The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu
Page 17
(Enter a soldier)
SOLDIER (To the tune of Jinqianhua):
When the rain washes away the dust from Weicheng,
When the rain washes away the dust from Weicheng,
The moon casts its yellow light over Luntai,
The moon casts its yellow light over Luntai.
On our journey to the west frontier,
We wear battle armour and ride on saddled horses,
Leaving with battle flags and returning with victory songs.
The Military Department orders me to escort Military Consultant Li to Shuofang. I suppose he has arrived.
(Enter Li Yi)
LI YI (To the tune of Mantingfang):
Before I left the Xiliu Camp
And the Changyang Palace behind,
I bid farewell by the painted bridge in the tree shade.
As a scholar in the Imperial Academy,
For what am I to make the expedition to the frontier?
When I asked why my wife was in distress,
She shed tears which wet her sleeves.
As I had to depart,
I stood on the Baling Bridge,
Looking back alone at Chang’an, the imperial capital.
“When the carriage arrives with sunshine over the walls
Of the garrison with blooming flowers and open stables,
The music of reed pipes and long horns
Will resound in the ancient town of Luntai.
I hate the green willows along the field paths,
For they entangle my dress but cannot detain me.
My longing wife weeps in vain to the south of the Weishui River,
But I have to leave for the north of the Jiaohe River.”
The departure with sister Xiaoyu at the Baling Bridge by the weeping willows has been haunting my mind. However, military orders must be obeyed without any delay, so I have to restrain my sentiments for her. Attendant, is our team ready to go?
(The soldier responds)
LI YI:
Let’s be on our way!
(To the tune of Chaoyuange)
When the horses stir up the dusts in the breeze,
The carriage and three is bathed in the morning sun.
The rolling wheels on the riverbank
Follow the green waters of the river.
The black troop pushes its way forward
With banners patterned with falcons,
At the lightning speed of shooting stars.
To the beat of drums and gongs,
I march from the court in the south to Shuofang,
On my mission traversing the grass
In full imperial splendor.
ALL:
Tighten the reins
And we’ll win honors and titles by making great feats.
SOLDIER (To the previous tune):
The Great Wall is dimly visible from the mountain peak,
With military spears pointing to the clouds
And white feathers decorating the flowery gates.
With flags twisting and turning in the ravine
And trees at the beacon towers guiding the way,
We turn to Shangjun by the Jiaohe River.
The horsemen gallop to and fro in both directions,
Delivering letters of emergency.
We water the horses at the creeks,
With flags fluttering in the frontier dust.
ALL:
Tighten the reins
And we’ll win honors and titles by making great feats.
LI YI (To the previous tune):
When I look back at Chang’an, the sun is rising,
As if seeing me off from the east,
With my wife standing in the southern fields in deep woe.
The rouge from Yunling
And the white powder from Yuntai
Can hardly conceal her solitude and sorrow.
I have the dagger to defend myself,
But dusts will wither my face and winds will ruffle my hair.
When a roaming young man joins the army,
Wealth and fame will turn to hardship and bitterness.
ALL:
Tighten the reins
And we’ll win honors and titles by making great feats!
SOLDIER (To the previous tune):
When he searches for spring flowers in the frontier,
He neglects himself in requiting the imperial grace,
But keeps his dear wife in mind.
For all the reed pipes at the ancient fortress
And the bamboo flutes in the mountains,
The music of “Falling Plum Blossoms” can be heard no more.
In observing the source of the Yellow River,
We see that the war star has not set yet.
We laugh and get ready for the heroic exploits,
Expecting the mellow wine for our frontier victory.
ALL:
I used to wait at palace gates at dawn,
Without a thought that camps are my sojourn.
I have the war-challenge letter in hand;
The court will wait for my triumphant return.
Scene Twenty-Six
Arrival at the Frontier
(Enter Du Huangshang)
DU HUANGSHANG (To the tune of Qitianle):
In the magnificent palace hall,
I am ranked at the top as the Prime Minister.
In the Zhique Temple
And the Qilin Tower,
I am honored as a distinguished minister.
When the weapons are laid up in peaceful times,
You can see the brave soldiers patrol in the fortress
And the prime minister serve in the frontier
With absolute authority
In the Yumen Pass.
“Under His Majesty’s decree I command the army
As the prime minister in the reigns of three emperors.
With great power and influence,
I do not covet to have my portrait enshrined in the Qilin Tower.”
I am Du Huangshang, styled Zunsu, a native of the Wannian prefecture in Chang’an. I passed the imperial examinations when I was young, then assisted in managing the affairs in Shuofang under the leadership of Guo Ziyi, Prince of Fenyang. I have served the three emperors — the Daizong Emperor, the Dezong Emperor and the Shunzong Emperor — before I serve the current emperor. I take up a high-ranking post and have great authority in handling the court affairs. As the prime minister, I have made great contributions in the military affairs, quelling Qing and Qi in the east, Huai and Cai in the south, Yinxia in the north, and Jin and Jiang in the west. I am entitled the Duke of Fen with a fief of ten thousand households. Now I am appointed to manage the frontier affairs following the ancient practice. His Majesty allows me to set up another military office as I used to be in charge of the Shuofang area. Recently I hear that Li Yi, the Number-One Scholar in the latest imperial examination, will be here to be my military consultant, and that he has settled down outside the Shouxiang city. He is about to meet me this morning. Although he has not become a court official, he comes with His Majesty’s decree. As he will be relied on later, a grand ceremony would be appropriate to greet him. Attendant, has Mr. Li arrived?
ATTENDANT:
He is waiting to be received at the gate.
DU HUANGSHANG:
Invite him in!
(Enter Li Yi)
LI YI (To the tune of Shengzhazi):
My red robe is burning bright,
While my horse is exhausted from the hard journey.
You have the countenance of a prime minister,
Who commands the army in the military camp.
(Du Huangshang and Li Yi greet each other)
LI YI:
“You made great contributions in the former times,
DU HUANGSHANG:
But your talent as a military consultant will be eminent.
LI YI:
You serve His Majesty with shining glory,
DU HUAN
GSHANG:
But I’ll respect you as an emissary.
LI YI:
You are a prime minister with august gravity,
DU HUANGSHANG:
But your writings are appreciated by His Majesty.
LI YI:
You are the pillar of the country,
DU HUANGSHANG:
But you will have your name passed down.”
I have long heard that you were appointed as the Imperial Academician, but how come you are dispatched to the frontier as a military consultant?
LI YI:
Even a prime minister has come to the frontier by the order of the court, so I am honored to be dispatched here and work under you as a military consultant. I have always admired your prestige,
(To the tune of Suochuanglang)
Always by the side of His Majesty,
You have succeeded in the government of the state.
Surrounded by the noble pagoda-trees,
The frontier military camp is your present abode.
You are the prime minister
As well as a competent scholar-general.
ALL:
High posts are held by literary and military talents,
Who contribute to the ending of wars
And the building of a peaceful society.
DU HUANGSHANG:
I am requiting His Majesty’s grace by my military service, and I shall soon go back home with honor. You are highly regarded by His Majesty as a young scholar and esteemed by the people for your talent. So I shall entrust my duty to you when I am too old.
(To the previous tune)
It is admirable that you come to the frontier
With a high official rank in the prime of youth.
With your splendid writings presented to His Majesty,
You will be remembered from generation to generation.
More precious is your voluntary frontier service
In composing the military documents.
ALL:
High posts are held by literary and military talents,
Who contribute to the ending of wars
And the building of a peaceful society.
(Military officers come to pay respect to Li)
MILITARY OFFICERS (To the previous tune):
The remote frontier region is garrisoned,
With our flags waving at all the forts.
Among all the military camps, which one is like ours, with the prime minister as the commander and the Number-One Scholar as the military consultant?
We are commanded by the prime minister
And the renowned court official.
Their presence by His Majesty’s decree
Brings a breath of spring to the Yumen Pass.
ALL:
High posts are held by literary and military talents,
Who contribute to the ending of wars
And the building of a peaceful society.
DU HUANGSHANG:
Mr. Li, I’ll show you around the frontiers tomorrow.
DU HUANGSHANG, LI YI (To the previous tune):
The chief commander makes his presence at the front,
Burning the enemy camps and chasing the barbarian chief.
With yellow dust of sand comes
The war fire and the gun smoke.
When the frontier region is under our control,
The enemy will give allegiance to our government.
ALL:
High posts are held by literary and military talents,
Who contribute to the ending of wars
And the building of a peaceful society.
DU HUANGSHANG:
Attendant, escort Mr. Li to settle down in the hostel for the envoy of our tributary states and have an official banquet prepared!
(To the tune of Coda)
The literary talent is smart as a military consultant,
Who brings the strong army so much credit
That there will be no more wars in our region.
Stay here before the war comes to an end
And let’s enjoy the tunes of pipes and flutes.
When the moon sheds light over frontier camps,
I’ll dream of hearth and home in backward routes.
Scene Twenty-Seven
Profound Longings
(Enter Huo Xiaoyu and Yingtao)
HUO XIAOYU (To the tune of Yumeiren):
Amidst the oriole’s heart-breaking cry in the late spring wind,
I fall asleep with the golden phoenix hairpin on my head.
I knit my light eyebrows and rouge my lips,
With the dressing locket in front of me
And the fond dreams in my mind.
(In the pattern of Pusaman)
“With my jade hairpin swaying in the wind,
My dewy begonia of a face is stained with tears.
I cannot see the lotus flowers from my bower,
Shielded by the rolling-mountain screen.
I look at my face from before and behind in the mirror,
Which reflects both my face and the flowers.
I admire the ancient Zhang Chang
Who painted his wife’s eyebrows.”
Yingtao, it has been a month since Shilang left for the army and there is not a line from him. As it is late spring of azalea flowers now, how dreary the weather is!
(To the tune of Haoshijin)
When the warm breeze gently blows,
My hair is tossed and spreads over my shoulders.
The incense has reduced its fragrance,
Leaving only the faint curly smoke.
How miserable I am,
Twisting the golden thread in loneliness,
As the prime time of spring has gone!
With my beloved going far away,
I gaze at the flowers in full bloom
In silence all day.
YINGTAO:
The young couple would never forget each other for their mutual love and pleasure. You two are separated when you have just started your sweet nuptial life, but you are clever enough to relax and enjoy yourself.
(To the tune of Jinchandao)
A young girl as you
Should always be cheerful
By blowing the bamboo flute
Or playing on the swings
To idle away your time.
How can you be in a sad mood
Just for the falling petals?
(Aside)
Your delicate body is lovely indeed.
(Turns back)
Your attachment to him
Makes it hard for you to fall asleep.
HUO XIAOYU:
You are right. When I was a girl, I went to bed early and covered myself with an embroidered quilt without feeling lonely. I used to sneer at those lovesick companions, but it is my turn now.
YINGTAO:
You have been attached to him for some time, and you will soon get over it.
HUO XIAOYU:
I’m afraid I’ll be lovesick too.
(To the tune of Jintingle)
In the past I was neither sad nor grieved,
And did not feel sentimental in the spring.
I wondered why some people would feel lovesick,
But it is my turn to feel lovesick now.
It is my fond wish
To lean against the zigzag railings
As if I were leaning against the endless frontier walls.
HUO XIAOYU, YINGTAO (To the tune of Guluntai):
Two young people
Make a happy couple
And enjoy the newly-wed pleasure.
The bridegroom used to steal a glace
At the blushing face of the bride,
But it is a pity that the man has gone to the frontier.
He is ready to leave
For a future bright and prospective,
Rather than stay in company with his wife.
From this night on,
The man will be in the remote West,
While the wife w
ill stay alone waiting for the dawn.
As the beloved is not by her side
And there is no need to be shy,
The bride would cry by herself like a cuckoo.
When can they meet again?
The bride would be too distressed to put on her headwear.
(To the tune of Coda)
Does the beauty have to wait for years
Before she gets a line saying that he is safe and sound?
HUO XIAOYU:
Yingtao, where can I find a temple to burn the joss-sticks to wish for Shilang’s safety?
YINGTAO:
Du Qiuniang is now living in the Nunnery of Queen Mother of the West. As the fifteenth of the fourth month is Queen Mother’s birthday, we can go there and burn joss-sticks to while away some time.
HUO XIAOYU:
I’ll ask my mother to go with me on that day.
YINGTAO:
I see.
The heart-shaped incense will be burnt to make a wish.
Spring birds are dimly visible in the clouds,
While I do my embroidery in the bower.
When spring breeze brushes in a teasing way,
I’m pining for my husband like a flower.
Scene Twenty-Eight
Tubo’s Harassment
(Enter the Tubo King)
TUBO KING (To the tune of Yizhihua):
The fragrant rice grows along the roads in Bailan,
While tamarisk willows cover the Lhasa ferry.
Shiny weapons and large flags are displayed
At the gates of the military camps.
Wearing tiger-skin belts and eagle-shaped hats,
Our soldiers are accompanied by the sorcerers,
Carrying protective shields and beating platform drums.
I wear a hat with feathers
And a dark brown robe,
With my sword glittering against the gold threads.
“With domes of tents crawling on the Altai Mountains,
There are our warriors buried in the sands every year.
Spring never touches upon the white grass in the city
While wild geese wail above the yellow flowers in the garrison.”
I am King Yitai of the Tubos. Our country borders with Junmao and Liangsong in the east, Qiuci and Shule in the west, Borneo in the south and Turkey in the north, occupying a territory of ten thousand miles with a population of several hundred thousands. Our country abounds in gold and treasures and each household has its books of poetry. Areas to the west of the upper reach of the Yellow River are all under our control after the Huihe nation was annexed by us. I am now spending the summer by the Zanghe River to escape from the heat. Dissatisfied as my ambition has not been fully realized, I am considering an invasion to the south. The chief of my secretariat, Shang Qixin, is a resourceful man, so I shall seek advice from him.
(Enter Shang Qixin)