by Tang Xianzu
When the shorebirds look at the painted boat,
Sweet scent of the wine lingers in the hall.
Amid the melodious music,
Here and now,
I am intoxicated with thoughts.
(To the previous tune)
Flurried swallows are busy in the autumn
While sad wild geese file in the sky.
At the sight of the vacant room
And the half-extinguished lamp,
I feel the wretchedness of an official career,
Like a lonely boat on the Dongting Lake.
The memory of days
In the ten long years
Brings tears to my eyes behind the windows.
Mr. Tian, I had a strange dream during the nap. I dreamed of my eldest son reading two lines from The Book of Poetry:
“The storks would hoot o’er the hills;
My wife would sigh beside the sills.”
What omen does this indicate?
TIAN ZIHUA (Ponders):
In my humble opinion, the first line means that when the rain approaches, the ants will come out of the hills. Storks like to feed on ants, and that is why they fly and hoot happily. The line “My wife would sigh beside the sills” seems to indicate that the princess is in trouble and yearns to meet you. These lines from “The Eastern Hill” describe an expedition by the Duke of Zhou, and they indicate warfare.
CHUNYU FEN:
Thank you for the interpretation! I shall take great care.
(Drums within)
What are the urgent drums for?
(Enter the eldest son on horseback in a hurry)
THE ELDEST SON:
“The roving bandits are said to be making trouble,
So I’ve come to inform my father posthaste.”
Father, the State of Sandals and Vines is making an invasion. Half of their troops are attacking River Town, and the other half are coming towards the Jade Terrace.
CHUNYU FEN (Alarmed):
What shall we do? What shall we do? The Jade Terrace is where the princess dwells, and River Town is a frontier fortress. The enemy has come for these two important places; it is hard to guess their real intentions. Mr. Tian and I will lead the troops to the rescue of the princess; Mr. Zhou Bian is to defend the River Town area; you, my son, will guard Nanke. For the time being, you can take a rest.
THE ELDEST SON:
“To save mother and children,
Father and son are the best.”
(Exit)
CHUNYU FEN:
Mr. Tian, so my dream has been confirmed.
ZHOU BIAN AND TIAN ZIHUA:
Yes. The princess is besieged, so we must go to her rescue right away.
(Enter the soldiers)
SOLDIERS:
“Some will go and rescue the princess in the Jade Terrace,
While others will go and defend River Town.”
CHUNYU FEN:
Listen to my order! Five thousand soldiers shall go to defend the River Town area under Mr. Zhou’s command, and a shock brigade of three thousand hand-picked soldiers shall follow me to the princess’ rescue by night.
SOLDIERS:
Your Highness, let’s display our battle formation!
TIAN ZIHUA:
Your Highness, an ordinary battle array will be all right for the troops to River Town, but the troops to save the princess should follow what The Book of Poetry says and form an array of storks.
SOLDIERS (Respond, form an array and move):
The battle array of ants is completed.
(Form an array, dance and respond)
The battle array of storks is completed.
CHUNYU FEN:
Now Mr. Zhou and I will lead our troops in different directions.
ZHOU BIAN:
Your Highness, to boost the morale of soldiers, only the liquor will do. Throughout my life, the liquor is something I can’t do without. Now I beg for your clemency.
CHUNYU FEN:
Give five thousand jars of liquor to the five thousand soldiers. But here is something for Mr. Zhou to keep in mind. I used to be an assistant general in Huaixi, but I bungled matters because of drinking. This is what both of you already know. Since I came to office here as the magistrate, I’ve given up drinking. Mr. Zhou, you are well-known for your drinking capacity. But now that you are in charge of military affairs, just remember my words, “Drink less and learn more.” We’ll part and set on expeditions.
CHUNYU FEN, TIAN ZIHUA (To the tune of Guaguling):
In high spirits, we set out
To fight in the Jade Terrace.
Princess,
How can the women defend the Jade Terrace?
The enemy from the State of Sandals and Vines are ferocious.
We’ll set up a white altar,
Choose the propitious time and right direction,
To deploy our forces against the invaders.
ALL:
When we listen to the autumn rain at sunset,
We hear the stirrups clicking in the fields.
(Exeunt Chunyu Fen and Tian Zihua)
ZHOU BIAN (To the previous tune):
In the surrounded River Town,
We shall bag sands and grains to fight the enemy.
We shall keep a close eye on the enemy
And reinforce the defenders.
As the liquor goes well with the suit of armor,
With Chunyu taking command,
I’ll catch up from the sideways.
ALL:
When we listen to the autumn rain at sunset,
We hear the stirrups clicking in the fields.
The Jade Terrace is far away,
But the war has brought man and wife together.
They will meet in the battle cries,
Crossing the chasm to return in triumph.
Scene Twenty-Nine
The Siege Lifted
(Enter Fourth Prince of the State of Sandals and Vines, followed by attendants)
FOURTH PRINCE (To the tune of Jinqianhua):
I am prince of the State of Sandals and Vines,
Sandals and Vines,
Day and night I am longing for a wife,
For a wife.
As there is beauty in the Jade Terrace,
By building a small bridge,
I’ll cross the river and take her by force.
Will I make it?
Chuck, chuck, I chuckle to myself.
It is wonderful that we’ve hemmed the Jade Terrace around. The palace rises almost to the moon, and shines as brightly as the immortal land. We’ll break it at one fell swoop. Won’t that be just a piece of cake? Only I’m afraid of startling the princess to miss my purpose. Yesterday we shot our letter of challenge to the city, but how dare she reply? She is only waiting for her husband to come to her rescue. I’ve sent another troop to attack River Town, pressing up to Nanke County. I wonder how her husband could get round to coming here. Dear, dear princess, you’ll soon be in my hands. Today I’ve deliberately closed in. When they respond, I’ll ask for the princess to speak to me in person on the city wall, so that I can drink in her beauty. Now warriors, close in! Close in!
(Sounds of beating drums and cheers from within)
We have closed in.
HEAD OF MAIDS (Hurries in, weeping):
My goodness, the enemy troops are pressing on towards us. Soon we’ll have no chance of survival. Your Highness, ascend the tent please!
(Enter Princess Golden Branch, followed by soldiers)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Oh heaven! Heaven! What shall I do?
“Weathering the danger in the Jade Terrace,
I see the enemy coming below the city wall.
So frightened am I that I grow pale,
And my dear husband will be sad for that.
On the towering parapet wall,
I feel alone to face the approaching war.
Why is Nanke at such a distance
That my flute is
not heard there?”
(Drums from within)
(Princess Golden Branch weeps with maids of honor)
What shall we do?
(To the tune of Nanlüyizhihua)
In my lonely palace
Is heard the tarter flutes.
What man on earth is so vicious
As to scheme against a woman like me?
I am here to seek shelter from the heat
In this quiet palace,
But have incurred covetousness and warfare.
My two months’ leisure has been disturbed
By another day in panic.
(Drums from within)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Oh heavens, heavens! What am I to do? Within the Jade Terrace, there is not much wealth or grains. Then what are the enemies up to? Yesterday we received their letter of challenge. At careful thought, I know that women are not to come to grips with men. How can we take them lightly and fight against them? I’ll wait for His Highness to come back. Now I’ll send someone to ask them. If they are here to grab the goods, I’ll give them some and ease the trouble. Tell the interpreter to ask their ringleader what they are up to!
(The interpreter asks within)
FOURTH PRINCE (Responds):
If you want to know the cause of this war, tell your princess to talk with me in person!
INTERPRETER (Returns and reports):
He wants Your Highness to talk with him in person.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (Sighs):
I’m the honorable princess of our great state. How dare those bandits talk with me?
INTERPRETER (Replies the Fourth Prince):
Her Highness is the honorable princess of our great state, how is she to talk with you?
FOURTH PRINCE:
I’m not a low-rank general, but the Fourth Prince of our State of Sandals and Vines. Since both of us are from the royal family, your princess is just like my sister. Of course she can talk with me.
INTERPRETER (Reports to the princess):
He says that he is the Fourth Prince of the State of Sandals and Vines and that he regards
Your Highness as his sister. Thus you may well talk with him.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
In that case, I’ll have to go despite my illness. We might repel the enemy with a few words.
SOLDIERS:
It’s hard to know their intentions. Princess, why not put on your martial attire and command a view on the watchtower?
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Right.
(Changes to her military attire and carries bow and arrows)
(To the tune of Liangzhoudiqi)
How am I to put on the helmet with quivering hands?
I first take off the soft embroidered socks
And shoes that squeeze my tiny feet.
I tidy my helmet ribbon
And fasten my bracers.
My silk dress is tight,
While my embroidered armor is loose.
The shield in front of my chest shines like the crescent moon;
My neat crimson skirt blows up in the wind.
I am a female general, deploying the army
And wearing the armor and wielding the spear.
As an excellent archer I draw the bow
And pick the arrows from the bag.
As a talented strategist I give orders
By writing on the golden plate.
(The soldiers hail)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Wonderful!
I am worthy of the cheers!
I wear the officer’s belt on my slim waist
And wave the signal flags.
A female general is taking command,
Rousing admiring smiles and stares.
(Drums and shouts from within)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (Astonished):
They are terrible! But I’ll ask their prince to talk to me.
FOURTH PRINCE (Laughs):
Amazing! Amazing! You are really the goddess in the moon, and Avalokitesvara in the clouds. How do you do, Sister Princess!
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
How do you do, Your Highness! You live to the north of the river, while I live to the south of the river. We have nothing to do with each other at all. I didn’t expect you should invade our state. What for?
FOURTH PRINCE:
Princess, just take a guess at my intentions.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (To the tune of Muyangguan):
In disorderly battle-lines,
You look ferocious,
Intending to break the Jade Terrace like a bowl.
I am full of disdain for your countenance,
And your naked body.
Does great ambition match your small body?
I’ll give you some fish and meat,
Plus bits and pieces of firewood.
You have never done anything great.
Prince,
You are courting death to invade our State!
INTERPRETER:
Your Excellency, Princess Golden Branch says that if you only need bits and pieces of grains and fish bones, we’ll give you some and you may leave.
FOURTH PRINCE (Laughs):
We’re not here for food or drink. You look down upon us! Warriors! Beat the drums and close in!
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Interpreter, tell him
(To the tune of Sikuaiyu)
Let us know one by one,
What you actually want.
There is no need
To make pretences.
Is livestock what you want?
FOURTH PRINCE:
No.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
You want silver and gold?
FOURTH PRINCE:
No.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Why don’t you want silver, or grains, or livestock?
FOURTH PRINCE:
You don’t know that in our State of Sandals and Vines, we suffer from a shortage of women.
This is what we’ve come here for.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
So the world of women is distant from your state.
FOURTH PRINCE:
We don’t lack ordinary women. The only thing is that my wife died recently.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Oh,
I thought you wanted women with military talents,
But it turns out that you need a second wife!
(Drums and shouts from within)
FOURTH PRINCE:
Give me an immediate response! I need a wife badly.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
How a man can be
So lecherous!
Tell him that I’ll report to our king to pick a girl for him, and he can leave with his troops now.
FOURTH PRINCE:
I’m prince of our state and I want to be the royal son-in-law.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
There is something he doesn’t know.
(To the tune of Mayulang)
Tell him that my father has no more daughters.
FOURTH PRINCE:
Princess, you are his daughter.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
Shut up!
I got married a long time ago,
And have already got several children.
FOURTH PRINCE:
You are still tender and lovely.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
You may not know it, but I’m well over thirty.
FOURTH PRINCE:
Where is your husband then?
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH:
He’s gone to Nanke to select military talents.
When he comes back,
You’ll know the serious consequences.
FOURTH PRINCE:
Whether he comes or not, I don’t care. Since you’ve met my man and worn my flowers, why aren’t you to be my wife for just one night?
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (To the tune of Kuhua
ngtian):
Ah, ah, ah,
This guy is an idiot,
A vulgar rascal!
Attendants, ask him where I met his man and wore his flowers!
FOURTH PRINCE:
Both the scented sandals and the green vines were my gifts for you. You accepted them and made an appointment with me.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (Annoyed):
Ouch, I’ve been plotted against. Attendants, go and fetch those flowers, tear them into pieces and scatter them down the palace!
(Destroys the flowers)
Well,
A clodhopper fancying to be the royal son-in-law,
You’re defaming me
And belittling my imperial lineage.
(Throws the flowers on the head of Fourth Prince, making him annoyed)
FOURTH PRINCE:
We are both of the royal descent, but now you’ve spoiled my flowers. How irritating! I’ll shoot an arrow at the bitch and give her a warning.
(Shoots an arrow)
Princess Golden Branch, this arrow is for you!
(The arrow whizzes)
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (Dodges the arrow with her sleeves and stumbles):
Ouch,
The arrow hit the phoenix hairpin on the jeweled helmet,
With its tail feather entangled with my chignon
And its hook a near miss of my cheeks.
(Drums from within)
(Fourth Prince inquires in panic and exits for the moment)
VOICE WITHIN (Shouts):
His Highness the Royal Son-in-Law has arrived with the relief troops.
SOLDIERS (Report to the princess):
The enemy troops have taken to their heels. Amid deafening drums, the Royal Son-in-Law has arrived with the reinforcements.
PRINCESS GOLDEN BRANCH (Pleased):
(To the tune of Quasi-coda)
The ant troops have broken through the tight encirclement,
Stirring up dusts on the bloody battlefield.
The Royal Son-in-Law, the Grand Marshall,
Gallops on his steed,
Wearing armors with colored designs.
Now I,
I shall beat three rounds of drums to cheer his victory.
(Exit)
(Enter Chunyu Fen, followed by his soldiers)
“A general never invade other states,
But are ready to fight for his dear wife.”
(Enter Fourth Prince, followed by his soldiers)
CHUNYU FEN:
You little twit from the State of Sandals and Vines, why don’t you surrender at once?
FOURTH PRINCE:
I’m the fourth prince of the State of Sandals and Vines. I’ve just enjoyed a talk with your wife. Are you jealous of me?
(They fight)
CHUNYU FEN (Asks):
He displays the formation of the ants, and so we shall fly above and display the formation of the storks. Only by doing so can we defeat them.