From Renditions No. 40 (Autumn 1993)


Three Scenes from The Swallow Letter (excerpt)
By Ruan Dacheng
Translated by Cyril Birch


Scene Twelve: The Note Retrieved

HUO DULIANG (enters):

(Tune: Fan bu suan)
Peach and plum as Serpentine warmer flows
herald the spring examination season
when humble fish transmute to lordly dragons!
Miss the time, and lose the chance to display
the skill of Yang Xiong with his "Sweetwater Ode" -
and so I stroll here to relax a moment.
      (He recites):
Powerless to stop the petals' fall
Crossing the bridge where no one cares to climb:
Vernal breezes through six score of days
Orioles grieve as each flower meets its time.

Outlines of far hills, green and clear
Fit image for the curving of a brow.
A cloudless sky, the scents of flowering plants
And butterflies are extra busy now.
The other day I sketched a portrait of the two of us for Wandering Cloud, and was delighted with the way it turned out. But who would have guessed, when we sent it to be mounted, that the idiot of a scroll-maker would return it to someone else by mistake and leave us with a painting of the Bodhisattva. It's a genuine Wu Daozi, in fact. Well, my painting skills may be no match for a Wu Daozi, but I hold that Wandering Cloud's looks are not too different from the Bodhisattva herself, the Moon-on-Water Guanyin of the Southern Seas! — An absurd affair, but where to start looking for my painting? Let it go. — It's still some time before the examinations begin and I'm at a loose end away from home, best thing is a quiet stroll here on the Serpentine embankment.
(Tune: Bubu jiao)
Not all these strands of willow-floss
suffice to bind the east wind's discontents.
Dew on orchids like weeping eyes
screened by blue-black swallowtail fronds.
A jug of amber wine
swansdown robe laid aside
step softly through the Serpentine mists
to see the drifts of falling petals
a farewell banquet for the spring.
I have been thinking how that painting of Wandering Cloud is such an exact likeness that no matter whoever it was delivered to by mistake, they couldn't possibly have such a beauty about and so they couldn't have any use for it; it would be pointless for them to keep it. Still, what luck that the painting that was wrongly returned to me was nothing less than a portrait of the Guanyin. She is hanging in my chamber at this moment and I take pleasure in burning incense and making offerings before her.
(Tune: Zui fu gui)
With utmost skill I sketched the lovely form
of my devoted Wenjun, Wandering Cloud
but carelessly that ne'er-do-well mislaid it.
Surely it must have been
her natural grace had such appeal
that she was spirited off, transformed to cloud and rain
in love-games by Yang Terrace.
I lost the lovely face, peach petal in spring breeze
but gained a manifestation from Potlaka
the Moon-on-Water Guanyin Bodhisattva!
Here I am on the bank of the Serpentine. Just clearing after a shower - what an enchanting scene!
(Tune: Zaoluopao)
Blossom at Weiqu like a lovely face
the rouge more lustrous after rain
tresses of water-plants tugged by the breeze.
When will hooves trample the almond-scented mist
and moth-antenna brows be painted new
on skin hibiscus-smooth?
      (He looks up at the sky)
Odd how this swallow keeps swooping back and forth above my head, almost as though it were claiming acquaintance!
Fly on, fly on swallow
to and fro, breeze-borne
pink bodice and perky tail
flirting with the willow catkins
but why this red petal, dropped on a flurry of air?
      (His gaze travels down to ground level)
Why has it shed this tuft of pink feathers now?
      (Picks up the note and examines it)
No, not feathers, it's a note, no bigger than an autumn leaf and covered with tiny characters the size of flies' heads, let me see what it says.
      (He reads FLYING CLOUD's poem aloud)
"Where blossoms perish in the wind and rain
In the spring boudoir dreams grow chill again.
Languid against the balustrade
I search the painted scene to ease my pain:
Green Sleeves in pride
By Red Tunic's side
While butterfly and oriole dance at will;
But myself, double of his partner fair —
When shall I meet with him on Witch's Hill?
— Flying Cloud of Weiqu, author." Ha, if I read this carefully, it must surely have been composed by the person to whom my portrait was delivered. But how is it that the diction, the calligraphy are so refined in every detail? Evidently the work of a young lady!
(Tune: Hao jiejie)
Roseate note
composed in maiden's chamber
clearly reveals the whereabouts of my painting.
Such skill, such choice of phrase
no whit behind the fair Ban Zhao herself.
To think, I was just doubting whether another such beauty as Wandering Cloud could exist on this earth, and here is such a one, right here! (Points to the note) This last phrase, "double of his partner fair" — written evidence! Oh Huo Duliang, Huo Duliang, you'll find it hard to distract yourself now!
Hard to find distraction
when passion's fever strikes so swift
and crazy bouts of lovesickness redouble!
But wait, yesterday Wandering Cloud was in such distress over the loss of that portrait, she was still worrying this morning. I must hurry back now and tell her what has happened to it, to set her mind at rest.
      (He takes a turn about the stage)
Truly,
"treading the spring" one dallies without thinking,
fragrance in one's robe draws the butterflies to one's home.
      (He knocks at the gate)
Open up, open up!

WANDERING CLOUD (enters):

(Tune: Matihua)
His knock, a bird pecking at blossoms
tells me my lord and master's here.
      (She mimes opening the gate, HUO DULIANG enters and greets her)
Master Huo! You left so early today, where have you been spending your time?

HUO: Upon rising this morning I went for a stroll on the Serpentine embankment.

(Tune: Jiang'er shui)
Lone seeker of spring's traces
among sweet-smelling plants.

WANDERING CLOUD: What was it like by the Serpentine?
HUO: A lovely scene!

A swallow, dark-robed aristocrat
skimming peacefully over the water
twittering of spring's unrest
seemed to expect my coming....

WANDERING CLOUD: And what happened with the swallow?
HUO:

As it pecked at the blossoms
it shed — no petals but a flowered paper.
This note came fluttering down. Read the poem it contains and you will see that it is obviously by the person who by mistake took delivery of your portrait. Don't worry, we will make enquiries at our leisure and get it back. And she is another "Cloud", a Miss Flying Cloud!
Savour this love lyric to the full
and find another "Cloud"
with fresh spring looks the image of your own!

WANDERING CLOUD:

(Tune: Chuan bo zhao)
Your skilful painting
not my good fortune to enjoy
for it found its way into an opulent home,
found its way into an opulent home.
Just think, that swallow —
a go-between to shame bee or butterfly —
more than mere chance guides Heaven's plan in this!
Keep the note safe
don't treat it lightly.
This is no casual matter, dear husband. Put the note safely away, and then when the examinations are over you can enquire at your leisure into the whereabouts of our portrait.

SERVANT (enters): "Prepared for breaking of cassia bough, summon the prize-winning picker of flowers." Master Huo, a message from Master Xianyu just now: today the Board of Rites announced that the examinations open tomorrow at daybreak, and he requests that you start out at the fifth watch.

HUO: Very good. (SERVANT exits) Why so sudden a start to the examinations? I caught a chill from the morning breeze and feel a little out of sorts, I shall take a short rest now in my chamber. Let me ask you to put these writing materials in order for me.

WANDERING CLOUD: Of course.

(Tune: Coda)
Gates open to examination hall
where the most precious coins will be your words.
Hone skill of hand to "steal the perfume"
be first to break the cassia bough
and stroll the Almond Orchard in spring triumph!


Copyright 1993, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. This material is for researchers' personal use only.
If you need to reprint it, please contact us: Renditions.

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