Scene 7: Refusing the Dowry

Scene 7: Returning the Dowry

(A servant acting as a porter enters carrying a chamber pot.) "Turtle's piss, turtle's piss, squirt out little turtles; turtle's blood, turtle's blood, turn into little turtles. Turtle's piss and turtle's blood, you can't tell them apart; turtle's blood and turtle's piss, you can't explain it clearly. If you can't tell them apart, you'll mistake your own father; if you can't explain it clearly, you'll mistake your own uncle." (Laughing) "Nonsense, nonsense! Last night Fragrant Sister had her coming-of-age ceremony and they carried on till midnight; this morning, bright and early, I have to scrub chamber pots and empty night jars, busy as can be. Those lecherous patrons and prostitutes—who knows how long they'll still be spooning." (Scrubs the chamber pot.)

Song, "Night Traveling Boat" (Old Man role): "I lodge in the deep willow lanes of Pingkang, / The flower-seller outside the door startles my sweet dream. / The embroidered door still unopened, / The curtain hooks just now ring out, / Spring's mood blocked by ten layers of gauze."

"I, Yang Wencong, come early to congratulate Brother Hou. Look, the courtyard gate is tightly closed, the maids are silent; he must be still in deep sleep." (Calls out) "Servant! Go to the new bride's window and say I've come early to offer congratulations." (Servant) "They slept late last night; they probably won't be up today. Sir, please go back and come again tomorrow." (Old Man, laughing) "Nonsense! Go quickly and ask." (A young woman's voice from inside) "Servant! Who is it?" (Servant) "Master Yang has come to offer congratulations." (Young Woman hurries onstage) "Leaning on the pillow, spring nights seem short; knocking at the door brings happy tidings." (Exchanges greetings) "I thank you, sir, for completing my child's lifelong marriage." (Old Man) "You're welcome." (Asks) "Is the new bride up yet?" (Young Woman) "They slept late last night; neither is up yet." (Offers a seat) "Sir, please sit down. Let me go and urge them." (Old Man) "No need, no need." (Young Woman exits.)

Song, "Step by Step Tender" (Old Man): "The deep passion of youth is like wine brewed from flowers, / Perfect joy leaves no other thought, / Together they slumber in the dark, sweet land. / It's all thanks to my help, / Pearls and jewels gleaming bright, / Silks and satins fluttering, / Each item assists the new attire, / Hanging out the list of romantic glory."

(Young Woman enters) "How funny, how funny! Those two are tying their lilac knots for each other, both gazing into the same bronze mirror. They've just finished washing and combing, but aren't yet fully dressed. Please, sir, come with me to the bridal chamber and call them out, so we can drink the morning-after wine together." (Old Man) "Disturbing their sweet dream—a great offense indeed." (Both exit.) (Young Scholar and Young Lady enter in splendid attire.)

Song, "Drunk in the East Wind" (Young Scholar and Young Lady): "Clouds of passion follow the rain of delight, / Just scratching the strange itch deep in the heart, / Who has stirred up the sleeping mandarin ducks? / The quilt tossed like crimson waves, / In joyful haste, hearts full of bliss. / The lingering fragrance on the pillow, / The lingering fragrance on the handkerchief, / The soul-melting taste, / Just now savored in a dream."

(Old Man and Young Woman enter.) (Old Man) "So you're up after all! Congratulations, congratulations!" (Bows, sits down.) (Old Man) "Those clumsy verses I sent last night to urge the bridal preparations—were they at all touching?" (Young Scholar bows) "Thank you!" (Laughs) "Wonderful, simply wonderful—except for one thing." (Old Man) "What thing?" (Young Scholar) "Though Fragrant Sister is young, she ought to be hidden away in a golden chamber." (Looks at his sleeve) "How could my humble scholar's sleeve possibly hold her?" (All laugh.) (Old Man) "Last night you must have pledged your love with a fine poem." (Young Scholar) "A hasty scribble, hardly worth showing." (Old Man) "Where is the poem?" (Young Lady) "The poem is on the fan." (Young Lady takes a fan from her sleeve.) (Old Man takes it and looks) "A white palace fan of gauze." (Sniffs it) "The fragrance is delightful." (Recites the poem) "Wonderful, wonderful! Only Fragrant Sister is worthy of this poem." (Returns it to the Young Lady) "Put it away safely." (Young Lady puts the fan away.)

Song, "Garden Beauty" (Old Man): "Just as the peach and plum scents bloom, / They are all inscribed on the palace gauze fan; / For fear of meeting a wild wind that blows, / You must hide it tightly in your sleeve, / You must hide it tightly in your sleeve."

(Old Man looks at the Young Lady) "Look, after Fragrant Sister's coming-of-age ceremony, she's even more radiant." (To the Young Scholar) "Brother, you are blessed to enjoy such a rare beauty." (Young Scholar) "Fragrant Sister is a heavenly beauty. Today, with a few pearls and flowers pinned in her hair and a set of silks and satins, her tenfold loveliness has gained another two points—truly adorable." (Young Woman) "This is all thanks to Master Yang's help."

Song, "River's Child" (Young Woman): "He sent the brocade gifts, / The treasure chest of a hundred precious things, / The pearl-encrusted, jade-wrapped canopy bed, / The silver candles in gauze shades burning all night, / The golden goblets urging toasts while all join in song. / Today he comes early to call, / Like a true parent who raised her himself, / He paid for the dowry, / And now he knocks at the door to see us."

(Young Lady) "I observe, Master Yang, that although you are a close relative of Governor Ma, you are a guest here in straitened circumstances. Why do you so freely throw away gold and silver to fill the den of courtesans? I receive these gifts with a sense of unworthiness, and you bestow them without apparent reason. Today I beg to understand, so that I may find some way to repay you." (Young Scholar) "Fragrant Sister asks a reasonable question. Brother Yang and I are chance acquaintances; yesterday I was deeply troubled by such generous favors." (Old Man) "Since you ask, I must tell you the truth. These dowry items and the wine feast cost about two hundred taels of silver, and they all came from the hand of Huaining." (Young Scholar) "Which Huaining?" (Old Man) "Ruan Yuanhai, who once served as a Court Banqueting official." (Young Scholar) "You mean that man from Anhui, Ruan Dacheng?" (Old Man) "The very same." (Young Scholar) "Why would he go to such trouble?" (Old Man) "Simply out of a desire to cultivate your acquaintance."

Song, "Five Offerings" (Old Man): "Admiring your elegant and romantic reputation, / Your literary fame like that of the Eastern Capital, / Your essays like those of the Western Han. / Flatterers follow you everywhere, / Vying to look at the gentleman in his carriage. / In the pleasure quarters of Qinhuai, / To find a beauty for a while, / You also need mandarin duck quilts and lotus dresses; / And who do you think provided them? / That neighbor from the south, Old Ruan, / Has busied himself with the whole wedding trousseau."

(Young Scholar) "Old Ruan Yuan was originally a senior colleague of mine, but I despise his character and have long since cut off relations with him. Today, for no reason, he shows such favor—I cannot understand it." (Old Man) "Old Ruan has a bitter grievance he wishes to explain to you." (Young Scholar) "Pray, enlighten me." (Old Man) "In the old days, Old Ruan was a frequent visitor at Zhao Mengbai's gate; he was originally one of our own generation. Later, he made friends with the Wei faction only to protect the Donglin Party. But unexpectedly, when the Wei faction fell, the Donglin Party instead treated him like fire and water. Recently, the scholars of the Restoration Society have been stirring up discussions, attacking him, and even beating and humiliating him—is this not brother fighting brother? Though Old Ruan has many old friends, because his character is suspect, no one speaks for him. Every day he weeps to heaven, saying, 'Those of my own kind devour each other—this wounds the heart and pains the eye. Only Hou, the gentleman from Henan, can save me.' That is why he earnestly seeks your friendship today." (Young Scholar) "So that's it. I see that Old Ruan's words are urgent and pitiful, and I cannot help but feel sympathy. Even if he truly was a member of the Wei faction, if he repents and returns to the fold, we should not cut him off too harshly—especially since his crime is forgivable. Dingsheng and Ciwei are both my closest friends; when I see them tomorrow, I will speak on his behalf." (Old Man) "If so, it will be a blessing for our circle." (Young Lady, angrily) "Sir, what words are these? Ruan Dacheng fawned on the powerful and wicked, losing all sense of shame and honor. Even women and children spit on him in contempt. Others attack him, and you would save him, sir? What position does that put you in?"

Song, "Sichuan Rowboat" (Young Lady): "Without thinking, / You speak so lightly. / You would dispel his calamities for him, / You would dispel his calamities for him, / But beware of others' gossip and judgment. / Your intention, sir, is merely because he helped me with my dowry, / That you would bend public duty for private favor; / But do you not know that these few hairpins, bracelets, and skirts / Never mattered in Fragrant Sister's eyes." (Removes her hairpins and takes off her gown) "I take off my silk skirt and gown; poverty does not matter; / In plain skirt and thornwood hairpin, my reputation will remain fragrant."

(Old Man) "Aiya! Fragrant Sister's temper is far too fierce." (Young Woman) "Such fine things, all thrown on the ground—a pity, a pity!" (Picks them up.) (Young Scholar) "Good, good, good! Such insight—I am not your equal. Truly, Hou Sheng has found a friend he must revere." (To the Old Man) "Forgive me, brother. It is not that I refuse your advice, but I fear being laughed at by this woman."

Song, "First Stanza" (Young Scholar): "In the pleasure quarters, / She can speak of honor and integrity; / Yet it is we in the schools and courts, / Yet it is we in the schools and courts, / Who confuse the loyal and the treacherous without distinguishing black from white. / Those society friends who usually value me, Hou Sheng, / Do so only for this sense of righteousness; / If I were to cling to the wicked, / They would all rise to attack me, / And I would have no time to save myself, let alone others. / Honor and reputation are no small matters; / The heavy and the light must be carefully weighed."

(Old Man) "Old Ruan's good intentions should not be met with such harshness." (Young Scholar) "Though I may be utterly foolish, I would not jump into a well to save another." (Old Man) "Well, in that case, I shall take my leave." (Young Scholar) "These trunks and cases are originally Ruan's property. Since Fragrant Sister will not use them, keeping them is pointless. Please take them away." (Old Man) "Truly, 'Too much feeling is upset by heartlessness; coming in high spirits, one leaves in disappointment.'" (Exits.) (Young Lady is angry.) (Young Scholar looks at the Young Lady) "I see that Fragrant Sister, a heavenly beauty, has removed a few pearls and flowers and taken off a set of silks. Her tenfold loveliness has now gained another ten—she seems even more adorable." (Young Woman) "That may be, but to throw away so many things—what a pity, after all."

Coda (Young Woman): "Gold and pearls come to hand, lightly let go, / She's grown used to a spoiled and willful manner, / Making me, her mother, labor in vain."

(Young Scholar) "Such trifles are not worth fretting over. I, your humble son-in-law, will replace them in full." (Young Woman) "That would be best."

(Young Woman) "The cost of powder and flowers is a matter for careful thought,"

(Young Lady) "A plain skirt and thornwood hairpin are no impediment,"

(Sheng) Only the River Goddess knows how to undo her pendant,

(Dan) Her style does not follow the fashionable dress of the age.