The Tale of the Sword 李开先-宝剑记

---Li Kaixian

1.A Brief Introduction to the Author
Li Kaixian(1502-1568), alias Bohua and styled Zhonglu, was born in Zhangqiu, Shandong Province. He was remembered as “one of the eight geniuses” in the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty for his artistic talent.
                      

2.A Synopsis of the Tale of the Sword
During the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Lin Chong, a head instructor of 800 thousand imperial guards, was hated by Gao Qiu for his admonition to the Emperor. Meanwhile, Gao Qiu’s son took fancy to Lin Chong’s wife and tried to take possession of her. Persecuted by Gao Wiu and his son, Lin Chong was exiled to Cangzhou to guard the fodder storage. Gao Qiu sent Lu Qian to kill Lin Chong but failed. Having killed Lu Qian, Lin Chong hid himself in Chai Jin’s manor before the soldiers sent by Gao were going to arrest him. With no other choice, Lin Chong was forced to go to the Liangshan Mountain, the mountainous area controlled by the rebel army. Later, he and the rebel army surrounded the capital and forced the Empero to hand over Gao Qiu and his son to them. At last, Lin Chong killed Gao Qiu and his son.

3.A Synopsis of “Night Escape”
“Night Escape”, Scene Thirty-Seven in The Tale of the Sword, depicts the complicated mentality of Lin Chong on his way to the Liangshan Mountain after his escaped from the fodder storage. It is in this scene that Lin Chong’s emotins are fully conveyed and the theme of the whole drama is exhibited. It gives a vivid description of Lin Chong’s mental confilict between fidelity and treason, while the depiction of the scenery serves as a foil to the mournful atmosphere for Lin Chong’s escape. This scene has been performed on the stage of Kunqu Opera for many generations.

4.Scene Thirty-Seven Night Escape
(Enter Lin Chong)

LIN CHONG:
To the tune of Dianjiangchun
I count the timing clappers heating,
And listen to the silver water clock’s dripping.
Escaping from the pursuers sent by Gao Qiu,
I can no longer return to my hometown.
Whom can I turn to for help?
“Standing at a high place, I try to see my faraway hometown,
My gloomy thoughts lingering on the Hengyang Road.
As I haven’t for long heard from my house,
Several times I thought of writing sad poems,
I turn around and see the setting sun in the west sky;
Even a minute was hard to pass for a lonely guy.
Man never sheds tears at random,
Just because he hasn’t come into deep sorrows.”

To the tune of Shuangdiaoxinshuiling
With the Longquan sword in hand,
I put on the war robe speckled with tears and blood,
Wandering about lonely and destitute.
I look back at the Celestial Empire,
Though I have decided to go to the marsh for shelter.
Hurriedly rushing away,
I can hardly give a thought of loyalty and piety.
To the tune of Zhumating
In such an enless beautiful night,
I will not knock at the door for an overnight stay.
Looking at the crescent moon from the distance,
I pass stealthily every garrison.
And stride quickly in the wildness.
I am not afraid of the long way,
But afraid of being discovered by someone.
My heart almost misses a beat out of fears;
My heart almost misses a beat out of fear;
The world of mortals destroys my youth.

To the tone of Gumeijiu
Holding tight the dagger in my chest,
I cry and wail at every step I take.
Hauling my robe, I wind through the meandering paths in haste,
Thanks to the glittering stars that lighten my way.
All of a sudden, it turns gloomy and cloudy,
The rustling leaves are falling in the gale,
The tigers are roaring frighteningly in the mountains,
The apes are wailing thrillingly in the ravines.
I am so frightened to run helter-skelter
That I cannot find my way after I left the temple.
To the tune of Shoujiangnan
Alas!
The crows are roused from the twigs,
By the tooting horns of fishermen and woodmen.
I had better lodge my lonely heart in an inn.
As my dream is desolate behind the bed-curtains,
Nobody would accompany me but the wind and rain
In such a bleak night!

故国徒劳梦，
思归未得归。
此身无所托，
空有泪沾衣。

《宝剑记》
---李开先

1.作者简介
李开先（1502-1568），明代著名的文学家和戏曲家，字伯华，号中麓，山东章丘人，擅长词曲诗文，“嘉靖八才子”之一。

2.《宝剑记》剧情简介
《宝剑记》取材于小说《水浒传》，写林冲落草的故事。宋徽宗时，东京八十万禁军教头林冲，因朝政腐败，权臣当道，上表谏诤，和太尉高俅结下仇恨。高俅的儿子高衙内，看上了林冲的妻子张氏，图谋霸占；父子二人设计陷害林冲，把他刺配沧州牢城充军，看守大军草料场；又派陆谦去放火烧毁草料场。林冲侥幸没有被烧死，而且杀死了仇人陆谦，连夜逃避在柴进庄上。后闻朝廷派指挥徐宁带兵追他的消息，由柴进介绍，林冲连夜投奔梁山。后与梁山英雄起兵清除汉奸，率大军直驱京师，最后皇帝被迫交出汉奸，林冲将高俅父子碎尸万段，报仇雪恨。

3.“夜奔”剧情简介
“夜奔”一出为全剧第三十七出。该出些林冲火烧草料场之后，负剑出逃，投奔梁山途中的复杂心理，是表现林冲感情最为浓郁的一节，也是全剧思想精髓之所在。林冲在忠诚与背叛之间苦苦挣扎，通过景物描写林冲逃跑之时慷慨悲凉的戏剧气氛得到了较好的烘托。该出为昆剧舞台上久演不衰的经典折子戏

第三十七出 夜奔
[生上， 唱]
[点绛唇]

数尽更筹，
听残银漏。
逃秦寇，
好教我有国难投，
那搭儿相求救？
[白]欲送登高千里目，
愁云低锁衡阳路。
鱼书不至雁无凭，
几番欲作悲秋赋。
回收西山日又斜，
天涯顾客真难度。
丈夫有泪不轻弹，
只因未到伤心处。

[双调新水令]
按龙泉血泪洒征袍，
恨天涯一身流落。
专心投水浒，
回首望天朝。
急走忙逃，
顾不得忠和孝。
[驻马听]
良夜迢迢，
投宿休将门户敲。
遥瞻残月，
暗度重关，
急不慌郊。
身轻不惮路迢遥，
心忙只恐人惊觉。
魄散魂消，
魄散魂消，
红尘误了武陵年少！

[沽美酒]
怀揣着雪刃刀，
行一步哭号咷。
拽长裾急急蓦羊肠路绕，
且喜这灿灿明星下照。
忽然间昏惨惨云迷雾罩，
疏喇喇风吹叶落，
振山林声声虎啸，
绕溪涧哀哀猿叫。
吓的我魂飘、胆消，
百忙里走不出山前古庙。
[收江南]
呀！
又只见乌鸦阵阵起松梢，
数声残角断渔樵。
忙投村店伴寂廖。
想亲帏梦香，
空随风雨度良宵！