitaka kowtowed, obeyed her instructions to the letter, took his leave of the princess, and slipped out beyond the back gate; not daring to go on alone, he hid himself away within a thicket of brambles.

謹依吩咐 = "carefully following [her] instructions." The sentence turns on two 藏 of different value — 三藏 the name (zàng) and 身藏 "to conceal the body" (cáng) — and on 將身 with 將 the coverb. His concealment in the 荊棘 (brambles) sets up the reunion to come.

總評 Commentary

The sealing of the letter is the device by which the plot turns captivity into embassy: a single sheet, tucked into a sleeve, will carry the whole action out of the Wave-Moon Cave and into the court of Baoxiang. The novel foregrounds, at the very moment of Tripitaka's release, the moral difficulty the errand entails — his scruple against 打誑語 (false speech), a Buddhist precept he flags in advance because he foresees having to break it. That anticipatory conscience is characteristic: Tripitaka is forever punctilious in small pieties even as larger deceptions are forced upon him.

The princess's practicality is the counterweight to his scruple. Her disclosure that the king 無子 — has no son, only three daughters — is at once the letter's persuasive fulcrum and the seed of the court's later grief; and her stagecraft is exact, routing Tripitaka out the back gate, weighing the Great King's likely interrogation against the imps' indiscriminate violence, promising to "put in a good word." It is she, not the pilgrims, who manages this whole reprieve, a pattern the novel repeats: the captive women of its demon-lairs are often its shrewdest tacticians.