中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第四十八回 濫情人情誤思遊藝 慕雅女雅集苦吟詩 CHAPTER XLVIII.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XLVIII.
且說薛蟠聽見如此說了，氣方漸平。三五日後，疼痛雖愈，傷痕未平，衹裝病在傢，愧見親友。
展眼已到十月， 因有各鋪面夥計內有算年帳要回傢的，少不得傢內治酒餞行。內有一個張德輝，年過六十，自幼在薛傢當鋪內攬總，傢內也有二三千金的過活，今歲也要回傢， 明春方來。因說起"今年紙札香料短少，明年必是貴的。明年先打發大小兒上來當鋪內照管， 趕端陽前我順路販些紙札香扇來賣。除去關稅花銷，亦可以剩得幾倍利息。”薛蟠聽了，心中忖度：“我如今挨了打，正難見人，想着要躲個一年半載，又沒處去躲。 天天裝病，也不是事。況且我長了這麽大，文又不文，武又不武，雖說做買賣，究竟戥子算盤從沒拿過， 地土風俗遠近道路又不知道，不如也打點幾個本錢，和張德輝逛一年來。賺錢也罷，不賺錢也罷，且躲躲羞去。二則逛逛山水也是好的。”心內主意已定，至酒席散後，便和張德輝說知，命他等一二日一同前往。
晚間薛蟠告訴了他母親。 薛姨媽聽了雖是歡喜，但又恐他在外生事，花了本錢倒是末事，因此不命他去。衹說"好歹你守着我，我還能放心些。況且也不用做這買賣，也不等着這幾百銀子來用。你在傢裏安分守己的，就強似這幾百銀子了。”薛蟠主意已定， 那裏肯依。衹說：“天天又說我不知世事，這個也不知，那個也不學。如今我發狠把那些沒要緊的都斷了， 如今要成人立事，學習着做買賣，又不準我了，叫我怎麽樣呢？我又不是個丫頭，把我關在傢裏，何日是個了日？況且那張德輝又是個年高有德的，咱們和他世交， 我同他去，怎麽得有舛錯？我就一時半刻有不好的去處，他自然說我勸我。就是東西貴賤行情， 他是知道的，自然色色問他，何等順利，倒不叫我去。過兩日我不告訴傢裏，私自打點了一走，明年發了財回傢，那時纔知道我呢。”說畢，賭氣睡覺去了。
薛姨媽聽他寥緔慫*，因和寶釵商議。寶釵笑道：“哥哥果然要經歷正事，正是好的了。 衹是他在傢時說着好聽，到了外頭舊病復犯，越發難拘束他了。但也愁不得許多。他若是真改了本原。西周末伯陽父有“天地之氣，不失其序”的說法。戰， 是他一生的福。若不改，媽也不能又有別的法子。一半盡人力，一半聽天命罷了。這麽大人了，若衹管怕他不知世路，出不得門，幹不得事，今年關在傢裏，明年還是這個樣兒。 他既說的名正言順，媽就打諒着丟了八百一千銀子，竟交與他拭一拭。 橫竪有夥計們幫着，也未必好意思哄騙他的。二則他出去了，左右沒有助興的人，又沒了倚仗的人， 到了外頭，誰還怕誰，有了的吃，沒了的餓着，舉眼無靠，他見這樣，衹怕比在傢裏省了事也未可知。”薛姨媽聽了，思忖半晌說道：“倒是你說的是。花兩個錢， 叫他學些乖來也值了。”商議已定，一宿無話。至次日，薛姨媽命人請了張德輝來，在書房中命薛蟠款待酒飯， 自己在後廊下，隔着窗子，嚮裏千言萬語囑托張德輝照管薛蟠。張德輝滿口應承，吃過飯告辭，又回說：“十四日是上好出行日期，大世兄即刻打點行李，雇下騾子，十四一早就長行了。”薛蟠喜之不盡，將此話告訴了薛姨媽。薛姨媽便和寶釵香菱並兩個老年的嬤嬤連日打點行裝，派下薛蟠之乳父老蒼頭一名，當年諳事舊僕二名，外有薛蟠隨身常使小廝二人，主僕一共六人，雇了三輛大車，單拉行李使物，又雇了四個長行騾子。薛蟠自騎一匹傢內養的鐵青大走騾，外備一匹坐馬。諸事完畢， 薛姨媽寶釵等連夜勸戒之言，自不必備說。至十三日，薛蟠先去辭了他舅舅，然後過來辭了賈宅諸人。賈珍等未免又有餞行之說，也不必細述。至十四日一早，薛姨媽寶釵等直同薛蟠出了儀門，母女兩個四衹淚眼看他去了，方回來。
薛姨媽上京帶來的傢人不過四五房， 並兩三個老嬤嬤小丫頭，今跟了薛蟠一去，外面衹剩了一兩個男子。因此薛姨媽即日到書房，將一應陳設玩器並簾幔等物盡行搬了進來收貯，命那兩個跟去的男子之妻一並也進來睡覺。又命香菱將他屋裏也收拾嚴緊，"將門鎖了，晚間和我去睡。”寶釵道：“媽既有這些人作伴，不如叫菱姐姐和我作伴去。 我們園裏又空，夜長了，我每夜作活，越多一個人豈不越好。”薛姨媽聽了，笑道：“正是我忘了， 原該叫他同你去纔是。我前日還同你哥哥說，文杏又小，道三不着兩，鶯兒一個人不夠伏侍的，還要買一個丫頭來你使。”寶釵道：“買的不知底裏，倘或走了眼， 花了錢小事，沒的淘氣。倒是慢慢的打聽着，有知道來歷的，買個還罷了。”一面鄧*，一面命香菱收拾了衾褥妝奩，命一個老嬤嬤並臻兒送至蘅蕪苑去，然後寶釵和香菱纔同回園中來。
香菱道：“我原要和奶奶說的，大爺去了，我和姑娘作伴兒去。又恐怕奶奶多心，說我貪着園裏來頑， 誰知你竟說了。”寶釵笑道：“我知道你心裏羨慕這園子不是一日兩日了，衹是沒個空兒。就每日來一趟，慌慌張張的，也沒趣兒。所以趁着機會，越性住上一年，我也多個作伴的，你也遂了心。”香菱笑道：“好姑娘，你趁着這個工夫，教給我作詩罷。 "寶釵笑道：“我說你‘得隴望蜀’呢。我勸你今兒頭一日進來，先出園東角門，從老太太起，各處各人你都瞧瞧，問候一聲兒，也不必特意告訴他們說搬進園來。若有提起因由，你衹帶口說我帶了你進來作伴兒就完了。回來進了園，再到各姑娘房裏走走。”
香菱應着纔要走時，衹見平兒忙忙的走來。香菱忙問了好，平兒衹得陪笑相問。寶釵因嚮平兒笑道：“我今兒帶了他來作伴兒，正要去回你奶奶一聲兒。”平兒笑道：“姑娘說的是那裏話？我竟沒話答言了。”寶釵道：“這纔是正理。店房也有個主人，廟裏也有個住持康德（ImmanuelKant，1724—1804）德國哲學家，德國，雖不是大事，到底告訴一聲，便是園裏坐更上夜的人知道添了他兩個，也好關門候戶的了。你回去告訴一聲罷，我不打發人去了。”平兒答應着，因又嚮香菱笑道：“你既來了，也不拜一拜街坊鄰捨去？"寶釵笑道：“我正叫他去呢。”平兒道：“你且不必往我們傢去，二爺病了在傢裏呢。”香菱答應着去了，先從賈母處來，不在話下。
且說平兒見香菱去了， 便拉寶釵忙說道：“姑娘可聽見我們的新聞了？"寶釵道：“我沒聽見新聞。因連日打發我哥哥出門，所以你們這裏的事，一概也不知道，連姊妹們這兩日也沒見。”平兒笑道：“老爺把二爺打了個動不得，難道姑娘就沒聽見？"寶釵道：“ 早起恍惚聽見了一句，也信不真。我也正要瞧你奶奶去呢，不想你來了。又是為了什麽打他？ "平兒咬牙駡道：“都是那賈雨村什麽風村，半路途中那裏來的餓不死的野雜種！認了不到十年，生了多少事出來！今年春天，老爺不知在那個地方看見了幾把舊扇子， 回傢看傢裏所有收着的這些好扇子都不中用了，立刻叫人各處搜求。誰知就有一個不知死的冤傢， 混號兒世人叫他作石呆子，窮的連飯也沒的吃，偏他傢就有二十把舊扇子， 死也不肯拿出大門來。二爺好容易煩了多少情，見了這個人，說之再三，把二爺請到他傢裏坐着， 拿出這扇子略瞧了瞧。據二爺說，原是不能再有的，全是湘妃，棕竹，麋鹿，玉竹的，皆是古人寫畫真跡，因來告訴了老爺。老爺便叫買他的，要多少銀子給他多少。 偏那石呆子說：‘我餓死凍死，一千兩銀子一把我也不賣！’老爺沒法子，天天駡二爺沒能為。已經許了他五百兩，先兌銀子後拿扇子。他衹是不賣，衹說：‘要扇子，先要我的命！’姑娘想想，這有什麽法子？誰知雨村那沒天理的聽見了，便設了個法子，訛他拖欠了官銀，拿他到衙門裏去，說所欠官銀，變賣傢産賠補，把這扇子抄了來，作了官價送了來。那石呆子如今不知是死是活。老爺拿着扇子問着二爺說：‘人傢怎麽弄了來？’二爺衹說了一句：‘為這點子小事，弄得人坑傢敗業，也不算什麽能為！’老爺聽了就生了氣，說二爺拿話堵老爺，因此這是第一件大的。這幾日還有幾件小的，我也記不清， 所以都湊在一處，就打起來了。也沒拉倒用板子棍子，就站着，不知拿什麽混打了一頓，臉上打破了兩處。我們聽見姨太太這裏有一種丸藥，上棒瘡的，姑娘快尋一丸子給我。”寶釵聽了，忙命鶯兒去要了一丸來與平兒。寶釵道：“既這樣，替我問候罷，我就不去了。”平兒答應着去了，不在話下。
且說香菱見過衆人之後， 吃過晚飯，寶釵等都往賈母處去了，自己便往瀟湘館中來。此時黛玉已好了大半，見香菱也進園來住，自是歡喜。香菱因笑道：“我這一進來了，也得了空兒，好歹教給我作詩，就是我的造化了！"黛玉笑道：“既要作詩，你就拜我作師。我雖不通，大略也還教得起你。”香菱笑道：“果然這樣，我就拜你作師。你可不許膩煩的。”黛玉道：“什麽難事，也值得去學！不過是起承轉合，當中承轉是兩副對子，平聲對仄聲，虛的對實的，實的對虛的，若是果有了奇句，連平仄虛實不對都使得的。”香菱笑道：“怪道我常弄一本舊詩偷空兒看一兩首，又有對的極工的，又有不對的，又聽見說‘一三五不論，二四六分明’。看古人的詩上亦有順的，亦有二四六上錯了的，所以天天疑惑。 如今聽你一說，原來這些格調規矩竟是末事，衹要詞句新奇為上。”黛玉道：“正是這個道理， 詞句究竟還是末事，第一立意要緊。若意趣真了，連詞句不用修飾，自是好的， 這叫做‘不以詞害意’。”香菱笑道：“我衹愛陸放翁的詩‘重簾不捲留香久，古硯微凹聚墨多’，說的真有趣！"黛玉道：“斷不可學這樣的詩。你們因不知詩，所以見了這淺近的就愛， 一入了這個格局，再學不出來的。你衹聽我說，你若真心要學，我這裏有《王摩詰全集》你且把他的五言律讀一百首，細心揣摩透熟了，然後再讀一二百首老杜的七言律，次再李青蓮的七言絶句讀一二百首。肚子裏先有了這三個人作了底子，然後再把陶淵明，應Д，謝，阮，庚，鮑等人的一看。你又是一個極聰敏伶俐的人，不用一年的工夫，不愁不是詩翁了！"香菱聽了，笑道：“既這樣，好姑娘，你就把這書給我拿出來， 我帶回去夜裏念幾首也是好的。”黛玉聽說，便命紫娟將王右丞的五言律拿來，遞與香菱，又道：“你衹看有紅圈的都是我選的，有一首念一首。不明白的問你姑娘，或者遇見我，我講與你就是了。”香菱拿了詩，回至蘅蕪苑中，諸事不顧，衹嚮燈下一首一首的讀起來。寶釵連催他數次睡覺，他也不睡。寶釵見他這般苦心，衹得隨他去了。
一日，黛玉方梳洗完了，衹見香菱笑吟吟的送了書來，又要換杜律。黛玉笑道：“共記得多少首？"香菱笑道：“凡紅圈選的我盡讀了。”黛玉道：“可領略了些滋味沒有？"香菱笑道：“領略了些滋味，不知可是不是太平策》、《傳註問》、《恕𠔌後集》等。後編入《顔李遺書》和，說與你聽聽。”黛玉笑道：“正要講究討論，方能長進。你且說來我聽。”香菱笑道：“據我看來，詩的好處，有口裏說不出來的意思，想去卻是逼真的。 有似乎無理的，想去竟是有理有情的。”黛玉笑道：“這話有了些意思，但不知你從何處見得？"香菱笑道：“我看他《塞上》一首，那一聯雲：‘大漠孤煙直，長河落日圓。’想來煙如何直？日自然是圓的：這‘直’字似無理，‘圓’字似太俗。合上書一想， 倒象是見了這景的。若說再找兩個字換這兩個，竟再找不出兩個字來。再還有‘日落江湖白， 潮來天地青’：這‘白’‘青’兩個字也似無理。想來，必得這兩個字纔形容得盡，念在嘴裏倒象有幾千斤重的一個橄欖。還有‘渡頭餘落日，墟裏上孤煙’：這‘餘’字和‘ 上’字，難為他怎麽想來！我們那年上京來，那日下晚便灣住船，岸上又沒有人，衹有幾棵樹，遠遠的幾傢人傢作晚飯，那個煙竟是碧青，連雲直上。誰知我昨日晚上讀了這兩句，倒象我又到了那個地方去了。”
正說着，寶玉和探春也來了，也都入坐聽他講詩。寶玉笑道：“既是這樣，也不用看詩。會心處不在多，聽你說了這兩句，可知‘三昧’你已得了。”黛玉笑道：“你說他這‘上孤煙’好，你還不知他這一句還是套了前人的來。我給你這一句瞧瞧，更比這個淡而現成。”說着便把陶淵明的"暖暖遠人村，依依墟裏煙"翻了出來，遞與香菱。香菱瞧了，點頭嘆賞，笑道：“原來‘上’字是從‘依依’兩個字上化出來的。”寶玉大笑道：“你已得了，不用再講，越發倒學雜了。你就作起來，必是好的。”探春笑道：“明兒我補一個柬來，請你入社。”香菱笑道：“姑娘何苦打趣我，我不過是心裏羨慕，才學着頑罷了。”探春黛玉都笑道：“誰不是頑？難道我們是認真作詩呢！若說我們認真成了詩，出了這園子，把人的牙還笑倒了呢。”寶玉道：“這也算自暴自棄了。前日我在外頭和相公們商議畫兒，他們聽見咱們起詩社， 求我把稿子給他們瞧瞧。我就寫了幾首給他們看看，誰不真心嘆服。 他們都抄了刻去了。”探春黛玉忙問道：“這是真話麽？"寶玉笑道：“說慌的是那架上的鸚哥。”黛玉探春聽說，都道：“你真真胡闹！且別說那不成詩，便是成詩，我們的筆墨也不該傳到外頭去。”寶玉道：“這怕什麽！古來閨閣中的筆墨不要傳出去，如今也沒有人知道了。 "說着，衹見惜春打發了入畫來請寶玉，寶玉方去了。香菱又逼着黛玉換出杜律來，又央黛玉探春二人：“出個題目，讓我謅去，謅了來，替我改正。”黛玉道：“昨夜的月最好， 我正要謅一首，竟未謅成，你竟作一首來。十四寒的韻，由你愛用那幾個字去。”
香菱聽了， 喜的拿回詩來，又苦思一回作兩句詩，又捨不得杜詩，又讀兩首。如此茶飯無心，坐臥不定。寶釵道：“何苦自尋煩惱。都是顰兒引的你，我和他算帳去。你本來呆頭呆腦的， 再添上這個，越發弄成個呆子了。”香菱笑道：“好姑娘，別混我。”一面說，一面作了一首，先與寶釵看。寶釵看了笑道：“這個不好，不是這個作法。你別怕鱢，衹管拿了給他瞧去，看他是怎麽說。”香菱聽了，便拿了詩找黛玉。黛玉看時，衹見寫道是：
月挂中天夜色寒，清光皎皎影團團。
詩人助興常思玩，野客添愁不忍觀。
翡翠樓邊懸玉鏡，珍珠簾外挂冰盤。
良宵何用燒銀燭，晴彩輝煌映畫欄。黛玉笑道：“意思卻有，衹是措詞不雅。皆因你看的詩少，被他縛住了。把這首丟開，再作一首，衹管放開膽子去作。”
香菱聽了， 默默的回來，越性連房也不入，衹在池邊樹下，或坐在山石上出神，或蹲在地下摳土，來往的人都詫異。李紈，寶釵，探春，寶玉等聽得此信，都遠遠的站在山坡上瞧看他。衹見他皺一回眉，又自己含笑一回。寶釵笑道：“這個人定要瘋了！昨夜嘟嘟噥噥直鬧到五更天才睡下， 沒一頓飯的工夫天就亮了。我就聽見他起來了，忙忙碌碌梳了頭就找顰兒去。一回來了，呆了一日，作了一首又不好，這會子自然另作呢。”寶玉笑道：“這正是‘地靈人傑’，老天生人再不虛賦情性的。我們成日嘆說可惜他這麽個人竟俗了， 誰知到底有今日。可見天地至公。”寶釵笑道：“你能夠象他這苦心就好了，學什麽有個不成的。”寶玉不答。
衹見香菱興興頭頭的又往黛玉那邊去了。探春笑道：“咱們跟了去，看他有些意思沒有。 "說着，一齊都往瀟湘館來。衹見黛玉正拿着詩和他講究。衆人因問黛玉作的如何。黛玉道：“自然算難為他了，衹是還不好。這一首過於穿鑿了，還得另作。”衆人因要詩看時，衹見作道：
非銀非水映窗寒，拭看晴空護玉盤。
淡淡梅花香欲染，絲絲柳帶露初幹。
衹疑殘粉塗金砌，恍若輕霜抹玉欄。
夢醒西樓人跡絶，餘容猶可隔簾看。寶釵笑道：“不象吟月了，月字底下添一個‘色’ 字倒還使得，你看句句倒是月色。這也罷了，原來詩從鬍說來，再遲幾天就好了。”香菱自為這首妙絶，聽如此說，自己掃了興，不肯丟開手，便要思索起來。因見他姊妹們說笑， 便自己走至階前竹下閑步，挖心搜膽，耳不旁聽，目不別視。一時探春隔窗笑說道：“菱姑娘，你閑閑罷。”香菱怔怔答道：“‘閑’字是十五刪的，你錯了韻了。”衆人聽了， 不覺大笑起來。寶釵道：“可真是詩魔了。都是顰兒引的他！"黛玉道：“聖人說，‘誨人不倦’，他又來問我，我豈有不說之理。”李紈笑道：“咱們拉了他往四姑娘房裏去，引他瞧瞧畫兒，叫他醒一醒纔好。”
說着， 真個出來拉了他過藕香榭，至暖香塢中。惜春正乏倦，在床上歪着睡午覺，畫繒立在壁間， 用紗罩着。衆人喚醒了惜春，揭紗看時，十停方有了三停。香菱見畫上有幾個美人，因指着笑道：“這一個是我們姑娘，那一個是林姑娘。”探春笑道：“凡會作詩的都畫在上頭，快學罷。”說着，頑笑了一回。
各自散後，香菱滿心中還是想詩。至晚間對燈出了一回神，至三更以後上床臥下，兩眼鰥鰥，直到五更方纔朦朧睡去了。一時天亮，寶釵醒了，聽了一聽，他安穩睡了，心下想：“他翻騰了一夜，不知可作成了？這會子乏了，且別叫他。”正想着，衹聽香菱從夢中笑道：“可是有了，難道這一首還不好？"寶釵聽了，又是可嘆，又是可笑，連忙喚醒了他， 問他：“得了什麽？你這誠心都通了仙了。學不成詩，還弄出病來呢。”一面說，一面梳洗了， 會同姊妹往賈母處來。原來香菱苦志學詩，精血誠聚，日間做不出，忽於夢中得了八句。梳洗已畢，便忙錄出來，自己並不知好歹，便拿來又找黛玉。剛到沁芳亭，衹見李紈與衆姊妹方從王夫人處回來，寶釵正告訴他們說他夢中作詩說夢話。衆人正笑，擡頭見他來了，便都爭着要詩看，且聽下回分解。
A sensual-minded man gets into such trouble through his sensuality that he entertains the idea of going abroad. An estimable and refined girl manages, after great exertion, to compose verses at a refined meeting.
But to resume our story. After hearing his mother's arguments, Hsueeh P'an's indignation gradually abated. But notwithstanding that his pains and aches completely disappeared, in three or five days' time, the scars of his wounds were not yet healed and shamming illness, he remained at home; so ashamed was he to meet any of his relations or friends.
In a twinkle, the tenth moon drew near; and as several among the partners in the various shops, with which he was connected, wanted to go home, after the settlement of the annual accounts, he had to give them a farewell spread at home. In their number was one Chang Te-hui, who from his early years filled the post of manager in Hsueeh P'an's pawnshop; and who enjoyed in his home a living of two or three thousand taels. His purpose too was to visit his native place this year, and to return the following spring.
"Stationery and perfumery have been so scarce this year," he consequently represented, "that prices will next year inevitably be high; so when next year comes, what I'll do will be to send up my elder and younger sons ahead of me to look after the pawnshop, and when I start on my way back, before the dragon festival, I'll purchase a stock of paper, scents and fans and bring them for sale. And though we'll have to reduce the duties, payable at the barriers, and other expenses, there will still remain for us a considerable percentage of profit."
This proposal set Hsueeh P'an musing, "With the dressing I've recently had," he pondered, "I cannot very well, at present, appear before any one. Were the fancy to take me to get out of the way for half a year or even a year, there isn't a place where I can safely retire. And to sham illness, day after day, isn't again quite the right thing! In addition to this, here I've reached this grown-up age, and yet I'm neither a civilian nor a soldier. It's true I call myself a merchant; but I've never in point of fact handled the scales or the abacus. Nor do I know anything about our territories, customs and manners, distances and routes. So wouldn't it be advisable that I should also get ready some of my capital, and go on a tour with Chang Te-hui for a year or so? Whether I earn any money or not, will be equally immaterial to me. More, I shall escape from all disgrace. It will, secondly, be a good thing for me to see a bit of country."
This resolution once arrived at in his mind, he waited until they rose from the banquet, when he, with calmness and equanimity, brought his plans to Chang Te-hui's cognizance, and asked him to postpone his departure for a day or two so that they should proceed on the journey together.
In the evening, he imparted the tidings to his mother. Mrs. Hsueeh, upon hearing his intention, was albeit delighted, tormented with fresh misgivings lest he should stir up trouble abroad,--for as far as the expense was concerned she deemed it a mere bagatelle,--and she consequently would not permit him to go. "You have," she reasoned with him, "to take proper care of me, so that I may be able to live in peace. Another thing is, that you can well dispense with all this buying and selling, for you are in no need of the few hundreds of taels, you may make."
Hsueeh P'an had long ago thoroughly resolved in his mind what to do and he did not therefore feel disposed to listen to her remonstrances. "You daily tax me," he pleaded, "with being ignorant of the world, with not knowing this, and not learning that, and now that I stir up my good resolution, with the idea of putting an end to all trifling, and that I wish to become a man, to do something for myself, and learn how to carry on business, you won't let me! But what would you have me do? Besides I'm not a girl that you should coop me up at home! And when is this likely to come to an end? Chang Te-hui is, moreover, a man well up in years; and he is an old friend of our family, so if I go with him, how ever will I be able to do anything that's wrong? Should I at any time be guilty of any impropriety, he will be sure to speak to me, and to exhort me. He even knows the prices of things and customs of trade; and as I shall, as a matter of course, consult him in everything, what advantage won't I enjoy? But if you refuse to let me go, I'll wait for a couple of days, and, without breathing a word to any one at home, I'll furtively make my preparations and start, and, when by next year I shall have made my fortune and come back, you'll at length know what stuff I'm made off!"
When he had done speaking, he flew into a huff and went off to sleep.
Mrs. Hsueeh felt impelled, after the arguments she heard him propound, to deliberate with Pao-ch'ai.
"If brother," Pao-ch'ai smilingly rejoined, "were in real earnest about gaining experience in some legitimate concerns, it would be well and good. But though he speaks, now that he is at home, in a plausible manner, the moment he gets abroad, his old mania will break out again, and it will be hard to exercise any check over him. Yet, it isn't worth the while distressing yourself too much about him! If he does actually mend his ways, it will be the happiness of our whole lives. But if he doesn't change, you won't, mother, be able to do anything more; for though, in part, it depends on human exertion, it, in part, depends upon the will of heaven! If you keep on giving way to fears that, with his lack of worldly experience, he can't be fit to go abroad and can't be up to any business, and you lock him up at home this year, why next year he'll be just the same! Such being the case, you'd better, ma,--since his arguments are right and specious enough,--make up your mind to sacrifice from eight hundred to a thousand taels and let him have them for a try. He'll, at all events, have one of his partners to lend him a helping hand, one who won't either think it a nice thing to play any of his tricks upon him. In the second place, there will be, when he's gone, no one to the left of him or to the right of him, to stand by him, and no one upon whom to rely, for when one goes abroad, who cares for any one else? Those who have, eat; and those who haven't starve. When he therefore casts his eyes about him and realises that there's no one to depend upon, he may, upon seeing this, be up to less mischief than were he to stay at home; but of course, there's no saying."
Mrs. Hsueeh listened to her, and communed within herself for a moment. "What you say is, indeed, right and proper!" she remarked. "And could one, by spending a small sum, make him learn something profitable, it will be well worth!"
They then matured their plans; and nothing further of any note transpired during the rest of the night.
The next day, Mrs. Hsueeh sent a messenger to invite Chang Te-hui to come round. On his arrival, she charged Hsueeh P'an to regale him in the library. Then appearing, in person, outside the window of the covered back passage, she made thousand of appeals to Chang Te-hui to look after her son and take good care of him.
Chang Te-hui assented to her solicitations with profuse assurances, and took his leave after the collation.
"The fourteenth," he went on to explain to Hsueeh P'an. "is a propitious day to start. So, worthy friend, you'd better be quick and pack up your baggage, and hire a mule, for us to begin our long journey as soon as the day dawns on the fourteenth."
Hsueeh P'an was intensely gratified, and he communicated their plans to Mrs. Hsueeh. Mrs. Hsueeh then set to, and worked away, with the assistance of Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling and two old nurses, for several consecutive days, before she got his luggage ready. She fixed upon the husband of Hsueeh P'an's nurse an old man with hoary head, two old servants with ample experience and long services, and two young pages, who acted as Hsueeh P'an's constant attendants, to go with him as his companions, so the party mustered, inclusive of master and followers, six persons in all. Three large carts were hired for the sole purpose of carrying the baggage and requisites; and four mules, suitable for long journeys, were likewise engaged. A tall, dark brown, home-bred mule was selected for Hsueeh P'an's use; but a saddle horse, as well, was provided for him.
After the various preparations had been effected, Mrs. Hsueeh, Pao-ch'ai and the other inmates tendered him, night after night, words of advice. But we can well dispense with dilating on this topic. On the arrival of the thirteenth, Hsueeh P'an went and bade good-bye to his maternal uncles. After which, he came and paid his farewell visit to the members of the Chia household. Chia Chen and the other male relatives unavoidably prepared an entertainment to speed him off. But to these festivities, there is likewise little need to allude with any minuteness.
On the fourteenth, at break of day, Mrs. Hsueeh, Pao-ch'ai and the other members of the family accompanied Hsueeh P'an beyond the ceremonial gate. Here his mother and her daughter stood and watched him, their four eyes fixed intently on him, until he got out of sight, when they, at length, retraced their footsteps into the house.
Mrs. Hsueeh had, in coming up to the capital, only brought four or five family domestics and two or three old matrons and waiting-maids with her, so, after the departure on the recent occasion, of those, who followed Hsueeh P'an, no more than one or two men-servants remained in the outer quarters. Mrs. Hsueeh repaired therefore on the very same day into the study, and had the various ornaments, bric-a-brac, curtains and other articles removed into the inner compound and put away. Then bidding the wives of the two male attendants, who had gone with Hsueeh P'an, likewise move their quarters inside, along with the other women, she went on to impress upon Hsiang Ling to put everything carefully away in her own room as well, and to lock the doors; "for," (she said), "you must come at night and sleep with me."
"Since you've got all these people to keep you company, ma," Pao-ch'ai remarked, "wouldn't it be as well to tell sister Ling to come and be my companion? Our garden is besides quite empty and the nights are so long! And as I work away every night, won't it be better for me to have an extra person with me?"
"Quite so!" smiled Mrs. Hsueeh, "I forgot that! I should have told her to go with you; it's but right. It was only the other day that I mentioned to your brother that: 'Wen Hsing too was young, and not fit to attend to everything that turns up, that Ying Erh could not alone do all the waiting, and that it was necessary to purchase another girl for your service.'"
"If we buy one, we won't know what she's really like!" Pao-ch'ai demurred. "If she gives us the slip, the money we may have spent on her will be a mere trifle, so long as she hasn't been up to any pranks! So let's quietly make inquiries, and, when we find one with well-known antecedents, we can purchase her, and, we'll be on the safe side then!"
While speaking, she told Hsiang Ling to collect her bedding and clothes; and desiring an old matron and Ch'in Erh to take them over to the Heng Wu Yuean, Pao-ch'ai returned at last into the garden in company with Hsiang Ling.
"I meant to have proposed to my lady," Hsiang Ling said to Pao-ch'ai, "that, when master left, I should be your companion, miss; but I feared lest her ladyship should, with that suspicious mind of hers, have maintained that I was longing to come into the garden to romp. But who'd have thought it, it was you, after all, who spoke to her about it!"
"I am well aware," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "that you've been inwardly yearning for this garden, and that not for a day or two, but with the little time you can call your own, you would find it no fun, were you even able to run over once in a day, so long as you have to do it in a hurry-scurry! Seize therefore this opportunity of staying, better still, for a year; as I, on my side, will then have an extra companion; and you, on yours, will be able to accomplish your wishes."
"My dear miss!" laughingly observed Hsiang Ling, "do let's make the best of this time, and teach me how to write verses!"
"I say," Pao-ch'ai laughed, "'you no sooner, get the Lung state than you long for the Shu'! I advise you to wait a bit. This is the first day that you spend in here, and you should, first and foremost, go out of the garden by the eastern side gate and look up and salute every one in her respective quarters commencing from our old lady. But you needn't make it a point of telling them that you've moved into the garden. If anyone does allude to the reason why you've shifted your quarters, you can simply explain cursorily that I've brought you in as a companion, and then drop the subject. On your return by and bye into the garden, you can pay a visit to the apartments of each of the young ladies."
Hsiang Ling signified her acquiescence, and was about to start when she saw P'ing Erh rush in with hurried step. Hsiang Ling hastened to ask after her health, and P'ing Erh felt compelled to return her smile, and reciprocate her inquiry.
"I've brought her in to-day," Pao-ch'ai thereupon smilingly said to P'ing Erh, "to make a companion of her. She was just on the point of going to tell your lady about it!"
"What is this that you're saying, Miss?" P'ing Erh rejoined, with a smile. "I really am at a loss what reply to make to you!"
"It's the right thing!" Pao-ch'ai answered. "' In a house, there's the master, and in a temple there's the chief priest.' It's true, it's no important concern, but something must, in fact, be mentioned, so that those, who sit up on night duty in the garden, may be aware that these two have been added to my rooms, and know when to close the gates and when to wait. When you get back therefore do mention it, so that I mayn't have to send some one to tell them."
P'ing Erh promised to carry out her wishes. "As you're moved in here," she said to Hsiang Ling, "won't you go and pay your respects to your neighbours?"
"I had just this very moment," Pao-ch'ai smiled, "told her to go and do so."
"You needn't however go to our house," P'ing Erh remarked, "our Mr. Secundus is laid up at home."
Hsiang Ling assented and went off, passing first and foremost by dowager lady Chia's apartments. But without devoting any of our attention to her, we will revert to P'ing Erh.
Seeing Hsiang Ling walk out of the room, she drew Pao-ch'ai near her. "Miss! have you heard our news?" she inquired in a low tone of voice.
"I haven't heard any news," Pao-ch'ai responded. "We've been daily so busy in getting my brother's things ready for his voyage abroad, that we know nothing whatever of any of your affairs in here. I haven't even seen anything of my female cousins these last two days."
"Our master, Mr. Chia She, has beaten our Mr. Secundus to such a degree that he can't budge," P'ing Erh smiled. "But is it likely, miss, that you've heard nothing about it?"
"This morning," Pao-ch'ai said by way of reply, "I heard a vague report on the subject, but I didn't believe it could be true. I was just about to go and look up your mistress, when you unexpectedly arrived. But why did he beat him again?"
P'ing Erh set her teeth to and gave way to abuse. "It's all on account of some Chia Yue-ts'un or other; a starved and half-dead boorish bastard, who went yonder quite unexpectedly. It isn't yet ten years, since we've known him, and he has been the cause of ever so much trouble! In the spring of this year, Mr. Chia She saw somewhere or other, I can't tell where, a lot of antique fans; so, when on his return home, he noticed that the fine fans stored away in the house, were all of no use, he at once directed servants to go everywhere and hunt up some like those he had seen. Who'd have anticipated it, they came across a reckless creature of retribution, dubbed by common consent the 'stone fool,' who though so poor as to not even have any rice to put to his mouth, happened to have at home twenty antique fans. But these he utterly refused to take out of his main door. Our Mr. Secundus had thus a precious lot of bother to ask ever so many favours of people. But when he got to see the man, he made endless appeals to him before he could get him to invite him to go and sit in his house; when producing the fans, he allowed him to have a short inspection of them. From what our Mr. Secundus says, it would be really difficult to get any the like of them. They're made entirely of spotted black bamboo, and the stags and jadelike clusters of bamboo on them are the genuine pictures, drawn by men of olden times. When he got back, he explained these things to Mr. Chia She, who readily asked him to buy them, and give the man his own price for them. The 'stone fool,' however, refused. 'Were I even to be dying from hunger,' he said, 'or perishing from frostbites, and so much as a thousand taels were offered me for each single fan, I wouldn't part with them.' Mr. Chia She could do nothing, but day after day he abused our Mr. Secundus as a good-for-nothing. Yet he had long ago promised the man five hundred taels, payable cash down in advance, before delivery of the fans, but he would not sell them. 'If you want the fans,' he had answered, 'you must first of all take my life.' Now, miss, do consider what was to be done? But, Yue-ts'un is, as it happens, a man with no regard for divine justice. Well, when he came to hear of it, he at once devised a plan to lay hold of these fans, so fabricating the charge against him of letting a government debt drag on without payment, he had him arrested and brought before him in the Yamen; when he adjudicated that his family property should be converted into money to make up the amount due to the public chest; and, confiscating the fans in question, he set an official value on them and sent them over here. And as for that 'stone fool,' no one now has the faintest idea whether he be dead or alive. Mr. Chia She, however, taunted Mr. Secundus. 'How is it,' he said, 'that other people can manage to get them?' Our master simply rejoined 'that to bring ruin upon a person in such a trivial matter could not be accounted ability.' But, at these words, his father suddenly rushed into a fury, and averred that Mr. Secundus had said things to gag his mouth. This was the main cause. But several minor matters, which I can't even recollect, also occurred during these last few days. So, when all these things accumulated, he set to work and gave him a sound thrashing. He didn't, however, drag him down and strike him with a rattan or cane, but recklessly assaulted him, while he stood before him, with something or other, which he laid hold of, and broke his face open in two places. We understand that Mrs. Hsueeh has in here some medicine or other for applying on wounds, so do try, miss, and find a ball of it and let me have it!"
Hearing this, Pao-ch'ai speedily directed Ying Erh to go and look for some, and, on discovering two balls of it, she brought them over and handed them to P'ing Erh.
"Such being the case," Pao-ch'ai said, "do make, on your return, the usual inquiries for me, and I won't then need to go."
P'ing Erh turned towards Pao-ch'ai, and expressed her readiness to execute her commission, after which she betook herself home, where we will leave her without further notice.
After Hsiang Ling, for we will take up the thread of our narrative with her, completed her visits to the various inmates, she had her evening meal. Then when Pao-ch'ai and every one else went to dowager lady Chia's quarters, she came into the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. By this time Tai-yue had got considerably better. Upon hearing that Hsiang Ling had also moved into the garden, she, needless to say, was filled with delight.
"Now, that I've come in here," Hsiang Ling then smiled and said, "do please teach me, at your leisure, how to write verses. It will be a bit of good luck for me if you do."
"Since you're anxious to learn how to versify," Tai-yue answered with a smile, "you'd better acknowledge me as your tutor; for though I'm not a good hand at poetry, yet I know, after all, enough to be able to teach you."
"Of course you do!" Hsiang Ling laughingly remarked. "I'll readily treat you as my tutor. But you mustn't put yourself to any trouble!"
"Is there anything so difficult about this," Tai-yue pursued, "as to make it necessary to go in for any study? Why, it's purely and simply a matter of openings, elucidations, embellishments and conclusions. The elucidations and embellishments, which come in the centre, should form two antithetical sentences, the even tones must pair with the uneven. Empty words must correspond with full words; and full words with empty words. In the event of any out-of-the-way lines, it won't matter if the even and uneven tones, and the empty and full words do not pair."
"Strange though it may appear," smiled Hsiang Ling, "I often handle books with old poems, and read one or two stanzas, whenever I can steal the time; and some among these I find pair most skilfully, while others don't. I have also heard that the first, third and fifth lines are of no consequence; and that the second, fourth and sixth must be clearly distinguished. But I notice that there are in the poetical works of ancient writers both those which accord with the rules, as well as those whose second, fourth and sixth lines are not in compliance with any rule. Hence it is that my mind has daily been full of doubts. But after the hints you've given me, I really see that all these formulas are of no account, and that the main requirement is originality of diction."
"Yes, that's just the principle that holds good," Tai-yue answered. "But diction is, after all, a last consideration. The first and foremost thing is the choice of proper sentiments; for when the sentiments are correct, there'll even be no need to polish the diction; it's certain to be elegant. This is called versifying without letting the diction affect the sentiments."
"What I admire," Hsiang Ling proceeded with a smile; "are the lines by old Lu Fang;
"The double portiere, when not raised, retains the fragrance long. An old inkslab, with a slight hole, collects plenty of ink.
"Their language is so clear that it's charming."
"You must on no account," Tai-yue observed, "read poetry of the kind. It's because you people don't know what verses mean that you, no sooner read any shallow lines like these, than they take your fancy. But when once you get into this sort of style, it's impossible to get out of it. Mark my words! If you are in earnest about learning, I've got here Wang Mo-chieh's complete collection; so you'd better take his one hundred stanzas, written in the pentameter rule of versification, and carefully study them, until you apprehend them thoroughly. Afterwards, look over the one hundred and twenty stanzas of Lao T'u, in the heptameter rule; and next read a hundred or two hundred of the heptameter four-lined stanzas by Li Ch'ing-lieu. When you have, as a first step, digested these three authors, and made them your foundation, you can take T'ao Yuan-ming, Ying, Liu, Hsieh, Yuean, Yue, Pao and other writers and go through them once. And with those sharp and quick wits of yours, I've no doubt but that you will become a regular poet before a year's time."
"Well, in that case," Hsiang Ling smiled, after listening to her, "bring me the book, my dear miss, so that I may take it along. It will be a good thing if I can manage to read several stanzas at night."
At these words, Tai-yue bade Tzu Chuean fetch Wang Tso-ch'eng's pentameter stanzas. When brought, she handed them to Hsiang Ling. "Only peruse those marked with red circles" she said. "They've all been selected by me. Read each one of them; and should there be any you can't fathom, ask your miss about them. Or when you come across me, I can explain them to you."
Hsiang Ling took the poems and repaired back to the Heng Wu-yuean. And without worrying her mind about anything she approached the lamp and began to con stanza after stanza. Pao-ch'ai pressed her, several consecutive times, to go to bed; but as even rest was far from her thoughts, Pao-ch'ai let her, when she perceived what trouble she was taking over her task, have her own way in the matter.
Tai-yue had one day just finished combing her hair and performing her ablutions, when she espied Hsiang Ling come with smiles playing about her lips, to return her the book and to ask her to let her have T'u's poetical compositions in exchange.
"Of all these, how many stanzas can you recollect?" Tai-yue asked, smiling.
"I've read every one of those marked with a red circle," Hsiang Ling laughingly rejoined.
"Have you caught the ideas of any of them, yes or no?" Tai-yue inquired.
"Yes, I've caught some!" Hsiang Ling smiled. "But whether rightly or not I don't know. Let me tell you."
"You must really," Tai-yue laughingly remarked, "minutely solicit people's opinions if you want to make any progress. But go on and let me hear you."
"From all I can see," Hsiang Ling smiled, "the beauty of poetry lies in certain ideas, which though not quite expressible in words are, nevertheless, found, on reflection, to be absolutely correct. Some may have the semblance of being totally devoid of sense, but, on second thought, they'll truly be seen to be full of sense and feeling."
"There's a good deal of right in what you say," Tai-yue observed. "But I wonder how you arrived at this conclusion?"
"I notice in that stanza on 'the borderland,' the antithetical couplet:
"In the vast desert reigns but upright mist. In the long river setteth the round sun.
"Consider now how ever can mist be upright? The sun is, of course, round. But the word 'upright' would seem to be devoid of common sense; and 'round' appears far too commonplace a word. But upon throwing the whole passage together, and pondering over it, one fancies having seen the scenery alluded to. Now were any one to suggest that two other characters should be substituted for these two, one would verily be hard pressed to find any other two as suitable. Besides this, there's also the couplet:
"When the sun sets, rivers and lakes are white; When the mist falls, the heavens and earth azure.
"Both 'white' and 'azure', apparently too lack any sense; but reflection will show that these two words are absolutely necessary to bring out thoroughly the aspect of the scenery. And in conning them over, one feels just as if one had an olive, weighing several thousands of catties, in one's mouth, so much relish does one derive from them. But there's this too:
"At the ferry stays the setting sun, O'er the mart hangs the lonesome mist.
"And how much trouble must these words 'stay,' and 'over, have caused the author in their conception! When the boats made fast, in the evening of a certain day of that year in which we came up to the capital, the banks were without a trace of human beings; and there were only just a few trees about; in the distance loomed the houses of several families engaged in preparing their evening meal, and the mist was, in fact, azure like jade, and connected like clouds. So, when I, as it happened, read this couplet last night, it actually seemed to me as if I had come again to that spot!"
But in the course of their colloquy, Pao-yue and T'an Ch'un arrived; and entering the room, they seated themselves, and lent an ear to her arguments on the verses.
"Seeing that you know so much," Pao-yue remarked with a smiling face, "you can dispense with reading poetical works, for you're not far off from proficiency. To hear you expatiate on these two lines, makes it evident to my mind that you've even got at their secret meaning."
"You say," argued Tai-yue with a significant smile, "that the line:
"'O'er (the mart) hangs the lonesome mist,'
"is good; but aren't you yet aware that this is only plagiarised from an ancient writer? But I'll show you the line I'm telling you of. You'll find it far plainer and clearer than this."
While uttering these words, she turned up T'ao Yuean-ming's,
Dim in the distance lies a country place; Faint in the hamlet-market hangs the mist;
and handed it to Hsiang Ling.
Hsiang Ling perused it, and, nodding her head, she eulogised it. "Really," she smiled, the word 'over' is educed from the two characters implying 'faint.'
Pao-yue burst out into a loud fit of exultant laughter. "You've already got it!" he cried. "There's no need of explaining anything more to you! Any further explanations will, in lieu of benefiting you, make you unlearn what you've learnt. Were you therefore to, at once, set to work, and versify, your lines are bound to be good."
"To-morrow," observed T'an ch'un with a smile; "I'll stand an extra treat and invite you to join the society."
"Why make a fool of me, miss?" Hsiang Ling laughingly ejaculated. "It's merely that mania of mine that made me apply my mind to this subject at all; just for fun and no other reason."
T'an Ch'un and Tai-yue both smiled. "Who doesn't go in for these things for fun?" they asked. "Is it likely that we improvise verses in real earnest? Why, if any one treated our verses as genuine verses, and took them outside this garden, people would have such a hearty laugh at our expense that their very teeth would drop."
"This is again self-violence and self-abasement!" Pao-yue interposed. The other day, I was outside the garden, consulting with the gentlemen about paintings, and, when they came to hear that we had started a poetical society, they begged of me to let them have the rough copies to read. So I wrote out several stanzas, and gave them to them to look over, and who did not praise them with all sincerity? They even copied them and took them to have the blocks cut."
"Are you speaking the truth?" T'an Ch'un and Tai-yue eagerly inquired.
"If I'm telling a lie," Pao-yue laughed, "I'm like that cockatoo on that frame!"
"You verily do foolish things!" Tai-yue and T'an Ch'un exclaimed with one voice, at these words. "But not to mention that they were doggerel lines, had they even been anything like what verses should be, our writings shouldn't have been hawked about outside."
"What's there to fear?" Pao-yue smiled. "Hadn't the writings of women of old been handed outside the limits of the inner chambers, why, there would, at present, be no one with any idea of their very existence."
While he passed this remark, they saw Ju Hua arrive from Hsi Ch'un's quarters to ask Pao-yue to go over; and Pao-yue eventually took his departure.
Hsiang Ling then pressed (Tai-yue) to give her T'u's poems. "Do choose some theme," she also asked Tai-yue and T'an Ch'un, "and let me go and write on it. When I've done, I'll bring it for you to correct."
"Last night," Tai-yue observed, "the moon was so magnificent, that I meant to improvise a stanza on it; but as I haven't done yet, go at once and write one using the fourteenth rhyme, 'han,' (cool). You're at liberty to make use of whatever words you fancy."
Hearing this, Hsiang Ling was simply delighted, and taking the poems, she went back. After considerable exertion, she succeeded in devising a couplet, but so little able was she to tear herself away from the 'T'u' poems, that she perused another couple of stanzas, until she had no inclination for either tea or food, and she felt in an unsettled mood, try though she did to sit or recline.
"Why," Pao-ch'ai remonstrated, "do you bring such trouble upon yourself? It's that P'in Erh, who has led you on to it! But I'll settle accounts with her! You've all along been a thick-headed fool; but now that you've burdened yourself with all this, you've become a greater fool."
"Miss," smiled Hsiang Ling, "don't confuse me."
So saying, she set to work and put together a stanza, which she first and foremost handed to Pao-ch'ai to look over.
"This isn't good!" Pao-ch'ai smilingly said. "This isn't the way to do it! Don't fear of losing face, but take it and give it to her to peruse. We'll see what she says."
At this suggestion, Hsiang Ling forthwith went with her verses in search of Tai-yue. When Tai-yue came to read them, she found their text to be:
The night grows cool, what time Selene reacheth the mid-heavens. Her radiance pure shineth around with such a spotless sheen. Bards oft for inspiration raise on her their thoughts and eyes. The rustic daren't see her, so fears he to enhance his grief. Jade mirrors are suspended near the tower of malachite. An icelike plate dangles outside the gem-laden portiere. The eve is fine, so why need any silvery candles burn? A clear light shines with dazzling lustre on the painted rails.
"There's a good deal of spirit in them," Tai-yue smiled, "but the language is not elegant. It's because you've only read a few poetical works that you labour under restraint. Now put this stanza aside and write another. Pluck up your courage and go and work away."
After listening to her advice, Hsiang Ling quietly wended her way back, but so much the more (preoccupied) was she in her mind that she did not even enter the house, but remaining under the trees, planted by the side of the pond, she either seated herself on a rock and plunged in a reverie, or squatted down and dug the ground, to the astonishment of all those, who went backwards and forwards. Li wan, Pao-ch'ai, T'an Ch'un, Pao-yue and some others heard about her; and, taking their position some way off on the mound, they watched her, much amused. At one time, they saw her pucker up her eyebrows; and at another smile to herself.
"That girl must certainly be cracked!" Pao-ch'ai laughed. "Last night she kept on muttering away straight up to the fifth watch, when she at last turned in. But shortly, daylight broke, and I heard her get up and comb her hair, all in a hurry, and rush after P'in Erh. In a while, however, she returned; and, after acting like an idiot the whole day, she managed to put together a stanza. But it wasn't after all, good, so she's, of course, now trying to devise another."
"This indeed shows," Pao-yue laughingly remarked, "that the earth is spiritual, that man is intelligent, and that heaven does not in the creation of human beings bestow on them natural gifts to no purpose. We've been sighing and lamenting that it was a pity that such a one as she, should, really, be so unpolished; but who could ever have anticipated that things would, in the long run, reach the present pass? This is a clear sign that heaven and earth are most equitable!"
"If only," smiled Pao-ch'ai, at these words, "you could be as painstaking as she is, what a good thing it would be. And would you fail to attain success in anything you might take up?"
Pao-yue made no reply. But realising that Hsiang Ling had crossed over in high spirits to find Tai-yue again, T'an Ch'un laughed and suggested, "Let's follow her there, and see whether her composition is any good."
At this proposal, they came in a body to the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. Here they discovered Tai-yue holding the verses and explaining various things to her.
"What are they like?" they all thereupon inquired of Tai-yue.
"This is naturally a hard job for her!" Tai-yue rejoined. "They're not yet as good as they should be. This stanza is far too forced; you must write another."
One and all however expressed a desire to look over the verses. On perusal, they read:
'Tis not silver, neither water that on the windows shines so cold. Selene, mark! covers, like a jade platter, the clear vault of heaven. What time the fragrance faint of the plum bloom is fain to tinge the air, The dew-bedecked silken willow trees begin to lose their leaves. 'Tis the remains of powder which methinks besmear the golden steps. Her lustrous rays enshroud like light hoar-frost the jadelike balustrade. When from my dreams I wake, in the west tower, all human trace is gone. Her slanting orb can yet clearly be seen across the bamboo screen.
"It doesn't sound like a song on the moon," Pao-ch'ai smilingly observed. "Yet were, after the word 'moon', that of 'light' supplied, it would be better; for, just see, if each of these lines treated of the moonlight, they would be all right. But poetry primarily springs from nonsensical language. In a few days longer, you'll be able to do well."
Hsiang Ling had flattered herself that this last stanza was perfect, and the criticisms, that fell on her ear, damped her spirits again. She was not however disposed to relax in her endeavours, but felt eager to commune with her own thoughts, so when she perceived the young ladies chatting and laughing, she betook herself all alone to the bamboo-grove at the foot of the steps; where she racked her brain, and ransacked her mind with such intentness that her ears were deaf to everything around her and her eyes blind to everything beyond her task.
"Miss Ling," T'an Ch'un presently cried, smiling from inside the window, "do have a rest!"
"The character 'rest;'" Hsiang Ling nervously replied, "comes from lot N. deg. 15, under 'shan', (to correct); so it's the wrong rhyme."
This rambling talk made them involuntarily burst out laughing.
"In very fact," Pao-sh'ai laughed, "she's under a poetical frenzy, and it's all P'in Erh who has incited her."
"The holy man says," Tai-yue smilingly rejoined, "that 'one must not be weary of exhorting people'; and if she comes, time and again, to ask me this and that how can I possibly not tell her?"
"Let's take her to Miss Quarta's rooms," Li Wan smiled, "and if we could coax her to look at the painting, and bring her to her senses, it will be well."
Speaking the while, she actually walked out of the room, and laying hold of her, she brought her through the Lotus Fragrance arbour to the bank of Warm Fragrance. Hsi Ch'un was tired and languid, and was lying on the window, having a midday siesta. The painting was resting against the partition-wall, and was screened with a gauze cover. With one voice, they roused Hsi Ch'un, and raising the gauze cover to contemplate her work, they saw that three tenths of it had already been accomplished. But their attention was attracted by the representation of several beautiful girls, inserted in the picture, so pointing at Hsiang Ling: "Every one who can write verses is to be put here," they said, "so be quick and learn."
But while conversing, they played and laughed for a time, after which, each went her own way.
Hsiang Ling was meanwhile preoccupied about her verses, so, when evening came, she sat facing the lamp absorbed in thought. And the third watch struck before she got to bed. But her eyes were so wide awake, that it was only after the fifth watch had come and gone, that she, at length, felt drowsy and fell fast asleep.
Presently, the day dawned, and Pao-ch'ai woke up; but, when she lent an ear, she discovered (Hsiang Ling) in a sound sleep. "She has racked her brains the whole night long," she pondered. "I wonder, however, whether she has succeeded in finishing her task. She must be tired now, so I won't disturb her."
But in the midst of her cogitations, she heard Hsiang Ling laugh and exclaim in her sleep: "I've got it. It cannot be that this stanza too won't be worth anything."
"How sad and ridiculous!" Pao-ch'ai soliloquised with a smile. And, calling her by name, she woke her up. "What have you got?" she asked. "With that firmness of purpose of yours, you could even become a spirit! But before you can learn how to write poetry, you'll be getting some illness."
Chiding her the while, she combed her hair and washed; and, this done, she repaired, along with her cousins, into dowager lady Chia's quarters.
Hsiang Ling made, in fact, such desperate efforts to learn all about poetry that her system got quite out of order. But although she did not in the course of the day hit upon anything, she quite casually succeeded in her dreams in devising eight lines; so concluding her toilette and her ablutions, she hastily jotted them down, and betook herself into the Hsin Fang pavilion. Here she saw Li Wan and the whole bevy of young ladies, returning from Madame Wang's suite of apartments.
Pao-ch'ai was in the act of telling them of the verses composed by Hsiang Ling, while asleep, and of the nonsense she had been talking, and every one of them was convulsed with laughter. But upon raising their heads, and perceiving that she was approaching, they vied with each other in pressing her to let them see her composition.
But, reader, do you wish to know any further particulars? If you do; read those given in the next chapter.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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