Act 8: Recall to Favor

Scene 9: A Recall to Favor

[Nan Lü Prelude · Yumeiren] (Emperor Ming of Tang enters) For no reason I stir up idle vexation; to whom can I speak my heart? This passion is already hard to bear; I hate that parrot, forever reminding me.

The imperial carriage path is overgrown with spring grass; in the Shanglin Park, flowers bloom on every branch. Gazing afar, my heart is full of cares, no longer known to any attendant. Yesterday, because Yang Guifei was willful and jealous, I was displeased; in a moment of poor judgment, I sent her away. Who would have thought that a beauty is so rare? Since she left, everything I see is hateful; every scene stirs only resentment. When Yang Guozhong came to court to apologize, I had no face to see him. (Sighs) Alas! I wish to summon her back, yet find it hard to speak; if I do not summon her, how shall I pass the time? Truly, I cannot decide!

[Nan Lü Prelude · Ten Brocade Patterns] [Xiudai’er] The spring breeze blows softly; the palace curtains are half-rolled, hard to while away the slow-moving sunlight. I hear the fine birds still chirping joyfully; I see the new blossoms as if vying in splendor. Regret is too late. [Yichun Ling] I regret my sudden carelessness, not understanding her full charm. In vain have I wasted those tender feelings of cherishing fragrance and pitying jade. (Vice role, playing an eunuch, enters) The jade plate holds crimson threads cut fine; the golden flagon opens green wine thick and rich. (Kneels and reports) Please, Your Majesty, partake of the meal. (Emperor Ming of Tang does not respond) (Vice role requests again) (Emperor Ming of Tang, angry) Pah! Who asked you to announce it? (Vice role) Your Majesty has not eaten since dawn; the harem has sent word urging the meal to be prepared. (Emperor Ming of Tang) Pah! What harem! Call the attendants. (Two attendants respond and enter) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Drag this fellow out, give him a hundred strokes, and banish him to the Purification Army. (Attendants) We obey the decree. (Together they drag the Vice role offstage) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Ah! I am here missing my consort, and this wretch comes to disturb me. How vexatious! [Jianghuanglong Huan Tou] I think of you; even if there were celestial nectar or rare delicacies from beyond the seas, I would not know their taste! Only if the one I desire stood before me could she soothe my hunger and thirst. (Jing role, playing an eunuch, enters) Before the wine feast, songs and dances spread; beyond the flowers, pipes and strings are arranged. (Kneels and reports) Please, Your Majesty, go to the Chenxiang Pavilion to feast and enjoy the new music of the Pear Garden. (Emperor Ming of Tang) Pah! What talk of the Chenxiang Pavilion? You deserve a beating! (Jing role kowtows) It is not the servant’s doing; the Crown Prince and the various princes said Your Majesty’s heart is uneasy and specially invited you to divert yourself. (Emperor Ming of Tang) Pah! What unease is in my heart! Call the attendants. (Attendants respond and enter) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Drag this fellow out, give him a hundred strokes, and banish him to the Firewood Office as a stoker. (Attendants) We obey the decree. (Together they drag the Jing role offstage) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Attendants, come here. (Attendants respond and enter) (Emperor Ming of Tang) I order you two to guard the palace gate; let no one enter without permission. Whoever disobeys shall be severely beaten. (Attendants) We obey the decree. (They stand guard at the front of the stage) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Alas! What mood have I now for listening to songs or drinking wine? [Zu Taiping] I think of the pavilion; leaning on the rail, it is still the jade balustrade—ask, who leans with my new beauty? Even if there were new tunes, the one who knows the music is gone; her pipa is silent, and I am ashamed to play my jade flute. (Chou role, with hair draped over the shoulder, enters) [Huanxisha] The sorrow of parting, the passion of longing—both sides lost in confusion, who knows? I have seen through the trick from the side; I want to join the phoenixes in flight. (Sees the attendants) Where is His Majesty? (Attendants) He sits alone in the palace. (Chou role tries to enter, but the attendants block him) (Chou role) Why do you stop me? (Attendants) His Majesty is very angry; he has beaten two who brought meals and ordered us to guard the gate, forbidding anyone to enter without permission. (Chou role) I see. I will wait a while. (Emperor Ming of Tang) I am truly bored; let me walk a little outside the palace gate. (Walks) I see that stretch of jade steps still neat with fragrant grass, but I do not see her lifted skirts or hear her jeweled slippers following. (Chou role looks) His Majesty is coming out. I will hide by the gate and watch for an opportunity. (Exits quietly, then returns to listen) (Emperor Ming of Tang) I am here missing my consort; how does she miss me! This morning I asked Gao Lishi; he said that after the consort left, her tears never dried, and it cut my heart like a knife. For half the day, I have had no news. That fellow Gao Lishi has not even come before me—how detestable! (Chou role appears) Your servant is here. (Emperor Ming of Tang looks at the Chou role) Gao Lishi, what is that on your shoulder? (Chou role) It is Lady Yang’s hair. (Emperor Ming of Tang, smiling) What hair? (Chou role) The lady said: She hates her own folly, which offended Your Majesty’s heart, and deserves ten thousand deaths. In this life, she can never again see the Imperial countenance. So she cut this hair and had your servant present it to Your Majesty, as a token of her devotion. (Presents the hair) (Emperor Ming of Tang takes the hair, looks at it, and weeps) Ah, my consort! [Zhuomu’er] I remember the fragrance by the pillow the other night; now this morning, cut off and sent with sorrow. Seeing this black hair, my heart breaks and my soul is lost. I think of my consort and me; our love is severed like this hair. In an instant, the golden blade falls, parting forever from the clouds. (Chou role) Your Majesty! [Baolao Cui] Do not be too sorrowful. Your servant thinks that since Lady Yang has received such favor, why should Your Majesty begrudge her a small place in the palace, letting her fall into the outer world? If the spring breeze would allow her to return to heaven, the famous flower would be moved back from beyond the garden. (Emperor Ming of Tang, thinking) But I have already sent her out; how can I recall her? (Chou role) To dismiss for a fault and recall for repentance—this is the measure of a sage ruler as vast as heaven. (Emperor Ming of Tang nods) (Chou role) Moreover, this morning she was sent out in a single carriage at dawn; now the day is nearly dusk. If we open the Anqing Ward and enter through the Taihua Mansion, who outside will know? (Kowtows) I beg you to consider and pardon her, order her return to the palace without delay. Rest assured, one smile will break the siege of sorrow. (Emperor Ming of Tang) Gao Lishi, let you go and welcome the Consort back to the palace. (Chou role) I obey the decree. (Exits) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Alas! When the consort comes, how shall I meet her! [Xia Xiaolou] I rejoice that the jade beauty returns, yet I fear she is used to being willful and will turn away weeping. Then what words shall I use to hide my former fault? Enough, enough! This was all my fault. I will spare no effort in a hundred endearments to make up for half a day’s separation. (Chou role, with attendants and palace maids holding gauze lanterns, leads Yang Guifei onstage) [Shuangshengzi] The fragrant carriage moves, the fragrant carriage moves, through the palace locusts’ green. The gauze lanterns pair, the gauze lanterns pair, bright amid the palace flowers’ beauty. (Attendants and palace maids exit) (Chou role enters and reports) Lady Yang has arrived. (Emperor Ming of Tang) Summon her in quickly. (Chou role) I obey the decree. Lady Yang is summoned. (Yang Guifei enters and kneels) Your subject, Yang, pays homage to Your Majesty. I deserve death ten thousand times! (Prostrates herself) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Rise. (Chou role exits quietly) (Yang Guifei kneels and weeps) Your subject has been unruly and offended Heaven’s punishment. Now to see the Imperial countenance again, I can die with my eyes closed. (Emperor Ming of Tang weeps with her) Consort, why say such things? (Yang Guifei) [Yulouxuxu] I think of my guilt, heavy as a mountain, yet I bear the vast mercy of Imperial grace. Now I examine myself; I wish to take my place in the file of honor, how dare I be jealous of other beauties? (Emperor Ming of Tang helps Yang Guifei rise) I was mistaken for a moment; speak no more of the past. (Yang Guifei weeps as she rises) Your Majesty! (Emperor Ming of Tang takes Yang Guifei’s hand and wipes her tears) [Wei Sheng] From now on, I know the taste of sorrow; this love will be ten times deeper. Consort, let me tell you of this day’s longing. (Palace maids enter) The Western Palace feast is ready; please, Your Majesty and Lady, attend the banquet. (Emperor Ming of Tang) Pour out true feeling, the wine cup full. (Li Zhong) (Yang Guifei) From now on, what more can this heart say? (Luo Yin) (Emperor Ming of Tang) Unused to parting, endless memories. (Su Ting) (Yang Guifei) Returning to the pepper chamber, I wipe away tear stains. (Liu Gongquan)