Scene 40: The Immortal's Recollection

Scene 40: Immortal Recollection

(Nan Lü Leading Tune: Gualingzhen – Dan, playing a female immortal, and Laodan, playing an attendant immortal, enter.)

Riding the crane and driving the phoenix, gone without return,

In vain I look back between heaven and the mortal realm.

At the Upright Pavilion, in the Hall of Long Life,

Past events stir up boundless longing.

(Huanxisha)

Wispy clouds lock the jade chamber deep,

Just returned to the immortal registry, my heart is lost in confusion.

Turning my head, I cannot help but ponder.

Suddenly I see, on the Jasper Terrace steps amid the jade trees,

Where the azure phoenix roosts, shadows appear in pairs.

Again and again I set it aside, yet it tugs at my heart.

I, Yang Yuhuan, am fortunate to have received the Jade Emperor’s decree, restored to the ranks of immortals, and still dwell in the Taiyuan Temple on Penglai Mountain. Only the token of our pledge never leaves my person, and the oath made on the Seventh Eve I find hard to betray. When I speak of it, it is truly a long story!

(Gaoping Guoqu Tune: Jiuhui Chang – Jiesan Cheng)

Helplessly, we were parted in an instant;

In that time, how many threads of connection?

Life and death cannot sever the bonds of feeling,

In vain piling up hatred like a mountain.

He, there, pines over old ties, suffering without end;

I, here, shed tears of lingering soul, blood not yet dry,

In vain I sigh.

(Sanxueshi)

Unable to become a paired fish, we first met disaster;

The mandarin ducks torn apart—what talk of immortal ranks?

(She takes out the gold hairpin and jewel box and looks at them.)

Seeing this gold hairpin and jewel box, the feeling remains;

Can it be that the vow of earth’s endurance and heaven’s eternity has turned cold?

(Ji Sanqiang)

When will I receive the azure crane’s message,

To reweave the fate,

To reunite the people,

And on both sides pour out our sorrows!

(Tie enters.)

Trying to ascend the peak of Penglai to gaze afar,

The sea waves are clear and shallow, and the crane flies in.

I am Hanhuang, sent by the Moon Goddess to request the new score of the Rainbow and Feathered Garment Dance from the Jade Consort Tai Zhen. Having arrived, I may as well enter directly.

(She enters, greets, and they meet.)

Jade Consort, I bow to you.

(Dan)

Where does the immortal come from?

(Tie smiles.)

Does the Jade Consort still recognize me, Hanhuang?

(Dan thinks for a moment.)

Oh, could it be the immortal from the moon?

(Tie)

Yes.

(Dan)

Please, sit.

(Tie sits down.)

Since our parting in a dream, I have not noticed how many years have passed. Today you have come from afar; pray tell me your purpose.

(Tie)

Jade Consort, listen:

(Qingshang Qi Fan – Cu Yu Lin)

It is only because the Rainbow and Feathered Garment tune,

In the Guanghan Palace,

Envies your spiritual heart,

That the score has been carefully revised anew.

I come specially by order of the Moon Goddess,

(Ying Ti Xu)

Seeking one who knows the music, far to knock at Penglai’s gate,

Borrowing the original score for her personal viewing.

(Dan)

So that is it. In those days, I was fortunate to hear the immortal music in a dream; though I transcribed it for strings and winds, I still fear some errors due to hazy memory.

(Gaoyang Tai)

Why trouble the Moon Palace to mistakenly select a lost tune?

As I ponder, I turn to weep on my own.

(She weeps.)

(Tie)

Ah, why does the Jade Consort shed tears?

(Dan)

(Jiang Huanglong)

I grieve that I have endured calamities and suffering;

The gong note is cold, the shang note is broken,

(Erlang Shen)

The crimson strings have snapped,

I am ashamed to play this tune anew.

I beg the immortal to report to the Moon Goddess that my old score from the mortal world is unfit for this task. I implore her pardon and forbearance.

(Tie)

Jade Consort, do not refuse so firmly. My Moon Goddess, she admires your peerless intelligence, rare in the world,

(Jibin)

Creating new sounds, unique among mortals.

She regrets seeking the score too late—

Do not disappoint the azure-eyed hope from the clouds.

(Dan)

Since the Moon Goddess has deigned to visit, I happened, some time ago on this immortal mountain, to recall the past and have written out a copy.

(Tie)

That is excellent.

(Dan)

Attendant, go and fetch it.

(Laodan acknowledges and exits; returns with the score.)

Here is the score.

(Dan takes it.)

Immortal, though the score is obtained, it still needs to be copied properly.

(Tie)

Why?

(Dan)

Look at it:

(Huangying’er)

The characters are scattered,

Blurred and broken,

All stained with tear marks.

(Tie)

That does not matter.

(Dan hands over the score.)

If so, then I trouble you to present it to the Moon Goddess, saying that I secretly recorded it in a dream, and the notes have many errors, begging for correction.

(Tie)

I accept the command; I take my leave.

(Tie exits with the score.)

(Dan)

Attendant, close the cave door and follow me inside.

(Laodan acknowledges and follows her out.)

(Tie)

From the beginning until the tune’s completion, (Wang Jian)

(Dan)

How can I make Chang’e know it all clearly? (Tang Yanqian)

(Tie)

Do not blame me for earnestly grieving over this tune, (Liu Yuxi)

(Dan)

With whom does the moonlight’s flowing radiance make a tryst? (Li Shangyin)