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Then scholar of the West,
Now prefect in the south,
I work at court or rest
By riverside or at its mouth.
In crimson robe with golden belt I'm drest,
Who could say I've not done my best?
I won't regret my hair turns gray,
But I'd go home a thousand miles away.
I can't retire, I am afraid,
My home-going steeds are delayed.
“I'm a prefect all my life long.
Don't think I've done anything wrong.
I drink but water from the fountain;
I like to sit and face the mountain.”
I am Du Bao, prefect of Nan'an in the south and descendent of Du Fu, famous poet of Tang Dynasty who lived in the west for long. Now I am over fifty years old. Since I passed the civil service examinations at the age of twenty and served as prefect for three years, I have built my reputation as a good prefect. My wife is Lady Zhen, descendent of Empress Zhen of Wei Dynasty, whose family living near Mount Eyebrows is known for its virtue. We have only one daughter, a fair maiden not yet engaged. As a well-educated daughter should be well married, I should like to discuss the matter with my wife now I am unoccupied today.
A daughter may transmit my fame;
Since I've no son to tarnish my name.
(Enter Lady Zhen.)
Descendent of Princess Zhen by riverside,
My family did in the west reside.
Having left Mount Eyebrows,
I'm the first Lady of Nan'an now;
(They greet each other.)
Du: I become prefect with no virtue high.
Lady Zhen: I'm the first lady none deny.
Du: What is our daughter doing at her leisure?
Lady Zhen: She is doing her needlework with pleasure.
Du : As for needlework, I think she is good enough. But since old days, fair maidens should be good in reading and writing, so that when she is married to a well-educated scholar, they may keep good company all their life long. What do you think of it, Madame?
Lady Zhen: You are right, my lord.
(Enter Du the Belle followed by her maid Fragrant Spring with a tray of wine cups,)
Belle (Singing to the previous tune):
Even orioles will sing
Of the beauty of spring.
How can young grass repay
The warm light of spring day?
(Greeting her parents) A hundred blessings, dear Dad and Mom.
Du: Why have you brought wine cups here?
Belle (Kneeling): Spring is so fine and you are enjoying your rest in the rear hall. So I come to offer you three cups of wine with my best wishes.
Du (Laughing): You are quite thoughtful.
Belle (Singing to the tune of Drunken Jade Mountain):
A hundred blessings to you!
Your daughter overjoyed in view
Of the rear hall where spring days shine,
Would offer you three cups of wine.
Though I regret to have no brother,
A later son would bring joy to father and mother.
Together: Let's raise our cups!
After a daughter will a son come up.
Du: Fragrant Spring, fill the cup of your young mistress. (Singing to the previous tune):
Our ancestor Du Fu regretted to roam
With his family far away from home.
Do you not think I'm even worse,
For he had sons to read his verse,
While I've only a daughter to pencil her brow?
Lady Zhen: Don't worry, my lord, now
A worthy son-in-law is as good as a son.
Du (With a smile): Do you think there could be a worthy one?
Lady Zhen : Hell glorify the house, as ancients say,
Do not complain! We're only in the middle of our way.
Together: Let's raise our cup.
After a daughter will a son come up.
Du: Take the tray away, my dear. (Exit the Belle with the tray of wine cups.)
Now Fragrant Spring, what is your young mistress doing all day long in her bower?
Fragrant: She passes her hours by embroidering flowers.
Du: So many flowers?
Fragrant: Besides the flowers, she'll sleep away her hours.
Du: How many hours?
Fragrant: As many as flowers.
Du: Ah! Madame, you have told me what our daughter is doing in floral shade. How could she sleep away her hours? Is that the way you told her to do? Call her back at once! (Re-enter the Belle.)
Belle: What are you calling me back for, dad?
Du: Fragrant Spring has told me how you have passed your days. How could you have slept away your hours without reading books on your shelves? Don't you know a married daughter would honor her family to know reading matters and good manners? How could your mother forget to tell you that?
( Singing to the tune of Jade-adorned Belt):
Although a frugal life we lead,
I've never forgot to read.
A daughter may live as a guest,
A wife at home should do her best.
Your dad may not be strict with you,
But your mom should tell you what to do.
Lady Zhen (Singing to the previous tune):
Seeing my lass as good as lad,
Though busy, I feel glad
Like a pearl you are our treasure.
Whoever see you will not feel pleasure?
O daughter dear,
Seeing the front, you should know the rear.
You'd try to understand and feel
What your father has to reveal.
Belle (Singing to the previous tune):
Indulgent parents dear,
I'm not so dull as I appear.
I have just drawn a picture of the swing,
And embroidered love-birds on the wing.
From now on I will spend more time
To read more books in prose or rhyme.
Lady Zhen: That is good, but it would be better to find a governess.
Du : (Singing to the previous tune):
It is not easy for our family to find
A qualified scholar of the best kind.
Lady Zhen: Our daughter need not read all the books of the sage
But learn good manners fit for her age.
Together: Let her be worthy of her family,
And know to spin and speak fluently.
Du: It is not difficult to find a teacher,
But he should be well treated as a preacher.
Singing the Epilogue
Our daughter need not too much care,
But for the teacher's meal you'd well prepare.
To serve the state as I intend,
It's all on books that I depend.
To a teacher we should be kind.
Like vernal wind he'd wake the mind.
Though in old age I have no son,
We'll have a daughter second to none.