第五十回

第五十回 芦雪广争联即景诗 暖香坞雅制春灯谜

话说薛宝钗道：“到底分个次序，让我写出来。”说着，便令众人拈阄为序。起首恰是李氏[2]〔二〕，然后按次各各开出。凤姐儿说道：“既是这样说，我也说一句在上头。”众人都笑说道：“更妙了！”宝钗便将稻香老农之上补了一个“凤”字，李纨又将题目讲与他听。凤姐儿想了半日，笑道：“你们别笑话我。我只有一句粗话，下剩的我就不知道了。”众人都笑道：“越是粗话越好，你说了只管干正事去罢。”凤姐儿笑道：“我想下雪必刮北风。昨夜听见了一夜的北风，我有了一句，就是‘一夜北风紧’，可使得？”众人听了，都相视笑道：“这句虽粗，不见底下的，这正是会作诗的起法。不但好，而且留了多少地步与后人。就是这句为首，稻香老农快写上续下去。”凤姐和李婶平儿又吃了两杯酒，自去了。这里李纨便写了：

一夜北风紧，

自己联道：

开门雪尚飘。

入泥怜洁白，

香菱道：

匝地惜琼瑶[3]。

有意荣枯草，

探春道：

无心饰萎苕[4]。

价高村酿熟[5]，

李绮道：

年稔府粱饶[6]。

葭动灰飞管，

李纹道：

阳回斗转杓[7]。

寒山已失翠，

岫烟道：

冻浦不闻潮。

易挂疏枝柳，

湘云道：

难堆破叶蕉。

麝煤[8]融宝鼎，

宝琴道：

绮袖笼金貂。

光夺窗前镜，

黛玉道：

香粘壁上椒[9]。

斜风仍故故[10]，

宝玉道：

清梦转聊聊[11]。

何处梅花笛[12]？

宝钗道：

谁家碧玉箫？

鳌愁坤轴陷〔三〕[14]，

李纨笑道：“我替你们看热酒去罢。”宝钗命宝琴续联，只见湘云站〔四〕起来道：

龙斗阵云销[16]。

野岸回孤棹，

宝琴也站起道：

吟鞭指灞桥[17]。

赐裘怜抚戍[18]，

湘云那里肯让人，且别人也不如他敏捷，都看他扬眉挺身的说道：

加絮念征徭[19]。

坳垤审夷险[20]，

宝钗连声赞好，也便联道：

枝柯怕动摇。

皑皑轻趁步，

黛玉忙联道：

翦翦舞随腰[21]。

煮芋成新赏，

一面说，一面推宝玉，命他联。宝玉正看宝钗、宝琴、黛玉三人共战湘云，十分有趣，那里还顾得联诗，今见黛玉推他，方联道：

撒盐是旧谣[22]。

苇蓑犹泊钓[23]，

湘云笑道：“你快下去，你不中用，倒耽搁了我。”一面只听宝琴联道：

林斧不闻樵。

伏象千峰凸，

湘云忙联道：

盘蛇一径遥[24]。

花缘经冷聚〔五〕，

宝钗与众人又忙赞好。探春又联道：

色岂畏霜凋[26]。

深院惊寒雀，

湘云正渴了，忙忙的吃茶，已被岫烟联道：

空山泣老鸮[27]。

阶墀随上下，

湘云忙丢了茶杯，忙联道：

池水任浮漂。

照耀临清晓，

黛玉联道：

缤纷入永宵。

诚忘三尺冷，

湘云忙笑联道：

瑞释九重焦[28]。

僵卧谁相问[29]，

宝琴也忙笑联道：

狂游客喜招[30]。

天机断缟带，

湘云又忙道：

海市失鲛绡〔六〕[32]。

林黛玉不容他出，接着便道：

寂寞对台榭，

湘云忙联道：

清贫怀箪瓢[33]。

宝琴也不容情，也忙道：

烹茶冰渐沸，

湘云见这般，自为得趣，又是笑，又忙联道：

煮酒叶难烧。

黛玉也笑道：

没帚山僧扫，

宝琴也笑道：

埋琴稚子挑。

湘云笑的弯了腰，忙念了一句，众人问“到底说的什么？”

湘云喊道：

石楼闲睡鹤，

黛玉笑的握着胸口，高声嚷道：

锦罽暖亲猫。

宝琴也忙笑道：

月窟翻银浪，

湘云忙联道：

霞城隐赤标[34]。

黛玉忙笑道：

沁梅香可嚼[35]，

宝钗笑称好，也忙联道：

淋竹醉堪调。

宝琴也忙道：

或湿鸳鸯带，

湘云忙联道：

时凝翡翠翘[36]。

黛玉又忙道：

无风仍脉脉，

宝琴又忙笑联道：

不雨亦潇潇。

湘云伏着已笑软了。众人看他三人对抢，也都不顾作诗，看着也只是笑。黛玉还推他往下联，又道：“你也有才尽之时。我听听还有什么舌根嚼了！”湘云只伏在宝钗怀里，笑个不住。宝钗推他起来道：“你有本事，把‘二萧’的韵全用完了，我才服你。”湘云起身笑道：“我也不是作诗，竟是抢命呢。”众人笑道：“倒是你说罢。”探春早已料定没有自己联的了，便早写出来，因说：“还没收住呢。”李纨听了，接过来便联了一句道：

欲志今朝乐，

李绮收了一句道：

凭诗祝舜尧。

李纨道：“够了，够了。虽没作完了韵，賸的字〔七〕若生扭用了，倒不好了。”说着，大家来细细评论一回，独湘云的多，都笑道：“这都是那块鹿肉的功劳。”

李纨笑道：“逐句评去都还一气，只是宝玉又落了第了。”宝玉笑道：“我原不会联句，只好担待我罢。”李纨笑道：“也没有社社担待你的。又说韵险了，又整误了，又不会联句了，今日必罚你。我才看见栊翠庵的红梅有趣，我要折一枝来插瓶。可厌妙玉为人，我不理他。如今罚你去取一枝来。”众人都道这罚的又雅又有趣。

宝玉也乐为，答应着就要走。湘云黛玉一齐说道：“外头冷得很，你且吃杯热酒再去。”湘云早执起壶来，黛玉递了一个大杯，满斟了一杯。湘云笑道：“你吃了我们的酒，你要取不来，加倍罚你。”宝玉忙吃一杯，冒雪而去。李纨命人好好跟着。黛玉忙拦说：“不必，有了人反不得了。”李纨点头说：“是。”一面命丫鬟将一个美女耸肩瓶拿来，贮了水准备插梅，因又笑道：“回来该咏红梅了。”

湘云忙道：“我先作一首。”宝钗忙道：“今日断乎不容你再作了。你都抢了去，别人都闲着，也没趣，回来还罚宝玉，他说不会联句，如今就叫他自己作去。”黛玉笑道：“这话很是。我还有个主意，方才联句不够，莫若拣着联的少的人作红梅。”宝钗笑道：“这话是极。方才邢李三位屈才，且又是客。琴儿和颦儿云儿三个人也抢了许多，我们一概都别作，只让他三个作才是。”李纨因说：“绮儿也不大会作，还是让琴妹妹作罢。”宝钗只得依允，又道：“就用‘红梅花’三个字作韵，每人一首七律。邢大妹妹作‘红’字，你们李大妹妹作‘梅’字，琴儿作‘花’字。”李纨道：“饶过宝玉去，我不服。”湘云忙道：“有个好题目命他作。”众人问何题目？湘云道：“命他就作‘访妙玉乞红梅’，岂不有趣？”众人听了，都说有趣。

一语未了，只见宝玉笑[38]了一枝红梅进来，众丫鬟忙已接过，插入瓶内。众人都笑称谢。宝玉笑道：“你们如今赏罢，也不知费了我多少精神呢。”说着，探春早又递过一钟暖酒来，众丫鬟走上来接了蓑笠掸雪。各人房中丫鬟都添送衣服来，袭人也遣人送了半旧的狐腋褂来。李纨命人将那蒸的大芋头盛了一盘，又将朱橘、黄橙、橄榄等物盛了两盘，命人带与袭人去。湘云且告诉宝玉方才的诗题，又催宝玉快作。宝玉道：“姐姐妹妹们，让我自己用韵罢，别限韵了。”众人都说：“随你作去罢。”

一面说，一面大家看梅花。原来这枝梅花只有二尺来高，旁有一横枝纵横而出，约有五六尺长，其间小枝分歧，或如蟠螭，或如僵蚓，或孤削如笔，或密聚如林，花吐胭脂，香欺兰蕙，各各称赏。谁知邢岫烟、李纹、薛宝琴三人都已吟成，各自写了出来。众人便依“红梅花”三字之序看去，写道是：

　咏红梅花　得“红”字[39]　　邢岫烟

桃未芳菲杏未红，冲寒先已笑东风[40]。

魂飞庾岭[41]春难辨，霞隔罗浮[42]梦未通。

绿萼添妆融宝炬，缟仙扶醉跨残虹[43]。

看来岂是寻常色，浓淡由他冰雪中。

　咏红梅花　得“梅”字　　李纹

白梅懒赋赋红梅，逞艳先迎醉眼开[44]。

冻脸有痕皆是血，酸心无恨亦成灰[45]。

误吞丹药移真骨[46]，偷下瑶池脱旧胎[47]。

江北江南春灿烂，寄言蜂蝶漫疑猜[48]。

　咏红梅花 得“花”字　　薛宝琴

疏是枝条艳是花，春妆儿女竞奢华[49]。

闲庭曲槛无馀雪，流水空山有落霞[50]。

幽梦冷随红袖笛，游仙香泛绛河槎[51]。

前身定是瑶台种，无复相疑色相[52]差。

众人看了，都笑称赏了一番，又指末一首说更好。宝玉见宝琴年纪最小，才又敏捷，深为奇异。黛玉湘云二人斟了一小杯酒，齐贺宝琴。宝钗笑道：“三首各有各好。你们两个天天捉弄厌了我，如今捉弄他来了。”李纨又问宝玉：“你可有了？”宝玉忙道：“我倒有了，才一看见那三首，又吓忘了，等我再想。”湘云听了，便拿了一支铜火箸击着手炉，笑道：“我击鼓[53]了，若鼓绝不成，又要罚的。”宝玉笑道：“我已有了。”黛玉提起笔来，说道：“你念，我写。”湘云便击了一下笑道：“一鼓绝。”宝玉笑道：“有了，你写吧。”众人听他念道：

酒未开樽句未裁，

黛玉写了，摇头笑道：“起的平平。”湘云又道：“快着！”宝玉笑道：

寻春问腊到蓬莱。

黛玉湘云都点头笑道：“有些意思了。”宝玉又道：

不求大士瓶中露，为乞嫦娥槛外梅。[54]

黛玉写了，又摇头道：“凑巧而已。”湘云忙催二鼓，宝玉又笑道：

入世冷挑红雪去，离尘香割紫云来[55]。

槎枒谁惜诗肩瘦[56]，衣上犹沾佛院[57]苔。

黛玉写毕，湘云大家才评论时，只见几个丫鬟跑进来道：“老太太来了。”众人忙迎出来。大家又笑道：“怎么这等高兴！”说着，远远见贾母围了大斗篷，带着灰鼠暖兜[58]，坐着小竹轿，打着青绸油伞，鸳鸯琥珀等五六个丫鬟，每人都是打着伞，拥轿而来。李纨等忙往上迎，贾母命人止住说：“只在那里就是了。”来至跟前，贾母笑道：“我瞒着你太太和凤丫头来了。大雪地下坐着这个无妨，没的叫他们来跴雪。”众人忙一面上前接斗篷，搀扶着，一面答应着。

贾母来至室中，先笑道：“好俊梅花！你们也会乐，我来着了。”说着，李纨早命拿了一个大狼皮褥来铺在当中。贾母坐了，因笑道：“你们只管顽笑吃喝。我因为天短了，不敢睡中觉，抹了一回牌，想起你们来了，我也来凑个趣儿。”李纨早又捧过手炉来，探春另拿了一副杯箸来，亲自斟了暖酒，奉与贾母。贾母便饮了一口，问那个盘子里是什么东西。众人忙捧了过来，回说是糟鹌鹑。贾母道：“这倒罢了，撕一两点腿子来。”李纨忙答应了，要水洗手，亲自来撕。贾母又道：“你们仍旧坐下说笑我听。”又命李纨：“你也坐下，就如同我没来的一样才好，不然我就去了。”

众人听了，方依次坐下。只李纨便挪到尽下边。贾母因问作何事了，众人便说作诗。贾母道：“有作诗的，不如作些灯谜，大家正月里好玩。”众人答应了。说笑了一回，贾母便说：“这里潮湿，你们别久坐，仔细受了潮湿。”因说：“你四妹妹那里暖和，我们到那里瞧瞧他的画儿，赶年可有了。”众人笑道：“那里能年下就有了？只怕明年端阳有了。”贾母道：“这还了得！他竟比盖这园子还费工夫了。”

说着，仍坐了竹轿，大家围随，过了藕香榭，穿入一条夹道，东西两边皆有过街门，门楼上里外皆嵌着石头匾，如今进的是西门，向外的匾上凿着“穿云”二字，向里的凿着“度月”两字。来至当中，进了向南的正门，贾母下了轿，惜春已接了出来。从里边游廊过去，便是惜春卧房，门斗上有“暖香坞”三个字。早有几个人打起猩红毡帘，已觉温香拂脸。大家进入房中，贾母并不归坐，只问画在那里。惜春因笑回：“天气寒冷了，胶性皆凝涩不润，画了恐不好看，故此收起来。”贾母笑道：“我年下就要的。你别托懒儿，快拿出来给我快画。”

一语未了，忽见凤姐儿披着紫羯绒褂，笑的来了，口内说道：“老祖宗今儿也不告诉人，私自就来了，要我好找。”贾母见他来了，心中自是喜悦，便道：“我怕你们冷着了，所以不许人告诉你们去。你真是个鬼灵精儿，到底找了我来。以理，孝敬也不在这上头。”凤姐儿笑道：“我那里是孝敬的心找了来？我因为到了老祖宗那里，鸦没雀静的，问小丫头子们，他又不肯说，叫我找到园里来。我正疑惑，忽然来了两三个姑子，我心里才明白。我想姑子必是来送年疏[59]，或要年例香例银子，老祖宗年下的事也多，一定是躲债来了。我赶忙问了那姑子，果然不错。我连忙把年例给了他们去了〔八〕。如今来回老祖宗，债主已去，不用躲着了。已预备下希嫩的野鸡，请用晚饭去，再迟一回就老了。”他一行说，众人一行笑。

凤姐儿也不等贾母说话，便命人抬过轿子来。贾母笑着，搀了凤姐的手，仍旧上轿，带着众人，说笑出了夹道东门。一看四面粉妆银砌，忽见宝琴披着凫靥裘站在山坡上遥等，身后一个丫鬟抱着一瓶红梅。众人都笑道：“少了两个人，他却在这里等着，也弄梅花去了。”贾母喜的忙笑道：“你们瞧，这山坡上配上他的这个人品，又是这件衣裳，后头又是这梅花，像个什么？”众人都笑道：“就像老太太屋里挂的仇十洲[61]画的《艳雪图》。”贾母摇头笑道：“那画的那里有这件衣裳？人也不能这样好！”

一语未了，只见宝琴背后转出一个披大红猩毡的人来。贾母道：“那又是那个女孩儿？”众人笑道：“我们都在这里，那是宝玉。”贾母笑道：“我的眼越发花了。”说话之间，来至跟前，可不是宝玉和宝琴。宝玉笑向宝钗黛玉等道：“我才又到了栊翠庵。妙玉每人送你们一枝梅花，我已经打发人送去了。”众人都笑说：“多谢你费心。”

说话之间，已出了园门，来至贾母房中。吃毕饭大家又说笑了一回。忽见薛姨妈也来了，说：“好大雪，一日也没过来望候老太太。今日老太太倒不高兴？正该赏雪才是。”贾母笑道：“何曾不高兴！我找了他们姊妹们去顽了一会子。”薛姨妈笑道：“昨日晚上，我原想着今日要和我们姨太太借一日园子，摆两桌粗酒，请老太太赏雪的，又见老太太安息的早。我闻得女儿说，老太太心下不大爽，因此今日也没敢惊动。早知如此，我正该请。”贾母笑道：“这才是十月里头场雪，往后下雪的日子多呢，再破费不迟。”薛姨妈笑道：“果然如此，算我的孝心虔了。”

凤姐儿笑道：“姨妈仔细忘了，如今先秤五十两银子来，交给我收着，一下雪，我就预备下酒，姨妈也不用操心，也不得忘了。”贾母笑道：“既这么说，姨太太给他五十两银子收着，我和他每人分二十五两，到下雪的日子，我装心里不快，混过去了，姨太太更不用操心，我和凤丫头倒得了实惠。”凤姐将手一拍，笑道：“妙极了，这和我的主意一样。”众人都笑了。贾母笑道：“呸！没脸的，就顺着竿子爬上来了！你不该说姨太太是客，在咱们家受屈，我们该请姨太太才是，那里有破费姨太太的理！不这样说呢，还有脸先要五十两银子，真不害臊！”凤姐儿笑道：“我们老祖宗最是有眼色的，试一试姨妈，若松呢，拿出五十两来，就和我分。这会子估量着不中用了，翻过来拿我做法子，说出这些大方话来。如今我也不和姨妈要银子，竟替姨妈出银子治了酒，请老祖宗吃了，我另外再封五十两银子孝敬老祖宗，算是罚我个包揽闲事。这可好不好？”话未说完，众人已笑倒在炕上。

贾母因又说及宝琴雪下折梅比画儿上还好，因又细问他的年庚八字并家内景况。薛姨妈度其意思，大约是要与宝玉求配。薛姨妈心中固也遂意，只是已许过梅家了，因贾母尚未明说，自己也不好拟定，遂半吐半露告诉贾母道：“可惜这孩子没福，前年他父亲就没了。他从小儿见的世面倒多，跟他父母四山五岳都走遍了。他父亲是好乐的，各处因有买卖，带着家眷，这一省逛一年，明年又往那一省逛半年，所以天下十停走了有五六停了。那年在这里，把他许了梅翰林的儿子，偏第二年他父亲就辞世了，他母亲又是痰症。”凤姐也不等说完，便嗐声跺脚的说：“偏不巧，我正要作个媒呢，又已经许了人家。”贾母笑道：“你要给谁说媒？”凤姐儿说道：“老祖宗别管，我心里看准了他们两个是一对。如今已许了人，说也无益，不如不说罢了。”贾母也知凤姐儿之意，听见已有了人家，也就不提了。大家又闲话了一会方散。一宿无话。

次日雪晴。饭后，贾母又亲嘱惜春：“不管冷暖，你只画去，赶到年下，十分不能便罢了。第一要紧把昨日琴儿和丫头梅花，照模照样，一笔别错，快快添上。”惜春听了虽是为难，只得应了。一时众人都来看他如何画，惜春只是出神。

李纨因笑向众人道：“让他自己想去，咱们且说话儿。昨儿老太太只叫作灯谜，回家和绮儿纹儿睡不着，我就编了两个‘四书’的。他两个每人也编了两个。”众人听了，都笑道：“这倒该作的。先说了，我们猜猜。”李纨笑道：“‘观音未有世家传’，打‘四书’一句。”湘云接着就说：“在止于至善。”[62]宝钗笑道：“你也想一想‘世家传’三个字的意思再猜。”李纨笑道：“再想。”黛玉笑道：“哦，是了。是‘虽善无征’。”[63]众人都笑道：“这句是了。”李纨又道：“一池青草草何名。”湘云忙道：“这一定是‘蒲芦也’[64]。再不是不成？”李纨笑道：“这难为你猜。纹儿的是‘水向石边流出冷’，打一古人名。”探春笑问道：“可是山涛[65]？”李纹笑道：“是。”李纨又道：“绮儿的是个‘萤’字，打一个字。”众人猜了半日，宝琴笑道：“这个意思却深，不知可是花草的‘花’字？”李绮笑道：“恰是了。”众人道：“萤与花何干？”黛玉笑道：“妙得很！萤可不是草化的[66]？”众人会意，都笑了〔九〕说“好”！

宝钗道：“这些虽好，不合老太太的意思，不如作些浅近的物儿，大家雅俗共赏才好。”众人都道：“也要作些浅近的俗物才是。”湘云笑道：“我编了一支《点绛唇》[68]，恰是俗物，你们猜猜。”说着便念道：

溪壑分离，红尘游戏，真何趣？名利犹虚，后事终难继。众人不解，想了半日，也有猜是和尚的，也有猜是道士的，也有猜是偶戏人的。宝玉笑了半日，道：“都不是，我猜着了，一定是耍的猴儿。”湘云笑道：“正是这个了。”众人道：“前头都好，末后一句怎么解？”湘云道：“那一个耍的猴子不是剁了尾巴去的？”众人听了，都笑起来，说：“偏他编个谜儿也是刁钻古怪的。”李纨道：“昨日姨妈说，琴妹妹见的世面多，走的道路也多，你正该编谜儿，正用着了。你的诗又好，何不编几个我们猜一猜？”宝琴听了，点头含笑，自去寻思。宝钗也有了一个，念道：

镂檀锲梓[69]一层层，岂系良工堆砌成？

虽是半天风雨过，何曾闻得梵铃[70]声！

——打一物。

众人猜时，宝玉也有了一个，念道：

天上人间两渺茫，琅玕[71]节过谨隄防。

鸾音鹤信[72]须凝睇[73]，好把唏嘘答上苍。

黛玉也有了一个，念道是：

何劳缚紫绳[74]？驰城逐堑势狰狞。

主人指示风雷动，鳌背三山独立名。

探春也有了一个，方欲念时，宝琴走过来笑道：“我从小儿所走的地方的古迹不少。我如今拣了十个地方的古迹，作了十首怀古的诗。诗虽粗鄙，却怀往事，又暗隐俗物十件，姐姐们请猜一猜。”众人听了，都说：“这倒巧，何不写出来大家一看？”要知端的——

〔一〕 “暖香坞雅制春灯谜”，原作“暖春坞创制春灯谜”，从各本改。

〔二〕 “起首恰是李氏”句下，原有“一定要按次序恰又不按次序，似脱落处而不脱落，文章岐路如此”二十六字，系批语混入正文，参照各本删去。

[3] “入泥”二句——意谓白雪落入污泥，犹如琼瑶（美玉）抛撒遍地，令人怜惜。匝（zā扎）：周；遍。

[4] 萎苕（tiáo条）——枯萎的苇花。

[5] “价高”句——价高：指酒价高，雪大天寒，故酒价高涨。唐代郑谷《辇下冬暮咏怀》诗：“雪满长安酒价高。”村酿：即村酒。

[6] “年稔（rěn忍）”句——年稔：年景好；收成好。稔，庄稼成熟。这里是说大雪之后将会有一个丰收的年景。府粮：也称“府粟”，指官仓中的粮食。饶（ráo娆）：丰富。

[7] “葭（jiā家）动”二句——这里是用冬至节代指雪天。意谓乐律管里的葭灰飞动，斗柄已转，正是阴极阳回的冬至节气。葭：芦苇。灰飞管：古代预测节气，把芦苇茎里的薄膜烧制成灰，放入十二乐律的管内，把管放到密室中特制的内低外高的木案上，到了某一节气，相应律管里的葭灰就会自行飞动。阳回：阳气复回，说明已到“冬至”。《通纬·孝经援神契》：“大雪后十五日，斗指子，为冬至，（阴历）十一月中。阴极而阳始至。”斗：指北斗星。杓（biāo标）：斗杓，北斗七星中第五、六、七颗星的总称，也叫“斗柄”。由于地球的自转和公转，斗柄的指向和方位不断变动转换。冬至这天，斗柄指向正北，阴极阳生，自此开始，斗柄即渐向东转，所以说是“阳回”。

[8] 麝煤——本为香墨的别名，也叫“麝墨”；这里指取暖用的优质木炭之类。

[9] 壁上椒——以椒涂壁，取其温暖有香气。参阅第十六回“椒房”注。

[10] 故故——屡屡。这里指风吹阵阵。

[11] 聊聊——略微；短暂。这里指因天冷而梦境不长。或为“寥寥”之误；寥寥，稀少的意思。

[12] 梅花笛——指吹奏《梅花落》的笛声。宋代郭茂倩编《乐府诗集》：“《梅花落》，本笛中曲也。”这里又用落梅隐喻飞雪。

〔三〕 “陷”原作“限”，从程甲本改。

[14] “鳌（áo敖）愁”句——巨鳌因怕大雪压坍大地而发愁。鳌：传说中的大海龟。坤轴：即地轴，这里泛指大地。唐代虞世南撰《北堂书钞》卷一五七引《河海括地象》：“昆仑之山，横为地轴。”

〔四〕 “站”字原无，从蒙府、戚序本补。

[16] “龙斗”句——以玉龙战罢鳞片纷飞的景象，比喻大雪纷飞。阵云销：浓云消散，表示龙战已毕。

[17] “吟鞭”句——意谓雪中行吟，诗思益增。灞桥：在今西安市东灞水上。

[18] “赐裘”句——意谓皇帝怜恤守边将士，赏给他们过冬衣裘。《宋史·太宗本纪》：雍熙二年“十二月……癸卯，南康军言，雪降三尺，大江冰合，可胜重载。丁未，遣中使赐缘边戍卒襦裤”。

[19] “加絮”句——意谓制衣者惦念服徭役的征人寒冷，在衣中多加棉絮。见《唐诗纪事·开元宫人》。

[20] “坳（wā凹；ào傲）垤（dié迭）”句——意谓大雪铺平了洼坑和高坎儿，走路时需要细察路面的高低不平。坳：地低洼处；山间平地。垤：小土堆。审：详察。夷：平坦；平安。

[21] “翦翦”句——以轻盈舞姿喻白雪的随风飞旋。翦翦：形容风轻而带寒意。

[22] “煮芋”二句——煮芋：苏东坡赞其幼子苏过以山芋作玉糁羹，诗中有“香似龙涎仍酽白（纯白）”句，这里是用玉糁羹的“酽白”，以喻雪色之白。撒盐：参阅第76页注②。

[23] “苇蓑”句——用唐代柳宗元“孤舟蓑笠翁，独钓寒江雪”（《江雪》）诗意。

[24] “伏象”二句——意谓山峰积雪如伏卧的白象，雪地小路似盘曲的长蛇。

〔五〕 “聚”原作“绪”，从戚序本改。

[26] “花缘”二句——意谓雪花由于天冷才结聚而成，洁白的颜色哪里会因怕霜冻而消褪。花、色：均指雪花。缘：因为；由于。

[27] 泣老鸮（xiāo消）——意谓雪光照得夜色如同白昼，怕光的鸱（chī吃）鸮因不能捕食而哀泣。鸮：鸱鸮，即猫头鹰，昼伏夜出，常于夜间捕捉食物，鸣声惨厉。

[28] “诚忘”二句——意谓诚敬之心，使将士忘却了戍守的寒苦；雪兆丰年，可以消除皇帝的焦虑。三尺：剑。见《汉书·高帝纪》颜师古注。瑞：指瑞雪。九重：代指皇帝。宋玉《九辩》：“君之门以九重。”

[29] “僵卧”句——用“袁安卧雪”故事。见《后汉书·袁安传》注引《汝南先贤传》。

[30] “狂游”句——用唐代王元宝雪天招客宴饮的故事。见王仁裕《开元天宝遗事》。

〔六〕 “绡”原作“”，从戚序本改。

[32] “天机”二句——用天上落下的缟带、海市移来的鲛绡喻雪的洁白美好。天机：传说中天上织女的织机。缟带：白色的丝带。海市：即海市蜃楼，海上由于光线变化而出现的奇异幻景。

[33] “清贫”句——意谓穷苦之士由于大雪封门饮食无着，连“箪食瓢饮”的清贫生活也怀念起来了。箪（dān丹）瓢：语本《论语·雍也》：“一箪食，一瓢饮。”这是孔子称赞他的学生颜回不以贫困为忧的话。箪：盛饭用的圆形竹器。

[34] “月窟”二句——上句以月光普照暗喻白雪遍地；下句用隐没赤标形容积雪深厚。银浪：月光。宋代陈与义《咏月》诗：“银浪泻千顷。”这里代指雪波，唐代李咸用《雪》诗：“云汉风多银浪溅。”霞城：指赤城山，在浙江天台县北，状如城墙雉堞，土色皆赤，望之似霞，故名。见《会稽记》。赤标：这里指赤城山的高峰。晋代孙绰《游天台山赋》：“赤城霞起而建标。”

[35] “沁梅”句——或指宋代铁脚道人故事。传说“铁脚道人常爱赤脚走雪中，兴发则朗诵《南华·秋水篇》，嚼梅花满口，和雪咽之。曰：‘吾欲寒香沁入肺腑。’”见清代爱菊主人《花史》。

[36] “鸳鸯带”二句——鸳鸯带：有鸳鸯图案花纹的带子。唐代徐彦伯《拟古三首》之三：“赠君鸳鸯带。”翡翠翘：也称翠翘。翘，首饰。用翡翠鸟的羽毛粘在首饰上叫“点翠”，点翠的凤冠叫“翠翘”，但也可泛指点翠的其他首饰。唐代韦应物《长安道》诗：“头上鸳钗双翠翘。”一说，翠翘本指翠鸟尾上的长羽，也称形似翠鸟尾上长羽的妇女首饰。

〔七〕 “賸的字”，原作“誊的字”，又点去，旁添“脚的字”，显系误添。今从底本原文。“誊”系“賸”之误，径改。

[38] （qián虔）——用肩扛物，亦作“掮”。《康熙字典》引《集韵》：“，渠焉切，音虔，负物也。”

[39] 得“红”字——多人一起作诗，先提出若干字为韵字，由大家自由选择或拈阄决定，叫做“分韵”。分到某一韵字的人，在他的诗题下注明“得某字”，并用这个字所在韵部的字作韵脚。

[40] “冲寒”句——意谓红梅先于桃杏冲破寒冷笑向东风。

[41] 庾岭——即大庾岭，五岭之一，在江西、广东两省边境。因岭上多梅花，又称梅岭。

[42] 罗浮——山名，在广东省东江北岸，增城、博罗、河源等县之间。据《龙城录》载：隋代赵师雄迁罗浮，一日日暮，于松林酒肆旁见一美人，淡妆素服，出迎与语，语极清丽，因与扣酒家门共饮。师雄醉寝，天明起视，在大梅树下。

[43] “绿萼”二句——用萼绿仙女（绿梅）为添妆而熔化红烛，白衣仙子（白梅）带着醉颜跨上残虹来形容红梅。“融宝炬”、“扶醉”、“跨残虹”均喻红色。绿萼：即绿萼梅，是梅中之花瓣萼蒂皆绿者，有人比之为仙女萼绿华。缟仙：白衣仙人，这里代指白梅。

[44] 醉眼开——喻微开的红梅。

[45] “冻脸”二句——冻脸：喻开放于冰雪严寒中的红梅。酸心：梅花结子味酸，故云“酸心”。

[46] “误吞”句——意谓红梅是白梅误吞了仙丹换掉真骨化成。宋代方子通诗：“紫府与丹来换骨。”

[47] “偷下”句——意谓红梅是瑶池仙女偷下凡间，脱化旧胎而成。宋代毛滂《红梅》诗：“何处曾临阿母池，浑将绛雪照寒枝。”瑶池：即阿母池，古代传说中西王母的住处。

[48] “寄言”句——意谓告诉蜂蝶，切莫误认为已是桃李芳菲的暖春，眼下还正在冰雪严寒的季节。

[49] “春妆”句——暗喻红梅怒放，犹如少女秾妆，争艳斗妍。春妆：红妆。

[50] “闲庭”二句——意谓无论庭院或山野，尽是红梅无白梅。馀雪：代指白梅。落霞：代指红梅。

[51] “幽梦”二句——意谓随着红袖少女的清冷笛声进入梦境；乘坐绛河的香筏游于仙界。红袖笛：这里代指红梅花。绛河：即天河、银河。这里用“绛”，意在点出“红”字，以喻红梅。泛槎（chá查）：泛，浮行；乘船。槎，木筏，这里指神话传说中往来天上的“星槎”。

[52] 色相——本佛家语，这里指红梅花的颜色和形状。

[53] 击鼓——即“击鼓催诗”，是旧日多人一起作诗的活动形式之一，以鼓声的起止为限定的构思时间，到时作不出来或超过时间便要受罚。

[54] “不求”二句——这里大士、嫦娥皆隐指妙玉。大士：本为菩萨之称，这里指观世音。传说观世音形为女身，手持净瓶，中有甘露，上插杨枝，以杨枝洒甘露，能解人间困厄。槛外：世外，这里指栊翠庵。

[55] “入世”一联——这里是将栊翠庵当作仙佛境地，把从庵中采梅回来叫“入世”，去庵中求梅叫“离尘”。梅称冷香，分嵌于两句中。挑红雪、割紫云：均喻折红梅。

[56] “槎枒”句——槎枒：同“查牙”、“杈丫”，这里形容诗人骨瘦如柴。诗肩瘦：指诗人瘦削高耸的肩头。

[57] 佛院——代指栊翠庵。

[58] 暖兜——一种能够防风保暖的帽子。

[59] 年疏——疏：这里指焚化在神佛前的祭文、祝辞等，又称“疏头”。旧时为了祈福消灾，请僧尼诵经，并指定诵经遍数，每诵一遍，便在预先准备好的疏头上印一个朱砂小红圈，年终送至施主家中，以备祭神礼佛时焚化，并照例得到施主的报酬。这种每年送一次的疏头，叫做“年疏”。

〔八〕 “我赶忙问了那姑子，果然不错。我连忙把年例给了他们去了”二十四字，原无，从戚序、甲辰本补。

[61] 仇（qiú求）十洲——明代画家仇英的别号。仇英，字实父，太仓人，移居吴郡（苏州），擅画工笔仕女及山水，为明代四大画家之一。

[62] 在止于至善——意谓德行达到最完美的境界。语出《礼记·大学》。至：极；顶峰。

[63] 虽善无征——语出《礼记·中庸》：“上焉者虽善无征。”意谓先王的礼制虽好，但无从证实。征：征验；证实。此语为“观音未有世家传”的谜底，“世家”当取《史记》之例，观音至善，未有世家为传，无从征考。

[64] 蒲芦也——语出《礼记·中庸》：“夫政也者，蒲芦也。”蒲芦：即蒲苇。

[65] 山涛——晋代诗人，字巨源，竹林七贤之一。

[66] 萤可不是草化的——萤在夏季多就水草产卵，化蛹成长，古人误认为萤是由腐草本身变化而成。《礼记·月令》：“季夏之月……腐草为萤。”

〔九〕 “都笑了”后，原有“道，萤与花”四字，系衍文，从各本删。

[68] 《点绛唇》——本为词牌名，取自南朝梁江淹《咏美人春游》诗“明珠点绛唇”句。这里用作曲牌名。

[69] 镂（lòu漏）檀锲梓（zǐ子）——镂、锲：都是雕刻的意思。檀、梓：都是质地比较坚硬的木材。

[70] 梵铃——佛寺和宝塔檐角上悬挂的铜铃。

[71] 琅玕（lánɡ　ɡān郎甘）——这里指竹子。

[72] 鸾音鹤信——指仙界传来的消息。唐代罗隐《淮南高骈所造迎仙楼》诗：“鸾音鹤信杳难回。”鸾和鹤在传说中都被看作“仙禽”。

[73] 凝睇——注视。

[74] （lù　ěr录耳）——马名，亦作“耳”、“绿耳”。传说为周穆王八骏之一。见《穆天子传》。

CHAPTER 50 In the Luxue pavilion, they vie with each other in pairing verses on the scenery. In the Nuanxiang village, they compose, in beautiful style, riddles for the spring lanterns.

But to continue, “We should, after all,” Baochai suggested, “make some distinction as to order. Let me write out what’s needful.”

After uttering this proposal, she urged everyone to draw lots and determine the precedence. The first one to draw was Li Wan. After her, a list of the respective names was made in the order in which they came out.

“Well, in that case,” lady Feng 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.

Baochai supplied above “the old laborer of Daoxiang” the word “Feng,” whereupon Li Wan went on to explain the theme to her.

“You musn’t poke fun at me!” lady Feng smiled, after considerable reflection. “I’ve only managed to get a coarse line. It consists of five words. As for the rest, I have no idea how to manage them.”

“The coarser the language, the better it is,” one and 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 and all, upon hearing this, exchanged looks. “This line is, it’ s true, coarse,” they smiled, “and gives no insight into what comes below, but it’s just the kind of opening that would be used by such as understand versification. It’s not only good, but it will afford to those, who come after you, inexhaustible scope for writing. In fact, this line will take the lead, so ‘old laborer of Daoxiang’ be quick and indite 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 Wan wrote down:

The whole night long the northern wind was high;

and then she herself subjoined the antithetical couplet:

The door I ope, and lo the flakes of snow are still toss’d by the wind,

And drop into the slush. Oh, what a pity they’re so purely white!

Xiangling recited:

All o’er the ground is spread, alas, this bright, refulgent gem;

But with an aim; for it is meant dry herbage to revive.

Tanchun said:

Without design the dying sprouts of grain it nutrifies.

But in the villages the price of mellow wine doth rise.

Li Qi added:

In a good year, grain in the house is plentiful.

The bulrush moves and the ash issues from the tube.

Li Wen continued:

What time spring comes the handle of the Dipper turns.

The bleaky hills have long ago their verdure lost.

Xiuyan proceeded:

On a frost-covered stream, no tide can ever rise.

Easy the snow hangs on the sparse-leaved willow twigs.

Xiangyun pursued:

Hard ‘tis for snow to pile on broken plantain leaves.

The coal, musk-scented, burns in the precious tripod.

Baoqin recited:

Th’ embroidered sleeve enwraps the golden sable in its folds.

The snow transcends the mirror by the window in luster.

Baoyu suggested:

The fragrant pepper clings unto the wall.

The side wind still in whistling gusts doth blow.

Daiyu added:

A quiet dream becomes a cheerless thing.

Where is the fife with plum bloom painted on?

Baochai continued:

In whose household 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,” Li Wan smiled.

But when Baochai told Baoqin to connect some lines, she caught sight of Xiangyun rise 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 scull.

Baoqin thereupon again appended the couplet:

The old man hums his lines, and with his whip he points at the “Pa” bridge.

Fur coats are, out of pity, on the troops at the frontiers bestowed.

But would Xiangyun 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 cotton coats confer, for bear in memory th’ imperial serfs!

The rugged barbarous lands are (on account of snow) with dan gers fraught.

Baochai praised the verses again and again, and next contributed the distich:

The twigs and branches live in fear of being tossed about.

With what whiteness and feath’ry step the flakes of snow descend!

Daiyu eagerly subjoined the lines:

The snow as nimbly falls as moves the waist of the “Sui” man when brandishing the sword.

The tender leaves of tea, so acrid 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, Baoqin, 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 he at length chimed in with:

The fir is the sole tree which is decreed forever to subsist.

The wild goose follows in the mud the prints and traces of its steps.

Baoqin took up the clue, adding:

In the forest, the axe of the woodcutter may betimes be heard.

With (snow) covered contours, a thousand peaks their heads jut in the air.

Xiangyun with alacrity annexed the verses:

The whole way tortuous winds like a coiled snake.

The flowers have felt the cold and ceased to bud.

Baochai and her companions again with one voice eulogized their fine diction.

Tanchun then continued:

Could e’er the beauteous snow dread the nipping of frost?

In the deep court the shivering birds are startled by its fall.

Xiangyun 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 Xiao.

The snow covers the steps, both high and low.

Xiangyun immediately put away the tea-cup and added:

On the pond’s surface, it allows itself to float.

At the first blush of dawn with effulgence it shines.

Daiyu recited with alacrity the couplet:

In confused flakes, it ceaseless falls the whole night long.

Troth one forgets that it implies three feet of cold.

Xiangyun hastened to smilingly interpose with the distich:

Its auspicious descent dispels the Emperor’s grief.

There lies one frozen-stiff, but who asks him a word?

Baoqin too speedily put on a smile and added:

Glad is the proud wayfarer when he’s pressed to drink.

Snapped is the weaving belt in the heavenly machine.

Xiangyun 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.

Xiangyun vehemently gave the antithetical verse:

The utter poor clings to his pannier and his bowl.

Baoqin too would not give in as a favor to anyone, so hastily she exclaimed:

The water meant to brew the tea with gently bubbles up.

Xiangyun saw how excited they were getting and she thought it naturally great fun. Laughing, she eagerly gave out:

When wine is boiled with leaves ‘tis not easy to burn.

Daiyu also smiled while suggesting:

The broom, with which the bonze sweepeth the hill, is sunk in snow.

Baoqin too smilingly cried:

The young lad takes away the lute interred in snow.

Xiangyun laughed to such a degree that she was bent in two; and she muttered a line with such rapidity that one and all inquired of her: “What are you, after all, saying?”

In the stone tower leisurely sleeps the stork.

Xiangyun repeated.

Daiyu clasped her breast so convulsed was she with laughter. With loud voice she bawled out:

Th’ embroidered carpet warms the affectionate cat.

Baoqin quickly, again laughingly, exclaimed:

Inside Selene’s cave lo, roll the silvery waves.

Xiangyun added, with eager haste:

Within the city walls at eve was hid a purple flag.

Daiyu with alacrity continued with a smile:

The fragrance sweet, which penetrates into the plums, is good to eat.

Baochai smiled. “What a fine line!” she ejaculated; after which, she hastened to complete the couplet by saying:

The drops from the bamboo are meet, when one is drunk, to mix with wine.

Baoqin likewise made haste to add:

Betimes, the hymeneal girdle it moistens.

Xiangyun eagerly paired it with:

Oft, it freezeth on the kingfisher shoes.

Daiyu once more exclaimed with vehemence:

No wind doth blow, but yet there is a rush.

Baoqin promptly also smiled, and strung on:

No rain lo falls, but still a patter’s heard.

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 wits’ ends 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 Baochai’s lap and laughed incessantly.

“If you’ve got any gumption about you,” Baochai exclaimed, shoving her up, “take the second rhymes under ‘Xiao’ and exhaust them all, and I’ll then bend the knee to you.”

“It isn’t as if I were writing verses,” Xiangyun laughed rising to her feet; “it’s really as if I were fighting for very life.”

“It’s for you to come out with something,” they all cried with a laugh.

Tanchun had long ago determined in her mind that there could be no other antithetical sentences that she herself could possibly propose, and she forthwith set to work to copy out the verses. But as she passed the remark: “They haven’t as yet been brought to a proper close,” Li Wen took up the clue, as soon as she caught her words, and added the sentiment:

My wish is to record this morning’s fun.

Li Qi then suggested as a finale the line: By these verses, I’d fain sing th’ Emperor’s praise.

“That’s enough, that will do!” Li Wan cried. “The rhymes haven’t, I admit, been exhausted, but any outside words you might introduce, will, if used in a forced sense, be worth nothing at all.”

While continuing their arguments, the various inmates drew near and kept up a 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 virtue of that piece of venison!”

“Let’s review them line by line as they come,” Li Wan smilingly proposed, “but yet as if they formed one continuous poem. Here’s Baoyu last again!”

I haven’t, the fact is, the knack of pairing sentences,” Baoyu rejoined with a smile. “You’d better therefore make some allowance for me!”

There’s no such thing as making allowances for you in meeting af ter meeting,” Li Wan demurred laughing, “that you should again after that give out the rhymes 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 Longcui monastery; and how charming it is! I meant to have plucked a twig to put in a vase, but so loathsome is the way in which Miaoyu goes on, that I won’t have anything to do with her! But we’ll 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 into execution, so signifying his readiness to comply with their wishes, he felt desirous to be off at once.

“It’s exceedingly cold outside,” Xiangyun and Daiyu simultaneously remarked, “so have a glass of warm wine before you go.”

Xiangyun speedily took up the kettle, and Daiyu handed him a large cup, filled to the very brim.

“Now swallow the wine we give you,” Xiangyun smiled. “And if you don’t bring any plum blossom, we’ll inflict a double penalty.”

Baoyu gulped down hurry-scurry the whole contents of the cup and started on his errand in the face of the snow.

“Follow him carefully. “ Li Wan enjoined the servants.

Daiyu, however, hastened to interfere and make her desist. “There’s no such need,” she cried. “Were anyone to go with him, he’ll contrari-wise not get the flowers.”

Li Wan nodded her head. “Yes!” she assented, and then went on to direct a waiting-maid to bring a vase, in the shape of a beautiful girl with high shoulders, to fill it with water, and get it ready to put the plum blossom in. “And when he comes back,” she felt induced to add, “we must recite verses on the red plum.”

“I’ll indite a stanza in advance,” eagerly exclaimed Xiangyun.

“We’ll on no account let you indite any more today,” Baochai laughed. “You beat everyone of us hollow; so if we sit with idle hands, there won’t be any fun. But by and bye we’ll fine Baoyu; and, as he says that he can’t pair antithetical lines, we’ll now make him compose a stanza himself.”

“This is a capital idea!” Daiyu smiled. “But I’ve got another proposal. As the lines just paired are not sufficient, won’t it be well to pick out those who’ve put together the fewest distiches, and make them versify on the red plum blossom?”

“An excellent proposal!” Baochai ventured laughing. “The three girls Xing Xiuyan, Li Wen, and Li Qi, failed just now to do justice to their talents; besides they are visitors; and as Qin’er, Pin’er, and Yun’er got 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.”

“Qin’er,” Li Wan thereupon retorted, “is also not a very good hand at verses, let therefore cousin Qin have a try!”

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 an heptameter stanza. Cousin Xing to indite on the word ‘red;’ your elder cousin Li on ‘plum;’ and Qin’er on ‘blossom.’”

“If you let Baoyu off,” Li Wan interposed, “I won’t have it!”

“I’ve got a capital theme,” Xiangyun eagerly remarked, “so let’s make him write some!”

“What theme is it?” one and all inquired.

“If we made him,” Xiangyun resumed, “versify on: ‘In search of Miaoyu to beg for red plum blossom,’ won’t it 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 than 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 a body to feast their eyes on it.

“Well, may you look at it now,” Baoyu smiled. “You’ve no idea what an amount of trouble it has cost me!”

As he uttered these words, Tanchun 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-girls attached to their respective quarters then brought them over extra articles of clothing. Xiren, in like manner, despatched a domestic with a pelisse, the worse for wear, lined with fur from foxes’ ribs, so Li Wan, having directed a servant to fill a plate with steamed large taros, and to make up two dishes with red-skinned oranges, yellow coolie oranges, olives, and other like things, bade someone take them over to Xiren.

Xiangyun 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,” pleaded 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 plum blossom under inspection.

This bough of plum blossom 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 brushlike, 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, Li Wen, and Baoqin 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, subjoined below, in the order of the three words: “red plum blossom.”

Verses to the red plum blossom by Xing Xiuyan.

The peach tree has not donned its fragrance yet, the almond is not red.

What time it strikes the cold, it’s first joyful to smile at the east wind.

When its spirit to the Yuling hath flown, ‘tis hard to say ‘tis spring.

The russet clouds across the “Luo Fu” lie, so e’en to dreams it’s 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 its appearance speak of a color of ordinary run? Both dark and light fall of their own free will into the ice and snow.

The next was the production of Li Wen, and its burden was:

To write on the white plum I’m not disposed, but I’ll write on the red.

Proud of its beauteous charms, ‘tis first to meet the opening drunken eye.

On its frost-nipped face are marks; and these consist wholly of blood.

Its heart is sore, but no anger it knows; to ashes too it turns.

By some mistake a pill (a fairy) takes and quits her real frame.

From the fairyland pool she secret drops, and casts off her old form.

In spring, both north and south of the river, with splendor it doth bloom.

Send word to bees and butterflies that they need not give way to fears!

This stanza came next from the brush of Xue Baoqin:

Far distant do the branches grow; but how beauteous the blossom blooms!

The maidens try with profuse show to compete in their spring head-dress.

No snow remains on the vacant pavilion and the tortuous rails.

Upon the running stream and desolate hills descend the russet clouds.

When cold prevails one can in a still dream follow the lass-blown fife.

The wandering elf roweth in fragrant spring, the boat in the red stream.

In a previous existence, it must sure have been of fairy form.

No doubt need ‘gain arise as to its beauty differing from then.

The perusal over, they spent some time in heaping, smiling the while, eulogiums upon the compositions. And they pointed at the last stanza as the best of the lot; which made it evident to Baoyu that Baoqin, albeit the youngest in years, was, on the other hand, the quickest in wits.

Daiyu and Xiangyun then filled up a small cup with wine and simultaneously offered their congratulations to Baoqin.

“Each of the three stanzas has its beauty,” Baochai remarked, a smile playing round her lips. “You two have daily made a fool of me, and are you now going to fool her also?”

“Have you got yours ready?” Li Wan went on to inquire of Baoyu.

“I’d got them,” Baoyu 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.”

Xiangyun, at this reply, fetched a copper poker, and, while beating on the hand-stove, she laughingly said: “I shall go on tattooing. Now mind if when the drumming ceases, you haven’t accomplished your task, you’ll have to bear another fine.”

“I’ve already got them!” Baoyu rejoined, smilingly.

Daiyu then picked up a brush. “Recite them,” she smiled, “and I’ll write them down.”

Xiangyun beat one stroke (on the stove). “The first tattoo is over,” she laughed.

“I’m ready,” Baoyu smiled. “Go on writing.”

At this, they heard him recite:

The wine bottle is not opened, the line is not put into shape.

Daiyu noted it down, and shaking her head, “They begin very smoothly,” she said, as she smiled.

“Be quick!” Xiangyun again urged.

Baoyu laughingly continued:

To fairyland I speed to seek for spring, and the twelfth moon to find.

Daiyu and Xiangyun both nodded. “It’s rather good,” they smiled.

Baoyu resumed, saying:

I will not beg the high god for a bottle of the (healing) dew,

But pray Chang’e to give me some plum bloom beyond the rails.

Daiyu jotted the lines down and wagged her head to and fro. “They’re ingenious, that’s all,” she observed.

Xiangyun gave another rap with her hand.

Baoyu thereupon smilingly 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 sticketh the moss from yon Buddhistic court.

As soon as Daiyu had done writing, Xiangyun and the rest of the company began to discuss the merits of the verses; but they then saw several servant-maids rush in, shouting: “Our venerable mistress has come.”

One and all hurried out with all despatch 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, their grandmother Jia seated, enveloped in a capacious wrapper, and rolled up in a warm hood lined with squirrel fur, in a small bamboo sedan-chair with an open green silk glazed umbrella in her hand, Yuanyang, Hupo, and some other girls, mustering in all five or six, held each an umbrella and pressed round the chair, as they advanced.

Li Wan and her companions went up to them with hasty step; but dowager lady Jia directed the servants to make them stop; explaining that it would be quite enough if they stood where they were.

On her approach, old lady Jia smiled. “I’ve given,” she observed, “your Madame Wang and that girl Feng the slip and come. What deep snow covers the ground! For me, I’m seated in this, so it doesn’t matter; but you mustn’t let those ladies trudge in the snow.”

The various followers rushed forward to take her wrapper and to support her, and as they did so, they expressed their acquiescence.

As soon as she got indoors old lady Jia was the first to exclaim with a beaming face: “What beautiful plum blossom! You well know how to make merry; but I too won’t let you off!”

But in the course of her remarks, Li Wan quickly gave orders to a domestic to fetch a large wolf skin rug, and to spread it in the center, so dowager lady Jia made herself comfortable on it. “Just go on as before with your romping and joking, drinking and eating,” she then laughed. “As the days are so short, I did not venture to have a midday siesta. After therefore playing at dominoes for a time, I bethought myself of you people, and likewise came to join the fun.”

Li Wan soon also presented her a hand-stove, while Tanchun 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. Old lady Jia swallowed a sip. “What’s there in that dish?” she afterwards inquired.

The various inmates hurriedly carried it over to her, and explained that they were pickled quails.

“These won’t hurt me,” dowager lady Jia said, “so cut off a piece of the leg and give it to me.”

“Yes!” promptly acquiesced Li Wan, and asking for water, she washed her hands, and then came in person to carve the quail.

“Sit down again,” dowager lady Jia said, pressing them, “and go on with your chatting and laughing. Let me hear you, and feel happy. Just you also seat yourself,” continuing, she remarked to Li Wan, “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 Wan, who moved to the furthest side.

“What were you playing at?” old lady Jia thereupon asked.

“We were writing verses,” answered the whole party.

“Wouldn’t it be well for those who are up to poetry,” dowager lady Jia 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 jested for a little time: “It’s damp in here,” old lady Jia said, “so don’t you sit long, for mind you might be catching cold. Where it’s nice and warm is in your cousin Quarta’s 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?” they smiled. “She could only, we fancy, get it ready by the dragon boat festival next year.”

“This is dreadful!” old lady Jia exclaimed. “Why, she has really wasted more labor on it than would have been actually required to lay out this garden!”

With these words still on her lips, she ensconced herself again in the bamboo sedan, and closed in or followed by the whole company, she repaired to the Lotus Fragrance Arbor, 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 to the moon.” On their arrival at the hall, they walked in by the main entrance, which looked towards the south. Dowager lady Jia then alighted from her chair. Xichun had already made her appearance out of doors to welcome her, so taking the inner covered passage, they passed over to the other side and reached Xichun’s bedroom; on the door posts of which figured the three words: “Warm fragrance isle.” Several servants were at once at hand; and no sooner had they raised the red woollen portiere, than a soft fragrance wafted itself into their faces. The various inmates stepped into the room. Old lady Jia, 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, cannot be moistened, so I feared that, were I to have gone on with the painting, it wouldn’t be worth looking at; and I therefore put it away.”

“I must have it by the close of the year,” dowager lady Jia laughed, “so don’t idle your time away. Produce it at once and go on painting for me, as quick as you can.”

But scarcely had she concluded her remark, than she unexpectedly perceived lady Feng arrive, smirking and laughing, with a purple pelisse, lined with deer fur, thrown over her shoulders. “Venerable senior!” she shouted, “You don’t even so much as let anyone know today, but sneak over stealthily. I’ve had a good hunt for you!”

When old lady Jia saw her join them, she felt filled with delight. “I was afraid,” she rejoined, “that you’d be feeling cold. That’s why, I didn’t allow anyone to tell you. You’re really as sharp as a spirit to have, at last, been able to trace my whereabouts! But according to strict etiquette, you shouldn’t show filial piety to such a degree!”

“Is it out of any idea of filial piety that I came after you? Not at all!” lady Feng added with a laugh. “But when I got to your place, worthy senior, I found everything so quiet that not even the caw of a crow could be heard, and when I asked the young maids where you’d gone, they wouldn’t let me come and search in the garden. So I began to give way to surmises. Suddenly also arrived two or three nuns; and then, at length, I jumped at the conclusion that these women must have come to bring their yearly prayers, or to ask 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. Speedily therefore I inquired of the nuns what it was that brought them there, and, for a fact, there was no mistake in my surmises. 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 pheasant prepared; so please come, and have your evening meal; for if you delay any longer, it will get quite stale.”

As she spoke, everybody burst out laughing. But lady Feng did not allow any time to dowager lady Jia to pass any observations, but forthwith directed the servants to bring the chair over. Old lady Jia then smilingly laid hold of lady Feng’s hand and got again into her chair; but she took along with her the whole company of relatives for a chat and a 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. Unawares, they caught sight of Baoqin, in a duck down cloak, waiting at a distance at the back of the hill slope; while behind her stood a maid, 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,” dowager lady Jia eagerly cried out joyfully, “that human creature has been put there to match with the snow-covered hill! But with that costume, and the plum-blossom at the back of her, to what does she bear a resemblance?”

“She resembles,” one and all smiled, “Chou Shizhou’s beautiful snow picture, suspended in your apartments, venerable ancestor.”

‘‘Is there in that picture any such costume?” Old lady Jia demurred, nodding her head and smiling. “What’s more the persons represented in it could never be so pretty!”

Hardly had this remark dropped from her mouth, than she discerned someone else, clad in a deep red woollen cloak, appear to view at the back of Baoqin. “What other girl is that?” dowager lady Jia asked.

“We girls are all here.” they laughingly answered. “That’s 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 Bao-yu and Baoqin.

“I’ve just been again to the Longcui monastery,” Baoyu smiled to Bao chai, Daiyu, and his other cousins, “and Miaoyu gave me for each of you a twig of plum blossom. I’ve already 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 sallied out of the garden gate, and repaired to their grandmother Jia’s suite of apartments. Their meal over, they joined in a further chat and laugh, when unexpectedly they saw Mrs. Xue also arrive.

“With all this snow,” she observed, “I haven’t been over the whole day to see how you, venerable senior, were getting on. Your ladyship couldn’t have been in a 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. Xue smiled, “I was thinking of getting from our Madame Wang today the loan of the garden for the nonce and spreading two tables with our mean wine, and inviting you, worthy senior, to enjoy the snow; but as I saw that you were having a rest and I heard, at an early hour, that Baoyu 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 dowager lady 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 ladyship to wasteful expense.”

“Verily in that case,” Mrs. Xue laughingly added, “my filial intentions may well be looked upon as having been accomplished.”

“Mrs. Xue,” interposed lady Feng smiling, “mind you don’t forget it! But you might as well weigh fifty taels 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 any thing to bother you, aunt, nor will you have a chance of forgetting.”

“Well, since that be so,” old lady Jia remarked with a laugh, “your ladyship had better give her fifty taels, and I’ll share it with her; each one of us taking twenty-five taels; and on any day it might snow, I’ll pretend I don’t feel in proper trim and let it slip by. You’ll have thus still less occasion to trouble yourself, and I and 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.

“Pshaw!” dowager lady Jia laughingly ejaculated. “You barefaced thing! (You’re like a snake, which) avails itself of the rod, with which it is being beaten, to crawl up (and do harm)! You don’t try to convince us that it properly devolves upon us, as Mrs. Xue 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 taels! Are you really not thoroughly ashamed of yourself?”

“Oh, worthy senior,” lady Feng laughed, “you’re most sharpsighted! You try to see whether Mrs. Xue will be soft enough to produce fifty taels for you to share with me, but fancying now that it’s 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. Xue. I’ll, in fact, contribute some on your ladyship’s account, and when I get the banquet ready and invite you, venerable ancestor, to come and partake of it, I’ll also wrap fifty taels in a piece of paper, and dutifully present them to you, as a penalty for my officious interference in matters that don’t concern me. Will this be all right or not?”

Before these words were brought to a close, the various inmates were so convulsed with hearty laughter that they reeled over on the stove-couch.

Dowager lady Jia then went on to explain how much nicer Baoqin was, plucking 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. Xue 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. Xue on this account fell in also with her views. (Baoqin) had, however, already been promised in marriage to the Mei family. But as dowager lady Jia had made, as yet, no open allusion to her intentions, (Mrs. Xue) did not think it nice on her part to come out with any definite statement, and she accordingly observed to old lady Jia in a vague sort of way: “What a pity it is that this girl should have had so little good fortune as to lose her father the year before last. But ever since her youth up, she has seen much of the world, for she has been with her parent to every place of note. Her father was a man fond of pleasure; and as he had business in every direction, he took his family along with him. After tarrying in this province for a whole 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 Hanlin Mei. But, as it happened, her father died 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. “Hai!” she exclaimed, stamping her foot. “What you say isn’t opportune! I was about to act as a go-between. But is she too already engaged?”

“For whom did you mean to act as go-between?” old lady Jia smiled.

“My dear ancestor,” lady Feng remarked, “don’t concern yourself about it! I had determined in my mind that those two would make a suitable match. But as she has now long ago been promised to someone, it would be of no use, were I even to speak out. Isn’t it better that I should hold my peace, and drop the whole thing?”

Dowager 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 irrelevant matters for a time, after which, they broke up.

Nothing of any interest transpired the whole night. The next day, the snowy weather had cleared up. After breakfast, her grandmother Jia again pressed Xichun. “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 it Qin’er and the maid with the plum blossom, as we saw them yesterday, in strict accordance with the original and without the least discrepancy of so much as a stroke.”

Xichun listened to her and felt it her duty to signify her assent, 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. But they discovered Xichun plunged in a reverie. “Let’s leave her alone,” Li Wan smilingly observed to them all, “to proceed with her meditations; we can meanwhile have a chat among ourselves. Yesterday our worthy senior bade us devise a few lantern-conundrums, so when we got home, I and Qi’er and Wen’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’re like,” they laughingly exclaimed in chorus, when they heard what they had done. “Tell them to us first, and let’s have a guess!”

‘‘The goddess of mercy has not been handed down by any ancestors.”

Li Qi smiled. “This refers to a passage in the Four Books.”

“In one’s conduct, one must press towards the highest benevolence.”

Xiangyun quickly interposed; taking up the thread of the conversation.

“You should ponder over the meaning of the three words implying: ‘handed down by ancestors’,” Baochai smiled, “before you venture a guess.”

“Think again!” Li Wan urged with a smile.

“I’ve guessed it!” Daiyu smiled. “It’s:

‘‘If, notwithstanding all that benevolence, there 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?” Li Wan proceeded.

“This must certainly be the cat-tail rush!” hastily again replied Xiangyun. “Can this not be right?”

“You’ve succeeded in guessing it,” Li Wan smiled. “Li Wen’s is:

‘‘‘Cold runs the stream along the stones;’

“bearing on the name of a man of old.”

“Can it be Shan Tao?” Tanchun smilingly asked.

“It is!” answered Li Wan.

“Qi’er’s is the character ‘Ying’ (glow-worm). It refers to a single word,” Li Wan resumed.

The party endeavored for a long time to hit upon the solution.

“The meaning of this is certainly deep,” Baoqin put in. “I wonder whether it’s the character, ‘hua,’ (flower) in the combination, ‘hua cao, (vegetation).”

“That’s just it!” Li Qi smiled.

“What has a glow-worm to do with flowers?” one and all observed.

“It’s capital!” Daiyu ventured with a smile. “Isn’t a glow-worm transformed from plants?”

The company grasped the sense; and, laughing the while, they, with one consent, shouted out, “splendid!”

“All these are, I admit, good,” Baochai remarked, “but they won’t suit our venerable senior’s taste. Won’t it be better therefore to compose 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 on ordinary objects.”

“I’ve devised one on the ‘Dian Jiang Chun’ meter,” Xiangyun pursued, after some reflection. “But it’s really on an ordinary object. So try and guess it.”

Saying this, she forthwith went on to recite:

The creeks and valleys it leaves; Traveling the world, it performs. In truth how funny it is! But renown and gain are still vain; Ever hard behind it is its fate.

None of those present could fathom what it could be. After protracted thought, some made a guess, by saying it was a bonze. Others maintained that it was a Daoist priest. Others again divined that it was a marionette.

“All your guesses are wrong,” Baoyu chimed in, after considerable reflection. “I’ve got it! It must for a certainty be a performing monkey.”

“That’s really it!” Xiangyun laughed.

“The first part is all right,” the party observed, “but how do you explain the last line?”

“What performing monkey,” Xiangyun asked, “has not had its tail cut off?”

Hearing this, they exploded into a fit of merriment. “Even,” they argued, “the very riddles she improvises are perverse and strange!”

“Mrs. Xue mentioned yesterday that you, cousin Qin, had seen much of the world,” Li Wan put in, “and that you had also gone about a good deal. It’s for you therefore to try your hand at a few conundrums. What’s more your poetry too is good. So why shouldn’t you indite a few for us to guess?”

Baoqin, at this proposal, nodded her head, and while repressing a smile, she went off by herself to give way to thought.

Baochai 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 it’s true, both wind and rain fleet by;

But can one hear the tingling of the Buddhists’ bell?

While they were giving their mind to guessing what it could be, Baoyu too recited:

Both from the heavens and from the earth, it’s indistinct to view.

What time the “Lang Gan” feast goes past, then mind you take great care.

When the “luan’s” notes you catch and the crane’s message thou’lt look up:

It is a splendid thing to turn and breathe towards the vault of heaven, (a kite)

Daiyu next added:

Why need a famous steed be a with bridle e’er restrained?

Through the city it speeds; the moat it skirts; how fierce it looks.

The master gives the word and wind and clouds begin to move.

On the “fish backs” and the “three isles” it only makes a name, (a rotating lantern).

Tanchun had also one that she felt disposed to tell them, but just as she was about to open her lips, Baoqin walked up to them. “The relics of various places I’ve seen since my youth,” she smiled, “are not few, so I’ve now selected ten places of historic interest, on which I’ve composed ten odes, 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 labor. “Why not write them out, and let us have a look at them?”

But, reader, peruse the next chapter, if you want to learn what follows.