漢末建安中，廬江府小吏焦仲卿妻劉氏，為仲卿母所遣，自誓不嫁。其家逼之，乃投水而死。仲卿聞之，亦自縊于庭樹。時人傷之，為詩云爾?？兹笘|南飛，五里一徘徊。

十三能織素，十四學(xué)裁衣，十五彈箜篌，十六誦詩書。十七為君婦，心中?？啾?。君既為府吏，守節(jié)情不移。賤妾留空房，相見常日稀。雞鳴入機織，夜夜不得息。三日斷五匹，大人故嫌遲。非為織作遲，君家婦難為！妾不堪驅(qū)使，徒留無所施。便可白公姥，及時相遣歸。

府吏得聞之，堂上啟阿母：兒已薄祿相，幸復(fù)得此婦，結(jié)發(fā)同枕席，黃泉共為友。共事二三年，始爾未為久。女行無偏斜，何意致不厚？

阿母謂府吏：何乃太區(qū)區(qū)！此婦無禮節(jié)，舉動自專由。吾意久懷忿，汝豈得自由！東家有賢女，自名秦羅敷，可憐體無比，阿母為汝求。便可速遣之，遣去慎莫留！

府吏長跪告：伏惟啟阿母，今若遣此婦，終老不復(fù)??！

阿母得聞之，槌床便大怒：小子無所畏，何敢助婦語！吾已失恩義，會不相從許！

府吏默無聲，再拜還入戶。舉言謂新婦，哽咽不能語：我自不驅(qū)卿，逼迫有阿母。卿但暫還家，吾今且報府。不久當歸還，還必相迎取。以此下心意，慎勿違吾語。

新婦謂府吏：勿復(fù)重紛紜。往昔初陽歲，謝家來貴門。奉事循公姥，進止敢自專？晝夜勤作息，伶俜縈苦辛。謂言無罪過，供養(yǎng)卒大恩；仍更被驅(qū)遣，何言復(fù)來還！妾有繡腰襦，葳蕤自生光；紅羅復(fù)斗帳，四角垂香囊；箱簾六七十，綠碧青絲繩，物物各自異，種種在其中。人賤物亦鄙，不足迎后人，留待作遺施，于今無會因。時時為安慰，久久莫相忘！

雞鳴外欲曙，新婦起嚴妝。著我繡夾裙，事事四五通。足下躡絲履，頭上玳瑁光。腰若流紈素，耳著明月珰。指如削蔥根，口如含朱丹。纖纖作細步，精妙世無雙。上堂拜阿母，阿母怒不止。

昔作女兒時，生小出野里。本自無教訓(xùn)，兼愧貴家子。受母錢帛多，不堪母驅(qū)使。今日還家去，念母勞家里。

卻與小姑別，淚落連珠子。

新婦初來時，小姑始扶床；今日被驅(qū)遣，小姑如我長。勤心養(yǎng)公姥，好自相扶將。初七及下九，嬉戲莫相忘。

出門登車去，涕落百余行。府吏馬在前，新婦車在后。隱隱何甸甸，俱會大道口。

下馬入車中，低頭共耳語：誓不相隔卿，且暫還家去；吾今且赴府，不久當還歸。誓天不相負！

新婦謂府吏：感君區(qū)區(qū)懷！君既若見錄，不久望君來。君當作磐石，妾當作蒲葦，蒲葦紉如絲，磐石無轉(zhuǎn)移。我有親父兄，性行暴如雷，恐不任我意，逆以煎我懷。

舉手長勞勞，二情同依依。

入門上家堂，進退無顏儀。

阿母大拊掌，不圖子自歸：十三教汝織，十四能裁衣，十五彈箜篌，十六知禮儀，十七遣汝嫁，謂言無誓違。汝今何罪過，不迎而自歸？

蘭芝慚阿母：兒實無罪過。

阿母大悲摧。

還家十余日，縣令遣媒來。云有第三郎，窈窕世無雙。年始十八九，便言多令才。

阿母謂阿女：汝可去應(yīng)之。

阿女含淚答：蘭芝初還時，府吏見丁寧，結(jié)誓不別離。今日違情義，恐此事非奇。自可斷來信，徐徐更謂之。

阿母白媒人：貧賤有此女，始適還家門。不堪吏人婦，豈合令郎君？幸可廣問訊，不得便相許。

媒人去數(shù)日，尋遣丞請還，說有蘭家女，丞籍有宦官。云有第五郎，嬌逸未有婚。遣丞為媒人，主簿通語言。直說太守家，有此令郎君，既欲結(jié)大義，故遣來貴門。

阿母謝媒人：女子先有誓，老姥豈敢言！

阿兄得聞之，悵然心中煩。舉言謂阿妹：作計何不量！先嫁得府吏，后嫁得郎君，否泰如天地，足以榮汝身。不嫁義郎體，其往欲何云？

蘭芝仰頭答：理實如兄言。謝家事夫婿，中道還兄門。處分適兄意，那得自任專！雖與府吏要，渠會永無緣。登即相許和，便可作婚姻。

媒人下床去，諾諾復(fù)爾爾。還部白府君：下官奉使命，言談大有緣。

府君得聞之，心中大歡喜。視歷復(fù)開書，便利此月內(nèi)，六合正相應(yīng)。良吉三十日，今已二十七，卿可去成婚。交語速裝束，絡(luò)繹如浮云。

青雀白鵠舫，四角龍子幡，婀娜隨風轉(zhuǎn)。金車玉作輪，躑躅青驄馬，流蘇金鏤鞍。赍錢三百萬，皆用青絲穿。雜彩三百匹，交廣市鮭珍。從人四五百，郁郁登郡門。

阿母謂阿女：適得府君書，明日來迎汝。何不作衣裳？莫令事不舉！

阿女默無聲，手巾掩口啼，淚落便如瀉。移我琉璃榻，出置前窗下。左手持刀尺，右手執(zhí)綾羅。朝成繡夾裙，晚成單羅衫。晻晻日欲暝，愁思出門啼。府吏聞此變，因求假暫歸。未至二三里，摧藏馬悲哀。新婦識馬聲，躡履相逢迎。悵然遙相望，知是故人來。

舉手拍馬鞍，嗟嘆使心傷：自君別我后，人事不可量。果不如先愿，又非君所詳。我有親父母，逼迫兼弟兄。以我應(yīng)他人，君還何所望！

府吏謂新婦：賀卿得高遷！磐石方且厚，可以卒千年；蒲葦一時紉，便作旦夕間。卿當日勝貴，吾獨向黃泉！

新婦謂府吏：何意出此言！同是被逼迫，君爾妾亦然。黃泉下相見，勿違今日言！

執(zhí)手分道去，各各還家門。

生人作死別，恨恨那可論？念與世間辭，千萬不復(fù)全！

府吏還家去，上堂拜阿母：今日大風寒，寒風摧樹木，嚴霜結(jié)庭蘭。兒今日冥冥，令母在后單。故作不良計，勿復(fù)怨鬼神！命如南山石，四體康且直！

阿母得聞之，零淚應(yīng)聲落：汝是大家子，仕宦于臺閣。慎勿為婦死，貴賤情何薄！東家有賢女，窈窕艷城郭，阿母為汝求，便復(fù)在旦夕。

府吏再拜還，長嘆空房中，作計乃爾立。轉(zhuǎn)頭向戶里，漸見愁煎迫。

其日牛馬嘶，新婦入青廬。奄奄黃昏后，寂寂人定初。我命絕今日，魂去尸長留！攬裙脫絲履，舉身赴清池。

府吏聞此事，心知長別離。徘徊庭樹下，自掛東南枝。

兩家求合葬，合葬華山傍。東西植松柏，左右種梧桐。枝枝相覆蓋，葉葉相交通。中有雙飛鳥，自名為鴛鴦。仰頭相向鳴，夜夜達五更。行人駐足聽，寡婦起彷徨。多謝后世人，戒之慎勿忘！

During the Jianan period at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty,?there lived?a?woman surnamed Liu,?who was?a wife of Jiao Zhongqing, a young officeholder in the Lujiang. She?was expelled out?by?her mother-in-law. She vowed not to remarry. But her natal family push?her to marry again, so she?drown herself in water. After hearing the news of her death, Zhongqing also hanged himself on a tree in his?house?courtyard. People at that time mourned them and wrote such a poem. The peacock flew to the southeast and?hovered around after one and a half miles.?

I can weave?silk when I was thirteen?years old,?and then I?learned?to embroider at my?fourteen-year-old,?I was able to?play the harp when I was fifteen?years old,?and then I can read?poetry and novels at my sixteen-year-old.

As I got married at the age of seventeen, I often felt painful sorrow in my heart.

Since you have become a officeholder,?abided by the rules of the government and?remained attentive.

I stayed alone in the vacant house, and the days we met?were really very few.

When the cock croaked, I always weaved silk on the machine and cannot rest till the night.

I worked three days?and?got?five rolls of silk, and my mother-in-law still thought?that?I?was?tardy.

I think it could?not because I am?slow, but?I am?difficult to be the?daughter-in-law!

Since I cannot handle the problem, it would be?useless to keep?me?for nothing.

It is okay to?tell?my?mother-in-law and send me back?as soon as possible.

When hearing her?speech?Zhongqing went the hall to report?his mother:

I am not being a high-ranking officer?and enjoying a generous salary,?fortunately?I can still marry this wise and clever?wife.

We lived in love after marriage, and?after death?we must depend on each other as a partner in the underground.

We have only been together for less than?three years, and our life?has?just?begun,?I consider it is not a long time.

There was nothing wrong?with?the behavior in?this woman,?how could you?be dissatisfied with her?

His mother said to him: You?are so ignorant!

This woman?was such impolite, and her actions were all on her own terms.

I have been disliked her a long time ago, how can I fulfill your claim!

Over east there is a?virtuous?neighbor girl?named Qin Luofu,?she is nice and?highly cute, and?I?will propose marriage for you.

Hurry and give her up now, do not keep her here!

Zhongqing?knelt and spoke: I respond thou respectfully,?now if I divorce, I will never marry?for the rest of my life!

Hearing the?words?his mother?knocked with her fist on the seat and?sweared:

Have you?nothing to fear??How dare you speak for your wife!

I have no kindness to her anymore, of course I cannot promise your request.

Zhongqing did not dare to say anything. After bowing?to his mother?he returned to the?room.

He said to his wife, but cried so much that?could not even speak:

I did not want to drive you away, but my mother made me do that.

But you?have to?go back?for the time being,?and I need?to?go?work for a while.

I will be back soon?to take you away?when I come?home.

For this reason I showed you my reliability,?please do not violate our agreement.

She said to Zhongqing: Do not waste your time.

I remember that at the end of the winter, I bid farewell to my family and came to the house of thou.

I?obeyed the wills of my mother-in-law in any case,?how dare I make my own decisions?

I worked hard daily?and?rested only at night,?I wonder?I was tortured alone.

I thought I was not at fault, as her grace?I want?to take care of?my mother-in-law for life;?I?did not ponder to be?driven away after all,?as this occurs?I could not?say?I will come back?again!?

I have an embroidered belt that glows itself bright in the dark;?a double layer blanket with sachets hanging on the four corners;?around seventy boxes for clothes and makeup tied in black silk rope decorated with?greenstones, in those boxes every item?is different and has all the kinds.?

Since I am lowly and ignoble?so?my possessions?are not worth money,?they are?not worthy to greet your next wife?in the future,?I ponder it is better to give it away to some one else, as?I will?never see?you?again, may the comfort you feel all the time,?and?I only?hope you?will not?forget me.

The cock croaked, and?a new day dawned outside,?she?got up and dressed neatly.

She put on the embroidered skirt, and?every piece of apparel was tried for several times.

She?wore?silk shoes under her feet,?and the jewellery made from?tortoiseshell shone?on her head.

On her waist white silk flew as?like water waves,?under her earlobes the jewel?shimmered as like the?moonlight.

Her fingers?were slender?as?spring onion roots,?and her lips?were rosy as?cinnabar.

She stepped?lightly and?delicately, as an elegant and unique lady on the earth.

She walked to the hall and met her mother-in-law whose?anger had not yet gone out.

As a girl?in my natal family, I born and?grew up in the countryside.

I did not have any good education,?I was even more embarrassed to marry?the excellent boy.

From my mother-in-law?I received a lot of money and gifts, but I could not afford to keep it anymore.

I am going to my family?today, and I will be worried about?my mother-in-law.

When she turned back and bid farewell to her sister-in-law, her tears fell as like beads.

When I?came,?my sister-in-law?just learned to walk with a chair;?today I am leaving, my sister-in-law?grows?as tall as I am.

Remember to take care of your mother, and I hope you will work hard to support her.

Afterwards at the seventh day of the July, and also at the nineteenth day of every month, please do not forget me when you are having fun.

She finished talking,?went out, boarded the car and left, tears kept falling.

Zhongqing rode?in front, and the car behind,?they?met?together at the road junction.

Zhongqing got off his horse and went into the car, he whispered in her ear:

I vow?not to?stop the relationship?with you, please go back for the time being; I will go?work?for a while, I would be back soon.

I promise?that I will never betray.

She?said to Zhongqing: Thanks for your affection and loyalty!

Since you remember me like this, I hope you can pick me up soon.

You are as a rock, and I am as a reed,?the reed is as soft as?silk and not easy to break, the rock is not easy to be transferred.

I have an elder brother who has violent temper, I am afraid that he will not let my wish come true, that is what makes me worry.

Then they raised their hands to say goodbye, gazing each other for a long time.

She walked into the house. Before coming?to the inner hall, she felt?shame?and wandered around in the way.

Her mother,?seeing the?return of her daughther,?was shocked,?clapped her palms and said:

I taught you how to weave at the age of thirteen, then you can embroider at the age of fourteen,?you were able to play the harp at the age of?fifteen,?and you already know the?etiquette at the age of?sixteen, at the age of?seventeen?you became the bride, I think you will not have any fault.

What is wrong with you now, as?you?come back by yourself?

She said?ashamed: I really have no fault.

Her mother was very sad after hearing this.

It had only been?dozens of days since she came back home, and the county magistrate sent a matchmaker to the house.

The matchmaker said that the third boy of the family would get marry,?he?was slim and remarkable.

Although he was only about?nineteen?years old, but eloquent and capable.

Her mother said to her: You can go and answer.

She replied with tears in her eyes: Before I came back, Zhongqing repeatedly urged me to take an oath that we never separate.

If I am against my words today, I ponder it is unsuitable.

I think the rejection will be better,?let the case?be so.

Her mother told the matchmaker: We, a poor family, have this girl, she was divorced and returned to her natal family soon after she got married.

She cannot be the wife of the officeholder, how can she be worthy to be with that glorious boy?

I hope you could ask other girls again, I cannot agree to you.

After the?matchmaker of?the county magistrate had left for a few days, the governor sent another about?proposing?marriage to the girl Lanzhi who was born in a noble family.

It?was said that in their?family was born the?fifth son, who was handsome and charming, and he?was not yet married.

And?the county prime minister?was the?matchmaker, that was what the assistant conveyed roughly.

The prime minister said directly that?since there was such a good boy,?and?they?wanted the girl,?so?a matchmaker was sent?to?the?house.

Her mother?declined: My daughter had an oath before, how dare I promise this?

When her elder brother heard that the proposal was rejected, he was upset.

He?said to his little sister:?How can you not think about it when you make this decision!

The last time you got married with?an?officeholder, this time you will get a noble son,?the difference between good and bad is like heaven and earth,?fortunately for you?enough to make you glorious and wealthy for life.

If you do not marry such a benevolent son, what do you plan to do in the future?

She raised her head and replied: The truth is indeed the same as what my elder brother said.

I left?you to be with my husband?and returned to your?house on the halfway.

It is according to your idea for how to deal with this, how dare I?take the initiative?

Though I made a deal with Zhongqing, but there will never be a chance to meet him.

Just agree?at once, and this marriage could be allowed.

The matchmaker got up from the seat and said yes repeatedly.

He returned to the county government and reported to the governor: I accept the mission you gave me, finally the matter was very successful.

The governor was very happy when he heard these words.

He checked the calendar immediately?and read the fate book, and then found out the date?within this month,?the day?was to be?all suitable.

The date was set on the 30th day,?and it?was?only two days left to prepare a wedding.

Everyone in the palace talked to each other and?hurried?up for?organizing?the banquet,?they came?and went?like clouds in the sky.

The?boat?was painted with blue birds and white swans, at the four corners?were?flags?embroidered?with?dragon, gently floating in the wind.

The car coloured gold had?wheels inlaid with jades, and the?horse with blue and white fur ambulated forward, its saddle was carved out gold ornaments on with colourful tassels hanging around.

The coins obtained were?about three million, all wore in cyan silk thread.

The presents?were around three hundred pieces of silk and satin in various colours, and the?southern delicacies?from?mountains and seas were purchased.

There were about five hundred visitors, and they came to the gate in a lively manner.

Her mother said to her daughter: Now I received a letter from the governor,?they?will greet you tomorrow.

Why are?not you sewing?a new?suit? Do not let the marriage come to nothing!

She was silent, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and crying, tears pouring down.

Then she went taking out the glazed couch and sitting under the front window.

She was holding the?scissors and ruler on her left hand,?the silk and satin on?her right hand.

The skirt was embroidered in the morning,?and the shirt was finished?in the evening.

The gloomy sky was about to get dark,?she was full of grief and went out to cry bitterly.

Zhongqing heard of this change, so he asked for leaving?to come back temporarily.

When there was still hundreds of meters?away from her?house,?the horse bawled badly.

She was familiar with the?noise?and ran to investigate?with a brisk pace.

Staring sadly from the way far,?she knew?that the?intimate person was coming.

She raised her hand and?stroked the saddle,?sighed:

Since you left me, the?affairs were really unexpected.

Sure enough, it was not coming?the way?I wished,?but there were many things you do not understand.

My biological family, and my elder brother constrained me.

I was betrothed with someone else, how?can I expect to your coming!

Zhongqing said to her: Congratulations on promotion!

The rock is square and solid, it can be stored for thousands of years;?and the reed can only be kept in a short while.

You will enjoy the gorgeous everyday, I will enter into the nether world alone!

She said to Zhongqing: Why did you?say such?sentences!

The same was being forced, you?and me too.

Let us?meet each other under the soil,?I hope you?not to?violate the word of today!?

They?held their hands tightly,?bid farewell and?returned home.?

The?alive souls?were making a deathly farewell,?how can the resentment in the heart be explained?

When the readiness was to extricate from the body, and then the living could not be longer!

Zhongqing returned home, walked to the hall to meet her mother and said:?

Today?the wind was very cold and?broke the trees, and the orchids in the yard were covered with thick frost.

I am?leaving you now,?what makes?you?feel?lonely in the future.

I?deliberately made such a bad plan,?please stop detesting ghosts and loathing gods!

May your life be as long as mountains, and?your body be healthy and strong forever!

His mother heard these words and?said with dripping tears:

You are the?son of our?family and an officeholder?in the city.

Do not seek death because of a woman, you are not similar to her, how could that be ruthless!

Over east there is a?virtuous?neighbor girl,?her beauty is famous in and outside the city,?I will make a proposal for your marriage, you would get an answer sooner or later.

Zhongqing bowed to her mother and?went back,?he?sighed?in the vacant room, after pondering?he stood up.

He?turned his head to the inner room and?gradually felt the grand grief together with?more and more tormented.?

When the cows and horses barked on the day of marriage, she?walked into a tent made of blue cloth where the wedding was held.

After the overcast dusk, at nine o clock in night people began to rest.

My life is over today, and the soul is leaving,?let this corpse stay in the world for a long time!?

So she?rolled up the skirt, took off the silk shoes?and jumped into the clear pond.

Zhongqing heard about her suicide?and realized that?they?had parted forever.?

After wandering under the tree in the courtyard for a while, he hanged himself on one of the branches which was towards the southeast.

Their family requested for a joint burial, so they buried the two together next to the Huashan.

Beside?the tomb the pinewood?and?the cypress were?planted?on the both?east and west, and the plane trees?on the both left and right?side.

The branches of these trees?covered each other, and the leaves were wrapped one another.

There was a pair of bird?flying?around?the tree and wailing,?we named them?mandarin duck.

They raised their heads and yelped all the night.

The pedestrians near?stopped to listen, and the widow?felt?very restless.

Please?admonish those?people in the future to take this incident as a lesson and do never?forget it!