中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第三十八回 林瀟湘魁奪菊花詩 薛蘅蕪諷和螃蟹詠 CHAPTER XXXVIII.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
話說寶釵湘雲二人計議已妥， 一宿無話。湘雲次日便請賈母等賞桂花。賈母等都說道：“是他有興頭，須要擾他這雅興。”至午，果然賈母帶了王夫人鳳姐兼請薛姨媽等進園來。 賈母因問那一處好？山坡下兩棵桂花開的又好，河裏的水又碧清，坐在河當中亭子上豈不敞亮， 看着水眼也清亮。”賈母聽了，說：“這話很是。”說着，就引了衆人往藕香榭來。 原來這藕香榭蓋在池中，四面有窗，左右有麯廊可通，亦是跨水接岸，後面又有麯折竹橋暗接。 衆人上了竹橋，鳳姐忙上來攙着賈母，口裏說：“老祖宗衹管邁大步走，不相幹的，這竹子橋規矩是咯吱咯喳的。”
一時進入榭中， 衹見欄桿外另放着兩張竹案，一個上面設着杯箸酒具，一個上頭設着茶筅茶盂各色茶具。那邊有兩三個丫頭煽風爐煮茶，這一邊另外幾個丫頭也煽風爐燙酒呢。 賈母喜的忙問：“這茶想的到，且是地方，東西都幹淨。”湘雲笑道：“這是寶姐姐幫着我預備的。”賈母道：“我說這個孩子細緻，凡事想的妥當。”一面說，一面又看見柱上挂的黑漆嵌蚌的對子，命人念。湘雲念道：
芙蓉影破歸蘭槳，菱藕香深寫竹橋。賈母聽了，又擡頭看匾，因回頭嚮薛姨媽道：“我先小時，傢裏也有這麽一個亭子，叫做什麽‘枕霞閣’。我那時也衹象他們這麽大年紀， 同姊妹們天天頑去。那日誰知我失了腳掉下去，幾乎沒淹死，好容易救了上來，到底被那木釘把頭碰破了。如今這鬢角上那指頭頂大一塊窩兒就是那殘破了。衆人都怕經了水，又怕冒了風，都說活不得了，誰知竟好了。”風姐不等人說，先笑道：“那時要活不得， 如今這大福可叫誰享呢！可知老祖宗從小兒的福壽就不小，神差鬼使碰出那個窩兒來，好盛福壽的。壽星老兒頭上原是一個窩兒，因為萬福萬壽盛滿了，所以倒凸高出些來了。 "未及說完，賈母與衆人都笑軟了。賈母笑道：“這猴兒慣的了不得了，衹管拿我取笑起來， 恨的我撕你那油嘴。”鳳姐笑道：“回來吃螃蟹，恐積了冷在心裏，討老祖宗笑一笑開開心，一高興多吃兩個就無妨了。”賈母笑道：“明兒叫你日夜跟着我，我倒常笑笑覺的開心， 不許回傢去。”王夫人笑道：“老太太因為喜歡他，纔慣的他這樣，還這樣說，他明兒越發無禮了。”賈母笑道：“我喜歡他這樣，況且他又不是那不知高低的孩子。傢常沒人，娘兒們原該這樣。橫竪禮體不錯就罷，沒的倒叫他從神兒似的作什麽。”
說着，一齊進入亭子，獻過茶，鳳姐忙着搭桌子，要杯箸。上面一桌法，把事物各個方面的屬性完全偶然地拼湊起來，而“辯證，賈母，薛姨媽，寶釵，黛玉，寶玉，東邊一桌，史湘雲，王夫人，迎，探，惜，西邊靠門一桌，李紈和鳳姐的，虛設坐位，二人皆不敢坐，衹在賈母王夫人兩桌上伺候。鳳姐吩咐：“螃蟹不可多拿來， 仍舊放在蒸籠裏，拿十個來，吃了再拿。”一面又要水洗了手，站在賈母跟前剝蟹肉，頭次讓薛姨媽。 薛姨媽道：“我自己掰着吃香甜，不用人讓。”鳳姐便奉與賈母。二次的便與寶玉， 又說：“把酒燙的滾熱的拿來。”又命小丫頭們去取菊花葉兒桂花蕊熏的緑豆面子來， 預備洗手。史湘雲陪着吃了一個，就下座來讓人，又出至外頭，令人盛兩盤子與趙姨娘周姨娘送去。又見鳳姐走來道：“你不慣張羅，你吃你的去。我先替你張羅，等散了我再吃。”湘雲不肯，又令人在那邊廊上擺了兩桌，讓鴛鴦，琥珀，彩霞，彩雲，平兒去坐。鴛鴦因嚮鳳姐笑道：“二奶奶在這裏伺候，我們可吃去了。”鳳姐兒道：“你們衹管去，都交給我就是了。”說着，史湘雲仍入了席。鳳姐和李紈也胡亂應個景兒。鳳姐仍是下來張羅，一時出至廊上，鴛鴦等正吃的高興，見他來了，鴛鴦等站起來道：“奶奶又出來作什麽？讓我們也受用一會兒。”鳳姐笑道：“鴛鴦小蹄子越發壞了，我替你當差，倒不領情， 還抱怨我。還不快斟一鐘酒來我喝呢。”鴛鴦笑着忙斟了一杯酒，送至鳳姐唇邊， 鳳姐一揚脖子吃了。琥珀彩霞二人也斟上一杯，送至鳳姐唇邊，那鳳姐也吃了。平兒早剔了一殼黃子送來，鳳姐道：“多倒些薑醋。”一面也吃了，笑道：“你們坐着吃罷， 我可去了。”鴛鴦笑道：“好沒臉，吃我們的東西。”鳳姐兒笑道：“你和我少作怪。你知道你璉二爺愛上了你，要和老太太討了你作小老婆呢。”鴛鴦道：“啐，這也是作奶奶說出來的話！ 我不拿腥手抹你一臉算不得。”說着趕來就要抹。鳳姐兒央道：“好姐姐，饒我這一遭兒罷。 "琥珀笑道：“鴛丫頭要去了，平丫頭還饒他？你們看看他，沒有吃了兩個螃蟹， 倒喝了一碟子醋，他也算不會攬酸了。”平兒手裏正掰了個滿黃的螃蟹，聽如此奚落他， 便拿着螃蟹照着琥珀臉上抹來，口內笑駡"我把你這嚼舌根的小蹄子！"琥珀也笑着往旁邊一躲，平兒使空了，往前一撞，正恰恰的抹在鳳姐兒腮上。鳳姐兒正和鴛鴦嘲笑，不防唬了一跳，噯喲了一聲。衆人撐不住都哈哈的大笑起來。鳳姐也禁不住笑駡道：“死娼婦！吃離了眼了，混抹你娘的。”平兒忙趕過來替他擦了，親自去端水。鴛鴦道：“阿彌陀佛！這是個報應。”賈母那邊聽見，一疊聲問：“見了什麽這樣樂，告訴我們也笑笑。”鴛鴦等忙高聲笑回道：“二奶奶來搶螃蟹吃，平兒惱了，抹了他主子一臉的螃蟹黃子。主子奴才打架呢。”賈母和王夫人等聽了也笑起來。賈母笑道：“你們看他可憐見的，把那小腿子臍子給他點子吃也就完了。”鴛鴦等笑着答應了，高聲又說道：“這滿桌子的腿子， 二奶奶衹管吃就是了。”鳳姐洗了臉走來，又伏侍賈母等吃了一回。黛玉獨不敢多吃，衹吃了一點兒夾子肉就下來了。
賈母一時不吃了， 大傢方散，都洗了手，也有看花的，也有弄水看魚的，遊玩了一回。王夫人因回賈母說：“這裏風大，纔又吃了螃蟹，老太太還是回房去歇歇罷了。若高興，明日再來逛逛。”賈母聽了，笑道：“正是呢。我怕你們高興，我走了又怕掃了你們的興。既這麽說，咱們就都去罷。”回頭又囑咐湘雲：“別讓你寶哥哥林姐姐多吃了。”湘雲答應着。又囑咐湘雲寶釵二人說：“你兩個也別多吃。那東西雖好吃，不是什麽好的，吃多了肚子疼。 "二人忙應着送出園外，仍舊回來，令將殘席收拾了另擺。寶玉道：“也不用擺， 咱們且作詩。把那大團圓桌就放在當中，酒菜都放着。也不必拘定坐位，有愛吃的大傢去吃，散坐豈不便宜。”寶釵道：“這話極是。”湘雲道：“雖如此說，還有別人。”因又命另擺一桌，揀了熱螃蟹來，請襲人，紫鵑，司棋，待書，入畫，鶯兒，翠墨等一處共坐。山坡桂樹底下鋪下兩條花氈，命答應的婆子並小丫頭等也都坐了，衹管隨意吃喝，等使喚再來。
湘雲便取了詩題，用針綰在墻上。衆人看了，都說：“新奇固新奇，衹怕作不出來。”湘雲又把不限韻的原故說了一番。寶玉道：“這纔是正理，我也最不喜限韻。”林黛玉因不大吃酒，又不吃螃蟹，自令人掇了一個綉墩倚欄桿坐着，拿着釣竿釣魚。寶釵手裏拿着一枝桂花玩了一回， 俯在窗檻上了桂蕊擲嚮水面，引的遊魚浮上來唼喋。湘雲出一回神， 又讓一回襲人等，又招呼山坡下的衆人衹管放量吃。探春和李紈惜春立在垂柳陰中看鷗鷺。 迎春又獨在花陰下拿着花針穿茉莉花。寶玉又看了一回黛玉釣魚，一回又俯在寶釵旁邊說笑兩句， 一回又看襲人等吃螃蟹，自己也陪他飲兩口酒。襲人又剝一殼肉給他吃。黛玉放下釣竿，走至座間，拿起那烏銀梅花自斟壺來，揀了一個小小的海棠凍石蕉葉杯。 丫鬟看見，知他要飲酒，忙着走上來斟。黛玉道：“你們衹管吃去，讓我自斟， 這纔有趣兒。”說着便斟了半盞，看時卻是黃酒，因說道：“我吃了一點子螃蟹，覺得心口微微的疼，須得熱熱的喝口燒酒。”寶玉忙道：“有燒酒。”便令將那合歡花浸的酒燙一壺來。黛玉也衹吃了一口便放下了。寶釵也走過來，另拿了一隻杯來，也飲了一口， 便蘸筆至墻上把頭一個《憶菊》勾了，底下又贅了一個"蘅"字。寶玉忙道：“好姐姐， 第二個我已經有了四句了，你讓我作罷。”寶釵笑道：“我好容易有了一首，你就忙的這樣。”黛玉也不說話，接過筆來把第八個《問菊》勾了，接着把第十一個《菊夢》也勾了，也贅一個"瀟"字。寶玉也拿起筆來，將第二個《訪菊》也勾了，也贅上一個"絳"字。探春走來看看道：“竟沒有人作《簪菊》，讓我作這《簪菊》。”又指着寶玉笑道：“纔宣過總不許帶出閨閣字樣來，你可要留神。”說着，衹見史湘雲走來，將第四第五《對菊》《供菊》一連兩個都勾了，也贅上一個"湘"字。探春道：“你也該起個號。”湘雲笑道：“我們傢裏如今雖有幾處軒館，我又不住着，藉了來也沒趣。”寶釵笑道：“方纔老太太說，你們傢也有這個水亭叫‘枕霞閣’，難道不是你的。如今雖沒了，你到底是舊主人。”衆人都道有理，寶玉不待湘雲動手，便代將"湘"字抹了，改了一個"霞"字。又有頓飯工夫， 十二題已全，各自謄出來，都交與迎春，另拿了一張雪浪箋過來，一並謄錄出來，某人作的底下贅明某人的號。李紈等從頭看起：
憶菊蘅蕪君
悵望西風抱悶思，蓼紅葦白斷腸時。
空籬舊圃秋無跡，瘦月清霜夢有知。
念念心隨歸雁遠，寥寥坐聽晚砧癡，
誰憐我為黃花病，慰語重陽會有期。
訪菊怡紅公子
閑趁霜晴試一遊，酒杯藥盞莫淹留。
霜前月下誰傢種，檻外籬邊何處愁。
蠟屐遠來情得得，冷吟不盡興悠悠。
黃花若解憐詩客，休負今朝挂杖頭。
種菊怡紅公子
攜鋤秋圃自移來，籬畔庭前故故栽。
昨夜不期經雨活，今朝猶喜帶霜開。
冷吟秋色詩千首，醉酹寒香酒一杯。
泉溉泥封勤護惜，好知井徑絶塵埃。
對菊枕霞舊友
別圃移來貴比金，一叢淺淡一叢深。
蕭疏籬畔科頭坐，清冷香中抱膝吟。
數去更無君傲世，看來惟有我知音。
秋光荏苒休辜負，相對原宜惜寸陰。
供菊枕霞舊友
彈琴酌酒喜堪儔，幾案婷婷點綴幽。
隔座香分三徑露，拋書人對一枝秋。
霜清紙帳來新夢，圃冷斜陽憶舊遊。
傲世也因同氣味，春風桃李未淹留。
詠菊瀟湘妃子
無賴詩魔昏曉侵，繞籬欹石自沉音。
毫端藴秀臨霜寫，口齒噙香對月吟。
滿紙自憐題素怨，片言誰解訴秋心。
一從陶令平章後，千古高風說到今。
畫菊蘅蕪君
詩餘戲筆不知狂，豈是丹青費較量。
聚葉潑成千點墨，攢花染出幾痕霜。
淡濃神會風前影，跳脫秋生腕底香。
莫認東籬閑采掇，粘屏聊以慰重陽。
問菊瀟湘妃子
欲訊秋情衆莫知，喃喃負手叩東籬。
孤標傲世偕誰隱，一樣花開為底遲？
圃露庭霜何寂寞，鴻歸蛩病可相思？
休言舉世無談者，解語何妨片語時。
簪菊蕉下客
瓶供籬栽日日忙，折來休認鏡中妝。
長安公子因花癖，彭澤先生是酒狂。
短鬢冷沾三徑露，葛巾香染九秋霜。
高情不入時人眼，拍手憑他笑路旁。
菊影枕霞舊友
秋光疊疊復重重，潛度偷移三徑中。
窗隔疏燈描遠近，籬篩破月鎖玲瓏。
寒芳留照魂應駐，霜印傳神夢也空。
珍重暗香休踏碎，憑誰醉眼認朦朧。
菊夢瀟湘妃子
籬畔秋酣一覺清，和雲伴月不分明。
登仙非慕莊生蝶，憶舊還尋陶令盟。
睡去依依隨雁斷，驚回故故惱蛩鳴。
醒時幽怨同誰訴，衰草寒煙無限情。
殘菊蕉下客
露凝霜重漸傾欹，宴賞纔過小雪時。
蒂有餘香金淡泊，枝無全葉翠離披。
半床落月蛩聲病，萬裏寒雲雁陣遲。
明歲秋風知再會， 暫時分手莫相思。衆人看一首，贊一首，彼此稱揚不已。李紈笑道：“等我從公評來。通篇看來，各有各人的警句。今日公評：《詠菊》第一，《問菊》第二，《菊夢》第三，題目新，詩也新，立意更新，惱不得要推瀟湘妃子為魁了，然後《簪菊> >《對菊》《供菊》《畫菊》《憶菊》次之。”寶玉聽說，喜的拍手叫"極是，極公道。”黛玉道：“我那首也不好，到底傷於纖巧些。”李紈道：“巧的卻好，不露堆砌生硬。”黛玉道：“據我看來，頭一句好的是‘圃冷斜陽憶舊遊’，這句背面傅粉。‘拋書人對一枝秋’ 已經妙絶，將供菊說完，沒處再說，故翻回來想到未拆未供之先，意思深透。”李紈笑道：“固如此說，你的‘口齒噙香’句也敵的過了。”探春又道：“到底要算蘅蕪君沉着， ‘秋無跡’，‘夢有知’，把個憶字竟烘染出來了。”寶釵笑道：“你的‘短鬢冷沾’，‘葛巾香染’，也就把簪菊形容的一個縫兒也沒了。”湘雲道：“‘偕誰隱’，‘為底遲’，真個把個菊花問的無言可對。 "李紈笑道：“你的‘科頭坐’，‘抱膝吟’，竟一時也不能別開，菊花有知， 也必膩煩了。”說的大傢都笑了。寶玉笑道：“我又落第。難道‘誰傢種’，‘何處秋’，‘蠟屐遠來’，‘冷吟不盡’，都不是訪，‘昨夜雨’，‘今朝霜’，都不是種不成？但恨敵不上‘ 口齒噙香對月吟’，‘清冷香中抱膝吟’，‘短鬢’，‘葛巾’，‘金淡泊’，‘翠離披’，‘秋無跡’，‘夢有知’這幾句罷了。”又道：“明兒閑了，我一個人作出十二首來。”李紈道：“你的也好，衹是不及這幾句新巧就是了。”
大傢又評了一回， 復又要了熱蟹來，就在大圓桌子上吃了一回。寶玉笑道：“今日持螯賞桂，亦不可無詩。我已吟成，誰還敢作呢？"說着，便忙洗了手提筆寫出。衆人看道：
持螯更喜桂陰涼，潑醋擂薑興欲狂。
饕餮王孫應有酒，橫行公子卻無腸。
臍間積冷饞忘忌，指上沾腥洗尚香。
原為世人美口腹， 坡仙曾笑一生忙。黛玉笑道：“這樣的詩，要一百首也有。”寶玉笑道：“你這會子才力已盡，不說不能作了，還貶人傢。”黛玉聽了，並不答言，也不思索，提起筆來一揮，已有了一首。衆人看道：
鐵甲長戈死未忘，堆盤色相喜先嘗。
螯封嫩玉雙雙滿，殼凸紅脂塊塊香。
多肉更憐卿八足，助情誰勸我千觴。
對斯佳品酬佳節，桂拂清風菊帶霜。寶玉看了正喝彩，黛玉便一把撕了，令人燒去，因笑道：“我的不及你的，我燒了他。你那個很好，比方纔的菊花詩還好，你留着他給人看。”寶釵接着笑道：“我也勉強了一首，未必好，寫出來取笑兒罷。”說着也寫了出來。大傢看時，寫道是：
桂靄桐陰坐舉殤，長安涎口盼重陽。
眼前道路無經緯，皮裏春秋空黑黃。看到這裏，衆人不禁叫絶。寶玉道：“寫得痛快！我的詩也該燒了。”又看底下道：
酒未敵腥還用菊，性防積冷定須薑。
於今落釜成何益，月浦空餘禾黍香。衆人看畢，都說這是食螃蟹絶唱，這些小題目，原要寓大意纔算是大纔，衹是諷刺世人太毒了些。說着，衹見平兒復進園來。不知作什麽，且聽下回分解。
Lin Hsiao-Hsiang carries the first prize in the poems on chrysanthemums. Hsueh Heng-wu chaffs Pao-yue by composing verses in the same style as his on the crabs.
After Pao-ch'ai and Hsiang-yuen, we will now explain, settled everything in their deliberations, nothing memorable occurred, the whole night, which deserves to be put on record.
The next day, Hsiang-yuen invited dowager lady Chia and her other relatives to come and look at the olea flowers. Old lady Chia and every one else answered that as she had had the kind attention to ask them, they felt it their duty to avail themselves of her gracious invitation, much though they would be putting her to trouble and inconvenience. At twelve o'clock, therefore, old lady Chia actually took with her Madame Wang and lady Feng, as well as Mrs. Hsueeh and other members of her family whom she had asked to join them, and repaired into the garden.
"Which is the best spot?" old lady Chia inquired.
"We are ready to go wherever you may like, dear senior," Madame Wang ventured in response.
"A collation has already been spread in the Lotus Fragrance Arbour," lady Feng interposed. "Besides, the two olea plants, on that hill, yonder, are now lovely in their full blossom, and the water of that stream is jade-like and pellucid, so if we sit in the pavilion in the middle of it, won't we enjoy an open and bright view? It will be refreshing too to our eyes to watch the pool."
"Quite right!" assented dowager lady Chia at this suggestion; and while expressing her approbation, she ushered her train of followers into the Arbour of Lotus Fragrance.
This Arbour of Lotus Fragrance had, in fact, been erected in the centre of the pool. It had windows on all four sides. On the left and on the right, stood covered passages, which spanned the stream and connected with the hills. At the back, figured a winding bridge.
As the party ascended the bamboo bridge, lady Feng promptly advanced and supported dowager lady Chia. "Venerable ancestor," she said, "just walk boldly and with confident step; there's nothing to fear; it's the way of these bamboo bridges to go on creaking like this."
Presently, they entered the arbour. Here they saw two additional bamboo tables, placed beyond the balustrade. On the one, were arranged cups, chopsticks and every article necessary for drinking wine. On the other, were laid bamboo utensils for tea, a tea-service and various cups and saucers. On the off side, two or three waiting-maids were engaged in fanning the stove to boil the water for tea. On the near side were visible several other girls, who were trying with their fans to get a fire to light in the stove so as to warm the wines.
"It was a capital idea," dowager lady Chia hastily exclaimed laughingly with vehemence, "to bring tea here. What's more, the spot and the appurtenances are alike so spick and span!"
"These things were brought by cousin Pao-ch'ai," Hsiang-yuen smilingly explained, "so I got them ready."
"This child is, I say, so scrupulously particular," old lady Chia observed, "that everything she does is thoroughly devised."
As she gave utterance to her feelings, her attention was attracted by a pair of scrolls of black lacquer, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, suspended on the pillars, and she asked Hsiang-yuen to tell her what the mottoes were.
The text she read was:
Snapped is the shade of the hibiscus by the fragrant oar of a boat homeward bound. Deep flows the perfume of the lily and the lotus underneath the bamboo bridge.
After listening to the motto, old lady Chia raised her head and cast a glance upon the tablet; then turning round: "Long ago, when I was young," she observed, addressing herself to Mrs. Hsueeh, "we likewise had at home a pavilion like this called 'the Hall reclining on the russet clouds,' or some other such name. At that time, I was of the same age as the girls, and my wont was to go day after day and play with my sisters there. One day, I, unexpectedly, slipped and fell into the water, and I had a narrow escape from being drowned; for it was after great difficulty, that they managed to drag me out safe and sound. But my head was, after all, bumped about against the wooden nails; so much so, that this hole of the length of a finger, which you can see up to this day on my temple, comes from the bruises I sustained. All my people were in a funk that I'd be the worse for this ducking and continued in fear and trembling lest I should catch a chill. 'It was dreadful, dreadful!' they opined, but I managed, little though every one thought it, to keep in splendid health."
Lady Feng allowed no time to any one else to put in a word; but anticipating them: "Had you then not survived, who would now be enjoying these immense blessings!" she smiled. "This makes it evident that no small amount of happiness and long life were in store for you, venerable ancestor, from your very youth up! It was by the agency of the spirits that this hole was knocked open so that they might fill it up with happiness and longevity! The old man Shou Hsing had, in fact, a hole in his head, which was so full of every kind of blessing conducive to happiness and long life that it bulged up ever so high!"
Before, however, she could conclude, dowager lady Chia and the rest were convulsed with such laughter that their bodies doubled in two.
"This monkey is given to dreadful tricks!" laughed old lady Chia. "She's always ready to make a scapegoat of me to evoke amusement. But would that I could take that glib mouth of yours and rend it in pieces."
"It's because I feared that the cold might, when you by and bye have some crabs to eat, accumulate in your intestines," lady Feng pleaded, "that I tried to induce you, dear senior, to have a laugh, so as to make you gay and merry. For one can, when in high spirits, indulge in a couple of them more with impunity."
"By and bye," smiled old lady Chia, "I'll make you follow me day and night, so that I may constantly be amused and feel my mind diverted; I won't let you go back to your home."
"It's that weakness of yours for her, venerable senior," Madame Wang observed with a smile, "that has got her into the way of behaving in this manner, and, if you go on speaking to her as you do, she'll soon become ever so much the more unreasonable."
"I like her such as she is," dowager lady Chia laughed. "Besides, she's truly no child, ignorant of the distinction between high and low. When we are at home, with no strangers present, we ladies should be on terms like these, and as long, in fact, as we don't overstep propriety, it's all right. If not, what would he the earthly use of making them behave like so many saints?"
While bandying words, they entered the pavilion in a body. After tea, lady Feng hastened to lay out the cups and chopsticks. At the upper table then seated herself old lady Chia, Mrs. Hsueeh, Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yue and Pao-yue. Round the table, on the east, sat Shih Hsiang-yuen, Madame Wang, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un. At the small table, leaning against the door on the west side, Li Wan and lady Feng assigned themselves places. But it was for the mere sake of appearances, as neither of them ventured to sit down, but remained in attendance at the two tables, occupied by old lady Chia and Madame Wang.
"You'd better," lady Feng said, "not bring in too many crabs at a time. Throw these again into the steaming-basket! Only serve ten; and when they're eaten, a fresh supply can be fetched!"
Asking, at the same time, for water, she washed her hands, and, taking her position near dowager lady Chia, she scooped out the meat from a crab, and offered the first help to Mrs. Hsueeh.
"They'll be sweeter were I to open them with my own hands," Mrs. Hsueeh remarked, "there's no need for any one to serve me."
Lady Feng, therefore, presented it to old lady Chia and handed a second portion to Pao-yue.
"Make the wine as warm as possible and bring it in!" she then went on to cry. "Go," she added, directing the servant-girls, "and fetch the powder, made of green beans, and scented with the leaves of chrysanthemums and the stamens of the olea fragrans; and keep it ready to rinse our hands with."
Shih Hsiang-yuen had a crab to bear the others company, but no sooner had she done than she retired to a lower seat, from where she helped her guests. When she, however, walked out a second time to give orders to fill two dishes and send them over to Mrs. Chao, she perceived lady Feng come up to her again. "You're not accustomed to entertaining," she said, "so go and have your share to eat. I'll attend to the people for you first, and, when they've gone, I'll have all I want."
Hsiang-yuen would not agree to her proposal. But giving further directions to the servants to spread two tables under the verandah on the off-side, she pressed Yuean Yang, Hu Po, Ts'ai Hsia, Ts'ai Yuen and P'ing Erh to go and seat themselves.
"Lady Secunda," consequently ventured Yuean Yang, "you're in here doing the honours, so may I go and have something to eat?"
"You can all go," replied lady Feng; "leave everything in my charge, and it will be all right."
While these words were being spoken, Shih Hsiang-yuen resumed her place at the banquet. Lady Feng and Li Wan then took hurry-scurry something to eat as a matter of form; but lady Feng came down once more to look after things. After a time, she stepped out on the verandah where Yuean Yang and the other girls were having their refreshments in high glee. As soon as they caught sight of her, Yuan Yang and her companions stood up. "What has your ladyship come out again for?" they inquired. "Do let us also enjoy a little peace and quiet!"
"This chit Yuean Yang is worse than ever!" lady Feng laughed. "Here I'm slaving away for you, and, instead of feeling grateful to me, you bear me a grudge! But don't you yet quick pour me a cup of wine?"
Yuean Yang immediately smiled, and filling a cup, she applied it to lady Feng's lips. Lady Feng stretched out her neck and emptied it. But Hu Po and Ts'ai Hsia thereupon likewise replenished a cup and put it to lady Feng's mouth. Lady Feng swallowed the contents of that as well. P'ing Erh had, by this time, brought her some yellow meat which she had picked out from the shell. "Pour plenty of ginger and vinegar!" shouted lady Feng, and, in a moment, she made short work of that too. "You people," she smiled, "had better sit down and have something to eat, for I'm off now."
"You brazen-faced thing," exclaimed Yuean Yang laughingly, "to eat what was intended for us!"
"Don't be so captious with me!" smiled lady Feng. "Are you aware that your master Secundus, Mr. Lien, has taken such a violent fancy to you that he means to speak to our old lady to let you be his secondary wife!"
Yuean Yang blushed crimson. "Ts'ui!" she shouted. "Are these really words to issue from the mouth of a lady! But if I don't daub your face all over with my filthy hands, I won't feel happy!"
Saying this, she rushed up to her. She was about to besmear her face, when lady Feng pleaded: "My dear child, do let me off this time!"
"Lo, that girl Yuean," laughed Hu Po, "wishes to smear her, and that hussey P'ing still spares her! Look here, she has scarcely had two crabs, and she has drunk a whole saucerful of vinegar!"
P'ing Erh was holding a crab full of yellow meat, which she was in the act of cleaning. As soon therefore as she heard this taunt, she came, crab in hand, to spatter Hu Po's face, as she laughingly reviled her. "I'll take you minx with that cajoling tongue of yours" she cried, "and...."
But, Hu Po, while also indulging in laughter, drew aside; so P'ing Erh beat the air, and fell forward, daubing, by a strange coincidence, the cheek of lady Feng. Lady Feng was at the moment having a little good-humoured raillery with Yuean Yang, and was taken so much off her guard, that she was quite startled out of her senses. "Ai-yah!" she ejaculated. The bystanders found it difficult to keep their countenance, and, with one voice, they exploded into a boisterous fit of laughter. Lady Feng as well could not help feeling amused, and smilingly she upbraided her. "You stupid wench!" she said; "Have you by gorging lost your eyesight that you recklessly smudge your mistress' face?"
P'ing Erh hastily crossed over and wiped her face for her, and then went in person to fetch some water.
"O-mi-to-fu," ejaculated Yuean Yang, "this is a distinct retribution!"
Dowager lady Chia, though seated on the other side, overheard their shouts, and she consecutively made inquiries as to what they had seen to tickled their fancy so. "Tell us," (she urged), "what it is so that we too should have a laugh."
"Our lady Secunda," Yuean Yang and the other maids forthwith laughingly cried, "came to steal our crabs and eat them, and P'ing Erh got angry and daubed her mistress' face all over with yellow meat. So our mistress and that slave-girl are now having a scuffle over it."
This report filled dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other inmates with them with much merriment. "Do have pity on her," dowager lady Chia laughed, "and let her have some of those small legs and entrails to eat, and have done!"
Yuan Yang and her companions assented, much amused. "Mistress Secunda," they shouted in a loud tone of voice, "you're at liberty to eat this whole tableful of legs!"
But having washed her face clean, lady Feng approached old lady Chia and the other guests and waited upon them for a time, while they partook of refreshments.
Tai-yue did not, with her weak physique, venture to overload her stomach, so partaking of a little meat from the claws, she left the table. Presently, however, dowager lady Chia too abandoned all idea of having anything more to eat. The company therefore quitted the banquet; and, when they had rinsed their hands, some admired the flowers, some played with the water, others looked at the fish.
After a short stroll, Madame Wang turned round and remarked to old lady Chia: "There's plenty of wind here. Besides, you've just had crabs; so it would be prudent for you, venerable senior, to return home and rest. And if you feel in the humour, we can come again for a turn to-morrow."
"Quite true!" acquiesced dowager lady Chia, in reply to this suggestion. "I was afraid that if I left, now that you're all in exuberant spirits, I mightn't again be spoiling your fun, (so I didn't budge). But as the idea originates from yourselves do go as you please, (while I retire). But," she said to Hsiang-yuen, "don't allow your cousin Secundus, Pao-yue, and your cousin Lin to have too much to eat." Then when Hsiang-yuen had signified her obedience, "You two girls," continuing, she recommended Hsiang-yuen and Pao-ch'ai, "must not also have more than is good for you. Those things are, it's true, luscious, but they're not very wholesome; and if you eat immoderately of them, why, you'll get stomachaches."
Both girls promised with alacrity to be careful; and, having escorted her beyond the confines of the garden, they retraced their steps and ordered the servants to clear the remnants of the banquet and to lay out a new supply of refreshments.
"There's no use of any regular spread out!" Pao-yue interposed. "When you are about to write verses, that big round table can be put in the centre and the wines and eatables laid on it. Neither will there be any need to ceremoniously have any fixed seats. Let those who may want anything to eat, go up to it and take what they like; and if we seat ourselves, scattered all over the place, won't it be far more convenient for us?"
"Your idea is excellent!" Pao-ch'ai answered.
"This is all very well," Hsiang-yuen observed, "but there are others to be studied besides ourselves!"
Issuing consequently further directions for another table to be laid, and picking out some hot crabs, she asked Hsi Jen, Tzu Chuean, Ssu Ch'i, Shih Shu, Ju Hua, Ying Erh, Ts'ui Mo and the other girls to sit together and form a party. Then having a couple of flowered rugs spread under the olea trees on the hills, she bade the matrons on duty, the waiting-maids and other servants to likewise make themselves comfortable and to eat and drink at their pleasure until they were wanted, when they could come and answer the calls.
Hsiang-yuen next fetched the themes for the verses and pinned them with a needle on the wall. "They're full of originality," one and all exclaimed after perusal, "we fear we couldn't write anything on them."
Hsiang-yuen then went onto explain to them the reasons that had prompted her not to determine upon any particular rhymes.
"Yes, quite right!" put in Pao-yue. "I myself don't fancy hard and fast rhymes!"
But Lin Tai-yue, being unable to stand much wine and to take any crabs, told, on her own account, a servant to fetch an embroidered cushion; and, seating herself in such a way as to lean against the railing, she took up a fishing-rod and began to fish. Pao-ch'ai played for a time with a twig of olea she held in her hand, then resting on the window-sill, she plucked the petals, and threw them into the water, attracting the fish, which went by, to rise to the surface and nibble at them. Hsiang-yuen, after a few moments of abstraction, urged Hsi Jen and the other girls to help themselves to anything they wanted, and beckoned to the servants, seated at the foot of the hill, to eat to their heart's content. Tan Ch'un, in company with Li Wan and Hsi Ch'un, stood meanwhile under the shade of the weeping willows, and looked at the widgeons and egrets. Ying Ch'un, on the other hand, was all alone under the shade of some trees, threading double jasmine flowers, with a needle specially adapted for the purpose. Pao-yue too watched Tai-yue fishing for a while. At one time he leant next to Pao-ch'ai and cracked a few jokes with her. And at another, he drank, when he noticed Hsi Jen feasting on crabs with her companions, a few mouthfuls of wine to keep her company. At this, Hsi Jen cleaned the meat out of a shell, and gave it to him to eat.
Tai-yue then put down the fishing-rod, and, approaching the seats, she laid hold of a small black tankard, ornamented with silver plum flowers, and selected a tiny cup, made of transparent stone, red like a begonia, and in the shape of a banana leaf. A servant-girl observed her movements, and, concluding that she felt inclined to have a drink, she drew near with hurried step to pour some wine for her.
"You girls had better go on eating," Tai-yue remonstrated, "and let me help myself; there'll be some fun in it then!"
So speaking, she filled for herself a cup half full; but discovering that it was yellow wine, "I've eaten only a little bit of crab," she said, "and yet I feel my mouth slightly sore; so what would do for me now is a mouthful of very hot distilled spirit."
Pao-yue hastened to take up her remark. "There's some distilled spirit," he chimed in. "Take some of that wine," he there and then shouted out to a servant, "scented with acacia flowers, and warm a tankard of it."
When however it was brought Tai-yue simply took a sip and put it down again.
Pao-ch'ai too then came forward, and picked up a double cup; but, after drinking a mouthful of it, she lay it aside, and, moistening her pen, she walked up to the wall, and marked off the first theme: "longing for chrysanthemums," below which she appended a character "Heng."
"My dear cousin," promptly remarked Pao-yue. "I've already got four lines of the second theme so let me write on it!"
"I managed, after ever so much difficulty, to put a stanza together," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "and are you now in such a hurry to deprive me of it?"
Without so much as a word, Tai-yue took a pen and put a distinctive sign opposite the eighth, consisting of: "ask the chrysanthemums;" and, singling out, in quick succession, the eleventh: "dream of chrysanthemums," as well, she too affixed for herself the word "Hsiao" below. But Pao-yue likewise got a pen, and marked his choice, the twelfth on the list: "seek for chrysanthemums," by the side of which he wrote the character "Chiang."
T'an Ch'un thereupon rose to her feet. "If there's no one to write on 'Pinning the chrysanthemums'" she observed, while scrutinising the themes, "do let me have it! It has just been ruled," she continued, pointing at Pao-yue with a significant smile, "that it is on no account permissible to introduce any expressions, bearing reference to the inner chambers, so you'd better be on your guard!"
But as she spoke, she perceived Hsiang-yuen come forward, and jointly mark the fourth and fifth, that is: "facing the chrysanthemums," and "putting chrysanthemums in vases," to which she, like the others, appended a word, Hsiang."
"You too should get a style or other!" T'an Ch'un suggested.
"In our home," smiled Hsiang-yuen, "there exist, it is true, at present several halls and structures, but as I don't live in either, there'll be no fun in it were I to borrow the name of any one of them!"
"Our venerable senior just said," Pao-ch'ai observed laughingly, "that there was also in your home a water-pavilion called 'leaning on russet clouds hall,' and is it likely that it wasn't yours? But albeit it doesn't exist now-a-days, you were anyhow its mistress of old."
"She's right!" one and all exclaimed.
Pao-yue therefore allowed Hsiang-yuen no time to make a move, but forthwith rubbed off the character "Hsiang," for her and substituted that of "Hsia" (russet).
A short time only elapsed before the compositions on the twelve themes had all been completed. After they had each copied out their respective verses, they handed them to Ying Ch'un, who took a separate sheet of snow-white fancy paper, and transcribed them together, affixing distinctly under each stanza the style of the composer. Li Wan and her assistants then began to read, starting from the first on the list, the verses which follow:
"Longing for chrysanthemums," by the "Princess of Heng Wu."
With anguish sore I face the western breeze, and wrapt in grief, I pine for you! What time the smart weed russet turns, and the reeds white, my heart is rent in two. When in autumn the hedges thin, and gardens waste, all trace of you is gone. When the moon waxeth cold, and the dew pure, my dreams then know something of you. With constant yearnings my heart follows you as far as wild geese homeward fly. Lonesome I sit and lend an ear, till a late hour to the sound of the block! For you, ye yellow flowers, I've grown haggard and worn, but who doth pity me, And breathe one word of cheer that in the ninth moon I will soon meet you again?
"Search for chrysanthemums," by the "Gentleman of I Hung:"
When I have naught to do, I'll seize the first fine day to try and stroll about. Neither wine-cups nor cups of medicine will then deter me from my wish. Who plants the flowers in all those spots, facing the dew and under the moon's rays? Outside the rails they grow and by the hedge; but in autumn where do they go? With sandals waxed I come from distant shores; my feelings all exuberant; But as on this cold day I can't exhaust my song, my spirits get depressed. The yellow flowers, if they but knew how comfort to a poet to afford, Would not let me this early morn trudge out in vain with my cash-laden staff.
"Planting chrysanthemums," by the Gentleman of "I Hung:"
When autumn breaks, I take my hoe, and moving them myself out of the park, I plant them everywhere near the hedges and in the foreground of the halls. Last night, when least expected, they got a good shower, which made them all revive. This morn my spirits still rise high, as the buds burst in bloom bedecked with frost. Now that it's cool, a thousand stanzas on the autumn scenery I sing. In ecstasies from drink, I toast their blossom in a cup of cold, and fragrant wine. With spring water. I sprinkle them, cover the roots with mould and well tend them, So that they may, like the path near the well, be free of every grain of dirt.
"Facing the chrysanthemums," by the "Old friend of the Hall reclining on the russet clouds."
From other gardens I transplant them, and I treasure them like gold. One cluster bears light-coloured bloom; another bears dark shades. I sit with head uncovered by the sparse-leaved artemesia hedge, And in their pure and cool fragrance, clasping my knees, I hum my lays. In the whole world, methinks, none see the light as peerless as these flowers. From all I see you have no other friend more intimate than me. Such autumn splendour, I must not misuse, as steadily it fleets. My gaze I fix on you as I am fain each moment to enjoy!
"Putting chrysanthemums in vases," by the "Old Friend of the hall reclining on the russet clouds."
The lute I thrum, and quaff my wine, joyful at heart that ye are meet to be my mates. The various tables, on which ye are laid, adorn with beauteous grace this quiet nook. The fragrant dew, next to the spot I sit, is far apart from that by the three paths. I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig full of your autumn (bloom). What time the frost is pure, a new dream steals o'er me, as by the paper screen I rest. When cold holdeth the park, and the sun's rays do slant, I long and yearn for you, old friends. I too differ from others in this world, for my own tastes resemble those of yours. The vernal winds do not hinder the peach tree and the pear from bursting forth in bloom.
"Singing chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort."
Eating the bread of idleness, the frenzy of poetry creeps over me both night and day. Round past the hedge I wend, and, leaning on the rock, I intone verses gently to myself. From the point of my pencil emanate lines of recondite grace, so near the frost I write. Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth, and, turning to the moon, I sing my sentiments. With self-pitying lines pages I fill, so as utterance to give to all my cares and woes. From these few scanty words, who could fathom the secrets of my heart about the autumntide? Beginning from the time when T'ao, the magistrate, did criticise the beauty of your bloom, Yea, from that date remote up to this very day, your high renown has ever been extolled.
"Drawing chrysanthemums," by the "Princess of Heng Wu."
Verses I've had enough, so with my pens I play; with no idea that I am mad. Do I make use of pigments red or green as to involve a task of toilsome work? To form clusters of leaves, I sprinkle simply here and there a thousand specks of ink. And when I've drawn the semblance of the flowers, some spots I make to represent the frost. The light and dark so life-like harmonise with the figure of those there in the wind, That when I've done tracing their autumn growth, a fragrant smell issues under my wrist. Do you not mark how they resemble those, by the east hedge, which you leisurely pluck? Upon the screens their image I affix to solace me for those of the ninth moon.
"Asking the chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort."
Your heart, in autumn, I would like to read, but know it no one could! While humming with my arms behind my back, on the east hedge I rap. So peerless and unique are ye that who is meet with you to stay? Why are you of all flowers the only ones to burst the last in bloom? Why in such silence plunge the garden dew and the frost in the hall? When wild geese homeward fly and crickets sicken, do you think of me? Do not tell me that in the world none of you grow with power of speech? But if ye fathom what I say, why not converse with me a while?
"Pinning the chrysanthemums in the hair," by the "Visitor under the banana trees."
I put some in a vase, and plant some by the hedge, so day by day I have ample to do. I pluck them, yet don't fancy they are meant for girls to pin before the glass in their coiffure. My mania for these flowers is just as keen as was that of the squire, who once lived in Ch'ang An. I rave as much for them as raved Mr. P'eng Tse, when he was under the effects of wine. Cold is the short hair on his temples and moistened with dew, which on it dripped from the three paths. His flaxen turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance of the autumn frost in the ninth moon. That strong weakness of mine to pin them in my hair is viewed with sneers by my contemporaries. They clap their hands, but they are free to laugh at me by the roadside as much us e'er they list.
"The shadow of the chrysanthemums," by the "Old Friend of the hall reclining on the russet clouds."
In layers upon layers their autumn splendour grows and e'er thick and thicker. I make off furtively, and stealthily transplant them from the three crossways. The distant lamp, inside the window-frame, depicts their shade both far and near. The hedge riddles the moon's rays, like unto a sieve, but the flowers stop the holes. As their reflection cold and fragrant tarries here, their soul must too abide. The dew-dry spot beneath the flowers is so like them that what is said of dreams is trash. Their precious shadows, full of subtle scent, are trodden down to pieces here and there. Could any one with eyes half closed from drinking, not mistake the shadow for the flowers.
"Dreaming of chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort."
What vivid dreams arise as I dose by the hedge amidst those autumn scenes! Whether clouds bear me company or the moon be my mate, I can't discern. In fairyland I soar, not that I would become a butterfly like Chang. So long I for my old friend T'ao, the magistrate, that I again seek him. In a sound sleep I fell; but so soon as the wild geese cried, they broke my rest. The chirp of the cicadas gave me such a start that I bear them a grudge. My secret wrongs to whom can I go and divulge, when I wake up from sleep? The faded flowers and the cold mist make my feelings of anguish know no bounds.
"Fading of the chrysanthemums," by the "Visitor under the banana trees."
The dew congeals; the frost waxes in weight; and gradually dwindles their bloom. After the feast, with the flower show, follows the season of the 'little snow.' The stalks retain still some redundant smell, but the flowers' golden tinge is faint. The stems do not bear sign of even one whole leaf; their verdure is all past. Naught but the chirp of crickets strikes my ear, while the moon shines on half my bed. Near the cold clouds, distant a thousand li, a flock of wild geese slowly fly. When autumn breaks again next year, I feel certain that we will meet once more. We part, but only for a time, so don't let us indulge in anxious thoughts.
Each stanza they read they praised; and they heaped upon each other incessant eulogiums.
"Let me now criticise them; I'll do so with all fairness!" Li Wan smiled. "As I glance over the page," she said, "I find that each of you has some distinct admirable sentiments; but in order to be impartial in my criticism to-day, I must concede the first place to: 'Singing the chrysanthemums;' the second to: 'Asking the chrysanthemums;' and the third to: 'Dreaming of chrysanthemums.' The original nature of the themes makes the verses full of originality, and their conception still more original. But we must allow to the 'Hsiao Hsiang consort' the credit of being the best; next in order following: 'Pinning chrysanthemums in the hair,' 'Facing the chrysanthemums,' 'Putting the chrysanthemums, in vases,' 'Drawing the chrysanthemums,' and 'Longing for chrysanthemums,' as second best."
This decision filled Pao-yue with intense gratification. Clapping his hands, "Quite right! it's most just," he shouted.
"My verses are worth nothing!" Tai-yue remarked. "Their fault, after all, is that they are a little too minutely subtile."
"They are subtile but good," Li Wan rejoined; "for there's no artificialness or stiffness about them."
"According to my views," Tai-yue observed, "the best line is:
"'When cold holdeth the park and the sun's rays do slant, I long and yearn for you, old friends.'
"The metonomy:
"'I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig of autumn.'
is already admirable! She has dealt so exhaustively with 'putting chrysanthemums in a vase' that she has left nothing unsaid that could be said, and has had in consequence to turn her thought back and consider the time anterior to their being plucked and placed in vases. Her sentiments are profound!"
"What you say is certainly so," explained Li Wan smiling; "but that line of yours:
"'Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth,....'
"beats that."
"After all," said T'an Ch'un, "we must admit that there's depth of thought in those of the 'Princess of Heng Wu' with:
"'...in autumn all trace of you is gone;'
"and
"'...my dreams then know something of you!'
"They really make the meaning implied by the words 'long for' stand out clearly."
"Those passages of yours:
"'Cold is the short hair on his temples and moistened....'
"and
"'His flaxen turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance....;'"
laughingly observed Puo-ch'ai, "likewise bring out the idea of 'pinning the chrysanthemums in the hair' so thoroughly that one couldn't get a loop hole for fault-finding."
Hsiang-yuen then smiled.
"'...who is meet with you to stay'"
she said, "and
"'...burst the last in bloom.'
"are questions so straight to the point set to the chrysanthemums, that they are quite at a loss what answer to give."
"Were what you say:
"'I sit with head uncovered....'
"and
"'...clasping my knees, I hum my lays....'
"as if you couldn't, in fact, tear yourself away for even a moment from them," Li Wan laughed, "to come to the knowledge of the chrysanthemums, why, they would certainly be sick and tired of you."
This joke made every one laugh.
"I'm last again!" smiled Pao-yue. "Is it likely that:
"'Who plants the flowers?.... ...in autumn where do they go? With sandals waxed I come from distant shores;.... ...and as on this cold day I can't exhaust my song;....'
"do not all forsooth amount to searching for chrysanthemums? And that
"'Last night they got a shower.... And this morn ... bedecked with frost,'
"don't both bear on planting them? But unfortunately they can't come up to these lines:
"'Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth and turning to the moon I sing my sentiments.' 'In their pure and cool fragrance, clasping my knees I hum my lays.' '...short hair on his temples....' 'His flaxen turban.... ...golden tinge is faint. ...verdure is all past. ...in autumn ... all trace of you is gone. ...my dreams then know something of you.'
"But to-morrow," he proceeded, "if I have got nothing to do, I'll write twelve stanzas my self."
"Yours are also good," Li Wan pursued, "the only thing is that they aren't as full of original conception as those other lines, that's all."
But after a few further criticisms, they asked for some more warm crabs; and, helping themselves, as soon as they were brought, from the large circular table, they regaled themselves for a time.
"With the crabs to-day in one's hand and the olea before one's eyes, one cannot help inditing verses," Pao-yue smiled. "I've already thought of a few; but will any of you again have the pluck to devise any?"
With this challenge, he there and then hastily washed his hands and picking up a pen he wrote out what, his companions found on perusal, to run in this strain:
When in my hands I clasp a crab what most enchants my heart is the cassia's cool shade. While I pour vinegar and ground ginger, I feel from joy as if I would go mad. With so much gluttony the prince's grandson eats his crabs that he should have some wine. The side-walking young gentleman has no intestines in his frame at all. I lose sight in my greediness that in my stomach cold accumulates. To my fingers a strong smell doth adhere and though I wash them yet the smell clings fast. The main secret of this is that men in this world make much of food. The P'o Spirit has laughed at them that all their lives they only seek to eat.
"I could readily compose a hundred stanzas with such verses in no time," Tai-yue observed with a sarcastic smile.
"Your mental energies are now long ago exhausted," Pao-yue rejoined laughingly, "and instead of confessing your inability to devise any, you still go on heaping invective upon people!"
Tai-yue, upon catching this insinuation, made no reply of any kind; but slightly raising her head she hummed something to herself for a while, and then taking up a pen she completed a whole stanza with a few dashes.
The company then read her lines. They consisted of--
E'en after death, their armour and their lengthy spears are never cast away. So nice they look, piled in the plate, that first to taste them I'd fain be. In every pair of legs they have, the crabs are full of tender jade-like meat. Each piece of ruddy fat, which in their shell bumps up, emits a fragrant smell. Besides much meat, they have a greater relish for me still, eight feet as well. Who bids me drink a thousand cups of wine in order to enhance my joy? What time I can behold their luscious food, with the fine season doth accord When cassias wave with fragrance pure, and the chrysanthemums are decked with frost.
Pao-yue had just finished conning it over and was beginning to sing its praise, when Tai-yue, with one snatch, tore it to pieces and bade a servant go and burn it.
"As my compositions can't come up to yours," she then observed, "I'll burn it. Yours is capital, much better than the lines you wrote a little time back on the chrysanthemums, so keep it for the benefit of others."
"I've likewise succeeded, after much effort, in putting together a stanza," Pao-ch'ai laughingly remarked. "It cannot, of course, be worth much, but I'll put it down for fun's sake."
As she spoke, she too wrote down her lines. When they came to look at them, they read--
On this bright beauteous day, I bask in the dryandra shade, with a cup in my hand. When I was at Ch'ang An, with drivelling mouth, I longed for the ninth day of the ninth moon. The road stretches before their very eyes, but they can't tell between straight and transverse. Under their shells in spring and autumn only reigns a vacuum, yellow and black.
At this point, they felt unable to refrain from shouting: "Excellent!" "She abuses in fine style!" Pao-yue shouted. "But my lines should also be committed to the flames."
The company thereupon scanned the remainder of the stanza, which was couched in this wise:
When all the stock of wine is gone, chrysanthemums then use to scour away the smell. So as to counteract their properties of gath'ring cold, fresh ginger you should take. Alas! now that they have been dropped into the boiling pot, what good do they derive? About the moonlit river banks there but remains the fragrant aroma of corn.
At the close of their perusal, they with one voice, explained that this was a first-rate song on crab-eating; that minor themes of this kind should really conceal lofty thoughts, before they could be held to be of any great merit, and that the only thing was that it chaffed people rather too virulently.
But while they were engaged in conversation, P'ing Erh was again seen coming into the garden. What she wanted is not, however, yet known; so, reader, peruse the details given in the subsequent chapter.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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