by Tang Xianzu
At the same time,
In paintings you swallow is found;
In spring you bee will buzz as hard as you can.
LI HOUER:
When I come here again as a bee, I’ll sting your head.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
You’re asking for a sound beating.
LI HOUER:
Oh, pity on me!
INFERNAL JUDGE:
All right, be gone with the wind! Get out at once!
(The Infernal Judge puffs at the four males. Exeunt the four, each flying in his own manner. The Infernal Judge whistles towards the exit. Enter the ghost, ushering in Du Liniang)
GHOST:
“You won’t meet me on Heaven’s path;
I’m not to blame for Hell’s fierce wrath.”
Here’s the female offender.
INFERNAL JUDGE (Raises his head. Aside):
What a fair lady-ghost!
(To the tune of Tianxiale)
A fairy of a ghost is standing here,
Heigh-ho, heigh-ho,
Come near, please come near.
(Du Liniang complains)
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Bodhisattva Guanyin’s cry in hell, I hear.
GHOST (Whispers in the Infernal Judge’s ear):
Why don’t you take her as your concubine?
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Pooh, according to the celestial law, those who flirt with women prisoners will be beheaded.
“You may go on with your wild talk,
But without my head, how can I walk?”
(Du Liniang moans)
INFERNAL JUDGE (Turns back):
Doesn’t she seem to flirt with me?
Bring her forward!
(To the tune of Nuozhaling)
With rosy cheeks,
Are you going to a garden or a pub?
With pretty hairpins,
Are you going to a concert or a club?
With honeyed smiles,
Are you going to a date?
Of what illness did you die?
Where is your family estate?
Your colour is alien to hell at any rate.
DU LINIANG:
I’ve neither married nor drunk any wine. My skin has looked like this since I was born. Under a plum tree in the back garden of Nan’an Prefect’s residence, I dreamed of a scholar who snapped off a willow-twig and asked me to write a poem about it. He was gentle and affectionate. When I woke up, I wrote a poem,
“Her future spouse who shares the pillow
Will be found by the plum or willow.”
As a matter of fact, I died of lovesickness.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
You liar! How can anyone die as a result of a dream?
(To the tune of Quetazhi)
Young and tiny as you look,
You cling so strongly to your dream.
Who can read your dream?
Who can guess the theme?
Heigh-ho, heigh-ho,
Where is this young scholar?
Who else did you see in your dream?
DU LINIANG:
I didn’t see anyone else. When a flower dropped off, I was frightened.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Send for the flower god in charge of the prefect’s back garden in Nan’an.
(The ghost repeats the order)
(Enter Flower God)
FLOWER GOD:
“The flowers drop with springtime rain;
A moment’s joy is mixed with pain.”
How do you do, Your Excellency!
(Salutes the Infernal Judge)
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Flower God, she says that she had a dream in the back garden and died of a startle caused by a fallen flower. Is that true?
FLOWER GOD:
Yes. She was dreaming of a rendezvous with a young scholar when she was wakened by a fallen flower. She died of lovesickness.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Were you dressed as a young scholar to allure her?
FLOWER GOD:
Do you mean that I allured her?
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Do you think that we are all fools in the netherworld?
(To the tune of Houtinghuagun)
Spring is a carefree time for all,
But you disturb the peace of mind.
With flowers you decorate the hall;
You should have left your lust behind.
With blossoms at your beck and call,
An overabundance glares mankind.
Now, enumerate the flowers you find.
FLOWER GOD:
I’ll enumerate for you. The peach blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Leads to a lover’s tryst;
FLOWER GOD:
The pear blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Gives love a twist.
FLOWER GOD:
The gold-coin blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is a wedding gift;
FLOWER GOD:
The seven-barks blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Serves as a wooing shift.
FLOWER GOD:
The peony blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Links the hearts;
FLOWER GOD:
The brush-pen blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Practices the writing arts.
FLOWER GOD:
The water chestnut blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Stands on the dressing-table there;
FLOWER GOD:
The plantain lily blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Adorns the hair.
FLOWER GOD:
The rose blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Applies to the face;
FLOWER GOD:
The winter-sweet blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Paints the forehead with grace.
FLOWER GOD:
The mullein blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Decorates the skirt;
FLOWER GOD:
The narcissus blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Looks like a fairy shirt.
FLOWER GOD:
The lantern blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is shining bright;
FLOWER GOD:
The roseleaf raspberry blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Causes a drunken sight.
FLOWER GOD:
The pot marigold blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Serves for a wedding cup;
FLOWER GOD:
The ribbon blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Ties the skirt up.
FLOWER GOD:
The mulga blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Hangs her head in taste;
FLOWER GOD:
The willow blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Sways like slender waist.
FLOWER GOD:
The trumpet-vine blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Blows like a cock;
FLOWER GOD:
The hot-pepper blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Removes her block.
FLOWER GOD:
The Michelia figo blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Expects her love;
FLOWER GOD:
The red sunflower blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Turns to her face above.
FLOWER GOD:
The liana blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Twines like a bitch;
FLOWER GOD:
The crape myrtle blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Fears the itch.
FLOWER GOD:
The day lily blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Prophesies a son;
FLOWER
GOD:
The lilac blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Blooms in the sun.
FLOWER GOD:
The cardamum blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is pregnant with seeds;
FLOWER GOD:
The milk blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is sufficient for needs.
FLOWER GOD:
The gardenia blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is discrete beyond compare;
FLOWER GOD:
The wild-apple blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is free from any care.
FLOWER GOD:
The citrus blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Leans against the fence;
FLOWER GOD:
The crabapple blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Has a drowsy sense.
FLOWER GOD:
The boy blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is a smiling lad;
FLOWER GOD:
The sister blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is a jealous lass.
FLOWER GOD:
The knotweed blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is reluctant to bud;
FLOWER GOD:
The winter daphne blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Sleeps in the mud.
FLOWER GOD:
The dryland lotus blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Attracts her spouse to come again;
FLOWER GOD:
The pomegranate blossom —
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Is kept in vain.
There are more riddles for you to guess,
Riddles that put the heaven in stress.
What made her take bated breath?
Why did she die an early death?
FLOWER GOD:
It is the heaven that predestines the colours and shapes of flowers. I do nothing but carry out the heaven’s decrees. How dare I tempt anyone? I’ve never heard of any beautiful lady dying of love for flowers.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
You say that no beautiful ladies died of love for flowers? I’ll name a few for you.
(To the tune of Jishengcao)
The flowers make the maidens in a mess;
The flowers make the maidens in distress.
There was a lotus that bloomed at night,
And Empress Feiyan died on the site.
There was a crabapple that never quit,
And Lady Yang was buried with it.
There was a winter daphne that caught man’s breath,
And Concubine Feiyan was flogged to death.
How can you say that flowers bring no harm?
You Flower God roused all the alarm!
FLOWER GOD:
I know I’m guilty. From now on I’ll allow no blooming.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
I’ve just given verdicts to the four friends among the flowers. You are now to watch over them. Since this female offender died of lovesickness, she’ll go with them as a swallow or an oriole.
FLOWER GOD:
Your Excellency, this female offender committed a crime in her dream, which is as invisible as the morning breeze. Besides, as her father is an upright official and she is his only child, I think she should be remitted.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Who is your father?
DU LINIANG:
My father was the Prefect of Nan’an, and is now promoted to be Envoy of Appeasement in charge of the defense of Huaiyang.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
So you’re a maiden with blue blood. Well, on account of Prefect Du, I’ll report your case to the celestial emperor before I pass a sentence on you.
DU LINIANG:
Will you be so kind as to check why I was reduced to such misery?
INFERNAL JUDGE:
It must have been recorded in the Book of Heartbreaks.
DU LINIANG:
Will you do me another favour by checking the name of my husband? Is he Liu or Mei? Has he anything to do with Willow or Plum?
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Get me the Marriage Book.
(Turns aside and looks up the Marriage Book)
Yes, here is Liu Mengmei, the new Number One Scholar. Wife, Du Liniang. A secret love at first, official wedding in the end. Destined to meet in the Red Plum Blossom Nunnery. Top secret.
(Turns round)
You are destined to marry this man. I’ll release you from the City of Innocent Deaths so that you can float with the wind and look for this man.
FLOWER GOD:
Miss Du, kowtow to the Judge!
DU LINIANG (Kowtows):
Thank you for giving me a second life. However, as my parents are in Yangzhou, may I see them again?
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Yes.
(To the tune of Yaopian)
With many years of human life ahead,
You should not have come here yet.
While wanton love shall be what you dread,
The plum and willow shall be what you get.
To stare at parents now that the sky is clear,
You mount the Home-gazing Terrace to see
Night scenes of mourning in Yangzhou from here.
Flower God, show her around the Home-gazing Terrace.
DU LINIANG (Mounts the terrace with Flower God and wails in the direction of Yangzhou):
Yangzhou is over there! Dear Dad, dear Mom! How I wish to fly to you at once!
FLOWER GOD (Stops her):
It’s not the time for you to go yet.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Come back and listen to me. Attendant, prepare a passport for her. Flower God, take care to protect her body of flesh.
DU LINIANG:
Thank you very much, Your Excellency.
INFERNAL JUDGE (To the tune of Semi-coda):
Remember to keep your passion in control,
As where there’re hills there’s wood.
Keep away from rain and sunshine when you stroll.
You’ll be allowed to wed your lover,
And free to come and go will be your soul.
Now that you are released,
You will resume your human role.
Four friends among the flowers are at your command:
The butterfly and bee, the swallow and oriole.
You’ll wait for the man who digs the grave,
To fulfil your dream and console your soul.
(Exit)
FLOWER GOD:
Come, Miss, let’s return to the back garden.
I wear my hat awry in drunken state;
DU LINIANG:
By day the flags keep still in breathless air.
INFERNAL JUDGE:
Year by year I check the human fate;
FLOWER GOD, DU LINIANG, INFERNAL JUDGE:
We all await a judge who’s just and fair.
Scene Twenty-Four
Picking up the Portrait
(Enter Liu Mengmei)
LIU MENGMEI (To the tune of Jinlongcong):
Who cares more for spring days than I?
To stormy weather I am on alert.
The wind has pierced my shabby gown;
The rain has soaked my yellow shirt.
When I woke to a day without rains,
I found my bed-sheets wet with dreamland stains.
“The yard in spring is fragrant with pear bloom,
But still my bygone worries can be traced.
How come that spring is casting endless gloom?
I am appalled to see my slimming waist.”
My illness has confined me to the Plum Blossom Nunnery. I’m lucky to get acquainted with a Mr Chen who is good at medicine, and I’m feeling much better now. However, the spring weather makes me bored and depressed these days. I don’t know where I can go to kill some time. Well, here comes Sister Stone.
(Enter Sister Stone)
SISTER STONE (To the tune of Yiluosuo):
A nun may have discerning eyes
To read a scholar’s deep dismay.
From where does endless daydream rise
That he keeps yawning all the day?
How are you feeling now, young scholar?
LIU MENGMEI:
I’m feeling much better these days, but I feel a little bored sitting idly all the time. In such a big nunnery, there must be a garden or some pavilions where I can walk around.
SISTER STONE:
There is a garden in the back. Although it has been deserted, you can find some flowers here and there. You can while away some time there, but don’t get sentimental.
LIU MENGMEI:
Why should I get sentimental!
SISTER STONE (With a sigh):
Forget about it. Go ahead and enjoy yourself. Follow the west corridor and turn around the painted wall. In a hundred yards you will find a wicket gate. There are ponds and pavilions for three li around. You can enjoy yourself as much as you please and as long as you like. There’s no need for me to go with you.
“The tourists come and go,
But who will know such woe!”
(Exit)
LIU MENGMEI:
As there’s such a back garden, I’ll take a leisurely stroll there.
(Walks)
Here is the west corridor.
(Walks on)
What a green wicket gate! A pity that half of it is collapsed.
(With a sigh)
“While marble balustrades as yet stand there,
The painted garden walls have lacked repair.
Where pleasant scenery used to meet the eyes,
The withered willows dangle in the air.”
(Arrives at the garden)
Oh, what a spacious garden!
(To the tune of Haoshijin)
With years of constant wear and tear,
The painted walls remain in bad repair.
(Slips)
Now that the slippery moss
Intrudes the broken wall,
Why should the door be closed to all?
This garden must have been haunted by many visitors, judging from the numerous names inscribed on the bamboo stems.
This is a place where tourists used to come,
And as years went by,
Only names on bamboo stems defy the sky.
Alas, what I see now is nothing but
Wild flowers overgrowing the path,
With weeds and bushes as an aftermath.
Isn’t it curious that a Taoist nun in the Plum Blossom Nunnery could have built such a magnificent garden? It’s puzzling indeed. Just look at the meandering stream:
(To the tune of Jinchandao)
Behind bolted gates
There lies a fairyland;
Why is it in such decay?
Beside the lake are misty estates
And painted boats stuck in the sand,
While swings would never sway.
But for a fire or war,
Why is it in such a wretched state?
Does it contain a mournful lore
Or people with a doleful fate?