Volume Ii Part 86 (2/2)
”I'll indite a stanza in advance,” eagerly exclaimed Hsiang-yun.
”We'll on no account let you indite any more to-day,” Pao-ch'ai laughed.
”You beat every one of us hollow; so if we sit with idle hands, there won't be any fun. But by and bye we'll fine Pao-yu; and, as he says that he can't pair ant.i.thetical lines, we'll now make him compose a stanza himself.”
”This is a capital idea!” Tai-yu 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!” Pao-ch'ai ventured laughing. ”The three girls Hsing Chou-yen, Li Wen and Li Ch'i, failed just now to do justice to their talents; besides they are visitors; and as Ch'in Erh, P'in Erh and Yun Erh 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.”
”Ch'i Erh,” Li Wan thereupon retorted, ”is also not a very good hand at verses, let therefore cousin Ch'in have a try!”
Pao-ch'ai 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 Hsing to indite on the word 'red;' your elder cousin Li on 'plum;' and Ch'in Erh on 'blossom.'”
”If you let Pao-yu off,” Li Wan interposed, ”I won't have it!”
”I've got a capital theme,” Hsiung-yun eagerly remarked, ”so let's make him write some!”
”What theme is it?” one and all inquired.
”If we made him,” Hsiang-yun resumed, ”versify on: 'In search of Miao Yu 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 Pao-yu 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,” Pao-yu smiled. ”You've no idea what an amount of trouble it has cost me!”
As he uttered these words, T'an Ch'un 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. Hsi Jen, 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 some one take them over to Hsi Jen.
Hsiang-yun also communicated to Pao-yu the subject for verses they had decided upon a short while back. But she likewise urged Pao-yu to be quick and accomplish his task.
”Dear senior cousin, dear junior cousin,” pleaded Pao-yu, ”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 pa.s.sed 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 pencil-like, or thick and bushy grove-like. Indeed, their appearance was as if the blossom spurted cosmetic. This fragrance put orchids to the blush. So every one present contributed her quota of praise.
Chou-yen, Li Wen and Pao-ch'in 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 Hsing Chou-yen.
The peach tree has not donned its fragrance yet, the almond is not red.
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