(Says) This autumn-scenery’s different from that of the rest of the year.
EMPRESS YANG: In what way is it different?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: Listen and I’ll tell you.
(Sings)
Dew ascends, the sky’s light, the night-air’s pure,
Breeze lightly snatches feather skirt,
Scents are stirred by waist-pendants tinkle tinkle,
Jade-green sky’s clean and limpid bright.
Silver River Milky Way’s shining, sparkling like a jewel,
And I do but suspect I’m in
Jade Heaven,
Erigeron-chenopodium paradise or Ocean paradise-isle.
EMPRESS YAN: This evening’s the date of the tryst of oxherd and Weaving-damsel, and they’re only able to meet this once a year. Why do they part again?
MPEROR DARK-PROGENITO:
(Sings)
On this night, they ride phoenix-chariot along the sky road,
And across the Silver River the Magpie is steady.
At last this night they’ll accomplish their love’s delights,
When by the pillow, they hear the dawn-cock crow suddenly.
Already, though in separation’s sorrow, pent with love,
Their parting tears rain cold coldly, the fifth watch, they give long sighs, it was but one night’s short, love kindly.
EMPRESS YANG: He’s a constellation-god, and when they don’t meet all the year, I wonder whether he’s kept her in mind?
DARK-PROGENITOR: How on earth could he not yearn for her!
(Sings)
I brood on Weaving-damsel’s lot,
And Oxherd’s fate:
Although they grow old never,
But do live forever.
They’re cut off across the Milky Way, truly faint far from each other,
All the year, the whole year round, they’re isolated from one another,
And were you to make inquiries in the Palace of Heaven,
You’d find they definitely suffer malady d’amour him and her.
EMPRESS YAN: That I’m able to attend upon you, Your Majesty, is the extreme of great favour, but I fear that my looks daily decline, and I can’t be eternal like Weaving-damsel.
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: (Sings)
But it’s certainly not that those Constellation Names arrayed above,
Looking down on the life of the “dusty” mortal world,
Consider marriage-lots of Heaven important,
But take lightly mortals’ love:
In each case, when discerning true sincerity,
Heaven’ s heart is bound to respond, to move,
So, I think they so our praise deserves.
EMPRESS YANG: I think, though, Oxherd and Weaving-damsel meet every year, and, as long as Heaven and Earth shall last, it will be just like that, but how can people of the world compare with the enduring nature of their love?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
Every day we’re drunk from sunset-mist goblets,
Pass every night mid screens of silver.
They one day in one year their tryst of love awaits,
If we consider the most numerically the winner,
We ought to win, however.
I’m a monarch, and yet have wild ideas,
You’re an empress, yet deplored as light and frivolous;
It’s obvious that star-side wanderer, Fighting Ox,
Would turn his head to ask the way ahead to her1299.
EMPRESS YANG: I’ve received incomparable love and favours from you, Lord and Ruler, but I fear that spring will age and flowers fade, and you, my Monarch, will shift your love with favour declining, so that I shall suffer the sadness of “Lung-yang’s weeping over fish”1300 fearing abandonment, and the repining of “Beauty Pan writing on the fan”,1301 bemoaning being left in the lurch. Then what on Earth shall I do?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: My Lady, what on Earth are you saying?
EMPRESS YANG: Your Majesty, please may I ask you to make a secret promise, to fortify things for always.
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: Let you and me go over there and talk.
(They walk)
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
I lean against your half-drooping shoulder,
Raise your face of a hundred charms in my hand.
It’s precisely a case of
“knocking at jade door-bolt of Gold Palace west wing”,1302
Quiet, quiet, the winding covered-walkways silent stand.
Leaning against this “colour-beckoning phoenix”,1303
This “green-dancing roc”,1304
By “gold well”1305 in parasol-tree shade,
Even though there are no people to eavesdrop on us,
We must still swear our “mountain-vows and sea-oaths” of lasting love in voices hushed.
(Says) My Lady, I shall grow old with you, stay with you all through old age in this life, and after a hundred years, we shall for age after age always be husband and wife. May the gods judge and protect us!
EMPRESS YANG: Who’s the witness of our love-vows?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
May we last as if a pair kept in gold-strip casket,
Not be parted solitary as two hair-pin arms;
I pray our wedding-fate union be age after age secured.
In Heaven, may we be as male and female mandarin-ducks ever side by side,
On Earth, may we live as Love-trees, Branches Entwined.
The moon’s so clear and limpid, silent the Silver River,
And we’ve uttered to the utmost all our eternal everlasting love:
Let each of us act with ideals of sincerity;
You ask who is our witness
There are Oxherd and Weaving-damsel star-gods meeting this night, crossing the Milky Way.
(Exeunt together)
Act Two
(Enter An Lu-shan at the head of generals.)
AN LU-SHAN: I’m An Lu-shan. Since I came to Yü-yang, I’ve been training and drilling my frontier-land and Chinese infantry and cavalry, and have four hundred thousand crack troops, and a thousand battle-generals. By now, Shining August-emperor’s already old and senile, and Yang Kuo-chung and Li Lin-fu are playing monkey-tricks with the government at court. I shall now, on the pretext of punishing those rebels, take military action against Ch’ang-an, snatch away Empress Yang, and seize the T’ang dynasty empire. Only then will my life’s desire be fulfilled.
My entourage, are the troops and horses all ready and in order?
GENERALS: Yes, they’re all ready and in order.
AN LU-SHAN: Tell the Military-administration Office in advance to send forth an official government document declaring that I’ve received a secret decree to take punitive military action against Yang Kuo-chung and the others. After that, order Shih Ssu-ming to lead thirty thousand soldiers, and first take T’ung Pass, and make straight for the capital, then achieving my great enterprise will be just as easy as turning the palm of one’s hand.
GENERALS: We receive your orders!
AN LU-SHAN: Today it’s late in the day, so we’ll take our military action tomorrow.
(Recites)
Commanding crack troops, I’ll point straight for T’ung Pass,
I reckon the House of T’ang has no scheme in my way to stand;
I only want to snatch by force that one, that Empress Yang,
It’s not particularly for the brocade broidered rivers and mountains of China’s beautiful land.
(Exeunt together)
(Enter Emperor Dark-progenitor at the head of Eunuch-chamberlain Kao, Cheng Avalokhitesvara1307 holding a p’i-p’a lute in her arms, the Prince of Ning playing a flute, Flowery-slave1308 beating the two-stick Chieh Drum, and Huang Fan-ch’o holding the clappers, and ushering Empress Yang.)
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: Today the weather’s that of new autumn, and, as I’m come from the conclusion of a
court session, and have no business to attend to, my Empress Yang has learnt the Rainbow-skirt, feather-jacket Dance, and is coming with me to the fore Eaglewood Pavilion in the imperial gardens, for us there to amuse ourselves at leisure for a while.
Ah, here we are now. Look at this autumn scenery: it’s indeed most moving!
(Sings)
Sky pale, clouds idle,
A few lines of trekking wild-geese, arrayed across the tallies;
In imperial park, summer scenery’s just first fading,
Willows are adding brown,
Lotuses lessen their emerald,
Autumn-lotus-flowers drop their petals.
We sit near to the secluded epindendrums,1309
And, puffing pure scent, open rip hostia-blooms.
(Says)
Here we are in the imperial park. Although it’s only a little party, it’s very neatly and well arranged.
(Sings)
Together with my Empress Yang, I laugh merrily,
Carefree,
Carefree,
In imperial park setting forth snacks and delicacy;
For wine, we pour out gentle Goose-yellow Wine,1309
For tea, we pour Partridge-stripes Tea.1310
Wine-shine floats in scarlet-gold goblets,
Tea-perfume drifts from jade-green jade cups;
Beside Eaglewood Pavilion in the evening cool abounds,
And I personally make a choice of places.
Powder-and-kohl beauties are richly made-up,
Pipes and strings are orderly arrayed,
And among them are damask-and-tulle fine ladies.
(Enter messenger)
EMESSENGER:
(Recites)
Looking back from Ch’ang-an, “broidered” scenery’s piled,
On the top of the mountain, one after the other open a thousand doors;
I’ve ridden right across the Red Dust world for the Empress to smile,
Nobody knows I’m bringing lychees.
(Says)
I’m a messenger sent from Szechwan Circuit: because Her Majesty Most-prized-empress is fond of eating lychees, I’ve been honoured to receive the imperial decree to specially come and bring her fresh ones.
Here I am now outside the court gate. Palace officials, announce me! Say that the messenger from Szechwan has come to present the lychees.
(They announce him.)
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENTOR: Bring him in.
(Envoy meets Emperor.)
EMESSENGER: The messenger from Szechwan Circuit proffers tribute of lychees.
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: (Looking.) My Empress, you’re fond of eating these fruits, and I’ve specially ordered them to be presented on time for you.
EMPRESS YANG: They are indeed fine lychees.
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
Scent puff-puffing, their taste’s just right in sweetness,
Delicate dainty-pretty, their colour’s just forth burst:
One does but suspect it’s Ninth-layer Heaven’s sent them down to this mortal world “banished”.
To get them so hard,
When one’s got them, they’re too scrimpy at best.
What a pity that they’re not grown near Ch’ang-an,
So, we have to have relay-messenger trudge the Red Dust.
EMPRESS YANG: The colour of these lychees is tender and delicate. They’re indeed lovely.
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: (Sings)
They’re so lovely to look at in the golden dish,
They’re fit to be raised, to be dined on, by a white-jade-fair hand;
Truly it’s a crimson-gauze-silk lidded-basket covering crystal cold.
Why are my drunken eyes made to sober?
You, my Empress have a dazzling delicate-beautiful mien,
The things are rarities, and your person one as seldom seen.
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: Your, Majesty, the wine’s been served three times. May we invite Her Majesty to mount a tray, and give us a performance of Rainbow-skirt dance?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: Let it be as you submit, my lord.
(Empress Yang does her dance. All the musicians give her a prelude.)
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
I enjoin you, Immortals-music Academy,1311 be not negligent in deference,
I tell you, Instruction Ward officer, to create order:
Assist Grand-truth into the emerald tray,
Quickly costume,
Fittingly attire.
Pinch both gold-coloured smock-sleeves drawn-up,
Adjust moon-palace Rainbow Skirt,
Cheng Avalokhitesvara prepare to strum your lute,
Quick fasten merfolk-silk lapels on breast.
Noble Prince, on jade flute,
Flower-slave on Chieh Drum,
Be graceful of rhythm, of notes abundant;
Princes Longevity and Ning, with your zithers “brocade-lambent”,
Empress Plum-blossom, with your jade flute,
Circle your measures clear and resonant.
Clack-clatter strewing their scarlet sandalwood,
Huang Fan-ch’o to the fore your clappers twirl;
Soft-softly call out “Jade-bangle”.
And flowers will abord her eyes. at Grand-truth’s smile.
Red-teeth-chopsticks1312 chase the Five Notes,
as parasol-tree-wood desk’s1313 struck,
And before the tender twig’s yet come into play,1314
And jasper dulcimer further its music lets swirl.
My lady, oh,
You must just exert a few drops of perspiration’s pearl.
(Empress Yang dances.)
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR.
(Sings)
The music of the Waist-drum joins in,
Your tulle stockings bow-curve,
Your jade waist-pendants tinkle-clinking swish-shushing sway
Gradually, as you dance, you let slip to one side your “cloud” locks,
The finesse of your wasp waist you display,
The swoops of your swallow limbs
Making your two sleeves with perfumed breeze stroke and splay.
(Says, as part of song)
You’re weary, my Lady. Drink a cup of wine.
(Sings)
I personally cup the cups in my hands, hand you the “jade dew” cool and sweet,
Come now, you mustn’t leave any left over,
Let’s do our utmost to get thoroughly drunk and drink right until all’s still and the hour’s deep in the night.
(Empress Yang drinks the wine.)
(Enter Li Lin-fu.)
LI LIN-FU: I’m Li Lin-fu, the present incumbent of the office of Chancellor of the Left. This morning, a flying despatch has been brought here, saying that An Lu-shan’s rebelled. He has a vast army, and we don’t dare oppose him, so I must just have an audience with His Majesty.
(Meets Emperor.)
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: What business have you, Chancellor, that you’re in such flurry.
LI LIN-FU: A flying report has come from the frontier, saying that An Lu-shan’s rebelled, and is coming with an army to attack in great force. Your Majesty, there’s been Great Peace for a long while, and people are unacquainted with warfare, so what on Earth can we do?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR: What are you in such a panic for?
(Sings)
You merely memorialise there’s a rebellion on the frontier,
You should look for a suitable gap in time,
Note what’s urgent and what’s not, what’s crisis and what can be delayed!
Couldn’t you have waited till the music and song of our feast had dispersed,
Instead puff-panting on Celestial Countenance coming to intrude?
You’re certainly no Kuan Chung of Ch’i, or Kung-sun Ch’iao of Cheng,
I suppose you’re trying to play a pretend-conscientious-and-filial
Lung Feng or Pi Kan of old?1315
> LI LIN-FU: Your Majesty, at the moment the rebels have already conquered T’ung Pass, our Ke-shu Han having failed to hold it and fleeing back, and any moment now they’ll reach Ch’ang-an. The capital’s empty of troops, and certainly can’t be defended. What on Earth can we do?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
You “Chou Duke Tan”, to death you’re almost panicked.1316
LI LIN-FU: Your Majesty, it’s just because you copiously favour women with your attentions, and slandering fellows prosper, that this military trouble’s been stirred up.
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
You say that because of singing and dancing
I’ve ruined my rivers-and-mountains domain,
You’re indeed most deceived,
Don’t you know I can “with feather fan and green-ribboned cloth-hat”,1317
“Mid a joke and a chat destroy obdurate barbarians three hundred thousand”?
(Says)
Since the rebel troops are pressing on our frontiers, you and the other ministers discuss the matter, make plans, select generals to lead the troops, and issue forth on campaign, that’s all there is to it.
LI LINF:. At present there aren’t as many as ten thousand troops in the capital barracks, the generals and officers are decrepit and senile, and if even such a famous general as Ke-shu Han couldn’t withstand them, who can go against them?
EMPEROR DARK-PROGENITOR:
(Sings)
You minister’s civil and military both ranks,
For nothing you array those raven boots and ivory writing-tablets,
And your gold and scarlet silken one-piece suit,
For among you there’s no heroic he-man,
To sweep clean the dusty mortal world complete.
The scoundrel An Lu-shan has been over-indulged,
And so out of the blue he’s crashed through T’ung Pass,
Appendices and Endnotes Page 8
