µ¶þ³öScene 2
{5½À À
À ÷¹ þüÀ
»¹<û¤±
Once again, I take the guise
of the master of ceremonies-
responsible for libation and
offerings, as well as witness
to the proceedings.
¼û¤¹}
¼û¤½y
There are things I have seen
and heard you might find
wondrous:
4 +
t´´ ³¡
for when members of the
Revival Society assaulted
Ruan Dacheng, I was there.
ºk"ùú¼
Àþý ²¼û¹ý
And when Hou Fangyu wed
the great beauty of the south,
Li Xiangjun, I was present, too.
½y {
¾ª ~´«
Today, we admired the
elegance of their first
meeting, but since it is a
play,
À »·¬
» »¼þ
allow me to tell you one
thing in advance:
úkü"þ©
»±¿ l
û õ±¸ïÀ
as long as Hou Fangyu
remains in Nanjing, he will
find it difficult to defray the
costs of a wedding, given his
barren pocketbook.
»ó
ñ ¾ï ´ý!µ1¸À´
That is no cause for sorrow.
Leave the feasting and the
trousseau to me.
Á»ô¶ú ?
»»¿´À´
My friends, prick up your ears and keep
your eyes peeled: there is more to come.
ü² Á¬
辡æ
A sweet fragrance spreads to
the horizon, intoxicating and
passionate. The girl trembles
like a catkin on the branch.
ò « ºûµû
À ·û (
It is as if a painted butterfly
were yearning to fly off her
fan. A vision of loveliness,
she elegantly descends from
the Phoenix Abode.
¡¾Áº
Áº´¸³ ³ èÁø
In the Southern Dynasties,
the pleasures of literature
and leisure reached their
apogee,
w¼ ¶º
and scholars cloistered
themselves off from the
world with their favourites.
À
½ì!¶
My beloved's gentle weight
on my shoulder brings to
mind that glorious era.
pü÷ ¸µ5
´ôôº
I paint her ebony eyebrows,
and teach her to play the
flute. Thus do I let the germ
of love mature.
ò²¡¼±þ
Ah, this passion of mine
needs a loving remedy.
« 1³¥
¸ûµ»±¾
Now, the sun disappears
behind the hills, casting
shadows on my emptying
cup.
¡¾ðû¡¿
¥(»¨²ü Á±7¶
Flowers quiver in the
courtesan's quarters, the
curtain trembles in the wind:
â
I lean against my beloved,
strong and daring.
´º
½ ¿ w
Our love knows no bounds;
for though I am only a lowly
courtesan, I needn't perform a concubine's tasks.
;¨ °² ú
ûµ÷ ö
The wildflower displays
brighter colours, the
untamed herbs smell sweeter.
Though of low birth, still I
yearn for noble station.
½üµðtº x
The quilts are blushing in
the lamplight.
¼û¹ þ¿²æ
¶ù~
For, even if this were an
everyday matter, I should still
be shy; how much more so
since it is the very first time.
¡¾½½¸á¿
´ºü»¿ ä¾
In an amorous night, a
moment may stretch to
eternity.
ðõ½=?
µ½µ»
Though we yearned to be
alone during the feast, we
dared not retire behind
these lotus curtains,
¹¬ºøµ¾¡Á«»¨©
as the water-clock
impatiently brimmed over.
¶ ;À¯
³ Áú¢¶ù» Àö5
We are much obliged to you,
Mr. Yang. Your kindness has
prepared the child's
connubial bliss.
ºõ
¹À´¶¨q<÷
Not at all. But a betrothal
should also produce at least
one literary gem!
«À
« w
-Where is the poem?
-Inscribed on the fan.
º»±ú° 6ù
õ5¹²$
What a beautiful gossamer
fan! And such an appealing
fragrance!
¼5À ¥»¾¶1
õ óõù¸»½³µ
¡°Along the narrow paths
where the courtesans dwell,
the noblemen ride in the
opulence of their carriages.
꾡 Á ÷
²»¼°¶«· Àè
Don't the riverbank trees
seem to wilt, at the sight of
Xiangjun¡¯s vernal beauty?¡±
þý²»À¢´ «
Truly a superb poem! And
one that does justice to
Xiangjun's loveliness!
¿´½rÁü¸¶t
»»Á » ò
®· ò ¶þ·
Adorned with pearls and
jade, arrayed in damask, her
beauty far exceeds any
usual measure.
À¯ªºÀ½ î
À´ ;¨®¿
Mister Yang, it embarrasses
me to think how you have
spent your money so freely
in our humble quarters.
k¼ ®À¢
À¯©® û
It fills me with shame to
think that your aid has met
with no recompense
whatsoever.
½¸ö÷°
1|±¨
May I ask the reason for
your selfless comportment,
that I might know how best
to repay you?
À
!µ ¼î{
´÷¬³ +º²¾õ²»°²
Xiangjun is quite right.
Though you and I have not
been acquainted long, I am
deeply in your debt. Such an
obligation makes me uneasy.
ñ ¾ï
<·vþ°=
½3ö»³þ®
The trousseau and the
banquet cost over 200 taels;
the funds were all provided
by Huai Ning.
8ö²ô»³þ
But who is Huai Ning?
´ô
ý
-You can't mean Ruan
Dacheng?
-Indeed I do.
´a
Ruan Dacheng: Zhao Yutao
´±2º££¬
v¿¿ºµ³·ù
(Ruan Dacheng, an official
dismissed for his
association with the
villainous eunuch Wei
Zhongxian)
𾾡· ¾ ýb
®Á÷° Àg¸ÀÁ
The past has flown and once
mighty men have dispersed.
As my hair greys, all that
remains are my complaints.
¹´
´ ²ÿµû¼
My humble name is Ruan
Dacheng, gifted in prose
and poetry. Once, I garnered
great fame in the imperial
exams.
¿z ¼
Àûv
But now, my star has fallen
through self-love and
factionalism.
|v¿º®
±öù ®Á
Looking for a benefactor, I
became the crony of
he eunuch Wei Zhongxian.
´¦´¦»÷¹¥
But after his fall from favour,
my former allegiance earned
me many curses and blows.
5Àºû¹
À»²8´<®
¼²»»°
If heaven smiles upon me, I
may yet rise from the ashes.
But that is not to the point:
ðzúð
Á xöò»¶zt
A few days ago, I was paying a
visit to a temple when five
scholars viciously attacked me.
½zúý÷
ý¸ö¹«»¶z
And just today three young
nobles borrowed my troupe of actors,
and cursed me when they were finished.
»:úï
´ø Á³k
Only Hou Fangyu has never
spurned me.
ª½ö
¹³öÁ ®
Wanting to put him in my
debt by contriving to do him
a favour, I have provided the
money he requires to wed Li
Xiangjun.
ûªºù ý
²»¹ýû}»®
-But why should he wish to do such a thing?
-It is a mere gesture betokening
his friendship.
´t
»¿~ø®+ õ
Though Ruan Dacheng's
motives are evident, it would
be wrong to coldly refuse him.
÷<û µ±;¹ý
When I see him tomorrow,
I will be sure to thank him.
¹ úµõ»°
´÷¸½(¼ Á®³ e¾¡
How can you speak in that
way? Ruan Dacheng is a
villainous official totally
devoid of honesty and
shame.
¸¾ n ²»
Even women and children
know enough to curse and
despise him.
ûù¥® ¹ ú®
¹ 4¦ºµô
If all revile him and only you
stand by his side, do you not
realise the consequences
you may bring upon your
head?
¡¾´¨²¦þ¡¿
²»ü °{°¶ùý²
Do not speak without careful
consideration, or flippantly
make promises.
ª ûû
² wÀö3¤
If you in any way help him to
avert the disaster which
threatens his life, you will
expose yourself to slander.
ûú°³ñ
¹ñª ý·ù«
You mustn¡®t let something
like the gift of a trousseau
cloud your judgement. Shady
private obligations can only
be to the detriment of the
general good.
ªµÀ8¼þ 9
-·r»µ½þýÀ
You must understand that
hairpins, baubles, or fine
raiment holds no charm for
one such as I.
9 À »·Á
²¼¾£ û
What does it matter if I must
dispense with such trifles? I
am willing to live in poverty;
for even a pauper may earn
honour for her virtue.
°¡}ºúö«÷ ¶¼¶ª»µ
¿ ç¿ ç
But what a shame to disdain
such finery! What a pity!
°¡}}þýø
ﲸÁ
Ah! What temperament,
what staunchness she
possesses!
ºúú
þýµøµ¹²»
ú ú·²
Very well! The nobility of
Xiangjun's sentiments put
my own to shame. Truly, she
is an ideal companion.
¡¾ðû¡¿
½¿µ ý=«û½½²
A courtesan too may cherish
virtue.
« g#³¯
» |» ;
Indeed, it is rather we
scholars who have ceased
to make moral distinctions.
½ºû ·÷º³£
:
Virtue and reputation are no
common attributes. Where
they are concerned, careful
consideration is called for.
°³¿´þý ùúk
It was always apparent that
Xiangjun belonged to the
great beauties of our age.
jÁü¸¶t
%» ò
But without the ornaments in
her hair or her rich apparel,
®· ò ®·
¸ü¾õ¿p®
the natural beauty which is
her own shines even more
brightly.
¸´
I take my leave.
)ñ
- ¼®
þý²»Á®
Wencong, these articles
belong to Ruan Dacheng.
Xiangjun has no use for
them, and neither have I.
»¹!%°
Á ¶«÷ µ¹µÿ ç
-You had best take them
away.
-What a shame to refuse
such beautiful things!
¶ ô±»
³ öøÀ´þ¡»¹
a generous heart has
wasted itself on the
ungrateful. The goodwill I
set out with has vanished
entirely.
Á À¯
-Good day to you.
-Mr. Yang!
·úú¾ý²»>
Without Hou Fangyu's help,
I am lost irredeemably.
½{ºµ³¼£¿
ôú÷±
By consorting with the foul
eunuch, you have cast
doubts on your own
behaviour. No one can
appeal on your behalf.
lÀ 2 2?
How cruel it is that my fellow
scholars should seek to
harm me. What misery! What
wretchedness!
2Àÿ Á Á
I fully understand your
misfortunes.
±(· Á
ûµ±µÀ²À
Once, when I was a man of
great clout, I relied on the
fierce eunuch to pave my
way.
½ °:®»
£Á𳿠Á
Today, now that my influence
has vanished, all that remains
is my misbegotten self.
õµ÷»´
¾¹öÁ »¸öºµ³
How could I have been so
badly mistaken as to join the
eunuch's circle?
² ~ À¢»½»¼
°ÁðÁ
The mere thought of these
bygone affairs pricks my
remorse. But let them be!
öýþý Á¯¶ø ®
²»¹²»§ª¸9ý®¹
If only I could find a
magnanimous man to pity my
sorry lot, and offer me some
assistance! In that fashion, I
might yet right my misdeeds!
°³´
² öÁ¾®
²ôú|»1±
For I, too, am a learned man.
Indeed, even the finest
distinctions of righteousness
and villainy are known to me.
¿â
·¶½¸§
My brother-in-law, Ma
Shiying, has now been
named governor.
?ýµ¹ú¼¶9
u´ (1»ú±
õ Áõ
-The nation is in upheaval.
-I have heard that Ma Shiying
is a man of power and
conniving. Surely a great man!
¿ö>ø »½øõ
His position as a high official
commands great power and
is entirely unthreatened.
ºzó7
l´ù¾¼1
Great affairs demand the
attentions of great men. To
accomplish marvellous feats,
one needs a thorough plan.
¼ ·ü³¤½£
ºköóý»¨5
As the pernicious Ma Shiying
and Ruan Dacheng plot to
ruin the happy pair's plans,
¹«ú ú ÷Á "
á ùú¼ Àþý
Hou Fangyu and Li Xiangjun
remain in Nanjing.
ýµ íµ8²
¾}»´·ª·á
With the nation in upheaval, war
has reached even the banks of the
Yangtze River.
õø½ Áeµ
1¹::´¦æ
The prosperous city of
Nanjing withers away, while
on the battleground banners
fly and drumbeats sound.
Á÷Á÷¿ Á¬°9qø
The bandits and rebels inflict
defeat after defeat on the
imperial armies.
þúÁ¼
´ñ²:À½ ¾¹»¹¾ü
Meanwhile, Baron Zuo Liangyu,
the brilliant military commander,
has retreated to the west.
À ÷¹ þüÀ
»¹<û¤±
Once again, I take the guise
of the master of ceremonies-
responsible for libation and
offerings, as well as witness
to the proceedings.
¼û¤¹}
¼û¤½y
There are things I have seen
and heard you might find
wondrous:
4 +
t´´ ³¡
for when members of the
Revival Society assaulted
Ruan Dacheng, I was there.
ºk"ùú¼
Àþý ²¼û¹ý
And when Hou Fangyu wed
the great beauty of the south,
Li Xiangjun, I was present, too.
½y {
¾ª ~´«
Today, we admired the
elegance of their first
meeting, but since it is a
play,
À »·¬
» »¼þ
allow me to tell you one
thing in advance:
úkü"þ©
»±¿ l
û õ±¸ïÀ
as long as Hou Fangyu
remains in Nanjing, he will
find it difficult to defray the
costs of a wedding, given his
barren pocketbook.
»ó
ñ ¾ï ´ý!µ1¸À´
That is no cause for sorrow.
Leave the feasting and the
trousseau to me.
Á»ô¶ú ?
»»¿´À´
My friends, prick up your ears and keep
your eyes peeled: there is more to come.
ü² Á¬
辡æ
A sweet fragrance spreads to
the horizon, intoxicating and
passionate. The girl trembles
like a catkin on the branch.
ò « ºûµû
À ·û (
It is as if a painted butterfly
were yearning to fly off her
fan. A vision of loveliness,
she elegantly descends from
the Phoenix Abode.
¡¾Áº
Áº´¸³ ³ èÁø
In the Southern Dynasties,
the pleasures of literature
and leisure reached their
apogee,
w¼ ¶º
and scholars cloistered
themselves off from the
world with their favourites.
À
½ì!¶
My beloved's gentle weight
on my shoulder brings to
mind that glorious era.
pü÷ ¸µ5
´ôôº
I paint her ebony eyebrows,
and teach her to play the
flute. Thus do I let the germ
of love mature.
ò²¡¼±þ
Ah, this passion of mine
needs a loving remedy.
« 1³¥
¸ûµ»±¾
Now, the sun disappears
behind the hills, casting
shadows on my emptying
cup.
¡¾ðû¡¿
¥(»¨²ü Á±7¶
Flowers quiver in the
courtesan's quarters, the
curtain trembles in the wind:
â
I lean against my beloved,
strong and daring.
´º
½ ¿ w
Our love knows no bounds;
for though I am only a lowly
courtesan, I needn't perform a concubine's tasks.
;¨ °² ú
ûµ÷ ö
The wildflower displays
brighter colours, the
untamed herbs smell sweeter.
Though of low birth, still I
yearn for noble station.
½üµðtº x
The quilts are blushing in
the lamplight.
¼û¹ þ¿²æ
¶ù~
For, even if this were an
everyday matter, I should still
be shy; how much more so
since it is the very first time.
¡¾½½¸á¿
´ºü»¿ ä¾
In an amorous night, a
moment may stretch to
eternity.
ðõ½=?
µ½µ»
Though we yearned to be
alone during the feast, we
dared not retire behind
these lotus curtains,
¹¬ºøµ¾¡Á«»¨©
as the water-clock
impatiently brimmed over.
¶ ;À¯
³ Áú¢¶ù» Àö5
We are much obliged to you,
Mr. Yang. Your kindness has
prepared the child's
connubial bliss.
ºõ
¹À´¶¨q<÷
Not at all. But a betrothal
should also produce at least
one literary gem!
«À
« w
-Where is the poem?
-Inscribed on the fan.
º»±ú° 6ù
õ5¹²$
What a beautiful gossamer
fan! And such an appealing
fragrance!
¼5À ¥»¾¶1
õ óõù¸»½³µ
¡°Along the narrow paths
where the courtesans dwell,
the noblemen ride in the
opulence of their carriages.
꾡 Á ÷
²»¼°¶«· Àè
Don't the riverbank trees
seem to wilt, at the sight of
Xiangjun¡¯s vernal beauty?¡±
þý²»À¢´ «
Truly a superb poem! And
one that does justice to
Xiangjun's loveliness!
¿´½rÁü¸¶t
»»Á » ò
®· ò ¶þ·
Adorned with pearls and
jade, arrayed in damask, her
beauty far exceeds any
usual measure.
À¯ªºÀ½ î
À´ ;¨®¿
Mister Yang, it embarrasses
me to think how you have
spent your money so freely
in our humble quarters.
k¼ ®À¢
À¯©® û
It fills me with shame to
think that your aid has met
with no recompense
whatsoever.
½¸ö÷°
1|±¨
May I ask the reason for
your selfless comportment,
that I might know how best
to repay you?
À
!µ ¼î{
´÷¬³ +º²¾õ²»°²
Xiangjun is quite right.
Though you and I have not
been acquainted long, I am
deeply in your debt. Such an
obligation makes me uneasy.
ñ ¾ï
<·vþ°=
½3ö»³þ®
The trousseau and the
banquet cost over 200 taels;
the funds were all provided
by Huai Ning.
8ö²ô»³þ
But who is Huai Ning?
´ô
ý
-You can't mean Ruan
Dacheng?
-Indeed I do.
´a
Ruan Dacheng: Zhao Yutao
´±2º££¬
v¿¿ºµ³·ù
(Ruan Dacheng, an official
dismissed for his
association with the
villainous eunuch Wei
Zhongxian)
𾾡· ¾ ýb
®Á÷° Àg¸ÀÁ
The past has flown and once
mighty men have dispersed.
As my hair greys, all that
remains are my complaints.
¹´
´ ²ÿµû¼
My humble name is Ruan
Dacheng, gifted in prose
and poetry. Once, I garnered
great fame in the imperial
exams.
¿z ¼
Àûv
But now, my star has fallen
through self-love and
factionalism.
|v¿º®
±öù ®Á
Looking for a benefactor, I
became the crony of
he eunuch Wei Zhongxian.
´¦´¦»÷¹¥
But after his fall from favour,
my former allegiance earned
me many curses and blows.
5Àºû¹
À»²8´<®
¼²»»°
If heaven smiles upon me, I
may yet rise from the ashes.
But that is not to the point:
ðzúð
Á xöò»¶zt
A few days ago, I was paying a
visit to a temple when five
scholars viciously attacked me.
½zúý÷
ý¸ö¹«»¶z
And just today three young
nobles borrowed my troupe of actors,
and cursed me when they were finished.
»:úï
´ø Á³k
Only Hou Fangyu has never
spurned me.
ª½ö
¹³öÁ ®
Wanting to put him in my
debt by contriving to do him
a favour, I have provided the
money he requires to wed Li
Xiangjun.
ûªºù ý
²»¹ýû}»®
-But why should he wish to do such a thing?
-It is a mere gesture betokening
his friendship.
´t
»¿~ø®+ õ
Though Ruan Dacheng's
motives are evident, it would
be wrong to coldly refuse him.
÷<û µ±;¹ý
When I see him tomorrow,
I will be sure to thank him.
¹ úµõ»°
´÷¸½(¼ Á®³ e¾¡
How can you speak in that
way? Ruan Dacheng is a
villainous official totally
devoid of honesty and
shame.
¸¾ n ²»
Even women and children
know enough to curse and
despise him.
ûù¥® ¹ ú®
¹ 4¦ºµô
If all revile him and only you
stand by his side, do you not
realise the consequences
you may bring upon your
head?
¡¾´¨²¦þ¡¿
²»ü °{°¶ùý²
Do not speak without careful
consideration, or flippantly
make promises.
ª ûû
² wÀö3¤
If you in any way help him to
avert the disaster which
threatens his life, you will
expose yourself to slander.
ûú°³ñ
¹ñª ý·ù«
You mustn¡®t let something
like the gift of a trousseau
cloud your judgement. Shady
private obligations can only
be to the detriment of the
general good.
ªµÀ8¼þ 9
-·r»µ½þýÀ
You must understand that
hairpins, baubles, or fine
raiment holds no charm for
one such as I.
9 À »·Á
²¼¾£ û
What does it matter if I must
dispense with such trifles? I
am willing to live in poverty;
for even a pauper may earn
honour for her virtue.
°¡}ºúö«÷ ¶¼¶ª»µ
¿ ç¿ ç
But what a shame to disdain
such finery! What a pity!
°¡}}þýø
ﲸÁ
Ah! What temperament,
what staunchness she
possesses!
ºúú
þýµøµ¹²»
ú ú·²
Very well! The nobility of
Xiangjun's sentiments put
my own to shame. Truly, she
is an ideal companion.
¡¾ðû¡¿
½¿µ ý=«û½½²
A courtesan too may cherish
virtue.
« g#³¯
» |» ;
Indeed, it is rather we
scholars who have ceased
to make moral distinctions.
½ºû ·÷º³£
:
Virtue and reputation are no
common attributes. Where
they are concerned, careful
consideration is called for.
°³¿´þý ùúk
It was always apparent that
Xiangjun belonged to the
great beauties of our age.
jÁü¸¶t
%» ò
But without the ornaments in
her hair or her rich apparel,
®· ò ®·
¸ü¾õ¿p®
the natural beauty which is
her own shines even more
brightly.
¸´
I take my leave.
)ñ
- ¼®
þý²»Á®
Wencong, these articles
belong to Ruan Dacheng.
Xiangjun has no use for
them, and neither have I.
»¹!%°
Á ¶«÷ µ¹µÿ ç
-You had best take them
away.
-What a shame to refuse
such beautiful things!
¶ ô±»
³ öøÀ´þ¡»¹
a generous heart has
wasted itself on the
ungrateful. The goodwill I
set out with has vanished
entirely.
Á À¯
-Good day to you.
-Mr. Yang!
·úú¾ý²»>
Without Hou Fangyu's help,
I am lost irredeemably.
½{ºµ³¼£¿
ôú÷±
By consorting with the foul
eunuch, you have cast
doubts on your own
behaviour. No one can
appeal on your behalf.
lÀ 2 2?
How cruel it is that my fellow
scholars should seek to
harm me. What misery! What
wretchedness!
2Àÿ Á Á
I fully understand your
misfortunes.
±(· Á
ûµ±µÀ²À
Once, when I was a man of
great clout, I relied on the
fierce eunuch to pave my
way.
½ °:®»
£Á𳿠Á
Today, now that my influence
has vanished, all that remains
is my misbegotten self.
õµ÷»´
¾¹öÁ »¸öºµ³
How could I have been so
badly mistaken as to join the
eunuch's circle?
² ~ À¢»½»¼
°ÁðÁ
The mere thought of these
bygone affairs pricks my
remorse. But let them be!
öýþý Á¯¶ø ®
²»¹²»§ª¸9ý®¹
If only I could find a
magnanimous man to pity my
sorry lot, and offer me some
assistance! In that fashion, I
might yet right my misdeeds!
°³´
² öÁ¾®
²ôú|»1±
For I, too, am a learned man.
Indeed, even the finest
distinctions of righteousness
and villainy are known to me.
¿â
·¶½¸§
My brother-in-law, Ma
Shiying, has now been
named governor.
?ýµ¹ú¼¶9
u´ (1»ú±
õ Áõ
-The nation is in upheaval.
-I have heard that Ma Shiying
is a man of power and
conniving. Surely a great man!
¿ö>ø »½øõ
His position as a high official
commands great power and
is entirely unthreatened.
ºzó7
l´ù¾¼1
Great affairs demand the
attentions of great men. To
accomplish marvellous feats,
one needs a thorough plan.
¼ ·ü³¤½£
ºköóý»¨5
As the pernicious Ma Shiying
and Ruan Dacheng plot to
ruin the happy pair's plans,
¹«ú ú ÷Á "
á ùú¼ Àþý
Hou Fangyu and Li Xiangjun
remain in Nanjing.
ýµ íµ8²
¾}»´·ª·á
With the nation in upheaval, war
has reached even the banks of the
Yangtze River.
õø½ Áeµ
1¹::´¦æ
The prosperous city of
Nanjing withers away, while
on the battleground banners
fly and drumbeats sound.
Á÷Á÷¿ Á¬°9qø
The bandits and rebels inflict
defeat after defeat on the
imperial armies.
þúÁ¼
´ñ²:À½ ¾¹»¹¾ü
Meanwhile, Baron Zuo Liangyu,
the brilliant military commander,
has retreated to the west.
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