帕布莉卡第二出 选优
〔场上正中悬一匾，书“薰风殿”，两旁悬联，书“万事无如杯在手，百年几见月当头”。款书“东阁大学士臣王铎奉敕书”〕
〔外扮沈公宪，净扮张燕筑，小旦扮寇白门，丑扮郑妥娘同上〕
〔外〕天子多情爱沈郎[1]。
〔净〕当年也是画眉张[2]。
〔小旦〕可怜一树白门柳。
〔丑〕让我风流郑妥娘。
〔外〕我们被选入宫，伺候两日，怎么还不见动静。
〔净仰看介〕此处是薰风殿，乃奏乐之所；闻得圣驾将到，选定脚色，就叫串戏哩。
〔外〕如何名薰风殿？
〔净〕你不晓得，琴曲里有一句：“南风之薰兮”[3]，取这个意思。
〔丑〕呸！你们男风兴头，要我们女客何用。
〔小旦〕我们女客得了宠眷，做个大嫔妃，还强如他男风哩。
〔丑〕正是，他男风得了宠眷，到底是个小兄弟。
〔净〕好徒弟，骂及师父来了。
〔外〕咱们掌了班时，不要饶他。
〔净〕谁肯饶他。明日教动戏，叫老妥试试我的鼓槌子罢。
〔丑嗤笑，指介〕你老张的鼓槌子，我曾试过，没相干的。
〔众笑介〕
〔副净冠带扮阮大铖上〕
【绕地游】
汉宫如画，
春晓珠帘挂，
待粉蝶黄莺打。
歌舞西施，
文章司马[4]，
厮混了红袖乌纱。
〔见介〕你们俱已在此，怎的不见李贞丽？
〔小旦〕他从雪中一跌，至今忍痛，还卧在廊下哩。
〔副净〕圣驾将到，选定脚色，就要串戏；怎么由得他的性儿。
〔众〕是，是，俺们拉他过来。〔同下〕
〔副净自语介〕李贞丽这个奴才，如此可恶，今日净、丑脚色，一定借重他了。
〔杂扮二内监执龙扇前引，小生扮弘光帝，又扮二监提壶捧盒，随上〕
〔小生〕满城烟树间梁陈，高下楼台望不真；原是洛阳花里客[5]，偏来管领秣陵春。
〔坐介〕寡人登极御宇，将近一年，幸亏四镇阻当，流贼不能南下；虽有叛臣倡议欲立潞藩[6]，昨已捕拿下狱。目今外侮不来，内患不生，正在采选淑女，册立正宫，这也都算小事；只是朕独享帝王之尊，无有声色[7]之奉，端居高拱[8]，好不闷也。
〔副净跪介〕光禄寺卿臣阮大铖恭请万安。
〔小生〕平身。
〔副净起介〕
【掉角儿】〔小生〕
看阳春残雪早花，
蹙愁眉慵游倦耍。
〔副净〕圣上安享太平，正宜及时行乐；慵游倦耍，却是为何？
〔小生〕朕有一桩心事，料你也应晓得。
〔副净〕想怕流贼南犯？
〔小生〕非也。阻隔着黄河雪浪，
那怕他天汉浮槎[9]。
〔副净〕想愁兵弱粮少？
〔小生〕也不是。俺有那镇淮阴诸猛将[10]，
转江陵大粮艘，有甚争差。
〔副净〕既不为内外兵马，想是正宫未立，配德无人？
〔小生〕也不为此。那礼部钱谦益，采选淑女，不日册立。
有三妃九嫔，教国宜家。
〔副净〕又不为此，臣晓得了。
〔私奏介〕想因叛臣周镳、雷祚，倡造邪谋，欲迎立潞王耳。
〔小生〕益发说错了。那奸人倡言惑众，久已搜拿。
〔副净低头沉吟介〕却是为何？
〔小生〕卿供奉内庭，乃朕心腹之臣，怎不晓得朕的心事。
〔副净跪介〕圣虑高深，臣衷愚昧，其实不能窥测。伏望明白宣示，以便分忧。
〔小生〕朕谕你知道罢，朕贵为天子，何求不遂。只因你所献《燕子笺》，乃中兴一代之乐，点缀太平，第一要事；今日正月初九，脚色尚未选定，万一误了灯节，岂不可恼。
〔指介〕你看阁学王铎书的对联道：“万事无如杯在手，百年几见月当头”。一年能有几个元宵，故此日夜踌蹰，饮膳俱减耳。
〔副净〕原来为此，巴里之曲[11]，有厪[12]圣怀，皆微臣之罪也。
〔叩头介〕臣敢不鞠躬尽瘁，以报主知。
〔起唱介〕
【前腔】
忝卿僚填词辨挝[13]，
备供奉诙谐风雅。
恨不能腮描粉墨，
也情愿怀抱琵琶。
但博得歌筵前垂一顾，
舞裀边受寸赏[14]，
御酒龙茶，
三生侥幸，
万世荣华。
这便是为臣经济，
报主功阀[15]。
〔前问介〕但不知内庭女乐，少何脚色？
〔小生〕别样脚色，都还将就得过，只有生、旦、小丑不惬朕意。
〔副净〕这也容易，礼部送到清客、歌妓，现在外厢，听候拣选。
〔小生〕传他进来。
〔副净〕领旨。
〔急入领外、净、旦、小旦、丑上〕
〔俱跪介〕
〔小生问外、净介〕你二人是串戏清客么？
〔外、净〕不敢，小民串戏为生。
〔小生〕既会串戏，新出传奇也曾串过么？
〔外、净〕新出的《牡丹亭》《燕子笺》《西楼记》[16]，都曾串过。
〔小生〕既会《燕子笺》，就做了内庭教习[17]罢。
〔外、净叩头介〕
〔小生问介〕那三个歌妓，也会《燕子笺》么？
〔小旦、丑〕也曾学过。
〔小生喜介〕益发妙了。
〔问旦介〕这个年小的，怎不答应？
〔旦〕没学。
〔副净跪介〕臣启圣上，那两个学过的，例应派做生、旦。这一个没学的，例应派做丑脚。
〔小生〕既有定例，依卿所奏。
〔小旦、丑、旦叩头介〕
〔小生〕俱着起来，伺候串戏。
〔俱起介〕
〔丑背喜介〕还是我老妥做了天下第一个正旦。
〔小生向副净介〕卿把《燕子笺》摘出一曲，叫他串来，当面指点。
〔外、净、小旦、丑随意演《燕子笺》一曲，副净作态指点介〕
〔小生喜介〕有趣，有趣！都是熟口，不愁扮演了。
〔唤介〕长侍斟酒，庆贺三杯。
〔杂进酒，小生饮介〕
〔小生起介〕我们君臣同乐，打一回十番何如？
〔副净〕领旨。
〔小生〕寡人善于打鼓，你们各认乐器。
〔众打雨夹雪一套，完介〕
〔小生大笑介〕十分忧愁消去九分了。
〔唤介〕长侍斟酒，再庆三杯。
〔杂进酒，小生饮介〕
【前腔】
旧吴宫重开馆娃[18]，
新扬州初教瘦马[19]。
淮阳鼓昆山弦索，
无锡口姑苏娇娃。
一件件闹春风，
吹暖响，
斗晴烟，
飘冷袖，
宫女如麻。
红楼翠殿，
景美天佳。
都奉俺无愁天子[20]，
语笑喧哗。
〔看旦介〕那个年小歌妓，美丽非常，派做丑脚，太屈他了。
〔问介〕你这个年小歌妓，既没学《燕子笺》，可曾学些别的么？
〔旦〕学过《牡丹亭》。
〔小生〕这也好了，你便唱来。
〔旦羞不唱介〕
〔小生〕看他粉面发红，像是腼腆，赏他一柄桃花宫扇，遮掩春色。
〔杂掷红扇与旦介〕
〔旦持扇唱介〕
【懒画眉】[21]
为甚的玉真重溯武陵源，
也只为水点花飞在眼前。
是他天公不费买花钱，
则咱人心上有啼红怨。
咳！辜负了春三二月天。
〔小生喜介〕妙绝，妙绝！长侍斟酒，再庆三杯。
〔杂进酒，小生饮介〕
〔指旦介〕看此歌妓，声容俱佳，岂可长材短用；还派做正旦罢。
〔指丑介〕那个黑色的，倒该做丑脚。
〔副净〕领旨。
〔丑撅嘴介〕我老妥又不妥了。
〔小生向副净介〕你把生、丑二脚，领去入班；就叫清客二名，用心教习，你也不时指点。
〔副净跪应介〕是，此乃微臣之专责，岂敢辞劳。
〔急领外、净、小旦、丑下〕
〔小生向旦介〕你就在这薰风殿中，把《燕子笺》脚本，三日念会，好去入班。
〔旦〕念会不难，只是没有脚本。
〔小生唤介〕长侍，你把王铎抄的楷字脚本，赏与此旦。
〔杂取脚本付旦，跪接介〕
〔小生〕千年只有歌场乐，万事何须酒国愁。
〔杂引下〕
〔旦掩泪介〕罢了，罢了！已入深宫，那有出头之日。
【前腔】
锁重门垂杨暮鸦，
映疏帘苍松碧瓦。
凉飕飕风吹罗袖，
乱纷纷梅落宫[22]。
想起那拆鸳鸯，
离魂惨，
隔云山，
相思苦，
会期难拿。
倩人寄扇，
擦损桃花。
到今日情丝割断，
芳草天涯。
〔叹介〕没奈何，且去念会脚本；或者天恩见怜，放奴出宫，再会侯郎一面，亦未可知。
【尾声】
从此后入骨髓愁根难拔，
真个是广寒宫姮娥守寡[23]。
只这两日呵！
瘦损宫腰剩一把。
曲终人散日西斜，
殿角凄凉自一家；
纵有春风无路入，
长门关住碧桃花。
注释：
[1]沈郎：古曲戏曲中凡称沈郎，一般系指梁尚书令沈约，这里沈公宪引以自比。
[2]画眉张：汉代张敞，他曾替妻子画眉。
[3]南风之薰兮：琴曲《南风歌》：“南风之薰兮，可以解吾民之愠兮。”相传是虞舜所作的。
[4]文章司马：汉代文学家司马相如，剧中阮大铖引他自比。
[5]原是洛阳花里客：福王原封在洛阳。
[6]潞藩：指朱常淓，是潞简王翊镠的嗣子，袭封潞王。
[7]声色：音乐女色等。
[8]端居高拱：端居而高拱双手，形容帝王的清静无事。
[9]那怕他天汉浮槎：天汉即天河，槎是水中的浮木。那怕他天汉浮槎，意说不怕他从天河上乘槎飞渡。
[10]镇淮阴诸猛将：指江北四镇。
[11]巴里之曲：“下里巴人”之曲，即俚俗的歌曲。
[12]厪：少，这里应解作损。
[13]忝卿僚填词辨挝：意说自己惭愧地列在大臣里面，能够填词奏乐。挝，这里指击鼓的音节。
[14]舞裀边受寸赏：舞裀是供舞蹈的地毯，寸赏，指极微小的奖赏。
[15]功阀：阀即阀阅，挂在门上记载功劳的榜，挂在左门叫阀，右门叫阅。功阀意功劳。
[16]《西楼记》：剧曲名，明末袁于令撰，演于鹃和妓女木素徽的故事。
[17]内庭教习：宫内的歌舞教师。
[18]旧吴宫重开馆娃：馆娃即馆娃宫，是吴王夫差建筑给西施住的地方。
[19]新扬州初教瘦马：扬州风俗称妓女作瘦马。
[20]无愁天子：北齐后主作《无愁曲》，自弹琵琶而唱。民间因称无愁天子。
[21]懒画眉：这是汤显祖《牡丹亭·寻梦》中的一支曲文。
[22]宫髽（zhuā）：髽本是妇女的丧髻，这里指一般宫女的髻子。
[23]广寒宫姮娥守寡：广寒宫即月宫。姮娥即嫦娥，本是羿的妻子。传说羿在西王母处得了不死的药，姮娥把它偷吃了，奔到月中去。
Scene 2 Selection of Songstresses
(Scene:A palace hall with a horizontal signboard on the background inscribed with three golden words:Summer Breeze Hall,and two perpendicular boards on the left and right pillars inscribed with the following couplet:
(Left)Nothing is better than a cup of wine.
(Right)How often can we see the full moon shine?
(Enter two amateurs,Shen Gongxian and Zhang Yanzhu,and two songstresses,White Kou and Safe Zheng.)
Sheng: My sire was loved by the king in his life.
Zhang: And mine pencilled the eyebrows of his wife.
Kou: Who pities at White Gate the willow tree?
Zheng: No one is so coquette and safe as me.
Shen: We were summoned to the palatial theatre,but two days have passed with nothing for us to do.
Zhang(Looking at the signboard):This is the Summer Breeze Hall where His Majesty is entertained with music and performance.It is said we are summoned to perform a musical drama here.
Zheng: Why is the hall called Summer Breeze?
Zhang: Summer Breeze means some men please.
Zheng: If some men please each other,is it homosexual love?
Kou: If a woman pleases the king,she may become the queen,far better than a homosexual lover.
Zheng: A homosexual lover is at best a younger brother.
Zhang: How dare you jeer at your master?
Shen: When we become her master,we shall spare her no pain to learn.
Zhang: Then I shall press her,squeeze her,beat her like a drum and teach her to obey.
Zheng(Sneering):I have been the drum you beat and I know how strong you are.
(All burst in laughter.)
(Enter Ruan Dacheng in official dress.)
Ruan(Singing to the tune of Around the Earth):
On spring morning in picturesque palace high,
On pearl screen flutter oriole and butterfly.
Songstress’dancing feet and poet’s head
Blend his black crown and her sleeves red.
(Saluting them)You are all here.But where is Chaste Lee?
Kou: She lies still painful at a corner of the hall as a result of her fall in snow on that day.
Ruan: His Majesty will soon come to select songstresses for the perfor-mance.How can she stay apart?
All: We shall try to bring her here.(Exeunt.)
Ruan(Aside):Chaste Lee is so disagreeable that I must assign her an obscure role.
(Enter Emperor Hong Guang—i.e.Blissful Prince—preceeded by eunuchs holding imperial dragon fans and followed by two eunuchs with pot or box in hand.)
Emperor: Mist-veiled trees in the capital loom left and right,
High and low dimly appear palace bowers bright.
Of flowers in West Capital I loved to sing,
But now I come to reign over the Southern spring.
(Sitting)One year has nearly passed since I succeeded to the throne.Thanks to the four generals defending the empire,the rebels cannot drive to the south and rival princes are put in prison.Now there is no danger within nor aggression from without,and we may enjoy peace for the time being.An emperor should gratify his sensuous pleasure,or how can we drive away daily annoyance?
(Enter Ruan Dacheng.)
Ruan(Kneeling):Long live Your Majesty!
Emperor: You may rise.
(Ruan rises.)
(Singing to the tune of A Corner Song):
Early spring snow begins to melt,
On my eyebrows worry is felt.
Ruan: In time of peace Your Majesty should enjoy pleasure.Why should you feel worried?
Emperor: I have something on my mind that you should know as imperial attendant.
Ruan: Could Your Majesty be worried about the rebels’invasion?
Emperor: No.The Yellow River bars the rebels’southern way.
They have no ships to cross it night or day.
Ruan: Are you worried for lack of food and supply for the armed forces?
Emperor: No.We have so many generals in spirits high,
And so many ships loaded with food supply.
Ruan: If it is neither worry within nor without,then can it be the enthronement of the queen?
Emperor: No.We have selected so many maidens fair,
Their beauty would do good to state affair.
Ruan: If it is not the worry within the palace,can it be that without about the rival princes who plot to succeed to the throne?
Emperor: Do you not know that all the plotters are arrested and put in prison?
Ruan(Meditating with bowed head):Then your humble servant is at his wit’s end.
Emperor: The imperial attendant is nearer to us than other high officials.If you do not know what is in my mind,who else can?
Ruan(Kneeling):Your humble servant is near to Your Majesty as your clothes,but not so near as your skin.Would Your Majesty tell me what is near to your heart?
Emperor: I shall tell you what is in my heart.An emperor may have all he wishes.I wish to have a musical drama to glorify my reign,so I would like to have your Swallow’s Billet to be performed on the palatial stage on the Vernal Moon Festival,which will arrive in a few days,but the actors and songstresses are not yet selected,so I am worried if the play can be performed in time.
(Pointing to the couplet on the left and right pillars and reading)
Nothing is better than a cup of wine.
How often can we see the full moon shine?
As there is only one Vernal Moon Festival in a year,so we are so much worried about the performance as to neglect my meals and disturb my sleep.
Ruan: If that is Your Majesty’s worry,as the author your humble servant is the first to blame.
(Kowtowing)What would I not do to show my gratitude to Your Majesty?(Rising)
(Singing to the previous tune):
As writer of the musical play,
I would set all my wits on display.
Though I can’t act with powdered face,
I would play on the lute with grace.
If you should favor with a glance
The songstresses and performers of the dance
Or give them a cup of wine or tea,
They would receive the gifts with highest glee.
I’d think it an honor all my life long.
Which should be glorified with wine and song.
That is my only desire strong.
May I know if the selected actors and songstresses are satisfactory?
Emperor: Actors are more or less satisfactory,but the hero,the heroine and the clown leave much to be desired.
Ruan: It would not be difficult to solve this question.The Ministry of Ceremony has sent amateurs and songstresses who are waiting outside for selection.
Emperor: Tell them to come in.
Ruan: I will call them.
(Enter Shen Gongxian,Zhang Yanzhu,White Kou,Safe Zheng and Fragrant Lee,kneeling before the emperor.)
Emperor(To Shen and Zhang):Are you amateur performers?
Shen & Zhang: We are unqualified amateurs living on performance.
Emperor: Have you performed new drama?
Shen & Zhang: We have been actors in Dream in Peony Pavilion,Swallow’s Billet and Romance of the Western Bower.
Emperor: Since you have performed Swallow’s Billet,you may teach the actors in the palatial theatre.
Shen & Zhang(Kowtowing):Long live Your Majesty!
Emperor(Asking the three songstresses):Can you sing the songs in Swallow’s Billet?
Kou & Zheng: We have learned our part.
Emperor(Glad):Well.Why does the youngest songstress say nothing?
Fragrant: I have not learned my part in the drama.
Ruan: Will Your Majesty select the learned to play the roles of hero and heroine,and the unlearned to play the clown?
Emperor: Your suggestion is approved.
(Kou,Zheng and Fragrant kowtow.)
You may rise and get ready for the performance.
(They rise.)
Zheng(Aside):I am glad to play the most important role of heroine.
Emperor(To Ruan):You may select songs from Swallow’s Billet for them to sing and play,and see if they are qualified for their roles.
(Shen,Zhang,Kou and Zheng sing their songs and perform as if on the stage.Ruan gives his instruction.)
Emperor(Glad):The performance is interesting.Since they are experienced actors and songstresses,I need not worry about the success of the performance.(Calling)Attendants,pour wine in the cup and let us congratulate the performance with three cups of wine.(Wine is served.)
Emperor(Drinking and then rising):Let us enjoy the pleasure of playing on ten musical instruments.
Ruan: Very well,Your Majesty.
Emperor: I am good at beating the drum.You may choose your instrument you like.
(All play to the tune of Rain and Snow.)
Emperor(Laughing):Nine-tenths of my sorrow are gone.Attendants,let us congratulate the success with three more cups of wine.
(Drinking and singing to the previous tune):
Ancient palace halls reopen for ladies fair;
The riverside town begins to drill horses bare.
Let us beat sunny drum and play on hillside string,
And hear how beautiful Southern songstresses sing.
How blows spring breeze,
Warms blooming trees.
Melts mist away,
Makes cold sleeves sway
And beauties shine all day.
Palace halls red and green,
What splendid scene!
All worship the son under the sky,
And burst in laughter far and nigh.
(Seeing Fragrant)How beautiful is the young songstress!How can she stoop to play the role of a clown?(To Fragrant)You do not know any part of Swallow’s Billet,but have you learned to play any other drama?
Fragrant: I have learned Dream in Peony Pavilion.
Emperor: Then you may sing any song from it.
(Fragrant feels shy and will not sing.)
Emperor: She seems timid with her rosy face blushed.Attendant,give her a fan to veil her face.(Attendant gives her a palatial fan.)
Fragrant(Singing with fan in hand to the tune of Idly Pencilled Eyebrows):
Why should the beauty come back where peach petals fly,
For water sprinkled on the flowers before the eye?
To buy the flowers Heaven need not pay,
It cares not for my bloody tears shed on the way,
Nor for the vernal month in vain passed away.
Emperor: Bravo.Let us congratulate her song with three cups of wine again!(Drinking and pointing to Fragrant)Such a beautiful songstress should play the leading role.
(Pointing to Zheng)That songstress may play the role of the clown.
Ruan: Yes,Your Majesty.
Zheng(With pursed lips)Safe Zheng is no longer safe now.
Emperor(To Ruan):You may lead the songstress,actors and the clown to the theatre and ask the two amateurs to teach them under your direction.
Ruan(Kneeling):It is the duty of your humble servant.
(Exit with Shen,Zhang,Kou and Zheng.)
Emperor(To Fragrant):You may stay in the Summer Breeze Hall to learn how to perform Swallow’s Billet for three days and then go to the theatre.
Fragrant: It is not difficult to perform,but I have got no script.
Emperor: Attendant,give her the script.
(Attendant gives her the script and she receives it on her knees.)
Emperor: Only the pleasure of music lasts from year to year.
Wine cup in hand,how can sorrow appear?
Fragrant(Hiding her face with her sleeves):What can I do,shut up deep in the palace?When can I come out?
(Singing to the previous tune)
The door is locked up,the sun on the decline,
Before my window screen crows fly over the pine.
My silken sleeves waft in the chilling breeze,
Mume petals fall in pell-mell from the trees.
I still remember we were torn apart
With broken heart.
Clouds and hills bar the way.
How lovesick I’m from day to day!
We long in vain
To meet again.
I have sent my peach blossom fan
To my dearest and nearest man.
But now we are cut far apart,alas!
Like spring and autumn grass.
(Sighing)What can I do but read the script!I only wish Heaven would set me free and let me see my dearest lord once more.
(Singing the Epilogue):
How to remove my sorrow rooted in my bone?
I’m lonely as the Goddess in moon palace alone.
Only in these two days
My waist turns more slender as the breeze sways.
Epilogue of the Scene
The songs are sung and men go away,
At a corner of the hall sad and dreary I stay.
The spring breeze can find no way to enter the bower;
In Long Gate Palace is shut up the green peach flower.
(Exeunt.)
