by Tang Xianzu
(To the previous tune)
You’ve spat your wine all over
On your dishevelled coat.
We’ll arrange your dress
For you to steady your steps.
(Hand over the tea to Chunyu Fen)
Brother,
Lean against the small screen
And have a cup of tea.
In the western breeze,
You’ll feel better after you are sober,
And we’ll enjoy the fireflies under the moon.
CHUNYU FEN (Feels tired):
Help me to the eastern room and I’ll sleep a while. Keep that kettle of wine for me.
PARTRIDGE:
You are so drunk but you still keep that kettle of wine in mind.
(To the previous tune)
He is clear-headed,
But I am like a donkey
To carry his heavy weight,
A man without a spouse.
CHUNYU FEN:
In the emptiness,
The lotus-flowers float cold in the stream,
In the autumn sky and water.
With few visitors to my home,
I can hardly dream a prosperous dream,
(Falls asleep, supported by Partridge)
But like a cold cicada chirping alone.
PARTRIDGE:
I’m going to boil some more tea for him.
LIU’ER, SHA SAN:
We’ll wash our feet and leave him sleeping by himself. As the saying goes,
“While others drink wine in the hall,
I’ll have a sound sleep in the room.”
(Exeunt all except Chunyu Fen)
(Enter two Royal Envoys dressed in black, followed by attendants leading an ox-cart)
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
“To invite the royal son-in-law,
The Royal Envoys bring a cart for him.”
We are Royal Envoys from the Great State of Peaceful Locust. At the decree of the King, we come here to bring Mr. Chunyu as the royal son-in-law. As he is now sleeping in the east room, we’ll enter the room without announcement.
(To Chunyu Fen)
Mr. Chunyu!
CHUNYU FEN (Startled from his sleep):
Who is it?
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS (Kneel on the ground):
(To the previous tune)
The State of Peaceful Locust
Is ruled by the Ant King,
Who sent us to deliver a message.
CHUNYU FEN:
Why are you here?
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
As to the King’s decree,
How can we to reveal it at will?
CHUNYU FEN:
I was having a sound sleep.
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS (Help Chunyu Fen to his feet):
Please rise from your bed!
We’ll help you to your feet.
In our state,
A bed for the royal son-in-law
Has been prepared for you.
CHUNYU FEN (To the previous tune):
What is it
That descends from the sky?
The autumn wind is sweeping the locust leaves.
When I wake from my sweet dream,
Two messengers are at the door.
As I still feel blurry from the sleep,
I stretch myself in my room.
I tidy my dress
And move my languid steps.
(An ox-cart moves onto the stage)
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
With a canopy of black satin,
The small carriage
Is pulled by white oxen.
(Invite Chunyu Fen to get on the cart)
With attendants on both sides,
We’ll support you out of your door.
CHUNYU FEN:
Where are we going?
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
Enter the cave of this ancient locust-tree.
CHUNYU FEN:
How can we enter it?
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
The cave of this ancient locust-tree
Is the site of our State.
If you hesitate,
Please drive onward and you will see.
(Exit one Royal Envoy)
CHUNYU FEN (Asks the other Royal Envoy):
How can a state capital be in such a small cave of a locust-tree?
ROYAL ENVOY:
Mr. Chunyu, don’t you remember that there was a state in the Han Dynasty called the State of Expansive Cave? Although it had expansive territory, it was situated in a cave. There was another state called the State of Peaceful Hole. Although it was peaceful, it was situated in a hole. How do you know that there is not a state in the cave of a locust-tree?
The cave of this ancient locust-tree
Is the site of our State.
Do not hesitate!
Just drive onward and you will see.
(Exeunt all)
(Enter Duan Gong)
DUAN GONG:
“The autumn sheds its light on locust leaves;
The spring awaits the peach-trees to blossom.”
I am Duan Gong, Right Prime Minister and Marquis of Martial Feats of the State of Peaceful Locust. The royal decree comes that Chunyu Fen from Dongping County has been selected as the royal son-in-law. When he arrives, he will stay in the Donghua Guesthouse for a while and meet me first before he has an audience with His Majesty. As he has just arrived, he seems to be in a trance. In order to relieve him from his uneasiness, I’ve reported to His Majesty that he used to have a wine friend by the name of Zhou Bian and a pen friend by the name of Tian Zihua. I have brought both of them here, with Zhou Bian as the Royal Captain to command a few hundred soldiers and patrol the palace, and Tian Zihua as the Ritual Announcer in the guesthouse. Let’s drop this subject. Another decree comes from Her Majesty the Queen that Sister Shangzhen, Lady Lingzhi and Princess Qiongying are to visit His Highness the royal son-in-law and ease his mind before he is invited to the Xiuyi Palace and attend the wedding ceremony with Princess Golden Branch. I shall visit His Highness when he arrives at the Donghua Guesthouse. It is true to say,
“When the royal son-in-law comes,
The Prime Minister visits him in a small cart.”
(Exit)
(Enter the two Royal Envoys, with Chunyu Fen in the cart)
CHUNYU FEN (To the previous tune):
In a small cart,
I enter the ancient cave
And see spectacular sight before me.
(Murmurs to himself)
How can there be such a place?
The city walls rise high,
With carts and people passing by.
It’s strange indeed. Whoever meets me on the way will stand erect in full respect. What’s the matter?
Those who follow my cart
Are ushering the way.
How is it that
Those who pass by
Are shunning from my sight?
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
Here we are at the State Gate.
CHUNYU FEN:
What a splendid city with towers on the city walls and a golden plate inscribed with the words “Great State of Peaceful Locust”!
(Enter a messenger)
MESSENGER:
By the royal decree, His Majesty invites his honoured guest to stop at the Donghua Guesthouse.
(Kowtows, and rises to his feet to follow the procession)
CHUNYU FEN:
There is a placard “Dismount from the Horse” to the east of the city gate. How is it that the scarlet gate on the left is wide open?
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
Here we are at the Donghua Guesthouse. Please get off the cart!
CHUNYU FEN (Gets off the cart and enters the gate):
(Smiles aside)
There are colourful pillars and columns in the Donghua Guesthouse, with trees and fruits in the yard. Arrayed in the hall are tables and chairs, curtains and delicacies. How pleased
I am!
(Sound of hailing the w
ay within)
TWO ROYAL ENVOYS:
The Right Prime Minister is at the door.
DUAN GONG (Greets Chunyu Fen):
His Majesty orders me to meet you here with respect and to announce your marriage with the royal princess.
CHUNYU FEN:
As a man of low social status, how can I expect such a favour?
DUAN GONG:
The Royal Envoys are here to practise the rituals for the ceremonies. You will have an audience with His Majesty at dawn.
In the Donghua Guesthouse
You are to practise the rituals.
When roosters crow at five,
The royal son-in-law is to arrive.
Scene Eleven
Going for the Audience
(Enter Zhou Bian, followed by palace guards and the Palace Announcer)
ZHOU BIAN (To the tune of Dianjiangchun):
The present dynasty in an ancient cave
Remains the same —
A small state.
The ritual bells resound
In the palace in the locust-tree.
Hello, everyone.
“In my service in the locust root,
I wear costumes and carry a sword.
As Royal Captain with immense repute,
My life here is no match to the human world.”
I, Zhou Bian, used to be addicted to drinking and assuming an air of arrogance. Now, I serve as the Royal Captain with hundreds of soldiers under my command and am in charge of guarding the palace. My old friend Chunyu Fen has been selected as the royal son-in-law and will have his first audience with His Majesty. The Palace Announcer and I are waiting at the palace gate.
(Enter the Ant King wearing flowers on his crown, followed by attendants)
ANT KING (To the previous tune):
In a white satin robe,
I wear a red crown and jade hairpins
At dawn under rosy clouds.
My daughter in the locust cave,
Will have her distinguished spouse.
“In a red crown fit for an ant,
I stay in the palace within the cave.
With the gates open I look north,
To find the world less than what I crave.”
I am King of the Great State of Peaceful Locust. To find a spouse for my daughter Princess Golden Branch, I have decided on Chunyu Fen, who must have arrived. It’s time for me to grant an audience with him.
PALACE ANNOUNCER (Kowtows):
Here I am to report to Your Majesty that the royal son-in-law has arrived.
ANT KING:
Tell the Right Prime Minister to bring him to the royal court!
PALACE ANNOUNCER:
Yes, Your Majesty.
(Enter Chunyu Fen, following Duan Gong, the Right Prime Minister)
CHUNYU FEN (To the tune of Jiangduchunxu):
In this tiny cave of a locust-tree,
How can there be so many households
With all the fairs and streets?
Now that I have arrived at the scarlet gate,
Prime Minister Duan,
How is it that smoke coils in the palace-hall?
DUAN GONG:
It comes from the dignity of His Majesty.
At both ends of the palace-hall,
The royal maces and poleaxes
Are shining bright.
CHUNYU FEN (Frightened):
With a thumping heart,
I enter the palace
In disheveled dress.
ZHOU BIAN (Greets Chunyu Fen):
Hurry up, Your Highness the Royal Son-in-Law! His Majesty has waited for a long time.
CHUNYU FEN:
Well,
Why is he calling me the Royal Son-in-Law?
(Whispers)
I’m glad that Zhou Bian is here with me.
I’d like to ask but cannot get near enough.
DUAN GONG:
Come forward, Your Highness, and kowtow to His Majesty!
Let’s kowtow before the throne.
(Chunyu Fen kowtows with Duan Gong)
DUAN GONG:
Your humble servant reports
That Heaven’s bliss
Has brought His Highness to the court.
PALACE ANNOUNCER:
Rise to your feet, Right Prime Minister. Pay tribute to His Majesty, Your Highness the Royal Son-in-Law.
DUAN GONG (Kowtows):
Long live the king!
(Rises to his feet)
CHUNYU FEN (Kneels on the ground and addresses the Ant King):
The former assistant general in the Huainan troops Chunyu Fen from Dongping kowtows to Your Majesty.
(Kowtows three times at the directives of the Palace Announcer)
PALACE ANNOUNCER:
Your Highness, lie prostrate and listen to the decree of His Majesty!
ANT KING:
My daughter Yaofang, with the title of Princess Golden Branch, is bestowed upon you as your spouse, in obedience to the order of your father.
CHUNYU FEN (Lies prostrate on the ground):
Long live the king!
ANT KING:
You may withdraw to the guesthouse.
PALACE ANNOUNCER:
His Majesty is to return to the inner palace.
(Exit the Ant King, amid ringing sounds of bells)
CHUNYU FEN, Duan Gong (Kneel on the ground to see the Ant King off):
After an audience with the king,
To the princess will Chunyu cling.
Scene Twelve
To the Princess Residence
(Enter the Manager)
MANAGER:
“A former assistant in the guesthouse,
I’ve been promoted to be the manager.
With the tiny future of an ant,
I have to follow countless manners.”
I am manager to the Donghua Guesthouse in the State of Peaceful Locust. His Majesty has just selected his royal son-in-law, who is stopping over at the guesthouse. As this evening bodes good omen, he will go to the Xiuyi Palace to attend the wedding ceremony with Princess Golden Branch. Look, on the way are arrayed twenty pairs of golden lambs and silver wild geese, plus one hundred and twenty pairs of embroidered male and female phoenixes. The music by the female court musicians, the carriages and lanterns are ready for his departure. It is true that the ants have a heavenly marriage as well. His Highness the Royal Son-in-Law is coming in the distance.
(Enter Chunyu Fen, in full dress)
CHUNYU FEN (To the tune of Shanglinchun):
I suddenly find myself in the palace-hall,
Yet feel puzzled as to how that happened.
I am Chunyu Fen. How can it be that a marriage has brought me to this place to meet His Majesty? In talking about the marriage, His Majesty mentioned “in obedience to the order of your father”. How queer it is! My father used to be a general serving in the border areas. I do not know whether he is alive or not. Is it possible that the Tartar king in the north has developed friendship with the State of Peaceful Locust while my father served as the go-between? Well, here come three ladies.
(Enter Sister Shangzhen, with Lady Lingzhi and Princess Qiongying)
SISTER SHANGZHEN, LADY LINGZ HI, PRINCESS QIONGYING (To the tune of
Chuduizi):
Our headwear shines bright;
Our headwear shines bright.
Decorated with emerald and gold,
Our embroidered mantles smell sweet at dusk.
Who is it in the Donghua Guesthouse?
Oh, congratulations to you, Mr. Chunyu!
(Chunyu Fen evades in embarrassment)
SISTER SHANGZHEN, LADY LINGZHI, PRINCESS QIONGYING:
It is this Mr. Chunyu
That becomes the bridegroom.
Mr. Chunyu!
(Chunyu Fen bows)
SISTER SHANGZHEN:
He has grown fatter.
PRINCESS QIONGYING:
He has grown thinner.
LADY LINGZHI:
Get closer to him and feel him to see whether he’s fatter or thinner.
(Chunyu Fen evades in embarrassment)
SISTER SHANGZHEN:
He is gently rough.
PRINCESS QIONGYING (Smiles):
No, he’s roughly gentle.
LADY LINGZHI:
He’s as innocent as a bull.
(Chunyu Fen shows signs of impatience)
LADY LINGZHI:
When we watched the Brahmin dance on the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the Indian Yard of the Chanzhi Temple, you helped Princess Qiongying hang her wet towel on a bamboo. Have you forgotten all about that?
(Chunyu Fen thinks and sighs)
PRINCESS QIONGYING:
When we offered the gold hairpins and the rhino-horn case before the altar after we listened to Master Qixuan’s preaching on Avalokitesvara Sutra, you enjoyed them very much and lingered a long time before them. Do you still keep this incident in your mind?
CHUNYU FEN (Thinks):
“As it lies deep in my heart,
How can I ever forget it?”
SISTER SHANGZHEN:
Who knows that he has become an in-law with us! Let’s go to the Xiuyi Palace and wait for him there!
SISTER SHANGZHEN, LADY LINGZHI, PRINCESS QIONGYING:
It is this Mr. Chunyu
That becomes the bridegroom.
(Exeunt)
(Enter Tian Zihua in official dress, followed by attendants)
TIAN ZIHUA (To the previous tune):
The best man,
The best man
Goes to the State of Peaceful Locust.
Princess Golden Branch by the name of Yaofang
Is married to the bachelor Chunyu.
In holiday costume,
He has the lucky star over his head.
(Greets Chunyu Fen)
TIAN ZIHUA:
How are you, Your Highness? At the royal edict, I am to serve as your best man.
CHUNYU FEN:
Are you Tian Zihua from Pingyi?
TIAN ZIHUA:
Yes, I am.
CHUNYU FEN:
How is it that you are here?
TIAN ZIHUA:
When I roamed here, I was held in high esteem by Duan Gong, Right Prime Minister and Marquis of Martial Feats. Therefore, I have been staying here.
CHUNYU FEN:
Do you know that Zhou Bian is also here?
TIAN ZIHUA:
Zhou Bian has obtained a high position. As he has great power in his position as the Royal Captain, he has protected me on several occasions.
CHUNYU FEN:
As the three of us are gathered here, I won’t feel lonely any more. What a happy coincidence! What a happy coincidence!
(Enter the Royal Envoy)
ROYAL ENVOY:
The time of good omen is approaching for you to enter the palace and attend the wedding ceremony.
