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三國演義—第三十五回：玄德南漳逢隱淪，單福新野遇英主

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作者：羅貫中　

　　卻說蔡瑁方欲回城，趙雲引軍趕出城來。原來趙雲正飲酒間，忽見人馬動，急入內觀之，席上不見了玄德。雲大驚，出投館舍，聽得人說：「蔡瑁引軍望西趕去了。」雲火急綽槍上馬，引著原帶來三百軍，奔出西門，正迎著蔡瑁，急問曰：「吾主何在？」瑁曰：「使君逃席而去，不知何往。」

　　趙雲是謹細之人，不肯造次，即策馬前行；遙望大溪，別無去路，乃復回馬，喝問蔡瑁曰：「汝請吾主赴宴，何故引著軍馬追來？」瑁曰：「九郡四十二州縣官僚俱在此，吾為上將，豈可不防護？」雲曰：「汝迫吾主何處去了？」瑁曰：「聞使君匹馬出西門，到此卻又不見。」

　　雲驚疑不定。直來溪邊看時，只見隔岸一帶水跡。雲暗忖曰：「難道連馬跳過了溪去？……」令三百軍四散觀望，並不見蹤跡。雲再回馬時，蔡瑁已入城去了。雲乃拏守門軍士追問，皆說劉使君飛馬出西門而去。雲再欲入城，又恐有埋伏，遂急引軍歸新野。

三國演義—第三十四回：蔡夫人隔屏聽密語，劉皇叔躍馬過檀溪

Posted by admin under 中文經典, 章回小說

作者：羅貫中

　　卻說曹操於金光處，掘出一銅雀，問荀攸曰：「此何兆也？」攸曰：「昔舜母夢玉雀入懷而生舜。今得銅雀，亦吉祥之兆也。」操大喜，遂命作高臺以慶之。乃即日破土斷木，燒瓦磨磚，築銅雀臺於漳河上之上。約計一年而工畢。少子曹植進曰：「若建層臺，必立三座：中間高者，名為銅雀；左邊一座，名為玉龍；右邊一座，名為金鳳。更作兩條飛橋，橫空而上，乃為壯觀。」操曰：「吾兒所言甚善。他日臺成，足可娛吾老矣！」原來曹操有五子，惟植性敏慧，善文章，曹操平日最愛之。

　　於是留曹植與曹丕在鄴郡造臺，使張燕守北寨。操將所得袁紹之兵，共五六十萬，班師回許都，大封功臣；又表贈郭嘉為貞侯，養其子奕於府中。復聚眾謀士商議，欲南征劉表。荀彧曰：「大軍方北征而回，未可復動。且待半年，養精蓄銳，劉表、孫權，可一鼓而下也。」操從之，遂分兵屯田，以候調用。

　　卻說玄德自到荊州，劉表待之甚厚。一日，正相聚飲酒，忽報降將張武、陳孫在江夏掠人民，共謀造反。表驚曰：「二賊又反，為禍不小！」玄德曰：「不須兄長憂慮，備請往討之。」表大喜，即點三萬軍，與玄德前去。玄德領命即行，不一日，來到江夏。張武、陳孫引兵來迎。玄德與關、張、趙雲出馬在門旗下。望見張武所騎之馬，極其雄駿。玄德曰：「此必千里馬也。」

三國演義—第三十三回：曹丕乘亂納甄氏，郭嘉遺計定遼東

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作者：羅貫中　　

　卻說曹丕見二婦人啼哭，拔劍欲斬之。忽見紅光滿目，遂按劍而問曰：「汝何人也？」一婦人告曰：「妾乃袁將軍之妻劉氏也。」丕曰：「此女何人？」劉氏曰：「此次男袁熙之妻甄氏也。因熙出鎮幽州，甄氏不肯遠行，故留於此。」

　　丕拖此女近前，見披髮垢面。丕以衫袖拭其面而觀之，見甄氏玉肌花貌，有傾國之色。遂對劉氏曰：「吾乃曹丞相之子也。願保汝家，汝勿憂慮。」遂按劍坐於堂上。

　　卻說曹操統領眾將，入冀州城，將入城門，許攸縱馬近前，以鞭指城門呼操曰：「阿瞞，汝不得我，安得入此門？」操大笑。眾將聞言，俱懷不平。操至紹府門下，問曰：「誰曾入此門來？」守將對曰：「世子在內。」操喚出責之。劉氏出拜曰：「非世子不能保全妾家，願獻甄氏為世子執箕帚。」操教喚出甄氏拜於前。操視之曰：「真吾兒婦也！」遂令曹丕納之。

　　操既定冀州，親往袁紹墓下設祭，再拜而哭甚哀，顧謂眾將曰：「昔日吾與本初共起兵時，本初問我曰：『若事不濟，方面何所可據？』吾問之曰：『足下意欲若何？』本初曰：『吾南據河北，阻燕代，兼沙漠之眾，南向以爭天下，庶可以濟乎？』吾答曰：『吾任天下之智力，以道御之，無所不可。』此言如昨，而今本初已喪，吾不能不為流涕也！」眾皆歎息。操以金帛糧米賜紹妻劉氏。乃下令曰：「河北居民遭兵革之難，盡免今年租賦。」一面寫表申奏朝廷；操自領冀州牧。

三國演義—第三十二回：奪冀州袁尚爭鋒，決漳河許攸獻計

Posted by admin under 中文經典, 章回小說

作者：羅貫中

　　卻說袁尚自斬史渙之後，自負其勇，不待袁譚等兵至，自引兵數萬出黎陽，與曹軍前隊相迎。張遼當先出馬，袁尚挺槍來戰，不三合，架隔遮攔不住，大敗而走。張遼乘勢掩殺，袁尚不能主張，急急引軍奔回冀州。袁紹聞袁尚敗回，又受了一驚，舊病復發，吐血數斗，昏倒在地。劉夫人慌救入臥內，病勢漸危。劉夫人急請審配、逢紀，直至袁紹榻前，商議後事。紹但以手指而不能言。劉夫人曰：「尚可繼後嗣否？」紹點頭。審配便就榻前寫了遺囑。紹翻身大叫一聲，又吐血斗餘而死。後人有詩曰：

累世公卿立大名，少年意氣自縱橫。

空招俊傑三千客，漫有英雄百萬兵。

羊質虎皮功不就，鳳毛雞膽事難成。

更憐一種傷心處，家難徒延兩弟兄。

　　袁紹既死，審配等主持喪事。劉夫人便將袁紹所愛寵妾五人，盡行殺害；又恐其陰魂於九泉之下再與紹相見，乃髡其髮，刺其面，毀其屍：其妒惡如此。袁尚恐寵妾家屬為害，並收而殺之。審配、逢紀立袁尚為大司馬將軍，領冀、青、幽、並四州牧，遣使報喪。此時袁譚已發兵離青州；知父死，便與郭圖、辛評商議。圖曰：「主公不在冀州，審配、逢紀必立顯甫為主矣。當速行。」辛評曰：「審、逢二人，必預定機謀。今若速往，必遭其禍。」袁譚曰：「若當此如何？」郭圖曰：「可屯兵城外，觀其動靜。某當親往察之。」

三國演義—第三十一回：曹操倉亭破本初，玄德荊州依劉表

Posted by admin under 中文經典, 章回小說

作者：羅貫中　　

　　卻說曹操乘袁紹之敗，整頓軍馬，迤邐追襲。袁紹幅巾單衣，引八百餘騎，奔至黎陽北岸，大將蔣義渠出寨迎接。紹以前事訴與義渠，義渠乃招諭離散之眾。眾聞紹在，又皆蟻聚，軍勢復振，議還冀州。軍行之次，夜宿荒山。紹於帳中聞遠遠有哭聲，遂私往聽之。卻是敗軍相聚，訴說喪兄失弟，棄伴亡親之苦，各各搥胸大哭；皆曰：「若聽田豐之言，我等怎遭此禍！」紹大悔曰：「吾不聽田豐之言，兵敗將亡，今回去，有何面目見之耶！」

　　次日，上馬正行間，逢紀引軍來接。紹對逢紀曰：「吾不聽田豐之言，致有此敗。吾今歸去，羞見此人。」逢紀因譖曰：「豐在獄中聞主公兵敗，撫掌大笑曰：『固不出吾之料！』」袁紹大怒曰：「豎儒怎敢笑我！我必殺之！」遂命使者齎寶劍先往冀州獄中殺田豐。

　　卻說田豐在獄中。一日，獄吏來見豐曰：「與別駕賀喜。」豐曰：「何喜可賀？」獄吏曰：「袁將軍大敗而回，君必見重矣。」豐笑曰：「吾今死矣！」獄吏問曰：「人皆為君喜，君何言死也？」豐曰：「袁將軍外寬而內忌，不念忠誠。若勝而喜，猶能赦我；今戰敗則羞，吾不望生矣。」

三國演義—第三十回：戰官渡本初敗績，劫烏巢孟德燒糧

Posted by admin under 中文經典, 章回小說

作者：羅貫中

　　卻說袁紹興兵，望官渡進發。夏侯惇發書告急。曹操起軍七萬，前往迎敵，留荀彧守許都。紹兵臨發，田豐從獄中上書諫曰：「今且宜靜守以待天時，不可妄興大兵，恐有不利。」逢紀譖曰：「主公興仁義之師，田豐何得出此不祥之語？」

　　紹因怒，欲斬田豐。眾官告免。紹恨曰：「待吾破了曹操，明正其罪！」遂催軍進發。旌旗遍野，刀劍如林。行至陽武，下定寨柵。沮授曰：「我軍雖眾，而勇猛不及彼軍；彼軍雖精，而糧草不如我軍。彼軍無糧，利在急戰；我軍有糧，宜且緩守。若能曠以日月，則彼軍不戰自敗矣。」紹怒曰：「田豐慢我軍心，吾回日必斬之。汝安敢又如此！」──叱左右將沮授鎖禁軍中。──「待我破曹之後，與田豐一體治罪！」

　　於是下令，將大軍七十萬，東西南北，週圍安營，連絡九十餘里。細作探知虛實，報至官渡。曹軍新到，聞之皆懼。曹操與眾謀士商議。荀攸曰：「紹軍雖多，不足懼也。我軍俱精銳之士，無不一以當十。但利在急戰。若遷延日月，糧草不敷，事可憂矣。」操曰：「所言正合吾意。」遂傳令軍將鼓譟而進。紹軍來迎，兩邊排成陣勢。審配撥弩手一萬，伏於兩翼；弓箭手五千，伏於門旗內，約響齊發。

Frankenstein — Chapter 24（Final）

Posted by admin under English classics, Novels

by Mary Shelley

Part 1

My present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was swallowed up and lost. I was hurried away by fury; revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure; it moulded my feelings and allowed me to be calculating and calm at periods when otherwise delirium or death would have been my portion.

My first resolution was to quit Geneva forever; my country, which, when I was happy and beloved, was dear to me, now, in my adversity, became hateful. I provided myself with a sum of money, together with a few jewels which had belonged to my mother, and departed. And now my wanderings began which are to cease but with life. I have traversed a vast portion of the earth and have endured all the hardships which travellers in deserts and barbarous countries are wont to meet. How I have lived I hardly know; many times have I stretched my failing limbs upon the sandy plain and prayed for death. But revenge kept me alive; I dared not die and leave my adversary in being.

When I quitted Geneva my first labour was to gain some clue by which I might trace the steps of my fiendish enemy. But my plan was unsettled, and I wandered many hours round the confines of the town, uncertain what path I should pursue. As night approached I found myself at the entrance of the cemetery where William, Elizabeth, and my father reposed. I entered it and approached the tomb which marked their graves. Everything was silent except the leaves of the trees, which were gently agitated by the wind; the night was nearly dark, and the scene would have been solemn and affecting even to an uninterested observer. The spirits of the departed seemed to flit around and to cast a shadow, which was felt but not seen, around the head of the mourner.

The deep grief which this scene had at first excited quickly gave way to rage and despair. They were dead, and I lived; their murderer also lived, and to destroy him I must drag out my weary existence. I knelt on the grass and kissed the earth and with quivering lips exclaimed, “By the sacred earth on which I kneel, by the shades that wander near me, by the deep and eternal grief that I feel, I swear; and by thee, O Night, and the spirits that preside over thee, to pursue the daemon who caused this misery, until he or I shall perish in mortal conflict. For this purpose I will preserve my life; to execute this dear revenge will I again behold the sun and tread the green herbage of earth, which otherwise should vanish from my eyes forever. And I call on you, spirits of the dead, and on you, wandering ministers of vengeance, to aid and conduct me in my work. Let the cursed and hellish monster drink deep of agony; let him feel the despair that now torments me.” I had begun my adjuration with solemnity and an awe which almost assured me that the shades of my murdered friends heard and approved my devotion, but the furies possessed me as I concluded, and rage choked my utterance.

I was answered through the stillness of night by a loud and fiendish laugh. It rang on my ears long and heavily; the mountains re-echoed it, and I felt as if all hell surrounded me with mockery and laughter. Surely in that moment I should have been possessed by frenzy and have destroyed my miserable existence but that my vow was heard and that I was reserved for vengeance. The laughter died away, when a well-known and abhorred voice, apparently close to my ear, addressed me in an audible whisper, “I am satisfied, miserable wretch! You have determined to live, and I am satisfied.”

I darted towards the spot from which the sound proceeded, but the devil eluded my grasp. Suddenly the broad disk of the moon arose and shone full upon his ghastly and distorted shape as he fled with more than mortal speed.

I pursued him, and for many months this has been my task. Guided by a slight clue, I followed the windings of the Rhône, but vainly. The blue Mediterranean appeared, and by a strange chance, I saw the fiend enter by night and hide himself in a vessel bound for the Black Sea. I took my passage in the same ship, but he escaped, I know not how.

Amidst the wilds of Tartary and Russia, although he still evaded me, I have ever followed in his track. Sometimes the peasants, scared by this horrid apparition, informed me of his path; sometimes he himself, who feared that if I lost all trace of him I should despair and die, left some mark to guide me. The snows descended on my head, and I saw the print of his huge step on the white plain. To you first entering on life, to whom care is new and agony unknown, how can you understand what I have felt and still feel? Cold, want, and fatigue were the least pains which I was destined to endure; I was cursed by some devil and carried about with me my eternal hell; yet still a spirit of good followed and directed my steps and when I most murmured would suddenly extricate me from seemingly insurmountable difficulties. Sometimes, when nature, overcome by hunger, sank under the exhaustion, a repast was prepared for me in the desert that restored and inspirited me. The fare was, indeed, coarse, such as the peasants of the country ate, but I will not doubt that it was set there by the spirits that I had invoked to aid me. Often, when all was dry, the heavens cloudless, and I was parched by thirst, a slight cloud would bedim the sky, shed the few drops that revived me, and vanish.

三國演義—第二十九回：小霸王怒斬于吉，碧眼兒坐領江東

Posted by admin under 中文經典, 章回小說

作者：羅貫中

　　卻說孫策自霸江東，兵精糧足。建安四年，襲取廬江，敗劉勳，使虞翻馳檄豫章，豫章太守華歆投降。自此聲勢大振，乃遣張紘往許昌上表獻捷。曹操知孫策強盛，歎曰：「獅兒難與爭鋒也！」遂以曹仁之女許配孫策幼弟孫匡，兩家結婚。留張紘在許昌。孫策求為大司馬，曹操不許。策恨之，常有襲許都之心。於是吳郡太守許貢，乃暗遣使赴許都，上書於曹操。其略曰：

孫策驍勇，與項籍相似。朝廷宜外示榮寵，召還京師；不可使居外鎮，以為後患。

　　使者齎書渡江，被防江將士所獲，解赴孫策處。策觀書大怒，斬其使，遣人假意請許貢議事。貢至，策出書示之，叱曰：「汝欲送我於死地耶！」命武士絞殺之。貢家屬皆逃散。有家客三人，欲為許貢報仇，恨無其便。一日，孫策引軍會獵於丹徒之西山，趕起一大鹿，策縱馬上山逐之。

三國演義—第二十八回：斬蔡陽兄弟釋疑，會古城主臣聚義

Posted by admin under 中文經典, 章回小說

作者：羅貫中

　　卻說關公同孫乾保二嫂向汝南進發，不想夏侯惇領二百餘騎，從後追來。孫乾保車仗前行。關公回身勒馬按刀問曰：「汝來趕我，有失丞相大度。」夏侯惇曰：「丞相無明文傳報，汝於路殺人，又斬吾部將，無禮太甚！我特來擒你，獻與丞相發落！」

　　言訖，便拍馬挺鎗欲鬥。只見後面一騎飛來，大叫「不可與雲長交戰！」關公按轡不動。來使於懷中取出公文，謂夏侯惇曰：「丞相敬愛關將軍忠義，恐於路關隘攔截，故遣某持齎公文，遍行諸處。」惇曰：「關某於路，殺把關將士，丞相知否？」來使曰：「此卻未知。」惇曰：「我只活捉他去見丞相，待丞相自放他。」關公怒曰：「吾豈懼汝耶！」拍馬持刀，直取夏侯惇。

　　惇挺鎗來迎。兩馬相交，戰不十合，忽又一騎飛至，大叫「二將軍少歇！」惇停鎗問來使曰：「丞相叫擒關某乎？」使者曰：「非也。丞相恐守關諸將阻擋關將軍，故又差某馳公文來放行。」惇曰：「丞相知其於路殺人否？」使者曰：「未知。」惇曰：「既未知其殺人，不可放去。」指揮手下軍士，將關公圍住。關公大怒，舞刀迎戰。

　　兩個正欲交鋒，陣後一人飛馬而來，大叫：「雲長，元讓，休得爭戰！」眾視之，乃張遼也。二人各勒住馬。張遼近前言曰：「奉丞相鈞旨：因聞知雲長斬關殺將，恐於路有阻，特差我傳諭各處關隘，任便放行。」惇曰：「秦琪是蔡陽之甥。他將秦琪託付我處，今被關某所殺，怎肯干休？」遼曰：「我見蔡將軍，自有分解。既丞相大度，教放雲長去，公等不可廢丞相之意。」夏侯惇只得將軍馬約退。遼曰：「雲長今欲何往？」關公曰：「聞兄長又不在袁紹處，吾今將遍天下尋之。」遼曰：「既未知玄德下落，且再回見丞相，若何？」關公笑曰：「安有是理！文遠回見丞相，幸為我謝罪。」說畢，與張遼拱手而別。

　　於是張遼與夏侯惇領兵自回。關公趕上車仗，與孫乾說知此事。二人並馬而行。行了數日，忽值大雨滂沱，行裝盡濕。遙望山岡邊有一所莊院，關公引著車仗，到彼借宿。莊內一老人出迎。關公具言來意。老人曰：「某姓郭，名常，世居於此。久聞大名，幸得瞻拜。」遂宰羊置酒相待，請二夫人於後堂暫歇。郭常陪關公，孫乾於草堂飲酒。一邊烘焙行李，一邊餵養馬匹。

　　至黃昏時候，忽見一少年，引數人入莊,逕上草堂。郭常喚曰：「吾兒來拜將軍。」因謂關公曰：「此愚男也。」關公問何來。常曰：「射獵方回。」少年見過關公，即下堂去了。常流涕言曰：「老夫耕讀傳家，止生此子，不務本業，惟以游獵為事。是家門不幸也！」關公曰：「方今亂世，若武藝精熟，亦可以取功名，何雲不幸？」常曰：「他若肯習武藝，便是有志之人；今專務游蕩，無所不為，老夫所以憂耳！」

　　關公亦為歎息。至更深，郭常辭出。關公與孫乾方欲就寢，忽聞後院馬嘶人叫。關公急喚從人，卻都不應，乃與孫乾提劍往視之。只見郭常之子倒在地上叫喚，從人正與莊客廝打。公問其故。從人曰：「此人來盜赤兔馬，被馬踢倒。我等聞叫喚之聲，起來巡看，莊客們反來廝鬧。」公怒曰：「鼠賊焉敢盜吾馬！」

　　恰待發作，郭常奔至告曰：「不肖子為此歹事，罪合萬死！奈老妻最憐愛此子，乞將軍仁慈寬恕！」關公曰：「此子果然不肖，適纔老翁所言，真知子莫若父也。我看翁面，且姑恕之。」遂分付從人看好了馬，喝散莊客，與孫乾回草堂歇息。次日，郭常夫婦出拜於堂前，謝曰：「犬子冒瀆虎威，深感將軍恩恕。」關公令將喚出，我以正言教之。常曰：「他於四更時分，又引數個無賴之徒，不知何處去了。」

　　關公謝別郭常，奉二嫂上車，出了莊院，與孫乾並馬，護著車仗，取山路而行。不及三十里，只見山背後擁出百餘人，為首兩騎馬。前面那人，頭裹黃巾，身穿戰袍；後面乃郭常之子也。黃巾者曰：「我乃天公將軍張角部將也！來者快留下赤兔馬，放你過去！」關公大笑曰：「無知狂賊！汝既從張角為盜，亦知劉，關，張兄弟三人名字否？」黃巾者曰：「我只聞赤面長髯者名關雲長，卻未識其面。汝何人也？」

　　公乃停刀立馬，解開鬚囊，出長髯令視之。其人滾鞍下馬，腦揪郭常之子拜獻於馬前。關公問其姓名。告曰：「某姓裴，名元紹。自張角死後，一向無主，嘯聚山林，權於此處藏伏。今早這廝來報：有一客人，騎一匹千里馬，在我家投宿。特邀某來劫奪此馬。不想卻遇將軍。」郭常之子拜伏乞命。關公曰：「吾看汝父之面，饒你性命！」

　　郭子抱頭鼠竄而去。公謂元紹曰：「汝不識吾面，何以知吾名？」元紹曰：「離此二十里有一臥牛山。山上有一關西人，姓周，名倉，兩臂有千斤之力。面孔虯髯，形容甚偉。原在黃巾張寶部下為將，張寶死，嘯聚山林。他多曾與某說將軍盛名，恨無門路相見。」關公曰：「綠林中非豪傑托足之處。公等今後可各去邪歸正，勿自陷其身。」元紹拜謝。

　　正說話間，遙望一彪人馬來到。元紹曰：「此必周倉也。」關公乃立馬待之。果見一人，黑面長身，持槍乘馬，引眾而至；見了關公，驚喜曰：「此關將軍也！」疾忙下馬俯，伏道傍曰：「周倉參拜。」關公曰：「壯士何處曾識關某來？」倉曰：「舊隨黃巾張寶時，曾識尊顏；恨失身賊黨，不得相隨。今日幸得拜見。願將軍不棄，收為步卒，早晚執鞭隨鐙，死亦甘心！」公見其意甚誠，乃謂曰：「汝若隨我，汝手下人伴若何？」倉曰：「願從則俱從；不願從者，聽之可也。」

　　於是眾人皆曰：「願從。」關公乃下馬至車前稟問二嫂。甘夫人曰：「叔叔自離許都，於路獨行至此，歷過多少艱難，未嘗要軍馬相隨；前廖化欲相投，叔既卻之，今何獨容周倉之眾耶？我輩女流淺見，叔自斟酌。」公曰：「嫂嫂之言是也。」遂謂周倉曰：「非關某寡情，奈二夫人不從。汝等且回山中，待我尋見兄長，必來相招。」周倉頓首告曰：「倉乃一粗莽之夫，失身為盜；今遇將軍，如重見天日，豈忍復錯過？若以眾人相隨為不便，可令其盡跟裴元紹去。倉隻身步行，跟隨將軍，雖萬里不辭也！」關公再以此言告二嫂。甘夫人曰：「一二人相從，無妨於事。」公乃令周倉撥人伴隨裴元紹去。元紹曰：「我亦願隨關將軍。」周倉曰：「汝若去時，人伴皆散；且當權時統領。我隨關將軍去，但有住紮處，便來取你。」

　　元紹怏怏而別。周倉跟著關公，往汝南進發。行了數日，遙見一座山城。公問土人：「此何處也？」土人曰：「此名古城。數月前有一將軍，姓張，名飛，引數十騎到此，將縣官逐去，占住古城，招軍買馬，積草屯糧。今聚有三五千人馬，四遠無人敢敵。」關公喜曰：「吾弟自徐州失散，一向不知下落，誰想卻在此！」乃令孫乾先入城通報，教來迎接二嫂。卻說張飛在芒碭山中，住了月餘，因出外探聽玄德消息，偶過古城，入縣借糧；縣官不肯，飛怒，因就逐去縣官，奪了縣印，占住城池，權且安身。當日孫乾領關公命，入城見飛。施禮畢，具言：「玄德離了袁紹處，投汝南去了。今雲長直從許都送二位夫人至此，請將軍出迎。」

　　張飛聽罷，更不回言，隨即披掛持丈八矛上馬，引一千餘人，逕出北城門。孫乾驚訝，又不敢問，只得隨出城來。關公望見張飛到來，喜不自勝；付刀與周倉接了，拍馬來迎。只見張飛圓睜環眼，倒豎虎鬚，吼聲如雷，揮矛向關公便搠。關公大驚，連忙閃過，便叫：「賢弟何故如此？豈忘了桃園結義耶？」飛喝曰：「你既無義，有何面目來與我相見！」關公曰：「我如何無義？」飛曰：「你背了兄長，降了曹操，封侯賜爵。今又來賺我！我今與你併個死活！」關公曰：「你原來不知，我也難說。現放著二位嫂嫂在此，賢弟請自問。」

　　二夫人聽得，揭簾而呼曰：「三叔何故如此？」飛曰：「嫂嫂住著。且看我殺了負義的人，然後請嫂嫂入城。」甘夫人曰：「二叔因不知你等下落，故暫時棲身曹氏。今知你哥哥在汝南，特不避險阻，送我們們到此。三叔休錯見了。」糜夫人曰：「二叔向在許都，原出於無奈。」飛曰：「嫂嫂休要被他瞞過了！忠臣寧死而不辱。大丈夫豈有事二主之理！」關公曰：「賢弟休屈了我。」孫乾曰：「雲長特來尋將軍。」飛喝曰：「如何你也胡說！他那裏有好心！必是來捉我！」關公曰：「我若捉你，須帶軍馬來。」飛把手指曰：「兀的不是軍馬來也！」

　　關公回顧，果見塵埃起處，一彪人馬來到。風吹旗號，正是曹軍。張飛大怒曰：「今還敢支吾麼？」挺丈八蛇矛便搠將來。關公急止之曰：「賢弟且住，你看我斬此來將，以表我真心。」飛曰：「你果有真心，我這裏三通鼓罷，便要你斬來將！」關公應諾。

　　須臾，曹軍至。為首一將，乃是蔡陽，挺刀縱馬大喝曰：「你殺吾外甥秦琪，卻原來逃在此！吾奉丞相命，特來拿你！」關公更不打話，舉刀便砍。張飛親自擂鼓。只見一通鼓未盡，關公刀起處，蔡陽頭已落地。眾軍士俱走。關公活捉執認旗的小卒過來，問取來由。小卒告說：「蔡陽聞將軍殺了他外甥，十分忿怒，要來河北與將軍交戰。丞相不肯，因差他往汝南攻劉辟。不想在這裏遇著將軍。」關公聞言，教去張飛前告說其事。飛將關公在許都時事細問小卒；小卒從頭至尾，說了一遍，飛方纔信。

　　正說間，忽城中軍士來報：「城南門外有十數騎來的甚緊，不知是甚人。」張飛心中疑慮，便轉出南門看時，果見十數騎輕弓短箭而來。見了張飛，滾鞍下馬。視之，乃糜竺，糜芳也。飛亦下馬相見。竺曰：「自徐州失散，我兄弟二人逃難回鄉。使人遠近打聽，知雲長降了曹操，主公在於河北；又聞簡雍亦投河北去了。只不知將軍在此。昨於路上遇見一夥客人說：有一姓張的將軍，如此模樣，今據古城。我兄弟度量必是將軍，故來尋訪。幸得相見！」飛曰：「雲長兄與孫乾送二嫂方到，已知哥哥下落。」

　　二糜大喜，同來見關公，並參見二夫人。飛遂迎請二嫂入城。至衙中坐定，二夫人訴說關公歷過之事，張飛方纔大哭，參拜雲長。二糜亦俱傷感。張飛亦自訴別後之事，一面設宴賀喜。

　　次日，張飛欲與關公同赴汝南見玄德。關公曰：「賢弟可保護二嫂，暫住此城，待我與孫乾先去探聽兄長消息。」飛允諾。關公與孫乾引數騎奔汝南來。劉辟，龔都，接著，關公便問：皇叔何在？劉辟曰：「皇叔到此住了數日，為見軍少，復往河北袁本初處商議去了。」關公怏怏不樂。孫乾曰：「不必憂慮。再苦一番驅馳，仍往河北去報知皇叔，同至古城便了。」

　　關公依言，辭了劉辟，龔都，回至古城，與張飛說知此事。張飛便欲同至河北。關公曰：「有此一城，便是我等安身之處，未可輕棄。我還與孫乾同往袁紹處，尋見兄長，來此相會。賢弟可堅守此城。」飛曰：「兄斬他顏良，文醜，如何去得？」關公曰：「不妨。我到彼當見機而行。」遂喚周倉問曰：「臥牛山裴元紹處，共有多少人馬？」倉曰：「約有四五百。」關公曰：「我今抄近路去尋兄長。汝可往臥牛山招此一枝人馬，從大路上接來。」

　　倉領命而去。關公與孫乾只帶二十餘騎投河北來。將至界首，乾曰：「將軍未可輕入，只在此間暫歇。待某先入見皇叔，別作商議。」關公依言，先打發孫乾去了。遙望前村有一所莊院，便與從人到彼投宿。莊內一老翁攜杖而出，與關公施禮。公具以實告。老翁曰：「某亦姓關，名定。久聞大名，幸得瞻謁。」遂命二子出見，款留關公，並從人俱留於莊內。

　　且說孫乾匹馬入冀州見玄德，具言前事。玄德曰：「簡雍亦在此間，可暗請來同議。」少頃，簡雍至，與孫乾相見畢，共議脫身之計。雍曰：「主公明日見袁紹，只說要往荊州，說劉表共破曹操，便可乘機而去。」玄德曰：「此計大妙！但公能隨我去否？」雍曰：「某亦自有脫身之計。」

　　商議已定。次日，玄德入見袁紹，告曰：「劉景升鎮守荊襄九郡，兵精糧足，宜與相約，共攻曹操。」紹曰：「吾嘗遣使約之，奈彼未肯相從。」玄德曰：「此人是備同宗，備往說，必無推阻。」紹曰：「若得劉表，勝劉辟多矣。」遂命玄德行。紹又曰：「近聞關雲長已離了曹操，欲來河北；吾當殺之，以雪顏良，文醜，之恨！」玄德曰：「明公前欲用之，吾故召之。今何又欲殺之耶？且顏良、文醜比之二鹿耳，雲長乃一虎也。失二鹿而得一虎，何恨之有？」紹笑曰：「吾固愛之，故戲言耳。公可再使人召之，令其速來。」玄德曰：「即遣孫乾往召之可也。」

　　紹大喜從之。玄德出，簡雍進曰：「玄德此去，必不回矣。某願與偕往；一則同說劉表，二則監住玄德。」紹然其言，便命簡雍與玄德同行。郭圖諫紹曰：「劉備前去說劉辟，未見成事；今又使與簡雍同往荊州，必不返矣。」紹曰：「汝勿多疑，簡雍自有見識。」郭圖嗟呀而出。

　　卻說玄德先命孫乾出城，問報關公；一面與簡雍辭了袁紹，上馬出城。行至界首，孫乾接著，同往關定莊上。關公迎門接拜，執手啼哭不止。關定領二子拜於草堂之前。玄德問其姓名。關公曰：「此人與弟同姓，有二子：長子關寧，學文；次子關平，學武。」關定曰：「今愚意欲遣次子跟隨關將軍，未識肯容納否？」玄德曰：「年幾何矣？」定曰：「十八歲矣。」玄德曰：「既蒙長者厚意，吾弟尚未有子，今即以賢郎為子，若何？」關定大喜，便命關平拜關公為父，呼玄德為伯父。玄德恐袁紹追之，急收拾起行。關平隨著關公，一齊起身。關定送了一程自回。關公教取路往臥牛山來。

　　正行間，忽見周倉引數十人帶傷而來。關公引他見了玄德。問其何故受傷，倉曰：「某未至臥牛山之前，先有一將單騎而來，與裴元紹交鋒，只一合，刺死裴元紹，盡數招降人伴，占住山寨。倉到彼招誘人伴時，止有這幾個過來，餘者俱懼怕，不敢擅離。倉不忿，與那將交戰，被他連勝數次，身中三槍；因此來報主公。」玄德曰：「此人怎生模樣？姓甚名誰？」倉曰：「極其雄壯，不知姓名。」

　　於是關公縱馬當先，玄德在後，逕投臥牛山來。周倉在山下叫罵，只見那將全副披掛，持槍驟馬，引眾下山。玄德早揮鞭出馬大叫曰：「來者莫非子龍否？」那將見了玄德，滾鞍下馬，拜伏道旁。原來果然是趙子龍。玄德，關公，俱下馬相見，問其何由至此。雲曰：「雲自別使君，不想公孫瓚不聽人言，以致兵敗自焚。袁紹屢次招雲。雲想紹亦非用人之人，因此未往。後欲至徐州投使君，又聞徐州失守，雲長已歸曹操，使君又在袁紹處。雲幾番欲來相投，只恐袁紹見怪。四海飄零，無容身之地。前偶過此處，適遇裴元紹下山來欲奪吾馬，雲因殺之，藉此安身。近聞翼德在古城，欲往投之，未知真實。今幸得遇使君！」

　　玄德大喜，訴說從前之事。關公亦訴前事。玄德曰：「吾初見子龍，便有留戀不捨之情。今幸得相遇！」雲曰：「雲奔走四方，擇主而事，未有如使君者。今得相隨，大稱平生。雖肝腦塗地,無恨矣。」

　　當日就燒毀山寨，率領人眾，盡隨玄德前赴古城。張飛，糜竺，糜芳，迎接入城，各相拜訴。二夫人具言雲長之事，玄德感歎不已。於是殺牛宰馬，先拜謝天地，然後遍勞諸軍。玄德見兄弟重聚，將佐無缺，又新得了趙雲，關公又得了關平，周倉，二人，歡喜無限，連飲數日。後人有詩讚之曰：

當時手足似瓜分，

信斷音稀杳不聞。

今日君臣重聚義，

正如龍虎會風雲。

時玄德，關，張，趙雲，孫乾，簡雍，糜竺，糜芳，關平，周倉，統領馬步軍校共四五千人。玄德欲棄了古城去守汝南，恰好劉辟，龔都，差人來請。於是遂起軍往汝南駐紮，招軍買馬，徐圖征進，不在話下。

　　且說袁紹見玄德不回，大怒，欲起兵伐之。郭圖曰：「劉備不足慮。曹操乃勁敵也，不可不除。劉表雖據荊州，不足為強。江東孫伯符威鎮三江，地連六郡，謀臣武士極多，可使人結之，共攻曹操。」紹從其言，即修書遣陳震為使，來會孫策。正是：

只因河北英雄去，

引出江東豪傑來。

未知其事如何，且看下文分解。

Frankenstein — Chapter 23

Posted by admin under English classics, Novels

by Mary Shelley

It was eight o’clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn and contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines.

The wind, which had fallen in the south, now rose with great violence in the west. The moon had reached her summit in the heavens and was beginning to descend; the clouds swept across it swifter than the flight of the vulture and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the scene of the busy heavens, rendered still busier by the restless waves that were beginning to rise. Suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended.

I had been calm during the day, but so soon as night obscured the shapes of objects, a thousand fears arose in my mind. I was anxious and watchful, while my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my bosom; every sound terrified me, but I resolved that I would sell my life dearly and not shrink from the conflict until my own life or that of my adversary was extinguished. Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence, but there was something in my glance which communicated terror to her, and trembling, she asked, “What is it that agitates you, my dear Victor? What is it you fear?”

“Oh! Peace, peace, my love,” replied I; “this night, and all will be safe; but this night is dreadful, very dreadful.”

I passed an hour in this state of mind, when suddenly I reflected how fearful the combat which I momentarily expected would be to my wife, and I earnestly entreated her to retire, resolving not to join her until I had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy.