高僧傳 9.30

9.30

時魏縣有一流民，莫識氏族，恒著麻襦布裳，在魏縣市中乞匃。時人謂之麻襦。言語卓越，狀如狂病，乞得米穀不食，輒散置大路，云飴天馬。超興太守籍拔收送詣虎。先是，澄謂虎曰：「國東二百里，某月某日當送一非常人，勿殺之也。」如期果至。虎與共語，了無異言，唯言：「陛下當終一柱殿下。」虎不解此語，令送以詣澄。麻襦謂澄曰：「昔在光和中會，奄至今日。酉戌受玄命，絕曆終有期。金離消于壤，邊荒不能遵。驅除靈期迹，莫已已之懿。裔苗葉繁，其來方積。休期於何期，永以歎之。」澄曰：「天迴運極，否將不支。九木水為難，無可以術寧。玄哲雖存世，莫能基必頹。久遊閻浮利，擾擾多此患。行登陵雲宇，會於靈遊間。」澄與麻襦講語終日，人莫能解。有竊聽者唯得此數言，推計似如論數百年事。虎遣驛馬送還本縣。既出城外，辭能步行，云：「我當有所過，未便得發，至合口橋可留見待。」使如言馳去。未至合口，而麻襦已在橋上。考其行步，有若飛也。

At that time in Wei County there was a displaced person whose clan was unknown, who constantly wore a hempen jacket and cloth skirt, begging in the marketplace of Wei County. The people of the time called him Hempen Jacket. His speech was extraordinary, and his appearance was like someone mad; when he begged and received rice or grain, he would not eat it, but would scatter it on the thoroughfare, saying he was feeding the heavenly horses. Ji Ba, the Grand Administrator of Chaoxing, arrested him and sent him to Shi Hu. Prior to this, Fotudeng had said to Shi Hu: 'Two hundred li east of the capital, on a certain day of a certain month, an extraordinary person will be sent; do not kill him.' He arrived indeed on the expected date. Shi Hu spoke with him, and his words were entirely ordinary, except that he said: 'Your Majesty will end beneath a single-pillared hall.' Shi Hu did not understand these words and ordered him sent to Fotudeng. Hempen Jacket said to Fotudeng: 'Long ago we met in the Guanghe era, and suddenly here we are today. In the year of you or xu, the mysterious mandate will be received; the severed calendar will eventually reach its end. The metal will disintegrate and vanish into the earth; the border wastes cannot abide by it. To drive out and eliminate the traces of the fated span—nothing is more fine than to cease. The descendants and foliage are luxuriant, and what comes will amass for a time. At what time will the auspicious period arrive? Forever do I sigh over it.' Fotudeng said: 'The heavenly cycle revolves to its extremity; when obstruction comes, it will not withstand it. Nine woods and water will make for calamity; there is no art by which it may be pacified. Though the profound and wise remain in the world, none can restore what is destined to collapse. Long roaming in Jambudvīpa, one is endlessly perturbed by these troubles. Soon I shall ascend the cloud-surmounting abode, and meet within the spiritual roaming.' Fotudeng talked with Hempen Jacket all day, and no one could understand them. A eavesdropper caught only these few words, and upon calculating them, they seemed to discuss events hundreds of years hence. Shi Hu sent relay couriers on horseback to convey him back to his native county. Once outside the city, Hempen Jacket declined, saying he could walk on foot, and said: 'I have somewhere to stop by and cannot depart immediately; you may wait for me at the Hekou Bridge.' The messenger galloped off as instructed. Before reaching Hekou, Hempen Jacket was already on the bridge. Considering his pace, it was as if he were flying.