The Complete Dramatic Works of Tang Xianzu
Page 56
Lean on me, my child.
(Supports Du Liniang)
DU LINIANG (To the tune of Coda):
When I lose life as a dropping bloom,
Please erect a stone before my tomb.
Dad, is it the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight?
DU BAO:
Yes, it is, my child.
DU LINIANG:
It has been raining all through the night.
When the moon is set, I’ll meet my doom!
(Exeunt all)
(Re-enter Chunxiang in tears)
CHUNXIANG:
Mistress, my dear mistress!
“In nature there are unexpected storms;
In life there are ill lucks of various forms.”
Miss Du died of sorrow for the brevity of spring. My master and madam are deep in grief over her death. Dear audience, what can I do but have a good cry? Mistress, no more will you ask me
(To the tune of Hongna’ao)
To burn the incense slicks,
Remove the candle drips,
Entice the whistling birds,
Or paint your tender lips.
I still remember the sight when you
Laid down your scissors late at night
And drew your portrait till daylight.
Well, speaking of the portrait, my master saw it and told me to bury it with the coffin lest it should make the madam sad. However, I’ll follow my mistress’ last wish to
Conceal it under Taihu rock, but fear
That colours fade before her man comes here.
Oh, here comes Sister Stone.
(Enter Sister Stone)
SISTER STONE:
You’re having a good cry and I’ll join you. Chunxiang, no more will your mistress
(To the previous tune)
Teach you how to play the flute,
CHUNXIANG:
True.
SISTER STONE:
Or stamp on grass and pick the fruit.
CHUNXIANG:
Naturally.
SISTER STONE:
Now that your mistress is dead and gone, life is easier for you.
CHUNXIANG:
What do you mean?
SISTER STONE:
You don’t have to
Chat with your young mistress,
Stay up late at night
Or get up before the day is bright.
CHUNXIANG:
I’ve got used to it.
SISTER STONE:
There’s less trouble for you, too. You don’t have to
Pout your lips when you pick her corn,
Or clean the night-stool in the morn.
(Chunxiang spits with scorn)
What’s more, when your mistress has come of age, she might
Have a rendezvous off the track,
And then her mom will break your back.
CHUNXIANG:
None of your nonsense! Here comes the madam.
(Enter Lady Zhen)
LADY ZHEN (In tears):
My dear child!
(To the previous tune)
You stayed around me from day to day
And never smiled to men nor went astray.
You learned the maiden classics from the start
And I had not a worry in my heart.
Indeed I had been worried about your health
But never thought that death would strike by stealth.
(Sobs)
I’ll have no daughter in my future days;
This thought inflicts me in a thousand ways.
(Falls in a swoon)
CHUNXIANG (In alarm):
Madam has fainted, Master! Hurry, hurry!
(Enter Du Bao, in tears)
DU BAO:
My poor child! Alas, here lies my lady in a faint. My lady,
(To the previous tune)
Had you not been fated to be without an heir,
I must have made mistakes without compare.
It’s best to have more daughters by our side,
When we haven’t well-known doctors as our guide.
Oh, heavens, heavens! At my age when my hair turns grey,
What’s the use of having massive wealth,
When our daughter dies of broken health?
Take care of yourself, my lady. Even if you
Are filled with woe and pain,
Your daughter won’t
Come back to life again.
(Enter the butler)
BUTLER:
“The scared crow flies away with worldly woes;
The magpie brings in bliss the king bestows.”
My lord, here’s the government bulletin on your promotion.
DU BAO (Reads the government bulletin):
The Ministry of Personnel issues the following imperial decree: “In view of the intended southward invasion by the bandits from the Jin Dynasty, Du Bao, Prefect of Nan’an, is promoted to the Envoy of Appeasement in charge of the defense of Huaiyang. Du Bao is to go to his new office without delay. So much for the imperial command.”
(With sighs)
As the imperial decree impels me to go north, my lady, I won’t be able to send Liniang’s remains to the west. Butler, send for Tutor Chen at once.
BUTLER:
His Excellency wants to see you, Mr Chen.
(Enter Chen Zuiliang)
CHEN ZUILIANG:
“Long life, short life, a grave contains them all;
For weal, for woe, the guests meet in the selfsame hall.”
(Greets Du Bao)
DU BAO:
Mr Chen, my daughter has left you for good.
CHEN ZUILIANG (Weeps):
I know. I’m deeply grieved at the passing away of Miss Du, which has left me out of a job. I’m glad that you have been promoted, but I have nowhere to dwell in.
(All weep)
DU BAO:
I’ve something to talk over with you, Mr Chen. I’ve received the imperial decree to go to my new office immediately. My daughter will be buried under a plum tree in the back garden according to her last wish. As I’m afraid that there might be inconvenience for my successor, I’ve ordered that the back garden be exclusively separated and be named the Plum Blossom Taoist Nunnery, where my daughter’s memorial tablet will be placed. I’d like to ask Sister Stone to tend to the shrine. Sister Stone, do you agree?
SISTER STONE (Kneels):
I’ll burn incense and add fresh water to the shrine, but I need someone else to take charge of other duties.
LADY ZHEN:
Will you be so kind as to do this, Mr Chen?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
I’ll be glad at your service.
LADY ZHEN:
My lord, we’d better assign some land to cover the expenses for the maintenance.
DU BAO:
There are two hectors of uncultivated land in the public cemetery. The yield from the land can be used to cover the expenses for the nunnery.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
I’ll take care of the land.
SISTER STONE:
As I’m the nun of the nunnery, naturally I’ll take care of it. As you’re nicknamed Chen Jueliang, which means “Devoid of Food”, how can you take care of it?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
A scholar can find food everywhere, including the nunnery. You are the nun of the nunnery, but I am an elderly scholar. Why shouldn’t I take care of the land and reap the
harvest?
DU BAO:
You don’t have to argue. Mr Chen will take care of the land. Mr Chen, in my term of office here, I’ve always favoured the schools.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
That is known to all. According to the time-honoured practice, at the time of your promotion, I’ll have the local scholars write a eulogy on the love you’ve left behind for the people and erect an inscribed monument in the memorial hall. Copies of the eulogy and the inscriptions go well with the gifts to your superiors when you arrive in the capital.
SISTER STONE:
Mr “Devoid of Food”, is the eulogy on the love of your mistress?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
It’s a eulogy on the prefect’s love for the people. It has nothing to do with the mistress.
SISTER STONE:
And what is a memorial hall?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
It’s a large worshipping hall with a statue of the prefect in it. Above the door there is a horizontal board with the inscription “Memorial Hall for Lord Du”.
SISTER STONE:
In this case, why not have a statue of the young mistress too and we’ll take care of them both?
DU BAO (Annoyed):
None of your nonsense! Although this is a time-honoured practice, I’ll do away with it.
Mr Chen, Sister Stone,
(To the tune of Yibujin)
Our daughter’s grave mounts three feet high;
My wife and I entrust it to you hereby.
We do not expect you to watch over it all the time, but we hope that on festivals
A bowl of rice for her you will supply.
DU BAO:
Her soul and spirit have gained eternal life,
LADY ZHEN:
After eighteen years of earthly strife.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
As sorrow for her will forever last,
DU BAO, LADY ZHEN, CHEN ZUILIANG, SISTER STONE:
We feel deep grief when we retrace her past.
Scene Twenty-One
An Audience with the Envoy
(Enter the head monk)
HEAD MONK (To the tune of Guangguangzha):
In a ragged sakaya here and now,
I am a Buddhist monk in Macao.
With bodhisattvas of abundant wealth
Live many monks of soundest health.
I’m the head monk of the Treasure Temple near the Xiangshan Bay, Guangzhou Prefecture. This temple was built by the foreign merchants to receive the officials of treasure appraisal. The Imperial Envoy Lord Miao, whose term of office has just ended, will display his treasures before the Treasure Bodhisattva. Here I am to welcome him.
(Enter the imperial envoy Miao Shunbin, followed by the interpreter, two attendants and a foreign
merchant)
MIAO SHUNBIN (To the tune of Guazhen’er):
As Southern Song begins its foreign trade,
My men approach the Pearl House in a parade.
(The monk welcomes Miao Shunbin)
ALL:
The God of Southern Sea,
Treasure Boy and Virgin Maid
Listen to Bodhisattva’s decree.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
“Although the traffic to the cliff was hard,
The marshal marched to the sea in disregard.
As the Vietnamese sent corals of their free will,
The envoy need not go through hills and rills.”
I am Miao Shunbin, Imperial Envoy for treasure appraisal. Now that my three years’ term of office is over, I’m going to pay my last tribute to the Treasure Bodhisattva. Interpreter!
(The interpreter greets Miao Shunbin)
FOREIGN MERCHANT (Greets Miao Shunbin):
Galala ...
(The head monk greets Miao Shunbin)
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Interpreter, tell the foreign merchant to present his treasures.
INTERPRETER:
All the treasures are ready for your inspection.
MIAO SHUNBIN (Rises to his feet and inspects the treasures):
What rare treasures! They are as crystal as mountain torrents and as brilliant as the sun and the moon. This Treasure Temple indeed deserves its name! Offer incense to the Bodhisattva.
(With ringing of bells within, Miao Shunbin kowtows)
MIAO SHUNBIN (To the tune of Tingqianliu):
While the monks chant of three virtuous deeds,
I watch the seven treasures none exceeds.
They make the earthly world sedate and bright
And bathe the universe with brilliant light.
By displaying this,
The Bodhisattva showers his bliss.
ALL:
Oh, Bodhisattva,
Give us a great store,
And much makes more.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Monk, chant a blessing for the foreign merchant.
HEAD MONK (To the previous tune):
The sea abounds in treasures of all kinds,
But waves may toss the ships and minds.
The merchants with their treasure hoard
Fear to brave the wind and waves aboard.
Bodhisattva Guanyin,
Your name brings bliss through thick and thin.
ALL:
Oh, Bodhisattva,
Give us a great store,
And much makes more.
(Enter Liu Mengmei)
LIU MENGMEI (To the tune of Guazhen’er):
The capital lies in the westernmost,
But I was born beside the southern coast.
The treasure-loving lamas
And bead-reckoning monks
Are worthless as the junks.
I often sneer at myself, a penniless loafer without home. As chance would have it, the imperial envoy is inspecting the treasures in the temple and I’ll try to obtain an audience with him. I don’t know whether I can persuade him into giving me some help.
(Greets the attendant)
Sir, will you be kind to announce that Liu Mengmei, student of the Confucian Academy in the Prefecture of Guangzhou, would like to ask permission to have a look at the treasures?
(The attendant announces)
MIAO SHUNBIN:
These treasures are gifts to the emperor, not for public display. However, as he’s a Confucian scholar, let him come in and have a look.
LIU MENGMEI (Greets Miao Shunbin):
“As pearls in southern palace are the best,
MIAO SHUNBIN:
There is no need to have jade from the west.
LIU MENGMEI:
Here I am to bare my thoughts to you,
MIAO SHUNBIN:
And I am glad to meet a brilliant guest.”
May I ask why you come to this temple?
LIU MENGMEI:
I am a poor scholar. Hearing of your inspection of the treasures, I’ve come here to ask your permission to let me have a look at the treasures so that I can be enlightened.
MIAO SHUNBIN (With a smile):
As you are a pearl of a man from the south, I don’t have to conceal the western jade from you. Feel free to have a look round.
(Shows Liu Mengmei around to inspect the treasures)
LIU MENGMEI:
I thought I knew the names of precious jewels and jades, but I cannot recognise some specimens here. Your Excellency, will you be kind to enlighten me?
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Here you see
(To the tune of Zhuyunfei)
The Divine Pebbles of the Milky Way,
The Pills of Gold, the Iron Tree Bloom,
The Cat’s-eyes that emit the brilliant ray,
And Emeralds that dispel the gloom.
Look, there you see
The Rubies from the foreign land,
The Magic goblet from the west,
The Toad of Jade that sucks moon-sand,
The Sun-flint Pearls and Ice-plate blest.
LIU MENGMEI:
In southern Guangdong, we have moonlight pearls and coral trees.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
The inch-wide pearls will have no place to stay;
The three-feet corals will all be thrown away.
LIU MENGMEI:
If I had not come to this sacred place, how could I have witnessed such miracles!
(To the previous tune)
The rarest treasures come from foreign lands
And in the end will reach imperial hands.
Your Excellency, may I ask how far away these treasures came from?
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Some came from thirty thousand li awa
y and the others at least ten thousand li away.
LIU MENGMEI:
Is that possible? Did they fly here or did they walk here?
MIAO SHUNBIN (Laughs):
How could they fly or walk! The foreign merchants have brought them here as the court has offered a high price.
LIU MENGMEI (With a sigh):
Your Excellency, these insensible and footless treasures can reach the emperor from thirty thousand li away, while a competent scholar like me cannot reach the emperor from three thousand li away. I have feet but I cannot fly!
Attracted by alluring prices,
The crafty merchants came by ship;
Alas!
The waves have lent wings to the trip.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Do you suspect that these treasures are all shams?
LIU MENGMEI:
Your Excellency, even if they are genuine, you can’t eat them when you are hungry and you can’t wear them when you are cold. They are but
Useless small devices!
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Then, what is your idea of genuine treasures?
LIU MENGMEI:
To be frank, I am a piece of genuine treasure.
At court I’ll prove my worth,
The rarest treasure here on earth.
MIAO SHUNBIN (Laughs):
I’m afraid that there are too many rare birds at court now.
LIU MENGMEI:
I’m better than the treasures in the sea
Or all the treasures people ever see.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
In that case, you should be presented to His Majesty.
LIU MENGMEI:
As a poor scholar, I’m unable to serve the officials; how am I in a position to see His Majesty?
MIAO SHUNBIN:
You see, it’s easier to see the emperor than the officials.
LIU MENGMEI:
But the travel expenses for three thousand li are more than I can afford.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
That won’t be a problem at all. As the ancients gave pieces of gold to valiant men, I will give you pieces of silver from the official revenue to cover your travel expenses.
LIU MENGMEI:
With your help I’ll set off at once because I have no family burden.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Attendants, get some silver for the scholar and prepare some wine.
(Enter the attendant)
ATTENDANT:
“The Guangzhou folk prefer the litchi wine;
The north-bound scholar meets a patron benign.”
The wine is ready and here’s the silver.
MIAO SHUNBIN:
Sir, please accept the silver for your travel expenses.
LIU MENGMEI:
Thank you very much.
MIAO SHUNBIN (Offers the wine):
(To the tune of Sanxueshi)
When you leave here with wine on your lips,
You’ll make fair progress on your trips.