西厢记妙词通戏语
牡丹亭艳曲警芳心
After Yuanchun’s visit, Tanchun
compiles a copy of the poems for her and work begins on the inscriptions around
the garden. Jia Zheng considered dispersing the twenty four nuns around the
city, but the wife of a poor relation persuades Xifeng to keep them and let her
son Jia Qin 贾芹 act as housekeeper.
Yuanchun feels certain that the
garden is now shut up out of respect, and feels this is a shame, given its
beauty and the girls’ talents. She sends an edict that the girls are to live
there, and Baoyu is to study there. He is extremely excited by this. He is
summoned by Zheng and reluctant to go; he dawdles and is teased by maids. Zheng
thinks how important Baoyu is to Lady Wang, and tells him that the purpose of
his moving to the garden is to keep him closer to his studies; constant
amusement is making him an idle dullard. He talks with his parents, and Zheng
expresses dislike of Aroma’s name.
Baoyu discusses where they want
to live in the garden with Daiyu; she wants the Naiad’s House, he the House of
Green Delights. A message arrives for Grandmother Jia from Zheng detailing the
arrangements for the move; they all move in.
Baoyu is blissfully happy in the
garden, and writes some (indifferent) poetry to that effect, applauded by all.
He receives requests for more. He suddenly finds himself discontent, plagued by
an artistic ennui that the girls can’t understand. Tealeaf buys a pile of books
for him, but tells him not to take them into the garden or he’ll be in trouble;
Baoyu is delighted, and unwilling to comply with Tealeaf’s request. He is
reading ‘Western Chamber’ by a weir, covered in petals, when Daiyu arrives. She
tells him not to brush the petals into the weir – she has a grave for flowers –
and spots his book. She reads a bit and loves it, before getting angry at a
remark of his, accusing him of taking advantage of her. This turns to mirth,
and they bury the flowers. Baoyu leaves; Daiyu is lonely and walks past where
the actresses are rehearsing. She is moved to tears by their poetry, thinking
of ‘Western Chamber’ and other works.
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