第七十六回

第七十六回 凸碧堂品笛感凄清 凹晶馆联诗悲寂寞

话说贾赦贾政带领贾珍等散去不提。且说贾母这里命将围屏撤去，两席并而为一。众媳妇另行擦桌整果，更杯洗箸，陈设一番。贾母等都添了衣，盥漱吃茶，方又入坐，团团围绕。贾母看时，宝钗姊妹二人不在坐内，知他们家去圆月去了，且李纨凤姐二人又病着，少了四个人，便觉冷清了好些。

贾母因笑道：“往年你老爷们不在家，咱们越性请过姨太太来，大家赏月，却十分闹热。忽一时想起你老爷来，又不免想到母子夫妻儿女不能一处，也都没兴。及至今年你老爷来了，正该大家团圆取乐，又不便请他们娘儿们来说说笑笑。况且他们今年又添了两口人，也难丢了他们跑到这里来。偏又把凤丫头病了，有他一人来说说笑笑，还抵得十个人的空儿。可见天下事总难十全。”说毕，不觉长叹一声，遂命拿大杯来斟热酒。

王夫人笑道：“今日得母子团圆，自比往年有趣。往年娘儿们虽多，终不似今年自己骨肉齐全的好。”贾母笑道：“正是为此，所以我才高兴拿大杯来吃酒。你们也换大杯才是。”邢夫人等只得换上大杯来。因夜深体乏，且不能胜酒，未免都有些倦意，无奈贾母兴犹未阑，只得陪饮。

贾母又命将罽毡铺于阶上，命将月饼西瓜果品等类都叫搬下去，令丫头媳妇们也都团团围坐赏月。贾母因见月至中天，比先越发精彩可爱，因说：“如此好月，不可不闻笛。”因命人将十番上女孩子传来。贾母道：“音乐多了，反失雅致，只用吹笛的远远的吹起来就够了。”说毕，刚才去吹时，只见跟邢夫人的媳妇走来向邢夫人前说了两句话。贾母便问：“什么事？”那媳妇便回说：“方才大老爷出去，被石头绊了一下，了腿。”贾母听说，忙命两个婆子快看去，又命邢夫人快去。

邢夫人遂告辞起身。贾母便又说：“珍哥媳妇也趁着便就家去罢，我也就睡了。”尤氏笑道：“我今日不回去了，定要和老祖宗吃一夜。”贾母笑道：“使不得，使不得。你们小夫妻家，今夜不要团圆团圆，如何为我耽搁了。”尤氏红了脸，笑道：“老祖宗说的我们太不堪了。我们虽然年轻，已经是十来年的夫妻，也奔四十岁的人了。况且孝服未满，陪着老太太顽一夜还罢了，岂有自去团圆的理。”

贾母听说，笑道：“这话很是，我倒也忘了孝未满。可怜你公公已死二年多了，可是我倒忘了，该罚我一大杯。既这样，你就越性别送，陪着我罢了。你叫蓉儿媳妇送去，就顺便回去罢。”尤氏说了。蓉妻答应着，送出邢夫人，一同至大门，各自上车回去。不在话下。

这里贾母仍带众人赏了一回桂花，又入席换暖酒来。正说着闲话，猛不防只听那壁厢桂花树下，呜呜咽咽，悠悠扬扬，吹出笛声来。趁着这明月清风，天空地静，真令人烦心顿解，万虑齐除，都肃然危坐，默默相赏。听约两盏茶时，方才止住，大家称赞不已。

于是遂又斟上暖酒来。贾母笑道：“果然可听么？”众人笑道：“实在可听。我们也想不到这样，须得老太太带领着，我们也得开些心胸。”贾母道：“这还不大好，须得拣那曲谱越慢的吹来越好。”说着，便将自己吃的一个内造瓜仁油松穰月饼，又命斟一大杯热酒，送给谱笛之人，慢慢的吃了再细细的吹一套来。媳妇们答应了。

方送去，只见方才瞧贾赦的两个婆子回来了，说：“右脚面上白肿了些，如今调服了药，疼的好些了，也没甚大关系。”贾母点头叹道：“我也太操心。打紧[2]说我偏心，我反这样。”因就将方才贾赦的笑话说与王夫人尤氏等听。王夫人等因笑劝道：“这原是酒后大家说笑，不留心也是有的，岂有敢说老太太之理。老太太自当解释才是。”

只见鸳鸯拿了软巾兜与大斗篷来，说：“夜深了，恐露水下来，风吹了头，须要添了这个。坐坐也该歇了。”贾母道：“偏今儿高兴，你又来催。难道我醉了不成，偏到天亮！”因命再斟酒来。一面戴上兜巾，披了斗篷，大家陪着又饮，说些笑话。只听桂花阴里，呜呜咽咽，袅袅悠悠，又发出一缕笛音来，果真比先越发凄凉。大家都寂然而坐。夜静月明，且笛声悲怨，贾母年老带酒之人，听此声音，不免有触于心，禁不住堕下泪来〔二〕。众人此时都不禁有凄凉寂寞之意，半日，方知贾母伤感，才忙转身陪笑，发语解释。又命换暖酒，且住了笛。

尤氏笑道：“我也就学了一个笑话，说与老太太解解闷。”贾母勉强笑道：“这样更好，快说来我听。”尤氏乃说道：“一家子养了四个儿子：大儿子只一个眼睛，二儿子只一个耳朵，三儿子只一个鼻子眼〔三〕，四儿子倒都齐全，偏又是个哑巴。”正说到这里，只见贾母已朦胧双眼，似有睡去之态。尤氏方住了，忙和王夫人轻轻的请醒。贾母睁眼笑道：“我不困，白闭闭眼养神。你们只管说，我听着呢。”王夫人等笑道：“夜已四更了，风露也大，请老太太安歇罢。明日再赏十六，也不辜负这月色。”贾母道：“那里就四更了？”王夫人笑道：“实已四更，他们姊妹们熬不过，都去睡了。”

贾母听说，细看了一看，果然都散了，只有探春在此。贾母笑道：“也罢。你们也熬不惯，况且弱的弱，病的病，去了倒省心。只是三丫头可怜见的，尚还等着〔四〕。你也去罢，我们散了。”说着，便起身，吃了一口清茶，便有预备下的竹椅小轿，便围着斗篷坐上，两个婆子搭起，众人围随出园去了。不在话下。

这里众媳妇收拾杯盘碗盏时，却少了个细茶杯，各处寻觅不见，又问众人：“必是谁失手打了。撂在那里，告诉我拿了磁瓦去交收是证见，不然又说偷起来了。”众人都说：“没有打了，只怕跟姑娘的人打了，也未可知。你细想想，或问问他们去。”一语提醒了这管家伙的媳妇，因笑道：“是了，那一会记得是翠缕拿着的。我去问他。”说着便去找时，刚下了甬路，就遇见了紫鹃和翠缕来了。

翠缕便问道：“老太太散了，可知我们姑娘那去了？”这媳妇道：“我来问那一个茶钟往那里去了，你们倒问我要姑娘。”翠缕笑道：“我因倒茶给姑娘吃的，展眼回头，就连姑娘也没了。”那媳妇道：“太太才说都睡觉去了。你不知那里顽去了，还不知道呢。”翠缕和紫鹃道：“断乎没有悄悄的睡去之理，只怕在那里走了一走。如今见老太太散了，赶过前边送去，也未可知。我们且往前边找找去。有了姑娘，自然你的茶钟也有了。你明日一早再找，有什么忙的。”媳妇笑道：“有了下落就不必忙了，明儿就和你要罢。”说毕回去，仍〔五〕查收家伙。这里紫鹃和翠缕便往贾母处来。不在话下。

原来黛玉和湘云二人并未去睡觉。只因黛玉见贾府中许多人赏月，贾母犹叹人少，不似当年热闹，又提宝钗姊妹家去母女弟兄自去赏月等语，不觉对景感怀，自去俯栏垂泪。宝玉近因晴雯病势甚重，诸务无心，王夫人再四遣他去睡，他也便去了。探春又因近日家事着恼，无暇游玩。虽有迎春惜春二人，偏又素日不大甚合。所以只剩了湘云一人宽慰他，因说：“你是个明白人，何必作此形景自苦。我也和你一样，我就不似你这样心窄。何况你又多病，还不自己保养。可恨宝姐姐，姊妹天天说亲道热，早已说今年中秋要大家一处赏月，必要起社，大家联句，到今日便弃了咱们，自己赏月去了。社也散了，诗也不作了。倒是他们父子叔侄纵横起来。你可知宋太祖说的好：‘卧榻之侧，岂容他人酣睡。[7]’他们不作，咱们两个竟联起句来，明日羞他们一羞。”黛玉见他这般劝慰，不肯负他的豪兴，因笑道：“你看这里这等人声嘈杂，有何诗兴。”

湘云笑道：“这山上赏月虽好，终不及近水赏月更妙。你知道这山坡底下就是池沿，山坳里近水一个所在就是凹晶馆。可知当日盖这园子时就有学问。这山之高处，就叫凸碧；山之〔六〕低洼近水处，就叫作凹晶。这‘凸’‘凹’二字，历来用的人最少。如今直用作轩馆之名，更觉新鲜，不落窠臼。可知这两处一上一下，一明一暗，一高一矮，一山一水，竟是特因玩月而设此处。有爱那山高月小的，便往这里来；有爱那皓月清波的，便往那里去。只是这两个字俗念作‘洼’‘拱’二音，便说俗了，不大见用，只陆放翁用了一个‘凹’字，说‘古砚微凹聚墨多’，还有人批他俗，岂不可笑。”林黛玉道：“也不只放翁才用，古人中用者太多。如江淹〔七〕《青苔赋》[10]，东方朔《神异经》[11]，以至《画记》上云张僧繇画一乘寺〔八〕的故事[13]，不可胜举。只是今人不知，误作俗字用了。实和你说罢，这两个字还是我拟的呢。因那年试宝玉，因他拟了几处，也有存的，也有删改的，也有尚未拟的。这是后来我们大家把这没有名色的也都拟出来了，注了出处，写了这房屋的坐落，一并带进去与大姐姐瞧了。他又带出来，命给舅舅瞧过。谁知舅舅倒喜欢起来，又说：‘早知这样，那日该就叫他姊妹一并拟了，岂不有趣。’所以凡我拟的，一字不改都用了。如今就往凹晶馆去看看。”

说着，二人便同下了山坡。只一转弯，就是池沿，沿上一带竹栏相接，直通着那边藕香榭的路径。因这几间就在此山怀抱之中，乃凸碧山庄之退居，因洼而近水，故颜其额曰“凹晶溪馆”。因此处房宇不多，且又矮小，故只有两个老婆子上夜。今日打听得凸碧山庄的人应差，与他们无干，这两个老婆子关了月饼果品并犒赏的酒食来，二人吃得既醉且饱，早已熄灯睡了。

黛玉湘云见熄了灯，湘云笑道：“倒是他们睡了好。咱们就在这卷棚底下近水赏月如何？”二人遂在两个湘妃竹墩上坐下。只见天上一轮皓月，池中一轮水月，上下争辉，如置身于晶宫鲛室之内。微风一过，粼粼然池面皱碧铺纹，真令人神清气净。湘云笑道：“怎得这会子坐上船吃酒倒好。这要是我家里这样，我就立刻坐船了。”黛玉笑道：“正是古人常说的好‘事若求全何所乐’。据我说，这也罢了，偏要坐船起来。”湘云笑道：“得陇望蜀，人之常情。可知那些老人家说的不错。说贫穷之家自为富贵之家事事称心，告诉他说竟不能遂心，他们不肯信的；必得亲历其境，他方知觉了。就如咱们两个，虽父母不在，然却也忝在富贵之乡，只你我竟有许多不遂心的事。”黛玉笑道：“不但你我不能称心，就连老太太、太太以至宝玉、探丫头等人，无论事大事小，有理无理，其不能各遂其心者，同一理也，何况你我旅居客寄之人哉！”湘云听说，恐怕黛玉又伤感起来，忙道：“休说这些闲话，咱们且联诗。”

正说间，只听笛韵悠扬起来。黛玉笑道：“今日老太太、太太高兴了，这笛子吹的有趣，倒是助咱们的兴趣了。咱两个都爱五言，就还是五言排律罢。”湘云道：“限何韵？”黛玉笑道：“咱们数这个栏杆的直棍，这头到那头为止。他是第几根就用第几韵。若十六根，便是‘一先’起。这可新鲜？”湘云笑道：“这倒别致。”于是二人起身，便从头数至尽头，止得十三根。湘云道：“偏又是‘十三元’了。这个韵少，作排律只怕牵强不能押韵〔九〕呢。少不得你先起一句罢了。”黛玉笑道：“倒要试试咱们谁强谁弱，只是没有纸笔记。”湘云道：“不妨，明儿再写。只怕这一点聪明还有。”

黛玉道：“我先起一句现成的俗语罢。”因念道：

　　三五中秋夕，

湘云想了一想，道：

　　清游拟上元[15]。

　　撒天箕斗[16]灿，

林黛玉笑道：

　　匝地管弦繁。

　　几处狂飞盏，

湘云笑道：“这一句‘几处狂飞盏’有些意思。这倒要对的好呢。”想了一想，笑道：

　　谁家不启轩。

　　轻寒风剪剪，

黛玉道：“对的比我的却好。只是底下这句又说熟话了，就该加劲说了去才是。”湘云道：“诗多韵险，也要铺陈些才是。纵有好的，且留在后头。”黛玉笑道：“到后头没有好的，我看你羞不羞。”因联道：

　　良夜景暄暄。

　　争饼嘲黄发[17]，

湘云笑道：“这句不好，是你杜撰，用俗事来难我了。”黛玉笑道：“我说你不曾见过书呢。吃饼是旧典，唐书唐志你看了来再说。”

湘云笑道：“这也难不倒我，我也有了。”因联道：

　　分瓜笑绿媛[18]。

　　香新荣玉桂，

黛玉笑道：“分瓜可是实实的你杜撰了。”湘云笑道：“明日咱们对查了出来大家看看，这会子别耽误工夫。”黛玉笑道：“虽如此，下句也不好，不犯着又用‘玉桂’‘金兰’等字样来塞责。”因联道：

　　色健茂金萱。[19]

　　蜡烛辉琼宴，

湘云笑道：“‘金萱’二字便宜了你，省了多少力。这样现成的韵被你得了，只是不犯着替他们颂圣去。况且下句你也是塞责了。”黛玉笑道：“你不说‘玉桂’，我难道强对个‘金萱’么？再也要铺陈些富丽，方才是即景之实事。”湘云只得又联道：

　　觥筹乱绮园。

　　分曹尊一令[20]，

黛玉笑道：“下句好，只是难对些。”因想了一想，联道：

　　射覆听三宣。

　　骰彩红成点，

湘云笑道：“‘三宣’有趣，竟化俗成雅了。只是下句又说上骰子。”少不得联道：

　　传花鼓滥喧。

　　晴光摇院宇，

黛玉笑道：“对的却好。下句又溜了，只管拿些风月来塞责。”湘云道：“究竟没说到月上，也要点缀点缀，方不落题。”黛玉道：“且姑存之，明日再斟酌。”因联道：

　　素彩接乾坤。

　　赏罚无宾主，

湘云道：“又说他们作什么，不如说咱们。”只得联道：

　　吟诗序仲昆[21]。

　　构思时倚槛，

黛玉道：“这可以入上你我了。”因联道：

　　拟景或依门。

　　酒尽情犹在，

湘云说道：“是时候了。”乃联道：

　　更残乐已谖[22]。

　　渐闻语笑寂，

黛玉说道：“这时候可知一步难似一步了。”因联道：

　　空剩雪霜痕〔一〇〕[24]。

　　阶露团朝菌[25]，

湘云笑道：“这一句怎么押韵，让我想想。”因起身负手，想了一想，笑道：“够了，幸而想出一个字来，几乎败了。”因联道：

　　庭烟敛夕棔[26]。

　　秋湍泻石髓[27]，

黛玉听了，不禁也起身叫妙，说：“这促狭鬼，果然留下好的。这会子才说‘棔’字，亏你想得出。”湘云道：“幸而昨日看历朝文选见了这个字，我不知是何树，因要查一查。宝姐姐说不用查，这就是如今俗叫作明开夜合的。我信不及，到底查了一查，果然不错。看来宝姐姐知道的竟多。”黛玉笑道：“‘棔’字用在此时更恰，也还罢了。只是‘秋湍’一句亏你好想。只这一句，别的都要抹倒。我少不得打起精神来对一句，只是再不能似这一句了。”因想了一想，道：

　　风叶聚云根[28]。

　　宝婺情孤洁，

湘云道：“这对的也还好。只是下一句你也溜了，幸而是景中情，不单用‘宝婺’来塞责。”因联道：

　　银蟾气吐吞。[29]

　　药经灵兔捣，

黛玉不语点头，半日随念道〔一一〕：

　　人向广寒奔。

　　犯斗邀牛女，

湘云也望月点首，联道：

　　乘槎待帝孙。

　　虚盈轮莫定，

黛玉笑道：“又用比兴了。”因联道〔一二〕：

　　晦朔魄空存。[32]

　　壶漏声将涸，

湘云方欲联时，黛玉指池中黑影与湘云看道：“你看那河里怎么像个人在黑影里去了，敢是个鬼罢？”湘云笑道：“可是又见鬼了。我是不怕鬼的，等我〔一三〕打他一下。”因弯腰拾了一块小石片向那池中打去，只听打得水响，一个大圆圈将月影荡散复聚者几次。只听那黑影里嘎然一声，却飞起一个白鹤来，直往藕香榭去了。黛玉笑道：“原来是他，猛然想不到，反吓了一跳。”湘云笑道：“这个鹤有趣，倒助了我了。”因联道：

　　窗灯焰已昏。

　　寒塘渡鹤影[34]，

林黛玉听了，又叫好，又跺足，说：“了不得，这鹤真是助他的了！这一句更比‘秋湍’不同，叫我对什么才好？‘影’字只有一个‘魂’字可对，况且‘寒塘渡鹤’何等自然，何等现成，何等有景且又新鲜，我竟要搁笔了。”湘云笑道：“大家细想就有了，不然就放着明日再联也可。”黛玉只看天，不理他，半日，猛然笑道：“你不必捞嘴〔一四〕[36]，我也有了，你听听。”因对道：

　　冷月葬诗魂〔一五〕[38]。

湘云拍手赞道：“果然好极！非此不能对。好个‘葬诗魂’！”因又叹道：“诗固新奇，只是太颓丧了些。你现病着，不该作此过于清奇诡谲之语。”黛玉笑道：“不如此如何压倒你。下句竟还未得，只为用工在这一句了。”

一语未了，只见栏外山石后转出一个人来，笑道：“好诗，好诗，果然太悲凉了。不必再往下联，若底下只这样去，反不显这两句了，倒觉得堆砌牵强。”二人不防，倒唬了一跳。细看时，不是别人，却是妙玉。

二人皆诧异，因问：“你如何到了这里？”妙玉笑道：“我听见你们大家赏月，又吹的好笛，我也出来玩赏这清池皓月。顺脚走到这里，忽听见你两个联诗，更觉清雅异常，故此听住了。只是方才我听见这一首中，有几〔一六〕句虽好，只是过于颓败凄楚。此亦关人之气数而有，所以我出来止住。如今老太太都已早散了，满园的人想俱已睡熟了，你两个的丫头还不知在那里找你们呢。你们〔一七〕也不怕冷了？快同我来，到我那里去吃杯茶，只怕就天亮了。”黛玉笑道：“谁知道就这个时候了。”

三人遂一同来至栊翠庵中。只见龛焰犹青，炉香未烬。几个老嬷嬷也都睡了，只有小丫鬟在蒲团上垂头打盹。妙玉唤他起来，现去烹茶。忽听叩门之声，小丫鬟忙去开门看时，却是紫鹃翠缕与几个老嬷嬷来找他姊妹两个。进来见他们正吃茶，因都笑道：“要我们好找，一个园里走遍了，连姨太太那里都找到了。才到了〔一八〕那山坡底下小亭里找时，可巧那里上夜的正睡醒了。我们问他们，他们说，方才亭外头棚下两个人说话，后来又添了一个，听见说大家往庵里去。我们就知是这里了。”妙玉忙命小丫鬟引他们到那边去坐着歇息吃茶。自取了笔砚纸墨出来，将方才的诗命他二人念着，遂从头写出来。

黛玉见他今日十分高兴，便笑道：“从来没见你这样高兴。若不见你这样高兴〔一九〕，我也不敢唐突请教，这还可以见教否？若不堪时，便就烧了；若或可改，即请改正改正。”妙玉笑道：“也不敢妄加评赞。只是这才有了二十二韵。我意思想着你二位警句已出，再若续时，恐后力不加。我竟要续貂[43]，又恐有玷。”黛玉从没见妙玉作过诗，今见他高兴如此，忙说：“果然如此，我们的虽不好，亦可以带好了。”妙玉道：“如今收结，到底还该归到本来面目上去。若只管丢了真情真事且去搜奇捡怪，一则失了咱们的闺阁面目[44]，二则也与题目无涉了。”二人皆道极是。

妙玉遂提笔一挥而就，递与他二人道：“休要见笑。依我必须如此，方翻转过来，虽前头有凄楚之句，亦无甚碍了。”二人接了看时，只见他续道：

　　香篆[45]销金鼎，脂冰[46]腻玉盆。

　　箫增〔二〇〕嫠妇泣，[48]衾倩侍儿温。

　　空帐悬文凤，闲屏掩彩鸳。

　　露浓苔更滑，霜重竹难扪。

　　犹步萦纡沼，还登寂历原。

　　石奇神鬼搏，[49]木怪虎狼蹲。

　　赑[50]朝光透，罘罳[51]晓露屯。

　　振林千树鸟，啼谷一声猿。

　　歧熟焉忘径[52]，泉知不问源。

　　钟鸣栊翠寺，鸡唱稻香村。

　　有兴悲何继，无愁意岂烦。

　　芳情只自遣，雅趣向谁言。

　　彻旦休云倦，烹茶更细论[53]。

后书：《右中秋夜大观园即景联句三十五韵》。

黛玉湘云二人皆赞赏不已，说：“可见我们天天是舍近而求远。现有这样诗仙在此，却天天去纸上谈兵。”妙玉笑道：“明日再润色。此时想也快天亮了，到底要歇息歇息才是。”林史二人听说，便起身告辞，带领丫鬟出来。妙玉送至门外，看他们去远，方掩门进来。不在话下。

这里翠缕向湘云道：“大奶奶那里还有人等着咱们睡去呢。如今还是那里去好？”湘云笑道：“你顺路告诉他们，叫他们睡罢。我这一去未免惊动病人，不如闹林姑娘半夜去罢。”说着，大家走至潇湘馆中，有一半人已睡去。二人进去，方才卸妆宽衣，盥漱已毕，方上床安歇。紫鹃放下绡帐，移灯掩门出去。

谁知湘云有择席之病，虽在枕上，只是睡不着。黛玉又是个心血不足常常失眠的，今日又错过困头，自然也是睡不着。二人在枕上翻来覆去。黛玉因问道：“怎么你还没睡着？”湘云微笑道：“我有择席的病，况且走了困，只好躺躺罢。你怎么也睡不着？”黛玉叹道：“我这睡不着也并非今日，大约一年之中，通共也只好睡十夜满足的。”湘云道：“却是你病的原故，所以……”不知下文什么——

〔一〕 “凄清”，底本、梦稿、蒙府、甲辰本均作“凄情”，从戚序本改。

[2] 打紧——实在、的确。

〔二〕 “且笛声悲怨，贾母年老带酒之人，听此声音，不免有触于心，禁不住堕下泪来”，原作“随下相来”，又改为“各人随心想向”。从梦稿、蒙府、戚序本增改。

〔三〕 “眼”字原无，从蒙府、戚序、甲辰本补。

〔四〕 “三丫头可怜见的，尚还等着”，底本错漏不成文，从蒙府本改。

〔五〕 “仍”字原无，从梦稿、蒙府、戚序本补。

[7] “卧榻之侧，岂容他人酣睡”——喻自己势力范围，不许别人插足。见《宋史纪事本末·平江南》。这里借喻大观园中作诗雅事，向来是姑娘姐妹吟咏展才，岂容“他们父子叔侄纵横起来”。

〔六〕 “高处，就叫凸碧；山之”，原无，从梦稿、蒙府、甲辰本补。

〔七〕 “江淹”，原无，从梦稿、蒙府、戚序本补。

[10] 江淹《青苔赋》——江淹：南朝梁文学家。他的《青苔赋》有“悲凹险兮，唯流水而驰鹜”的句子。

[11] 东方朔《神异经》——东方朔，西汉武帝时人，善辞赋，性诙谐。《神异经》是托名东方朔作的一部志怪小说。

〔八〕 “一乘寺”，原作“一乘人”，从蒙府、戚序、俄藏、甲辰本改。

[13] 《画记》上云张僧繇（yóu由）画一乘寺的故事——张僧繇：南朝梁武帝时著名画家，开创了佛像绘画及雕刻的中国风格，《历代名画记》中列为“上品”。他曾在南京一乘寺门上用古印度技法画凹凸花，即以类似色按浓淡配置而产生了浮雕般的效果，远望如凹凸，近看却平。这个故事见于唐代许嵩《建康实录》。历来并无《画记》一书，只韩愈有文名《画记》，记人物及马，而张彦远《历代名画记》中“张僧繇”条并未提及凹凸花，可见此处实误，宜看作小说家言，乃泛指记画之作。

〔九〕 “押韵”，“押”原作“压”，从戚序本改。

[15] 拟上元——可与上元节相比。上元：元宵节，阴历正月十五日。

[16] 箕斗——星宿名，南箕北斗，这里泛指群星。《诗·小雅·大东》：“维南有箕，不可以簸扬；维北有斗，不可以挹酒浆。”

[17] “争饼”句——即“嘲黄发之争饼”。黄发：老年人。争饼：争中秋的月饼。此典生僻，有人以为或指唐僖宗命御厨以红绫扎饼赐曲江新科进士之事，因徐演有“莫欺老缺残牙齿，曾吃红绫饼馅来”的诗。见宋秦再思《洛中记异》。

[18] “分瓜”句——即“笑绿媛之分瓜”。绿媛：年轻女子；绿，指绿鬓，乌黑的头发。分瓜：指切西瓜。《燕京岁时记》：“八月十五日祭月。其祭，果饼必圆，分瓜必牙错。”“凡中秋供月，西瓜必参差切之，如莲花瓣状。”

[19] “香新”一联——写中秋月夜景色。意谓盛开的桂花飘散清香，繁茂的萱草闪耀光彩。萱草：又名忘忧草，俗称金针菜，也叫黄花菜。古人常用萱堂代指母亲。

[20] “分曹”句——意谓尊令官一人之命，分出对手，行射覆、猜拳等酒令。分曹：分出对手，如射覆中分射者和覆者。曹，这里指对偶，即互作对手的人。

[21] 序仲昆——排名次；定高低。

[22] 谖（xuān宣）——忘记，引申为止歇。

〔一〇〕 “雪霜痕”，原无“霜”字，从蒙府、戚序、甲辰本补。

[24] 雪霜痕——代指月光。

[25] 朝菌——一种朝生暮死的菌类。《庄子·逍遥游》：“朝菌不知晦朔。”

[26] 棔（hūn昏）——即合欢树，一名马缨花，又叫夜合花。夜间叶子成对相合。

[27] 石髓——即石钟乳，石上多孔隙。

[28] 云根——指山石。古人认为山间云气生于山石，故称之为云根。

[29] “宝婺（wù务）”一联——意谓秋星孤高晶洁，月中的银蟾吞吐云气，遮住月亮的光辉。婺：婺女。星宿名，又名女，即女须星。这里代指秋星。银蟾：指月中蟾蜍。《后汉书》注：羿请不死之药于西王母，姮娥窃之以奔月，是为蟾蜍。气吐吞：古人把云层遮月而过说成是月中蟾蜍在吞吐云气。

〔一一〕 “随念道”，原作“再念头”，从各本改。

〔一二〕 “乘槎待帝孙。虚盈轮莫定”两句诗和“黛玉笑道：又用比兴了。因联道”十二字，原无，梦稿、蒙府、戚序本均有，文字略异，此从蒙府、戚序本补。

[32] “虚盈”一联——意谓月亮的圆缺变换不停，每当晦、朔，月魄无光。虚盈：指月的圆缺。轮：月轮；月亮。晦、朔：阴历每月初一叫朔，最末一天叫晦。魄：月魄，指月的实体。

〔一三〕 “等我”，原无，从各本补。

[34] “寒塘”句——秋夜寒塘掠过飞鹤的身影。或系化用唐代杜甫（《和裴迪登新津寺寄王侍郎》）“鸟影度寒塘”之句而成。

〔一四〕 “捞嘴”，原作“嘴”，“”点改为“说”。

[36] 捞嘴——北京方言，意为“多嘴”。

〔一五〕 “冷月葬诗魂”，原作“冷月葬死魂”，“死”点改为“诗”。俄藏、甲辰、程甲本作“冷月葬诗魂”。梦稿、蒙府、戚序本均作“冷月葬花魂”。“死”或以为系“花”形讹，或以为是“诗”音讹。今从音讹说。下文“葬诗魂”同。

[38] “冷月”句——清冷的月光埋葬了诗人的精魂。或谓此句借用李贺“秋坟鬼唱鲍家诗”意境，“冷月葬诗魂”，也可能从元·乔梦符《红绣鞋·书所见》“凉风醒醉眼，明月破诗魂”点化而来。

〔一六〕 “有几”，原无，从各本补。

〔一七〕 “你们”，原无，从各本补。

〔一八〕 “才到了”，原无，从蒙府、戚序本补。

〔一九〕 “若不见你这样高兴”，据俄藏、蒙府、戚序本增。

[43] 续貂——古代近侍官员以貂尾为冠饰，朝廷滥任官吏，时人讽刺曰：“貂不足，狗尾续。”见《晋书·赵王伦传》。后常以“续貂”作为自谦之词，表示佳作在前，难以为继。

[44] 闺阁面目——指诗之格调合乎闺阁小姐的身分情趣。

[45] 香篆（zhuàn撰）——即篆香，一种记时用的盘香，形似篆文。

[46] 脂冰——即冰脂，亦即凝脂（古文“冰”“凝”通），这里指凝固了的蜡油。

〔二〇〕 “增”，底本并甲辰、程甲本作“憎”，从蒙府、戚序、梦稿本改。

[48] “箫增”句——呜呜洞箫，增添寡妇泣声的悲戚。宋代苏轼《前赤壁赋》：“客有吹洞箫者，倚歌而和之；其声呜呜然，如怨、如慕、如泣、如诉，……舞幽壑之潜蛟，泣孤舟之嫠妇。”嫠（lí离）妇：寡妇。

[49] “石奇”句——石头奇形怪状，像神鬼在搏斗。苏轼《石钟山记》：“大石侧立千尺，如猛兽奇鬼，森然欲搏人。”

[50] 赑（bì　xì币戏）——亦作“赑”、“赑”，蠵（xī希）龟的别名。传说赑力大，能负重，故大碑的石座多雕作它的形状。这里代指石碑。

[51] 罘罳（fú　sī浮思）——古代设在宫门外或城角上多孔的屏障，用以瞭望和防御。这里泛指门外用作屏障的有孔的篱垣。

[52] 歧熟焉忘径——歧：道路分岔处。《列子·说符》：“大道以多歧亡羊，学者以多方丧生。”后常以“歧路亡羊”比喻事理复杂多变，没有正确方向。这里是反其意而用，意谓岔道都很熟悉，哪会迷路呢？

[53] 细论——仔细品评。论，这里读阳平（lún轮）。杜甫《春日忆李白》：“何时一尊酒，重与细论文。”

CHAPTER 76. Flute-playing at Convex Pavilion provokes too much melancholy And linked verses at Concave Pavilion betray a morbid sensitivity

After Jia She and Jia Zheng had left, taking the two younger men with them, Grandmother Jia had the screen removed and proposed that those sitting at both tables should combine to make a single party. The serving-women cleared and wiped the table, replenished and replaced the plates of foodstuff, and set out clean winecups and chopsticks. While they were doing this, Grandmother Jia and the other members of the family were putting on more clothing, washing their hands, rinsing their mouths out, and drinking tea. When all was ready they arranged themselves round the one table. As they did so, Grandmother Jia noticed, for the first time that evening, that Bao-chai and Bao-qin were not there. With Li Wan and Xi-feng also away ill, the family gathering seemed sadly depleted. She commented on this fact to Lady Wang.

‘In past years, when Sir Zheng was away, we invited your sister to enjoy the Mid-Autumn moon with us. To be sure, we had some very happy times with her, but the recollection that one of our dear ones was missing – in my case a son, in yours a husband, in the children’s a father – somewhat dampened our enjoyment. This year, now that he is back, I was looking forward to a really jolly family party; but now, unfortunately, it’s your sister and her children who can’t be with us. Well, I suppose as she’s got two more members of her family with her this year we could hardly expect her to leave them behind and come over here simply to keep me amused. But what a pity that Feng should have chosen this time to be ill! She is always such a tonic – as good as ten other people at a party! It only goes to show. One can’t have everything.’

She sighed.

‘Fetch me a bigger cup,’ she said presently, ‘and pour me some good hot wine.’

Lady Wang smiled.

‘You have both your sons with you this year, Mother. Surely that is a gain? There may have been more females present in previous years, but surely having all your own children about you is better?’

‘Yes, yes, of course it is,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘I am very happy. That is why I have asked for a larger cup. You must all have larger cups too.’

It was getting very late now and the other ladies had no real inclination for carousing; but as Grandmother Jia showed no signs of flagging, they were obliged to keep her company. The effect of forcing themselves to drink with her was that they became unbearably sleepy.

Grandmother Jia called for a carpet to be spread out at the top of the terrace steps. The remaining mooncakes, melons and other eatables were carried over there and the maids and womenservants invited to sit round in a big circle, eating them and enjoying the moon.

Grandmother Jia, too, looked up at the moon. It had now reached its meridian and was even clearer and more beautiful than it had been earlier in the evening.

‘To get full enjoyment of so fine a moon,’ she said, ‘the music of a flute is indispensable.’

She had the girls of the family’s little ten-piece orchestra summoned; but when they arrived, they were informed that not all of them would be required to play.

‘Too much sound would spoil the effect,’ she said. ‘The flute on its own will be enough. And we should like to hear it from quite a long way away.’

The flautist went off obediently to do her bidding. A moment after she had left, one of Lady Xing’s women came hurrying up and whispered something in Lady Xing’s ear.

‘What is it?’ said Grandmother Jia.

‘It’s Sir She,’ said Lady Xing. ‘On his way back just now he tripped over a rock and twisted his ankle.’

Grandmother Jia at once sent two of her own women to see how he was and told Lady Xing that she was to go back immediately and look after him. Lady Xing rose and took her leave.

‘Zhen’s wife may as well go back now too,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘Then I shall go home to bed.’

‘I don’t intend to go back at all tonight,’ said You-shi. ‘I have resolved to spend the night here with you.’

‘That will never do!’ said Grandmother Jia, laughing. ‘Tonight of all nights a young couple like you ought to be together. I can’t have you staying away from your husband for my sake!’

You-shi coloured.

‘Really, Grandma, what a thing to say! I suppose Zhen and I are still comparatively young, but we have been married nearly twenty years, you know: we are both nearly forty. And in any case, we’re still in mourning for Sir Jing. I’d much better spend the night here with you.’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘I’d quite forgotten you were still in mourning. Poor Sir Jing! It must be more than two years now – but I ought not to have forgotten. I shall drink this big cupful as a punishment! All right, you’d better stay and keep me company then. Let Rong’s wife see Lady Xing out. After that she can go back home herself.’

You-shi instructed her daughter-in-law accordingly, whereupon little Hu-shi accompanied Lady Xing as far as the main gate of the mansion. There both ladies got into their carriages and went their separate ways.

Meanwhile the company had been over to the other side of the terrace to admire the cassia. They now took their places at table once more and were served with freshly heated wine.

In the midst of their chattering and laughter, suddenly startling them into silence, the undulant, lamenting sound of a flute came floating up to them from the cassia-trees below. Beautiful at any time, such music heard in the stillness of the night under the great vault of the sky with a bright moon above and only the cold, invisible night wind stirring in the earth below steals like a balm over the soul, soothing and dissolving all earthly griefs and cares. They listened, rapt and silent, with upturned, attentive faces. The music continued for about the space in which one could comfortably have drunk two cups of tea and then stopped. The momentary silence which followed it was broken by cries of admiration from all present. The winecups were replenished with warm wine.

‘You see,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘It is good, isn’t it?’

‘It truly is,’ they agreed. ‘Who could have imagined anything so beautiful? If it weren’t for you, Grandma, we might never have had this experience.’

‘It could have been much better,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘To get the full benefit you need to hear something really slow.’

She had a large cup of wine poured and ordered one of her women to take it to the flautist.

‘Tell her to take her time with this, and say that when she’s finished drinking it, I’d like her to play us another piece, only more softly this time.’

While this woman went off with the message and the wine, the two women she had sent off earlier to inquire after Jia She’s ankle returned.

‘We’ve had a look at Sir She, Your Ladyship. His right ankle is rather swollen, but he’s taken some medicine and the pain is not so bad now. It doesn’t look very serious.’

Grandmother Jia nodded and sighed.

‘You see? The truth is, I worry too much. He was trying to make out that I don’t care about him at all!’

While she was saying this, Faithful appeared carrying a large cape and hood.

‘Here, put these on,’ she said. ‘It’s getting very late. You don’t want to be outside when the dew falls. Aren’t you afraid of catching cold? I think when you’ve sat a little longer, you ought to come back home to bed.’

‘Just when I’m enjoying myself you have to start nagging me to go to bed,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m drunk. I’ve decided to stay up till dawn.’

She called rebelliously for more wine, but did put the cape and hood on notwithstanding. The other ladies drank with her for company and did their best to be amusing. Then, silencing them once more, the sound of the flute concealed in the cassia-bushes below came stealing into their ears, this time more plaintive even than before. Indeed, this time the combination of the flute’s melancholy with the effects of nocturnal stillness and ghostly moonlight induced a feeling of such overpowering sadness in the listeners that they turned their backs on it and sought, with talk and somewhat forced laughter, to escape it. Fresh wine was called for and the flautist told to stop playing.

‘I’ll cheer you up, Lady Jia,’ said You-shi. ‘Let me tell you a funny story. I learnt it specially for the occasion.’

‘Ha, ha, ha. Yes, that would be very nice, a joke. Do tell me,’ said Grandmother Jia with a jollity that seemed somewhat strained.

‘There were once four brothers,’ You-shi began. ‘The eldest had only one eye, the second had only one ear, the third had only one nostril, and the fourth, though he had all his parts in order, was dumb.’

She had got no farther with her story when she became aware that the old lady’s head was nodding down upon her bosom and her eyelids drooping as though she was about to go to sleep. She broke off at once, and she and Lady Wang both called gently to her to wake up. Grandmother Jia opened her eyes wide and laughed.

‘I’m not sleeping, I was just resting my eyes. Go on with your story. I’m listening.’

‘It’s very late,’ said Lady Wang. ‘The air is cold tonight and there is a lot of dew. Won’t you go home and rest now, Mother? We can have another moon-party tomorrow night, if you feel like it. The moon on the sixteenth is still well worth watching.’

‘What time is it?’ Grandmother Jia asked.

‘Past two o’clock,’ said Lady Wang. ‘The children couldn’t hold out any longer. They have all gone off to bed.’

Grandmother Jia looked round the table. Only Tan-chun was still sitting there in the semicircle of empty chairs.

‘Well,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘they are not used to staying up late. Considering the amount of weakness and sickliness there is among them, I suppose it is just as well. But there’s my little Tan, sitting there all on her own, poor child! You go to bed too, my dear. We’ll end the party now.’

She got up herself as she said this, and after taking a sip or two of green tea, climbed into her bamboo carrying-chair and was borne out of the Garden by two women, the rest walking beside her or following close behind. But of her and them no more.

One of the women who remained behind to clear the table and stack the crockery noticed that a single porcelain cup was missing. After looking everywhere for it unsuccessfully, she appealed to the other servants.

‘I suppose one of you must have dropped it accidentally and thrown it away somewhere. Do please tell us, and let us have the broken pieces, so that when we report the loss we shan’t be accused of having stolen it.’

‘None of us has broken it,’ said the others. ‘It might have been a maid of one of the young ladies that broke it. If you can think who it might have been, I should go and ask them.’

‘You are right,’ said the woman, suddenly recollecting. ‘I remember Kingfisher coming to fetch a cup for her mistress. I must go and ask her for it.’

She had not far to look. A short way along the paved path at the bottom of the steps she came upon her and Nightingale walking along together. It was Kingfisher who spoke first.

‘Oh, has Her Old Ladyship ended the party then? I suppose you don’t know where my mistress has gone?’

‘I’ve come to ask you what you’ve done with one of our teacups,’ said the woman, ‘and you ask me about your mistress!’

Kingfisher laughed.

‘I poured out a cup of tea some time ago and handed it to her, and the next thing I knew was she’d disappeared – with the teacup.’

‘Her Ladyship said just now that the young ladies had all gone to bed,’ said the woman. ‘I don’t know where you two can have been larking about all this time not to know anything about it.’

‘I’m sure our mistresses wouldn’t have slipped off to bed without telling us,’ said Kingfisher. ‘More likely they just went off for a walk. Perhaps when Her Old Ladyship left they joined the others to see her back to her apartment. We’ll go over there now and have a look. If they are there, we shall know where your cup is. Why don’t you come round and ask me for it tomorrow? There’s no pressing hurry for it now, is there?’

‘There’s no hurry as long as I know where it is,’ said the woman. ‘I’ll call round and ask you for it tomorrow.’

She went back to the pavilion then, to finish stacking the crockery.

Lady Wang was wrong. Dai-yu and Xiang-yun had not gone to bed. The sight of all those Jias enjoying the moonlight (in spite of Grandmother Jia’s complaint that the numbers were so few) and the thought of Bao-chai and Bao-qin enjoying a moon-party of their own with Aunt Xue and the two Xue males made the occasion a painful one for Dai-yu. She had slipped away not in order to go to bed but to lean on the terrace railings and cry. Bao-yu on this occasion had little thought for anything but Skybright’s illness, which had lately taken a serious turn for the worse, and after several appeals from his mother to go to bed, he had availed himself of the excuse for going back in order to find out how she was. Tan-chun was still feeling too much out of temper after the recent domestic upheavals to have any appetite for amusement. Ying-chun and Xi-chun might have kept Dai-yu company, but since they did not as a rule get on with her very well, it would not have occurred to them to do so. That left only Xiang-yun to offer her some comfort.

‘Now coz, this won’t do! You’re an intelligent girl: you must take more care of yourself. I must say, it is too bad of Chai and Qin. All that talk about spending Mid-Autumn night enjoying the moon together and using the occasion to revive the Poetry Club with another linked couplets session – and then, when the time comes, they leave us in the lurch and go off to enjoy the moon by themselves! No Poetry Club, no linked couplets, nothing! It’s all the fault of those wretched men! You remember the remark made by the first Song emperor: “No one but me is allowed to snore in this bedroom!” That’s the menfolk’s attitude at a party. Never mind. Since the others haven’t come, we’ll make up some linked couplets ourselves and take them along tomorrow to shame them with.’

Xiang-yun was so enthusiastic a comforter that Dai-yu felt she could not show herself wholly unresponsive.

‘The trouble is, all these people here are making so much noise,’ she said. ‘It’s not an atmosphere very conducive to poetic inspiration.’

‘Although the hilltop is a good place for enjoying the moon from,’ said Xiang-yun, ‘the moon would look even better over water. I don’t know whether you realize it, but one side of this hill does actually give onto the lake. There is a little building there called the Concave Pavilion nestling in a hollow quite close to the water’s edge. Whoever made this Garden must have been quite an educated person. The place where we are now is obviously called the Convex Pavilion because it is on top of the convex hill, and Concave Pavilion must have been given its name because it is in a hollow. Those two words “concave” and “convex” are very seldom encountered in literature. Their use in landscape gardening for the naming of features must be even rarer. To my mind the linking together of these two pavilions by so unusual a pair of names suggests that they must have been specially designed for viewing the moon from: Convex Pavilion for those who like the small, remote moon of the mountains and high places, Concave Pavilion for those who prefer the silky whiteness of the great orb reflected in the surface of the water. “Convex” and “concave” are often thought of as vulgar, unpoetical words, but that is only because of their modern associations. Some people even call that well-known line of Lu You’s vulgar:

In well-worn concave patch the ground ink settles;

but I find that criticism rather silly.’

‘Lu You is by no means the only writer to have used those words in a work of literature,’ said Dai-yu. ‘Jiang Yan uses them in his prose-poem “Moss”, Dong-fang Shuo uses them somewhere in his Book of Marvels, and in Lives of the Painters they turn up in a description of Zhang Seng-yao’s decoration of the Ekayāna Monastery at Nanking. In fact, there must be countless instances in literature. I think it’s merely ignorance that nowadays leads people to dismiss them as “unpoetical”. To tell you the truth, it was I who gave these two pavilions their names. That year when Bao-yu did all the naming of places in the Garden there were several places left over afterwards which he either hadn’t got round to naming or had given names to that were thought unsuitable, and the task of naming them was given to us girls. The names we made up were taken to the Palace for Cousin Yuan’s approval and she sent word back saying that provided Uncle Zheng approved of them they were to be used. So that’s how I came to name these two pavilions. All right, let’s go down then.’

The two girls descended the slope of the little mountain. A few steps round a turn in the pathway which skirted the foot of it took them to the pavilion. Near the water’s edge, linking it with Lotus Pavilion farther along the shore, was a bamboo railing. The two old women who were on night watch in it, little imagining that an overspill from the hilltop party would come their way, had long since put their light out and gone to sleep. Dai-yu and Xiang-yun laughed when they saw that the pavilion was in darkness.

‘They’ve gone to sleep. Never mind. All the better. Let’s sit outside here on the covered verandah and look at the moonlight on the water.’

They found a couple of drum-shaped bamboo stools to sit down on. A great white moon in the water reflected the great white moon above, competing with it in brightness. The girls felt like mermaids sitting in a shining crystal palace beneath the sea. A little wind that brushed over the surface of the water making tiny ripples seemed to cleanse their souls and fill them with buoyant lightness.

‘If only I were in a boat now, with some wine to drink!’ said Xiang-yun. ‘If this were my own home, I should jump into a boat now immediately.’

‘There’s an old saying: “Who seeks perfection must abandon joy”,’ said Dai-yu. ‘If you ask me, I think we are very well the way we are. Why do we have to be in a boat to enjoy this?’

Xiang-yun laughed.

‘“One conquest breeds appetite for another.” That applies to most of us, you know, not only to generals.’

While she was speaking, a flute began to play. They listened for some moments to its plaintive rise and fall.

‘Grandma and Aunt Wang are obviously enjoying themselves,’ said Dai-yu, smiling. ‘The flute is a very happy touch. We shall put it to our own purposes, you and I. It shall inspire our verse. We both like pentameters, don’t we? Let’s do linked pentameters as we did on that other occasion.’

‘What rhyme?’ said Xiang-yun.

‘We could use a number for a rhyme,’ said Dai-yu. ‘Let’s count the uprights in the railing as far as that angle over there. Whatever the number is shall be our rhyme.’

‘That’s a very ingenious idea,’ said Xiang-yun.

The two girls got up and walked along the railing to count.

It turned out that there were exactly eight posts from one angle of the railing to the next.

‘Hmn,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘Eight. I wonder how far we shall get with that rhyme. The danger with this sort of thing always is that after a time the rhyming becomes forced – or else one simply can’t go on at all. Well, you begin.’

‘I’d like to have been able to see afterwards which of us had done better,’ said Dai-yu, ‘but unfortunately we haven’t got anything to write with.’

‘I’ll write it out tomorrow,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘I may not be very clever, but I’ve got a reasonably good memory.’

‘All right,’ said Dai-yu. ‘I’ll start with something very prosy and obvious.’

DAI-YU:

Fifteenth night of the Eighth, Mid-Autumn moon –

Xiang-yun thought a bit before following.

XIANG-YUN:

Whose joys the First Full Moon’s do emulate. Under your crystal-constellated heaven –

DAI-YU:

The sounds of music everywhere pulsate. At many a board the reckless winecups fly –

‘Ha! I like the “reckless winecups”,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘I must try to do them justice. Let me see.’

‘She thought for a bit.

XIANG-YUN:

Where friends are met your feast to celebrate. The air is crisp, the wind more bracing blows –

‘You finished the couplet very well,’ said Dai-yu, ‘but that second line is a bit weak, isn’t it?’

‘We’ve got a long way to go and the rhyming will soon begin to get harder,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘I want to save up any good ideas I may have until later.’

‘Mind you produce some good lines later then,’ said Dai-yu. ‘Otherwise you are going to look pretty silly!’

She proceeded to finish the couplet.

DAI-YU:

In the clear sky the cold stars scintillate. Grey hairs are mocked when they for cakes dispute –

‘I don’t like that line,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘It sounds like an allusion, but I think you have just made it up to confuse me.’

‘That shows you don’t read much,’ said Dai-yu. ‘It’s a perfectly good allusion. There’s a story about quarrelling over cakes in the Official History of the Tang Dynasty. I’ll show you it tomorrow.’

‘Well, anyway, I’m not going to be confused,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘I can cap that line.’

XIANG-YUN:

Green girls divide the melons, eight and eight. New scents the jade-like cassia have enriched –

‘Now that really is a bogus allusion,’ said Dai-yu.

‘We’ll look both our allusions up tomorrow and the others can judge between us,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘In the meanwhile, let’s get on with this and stop wasting time.’

‘That’s all very well,’ said Dai-yu, ‘but I don’t like your other line either. We ought to be able to manage without clichés like “jade-like cassia”. I call that mere padding.’

DA.-YU:

Closed day-lilies the morrow’s gold gestate. A blaze of candles gilds the radiant feasters –

‘“Gold gestate”!’ said Xiang-yun. ‘Well, that’s one way of getting a rhyme – a pretty cheap one if you ask me! And your second line is quite as much padding as mine was.’

‘If you hadn’t started with “jade-like cassia”, I shouldn’t have brought in my gold-gestating day-lilies,’ said Dai-yu. ‘And as regards my second line, I should have thought a few words on the brilliance of the feast were called for, in order to do justice to the occasion.’

Since Dai-yu was evidently not going to concede anything, Xiang-yun was obliged to finish off the couplet.

XIANG-YUN:

Whom frequent sconcings soon inebriate. Competing, they observe the game’s strict order –

‘Ah, that’s a good line!’ said Dai-yu. She thought a bit before capping it.

DAI-YU:

And rules for ‘I spy’ gravely promulgate. Some shake the pretty dice and make them roll –

‘I like “gravely promulgate”,’ said Xiang-yun, laughing. ‘It lifts a vulgar subject up and gives it tone. But then your “dice” in the next line bring us back again to the banal.’

She followed as best she could.

XIANG-YUN:

Or, to the drum’s quick beat, the branch rotate. The clear rays glint on roofs and courts below –

‘Well capped!’ said Dai-yu. ‘But then in your next line you wander off the track. Is that the best you can do, padding out with that stuff about moonlight?’

‘In point of fact we haven’t said much about the moon yet,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘Surely a few words on the subject are in order? Isn’t that what our poem is supposed to be about?’

‘All right, let it pass,’ said Dai-yu. ‘We’ll have another look at it tomorrow.’

She continued.

DAI-YU:

And all in silvery light illuminate. Prizes and forfeits impartially they ponder –

‘Oh dear! are we back with that lot again?’ said Xiang-yun. ‘Why not something about ourselves for a change?’

XIANG-YUN:

Sibling verse-contests they adjudicate. Poets lean on railings, seeking inspiration –

‘You’ve managed to get round to us at last!’ said Dai-yu.

DAI-YU:

Or hunt for rhymes, propped up against a gate. The excitement lingers, though the party’s over –

‘Oh, does it?’ said Xiang-yun.

XIANG-YUN:

The sounds of music softly terminate. Slowly the talk and laughter fade to silence –

‘It’s getting harder all the time now to rhyme,’ said Dai-yu.

DAI-YU:

Leaving a moonscape hushed and desolate. On dewy steps the tiny toadstools sprout –

‘Just a minute, I can’t think how to rhyme this,’ said Xiang-yun.

She got up and paced to and fro, hands clasped behind her, thinking.

‘Ha, yes, that’ll do!’ she said after some moments. ‘Good job I thought of that word, otherwise I might have had to give up.’

XIANG-YUN:

Tight-curled albizzia bushes pernoctate. A rain-swelled swirl rips through the brook-bed rocks –

Dai-yu leapt to her feet, unable to restrain a cry of admiration.

‘You wretch! You certainly have left the good things till last. “Pernoctate” is a splendid word. But what is “albizzia” for goodness’ sake?’

‘I came across it yesterday in the Prose Anthology,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘I was going to look it up because I didn’t know what kind of tree it was, but Cousin Chai told me I didn’t need to: she said it was another name for what we nowadays call “mimosa”. I didn’t believe her, so I looked it up all the same. She was right. That girl knows everything.’

‘Well, it was very clever of you to have thought of it,’ said Dai-yu, smiling, ‘especially as mimosa does in fact close up at night. But that “rain-swelled swirl” line is brilliant. That single line is worth all the lines we have made up so far put together. I shall have to think very carefully before capping it. I very much doubt whether, even so, I shall be able to think of anything as good.’

After thinking for a while, she produced the following.

DAI-YU:

And wind-combed leaves on ledges congregate. The Weaving Maid in lonely splendour shines –

‘Your capping line is not at all bad,’ said Xiang-yun, ‘but that second line wanders off the track a bit. Still, I suppose you could say your “Weaving Maid” is saved from being mere padding by the “lonely”. It introduces an element of feeling into the line.’

XIANG-YUN:

Damp airs the silver Toad of the moon inflate. See where the Hare immortal medicine pounds –

Dai-yu nodded silently for some moments before reciting her own two lines.

DAI-YU:

Thither Chang E was forced to emigrate. A man moves upwards through the constellations –

Xiang-yun, gazing up at the moon, also nodded.

XIANG-YUN:

A raft floats skywards with a human freight. Waxing or waning, the moon’s face, ever changing –

‘That capping line is not good,’ said Dai-yu. ‘It merely repeats what my line said in other words. You manage to get clear again with your second line. I suppose you wanted to compensate for the sameness of the first couplet by making a big jump in the second.’

DAI-YU:

Its substance changeless and inanimate. Soon the clepsydra’s night-long drip will cease –

Xiang-yun was about to continue when Dai-yu drew her attention to a black shape in the middle of the lake.

‘Look, in that dark shadow there, like a human shape! Do you think it could be a ghost?’

Xiang-yun laughed.

‘Oh, she’s seeing ghosts now! I’m not afraid of ghosts. I shall throw a stone at it.’

She bent down to pick up a pebble and hurled it into the centre of the lake. They heard a plop and saw the distorted image of the moon expand and contract as concentric ripples travelled outwards from the shattered surface. There was a loud squawk, and from the middle of the dark shadow a white stork flew up and flapped his way across the water in the direction of Lotus Pavilion.

‘So that’s who it was!’ said Dai-yu. ‘I wasn’t expecting him to be there. He gave me quite a shock.’

‘I’m very grateful to that stork,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘He’s given me a first line for the next couplet.’

XIANG-YUN:

Black shades the lamp’s last gleams annihilate A stork’s dark shape crosses the cold, bright water –

Dai-yu murmured admiringly, but stamped with vexation when she began to think about finishing the couplet.

‘Wretched stork, coming to her aid like that! This is not like the “rain-swelled swirl” couplet: I’m not going to be able to complete it by paralleling the whole line. A contrast for the dark moving shape is the most I can hope for. But your line is so natural, so simple and expressive. I feel almost like giving up.’

‘Perhaps if we both thought about it we could finish it together,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘Or, if you prefer, let’s break off now and you can try again tomorrow.’

Dai-yu stared up at the sky, ignoring her. Suddenly, after remaining immobile for some seconds, she gave a little laugh.

‘Stop your chatter, girl! I can finish this couplet. Listen:

DAI-YU:

Where, moon-embalmed, a dead muse lies in state.

Xiang-yun clapped her hands.

‘Excellent! Couldn’t be better! I love your “dead muse”!’ She sighed. ‘I mean excellent from a purely poetic point of view, because it’s so original. It’s a bit morbid, though. I don’t think it can be good for a person in your state of health to indulge in such chilling fantasies.’

‘With you to compete against, how else could I keep my end up?’ said Dai-yu. ‘Because I put so much into that last line –’

Just at that moment a figure stepped out from behind the spur of rock beyond the railings.

‘Bravo! An excellent line!’ said this person. ‘But it is, indeed, a little too melancholy. Don’t do any more. If you go on from there, the danger is that you may produce something forced and mechanical, which instead of offsetting the beauty of your line will merely spoil it.’

Startled by this unexpected interruption, the two girls looked hard in the direction from which it came and with some surprise recognized the speaker as Adamantina.

‘What are you doing here?’ they asked her.

‘Hearing the sounds of your moon-watching party, followed later by the sound of a flute playing, I was tempted to come out and enjoy the moon myself. I wanted to see it over this open expanse of water, where it appears to most advantage, and as I approached, I could hear you both reciting. Such pure refinement constrained me to stay and listen. But there were lines which, in spite of their excellence, contained a note of almost decadent melancholy, lines which made me fearful for the person uttering them. That is why I came out of my concealment and prevented you from going on. Lady Jia has long since broken up the party. Everyone else in the Garden must be in bed by now. I wonder where your maids are. Doubtless they are somewhere looking for you. Are you not afraid of catching cold? Come with me, and I shall give you some hot tea to drink. It must be nearly dawn.’

Dai-yu laughed.

‘I’d no idea the night was so far advanced.’

The three of them walked together to Green Bower Hermitage. A faint light still flickered in the Buddha shrine and the incense in the burner gave off a tiny smoke. All the old lay-sisters were asleep. A little maid, nodding sleepily on Adamantina’s meditation mat, appeared to be the only person still up. She roused herself when Adamantina called to her and made some tea with water from the already boiling kettle. Just at that moment there was a knocking at the gate and the little maid hurried to open it. It turned out to be Nightingale and Kingfisher with two or three old womenservants, looking for their mistresses. They found their mistresses drinking tea inside.

‘Well!’ they said. ‘You’ve led us a fine old dance! We’ve been all over the Garden looking for you. We even tried Mrs Xue’s outside. In the end we happened to go to that little pavilion under the mountain, just as the caretakers were waking up. When we asked them about you they said, “There were two people talking outside on the covered verandah a while ago, then a third one came along and we heard them saying they were going to the Hermitage.” That’s how we knew you were here.’

Adamantina told the little maid to take them round to the back where they could sit down and have some tea. She herself took paper, inkstone, brush and ink and began writing out the poem in linked couplets at the other two’s dictation.

Dai-yu was impressed by Adamantina’s enthusiasm.

‘I have never before liked to ask for your opinions about poetry because I have never before seen you show so much interest,’ she said; ‘but since you now obviously are in the mood for discussing it, won’t you please favour us with some criticism? If you think that what we have done is no good at all, let us burn it; but if you can see ways of improving it, do please correct it for us.’

‘I certainly would not presume to alter any of it,’ said Adamantina smiling; ‘but as there are no less than twenty-three couplets here, I am pretty sure that all your best lines must have been used up by now, and that if you were to go on, there would be a danger that you might begin to flag. What I should have liked to do would have been to go on for you myself; but I am afraid that if I did, I might only succeed in adding a dog’s tail to your leopard-skin!’

Dai-yu had never seen Adamantina compose poetry before and took her up eagerly on her obvious willingness to do so now.

‘Oh please do, if you have a mind to! Though our verses may be of little value, they will gain distinction by being associated with yours.’

‘In order to conclude what you have done so far,’ said Adamantina, ‘it will be necessary to bring the poem back to what we Buddhists call the “proper aspect”. If we continue to abandon reality and go chasing after the bizarre and the supernatural, we shall be guilty not only of unmaidenliness but also of losing sight of our subject.’

Mesdemoiselles Lin and Shi agreed.

Adamantina picked up the brush and began, muttering and writing by turns, until, having knocked off some dozen or so couplets, all in the same apparently effortless manner, she laid the brush down again and handed the paper over for the other two to read. This is what she had written:

In golden censers figured incense burns; Unguents in their jade pots coagulate.

A flute provokes the grieving widow’s weeping; She craves some warmth her bed’s chill to abate.

Its cheerless hangings stir in the wind of autumn, Its love-ducks mock a mistress without mate.

Thick dews make treacherous the slippery moss, And spears of frost the tall bamboos serrate.

Better the winding lakeside path to follow, Or lonely hilltop to perambulate.

Bound demons seem to writhe in the tortured rock-shapes; In the trees’ black shadows wild things pullulate.

Light’s harbingers begin with the dark to struggle, And morning’s first dews to accumulate.

Birds in a thousand treetops wake the woodland; In the echoing valley sad apes ululate.

My footsteps tread the path’s familiar turnings, Nor need the stream’s source to investigate.

From Green Bower convent sounds the matin bell; And Sweet-rice cocks the dawn anticipate.

Why should this rapt enjoyment end in sorrow, Or timid cares our conscience irritate?

Poets ought in themselves to find their pleasure, Not in the message they communicate.

As daylight breaks let none of us plead tiredness, But over tea continue our debate.

At the end of these couplets she had written down the title for the whole poem:

Mid-Autumn Night in Prospect Garden: A Poem in Thirty-five Couplets

Dai-yu and Xiang-yun were full of admiration.

‘Strange that we should be always looking round for poetic talent,’ they said, ‘and all the time we have had a poet like you on our very doorstep! These verses of yours make anything we have ever done look very amateurish.’

‘I must have another look at them tomorrow and touch them up a bit,’ said Adamantina smiling. ‘It’s already dawn. We really must go to bed.’

Dai-yu and Xiang-yun got up and took their leave. Their maids left with them. Adamantina saw them outside the gate and stood a long while watching them go. They had already covered a good part of the way back when she at last went in again and closed the gate after her.

Kingfisher wanted Xiang-yun to go to Li Wan’s place to sleep.

‘The people at Mrs Zhu’s are expecting you, miss. You ought to go there.’

‘Drop in there on the way and tell them not to wait up for me any longer,’ said Xiang-yun. ‘Mrs Zhu is still ill. If I went back there to sleep now, I’m afraid I might disturb her. If I’m going to disturb anyone, let it be Miss Lin.’

When they reached the Naiad’s House, they found half the servants there asleep. The girls took off their ornaments and outer clothes, washed, and got into bed. Nightingale let down the bed-curtains, and having set the lamp down within easy reach of the bed, went out and closed the door.

But neither of the girls could sleep, Xiang-yun because she always had difficulty in getting to sleep in a strange bed, and Dai-yu because her anaemic condition always made sleeping difficult for her, and because on this occasion she had long since passed beyond tiredness, so that for her sleep was in any case out of the question. For a long time the two of them lay tossing and turning on the bed.

‘Can’t you get to sleep?’ Dai-yu asked Xiang-yun eventually.

‘I can never get to sleep in a strange bed,’ said Xiang-yun with a rueful laugh. ‘Anyway, I’m too tired to get to sleep. I’ll just have to lie and rest. Can’t you get to sleep either?’

Dai-yu sighed.

‘This is no novelty for me,’ she said. ‘I don’t suppose I get more than ten really good nights’ sleep in a year.’

‘No wonder you’re always ill,’ said Xiang-yun.

Our story continues in the following chapter.