Act 1: Pledging Love

ACT TWO: THE PLEDGE OF LOVE

(Enter Emperor Minghuang of Tang, in imperial regalia, led by two eunuchs.)

EMPEROR:

Enthroned in court with kingly crown,

In flowing robes I rule the south.

Unified rivers and mountains—this is the great Tang dynasty.

The dew from the nine heavens brings the breath of spring;

The trees in the deep palace all spread their fragrance.

The era of peace has long been proclaimed;

The season is fair, and pleasure is but fitting.

I wish to spend my life in the land of tenderness,

Nor envy the immortal realms beyond the clouds.

(He recites:)

"Fair season enters the palace halls,

The garden trees are bathed in spring.

Heaven's will and man's time coincide;

All human affairs are smooth and just.

Songs proclaim the duties of state;

After court, robes are doffed to the six dances.

I savor the joys of the sunny terrace—

On a recent eve, a fine rain fell."

I am the Tianbao Emperor of the great Tang. I rose from the mansion of a prince and entered the court to inherit the throne. I employ men without suspicion, entrusting Yao Chong and Song Jing with the government; I heed remonstrance as smoothly as flowing water, placing Zhang Yue and Han Xiu at court. Moreover, I rejoice that the desert winds are stilled for ten thousand li, and the price of grain among the people is as low as three coins. Truly, this is an age of great peace, nearly rivalling the Zhenguan era; the penal code is left unused, a practice not inferior to the days of Emperor Wen of Han. Lately, amid the leisure of state affairs, I have indulged in music and beauty. Yesterday, I saw the palace maid Yang Yuhuan; her nature is gentle and virtuous, her bearing graceful and lovely. I have chosen this auspicious day to confer upon her the rank of Honored Consort. I have already issued the decree that she be bathed in the Huaqing Pool, and ordered Yongxin and Niannu to attend her change of robes. I have now summoned Gao Lishi to lead her to court, and she should soon arrive.

(Enter Gao Lishi, followed by two maids with fans, and then Yang Yuhuan, now Honored Consort.)

YANG:

Imperial favor, like a wave from heaven, brings sudden joy;

Bathing done, I hasten in my dress to the painted procession.

MAIDS:

The six palaces, all unseen, are filled with hidden sorrow,

As they stand together on golden steps, stealing glances.

(She reaches the hall. Gao Lishi enters and kneels before the Emperor.)

GAO:

Your slave Gao Lishi humbly greets Your Majesty. The Yang lady, upon whom the title of Honored Consort has been conferred, has arrived at the palace gate. She awaits Your Majesty's command.

EMPEROR:

Bid her enter.

GAO (going out):

His Majesty decrees that the Honored Consort, Lady Yang, be summoned to the hall.

(Yang enters and kneels.)

YANG:

Your handmaiden, Honored Consort Yang Yuhuan, humbly greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!

EUNUCH:

Rise.

YANG:

Your handmaiden is of humble origin and coarse nature, yet has been chosen for the inner palace. Suddenly receiving such favor, I am indeed overwhelmed with trepidation.

EMPEROR:

My consort comes from a renowned family; her virtue and beauty are both complete. Chosen to serve in the inner court, she is deeply pleasing to my heart.

YANG:

Long live Your Majesty!

GAO:

Rise.

(Yang rises. The Emperor speaks.)

EMPEROR:

Command the banquet to be prepared.

(Gao transmits the order. Court music plays. Yang offers wine to the Emperor; maids offer wine to Yang. The Emperor takes the central seat; Yang sits to one side.)

EMPEROR (to the tune Niannujiao Xu):

The realm ten thousand li wide,

Fair maidens sought far and wide—

Who can be the first in the inner court?

This beauty today, Heaven-sent, is truly peerless.

I ponder:

In the jade palace, singled out for favor,

Granted the jade title,

Three thousand beauties all willingly yield.

ALL:

We only wish your love be perfect,

Enduring as earth and heaven.

YANG (to the same tune, second stanza):

I am honored by such praise.

I pause and ponder,

Fearing my plain form and lowly body

Are unfit to serve beside the empress.

Receiving favor, bearing grace,

In an instant, I am raised from earth to heaven.

I must emulate:

Lady Feng who faced the bear,

Lady Ban who refused the royal carriage,

Ever holding the crimson brush to serve my lord.

ALL:

We only wish your love be perfect,

Enduring as earth and heaven.

MAIDS (to the same tune, third stanza):

With joy we ask:

From this day in the palace,

Who shall be first?

Like the flying swallow in Zhaoyang Hall,

The place of favor,

Should be hers alone.

Do not yield:

The golden chamber adorned,

The jade tower songs sung through,

For a thousand autumns, we raise the cup.

ALL:

We only wish your love be perfect,

Enduring as earth and heaven.

EUNUCHS (to the same tune, fourth stanza):

We gaze in reverence:

The sun circles the dragon's scales,

Clouds move the pheasant-tail fans,

The heavenly countenance rejoices at the new adornment.

Cups are passed in haste,

The whole hall fills with spring breeze and fragrance.

Worthy of praise:

The round moon shakes golden light,

Evening clouds spread like brocade,

Where five-colored clouds thicken, dusk comes easily.

ALL:

We only wish your love be perfect,

Enduring as earth and heaven.

GAO:

The moon has risen. May I report to Your Majesty that the banquet is ready to be cleared?

EMPEROR:

We shall walk together on the steps and enjoy the moonlight for a while.

(Court music plays. The Emperor takes Yang's hand and steps forward; the others withdraw and stand together.)

EMPEROR (to the tune Guluntai):

Descending the golden steps,

By lantern light, in the moon's glow, I gaze closely—

The garden flowers cannot match her lovely form.

Gently leaning, softly drawing near,

This shadow of hair, this gleam of dress,

Reflect ten thousand charms.

(Laughing softly, to Yang:)

The joy of this night,

The clear breeze, the bright moon,

Are a mockery of the dream rain that hinted at Gaotang.

YANG:

Following in pleasure, feasting and viewing,

Fortunate from this day to serve my lord.

On the jade steps I pause a while;

Spring words arise,

Fragrance lingers about the royal train,

Jade dew chills and wets my robes.

Still I gaze into the distance:

In the layered golden halls, mandarin ducks rest.

EMPEROR:

Light the lanterns and proceed to the Western Palace.

(All respond. Eunuchs and maids, each holding a lantern, lead the Emperor and Yang as they walk.)

ALL (to the same tune, second stanza):

Radiant,

A thousand rows of silver candlelight surround us.

I look back: the pearl curtain hangs slanting open,

The Silver River faintly bright.

Double paths and winding corridors,

Everywhere fragrant dust drifts.

How is the night?

The moon is higher than the dew-catching plate.

Tonight we have the finest scenery,

Red screens and green curtains,

A pair of mandarin ducks amid the brocade clouds.

"Jade Flower," "Jade Tree," "Spring River, Moonlit Night"—

All voices sing together,

The moon's shadow moves across the palace wall.

Lifting the gauze curtain,

Let us support the lingering intoxication into the orchid chamber.

GAO:

May I report to Your Majesty? We have reached the Western Palace.

EMPEROR:

Let the eunuchs withdraw.

GAO:

Spring breeze opens the purple hall.

EUNUCHS:

Heavenly music descends on the bejeweled tower.

(They all exit.)

EMPEROR (to the coda):

Flowers tremble in the candlelight,

The moon shines on the gauze window,

Let us speak softly of this night's joy.

ALL:

Ask not of the long water-clock in other courts or distant chambers.

(The maids change the Emperor's and Yang's robes, then discreetly withdraw. The Emperor and Yang sit down.)

EMPEROR:

Silver candles turn back light, scattering the silk robes.

YANG:

Deep in the imperial fragrance, I receive much grace.

EMPEROR:

The six palaces tonight gaze afar with hidden sorrow.

ALL:

Tomorrow they will vie to sing the "Song of Obtaining the Treasure."

EMPEROR:

Our pledge to grow old together begins tonight. (Takes from his sleeve a golden hairpin and a jeweled box.) I have brought this golden hairpin and jeweled box as a token of our love.

EMPEROR (to the tune Mian Daxu):

This golden hairpin and jeweled box,

A hundred treasures set in emerald flowers.

I hold them close to my breast,

Treasure them high with ten thousand feelings.

Tonight, this hairpin—

I give it to you to adorn your cloud-like tresses, with paired phoenixes slanting;

This box—

Treasure it deep in your embroidered sleeve,

Wrap it close in fragrant silk.

May it be like them, side by side in flight,

Firmly clasped in a union of hearts.

(He gives them to Yang. She receives them and thanks him.)

YANG (to the same tune, second stanza):

I thank you for the golden hairpin and jeweled box,

Granting me the joy of serving my lord.

I only fear my humble self

Cannot bear the richness of Heaven's favor.

(She turns aside to look at them.)

Just now I stole a glance:

Phoenix flying, dragon coiling,

I love these paired heads so tender,

These two halves so round.

I only wish our love be firm as gold,

The hairpin never split, the box ever whole.

EMPEROR:

The hazy spring moon shines on the flowering branch. (Yuan Zhen)

YANG:

It is the first time she receives imperial favor. (Bai Juyi)

EMPEROR:

Long leaning on the jade lady, my heart is drunk. (Yong Tao)

ALL:

Year after year, we take delight in this. (Zhao Yanzhao)