第四本 ACT IV

第一折 酬简

（莺莺上云）红娘传简帖儿去，约张生今夕与他相会。等红娘来，做个商量。

（红娘上云）小姐着俺送简帖儿与张生，约他今夕相会。俺怕又变卦，送了他性命，不是耍。俺见小姐去，看他说甚的。

（莺莺云）红娘，收拾卧房，我去睡。

（红云）不争你睡呵，那里发付那人？

（莺莺云）甚么那人？

（红云）小姐，你又来也！送了人性命不是耍。你若又番悔，我出首与夫人：“小姐着我将简帖儿约下张生来。”

（莺莺云）这小妮子倒会放刁。

（红云）不是红娘放刁，其实小姐切不可又如此。

（莺莺云）只是羞人答答的。

（红云）谁见来？除却红娘，并无第三个人。

（红娘催云）去来！去来！

（莺莺不语科）

（红娘催云）小姐，没奈何，去来！去来！

（莺莺不语，做意科）

（红娘催云）小姐，我们去来！去来！

（莺莺不语，行又住科）

（红娘催云）小姐，又立住怎么？去来！去来！

（莺莺不语，行科）

（红娘云）我小姐语言虽是强，脚步儿早已行也。

〔正宫·端正好〕（红娘唱）

因小姐玉精神，

花模样，

无倒断^[1]晓夜思量。

今夜出个至诚心，

盖抹^[2]咱瞒天谎。

出画阁，

向书房，

离楚岫，

赴高唐，

学窃玉，

试偷香，

巫娥女，

楚襄王；

楚襄王，敢先在阳台上。

（莺莺随红娘下）

（张生上云）小姐着红娘，将简帖儿约小生，今夕相会。这早晚初更尽呵，怎不见来？人间良夜静复静，天上美人来不来？

〔仙吕·点绛唇〕（张生唱）

伫立闲阶，

夜深香霭横金界。

潇洒^[3]书斋，

闷杀读书客。

〔混江龙〕

彩云何在，

月明如水浸楼台。

僧居禅室，

鸦噪庭槐。

风弄竹声，

只道金珮响；

月移花影，

疑是玉人来。

意悬悬业眼，

急攘攘情怀。

身心一片，

无处安排，

呆打孩^[4]倚定门儿待。

越越的^[5]青鸾信杳，

黄犬音乖。

〔油葫芦〕

我情思昏昏眼倦开，

单枕侧，

梦魂几入楚阳台。

早知恁无明无夜因他害，

想当初不如不遇倾城色。

人有过，

必自责，

勿惮改，

我却待“贤贤易色”将心戒，

怎当他兜的上心来。

〔天下乐〕

我倚定门儿手托腮，

好着我难猜：

来也那不来？

夫人行料应难离侧。

望得人眼欲穿，

想得人心越窄。

多管是冤家不自在。

偌早晚不来，莫不又是谎？

〔那吒令〕

他若是肯来，

早身离贵宅。

他若是到来，

便春生敝斋。

他若是不来，

似石沉大海。

数着他脚步儿行，

靠着这窗楹儿待。

寄语^[6]多才：

〔鹊踏枝〕

恁的般恶抢白，

并不曾记心怀;

博得个意转心回，

许我夜去明来。

调眼色已经半载，

这其间委实难捱。

〔寄生草〕

安排着害，

准备着抬^[7]。

想着这异乡身，

强把茶汤捱。

只为你可憎才，

熬定心肠耐。

办一片至诚心，

留得形骸在。

试教司天台打算半年愁，

端的太平车敢有十馀载。

（红娘上云）小姐，我过去，你只在这里。

（敲门科）

（张生云）小姐来也！

（红云）小姐来也，你接了衾枕者。

（张生揖云）红娘姐，小生此时一言难尽，惟天可表！

（红云）你放轻者，休了他！你只在这里，我迎他去。

（红娘推莺莺上云）小姐，你进去，我在窗儿外等你。

（张生见莺莺，跪抱云）张珙有多少福，敢劳小姐下降。

〔村里迓鼓〕

猛见了可憎模样，

早医可九分不快。

先前见责，

谁承望今宵相待！

教小姐这般用心，

不才珙，

合跪拜。

小生无宋玉般情，

潘安般貌，

子建般才；

小姐，你只可怜我为人在客。

（莺莺不语）

（张生起，捱莺莺坐科）

〔元和令〕

绣鞋儿刚半拆^[8]。

柳腰儿恰一搦^[9]。

羞答答不肯把头抬，

只将鸳枕捱。

云鬟仿佛坠金钗，

偏宜髻儿歪。

〔上马娇〕

我将你纽扣儿松，

我将你罗带儿解。

兰麝散幽斋，

不良会把人禁害。

咍^[10]，

怎不回过脸儿来？

（张生抱莺莺，莺莺不语科）

〔胜葫芦〕

软玉温香抱满怀。

呀，刘阮到天台。

春至人间花弄色。

柳腰款摆，

花心轻拆，

露滴牡丹开。

〔后〕

蘸着些儿麻上来。

鱼水得和谐。

嫩蕊娇香蝶恣采。

你半推半就，

我又惊又爱。

檀口揾香腮。

〔柳叶儿〕

我把你做心肝般看待，

点污了小姐清白。

我忘餐废寝舒心害，

若不真心耐，

至心捱，

怎能勾这相思苦尽甘来。

〔青歌儿〕

成就了今宵欢爱，

魂飞在九霄云外。

投至得见你个多情小奶奶，

你看憔悴形骸，

瘦似麻秸！

今夜和谐，

犹是疑猜。

露滴香埃，

风静闲阶，

月射书斋，

云锁阳台。

我审视明白，

难道是昨夜梦中来？

（张生起，跪谢云）张珙今夕得侍小姐，终身犬马之报。

（莺莺不语科）

（红娘请云）小姐，回去波，怕夫人觉来。

（莺莺起行，不语科）

（张生携莺莺手，再看科）

愁无奈。

〔寄生草〕

多丰韵，

忒稔色。

乍时相见教人害，

霎时不见教人怪，

些时得见教人爱。

今宵同会碧纱^[11]，

何时重解香罗带？

（红娘催云）小姐，快回去波，怕夫人觉来。

（莺莺不语，行下阶科）

（张生双携莺莺手，再看科）

〔赚煞尾〕

春意透酥胸，

春色横眉黛，

贱却那人间玉帛。

杏脸桃腮，

乘月色，

娇滴滴越显红白。

下香阶，

懒步苍苔，

非关弓鞋凤头窄。

叹鲰生^[12]不才，

谢多娇错爱。

你破工夫今夜早些来。

注释：

[1]无倒断：没完没了、无休止的意思。

[2]盖抹：改正、遮掩。

[3]潇洒：此处为凄清、萧疏之意。

[4]呆打孩：愣怔、呆滞的样子。

[5]越越的：静悄悄的。

[6]寄语：转告、传话。

[7]抬：此意为因相思而害致病亡被人抬走。

[8]拆：计一拃的长短，“半拆”是言女子的脚十分小巧。

[9]一搦（nài）：一握、一把。

[10]咍（hāi）：招呼声，如哎、喂。

[11]碧纱㡡：蒙覆着绿纱床幔的床。

[12]鲰（zōu）生：小子、小人。

Scene 1 Tryst

Yingying enters and says:

Rose has gone with my letter making an assignation with Master Zhang tonight.I must wait for her return and then decide what to do.

Rose enters and says:

My Young Mistress bade me to take a letter to Master Zhang,making an assignation with him tonight.I am afraid she might change her mind again and cause his death,which would be no trifle.I must go and see her and hear what she has to say.

Yingying says:

Get my bed ready,Rose.I am going to sleep.

Rose says:

It is all right that you may go to sleep,but what is to be done with him?

Yingying says:

With whom?

Rose says:

My Young Mistress!There you are again.It would be no trifle to cause a man’s death.If you should go back on your words,I would go and inform my Mistress that you told me to make an assignation with Master Zhang.

Yingying says:

You little cat!How crafty you are!

Rose says:

Not that I am crafty,but that you must not play the same trick again.

Yingying says:

But I feel bashful.

Rose says:

But who will see you?There is no one but me.

(Urging her)Let us be off!Be off!

(Yingying remains silent.)

Rose,urging her again,says:

My Young Mistress,what can we do but be off.

(Yingying remains silent but reveals her feeling in dumb show.)

Rose,urging her,says:

My Young Mistress,let us be off!

(Yingying remains silent,goes and then stands still.)

Rose says:

Why do you stand still,my Young Mistress?Let us be off!Be off!

(Yingying remains silent and goes forward.)

Rose says:

My Young Mistress is slow of speech but fleet of foot.

She sings to the tune of CALM DIGNITY:

My Young Mistress is pure as jade

And beautiful as flowers,

Which has made

One long for her from dawn till dusk,from hour to hour.

She is sincere tonight

To heal the breach of promise,of which she made light.

Leaving her bower

For his cabinet,

She brings fresh shower

And dew to wet

The thirsting flower

With fragrant sweat.

The Fairy Queen

Will meet the King

Behind the screen

In dreams of spring.

(Exeunt.)

Master Zhang enters and says:

The Young Lady bade Rose to bring me a letter making an assignation with me tonight.But the first watch of the night is passed.Why has she not yet come?

The beautiful night on earth is silent far and nigh.

When will the beautiful lady come from on high?

He sings to the tune of ROUGED LIPS OF A FAIRY :

For long I stand and fret,

When night is deep,the golden sphere gives out sweet breath.

Lonely my cabinet,

The scholar’s bored to death.

Tune: DRAGON IN TROUBLED WATER

Where is my rainbow cloud?

With flood-like moonlight my bower is overflowed.

Priests in their cells repose;

In courtyard trees cry crows.

The wind plays with bamboo,

I seem to hear her footsteps to our rendezvous.

In moonlight dance the flowers,

I seem to see my lady coming to my bower.

I gaze with longing eyes;

I heave amorous sighs.

Where can I find

Repose for my body or my mind?

Petrified there,I wait

While leaning on the gate.

But the longer I do,

The later comes the Phoenix Blue.

Even the yellow dog will not bark

Far away in the dark.

Tune: FIELD CRICKET

I close my eyes,

Heavy with thoughts of love.

My head on lonely pillow lies,

My soul dreams of a flight

To the trysting place above.

Had I foreseen I’d be obsessed day and night,

I would regret

Such an enthralling beauty I should have met.

When a mistake is made,

I’d blame myself and not be afraid

To mend my ways.

But when I try to raise

My love of beauty

To love of duty,

And tear myself from her apart,

Like a bolt from the blue she captivates my heart.

Tune: UNIVERSAL JOY

Leaning against the door I stand,

Resting my cheek upon my hand.

How can I know

Whether she’ll come or not.

Perhaps it’s difficult to leave her mother’s side.

I gaze with longing eyes,

My mind at ebbing tide.

Perhaps she’s also heaving heavy sighs.He says:

She has not yet come.Is she playing false again?

He sings to the tune of SONG OF CHERUBIN:

If she is willing to come,

She will have left her home.

If she is to arrive,

My cabinet with spring will revive.

If she doesn’t come alone,

My hope will sink into the sea like a stone.

Counting my footsteps still,

To and fro I pace now and then.

Leaning against the windowsill,

I’ll speak to her again.

Tune: MAGPIE ON THE BRANCH

Your rebuff was unkind,

But I’ve not borne it in my heart,

Wishing you’d change your mind

And promise me to come overnight and then depart,

We have exchanged love glances for half a year.

How much I’ve suffered,O my dear!

Tune: PARASITIC GRASS

I am ready to suffer and to die.

A stranger in a strange land,I try

To eat and drink enough to keep myself alive

And wait until tonight you may arrive.

I’ve steeled my heart

To play a patient part.

I’ll make it clear

That if I am not resolute and sincere,

I cannot breathe my breath

And preserve my body from death.

If I were doomed to six months’grief,

Ten years more could afford me no relief.

Rose enters and says:

I’ll go ahead while you wait here,my Young Mistress.

(She knocks at the door.)

Master Zhang says:

The Young Lady has come.

Rose says:

My Young Mistress has come.Take her coverlet and pillow please.

Master Zhang says:

Miss Rose,words fail to express my feeling at this moment,but Heaven knows it.

Rose says:

Do not speak so loud or you will frighten her.Stay here and I will bring her in.

(Pushing Yingying forward)Go in,my Young Mistress.I will wait outside the window.

(Exit.)

Master Zhang,seeing Yingying,kneels and embraces her,saying:

How fortunate I am to be favored with your visit,my dear Young Lady!

He sings to the tune of VILLAGE DRUMS:

Of your sudden appearance assured,

My sickness is already nine-tenth cured.

Rebuffed into a wretched plight,

How could I hope for your visit tonight?

You’re so considerate for me

That I’d salute you on my knee.

I have neither grace

Nor handsome face;

At writing I am not a good hand,

But you pity me,stranger in a foreign land.

(Yingying remains silent.)

Master Zhang,rising and sitting close to her,sings to the tune of SONG OF PEACE:

Your little shoes embroidered in silk thread,

Your waist as slender as the willow,

Bashful,you will not raise your head,

But rest it on the love-bird’s pillow.

Your golden hairpin seems to fall from your cloud-hair,

Your slanting locks make you look still more fair.

Tune: CHARMING ON HORSE

I will unbutton your robe and untie

Your silken girdle until you feel shy.

A fragrance,lily-like,permeates my cabinet.

You know how to enthral and entrance me,coquette!

O why

Do you not turn to me your face and eye?

(Embracing Yingying who remains silent.)

Tune: BETTER THAN GOURD

No fragrance is so warm,no jade so soft and nice,

Ah!I am better than in paradise.

Spring comes on earth with flowers dyed.

Her willowy waist close by my side,

Her pistil plucked,my dewdrop drips

And her peony sips

With open lips.

Tune: A SECOND STANZA

Overwhelmed with ecstasy,

I feel as happy and as free

As a fish swimming in the sea.

I gather your sweet fragrance like a butterfly;

You half refuse and half comply.

I’m filled with love as with surprise

And kiss your cheeks and eyes.

Tune: WILLOW LEAVES

With heart and soul I’ve loved you deep;

For you I have forgot to eat and sleep.

Had I not borne this with sincerity,

How could I win your virgin purity,

And end the bitterness

Of love with sweet caress!

Tune: A BLUE SONG

I have completed my happiness tonight;

Beyond the clouds my soul seems in flight.

I have met you so full of love,at last,

Though I’ve become so lean and pined away so fast.

The happy union of tonight still seems untrue,

But on the earth there’s fragrant dew,

Over the lonely steps the wind dies away,

Into my cabinet the moon sheds its ray.

I see so clear our trysting bower

Still sweet with shower.

How can it seem

You came last night in dream?

Master Zhang,rising and kneeling again,says:

Having waited on you tonight,my dear Young Lady,I will remain your grateful servant for life.

(Yingying remains silent.)

Rose enters and,prompting Yingying,says:

Go back now,my Young Mistress,lest our absence be discovered.

(Yingying arises,starts to go and remains silent.)

Master Zhang,holding Yingying’s hand and gazing at her,continues to sing:

What can I do

But part from you.

Tune: PARASITIC GRASS

A charming face

So full of grace,

To make you fall in love at first sight,

Regret when she’s not seen,

And love your fill when she comes at night!

Tonight we’ve met behind the gauze bed-screen.

But when shall I again untie your girdle green?

Rose,urging Yingying,says:

Let us go back at once,my Young Mistress,lest our absence be discovered.

(Yingying,remaining silent,descends the steps.)

Master Zhang,holding both her hands and gazing at her,sings to the tune of EPILOGUE:

Love is exhaled from her bosom snow-white,

Her eyebrows dyed in vernal hue.

Seeing her,you

Of gold and jade would make light.

Her rosy cheeks and flushed face

Under the moon so bright,

Look more charming and more strikingly red and white.

She slackens her pace

Down fragrant steps and on moss green,

Not that her broidered shoes are lean,

But that she lingers at the sight

Of the unworthy scholar whom she does not slight.

O would you come earlier another night!

(Exeunt.)