漢董永 (2)

漢董永 (1)

In the Han dynasty 漢
there lived a man of Chiencheng 千乘人
named Tung Yung. 董永
Having lost his mother as a child, 少偏孤
he helped his father till the land 與父居肆力田畝
and pull their cart. 鹿車載自隨

When his father died 父亡
and he had no money for the funeral, 無以葬
he sold himself 乃自賣
as a slave 為奴
to pay for it. 以供喪事
His master, 主人
knowing of his piety, 知其賢
gave him ten thousand coins 與錢一萬
and sent him off. 遣之

After he had observed the three years' mourning, 永行三年喪畢
he went back 欲還主人
to serve as a slave, 供其奴職
and met a woman on the road 道逢一婦人
who offered to be his wife. 曰願為子妻
So they went on together. 遂與之俱

His master asked: 主曰
`What can this woman do?' 婦人何能？
Tung answered: 永曰
`She can weave.' 能織
His master said: 主曰
`In that case, 必爾者
let her just 但令婦
weave me 為我織
a hundred rolls of silk.' 縑百匹

Then 於是
Tung Yung's wife 永妻
wove silk for this family, 為主人家織
finishing her task in ten days. 十日而畢

When she left 女出門
she told Tung Yung: 謂永曰
`I 我
am the Weaving Maid from Heaven. 天之織女也
Because 緣
you are a filial son, 君至孝
the Heavenly Emperor ordered me 天帝令我
to help you 助君
repay your debt.' 償債耳

Having said this 語畢
she soared up into the air 凌空而去
and disappeared. 不知所在