帕布莉卡第二折 闹简
（莺莺上云）红娘这早晚敢待来也。起得早了些儿，俺如今再睡些。
（睡科）
（红娘上云）奉小姐言语，去看张生，取得一封书来，回他话去。呀，不听得小姐声音，敢又睡哩，俺便入去看他。
绿窗一带迟迟日，
紫燕双飞寂寂春。
〔中吕·粉蝶儿〕（红娘唱）
风静帘闲，
绕窗纱麝兰香散，
启朱扉摇响双环。
绛台[1]高，
金荷[2]小，
银缸[3]犹灿。
我将他暖帐轻弹，
揭起海红罗软帘偷看。
〔醉春风〕
只见他钗亸玉斜横，
髻偏云乱挽。
日高犹自不明眸，
你好懒、懒！
（莺莺起身，欠身长叹科）
半晌抬身，几回搔耳，一声长叹。
是便是，只是这简帖儿，俺那好递与小姐？俺不如放在妆盒儿里，等他自见。
（放科）
（莺莺整妆，红娘偷觑科）
〔普天乐〕
晚妆残，
乌云軃，
轻匀了粉脸，
乱挽起云鬟。
将简帖儿拈，
把妆盒儿按，
拆开封皮孜孜看[4]，
颠来倒去不害心烦。
只见他厌的扢皱[5]了黛眉，
忽的低垂了粉颈，
氲的改变了朱颜。
（红做意科，云）呀，决撒[6]了也。
（莺莺怒科，云）红娘过来！
（红云）有。
（莺莺云）红娘，这东西哪里来的？我是相国的小姐，谁敢将这简帖儿来戏弄我！我几曾惯看这样东西来？我告过夫人，打下你个小贱人下截来！
（红云）小姐使我去，他着我将来。小姐不使我去，我敢问他讨来？我又不识字，知他写的是些甚么！
〔快活三〕
分明是你过犯[7]，
没来由把我摧残。
教别人颠倒恶心烦，
你不惯，
谁曾惯？
小姐休闹，比及你对夫人说科，我将这简帖儿，先到夫人行出首[8]去。
（莺莺怒云）你到夫人行，却出首谁来？
（红云）我出首张生。
（莺莺做意云）红娘，也罢，且饶他这一次。
（红云）小姐，怕不打下他下截来！
（莺莺云）我正不曾问你，张生病体如何？
（红云）我只不说。
（莺莺云）红娘，你便说咱！
〔朝天子〕
近间、面颜，
瘦得实难看。
不思量茶饭，
怕动弹。
（莺莺云）请一位好太医，看他证候咱。
（红云）他也无甚证候，他自己说来：
我是晓夜将佳期盼，
废寐忘餐。
黄昏清旦，
望东墙淹泪眼。
我这病患要安，
只除是出点风流汗。
（莺莺云）红娘，早是你口稳来，若别人知道呵，成何家法！今后他这般的言语，你再也休提。我和张生，只是兄妹之情，有何别事？
（红云）是好话也呵。
〔四边静〕
怕人家调犯[9]，
早晚怕夫人行破绽，
只是你我何安？
又问甚他危难？
你只撺掇[10]上竿，
拔了梯儿看。
（莺莺云）虽是我家亏他，他岂得如此？你将纸笔过来，我写将去回他，着他下次休得这般。
（红云）小姐，你写甚的那？你何苦如此。
（莺莺云）红娘，你不知道。
（写科）
（莺莺云）红娘，你将去对他说：“小姐遣看先生，乃兄妹之礼，非有他意。再一遭儿是这般呵，必告俺夫人知道。”红娘，和你小贱人都有话说也！
（红云）小姐，你又来！这帖儿我不将去，你何苦如此？
（莺莺掷书地下云）这妮子，好没分晓！
（莺莺下）
（红娘拾书叹云）咳，小姐，你将这个性儿那里使也？
〔脱布衫〕
小孩儿口没遮拦，
一味的将言语摧残。
把似你使性子，
休思量秀才，
做多少好人家[11]风范。
〔小梁州〕
我为你梦里成双觉后单，
废寝忘餐。
罗衣不耐五更寒，
愁无限，
寂寞泪阑干[12]。
〔换头〕
似等辰勾[13]，
空把佳期盼，
我将角门儿更不牢，
愿你做夫妻无危难。
你向筵席头上整扮，
我做个缝了口的撮合山[14]。
〔石榴花〕
你晚妆楼上杏花残，
犹自怯衣单。
那一夜听琴时，
露重月明间。
为甚向晚，不怕春寒，
几乎险被先生馔。
那其间岂不胡颜。
为他不酸不醋风魔汉，
隔窗儿险化做望夫山。
〔斗鹌鹑〕
你既用心儿拨雨撩云，
我便好意儿传书递简。
不肯搜自己狂为，
只待觅别人破绽。
受艾焙[15]，
我权时忍这番。
畅好是奸。
对别人巧语花言，
背地里愁眉泪眼。
俺若不去来，道俺违拗他。张生又等俺回话，只得再到书房。
（推门科）
（张生上云）红娘姐来了，简帖儿如何？
（红云）不济事了！先生休傻。
（张生云）小生简帖儿，是一道会亲的符箓。只是红娘姐不肯用心，故致如此。
（红云）是我不用心？哦，先生，头上有天哩！你那个简帖儿里面好听也！
〔上小楼〕
这是先生命悭，
不是红娘违慢。
那的做了你的招状[16]，
他的勾头[17]，
我的公案。
若不觑面颜，
厮顾盼，
担饶轻慢，
争些儿[18]把奴拖犯。
〔后〕
从今后我相会少，
你见面难。
月暗西厢，
便如凤去秦楼，
云敛巫山。
你也赸[19]，
我也讪；
请先生休讪[20]，
早寻个酒阑人散。
只此，足下再也不必申诉肺腑。怕夫人寻我，我回去也。
（张生云）红娘姐。
（定科）
（良久，张生哭云）红娘姐，你一去呵，更望谁与小生分剖？
（张生跪云）红娘姐，红娘姐，你是必做个道理，方可救得小生一命。
（红娘云）先生，你是读书才子，岂不知此意！
〔满庭芳〕
你休呆里撒奸[21]。
你待恩情美满，
苦我骨肉摧残。
他只少手掿棍儿摩娑看，
我粗麻线怎过针关？
定要我拄着拐帮闲钻懒，
缝合口送暖偷寒，
前已是踏着犯。
（张生跪不起，哭云）小生更无别路，一条性命都只在红娘姐身上，红娘姐！
我不禁不起你甜话儿热趱，好教我左右做人难。
我没来由只管分说，小姐回你的书，你自看者。
（递书科）
（张生拆书，读毕，起立笑云）呀，红娘姐！
（又读毕云）红娘姐，今日有这场喜事！
（又读毕云）早知小姐书至，理合应接。接待不及，切勿见罪！红娘姐，和你也欢喜。
（红云）却是怎么？
（张生笑云）小姐骂我都是假，书中之意，哩也波，哩也啰哩[22]。
（红云）怎么？
（张生云）书中约我今夜花园里去。
（红云）约你花园里去怎么？
（张生云）约我后花园里去相会。
（红云）相会怎么？
（张生笑云）红娘姐，你道相会怎么哩？
（红云）我只不信！
（张生云）不信由你。
（红云）你试读与我听。
（张生云）是五言诗四句哩，妙也！
“待月西厢下，
迎风户半开。
拂墙花影动，
疑是玉人来。”
红娘姐，你不信？
（红云）此是甚么解？
（张生云）有甚么解？
（红云）我真个不解。
（张生云）我便解波：“待月西厢下”，着我待月上而来；“迎风户半开”，他开门等我；“拂墙花影动”，着我跳过墙来；“疑是玉人来”，这句没有解，是说我至矣。
（红云）真个如此解？
（张生云）不是这般解，红娘姐你来解。不敢欺红娘姐，小生乃猜诗谜的社家[23]，风流隋何，浪子陆贾。不是这般解，怎解？
（红云）真个如此写？
（张生云）现在——
（红定科，良久）
（张生又读科）
（红云）真个如此写？
（张生笑云）红娘姐，好笑也！如今现在——
（红怒云）你看我小姐，原来在我行使乖道儿[24]！
〔耍孩儿〕
几曾见，
寄书的颠倒瞒着鱼雁？
小则小，心肠儿转关，
教你跳东墙，
“女”字边“干”。
原来五言包得三更枣，
四句埋将九里山。
你赤紧将人慢[25]，
你要会云雨闹中取静，
却教我寄音书忙里偷闲。
〔四煞〕
纸光明玉版，
字香渍麝兰，
行儿边湮透非娇汗？
是他一缄情泪红犹湿，
满纸春愁墨未干。
我也休疑难，
放着个玉堂学士，
任从你金雀鸦鬟。
〔三煞〕
将他来别样亲，
把俺来取次看，
是几时孟光接了梁鸿案。
将他来甜言媚你三冬暖，
把俺来恶语伤人六月寒。
今日为头看：
看你个离魂倩女，
怎生的掷果潘安？
（张生云）只是小生读书人，怎生跳得花园墙过？
〔二煞〕
拂墙花又低，
迎风户半，
偷香手段今番按。
你怕墙高怎把龙门跳，
嫌花密难将仙桂攀。
疾忙去，休辞惮。
他望穿了盈盈秋水，
蹙损了淡淡春山[26]。
（张生云）小生曾见花园，已经两遭。
〔煞尾〕
虽是去两遭，
敢不如这番。
你当初隔墙酬和都胡侃，
证果是他今朝这一简。
（红娘下）
（张生云）叹万事自有分定。适才红娘来，千不欢喜，万不欢喜，谁想小姐有此一场好事？小生实是猜诗谜的社家，风流隋何，浪子陆贾，此四句诗，不是这般解，又怎解？“待月西厢下”，是必须待得月上；“迎风户半开”，门方开了；“拂墙花影动，疑是玉人来”，墙上有花影，小生方好去。今日这颓天，偏百般的难得晚。天那，你有万物于人，何苦争此一日？疾下去波！
快书快友快谈论，
不觉开西立又昏。
今日碧桃花有约，
鳔胶黏了又生根。
呀，才向午也！再等一等。又看咱，今日百般的难得下去呵！
空青万里无云，
悠然扇作微薰。
何处缩天有术，
便教逐日西沉？
呵，初倒西也，再等一等咱。
谁将三足乌[27]，
来向天上阁。
安得后羿弓，
射此一轮落！
谢天谢地！日光菩萨，你也有下去之日。呀，却早上灯也！呀，却早发擂也！呀，却早撞钟也！拽上书房门，到得那里，手挽着垂杨，滴溜扑碌跳过墙去，抱住小姐。咦，小姐，我只替你愁哩，
二十颗珠藏简帖，
三千年果在花园。
（张生下）
注释：
[1]绛台：红色的蜡烛台。
[2]金荷：烛台上部承接融化了的烛液的荷叶形铜盘，故亦称铜荷。
[3]银（ɡānɡ）：灯。
[4]孜孜看：细细看、认真看。
[5]扢（ɡē）皱：紧皱、皱起（眉）。
[6]决撒：坏事了、露馅儿了、败露了。
[7]过犯：罪过。
[8]出首：自首、交代。
[9]调犯：说长道短、嘲讽。
[10]撺掇（cuān duo）：从旁鼓动他人、怂恿。
[11]好人家：犹言官宦人家，即有身份的人家。
[12]泪阑干：涕泪横流。
[13]辰勾：即水星。
[14]撮合山：媒人。
[15]艾焙（bèi）：原是指以艾绒卷炙烤经穴处以驱病，此处为受训斥、被责备。
[16]招状：旧时犯人招以罪行时的供词。
[17]勾头：抓捕人犯时的拘票。
[18]争些儿：差点儿、险些个。
[19]赸（shàn）：离开、散伙。
[20]讪（shàn）：抱怨。
[21]呆里撒奸：表面故作诚实厚道而内藏奸狡。
[22]此为北方方言，并没有具体意思，就如同“如此这般”。
[23]解诗谜的社家：如同说解读诗谜的行家。
[24]道儿：圈套。
[25]慢：同瞒，欺骗。
[26]春山：形容美丽的眉形。
[27]三足乌：传说太阳里有三只脚爪的乌鸦，即以三足乌代指太阳。
Scene 2 The Billet-Doux
Yingying enters and says:
Rose may come back at any moment.As I got up earlier than usual,I will go again to sleep for a little.
(She sleeps.)
Rose enters and says:
My Young Mistress ordered me to see Master Zhang and I have brought her a letter.Why don’t I hear any sound of her?Has she gone to sleep again?I must go in and see.
The rising sun peeps slowly in her window screen;
A pair of swallows enlivens the lonely scene.
She sings to the tune of PINK BUTTERFLY:
The curtains hang around
The windows whence a fragrance of lily is spread;
My copper rings resound
When I open the doors painted red.
On crimson stand with golden leaf-like plate the light
Of silver candle is still bright.
I gently draw aside the curtain on her bed
And lift up the silk valance red
So as to have a peep
At her who’s still asleep.
Tune: INTOXICATED VERNAL WIND
I see her slanting hairpin of jade
And her cloud of hair unmade.
Although the sun is high in the sky,
She has not opened her bright eye.
How lazy she appears!
(Yingying rises,stretches herself and sighs deeply.)
Sitting up and scratching her ears,
She heaves a deep,deep sigh.
Rose says:
In such a case,how can I give her the letter?It would be better to put it in her toilet case and let her find it herself.
(She puts it there.)
(Yingying makes her toilet.Rose casts a furtive glance.)
Rose sings to the tune of UNIVERSAL JOY:
Faded her rouge of previous night,
Down falls the black cloud of her hair.
She puts upon her face a powder light
And arranges her locks without much care.
She takes the letter then
And reads it over and over again
Without indeed a sign of weariness and pain.
Suddenly now
Displeased,she knits her brow
And bends her head,
With anger her fair face turns red.
Rose,revealing her sentiment by dumb show,says:
Alas!The game is up.
Yingying says in anger:
Come here,Rose!
Rose says:
Yes.
Yingying says:
Where has this come from,Rose?I am the daughter of the late Prime Minister.Who dare to make fun of me with such a letter as this?When have I been used to read such a thing?I shall tell my mother so that she may give you,little imp,a good thrashing on the bottom.
Rose says:
It was you who sent me to him and he who sent me back with the letter.If you had not sent me to him,how could I have dared to ask him for it?Besides,I can not read.How could I know what he has written?
She sings to the tune of HAPPY THREE:
The fault is yours,it is quite clear.
Why should you shift on me the blame,my dear?
You want to make me suffer for what you have done.
If you were not,then who is used to such a fun?
She says:
Do not make so much fuss,my dear Young Mistress!It would be better for me than for you to take this letter to your mother and tell her all about it.
Yingying says in anger:
About what?
Rose says:
About Master Zhang.
Yingying,revealing her sentiment by dumb show,says:
Let me think it over,Rose.Perhaps it would be better to pardon him this time.
Rose says:
My dear Young Mistress,are you afraid he will be given a good thrushing on the bottom?
Yingying says:
I have not yet asked about Master Zhang’s health.
Rose says:
I will not tell you.
Yingying says:
Oh,Rose,do tell me!
Rose sings to the tune of HOMAGE TO EMPEROR:
His face becomes so thin
As to make me feel chagrin.
He has no desire to drink or to eat
And fears to move his feet.
Yingying says:
Why not call in a doctor to examine his illness?
Rose says:
He has no special illness.He said himself:
She continue to sing.
“I was sighing away
For our union night and day.
I forgot to eat and to sleep
Till evening faded into night deep.
I gazed at eastern wall
And copious tears began to fall.
My sickness would get worse
Unless my sweat be sweetened by hers.”
Yingying says:
You are always discreet of speech,Rose.What if others know of this?What will become of the honor of our family?Don’t tell me from now on whatever he says in such language as this!The relations between us are merely those of brother and sister,and nothing more.
Rose says:
Fine words!
She sings to the tune of FOUR-SIDE TRANQUILLITY:
His flirting with you,you fear,
Might lead to harm
When it’s discovered by your mother dear.
It would create alarm
For you and me.
Why should you care for him under any pretense
Since you’ve encouraged him to climb up the tree,
Removed the ladder and gazed with indifference?
Yingying says:
Although my family is under obligation to him,how can he be allowed to do this?Hand me pen and paper so that I may write him an answer,telling him not to do in this way again.
Rose says:
What are you going to write to him?Why should you trouble yourself again?
Yingying says:
You do not understand,Rose.
(She writes.)
She says:
Take this letter and say to him:“When my Young Mistress sent me to see you,sir,it was simply a matter of courtesy between sister and brother and it meant nothing else.If you repeat what you have just done,my Young Mistress will be obliged to tell her mother.”And Rose,you will have to answer for this!
Rose says:
Why,my dear Young Mistress,are you fussing again?I will not take your letter and you need not trouble yourself for that.
Yingying,throwing the letter on the ground,says:
How dare you,little chit!(Exit.)
Rose,picking up the letter,sighs and says:
Ah!my Young Mistress,why do you show such temper?
She sings to the tune of DOFFING THE CLOTHES:
You maiden young
Don’t know how to restrain your tongue,
Abusing others and making them feel sad
By giving vent to your own temper bad.
You think but of the scholar you cannot forget
Instead of the example to others you’ve set.
Tune: SMALL LIANGZHOU
In his dreams you and he were twain;
When he awoke,he was single again.
For your sake he forgot to eat and sleep;
His silken robe felt cold when night was deep.
Boundless his grief appears:
In solitude his face is crisscrossed with tears.
Tune: A SECOND STANZA
He longed for the happy union in vain
As for the rising Wain.
I’ve never shut the side door
So that you two may meet no obstacle any more.
I wish you would in full bridal array be seen
While I play the role of tacit go-between.
Tune: POMEGRANATE FLOWER
Making your toilet in your boudoir,you’re afraid
Your thin robe cannot keep out the cold when flowers fade.
Then when you heard the lute beneath the moon so bright,
Why didn’t you fear the cold on dewy vernal night?
Was it because you were devoured by your flame
For the scholar so that you felt no shame?
For that sour,crazy gallant alone,
You weren’t afraid of being frozen into stone.
Tune: FIGHT OF QUAILS
You are a flower
Thirsting for shower,
So I will be
A bearer of letters for you.
But you find fault with me
And won’t reproach yourself for the folly you do.
I can’t but bear
What is unfair
Like burning scar.
O how crafty you are!
Your speech in public plausible appears;
In private your brows knit,your eyes are filled with tears.
She says:
If I do not go with her letter,she will say I disobey her.And Master Zhang is waiting for me to bring an answer.What can I do but go again to the library?
(She knocks at the door.)
Master Zhang enters and says:
So you have come,Miss Rose’What about the letter?
Rose says:
It has failed.Don’t be silly,sir.
Master Zhang says:
My letter is a talisman to make lovers meet.How can it have failed?It must be you,Miss Rose,who were not zealous enough.
Rose says:
Was I not zealous enough,sir?Heaven above knows the truth.It was your letter that was anything but good.
She sings to the tune of ASCENDING THE ATTIC:
It’s you who were unlucky,sir,
Your message I dare not defer;
It turned out to be your confession clear,
A summons for you to appear,
A proof I’m also concerned in this case.
If my Young Mistress should not save my face,
And pardon your impertinent flame,
E’en I should bear the undeserved blame.
Tune: PETTY SONG
From now on meetings will be hard and visits rare;
The moon will no more shine on Western Bower,
The phoenix will leave the Pavilion fore’er,
And clouds won’t bring on Mountain-crest fresh shower.
You may take the road high
And I the low.
I pray,sir,do not sigh.
The feast is over and guests are bound to go.
She says:
This is the end of the matter.You,sir,need not tell me again your innermost feelings.My Mistress may be looking for me.I must return at once.
Master Zhang says.
Miss Rose!
(He remains motionless for a long time.)
(Weeping)
Miss Rose,once you have gone,who can I expect to plead my cause with?
(Kneeling down)
Miss Rose,Miss Rose,you must help me to have this matter put right and save my life.
Rose says:
A learned scholar as you are,sir,can you not understand how the matter stands?
She sings to the tune of COURTYARD FULL OF FRAGRANCE:
Don’t play the cunning with a foolish air!
While you want to enjoy your love-affair,
Why not think of the torture I shall stand?
My Young Mistress may beat me,rod in hand.
Like a thick rope,could I
Go through a needle’s eye?
If beaten,on a crutch I’d lean,
Could I still act as go-between?
If I should have my lips kept sealed,
How could I help you to be healed?
Master Zhang,still kneeling and weeping,says:
There is no other way for me.The only hope of saving my life depends on you,Miss Rose!
Rose says:
Why should I explain to you?Here is her answer to your letter.You can read it for yourself.
(She hands him the letter.)
Master Zhang,having opened and read the letter,gets up and says smilingly:Ah,Miss Rose!
(Reading once more)
Today is indeed a happy day,Miss Rose!
(Reading still once more)
If I had known your Young Mistress’letter was to arrive,I should have prepared for its reception.Now it is too late so I hope I may be excused.I am sure,Miss Rose,you will rejoice too.
Rose says:
What about?
Master Zhang says smilingly:
Her abuse of me is all put on.In the letter she says the contrary.
Rose says:
Really?
Master Zhang says:
In her letter she tells me to go to the garden tonight.
Rose says:
What for?
Master Zhang says:
For an assignation.
Rose says:
What is an assignation?
Master Zhang says:
To have a secret meeting with her,Miss Rose.
Rose says:
I do not believe it.
Master Zhang says:
You may believe it or not as you like.
Rose says:
Try to read me the letter.
Master Zhang says:
There are four verses of five characters,very implicit.
Wait for moonrise in Western Bower,
Where the breeze opens half the door.
The wall is shaded by dancing flowers
Then comes the one whom you adore.
Now,Miss Rose,do you still not believe it?
Rose says:
What does it mean?
Master Zhang says:
Don’t you understand it?
Rose says:
I don’t.
Master Zhang says:
Well,then I will explain it to you“Wait for moonrise in Western Bower”tells me the time to go to the garden.“Where the breeze opens half the door”means the door will be open for me.“The wall is shaded by dancing flowers”tells me to climb over the wall screened by the shadows of the flowers lest I should be seen.“Then comes the one whom you adore”needs no explanation.It simply means:“I am coming.”
Rose says:
Are you sure it is what she means?
Master Zhang says:
What else can she mean if not this,Miss Rose?To tell the truth,I am a master in solving riddles,full of romance and gallantry.If it is not explained in this way,how else can it be explained?
Rose says:
Can this be what she writes?
Master Zhang says:
Here it is.
(Rose remains motionless for a long time.)
(Master Zhang reads the letter again.)
Rose says:
Is it really what she writes?
Master Zhang says smilingly:
You are absurd,Miss Rose.Here it is.
Rose says angrily:
Then my Young Mistress has made a fool of me.
She sings to the tune of PLAYING THE CHILD:
O Who has ever
Seen a messenger befooled by the sender?
She is so clever,
Though she appears so young and tender.
She tells her lover to climb
Over the eastern wall for a tryst.
Five words hint at the time;
Four lines appeal to the lover missed.
About this critical affair,O mark!
I am kept in the dark.
You want the cloud
To bring fresh showers
For thirsting flowers
Rising above the crowd,
But order me to use my leisure
To gratify your pleasure.
Tune: LAST STANZA BUT THREE
As brilliant jade her letter paper is as neat;
As lily’s fragrance her words are as sweet.
The lines are wet
Not with her fragrant sweat
But with the rosy tear
Wept for her lover dear.
The ink is not yet dried,
Like grief of rainy spring at rising tide.
You need not doubt,sir,from now on
But do your best to win high literary renown!
Then you may do what you will of your lady fair
With golden bird on cloudy hair.
Tune: LAST STANZA BUT TWO
To him you’ve shown affection,my Young Mistress dear,
But of me you make light.
When has he become the husband you revere?
Your honeyed words would make him warm in winter’s height;
Even mid-summer your disfavor would make me cold.
Today I’ll keep a watch on you and behold
How can a metamorphosed lady fair
Attract her handsome lover with a lovely pear.
Master Zhang says:
How can a student like me climb over a garden wall?
Rose sings to the tune of LAST STANZA BUT ONE :
The wall’s not high,caressed by full-blown trees;
The door is only half-closed in the breeze.
If you attempt to steal a lady sweet,
You should have nimble hands and feet.
If you’re afraid of the height of the wall,
How can you climb o’er glorious Dragon’s Gate at all?
If amid thickset rose-bushes you’re not free,
How can you pluck the flower on the laurel tree?
Make haste and have no fear!
Don’t weary the longing eyes of your lady dear
Nor let her eyebrows still,
Knit like distant vernal hill!
Master Zhang says:
I have already visited the garden twice.
Rose sings to the tune of EPILOGUE:
Though you have been there twice,
This visit will be far more nice.
Your verse exchange was mere by-play,
The real thing is her letter of today.
(Exit.)
Master Zhang says:
Alas!All things are fated.When Rose came here,I was depressed beyond words.But who could have anticipated the happiness my young lady would send me in her letter?I am indeed a master in the art of solving riddles,full of romance and gallantry.If her verse were not interpreted in this way,how else then should it be interpreted?“Wait for moonrise in Western Bower”tells me the time to go to the garden.“Where the breeze opens half the door”shows me the place.“The wall is shaded by dancing flowers,Then comes the one whom you adore.”These lines tell me how to climb over the wall unperceived.But the damned daylight seems unwilling to depart.O Heaven!You give everything to everyone.Why won’t you give me a single day!O Sun!Will you go down quickly!
When I talk with a happy friend,
The sun will soon westward descend.
Today I am to meet my love;
The sun seems glued and rooted above.
It is now only midday.I must still wait for a long time.When I look again,I find everything seems against the sun’s setting today.
No cloud in azure sky
With fragrance drifting by.
Who could shorten the day,
Driving the sun away?
Ah!The sun begins to sink in the west.I have to wait still for a long while.
The sun’s a golden crow
In Heaven’s palace high.
I’d shoot it with a bow
Down from the western sky.
Thanks to Heaven and Earth!The sun is down at last.Ah!Lamps are lit.Ah!Drums are beaten.Ah!Evening bells are ringing.I’ll close the door of the library and go out.When I arrive there,I’ll clasp the branch of the drooping willow-tree and climb over the wall in a trice.I’ll hold my young lady in my arms.O my dear young lady!I feel sorry only for you.
Your letter’s twenty words hide twenty pearls below;
I’ll pluck the fruit whose seed was sown three lives ago.
(Exit.)
