帕布莉卡第二本
第一出 怅眺
【番卜算】（丑扮韩秀才上）
家世大唐年，
寄籍潮阳县。
越王台上海连天，
可是鹏程[1]便？
“榕树梢头访古台，
下看甲子海门[2]开。
越王歌舞今何在？
时有鹧鸪飞去来[3]。”
自家韩子才。俺公公唐朝韩退之，为上了《破佛骨表》[4]，贬落潮州。一出门蓝关雪阻，马不能前。先祖心里暗暗道，第一程采头罢了[5]。正苦中间，忽然有个湘子侄儿，乃下八洞神仙[6]，蓝缕相见。俺退之公公一发心里不快。呵融冻笔，题一首诗在蓝关草驿之上。末二句单指着湘子说道：
“知汝远来应有意，
好收吾骨瘴江边。”
湘子袖[7]了这诗，长笑一声，腾空而去。果然后来退之公公潮州瘴死[8]，举目无亲。那湘子恰在云端看见，想起前诗，按下云头，收其骨殖[9]。到得衙中，四顾无人，单单则有湘子原妻一个在衙。四目相视，把湘子一点凡心顿起。当时生下一支，留在水潮[10]，传了宗祀。小生乃其嫡派苗裔也。因乱流来广城[11]。官府念是先贤之后，表请敕封小生为昌黎祠香火秀才。寄居赵佗王台子之上。正是：
“虽然乞相[12]寒儒，
却是仙风道骨。”
呀，早一位朋友上来。谁也？
【前腔】（生上）
经史腹便便[13]，
昼梦人还倦。
欲寻高耸看云烟，
海色光平面。
（相见介）（丑）是柳春卿，甚风儿吹的老兄来?
（生）偶尔孤游上此台。
（丑）这台上风光尽可矣。
（生）则无奈登临不快哉。
（丑）小弟此间受用也。
（生）小弟想起来，到是不读书的人受用。
（丑）谁?
（生）赵佗王[14]便是。
【锁寒窗】
祖龙飞、
鹿走中原[15]，
尉佗呵，
他倚定着摩崖半壁天[16]。
称孤道寡[17]，
是他英雄本然。
白占了江山，
猛起些宫殿。
似吾侪读尽万卷书，
可有半块土么？
那半部[18]上山河不见。
（合）由天，
那攀今吊古也徒然，
荒台古树寒烟。
（丑）小弟看兄气象言谈，似有无聊之叹。先祖昌黎公有云：
“不患有司之不明，
只患文章之不精；
不患有司之不公，
只患经书之不通。”
老兄，还则怕工夫有不到处。
（生）这话休提。比如我公公柳宗元，与你公公韩退之，他都是饱学才子，却也时运不济。你公公错题了《佛骨表》，贬职潮阳。我公公则为在朝阳殿与王叔文丞相下棋子，惊了圣驾，直贬做柳州司马。都是边海烟瘴地方。那时两公一路而来，旅舍之中，两个挑灯细论。你公公说道：“宗元，宗元，我和你两人文章，三六九比势[19]：我有《王泥水传》，你便有《梓人传》；我有《毛中书传》，你便有《郭驼子传》；我有《祭鳄鱼文》，你便有《捕蛇者说》。这也罢了。则我《进平淮西碑》，取奉取奉[20]朝廷，你却又进个平淮西的雅。一篇一篇，你都放俺不过。恰如今贬窜烟方[21]，也合着一处。岂非时乎，运乎，命乎！”韩兄，这长远的事休提了。假如俺和你论如常，难道便应这等寒落。因何俺公公造下一篇《乞巧文》，到俺二十八代元孙，再不曾乞得一些巧来？便是你公公立意做下《送穷文》，到老兄二十几辈了，还不曾送的个穷去？算来都则为时运二字所亏。
（丑）是也。春卿兄，
【前腔】
你费家资制买书田[22]，
怎知他卖向明时[23]不值钱。
虽然如此，你看赵佗王当时，也是个秀才陆贾[24]，拜为奉使中大夫到此。赵佗王多少尊重他。他归朝燕，黄金累千。
那时汉高皇厌见读书之人，但有个带儒巾[25]的，都拿来溺尿。这陆贾秀才，端然带了四方巾，深衣[26]大摆，去见汉高皇。那高皇望见，这又是个掉尿鳖子[27]的来了。便迎着陆贾骂道：“你老子用马上得天下，何用诗书？”那陆生有趣，不多应他，只回他一句：“陛下马上取天下，能以马上治之乎？”汉高皇听了，哑然一笑，说道：“便依你说。不管什么文字，念了与寡人听之。”陆大夫不慌不忙，袖里出一卷文字，恰是平日灯窗下纂集的《新语》一十三篇，高声奏上。那高皇才听了一篇，龙颜大喜。后来一篇一篇，都喝采称善。立封他做个关内侯。那一日好不气象[28]！休道汉高皇，便是那两班文武，见者皆呼万岁。一言掷地，万岁喧天。
（生叹介）则俺连篇累牍无人见。
（合前）
（丑）再问春卿，在家何以为生？
（生）寄食园公[29]。
（丑）依小弟说，不如干谒[30]些须，可图前进。
（生）你不知，今人少趣哩。
（丑）老兄可知？有个钦差识宝中郎苗老先生，到是个知趣人。今秋任满，例于香山㠗[31]多宝寺中赛宝。那时一往何如？
（生）领教。
应念愁中恨索居[32]， 段成式
青云器业[33]俺全疏。 李商隐
越王自指高台笑， 皮日休
刘项[34] 原来不读书。章碣
注释：
[1]鹏程：前程远大。《庄子·逍遥游》：“鹏之徙于南溟也，水击三千里，抟扶摇而上者九万里。”
[2]甲子海门：广东省陆丰县东南有甲子门海口，巨石壁立，形势险要。
[3]越王歌舞今何在？时有鹧鸪飞去来：李白诗《越中览古》：“越王勾践破吴归，义士还家尽锦衣。宫女如花满春殿，只今惟有鹧鸪飞。”这里是因南越王赵佗和越王勾践称号相似而移用的。
[4]破佛骨表：《论佛骨表》。见《韩昌黎全集》卷三十九。元和十四年，唐宪宗迎接释迦佛骨一节入宫。韩愈上表反对，被贬为潮州刺史。
[5]采头罢了：采头，兆头。罢了，算了。采头罢了，兆头不好那就算了。
[6]下八洞神仙：道家传说，有所谓上八洞神仙、下八洞神仙，一般泛称八仙：汉钟离、张果老、韩湘子、李铁拐、曹国舅、吕洞宾、蓝采和、何仙姑。
[7]袖：动词，放入衣袖内。
[8]退之公公潮州瘴死：这里说的韩愈的事迹是编造出来的，并不符合历史事实。
[9]骨殖：骸骨。
[10]水潮：当是潮州附近的地名。
[11]广城：广州。
[12]乞相：寒乞相，穷样子。
[13]经史腹便便：满肚子都是学问。
[14]赵佗王：姓赵名佗。秦末为南海尉，所以又称尉佗。秦亡，自立为南越武王。汉十一年，高祖派陆贾去封他为南越王。后又自立为南越武帝。汉孝文帝派大中大夫陆贾去责备他，要他归顺汉朝。见《史记》卷一百十三本传。
[15]祖龙飞、鹿走中原：祖龙，指秦始皇。飞，死。鹿走中原，喻政局失去控制。
[16]倚定着摩崖半壁天：倚定着摩崖，凭着天险；半壁天，割据一方。
[17]称孤道寡：自立为王。王，小国君主自称孤，皇帝自称寡人。
[18]半部：指半部《论语》。宋代赵普迷信《论语》。他曾经对宋太宗（赵光义）说：“我以半部《论语》帮助太祖（赵匡胤）打天下，以另外半部帮助你治理国家。”
[19]三六九比势：旗鼓相当，势均力敌。
[20]取奉取奉：取奉，原是指向皇帝效劳、贡献，这里用叠句，却是趋奉的谐音，奉承、讨好的意思。
[21]烟方：多雾的瘴气流行的地区。
[22]制买书田：旧时代的看法，买书读和买田一样，买田可以收租，读书可以升官发财，都有利可图。
[23]明时：政治清明的时代。
[24]陆贾：汉代初年的辩士。汉高祖曾派他去封赵佗为南越王。回来之后，陆贾升为大中大夫。
[25]儒巾：古代读书人戴的头巾。
[26]深衣：古代长袍之类的制服。
[27]尿鳖子：尿壶。
[28]气象：这里作形容词用，犹言神气。
[29]园公：园丁。
[30]干谒：向有地位的人求请。
[31]香山㠗：今广东省中山县境内，是古时对外贸易港，明代为洋商聚居处。
[32]索居：独居。
[33]青云器业：做官的才能。青云，做大官，爬得很高。
[34]刘项：指汉高祖刘邦和楚霸王项羽。
Scene 1 A Gloomy Outlook
(Enter Han Zicai, descendant of Han Yu.)
Han (singing to the tune of Foreign Divination ):
Under the Dynasty of Tang
My ancestor Han Yu was banished to Chaoyang.
Now on Southern Gazebo I hear the sea roar.
Could I as the roc soar?
“The Gazebo overlooks the hay;
Waves from the Sea Gate roll away.
Where are songs and dances of long ago?
I see but partridges flying to and fro.”
I am Han Zicai, descendant of the great Tang scholar Han Yu, who was banished to the seaside for his proposal against Buddhist superstitition. On his way he was stopped by snow at the Blue Pass, and he thought it was a bad omen. Just then his nephew Han Xiangzi, who became one of the eight immortals, came in rags. At this sight he became all the more unhappy and wrote a poem which ends by two lines for his nephew:
You have come from afar and I know what you mean:
Not to leave my bones there where flow miasmal waves green.
Xiangzi put this poem into his sleeve with a long laughter and disappeared in the blue sky. Then Han Yu died of miasma at Chaozhou without a relative by his bedside. When Xiangzi riding a cloud passed overhead, he recalled this poem, descended to collect his remains and carried them to his hometown, where he happened to meet with his former wife, who aroused his human desire and a son was born to carry on the family line, of which I am a direct descendant. As a result of the turmoil at the time, I moved to the southern town of Guangzhou. Out of respect for my great ancestor, the government conferred on me the title of heir scholar at the Temple of Han Yu. Now I dwell near the Southern Gazebo.
Though beggarly I may appear,
My ancestor was noble peer.
Ah! A friend of mine is coming up. Who can it be?
(Enter Liu Dreamer of Mume Flower.)
Liu (Singing to the previous tune):
Versed in classics I seem,
Tired after a day dream.
To view the clouds I mount the height,
And find the sea like mirror bright.
(They greet each other.)
Han: It is you, my dear Lover of Spring. What wind has brought you to me?
Liu: My roaming propensity leads me here.
Han: At this gazebo you can gaze at the beau.
Liu: If not in spirits high, how can I climb so high?
Han: Then am I ever in high spirits?
Liu: No so high as……
Han: As who?
Liu: As Zhao Tuo gazer of the beau.
(Singing to the tune ofCold Window Locked):
The Emperor of Dragon died,
Deer chasers ran on Central Plain so wide.
But Zhao Tuo who relied
On the ramparts he occupied,
Declared himself sole hero in command
Of the precipitous land,
And built palaces side by side.
But do we scholars have a patch of land
For our free hand?
We’ve read our fill.
But we possess nor hill nor rill.
Together: Could we rely
On earth or sky?
It is in vain
Of the past or the present to complain.
What can we see
But old gazebo and withered tree?
Han: Judging by what you say, you seem depressed. Do not forget what my ancestor said:
“Do not say others are not right
If you cannot write.
It is not that others are unjust,
But that you’ve not done what you must.”
Perhaps we still have something to learn.
Liu: Do not mention it. You remember my ancestor Liu Zongyuan and yours Han Yu were both learned scholars. Even they could not escape from misfortune. Your ancestor was banished to Chaozhou for his proposal against Buddhist superstition, while mine to Liuzhou for his chess-playing with the prime minister displeased the emperor. It was said that on their way to the miasmal regions, they met in a tavern and had a lampside talk. Your great grandfather said that both yours and mine were comparable in their works as well as in their misfortune. Yours wrote The Story of a Bricklayer while mine that of A Carpenter, yours the history of a minister while mine that of a gardener; yours An Elegy to the Crocodile and mine Memoir of a Snake-Catcher. What is more, when your ancestor tried to curry the imperial favor by glorifying the victory on the region south of River Huai, mine dedicated a hymn to the triumph. They shared weal and woe alike, vied from one work to another, and at last were both banished to the miasmal regions at the same time. Was it not predestined? Let us forget the past fortune and misfortune, and talk about the present. My ancestor has left A Prayer for Talent but no talent whatever appears in the twenty-eight generations his descendents; nor Farewell to Poverty left by yours has rid over twenty generations of your family of poverty. So how can we not be resigned to our destiny?
Han: You are right, dear Lover of Spring.
(Singing to the previous tune):
You have bought books with so much gold.
Don’t you know they’re worthless when sold?
Nevertheless, when a learned scholar Lu Jia of Han Dynasty came here on imperial errand to confer on Zhao Tuo the title of prince, how richly he was recompensed!
When he returned to the capital, His carts were loaded with gold, one and all. At first, the first emperor of Han Dynasty disliked scholars and would piss on the hood of a scholar coming for an audience. When Lu Jia came in a square hood and a dark gown, the emperor thought to himself. Here comes another pisspot. So he said in a haughty air: “I have conquered the world on horseback. What is the use of your books and verses for me? But Lu Jia was witty enough to retort: “Your Majesty may conquer the world on horseback, but can you rule over it still on horseback?” On hearing this question, the emperor was at a loss, so he said with a broad smile: “Do you think then your books could rule over it? Read me a passage you think fit to the purpose.” Then Lu Jia took out without haste a scroll from his sleeve and read aloud the first chapter of his New Proposals composed by windowside or in lamplight. The emperor, delighted, broke into broad smiles again and asked him to read one chapter after another, and applauded all the thirteen chapters and ennobled him with the title of Interior Marquis. This glorification won the acclamation and applause of all ministers and generals, who shouted: “Long live the emperor!”
Liu (Sighing): But no one would applaud my works.
Together:
Could we rely
On earth or sky?
It is in vain
Of the past or the present to complain.
What can we see
But old gazebo and withered tree.
Han: Then may I ask you, dear Lover of Spring, how are you earning a living now?
Liu: I am boarding with my gardener.
Han: In my opinion, you had better find a patron to help you.
Liu: Who would be interested in a man of letters now?
Han: Don’t you know an imperial envoy for treasure appraisal appraise men of letters as well as treasure? Before his term of office ends in autumn, he will come as usual to assess treasure in the Temple of Fragrant Bay. Why don’t we go there and pay him a visit?
Liu: All right. Let us have a try.
Epilogue of the Scene
How can a lonely scholar be free from woe?
How could he up to Heaven go?
A prince would be proud of what he has done.
The successful is not the learned one.
