Scene 48: Conveying Feelings

Scene 48: Entrusting Feelings

(Nanlü Passing Tune: Lazy Painting Eyebrows)

(The Male Immortal, playing the Taoist priest Yang Tongyou, enters as his spirit form.)

Beyond the seas, I once heard of immortal mountains—mountains that lie in the void and mist. I, the humble priest Yang Tongyou, have just seen the Weaving Maiden Goddess, who said that Yang Guifei is on Penglai Mountain. So I flew over all the islands in the sea and have come all the way here. I see tiers of palaces and pavilions shrouded in the chill of rainbow clouds. Ahead, the cave gate is tightly shut. Let me step forward and take a look. (He looks.) I try to examine the silver plaque carefully. (He reads aloud.) “The Courtyard of the Jade Consort, Supreme Truth.” Ah, this is the place! (He takes out a hairpin and knocks on the gate.) Let me draw out my jade hairpin and knock softly.

(Same Tune)

(The Attendant, playing a fairy maiden, enters.)

Deep in the cloudy sea, the grotto-heaven is cold, with cloud chambers and crane paths locked in pure seclusion.

(The priest knocks again.)

(Attendant:) Who knocks on the copper ring beneath the flowers? (She opens the gate.) Who is it?

(The priest sees her and bows:) I, the humble priest Yang Tongyou, pay my respects.

(Attendant:) What business have you here?

(Priest:) The Grand Emperor of the Great Tang has specially sent me to inquire after the Jade Consort.

(Attendant:) The Lady has gone to the Hall of the Mysterious Pearl. Please wait a while, Immortal Master.

(Priest:) I see. I shall stand here quietly on the jade steps.

(Attendant:) I see the Lady coming from afar.

(Priest:) From afar I hear the sound of immortal wind stirring her pendants and ornaments.

(Same Tune)

(The Female Lead, playing Yang Guifei, enters, led by fairy maidens.)

Returning from the clouds, my steps are slow and gentle. I hear that a messenger bearing a bluebird letter has come with a decree from afar.

(She sees the priest.) Ah, indeed an immortal guest awaits at the heavy pass.

(The attendant welcomes her.)

(Guifei:) Where does the Taoist come from?

(Attendant:) I was just about to report to you, Lady. He is an envoy from the mortal world, sent by the Son of Heaven of the Tang, and has come to this mountain on a distant mission.

(Guifei enters:) Since he is the Grand Emperor’s envoy, invite him in at once.

(The fairy maiden invites the priest to enter.)

(Priest, bowing:) I, the humble priest Yang Tongyou, pay my respects.

(Guifei:) Immortal Master, please be seated. (The priest sits.)

(Guifei:) May I ask where the Immortal Master comes from?

(Priest:) I have been sent by the Grand Emperor to inquire after your welfare.

(Guifei:) Is the Grand Emperor well?

(Priest:) The Grand Emperor thinks of you day and night, and has fallen ill from longing.

(Yichun Tune)

Ever since his return to the capital, he has longed for you constantly. Morning and evening, his tears flow without end. Spring breezes and autumn rains—each stirs his feelings at the sight. Reflected in the lotus, your face is no longer there; facing the willow, whose new brows can he paint? He has specially entrusted me to convey this lingering love of his.

(Same Tune)

(Guifei, weeping:) My heart breaks a thousand times, my tears flow in endless strands. I am grateful for my lord’s profound affection. Since we parted in voice and face, the immortal mountain has kept me from serving him closely. In Penglai Courtyard, the moon fades and the flowers wither; in Zhaoyang Hall, people are no more and things have changed. In vain, I entrust you to take back my lingering love.

(Priest:) I have received your words. I only ask that you give me some token to take back as proof.

(Guifei:) Very well. When I was favored in former days, the Grand Emperor bestowed on me a golden hairpin and a jeweled box. Now let me break the hairpin in two and split the box in half. I trouble the Immortal Master to present them to the Grand Emperor, saying: as long as our hearts remain steadfast, we need not fear that our former vows will be broken. (She breaks the hairpin and box, weeping.) Maid, give these tokens to the Immortal Master.

(The attendant hands them to the priest.)

(Guifei:) Immortal Master, please let me bow in thanks for your trouble.

(Priest:) I dare not accept. (They bow.)

(Three Scholars Tune)

These old tokens, passed on through you, convey my deep feelings and humble sincerity. The half jeweled box grieves in its loneliness; the single golden hairpin sends longing far away. I hope it reaches the Grand Emperor, and that his heart remains as firm as before, so that at last we may meet again.

(Priest:) I have one more thing to say. The hairpin and box are objects that exist in the human world. If I present them to the Grand Emperor, I fear he may not fully believe me. I must take some event from those days—something no one else knows—to verify my words, so that he will see that what I say is true.

(Guifei:) That is reasonable. (She bows her head in thought.)

(Same Tune)

At our parting, I earnestly entrusted new words to you—words filled with endless longing. Oh, I have it! I recall that on the seventh day of the seventh month in the second year of the Tianbao era, at midnight in the Hall of Eternal Life, when no one else was near, we whispered our secret vows. At that time, the Grand Emperor stood side by side with me, and moved by the story of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maiden, we swore to each other in secret: may we be husband and wife in every life, forever and ever. (She weeps.) Who knew that the birds flying wing to wing would be parted, that the trees with branches intertwined would die? The endless regret stretches on without end.

(Priest:) With this matter, I can answer the Grand Emperor. I shall take my leave now.

(Guifei:) Wait—there is one more thing. On the night of the fifteenth day of the eighth month this year, there will be a great gathering in the Moon Palace, where the “Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat” melody will be performed. That very night is the time when the Grand Emperor will ascend to immortality. I shall wait for him there. May I trouble the Immortal Master to guide him there at the appointed hour? If this opportunity is missed, we shall never see each other again.

(Priest:) I accept your command.

(Guifei:) Immortal Master, tell him—

(Guifei:) With deep feeling and fixed gaze, I thank my lord. (Bai Juyi)

How can the dream of dust compare to the dream of cranes? (Cao Tang)

(Priest:) I shall secretly inform the emperor of your entry into the moon. (Wang Jian)

On the same day, all the immortals will hear the “Rainbow Skirt.” (Li Shangyin)