The Hail God

　　Wang Yuncang was on his way to take up a post in the Chu region. He planned to visit the Celestial Master on Mount Longhu. When he reached the great lake and had just stepped onto his boat, a man in a small skiff came alongside and asked to be announced. Wang received him. The man was tall and handsome. From the folds of his robe he produced a calling card from the Celestial Master and said, "Hearing that your retinue was about to arrive, the Master sent me ahead to prepare the way."

　　Wang was astonished that the Master had known of his coming. He now regarded him as even more divine and continued on his way with sincere reverence. The Celestial Master prepared a feast to receive him. The servants attending them—in their robes and hats, with their long beards and whiskers—looked quite unlike ordinary men. The earlier messenger also stood among them.

　　After a while, the messenger whispered something to the Master. The Master said to Wang, "This gentleman is from your own home county. Don't you recognize him?" Wang asked who he was. The Master replied, "This is none other than Li Zuoche, the Hail God, of whom the world has heard."

　　Wang was so startled that his expression changed. The Master said, "He just told me that he has received orders to send down a hailstorm, and so he has come to take his leave." Wang asked, "Where?" The Master said, "Zhangqiu." Since Zhangqiu bordered his own home district, Wang was deeply concerned. He rose from his seat and begged the Master to call off the disaster.

　　The Master said, "This is a decree from the Heavenly Emperor. The hailstones have a fixed number. How can I bend the rules for your sake?" Wang pleaded without stopping. The Master thought for a long time, then turned to the god and instructed him, "Let most of the hail fall in the mountain valleys. Just do not harm the crops if you can help it." He added, "There is an honored guest present. Depart gently—do not be violent."

　　The god stepped out into the courtyard. Suddenly, mist and vapor rose from his feet, spreading thickly over the ground. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he strained upward and rose no higher than the courtyard trees. Then he rose again, higher than the towers and pavilions. With a thunderclap, he flew off to the north. The very house shook, and the wine cups and dishes on the table rattled.

　　Wang cried out in alarm, "His departure brings thunder like that!" The Master said, "I warned him, which is why he was slow. Otherwise, with a single clap, he would have been gone in an instant."

　　Wang took his leave and returned home. He marked down the day and month and sent a man to inquire in Zhangqiu. On that very day, a great hailstorm had indeed fallen there. The ditches and streams were full of hail, but in the farmlands there were only a few stones.




中文如下：

　　雹神

　　原文和翻译 对比

　　【原文】

　　王公筠苍，莅任楚中，拟登龙虎山谒天师。及湖，甫登舟，即有一人驾小艇来，使舟中人为通。公见之，貌修伟，怀中出天师刺，曰：“闻驺从将临，先遣负弩。”公讶其预知，益神之，诚意而往。天师治具相款。其服役者，衣冠须鬣，多不类常人。前使者亦侍其侧。

　　少间，向天师细语。天师谓公曰：“此先生同乡，不之识耶？”公问之。曰：“此即世所传雹神李左车也。”公愕然改容。天师曰：“适言奉旨雨雹，故告辞耳。”公问：“何处？”曰：“章丘。”公以接壤关切，离席乞免。天师曰：“此上帝玉敕，雹有额数，何能相徇？”公哀不已。天师垂思良久，乃顾而嘱曰：“其多降山谷，勿伤禾稼可也。”又嘱：“贵客在坐，文去勿武。”神出，至庭中，忽足下生烟，氤氲匝地。俄延逾刻，极力腾起，裁高于庭树；又起，高于楼阁；霹雳一声，向北飞去，屋宇震动，筵器摆簸。公骇曰：“去乃作雷霆耶！”天师曰：“适戒之，所以迟迟。不然，平地一声，便逝去矣。”公别归，志其月日，遣人问章丘，是日果大雨雹，沟渠皆满，而田中仅数枚焉。

　　【翻译】

　　王公筠苍，到楚地去任职为官的时候，打算登上龙虎山去拜访张天师。到了鄱阳湖畔，刚刚登上船，就有人驾着一只小船前来，请船上人向王公通报求见。王公接见了来人，只见他仪表堂堂，身材魁梧，从怀里取出张天师的名帖，说：“听说大驾将要光临，天师先派小官前来迎接。”王公惊讶张天师能够预先知道自己要去，愈发把他当成神仙，诚心诚意地前往拜见。到了山上，张天师设宴招待王公。那些席间从事服务的仆役们所穿戴的衣帽和留着的长须，大多与常人不同。先前那个使者也在一旁侍候。

　　过了一会儿，他向张天师耳语了几句。天师对王公说：“这位是先生的同乡，你不认识吗？”王公忙问是哪一位。张天师回答说：“这就是世上传说的雹神李左车啊！”王公一听，惊愕得脸色也变了。张天师说：“刚才他说要奉旨去降冰雹，所以要告辞了。”王公问：“往什么地方下冰雹？”天师回答说：“是章丘。”王公因为章丘和自己的家乡接壤，十分关切，于是离开座位恳求免降雹灾。张天师说：“这是玉皇大帝的命令，所下的冰雹有规定数额，我怎么能私自照顾呢？”王公仍是哀求不停。张天师沉思了很久，才回头对雹神嘱咐说：“可以多把冰雹降在山谷里，尽量别伤着庄稼就行了。”又嘱咐说：“现在有贵客在座，你要缓缓地离去，不要莽撞。”雹神出去，到了庭院里，忽然脚下生烟，周围云雾环绕。过了大约一刻钟，他极力向上一跃，达到的高度大约才比院里的树木高一些；然后又一跃，高度已在楼阁之上；霹雳一声，就向北飞去了，房屋震动，宴席上的器皿也颠簸摇摆起来。王公惊怕地说：“他离去就要雷霆大作啊？”张天师说：“刚才告诫过他，所以才慢慢离去。不然的话，平地一声雷响，就不见踪影了。”王公告别张天师回去后，记下了那天的月日，派人去章丘一打听，当天那里果然下了大冰雹，河沟水渠里满是冰雹，庄稼地里却只有几颗而已。