The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu
Page 50
Listen, there rings a village song.
(Enter a farmer)
FARMER (To the tune of Xiaobaige):
Along the slippery track
I glide my way,
With a rake and a plough upon my back.
I sow the seedlings after a nightly rain
And spread manure in sunny weather,
With stinky smell across the plain.
DU BAO:
It’s indeed a good song.
“I sow the seedlings after a nightly rain
And spread manure in sunny weather,
With stinky smell across the plain.”
He’s referring to the stink of the manure, but respected elders, he fails to realise that the manure can be fragrant. As is said in a poem,
“While sumptuous dinners scarcely bring
Delicious savour to a king,
The smell of rice in hungry times
Is better than a fragrant thing.”
Give him flowers to wear and some wine to drink.
FARMER (Smiles as he puts on the flowers and drinks the wine):
Thank you, my good lord, the wine tastes good.
ALL:
The tasty wine from the gracious lord
And the flowers on my head
Are farmers’ best reward.
(Exit the farmer)
BUTLER (Reports):
Here comes a cowboy singing.
(Enter a cowboy with a flute in his hand)
COWBOY (To the previous tune):
A whip in hand,
A flute on lips,
I ride an ox upon its hips.
(Points his flute at the butler)
He’s of my size
And wears my hair,
But rides a mighty mare!
DU BAO:
He sings a good song, but why should he point at the butler and sing,
“He’s of my size
And wears my hair,
But rides a mighty mare?”
Respected elders, he fails to know that an ox provides a steadier ride. As is said in a poem,
“I used to envy wealthy men,
Who ride the horses now and then.
Yet when I ride a horse in hills,
I’d rather ride an ox again.”
Give him flowers to wear and some wine to drink.
(The cowboy puts on the flowers and drinks the wine)
ALL:
The tasty wine from the gracious lord
And the flowers on my head
Are cowboys’ best reward.
(Exit the cowboy)
BUTLER (Reports):
Here come two women singing.
(Enter a young woman and an old woman, picking mulberry leaves)
TWO WOMEN (To the previous tune):
Under mulberry trees,
With baskets on our backs
We pick the leaves at ease.
Oh, who is the official over there?
Like Luo Fu who had her man,
We’ll not be tempted as of old
By silver or expensive gold.
DU BAO:
They sing a good song. Tell them that I’m not a man who flirts with women in the old days. I am the prefect inspecting the farms. I respect them for they work hard picking mulberry leaves.
As is said in a poem,
“The peach and plum inspire the song,
But mulberry trees here are ten acres strong.
Unlike the useless plants that grow around,
They turn out silk that will prolong.”
Give them flowers to wear and some wine to drink.
(The two women put on the flowers and drink the wine)
ALL:
The tasty wine from the gracious lord
And the flowers on our heads
Are mulberry pickers’ best reward.
(Exeunt the two women)
BUTLER (Reports):
Here come two more women singing.
(Enter two women, carrying baskets and plucking tea-leaves)
TWO WOMEN (To the previous tune):
In late spring days
We pluck the fresh tea-leaves,
Leaves of topmost tea on trays.
Oh, who is the official over there?
A scholar brews the tea with snow;
A weary student longs for tea —
They both make tea with fire aglow.
DU BAO:
They sing a good song. Tell them that I’m not the famous scholar or the weary student in the old days. I am the prefect inspecting the farms. I admire them for they work hard plucking tea-leaves. As is said in a poem,
“As there’s no tea-star in the sky,
The young tea-nymph on earth is sly.
When girls engage in bets for tea,
In grander games the men would vie.”
Give them flowers to wear and some wine to drink.
(The two women put on the flowers and drink the wine)
ALL:
The tasty wine from the gracious lord
And the flowers on our heads
Are tea-leaf pluckers’ best reward.
(Exeunt the two women)
VILLAGE ELDERS (Kneel):
Your Excellency, the villagers have set the table for dinner in your honour.
DU BAO:
There’s no need for the trouble. Just take the rest of flowers and wine to share with people in smaller villages as a token of the government’s concern for farming. Tell the attendants to get ready to start.
VILLAGE ELDERS (Rise to their feet and call out loudly when they fail to ask Du Bao to stay):
Those who have received the flowers and the wine, come forward to see His Excellency off.
(Enter the farmer, the cowboy and the four women, wearing flowers)
FARMER, COWBOY, FOUR WOMEN (To the tune of Qingjiangyin):
On his grand inspection tour,
The prefect rides a horse that looks so fine.
He brings to us his deep concern
With his flowers and wine.
Come along, villagers,
We’ll sing of the deeds that’ll always shine.
(Exeunt)
DU BAO:
The houses wind their way uphill,
With verdant fields along the rill.
When I halt my horse at dusk,
I see peach blossoms glowing still.
Scene Nine
Cleaning the Garden
(Enter Chunxiang)
CHUNXIANG (To the tune of Yijiangfeng):
I am Chunxiang, a little maid;
Long favoured by my miss,
Within her rooms I’ve stayed.
I wait on her,
Make up for her,
Dress up for her.
And stand by her.
I do silk-work with care
And listen to her prayer,
But Madam gives me punishment unfair.
“A pretty lass in early teens
Has sensed the female ways and means.
A young man of the proper kind
Will wholly occupy her mind.”
I’ve been attending on my young mistress day and night. Beautiful as she is, she places her family honour in the first place. Gentle and shy as she is, she is in fact sombre and elegant. Her father has engaged a tutor for her. When she read the first poem in The Book of Poetry and came across the lines
“A lad would like to woo
A lass with pretty looks”,
She quietly laid down the book and sighed, “In these lines are revealed the passions of the sage to the fullest extent. Isn’t it true that people in ancient times and in modem times share the same passions?” On hearing her words, I suggested, “If you’re tired of reading the books, why don’t you try to have some fun?” After a few moments of hesitation, she rose to her feet and asked, “Chunxiang, what fun would you suggest that I have?” I replied, “Well, my mistress, as far as I can see, why don’t we take a stroll in the back garden?” She said, “Nonsense, what if my fathe
r should find it out?” I answered, “Lord Du has been to the countryside for several days.” She walked up and down the room without a word for quite a few moments before she began to consult a calendar. “Tomorrow’s no good,” she said, “The day after tomorrow is little better, and only the next day will be auspicious because it is the day of the god of minor trips.” She told me to order the gardener to clean the garden paths. I said yes but I’m afraid that Madam will find it out. I have to wait and see. For the moment I’ll go and tell the gardener. Alas, here comes Tutor Chen along the corridor. As the poem goes,
“The springtime here is full of glee;
Old fools alone will fail to see.”
(Enter Chen Zuiliang)
CHEN ZUILIANG (To the previous tune):
The scholar in old age
Is teaching here to earn some wage,
With classroom curtains flapping in the sun.
Now,
On the corridor
Stands a young girl with coiled hair,
Who seems to murmur something.
I’ll go and see who’s staying there.
Oh, it’s Chunxiang. Tell me,
Where is the gracious master?
Where is the madam?
What keeps my pupil from attending class?
CHUNXIANG:
Hello, Mr Chen. My young mistress has no time to attend class these days.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
What’s she doing now?
CHUNXIANG:
Let me tell you.
(To the previous tune)
In this time of the year,
You should be smart enough to know
That there is something severe.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
What is it?
CHUNXIANG:
Don’t you know, Mr Chen, that the master is angry with you?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
What is he angry for?
CHUNXIANG:
He says that your exposition of The Rook of Poetry goes way too far. For the young mistress,
These poems of ancient art
Have touched her to the heart.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
I’ve just started with the very first line “The waterfowl would coo”.
CHUNXIANG:
That’s it. The young mistress said, “Now that a caged waterfowl would like to coo upon an islet in the brooks, how could a human being be less passionate!”
Delve deep in books by all means,
And raise your head to view the scenes.
She’s told me to get ready for a stroll to the back garden in a day or two.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
What’s her intent for the visit?
CHUNXIANG:
With spirits low when spring is on the way,
She fears that spring would leave too soon,
And in the back garden,
She’ll try to cast her woe away.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
How can she do that!
(To the previous tune)
When a girl proceeds from place to place,
She has to wear a veil
Lest man should see her face.
I’m over sixty, but I’ve never worried about the hasty passage of spring nor been sightseeing in a garden.
CHUNXIANG:
Why?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
Haven’t you heard that the sage Mencius’ sayings can be boiled down to this: men should “restrain his strayed heart”?
If you stick to the normal state of mind,
Why do you feel depressed in spring?
Why do you need spring tour of any kind?
Upon your return from the sightseeing,
Nothing but disquiet you’ll bring.
Since the young mistress is not going to class, I’II leave for home for a few days. Chunxiang,
Please often go to the classroom
And check the windows with looped hooks,
Lest the swallows soil the books.
I’m leaving now.
“Young ladies play grass games to waste their prime;
Old scholars read the classics all the time.”
(Exit)
CHUNXIANG (To herself):
Mr Chen is gone at last. Where on earth is the gardener?
(Calls out)
Gardener!
(Enter the young gardener, in a tipsy state)
YOUNG GARDENER (To the tune of Puxiange):
Tending flowers is what I do,
But sometimes I sell a few.
The sheriffs may catch me,
The sergeants may grab me,
And now strong liquor nearly kills me.
(Greets Chunxiang)
Hi, Sister Chunxiang.
CHUNXIANG:
You deserve a sound beating, sneaking out to the streets and wining around. And you haven’t delivered vegetables for days.
YOUNG GARDENER:
That’s the greengrocer’s business.
CHUNXIANG:
And you haven’t carried the water yet.
YOUNG GARDENER:
That’s the water carrier’s business.
CHUNXIANG:
And you haven’t delivered the flowers yet.
YOUNG GARDENER:
I deliver the flowers every morning, one bunch for the madam and another bunch for the young mistress.
CHUNXIANG:
And yet another bunch for me?
YOUNG GARDENER:
Oh, I’m to blame.
CHUNXIANG:
What’s your name?
YOUNG GARDENER:
They just call me Gardener.
CHUNXIANG:
Well, just make up a song to explain your name. If I like the song, I’ll spare the rod.
YOUNG GARDENER:
Please listen,
(To the tune of Lihuaer)
I’ve seen so many flowers surge and surge,
But from the flowers you emerge.
Let’s go and seek for pleasure in the day;
Ah,
At dusk a morning bud may sing its dirge!
CHUNXIANG:
Now it’s my turn,
(To the previous tune)
You’ve seen too many flowers surge and surge,
But can you have me now that I emerge?
YOUNG GARDENER:
Oops!
CHUNXIANG:
When I report to Master of your words,
(Grasps the young gardener by the hair)
I’m sure you’ll have a pleasant scourge.
YOUNG GARDENER (Topples):
Now I give up. Well, what has brought you here to the garden?
CHUNXIANG:
The young mistress is coming to visit the garden in two days. So be sure to clean the garden paths.
YOUNG GARDENER:
Yes, I see.
In eastern suburbs flowers are at their best;
By Lady Star is the hometown fully blessed.
Once lads and lasses are aware of love,
Their youthful hearts can hardly be suppressed.
Scene Ten
An Amazing Dream
(Enter Du Liniang with Chunxiang)
DU LINIANG (To the tune of Raochiyou):
When I’m awakened by the orioles’ songs
And find the springtime beauty all around,
I stand in deep thought on the courtyard ground.
CHUNXIANG:
With burnt incense
And silk yarns scattered here and there,
This spring no longer holds back maidens fair.
DU LINIANG:
“With the distant pass in view at dawn,
In my night-gown I stand forlorn.
CHUNXIANG:
In spring-style braid,
You lean against the balustrade.
DU LINIANG:
That which scissors cannot sever,
And, sorted out, is tangled again,
Makes me bored than ever.
CHUNXIANG:
I’ve told the early birds
To meet the spring and send your words.”
DU LINIANG:
Have you ordered the garden paths to be cleaned, Chunxiang?
CHUNXIANG:
Yes, I have.
DU LINIANG:
Bring my mirror and gowns.
(Exit and re-enter Chunxiang with the mirror and gowns)
CHUNXIANG:
“Face the mirror when she’s done her hairs;
Perfume the gowns once more before she wears.”
Here are your mirror and gowns.
DU LINIANG (To the tune of Bubujiao):
In the courtyard drifts the willow-threads
Turn by spring breeze into flimsy shreds.
I pause awhile
To do my hairstyle.
When all at once
The mirror glances at my face,
I tremble and my hair slips out of lace.
(Walks in the room)
As I pace the room,
How can anyone see me in full bloom!
CHUNXIANG:
You’re so pretty today.
DU LINIANG (To the tune of Zuifugui):
You say my dress is fine
And hairpins shine,
But love of beauty is my natural design.
My beauty is concealed in the hall,
But it’ll make fish delve and birds fall
And outshine blooms, the moon and all.
CHUNXIANG:
It’s time for breakfast. Let’s go.
(Begins to move)
Look,
“How the painted corridor shines!
How green the moss appears in endless lines!
To walk on grass I fear to soil my socks;
To love the blooms I want to keep them under locks.”
DU LINIANG:
If I had not come to the garden, how could I have tasted the beauty of spring!
(To the tune of Zaoluopao)
The flowers glitter brightly in the air,
Around the wells and walls deserted here and there.
Where is the “pleasant day and pretty sight”?
Who can enjoy “contentment and delight”?
Mom and Dad have never mentioned such pretty sights.
DU LINIANG, CHUNXIANG:
The clouds at dawn and the rain at dusk,
The bowers in the evening rays,
The threads of shower in gales of wind,
The painted boat in hazy sprays:
All are foreign to secluded maids.
CHUNXIANG:
All the seasonal flowers are in full blossom, but it’s still too early for the peony.
DU LINIANG (To the tune of Haojiejie):
Amid the red azaleas cuckoos sing;
Upon roseleaf raspberries willow-threads cling.
Oh, Chunxiang,
The peony is fair indeed,
But comes the latest on the mead.
CHUNXIANG:
Look at the orioles and swallows in pairs!
DU LINIANG, CHUNXIANG:
When we cast a casual eye,