Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 2, Text 3
Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt
Vocabulary section transcribed with help from with help from 武克富強/Võ Khắc Phú Cường
卜
Fortune-telling
卜者坐於四達之衢。爲行人語休咎。
A fortune-teller was sitting at the cross-ways of four roads, and was telling fortunes for the passers-by.
忽其子奔告曰。
Suddenly his son ran up in haste and said,
吾家爲人所刧。家具盡喪。
" Our house has been robbed by somebody, and the household implements are all gone!"
卜者倉惶失措。
The fortune-teller became flustered and lost his composure.
有調之者曰。
There was someone who wished to tease him and said,
君日爲人語休咎。而家中凶兆顧不之省。何也。
"Daily you tell fortunes for others, yet when it came to ill omen in an your own house, you nevertheless could not perceive it. How is that?"
卜者不能對。
The fortune-teller could not reply.