红楼梦 - 第一回: Chunk 27

In the next part 甄士隐 is still listening to the two masters in his dream. The masters are having a very unusual discussion...

那僧笑道:"此事说来好笑,竟是千古未闻的罕事.只因西方灵河岸上三生石畔,有绛珠草一株,时有赤瑕宫神瑛侍者, 日以甘露灌溉,这绛珠草始得久延岁月.后来既受天地精华,复得雨露滋养, 遂得脱却草胎木质,得换人形,仅修成个女体,终日游于离恨天外,饥则食蜜青果为膳 , 渴则饮灌愁海水为汤.只因尚未酬报灌溉之德,故其五内便郁结著一段缠绵不尽之意.恰近日这神瑛侍者凡心偶炽,乘此昌明太平朝世,意欲下凡造历幻缘,已在警幻仙子案前挂了号.警幻亦曾问及,灌溉之情未偿,趁此倒可了结的.那绛珠仙子道:`他是甘露之惠,我并无此水可还.他既下世为人,我也去下世为人,但把我一生所有的眼泪还他, 也偿还得过他了.'因此一事,就勾出多少风流冤家来,陪他们去了结此案."

That buddhist monk smiled saying: This matter is quite laughable, actually it is a rare story, unheard of throughout the ages. This is because on the western bank of the Ling River beside the San Sheng Stone, there is a stem of Crimson Pearl Grass, at this time a Shen Ying Attendant of the Red Jade Palace, daily would use sweet dew to water [the plant], [and] this Crimson Pearl Grass was able to grow for many long years.

Afterwards, as well as receiving the essence of heaven and earth, [the grass] again obtained the nourishment of rain and dew, [then] satisfied [it] cast off its grass and wood substance, and began to change into human form, thus creating a female body, [and spent] all day wandering around outside Li Hen Heaven, when hungry for food ate meals of Mi Qing fruit, when thirsty for water drank the Guan Chou seawater.

Only because [she] had still not repaid the favour of irrigation [with sweet dew], consequently [she had] a lingering, inexhaustible desire completely pent up within.

Just recently this Shen Ying Attendant, worldly desires occasionally burning, [to] travel to this flourishing and peaceful imperial world, desiring to descend to the mortal world to experience [a] magical predestined relationship, already at the Jing Huan Celestial Maiden's desk front [had] registered its name.

The Jing Huan Celestial Maiden had already formerly examined [this matter of the] favour of irrigation having not yet been repaid, [so] took advantage of this to reverse and rightly conclude [this matter].

That Crimson Pearl Fairy said: He is the benefactor of the sweet dew, [and] I still have not correctly repaid this water. Now that he [will] descend to the world as a person, I also [will] go down to the world as a person, only with the tears of my whole life return to him, [and] also repay him gratefully.

Consequently in relation to this matter, a number of romantic lovers were brought together, to help them go to finish this case.

Breakdown:

那僧笑道:"此事说来好笑,竟是千古未闻的罕事. ->
That buddhist monk smiled saying: This matter is quite laughable, (竟) actually it is a (罕事) rare story, (未闻) unheard of (千古) throughout the ages.

只因西方灵河岸上三生石畔,有绛珠草一株,时有赤瑕宫神瑛侍者, 日以甘露灌溉,这绛珠草始得久延岁月. ->
This is because on the (西方) western (岸) bank of the (灵河) Ling River (畔) beside the (三生石) San Sheng Stone, there is a (一株) stem of (绛珠草) Crimson Pearl Grass, at this time a (神瑛侍者) Shen Ying Attendant of the (赤瑕宫) Red Jade Palace, daily would use (甘露) sweet dew to (灌溉) water [the plant], [and] this Crimson Pearl Grass was able to (始得) grow for (久延岁月) many long years.

后来既受天地精华,复得雨露滋养, 遂得脱却草胎木质,得换人形,仅修成个女体,终日游于离恨天外,饥则食蜜青果为膳 , 渴则饮灌愁海水为汤. ->
Afterwards, (既受) as well as receiving the (天地精华) essence of heaven and earth, [the grass] (复得) again obtained the (雨露滋养) nourishment of rain and dew, [then] (遂得) satisfied [it] (脱却) cast off its (草胎木质) grass and wood substance, and (得换人形) began to change into human form, (仅修成) thus creating a (女体) female body, [and spent] (终日) all day wandering around outside (离恨天) Li Hen Heaven, when (饥则食) hungry for food ate meals of (蜜青果) Mi Qing fruit, when (渴则饮) thirsty for water drank the (灌愁海水) Guan Chou seawater.

只因尚未酬报灌溉之德,故其五内便郁结著一段缠绵不尽之意. ->
Only because [she] had (尚未) still not (酬报) repaid the favour of (灌溉) irrigation [with sweet dew], (故) consequently [she had] a (缠绵) lingering, (不尽) inexhaustible (意) desire completely (郁结著) pent up (五内便) within.
 
(五内便郁结: literally, knotted viscera?)

恰近日这神瑛侍者凡心偶炽,乘此昌明太平朝世,意欲下凡造历幻缘,已在警幻仙子案前挂了号. ->
Just recently this Shen Ying Attendant, (凡心偶炽) worldly desires occasionally burning, [to] (乘) travel to this (昌明太平) flourishing and peaceful (朝世) imperial world, (意欲) desiring to (下凡) descend to the mortal world to (造历) experience [a] (幻缘) magical predestined relationship, already at the (警幻仙子) Jing Huan Celestial Maiden's (案) desk front [had] (挂了号) registered [its] name.

警幻亦曾问及,灌溉之情未偿,趁此倒可了结的. ->
The Jing Huan Celestial Maiden had (亦曾) already formerly examined [this matter of the] (情) favour of (灌溉) irrigation having not yet been repaid, [so] (趁) took advantage of this to (倒) reverse and (可) rightly (了结) conclude [this matter].

那绛珠仙子道:`他是甘露之惠,我并无此水可还. ->
That Crimson Pearl Fairy said: He is the (惠) benefactor of the sweet dew, [and] I still have not (可还) correctly repaid this water.

他既下世为人,我也去下世为人,但把我一生所有的眼泪还他, 也偿还得过他了.' ->

(既) Now that he [will] descend to the world as a person, I also [will] go down to the world as a person, only with (所有) all the (眼泪) tears of my (一生) whole life return to him, [and] also (偿还得过)repay him gratefully.
 

因此一事,就勾出多少风流冤家来,陪他们去了结此案." ->
(因此) Consequently in (一事) relation to this matter, a (多少) number of (风流冤家) romantic lovers were (勾) brought together, to (陪) help them go to finish (此案) this case.