 Section 50 of the Dream of the Red Chamber, Book 2. This is a Librebox recording. All Librebox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librebox.org. Recording by Yuqing in Singapore. The Dream of the Red Chamber, Book 2 by Cao Xieqing. Translated by Henry Renkhoff Jolly. Chapter 50, Part 1. In the Lu Xie pavilion, they vie with each other in pairing verses on a scenery. In the Nuan Song village, they compose in beautiful style riddles for the spring lanterns. But to continue. We should, after all, what I suggested, make some distinction as to order. Let me write out what's needful. After uttering this proposal, she urged everyone to draw thoughts and determine the precedents. The first one to draw was Li Wan. After her, a list of the prospective names was made in the order in which they came out. Well, in that case, ladies were rejoined. I'll also give a top line. The whole party laughed in chorus. It will be ever so much better like this, they said. Balchai supplied above the oldest labourer of Daoxiang, the word Feng, whereupon Li Wan went on to explain the theme to her. You mustn't poke fun at me, Lady Feng smiled, after considerable reflection. I've only managed to get a chorus line. It consists of five words. As for the rest, I have no idea how to manage them. The chorus of the language, the better it is, one in all laughed. Out with it, you can then go and attend to your legitimate business. I fancy, Lady Feng observed, that when it snows, there's bound to be northerly wind. For last night, I heard the wind blow from the north the whole night long. I've got a line. It's, the whole night long, the northern wind was high. But whether it will do or not, I am not going to worry my mind about it. One in all, upon hearing this, exchanged looks. This line is, is true course, they smiled, and gives no insight into what comes below. But it's just the kind of opening that will be used by such as understand-versification. It's not only good, but it will afford it to those who come after you in exhaustible scope for writing. In fact, this line will take the lead, so old labourer of Daoxiang will be quick, and indice some more to tag on below. Lady Feng, sister-in-law Li, and Ping'er had then another couple of glasses, after which each went her own way. During this while, Li Wen wrote down, the whole night long, the northern wind was high, and then she herself subjoined the antithetical couplet. The door opened, and lo, the flakes of snow are still tossed by the wind, and drop into the slush. Oh, what a pity, they're so purely white! Xiangling recited, all over the ground is spread alas, this bright, refurgent gem. But with an aim, for it is meant dry herbage to revive. Tantran said, without design the dying sprouts of grain it neutrifies, but in the villages the price of mellow wine doth rise. Liqi added, in a good year, grain in the house is plentiful. The bull rush moves, and the ash issues from the tube. Li Wen continued, what's time spring comes, the handle of the dipper turns. The bleaky hills have long ago, the verdead lost. Xiangling recited, on a frost-covered stream, no tide can ever rise. Easy the snow hangs on the sparse leaves willow twigs. Xiangling pursued, hard is for snow to pile on broken planting leaves. The coal, musk-scented, burns in the precious tripod. Baoxing recited, the embroidered sleeve unwraps the golden sable in its folds. The snow transcends the mirror by the window in lustre. Baoyu suggested, the fragrant pepper clings onto the wall, the side when still in whistling gets doth blow. Baoyu added, a quiet dream becomes a cheerless thing, where is the fife with plum bloom painted on? Baochai continued, in whose households is there a flute made of green jade, the fish fears lest the earth from its axis might drop. I'll go and see that the wine is warm for you people, the one smiled. But when Baochai told Baoxing to connect some lines, she caught sight of Xiangling who rides to her feet and put in. What time the dragon wages war, the clouds dispel. Back to the wild shore turns the man with single skull. Baoxing, thereupon again, appended the couplet. The old man harms his lines, and with his whip he points at the bar bridge. Fur coats are out of pity on the troops and the frontiers bestowed. But it was Xiangling allow anyone to have a say. The others could not besides come up to her in quickness of wits, so that, while their eyes were fixed on her, she with eyebrows uplifted and figure outstretched proceeded to say, more curtain coats confer for bearing memory of the imperial serfs. The rugged barbarous lands are on account of snow with dangers fraught. Baochai praised the verses again and again, and next contributed the dystic. The twigs and branches live in fear of being tossed about, with what whiteness and feathery step the flakes of snow descend. Daiyu eagerly subjoined the lines. The snow as nimbly falls as moves the waist of the Sui men when brandishing the sword. The tender leaves of tea, so accurate to the taste, have just been newly brewed and tried. As she recited this couplet, she gave Baoyu a shove and urged him to go on. Baoyu was, at the moment, enjoying the intense pleasure of watching the three girls Baochai, Baoxing and Daiyu make a joint onslaught on Xiangyun, so that he had, of course, not given his mind to tagging any antithetical verses. But when he now felt Daiyu push him, yet length chimed in with. The fur is the soul tree which is decreed forever to subsist. The wild goose follows in the mud the prince and traces of his steps. Baoxing took up the clue, adding, In the forest, the axle of the woodcutter may, these times, be heard. With snow-covered contours, a thousand peaks their heads jut in the air, summing with alacrity annexed the verses. The hallway tortuous winds, like a coiled snake, the flowers have felt the colds and seized to bud. Baochai and her companions again with one voice eulogised their fine diction. Tantrun then continued, Could ever the beauty of snow dread the nipping of frost? In the deep court, the shivering birds are startled by its fall. Summing happened to be feeling thirsty and was hurriedly swallowing a cup of tea when her turn was at once snatched by Xiuyan, who gave out the lines. On the bare mountain wails the old man Qiao, the snow covers the steps, both high and low. Summing immediately put away the tea cup and added, On the pond's surface, it allows itself to float. At a first blush of dawn with effulgence, it shines. Daiyu recited with alacrity the couplet. In confused flakes, it ceaseless falls the whole night long. Truth won't forget that it implies three feet of cold. Summing hastened, smiley, deposed with a dizz-dick. Its auspicious descent dispels the emperor's grief. There lies one frozen stiff, but who asks him a word? Barting too speedily put on a smile and added, Glad is the proud Gui-faira when he's pressed to drink. Snapped is the weaving belt in the heavily machine. Summing once again eagerly quoted the line, In the seaside market is lost a silk kerchief, But Lin Daiyu would not let her continue, And taking up the thread she forthwith said, With quiet silence it enshrouds the raised kiosk. Summing vehemently gave the antithetical verse, The other poor clings to his pannier and his ball, Barting too would not give in as a favour to anyone, So hastily she exclaimed, The water meant to brew the tea was gently bubbled up. Summing saw how excited they were getting, And she thought it naturally great fun, Laughing she easily gave out, When wine is boiled with leaves, It's not easy to burn. Daiyu also smiled while suggesting, The broom with which the bones swept the hill Is sunk in snow. Barting too smileily cried, The young lad takes away the loot, Entered in snow. Summing laughed to such degree that she was bent in two, And she muttered, aligned with such rapidity That one annoying quiet of her, What are you after all saying? In the stone tower leisurely sleeps the stalk, Summing repeated. Daiyu gloves her breast so convulsed, Was she with laughter. With loud voice she bawled out, The embroidered carpet warmed the aficionate cat. Barting quickly, again laughily exclaimed, In sidelings cave law roll the silvery waves. Summing added with eager haste, Within the city walls that eve was hit a purple flag. Daiyu with alacrity continued with a smile, The fragrant sweets which penetrates into the plums Is good to eat. Bouchai smiled, What a fine line she ejaculated, After which she hastened to complete the couplet By saying, The drops from the bamboo are meat, When one is drunk to mix with wine. Barting likewise made haste to add, But times the hymenial girdle it moistened, Summing eagerly paired it with, Oft it frees on the kingfisher's shoes. Daiyu once more exclaimed with vehemence, No wind doth blow, but yet there is a rush, Barting promptly also smiled and strong on, No rain low forth, but still a patter's herd. Xiangyun was leaning over, Indulging in such merriment That she was quite doubled up in two, But everybody else had realized That the trio was struggling for mastery, So without attempting to versify, They kept their gaze fixed on them And gave way to laughter. Daiyu gave her another push To try and induce her to go on. Do you also sometimes come to your wit's end And run to the end of your tether? She went on to say, I'd like to see what other stuff And nonsense you can come out with. Xiangyun however simply fell forward On Bouchai's lap and laughed incessantly. If you got any compulsion about you, Bouchai exclaimed, shoving her up. Take the second rhymes under Xiao And exhaust them all, And I then bend the knee to you. It isn't as if I were writing verses, Xiangyun laughs, rising to her feet. It's really as if I were fighting For this very life. As for you to come out with something, They all cried with a laugh. Tantrun had a long ago determined In her mind that there could be No other antithetical sentences That she herself could possibly propose, And she forthwith said to work To copy out the verses. But as she passed the remark, They haven't as yet been brought To your proper clothes. Liwen took up the clue As soon as she caught her words And added the sentiment. My wish is to record this morning's fun. Lisi then suggested as a finale The line, by these verses I'd feign seen the emperor's praise. That's enough, that will do, Liwen cried. The rums haven't, I admit, Been exhausted, but any Outside words you might introduce Well, if used in a forced sense Be with nothing at all. While continuing their arguments The various inmates drew near And kept up with searching criticism For a time. Xiangyun was found to be The one among them who had devised The largest number of lines. This is mainly due, They unanimously laughed. To the bio-shoot of that Piece of venison. Let's review them nine by line As they come, Liwen smiley Proposed, but yet as if They formed one continuous poem. Here's Baoyu last again. I haven't, the fact is, The neck of parents' sentences Baoyu rejoined with a smile. It better, therefore, Make some allowance for me. There's no such thing as making Some allowance for you in meeting After meeting. Liwen demurred laughing. That you should again, after that Give out the rimes in a reckless manner Waste your time and not show yourself Able to put two lines together. You must absolutely bear a penalty today. I just caught a glimpse of the red plum In the Long Cui monastery. And how charming it is. I meant to have plucked a twig To put in the vase, But so loatham is the way That I won't have anything to do with her. But I will punish him By making him, for the sake of fun, Fetch a twig for us to put in water. This penalty, They shouted with one accord, Is both excellent as well as pleasant. Baoyu himself Was no less delighted To carry it in his execution. So signifying his resonance To comply with their wishes, He felt desirous to be off at once. It exceedingly culled Outside. Siring and Daoyu simultaneously remarked, So have a glass of warm wine Before you go. Siring speedily took up the kettle, And Daoyu handed him a large cup Filled to the very room. Now swallow the wine we give you, Siring smiled. And if you don't bring any plum bottom, Will inflict a double penalty. Baoyu gulped down Hurry scurry the whole contents of the cup. And started on his errands In the face of the snow. Follow him carefully, Leewon enjoined the servants. Baoyu however hastened To interfere and make her desist. The snow such leaned, She cried. For anyone to go with him, He'll contrary wise not get the flowers. Leewon nodded her head. Yes, she assented, And then went on to direct a waiting-maid To bring a bath, In the shape of a beautiful girl To fill it with water, And get it ready to put the plum bottom in. Anywhere he comes back, She felt induced to add, We must recite verses on the red plum. All indict a stanza in advance, Eagle exclaimed sighing. Well, our no-account Let you indict any more today. Baoyu chai laughed. You beat every one of us hollow, So if we sit with idle hands There won't be any fun, But by and by we'll find Baoyu, And as he says that He can't put antithetical lines We're not to make him compose a stanza himself. This is a capital idea, There he smiled, But I've got another proposal, As the lines just paired are not sufficient, Would it be well to pick out those Who put together the fewest ditches, And make them versify On the red plum blossom? An excellent proposal, Baoyu ventured laughing. The three girls, Xing Xiuyan, Li Wen and Li Qin, Filled just now to do justice to their towns, Besides their visitors, And Xing'er, Ping'er and Rui'er Go to the best of us by a good deal, It's only right that none of us Should compose any more, And that that trio should only do so. Qiy'er, Li Wen thereupon retorted, It's also not a very good hand at verses, Let therefore cousin Qin have a try. Baochai had no idea That he was going to write a stanza But he didn't know Baochai had no alternative But to express her acquiescence. Let the three words, Red plum blossom, She then suggested, be used for rhymes, And let each person compose And have time at her stanza. Cousins seem to indict On the word red, Your elder cousin Li on plum And Qin'er on blossom. If you let Baoyu off, Li Wen interposed. I want to have it. Your theme, Xiaoming eagerly remarked, So let's make him write some. What a theme is it, One and all inquired. If we made him, Xiaoming resumed, Versify on, In search of Niaoyu to beg for red plum blossom, Want her to be full of fun? That will be full of zest, The party exclaimed, Upon hearing the theme propounded by her. But hardly had they given Expression to their approval Then they perceived Baoyu come in, Beaming with smiles and glee And holding with both hands A branch of red plum blossom. The maids hurriedly relieved him of his burden, And put the branch in the vase, And the inmates present Came over in the body To feast their eyes on it. Well, may you look at it now? Baoyu smiled. You've got no idea What an amount of trouble it has cost me. As he uttered these words, He turned to and handed him at once Another cup of warm wine. And the maids approached, And took his wrapper and hat, And shook off the snow. But the servant's girls, Attached to their respective quarters, Then brought them over extra articles of clothing. Xiren, in like manner, Dispatched a domestic with her police, The words for where Lined with fur from fox's ribs, Salt Liwen, having directed a servant To fill a plate with steamed large taro, And to make up two dishes With red-skinned oranges, Yellow-cooled oranges, Olives, and other like things, Made someone take them over to Xiren. Xiren also communicated to Baoyu The subject for verses they had decided upon A short while back, But she likewise urged Baoyu To be quick and accomplish his task. Dear senior cousin, Dear junior cousin, Seeded Baoyu, Let me use my own rhymes, Don't bind me down to any. Go on as you like, They replied with one consent. But conversing the while, They passed the blum-bossom Under inspection. This bowl of plum-blutton was, In fact, only two feet in height, But from the side Projected a branch crosswise About two or three feet in length, The small twigs and stalks On which resembled coiled dragons, Or crouching earthworms, And were either single And trimmed pencil-like, Or thick and bushy grove-like. Indeed, their appearance Was as if the blossom spurted cosmetic. This fragrance Put orchids to the blush, So everyone present contributed Her quota of praise. Xiuyan, Liwen, and Baoqing Had, little though it was expected, All three already finished their lines, And each copied them out for herself, So the company began To peruse their compositions, So joined below In the order of the three words, Red plum blossom. Versus to the red plum blossom By Xing Xiuyan. The peach tree has not done Its fragrance yet. The almond is not red. What time it strikes the cold Is first joyful to smile At the east wind. When a spirit to the ruling Hath flown, They lay to spring. The russet clouds Across the lawful lie, So even to dreams is closed. The green petals Add grace to a coiffure When painted candles burn. The simple elf When primed with wine, Doth the waning rainbow bestride. Does this appearance Speak of a colour of ordinary run? Both dark and light Fall of their own free will Ice and snow. The next was the production Not only one, in his burden was. To write on the white plum I'm not disposed, But I write on the red. Proud of his beauty as charms Just first to meet the Opening drunken eye. On his frost-nipped face are marks And these consist totally Of blood. His heart is sore, But no anger which knows It turns. By some mistake a pill, a fairy Takes and quits her real frame. From the fairyland pool She secrets drops And can sort her own form. In spring Both north and south of the river With splendour, it doth bloom. Send words to bees And butterflies that They need not give way to fears. The stanza came next from the pen To give our team. Far distance to the branches grow But how beauty is the blossom blooms. The maidens try with Refused show to compete In their spring headdress. No snow remains on the vacant pavilion And the tortuous rails. Upon the running stream And desolate heels Descend the russet clouds. When code prevails One thing in a seal dream Follow the last blown fife. The wandering elf Roars in fragrant spring The boat in the red stream. In previous existence It must sure have been of fairy form. No doubt need again arrive As to its beauty deferring From then. End of section 50 Recording by Utsin in Singapore Section 51 Of The Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 Translated by Harry Bencroft's Jolly Chapter 50 Part 2 The Perusarova They spend some time in heaping Smiling the while Eulogisms upon the compositions And they painted at the last Danza as the best of the lot And they painted at the last Danza as the best of the lot And they painted at the last Danza as the best of the lot And they painted at the last Danza as the best of the lot Which made it evident to Bao Yu That Bao Qing, albeit the youngest In years, was on the other hand The quickest in wits Dai Yu and Xiang Yun then filled up This walk up with wine And simultaneously offered their congratulations To Bao Qing Each of the three stanzas has its beauty But I remarked A smile playing round her lips You two have a daily made fool of me And are you now going to fool her Or so? Have you got yours ready? The one went on to inquire of Bao Yu I'd caught them Bao Yu promptly answered But the moment I read their three stanzas I once more became so nervous That they quite slipped from my mind But let me think again Saying at this reply Best of coca-poca And while beating on the hamster She laughingly said I shall go on tattooing Now mind if when the drumming sees us You haven't accomplished your task You'll have to bear another fine I've ready caught them Bao Yu rejoined smilingly Dai Yu then picked up a pencil Recite them She smiled and I write them down Xiang Yun beat one stroke on the stove The first tattoo is over She laughed I'm ready Bao Yu smiled Go on writing At this they heard him recite The wine bottle is not opened The line is not put into shape Dai Yu noticed it's down And shaking her head They began very smoothly She said as she smiled Be quick Xiang Yun again urged Bao Yu loudly continued To fairy land I speeded to seek for spring And the twelfth moon to find Dai Yu and Xiang Yun both nodded It's rather good It's rather good They smiled Bao Yu resumed saying I will not beg the high god For a bottle of the healing dew But pray Xiang Yu to give me Some plum bloom beyond the rails Dai Yu jotted the lines down And wrote her head to and fro They're ingenious that's all She observed Xiang Yun gave another wrap With her hand Bao Yu thereupon smileily added I come into the world And in the cold I pick out some red snow I leave the dusty sphere And speed to pluck the fragrant purple clouds I bring a jagged branch But who in pity sings My shoulders thin On my clothes still sticks The mouth from your buddhist thought As soon as Dai Yu had done writing Xiang Yun and the rest of the company Began to discuss the merits Of the verses Then saw several servant-maids rush in Shout him All venerable mysteries has come One and all hurries out With all dispatched to meet her How comes it That she is in such good cheer Everyone also laughed Speaking the while, they discerned At a great distance The grandmother Jia seated Enveloped in a capacious wrapper And rolled up in the warm hood Lined with squirrel fur And a sweetened chair With an open green silk-glazed umbrella In her hand Yuanyang, Hu Po and some other girls Mustering in all five or six Held each an umbrella And pressed around the chair As they advanced The Yuan and her companions went up to them With hasty step But Dai Yu directed the servants To make them stop Explaining that it would be quite enough If they stood where they were And smiled I've given, she observed Your man and wang and that girl Fung the slip and com What deep snow covers the ground For me, I'm seated in these So it doesn't matter But you mustn't let those ladies Trudge in the snow The various followers rushed forward To take a wrapper and to support her And as they did so They expressed their acquiescence As soon as she got indoors Old ladies out was deferred to exclaim With a beaming face What beautiful plum blossom You well know how to make merry But I too want to let you off But in the course of her remarks The Yuan quickly gave orders To a domestic, to fetch a large Wolfskin rug And to spread it in the centre So Dai Yu the ladies down Made herself comfortable on it Just go on as before With the romping and choking As the days are so short I do not venture to have A midday siesta After, therefore, playing at Dominals for a time I've been thought myself of you people And like what I have came to join the fun The Yuan soon also Presented her a hand stove While Tentrum brought an extra set Of cups and chopsticks And filling with her own hands A cup with warm wine She handed it to her grandmother Jia Swallows the sip What's there in that dish? She afterwards inquired The bearer's inmates hurriedly carried it Over to her and explained that They were pickles quails These won't hurt me Dai Yu the ladies down said To cut off a piece of the leg And give it to me Yes, promptly like we had to do one And asking for water She washed her hands And then came in person to carve the quail And again, Dai Yu the ladies just said Pressing them And go on without chatting and laughing Let me hear you and feel happy Just you also see yourself Continuing, she remarked to Li Yuan And behave as if I were not here If you do so, well and good Otherwise, I shall take myself off At once But it was only when they heard How persistent she was In her solicitations That they all resumed the seats Which accorded with their age With the exception of Li Yuan Removed to the furthest side What were you playing at? All the ladies out there at point asked We were writing verses Answered to the whole party Ordering it to be well for those Who are up to poetry Dai Yu the ladies down suggested To devise a few puns for lanterns So that the whole lot of us Should be able to have some fun In the first moon With one voice, they expressed their approval But after they had gested For a little time It's damp in here So don't you sit long Remind you, it might be catching cold Whereas nice and warm Is in your cousin quarters over there So let's all go and see How she is getting on with her painting And whether it will be ready or not By the end of the year How could it be completed By the close of the year? She should only, we fancy Get it ready by the Dragon Boat Festival Next year This is dreadful Old lady Dai exclaimed Why, she has really wasted more labour on it Than would have been actually Required to lay out this garden With these words still on her lips She has gone to self again In the bamboo sedan And closed in or followed by The whole company She repaired to the lotus fragrance Where they got into a narrow passage Flanked on the east as well as the west With doors from which they could cross the street Over these doorways On the inside as well as outside Were inserted alike tablets Made of stone The door they went in by, on this occasion Lay on the west On the tablet facing outwards Were cut out the two words representing Penetrating into the clouds On that inside Were engraved the two characters Meaning, crossing the moon On their arrival at the hall They walked in by the main entrance Which looked towards the south Dai or the ladies are then Alighted from her chair Xichun had already made her appearance Out of doors to welcome her So taking the inner cut over the passage They passed over to the other side And reached Xichun's bedroom On the doorposts of which Figured the three words One fragrance iron Several servants were at once at hand And knew sooner how they raised The red woolen portier Then a soft fragrance watered itself Into their faces The various inmates stepped into the room Old ladies at however Did not take a seat But simply inquired where the painting was The weather is so bitterly cold Xichun consequently explained smiling That the glue, whose property Is mainly to coagulate Do not be moistened So I feared that were I to have gone on with the painting It wouldn't be worth looking at And at their point put it away I must have it by the close of the year Dai or the ladies are loved So don't either your time away Produce it at once and go on painting for me As quick as you can But scarcely as she concluded her remark Then she unexpectedly perceived And arrived, smirking and laughing With her purple police Lined with Deer fur Thrown over her shoulders Venerable senior, she shouted You don't even so much as to let anyone know today But sneak over stealthily I've had a good hunt for you When old ladies saw her join them She felt filled with delight I was afraid, she rejoined That you'd be feeling cold I didn't allow anyone to tell you You were really sharp with spirits to have At last been able to trade my whereabouts But according to strict etiquette I shouldn't show filial piety to such a degree It is out of any idea of filial piety That I came after you Not at all, Lady Van Andert with a laugh But when I got to your place worthy senior I found everything so quiet That not even the call of a crow could be heard And when I asked the young maize where you'd gone They wanted to let me come and search in a garden So I began to give way to zermizers Suddenly also arrived two or three nuns And at the end at length I jumped at the conclusion That these women must have come to bring their early prayers Or to answer for their annual or incense allowance And that, with the amount of things you also Venerable ancestor Have to do for the end of the year You had for certain got out of the way of your debts Spittily therefore I inquired of the nuns What it was that brought them there And for that there was no mistake in my solemnisers So promptly issuing the annual allowances to them I now come to report to you worthy senior That your creditors have gone And that there's no need for you to skulk away But I've had some tender pleasant prepared So please come and have your evening meal For if you delay any longer It'll get quite stale As she spoke everybody burst out laughing But Lady Feng did not allow any time to dowry the lady there To pass any observations But forthwith directed the servants to bring the chair over Or the lady there then smilily laid hold of Lady Feng's hand And got again into her chair Which took along with her the whole company of relatives To protest and laugh Upon issuing out of the gate on the east side Of the narrow passage The four quarters presented to their gaze The appearance of being adorned with powder And inlaid with silver Unaware the court side of Baqin In a duck-down cloak Waiting at a distance at the back of the hill slope While a behind her stood amazed Holding a vase full of red plum blossoms Strange enough They all exclaimed laughingly Two of us were missing But she's waiting over there She's also been after some plum blossom Just look That lady there eagerly cried out joyfully That human creature has been put there To match with the snow-covered hill But with her costume And the plum blossom at the back of her To what does she bear her resemblance? She resembles, one and all smiled Choushe draws beautiful snow picture Suspended in your apartment's venerable ancestor Is there in that picture any such costume? Old Lady Jia demerred Nodding her head and smiling What more was the person's represented in it Could never be so pretty? Hardly had this remark dropped from her mouth Then she discerned someone else Clad in a deep red woolen cloak Appeared to be you at the back of Baqin What other girl is that? The way the Lady Jia asked We girls are all here They laughily answered Baoyu My eyes Old Lady Jia smiled Are getting dimmer and dimmer So saying they drew near And of course they turned out to be Baoyu and Baoching I've just been again to the Longchui Monastery Baoyu smiled to Baoching, Daoyu and his other cousins And Miao Yu gave me for each of you A twig of plum blossom Everybody sent a servant to take them over Many thanks for the trouble you've been put to They, with one voice, replied But speaking the while They saluted out of the garden gate And repaired to the Ren mother Jia's suite of apartments The meal over They joined in a further chat in love When unexpectedly this old Mrs. Xie also arrived With all this snow, she absurd I haven't been over the whole day To see how you, venerable and senior, were getting on Your ladyship couldn't have been in good sort of mood today For you should have gone and seen the snow How not in a good mood? Old Lady Jia exclaimed I went and looked up these young ladies And had a romp with them for a time Last night, Mrs. Xie smiled I was thinking of getting from our modern one today The loan of the garden for the non-stem spreading Two tables with our mien wine And inviting you, worthy senior To enjoy the snow But as I saw then, you were having a rest And I heard, at an early hour That Ba Yu had said That you were not in a joyful frame of mind I did not, in consequence, presume to come And disturb you today But had I known sooner the real state of affairs I would have felt it my bounden duty To have asked you round This is, rejoined Dao De Li Jia with a smile Only the first fall of snow in the tenth moon We'll have, after this, plenty of snowy days So there will be ample time To put your ladyships away for expense Verily, in that case, Mrs. Xie laughingly added My filial intentions may well be looked upon As having been accomplished Mrs. Xie, in opposed Lady Feng smiling Mind you don't forget it But you might as well away fifty tails This very moment And hand them over to me to keep Until the first fall of snow When I can get everything ready for the banquet In this way, you will neither have anything to bother you Nor will you have a chance of forgetting Well, since that be so Old Lady Dao remarked with a laugh Your ladyship had better give her fifty tails And I'll share it with her Each one of us taking twenty-five tails And on any day it might snow I'll pretend I don't feel in proper trim And let it slip by And thus, still less occasion to trouble yourself And I, Lady Feng, will reap a substantial benefit Lady Feng clapped her hands An excellent idea, she laughed This quite falls in with my views The whole company were much amused Sure, Dao the Lady Dao laughingly ejaculated You bare-faced thing You're like a snake which avails itself of the rod With which it is being beaten Crawl up and do harm You don't try to convince us That it properly dissolves upon us As Mrs Xu is our guest And receives such poor treatment in our household To invite her For with what right could we subject her ladyship To any reckless outlay But you have the impudence of impressing upon our minds To insist upon the payment In advance of fifty tails Are you really not thoroughly ashamed of yourself? Oh, worthy senior Lady Feng laughed You're most sharp-sighted You try to see whether Mrs Xu will be soft enough To produce fifty tails for you to share with me But fancy know that it is of no avail You turn round and begin to rate me By coming out with all these grand words I won't, however, take any money from you, Mrs Xu I'll, in fact, contribute some on your ladyship's account And when I get the banquet ready Venerable ancestor, to come and partake of it I'll also wrap fifty tails in a piece of paper And deutifully present them to you As a penalty for my officious interference In matters that don't disarm me Well, let's be all right or not Before these words were brought to your clothes The various inmates were so convulsed With hearty laughter That they reeled over on the stove couch Dowdy ladies had then went out to explain How much nicer Baoxing was Like a plum blossom in the snow Than the very picture itself And she next minutely inquired What the year, moon, day and hour of her birth were And how things were getting on in her home Mrs Xu conjectured That the object she had in mind Was in all probability To seek a partner for her In the secret recesses of her heart Mrs Xu on this account Fell in also with her views But it had, however Already been promised a marriage To the Mei family But as Dowdy ladies had made As yet no open allusion to her intentions Mrs Xu did not think it nice on her part To come out with any definite statement And she accordingly observed The old ladies out in a vague sorted way What a pity it is That this girl she have had so little good fortune Is to lose her father the year before last But ever since her youth up She has seen much of the world Which has been with her parents To every place of note Her father was a man of fond of pleasure And as he had business in every direction He took his family along with him After tearing in this province for her year He would next year again go to that province And spend half a year roaming about it everywhere Hence it is that He had visited five or six tenths Of the whole empire The other year when they were here He engaged her to the son of the Mei Hanling But as it happened Her father died of the year after And here is her mother too Now ailing from a superfluity of phlegm Lady Feng gave her no time to complete What she meant to say Hey, she explained stamping her foot What you say isn't opportune I was about to act as a girl between But is she too already engaged? For whom did you mean to act as a girl between? Old lady just smiled My dear ancestor, Lady Feng remarked Don't concern yourself about it I had a sermon in my mind That those two would make a suitable match But as she has now long ago Been promised to someone It will be of no use Or I even to speak out Isn't it better that I should hold my keys And talk the whole thing? Daoji Lady Jia herself Was cognizant of Lady Feng's purpose So upon hearing that she already had a suitor She at once desisted from making any further reference To the subject The whole company then continued another chat On the irrelevant matters For a time after which they broke up Nothing of interest transpired the whole night The next day the snowy weather had cleared up And the breakfast her grandmother Jia Gained price to suitorin You should go on she said With your painting Irrespective of cold or heat If you can't absolutely finish it By the end of the year it won't much matter The main thing is that You must at once introduce In its qingou and the maize with a plum blossom As we saw them yesterday In strict accordance with the original And without the least discrepancy Of so much as a stroke Suitorin listened to her And felt it her duty to signify her ascent In spite of the task being no easy one For her to execute After a time a number of her relatives came In a body to watch the progress of the painting They discovered Suitorin plunged in a reverie Let's leave her alone Liu An smiley observed to them all To proceed with her meditations You can meanwhile have a chat to one ourselves Yesterday our worthy senior Bayloth devised a few lantern conundrums So when we got home I and Sia and Wang'er Did not turn in but set to work I composed a couple on the four books But those two girls also managed To put together another pair of them We should hear what they are like They laugh when they exclaimed in chorus When they heard what they had done Tell them to ask first and let's have a guess The goddess of mercy Had not been handed down by any ancestors This year's mild This refers to a passage in the four books In one's conduct One must press towards the highest benevolence Some in quickly are deposed Taking up the thread of the conversation You should ponder over the meaning Of the three words in line Handed down by ancestors I smiled before you venture a guess Think again You weren't urged with a smile I've guessed it That you smiled If not withstanding or that benevolence There'd be no outward visible sign That's the line One and all unanimously exclaimed with a laugh The whole pond is covered with rush Now find the name of the rush You weren't proceeded This must certainly be the cap-tailed rush Hesley again replied Xiangming Can this not be right? Did you succeed in guessing it? Li Wen smiled Li Wen's is Cold runs the stream along the stones Bearing on the name of a man of old Can this be Shunpo? Tentron smileily asked It is Answered Li Wen Where is the character Ying? Glowworm It refers to a single word Li Wen resumed The party endeavoured for a long time To hit upon the solution The meaning of this is subtly deep Barting put in I wonder whether it is the character Hua? Flower In the combination Hua-cao Vegetation That's just it Li Xi smiled There's a glowworm to do with flowers One end all observed It's cap-tail They're eventured with a smile Isn't a glowworm transformed from plants? The company grabbed the sense And, laughing the while They, with one consent, shouted out Splendid All these are, I admit, good About her remarks But they want to tell vulnerable seniors taste Wanted to be better, therefore There's a few on some simple objects Some, which all of us Whether polished or unpolished May be able to enjoy Yes, they all replied We should also think of some simple ones Or ordinary objects I've devised one on the Tentron's meter Xiaoying pursued After some reflection But it's really on an ordinary object So try and guess it Staying this, she forthwith Went on to recite The creaks and valleys it leaves Travelling the world it performs In truth, how funny it is But renown and gain are still vain Ever had behind it is its fate A conundrum None of those present Could fathom what it could be After protracted thought Some made a guess by saying It was a bonds Others maintained that it was a Taoist priest Others again devined That it was a marionette All your guesses are wrong Baoyu chimed in After a considerable reflection I've got it A must for a certainty Be a performing monkey That's really it, Xiaoying laughed The first part is alright The party observed But had you explained the last line What performing monkey Xiaoying asked Was his tail cut off? Hearing this, they exploded into A fit of merriment Even, they argued, the very riddles She improvised are perverse and strange Mrs. Shui mentioned yesterday That you, Cousinting, have seen Much of the world they were input in And that you had also Gone about a good deal Is for you, therefore, to try Your hand at a few conundrums What's more, your poetry too So why shouldn't you Indite a view for us, too, yes Baoyu, at this proposal Knotted her head And while repressing a smile She went off by herself To give way to thought Baoyu then also gave out this riddle Carved sandal and cut cedar Rise layer upon layer Have they been piled And fashioned by workmen of skill In the mid heavens Is true, both wind And rain fleet by But can one hear the tingling Of the Buddhist bell While they were giving their mind To guessing what it could be Baoyu, too, recited Both from the heavens and from the earth Is indistinct to view What time The Langan feast goes past Then minds you take great care When the Luan's notes you catch And the crane's message The world's look up It is a splendid thing To turn and breathe toward The fault of heaven Baoyu next added Why need a famous deed Baoyu with riddle ever restrained Though at the city it speeds The moat it's guts How fierce it looks The master gives the word And wind and clouds begin to move On the fishbacks And the three isles It only makes a name Tan Trun had also one That she felt disposed to tell them Which just as she was about to open her lips Barton walked up to them The relics of various places I've seen Since my youth, she smiled Are not few So I have now selected ten places Of historic interest on which I have composed ten olds Treating of antiquities The verses may possibly be coarse But they bear upon things of the past And secretly refer as well To ten commonplace articles So cousins, please try and guess them This is ingenious They exclaimed in chorus When they heard the result of her labour Why not write them out And let us have a look at them But Tareeda Brows to the next chapter If you want to learn what follows End of section 51 Recording by Yuting in Singapore Section 52 of the Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 This is a Librebox recording All Librebox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Librebox.org Recording by Yuting in Singapore The Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 by Cao Xueqing Translated by Henry Bencroft Jolly Chapter 51, Part 1 The young maiden Xue Baoxing Devises a novel style Oves bearing on antiquities A stupid doctor employs In reckless manner Drugs of great strength When the party heard the story goes That Baoxing had made the old places of interest She had in days gone by Visited in the various provinces The theme of her verses And that she had composed ten stanzas With four lines in each Which though referring to relics of antiquity Bore covertly on ten common objects They all opined that they must be novel and ingenious And they vied with each other In examining the text On perusal they read On the relics of Chiwi Deep in Chiwi, doth water lie Concealed which does not onward flow There but remains a name And surname contained in an empty boat With a clamorous din the fire breaks out The said wind waxes cold And endless host of eminent spirits Wander about inside On the ascent remains Indulge Posts of copper and walls of gold Protect the capital Its fame is spread beyond the seas Scattered in boring lands How true it is That my own achievements have been great The fruit of iron Need not trouble to sing of zifang On the vestiges of former times In Zhongshan Renown and gained do they At any time fall to a woman's chair For no reason have I been bidden Come into the mortal world How hard a task in point of fact It is to stop solicitude Don't bear a grudge against such people May off-time cheer at you On things of historic interest in Huai'ing The steady man must ever mind The insults of the vicious dog The official's rank in Senchi Was but fixed where his cuffing was clothed Tell all people that upon earth Do dwell to look down upon none The bounty of one single bowl of rice Should be treasured till death On events of old in Guangling Cicada's chirp Crows roost But in a twinkle they're gone How fares these latter days The scenery in Sui Di It's all because he has so long enjoyed So fine a fame That he has given rise around To so many disputes On the ancient remains of the Tauye Fairy Dried grass and patched plants They reflect cast upon the shallow pond The peach tree branches and peach leaves Were bit farewell at last What a large number of structures In Liu Tao raised their heads A small picture with a motto Hangs on the hollow wall On the antique vestiges of Xinzhong The black stream stretches far and white But hindered is its course What time were no more thrummed The frozen courts, the songs waxed sad The policy of the Han dynasty Was in truth strange A worthless officer must for a thousand years Feel shame On things of historical renown in Maui Quiet the sports of rouge With sweat pile up and shine Gentleness in a moment vanishes and goes It is because traces remain of his fine looks That to this day his clothes Are fragrance still emit On events of the past connected With a budong temple The small red lamp is wholly made of thin bone And is light Virtually was it brought along But by force was it stolen Oft was it, it is true Hunger by the mistress's own hands But long year this has she allured to it To speed off with her On the scenery about the Meihua Or Plum Blossom monastery If not by the plum trees Then by the willows it must be Has anyone picked up in there The likeness of a girl? Don't fret about meeting again In spring its scent returns As soon as its gone In west winds blow Another year has flown When the party had done Reading the verses They with perfect anonymity Extolled their extraordinary excellence Balchaiwos however The first she raised any objections The first aid stanzas I founded upon the testimony Of the historical works But as for the last two stanzas Knowing where they come from Besides, we don't quite fathom their meaning Wouldn't it be better then If two other stanzas were written? They were hastened to interrupt her The lines composed by cousin Balchin Are indeed devised in a two-pic headed And fast and loose sort of way She observed The two stanzas are, I admit Not to be traced in historical works But though we've never met such outside traditions And haven't any idea What lies at the bottom of them Have we not likely seen a couple of plays? What child of three years old Has in come notion about them And how much more such as we? What she says is perfectly correct Tentren chimed in She has, besides, Leone there remarked Being to these places herself But though there be no mention Anywhere of these two references Falsehoods have from old to now Been propagated And the busybodies have, in fact Intentionally invented such relics Of ancient times with a view Of bamboozling people That year, for instance In which we travelled up here to the capital We came across Braves Phrased to Guan, the Sage In three or four distinct places Now the stanzas of the whole existence Of Guan, the Sage Are established by actual proof So how could there again in his case Exist a lot of graves? This must arise from the esteem In which he is held by posterity For the way he acquitted himself Of his duties during his lifetime And it is presumably to this esteem That this fiction owes its origin This is quite possible enough Even in the Guan Yuzi You will see that not only are numerous Tombs of the Sage Guan spoken of But that bygone persons of note Are assigned tombs not view in number But there are many more relics of antiquity About which no testimony can be gathered The matter treated in the two stanzas Now in point is, of course Not borne out by any actual record Yet in every story that is told In every play that is sung And on the various slips as well Used for fortune telling It is invariably to be found Old and young, men and women Do all understand it and speak of it Whether in proverbs or in their everyday talk They don't resemble, besides The bellas encountered in the shishanzi And muzhenting to justify us to fear That we might be setting eyes upon some corrupt text There are quite harmless Better keep them Baotai after these arguments Dropped at length or discussion They therefore tried for a time to guess the stanzas None, however, of their solutions turned out to be correct But as the days in winter are short And they saw that it was time for their evening meal They adjourned to the front part of the compound For their supper The servants at this stage announced to Madam Wang That Xiren's elder brother Huazi Fang was outside And reported to her that he had entered the city To say that his mother was lying in bed, dangerously ill And that she was so longing to see her daughter That he had come to beg for the favour of taking Xiren home On a visit As soon as Madam Wang heard the news She dilated farewell upon people's mothers and daughters And of course she did not withhold her consent Sending therefore at the same time for Lady Feng She communicated the tidings to her And enjoined her to deliberate and take suitable action Lady Feng signified her willingness to do what was necessary And returning to her quarters She then barren commissioned Zhou Rui's wife To go and break the news to Xiren Send also, she went on to direct Mrs Shou For one of the married women who are in attendance Would go out of doors and let you two together With a couple of young maids Follow Xiren home But this batch of four-cut attendants Boiled up in years to look everywhere For a spacious clerical for you as well as her And a small carriage for the maids All right, acquiesced Zhou Rui's wife But just as she was about to start Lady Feng continued her injunctions Xiren, she added, is a person not fond of any fuss So tell her, that is, I who have given the orders And impress upon her that she must put on several nice coloured clothes And pick up a large valise full of wearing apparel Her valise must be a handsome one And she must take a decent hand-stove But her two first come and look me up here When she's about to start Mrs Shou promised to execute her directions And went on her way After a long interval Lady Feng actually saw Xiren arrive Got up in full costume and headgear And with her two waiting maids and Zhou Rui's wife Who carried the hand-stove and the valise Packed up with clothes Lady Feng's eye was attracted By several golden helipads And pearl ornaments of great brillancy and beauty Which Xiren were in her copure Her gaze was further struck By the peach-red stiff silk jacket she had on With all sorts of flowers in lined with ermine By her leek-green-waded tube Artistically ornamented With coils of gold thread And by the blueish satin and grey-squirrel Police she was wrapped in These three articles of clothing Given to you by our dowager lady Lady Feng smiled They're all very nice But this police is somewhat too plain If you wear this, you'll besides feel too cold So put on one with long fur Our Madam Wang, Xiren lovingly rejoined Gave me this one with a grey-squirrel I've also got one with ermine She says that when the end of the year draws nigh She'll let me have one with long fur I've got one with long fur Lady Feng proceeded with a smile I don't fancy it much As the fringe does not hang with grace I was on the point of having it changed But never mind, I'll let you first use it And when that the close of the year Madam Wang has one made for you I can then have mine altered And it will come to the same thing As if I'm returning it like that to me One and all laughed That's the way of talking Into which her ladyship has got They observed There she is the whole year round Wrecklessly, eclairlessly and secretly Making good on Madam Wang's account Ever so many things How many there is no saying For really the things for which compensation is made Cannot be so much as enumerated And does she ever go And settle scores with Madam Wang And here she comes on this occasion And gives vent again to this mean language In order to poke fun at people How could Madam Wang, Lady Feng laughed Ever give a thought to such trifles as these They are in fact matters of no consequence Yet were I not to look after them You would be a disgrace to all of us And needless to say I would myself get into some scrape It's far better that I should dress you all properly And so get a fair name and a finish For where each of you to cut the figure of a burnt cake People would first and foremost ridicule me By saying that in looking after the households I have, instead of doing good Being the means of making beggars of you After hearing her out The whole party heaved a sigh Who could ever be They exclaimed So intuitively wise as you To show above such regards for Madam Wang And below such consideration For her subordinates In the course of these remarks They noticed Lady Feng bit Pinger Find the dark green stiff silk cloak With the white fox She had won the day before And give it to Xiren But perceiving also That in the way of a valise She only had a double one Made of black-spotted, figured sarsenet With a lining of light red pongee silk And that its contents consisted Nearly of two weighted jackets The words for wear And a polise Lady Feng went out to tell Pinger To fetch a woollen wrapper Lined with jade and green pongee But she ordered her besides To pack up a snow cloak for her Pinger walked away and produced the articles The one was made of deep red felt And was old The other was deep red soft satin Neither rode nor knew I don't deserve so much as a single one of these Xiren said Keep this felt one for yourself Pinger smiled I take this one along with you And tell someone to send it to that elderly girl Who while everyone in that heavy forest Snow yesterday was rode up in soft satin If not in felt And while about ten dark red dresses Were reflected in the deep snow And presented such a fine sight Was the only one tied in those shabby old clothes She seems more than ever to raise her shoulders And double her back She's really to be pitted So take this now and give it to her She's so repetitiously wishes to give my things away I haven't got enough to spend upon myself And here I have you, better still To instigate me to be more open-handed This comes from the filial piety Of your ladyship has ever displayed towards men and one Everyone laughingly remarked And the fond love for those below you For had you been mean and only thought Of making much of your things And not cared a rap for your subordinates Would that girl have resumed To behave in this manner? If anyone therefore has read my heart Is she, lady from rejoined with a love But yet she only knows it in part At the close of this rejoinder She again spoke to Ziren If your mother gets well, alright She said, but if anything happens to her Just stay over and send someone to let me know So that I may specially dispatch a servant To bring you your bedding Whatever you do, don't use their bedding Nor any of those things to comb your hair with As for you people, continuing She observed to Mrs. Strawberry You no doubt are aware of the customs Prevailing in this establishment So that I can dispense with giving you any injunctions Yes, we know them all Mrs. Strawberry assented As soon as we get there We'll of course request the male inmates To retire out of the way And in the event of our having to stay over We'll naturally apply for one or two extra inner rooms With these words still on her lips She follows Ziren out of the apartment Then directing the servant boys to prepare the lanterns They, in due course, got into the curicle And came to Hua Zi Fang's quarters Where we will leave them without any further comment Lady Feng meanwhile Sent also for two nurses from the Yi Hong Court I'm afraid she's out of them That Ziren won't come back So if there be any elderly girl Who has your knowledge so far Had her wits about her Debut her to come and keep an eye'd watch In bar use rooms But you nurses must likewise take care And exercise some control For you mustn't let bar use recklessly Kick up any trouble Quite so, answered the two nurses Agreeing to her directions After which they quitted her presence But not a long interval expired Before they came to report the result of their search We've set our choice upon Qin Wen and Shiyue To put up in his rooms, they reported We four will take our turn And look after things during the night When Lady Feng heard these arrangements She nodded her head At night, she observed Urchin to retire to bed soon In the morning, prayer seemed to get up At an early hour The nurses replied that they would readily Carry out her orders And return alone into the garden In a little time Doris White actually brought the news Which she imparted to Lady Feng That as her mother was already beyond hope Ziren could not come back Lady Feng then explained things to Madam Wang And sent at the same time Servants to the Garden of Broad Vista Defeated Ziren's bedding and toilet defects Bao Yu watched Qin Wen and Shiyue Get all her belongings in proper order After the things had been dispatched Qin Wen and Shiyue divested themselves Or their remaining finaries And changed the dukes and jackets Qin Wen seated herself around a warming frame Now, Shiyue smiled You're not aware on the heirs of a young lady I advise you to also move about a bit We are all clean gone Qin Wen returned for answer I shall have ample time to butch But every day that you people are here I shall try and enjoy peace and quiet My dear girl Show your love I'll make the bed But drop the cover over the shovel glass And put the catchers right You're so much taller than I So saying, she at once set to work To arrange the bed for Bao Yu Hey! Ejaculated Qin Wen smiling One just sits down to warm oneself And here you come and a disturbed one Bao Yu had at this time been sitting Plunged in a despondent mood The thought of Qin Wen's mother Had crossed through his mind And he was wondering whether She should be dead or alive When unexpectedly overhearing Qin Wen Passed the remarks she did He speedily sprung up And came out himself And dropped the cover of the glass And fastened the contrivance After which he walked into the room Warm yourselves He smiled I've done all there was to be done I can't manage Qin Wen rejoined smiling To get warm at all It just also thrice me That the warming pan hasn't yet been brought You've had the trouble to think of it Chui observed But you've never wanted a shaving dish before It's so warm besides on that Warming frame of ours Not like the stove couch in that room Which is so cold That we can very well do without it today If both of you are to sleep on that Bao Yu smiled There won't be a soul with me outside And I shall be in an awful funk Even you won't be able to have A wink of sleep during the whole night As far as I'm concerned Qin Wen within I'm going to sleep in here There's Shui Yue So you'd better induce her to come and sleep outside But while they kept up this conversation The first watch drew near And Shui Yue at once lowered the mosquito curtain Removed the lamp Burned the jostics And waited upon Bao Yu until he got into bed The two maids then retired to rest Qin Wen reclined all alone On the warming frame While Shui Yue laid down outside The winter apartment End of section 52 Recording by Yu Qing in Singapore Section 53 of The Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 This is a LibraVox recording All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibraVox.org Recording by Yu Qing in Singapore The Dream of the Red Chamber Book 2 by Sao Shui Qing Translated by Henry Bencroft's Jolly Chapter 51, Part 2 The third watch had come and gone When Bao Yu, in the midst of a dream Started calling Xiren He uttered her name twice But no one was about to answer him And it was after he had stirred himself out of sleep That he eventually recalled To remind that Xiren was not at home And he had a hearty fit of laughter to himself Xiren, however Had been roused out of her sleep And she called Shui Yue Even I, she said Had been disturbed Faster sleep than I was And, no, she keeps a lookout By her very side And doesn't yet know anything about his cries In every deed, she's like a stiff corpse Shui Yue twisted herself round and yawned He called Xiren She smiled and rejoined So what's that to do with me? What do you want? Proceeding, she then inquired of him I want some tea Bao Yue replied Shui Yue hastily jumped out of bed With nothing on but a short-waided coat Of red silk Throw my police over you Bao Yue cried For mine is cold Shui Yue at these words Put back her hands And, taking the one police Lined even up to the lapel Shui Yue from the neck of the sable Which Bao Yue had put on on getting up She threw it over her shoulders And went below and washed her hands in the basin Then fully first a cup With tepid water She brought a large cup siddle for Bao Yue To wash his mouth Afterwards, she drew near the tea case And, getting a cup She first rinsed it with lukewarm water And pouring half a cup of tea From the warm teapot She handed it to Bao Yue After he had done She herself rinsed her mouth And swallowed half a cupful of tea My dear girl Shui Yue interposed, smiling Do you give me also a sip? You put on more air than ever Shui Yue laughed My dear girl Shui Yue added Tomorrow night, you needn't sputch I'll wait on you the whole night long What do you say to that? Hearing this Shui Yue had no help But to attend to her as well While she watched her mouth And poured a cup of tea And gave it to her to drink Want you to go to sleep? Shui Yue loved, but keep on chatting I go out where as I'm I'll be back soon Are there any evil spirits Waiting for you outside? Shui Yue smiled It's sure to be bright moonlight Out of doors, Bao Yue observed So go while we continue our chat So speaking He coughed twice Shui Yue opened the back door And raised on the woollen port of Yale And looking out, she saw what a beautiful moonlight there really was Qing Wen allowed her Just time enough to leave the room When she felt a wish to prize On her for the sake of fun But such reliance did she have In her physique, which had so far Proved better than that of others That little worrying her mind about the cold She's not even through a cloak over her But putting on a short jacket She descended With gentle threat and light step From the warming frame And was making her way out To follow in her wake When, hello! Cried Bao Yue warning her It's freezing, it's no joke Qing Wen merely responded With a wave of her hand And salad out of the door The companion The brilliancy of the moon Which met her eye Or as limpid as water But suddenly came a slight gust of wind She felt it penetrate her very flesh And bore through her bones So much so That she could not help shutting all over Little wonder is it She argued within herself If people say that one mustn't When one's body is warm Expose oneself to the wind This cold is really dreadful She was at the same time Just on the point of giving When she heard Bao Yue shout from inside Qing Wen has come out Qing Wen promptly turned back And entered the room How could I ever frighten her to death She laughed It's just your way You're as great a coward as an old woman It isn't at all That you might do her harm By frightening her Bao Yue smiled But in the first place It wouldn't be good for you to get frostbitten And in the second You would take her so much of her guard That she won't be able to prevent herself From uttering a shout So in the event of rousing Any of the others outside of their sleep They won't say that We're up to jokes But maintain instead That just as she was only days gone As if you'd come across ghosts Or seen evil spirits Come and tuck in the coverlets on this side When Qing Wen heard what he wanted done She came accordingly And tucked in the covers And putting out her hands She inserted them under them And set her work to warm the bedding How cold your hand is Bao Yue laughingly exclaimed I told you to look out Or you'd freeze Noticing at the same time That Qing Wen's cheeks were as red as rouge He rubbed them with his hands But as they felt ice cold to his touch Come at once under the cover And warm yourself Bao Yue urged Hardly, however Had he concluded these words Then a sound of gudeng reached their ears From the door And she'll be rushed in All in a tremor laughing the while I had such a fright As she went on speaking Goodness me I saw it in the black shade At the back of the borders on that hill Someone squatting And it was about to scream When it turned out to be nothing else Than that big golden pheasant As soon as it caught sight of a human being It flew away But it was only when it reached A moonlit place that I at last Found out what it was Had I been so heedless as to scream I would have been the means of getting people Out of their beds Recount her experiences She washed her hands Qing Wen, you said Had gone out She proceeded to laughing But how is it I never caught a glimpse of her She must certainly have gone to frighten me Isn't this she Bao Yue inquired with a smile Is she not here warming herself Had I not been quick in shouting To verily have given you a fright There was no need For me to go out and frighten her She went laughingly observed This hussy had frightened her own self With these words She has gone to herself again Under her own covenant Did you force her to go out She remarked In this smart dress of a circus performer Why, of course She went out to like this Bao Yue smiled For the life of you How to choose felicitous day Bao Yue added There you go and stand about On a fruitless errand Won't your skin get shaped from the frost Saying this She again raised the copper cover From the brassiere And, picking up the shovel She buried live charcoal deep with ashes And taken two bits of incense Of Cambodia fragrant wood Chipped through them over them She covered the brassiere And, repairing to the back of the screen She gave the lamp a thorough trimming To make it throw out more light After which she once more laid herself down As she went ahead sometime before felt cold And now began to get warm again She unexpectedly seized a couple of times How about that Sidebar Yue There you are After all caught a chill Early this morning Yue smiled She shouted that she wasn't feeling quite herself Neither did she have the whole day A proper bowl of food And now, not to speak of her Taking so little care of herself She's still bent upon playing Blahs upon people But if she was ill by and by Will let her suffer Was she or have fought upon herself Is your head hot? Bao Yue asked At all, soon when rejoined After coughing twice When did I get so delicate But while she spoke The herd at the striking clock Suspended on the partition wall In the outer rooms Give two sounds of dum, dum And the matron On the night to watch outside Say, now young girls Go to sleep Tomorrow I'll be timing up for you to chat and laugh Don't let's talk Or, mind, will also induce them To start chattering After this, they at last Went to sleep The next day, they got up At an early hour Tsing Wen's nose was indeed Considerably stopped Her voice was hoarse And she felt no inclination to move Be quick And don't make a fuss For your mistress, my mother May come to know of it Or shift to your house and nurse yourself Your home might, of course Be all very nice But it is, in fact, somewhat cold Yet isn't it better here Go and lie down in the inner rooms And I'll give orders to someone To send for the doctor to come quietly By the back door and have a look at you You'll then get all right again In spite of what you say Tsing Wen demurred You must really say something about it To a senior lady, Mrs. Xia Zhuo Otherwise, the daughter will be Coming unawares And people will begin to ask questions And what answer could one give them? Barui found what she said So full of reason That he called an old nurse Go and deliver this message To your senior mistress He enjoined her Tell her that Tsing Wen Got a slight chill yesterday That as it's nothing to speak of And she is, besides, away There would be more than ever No one here to look after things Where she'd go home and attend to herself So let her send for a doctor To come quietly by the back entrance And see what's the matter with her But don't let her breathe a word About it to Madam Wan, my mother The old nurse Was away a considerable time On the errand, on her return Our senior mistress, she reported Has been told everything She says that If she gets all right After taking a couple of doses of medicine It will be well and good But, that in the event of not Recovering It would, really, be the right thing For her to go to her own home That the reason isn't healthy At present And that if the other girls caught her complaint It would be a small thing But that the good health of the young ladies Is a vital matter Tsing Wen was lying in the winter apartment Cuffing and cuffing When overhearing Li Wan's answer She lost control over her temper Have I got such dreadful epidemic? She said That she fears that I shall bring it upon others I'll clear off at once from this place For mind you Don't get any headaches and hot heads During the course of your lives While uttering her grievances She was spent upon glitting up Immediately Patent to smile and to press her down Don't lose your temper He advised her This is a responsibility Which was upon her shoulders So she's afraid Lest Madam Wan might come to hear of it And call her to task She only made a harmless remark But you're always been prone to anger And now, as a matter of course Your spring is larger than ever But in the middle of his advice to her A servant came and told him That the daughter had arrived While you accordingly crossed over To the off-site And retired behind the bookcase From Wen's he perceived two or three Matrons whose duty it was To keep watch at the back door Ushered the daughter in The waiting-ways Meanwhile, we threw out of the way Through our four old nurses Dropped the deep-roaded embroidered curtain Suspended in the winter apartment Xiuwen then simply stretched out her hand From among the foes of the curtain But the doctor noticed That two of the fingers of her hand The nails which measured Fully two or three inches in length Still bore marks of the pure red dye From the china balsam And forthwith He turned his head away An old nurse speedily fetched A towel and wiped them for her When the doctor said to work And felt her pulse for a while After which he rose And walked into the outer chamber Your young lady's illness He said to the old nurses Arises from external sources And internal obstructive influences Caused by the unhealthiness Of the season of late Yet it's only a slight chill After all Fortunately the young lady Has ever been moderate In her drinking and eating The cold she has is nothing much It's mainly because she has A weak constitution That she has unawares got a bit of a chill But if she takes a couple Of doses of medicine to dispel it with She'll be quite right So saying He followed once more the matron Out of the house The one had, by this time Send words to the various female Domestics at the back entrance As well as to the young maids In the different parts of the establishment To keep in retirement All therefore that the doctor Perceived as he went along Was the scenery in the garden But not a single girl did he see Shortly He made his exit out of the garden gate And taken a seat In the duty lodge of the servant mat He looked after the garden entrance He wrote a prescription Sir Urgent nurse Don't go yet And there may be, I fancy Something more to ask you Wasn't the one I saw just now A young lady The doctor exclaimed with eagerness But a young man he Yet the rooms were such As are occupied by ladies The curtains were besides let down Though could the patient I saw Have ever been a young man My dear sir Laughed the old nurse It isn't strange that a servant girl Said just now that a new doctor Had been sent for on this occasion For you really know nothing About our family matters That room is said of our young master And that is a girl attached To the apartments But she's really a servant maid However were those a young lady's Rooms Had a young lady fallen ill Would you ever have penetrated Inside with such ease With these words she took the prescription And went it her way into the garden When Balu came to peruse it He found above such medicines Mentioned as sweet basil Plastic hold on Carry away seeds Mosla dientra And the like And below Citrus spouska And cider as well He deserves to be hanged He deserves there Balu shouted This girl's in the very same way As you would as men How could this ever do No matter what internal obstruction There may be How could she ever stand citrus And cider Who asked him to come Bundle him off at once And send for another Who knows what he's about Whether he uses the right medicines Or not The old nurse pleaded To go and ask daughter while around It is easy enough The only thing is that As these doctor wasn't sent for Through the head manager's office His fee must be paid to him How much must one give him Balu inquired We're one to give him too little It wouldn't look nice A matron mentioned He should be given a tale This would be quite the thing With such a household as ours Balu asked How much is he given Whenever Dr Wang and Dr Zhang come A matron smileily explained No money is ever given them Add to the four seasons of each year However Presents are simply sent to them in a lump This is a fixed annual custom But this new doctor Has come only this once So he should be given a tale After this explanation Balu readily paid Shoyu to go and fetch the money I can't make out where Sister Hua put it Shoyu rejoined I've often seen her take money out of that Laked press Ornamented with designs made with shells Balu added So come along with me and let's go and search As he spoke He and Shoyu came together Into what was used as a storeroom By Xiren Upon opening the shell-covered press They found the top shelf full of pens Pieces of ink Fans, scented cakes Various kinds of purses Handkerchiefs and other like articles While on the lower shelf Were piled several strings of cash But presently they pulled out The drawer when they saw In a small wicker basket Several pieces of silver And a steel yard Shoyu quickly snatched a piece of silver Then raised on the steel yard Which is the one tail mark? She asked Balu laughed It's amusing that you should appeal to me He said You really behave, as if you had only just come Shoyu also laughed And was about to go and make inquiries Of someone else When Balu interfered Choose a piece out of those big ones And give it to him And have done He said, we don't go in for buying So what's the use of mining such trifles? Shoyu, upon hearing this Dropped the steel yard And selected a piece Which she weighed in her hand This piece, she smiled Must, I fancy, be a tail But it would be better to let him have a little more Don't let it give too little As those poor brats Will have a laugh at our expense They won't say that We know nothing about this steel yard Which is currently mean A matron who stood At the threshold of the door Smilily chimed in This ingot, she said Ways five tails Even if you cut half of it off It will weigh a couple of tails, at least But there are no sizey She has that hand So, miss, put this piece aside And choose a smaller one Shoyu had already closed the press And walked out Again, she laughed If there's a little more Well, you take it and finish Be quick And tell Beeming To go for another doctor It will be all right The matron received the money And marched off to go and settle matters Presently Doctor One actually arrived At the invitation of Beeming First and foremost He felt the pulse Of the complaint, as the other doctor did In the first instance The only difference being That there was, in fact No citrus, or cider, or other similar drugs Included in the prescription It contained, however False sasa perilla roots Dried orange peel Pionia albiflora And other similar medicines But the quantities were On the other hand, considerably smaller As compared with those of the drugs Mentioned in the former prescription These are the medicines Baru ejaculated exultingly Suitable for girls This should, is true Be of a laxative nature But never over and above What's need for When I fell ill last year I suffered from a chill But I got such an obstruction In the viscera That I could neither take anything liquid Or substantial The state I was in He said that I couldn't stand the cider Ground gypsum, citrus And other such violent drugs You and I resemble the newly opened Walter begonia Winger sent me in autumn And how could you resist medicines Which are too much for me Were like lofty aspen trees Which grows in people's burial grounds To look at The branches and leaves Are of luxuriant growth Low at the core Do open aspen trees Wear in waste burial grounds Show your smile Is it likely, pray, That there are no fur and cypress trees What's more loathsome Than any other is the aspen For though a lofty tree It only has a few leaves And it makes quite a confused noise With the slightest puff of wind If you therefore deliberately Compare yourself to it You'll also be ranging yourself Too much among the common herd I didn't like it myself To fur or cypress But you laugh in the retorted Even Confucius says After the season waxes curled One finds that the fur and cypress Are the last to lose their foliage Which makes it evident That these do things Are of high estimates Thus it's those only Who are devoid of every sense of shame Who foolishly liken themselves To trees of their kind While engaged in this colloquy They perceived the old matron Bring the drunks So barry bait hath fetched the silver pot Used for boiling medicines in And then he directed her to prepare The decoction on the brasier The right thing would be She once suggested That you should let them go And get it ready in the tea room For what it's ever do To fill this room With a smell of medicines The smell of medicines Barry rejoined Is far nicer than that emitted By the whole lot of flowers Fairies pick medicines And prepare medicines Besides this, eminent men And cultured scholars Gather medicines and concoct medicines So that it constitutes a most excellent thing I was just thinking That there's everything In this room And that the only thing that we lack Is the smell of medicines But as luck would have it Everything is now complete Speaking, he lost no time In giving orders to a servant To put the medicines on the fire Next, he advised show you To get ready a few presents And bid a nurse Take them and go and look up siren And extort her not to give way To excessive grief That had to be seen to He repaired to the front To dowry the Lady Jia in Madam Wang's quarters And paid his respects And had his meal Lady Feng, as it happened Was just engaged in consulting With old Lady Jia in Madam Wang The days are now short As well as cold, she argued So would it be advisable That my senior sister-in-law Mrs. Jia Zhu Should hence-forward have her re-pass In the garden along with the young ladies When the weather gets milder It won't at all matter If they have to run backward and forward This is really a capital idea Madam Wang smiled It will be so convenient during windy And rainy weather To inhale the chilly air after eating Isn't good And to some quite empty And begin piling up a lot of things In a stomach full of cold air It would be as well, therefore To select two cooks from among the women Who have anyhow To keep night duty in the large Five-roomed house Inside the garden back entrance And station them there For the special purpose of preparing The necessary vines for the girls Fresh vegetables are subject to Some rule of distribution So they can be issued to them From the general manager's office Or they might possibly require money But be in need of some things or other And it will be all right If a few of those pheasants Steer in every kind of game Be apportioned to them I too was just thinking about this The older ladies out-served The only thing I feared Was that with the extra work That would again be thrown upon The cookhouse They might have too much to do There'll be nothing much to do Lady Feng replied The same apportionment will continue as ever In here Something may be added But in there something will be reduced Should it even involve a little trouble It will be a small matter If the girls were exposed to the cold wind Everyone else might stand it With impunity But how could cousin Lin First and foremost above all others Resist any of the kind In fact, brother Bar himself Wouldn't be approved against it What's more None of the various young ladies Convosed of a strong constitution Watch rejoinder Old ladies are made to Lady Feng At the close of the representations It's not yet ascertained So, Riga Listen to the explanations you will find Given in the next chapter End of section 53 Recording by Yuting in Singapore