by Tang Xianzu
(Enter the scout, beating a rattle-drum)
SCOUT:
Your Highness, here comes the good news!
FOURTH PRINCE:
Hurry up and tell me all about it!
SCOUT (To the tune of Beituobushan):
After I set out early from our State of Sandals and Vines,
I fished for news about Nanke by day and by night.
A scout can never be too cautious,
But I have the peddling goods in sight.
What a gorgeous Jade Terrace!
FOURTH PRINCE:
In what sense?
SCOUT (To the tune of Zhonglü Xiaoliangzhou):
The palace is ornamented with jade and gold,
With maids of honor sauntering around,
Stretching like an emerald Milky Way.
To the acme of perfection,
It is a fairyland in the rosy clouds.
FOURTH PRINCE:
Did you come across the princess?
SCOUT:
I was peddling my flowers when a maid of honor brought me to Her Highness.
(To the tune of Yao)
When peddling attracted the maids of honor,
I entered the palace as a spy in disguise.
FOURTH PRINCE:
Did Her Highness buy some flowers?
SCOUT:
She asked me what headdress flowers I had. I answered that I had hundreds of flowers, wool flowers, rice-paper flowers, gold-thread flowers and jade-hairpin flowers, to name just a few. She had most of them in the palace, except for two kinds.
FOURTH PRINCE:
What are they?
SCOUT:
The treasure sandal flower
And the emerald vine flowers —
She put on these two flowers, smiling in the mirror.
FOURTH PRINCE (Almost faints and topples):
Fantastic! Fantastic! Sandals and vines are embedded in the name of our state. It is predestined affinity that the princess accepted these two flowers. Scout, her husband won’t be able to stop her!
SCOUT:
Her husband has returned to Nanke to handle the official affairs.
FOURTH PRINCE:
How he lacks vigilance!
SCOUT (To the tune of Shuahai’er Sansha):
For her husband,
What’s the point of keeping to his office
While leaving his beautiful wife to herself?
As a scout to fish for information,
I may beat the rattle-drum again in the arcade.
Sun Feihu the bandit will be able to grab the lady;
Wang Zhaojun will be married to the tartar land.
When an affair of the heart has been aroused,
For the covetousness
Of Princess of Golden Branch,
Three thousand ants will fight a sanguinary battle.
(To the tune of Coda)
Your Highness,
Please feast the soldiers with the betrothal sheep,
And make the military banner with the wedding skirt!
When you seize the princess,
You’ll irritate Chunyu Fen to the brink of death
And enjoy yourself to the full.
(Exit the scout, leaving Fourth Prince on the stage)
FOURTH PRINCE:
What a stroke of luck! Yes, I’ll send an army to pin down River Town while I’ll grab the princess in person. As a saying goes,
It’s hard for him to cut the sandalwood,
But it’s easy for me to grab a wife.
Scene Twenty-Seven
Princess on the Alert
(Enter maid of honor)
MAID OF HONOR (To the tune of Haoshijin, Part One):
The lotus leaves float in the autumn breeze;
Coils rise from the incense burner.
The twittering swallows beyond the curtains
Complain about the person lying by the engraved lattice.
I’m one of the maids of honor to attend on the princess. The princess is frail and delicate by nature. Besides, as she is fatigued by the four children, she feels vexed and annoyed for the hot weather. Therefore, she stays in the Jade Terrace to shelter from the heat. She is not up yet now.
(Enter Princess Golden Branch)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (To the tune of Haoshijin, Part Two):
When the river dims in the cool autumn drizzle,
I feel dizzy in the lingering summer.
A fond dream accompanies the waving fan,
But could I ever become young again?
(In the pattern of Qingpingyue)
“In the gloomy garden,
Chilly rain comes in my dream.
MAID OF HONOR:
The locust twigs dance in the wind
When she sleeps till noon within painted walls.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
When I cherish my dream,
Incense coils from the golden burner.
ALL:
Married for years to the Honorary Captain,
A languid princess does not bother to dress up.”
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Maid, the Jade Terrace here is cooler than Nanke County.
MAID OF HONOR:
It is already early autumn now.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Don’t you know I am not well?
MAID OF HONOR:
Yes, I know. His Highness is staying in Nanke, and doesn’t come back very often.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
He is occupied with a myriad of country affairs. How can he spare any time here? I am so bored.
(To the tune of Liufangongci)
With fallen flowers piled in the garden
And evening clouds veiling the pavilion,
I sleep in the autumn days.
Getting up, I feel so weak
That the gold hairpin almost drops from my hair.
MAID OF HONOR:
You’ve spent a whole summer here.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
The bamboo mattress is out of use when sweat abates;
The fan is out of use when fireflies no longer fly high.
MAID OF HONOR:
Your Highness, you are too weak and fragile.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
As I am so fragile
And often fall ill,
I haven’t slept well for the past year.
MAID OF HONOR:
This year it has become cold earlier than before.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
When I feel cold, I’d go behind the gauze curtain;
When I feel hot, I’d take a cold bath.
MAID OF HONOR:
It’s time for lunch.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
As I’ve lost my sense of time,
It is well past noon,
But I lack taste for food.
MAID OF HONOR:
Now that you have such lovely children, why do you still feel melancholy?
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Don’t mention my children,
For it is they
Who have weathered my countenance.
MAID OF HONOR:
I’ll prepare a feast to drive away your yearning for the Royal Son-in-Law.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (To the previous tune):
In the morning when I was awakened
From the dream,
There is left no trace of my man.
I had lingered for his caress
And asked him to paint my brows.
MAID OF HONOR (Brings wine):
Drink this cup
And your cheeks will blush.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
No, I don’t want to drink.
(Maid of honor kneels down and urges)
(Princess Golden Branch sips a little)
MAID OF HONOR:
I urged three times,
But you only had a sip.
How can I get you smile after the drink?
I�
��ve got it. I’ll ask the young maids to play the flute and zither, sing and dance for you.
(Music from within)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
How noisy!
MAID OF HONOR:
Why are you annoyed at the entertainments?
Is there a better cure than song and dance?
(Sings aside)
With her chin cupped
And her dress trailing on the ground,
She is woeful although her health has improved.
(Princess Golden Branch looks into the mirror and sighs)
MAID OF HONOR (Turns back):
In her chronic disease,
She looks depressed in the mirror,
With barely a breath.
(Enter the eldest son)
THE ELDEST SON:
“Beacon-fire lights the Jade Terrace,
For invaders harass the border area.”
My dear mother, the State of Sandals and Vines has invaded our territory and is pressing on towards the Jade Terrace. What shall we do?
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (Sobs):
What shall we do, then? My son, set out for Nanke by night and report to your father! I’ll lead the men and women to guard the city.
(To the tune of Fengrusong)
I should have stayed in Nanke;
I should not have indulged in the cool weather here.
As I am to blame for all the trouble,
There is imminent danger for war,
But who knows what they are up to?
ALL:
Men and women will guard the Jade Terrace together!
THE ELDEST SON (To the previous tune):
To my relief, my mother has somewhat recovered
And will strive to guard the palace while I am gone,
And I’m sure that the palace won’t be taken in a short time.
Even if the women soldiers cannot ward off the enemy,
My father and I will come to the rescue.
ALL:
Men and women will guard the Jade Terrace together!
(Princess Golden Branch and the eldest son weep and part)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (To the tune of Coda):
There has never been any warfare,
And I feel so scared.
No other generals can help,
Except for the Royal Son-in-Law, my husband himself.
(Exeunt Princess Golden Branch and maid of honor)
(Enter the eldest son, hurrying on horseback)
THE ELDEST SON:
Hurry up, soldiers!
(To the tune of Diliuzi)
The frontier report is so urgent,
So urgent.
And how can we have a rest?
Take turns,
Take turns
And we change horses all the time.
The more anxiety, the less speed —
Nanke is three hundred miles away,
But I wish to reach it within an instant.
If the palace is taken by the enemy,
What will happen to my mother?
What will happen to my mother?
(Exit)
(Enter the women soldiers, carrying standards and keeping watch on the city)
WOMEN SOLDIERS (To the previous tune):
The frontier report is so urgent,
So urgent.
And how can we have a rest?
Take turns,
Take turns
And we keep watch on the city.
The more anxiety, the less speed —
We’ll check the three hundred miles away,
But we wish to check them within an instant.
If the palace is taken by the enemy,
What will happen to the princess?
What will happen to the princess?
SISTER WANG (Laughs):
How strange it is! Not a crevasse can be found in the Jade Terrace. Who the hell has reported that there are spies who have sneaked into the city? The princess has just issued the order, “To defend the city, old soldiers and adult men should pass the drawbridge and meet the enemy in battle, while their wives should guard the battlements over the four gates, at each of which a woman chief is to take command.” I am Sister Wang. As a woman of some ability, I’ve been assigned to take charge of the east gate. Oh, Granny Chen and Auntie Zhao, you are here too.
GRANNY CHEN:
I’ve been assigned to take charge of the west gate.
AUNTIE ZHAO :
I’ve been assigned to take charge of the north gate. Only the one in charge of the south gate has no turned up yet.
(Enter a boy carrying a flag on his back)
BOY:
Allow me to make obeisance to you all, dear aunties!
SISTER WANG:
You’re a handsome boy.
THE BOY:
My mother is in charge of the south gate. As she has fallen ill, I’ve taken the flag for her.
SISTER WANG:
So she is ill. We have to do without her. Here is the order from the princess. The women chief officers carrying the flags should practice the martial arts. Hi, Granny Chen, meet my movement!
(She kicks and topples Granny Chen)
GRANNY CHEN:
Ouch, I’m old now.
SISTER WANG:
Auntie Zhao, let me topple you!
AUNTIE ZHAO (Topples):
Ouch, please spare me, Sister Wang!
SISTER WANG:
Come on, boy, taste my kick!
(The boy puts Sister Wang down)
I don’t believe I will fall into such disgrace.
(Gets up and fights three rounds)
(Topples)
Boy, I can’t knock you down with fists. Let’s try the spear!
(The boy wins with the spear)
(Sister Wang shows fear)
BOY:
Sister Wang, how are you expected to fight against the enemy with such poor skills?
SISTER WANG:
I’ve got an idea. If the enemy should come up the city wall, we’ll pour down the hot stool and urine. I’ve even brought the chamber pot and the cooking pot here.
GRANNY CHEN, AUNTIE ZHAO:
None of your worthless words! Let’s patrol the city and report to the princess!
(To the tune of Zuiluoge)
One battlement lines with another;
Posts for the soldiers lie side by side.
The city walls are airtight,
With spears and guns in piles.
The flag-bearers are
These women;
The militiamen are
The youngsters;
They keep watch from dusk to dawn.
(Sounds of gongs and drums and neighs of horses from within)
Facing the roaring dust
And looking to the end of the road,
We see the trotting horses by the city wall
And hear the sounds of gongs.
(Report from within, wild beating of gongs)
The enemy soldiers of the State of Sandals and Vines are coming.
BOY:
The situation at the front is critical. Now we shall gather all the families here in combat readiness.
On the four walls of the Jade Terrace,
We have prepared weapons for war.
If the enemy soldiers dare to come,
The women will fight them all.
Scene Twenty-Eight
Army Deployment in the Rain
(Enter Chunyu Fen, followed by attendants)
CHUNYU FEN (To the tune of Xiaoyaole):
At the spattering of autumn rain on the pond,
I still hold the phoenix fan in my hand.
In the green mansion with the locust shade
I sit alone in the office
And take a nap
Amid the faint fragrance.
“I’ve been in Nanke for years,
Staying in the mansion with pennants.
Lawsuits are reduced by three thousand a day,
&nbs
p; While households reach a million by autumn.”
Since I came to Nanke as the magistrate, the produce abounds and people live in peace. The lawsuits are handled with justice and there are fewer thefts. I owe all these achievements to the assistance of Zhou Bian and Tian Zihua. I’d like to drink wine but refrain from it as the princess is absent. As the princess is staying in the Jade Terrace to shelter from the heat, I feel rather lonely. There is a Rain Forecast Hall here, where the moist earth foretells rain. It happens that drizzle indeed comes in early autumn. I have got the wine ready for me to listen to the rain with Zhou and Tian. Wait on us, attendants!
(Enter Zhou Bian and Tian Zihua)
ZHOU BIAN, TIAN ZIHUA:
“The magistrate is easy to approach,
Treating fellow officials as equals.”
Attendant, please tell His Highness that we are waiting at the door!
ATTENDANT:
Master Tian and Master Zhou are waiting at the door.
CHUNYU FEN (Meets Zhou and Tian):
“The three of us are old acquaintances;
TIAN ZIHUA:
But for your help we won’t have assumed office.
ZHOU BIAN:
Thanks for your invitation to listen to the rain,
CHUNYU FEN, ZHOU BIAN, TIAN ZIHUA:
And enjoy the autumn sights in the suburbs!”
CHUNYU FEN (Serves the wine for Zhou and Tian):
The feast is set for the rain.
(To the tune of Tiying’er)
The west wind ushers in the autumn
In pattering rains.
The jade pieces jingle on the eaves
In the bright moonlight.
Rainwater drips from the eaves
And goes pitter-patter in foams.
Suddenly I gaze and think
Where I have been carried away;
I am going to meet my wife.
(To the previous tune)
The nimbus in the Milky Way may sparkle,
Showering on the lotus leaves.
The raindrops sound like the swimming ducks,
Splashing in the clear pond.
The well railings resound under the parasol trees
While the palm leaves echo the rainfall.
Leaning against the hall
With hanging screens,
I seem to see the fairy lady my wife.
(To the tune of Zhuomuli)
The quiet hall is a good place to drink,
And it is chilly this evening.
I’m afraid the rain might stir the butterflies in pairs
And disturb my dream of coupling mandarin ducks.