原文 Original text
繁體 Traditional
Reader's edition
介士傳報 妖疑貫甲
The Herald Announces; the Fiend, Suspicious, Dons His Mail
卻說那摩昂太子著介士先到他水府門前，報與妖怪道：「西海老龍王太子摩昂來也。」那怪正坐，忽聞摩昂來，心中疑惑道：「我差黑魚精投簡帖拜請二舅爺，這早晚不見回話，怎麼舅爺不來，卻是表兄來耶？」正說間，只見那巡河的小怪又來報：「大王，河內有一枝兵，屯於水府之西，旗號上書著『西海儲君摩昂小帥』。」妖怪道：「這表兄卻也狂妄。想是舅爺不得來，命他來赴宴。既是赴宴，如何又領兵勞士？咳！但恐其間有故。」教：「小的們，將我的披掛鋼鞭伺候，恐一時變暴。待我且出去迎他，看是何如。」眾妖領命，一個個擦掌摩拳準備。却说那摩昂太子着介士先到他水府门前，报与妖怪道：「西海老龙王太子摩昂来也。」那怪正坐，忽闻摩昂来，心中疑惑道：「我差黑鱼精投简帖拜请二舅爷，这早晚不见回话，怎么舅爷不来，却是表兄来耶？」正说间，只见那巡河的小怪又来报：「大王，河内有一枝兵，屯于水府之西，旗号上书着『西海储君摩昂小帅』。」妖怪道：「这表兄却也狂妄。想是舅爷不得来，命他来赴宴。既是赴宴，如何又领兵劳士？咳！但恐其间有故。」教：「小的们，将我的披挂钢鞭伺候，恐一时变暴。待我且出去迎他，看是何如。」众妖领命，一个个擦掌摩拳准备。
逐句解 Line by line
卻說那摩昂太子著介士先到他水府門前，報與妖怪道：「西海老龍王太子摩昂來也。」
却说那摩昂太子着介士先到他水府门前，报与妖怪道：「西海老龙王太子摩昂来也。」
Now Prince Moang sent a herald ahead to the gate of the water-palace, to announce to the fiend: 'Prince Moang, son of the old Dragon-King of the Western Sea, is come.'
那怪正坐，忽聞摩昂來，心中疑惑道：「我差黑魚精投簡帖拜請二舅爺，這早晚不見回話，怎麼舅爺不來，卻是表兄來耶？」
那怪正坐，忽闻摩昂来，心中疑惑道：「我差黑鱼精投简帖拜请二舅爷，这早晚不见回话，怎么舅爷不来，却是表兄来耶？」
The fiend, seated within, heard of Moang's coming and marveled to himself: 'I sent the black-fish spirit with a note to invite my second uncle, and by now there is no word back — why does my uncle not come, but my cousin instead?'
正說間，只見那巡河的小怪又來報：「大王，河內有一枝兵，屯於水府之西，旗號上書著『西海儲君摩昂小帥』。」
正说间，只见那巡河的小怪又来报：「大王，河内有一枝兵，屯于水府之西，旗号上书着『西海储君摩昂小帅』。」
As he spoke, a little river-patrolling imp came again to report: 'Great King, there is a company of troops in the river, encamped west of the palace, and on their ensign is written “Moang, Heir of the Western Sea, Young Commander.”'
妖怪道：「這表兄卻也狂妄。
妖怪道：「这表兄却也狂妄。
The fiend said, 'This cousin of mine is presumptuous indeed.'
想是舅爺不得來，命他來赴宴。
想是舅爷不得来，命他来赴宴。
'My uncle, I suppose, cannot come, and has bidden him attend the feast in his place.'
既是赴宴，如何又領兵勞士？
既是赴宴，如何又领兵劳士？
'But if he comes to a feast, why lead troops and trouble his soldiers?'
但恐其間有故。」
但恐其间有故。」
'I only fear there is some reason behind it.'
教：「小的們，將我的披掛鋼鞭伺候，恐一時變暴。
教：「小的们，将我的披挂钢鞭伺候，恐一时变暴。
He ordered: 'You imps, have my armor and steel whip ready, lest matters turn violent of a sudden.'
待我且出去迎他，看是何如。」
待我且出去迎他，看是何如。」
'Let me go out and meet him, and see how things stand.'
眾妖領命，一個個擦掌摩拳準備。
众妖领命，一个个擦掌摩拳准备。
The fiends took his command, and one and all rubbed their palms and flexed their fists in readiness.
總評 Commentary
The herald announces the prince, and the alligator-dragon, expecting his uncle but met with a cousin under arms, smells a trap. His order to ready armor and whip, and his cautious sally to 'see how things stand,' turn the feast-summons toward battle.