中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第二十七回 滴翠亭楊妃戲彩蝶 埋香塚飛燕泣殘紅 CHAPTER XXVII
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXVII
話說林黛玉正自悲泣， 忽聽院門響處，衹見寶釵出來了，寶玉襲人一群人送了出來。 待要上去問着寶玉，又恐當着衆人問羞了寶玉不便，因而閃過一旁，讓寶釵去了，寶玉等進去關了門，方轉過來，猶望着門灑了幾點淚。自覺無味，方轉身回來，無精打彩的卸了殘妝。
紫鵑雪雁素日知道林黛玉的情性：無事悶坐，不是愁眉，便是長嘆，且好端端的不知為了什麽， 常常的便自淚道不幹的。先時還有人解勸，怕他思父母，想家乡，受了委麯，衹得用話寬慰解勸。誰知後來一年一月的竟常常的如此，把這個樣兒看慣，也都不理論了。 所以也沒人理，由他去悶坐，衹管睡覺去了。那林黛玉倚着床欄桿，兩手抱着膝， 眼睛含着淚，好似木雕泥塑的一般，直坐到二更多天方纔睡了。一宿無話。至次日乃是四月二十六日，原來這日未時交芒種節。尚古風俗：凡交芒種節的這日，都要設擺各色禮物， 祭餞花神，言芒種一過，便是夏日了，衆花皆卸，花神退位，須要餞行。然閨中更興這件風俗， 所以大觀園中之人都早起來了。那些女孩子們，或用花瓣柳枝編成轎馬的， 或用綾錦紗羅疊成幹旄旌幢的，都用彩綫係了。每一顆樹上，每一枝花上，都係了這些物事。 滿園裏綉帶飄し，花枝招展，更兼這些人打扮得桃羞杏讓，燕妒鶯慚，一時也道不盡。
且說寶釵， 迎春，探春，惜春，李紈，鳳姐等並巧姐，大姐，香菱與衆丫鬟們在園內玩耍，獨不見林黛玉。迎春因說道：“林妹妹怎麽不見？好個懶丫頭！這會子還睡覺不成？"寶釵道：“你們等着，我去鬧了他來。”說着便丟下了衆人，一直往瀟湘館來。正走着，衹見文官等十二個女孩子也來了， 上來問了好，說了一回閑話。寶釵回身指道：“他們都在那裏呢， 你們找他們去罷。我叫林姑娘去就來。”說着便逶迤往瀟湘館來。忽然擡頭見寶玉進去了， 寶釵便站住低頭想了想：寶玉和林黛玉是從小兒一處長大，他兄妹間多有不避嫌疑之處，嘲笑喜怒無常，況且林黛玉素習猜忌，好弄小性兒的。此刻自己也跟了進去，一則寶玉不便，二則黛玉嫌疑。罷了，倒是回來的妙。想畢抽身回來。
剛要尋別的姊妹去，忽見前面一雙玉色蝴蝶，大如團扇，一上一下迎風翩躚，十分有趣。寶釵意欲撲了來玩耍1911—）等為代表的牛津學派則對這些主張做了充分發揮和，遂嚮袖中取出扇子來，嚮草地下來撲。衹見那一雙蝴蝶忽起忽落， 來來往往，穿花度柳，將欲過河去了。倒引的寶釵躡手躡腳的，一直跟到池中滴翠亭上， 香汗淋漓，嬌喘細細。寶釵也無心撲了，剛欲回來，衹聽滴翠亭裏邊嘁嘁喳喳有人說話。原來這亭子四面俱是遊廊麯橋，蓋造在池中水上，四面雕鏤К子糊着紙。
寶釵在亭外聽見說話， 便煞住腳往裏細聽，衹聽說道：“你瞧瞧這手帕子，果然是你丟的那塊，你就拿着，要不是，就還蕓二爺去。”又有一人說話：“可不是我那塊！拿來給我罷。”又聽道：“你拿什麽謝我呢？難道白尋了來不成。”又答道：“我既許了謝你，自然不哄你。”又聽說道：“我尋了來給你，自然謝我，但衹是揀的人，你就不拿什麽謝他？" 又回道：“你別鬍說。他是個爺們傢，揀了我的東西，自然該還的。我拿什麽謝他呢？"又聽說道：“你不謝他，我怎麽回他呢？況且他再三再四的和我說了，若沒謝的，不許我給你呢。 "半晌，又聽答道：“也罷，拿我這個給他，算謝他的罷。——你要告訴別人呢？須說個誓來。”又聽說道：“我要告訴一個人，就長一個疔，日後不得好死！"又聽說道：“噯呀！咱們衹顧說話，看有人來悄悄在外頭聽見。不如把這К子都推開了，便是有人見咱們在這裏，他們衹當我們說頑話呢。若走到跟前，咱們也看的見，就別說了。”
寶釵在外面聽見這話， 心中吃驚，想道：“怪道從古至今那些姦淫狗盜的人，心機都不錯。這一開了，見我在這裏，他們豈不鱢了。況纔說話的語音，大似寶玉房裏的紅兒的言語。他素昔眼空心大，是個頭等刁鑽古怪東西。今兒我聽了他的短兒，一時人急造反，狗急跳墻，不但生事，而且我還沒趣。如今便趕着躲了，料也躲不及，少不得要使個‘ 金蟬脫殼’的法子。”猶未想完，衹聽"咯吱"一聲，寶釵便故意放重了腳步，笑着叫道：“顰兒，我看你往那裏藏！"一面說，一面故意往前趕。那亭內的紅玉墜兒剛一推窗，衹聽寶釵如此說着往前趕，兩個人都唬怔了。寶釵反嚮他二人笑道：“你們把林姑娘藏在那裏了？"墜兒道：“何曾見林姑娘了。”寶釵道：“我纔在河那邊看着林姑娘在這裏蹲着弄水兒的。我要悄悄的唬他一跳，還沒有走到跟前，他倒看見我了，朝東一繞就不見了。 別是藏在這裏頭了。”一面說一面故意進去尋了一尋，抽身就走，口內說道：“一定是又鑽在山子洞裏去了。遇見蛇，咬一口也罷了。”一面說一面走，心中又好笑：這件事算遮過去了，不知他二人是怎樣。
誰知紅玉聽了寶釵的話，便信以為真，讓寶釵去遠，便拉墜兒道：“了不得了！林姑娘蹲在這裏，一定聽了話去了！"墜兒聽說京市）人。研治《詩經》，兼及《周易》。著有《韓詩內傳》、，也半日不言語。紅玉又道：“這可怎麽樣呢？"墜兒道：“便是聽了，管誰筋疼，各人幹各人的就完了。”紅玉道：“若是寶姑娘聽見，還倒罷了。林姑娘嘴裏又愛刻薄人，心裏又細，他一聽見了，倘或走露了風聲，怎麽樣呢？" 二人正說着，衹見文官，香菱，司棋，待書等上亭子來了。二人衹得掩住這話，且和他們頑笑。
衹見鳳姐兒站在山坡上招手叫， 紅玉連忙棄了衆人，跑至鳳姐跟前，堆着笑問：“奶奶使喚作什麽事？ "鳳姐打諒了一打諒，見他生的幹淨俏麗，說話知趣，因笑道：“我的丫頭今兒沒跟進我來。 我這會子想起一件事來，要使喚個人出去，不知你能幹不能幹，說的齊全不齊全？"紅玉笑道：“奶奶有什麽話，衹管吩咐我說去。若說的不齊全，誤了奶奶的事， 憑奶奶責罰就是了。”鳳姐笑道：“你是那位小姐房裏的？我使你出去，他回來找你，我好替你說的。”紅玉道：“我是寶二爺房裏的。”鳳姐聽了笑道：“噯喲！你原來是寶玉房裏的， 怪道呢。也罷了，等他問，我替你說。你到我們傢，告訴你平姐姐：外頭屋裏桌子上汝窯盤子架兒底下放着一捲銀子， 那是一百六十兩，給綉匠的工價，等張材傢的來要， 當面稱給他瞧了，再給他拿去。再裏頭床頭間有一個小荷包拿了來。”
紅玉聽說撤身去了， 回來衹見鳳姐不在這山坡子上了。因見司棋從山洞裏出來，站着係裙子，便趕上來問道：“姐姐，不知道二奶奶往那裏去了？"司棋道：“沒理論。”紅玉聽了， 抽身又往四下裏一看，衹見那邊探春寶釵在池邊看魚。紅玉上來陪笑問道：“姑娘們可知道二奶奶那去了？探春道：麝月，待書，入畫，鶯兒等一群人來了。晴雯一見了紅玉， 便說道：“你衹是瘋罷！院子裏花兒也不澆，雀兒也不喂，茶爐子也不グ，就在外頭逛。 "紅玉道：“昨兒二爺說了，今兒不用澆花，過一日澆一回罷。我喂雀兒的時侯，姐姐還睡覺呢。”碧痕道：“茶爐子呢？"紅玉道：“今兒不該我グ的班兒，有茶沒茶別問我。”綺霰道：“你聽聽他的嘴！你們別說了，讓他逛去罷。”紅玉道：“你們再問問我逛了沒有。 二奶奶使喚我說話取東西的。”說着將荷包舉給他們看，方沒言語了，大傢分路走開。晴雯冷笑道：“怪道呢！原來爬上高枝兒去了，把我們不放在眼裏。不知說了一句話半句話，名兒姓兒知道了不曾呢，就把他興的這樣！這一遭半遭兒的算不得什麽，過了後兒還得聽呵！有本事從今兒出了這園子，長長遠遠的在高枝兒上纔算得。”一面說着去了。
這裏紅玉聽說，不便分證，衹得忍着氣來找鳳姐兒。到了李氏房中，果見鳳姐兒在這裏和李氏說話兒呢。 紅玉上來回道：“平姐姐說，奶奶剛出來了治學等部分組成。認識論上傾嚮唯理論。邏輯學上，研究了，他就把銀子收了起來， 纔張材傢的來討，當面稱了給他拿去了。”說着將荷包遞了上去，又道：“平姐姐教我回奶奶： 纔旺兒進來討奶奶的示下，好往那傢子去。平姐姐就把那話按着奶奶的主意打發他去了。 "鳳姐笑道：“他怎麽按我的主意打發去了？"紅玉道：“平姐姐說：我們奶奶問這裏奶奶好。原是我們二爺不在傢，雖然遲了兩天，衹管請奶奶放心。等五奶奶好些， 我們奶奶還會了五奶奶來瞧奶奶呢。五奶奶前兒打發了人來說，舅奶奶帶了信來了，問奶奶好，還要和這裏的姑奶奶尋兩丸延年神驗萬全丹。若有了，奶奶打發人來，衹管送在我們奶奶這裏。明兒有人去，就順路給那邊舅奶奶帶去的。”
話未說完， 李氏道：“噯喲喲！這些話我就不懂了。什麽‘奶奶’‘爺爺’的一大堆。”鳳姐笑道：“怨不得你不懂，這是四五門子的話呢。”說着又嚮紅玉笑道：“好孩子，難為你說的齊全。 別象他們扭扭捏捏的蚊子似的。嫂子你不知道，如今除了我隨手使的幾個丫頭老婆之外， 我就怕和他們說話。他們必定把一句話拉長了作兩三截兒，咬文咬字，拿着腔兒，哼哼唧唧的，急的我冒火，他們那裏知道！先時我們平兒也是這麽着，我就問着他：難道必定裝蚊子哼哼就是美人了？說了幾遭纔好些兒了。”李宮裁笑道：“都象你潑皮破落戶纔好。 "鳳姐又道：“這一個丫頭就好。方纔兩遭，說話雖不多，聽那口聲就簡斷。”說着又嚮紅玉笑道：“你明兒伏侍我去罷。我認你作女兒，我一調理你就出息了。”
紅玉聽了， 撲哧一笑。鳳姐道：“你怎麽笑？你說我年輕，比你能大幾歲，就作你的媽了？你還作春夢呢！你打聽打聽，這些人頭比你大的大的，趕着我叫媽，我還不理。今兒擡舉了你呢！"紅玉笑道：“我不是笑這個，我笑奶奶認錯了輩數了。我媽是奶奶的女兒，這會子又認我作女兒。”鳳姐道：“誰是你媽？"李宮裁笑道：“你原來不認得他？他是林之孝之女。”鳳姐聽了十分詫異，說道：“哦！原來是他的丫頭。”又笑道：“林之孝兩口子都是錐子紮不出一聲兒來的。我成日傢說，他們倒是配就了的一對夫妻，一個天聾，一個地啞。那裏承望養出這麽個伶俐丫頭來！你十幾歲了？"紅玉道：“十七歲了。”又問名字，紅玉道：“原叫紅玉的，因為重了寶二爺，如今衹叫紅兒了。”
鳳姐聽說將眉一皺， 把頭一回，說道：“討人嫌的很！得了玉的益似的，你也玉，我也玉。”因說道：“既這麽着肯跟事物是其影子或摹本，都因為有它而成。後來康德把人們超，我還和他媽說，‘賴大傢的如今事多，也不知這府裏誰是誰， 你替我好好的挑兩個丫頭我使’，他一般答應着。他饒不挑，倒把這女孩子送了別處去。難道跟我必定不好？"李氏笑道：“你可是又多心了。他進來在先，你說話在後，怎麽怨的他媽！ "鳳姐道：“既這麽着，明兒我和寶玉說，叫他再要人去，叫這丫頭跟我去。可不知本人願意不願意？"紅玉笑道：“願意不願意，我們也不敢說。衹是跟着奶奶，我們也學些眉眼高低， 出入上下，大小的事也得見識見識。”剛說着，衹見王夫人的丫頭來請，鳳姐便辭了李宮裁去了。紅玉回怡紅院去，不在話下。
如今且說林黛玉因夜間失寐， 次日起來遲了，聞得衆姊妹都在園中作餞花會，恐人笑他癡懶， 連忙梳洗了出來。剛到了院中，衹見寶玉進門來了，笑道：“好妹妹，你昨兒可告我了不曾？教我懸了一夜心。”林黛玉便回頭叫紫鵑道：“把屋子收拾了，撂下一扇紗屜，看那大燕子回來，把簾子放下來，拿獅子倚住，燒了香就把爐罩上。”一面說一面又往外走。寶玉見他這樣，還認作是昨日中晌的事，那知晚間的這段公案，還打恭作揖的。 林黛玉正眼也不看，各自出了院門，一直找別的姊妹去了。寶玉心中納悶，自己猜疑： 看起這個光景來，不象是為昨日的事，但衹昨日我回來的晚了，又沒有見他，再沒有衝撞了他的去處了。一面想，一面由不得隨後追了來。
衹見寶釵探春正在那邊看鶴舞， 見黛玉去了，三個一同站着說話兒。又見寶玉來了，探春便笑道：“寶哥哥，身上好？我整整的三天沒見你了。”寶玉笑道：“妹妹身上好？我前兒還在大嫂子跟前問你呢。”探春道：“寶哥哥，你往這裏來，我和你說話。”寶玉聽說， 便跟了他，離了釵，玉兩個，到了一棵石榴樹下。探春因說道：“這幾天老爺可曾叫你？"寶玉笑道：“沒有叫。”探春說：“昨兒我恍惚聽見說老爺叫你出去的。”寶玉笑道：“那想是別人聽錯了， 並沒叫的。”探春又笑道：“這幾個月，我又攢下有十來吊錢了，你還拿了去，明兒出門逛去的時侯，或是好字畫，好輕巧頑意兒，替我帶些來。”寶玉道：“我這麽城裏城外， 大廊小廟的逛，也沒見個新奇精緻東西，左不過是那些金玉銅磁沒處撂的古董，再就是綢緞吃食衣服了。”探春道：“誰要這些。怎麽象你上回買的那柳枝兒編的小籃子，整竹子根摳的香盒兒，膠泥垛的風爐兒，這就好了。我喜歡的什麽似的，誰知他們都愛上了，都當寶貝似的搶了去了。”寶玉笑道：“原來要這個。這不值什麽，拿五百錢出去給小子們， 管拉一車來。”探春道：“小廝們知道什麽。你揀那樸而不俗，直而不拙者，這些東西，你多多的替我帶了來。我還象上回的鞋作一雙你穿，比那一雙還加工夫，如何呢？”
寶玉笑道：“你提起鞋來，我想起個故事：那一回我穿着，可巧遇見了老爺，老爺就不受用，問是誰作的。我那裏敢提‘三妹妹’三個字康提出“越名教而任自然”；郭象力主名教與自然合而為一。，我就回說是前兒我生日，是舅母給的。老爺聽了是舅母給的，纔不好說什麽，半日還說：‘何苦來！虛耗人力，作踐綾羅，作這樣的東西。’我回來告訴了襲人，襲人說這還罷了，趙姨娘氣的抱怨的了不得：‘正經兄弟， 鞋搭拉襪搭拉的沒人看的見，且作這些東西！’"探春聽說，登時沉下臉來，道：“這話糊塗到什麽田地！怎麽我是該作鞋的人麽？環兒難道沒有分例的，沒有人的？一般的衣裳是衣裳， 鞋襪是鞋襪，丫頭老婆一屋子，怎麽抱怨這些話！給誰聽呢！我不過是閑着沒事兒，作一雙半雙，愛給那個哥哥弟弟，隨我的心。誰敢管我不成！這也是白氣。”寶玉聽了，點頭笑道：“你不知道，他心裏自然又有個想頭了。”探春聽說，益發動了氣， 將頭一扭，說道：“連你也糊塗了！他那想頭自然是有的，不過是那陰微鄙賤的見識。他衹管這麽想， 我衹管認得老爺，太太兩個人，別人我一概不管。就是姊妹弟兄跟前，誰和我好，我就和誰好，什麽偏的庶的，我也不知道。論理我不該說他，但忒昏憒的不象了！還有笑話呢：就是上回我給你那錢，替我帶那頑的東西。過了兩天，他見了我，也是說沒錢使， 怎麽難，我也不理論。誰知後來丫頭們出去了，他就抱怨起來，說我攢的錢為什麽給你使，倒不給環兒使呢。我聽見這話，又好笑又好氣，我就出來往太太跟前去了。 "正說着，衹見寶釵那邊笑道：“說完了，來罷。顯見的是哥哥妹妹了，丟下別人，且說梯己去。我們聽一句兒就使不得了！"說着，探春寶玉二人方笑着來了。
寶玉因不見了林黛玉，便知他躲了別處去了，想了一想，索性遲兩日，等他的氣消一消再去也罷了。因低頭看見許多鳳仙石榴等各色落花，錦重重的落了一地，因嘆道：“ 這是他心裏生了氣，也不收拾這花兒來了。待我送了去，明兒再問着他。”說着，衹見寶釵約着他們往外頭去。 寶玉道：“我就來。”說畢，等他二人去遠了，便把那花兜了起來， 登山渡水，過樹穿花，一直奔了那日同林黛玉葬桃花的去處來。將已到了花塚，猶未轉過山坡，衹聽山坡那邊有嗚咽之聲，一行數落着，哭的好不傷感。寶玉心下想道：“這不知是那房裏的丫頭，受了委麯，跑到這個地方來哭。”一面想，一面煞住腳步，聽他哭道是：
花謝花飛花滿天，紅消香斷有誰憐？
遊絲軟係飄春榭，落絮輕沾撲綉簾。
閨中女兒惜春暮，愁緒滿懷無釋處，
手把花鋤出綉閨，忍踏落花來復去。
柳絲榆莢自芳菲，不管桃飄與李飛。
桃李明年能再發，明年閨中知有誰？
三月香巢已壘成，梁間燕子太無情！
明年花發雖可啄，卻不道人去梁空巢也傾。
一年三百六十日，風刀霜劍嚴相逼，
明媚鮮妍能幾時，一朝飄泊難尋覓。
花開易見落難尋，階前悶殺葬花人，
獨倚花鋤淚暗灑，灑上空枝見血痕。
杜鵑無語正黃昏，荷鋤歸去掩重門。
青燈照壁人初睡，冷雨敲窗被未溫。
怪奴底事倍傷神，半為憐春半惱春：
憐春忽至惱忽去，至又無言去不聞。
昨宵庭外悲歌發，知是花魂與鳥魂？
花魂鳥魂總難留，鳥自無言花自羞。
願奴脅下生雙翼，隨花飛到天盡頭。
天盡頭，何處有香丘？
未若錦囊收豔骨，一え淨土掩風流。
質本潔來還潔去，強於污淖陷渠溝。
爾今死去儂收葬，未卜儂身何日喪？
儂今葬花人笑癡，他年葬儂知是誰？
試看春殘花漸落，便是紅顔老死時。
一朝春盡紅顔老，花落人亡兩不知！寶玉聽了不覺癡倒。要知端詳，且聽下回分解。
In the Ti Ts'ui pavilion, Pao-ch'ai diverts herself with the multi-coloured butterflies. Over the mound, where the flowers had been interred, Tai-yue bewails their withered bloom.
Lin Tai-yue, we must explain in taking up the thread of our narrative, was disconsolately bathed in tears, when her ear was suddenly attracted by the creak of the court gate, and her eyes by the appearance of Pao-ch'ai beyond the threshold. Pao-yue, Hsi Jen and a whole posse of inmates then walked out. She felt inclined to go up to Pao-yue and ask him a question; but dreading that if she made any inquiries in the presence of such a company, Pao-yue would be put to the blush and placed in an awkward position, she slipped aside and allowed Pao-ch'ai to prosecute her way. And it was only after Pao-yue and the rest of the party had entered and closed the gate behind them that she at last issued from her retreat. Then fixing her gaze steadfastly on the gateway, she dropped a few tears. But inwardly conscious of their utter futility she retraced her footsteps and wended her way back into her apartment. And with heavy heart and despondent spirits, she divested herself of the remainder of her habiliments.
Tzu Chuean and Hsueeh Yen were well aware, from the experience they had reaped in past days, that Lin Tai-yue was, in the absence of anything to occupy her mind, prone to sit and mope, and that if she did not frown her eyebrows, she anyway heaved deep sighs; but they were quite at a loss to divine why she was, with no rhyme or reason, ever so ready to indulge, to herself, in inexhaustible gushes of tears. At first, there were such as still endeavoured to afford her solace; or who, suspecting lest she brooded over the memory of her father and mother, felt home-sick, or aggrieved, through some offence given her, tried by every persuasion to console and cheer her; but, as contrary to all expectations, she subsequently persisted time and again in this dull mood, through each succeeding month and year, people got accustomed to her eccentricities and did not extend to her the least sympathy. Hence it was that no one (on this occasion) troubled her mind about her, but letting her sit and sulk to her heart's content, they one and all turned in and went to sleep.
Lin Tai-yue leaned against the railing of the bed, clasping her knees with both hands, her eyes suffused with tears. She looked, in very truth, like a carved wooden image or one fashioned of mud. There she sat straight up to the second watch, even later, when she eventually fell asleep.
The whole night nothing remarkable transpired. The morrow was the 26th day of the fourth moon. Indeed on this day, at one p.m., commenced the season of the 'Sprouting seeds,' and, according to an old custom, on the day on which this feast of 'Sprouting seeds' fell, every one had to lay all kinds of offerings and sacrificial viands on the altar of the god of flowers. Soon after the expiry of this season of 'Sprouting seeds' follows summertide, and us plants in general then wither and the god of flowers resigns his throne, it is compulsory to feast him at some entertainment, previous to his departure.
In the ladies' apartments this custom was observed with still more rigour; and, for this reason, the various inmates Of the park of Broad Vista had, without a single exception, got up at an early hour. The young people either twisted flowers and willow twigs in such a way as to represent chairs and horses, or made tufted banners with damask, brocaded gauze and silk, and bound them with variegated threads. These articles of decoration were alike attached on every tree and plant; and throughout the whole expanse of the park, embroidered sashes waved to and fro, and ornamented branches nodded their heads about. In addition to this, the members of the family were clad in such fineries that they put the peach tree to shame, made the almond yield the palm, the swallow envious and the hawk to blush. We could not therefore exhaustively describe them within our limited space of time.
Pao-ch'ai, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un, Hsi Ch'un, Li Wan, lady Feng and other girls, as well as Ta Chieh Erh, Hsiang Ling and the waiting-maids were, one and all, we will now notice, in the garden enjoying themselves; the only person who could not be seen was Lin Tai-yue.
"How is it," consequently inquired Ying Ch'un, "that I don't see cousin Liu? What a lazy girl! Is she forsooth fast asleep even at this late hour of the day?"
"Wait all of you here," rejoined Pao-ch'ai, "and I'll go and shake her up and bring her."
With these words, she speedily left her companions and repaired straightway into the Hsiao Hsiang lodge.
While she was going on her errand, she met Wen Kuan and the rest of the girls, twelve in all, on their way to seek the party. Drawing near, they inquired after her health. After exchanging a few commonplace remarks, Pao-ch'ai turned round and pointing, said: "you will find them all in there; you had better go and join them. As for me, I'm going to fetch Miss Lin, but I'll be back soon."
Saying this, she followed the winding path, and came to the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. Upon suddenly raising her eyes, she saw Pao-yue walk in. Pao-ch'ai immediately halted, and, lowering her head, she gave way to meditation for a time. "Pao-yue and Lin Tai-yue," she reflected, "have grown up together from their very infancy. But cousins, though they be, there are many instances in which they cannot evade suspicion, for they joke without heeding propriety; and at one time they are friends and at another at daggers drawn. Tai-yue has, moreover, always been full of envy; and has ever displayed a peevish disposition, so were I to follow him in at this juncture, why, Pao-yue would, in the first place, not feel at ease, and, in the second, Tai-yue would give way to jealousy. Better therefore for me to turn back."
At the close of this train of thought, she retraced her steps. But just as she was starting to join her other cousins, she unexpectedly descried, ahead of her, a pair of jade-coloured butterflies, of the size of a circular fan. Now they soared high, now they made a swoop down, in their flight against the breeze; much to her amusement.
Pao-ch'ai felt a wish to catch them for mere fun's sake, so producing a fan from inside her sleeve, she descended on to the turfed ground to flap them with it. The two butterflies suddenly were seen to rise; suddenly to drop: sometimes to come; at others to go. Just as they were on the point of flying across the stream to the other side, the enticement proved too much for Pao-ch'ai, and she pursued them on tiptoe straight up to the Ti Ts'ui pavilion, nestling on the bank of the pond; while fragrant perspiration dripped drop by drop, and her sweet breath panted gently. But Pao-ch'ai abandoned the idea of catching them, and was about to beat a retreat, when all at once she overheard, in the pavilion, the chatter of people engaged in conversation.
This pavilion had, it must be added, a verandah and zig-zag balustrades running all round. It was erected over the water, in the centre of a pond, and had on the four sides window-frames of carved wood work, stuck with paper. So when Pao-ch'ai caught, from without the pavilion, the sound of voices, she at once stood still and lent an attentive ear to what was being said.
"Look at this handkerchief," she overheard. "If it's really the one you've lost, well then keep it; but if it isn't you must return it to Mr. Yuen."
"To be sure it is my own," another party observed, "bring it along and give it to me."
"What reward will you give me?" she further heard. "Is it likely that I've searched all for nothing!"
"I've long ago promised to recompense you, and of course I won't play you false," some one again rejoined.
"I found it and brought it round," also reached her ear, "and you naturally will recompense me; but won't you give anything to the person who picked it up?"
"Don't talk nonsense," the other party added, "he belongs to a family of gentlemen, and anything of ours he may pick up it's his bounden duty to restore to us. What reward could you have me give him?"
"If you don't reward him," she heard some one continue, "what will I be able to tell him? Besides, he enjoined me time after time that if there was to be no recompense, I was not to give it to you."
A short pause ensued. "Never mind!" then came out again to her, "take this thing of mine and present it to him and have done! But do you mean to let the cat out of the bag with any one else? You should take some oath."
"If I tell any one," she likewise overheard, "may an ulcer grow on my mouth, and may I, in course of time, die an unnatural death!"
"Ai-ya!" was the reply she heard; "our minds are merely bent upon talking, but some one might come and quietly listen from outside; wouldn't it be as well to push all the venetians open. Any one seeing us in here will then imagine that we are simply chatting about nonsense. Besides, should they approach, we shall be able to observe them, and at once stop our conversation!"
Pao-ch'ai listened to these words from outside, with a heart full of astonishment. "How can one wonder," she argued mentally, "if all those lewd and dishonest people, who have lived from olden times to the present, have devised such thorough artifices! But were they now to open and see me here, won't they feel ashamed. Moreover, the voice in which those remarks were uttered resembles very much that of Hung Erh, attached to Pao-yue's rooms, who has all along shown a sharp eye and a shrewd mind. She's an artful and perverse thing of the first class! And as I have now overheard her peccadilloes, and a person in despair rebels as sure as a dog in distress jumps over the wall, not only will trouble arise, but I too shall derive no benefit. It would be better at present therefore for me to lose no time in retiring. But as I fear I mayn't be in time to get out of the way, the only alternative for me is to make use of some art like that of the cicada, which can divest itself of its _exuviae_."
She had scarcely brought her reflections to a close before a sound of 'ko-chih' reached her ears. Pao-ch'ai purposely hastened to tread with heavy step. "P'in Erh, I see where you're hiding!" she cried out laughingly; and as she shouted, she pretended to be running ahead in pursuit of her.
As soon as Hsiao Hung and Chui Erh pushed the windows open from inside the pavilion, they heard Pao-ch'ai screaming, while rushing forward; and both fell into a state of trepidation from the fright they sustained.
Pao-ch'ai turned round and faced them. "Where have you been hiding Miss Lin?" she smiled.
"Who has seen anything of Miss Lin," retorted Chui Erh.
"I was just now," proceeded Pao-ch'ai, "on that side of the pool, and discerned Miss Lin squatting down over there and playing with the water. I meant to have gently given her a start, but scarcely had I walked up to her, when she saw me, and, with a _detour_ towards the East, she at once vanished from sight. So mayn't she be concealing herself in there?"
As she spoke, she designedly stepped in and searched about for her. This over, she betook herself away, adding: "she's certain to have got again into that cave in the hill, and come across a snake, which must have bitten her and put an end to her."
So saying, she distanced them, feeling again very much amused. "I have managed," she thought, "to ward off this piece of business, but I wonder what those two think about it."
Hsiao Hung, who would have anticipated, readily credited as gospel the remarks she heard Pao-ch'ai make. But allowing just time enough to Pao-ch'ai to got to a certain distance, she instantly drew Chui Erh to her. "Dreadful!" she observed, "Miss Lin was squatting in here and must for a certainty have overheard what we said before she left."
Albeit Chui Erh listened to her words, she kept her own counsel for a long time. "What's to be done?" Hsiao Hung consequently exclaimed.
"Even supposing she did overhear what we said," rejoined Chui Erh by way of answer, "why should she meddle in what does not concern her? Every one should mind her own business."
"Had it been Miss Pao, it would not have mattered," remarked Hsiao Hung, "but Miss Lin delights in telling mean things of people and is, besides, so petty-minded. Should she have heard and anything perchance comes to light, what will we do?"
During their colloquy, they noticed Wen Kuan, Hsiang Ling, Ssu Ch'i, Shih Shu and the other girls enter the pavilion, so they were compelled to drop the conversation and to play and laugh with them. They then espied lady Feng standing on the top of the hillock, waving her hand, beckoning to Hsiao Hung. Hurriedly therefore leaving the company, she ran up to lady Feng and with smile heaped upon smile, "my lady," she inquired, "what is it that you want?"
Lady Feng scrutinised her for a time. Observing how spruce and pretty she was in looks, and how genial in her speech, she felt prompted to give her a smile. "My own waiting-maid," she said, "hasn't followed me in here to-day; and as I've just this moment bethought myself of something and would like to send some one on an errand, I wonder whether you're fit to undertake the charge and deliver a message faithfully."
"Don't hesitate in entrusting me with any message you may have to send," replied Hsiao Hung with a laugh. "I'll readily go and deliver it. Should I not do so faithfully, and blunder in fulfilling your business, my lady, you may visit me with any punishment your ladyship may please, and I'll have nothing to say."
"What young lady's servant are you," smiled lady Feng? "Tell me, so that when she comes back, after I've sent you out, and looks for you, I may be able to tell her about you."
"I'm attached to our Master Secundus,' Mr. Pao's rooms," answered Hsiao Hung.
"Ai-ya!" ejaculated lady Feng, as soon as she heard these words. "Are you really in Pao-yue's rooms! How strange! Yet it comes to the same thing. Well, if he asks for you, I'll tell him where you are. Go now to our house and tell your sister P'ing that she'll find on the table in the outer apartment and under the stand with the plate from the Ju kiln, a bundle of silver; that it contains the one hundred and twenty taels for the embroiderers' wages; and that when Chang Ts'ai's wife comes, the money should be handed to her to take away, after having been weighed in her presence and been given to her to tally. Another thing too I want. In the inner apartment and at the head of the bed you'll find a small purse, bring it along to me."
Hsiao Hung listened to her orders and then started to carry them out. On her return, in a short while, she discovered that lady Feng was not on the hillock. But perceiving Ssu Ch'i egress from the cave and stand still to tie her petticoat, she walked up to her. "Sister, do you know where our lady Secunda is gone to?" she asked.
"I didn't notice," rejoined Ssu Ch'i.
At this reply, Hsiao Hung turned round and cast a glance on all four quarters. Seeing T'an Ch'un and Pao-ch'ai standing by the bank of the pond on the opposite side and looking at the fish, Hsiao Hung advanced up to them. "Young ladies," she said, straining a smile, "do you perchance have any idea where our lady Secunda is gone to now?"
"Go into your senior lady's court and look for her!" T'an Ch'un answered.
Hearing this, Hsiao Hung was proceeding immediately towards the Tao Hsiang village, when she caught sight, just ahead of her, of Ch'ing Wen, Ch'i Hsia, Pi Hen, Ch'iu Wen, She Yueeh, Shih Shu, Ju Hua, Ying Erh and some other girls coming towards her in a group.
The moment Ch'ing Wen saw Hsiao Hung, she called out to her. "Are you gone clean off your head?" she exclaimed. "You don't water the flowers, nor feed the birds or prepare the tea stove, but gad about outside!"
"Yesterday," replied Hsiao Hung, "Mr. Secundus told me that there was no need for me to water the flowers to-day; that it was enough if they were watered every other day. As for the birds, you're still in the arms of Morpheus, sister, when I give them their food."
"And what about the tea-stove?" interposed Pi Hen.
"To-day," retorted Hsiao Hung, "is not my turn on duty, so don't ask me whether there be any tea or not!"
"Do you listen to that mouth of hers!" cried Ch'i Hsia, "but don't you girls speak to her; let her stroll about and have done!"
"You'd better all go and ask whether I've been gadding about or not," continued Hsiao Hung. "Our lady Secunda has just bidden me go and deliver a message, and fetch something."
Saying this, she raised the purse and let them see it; and they, finding they could hit upon nothing more to taunt her with, trudged along onwards.
Ch'ing Wen smiled a sarcastic smile. "How funny!" she cried. "Lo, she climbs up a high branch and doesn't condescend to look at any one of us! All she told her must have been just some word or two, who knows! But is it likely that our lady has the least notion of her name or surname that she rides such a high horse, and behaves in this manner! What credit is it in having been sent on a trifling errand like this! Will we, by and bye, pray, hear anything more about you? If you've got any gumption, you'd better skedaddle out of this garden this very day. For, mind, it's only if you manage to hold your lofty perch for any length of time that you can be thought something of!"
As she derided her, she continued on her way.
During this while, Hsiao Hung listened to her, but as she did not find it a suitable moment to retaliate, she felt constrained to suppress her resentment and go in search of lady Feng.
On her arrival at widow Li's quarters, she, in point of fact, discovered lady Feng seated inside with her having a chat. Hsiao Hung approached her and made her report. "Sister P'ing says," she observed, "that as soon as your ladyship left the house, she put the money by, and that when Chang Ts'ai's wife went in a little time to fetch it, she had it weighed in her presence, after which she gave it to her to take away."
With these words, she produced the purse and presented it to her. "Sister P'ing bade me come and tell your ladyship," she added, continuing, "that Wang Erh came just now to crave your orders, as to who are the parties from whom he has to go and (collect interest on money due) and sister P'ing explained to him what your wishes were and sent him off."
"How could she tell him where I wanted him to go?" Lady Feng laughed.
"Sister P'ing says," Hsiao Hung proceeded, "that our lady presents her compliments to your ladyship (widow Li) here-(_To lady Feng_) that our master Secundus has in fact not come home, and that albeit a delay of (a day) or two will take place (in the collection of the money), your ladyship should, she begs, set your mind at ease. (_To Li Wan_). That when lady Quinta is somewhat better, our lady will let lady Quinta know and come along with her to see your ladyship. (_To lady Feng_). That lady Quinta sent a servant the day before yesterday to come over and say that our lady, your worthy maternal aunt, had despatched a letter to inquire after your ladyship's health; that she also wished to ask you, my lady, her worthy niece in here, for a couple of 'long-life-great-efficacy-full-of-every-virtue' pills; and that if you have any, they should, when our lady bids a servant come over, be simply given her to bring to our lady here, and that any one bound to-morrow for that side could then deliver them on her way to her ladyship, your aunt yonder, to take along with her."
"Ai-yo-yo!" exclaimed widow Li, before the close of the message. "It's impossible for me to make out what you're driving at! What a heap of ladyships and misters!"
"It's not to be wondered at that you can't make them out," interposed lady Feng laughing. "Why, her remarks refer to four or five distinct families."
While speaking, she again faced Hsiao Hung. "My dear girl," she smiled, "what a trouble you've been put to! But you speak decently, and unlike the others who keep on buzz-buzz-buzz, like mosquitoes! You're not aware, sister-in-law, that I actually dread uttering a word to any of the girls outside the few servant-girls and matrons in my own immediate service; for they invariably spin out, what could be condensed in a single phrase, into a long interminable yarn, and they munch and chew their words; and sticking to a peculiar drawl, they groan and moan; so much so, that they exasperate me till I fly into a regular rage. Yet how are they to know that our P'ing Erh too was once like them. But when I asked her: 'must you forsooth imitate the humming of a mosquito, in order to be accounted a handsome girl?' and spoke to her, on several occasions, she at length improved considerably."
"What a good thing it would be," laughed Li Kung-ts'ai, "if they could all be as smart as you are."
"This girl is first-rate!" rejoined lady Feng, "she just now delivered two messages. They didn't, I admit, amount to much, yet to listen to her, she spoke to the point."
"To-morrow," she continued, addressing herself to Hsiao Hung smilingly, "come and wait on me, and I'll acknowledge you as my daughter; and the moment you come under my control, you'll readily improve."
At this news, Hsiao Hung spurted out laughing aloud.
"What are you laughing for?" Lady Feng inquired. "You must say to yourself that I am young in years and that how much older can I be than yourself to become your mother; but are you under the influence of a spring dream? Go and ask all those people older than yourself. They would be only too ready to call me mother. But snapping my fingers at them, I to-day exalt you."
"I wasn't laughing about that," Hsiao Hung answered with a smiling face. "I was amused by the mistake your ladyship made about our generations. Why, my mother claims to be your daughter, my lady, and are you now going to recognise me too as your daughter?"
"Who's your mother?" Lady Feng exclaimed.
"Don't you actually know her?" put in Li Kung-ts'ai with a smile. "She's Lin Chih-hsiao's child."
This disclosure greatly surprised lady Feng. "What!" she consequently cried, "is she really his daughter?"
"Why Lin Chih-hsiao and his wife," she resumed smilingly, "couldn't either of them utter a sound if even they were pricked with an awl. I've always maintained that they're a well-suited couple; as the one is as deaf as a post, and the other as dumb as a mute. But who would ever have expected them to have such a clever girl! By how much are you in your teens?"
"I'm seventeen," replied Hsia Hung.
"What is your name?" she went on to ask.
"My name was once Hung Yue." Hsiao Hung rejoined. "But as it was a duplicate of that of Master Secundus, Mr. Pao-yue, I'm now simply called Hsiao Hung."
Upon hearing this explanation, lady Feng raised her eyebrows into a frown, and turning her head round: "It's most disgusting!" she remarked, "Those bearing the name Yue would seem to be very cheap; for your name is Yue, and so is also mine Yue. Sister-in-law," she then observed; "I never let you know anything about it, but I mentioned to her mother that Lai Ta's wife has at present her hands quite full, and that she hasn't either any notion as to who is who in this mansion. 'You had better,' (I said), 'carefully select a couple of girls for my service.' She assented unreservedly, but she put it off and never chose any. On the contrary, she sent this girl to some other place. But is it likely that she wouldn't have been well off with me?"
"Here you are again full of suspicion!" Li Wan laughed. "She came in here long before you ever breathed a word to her! So how could you bear a grudge against her mother?"
"Well, in that case," added lady Feng, "I'll speak to Pao-yue to-morrow, and induce him to find another one, and to allow this girl to come along with me. I wonder, however, whether she herself is willing or not?"
"Whether willing or not," interposed Hsiao Hung smiling, "such as we couldn't really presume to raise our voices and object. We should feel it our privilege to serve such a one as your ladyship, and learn a little how to discriminate when people raise or drop their eyebrows and eyes (with pleasure or displeasure), and reap as well some experience in such matters as go out or come in, whether high or low, great and small."
But during her reply, she perceived Madame Wang's waiting-maid come and invite lady Feng to go over. Lady Feng bade good-bye at once to Li Kung-ts'ai and took her departure.
Hsiao Hung then returned into the I Hung court, where we will leave her and devote our attention for the present to Lin Tai-yue.
As she had had but little sleep in the night, she got up the next day at a late hour. When she heard that all her cousins were collected in the park, giving a farewell entertainment for the god of flowers, she hastened, for fear people should laugh at her for being lazy, to comb her hair, perform her ablutions, and go out and join them. As soon as she reached the interior of the court, she caught sight of Pao-yue, entering the door, who speedily greeted her with a smile. "My dear cousin," he said, "did you lodge a complaint against me yesterday? I've been on pins and needles the whole night long."
Tai-yue forthwith turned her head away. "Put the room in order," she shouted to Tzu Chuean, "and lower one of the gauze window-frames. And when you've seen the swallows come back, drop the curtain; keep it down then by placing the lion on it, and after you have burnt the incense, mind you cover the censer."
So saying she stepped outside.
Pao-yue perceiving her manner, concluded again that it must be on account of the incident of the previous noon, but how could he have had any idea about what had happened in the evening? He kept on still bowing and curtseying; but Lin Tai-yue did not even so much as look at him straight in the face, but egressing alone out of the door of the court, she proceeded there and then in search of the other girls.
Pao-yue fell into a despondent mood and gave way to conjectures.
"Judging," he reflected, "from this behaviour of hers, it would seem as if it could not be for what transpired yesterday. Yesterday too I came back late in the evening, and, what's more, I didn't see her, so that there was no occasion on which I could have given her offence."
As he indulged in these reflections, he involuntarily followed in her footsteps to try and catch her up, when he descried Pao-ch'ai and T'an-ch'un on the opposite side watching the frolics of the storks.
As soon as they saw Tai-yue approach, the trio stood together and started a friendly chat. But noticing Pao-yue also come up, T'an Ch'un smiled. "Brother Pao," she said, "are you all right. It's just three days that I haven't seen anything of you?"
"Are you sister quite well?" Pao-yue rejoined, a smile on his lips. "The other day, I asked news of you of our senior sister-in-law."
"Brother Pao," T'an Ch'un remarked, "come over here; I want to tell you something."
The moment Pao-yue heard this, he quickly went with her. Distancing Pao-ch'ai and Tai-yue, the two of them came under a pomegranate tree. "Has father sent for you these last few days?" T'an Ch'un then asked.
"He hasn't," Pao-yue answered laughingly by way of reply.
"Yesterday," proceeded T'an Ch'un, "I heard vaguely something or other about father sending for you to go out."
"I presume," Pao-yue smiled, "that some one must have heard wrong, for he never sent for me."
"I've again managed to save during the last few months," added T'an Ch'un with another smile, "fully ten tiaos, so take them and bring me, when at any time you stroll out of doors, either some fine writings or some ingenious knicknack."
"Much as I have roamed inside and outside the city walls," answered Pao-yue, "and seen grand establishments and large temples, I've never come across anything novel or pretty. One simply sees articles made of gold, jade, copper and porcelain, as well as such curios for which we could find no place here. Besides these, there are satins, eatables, and wearing apparel."
"Who cares for such baubles!" exclaimed T'an Ch'un. "How could they come up to what you purchased the last time; that wee basket, made of willow twigs, that scent-box, scooped out of a root of real bamboo, that portable stove fashioned of glutinous clay; these things were, oh, so very nice! I was as fond of them as I don't know what; but, who'd have thought it, they fell in love with them and bundled them all off, just as if they were precious things."
"Is it things of this kind that you really want?" laughed Pao-yue. "Why, these are worth nothing! Were you to take a hundred cash and give them to the servant-boys, they could, I'm sure, bring two cart-loads of them."
"What do the servant-boys know?" T'an Ch'un replied. "Those you chose for me were plain yet not commonplace. Neither were they of coarse make. So were you to procure me as many as you can get of them, I'll work you a pair of slippers like those I gave you last time, and spend twice as much trouble over them as I did over that pair you have. Now, what do you say to this bargain?"
"Your reference to this," smiled Pao-yue, "reminds me of an old incident. One day I had them on, and by a strange coincidence, I met father, whose fancy they did not take, and he inquired who had worked them. But how could I muster up courage to allude to the three words: my sister Tertia, so I answered that my maternal aunt had given them to me on the recent occasion of my birthday. When father heard that they had been given to me by my aunt, he could not very well say anything. But after a while, 'why uselessly waste,' he observed, 'human labour, and throw away silks to make things of this sort!' On my return, I told Hsi Jen about it. 'Never mind,' said Hsi Jen; but Mrs. Chao got angry. 'Her own brother,' she murmured indignantly, 'wears slipshod shoes and socks in holes, and there's no one to look after him, and does she go and work all these things!'"
T'an Ch'un, hearing this, immediately lowered her face. "Now tell me, aren't these words utter rot!" she shouted. "What am I that I have to make shoes? And is it likely that Huan Erh hasn't his own share of things! Clothes are clothes, and shoes and socks are shoes and socks; and how is it that any grudges arise in the room of a mere servant-girl and old matron? For whose benefit does she come out with all these things! I simply work a pair or part of a pair when I am at leisure, with time on my hands. And I can give them to any brother, elder or younger, I fancy; and who has a right to interfere with me? This is just another bit of blind anger!"
After listening to her, Pao-yue nodded his head and smiled. "Yet," he said, "you don't know what her motives may be. It's but natural that she should also cherish some expectations."
This apology incensed T'an Ch'un more than ever, and twisting her head round, "Even you have grown dull!" she cried. "She does, of course, indulge in expectations, but they are actuated by some underhand and paltry notion! She may go on giving way to these ideas, but I, for my part, will only care for Mr. Chia Cheng and Madame Wang. I won't care a rap for any one else. In fact, I'll be nice with such of my sisters and brothers, as are nice to me; and won't even draw any distinction between those born of primary wives and those of secondary ones. Properly speaking, I shouldn't say these things about her, but she's narrow-minded to a degree, and unlike what she should be. There's besides another ridiculous thing. This took place the last time I gave you the money to get me those trifles. Well, two days after that, she saw me, and she began again to represent that she had no money and that she was hard up. Nevertheless, I did not worry my brain with her goings on. But as it happened, the servant-girls subsequently quitted the room, and she at once started finding fault with me. 'Why,' she asked, 'do I give you my savings to spend and don't, after all, let Huan Erh have them and enjoy them?' When I heard these reproaches, I felt both inclined to laugh, and also disposed to lose my temper; but I there and then skedaddled out of her quarters, and went over to our Madame Wang."
As she was recounting this incident, "Well," she overheard Pao-ch'ai sarcastically observe from the opposite direction, "have you done spinning your yarns? If you have, come along! It's quite evident that you are brother and sister, for here you leave every one else and go and discuss your own private matters. Couldn't we too listen to a single sentence of what you have to say?"
While she taunted them, T'an Ch'un and Pao-yue eventually drew near her with smiling faces.
Pao-yue, however, failed to see Lin Tai-yue and he concluded that she had dodged out of the way and gone elsewhere. "It would be better," he muttered, after some thought, "that I should let two days elapse, and give her temper time to evaporate before I go to her." But as he drooped his head, his eye was attracted by a heap of touch-me-nots, pomegranate blossom and various kinds of fallen flowers, which covered the ground thick as tapestry, and he heaved a sigh. "It's because," he pondered, "she's angry that she did not remove these flowers; but I'll take them over to the place, and by and bye ask her about them."
As he argued to himself, he heard Pao-ch'ai bid them go out. "I'll join you in a moment," Pao-yue replied; and waiting till his two cousins had gone some distance, he bundled the flowers into his coat, and ascending the hill, he crossed the stream, penetrated into the arbour, passed through the avenues with flowers and wended his way straight for the spot, where he had, on a previous occasion, interred the peach-blossoms with the assistance of Lin Tai-yue. But scarcely had he reached the mound containing the flowers, and before he had, as yet, rounded the brow of the hill, than he caught, emanating from the off side, the sound of some one sobbing, who while giving way to invective, wept in a most heart-rending way.
"I wonder," soliloquised Pao-yue, "whose servant-girl this is, who has been so aggrieved as to run over here to have a good cry!"
While speculating within himself, he halted. He then heard, mingled with wails:--
Flowers wither and decay; and flowers do fleet; they fly all o'er the skies; Their bloom wanes; their smell dies; but who is there with them to sympathise? While vagrant gossamer soft doth on fluttering spring-bowers bind its coils, And drooping catkins lightly strike and cling on the embroidered screens, A maiden in the inner rooms, I sore deplore the close of spring. Such ceaseless sorrow fills my breast, that solace nowhere can I find. Past the embroidered screen I issue forth, taking with me a hoe, And on the faded flowers to tread I needs must, as I come and go. The willow fibres and elm seeds have each a fragrance of their own. What care I, peach blossoms may fall, pear flowers away be blown; Yet peach and pear will, when next year returns, burst out again in bloom, But can it e'er be told who will next year dwell in the inner room? What time the third moon comes, the scented nests have been already built. And on the beams the swallows perch, excessive spiritless and staid; Next year, when the flowers bud, they may, it's true, have ample to feed on: But they know not that when I'm gone beams will be vacant and nests fall! In a whole year, which doth consist of three hundred and sixty days, Winds sharp as swords and frost like unto spears each other rigorous press, So that how long can last their beauty bright; their fresh charm how long stays? Sudden they droop and fly; and whither they have flown, 'tis hard to guess. Flowers, while in bloom, easy the eye attract; but, when they wither, hard they are to find. Now by the footsteps, I bury the flowers, but sorrow will slay me. Alone I stand, and as I clutch the hoe, silent tears trickle down, And drip on the bare twigs, leaving behind them the traces of blood. The goatsucker hath sung his song, the shades lower of eventide, So with the lotus hoe I return home and shut the double doors. Upon the wall the green lamp sheds its rays just as I go to sleep. The cover is yet cold; against the window patters the bleak rain. How strange! Why can it ever be that I feel so wounded at heart! Partly, because spring I regret; partly, because with spring I'm vexed! Regret for spring, because it sudden comes; vexed, for it sudden goes. For without warning, lo! it comes; and without asking it doth fleet. Yesterday night, outside the hall sorrowful songs burst from my mouth, For I found out that flowers decay, and that birds also pass away. The soul of flowers, and the spirit of birds are both hard to restrain. Birds, to themselves when left, in silence plunge; and flowers, alone, they blush. Oh! would that on my sides a pair of wings could grow, That to the end of heaven I may fly in the wake of flowers! Yea to the very end of heaven, Where I could find a fragrant grave! For better, is it not, that an embroidered bag should hold my well-shaped bones, And that a heap of stainless earth should in its folds my winsome charms enshroud. For spotless once my frame did come, and spotless again it will go! Far better than that I, like filthy mire, should sink into some drain! Ye flowers are now faded and gone, and, lo, I come to bury you. But as for me, what day I shall see death is not as yet divined! Here I am fain these flowers to inter; but humankind will laugh me as a fool. Who knows, who will, in years to come, commit me to my grave! Mark, and you'll find the close of spring, and the gradual decay of flowers, Resemble faithfully the time of death of maidens ripe in years! In a twinkle, spring time draws to a close, and maidens wax in age. Flowers fade and maidens die; and of either nought any more is known.
After listening to these effusions, Pao-yue unconsciously threw himself down in a wandering frame of mind.
But, reader, do you feel any interest in him? If you do, the subsequent chapter contains further details about him.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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