TRANSLATED BY ETHEL VAN DER VEER
MRS. CH'ANG.
MA CHUN-SHING, the lord Ma.
MRS. MA, his First Wife.
HAI-T'ANG, daughter of Mrs. Ch'ang, and Second
Wife of Ma Chun-shing.
SHIU-LANG, the young child of Hai-T'ang and the lord
Ma.
CH'ANG-LIN, Son of Mrs. Ch'ang.
CH'AO, clerk of the Court, lover of Mrs. Ma.
SU-SHUN, governor and judge of Ch'ing-ch'iu.
MANY OFFICERS, SERGEANTS and GUARDS in the suite
of SU-SHUN.
TWO NEIGHBORS of MRS. MA.
MRS. LIU SSU-SHIN,
A WINE-SELLER and INNKEEPER.
T'ANG-SHAO, police officers or guards.
HSIEH-PA,
PAO-CH'ING, governor and supreme judge at Kai
Fang-fu.
MANY OFFICERS of the suite Of PAO-CH'ING.
A SERGEANT, UNDER-OFFICER of justice, occupying
the office of Lictor.
(The scene is the house of Mrs. Chang.)
Mrs. Ch'ang. I am a native of Ch'ing-ch'ao. My family name is Liu; that of my husband was Ch'ang. He died very young, a long time ago, and left me two children, a boy and a girl. My son's name is Ch'ang-Lin. I taught him to read and write. My daughter's name is Ch'ang Hai-t'ang. I have no need to say much of one so distinguished for her beauty and fineness and greatness of soul. She knows the arts of writing and drawing, can play the flute most delicately and dance like the spirit of a white butterfly flitting amongst the ethereal flowers of heaven. She can sing like a nightingale and accompany herself most ravishingly upon the guitar. In a word, there is not a talent she does not possess to perfection. For seven generations my ancestors held high positions and achieved literary success. But alas! the wheel of fortune turned and in the wink of an eye I had lost all that I had. And now, pressed by necessity, I have had to force my daughter to make traffic of her beauty in order that she may continue to live and be charming. In this neighborhood dwells a rich man named Ma Chun-shing, a frequent caller at our house. He has seen my daughter and has made persistent proposals, offering her the rank of Second Wife. My daughter asks nothing better than to have him for a husband, but I could not give up the fine raiment and manner of living procured for me by her trade. I shall wait until she comes and then talk over with her the subject which now engrosses me. (Enter Ch'ang-Lin.)
Ch'ang-Lin. I am called Chang-Lin. . . . Well, my Honorable Mother, you know that my father and my ancestors held high places in the literary world and positions of eminence. If you are pleased to allow that miserable little wretch to continue to practice an infamous trade which dishonors her family, what kind of a figure do you think I can make in the world?
Mrs. Ch'ang. What is the meaning of this idle talk? If you fear that the conduct of your sister dishonors your family, would if not be better for you to seek some means of gaining silver yourself for the support of your aged mother? (Enter Hai-t'ang.)
Hai-t'ang. My brother, if you would be a gallant youth, take upon yourself the maintenance of our venerable mother.
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