帕布莉卡第三折 争艳
（郑恒上云）自家姓郑，名恒，字伯常。先人拜礼部尚书，在时曾定下俺姑娘的女儿莺莺为妻。不想姑夫去世，莺莺孝服未满，不曾成亲。俺姑娘引着莺莺扶灵柩回博陵安葬，为因路阻，寄居河中府。数月前，写书来唤俺，因家中无人，来迟了一步。不想到这里，听说孙飞虎要掳莺莺，得一秀才张君瑞退了贼兵，俺姑娘把莺莺又许了他。俺如今便撞将去呵，恐没意思。这一件事，都在红娘身上。俺且着人去唤他，只说哥哥从京师来，不敢造次来见姑娘，着红娘到下处[1]来，有话对姑娘行说。人去好一会了，怎么还不见来？
（红娘上云）郑恒哥哥在下处，不来见夫人，却唤俺说话。夫人着俺来，看他说甚么。
（红见郑科）（红云）哥哥万福。夫人道，哥哥来到呵，怎不到家里来？
（郑云）我怎么好就见姑娘？我唤你来说。当日姑夫在时，曾许下亲事。我今到这里，姑夫孝已满了，特地央你去夫人行说知，拣一个吉日，成合了这件事，好和一搭里[2]下葬去。不争不成合，一路上难厮见。若说得肯呵，我重重谢你。
（红云）这一节话再也休题，莺莺已与了张生也。
（郑云）道不得个一马不鞲双鞍，可怎生父在时，曾许下我，父丧之后，母却悔亲？这个道理那里有！
（红云）却非如此说，当日孙飞虎将半万贼兵来时，哥哥你在那里？若不是张生呵，那里得俺一家儿性命来？今日太平无事，却来争亲。倘被贼人掳去呵，哥哥你和谁说？
（郑云）与了一个富家，也还不枉；与这个穷酸饿醋，偏我不如他！我仁者能仁、身里出身[3]的根脚，他比我甚的？
（红云）他倒不如你？禁声！
〔越调·斗鹌鹑〕（红娘唱）
卖弄你仁者能仁，
倚仗你身里出身；
纵教你官上加官，
谁许你亲上做亲。
又不曾羔雁邀媒，
币帛问肯[4]，
恰洗了尘，
便待要过门。
枉淹了他金屋银屏，
枉污了他锦衾绣裀。
〔紫花儿序〕
枉蠢了他梳云掠月，
枉羞了他惜玉怜香，
枉村了他雨尤云。
当日三才始判[5]，
两仪初分；
乾坤，
清者为乾，
浊者为坤，
人在其中相混。
君瑞是君子清贤，
郑恒是小人浊民。
（郑云）贼来，他怎生退得？都是胡说！
（红云）我说与你听。
〔天净沙〕
把河桥飞虎将军，
叛蒲东掳掠人民，
半万贼屯合[6]寺门，
手横着霜刃，
高叫道：
要莺莺做压寨夫人。
（郑云）半万贼，他一个人济甚事？
（红云）贼围甚迫，夫人慌了，和长老商议，高叫两廊，不论僧俗，如退得贼兵的，便将莺莺小姐与之为妻。那时张生应声而言：“我有退兵之计，何不问我？”夫人大喜，就问其计安在。张生道：“我有故人白马将军，见统十万大兵，镇守蒲关。我修书一封，着人传去，必来救我。”不想书到兵来，其困即解。
〔小桃红〕
洛阳才子善属文，
火急修书信。
白马将军到时分，
灭了烟尘[7]。
夫人小姐都心顺，
则为他“威而不猛”，
“言而有信”，
因此上“不敢慢于人”。
（郑云）我自来未闻其名，知他会也不会。你这个小妮子，卖弄他偌多！
〔金蕉叶〕
凭着他讲性理齐论鲁论，
作词赋韩文柳文，
识道理为人做人，
俺家里有信行，
知恩报恩。
（郑云）我便怎么不如他？
〔调笑令〕
你值一分，他值百十分，
萤火焉能比月轮？
高低远近都休论，
我拆白道字辨个清浑[8]。
君瑞是“肖”字这壁着个“立人”，
你是“寸木”“马户”“尸巾”。
（郑云）“寸木”“马户”“尸巾”，你道我是个“村驴屌”。我祖代官宦，我倒不如那白衣穷士？
〔秃厮儿〕
他学师友君子务本，
你倚父兄仗势欺人。
他齑盐日月[9]不嫌贫，
治百姓新民，
传闻。
〔圣药王〕
这厮乔议论[10]，有向顺。
你道是官人只合做官人，
信口喷，不本分。
你道是穷民到老是穷民，
却不道“将相出寒门”。
（郑云）这节事，都是那法本秃驴弟子孩儿，我明日慢慢和他说话。
〔麻郎儿〕
他出家人慈悲为本，
方便为门。
你横死眼不识好人，
招祸口不知分寸。
（郑云）这是姑夫的遗留，我拣日牵羊担酒上门去，看姑娘怎生发落我！
〔后〕
你看讪筋[11]，发村，使狠，
甚的是软款温存。
硬打夺求为眷姻，
不睹事强谐秦恶。
（郑云）姑娘若不肯，着二三十个伴当[12]抬上轿子，到下处脱了衣裳，急赶将来，还你个婆娘。
〔络丝娘〕
你须是郑相国嫡亲的舍人[13]，
倒像个孙飞虎家生的莽军。
乔嘴脸、腌躯老[14]、死身分，
少不得有家难奔。
（郑云）兀的那小妮子，眼见得受了招安了也。我也不对你说，明日我要娶，我要娶！
（红云）不嫁你，不嫁你！
〔收尾〕
佳人有意郎君俊，
教我不喝彩其实怎忍。
你只好偷韩寿下风头香，
傅何郎左壁厢粉。
（红娘下）
（郑云）这妮子一定都和酸丁演撒！俺明日自上门去，见俺姑娘，佯做不知，只道张生在卫尚书家，做了女婿。俺姑娘最听是非，他必有话说。休说别的，只这一套衣服也冲动他。自小京师同住，惯会寻章摘句[15]，姑夫已许成亲，谁敢将言相拒？俺若放起刁来，且看莺莺那去！且看压善欺良意，权作尤云雨心。
（郑恒下）
（夫人上云）夜来郑恒至，不来见俺，唤红娘去问亲事。据俺的心，只是与侄儿的是；况兼相公在时，已许下了。俺便是违了先夫的言语，做一个主家不正。办下酒者，今日他敢来见俺也。
（郑恒上去）来到也，不索报复，我自入去。
（哭拜夫人科）
（夫人云）孩儿，既到这里，怎么不来见我？
（郑云）孩儿有甚面颜来见姑娘！
（夫人云）莺莺为孙飞虎一节，无可解危，许了张生也。
（郑云）那个张生？敢便是今科探花郎？我在京师看榜来，年纪有二十三四岁，洛阳张珙，夸官游街三日。第二日，头踏正来到卫尚书家门首，尚书的小姐结着彩楼，在那御街上，只一球，正打着他。我也骑着马看，险些打着我，怕你不休了莺莺。他家粗使梅香十来个，把张生横拖倒拽入去。他口里叫道：“我自有妻，我是崔相国家女婿。”那尚书那里肯听，说道：“我女奉圣旨结彩楼招你。莺莺是先奸后娶的，只好做个次妻[16]罢。”因此闹动京师，侄儿认得他。
（夫人怒云）我说这秀才不中抬举，今日果然负了俺家。俺相国之女，岂有做次妻的理。既然张生娶了妻，不要了，孩儿，你择个吉日良辰，依旧入来做女婿者。
（夫人下）
（郑喜云）中了俺的计了。准备茶礼花红，过门者。
（郑恒下）
注释：
Scene 3 Contest for the Beauty
Zheng Heng enters and says:
I am Zheng Heng,styled Bo chang.My late father was president of the Board of Rites.While alive,he betrothed me to Cui Yingying,daughter of my paternal aunt.Unexpectedly,my uncle died and Yingying had to go into mourning,so our marriage was not carried out.My aunt along with Yingying,conveying my uncle’s coffin to be buried in Boling,was stopped on the way and was staying in the Mid-River Prefecture.A few months ago she sent me a letter,telling me to go to her place.But as there was no one to look after my house,I have delayed my coming.On my arrival,I was told,to my surprise,that Sun Feihu wanted to carry Yingying off and a scholar named Zhang Junrui succeeded in making him retreat and won the hand of Yingying.I think it would be unsuitable to intrude now.So I sent for the maid Rose,on whom may depend my affair.I would tell her I have just come from the capital and dare not visit my aunt without her permission,so I ask her to come to my place in order that she may inform my aunt of my arrival.My messenger has been away for some time.Why has Rose not yet come?
Rose enters and says:
Master Zheng Heng has arrived but has not come to see my Mistress.He summoned me to have a talk with him,and my Mistress told me to come to hear what he has to say.
(Seeing Zheng Heng)
Ten thousand blessings on you,Master Zheng.My Mistress asks why you don’t go to see her on your arrival.
Zheng Heng says:
I thought it unsuitable to intrude on my aunt,which is the reason why I sent for you.You remember while my uncle was alive,he had betrothed me to your Young Mistress.Now the period of mourning is over.I come here to request my aunt to select a lucky day for accomplishing our union.Then we may go together to have my uncle’s coffin buried.If our union were postponed,it would be inconvenient for me to see your Young Mistress.If you can persuade my aunt to consent,I will reward you amply.
Rose says:
You must not refer to the matter again,because Yingying is already betrothed to Master Zhang.
Zheng Heng says:
Don’t you know that one horse cannot have two saddles?Her father when alive betrothed her to me.Now he is dead,how can her mother go back on her father’s pro-mise?Who has ever heard anything like that?
Rose says:
The case is not as you put it.Where were you,sir,when Sun Feihu came with five thousand bandits?How could the whole family have escaped if it had not been for the rescue of Master Zhang?Now that the danger is over,you come to contend for the hand of my Young Mistress.What if the bandits had carried her off?
Zheng Heng says:
If she were betrothed to a rich lord,I would have nothing to say against it.But to a poor scholar as if I were not his better!How could he be compared with me,a man of high quality and noble family?
Rose says:
Is he not your better?Hold your tongue!
She sings to the tune of FIGHT OF QUAILS:
You boast of your high quality
And of your noble family.
No matter what high rank you hold,
You can’t become a member of her household.
There has never been
Engaged a go-between;
Nor have betrothal gifts been sent
To ask the family’s consent.
You have just come from your land
And claim my Young Mistress’hand.
How dare you thus profane her golden bower
With such a sudden shower?
How dare you dirty the coverlet spread
On her embroidered bed!
Tune: VIOLET FLOWER
Are you worthy of her cloud-like hair
And moon-like face?
To my Mistress tender and fair
You are but a disgrace.
How dare you bring a sudden shower
To her fragrant jade bower!
When the earth was first separated from the sky
And then divided into low and high,
The light became the day,
And the heavy the night.
Between the sky and earth men stay,
Junrui is bright like the day;
Zheng Heng is dark like the night.
Zheng Heng says:
How could a scholar as light as a feather succeed in mak-ing the heavy bandits retreat?What you said is mere nonsense.
Rose says:
Listen to what I’ll tell you!
She singe to the tune of CLEAR SKY OVER THE SAND:
Sun Feihu guarding the Bridge on the River
Revolted east of Pu and made the people shiver;
With five thousand men he besieged the temple’s land.
With a frost-bright sword in his hand.
He shouted and swore by his life
That he must have Yingying as mistress or wife.
Zheng Heng says:
What could a single-handed scholar do against five thousand armed bandits?
Rose says:
Then the situation was critical.My Mistress badly frightened,consulted with the Abbot and told him to announce that to anyone,priest or lay man,who was able to induce the bandits away,Yingying would be made his wife.To that proposal Master Zhang responded that he had a plan to make the bandits retreat.My Mistress overdelightelly asked about his plan.Master Zhang then said that he had a friend,General on the White Horse,in command of a hundred thousand soldiers guarding the Pu Pass.He would write a letter and send it to the general,who was sure to come to our rescue.Indeed as soon as the letter was received,the general’s troops were despatched and the critical situation was relieved.
She sings to the tune of RED PEACH BLOSSOM:
The scholar of the capital was bright indeed.
He wrote a letter at lightning speed.
The General on the White Horse came
And put out at once the bandits’flame.
My Mistresses old and young were filled with delight
To find a man who helped with main and might.
In word and deed he’s true,
So he has won the heart of the two.
Zheng Heng says:
I have never heard of his name before.How can I know whether what you have said is true or not?You little minx,why are you trying to bluff me by making so much of him?
Rose sings to the tune of GOLDEN BANANA LEAVES:
He knows the right from wrong;
He writes verse and prose,short or long.
He knows what is manhood.
How could our family
Not act with sincerity
And return good for good?
Zheng Heng says:
Am I not as good as he?
Rose sings to the tune of SONG OF FLIRTATION:
He is to you as a hundred to one.
How can a firefly be compared with moon or sun?
I will not talk about what’s low and high
Or far and nigh.
I would compare him to a steed
And you to a silly ass in speed.
Zheng Heng says:
How dare you compare me to a silly ass!My family have been high officials for generations.How could I be less worthy than a poor scholar?
Rose sings to the tune of A BALD HEAD:
He follows his master and friends;
He knows the means and ends.
You who depend on your father and brothers
Use your influence to oppress others.
Poor,he did not complain of poverty;
Diligent,he attained celebrity.
Tune: KING OF MEDICINE
You’re prejudiced;your views are fallacies.
You say officials come from official families.
If it were true,how could poor sons
Become ministers,generals and famous ones?
Zheng Heng says:
It must be Faben,son of bitch,who told you this.I shall deal with him tomorrow.
Rose sings to the tune of A POCKMARKED FACE:
He is a priest who left his family
And knows nothing but charity.
Your eyes cannot tell good from bad;
Your mouth will lead to something sad.
Zheng Heng says:
My betrothal was the dying wish of my uncle.I will choose a lucky day and bring sheep and wine to my aunt’s door and see how she will deal with me.
Rose sings to the tune of PETTY SONG:
You may play your abusive part.
What do you know about a tender heart?
You want to force her to be your wife.
Could she be your forced companion through life?
Zheng Heng says:
If I were rejected,I would get twenty or thirty of my men to carry her into a sedan-chair,take her to my place,disrobe her in my bed and return her a married woman.
Rose sings to the tune of SPINNER:
You,a president’s son,
Look like a bandit under Flying Tiger Sun.
You are destined to roam
Without a home.
Zheng Heng says:
O you little minx!It is obvious that you are serving another man’s purpose.I won’t talk to you any more.Tomorrow I will marry her.I will marry her.
Rose says:
But she won’t marry you,she won’t marry you.
She sings to the tune of EPILOGUE:
A lady’s love to a handsome young man is due.
But who could sing the praise of you?
You are a thief to steal some grace;
No powder could embellish your face.
(Exit.)
Zheng Heng says:
That minx has sided with the poor scholar.Tomorrow I’ll go to see my aunt,pretending to be ignorant of the whole thing.I’ll say Master Zhang has become the son-in-law of President Wei.My aunt who believes gossip will believe me.My splendid attire alone will be enough to induce her in my favor.（Singing)
While young,we lived together close,
And I was bred to verse and prose.
My uncle promised me Yingying’s hand.
Who dare violate his command?
If I but put on a bold face,
Yingying could find no hiding place.
I used to oppress the good with power;
My shower will oppress the flower.
(Exit.)
Madame Cui enters and says:
Zheng Heng arrived here without coming to see me but sent for Rose to inquire about the marriage.In my opinion,it would be right to give Yingying to my nephew,for my late husband,while alive,had promised to give him her hand.If I did against his wish,it would be improper for the head of a family.So let a feast be prepared,for my nephew will probably come to see me today.
Zheng Heng enters and says:
Here I am and I’ll enter unannounced.
(Weeping and bowing to Madame Cui)
Madame Cui says:
Why did you not come to see me on your arrival,my dear nephew?
Zheng Heng says:
How dare I come to see you at once,my dear aunt?
Madame Cui says:
You know Yingying was betrothed to Master Zhang who had raised the siege of Sun Feihu.
Zheng Heng says:
Which Master Zhang?Is it the one who has just passed third on the list at the civil service examinations?When I was in the capital,I saw him.He is about twenty-three or twenty-four years old,a native of Luoyang,and his name is Zhang Gong.Parading the streets for three days,he came on the second day to the residence of President Wei,whose daughter in a pavilion on the Imperial Street hit him with an embroidered ball.Looking on horse,I was almost hit.If hit,it should be I to be disengaged from Yingying.But on that day about ten maids seized Master Zhang,pulled him off the horse and dragged him into the residence of President Wei.Master Zhang cried,“I am betrothed to former Prime Minister Cui’s daughter.”The president would not listen but said,“My daughter has this pavilion erected by Imperial Decree,so she should be your first wife.Yingying who had surrendered to you before your marriage is only fit to be a second wife.”This news spread from mouth to mouth in the capital,so I know of this Master Zhang.
Madame Cui says angrily:
I fear this student is not worthy of our family and he has indeed betrayed our trust.How could the daughter of a Prime Minister become a second wife!Since Master Zhang has deserted my daughter and made another marriage,my dear nephew,you may select a lucky day and become my son-in-law as prearranged.
(Exit.)
Zheng Heng says joyfully:
She is caught in my trap.I’ll get presents and rewards ready for my marriage.
(Exit.)
