西湖七月半，一无可看，止可看看七月半之人。
看七月半之人，以五类看之。其一，楼船箫鼓，峨冠盛装，灯火优傒，声光相乱，名为看月而实不见月者，看之；其一，亦船亦楼，名娃闺秀，携及童娈，笑啼杂之，环坐露台，左右盼望，身在月下而实不看月者，看之；其一，亦船亦声歌，名妓闲僧，浅斟低唱，弱管轻丝，竹肉相发，亦在月下，亦看月，而欲人看其看月者，看之；其一，不舟不车，不衫不帻，酒醉饭饱，呼群三五，跻入人丛，昭庆、断桥，嘄呼嘈杂，装假醉，唱无腔曲，月亦看，看月者亦看，不看月者亦看，而实无一看者，看之；其一，小船轻幌，净几煖炉，茶铛旋煮，素瓷静递，好友佳人，邀月同坐，或匿影树下，或逃嚣里湖，看月而人不见其看月之态，亦不作意看月者，看之。
林语堂 译:
Harvest Moon on West Lake
Chang Tai
There is nothing to see during the moon on West Lake [Hangchow]. All you can see are people who come out to see the moon. Briefly there are five categories of these holidaymakers. First there are those who come out in the name of looking at the harvest moon but never even take a look at it: the people who expensively dressed, sit down at gorgeous dinners with music in brightly illuminated boats or villas in a confusion of light and noise. Secondly, those who do sit in the moonlight but never look at it: ladies, daughters of high families in boats and towers also handsome boys [homosexuals] who sit in open spaces and giggle and chatter and look at other people. Thirdly, boat parties of famous courtesans and monks with time on their hands who enjoy a little sip and indulge in song and flute and string instruments. They are in the moonlight, too, and indeed look at the moon but want people to see them looking at the moon. Fourthly, there are the young men, who neither ride nor go into boats, but after a drink and a good dinner, rush about in their rowdy dress and seek the crowd at Chaoching and Tuanchiao where it is thickest, shouting, singing songs of no known melody and pretending to be drunk. They look at the moon, look at the people looking at the moon, and also look at those not looking at the moon, but actually see nothing. Lastly, there are those who hire a small boat, provided with a clay stove and a clean table and choice porcelain cups and pots, and who get into the boat with a few friends and their sweethearts; they hide under a tree or row out into the Inner Lake in order to escape from the crowd, and look at the moon without letting people see that they are looking at the moon and even without consciously looking at it.
杭人游湖，巳出酉归，避月如仇。是夕好名，逐队争出，多犒门军酒钱，轿夫擎燎，列俟岸上。一入舟，速舟子急放断桥，赶入胜会。以故二鼓以前，人声鼓吹，如沸如撼，如魇如呓，如聋如哑；大船小船一齐凑岸，一无所见，止见篙击篙，舟触舟，肩摩肩，面看面而已。少刻兴尽，官府席散，皂隶喝道去。轿夫叫船上人，怖以关门。灯笼火把如列星，一一簇拥而去。岸上人亦逐队赶门，渐稀渐薄，顷刻散尽矣。
The local Hangchow people come out on the lake, if they do at all, between eleven in the morning and eight in the evening, as if they had morbid fear of the moon. But on this night, they all come out in groups, in the hope of getting good tips. The sedan chair carriers line up on the bank. The moment they get into a boat, they tell the boatman to hurry and row across to the Tuanchiao area, and get lost in the crowd, therefore in that area before the second watch [ten o'clock] the place is filled with noise and music bands in a weird, boiling confusion, like a roaring sea or a landslide, or a nightmare, or like Bedlam let loose, with all the people in it rendered deaf and dumb for the moment. Large and small boats are tied up along the bank, and one can see nothing except boats creaking against boats, punting poles knocking punting poles, shoulders rubbing shoulders, and faces looking at faces. Soon the feasting is over, the officials leave, the yamen runners shout to clear the way, the sedan chair carriers scream for fare, the boatmen give warning that the city gates will soon be closed. A grand procession of torches and lanterns, with swarms of retainers passes on. Those on land also hurry to get into the city before the closing of the gate, and very soon almost the entire crowd is gone.
吾辈始舣舟近岸。断桥石磴始凉，席其上，呼客纵饮。
此时月如镜新磨，山复整妆，湖复颒面。向之浅斟低唱者出，匿影树下者亦出，吾辈往通声气，拉与同坐。韵友来，名妓至，杯箸安，竹肉发……
月色苍凉，东方将白，客方散去。吾辈纵舟，酣睡于十里荷花之中，香气拍人，清梦甚惬。
——选自《说库》本《陶庵梦忆》
Only then do we move the boat to Tuanchiao. The rocks have become cool by this time, and we spread a mat on the ground and invite ourselves to a great drink. At this time the moon looks like a newly polished mirror, the hills appear draped in a new dress, and the face of lake is like a lady after a fresh make-up. Those who have been hiding themselves under a tree and enjoying a quiet sip come out now also. We exchange names and invite them to join us. There we have charming friends and famous courtesans; cups and chopsticks are in place, and songs and music begin, in the chilly dream world of moonlight. The party breaks up at dawn, and we get into the boat again and move it into the miles of lotus-covered surface, where we catch a nap in an air filled with its fragrance, and have a perfect sleep.
注：
1. 止：同“只”。
2. 优傒（xī）：优伶和仆役。
3. 竹肉：指管乐和歌喉。
4. 跻（jī）：通“挤”。
5. 嘄: 嚣,呼叫。
6. 铛（chēng）：温茶、酒的器具。旋（xuàn）：随时，随即。
7. 作意：故意，作出某种姿态。
8. 是夕好名：七月十五这天夜晚，人们喜欢这个名目。“名”，指“中元节”的名目，等于说“名堂”。
9. 皂隶：衙门的差役。喝道：官员出行，衙役在前边吆喝开道。
10. 颒（huì）面：洗脸。
11. 向：方才，先前。
12. 往通声气：过去打招呼。
13. 拍：扑。
