帕布莉卡第二出 闺塾
（末上）
“吟余改抹前春句，
饭后寻思午晌茶。
蚁上案头沿砚水，
蜂穿窗眼咂瓶花。”
我陈最良杜衙设帐[1]，杜小姐家传《毛诗》[2]。极承老夫人管待。今日早膳已过，我且把毛注潜玩一遍。
（念介）
“关关雎鸠，
在河之洲。
窈窕淑女，
君子好逑[3]。”
好者好也，逑者求也。（看介）这早晚[4]了，还不见女学生进馆。却也娇养的凶。待我敲三声云板。
（敲云板介）春香，请小姐解书。
【绕池游】（旦引贴捧书上）
素妆才罢，缓步书堂下。
对净几明窗潇洒。
（贴）《昔氏贤文》[5]，
把人禁杀[6]，
恁时节[7]
则好教鹦哥[8]唤茶。
（见介）
（旦）先生万福。
（贴）先生少怪。
（末）凡为女子，鸡初鸣，咸盥、漱、栉、笄，问安于父母[9]。日出之后，各供其事。如今女学生以读书为事，须要早起。
（旦）以后不敢了。
（贴）知道了。今夜不睡，三更时分，请先生上书。
（末）昨日上的《毛诗》，可温习？
（旦）温习了。则待讲解。
（末）你念来。
（旦念书介）“关关雎鸠，
在河之洲。
窈窕淑女，
君子好逑。”
（末）听讲。 “关关睢鸠”，雎鸠是个鸟，关关鸟声也。
（贴）怎样声儿？
（末作鸠声）
（贴学鸠声诨介）
（末）此鸟性喜幽静，在河之洲。
（贴）是了。不是昨日是前日，不是今年是去年，俺衙内关着个斑鸠儿，被小姐放去，一去去在何知州[10]家。
（末）胡说，这是兴[11]。
（贴）兴个甚的那？
（末）兴者起也。起那下头窈窕淑女，是幽闲女子，有那等君子好好的来求他。
（贴）为甚好好的求他？
（末）多嘴哩。
（旦）师父，依注解书，学生自会。但把《诗经》大意，敷演[12]一番。
【掉角儿】（末）
论《六经》，
《诗经》最葩[13]，
闺门内许多风雅：
有指证，
姜嫄产哇[14]；
不嫉妒，
后妃贤达[15]。
更有那咏鸡鸣，
伤燕羽，
泣江皋，
思汉广，
洗净铅华[16]。
有风有化[17]，
宜室宜家[18]。
（旦）这经文偌多？
（末）《诗》三百[19]，一言以蔽之，没多些，只“无邪”两字，付与儿家。书讲了。春香取文房四宝[20]来模字。
（贴下取上）纸、墨、笔、砚在此。
（末）这什么墨？
（旦）丫头错拿了，这是螺子黛，画眉的。
（末）这什么笔？
（旦作笑介）这便是画眉细笔。
（末）俺从不曾见。拿去，拿去！这是什么纸？
（旦）薛涛笺[21]。
（末）拿去，拿去。只拿那蔡伦[22]造的来。这是什么砚？是一个是两个？
（旦）鸳鸯砚。
（末）许多眼[23]？
（旦）泪眼[24]。
（末）哭什么子？一发换了来。
（贴背介）好个标老儿[25]！待换去。
（下换上）这可好？
（末看介）着。
（旦）学生自会临书。春香还劳把笔。
（末）看你临。
（旦写字介）
（末看惊介）我从不曾见这样好字。这什么格？
（旦）是卫夫人传下美女簪花之格[26]。
（贴）待俺写个奴婢学夫人[27]。
（旦）还早哩。
（贴）先生，学生领出恭牌[28](下)
（旦）敢问师母尊年？
（末）目下平头[29]六十。
（旦）学生待绣对鞋儿上寿，请个样儿。
（末）生受了。依《孟子》上样儿，做个“不知足而为屦”[30]罢了。
（旦）还不见春香来。
（末）要唤他么？
（末叫三度介）
（贴上）害淋的。
（旦作恼介）劣丫头那里来？
（贴笑介）溺尿去来。原来有座大花园。花明柳绿，好耍子哩。
（末）哎也，不攻书，花园去。待俺取荆条来。
（贴）荆条做什么？
【前腔】
女郎行[31]那里应文科判衙[32]？
止不过识字儿书涂嫩鸦[33]。
（起介）
（末）古人读书，
有囊萤的，
趁月亮的[34]。
（贴）待映月，
耀蟾蜍眼花；
待囊萤，
把虫蚁儿[35]活支煞[36]。
（末）悬梁、刺股[37]呢？
（贴）比似你悬了梁，
损头发；刺了股，
添疤痆[38]。有甚光华！
（内叫卖花介）
（贴）小姐，你听一声声卖花，把读书声差。
（末）又引逗小姐哩。待俺当真打一下。
（末做打介）
（贴闪[39]介）你待打、打这哇哇，
桃李门墙[40]，
崄把负荆人[41]唬煞。
（贴抢荆条投地介）
（旦）死丫头，唐突[42]了师父，快跪下。
（贴跪介）
（旦）师父看他初犯，容学生责认一遭儿。
【前腔】
手不许把秋千索拿，
脚不许把花园路踏。
（贴）则瞧罢。
（旦）还嘴，
这招风[43]嘴，把香头来绰疤[44]；
招花眼，把绣针儿签[45]瞎。
（贴）瞎了中甚用？
（旦）则要你守砚台，
跟书案，
伴“诗云”，
陪“子曰”，
没的争差[46]。
（贴）争差些罢。
（旦挦[47]贴发介）则问你几丝儿头发，几条背花[48]？
敢也怕些些夫人堂上那些家法[49].
（贴）再不敢了。
（旦）可知道？
（末）也罢，松这一遭儿。起来。
（贴起介）
【尾声】（末）
女弟子则争个不求闻达[50]，
和男学生一般儿教法。
你们工课完了，方可回衙。咱和公相陪话去。
（合）怎辜负的这一弄[51]明窗新绛纱。
（末下）
（贴作背后指末骂介）村[52]老牛，痴老狗，一些趣也不知。
（旦作扯介）死丫头，“一日为师，终身为父”，他打不的你？俺且问你那花园在那里？
（贴做不说）
（旦做笑问介）
（贴指介）兀那[53]不是!
（旦）可有什么景致？
（贴）景致么，有亭台六七座，秋千一两架。绕的流觞曲水[54]，面着太湖山石[55]。名花异草，委实华丽。
（旦）原来有这等一个所在，且回衙去。
（旦）也曾飞絮谢家庭[56],李山甫
（贴）欲化西园蝶未成。 张泌
（旦）无限春愁莫相问， 赵嘏
（合）绿阴终借暂时行。 张祜
注释：
[1]设帐：教书。
[2]《毛诗》：战国时代毛亨著《毛诗故训传》，这是解释《诗经》的一部书。
[3]关关雎鸠……君子好逑：《诗经》的第一首诗《关雎》的头四句。《关雎》是一首爱情诗。
[4]早晚：时候。
[5]《昔氏贤文》：书名，用格言编成的一种初学读本。
[6]禁杀：拘束死了。
[7]恁时节：这时候。
[8]鹦哥：鹦鹉。
[9]鸡初鸣，咸盥、漱、栉、笄，问安于父母：这是载于《礼记·内则》篇的旧时代做子女的生活守则之一。
[10]知州：州的地方行政长官。何知州与“河之洲”谐音，调笑用。
[11]兴：风、雅、颂、赋、比、兴称为《诗经》的六义。风、雅、颂指《诗经》的不同的体制；赋、比、兴指《诗经》的作法。兴，即物起兴，民歌的开头。
[12]敷演：这里是解释的意思。
[13]论《六经》，《诗经》最葩：《六经》中以《诗经》最有文彩。《易》《诗》 《书》 《礼》 《乐》 《春秋》都是儒家的经典著作，合称《六经》。
[14]姜嫄产哇：古代传说，姜嫄是黄帝的曾孙帝喾的妃子。
[15]不嫉妒，后妃贤达：《诗·周南》中的《樛木》《螽斯》等篇，诗序、朱熹注都牵强附会地认为它们是写后妃不妒忌，其实这些都是古代恋歌。
[16]洗净铅华：归之于朴素。铅华，铅粉，搽脸用。
[17]有风有化：有教育意义。
[18]宜室宜家：女儿在夫家一家和顺。
[19]《诗》三百：《诗经》有诗三百零五篇，三百篇是约数。
[20]文房四宝：下文所说的纸、墨、笔、砚。
[21]薛涛笺：唐代名妓薛涛制的笺纸。
[22]蔡伦：东汉时代人，造纸术的改进者。
[23]眼：砚眼，砚石经磨制后现出的天然石纹，圆晕如眼，有白、赤、黄等不同颜色。广东省高要县端溪出产的砚叫端砚。
[24]泪眼：端砚的眼不很清润明朗的叫泪眼。泪眼次于活眼，比死眼好。死眼又比没有的好。
[25]标老儿：不知趣的人，犹如说土老儿。
[26]美女簪花之格：美女簪花，本来用来形容书法娟秀。
[27]奴婢学夫人：原来是学不像的意思。
[28]出恭牌：请假上厕所。明代试场，考生上厕所，凭牌出入。
[29]平头：凡计数逢十，叫作齐头数。平与齐同。
[30]不知足而为屦：屦，鞋子。
[31]行：用在人称词之后，有“辈”“家”的意思。
[32]应文科判衙：去应考，（考取后）做官坐堂办事。
[33]书涂嫩鸦：随便写几个字儿。
[34]趁月亮的：南齐江泌点不起灯，晚上在月亮下读书。
[35]虫蚁儿：泛指昆虫，此处指萤火虫。
[36]活支煞：活活地弄死。
[37]刺股：战国时苏秦刻苦学习，怕自己倦极睡去，用钻子刺大腿。见《战国策·秦策·苏秦始将连横》章。
[38]痆（niè）：疤。
[39]闪：躲避。
[40]门墙：指师门。《论语·子张》：“夫子之墙数仞，不得其门而入。”
[41]负荆人：身背荆条向人请罪的人，这里指有过错的人。
[42]唐突：冒犯。
[43]招风：多惹是非。
[44]把香头来绰疤：用点着的香来戳，灼一个疤。绰，戳。
[45]签：刺。
[46]没的争差：这里是不要出差错的意思。
[47]挦（xián）：用手指扯、拔。
[48]背花：背上被鞭打的伤痕。
[49]家法：封建家长责打家人的用具，如鞭子。
[50]女弟子则争个不求闻达：女学生不要做官，只有这一点（和男的）不一样。
[51]一弄：一派、一带。
[52]村：粗野。
[53]兀那：兀，兀的，犹言这的。兀那，兀谁，意思就是那、谁，但语气较强。
[54]流觞曲水：宜于游宴的曲水。流觞，古代人在修禊的日子，把装着酒的杯子（觞）放在水上，顺水流下去。
[55]太湖山石：太湖石堆叠的假山。
[56]也曾飞絮谢家庭：说自己像谢道韫一样有诗才。
Scene 2 Private Lesson
(Enter Chen Zuiliang.)
Chen (Singing):I rewrite last spring’s verse which pleases me,
After lunch, I think of drinking afternoon tea.
An ant creeps on my table around the inkwell;
A bee comes for a vase of flowers in my cell.
Private tutor to the young mistress in the prefectual residence, I teach herThe Book of Poetry, and I am well entertained by the lady of the prefecture. Now breakfast is over, I’ll review the notes to the lesson.
(Reading the first verse ofThe Book of Poetry):
By riverside are cooing
A pair of turtledoves.
A good young man is wooing
A fair maiden he loves.
Cooing is the soft sound made by the gentle birds and wooing is winning over by saying or doing nice things. (Looking up) It is late now. Why the young mistress has not yet shown up? She must have been spoiled. Let me strike the clappers.
(Striking the clappers thrice)
Fragrant Spring, ask your young mistress to come for lessons.
(Enter Du the Belle followed by her maid Fragrant Spring with books in hand.)
Belle (Singing to the tune of Around the Pool):
Having dressed up, I come down to the classroom bright.
I’m glad to see the clean desk in window light.
Fragrant:Books of such kind
Would jail the mind.
They are not fit for me,
But for a parrot to call for tea.
(They salute Master Chen.)
Belle: My best wishes and a hundred blessings to you!
Fragrant: My best wishes for you not to chide me!
Chen: A girl student should get up at cock’s crow, wash her face, rinse her mouth, brush her teeth, comb her hair and pay respect to her parents. When the sun is up, she shall attend to her work. Now your work is to study, so you must get up early.
Belle: I will not be late any more.
Fragrant: And I will not go to bed tonight but wait at midnight for you to teach us.
Chen: Have you gone over the verse I taught you yesterday?
Belle: Yes, I have. Will you please explain it today?
Chen: Read the text first.
Belle:By riverside are cooing
A pair of turtledoves.
A good young man is wooing
A fair maiden he loves.
Chen: Now listen please.Turtledove is a bird which represents love andcooing its love call.
Fragrant: How will it call?
(Chen imitates the cooing and Fragrant echoes with a funny sound.)
Chen: The turtledove is a gentle bird living by the riverside.
Fragrant: Oh, I understand. I remember it happened yesterday or the day before, this year or last year, that a turtledove kept in the cage was set free by our young mistress and it flew to the river and sighed.
Chen: Nonsense! A pair of turtledoves is evocative. It will make us think of a pair of lovers.
Fragrant: A pair of what?
Chen: The lovers may be a young man and a fair maiden, or a prince and a princess.
Fragrant: Why are they in love?
Chen: Shut up! You ask too much.
Belle: Dear master, I can read the notes and try to understand the verse. Will you please just give me a general idea ofTheBook of Songs?
Chen (Singing to the tune of Changing Roles):
Of the Six Classics The Book of Songs is true
To life. It shows what a noble lady should do.
The story of the Lord of Corn
Tells her not to forget by whom she’s born.
She should be pious to her mother,
And not be jealous of another,
Be virtuous as a queen
Whenever she is seen.
At cock’s crow she should rise,
and grieve when swallow away flies.
She may shed tears by riverside
To see her sister cross the river wide.
She would wash powder off her face
And live with grace.
She’d be a faithful wife
And lead a virtuous life.
Belle: Are there so many things to learn?
Chen: The three hundred poems inTheBook of Songs, in a word, teach you to do no wrong. So much for the explanation of the text. Now, Frangrant, go and fetch the stationary set for your young mistress to practise handwriting.
(Exit and re-enter Fragrant Spring with a new stationary set.)
Fragrant: Here they are: paper, ink, brush and inkwell.
Chen: What kind of ink is this?
Belle: Fragrant has mistaken for ink the dye for pencilling the eyebrow.
Chen: What kind of pen is this?
Belle: This is the pencil for painting the eyebrow.
Chen: I have never seen such ink and such pen. Take them away! Take them away! What kind of paper is this?
Belle: This is the paper for billet doux.
Chen: Take it away! Take it away! Bring the writing paper only. What kind of ink slab is this? Is there one hole or two?
Belle: This is the ink stab for lovebirds.
Chen: Why are there so many holes?
Belle: Water may flow through the holes as tears from the eyes.
Chen: Why should tears be shed? Go and change the whole set.
Fragrant (Aside): What an old boor! What can I do but go and change it?
(Exit and re-enter with a new set.) Will this do?
Chen (Examining it): All right.
Belle: I know how to copy the characters. Will you please help Fragrant do hers?
Chen: I will watch how you copy the characters.
(Surprised at her handwriting.)
I have never seen such good handwriting. Who is the master you are imitating?
Belle: I imitate the handwriting of Lady Wei.
Fragrant: May I imitate your handwriting?
Belle: It is still too early for you to imitate mine.
Fragrant: May I beg leave to the toilet? (Exit.)
Belle (To Master Chen): May I ask about the age of your respectable wife?
Chen: She is sixty years old.
Belle: I would like to embroider a pair of shoes for her on her sixtieth birthday. May I know the size of her shoes?
Chen: Thank you. Please do according as Mencius said, “You may make shoes without knowing the feet.”
Belle: Why is Fragrant Spring not yet back?
Chen: Shall I call her back?
(Calling her thrice. Re-enter Fragrant Spring)
Fragrant: Damned! Here I am.
Belle (Angry): Where have you been, naughty maid?
Fragrant: Out of the toilet, I have found a large garden with beautiful flowers and grass.
Chen: Ah! You were playing truant in the garden. See how I would punish you!
Fragrant: What should I be punished for?
(Sing to the previous tune):
A maid need not be a student bright.
It is enough for me to learn to read and write. (Standing up)
Chen:In olden days a student might
read in the moonlight.
Or even open their eyes
To read by the gleaming fireflies.
Fragrant:The moon not bright
Would hurt the sight.
And a firefly
Kept in bag would die.
Chen:But a student would tie
His hair and stab his thigh.
Fragrant:What is the use to hurt his thigh and hair?
He would feel pain and leave scars there. (A flower seller’s cry heard.)
Have you heard the seller of flowers?
He is disturbing us in the bowers.
Chen: Again you are diverting your young mistress’ mind. See how I’ll punish you.
(Raising the cane in his hand)
Fragrant (Dodging): Beat here!
In a garden of plum and peach,
If you beat a maid, how can you teach?
(Snatching the cane and throwing it on the ground)
Belle: You naughty maid! How dare you offend the tutor! Down on your knees!
(Fragrant kneels.)
(To Master Chen) Would you please excuse her for the first time, and allow me to punish her for you?
(Singing to the previous tune):
Don’t touch the garden flowers with your hand,
Nor tread on pathways of the garden land!
Fragrant: Wait and see if I will.
Belle: How dare you retort!
The incense stick may scorch the mouth of a maid;
The needle may prick your eyes, are you not afraid?
Fragrant: Do you need a blind maid?
Belle:I’ll make you by the table stand,
And grind the ink with your hand.
You should recite the verse we read,
And what Confucius said,
And no mistake should be made.
Fragrant: What if I make a mistake?
Belle (Seizing Fragrant by the hair)
Don’t you know how much of your hair will be torn?
How many strokes of the whip on your back will be borne?
You know my mother punishment severe.
Fragrant: I dare not play truant again.
Belle: Now you know it.
Chen: Well, forgive her for the first time. Stand up.
(Fragrant rose to her feet.)
(Singing theEpilogue):
Girl students need not strive to be known,
Unlike boy students striving for renown.
You may go back when you have done your class work. I am going to have a talk with your father.
Together:Do not waste time by window light
And with the new gauze screen in sight. (Exit Chen.)
Fragrant (Pointing at Chen’s back and railing): An old boor ignorant of young maidens, so tasteless and humorless!
Belle (Pulling her by the sleeve): Naughty maid, don’t you know that your teacher for a day would be your father as long as you live? Why could he not chide and beat you? By the way, where is the garden you have just talked about?
(Fragrant would not answer and Belle put on a smile and asked again.)
Fragrant (Pointing): Just over there.
Belle: Any sight to see?
Fragrant: If you want to see sights, there are a lot in the garden. You will find five or six pavilions and bowers, one or two garden swings, a meandering stream winding along rocky hills, beautiful flowers and grass you have never seen before. What sights for the eyes!
Belle: How could there be such sights without our knowledge? But now, let us go back to our bower.
Epilogue of the Scene
Belle:I can write verse as Poetess of days gone by.
Fragrant:But we can’t go to the garden like a butterfly.
Belle:Don’t ask how much the boundless spring would bring us woe!
Together:How could we in the shady green forever go?
