In Huaiyang there was a scholar named Ye. His given name has been forgotten. His essays and poetry were unsurpassed in his time, yet fortune never favored him, and he remained trapped in the examining arena. Just then, Ding Chenghe from Guandong was appointed magistrate of this district. He saw Ye's writings and found them extraordinary. He summoned Ye for a conversation, was greatly pleased, and had him lodge in the government office, providing him lamp money and often giving grain and coins to support his family.

　　When the provincial qualifying exam came around, Magistrate Ding sang Ye's praises before the Education Commissioner, and Ye took the top spot. Ding's hopes for him were extremely high. After the provincial examination, Ding asked for Ye's answers and read them, clapping his hands in admiration. But fate limits a man, and skill hates good luck. When the results were posted, Ye had once again failed. He returned home utterly dejected, ashamed that he had failed his benefactor. He wasted away to skin and bones, dazed like a wooden puppet. Ding heard of it, called him over, and comforted him. Ye wept without end. Ding took pity on him and promised that when his term was up and he went to the capital, he would take Ye north with him. Ye was deeply moved. He thanked Ding and went home, shutting his gate and staying indoors.

　　Soon he fell ill. Ding sent repeated inquiries and gifts of medicine, but after hundreds of doses, nothing worked. Just then Ding was dismissed for offending a superior and was about to leave his post. He sent a letter to Ye, which read in part: "I have set a day to return east. The reason I have delayed is that I have been waiting for you. If you arrive in the morning, I will depart that evening." The letter was delivered to Ye's bedside. Ye held it, sobbing, and sent word back: "My illness is severe and will not improve quickly. Please go first." The messenger returned and reported this. Ding could not bear to leave and waited patiently.

　　After several days, the gatekeeper suddenly announced that Ye Sheng had arrived. Ding was overjoyed and went to greet him. Ye said, "My dog‑horse illness has kept you waiting too long, Master. I have been anxious day and night. Now, fortunately, I can follow at your heels." Ding then packed his bags and made ready to leave at dawn.

　　When they reached Ding's hometown, Ding ordered his son to study under Ye, with Ye attending him day and night. Ding's son was named Zai Chang. He was sixteen at the time and still could not write compositions. Yet he was exceptionally bright. After reading any essay two or three times, he never forgot it. After a year of instruction, he could write a finished essay without hesitation. With his father's influence added, he was admitted to the county school. Ye then copied out all the examination essays he had written over his life and taught them to Zai Chang. In the provincial examination, all seven topics appeared among those he had prepared, and Zai Chang placed sixth among the successful candidates.

　　One day Ding said to Ye, "You gave him only the leftover scraps of your talent, and yet the boy has made a name for himself. But what is to be done with a great bronze bell that is left unused forever?" Ye replied, "It is simply fate. I have used your good fortune to give my writing a moment of pride, to let the world know that my lifelong failure was not because I lacked skill. That is enough. Besides, for a scholar to gain one true friend who understands him is to have no regrets. Why must he throw off his coarse linen gown before he can call it good fortune?"

　　Ding, seeing that Ye had been away from home for a long time, feared that he would miss the yearly qualifying exam and urged him to return home for it. Ye looked unhappy. Ding could not force him, so he instructed Zai Chang, who was about to go to the capital for the metropolitan examination, to buy a place for Ye in the Imperial Academy. Zai Chang passed the metropolitan examination and was appointed a Secretary in a ministry. He took Ye with him to his post, and they stayed together day and night. A year later, Ye took the provincial examination in Beijing and finally passed as a Provincial Graduate.

　　Just then Zai Chang was sent to the Southern River on official business. He said to Ye, "This trip takes me near your hometown, Sir. Now that you have soared into the clouds, a triumphant return in fine clothes would be a joy." Ye was also delighted. They chose an auspicious day and set out. When they reached the border of Huaiyang, Zai Chang ordered servants and horses to escort Ye home.

　　Ye returned to his village. The gate and courtyard were desolate and worn. His heart ached with sorrow. He hesitated, then walked into the courtyard. His wife came out carrying a winnowing basket. When she saw him, she dropped the basket and fled in terror. Ye said sadly, "I have attained wealth and rank now. We have not seen each other for three or four years. How can you not recognize me at all?"

　　From a distance his wife called back, "You have been dead a long time. What do you mean by wealth and rank? The reason I have kept your coffin so long without burying you is that we were poor and our son was young. Now your eldest son has grown up. We were about to choose a grave site. Do not come as a ghost to frighten the living."

　　When Ye heard this, he stood in stunned despair. He slowly entered the room and saw his own coffin standing there. Then he fell to the ground and vanished. His wife looked in horror. His clothes, cap, boots, and socks lay on the floor like a discarded cicada shell. She wailed in grief, hugging the clothes and weeping. Their son came home from school. Seeing the carriage and horses at the gate, he asked where they came from, then ran in terror to tell his mother. His mother, weeping, told him what had happened. They questioned the attendants who had come with Ye and learned the whole story.

　　When the attendants returned and reported to Zai Chang, he wept until tears wet his lapel. He immediately had his carriage driven to Ye's home, wailed in mourning before the coffin, and paid out of his own pocket for the funeral, burying Ye with the rites of a Provincial Graduate. He also gave a large sum to Ye's son and hired a tutor to teach him. He spoke to the Education Commissioner, and the following year the son was admitted to the county school.

　　The Historian of the Strange comments: A man's ghost follows his friend, even forgetting death. Those who hear of it may doubt it, but I deeply believe it. The devoted lady of the tale left her pillow as a wandering spirit; close friends a thousand miles apart still find their way in dreams. How much more so when it comes to words woven like silkworm threads, the very heart's blood of the scholar; or the melody of high mountains and flowing water, the life and soul of our kind? Alas! Meeting the right friend is hard; fate does not grant us success. We walk alone, forever sad facing our own shadows. With proud, unbending bones, we scratch our heads and cherish ourselves. We sigh over our sour, shabby faces, and ghosts come to mock us. Stay stuck in failure, and every hair and beard becomes an eyesore; fall outside Sun Mountain, and every word you have written turns into a flaw. From ancient times to now, the only man who truly wept was Bian He, holding his jade. Who is the Bo Le who can see a thoroughbred among the common herd? We carry a letter of recommendation in our breast until after three years the writing fades; we crane our necks and see no home under heaven. In this life, a man need only close his eyes and let his feet fall as they may, trusting the Creator to raise him up or put him down. Under heaven, there are many proud, fallen men like Ye Sheng. But where can we find another Ding Lingwei who brings the dead back to life, so that we might follow him beyond death itself? Ah!



中文如下：

叶生

【原文】

淮阳叶生者，失其名字。文章词赋，冠绝当时，而所如不偶，困于名场。会关东丁乘鹤来令是邑，见其文，奇之。召与语，大悦。使即官署，受灯火，时赐钱谷恤其家。

值科试，公游扬于学使，遂领冠军。公期望綦切。闱后，索文读之，击节称叹。不意时数限人，文章憎命，榜既放，依然铩羽。生嗒丧而归，愧负知己，形销骨立，痴若木偶。公闻，召之来而慰之。生零涕不已。公怜之，相期考满入都，携与俱北。生甚感佩。辞而归，杜门不出。

无何，寝疾。公遗问不绝，而服药百裹，殊罔所效。公适以忤上官免，将解任去。函致生，其略云：“仆东归有日，所以迟迟者，待足下耳。足下朝至，则仆夕发矣。”传之卧榻。生持书啜泣，寄语来使：“疾革难遽瘥，请先发。”使人返白，公不忍去，徐待之。逾数日，门者忽通叶生至。公喜，逆而问之。生曰：“以犬马病，劳夫子久待，万虑不宁。今幸可从杖履。”公乃束装戒旦。

抵里，命子师事生，夙夜与俱。公子名再昌，时年十六，尚不能文。然绝惠，凡文艺三两过，辄无遗忘。居之期岁，便能落笔成文。益之公力，遂入邑庠。生以生平所拟举子业，悉录授读。闱中七题，并无脱漏，中亚魁。公一日谓生曰：“君出馀绪，遂使孺子成名。然黄钟长弃，奈何？”生曰：“是殆有命。借福泽为文章吐气，使天下人知半生沦落，非战之罪也，愿亦足矣。且士得一人知己，可无憾，何必抛却白纻，乃谓之利市哉？”公以其久客，恐误岁试，劝令归省。生惨然不乐。公不忍强，嘱公子至都为之纳粟。公子又捷南宫，授部中主政。携生赴监，与共晨夕。逾岁，生入北闱，竟领乡荐。会公子差南河典务，因谓生曰：“此去离贵乡不远。先生奋迹云霄，锦还为快。”生亦喜。择吉就道，抵淮阳界，命仆马送生归。

归见门户萧条，意甚悲恻。逡巡至庭中，妻携簸具以出，见生，掷具骇走。生凄然曰：“我今贵矣。三四年不觌，何遂顿不相识？”妻遥谓曰：“君死已久，何复言贵？所以久淹君柩者，以家贫子幼耳。今阿大亦已成立，行将卜窀穸。勿作怪异吓生人。”生闻之，怃然惆怅。逡巡入室，见灵柩俨然，扑地而灭。妻惊视之，衣冠履舄如脱委焉。大恸，抱衣悲哭。子自塾中归，见结驷于门，审所自来，骇奔告母。母挥涕告诉。又细询从者，始得颠末。从者返，公子闻之，涕堕垂膺。即命驾哭诸其室，出橐营丧，葬以孝廉礼。又厚遗其子，为延师教读。言于学使，逾年游泮。

异史氏曰：魂从知己，竟忘死耶？闻者疑之，余深信焉。同心倩女，至离枕上之魂；千里良朋，犹识梦中之路。而况茧丝蝇迹，呕学士之心肝；流水高山，通我曹之性命者哉！嗟呼！遇合难期，遭逢不偶。行踪落落，对影长愁；傲骨嶙嶙，搔头自爱。叹面目之酸涩，来鬼物之揶揄。频居康了之中，则须发之条条可丑；一落孙山之外，则文章之处处皆疵。古今痛哭之人，卞和惟尔；颠倒逸群之物，伯乐伊谁？抱刺于怀，三年灭字；侧身以望，四海无家。人生世上，只须合眼放步，以听造物之低昂而已。天下之昂藏沦落如叶生其人者，亦复不少，顾安得令威复来，而生死从之也哉？噫！

【翻译】

淮阳县有个书生姓叶，名字记不清了。他写的文章词赋，在当时称得上是首屈一指，然而运气一直不好，在科举考试中屡屡落第。这时，有个关东人丁乘鹤到这个县来做县令，见到了叶生的文章，很是欣赏。召他来谈话，言语投合，大为高兴。丁公就叫叶生到官署来住，给叶生灯火钱等读书费用，并常常送给他钱粮补助家庭费用。

又到了本省科考的时节，丁公在学使面前把叶生称赞了一番，于是叶生以第一名的成绩获取了参加乡试的资格。丁公对他的期望十分殷切。乡试结束后，他要来叶生的文稿读，读完后连连击节称叹。不料人受命运的限制，文章憎厌人的命运通达，等到放榜以后，叶生依然没有考中。叶生神情沮丧地回到家里，惭愧自己辜负了知己的期望，人瘦得只剩下一把骨头，痴呆呆地像个木偶。丁公听说了，把他叫来劝慰了一番。叶生不住地掉眼泪。丁公很同情他，与他约好，等自己任职期满到京城去的时候，带着他一同北上。叶生更加感动，辞谢后回到家中，从此闭门不出。

没过多久，叶生就卧病不起了。丁公派人不断送来东西表示慰问，但叶生吃了很多药，都不见效。这时，恰巧丁公因为得罪了上司被免去了职务，将要解任离去。他就写了封信给叶生，大致内容是：“我本来已定下了东归回家的日期，所以迟迟不起程的原因，就是在等着你啊。你早晨到来，我晚上就出发。”丁公派人把信送到叶生床前。叶生拿着信哭泣起来，请送信人转告丁公：“我病重很难一下子就好，请您先出发吧。”送信人回去禀明，丁公不忍心先离开，仍然耐心地等着。过了几天，看门人忽然通报说叶生来了。丁公十分高兴，迎上前去问候他。叶生说：“因为我生病，有劳先生等待了这么久，我心中万般不安。现在幸好可以跟随侍奉在您的身边了。”丁公于是收拾好行装，准备一大早就出发。

到了家乡，丁公让儿子拜叶生为师，叶生日夜都与丁公的儿子在一起。丁公子名再昌，当时十六岁了，还不会做八股文。然而他聪明绝顶，一篇八股文看上两三遍，就不会再忘记。叶生在丁家住着教授了一年，丁公子就能一气呵成地写出文章了。又加上他父亲的关系，丁公子于是进了县学。叶生把他平日为准备应试而写的八股文都抄录下来，教丁公子诵读。丁公子参加乡试，考场上出的七道题，没有一道是平时准备不到而脱漏掉的，于是高中了第六名举人。丁公有一天对叶生说：“先生只拿出自己才学的微末部分，就让我这个儿子高中成名了。然而真正有才能的人却长久地被埋没，这又如何是好呢！”叶生说：“这大概是我命该如此吧。不过现在借您的福气恩泽为我的文章扬眉吐气，使天下人知道我半生沦落，并不是由于我能力低下，我也就心满意足了。况且读书人能得到一个知己，就已经没有什么可遗憾的，又何必一定要金榜题名，摆脱布衣身份，才说得上是交了好运呢？”丁公因为叶生离开家乡在外客居已经很久了，恐怕他耽误例行的岁试，劝他回家去应试。叶生听了郁郁不乐。丁公也不忍勉强他，嘱咐去参加会试的丁公子，到了京城为叶生花钱捐一个国子监监生资格。公子参加会试又报捷高中，获得了部中主事的职位。他带着叶生到任上赴职，两人早晚都在一起。过了一年，叶生参加京城举行的乡试，竟然考中了举人。正好此时丁公子被派到南河河道办理公务，于是对叶生说：“这一去离您的家乡不远。先生奋斗多年，终于直上云霄，现在是衣锦还乡的快慰之时了。”叶生也十分欣喜。选定了良辰吉日后，他们便起程上路了。到了淮阳县界，丁公子又命令仆人牵马送叶生回家去。

叶生回到乡里，看见自家门前一片破败萧条的景象，心中不禁十分难过。他徘徊着到了庭院当中，恰好他妻子端着簸箕出来，一看见他，扔下簸箕就惊恐地逃开了。叶生心境凄凉地说：“我现在富贵了。三四年不相见，你怎么就到了不认识我的地步？”妻子远远地说：“你已经死了很久了，还说什么富贵？我之所以这么长时间迟迟留着你的棺材没有下葬，实在是因为家里太穷、孩子太小。现在阿大已经长大成人了，就要找地方安葬你了。你可不要显灵作怪来吓唬我们活人呀！”叶生听了这话，显出失望惆怅的神色。慢慢地走进屋里，看见一具棺材赫然地摆在那里，就倒在地上一下子消失了。他的妻子惊恐地走近一看，只见叶生的衣服、帽子、鞋袜就像蝉蛇蜕下来的皮一样散放在地上。于是大为悲哀，抱着衣服失声痛哭起来。叶生的儿子从学馆回来，见有马系在家门口，仔细问明来由，就惊骇地跑去告诉母亲。母亲抹着眼泪向他诉说了刚才见到的情景。两人又细细地询问了外边跟叶生来的随从，才知道这一切的原委。随从叶生的仆人回去后，丁公子听说了这件事，十分哀痛，泪洒衣襟。他立刻让人驾车带着自己赶往叶家，在叶生的灵前哭祭，出钱为叶生操办了丧事，按举人的礼数埋葬了叶生。丁公子又送给叶生的儿子许多钱，为他请了老师教他读书。丁公子向学使推荐了一番，过了一年，叶生的儿子就中了秀才。

异史氏说：一个人的魂魄追随着自己的知己，竟然能忘记自己已经死去吗？听说这事的人都不相信，唯独我深信不疑。《离魂记》里的倩女能为心上人而使魂魄离开躯体，生死相随；张敏、高惠这对远隔千里的知心挚友也能在梦中相会。更何况笔下的文章，倾注着我们读书人的心血；锺子期那样的知音，才是和我们这些读书人性命相通的人呀！可叹啊！知音相遇是难以期望的事情，人还是常会遭逢独自一人不得知音的境遇。自己孤单流落，对着影子长久地忧怨；偏偏又生就了铮铮傲骨，难免不失意无计自爱自怜。可怜一副穷酸相的书生，甚至连鬼怪也要来嘲弄。只要屡考不中，就连每根须发都是丑陋的；一旦名落孙山，文章就处处都是毛病。自古至今以痛哭闻名的人，要数献宝被拒的卞和；而面对超群之才被埋没的良莠颠倒之事，谁是善识贤才的伯乐呢？身怀绝技，无人赏识，也只能像祢衡那样把名帖放在怀中，以致三年之后字迹磨灭；侧身四望，天下已经无处投奔。人生在世，只应该闭着眼睛放开步子走，服从上天安排下的富贵贫贱。天下不凡之士像叶生那样沦落一生的，还有不少，只是怎样才能让丁乘鹤那样的人再度出现，好去与他生死相随呢？唉！