『一江風』小春香，一種在人奴上。畫閣裡從嬌養，侍娘行。 Fragrance is my name, the maid in this household serving the young mistress, since we were both children.

弄粉調朱、貼翠拈花，慣向妝台傍。 Helping her dress and do her coiffure is my daily duty, which calls for me to be with her almost all the time.

陪他理繡床，陪他理繡床，又隨他燒夜香。My job also includes helping her with her needlework, and with her nightly praying to the Buddhist gods.

小苗條吃的是夫人杖。 Oh, my skinny body would sure feel better, If not for the occasional flogging by the elder lady!

花面丫頭十三、四，春來綽約省人事；終須尋個助情花，處處相隨步步覷。 Though only a teenage chamber maid, About life I'm beginning to know a thing or two. Serving my sweet mistress is my trade, Waiting on her and watching her every move, too.

我春香，自幼服侍小姐。看她名為國色，實守家聲，杏臉嬌羞，老成莊重。 Fragrance is my name. I've been serving my young mistress since we were both children.

我家老爺延師教授，命我伴讀。昨日請了一位先生，叫，叫，叫什麼啊？哦，叫陳最良。 Her father, my grand master, has engaged a tutor to instruct her. And I've been ordered to be her companion in her studies.Now what's the name of this tutor? Let me think...Oh, -- yes, his name is Pro-whatever Chen!

啊呀，那先生的模樣好不古板啊！老爺又對他說，倘有不到之處只打春香這丫頭。 Good grief, what an old-fashioned geezer he is! What's more, my master told him to punish me as he saw fit.

我倒好笑，我春香麼，豈是與他們出氣的，卻不是我的晦氣。 What a laugh! Am I, Fragrance, someone to mess with? What a joke that is!

今早服侍小姐，早餐已過，叫我去看看先生可在學堂裡。 Now back to the present -- my mistress, after finishing her breakfast, told me to see if the tutor was in the classroom.

咦，你看那老頭兒端端正正坐在那裏。不免請小姐上學。 Let me see -- how do you like that -- the old geezer is sitting there all prim and proper in the classroom! I'd better ask my mistress to come to the classroom.

（陳最良上。）吟餘改抹春前句，飯後尋思午晌茶。 After chanting the poems, I polish on the written lines, as I yearn only for the afternoon tea following lunch.

蟻上案頭沿硯水，蜂穿窗眼砸瓶花。 See the ants circling around the ink-stone on the desk, while busy bees flew in here, sucking on the flowers.

我陳最良，在杜府設帳，教授小姐毛詩，極承老夫人看待。 My name is Propriety Chen, private tutor in the prominent Du household to teach "The Book of Songs" to the young mistress, quite respected and well treated by the elder Madam Du.

今日早餐已過，怎麼還不見女學生上學？老夫人哪，你太嬌寵了。啊，春香，春香！ Look, it's past class time, where I wonder is my girl pupil? I do think the elder lady has spoiled this young mistress. Say, Fragrance, Fragrance!

春（內）: 怎麼？陳: 請小姐上學！春（內）: 曉得了！請小姐上學！ (Fragrance from backstage): What is it? Chen: Ask your young mistress to come to class. Fragrance: Yes. Do come to your class, Miss.

（杜麗娘上，唱『遶池遊』）素妝才罷，款步書堂下。 (Enter Belle Du. Sings aria) Having finished my coiffure, I step to my study languorously.

對淨幾明窗瀟灑。 How the study looks bright and tidy!

春: 先生，春香見！陳: 罷了！ 春: 休怪呀！ Fragrance: Fragrance also pays respect to you, Sir. Chen: That's fine. Fragrance: Oh, don't you blame me now, Sir!

陳: 哪個來怪你。 春: 不是啊，我和小姐來遲了些。 Chen: Who pray is blaming you! Fragrance: Oh, you know, for my Mistress being late to class.

陳: 也不甚遲。去！春: 是。 Chen: Well, it's not that late. You may step down. Fragrance: Yes, Sir

陳: 女學生，凡為女子者，雞初鳴，咸盥漱，櫛筓問安於父母。 Chen: Girl Pupil, as a woman, you must rise at the crack of dawn, finish your coiffure, before you pay your daily respect to your parents.

出之後，各供其事。如今女學生既以讀書為事，以後須要早起。 By the time the sun has risen, each of you must go about your own duties. And your duty is to study, so you must focus on it more and rise earlier from now on -- do you hear?

春: 先生，我同小姐今後不睡了。 陳: 為何？ Du: I won't dare be late ever again, Sir. Fragrance: My young mistress and I won't dare go to bed ever again, Sir! Chen: What for?

春: 等到三更時分，就請先生上學，如何？ 陳: 太早了！ Fragrance: Well, so that I can w ake you up at midnight, Sir, to give a class. Chen: That would be too early!

春: 早又不好，遲又不好，這倒難了！ 陳: 多講，去！ 春: 是。 Fragrance: So either it's too early or too late. You ARE difficult! Chen: What nonsense! Step down. Fragrance: Yes, Sir.

陳: 女學生，昨日上的書可溫習熟了？ 杜: 已溫習熟了。請先生講解。 Chen: Have you memorized by heart the first chapter of "The Book of Songs?" Du: Yes, I have.

春: 先生，小姐說溫習熟了，請先生講解。 陳: 春香，你呢？ Chun: Mr. Chen, Mistress said she has memorized. Chen: What about you, Fragrance?

春: 我麼？我是爛熟的了。 陳: 好，拿來背。 Fragrance: Who, me? Oh, yes, I can recite it backwards. Chen: Recite it by heart, then.

春: 小姐，先生叫你背書。Fragrance: Mistress, Master Chen wants you to recite it by heart.

杜: 先生叫你背。 陳: 是叫你背啊！ Du: Master Chen wants you to recite it. Chen: I told YOU to recite it, Fragrance!

春: 是。小姐，提我一個字。 杜: 關--- 春: 哦，關---關--- Fragrance: Oh, all right...Miss, help me out with the first word...

陳: 關關雎鳩。 春: 關關雎鳩，關關雎鳩‧‧‧ Chen: "Cloc cloc, the egret calls out..." Fragrance: Oh, yes. Cloc, cloc, the egret calls out...Yes, Cloc, cloc...

陳: 在啊！ 春: 在‧‧‧在，在什麼喲？ 陳: 在河之洲。 Chen: "From..." Fragrance: From...from... Chen: "From the islet in the stream."

春: 哦，有了。「關關雎鳩，在河之洲。窈窕淑女，君子好逑。」先生，可是爛熟的了？ Fragrance: Oh, I've got it! "Cloc, cloc, the egret calls out from the islet in the stream. A princely man will woo the sweet girl of his dream!" Didn't I say I could recite it backwards?

陳: 一句也背不出，反而說爛熟了。拿去再讀。春: 喲，爛熟的了，還要讀！ Chen: Pah! You couldn't even recite by heart one single stanza. Go and study more Fragrance: But I know it inside out. Why should I study more?

陳: 好，聽講。關關雎鳩。『關關』是鳥聲，『 雎鳩』是鳥名。春: 先生，那鳥聲可學與我們聽聽？ Chen: Now listen carefully. "Cloc, cloc" is the sound of a bird, and egret is a water bird. Fragrance: Oh, Sir, why don't you imitate for us the chirping sound of a bird?

陳: 我怎麼學與你們聽？聽講！ 此鳥性喜幽靜，在河之洲--- Chen: I will NOT emulate any sound for you! Now listen to my explanation. As the bird enjoys the water, it rests on the river isle..."

春: 我曉得了！不是昨日是今日，啐，不是今年是去年。 Fragrance: Oh, I know, I know! Yesterday, oh no, it's today, oh no, it was last year!

我衙內關著個斑鳩兒，被小姐一放，它就一飛，飛到何之州衙內去了！可是麼？ Yes, it was last year when we had a wild bird here, which was set free by my young mistress. So was that the same bird resting on the river isle?

陳: 這是興啊！春: 一丟丟的小鳥兒，有什麼興介？ Chen: What are you talking about? I was teaching you the poetic metaphor! Fragrance: NO, NO, NO! It was a little bird, NOT a matador

陳: 胡說，興者是起也，起那下文。 窈窕淑女，是悠閑貞靜的女子。 君子好逑，有那君子，好好去逑她。 Chen: Nonsense! Metaphor is a literary device. Whenever there's a graceful young lady around, a young gentleman will pursue her.

春: 先生，那君子為何要好好去求她？陳: 誒，依注講解，只管胡纏！ Fragrance: Purchase her? Why? Chen: What a lot of nonsense you speak!

杜: 先生。依註講解，學生自會。請先生把詩經大意教導一番。 陳: 好，聽講！春香，春香！ Du: Won't you, Master, explain to me the quintessence of "The Book of Songs?" Chen: All right. Fragrance, you hear me, too.

陳: 你也聽著！ 春: 哪哪哪，在這裏聽著哩！ Chen: You should pay attention to what I say, too. Fragrance: All right, all right! I'm all ears!

『掉角兒』論六經，詩經最葩。 (Chen sings aria.) Of all the Six Classics, The Book of Songs reigns supreme. The lines are elegant and meaningful, Superbly instructive and educational, too.

閨門內有許多風雅。有指證薑嫄產娃，不嫉妒後妃賢達。 It sings praises of fine ladies of antiquity, Admirable men of aspirations

更有那詠雞鳴，傷燕羽，泣江皋，思漢廣，洗盡鉛華。 As it mourns farewells, Laments separations,And, meanwhile, worrying about the country

有風有化，宜室宜家。 All written in beautifully clear and fine words, Encouraging all men to be good and refined

杜: 請問先生，這經文有多少？陳: 詩三百，一言以蔽之--- Du: How many poems are there in the book, Sir? Chen: Three hundred, all of which are...

陳唱: 沒多些，則這無邪兩字，付予兒家。 春: 咦，講得好聽啊！ (aria) All of the poems can be summed up in two words: Moral and decent, they are. Fragrance: Well explained, indeed

陳: 書已講完。春香，取紙筆來，與小姐寫字。 Chen: Now that I've finished explaining, bring here the brush and the ink stone, Fragrance, so that your young mistress will practice calligraphy.

學生自會臨書，春香還勞先生把筆。 Du: I can practice on my own, Sir. Would you teach Fragrance how to write with a brush, Sir?

啊，先生，小姐說，自會臨書，我春香還勞先生把筆！ Fragrance: Sir, my mistress said that you should teach me how to write with a brush.

你書也背不出，還要寫什麼字？ Chen: You can't even recite the poem. So what's point of practicing calligraphy?

先生，待我寫個潤珠兒罷！ 陳: 待我寫與你。春香，你要認真讀書啊！ Fragrance: Teach me 'something!' Chen: Oh, all right. Here, take it and practice well. Fragrance: Yes, Sir

字完，春香，送與先生看！春: 是。小姐字完，先生請看。 Du: I've finished writing, Fragrance. Show it to the master. Fragrance: Yes, Miss. Sir, look, this is what my mistress has written

待我看。喲，寫得好字啊！春: 小姐，先生在那裏讚你。 Chen: Let me see. My, my, you sure write well! Fragrance: Miss, the master is praising you.

陳: 我從來未曾見過女學生寫得這樣好字！啊，女學生，這是什麼格？ 杜: 是衛夫人傳下美女簪花格。 Chen: Never have I seen a girl pupil write as well as you do. What calligraphic style is this? Du: I follow the style of Madam Wei

陳: 果然寫得好！春: 先生，我也寫個奴婢學夫人罷！ Chen: Very fine, indeed!Fragrance: I want to follow that Madam, whatever, too!

陳: 你啊，尚早！ Chen: Much later for you! Fragrance: Later for ME!

春: 啊，小姐，我要出恭。杜: 對先生說。 春: 喲，又要對先生說。春香領出恭簽！ Fragrance: Oh, Miss, 'Nature calls!'Du: Go tell the master. Fragrance: What! I have to tell him 'that?’ Sir, 'Nature calls!'

你才來幾時，就要出恭！來了半日了！不許走 Chen: But you just got here! Fragrance: I've been here half a day already! Chen: No!

春: 啊喲！急得緊了！ 陳: 如此，去去就來。 Fragrance: Then you're going to have an accident here! Chen: Oh, all right, go, but hurry back!

春: 哪個出什麼恭！到那邊玩耍玩耍再來！ 杜: 請問先生，師母尊年？ Fragrance: There's no nature calling, I'm going to have some fun out there. Du: I beg to ask, Sir. How old is your eminent wife?

目下平頭六十歲。待學生繡雙鞋兒，與師母上壽。生受你！ Chen: Sixty this year. Du: I wish to make with my own hands a pair of embroidered shoes for her. Chen: Much obliged.

請個樣兒。就依孟子雲“不知足而為履”罷！ Du: Would you tell me the style she favors? Chen: "Leave everything to the sensitivity of the maker," is what the ancient sage said.

杜: 謹依先生之命。春香去了半日，怎麼還不回來？ Du: I'll obey your instruction, Sir. Now, Fragrance has been gone for a long time.

陳: 是啊，春香去了半日，怎麼還不見來？春香，春香快來！ Chen: She sure has. Say, Fragrance, Fragrance!

春: 咦，哈哈哈！我只管在此讀書，不知那邊有一座大花園，桃紅柳綠， 啊呀呀，好耍子啊！ Fragrance: I've been too busy accompanying my mistress in her studies, to know that there's this wonderful garden of such beautiful sights. What fun I had!

陳: 春香快來！春: 來了！可恨這老頭兒又在那裏叫了。 Chen: Fragrance, approach, hurry! Fragrance: Yes, yes, I'm coming! Why is the old buzzard calling me again?

啊，來了。交簽。 為何去了半日還不回來？ Chen: Fragrance. Fragrance: Here's your pass, Sir. Chen: Why were you gone for so long?

春: 小姐，你只管在此讀書，原來那邊有座大花園，桃紅柳綠，好耍子哪！ Fragrance: Oh, Miss, there's a gorgeous garden right outside.

你不去讀書倒也罷了，怎麼又引動小姐。我是要打的呀！ 先生，你要打哪個啊？ Chen: Are you being a bad influence on your mistress? I'll lash you! Fragrance: Whom will you lash?

打你，打哪個？ 打我啊！勸你將就些兒罷！ Chen: "You," that's whom! Fragrance: You better think twice about it.

『前腔』我是個女娘行，哪里應文科判衙？只不過識字兒，書塗嫩鴉， (Fragrance sings aria.)I'm just a little maid, Not a man trained to be a scholar! All I need is to read a few phrases, And to scribble down a few words.

待映月，耀蟾蜍眼花；待囊熒，把蟲蟻兒活支煞！ If you use reflect moonlight you’ll dazzle the toad up there in the moon;As for fireflies in a bag just think of the poor things burning!

比似你懸了梁，損頭髮；刺了股，添疤納，有甚光華？ If you were to try tying your hair to a beam you wouldn’t have much left, And pricking you thighs you’d be even scabbier than you are. What’s so glorious about that?

小姐，聽聲聲賣花，把讀書聲差。(backstage: Flowers, pretty flowers for sale!) Someone outside is selling flowers,It sounds more interesting than reciting poetry!

吓吓吓！又來引逗小姐，如今真要打了！春: 放手，放手 Chen: You're being a bad influence on the young mistress again. I'm going to lash you! Fragrance: Let me go! I say, let me go!

你待打我這嫩娃娃。桃李門牆，險把負荊人嚇煞。 Fragrance: Try and beat me then, poor little me, Tutor to young ladies. Scaring this poor malefactor within an inch of her life!

氣死我也！明日告訴公相我要辭館了！杜: 先生請息怒，待學生責治她！ Chen: What impudence! I'll submit my resignation to the master tomorrow. Du: Don't be angry, Sir. I'll punish her.

好，你去責治她！ 賤人，拾起來！ 是。 Chen: Yes, you do that! Du: Little slave, pick it up.Fragrance: Yes, Miss.

對先生跪了！ 跪了小姐罷！自古一日為師，終生為父，難道先生打你不得？ Du: Go and kneel to the master.Fragrance: I would much prefer kneeling to you, Miss。 Du: Don't you know the old saying: “A teacher one day is a father for a lifetime?” Do you think he cannot lash you?

是啊，難道我就打你不得？ 反去唐突先生，今後吓---- Chen: Exactly! Do you think I can't? Du: You have offended the master. From this moment on...

唱『前腔』手不許把秋千索拿，腳不許把花園路踏。 (Du sings aria)Your hands must not touch the garden swing nor do your feet tread the garden path.

招風嘴把香頭來綽疤；招花眼把繡針兒活簽瞎。 We shall have to scorch with an incense stick these lips of yours that blow breezes of malice, blind with a sewing needle these eyes that blossom into nothing but trouble.

只要你守硯台，跟書案，伴詩雲，陪子曰，沒些爭差。 And all you do is to accompany me in my studies; Standing next to my desk, Chanting poetry with me, Reciting Analects with me. And if you so much as to make one mistake

賤人！則問你幾絲兒頭髮，幾條兒背花？敢也怕些些，夫人堂上那些家法？Aren’t you afraid of the stick which Madam Du my mother keeps in her room? You unworthy slave!

啊呀，先生討饒！陳: 問她下次可敢了？女學生，她既知罪，饒了她罷！ Fragrance: Oh, Master, do ask Miss to forgive me this time! Chen: Ask her if she dare offend me in the future. Now that she knows she's wrong, forgive her.

是。多謝先生討饒。今後不可如此！ Fragrance: All right! Thank you, Master.Chen: No more of this mischief!Fragrance: No more, no more!

嘿嘿嘿！頑劣！春香，不是我做先生的苦苦來責治你- You mischievous slave, you! You may think me too strict...

『尾聲』:女弟子只爭個不求聞達，和男學生一般兒的教法。 Chen sings: But even for women with no wish to be famous, They must be taught the same way as men.

（內白: 老爺請先生講話。）陳: 就來了！春香，你們完了功課方可回衙，我要和公相閑話去！ (Recitative from backstage: Master Du wishes to speak with Master Chen.) Chen: Yes, I'll be there presently.Fragrance, see that your mistress finish her homework, before you return to your quarters. I have to meet with Master Du.

怎辜負這一弄明窗新絳紗。 Chen sings: Don't you young ones waste any precious time.

啐，老頑固、老厭物！不知趣的老村牛！ 杜: 春香，你怎麼背後罵先生？ Fragrance: Pah! Old geezer! Dated, boring, bull-headed, old geezer! Du: Oh, don't speak this way about Master in his back, Fragrance.

背後罵他是聽不見的。 杜: 胡說！你方才說的大花園在哪裡？ Fragrance: It won't bother him if he can't hear it. Du: Rubbish. Where, Fragrance, is this big garden you mentioned?

小姐，你自去讀書，不要學我這個死丫頭，要玩耍的。 Fragrance: Oh, Miss, you must study very hard and not ask me, an unworthy slave, such questions about a garden!

這丫頭放刁。不是吓，你實對我說，我明日也要去遊玩。 春: 喲，小姐果然要去麼？ Du: What a mean, naughty slave! Tell me about it, and I may go. Fragrance: Are you really going, Miss?

真個要去。春: 哪哪哪，那邊不是一座大花園麼！杜: 可有景致？ Du: Yes, I may. Fragrance: It's right over there, can you see that? Du: Is it pretty inside?

有景致。亭台六七座，鞦韆一兩架。 Fragrance: It sure is, Miss! There's a pavilion named Peony Pavilion, a few swings,

遶的是流觴曲水，面對著太湖山石、奇花異草。啊呀！好耍子啊！ all surrounded by a stream and some fine rockery. And all those gorgeous plants and blossom! Oh, what a fun garden to stroll in, Miss!

既有如此好所在，你吩咐花郎打掃亭台，掃除花徑，明日和你去遊玩便了。 是。 Du: Tell the flower boy to clean up the paths, then. We'll go take a stroll in it tomorrow. Fragrance: Yes, Miss, I sure will!

也曾飛絮謝家庭， 欲化西園蝶未成， Du: Like the floating pollen in the mansion of the poet of antiquity, Fragrance: Which almost turned to butterflies in the West Garden,

無限春愁莫相問， 綠蔭終借暫時行。 Du: We shall ask not how much melancholy brought on by the spring, Fragrance: While spending a few moments strolling in the green shades.

隨我進去。 是。好了，明日要去玩耍了。 Du: Come with me, Fragrance. Fragrance: Yes, Miss. Oh, great! We're going to have some fun tomorrow!