Growing ever more thin and emaciated.
The wild-ginger weed has entirely been burned:
will her spirit come here or not?
I gaze, wearing out my eyes, for her immortal’s voice,
See one stretch of autumn evening-cloud.
(Recites)
My foreboding sorrow can’t possibly know any relieving,
My winding-on-and-on illness at a climax arriving;
Lamenting cicadas bear fallen leaves,
The same as I my grieving.
(Says)
Dreaming and yearning for my Most-prized-empress Yang, I’ve become afflicted with an illness. So I ordered the necromancer Yang Mystery-accesser to arrange the invitation here of her fragrant spirit. But to my surprise he’d no way of finding her. Then, he for my sake sent forth his spirit to go off and seek after her. Ah me, I wonder whether the necromancer was making wild promises, or whether he’s really been able to find her. I’ve tossed and turned, emotions tangled, and my physical illness has grown all the graver. I’ve sent Eunuch-chamberlain Kao to the altar-platform to make enquiries, but he hasn’t appeared back yet. Facing this whole courtyard of autumn scenery, I’m so anxious to see him!
(Sings)
The leaves on the scarlet lotus have withered.
Sparse are the switches on the green weeping-willows.
Everywhere the wind hisses and rustles,
All sent this sorrowful man, to suffer its pains.
Brooding without cease, unable to sleep,
I recline on my pillow,
Did I right or wrong?
Expectantly, I open wide my eyeballs.
I ask “Shaman Sunlight”,1094
But he utterly never provides analyses.
When she was alive, it was impossible to save her,
Now she’s dead, how can I find her?
I’ve not yet attained another life, and this life’s suddenly to be ceased.
How pitiable there’s no way her far distant spirit to find,
And this poor-poorly illness of mine, I reckon, can no way be cured!
(Enter Eunuch-chamberlain Kao holding the hairpins and casket)
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: (Sings)
A crane has Ocean-isle paradise circled,
And token objects have been brought, rendered from afar.
I hastily report back to the throne once more,
(Meets emperor, and kow-tows to him)
(Sings)
The Immortals’ Altar1095 sends you a message, to comfort you in your separation cares.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Ah, here you are, Eunuch-chamberlain Kao,
(Sings)
I ask you as to your tidings,
Is there really some splendid news from my beautiful lady?
Don’t tell me any wild nonsense just because I’m so frazzled with anxiety.
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: Ten-thousand-years-grandfather-my-emperor, hear my submission: That immortal master,
(Sings)
For a long time, he pursued and searched for her,
Everywhere in the Yellow Springs and azure Heaven,
but she was nowhere in either.
(Emperor weeps, alarmed)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Oh dear, since you tell me that I can have no expectation of meeting my Most-prized-empress Yang ever again. Oh that’s pains me so terribly!
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: Ten-thousand-years-grandfather-my-emperor,
(Sings)
Please don’t be upset.
That immortal master,
He blithely freely roamed, charioting the air breath-energy,
And encountered Weaving-damsel,
who informed him that on an isle in the ocean was she.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Was he able to meet my empress, though?
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: (Sings)
On Erigeron-chenopodium paradise’s hills sharp peaked,
He saw atop a notice-board:
“Grand-truth Immortal’s Courtyard”.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: So my Most-prized-empress Yang has indeed become an immortal. But what did she have to say?
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: (Sings)
She spoke of her antecedents,
Lovingly, she just thanked you her monarch for the lavishness of your affectionate favours,
And as she gazed down to the Dust mortal world, tears flowed from her eyes.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Did she really behave like that?
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: (Sings)
I tell you no false fiction:
She had the hairpins and casket you personally consigned to her that year,
Which she sends to present to the throne.
(Presents hairpins and casket to emperor) (Says)
This gold-strip-flower casket and these hairpins are the ones you assigned to me when Empress Yang was about to sacrifice her life and be buried, to be placed on her grave, never imagining she’d take them to her immortals’ mountain.
(Emperor grasps the hairpins and casket, and weeps loudly)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Oh my Most-prized-empress Yang,
(Sings)
The gold-clasp casket’s been divided,
The gold-clasp casket’s been divided,
And the gold hairpins split apart,
All that resembling how after my Jade-fair Lady quit me,
Lone body and solitary shadow,
For two years, widowed and companionless,
I in the same way came to suffer the sorrow of being separate.
I also recall how I assigned them to her keeping,
To assist her dawn makeup and cloud-like temple-tresses,
And her evening perfumed-tulle sleeves.
At this juncture, she’s lightly divided them up, and from afar to me them sends,
And, with boundless regrets, I appropriate them,
On seeing them, how can I let them out of my hands!
Vainly I yearn to myself to re-join together our hearts,
And make companions once more the pair of hairpins.
(Stays)
Stop a moment: These hairpins and this casket are things of the mortal world. – How did they manage to get up into Heaven? The other day when I saw they’d disappeared from her tomb, I was suspicious. How is it today they’ve come into hands of another?
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: Don’t be suspicious Ten-thousand-years-grandfather-my-emperor. The immortal master had already thought of that, and asked the empress for information of something secret between you from that year, which I now bring you.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: What matter is that? Tell me, will you.
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: The empress,
(Sings)
She talked about things from the beginning,
with bitter regrets rolling, on and on welling,
In Lasting-life Palace-hall,
About, during the reign-period Heaven-treasure,
How on Seventh Night, facing Oxherd,
Right on midnight, you secretly made oath, shoulder to shoulder.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Yes, that did indeed happen.
(Sings)
Who’d have expected she’d have divided the hairpins and split the casket in twain,
(Sobs) Today,
(Sings)
And it would have turned into “autumn in the lone-wild-goose palace of Han”.
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: Ten-thousand-years-grandfather-my-emperor, just spare yourself sorrow and upset now. The empress had something further to say.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: What else did she say?
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: She said that this year on the night of Mid-autumn, the Moon Palace will be performing Rainbow-skirt, and she’ll be there, too. She told the immortal master, Yang Mystery-accesser’ to guide you into the Moon Palace to meet her there.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: (In delight) Since she said that, why didn’t you tell me before? What time is it now?
EUNUCH-CHAMBERLAIN KAO: T
he Seventh Month’s now coming to its end, and it’s only a fortnight till the date of the Mid-Autumn Festival. I beg you Ten-thousand-years-grandfather-my-emperor to let your dragon body recuperate.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Since my Most-prized-empress Yang has promised to meet me again, I don’t feel in the slightest bit ill now.
(Sings)
In the Vast-cold Palace, the moon,
If to go to her I’m granted,
All my illness of sorrow will cease in a moment,
But I can’t wait to get through this mortal world’s half a month of autumn!
(Recites)
From beyond the ocean a letter’s been sent, and I fault the crane for being slow,1096 In its wording there are vows known only by us each in our heart;1097 On the Fifteenth of the month, on the night we’re due to reunite,1098 I wonder on whom will shine the moon’s pure light.1099
Act Fifty: Love reunion
(Enter Yang Mystery-accesser)
YANG MYSTERY-ACCESSER: (Sings)
One while of love,
Magicked forth a marriage among mortals and up in the skies.
Should only there be love which never changes,
They’ll definitely be able to requite their old vows.
(Says)
I, this poor Taoist, am Yang Mystery-accesser. I previously sent forth my Great Spirit, and was present in Erigeron-chenopodium paradise. In receipt of Jade Most-prized-empress Yang’s face-to-face enjoining, on the night of Mid-autumn festival I’m guiding Sublime August-emperor to the Moon Palace to meet with her. Sublime August-emperor was originally K’ung Ascended-to-transcendentality,1100 and this night on the Fifteenth Day of the Eighth Month of the year, it’s ordained that he’s due to fly up into immortality. The hour is now after dusk, and look, the azure sky is like a stream’s water,1101 and there’s no dust on the Milky Way Silver River, so it’s just right for leading Sublime August-emperor off to the moon. Hardly have I said that, when here he comes out of his palace.
(Enter emperor)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: (Sings)
In the azure limpid so limpid distant sky, the clouds open,
Its beams candid candid, the moonlight brightens Jasper Palace-hall
(Yang Mystery-accesser meets him)
YANG MYSTERY-ACCESSER: Sublime August-emperor, I kow-tow to you.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Don’t stand on ceremony, immortal master. Tonight,
(Sings)
Just because you conveyed me a letter arranging for us each other in the moon’s Toad Palace to meet,
It made me so impatient I’ve been wearing out my eyes staring fiercely in the twilight.
At the rim of the blue empyrean,
Entirely relying on your guiding me, as I step out.
YANG MYSTERY-ACCESSER: It’s late. and the deep night’s dark now, so please travel together with me.
(They proceed)
YANG MYSTERY-ACCESSER: (Recites)1102
How far away does the bright moon lie? I wave my hand and mount the blue sky.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR, (Recites)
I wonder, in the palace up in Heaven’s height, What year it is this night?
YANG MYSTERY-ACCESSER. (Recites)
I’m going to chariot the wind and thither wend, But just fear that in its jasper towers and buildings of jade, Located on high, they’ll be unbearably cold.
TOGETHER. (Recite)
When they rise and dance, playing pure shadows, How will it compare with being in the mortal world!
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Immortal master, the road to Heaven’s long and far. How shall we fly along its length?
YANG MYSTERY-ACCESSER: No need to worry, Sublime August-emperor. Just let me throw this fly-whisk in my hand, and make it into an immortals’ bridge, and lead you to the Moon Palace.
(Throws his fly-whisk, which turns magically into a bridge)
(Exit)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Look, an immortals’ bridge has appeared in the air. Immortal-master Yang’s suddenly vanished. I’ll just have to go off on my own onto the bridge.
(Sings)
Look at the rainbow, appearing as I walk about,
Connecting right up to the Silver River and the empyrean,
Fragrant mists so drisking, one can’t make things out.
(Music starts up backstage)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: (Sings)
I hear somewhere Heaven-level Court-music1103 being performed,
I think I’ve the edge of a cassia-thicket approached.
(Makes a false exit)
(Enter goddess Constant-charmeuse leading lady immortals, who follow her grasping fans)
MOON-GODDESS CONSTANT-CHARMEUSE: (Sings)
Enhancing the autumn scene, the Jade Wheel is just now round,
Performing Rainbow-skirt, a pure feast’s arranged to be held.
(Says)
I’m Constant-charmeuse, ruler of the moon. In the moon, there was a while ago an orchestra for the Rainbow-skirt celestial music-performance, which was formerly overheard by the T’ang-dynasty emperor’s Most-prized-empress Yang Grand-truth in a dream of hers, and she produced a score of it in the mortal world below, of which the music, contrary to what one might expect, surpassed that up here in Heaven. Recently, Most-prized-empress Yang has been registered in the ranks of immortality, and I’ve sought and obtained the score from Mount Erigeron, and included it as a supplement to our Even Heaven-level music, planning to perform it tonight. I’d never imagined that Heaven’s Grand-daughter Weaving-damsel, sympathising with the emperor and Empress Yang’s depth of love, and wanting to re-join them in their excellent love-destiny, desires to borrow my Moon Palace for the two of them to meet up with each other. Grand-truth, the empress, has ordered the Taoist Priest Yang Mystery-accesser to lead the T’ang dynasty emperor here. It’s truly the most splendid story in a thousand autumns.
(Sings)
Just because they’ve long been in love,
Their desires firm,
It’s fitting that in Heaven and the mortal world empress and emperor should meet again.
Which is why they’ve moved Heaven’s Grand-daughter
To do them a good turn.
(Says)
My lady immortals, wait, and when Grand-truth the empress arrives here, have her wait a little while in the shade of the cassia tree. When Sublime August-emperor arrives. and they’ve met, afterwards have her meet me.
LADY IMMORTAL: Command received!
TOGETHER: (Sing)
The cassia blossoms are just now enchanting,
The dewy flowers are just now fresh,
A lovely rendezvous is formulated,
In the Pure-void Palace cave-paradise heaven occurring.
(Exit Constant-charmeuse)
(A Moon Palace is set up on the stage. The lady immortals stand waiting at the palace doors)
(Enter Empress Yang’s spirit, leading her lady immortals. Proceeds)
EMPRESS YANG’S SPIRIT: (Sings)
Departing from my immortal’s courtyard in the Jade Mountains,
I travel to Many-coloured-toad Moon palace,
And at the Person’s face in the Scarlet Imperial-palace1104 fiercely peer.
My three-life ̶ past, present and future ̶ vows are requited,
This night our meeting together surpasses yesteryear.
(She arrives)
LADY IMMORTAL: Please enter, Jade Most-prized-empress.
(Empress Yang’s spirit goes in)
EMPRESS YANG’S SPIRIT: Where is Her Majesty Moon Goddess?
LADY IMMORTAL: Her Majesty’s enjoined us to invite you please to wait a little while, Jade Favourite-empress. And when Sublime August-emperor’s come for an audience and met you, then you’ll have your rendezvous together. Please be seated a little while.
(Empress Yang’s spirit sits down)
(Lady immortals stand by Moon-palace, and wait)
(Enter emperor. Proceeds)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: (Sings)
Walking on and on, I cross the bridge,
At the end of the bridge, I dawdle unrestrained.
I’m as if in a dream,
Floating drifting whirling as I chariot the wind.
The pure beams just now show forth,
And as I go in, they magically disappear without trace.
I just see towers and terraces so faintly in view,
And, subtly emitted, heavenly perfumes pounce at my face.
(Looks) (Says)
“Palace of Vast Cold and Pure Void”. Ah, this is the Moon Palace, isn’t it?
(Sings)
It’s already been agreed we’ll in this place hold a splendid tryst,
How is it I don’t see any Erigeron-chenopdoium immortal from another court?
LADY IMMORTAL: (Welcoming him) Surely it’s Sublime August-emperor approaching, isn’t it?
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: It is indeed.
LADY IMMORTAL: Jade Most-prized-empress has been here a long while. Please come in and meet her.
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Where are you, my Most-prized-empress Yang?
EMPRESS YANG’S SPIRIT: Where are you, Sublime August-emperor?
(Emperor meets Empress Yang’s spirit)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: Ah, Most-prized-empress mine!
EMPRESS YANG’S SPIRIT: Ah, Sublime August-emperor mine!
(They embrace, weeping)
SUBLIME AUGUST-EMPEROR: (Sings)
Suddenly encountering each other, we grasp hands,
Aching. choked with sobs, find it impossible to speak a word.
You know, that day past when you my “fair jade” were snapped and you my “perfumed one” destroyed,
It was all just because the times were in decline and my power enfeebled,
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