Hou: He deserves another drink for his rollicking wit and humour.
Li: Fragrant Princess, pour your teacher some wine.
[Liu drinks. Mistress Li throws dice and gets number four, almond blossom.]
Su [sings]:
The almond blossoms droop within the tower,
And clothes grow thin at this cool evening hour.
Fragrant Princess [pouring wine for Mistress Li]: It is your turn now, Mama.
[Mistress Li drinks and throws dice, getting number one, the cherry.]
Su: Let me sing for you.
“Those cherry lips the pearly teeth betray,
Before a single syllable they say.”
Liu: Master Su should be fined. The cherries he sings of are not the edible kind.
Su: I accept the fine. [He pours and drinks.]
Li: Fragrant Princess, you will have to pour your own wine.
Hou: No, allow me. [He pours and she drinks.]
Li [throwing dice]: Number three. Fragrant Princess must sing about the willow. [But Fragrant Princess coyly declines.] My daughter is too shy. Would somebody else perform in her stead? Perhaps Master Liu would oblige us?
Su: We are really making him work today!
Liu: My name means willow, and I have been afraid of that word all my life. On this Festival of Pure Brightness, there are willow garlands everywhere. Might as well put one on me as a “dog-collar.”[4] [All roar with laughter.]
Su: Oh, that’s enough of your jokes!
Hou: Having finished the wine, we ought to be taking our leave.
Liu: It is seldom that a handsome young genius is brought together with such a radiant girl. [He pulls Hou and Fragrant Princess together.] Why don’t you exchange vows over a cup of wine?
[Fragrant Princess hides her face behind her sleeve and runs out covered with confusion.]
Su: The girl is sensitive. You shouldn’t have talked like that in front of her. What is to be done about her trousseau? Has His Excellency Hou any suggestions to offer?
Hou [laughing]: Would a Graduate object to becoming a Prize Candidate? My case is similar.
Li: Since you are so favourably disposed, let us choose an auspicious day.
Yang: The fifteenth of the third month is the best time for flowers and the full moon; it is also the best time for mating.
Hou: The only drawback is that, being a traveller, I’m short of ready cash. I’m afraid I couldn’t make a suitable offer.
Yang: Never mind, you can leave that to me.
Hou: How could I put you to so much trouble?
Yang: I shall be only too pleased to assist you.
Hou: I am overwhelmed. [Sings]:
Now fate has led me towards the magic peak.
My passions rise like clouds, and in their tumult
My eyes cannot discern the radiant goddess.
This night of spring, these flowers, and the moon
Lighting the silent land, are they illusions?
Nay, for the joyful moment hurries near;
Now for this blessed union I’ll prepare.
[Hou bows farewell.]
Li: I dare not detain you. Let us decide on the fifteenth provisionally. I shall send out the invitations and ask several fair sisters to join us. The finest music should be played for this occasion. [Exit.]
Liu: Alas, I had forgotten a previous engagement.
Yang: Couldn’t you postpone it?
Su: Admiral Huang’s warship is anchored west of the city, and on the fifteenth he is holding a flag ceremony. We shall have to attend it.
Hou: What a pity! We shall miss you.
Yang: There are plenty of others to make up a merry party. I suggest Ting Chi-chih, Shen Kung-hsien, and Chang Yen-chu.
[Exeunt, singing]:
Su:
Powdered cheeks are fragrant before the boudoir bright,
Yang:
The grace of bygone ages returns to our delight,
Liu:
Our outing of today found only hints of spring;
Hou:
We think of the fair blossom tomorrow’s warmth will bring.
[1] The Ch’ing-ming Festival, corresponding to the Christian Easter, was usually in early April. On this day offerings were made to the dead, while their graves were put in good order; it was also a time for picnics and excursions into the country, when houses were decorated with foliage.
[2] Su Tung-p’o; see Scene 1, n. 3. Huang T‘ing-chien, 1045–1105, was a poet and disciple of Su. Fo Yin was a rollicking Buddhist monk and convivial associate.
[3] There are many anecdotes about Su Tung-p’o and his friend the monk Fo Yin. If these particular riddles do not seem to have much point (like the pin), it is probably because they are intended to be pointless, deliberate non-sequiturs to confound the logical processes and thereby liberate true understanding, in approved Zen fashion.
[4] It was a local custom on this festival for children to wear willow garlands which they called “dog-collars.”
SCENE 6
THE FRAGRANT COUCH
1643, THIRD MONTH
[Enter Mistress Li in gorgeous attire.]
Li [sings]:
In short spring jacket, sleeves folded back,
She tunes the zither in the fairy park.
Today in expectation her curtains are raised;
Let not the willow fronds
Hide from view the groom’s magnolia-wood boat.
[Speaks]: Since Fragrant Princess turned sixteen, I have been worrying night and day about her future. Luckily, Master Yang introduced us to Master Hou, who came to drink wine with us the other day — a distinguished young man of good family. Today is the auspicious day of their union banquet. Soon the guests will arrive, and I am expecting all our fair sisters. To entertain so large a party is quite a responsibility. Where is the maid?
Maid [a clown, enters waving a fan]: How I love cracking jokes at a banquet, and eavesdropping under a blanket! But mum, the mistress is calling me! [To Mistress Li]: What are your orders now, ma’am? More pillows and quilts to be brought for some itching couple?
Li: Fie! The guests are due to arrive, and there you dawdle in a stupid daze. Make haste and draw the curtains, sweep the floor and arrange the chairs.
Maid: Always at your service, ma’am. [Mistress Li directs her.]
Yang Wen-ts’ung [entering in festive garb, singing]:
Like red embroidery, the peach blossoms
Make patterns on the lady’s banquet board;
The screens are spread like golden peacocks’ tails;
Scent floats from the heraldic incense-burner.
The crimson lady seated by the stove[1]
Is the ideal mate for him to cherish.
[Speaks]: I have come on behalf of Juan Ta-ch’eng to deliver the wedding gifts. Where is Mistress Li?
Li [coming to greet him]: A thousand thanks for helping to arrange this match. The feast is ready, but where is His Honour Hou?
Yang: I imagine he will soon be with us. I have brought a selection of dresses for Fragrant Princess’s wardrobe. [To Maid, who brings in chests containing hair ornaments and gowns.]: Take them into the bridal chamber and set them out neatly. [Maid exits.]
Li: Such an expense — how kind of you!
Yang [drawing silver bars from his sleeve]: Here are thirty taels of silver, to provide the best wines and dishes for the banquet.
Li: You are far too generous! [She calls Fragrant Princess, who enters magnificently dressed.] His Honour Yang has showered so many presents on you that you ought to thank him. [Fragrant Princess curtseys.]
Yang: These are mere trifles, no need for such ceremony. Please retire to your boudoir. [Exit Fragrant Princess.]
Maid [entering breathlessly]: The bridegroom has arrived.
Hou [entering in his best clothes, followed by several servants]: Though I did not win the highest degree in the examinations, I now belong to the realm of the Moon Goddess.[2]
Yang: Congratulations, b
rother! You have won the paragon of feminine beauty. In token of my regard for you, I could only bring these paltry offerings as a contribution to your household expenses. I only hope they will add to the evening’s enjoyment.
Hou: I am struck speechless by your munificence.
Li: Pray sit down and have some tea. [All sit down. The Maid waits on them.]
Yang: Is everything ready for the feast?
Li: Thanks to Your Honour, the arrangements are complete.
Yang [to Hou]: I won’t intrude on your private rejoicings. Tomorrow I shall return to congratulate you again.
Hou: Why don’t you join the party?
Yang: In my position that would not be proper.[3] [He takes his leave.]
Maid: May I remind the bridegroom that it is time for him to change?
[Hou, onstage, is assisted in removing his gown and donning a new one.]
Li: I must go and help the bride to dress for the banquet. [Exit.]
[Three male guests appear: Ting Chi-chih, Shen Kung-hsien, and Chang Yen-chu.]
Three guests [recite]:
Poet-singers are we
Like Chang Hsien and Li Erh of old.
[Each announces his name. Then, together, they say]:
We have come to attend the auspicious banquet for His Honour Hou, and we are punctual to the minute.
Chang: I wonder which of the girls I shall sit next to?
Shen: I hear that there will be several queens of their profession.
Chang: Then we should have no difficulty in winning their favours.
Ting: But are you rich enough to afford such luxuries?
Chang: Everybody can get some outside help. Look at His Honour Hou. Has he had to spend a penny of his own on this?
Shen: Stop gossiping. He is changing his clothes upstairs. Let us go and greet him. [Together bowing to Hou, who is still on stage]:
Three Guests: Congratulations!
Hou: I thank you all for coming.
[Enter three singing-girls: Pien Yü-ching, K’ou Pai-men, and Cheng T’o-niang.]
Three Girls: Our passions run riot like grass, ever in a pleasant state of titillation. And though we are as delicate as willow catkins, we are kept busy night and day. [They greet the guests.]
Chang: From which pavilion of delight have you ladies sprung? Please announce your names.
First Girl: Are you the director of the conservatoire to ask us such a question?
Hou [laughing, to First Girl]: I should be happy to learn your honourable name.
First Girl: Your humble servant’s name is Pien Yü-ching, “Jade Capital.”
Hou: “Fairy from the Jade Capital” would be more suitable.
Second Girl: And my name is K’ou Pai-men, “White Gate.”
Hou: You truly deserve it.
Third Girl [a clown]: And I’m Cheng T’o-niang, “Lady Safety.”
Hou: You certainly look quite safe.
Chang: I’m afraid I don’t agree.
Shen: Why not?
Chang: She would never be safe, from her husband’s point of view.
Cheng: You should be ashamed of yourself. If I had not stuck to my job, you would never have grown so fat on overfeeding! [General laughter.]
Pien: Since the bridegroom is ready, let us ask Fragrant Princess to join him. [Mistress Li leads Fragrant Princess in.]
Shen: We should welcome the bride with music.
[Chang, Ting, and Shen play music on the right side of the stage. Bride and Groom greet each other.]
Cheng: It isn’t the custom in our houses to perform the ceremonies of worship, so we can go straight to the celebration wine.[4]
[Bride and Groom take their seats, center; the three singing-girls sit near, at left. The Maid brings wine, which is served from the left.]
Hou [sings]:
In the company of famous flowers and willows,
Daily I write of love in jewelled rhymes,
Like Tu Mu of Yangchow,[5] clad in silken robes,
Entirely given to painting my beauty’s eyebrows
And teaching her perfection on the flute.
This very moment spring begins anew;
My fevered thirst will soon be quenched.
But oh, how slowly sinks the setting sun!
Meantime I’ll drink another cup of wine.
Fragrant Princess [sings]:
Flowers tremble on the terrace, curtains flutter.
My lord, so handsome and so elegant,
Withholds no mark of favour;
I shall be wife, not slave-girl, in his eyes,
And worthy must I prove;
A random flower still lovely,
A wild herb no less fragrant.
Under the glow of many scarlet lanterns,
Tonight I am to be the chosen bride.
Even adepts in the art of love would quail —
How fearful then a virgin’s trepidation!
Ting: Now that the red sun is swallowing the mountains and the crows are choosing their roosts, we should escort the young couple to their chamber.
Shen: Why such haste? His Honour Hou is a distinguished man of letters who has won the heart of an exceptional beauty. He has celebrated his happy union with wine, but poetry should not be neglected.
Chang: You are right. I’ll fetch ink and paper to wait upon his inspiration.
Hou: I need no paper, since I have a fan. I shall write a poem on it for Fragrant Princess to keep as a lifelong token of my love.
Cheng: Marvelous! Let me hold the ink-slab for you.
Li: Such a freak is only fit to remove His Honour’s shoes.
Pien: Fragrant Princess should hold the ink-slab.
All: That is correct.
[Fragrant Princess does accordingly, while Hou writes on the fan. All chant the words of his poem.]
All [chanting]:
On a path between two rows of crimson towers,
The lucky Prince advances in his chariot.
From the magnolias he turns aside
To gaze in rapture at the breeze-blown peach blossoms.
All: What an exquisite poem! Fragrant Princess, mind you keep it carefully. [Fragrant Princess puts the fan in her sleeve.]
Cheng: Though we may not be as pretty as peach blossoms, why should he call us magnolias?
Chang: Don’t worry; the magnolia withers, but returns to life in the spring.
Cheng: That’s as may be, but who will water my blossom?
Maid [entering with a scroll]: His Honour Yang has sent you these verses.
Hou [takes it and reads aloud]:
Lady Fragrance was born with a beauty to overwhelm cities,
Yet how demurely she yields to her lord’s embrace!
In his arms she is like the goddess of the twelve Magic Mountains,
Appearing in a dream to the King of Ch’u.
Hou: That old gentleman shows a profound understanding of love. His verse is admirable.
Chang: It is a fine evocation of Fragrant Princess’s slender grace. She reminds me of the jade pendant of a scented fan.
Cheng: Well, what’s a jade pendant worth, anyway? At least I’m an amber one! [All laugh.]
Ting: Let us have more music to inspire the young couple to drink.
Cheng: And excite them all the more to enter the love nest.
[Wine and music follow.]
Hou and Fragrant Princess [singing a duet]:
These golden cups create a thirst for wine,
And friendly voices urge us on to drink.
The hour is late; we droop with drowsiness,
Furtively clasping hands, our eager eyes
Look forward to a night of endless bliss,
Longing to loosen our hibiscus clothes.
Burn out, oh candles! Let the feast be done
Ere the palace water-clock its course has run!
Ting: The second watch is announced; it is growing late. Let the banquet be cleared away.
Chang: But we have not finished all the dishes. I
t would be a pity to remove them.
Cheng: I haven’t eaten enough, either. Please wait awhile.
Pien: Stop fussing. Let us escort the young couple with music to their chamber.
All [singing]:
To the strains of pipes and flutes we descend the stair,
Swaying to the lilt of songs under glowing lamplight.
On yonder heavenly terrace the comely pair
Will enter the ’broidered haven of scented curtains
While others knit their brows with envy. Lo,
How beautiful their wine-flushed self-abandon!
Such love as this was certainly predestined.
Ere the palace water-clock its course has run!”
[Exeunt Hou and Fragrant Princess hand in hand.]
Chang: Let us divide into couples and all go to bed together.
Cheng: Old Chang, you’d better not delude yourself. I’ll take nothing less than hard cash for favours. [Chang hands her ten coppers and she counts them.]
All [singing in chorus]:
The misty moon above the Ch’in-huai River
Abides forever,
Yet how much powder and rouge are washed away
Day after day!
Irrevocably love’s supreme delight
Is lost each night.
Ting:
South of the river grow the flowers, the current flows fast away.
K’ou:
All who live on the river’s banks are debonair and gay.
Shen:
Though your home be distant many a league, through clouds of dust and spray,
Pien:
Here ballads of love are sung till break of day.
Illustration: Hou Fang-yü (sings): “Burn out, o candles, let the feast be done / Ere the palace water-clock its course has run!”
[1] An allusion to Ssu-ma Hsiang-ju, died 117 B.C., a Han dynasty poet whose singing so captivated the young widow Cho Wen-chün that she eloped with him. They set up a small wine shop, where she served the customers and he washed the cups. Shamed by such hippie conduct, her wealthy father took them back into his favour. Ssu-ma’s fame as a poet reached the Emperor Wu-ti, who appointed him to high office.
[2] Successful examination candidates were eulogized as having plucked the blossoms of the mythical cassia tree tended by the goddess in the moon.
The Peach Blossom Fan Page 8