看官

Hawkes, The Story of the Stone ch.1 :

Gentle Reader,

What, you may ask, was the origin of this book?

Though the answer to this question may at first seem to border on the absurd, reflection will show that there is a good deal more in it than meets the eye.

看官！你道此書從何而起？說來雖近荒唐，細玩頗有趣味。

1. Gentle Reader = 看官

2. What, you may ask, was the origin of this book? = 你道此書從何而起？
2.1. the origin = 從何而起

3. Though the answer to this question may at first seem to border on the absurd = 說來雖近荒唐
3.1. the answer to this question = 說來
3.2. Though ... at first seem to = 雖

4. reflection will show that there is a good deal more in it than meets the eye = 細玩頗有趣味
4.1. reflection = 細玩
4.2. a good deal more in it than meets the eye = 頗有趣味
4.3. a good deal = 頗有