Dream of the Red Chamber

Author: Cao Xueqin (Qing Dynasty) / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Baoyu looked down at the next shelf, which was labeled "The Twelve Beauties of Jinling (Sub-Catalogue)," and another shelf was marked "The Twelve Beauties of Jinling (Second Sub-Catalogue)." Baoyu reached out and opened the door of the "Second Sub-Catalogue" first, taking out a book. When he opened it, he saw that the cover page was not of a person or a landscape but merely ink-wash strokes, filled with dark clouds and murky mist. Below, a few lines of text were written:
"Rare is the moon in clear skies,
Easy are the clouds to disperse.
Heart high as the heavens,
Body low as the humblest.
Fickle and clever, they draw resentment.
Longevity or short life, often born of slander.
The affectionate young master, in vain pines."
Baoyu read this and noticed that behind it, there was a cluster of flowers and a broken mattress, with a few more lines of text:
"Selflessly gentle and obedient,
Empty words like cassia and orchid.
To envy the actors' fortune,
Who knows the young master has no chance?"
Baoyu did not understand and threw it aside, then went to open the "Sub-Catalogue" shelf, taking out another book. When he opened it, he saw a branch of cassia with a pond below, but the water had dried up, the mud was hard, and the lotus and lotus roots were withered. The text read:
"Roots fragrant as the lotus,
Life's fortune truly mournful.
Since two trees grew apart,
The soul returns to its homeland."
Baoyu still did not understand and went to take the "Main Catalogue." On the first page, he saw two withered trees with a jade belt hanging from them, and a pile of snow with a gold hairpin in it. Four lines of poetry were written:
"Alas, the virtue of stopping the loom,
Who pities the talent of composing verses?
The jade belt hangs in the forest,
The gold hairpin is buried in the snow."
Baoyu still did not understand. He wanted to ask but knew she would not reveal the secrets of the heavens; he wanted to leave but could not bear to. So he turned the page and saw a bow with a fragrant orange hanging from it. A song was written:
"Twenty years of discerning right and wrong,
Pomegranate flowers illuminate the palace.
The three springs cannot match the first spring's beauty.
Tiger and rabbit meet—great dreams return."
Behind it, he saw two people flying kites, a vast sea, and a large boat with a woman weeping, her face covered. Four lines were written:
"Talent clear as Qingming, ambition high,
Born in the late era, fate declines.
At Qingming, tears flow by the river,
A thousand miles of east wind, a dream far away."
He turned the page again and saw a few strands of flying clouds and a bend of flowing water. The text read:
"Riches—what use?
Parents part in infancy.
At a glance, the sun sets slantingly.
Xiang River's waters flow, Chu clouds fly."
He turned the page and saw a beautiful jade falling into mud. The judgment read:
"Wishing to be pure, yet never pure,
Clouds empty, yet not truly empty.
Alas, gold and jade in quality,
Yet sink into the mire at last."
He turned the page and saw a fierce wolf chasing a beauty, its hunger evident. The text read:
"The wolf of Zhongshan, when successful, grows wild,
Gold and jade in quality, one year to the yellow field."
He turned the page and saw an ancient temple with a beauty inside, reading scriptures alone. The judgment read:
"Seeing through the fleeting beauty of the three springs,
Her robes change from former splendor.
Alas, the beauty of noble doors,
Alone lies by the dim lamp and ancient Buddha."
He turned the page and saw an ice mountain with a female phoenix on it. The judgment read:
"The bird of virtue comes to the late era,
All love her talent.
One, two, three—wood splits,
Crying to Jinling, sorrow deepens."
He turned the page and saw a desolate village with a beauty spinning thread. The judgment read:
"Power fades, wealth forget,
Family falls, kin abandoned.
By chance helping Liu's family,
Accident meets a kindred soul."
After the poem, he saw a lush orchid with a beauty in phoenix attire beside it. The judgment read:
"Peaches and plums bloom in spring,
Who can match the orchid at the end?
Like ice and water, vain envy,
Waste of life as idle talk."
After the poem, he saw a tall tower with a beauty hanging herself. The judgment read:
"Love's heaven and sea, deep as dreams,
Love meets—must lead to lust.
Not all the unworthy are noble-born,
The start of trouble lies in Ning."
Baoyu was about to look further, but the fairy knew his high intellect and sharp mind, fearing the secrets of the heavens would be revealed, so she closed the book and smiled at Baoyu:
"Come with me to see the wonders of the world. Why dwell on this puzzle?"
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