陳三 五娘 • Tang-Saⁿ Ngou-Nie • Peh-ue-ji
The story of 《陳三 五娘》tang-saⁿ ngou-nie (“tang Three and Fifth Lady”) is one of the best known love stories in the Minnan region, and has been adapted into operas in both the Teochew and Hokkien languages. The earliest known printed version of this play is known as 《荔鏡記》 li-kiaⁿ ki (“Tale of the Lychee and Mirror”), and dates to the Ming era.
This Teochew version is from a popular 1961 movie, produced by the 珠江電影製片廠 (Pearl River Film Company) of Canton, starring 姚璇秋 ie-sueng-tshiu as ngou-nie, 蕭南英 siau-lam-eng as iah-tshung, and 黃清城 ng-tsheng-siaⁿ as tang-saⁿ. The film was distributed via Hong Kong, and found an enthusiastic reception among Teochew communities in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. For more information on the film company that produced this film, refer to this thesis by Yap Soo Ei.
The script has been transcribed with phonetic spelling (Dieghv system). The transcript generally follows the recording, although pronunciations may have been “regularized” with reference to the screenplay. The printed screenplay sometimes diverges from what is actually spoken in the movie; in that case, the character transcription here follows the movie, but the printed version is also given in a comment below. Vernacular characters are used for the most part, except for very common words 人（original character 儂）、你（汝）、看（睇）、夜（暝）, where the borrowed character is almost always pronounced in the Teochew vernacular reading.
Time stamps for each scene are based on this copy of the movie. Digitized versions of the screenplay have been put online by the National University of Singapore. This phonetic transcription and English translation by Learn Teochew.
劇中人物 • Dramatis Personae
(in order of appearance)
- 五娘 • ngou-nie • The treasured fifth daughter of a landlord. Her beauty is well known in Teochew prefecture, and she is also talented in literature and poetry. Until this Lantern Festival she has not been allowed to venture out of the house by her father. Full name 黃碧琚 ng phek-kṳ.
- 益春 • iah-tshung • The servant girl of ngou-nie who accompanies her everywhere, a clever person with a close relationship to her mistress.
- 李姐 • li-tse • An older woman in the town who serves as their guide during the Lantern Festival, but who has a weakness for money.
- 陳三 • tang-saⁿ • A young scholar from 泉州 tsuaⁿ-tsiu visiting Teochew prefecture while accompanying his brother and sister-in-law to the latter’s new post in 廣南 kṳng-lam. Full name 陳伯卿 tang peh-kheng.
- 林大 • lim-tua • Son of a rich family, known to be a bully and lecher who likes throwing his weight around.
- 卓二 • toh-zi • Manservant of lim-tua.
- 員外 • ueng-gua • The father of ngou-nie, a landlord. Full name 黃九郎 ng kau-lang.
- 安人 • ang-zing • The mother of ngou-nie.
- 小安 • siou-ang • Servant of tang-saⁿ who accompanied him on the journey to kṳng-lam. Distant relative to Old Master Li 李公, the master mirror grinder whom tang-saⁿ apprentices himself to (not seen on stage).
- 小七 • siou-tshik • Servant in the Ng household.
- 僕婦 • pok-hu • Maidservant in the Ng household.
第一章 • toiⁿ-ik-tsiang • Act 1
第一場 • toiⁿ-ik-tieⁿ • Scene 1
幕外合唱 • mo-gua hah-tshiang • Chorus
tsek-lung meng-gueh khua kau-khong
一輪 明月 掛 高空
The round wheel of a Moon hangs high in the sky
buang-tsuaⁿ hue-teng tsie mak-hong
萬盞 花燈 照 目紅
Thousands of flowery lanterns light up the eyes
printed: 眼紅 (ngang-ang) for 目紅
koi-tsieⁿ iu-zing zu tieⁿ-iong
街上 遊人 如 潮湧
People throng the streets like a tidal wave
hṳ-teng tui-tui; tui-tui hṳ-teng sai iu-long
魚燈 隊隊；隊隊 魚燈 賽游龍
The fish lanterns line up, they line up and compete to be the best
[…]
第二場 • toiⁿ-zi-tieⁿ • Scene 2
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tshuk kuiⁿ-mung, hi puk-tsing
出閨門 喜不盡
Stepping out of the inner courtyard’s confines is joy beyond compare
mak-tsoiⁿ keng-mueh zing tsheng-sing
目前 景物 盡 清新
The scene before my eyes is so refreshing and new.
printed: 眼前 (ngang-tsoiⁿ) for 目前
teng zu tsheⁿ, gueh zu kiaⁿ
燈 如 星、月 如 鏡
Lanterns like stars, the moon like a mirror.
hue-tshiu-ngṳng-hue puk-meⁿ siaⁿ
火樹銀花 不夜 城
The fireworks’ brilliant sparkle make this a city without night.
火樹銀花 - idiom, lit. “fire trees and silver flowers”, i.e. “fireworks display”
益春 • iah-tshung
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
nang tsu-pi ueng-zu tshuk-lang tsiou
俺 主婢 宛如 出籠鳥
Our household’s young mistress is just like an uncaged bird
tsṳ-iu-tsṳ-tsai tsek-sing khing
自由自在 一身輕
Free and easy and light of body
自由自在 - idiom, lit. “self-willed and self-present”
二人 合唱 • zi-nang hah-tshiang • in unison
tua-koi tsieⁿ, ang-nam-lek-nṳng to huaⁿ-lak
大街 上， 紅男綠女 多 歡樂
On the great avenue, young people in their colorful finery are having a great time
紅男綠女 - idiom, lit. “men in red and women in green”.
siang-hong kai-kai tshie hie-hie
相逢 個個 笑 呤呤
Laughing meekly as they pass each other
李姐 • li-tse
〔唸 • liem • reciting〕
ho-teng ho-gueh nang-nang aiⁿ
好燈 好月 人人 愛
Everybody loves good lanterns and a good moon
tsieⁿ-koi iu-sieⁿ sim-hue khai
上街 遊賞 心花 開
To tour the streets makes the heart glad
o! ngueng-lai ng-ke ngou-nie!
啊！ 原來 黃家 五娘！
O! If it isn’t the Fifth Lady of the Ng household!
a-nie bueng-hok!
阿娘 萬福
A thousand greetings, Lady!
五娘 • ngou-nie
ngueng-lai si li-tse
原來 是 李姐
If it isn’t Sister Li…
李姐 • li-tse
iah-tshung! lṳ-ke ueng-gua, (?)-kheng ziang a-nie tshuk-meng?
益春！ 你家 員外，怎肯 讓 阿娘 出門？
Iah-cung! How is it that your master let Young Lady leave the house?
益春 • iah-tshung
to-khui ang-zing sueh-tsheng
多虧 安人 說情
It was thanks to my mistress, who pleaded on her behalf, saying
ngueng-siou hue-teng
元宵 花燈
“The flowery lanterns of the Lantern Festival
tsek-ni tsek-tshṳ
一年 一次
are only hung up once a year”
tshai-kheng ziang ung tshuk-lai
才肯 讓 阮 出來
that he was willing to let us come out.
printed: 我們 (ua-mung) for 阮
李姐 • li-tse
o… nie-oi! lṳ tsek-hiang tsie tshuk-kui-mung
啊！ 娘～！ 你 一向 少 出閨門
O! Young Lady! You have rarely ever left the house
printed: 阿娘 (a-nie) for 娘-oi
tau-lou seⁿ-so
道路 生疏
So the road is all new and unfamiliar
tua-koi tsieⁿ, nang-to hung-tsap
大街 上，人多 混雜
On the great avenue, it is crowded and confusing
hueng si iu-ua tshua lṳ khe sieⁿ-teng!
還 是 由我 ～ 你 去 賞燈！
Let me be your guide and bring you lantern-gazing!
printed: 陪 (pue) for cua
nie-oi! taⁿ lṳ thiaⁿ no!
娘～！ 呾 你 聽 𰇇！
Young Lady-O! Let me tell you!
printed: 阿娘！ 講 你 聽呀！ (a-nie! kiang lṳ thiaⁿ ia!)
〔叩板 • khau-pang • tapping clappers〕
nang tsueng-zip tshak-iⁿ ge,
俺 轉入 察院衙
We’ll head to the public order bureau
tik-loh e tang-toi
直落 下 東堤
down the Eastern dike
kiaⁿ-hiang khai-ngueng tsoiⁿ
行向 開元 前
walk towards the opening of the Lantern Festival
tsueng-kue sai-koi
轉過 西街
past the Western Avenue
thoiⁿ-thoiⁿ tshik-tsang seng
看看 七叢松
look at the seven pine tres
tsai-kau tsheng-tsui-keng
再到 清水宮
then go to Clearwater Palace
iu-lang hong-lai-keng
遊覽 蓬萊宮
tour the Celestial Palace
蓬萊 hong-lai - mythical place where celestial beings live
tshuk-liou tua-koi
出了 大街
come out at the Great Avenue
ua-tso ing-lou-sṳ
我 做 引路師
I’ll be your guide
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
pau-kueng [kak-sia] hue-teng tou leng thoiⁿ
保管 各社 花燈 都 能 看
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, li-tse lou-sek, u tha siang-phuaⁿ ia-ho
阿娘，李姐 路熟，有 她 相伴 也好
Miss, Sister Li knows the road, why not have her come along?
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
ia-ho! u-lau liou!
也好！有勞了！
Why not indeed! We’ll trouble you to guide us, then
李姐 • li-tse
nie-oi! sui ua lai!
娘～！隨我 來！
Miss! Follow me!
printed: 阿娘 (a-nie) for 娘-oi
第三場 • toiⁿ-saⁿ-tieⁿ • Scene 3
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tie-tsiu poih-keng ho liu-lieng
潮州 八景 好 流連
The Eight Views of Teochew are a delight to wander
i-ti huang-kuang piek u thiang
異地 風光 別 有 天
the scenery in a foreign land is another world of its own
khuang si ngueng-siou teng-gueh meⁿ
況 是 元宵 燈月 夜
no less on the the night of the Lantern Festival
iu-thiam sing-ung zip si-phieng
又添 新韻 入 詩篇
it adds new verses to this song I sing
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
ngueng-siou ho hue-teng
元宵 好 花燈
the fine flowery lanterns of the Lantern Festival
teng-e ho nang-mueh
燈下 好 人物
and fine folk beneath the lanterns
第四場 • toiⁿ-si-tieⁿ • Scene 4
幕外音 • mo-ghua im • voices offstage
thoiⁿ, thoiⁿ [ngau-suaⁿ] a! [ngau-suaⁿ] lai-liou ia!
看，看 鰲山 啊！鰲山 來了 呀!
Look! Look! It’s the Ngau-suan! The Ngau-suan is here!
鰲山 ngau-suaⁿ - a special lantern for the Lantern Festival, made of cloth, stacked in the shape of a mythical sea tortoise and peaked like a mountain.
李姐 • li-tse
a-nie! tse si si-mih ku-sṳ?
阿娘！這 是 是乜 故事？
Miss! What story is this?
printed: 什麼 (sim-moh) for 是乜
五娘 • ngou-nie
tse-si tieⁿ-seⁿ ṳ eng-eng
這是 張生 與 鶯鶯
This is the story of Dien-sen and Cui-eng-eng
tha-no-nang tsek-kiⁿ tseng-tsheng
他 二人 一見 鍾情
They fell in love at first sight
keh-tshieⁿ tshiang-ho
隔牆 唱和
Singing their love through a common wall
tsong-zieng lau-hu-zing ke-kui ngiem-king
縱然 老夫人 家規 嚴緊
Even though her old mother was strict
tsong-i pai-gueh sai-sieⁿ
終於 排月 西廂
eventually they trysted in the Western chamber
鶯鶯傳 (eng-eng-thueng, “Tale of Eng-eng”), a story from the Tang period that was the basis for the opera 西廂記 (sai-hieⁿ-ki) “Romance of the West Chamber”).
李姐 • li-tse
a-nie! tse iu si si-mih ku-sṳ?
阿娘！這 又是 是乜 故事？
Miss! What is this story, then?
printed: 什麼 (sim-moh) for 是乜
五娘 • ngou-nie
tse si lau tshui-phing tshai-lau phau tshai-kiu
這是 劉翠屏 彩褸 拋 彩球
This is the story of Lau Cui-ping tossing a variegated ball from the festooned tower
A love story about a young lady from a landlord household who fell in love with a poor scholar. See 劉翠屏 (Baidu)
李姐 • li-tse
o…
哦
oh.
五娘 • ngou-nie
tha-mng tsheng-tshiang ngi-tshim
他們 情長義深
They had deep and intense feelings for each other
bo-mo iong-hua
無慕 榮華
and did not hanker for glory or riches
printed: 不慕 (puk-mo) 無慕
sang-sang hang-ie khou-siu
雙雙 寒窯 苦守
both suffered in the cold without heat
ho-pi soh-li bue-hue
好比 雪裏 梅花
like plum blossoms that come out amid winter frost
tsong-seng mui-mua ing-ueng
終成 美滿 姻緣
Finally they could fulfill their love and come together in marriage
tsueng-ui nang-koiⁿ kia-ue
轉爲 人間 佳話
becoming a popular tale among the people
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie! tse tsek-phing iu si si-mih?
阿娘！這 一屏 又是 是乜？
Miss! What about this one?
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘, and 什麼 (sim-moh) for 是乜
五娘 • ngou-nie
tse si nie suaⁿ-peh ṳ tsok eng-thai
這是 梁山伯 與 祝英臺
This is the story of Nie Suan-beh and Zok Eng-tai
梁山伯 與 祝英臺 - The “Butterfly Lovers”, also commonly referred to as 梁祝, one of the most well-known Chinese love stories, which has been adapted into numerous plays, operas, and movies.
tha-mng seⁿ-tsoiⁿ bue-leng kak-ui hu-tshi
他們 生前 未能 結爲 夫妻
In life they were unable to become husband and wife
si-au hue-tsoh sang pue-hu-tiap
死後 化作 雙 飛蝴蝶
After death, they were transformed into a pair of butterflies
tsi-tsheng tsi-seⁿ
至情 至性
with such intense feelings and emotion
tshoiⁿ-kou liu-thueng
千古流傳
truly a story for the ages!
千古流傳 - idiom, “transmitted through a thousand ages”.
李姐 • li-tse
o! si tsieⁿ-seⁿ a!
哦！是 照生 呀！
Oh, so that’s how it is…
printed: 這樣 (tse-ieⁿ) for 照生
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tse-ui sie-nie-kiaⁿ puk-tang tseng-thong tsṳ-sṳ
這位 小娘囝 不但 精通 書史
This young miss has not only mastered the books
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 小娘囝
keng-kiem tshai-tiou bo-sang
更兼 才調 無雙
but has literary skill without par
lang-tik! lang-tik!
難得！難得！
How rare! How rare!
李姐 • li-tse
m! tse-ui hau-seⁿ-ko,
嘸！這位 後生哥
Hm! Who is this young guy,
ui-ho tsṳ-ngang tsṳ-gṳ tsṳ-tik-i?
爲何 自言自語 自得意？
and why is he muttering to himself with glee?
m? to-e ?? u ki siⁿ a?
噯！地下 怎麼 有 機 扇 呢？
Hm! What’s this fan that is lying on the floor?
地 tò - vernacular pronunciation (literary tī)
printed: 把 (pa) for 機
ai-ia! si tsek-pa kim-tsieng siⁿ
噯呀！是 一把 金牋 扇
Ah! It is a golden fan decorated with calligraphy!
tse si lau-sing kai hok-khi
這是 老身 個 福氣
It’s this old woman’s lucky day.
a-nie, lṳ lai, lṳ lai
阿娘，你來，你來
Miss, come here, come here.
a-nie lṳ thoiⁿ, lṳ thoiⁿ no!
阿娘 你看，你看 𰇇！
Miss, have a look, have a look!
printed: 呀 (ia) for 𰇇
五娘 • ngou-nie
siⁿ-tsieⁿ (?) toi u si!
扇上 還 題 有 詩！
There is a poem on this fan!
益春 • iah-tshung
a! u si, tshiaⁿ a-nie liem
啊！有 詩，請 阿娘 唸
Ah! There’s a poem, please Miss read it for us.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唸 • liem • reciting〕
“hai-thieng moh-moh tsui-hung hueⁿ
『海天 漠漠 水雲 橫
Fog lies over the waters and the mists are flat
tau-tsiu phiang si bueng-li-tshing
斗酒 篇 詩 萬里情
Drinking wine, I write this poem of distant longings
ting-si hung-tseng mia ṳ li
塵世 紛爭 名 與 利
In this dusty realm, fame and profit are fought over
塵世 - the mortal world, a Buddhist expression.
ho-zu tsieng kieng-kheh tang heng”
何如 戰 劍客 中 行』
How can one walk among the fighting swordsmen?
– ung-leng tang peh-kheng toi
溫陵 陳伯卿 題
– composed by Dang Beh-keng of Ung-leng
益春 • iah-tshung
ung-leng to ho-tshu?
溫陵 在 何處？
Where is Ung-leng?
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsiu-si tsuaⁿ-tsiu
就是 泉州
It is in Zuan-ziu
泉州 tsuaⁿ-tsiu - a prosperous city and region in 福建 Hokkien province.
李姐 • li-tse
nie-oi, na-paiⁿ u nang lai liou
娘～，那爿有 人 來了
Miss! There’s someone coming from over there.
printed: 阿娘 (a-nie) for 娘-oi and 邊 (piⁿ) for 爿
五娘 • ngou-nie
li-tse, siⁿ na-khṳ
李姐，扇 拿去
Li-ze, take the fan away
李姐 • li-tse
si! a-nie, nang uang piek-tshu thik-tho
是！阿娘，俺 往 別處 𨑨迌
Yes! Miss, let’s go somewhere else to have fun
printed: 我們 (ua-mung) for 俺 and 往別處去 (uang piak-tshu khṳ) for 往別處𨑨迌
“thik-tho” is a word that does not have standard Chinese characters.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
liek-ui, tshiaⁿ-mng tsek-siaⁿ
列位，請問 一聲
Pardon me ladies, may I interrupt with a question?
李姐 • li-tse
aiⁿ-mng mih-kai?
愛 問 乜個？
Whaddya want?
printed: 要問 什麼？(iou mung sim-moh?)
li-tse speaks in a more vernacular register compared to tang-saⁿ
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
kang-tshai sie-seng to-tshṳ kueng-teng
剛才 小生 在此 觀燈
A moment ago, this humble person was admiring the lanterns
sik-loh tsek-pa siⁿ
失落 一把 扇
and lost a fan
kho-u kiⁿ-kau?
可有 見到？
Might you have seen it?
李姐 • li-tse
lṳ sik-loh si-mih siⁿ?
你 失落 是乜 扇？
What kind of fan did you lose?
printed: 什麼 (sim-moh) for 是乜
a-nie! nang haⁿ-bo thoiⁿ-tieh ho?
阿娘！ 俺 還無 看着 呵？
Miss! We haven’t seen anything like that, have we?
printed: 阿娘！ 我們 沒有 看見 呀？(a-nie! ua-mung mok-u thoiⁿ-kiⁿ ia?)
五娘 • ngou-nie
li-tse, siⁿ si nang-ke sik-loh ti
李姐，扇 是 人家 失落 的
Li-ze, that fan is lost property,
sang-huaⁿ tha pa!
送還 他 吧！
just return it to him!
thai-hue ke khṳ, leng tshu tsek-pa kheh lṳ
待回 家去，另 取 一把 乞 你
When we are back home, I will give you another one
printed: 給 (kip) for 乞
李姐 • li-tse
ia-pa… lai! ua lai mng lṳ
也罷！ 來！ 我 來 問 你
Alright, come! Let me ask you:
lṳ siⁿ-tsieⁿ u si hueng-si bo-zi?
你 扇上 有 詩 還是 無字？
Did you have a poem on your fan, or no words?
u-zi a, hueng-si bo si, lṳ taⁿ!
有字 呀，還是 無 詩？ 你 呾！
If there were words, was there no poem? Tell me!
printed: 講 (kiang) for 呾
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
siⁿ-tsioⁿ u ua tshing-pik toi-si
扇上 有 我 親筆 題詩
On the fan was a poem that I composed myself
ua-ti mia-zi tsiu-si tang peh-kheng
我的 名字 就是 陳伯卿
My name is Dang Beh-keng
李姐 • li-tse
ti-nang (?)-khṳ lṳ-kai ho-miaⁿ-zi a?
底人 XX 你個 好名字 啊？
Who asked you for your good name?
printed: 誰人 問 你的 好名字 ？(sui-nang mung lṳ-ti ho miaⁿ-zi?)
sik-ue kang lṳ taⁿ,
實話 共 你 呾
Let me be frank with you
printed: 實話 對 你 說 (sik-ue tui lṳ sueh)
ziak-hui ng-ke ngou-nie sueh-tsheng
若非 黃家 五娘 說情
if not for the Fifth Lady of the house of Ng interceding for you
tsiu iu-lṳ hek-meⁿ tshue-kau thiⁿ-meng
就 由 你 黑夜 找 到 天明
you’d have been searching through the night to dawn with no success
找 tshue - vernacular borrowed reading for 揣, usually pronounced tau or tsau
zing tsheng-tsho a!
認 清楚 呀！
Don’t forget that!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
si, tse tsiaⁿ-si sie-seng ti siⁿ
是，這 正是 小生 的 扇
Yes, that is indeed this humble one’s fan
to-seng to-kam
多承多感！
Much obliged, many thanks!
李姐 • li-tse
[a-seng a-kam],
阿承阿感
khuai-khuai (?) liou khṳ, mai ho taⁿ oiⁿ-ue
快快 X 了去，勿好呾 閒話
Take it quickly and stop wasting your breath on idle talk
printed: 快快 拿去, 少講 閒話 (khuai-khuai na-khṳ, siou-kiang oiⁿ-ue)
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
zi-ui sie-nie-kiaⁿ, to-seng to-kam
二位 小娘囝，多承多感
Ladies, much obliged and many thanks
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 小娘囝
ziak-hui zi-ui ui-ua sueh-tsheng
若非 二位 爲 我 說情
If not for you interceding on my behalf
ieng-tik tho-hue tshṳ siⁿ
焉得 討回 此 扇
I would not have gotten my fan back
zi-ui sie-nie-kiaⁿ, tshiaⁿ! tshiaⁿ-liou….
二位 小娘囝，請！請了！
Ladies, I take my leave, I take my leave
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 小娘囝
請 - a way of saying goodbye
〔獨白 • tok-peh • speaking to himself〕
tse-ui ng-ke ngou-nie, tsing-si kho-aiⁿ a!
這位 黃家 五娘，真是 可愛 啊！
This Fifth Lady of Ng is certainly lovable!
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsuaⁿ-tsiu suaⁿ-tshueng leng-siu
泉州 山川 靈秀
The mountains and valleys of Zuan-ziu must be fertile grounds
tshuk-u tse-teng hong-ngia nang-mueh
出有 這等 風雅 人物
to breed such an elegant and refined person
李姐 • li-tse
a-nie! nang uang piek-tshu thik-tho
阿娘！俺 往 別處 𨑨迌
Miss! Let’s go somewhere else to have fun!
printed: 往 別處 走看 (uang piak-tshu tsau-thoiⁿ)
第五場 • toiⁿ-ngou-tieⁿ • Scene 5
林大 • lim-tua
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
kuaⁿ-ke, kuaⁿ-ke tsṳ-ti lak-a lak siou-iou
官家，官家 子弟 樂呀 樂 逍遙
The scions of an official’s household love to stroll about
卓二 • toh-zi
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
lak-a lak siou-iou
樂呀 樂逍遙
Love, o love to stroll about
林大 • lim-tua
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsi-mo kim-ok tshang-a-tshang kiou-kiou
指望 金屋 藏呀 藏嬌嬌
Hoping to find some hidden beauty in a golden house
金屋藏嬌 - idiom, lit. “to hide a lovely in a golden house”, meaning “to keep a concubine”.
卓二 • toh-zi
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tshang-a-tshang a-kiou
藏呀 藏阿嬌
Golden, o golden house
林大 • lim-tua
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tshim-hue-mng-leng(liu?) huang-liu sṳ
尋花問柳 風流 事
Searching for flowers, seeking a willow, affairs of the heart
尋花問柳 - idiom, lit. “searching for flowers, seeking a willow”, meaning “to visit prostitutes”
卓二 • toh-zi
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
huang-a-huang-liu sṳ
風呀 風流 事
Affairs, o affairs of the heart
林大 • lim-tua
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tshueng-tshah hue-tsang nau ngueng-siou
穿插 花叢 鬧 元宵
Jump into a bed of flowers and enjoy the Lantern Festival
花叢 - lit. “a bunch of flowers”, figuratively referring to a group of prostitutes.
卓二 • toh-zi
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
nau-a-nau ngueng-siou
鬧呀 鬧 元宵
Enjoy, o enjoy the lantern festival
二人 • ri-nang • together
ha ha ha ha ha!
哈 哈 哈 哈 哈！
hahahahaha!
Laughing as obnoxiously as possible
卓二 • toh-zi
lim-tua-ia! kim-me ngueng-siou
林大爺！今暝 元宵
Master Lim! Tonight at this Lantern Festival
printed: 晚 (mung) for 暝
ik-lai thoiⁿ teng, zi-lai thoiⁿ nang
一來 看 燈，二來 看 人
we’ll keep one eye on the lanterns, and another on the crowd
zu-u mui-nṳng, puk-kho tsho-kue!
如 有 美女，不可 錯過！
If there is a beautiful woman, we can’t miss the chance!
林大 • lim-tua
lau-toh tsṳ ngang u-li, tsek-tang lai, tsau!
老卓 之 言 有理，一同 來，走！
Old Doh what you say makes sense. Two birds with one stone, let’s go!
卓二 • toh-zi
ho! lai-tsau!
好！來走！
Good! Let’s go!
二人合唱 • ri-nang hah-ciang • singing together
nang tua-koi tsieⁿ, kueng-teng, thoiⁿ kia-li
俺大街 上，觀燈 看 佳麗
We go down the great a venue, gazing at lanterns and eyeing the beauties
siang-sui siang-phuaⁿ tshie-hi-hi
相隨相伴 笑嘻嘻
having a good time in good company
林大 • lim-tua
a-ia!
啊呀！
Ah!
**益春 • iah-tshung **
li-tse! li-tse!
李姐！李姐！
Li-ze! Li-ze!
李姐 • li-tse
lai-liou! o! ngueng-lai si lim-tua-ia!
來了！啊！原來 是 林大爺！
I’m coming! Ah, so it is Master Lim!
kim-me u heng tshuk-lai kueng-teng heⁿ?
今暝 有興 出來 觀燈 呀？
Feeling in a good mood to come see the lanterns?
printed: 晚 (mung) for 暝
林大 • lim-tua
li-tse, na-ui sie-nie-kiaⁿ si sui?
李姐，那位 小娘囝 是誰？
Sister Li, who is that young maiden?
printed: 小娘子 (sie-nie-tsṳ) for 小娘囝
李姐 • li-tse
o, tua-ia oi, na-ui si siaⁿ-sai ng-kau-lang ti tshoiⁿ-kim ngou-nie
啊，大爺（～），那位 是 城西 黃九郎 的 千金 五娘
Ah, sir, that is the fair fifth daughter of Ng Gau-lang of the Western district
nang tie-tsiu toiⁿ-ik mui-zing ne!
俺 潮州 第一 美人 呀（呢）！
The fairest beauty of our Teochew prefecture!
林大 • lim-tua
li-tse, ngou-nie khah-tseng hṳ nang?
李姐，五娘 豈 曾 許 人？
Sister Li, is she betrothed to anybody?
printed: 可 (kho) for 豈
**益春 • iah-tshung **
li-tse, nang (uang) piek-(tshu) khṳ!
李姐，俺 往 別處 去！
Sister Li, let’s go somewhere else!
李姐 • li-tse
tsiu-lai!
就來！
Coming!
卓二 • toh-zi
lim-tua-ia, lim-tua-ia! tshṳ-teng mui-zing lṳ tong-i ma?
林大爺，林大爺！此等 美人 你 中意 嗎？
Master Lim, Master Lim! Do you fancy that pretty lass?
林大 • lim-tua
tsṳ-zieng si tong-i, lṳ kha-u miou-koi?
自然 是 中意，你 豈有 妙計？
Naturally I fancy her, do you have a plan?
printed: 可 (kho) for 豈
卓二 • toh-zi
li-tse ui-nang tsap-hung thang-tshai, kho-eng tsiⁿ-ngṳng siu-boi
李姐 爲人 十分 貪財，可用 錢銀 收買
Sister Li is greedy for money, she can easily be bought with silver.
kie-tha khṳ ng-ke khiu-tshing, i tua-ia tshai-si
叫她 去 黃家 求親，以 大爺 財勢
Ask her to go to the Ng household to propose a match. Given your wealth and power, sir,
ing-kueng kuak-bo puk-seng tsṳ li!
婚姻 自（XXX）無 不成 之 理！
they can’t possibly refuse!
林大 • lim-tua
a-ia tui a! lau-toh kau-kieng, tsiaⁿ-hah ua i
啊呀 ［對啊］！老卓 高見，正 合 我 意
Ah! Old-Doh you are clever, I like this plan
nang kho hue-ke im-tsiu, soi-soi sieng-(lieng)
俺 可 回家 飲酒，細細 商議
Let’s go home to drink wine and discuss this in detail
卓二 • toh-zi
ho!
好！
Good!
林大 • lim-tua
〔唸 • liem • reciting〕
ngueng-siou teng-e ngo kia-zing
元宵 燈下 遇 佳人
Meeting a beauty under the lights of the Lantern Festival
zi-poih kiou-nie lueng ua-sing
二八 嬌娘 亂 我 神
A girl of sweet sixteen stirring my soul
二八 - “twice eight”, i.e. sixteen years old
卓二 • toh-zi
〔唸 • liem • reciting〕
tsing-tsheng thiang im siou-me tsiu
盡情 暢 飲 宵夜 酒
Drink the wine of the Lantern Festival night to your heart’s content
二人同唸 • ri-nang tong liem • both recite together
ṳ-tsok hue-tsek tang pang tshung!
預祝 花燭 洞房春！
Here’s to the candlelit bridal bed on the wedding night!
洞房花燭夜 - idiom, lit. “night of the bridal chamber and flowery candles”, i.e. the wedding night
第二章 • toiⁿ-zi-tsiang • Act 2
第六場 • toiⁿ-lak-tieⁿ • Scene 6
五娘 • ngou-nie
[…]
〔唸 • liem • reciting〕
lang-kui hue-mang phek-ing hueⁿ
蘭閨 廻夢 碧煙翻橫
Dreams churn in the orchid chamber as blue smoke spreads.
tshoiⁿ-li gueh-meng tshoiⁿ-li tsheng
千里 明月 千里 情
A distant full moon and distant longings.
tshṳ-ti li-tang leng tsui-kheh
此地 荔丹 能 醉客
The red lychee of this place can captivate any guest.
ho-su huang-hong hai-thieng heng
何須 風雨 海天 行
Who needs the wind and rain to cross heaven and ocean?
**益春 • iah-tshung **
ṳ! nie-oi! lṳ ngim tshṳ si, sie-pi sṳ-hu pak thiaⁿ-kue
～！娘～！你 吟 此 詩，小婢 似乎 捌 聽過
Miss! This poem you recite - your humble maid has heard it before somewhere.
printed: 哎呀！小姐！你唸 此詩，小婢 似乎 聽過 (ai-ia! siou-tsia! lṳ liem tshṳ-si, sie-pi sṳ-hu thiaⁿ-kue)
五娘 • ngou-nie
tshṳ-si ua huang-tshai ngim-tsiu
此 詩 我 方才 吟就
I just composed this poem,
lṳ tshong ho-tshu thiaⁿ kue?
你 從 何處 聽過？
where could you have heard it before?
**益春 • iah-tshung **
a-nie lṳ m-sing, thai ua lai liem:
阿娘 你 唔信，待 我 來 唸
If you don’t believe me, Miss, let me recite to you:
printed: 小姐 不信 (siou-tsia puk-sing)
“hai-thieng moh-moh tsui-hung-hueⁿ
『海天 漠漠 水雲橫
“Fog lies over the waters and the mists are flat
tau-tsiu phieng-si bueng-li tsheng”
斗酒 篇詩 萬里 情』
Drinking wine, I write this poem of distant longings”
a-nie, khah tui?
阿娘，豈 對？
Is that right, Miss?
printed: 小姐，可 對？(siou-tsia, kho-tui?)
五娘 • ngou-nie
hu-sueh, tse ṳ ua nim-ti puk-tang
胡說，這 與 我 吟 的 不同
Nonsense, that is nothing like what I wrote.
printed: 唸 (liem) for 吟
**益春 • iah-tshung **
nie-oi, ti-ko m-tang?
娘～，底塊 唔同？
Miss, how is it different?
printed: 有何不同？(u ho puk-tang?)
五娘 • ngou-nie
lṳ liem-ti si piek-nang siⁿ-ti tsioⁿ-toi ti si
你 唸的 是 別人 扇上 題 的 詩
What you recited is the poem from that fan.
**益春 • iah-tshung **
heⁿ, ua tsai, ua tsai,
我 知， 我 知
I know, I know
a-nie si to (?) siⁿ-tsioⁿ kai si no!
阿娘 是 在 人家 扇上 個 詩 𰇇！
Miss’s mind is still on the one who wrote it!
printed: 小姐 是 在 人家 扇上 的 詩 呀！ (siou-tsia si to nang-ke siⁿ-tsieⁿ ti si ia!)
五娘 • ngou-nie
(?)-pi-nṳng, ia puk-pha keh-tshieⁿ u hiⁿ?
X-婢女，亦 不怕 隔牆 有 耳？
Silly maid, don’t you fear that the walls have ears?
**益春 • iah-tshung **
“to-seng to-kam, tshiaⁿ, tshiaⁿ-liou”
『多承 多感，請，請了』
“Much obliged, and many thanks, I take my leave”
李姐 • li-tse
〔唸 • liem • reciting〕
pu-kui iong-hua kai-iu-mia
富貴 榮華 皆 由 命
Riches and glory are matters of fate;
kim-ngṳng tsu-po kik-liang ueng
金銀 珠寶 結良 緣
Gold, silver, and precious jewels seal the bonds of destiny.
a-nie, kiong-hi a ho-hi!
阿娘，恭喜呀 賀喜
Miss, congratulations, congratulations!
**益春 • iah-tshung **
li-tse, hi tshong ho-lai?
李姐，喜 從 何來？
Li-ze, what’s the congratulations for?
李姐 • li-tse
a-nie oi!
阿娘 呀（～）！
Miss!
tsau tsioⁿ-tsoiⁿ si tsek-li
走 上前 施 一禮
I come up to deliver a message,
ua ṳ a-nie lai tau-hi
我 與 阿娘 來 道喜
and to offer my congratulations to Miss
tsi ing-ui,
只 因爲
That’s because
lim ui-zik tua-ia, ngueng-siou teng-e kiⁿ gek-mau
林XX 大爺，元宵 燈下 見 玉貌
Big Master Lim, he saw your beautiful jade face under the lights of the Lantern Festival
tsek-sim kuah-mo kik lieng-li
一心 渴望 結 連理
and his whole heart was set on making a connection.
kim-zik sueh-mue ueng-gua i eng-zung
今日 說媒 員外 已 應允
Today your Father has already consented to a matchmaking.
lai tsiou ki-zik hia phiaⁿ-ngi
來朝 吉日 下 聘儀
When an auspicious date comes, to make the betrothal ceremony.
五娘 • ngou-nie
lṳ sueh-ti tsiu-si na lim-tua?
你 說的 就是 那 林大？
Are you speaking of that Lim-dua?
李姐 • li-tse
tsiaⁿ si, ueng-gua ang-zing tou bueng-hung huaⁿ-hi a!
正是，員外 安人 都 萬分 歡喜 呀！
That is he! Your father and mother are both extremely glad!
**益春 • iah-tshung **
a-nie! a-nie uaⁿ-tiaⁿ!
阿娘！阿娘 安定！
Miss! Miss be calm!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
李姐 • li-tse
tse si lim-ke ti kim-thoi, thai ua ṳ lṳ tshah to thau-tsieⁿ
這是 林家 的 金釵，待 我 與 你 插 在 頭上
This golden hairpiece is from the Lim family, let me help you put it in your hair.
五娘 • ngou-nie
lṳ lang-tau puk-tsai lim-tua si ho-teng-ieⁿ nang?
你 難道 不知 林大 是 何等樣 人？
Don’t you know what kind of a person that Lim-dua is?
zueng aiⁿ tsoiⁿ-lai sueh-mue, si ho tau-li?
還（～）愛 前來 說媒，是 何 道理？
And to come here matchmaking on his behalf, what is the meaning of this?
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
李姐 • li-tse
ṳ! nie-oi!
～！娘～！
O Miss!
printed: 阿娘 呀 (a-nie ia!)
〔叩板 • khau-pang • tapping clappers〕
thi-khi lim-tua-ia, sing-ui bu-kṳ ho mia-siaⁿ
提起 林大爺，身爲 武舉 好 名聲
Speaking of Master Lim, he is a military man and of good name.
武舉 - military version of the 舉人 (kṳ-zing, “graduate”) degree in the examination system. These were looked down upon as less worthy than the civil degrees.
tie-tsiu hau-pu tsheng toiⁿ-ik
潮州 豪富 稱 第一
Of the big dealers in Die-ziu he is number one.
liang-pik a-nie lṳ ia tsai
諒必 阿娘 你 也知
Forgive me Miss but even you must know this!
kim-zik ṳ tha lai kik-tshing
今日 與 他 來 結親
Today I come here to convey his proposal.
tsiaⁿ-si mng-tṳng-hou-tui
正是 門當戶對
Your two households are a good and suitable match.
門當戶對 - idiom, lit. “the doors are appropriate and the houses correct”, i.e. a good match between two families of prospective bride and groom.
nṳng-mau lang-tshai
女貌 郎才
A beautiful maiden and a talented groom.
kue-mng tsṳ-au, hu-iong tshi-kui
過門 之後，夫榮 妻貴
After crossing the threshold, the husband will be proud and the wife fertile.
a-nie lṳ ing-ho puk-aiⁿ?
阿娘 你 因何 不愛？
What’s there not to love about this, Miss?
**益春 • iah-tshung **
hi!
呸（哼）！
Hmph!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
me tsek-siaⁿ lau-hu-li!
駡 一聲 老狐狸！
You wretched old fox!
tshuk-ngang bo tsuang zia nang khi
出言 無 狀 惹 人 氣
Angering people with your senseless words.
lṳ ui tham siou-li
你 爲 貪 小利
You were greedy for a small profit,
puk-kueng nang-ke seⁿ huaⁿ si
不管 人家 生 還 死
and don’t care if people’s lives are ruined in the process.
hueng-kaⁿ to a-nie meng-tsoiⁿ lueng-puaⁿ khau-tsih
還敢 在 阿娘 面前 亂搬 口舌
You dare to come before our Miss and wag your lying tongue.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
lṳ lueng-puaⁿ khau-tsih
你 亂搬 口舌
You wag your lying tongue!
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
kim-zik lai thi-tshing
今日 來 提親
This match proposed today
khuk-hai ua tsek-seⁿ tsek-si
屈害 我 一生 一世
will ruin my life, and all that I know.
ueng tia-tia, khing-sing lṳ hue-ngang kha-gṳ khiem si-tshung
怨 爹爹，輕信 你 花言 巧語 欠 思忖
I resent my father for so easily believing your flowery words and cheap promises,
tshueng puk ngueng-liem tshing-seⁿ nṳng-zi
全 不 願念 親生 女兒
but not believing the words of his own dear daughter.
李姐 • li-tse
ṳ! nie-oi! kim-zik tse-mng tshing-sṳ
～！娘～！今日 這門 親事
O Miss! This proposal today
printed: 阿娘 (a-nie) for 娘-oi
si ning liang-ke tsheng-ngueng
是 恁 兩家 情願
is a matter between your two households.
printed: 你 (lṳ) for 恁
ṳ ua li-tse bo-kang
與 我 李姐 無干
It is not my doing!
**益春 • iah-tshung **
bue-nang tsiaⁿ
媒人 精
The business of a matchmaker
mua-khau hue-ngang kha-gṳ
滿口 花言 巧語
is to have a mouthful of flowery language at the ready.
Traditional matchmakers had a reputation for misrepresenting prospective marriage partners in order to collect their fees when the proposals were accepted.
hueng sueh ṳ-lṳ bo kang?
還 說 與 你 無干？
How can you say it is none of your doing?
李姐 • li-tse
si-mih hue-ngang-kha-gṳ? hng!
是乜 花言巧語？哼！
What flowery language? Hmph!
printed: 什麼 (sim-moh) for 是乜
sok-ue sueh: “pe-bo u meng, zi-nṳng aiⁿ thiaⁿ”
俗話 說：『父母 有 命，兒女 愛 聽』
The proverb says: “If the parents have a comand, the children must obey.”
命 meng - meaning “command”, this character also pronounced mia “life”.
printed: 俗語 (sok-gṳ) for 俗話, 要 (iou) for 愛
a-nie ziak puk sung-tshong tshṳ-tshing
阿娘 若 不 順從 此親
If Miss doesn’t follow her parents’ instruction
tsiu-si hṳ-ngek puk-hau
就是 許逆不孝
then she is simply not filial.
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung! pa tha kuaⁿ tshuk-khṳ!
益春！把 她 趕 出去！
Iah-cung! Chase her out!
**益春 • iah-tshung **
thiaⁿ-kiⁿ bo? meⁿ-ke tshuk, tshuk-khṳ!
聽見 無？猛加 出，出去！
Don’t you hear? Get out quickly, out!
printed: 聽見 嗎？快些 出，出去！ (thiaⁿ-kiⁿ ma? khuai-se tshuk, tshuk khṳ!)
李姐 • li-tse
ai-ia, phah-nang, phah-nang a!
哎呀，拍人，拍人 呀！
Ah! They’re hitting me! They’re hitting me!
printed: 打 (ta) for 拍
員外 • ueng-gua
iah-tshung, puk-tik bo-li, khuai-se hia-khṳ
益春，不得 無禮，快些 下去
Iah-cung, watch your behavior. Go downstairs.
bue-i, siou-pi bo-li, to u tik-tsue
媒姨，小婢 無理，多有 得罪
Matchmaker, this maid was out of line, and has grievously offended you.
thoiⁿ to lau-hu ming-tsieⁿ mai ṳ koi-ka
看在 老夫 面上 勿 與 計較
On my account, I hope that you will not pursue this complaint
李姐 • li-tse
tse-kai m-kaⁿ
這個 唔敢
No I wouldn’t dare.
printed: 不 (puk) for 唔
安人 • ang-zing
bue-i, tshiaⁿ kau thiaⁿ-tsieⁿ eng tsiu-png
媒姨，請 到 廳上 用 酒飯
Matchmaker, please come to the hall for a meal.
李姐 • li-tse
mieng-eng kheh-khi, zik-uaⁿ, ua kau-si liou
免用 客氣，時候 日X，我 告辭 了
No need to be polite, it is late and I should be on my way.
printed: 不用 (puk-eng) for 免用, 不早 (puk-tsa) for 日X
員外 • ueng-gua
zu-tshṳ puk-kaⁿ khiang-lau, tsheng-ung(?) ming-tsoiⁿ ho-ue to sueh
如此 不敢 強留，親家（？）面前，好話 多說
If that is the case, we shan’t detain you. When you see the Lims, do put in a good word for us.
李姐 • li-tse
tse-kai tsṳ-zieng
這個 自然
Naturally.
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia-nie bueng-hok
爹娘 萬福
Your daughter wishes Father and Mother a thousand blessings.
安人 • ang-zing
ua-zi mieng-li
我兒 免禮
Don’t stand on ceremony, my child.
員外 • ueng-gua
lṳ si mia-mng tshoiⁿ-kim, tsiu-kai siou-tik loi-ngi
你是 名門 千金，就該 曉得 禮儀
You are the precious child of an honorable household, you should know something about proper behavior.
kṳ-zieng kuaⁿ-tok bue-i
居然 趕逐 媒姨
To think that you would chase the matchmaker away!
tsing-tsing seng-ho thi-thong?
真真 成 何 體統？
What is the meaning of this?
安人 • ang-zing
zi a, kim-zik thi-tshing, si lṳ tai-hi tsṳ zik
兒呀，今日 提親，是 你 大喜 之 日
Child, this proposal today should be a big joyous day for you.
ui-ho tshou-bai-puk-tieng?
爲何 愁眉不展？
Why is your brow furrowed in despair?
愁眉不展 - idiom, lit. “permanently furrowed brow”
五娘 • ngou-nie
bo-tshing, kho-hng li-tse bo-li
母親，可恨 李姐 無理
Mother, I resent how Sister Li was out of line.
hu-ngang-lueng-gṳ, zia nṳng-zi seⁿ-khi!
胡言亂語， 惹 女兒 生氣！
She spouted much nonsense, and made your daughter angry!
安人 • ang-zing
li-tse ui-ho zia ua-zi seⁿ-khi?
李姐 爲何 惹 我兒 生氣？
How did Sister Li make my child angry?
printed: 吾 (u) for 我
五娘 • ngou-nie
bo-tshing, nṳng-zi puk-hi-huaⁿ tha lai thi-tshing
母親，女兒 不喜歡 她 來 提親
Mother, your daughter doesn’t like the proposal she brought.
員外 • ueng-gua
hoⁿ? tse si ho-ku?
啊？這是 何故？
Huh? What’s the reason?
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia-nie iong-ping!
爹娘 容稟！
Father, Mother, please hear my plea!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
liem tia-nie bo lam-zi
念 爹娘 無 男兒
Father and Mother have no sons,
phek-kṳ bo hiaⁿ-ti
碧琚 無 兄弟
your daughter Pek-gv has no brothers.
sang-tshing ni-mai
雙親 年邁
When my dear parents advance in age
kou sui hong-si
靠 誰 奉侍
who would care for them?
ing-tshṳ siang zi puk-zing lai hung-li
因此 上 兒 不忍 來 分離
Because of this, your child does not want to be separated from you,
nguang sui tshek-e hong kam-tsi
願 隨 膝下 奉 甘旨
but continue to wait upon you on bended knee.
員外 • ueng-gua
nga-kiaⁿ, tsṳ-kou lam tua tṳng-hung
㦙囝，自古 男 大 當婚
Silly child, from ancient times men have brought brides home
printed: 痴女 (tshi-nṳng) for 㦙囝
nṳng tsiang tṳng-ke
女 長 當嫁
and women have been sent off to marry.
na-u nṳng-zi tsong-sing si-hong pe-bo tsṳ-li?
那有 女兒 終身 侍奉 父母 之理？
Who has heard of a daughter who has stayed home to serve her parents?
tshiaⁿ-hi kim-zik phang-tsieⁿ tse-mng ho ing-tshing
且喜 今日 攀上 這門 好 姻親
Be happy that we have made an advantageous match today
sueng-tik tse-ieⁿ ho nṳng-sai
選得 這樣 好 女婿
and have chosen such a good son-in-law;
pe-bo ming-tsieⁿ ia tiem kuang-tshai ia!
父母 面上 也 沾 光彩 呀！
the glory will be reflected on your parents!
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia-tia ziak- si thong-aiⁿ nṳng-zi
爹爹 若是 痛愛 女兒
If Father truly loves his daughter dearly,
tsiu tshoiⁿ-buang mai zung tse-mng tshing-sṳ
就 千萬 勿 允 這門 親事
please do not consent to this proposal
員外 • ueng-gua
haⁿ?!
啊！？
What?!
安人 • ang-zing
zi a, tso pe-bo tsia, tou si ui-lṳ ta-sṳng a
兒呀，做 父母 者，都 是 爲你 打算 呀
Child, as parents, all we do is for your benefit.
五娘 • ngou-nie
bo-tshing!
母親！
Mother!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
pai-siang tia-nie thiaⁿ zi sueh-khi
拜 上 爹娘 聽 兒 說起
I plead with Father and Mother to listen to their child.
nṳng-zi ni-khing, sieⁿ nṳng-zi ni-khing
女兒 年輕，想 女兒 年輕
Their daughter is still young,
printed: 念 (liem) for 想
teng-hung tsṳ sṳ, hueng si tsiem-mang ki-si
訂婚 之 事，還是 暫緩 幾時
this matter of marriage, why not put it off for now?
員外 • ueng-gua
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
kie nṳng-zi mo tsip-i
叫 女兒 莫 執意
Daughter, do not be stubborn.
thai-ui pe sueh ṳ lṳ ti
待爲 父 說 與 你 知
Let Father tell you about this:
lim-tua sing-ui bu-kṳ
林大 身爲 武舉
Lim-dua is a military graduate
khuang iu-si siang-mng au-i
況 又是 相門 後裔
and comes from an official family.
ho mng-hong
好 門風
They have a mighty reputation,
keng tseng ke-tshai kṳ-hok u khueng-si
更 曾 家財 巨福 有 權勢
his family fortune is rich and substantial.
na iong tsho-kue zu-tshṳ liang-ki?
那 容 錯過 如此 良機？
How could we forgo this great opportunity?
安人 • ang-zing
nṳng-zi, lṳ hueng-si…
女兒，你 還是
Daughter, you should…
五娘 • ngou-nie
bo-tshing, lim-ke tsṳ-ti, ui-nang tshou-phi
母親，林家 子弟，爲人 粗鄙
Mother, the scions of the Lim family are scoundrels!
員外 • ueng-gua
haⁿ?! hu-sueh, ua pheng-si tsa-ieⁿ ka-tau i lṳ?
～？！ 胡說，我 平時 怎樣 教導 於 你？
What?! Nonsense, how have I taught you to behave?
printed: 平日 (pheng-zik) for 平時
aiⁿ lṳ sam-tshung-si-tek kṳng-ki to sim
愛 你 三從四德 謹記 在 心
Remember the “three obediences and four virtues”?
三 sam - literary pronunciation, vs. vernacular “saⁿ”
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
kim-zik si ua tsah-tsu tsiang lṳ hṳ-phue lim-ke
今日 是 我 作主 將 你 許配 林家
Today I, as the head of this household, have decided to accept this proposal from the Lim family.
lṳ ngueng ia-pa, puk-ngueng ia-pa
你 願 也罷，不願 也罷
It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not.
tse-mng tshing-sṳ i-keng tiaⁿ-hia liou!
這門 親事 已經 定下 了！
It has already been decided!
五娘 • ngou-nie
khou….!
苦！
Woe!
員外 • ueng-gua
ai-ia! tsing-tsing kha-u-tshṳ-li?
哎呀！真真 豈有此理？
Gah! Never in my life…
安人 • ang-zing
ueng-gua, nang hia-lau khṳ pa
員外，俺 下樓 去 吧
Sire, let us go downstairs.
員外 • ueng-gua
hng! tou-si lṳ pheng-zik ke-ka puk-ngiem
哼！都是 你 平日 家教 不嚴
Hmph! You have been too lax in teaching her.
tshai iang-ik tse-ieⁿ ti ho nṳng-zi
才 養X 這樣 的 好 女兒
That’s how we have ended up with such a daughter.
puk-iou li tha! hia lau! tsau pa!
不要 理她！下樓！走吧！
Don’t pay her any heed. Go downstairs. Come!
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsheⁿ-thieng phik-liek, sai-nang sim pui!
青天 霹靂，使人 心悲
A thunderclap on a clear day, leading one to heartbreak.
tia-tia lṳ ui-ho tsho tsu-i?
爹爹 你 爲何 錯 注意？
Father, why have you made this mistake?
puk-ngueng nṳng-zi tsek-seⁿ siu-khui
不願 女兒 一生 受虧
Don’t wish upon your daughter a life of suffering.
na lim-tua… na lim-tua tha si khing-khuang-tsṳ
那 林大，那 林大 他 是 輕狂子
That Lim-dua, that Lim-dua is a dastardly creature;
ua leng-si ia puk ṳ tha phik-phue
我 寧死 也 不 與 他 匹配
I’d rather die than to be his woman.
bueng-puaⁿ sim-sṳ, bueng-puaⁿ sim-sṳ hu liu-tsui
萬般 心事，萬般 心事 付 流水
My heart is in turmoil, turning like flowing water.
tsek-seⁿ ngueng-mo, tsek-seⁿ ngueng-mo tsing seng hue…
一生 願望，一生 願望 盡 成 灰
A whole life’s hopes, all turned into ash.
**益春 • iah-tshung **
ngou-nie!
五娘！
Ngou-nie!
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung!
益春！
Iah-cung!
第三章 • toiⁿ-saⁿ-tsiang • Act 3
第七場 • toiⁿ-tshik-tieⁿ • Scene 7
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
kie siou-ang tai-lou uang siaⁿ-si
叫 小安 帶路 往 城西
Siou-ang, bring us to the Western city.
小安 • siou-ang
tsung-meng!
尊命！
Yes sir!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ngueng-siou teng-tsoiⁿ, li-iaⁿ khou iong-hi
元宵 燈前，麗影 苦 縈系
A beautiful silhouette under the lights of the Lantern Festival, so hard to forget.
kuang-lam hueng-hua, bo-sim ki-tshi
廣南 繁華，無心 棲遲
My restless heart is far from bustling Guang-lam.
廣南 kuang-lam - A county in 雲南 (hung-lam, Yunnan) province.
piek-liou ko-so, kip-kip tsai-lai tie-tsiu ti
別了 哥嫂，急急 再來 潮州 地
After saying goodbye to my brother and his wife, I hurriedly came back to Die-ziu,
tang ngueng thieng tshong nang-i
但 願 天 從 人意
in the hope that Heaven will fulfill a mere mortal’s wish
teng-kiⁿ ku kia-li
重見 舊 佳麗
and that I can see that beautiful woman again.
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
teng-lai tie-tsiu, iⁿ u to-zik
重來 潮州，已 有 多日
It has been several days since we have come back to Die-ziu.
tua-koi siou-hang, ku-iⁿ tshim-ping
大街 小巷，俱已 尋遍
Broad streets and narrow alleys – I’ve walked all of them in vain.
puk-kiⁿ i-nang, tsing leng nang sim-tsiou ia
不見 伊人，真 令人 心焦 也
Never once catching sight of her, it makes one despair.
published version: 好不心焦也 (ho puk-pik tsiou ia)
小安 • siou-ang
ping saⁿ-ia, tsoiⁿ-ming puk-ieng, tsiu-si sai-ou
稟 三爺，前面 不遠，就是 西湖
Sir, not far ahead is the Western Lake.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
o! thieng-seng li-tsieh pik to suaⁿ-meng-tsui-siu tsṳ ti
哦！天生 麗質 必 在 山明水秀 之 地
O! A natural beauty like her must surely be found in such a picturesque landscape.
siou-ang, tai-lou tsoiⁿ uang!
小安，帶路 前 往！
Siou-ang, bring us there!
小安 • siou-ang
si!
是！
Yes sir!
第八場 • toiⁿ-poih-tieⁿ • Scene 8
益春 • iah-tshung
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
khṳng a-nie, mo pui-sṳ
勤 阿娘，莫 悲思
My lady, do not pine,
printed: 小姐 (siou tsia) for 阿娘
hueng su tieng-tong tshoiⁿ-kim thi
還 須 珍重 千金 體
you must preserve your precious health.
lṳ thoiⁿ na, lak-gueh sai-ou ho keng-ti
你 看 那，六月 西湖 景緻
Look yonder, the scenery of the Western Lake in the sixth month.
sieⁿ-sim kiaⁿ-lak, mo hu siou-ni-si
賞心 行樂，莫 負 少年 時
Smile and rejoice, do not waste your youth on worry.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ua na-u sim-tsheng sieⁿ keng-ti?
我 那有 心情 賞 更遞？
Where is there reason for me to smile?
ueng tia-nie, ueng tia-nie tsho tsu-i
怨 爹娘，怨爹娘 錯 主意
I resent Father and Mother, resent their wrong decision.
ka ua lui-thiem sai-ou-tsui, tshou tshiang sṳ liu-si
教 我 淚添 西湖 水，愁 長 似 柳絲
My tears fill up the Western Lake, my worries trail like willow branches.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, sṳ iⁿ zu-tshṳ, su-tṳng mang-mang siek-huap
阿娘，事 已 如此，須當 慢慢 設法
Miss, things are as they are, you have to slowly make plans,
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
hueng-tshiaⁿ khueng-huai ui si
還 請 寬懷 爲 是
and keep your inner calm.
a-nie, lṳ thoiⁿ na (piⁿ) li-ki seⁿ-tik to-moh kho-aiⁿ!
阿娘，你 看 那 邊 荔枝 生得 多麼 可愛！
Miss, see how prettily that lychee branch grows!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tang li ang aiⁿ tih, thai ua sing-tshiu tiah tsek-ki
丹 荔 紅 欲 滴，待 我 伸手 摘 一枝
The lychees are red with ripeness, let me stretch out my hand to pluck a branch
欲 - vernacular substitute character for 愛
sang ṳ a-nie koi tshou-sṳ
送 與 阿娘 解 愁思
and present it to Miss to ease her worries.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
a-nie, lṳ thoiⁿ tse-pau li-ki no!
阿娘，你 看 這苞 荔枝 𰇇！
Miss, look at this lychee branch!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
a! peng tih li-ki
啊！並 蒂 荔枝
Ah! This lychee branch…
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie! lṳ taⁿ mai tsie-seⁿ no
阿娘！你 旦 勿 照生 𰇇
Miss! Don’t be like this.
printed: 小姐！你 不要 傷心 (siou-tsia! lṳ puk-iou sie-sim)
lṳ tsek sieⁿ-sim, ua sim-lai tsiu tsing kang-khou
你 一 傷心，我 心內 就 真艱苦
It is difficult for me to see you so heartbroken.
printed: 我 心裏 就 很 難過 (ua sim-li tsiu hng lang-kue)
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung, pa tsu-liem pang-hia
益春，把 珠簾 放下！
Iah-cung, put down the bead curtains!
益春 • iah-tshung
si!
是！
Yes miss!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
siou-ang, ua aiⁿ iu-lang tsek-hueng
小安，我 愛 遊覽 一番
Siou-ang, I want to tour about this place.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
lṳ kho to-tshṳ seng-liang
你 可 在此 乘涼
You can rest here in the shade.
小安 • siou-ang
si!
是！
Yes sir!
益春 • iah-tshung
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
thoiⁿ i-nang ho-seⁿ ming-sieng
睇 伊人 好生 面善
He looks well bred and has the face of a decent man,
printed: 觀 kueng for 睇
sṳ tseng siang-hong to ho-ti
似 曾 相逢 在 何地
like someone familiar, but from where?
ing-ho tsek-si ki-puk-khi?
因何 一時 記 不起？
Why can’t I remember?
五娘 • ngou-nie
kueng tha si-sui, pa tsu-liem pang-hia
管 他 是誰，把 珠簾 放下
Who cares who he is, put down the bead curtains.
益春 • iah-tshung
si
是
Yes miss.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
kau-lau u nṳng, peng-lang siang-i
高樓 有 女，憑欄 相 倚
A lady is in the tower, leaning at the balcony.
tsu-liem huang-tong, gek-iaⁿ i hi
珠簾 風動，玉影 依 稀
The bead curtains are stirred by the wind, and a silhouette like rare jade is seen.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, lau-e tsṳ nang, ho-sieⁿ tsiu-si teng-e tsṳ-seng?
阿娘，樓下 之 人，好像 就是 燈下 書生？
Miss, that man down below, could he be the scholar we met under the lanterns?
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
a-nie, […] lṳ tsṳ-soi zing-tsheng no!
阿娘，［……］你 仔細 認清 𰇇！
Miss, look carefully!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
lau-tsieⁿ nie-kiaⁿ, tsiaⁿ-si teng-e kia-li
樓上 娘囝，正是 燈下 佳麗
The young lady in the tower, was the beauty under the lanterns.
printed: 娘子 (nie-tsṳ) for 娘囝
tsiou-sṳ mo-sieⁿ puk-tik kiⁿ
朝思 暮想 不得 見
The one I thought of day and night, but never met.
iu sui-liou khiak to tse sia-si
又 誰料 卻 在 這 城西
Until now, but who would guess, here in the Western city.
hng-puk-tik, sing-thiem tshai-hong sang pue
恨 不得，身添 彩鳳 雙 飛
How I wish that I could turn into a phoenix and fly.
pue-tsieⁿ lau-thau su siang-sṳ
飛上 褸頭 訴 相思
Fly up that tower and tell her how I feel.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, lṳ tshoiⁿ-phang bueng-phang
阿娘，你 千盼 萬盼
Miss, you have hoped a thousand times,
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
kim-zik tik-kiⁿ, u ho tsu-i?
今日 得見，有何 主意？
and now he is here, what shall we do?
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsi-tau si tshṳ-seng iⁿ-iⁿ
只道 是 此生 已矣
This path is the road my life takes.
iu sui liou, kim-tsiou lau-thau teng siang-kiⁿ
又 誰 料，今朝 褸頭 重 相見
Who could foresee that we would see each other again today at the tower,
mo puk-si, thieng-kong u i lieng ua tshi
莫 不是，天公 有 意 憐 我 癡
unless it is that Heaven has taken pity on me.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie!
阿娘！
Miss!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ua thai pa mua-huai sim-sṳ hiang tha su
我 待 把 滿懷 心事 向 他 訴
I want to tell him everything that weighs in my heart,
tsa nai si nṳng-zi-ke zu-ho pa ue thi, zu-ho pa ue thi?
怎 奈 是 女兒家 如何 把 話 提，如何 把 話 提？
but as a woman, how can I be the first to speak? How can I speak to him?
益春 • iah-tshung
a-ia! tha sieⁿ-si iou tsau-liou
啊呀，他 像是 要 走了
Alas, he looks to be leaving.
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsek-tang tsho-kue liang-ki, tsi khiong au hue iong lang-khi
一旦 錯過 良機，只 恐 後 會 永 難期
To lose this brief window of opportunity, and see only suffering in my future.
tshoiⁿ-ngang bueng-gṳ, tang peng tse li-ki ti sim-i
千言 萬語，但 憑 這 荔枝 致 心意
Tens of thousands of words, but only this lychee branch to say how I feel.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
lau-tsieⁿ tau-hia ho-mueh?
褸上 投下 何物？
What is this that has fallen from above?
khiak-si peng-tih li-ki
卻是 並蒂 荔枝
It is a lychee branch with two fruit on a stalk,
並蒂 - a stalk with two flowers, symbolizing a married couple.
o! ua meng-peh liou!
啊，我 明白 了！
Ah, I understand!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
nie-kiaⁿ lau-thau tsang piou-ki
娘囝 褸頭 贈 表記
The young miss in the tower has sent me a sign,
printed: 娘子 (nie-tsṳ) for 娘囝
tsing ka peh-kheng hi aiⁿ-khuang
真 教 伯卿 喜 欲 狂
that makes me Beh-keng wild with joy.
peng-tih li-ki tsheng-i tong
並蒂 荔枝 情意 重
This lychee branch is weighted with meaning,
meng-sim khek-kuk iong lang-buang
銘心 刻骨 永 難忘
carved in my heart and bones, which I will not forget.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsheng meh-meh bo-hang siu-i
情 脈脈 無限 羞意
My pulse is quick with limitless trepidation,
sim huiⁿ-huiⁿ zu to mang-li
心 懸懸 如 在 夢裏
My heart hangs as if in a dream.
益春 • iah-tshung
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
u-ueng na-phaⁿ keh tshoiⁿ-li?
有緣 那怕 隔 千里？
If it is willed by Fate, what is a thousand miles’ separation?
to-tsheng thieng ia tshong nang-i
多情 天 亦 從 人意
If love is true, Heaven will even fulfill the wishes of mortals.
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung!
益春！
Iah-cung!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
lṳ su soi-sim mok lu-mang
你 須 細心 莫 魯莽
You must be careful, do not be reckless.
nang-ngang kho-ui aiⁿ kṳng-ki
人言 可畏 愛 謹記
Loose talk is a fearsome thing, you must be careful.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
thang-ziak iang-siaⁿ thueng ling-li
倘若 揚聲 傳 鄰里
If rumor spreads about
lau-tsoiⁿ tau li tsau mueh-ngi
樓前 投 荔 遭 物議
and this lychee branch before the tower becomes a theme of speculation,
hṳ si-tsoih
許 時節
at such a time,
printed: 那 (na) for 許
tia-tia tong-nau nie lang-hu
爹爹 動腦 娘 難護
even Mother will not be able to protect us from Father’s fury.
lṳ-ua si bo tsṳng-sing-ti
你我 死 無 葬身地
You and I will both die and our corpses exposed without burial.
益春 • iah-tshung
si! a-nie pang-sim!
是！阿娘 放心！
Yes, you can trust me, Miss.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
nie-kiaⁿ tsing-lau khṳ liou, siou-ang!
娘囝 進 褸 去 了，小安！
The young miss is returning back inside. Siou-ang!
printed: 娘子 (nie-tsṳ) for 娘囝
小安 • siou-ang
saⁿ-ia ho-sṳ?
三爺 何事？
Yes sir?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
lṳ u-bo hieⁿ-tshing to-tshṳ tie-tsiu kṳ-tsu?
你 有無 鄉親 在此 潮州 居住？
Do you have kin who live here in Die-ziu?
小安 • siou-ang
ping saⁿ-ia, u tsek-ui li-kong, tsu to sieng-koi-thau
稟 三爺，有 一位 李公，住 在 仙街頭
Yes sir, there is Old Master Li, who lives at the head of Fairy Lane
bua-kiaⁿ ui-seng
磨鏡 爲生
polishing mirrors for a living
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
lṳ kho ing ua tsoiⁿ-khṳ tham-huang?
你 可 引 我 前去 探訪？
Could you bring me there for a visit?
小安 • siou-ang
si!
是！
Aye!
第四章 • toiⁿ-si-tsiang • Act 4
第九場 • toiⁿ-kau-tieⁿ • Scene 9
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, [tshiaⁿ lai] siu-tsuang
阿娘，請來 梳粧
Miss, please come to your toilet.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsiu-lai!
就來！
Soon!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ku-hng bue-kiem
舊恨 未減
Old resentment has not subsided
sing-tshou iu thiem
新愁 又 添
but new worries have come on top.
zik-zik lau-thau khong leng-mo
日日 褸頭 空 儜望
Every day I sit wearily gazing from this tower.
si-hua si-hok [no] mang-zieng
是禍 是福 兩 茫然
Disaster or fortune? I am at a loss.
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
tse kiaⁿ ui-ho zu-tshṳ hung-am?
這 鏡 爲何 如此 昏暗？
Why is this mirror so dim?
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie ku puk siu-tsuang
阿娘 久 不 梳粧
Miss has not performed her toilet for such a while,
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
po-kiaⁿ lang-mieng ting-hong!
寶鏡 難免 塵封！
it is hard to avoid dust settling on the precious mirror.
五娘 • ngou-nie
po-kiaⁿ a! po-kiaⁿ, puk tsai lṳ ho-zik huang-leng teng-kiⁿ kuang-hui!
寶鏡 呀！寶鏡，不知 你 何日 方能 重見 光輝！
O precious mirror, mirror, who knows when you will again see glory?
第十場 • toiⁿ-tsap-tieⁿ • Scene 10
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
bua-kiaⁿ a! bua-kiaⁿ a!
磨鏡 呀！磨鏡 呀！
Mirrors to polish! Mirrors to polish!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
lau-thau tik-kiⁿ i-tang nang
褸頭 得見 意中 人
To see the person of my dreams at the top of the tower
tau ua noi-ki kia tshim-tsheng
投 我 荔枝 寄 深情
drop me a lychee branch to convey her deep feelings;
noi - vernacular pronunciation
tsi ui tha, theh-iⁿ tshim sṳ hai
只爲 她，宅院 深 似 海
only for her, amid this sea of houses and courtyards,
aiⁿ hue puk-leng
欲 會 不能
unable to meet despite longing to.
欲 - vernacular substitute character for 愛
ua tsi-tik sieng-koi-thau, oh bua-kiaⁿ
我 只得 仙街頭，學 磨鏡
I went to Fairy Lane, learned how to polish mirrors,
khiou-tsuang ki-mo teng-hue kiou-eng
喬裝 企望 重會 嬌英
and disguised myself in the hope of seeing that fine flower of womanhood again.
第十一場 • toiⁿ-tsap-ik-tieⁿ • Scene 11
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
saⁿ-pou piaⁿ-tsoh no-pou heng
三步 併作 兩步 行
Bounding three steps in just two,
heng - literary pronunciation
puk-kak lai-kau ng-ke mng-theng
不覺 來到 黃家 門庭
soon I come to the Ng household’s threshold.
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
li-kong sueh-tau: tha mue-lai bua-kiaⁿ
李公 說道：他 每 來 磨鏡
Old Master Li said, every time that he comes to polish mirrors,
tou to au-iⁿ, ui-mieng thong-thueng
都 在 後院，爲免 通傳
he would always go to the rear courtyard,
iⁿ thih-puaⁿ ui ho, soiⁿ no-siaⁿ, au poih-siaⁿ
以 鐵盤 爲 號，先 兩聲，後 八聲
and clap an iron plate as his sign: first two claps, then eight.
zi-poih kia-zing tsiu tshuk-thiaⁿ, thai ua lai!
二八 佳人 就 出廳，待 我 來！
A pretty maid would then come out. Now let me try!
二八 – twice-eight, i.e. aged sixteen.
益春 • iah-tshung
lai-liou!
來了！
Coming!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
huk thiaⁿ-kiⁿ gua-ming thih-puaⁿ siaⁿ-hiang
忽 聽見 外面 鐵盤 聲響
Hearing unexpectedly the iron clapper outside,
i-pou tsieⁿ-tsoiⁿ thoiⁿ tueng-siang
移步 上前 看 端詳
walking up to see who it is,
tsi-kiⁿ tsek-ui siou-ni bua-kiaⁿ-tshieⁿ
只見 一位 少年 磨鏡匠
only to find a young mirror-grinder
sṳ na teng-e tsṳ-seng tsek-puaⁿ iang?
似 那 燈下 書生 一般 樣？
who looks just like that scholar under the lanterns.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
sie-nie-kiaⁿ, sie-nang u-li
小娘囝，小人 有禮
Young miss, this humble one offers his salutations.
printed: 小娘子 (sie-nie-tsṳ) for 小娘囝
益春 • iah-tshung
mieng tsṳ-soi!
免 仔細！
There’s no need for fuss!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
sie-nie-kiaⁿ, thiaⁿ-sueh lṳ hu-tsieⁿ u kiaⁿ aiⁿ bua
小娘囝，聽說 你 府上 有 鏡 愛 磨
Young miss, one hears that your manse has a mirror that needs polishing,
printed: 子 (tsṳ) for 囝, 要 (iou) for 愛
ua tek-ti tsoiⁿ-lai
我 特地 前來
so I have come here specially.
益春 • iah-tshung
siou-sek to leng-thong a!
消息 倒 靈通 呀！
News does travel fast!
ung tsu-si u kai kiaⁿ aiⁿ bua
阮 就是 有個 鏡 愛 磨
We do have a mirror that needs polishing,
printed: 鏡 倒 是 有 (kiaⁿ tau si u)
tsi-si aiⁿ lau-kheh tsek-ui lau sṳ-hu
只是 愛 留 乞 一位 老 師傅
it’s just that we are leaving it for an old master craftsman.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛, 給 (kip) for 乞
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
si na-tsek-ui lau-sṳ-hu?
是 那一位 老師傅？
Which old master craftsman is it?
益春 • iah-tshung
tsiu-si tsu-to sieng-koi-thau ti na-ui li-kong
就是 住在 仙街頭 的 那位 李公
It is that Old Master Li of Fairy Lane.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
a! na li-kong tsiu-si ua kai sṳ-hu
啊！那 李公 就是 我 個 師傅
Ah! I am apprenticed to that Master Li.
printed: 的 (ti) for 個
How convenient.
益春 • iah-tshung
ua! hṳ-li thoiⁿ-m-tshuk
哇，許 哩 睇 唔出
Wow, one sure can’t tell that by looking.
printed: 看不出呀 (thoiⁿ puk-tshuk ia)
li-kong ti-si siu tsek-kai tse-seⁿ-ieⁿ kai thu-ti ia?
李公 底時 收 一個 這生樣 個 徒弟 呀？
When did Old Master Li take on an apprentice like you?
printed: 李公 何時 受了 一個 這樣 的 徒弟 (li-kong ho-si siu-liou tsek-kai tseⁿ-ieⁿ ti thu-ti)
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
sie-nie-kiaⁿ, tshia mai tshu-tshie
小娘囝，請 勿 取笑
Young miss, please don’t make fun of me.
printed: 子 (tsṳ) for 囝
ki si u kiaⁿ aiⁿ bua li, tsiu tshiaⁿ tshu-tshuk-lai
既是 有 鏡 愛 磨 哩，就 請 取出來
Since you have a mirror to be polished, please bring it out.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛, utterance particle 哩 omitted
益春 • iah-tshung
hṳ-li tieh huaⁿ ua khṳ mung a-nie!
許哩 着 還 我 去 問 阿娘！
In that case I’ll have to go ask my mistress!
printed: 等我 去 問問 我家 小姐 (tang ua khṳ mung-mung ua-ke siou-tsia)
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
u-lau liou! u-lau liou!
有勞 了！有勞 了！
Much obliged!
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, kiaⁿ-lai ia!
阿娘，行來 呀！
Miss, come here!
五娘 • ngou-nie
tshi-pi-nṳng, ui-ho tse-ieⁿ huang-huang tieng-tieng?
癡婢女，爲何 這樣 瘋瘋 癲癲？
Silly maid, what’s all this commotion about?
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie u-so-m-tsai! gua-ming lai tsek-kai bua-kiaⁿ sṳ-hu
阿娘 有所 唔知！外面 來 一個 磨鏡 師傅
You don’t know half of it, Miss! There is a mirror-grinder outside
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘, 不知 (puk-tsai) for 唔知
i taⁿ si li-kong thu-ti, seⁿ-tik siou-ni tsheng-siu ia!
伊 呾 是 李公 徒弟，生得 少年 清秀 呀！
who says that he is apprenticed to Old Master Li; he is youthful and handsome!
printed: 自稱 (tsṳ-tsheng) for 伊呾
五娘 • ngou-nie
kueng nang-ke siou-ni tsheng-siu tso-mih?
管 人家 少年 清秀 做乜？
Who cares if he is youthful and handsome?
printed: 什麼 (sim-moh) for 乜
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie! lṳ to m-tsai no, i seⁿ-lai tsing siang tsek-kai nang
阿娘，你 在 唔知 𰇇，伊 生來 真 象 一個人
Miss, you don’t know half of it, he looks just like a certain someone.
printed: 你 不知道 (lṳ puk tsai-tau) for 你在唔知𰇇, 他 (tha) for 伊
khuai (?) tshuk-lai khṳ thoiⁿ ia!
快 X 出來 去 看 呀！
Come out quickly to see!
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsoiⁿ-zik i-nang kue lau-sai
前日 伊人 過 褸西
The other day he passed the Western Tower,
khi-u-hng-ngang, tsing si tsung-siu eng-tshai
氣宇軒昂，真是 雋秀 英才
fine and magnificent, with the bearing of a talent,
氣宇軒昂 - idiom
kau kim-tsiou, kau kim-tsiou ui-sim-moh pieng-tsoh liou bua-kiaⁿ-tshieⁿ
到 今朝，到 今朝 爲甚麼 變作 了 磨鏡匠
but today, but today, how has he become a mirror grinder?
tshṳ-sṳ ka-nang hui i-tshai
此事 教人 費意 猜
This really makes one puzzled.
益春 • iah-tshung
thai ua lai khṳ mung-i
待 我 來 去 問伊
Wait, let me go ask him.
printed: 他 (tha) for 伊
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung! puk-kho
益春！不可
Iah-cung, no!
益春 • iah-tshung
mung tsek-e, u-ho puk-kho?
問 一下，有何 不可？
What’s wrong with asking?
五娘 • ngou-nie
nang u siang-sṳ, puk-kho tsau-tshṳ
人有相似，不可 造次
People do look alike, don’t be rash.
益春 • iah-tshung
(zu-tshṳ) aiⁿ tso-ni tsu-i?
（如此）愛 做呢 主意？
What do you propose?
printed: 怎生主意 (tsai-seⁿ tsu-i) for 做呢主意
五娘 • ngou-nie
tha ki-si li-kong thu-ti, tshiu-goi liang-pik puk-tsha
他 既是 李公 徒弟，手藝 諒必 不差
Since he is an apprentice of Old Master Li, his handiwork must be not bad.
kiaⁿ tsiu khieh pung i bua
鏡 就 挈 分 伊 磨
Give him the mirror to polish.
printed: 鏡就拿給他磨 (kiaⁿ tsiu na kip tha bua)
益春 • iah-tshung
hiou-tik!
曉得！
Understood!
ng-hng!
嗯哼！
Yup!
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung! gua-ming zik-thau iem-zuah
益春！外面 日頭 炎熱
Iah-cung! It is hot outside under the sun.
lṳ kho tua na bua-kiaⁿ sṳ-hu tsip-lai iⁿ-lai tso kong-hu?
你 可 帶 那 磨鏡 師傅 入來 院內 做 工夫？
Could you bring that mirror-grinder inside to do his work in the courtyard?
printed: 進來 (tsing-lai) for 入來
益春 • iah-tshung
hiou-tik!
曉得！
Understood!
sṳ-hu, lṳ to tso mih-sṳ a?
師傅，你 在 做 乜事 啊？
Master craftsman, what are you doing?
printed: 你在做什麼？ (lṳ to tso sim-moh?)
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ua aiⁿ tsung-pi bua-kiaⁿ kai ke-si
我 愛 準備 磨鏡 個 傢俬
I am preparing my tools to polish the mirror.
益春 • iah-tshung
m-tsai nang kai kiaⁿ aiⁿ pung lṳ bua a-m
唔知 俺個 鏡 愛 分你 磨 啊唔
I don’t know if we want to give you our mirror to polish,
printed: 還不知鏡可要你磨 (huaⁿ-puk-tsai kiaⁿ kho iou lṳ bua)
tsiu to tso tsung-pi
就 在 做 準備
if you are only just making preparations.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tse… tshueng-tsiang sie-nie-kiaⁿ seng-tshueng
這……全仗 小娘囝 成全
This… it is all in your hands, young miss.
printed: 子 (tsṳ) for 囝
益春 • iah-tshung
ṳ… ho oi taⁿ-ue a, siang-ziang(?), kai kiaⁿ lṳ bua
啊……好會 呾話 呀，XX，個 鏡 你磨
Ah, you do have a way with words. Fine, I’ll let you polish the mirror.
printed: 真會說話 (tsing oi sueh-ue) for 好會呾話
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ho tsek-ming po-kiaⁿ
好 一面 寶鏡
What a fine mirror this is.
益春 • iah-tshung
sṳ-hu! ua ke a-nie tshiaⁿ lṳ zip iⁿ-lai tso kong-hu
師傅！我家 阿娘 請 你 入 院內 做 工夫
Master! My mistress invites you to do your work in the courtyard.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘, 進 (tsing) for 入
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tsung-meng!
尊命！
And I obey the command!
益春 • iah-tshung
tshṳ-tshu im-liang, tsiu to tse-li hiah-taⁿ pa
此處 陰涼，就在 這裏 歇 擔 吧！
It is cool here in the shade, rest for a while here!
sṳ-hu, li-kong mue lai bua-kiaⁿ tsiu tshiang-kua, lṳ kha oi?
師傅，李公 每 來 磨鏡 就 唱歌，你 豈 會？
Master craftsman, Old Master Li would always sing while polishing, can you do so too?
printed: 可 (kho) for 豈
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
oi si oi, tsi pha bo tsai-im
會 是 會，只 怕 無 知音
Sure I can sing, but I fear that I won’t hold a tune.
益春 • iah-tshung
lṳ ziak tshiang-lai ho, na-pha bo tsai-im
你 若 唱來 好，那 怕 無 知音
Sing anyhow you please, who cares if you go off key?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
hia li thai ua lai tshiang
遐哩 待 我 來 唱
In that case let me sing:
printed: 如此 (zu-tshṳ) for 遐哩
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tshik-tshieh tsiang-hu mo bueng-tshai
七尺 丈夫 莫 漫猜
Who would guess, a fully grown man
七尺 - average adult’s height in traditional Chinese feet.
tsheⁿ-bue u-ieh ku-zing lai!
青梅 有約 故人 來！
A familiar figure coming to an appointment under the green plums!
hng-khṳng ui sia tshim tsheng-i
殷勤 爲 謝 深情意
Giving polite thanks for the sincere feelings,
ngueng hia ung-kiou gek-kiaⁿ-thai
願 下 溫嶠 玉鏡臺
TODO
益春 • iah-tshung
sṳ-hu, tshiaⁿ tsiah te!
師傅，請 食 茶！
Master craftsman, come drink some tea!
printed: 飲 (im) for 食
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
u te! hia-li keng-ho, u lau liou
有茶！遐哩 更好，有勞了
There’s tea! This is even better. Much obliged.
printed: 那就 (na tsiu) for 遐哩
sie-nie-kiaⁿ, tsi-pue te, si nang kie-lṳ khieh lai?
小娘囝，只杯 茶，是 人 叫 你 挈 來？
Young miss, who instructed you to bring me this cup of tea?
printed: 小娘子，這杯 茶 是 誰 叫你 端 來 的？ (sie-nie-tsṳ, tse-pue te si sui kie-lṳ tueng lai ti?)
益春 • iah-tshung
lṳ tsi-kai nang a, kue-tou tsiu kue-tou
你 只個 人 呀，過渡 就 過渡
You are really too much.
printed: 這 (tse) for 只
ho-ui tieh mung-kau tsung-toiⁿ u kui-ko pang?
何爲 着 問到 船底 有 幾塊 板？
Who asks how many planks there are in a boat?
printed: 何必 (ho-pik) for 何爲着
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
kha puk-mung? im-tsui sṳ-nguang!
豈 不問？飲水思源
Why not ask? One must think of the spring when drinking water!
ho-khuang u tshṳ ho-te, keng-tṳng tau-sia
何況 有 此 好茶，更當 道謝
Let alone with such good tea, one must be grateful.
益春 • iah-tshung
si ua a-nie kie ua khieh-lai ti
是 我 阿娘 叫 我 挈來 的
It was my mistress who told me to bring it to you.
printed: 是 小姐 命 我 端來 的 (si siou-tsia meng ua tueng-lai ti)
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
hṳ li thoih ua hiang ning a-nie tau-sia
許 哩 代 我 向 恁 阿娘 道謝
In that case, please convey to your mistress my deep thanks.
printed: 請你 代 我 向 小姐 道謝 (tshia-lṳ thoih ua hiang siou-tsia tau-sia)
thoih - pronunciation for 代
益春 • iah-tshung
to-seng to-kam!
多承多感！
Much obliged, many thanks!
Sarcastically quoting the overly polite phrase that he used when they returned him his fan at the Lantern festival.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
to-seng to-kam! tshiaⁿ!
多承多感！請！
Much obliged, many thanks! Please!
益春 • iah-tshung
sṳ-hu, pue te ngang liou, taⁿ tsiah no
師傅，杯茶 凝了，旦 食 𰇇
Master craftsman, the tea has gone cold. Just drink it.
printed: 師傅，茶涼了，快喝吧 (sṳ-hu, te liang liou, khuai hak pa)
“taⁿ tsiah no” - interesting grammatical construction.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ku-lau sie-nie-kiaⁿ liou
劬勞 小娘囝 了
Much obliged, young miss.
not in printed
益春 • iah-tshung
sṳ-hu, kang-hu tieh tso i ho se a
師傅，工夫 着 做 伊 好 些 啊
Master craftsman, you’d better do a good job.
printed: 你 工夫 要 做得 好些 (lṳ kong-hu iou tso-tik ho-se)
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
na tsṳ-zieng no! po-kiaⁿ a, po-kiaⁿ!
那 自然 𰇇！寶鏡 呀，寶鏡！
But of course! O precious mirror!
printed: 那 是 自然 (na si tsṳ-zieng) for 那 自然 𰇇
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ua ieng lṳ iam-hok bo-pi
我 羨 你 艷福 無比
I envy how you are splendid beyond compare,
ṳ kia-zing heng-iaⁿ puk-li
與 佳人 形影 不離
not far from the perfection of a beautiful lady.
hng puk-tik, tsiang sing-hue po-kiaⁿ
恨不得，將 身化 寶鏡
Alas, your fate is to be a mirror,
to kui-tang tsiou-sek tsiang siang-i
在 閨中 朝夕 長 相依
spending your time hidden in the depths of the women’s chambers.
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
huai-liou, huai-liou!
壞了！壞了！
It is broken! Broken!
益春 • iah-tshung
sṳ-hu, huang-tshai sim-moh siaⁿ-hiang?
師傅，方才 甚麼 聲響？
Master craftsman, what was that sound?
po-kiaⁿ ne? ṳ! kheh lṳ ta-phua liou!
寶鏡 呢？～，乞你 打破 了！
Where is the mirror? Oh no, you have broken it!
printed: 給 (kip) for 乞
huai-liou, huai-liou!
壞了，壞了！
It is broken, broken!
a-nie (?)-lai a!
阿娘 X 來 呀！
Miss, come here!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
po-kiaⁿ phah-phua liou?
寶鏡 拍破 了？
The mirror is broken?
printed: 打 (ta) for 拍
ki si phah-phua, tshiak-mok siaⁿ-tsiang, siek-huak iem-tshang ho
既是 打破，切莫 聲張，設法 掩藏 好
Even if it’s broken, don’t make a scene, let’s find a way to hide this.
益春 • iah-tshung
si!
是！
Yes!
員外 • ueng-gua
sui-nang to-tshṳ tshau-nau?
誰人 在此 吵鬧？
What is all this shouting here?
printed: 何人 (ho-nang) for 誰人
ui-ho pang-tsing gua-nang lai-kau tshṳ-ti?
爲何 放進 外人 來到 此地？
Who let a stranger into this place?
益春 • iah-tshung
si bua-kiaⁿ ti
是 磨鏡 的
It is the mirror polisher.
員外 • ueng-gua
bua-kiaⁿ ti ia puk-kai tsing-lai, khuai kie-tha tshuk-khṳ!
磨鏡 的 也 不該 進來，快 叫 他 出去！
The mirror polisher should also not be in here. Tell him to go outside!
益春 • iah-tshung
si, lṳ tshuk-khṳ pa
是，你 出去 吧
Yes. You had better leave.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ping ueng-gua, lṳ ke po-kiaⁿ pi ua tsek-si sik-tshiu phah-phua-khṳ liou
稟 員外，你家 寶鏡 被 我 一時 失手 打破去 了
Sir, I was careless and with a slip of the hand I broke your precious mirror.
員外 • ueng-gua
haⁿ? phah-phua na tsek-tso?
～？打破 那 一座？
What? Which one did you break?
phah - 拍
ai-ia, kho-nau, kho-nau a!
哎呀，可惱，可惱 呀！
Aiyah, how vexing, how vexing!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
kiⁿ phua-kiaⁿ, nau-tshong sim-tang khi
見 破鏡，惱 從 心中 起
Seeing this broken mirror is raising my hackles.
siou thiok-seⁿ, bo tau-li, bo tau-li!
小 畜生，無 道理，無 道理
You little brute, you unreasoning brute!
tshṳ kiaⁿ nai-si thueng-ke-po
此 鏡 乃是 傳家寶
This mirror was an heirloom treasure.
thoiⁿ lṳ zu-ho pue-tik-khi?
看 你 如何 賠得起？
Do you fancy that you can compensate me?
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
lai! tshṳ-sṳ u ua tso-tsu
來！此事 有 我 做主。
I’ll make the decisions.
tso-ning zip-khṳ!
做 恁 入去！
The rest of you, go inside!
printed: 你等 進去 (lṳ-teng tsing-khṳ)
thiok-seng, lṳ kim u ho-ue sueh?
畜生，你 今 有 何話 說？
Do you have anything to say for yourself, brute?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
boi-tsai ueng-gua aiⁿ pue to-siou
𠁞知 員外 愛 賠 多少？
Sir, how much compensation do you seek?
printed: 不知 員外 要我 賠償 多少 (puk-tsai ueng-gua iou ua pue-sieⁿ to-siou)
員外 • ueng-gua
pa lṳ tsek-kai nang boi lai pue
把 你 一個 人 賣 來 賠
Even if you sell yourself,
ia ti puk-kue ia
也 抵 不過 呀！
it would not be enough!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tshia-tsu! ueng-gua tsek-ngang, pa ua thi-tsheⁿ
且住！員外 一言，把 我 提醒
Wait a moment! What he said gave me an idea.
printed: 將 (tsiang) for 把
ua ho-puk tsieng tshṳ ki-uang, zu-tshṳ zu-tshṳ
我 何不 趁 此 機緣，如此 如此
Why don’t I use this opportunity? So be it.
ueng-gua, liem ua tso kang-nang
員外，念 我 做 工人
Sir, take me on as a worker
printed: 想 我 做工 之 人 (sieⁿ ua tso-kang tsṳ nang)
na u tsiⁿ-ngṳng pue-tik tshṳ kiaⁿ
那 有 錢銀 賠得 此 鏡
and let me pay off my debt with my labor.
printed: 賠償 寶鏡 (pue-sieⁿ po-kiaⁿ)
員外 • ueng-gua
hng! ki bo-tsiⁿ phue kiaⁿ
哼！既 無錢 賠 鏡
Hmph! Since you have no money to compensate me,
tsi-u tsiang lṳ sang kuaⁿ kiu-phoiⁿ!
只有 將 你 送 官 究辦
the only thing left to do is to send you off to the magistrate.
siou-tshik kue lai!
小七 過來！
Siou-cik, come here!
小七 • siou-tshik
ueng-gua ho sṳ?
員外 何事？
What is it, Sir?
員外 • ueng-gua
pa tha khung-liou!
把他 捆了！
Cuff him!
小七 • siou-tshik
si
是
Yes.
益春 • iah-tshung
ueng-gua tshia-mang!
員外 且慢！
Please wait, Sir!
員外 • ueng-gua
ho-sṳ?
何事？
What is it?
益春 • iah-tshung
pi hong a-nie tsṳ meng, u ngang siang-ping
婢 奉 阿娘 之 命，有 言 上稟
Miss has instructed me to plead on her behalf.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
kim-zik po-kiaⁿ phah-phua
今日 寶鏡 打破
That this mirror was broken,
nai si sṳ-hu puk-sim sik-tshiu, peng hui u-i
乃是 師傅 不慎 失手，並 非 有意
was because of a slip of the hand, and not by intention.
buang ueng-gua sek-nau, tshong-khueng tshu-li
望 員外 息惱，從寬 處理
May you retreat from anger, Sir, and deal with him generously.
員外 • ueng-gua
hu-sueh! siou-tshik, khung!
胡說！小七 捆！
Nonsense! Siou-cik, cuff him!
小七 • siou-tshik
si
是
Yup.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tshiaⁿ-mang!
且慢！
Please delay!
ueng-gua, liem ua tsek-phing zu-soi
員外，念 我 一貧如洗
Sir, I have not a cent to my name.
一貧如洗 - idiom
tsong pa ua sang kuaⁿ ia i sṳ bo-pou
縱 把 我 送 官 也 於 事 無補
Sending me to the magistrate will not help anybody.
ua kim tsheng-ngueng zip hu ui-iong
我 今 情願 入府 爲 傭
I’m willing to enter your household as a servant
tso-kang sieⁿ-kiaⁿ tsiu si
做工 償鏡 就是
and work off my debt to you.
員外 • ueng-gua
thoiⁿ lṳ ko-heng
看你 XX
Look at you,
printed: 看你 這個 人 (thoiⁿ lṳ tse-kai nang)
bung-puk-bung, bu-puk-bu
文不文，武不武
neither a scholar nor a warrior.
u sim eng-tshu?
有 甚 用處？
What use are you to me?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ua oi tso-kang, ia u pak su-zi
我 會 做工，也 有捌 數字
I can work hard, and I can count and write.
printed: 我 會 做 粗工，也 認得 幾個 字 (ua oi tso tshou-kang, ia zing-tik kui-kai zi)
sau-phiaⁿ, ak-hue, li-siou, sia-sing tou leng seng-zim
掃～，沃花，理數，寫信 都能 勝任
Sweeping the floor, watering plants, doing accounts, writing letters, are all things I can do.
printed: 掃地，澆花，理賬 (sau-ti, kiou-hue, li-tieⁿ)
員外 • ueng-gua
lai, lṳ kie ho mia-zi?
來，你 叫 何 名字？
What is your name?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
sie-nang seⁿ tang, mia… saⁿ
小人 姓 陳，名…… 三
My humble surname is Dang, and my name is… San (three).
員外 • ueng-gua
tang-saⁿ, lung tse po-kiaⁿ, ke-tak peh nie
陳三，論 此 寶鏡，價值 百両
Dang-san, this mirror here was bought for a hundred taels.
zu-kim tsi sṳng-tso saⁿ-tsap nie
如今 只 算做 三十 両
Let’s amortize that to say thirty taels.
lṳ to ua-hu tso-kang, mue-ni kang-tsṳ tsap-nie
你 在 我府 做工，每年 工資 十 両
If you work in my household, you would get wages of ten taels a year.
In the Ming period, one tael of silver could buy about 0.94 piculs (about 60 kg) of rice (source), so a year’s wages was about 600 kg of rice. In Swatow, 1 kg of rice costs about 7 RMB retail today (source), hence his annual income was the equivalent of about 4200 RMB, or about 660 USD, in purchasing power terms.
saⁿ-ni kang-mua, huang-tsung hue-ke
三年 工 滿，方 准 回家
So, in three years, you’d work it off and can go home.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
sie-nang tsheng-ngueng
小人 情願
Your humble servant is willing.
員外 • ueng-gua
ua-ke nai-si mia-mung, tsieⁿ-e u hung, lai-gua u piek
我家 乃是 名門，上下 有分，內外 有別
Bear in mind that mine is a house of good repute. The upstairs staff don’t mix with the downstairs staff. The inner and outer courts are separate.
Inner courtyard - the women’s part of the house where outsider men were not allowed.
lṳ to hu-lai su-iou sung-kui tau-kṳ
你 在 府內 須要 循規 蹈矩
In here you had better adhere to the household rules,
puk-kho huam ua ke-huap
不可 犯 我 家法
and not flout the law of my family.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tsai-tau!
知道！
Understood!
員外 • ueng-gua
siou-tshik, tua tha hia-khṳ!
小七，帶 他 下去！
Siou-cik, bring him downstairs!
小七 • siou-tshik
si, sui ua lai
是，隨 我 來
Yup, follow me.
員外 • ueng-gua
ha ha ha ha ha!
哈哈哈哈哈！
Hahahahaha!
第五章 • toiⁿ-ngou-tsiang • Act 5
第十二場 • toiⁿ-tsap-zi-tieⁿ • Scene 12
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
po-tueng hiang-siou, ngṳng-thai tsek-sia
寶篆 香銷，銀臺 燭灺
By a precious seal, the incense burns out. On a silver platform, the candle is snuffed.
puaⁿ-kui tshang-gueh tsie so leng
半規 殘月 照 疏櫺
A waning half-moon casts light through the latticework.
aiⁿ ming ming-puk-tik, aiⁿ tso tso-puk-leng
愛 眠 眠不得，愛 坐 坐不寧
Weary but sleepless, tired but restless.
printed: 欲 for 愛, vernacular substitute character
sim-tang sṳ, tshoiⁿ-teng bueng-thah hiang sui-su?
心中事，千重 萬疊 向 誰 訴？
A thousand weights heavy in my heart, with no one to tell them to.
khong niou sung liang-bai tsheⁿ
空 皺 損 兩眉 青
My brow turned pale from furrowing,
sieⁿ tsa-zik siang-sṳ, siang-sṳ hung liang ti
想 昔日 相思，相思 分 兩 地
I think about the past and pine between two places.
昔 - vernacular substitute character for tsa, original pronunciation sik
hi kim-tsiou thong-tshu tsek-mng theng
喜 今朝 同處 一門 庭
Today we are indeed under one roof.
tha khuk-sing ui ua, zu-tshṳ to-tsheng kou-lai tsie
他 屈身 爲 我，如此 多情 古來 少
To debase himself for me, such love is seldom seen.
ua tsek-i lieng tha, puk-tsai ho-zik kak ueng-meng
我 一意 憐 他，不知 何日 結 鴛盟
I pity him with all my heart, not knowing when we shall be together.
phaⁿ tsi phaⁿ, tsek-tsiou siep-lau tshung siou-sek
怕 只怕，一朝 洩漏 春 消息
Fearing that our secret shall spill out,
loi-huap ke-kui puk iong-tsheng
禮法 家規 不 容情
flouting of the family law is not easily forgiven.
tsong-siou tieng-tsueng khou bo-tsheh
終宵 輾轉 苦 無策
All night I toss about in agony without aim,
lui sui tshang-lah siang tih-kau thieng-meng
淚 隨 殘蠟 相 滴到 天明
my tears dripping like the wax from a dying candle until daylight comes.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, thieng tsiang liang-liou, ui-ho hueng bue uaⁿ-sui?
阿娘，天 將 亮了，爲何 還 未 安睡
Miss, it is almost dawn. Why have you not yet gone to sleep?
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
a-nie, khuai sui pa
阿娘，快 睡 吧
Miss, do sleep.
第十三場 • toiⁿ-tsap-saⁿ-tieⁿ • Scene 13
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ui po li-ki tshim tsheng-i, sing-tshau khou-hiah puk tshui-si
爲 報 荔枝 深 情意，身操 苦役 不 推辭
To fulfill the wish cast down with that lychee branch, I could not refuse this life of hard labor.
ngueng-khi tsiou-sek leng siang-kiⁿ
原期 朝夕 能 相見
On which day shall we meet again?
sui tsai tsi-tshieh nang tshoiⁿ-li
誰知 咫尺 人 千里
Who can truly reckon with a thousand-mile journey?
咫尺千里 - idiom
theng kai ng-hieh sau koi tsing
庭 階 黃葉 掃 易 盡
These yellow leaves can be easily swept clean,
tse-tieⁿ siang-sṳ bo tsing-khi
這場 相思 無 盡 期
unlike these thoughts in my head.
〔白 • peh • speaking〕
iah-tshung!
益春！
Iah-cung!
hieng-mue, ua tsing-hu iⁿ-u su-zik, hueng bue ṳ lṳ tham-su
賢妹，我 進府 已有 數日，還未 與 你 談敘
Sister, I have been in this household for several days, but have not yet been able to speak with you.
益春 • iah-tshung
hai! ueng-gua ke-kui ngiem-king, mo saⁿ-hiaⁿ mai kuai
唉！員外 家規 嚴緊，望 三兄 勿 怪！
The master’s house rules are strict, please don’t take it personally.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
a-nie king-lai kha ho?
阿娘 今來 豈 好？
How has your mistress been?
printed: 小姐 可好 (siou-tsia kho-ho)
益春 • iah-tshung
tsṳ lṳ zip-hu iⁿ-lai, a-nie sieⁿ-si tsong-siou bue-ming
自 你 入府 以來，阿娘 時常 終宵 未眠
Since you have entered the house, Miss has often been unable to sleep the whole night long.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
khiak-si ui-ho?
卻是 爲何？
Why is that so?
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie tha sim-sṳ teng-teng o
阿娘 她 心事 重重 啊
My mistress is weighed down with matters of the heart.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
u ho sim-sṳ, mo hieng-mue meng-kau
有 何 心事，望 賢妹 明告
What matters of the heart? Please explain, Sister.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie tha…
阿娘 她……
Miss, well she…
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tha tsa-ieⁿ?
她 怎樣？
She what?
益春 • iah-tshung
ia pa!
也罷！
So be it!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
a-nie tha, a-nie tha ziak-nṳng lang-ui pe-bo meng
阿娘 她，阿娘 她 弱女 難 違 父母 命
Miss, she, Miss is but a lady who cannot disobey her parents’ orders.
printed has typo 安 for 女
hṳ phue lim-ke, tsa iⁿ tsi-liou phiaⁿ-ngi
許 配 林家，早 已 接了 聘議
She has been promised to the Lim family, and has already received a proposal.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tsa-sueh! tha iⁿ-siu liou lim-ke tsṳ-phiaⁿ?
怎說！她 已 受 了 林家 之 聘？
What did you say? She is already betrothed to the Lims?
益春 • iah-tshung
tsiaⁿ si!
正是！
That is so!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
sik tsi-mo, siang-ieh peh-ni tung iong hauⁿ
實 指望，相約 百年 敦 永好
One would hope, that a promise made is a promise kept.
u sui tsai, mia-hue-u-tsu i lai tshi
有 誰知，名花有主 已 來 遲
Who could tell, that she is already spoken for, and I am too late?
名花有主 - idiom
tha ki tsi-liou lim-ke phiaⁿ
她 既 接了 林家 聘
Since she is already betrothed to the Lims,
ing-ho lau-thau iu kak li-ki?
因何 褸頭 又 捔 荔枝？
why did she throw the lychee branch from the tower?
printed: 擲 (taⁿ) for 捔, semantic replacement
益春 • iah-tshung
saⁿ-hiaⁿ! lṳ u-so puk-tsai!
三兄！你 有所 不知！
Brother! You don’t know the full story!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
na lim-tua, ui-nang to tshou-phi
那 林大，爲人 多 粗鄙
That Lim-dua, is a crude and uncouth person.
si-khiang-leng-ziak pa nang khi
恃強凌弱 把 人 欺
He uses his strength to bully the weak.
恃強凌弱 - idiom
tse-teng nang, a-nie kha kheng-lai phik-phue
這等 人，阿娘 豈 肯來 匹配
How could Miss consent to be matched with such a person?
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
豈 is indeed in the printed
ing-tshṳ siang, lau-thau ka li-kia siang-sṳ
因此 上，褸頭 捔 荔寄 相思
Therefore, she let loose the lychee branch from the tower.
printed: 投 (tau) for 捔; 捔 is probably a phonetic character
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ki-zieng zu-tshṳ, tsiu hueng-hue-ping a-nie
既然 如此，就 煩回稟 阿娘
If that is the case, then please report back to your mistress,
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
tsa tiaⁿ tsu-i, ming siang liang-tsheh,
早 定 主意，面商 良策
to come up with a plan, that we discuss a strategy
huang-mieng u-liou tai-sṳ
方免 誤了 大事
to avoid this great tragedy.
益春 • iah-tshung
lṳ tshiaⁿ mok-kip, siang-kiⁿ tsṳ-sṳ, thai ua siek-huap tsiu-si
你 且 莫急，相見 之事，待 我 設法 就是
Do not be hasty. Let me find a way to arrange a meeting.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
u-lau hieng-mue liou!
有勞 賢妹 了！
Much obliged, Sister!
員外 • ueng-gua
eⁿ? hng! tsam-tsu!
嗯？哼！站住！
Huh? Hmph! Stand still!
ning no-nang kui-kui tsui-tsui, to-tshṳ ho-sṳ?
恁 二人 鬼鬼祟祟，在此 何事？
You two stalking about, up to good?
printed: 你們 (lṳ-mung) for 恁
hng! kha puk-tsai lai-gua u-hung, lam-nṳng u-piek
哼！豈 不知 內外 有分，男女 有別
Hmph! Don’t you know that the inner and outer courts are separate? Men and women have their own places.
ning teng to-tshṳ kau-thau tsih-zṳ, seng ho thi-thong?
恁 等 在此 交頭 接耳，成 何 體統？
What schemes are you hatching, whispering into each others’ ears?
交頭 接耳 - idiom
耳 źṳ - literary pronunciation
khuai tsieⁿ-lau khṳ!
快 上褸 去！
You go upstairs!
益春 • iah-tshung
si!
是！
Yes sir!
員外 • ueng-gua
tshṳ nai lai-iⁿ, kha iong lṳ sui-pieng tsau-tong
此 乃 內院，豈 容 你 隨便 走動
This is the inner court, not a place for you to saunter about.
iⁿ-au puk-hong u-hueng, puk-hṳ tsing-lai!
以後 不奉 呼喚，不許 進來！
In the future, unless you are summoned here, you may not enter!
ziak tsai ui-huam, ta-tueng lṳ ti kau-thui, hia khṳ!
若 再 違犯，打斷 你的 狗腿，下去！
If you break this rule again, your ass will be whipped. Go downstairs!
第十四場 • toiⁿ-tsap-si-tieⁿ • Scene 14
幕外合唱 • mo-ghua-hak-ciang • singing offstage
liang-siⁿ mung, hung lai-gua
兩扇 門，分 內外
Between the inner and outer worlds stands but a doorway.
tsek-tau tshieⁿ, keh tong-si
一道 牆，隔 東西
A wall between East and West.
liang sim khong siang-ing
兩心 空 相印
Two hearts strain for each other in vain,
siang-kiⁿ tsong lang-khi
相見 總 難期
a meeting proves difficult to arrange,
kuang-im zim-ziem
光陰 荏苒
while time slips away.
tsek-ni iong-koi tshung iu tsi!
一年 容易 春 又至
A year has passed, Spring is here again.
tsek-kai si siu-thak (?)-mieng peⁿ iem-iem
一個 是 綉榻 纏綿 病 懨懨
One wastes away in the embroidery room, weak with sickness.
tsek-kai si kou-teng siang-tui leng-leng tshi-tshi
一個 是 孤燈 相對 冷冷 淒淒
The other faces a lone lamp in the cold.
kṳ-thau mo meng-gueh, sim-sṳ peng sui kia
舉頭 望 明月，心事 憑 誰 寄
Raising their heads to gaze upon the moon. Who can pass on their thoughts?
tsi-loh-tik tshiang-u to-thang! tshiang-u to-thang
只落得 長吁 短嘆
These fall away in long and short sighs.
liang ti khou siang-sṳ, liang ti khou siang-sṳ
兩地 苦 相思，兩地 苦 相思
Two places filled with anguished pining.
第十五場 • toiⁿ-tsap-ngou-tieⁿ • Scene 15
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ueng-siaⁿ tsiem-lau, tshung-sek tsiang lang
鴛聲 漸老，春色 將 闌
The song of the mandarin ducks grows old, the colors of spring will soon fade.
peⁿ-ṳ tshui-siu khiak khing-hang
病余 翠袖 怯 輕寒
In illness these green sleeves fear the slightest cold.
lui-ngang mung-hue hue puk-gṳ, sui koi huang-sim tsek-tshung sṳng
淚眼 問花 花 不語，誰 解 芳心 一寸 酸
In tears I ask the flowers, but flowers don’t speak. Who understands even an iota of my anguish?
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie lṳ thoiⁿ na-tsang sui-liu, tang-i sai-sia, si ho ueng-ku?
阿娘 你 看 那叢 垂柳，東倚 西斜，是 何 緣故？
Miss, look at that willow there. It leans to the East and bends to the West, what is the reason for this?
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsi ui liu-ki bo-lak, ing-tshṳ sui-huang iou-hi
只爲 柳枝 無力，因此 隨風 搖曳
It is because the willow’s branches are weak, and so bend along whichever way the wind blows.
益春 • iah-tshung
ai! liu-ki bo-lak, ing-tshṳ sui-huang iou-hi
噯！柳枝 無力，因此 隨風 搖曳
Ah! The willow’s branches are weak, and so bend with the wind.
zing zu-ziak bo tsu-i, ia tsiu tsiang(?) sui-nang pai-zim
人 如若 無 主意，也就 將 誰人 擺任？
If people are just as directionless, who will then decide their fates?
printed: 人 若是 無 主意，就 只好任人擺佈
a-nie! lṳ thoiⁿ na sang-pue hu-tiep
阿娘！你 看 那雙 飛蝴蝶
Miss! Look at that pair of butterflies,
tsṳ-iu tsṳ-tsai, (?)-tieh ho no!
自由自在，X 着 好 𰇇！
so free and easy, is it not good to behold?
printed: 多末好啊 (to-mueh ho a)
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung, lṳ tsa-leng tsiang nang ṳ hu-tiep siang-pi?
益春，你 怎能 將 人 與 蝴蝶 相比？
Iah-cung, how can you compare people to butterflies?
printed: 把 (pa) for 將
pa tha kuaⁿ-tiou!
把它 趕掉！
Chase them out!
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, thoiⁿ tse hu-tiep seng-sang seng-tui
阿娘，看 這 蝴蝶 成雙 成對
Miss, see how these butterflies have paired up.
tsa tsiang tha kuaⁿ-tiou ne?
怎 將 它 趕掉 呢？
How can I chase them out?
printed: 怎忍把它趕掉呢 (tsa-zim pa-tha kuaⁿ-tiou ne)
五娘 • ngou-nie
kie lṳ kuaⁿ, lṳ tsiu kuaⁿ, hueng to ngang-tang-sueh-sai
叫你 趕，你 就 趕，還在 言東語西
I’ve told you to do it, so just do it. Don’t stand there muttering.
益春 • iah-tshung
ho, a-nie kie ua kuaⁿ, ua tsiu-lai kuaⁿ!
好，阿娘 叫 我 趕，我 就來 趕！
Fine, if Miss commands me to, then I shall!
hu-tiep ia! lṳ khṳ piek-tshu, mai lai tsi-ko piang a-nie seⁿ-khi
蝴蝶 呀！你 去 別處，勿 來 只塊 變 阿娘 生氣
Butterflies, begone! Go somewhere else, and don’t come here to annoy my mistress.
printed: 休來惹我家小姐生氣 (hiuⁿ-lai zia ua-ke siou-tsia seⁿ-khi)
khṳ! khṳ! khṳ-a!
去！去！去呀！
Shoo! Shoo! Begone!
thoiⁿ-kau (??) hu-tiep tshuang-kai m-(?) nang-i
看到 XX 蝴蝶 全個 唔曉人意
You butterflies have no understanding of human feelings.
printed: 全然 (tshueng-zieng) for 全個
ziak-(?) (?) ua iah-tshung seⁿ-khi, thai ua lai-phah!
惹 XX 我 益春 生氣，待 我 來打！
If you make me Iah-cung angry, I’ll give you a beating!
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung!
益春！
Iah-cung!
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie iou si tshui ka sim (??)
阿娘 又是 嘴 合 心 XX
Miss, your words once again do not align with your thoughts.
printed: 小姐原是口心不一 (siou-tsia ngueng-si khau-sim-puk-ik)
tshui taⁿ ziou, sim iu taⁿ ai lau!
嘴 呾 擾，心 又 呾 愛留！
You say “begone” but think “stay”!
printed: 口說趕，心卻要留 (khau sueh kuaⁿ, sim khiak-aiⁿ lau)
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung!
益春！
Iah-cung!
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie hueng-si tse-puaⁿ na-puk-tiaⁿ tsu-i, lṳ tsiu khui-liou
阿娘 還是 這般 拿不定 主意，你 就 虧 了！
Miss is still so indecisive, it is to your loss!
五娘 • ngou-nie
khui si-mih?
虧 是乜？
What loss is this?
printed: 什麼 (sim-moh) for 是乜
益春 • iah-tshung
khui na saⁿ…
虧 那 三……
To lose that San….
五娘 • ngou-nie
lṳ iu-si lai to suaⁿ-taⁿ
你 又是 來在 散呾
Again with your loose talk.
printed: 你又亂說 (lṳ iu lueng-sueh)
益春 • iah-tshung
ue mo suaⁿ-taⁿ, tṳng-tsho kai li-ki tsiu puk-kai lueng-ka
話 孬 散呾，當初 個 荔枝 就 不該 亂捔
If one should not speak loosely, then one should not throw lychee branches from balconies either.
printed: 不可 (puk-kho) for 孬, 投 (tau) for 捔
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung!
益春！
Iah-cung!
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie!
阿娘！
Miss!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia)
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
ai-ia iah-tshung, lṳ ngang-tang u-i ua kai hiou
哎呀 益春，你 言中 有意 我 皆 曉
O Iah-cung, I understand everything that you are trying to tell me.
ua sim-tang thong-khou u sui-ti?
我 心中 痛苦 有 誰知？
But who can know my inner pain?
知 ti - literary pronunciation
tang-saⁿ ui ua siu tsing-khou, ua ia ui-tha hui-tsing sim-ki
陳三 爲 我 受 盡苦，我 也 爲他 費盡 心機
Dang-san is suffering on my account, and for him I am pining away.
tsong lang-tik ho tsu-i
終 難得 好 主意
And still we have no way out.
益春 • iah-tshung
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
sṳ lṳ tse-puaⁿ tshi-gi, tsi-phaⁿ tse siang-sṳ bo-liou si
似 你 這般 遲疑，只怕 這 相思 無了 時
With hesitation like yours, one fears that there will be no end to the pining.
tsong-kek si hai-liou tang-saⁿ, ia tam-gou a-nie lṳ tsṳ-ki
終局 是 害了 陳三，也 耽誤 阿娘 你 自己
The fact is that Dang-san is hurt, and you Miss are wasting your own time.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
khuang kim-tsiou, peⁿ ho-tṳng
況 今朝，病 好轉
If today your health should return,
na lim-tua, tsai tsui-tshing
那 林大，再 摧親
that Lim-dua will come again to press for your hand.
na-si u ho ngang-gṳ tsai thui-si?
那時 有 何 言語 再 推辭？
At that point, what other excuses could you possibly give?
khṳng a-nie hueng su kip tsa-tiaⁿ tsu-i
勤 阿娘，還須 及 早 定 主意
Please, Miss, come quickly to a decision,
mok-sieⁿ na liu-ki bo-lak
莫像 那 柳枝 無力
don’t be weak like the willow branches,
sui-hong iou-hi
隨風 搖曳
waving in the breeze.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
khou-mia phek-kṳ, kha bo tse-puaⁿ sim-i
苦命 碧琚，豈 無 這般 心意
Woe is Pek-gv, who does not lack such intention,
tsi ing-ui, tia-nie huang-huam zik-zik king
只 因爲，爹娘 防範 日日 緊
but who is caught between Father and Mother have been daily tightening their forbiddances,
khuang iu na lim-tua si-tai zu-thiⁿ
況 又 那 林大 勢大如天
and that Lim-dua who is so rich and powerful.
ua tsong tsek si-puk-tsok-sieh
我 縱 一 死不足惜
I am not afraid to die,
死不足惜 - idiom
phaⁿ tsi-phaⁿ, lui kip tang-saⁿ siu tsue-lui
怕 只怕，累 及 陳三 受 罪淚
but only fear that my death would burden Dang-san with guilt.
益春 • iah-tshung
nie lṳ ki bo ho tsu-i, tsiu kai ṳ saⁿ-hiaⁿ soi siang-ngi
娘 你 既 無 主意，就 該 與 三兄 細 商議
Miss, since you have no plan, then you should discuss this with Brother San.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
ho-puk tsiu tsiang ki-ku ti-sim-ue
何不 就 將 幾句 知心話
Why don’t you gather some words of encouragement,
printed: 把 (pa) for 將
知 ti - literary pronunciation
kau-thai iah-tshung khṳ tui saⁿ-hiaⁿ thi
交待 益春 去 對 三兄 提
and entrust them to Iah-cung to deliver to Brother San?
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung! na tang-saⁿ hing to ho-tshu?
益春！那 陳三 現 在 何處？
Iah-cung! Where is Dang-san now?
益春 • iah-tshung
tsiu-to au-iⁿ!
就在 後院！
He is in the rear courtyard!
五娘 • ngou-nie
ua tia tshuk-mung hue-kheh, kha tseng tṳng-lai?
我 爹 出門 會客，豈 曾 轉來？
My father is out paying visits; has he returned yet?
printed: 可曾回來 (kho tseng hue-lai)
益春 • iah-tshung
siang-bue tṳng-lai!
尚未 轉來！
No, not yet!
printed: 回來 (hue-lai) for 轉來
五娘 • ngou-nie
zu-tshṳ, lṳ tsiu tshiou-tshiou kie tha tang-saⁿ tsie lai siang-liang
如此，你 就 悄悄 叫 他 陳三 照 來 商量
In that case, go quietly and ask Dang-san here to talk.
printed: 前 (tsoiⁿ) for 照
益春 • iah-tshung
tsie tsiu keng-ho liou, thai siou-pi tsoiⁿ khṳ!
照 就 更好 了，待 小婢 前去！
That is even better. Your servant will go forth!
printed: 那 (na) for 照
五娘 • ngou-nie
iah-tshung!
益春！
Iah-cung!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
iah-tshung! tse-tsuang sṳ aiⁿ sie-sim to-i,
益春！這樁 事 愛 小心 在意
Iah-cung! This matter must be dealt with carefully,
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
su-huang keh-tshieⁿ nang u-hiⁿ, siep huang-siaⁿ
須防 隔牆人 有耳，洩 風聲
for you know that the walls have ears, and should any word travel
tia-nie ziak bung-tsai, hṳ si-tsoih,
爹娘 若 聞知，許 時節
so far as my parents, at that time,
printed: 那 (na) for 許
tsek-taⁿ huang-po pheng-ti khi
一旦 風波 平地 起
a massive storm will overturn the earth.
第十六場 • toiⁿ-tsap-lak-tieⁿ • Scene 16
音樂 • im-ghauh • Musical interlude
第十七場 • toiⁿ-tsap-tshik-tieⁿ • Scene 17
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
sie-seng tsing-hu iⁿ-lai, kim-zik tshai tik-kiⁿ a-nie li!
小生 進府 以來，今日 才 得 見 阿娘 哩！
Since this humble person has entered this household, it is only today that I meet you, Miss!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
lṳ si ho-zing?
你是 何人？
Who are you?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
a-nie tsa-moh puk zing-sek sie-seng liou?
阿娘 怎麼 不 認識 小生 了？
Miss, how do you not recognize this humble person?
五娘 • ngou-nie
lṳ kha puk-tsai tsieⁿ-e u-hung, lai-gua u-piek
你 豈 不知 上下 有分，內外 有別
Don’t you know, upstairs and downstairs have their place, the inner and outer courts are to remain separate.
tshṳ-tshu puk-si lṳ eng-lai tsṳ ti, lṳ khuai seng tshuk-khṳ!
此處 不是 你 應來 之 地，你 快 成 出去！
This is not a place where you should be, you had better leave now!
第十八場 • toiⁿ-tsap-poih-tieⁿ • Scene 18
益春 • iah-tshung
saⁿ-hiaⁿ, lṳ…
三兄，你……
Brother San, you…
a-nie, lṳ…
阿娘，你……
Miss, you…
printed: 小姐
第十九場 • toiⁿ-tsap-kau-tieⁿ • Scene 19
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsho-zing noi-ki u tsheng-i, uang-hui ua peh-kheng tsek-phieng tshi
錯認 荔枝 有 情意，枉費 我 伯卿 一片 癡
I misunderstood the meaning of the lychee branch, and have sent myself on a fool’s errand.
荔 noi - vernacular pronunciation
thoiⁿ-lai ing-ueng lang seng-tsiu, puk-zu sok-tsuang kui ku-li
看來 姻緣 難 成就，不如 束裝 歸 故里
It looks as if this was not meant to be, and I should pack up to head home.
益春 • iah-tshung
saⁿ-hiaⁿ mang-tsau!
三兄 慢走！
Brother San, wait!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
thoiⁿ lṳ sim-tsiang nge sṳ thih
看 你 心腸 硬 似 鐵
Your heart seems stiff as iron,
ing-ho aiⁿ tsau m-kau-si?
因何 愛 走 唔告辭？
why do you leave without saying goodbye?
printed: 因何要走不告辭 (ing-ho iou-tsau puk-kau-si)
kiu-keng aiⁿ uang ho-tshu khṳ? ia kai meng-peh kau ua ti
究竟 愛 往 何處 去？也 該 明白 告 我 知
Where are you going? You should at least tell me.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ua aiⁿ hue-tṳng ke-hieⁿ!
我 愛 回轉 家鄉！
I’m going back to my home village.
printed: 返 (hueng) for 轉
益春 • iah-tshung
ui-liou ho-sṳ?
爲了 何事？
For what reason?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
puk-pik mung-liou
不必 問 了
You don’t have to ask any further.
益春 • iah-tshung
lṳ puk-pa tsheng-iu sueh-meng, ua si puk-pang lṳ tsau
你 不把 情由 說明，我 是 不放 你 走
If you don’t explain what you mean, I’m not letting you go.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
hieng-mue, tshiaⁿ thiaⁿ!
賢妹，請 聽！
Sister, please listen!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
mong tsi-tiem, sim am-hi,
蒙 指點，心 暗喜
Having received a sign, my heart was silently gladdened,
khṳ hue-hng, su siang-si,
去 花園，訴 相思
to go to the garden, and reveal my feelings,
sik tsi-mo, thieng-thai lou kho-thong
實 指望，天臺 路 可通
a true signal, that Heaven had opened a way.
iu sui tsai, sieng-huam ieng-keh phueng hung-ni
又 誰知，仙凡 遠隔 判 雲泥
But who knew, that saints and mortals are to remain separate, like clouds and mud,
判若雲泥 - idiom, “different as clouds in heaven and mud on earth”
tshim-tshim tsek i, ṳ mue siang-si
深深 一 揖，與 妹 相辭
I bid you deeply, Sister, farewell.
益春 • iah-tshung
saⁿ-hiaⁿ!
三兄！
Brother San!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
a-nie tha, tueng-ziang bo tshṳ i
阿娘 她，斷然 無 此意
My mistress, she did not mean that.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
lṳ mok aiⁿ tsho-kuai tha, lṳ mok aiⁿ zu-tshṳ to gi
你 莫 愛 錯怪 她，你 莫 愛 如此 多 疑
Don’t wrongly accuse her, don’t misunderstand.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
陳三 • tang-saⁿ:
ho-iⁿ kiⁿ-tik?
何以 見 得？
How is that so?
益春 • iah-tshung
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
lṳ kho-tsai, huang-tshai u nang to hng-li
你 可知，方才 有人 在 園裏
You must know that there were other people in the garden.
a-nie tha, tsa-leng-kou mau-mau-sik-sik pa ue thi?
阿娘 她，怎能夠 冒冒 失失 把 話 提？
How could my mistress speak freely then?
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
huang-tshai hng-li u nang a?
方才 園裏 有人 啊？
There was someone in the garden?
益春 • iah-tshung
puk-sing? lṳ khṳ thoiⁿ-lai!
不信？你 去 看來！
You don’t believe me? Look for yourself!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ngueng-lai zu-tshṳ!
原來如此！
So it is!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsi kuai ua tsek-si seⁿ-tsheng, hiem pa ho-sim tang ak-i
只怪 我 一時 性情，險 把 好心 當 惡意
I can only blame myself for having taken good intentions for evil.
益春 • iah-tshung
thoiⁿ lṳ tsing si tshong-meng tsek-si, mong-tong tsek-si
看你 真是 聰明 一世，懵懂 一時
It looks like you were indeed a wise man for life, but a fool for a second.
thak-tsṳ-nang tsa oi tse-ieⁿ sing-seⁿ a?
讀書人 怎 會 這樣 神性 啊？
How could a scholar be so rash?
printed: 急性 (kip-seⁿ) for 神性
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
hueng-mo hieng-mue to-to ngueng-liang!
還望 賢妹 多多 原諒！
I pray that Sister will forgive me!
益春 • iah-tshung
saⁿ-hiaⁿ puk-pik to-li, huaⁿ sieⁿ miou-tsheh ui-si
三兄 不必 多禮，還 想 妙策 爲是！
Brother San, don’t stand on ceremony. Spend your energy on thinking of a plan!
printed: 如今不必多禮，還是早想妙策爲是
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tsi-aiⁿ a-nie lai hung-hu, ua peh-kheng hu-thng tau-hue puk thui-si
只 愛 阿娘 來 吩咐，我 伯卿 赴湯 蹈火 不 推辭
If your mistress were to command it, I would go through hell and high water.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛, 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
益春 • iah-tshung
ia-pa! thai ua leng-sieⁿ piek-huap, ziang lṳ ṳ a-nie tṳng-ming siang-ngi
也罷！待我 另想 別法，讓 你 與 阿娘 當面 商議
So be it! Let me think of another way for you and my mistress to confer,
tsai tsak tiaⁿ-toh
再 作 定奪
and to make a decision.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tshueng-tsiang hieng-mue liou
全杖 賢妹 了
It is in your hands, Sister.
益春 • iah-tshung
iu-lai liou, na khṳ pa!
又來了，拿去 吧！
Here you start again. Go!
第二十場 • toiⁿ-zi-tsap-tieⁿ • Scene 20
音樂過門 • im-ghauh gue-mung • musical interlude
第六章 • Doin-lak-ziang • Act 6
第二十一場 • toiⁿ-zi-tsap-ik-tieⁿ • Scene 21
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tshiaⁿ a-nie soi-ming!
請 阿娘 洗面
Miss, please come wash your face!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
lṳ! lṳ puk-pieng to-tshṳ, khuai hia-khṳ!
你！你 不便 在此，快 下去！
You! You can’t be here! Quick, go downstairs!
mang! phung-tsui si sui kie-lṳ tueng-lai?
慢！盆水 是 誰 叫你 端來？
Wait, who told you to bring this basin?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
si iah-tshung kie ua tueng-lai ti
是 益春 叫我 端來 的
Iah-cung told me to bring it here.
五娘 • ngou-nie
tha to na-li?
她 在 那裏？
Where is she?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tsiu to lau-e
就 在 樓下
She’s just downstairs.
五娘 • ngou-nie
phung-tsui ki-zieng tueng-lai, lṳ tsiu pang-hia
盆水 既然 端來，你 就 放下
Since you’ve brought this basin here, just set it down.
ui-ho puk pang-to kau-tshu, khiak pang-to ti-e?
爲何 不 放在 高處，卻 放在 地下？
Why do you put it on the floor, and not somewhere higher?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
kau tsek puk-kho phang, mo a-nie hu tsiu
高 則 不可 攀，望 阿娘 俯就
One in a high place is unreachable. I pray that Miss will deign to accept.
高不可攀 - idiom, “high and mighty” (of a person), meaning someone who is haughty and unapproachable.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
to-sia a-nie sui-aiⁿ
多謝 阿娘 垂愛
Many thanks, Miss, for your care.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
sie-seng kam-mau huang-hiem, zip-hu ui-iong
小生 甘冒 風險，入府 爲傭
This humble person took a risk, to enter this house disguised as a servant.
tshṳ-tsheng tshṳ-i, a-nie sieⁿ pik-tsing tsai
此情 此意，阿娘 想 必盡 知
Miss may not be aware of his thoughts and feelings.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
tsi-si a-nie u ho tsu-i, hueng mo meng-peh siang-kau
只是 阿娘 有何 主意，還 望 明白 相告
But if Miss has an intention, I pray that you state it clearly,
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
ia ho tsa tsak tsung-pi
也 好 早 作 準備
that we may make preparations.
五娘 • ngou-nie
saⁿ-hiaⁿ tshiaⁿ tso
三兄 請 坐
Brother San, please sit.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
sie-seng tsṳ zip-hu iⁿ-lai, hueng bue ṳ a-nie tsek-thong khueng-khek
小生 自 入府 以來，還 未 與 阿娘 一通 款曲
Since this humble person entered this house, he has not yet had an opportunity to speak his true feelings with Miss.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
saⁿ-hiaⁿ, lṳ ke tsu to tsuaⁿ-tsiu siaⁿ-lai hueng-si siaⁿ-gua?
三兄，你 家 住在 泉州 城內 還是 城外？
Brother San, do you live in the city of Zuan-ziu, or outside the city walls?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
to tsuaⁿ-tsiu siaⁿ-gua pheng-suaⁿ-nia au
在 泉州 城外 朋山嶺 後
Outside, behind the Peng mountain ridge
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsi-tshing u kui nang?
至親 有 幾人？
How many are there in your family?
printed: 家中 (ke-tang) for 至親
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
u tshik nang
有 七人
There are seven.
五娘 • ngou-nie
si na tshik-ui?
是那 七位？
Which seven are these?
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ke-pe!
家父！
My father!
五娘 • ngou-nie
leng-tsung!
令尊！
Your honorable sire!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ke-bo!
家母！
My mother!
五娘 • ngou-nie
leng-tṳng
令堂！
Your honorable mater!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ke-hiaⁿ!
家兄！
My older brother!
五娘 • ngou-nie
leng-hiaⁿ!
令兄！
Your honorable brother!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
ke-so!
家嫂！
My brother’s wife!
五娘 • ngou-nie
leng-so!
令嫂！
Your honorable sister-in-law!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
a-kou!
阿姑！
A-Gou!
五娘 • ngou-nie
a-kou si mih nang?
阿姑 是 乜人？
Who is A-Gou?
printed: 何人 (ho-nang) for 乜人
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tsiu-si sia-mue
就是 舍妹
That is my younger sister
舍 - prefix to refer to one’s junior relations to a third party
五娘 • ngou-nie
hueng-u ti-nang?
還有 底人？
Who else is there?
printed: 還有呢 (hueng-u ne)
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
hueng-u ua!
還有 我！
Well, myself!
五娘 • ngou-nie
moh tsiaⁿ lak-nang, na-u tshik nang?
麼 正 六人，哪有 七人？
Why is that only six people, but you said seven?
printed: 只有 (tsi-u) for 麼正
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
lieng-tang nie-kiaⁿ lṳ, tsiu-si tshik-nang
連同 娘囝 你，就是 七人
Counting you, young miss, that makes seven.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 娘囝
五娘 • ngou-nie
tso-ni lieng ua ia sṳng to lai?
做呢 連 我 也 算 在內？
Why do you count me too?
printed: 怎麼 (tsa-moh) for 做呢
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
tshong tau noi-ki na-zik, ua tsiu pa lṳ tou sṳng to-lai liou
從 投 荔枝 那日，我 就 把 你 算 在內 了
Since the day you dropped that lychee branch, I’ve counted you too.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, a-nie! ueng-gua ang-zing lai-liou!
阿娘，阿娘！員外 安人 來了！
Miss! Miss! Master and Mistress are here!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia-nie bueng-hok!
爹娘 萬福！
Father, Mother, long life!
安人 • ang-zing
ua-zi miang li!
我囝 免 禮
Don’t stand on ceremony, my child.
printed: 兒 (zi) for 囝
員外 • ueng-gua
zi a, lṳ ti peⁿ kho-ho liou moh?
兒 呀，你 的 病 可好了 麼？
Child, is your illness better?
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia-tia, nṳng-zi ti peⁿ phaⁿ si boi ho liou!
爹爹，女兒 的 病 怕 是 𠁞好 了！
Father, your daughter fears that her health will not improve.
員外 • ueng-gua
lṳ zu-kim puk-si ho-tueng-tueng ti
你 如今 不是 好端端 的
You were just fine before.
ui pe tui-lṳ kang, lim-ke iu-lai tshui-tshu liou
爲 父 對你 講，林家 又來 催娶 了
Let Father tell you, the Lim family are again pressing about the betrothal.
五娘 • ngou-nie
lim-ke iu-lai tshui-tshu?
林家 又來 催娶？
The Lims are again pushing for the wedding?
安人 • ang-zing
si a! lim-ke kim-zik kie li-tse tsoiⁿ-lai
是啊！林家 今日 叫 李姐 前來
Yes! The Lim household sent Li-ze here today,
tsek-tiaⁿ aiⁿ tho kai zik-tsi
一定 愛 討 該 日子
they must have an auspicious date.
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
五娘 • ngou-nie
bo-tshing! lṳ thoiⁿ nṳng-zi peⁿ seng tse-ieⁿ!
母親！你 看 女兒 病 成 這樣！
Mother, see how your daughter is wasting from illness,
lṳ ia m kho-lieng?
你 也 唔 可憐？
how could you not pity her?
printed: 不 (puk) for 唔
安人 • ang-zing
ui-bo na-u puk-tong nṳng-zi tsṳ-li, tsi si…
爲母 哪有 不疼 女兒 之理，只是……
What mother’s heart would not feel for her daughter? But…
員外 • ueng-gua
lim-ke sueh-tau, u peⁿ ia aiⁿ ngeng-tshu
林家 說道，有病 亦 愛 迎娶
The Lim house said that they would still proceed with the marriage even if you are ill.
printed: 迎親 (ngieng-tshing) for 迎娶
kue-mng tsṳ-au, tsai kiaⁿ ieng-ui tsieng-ti
過門 之後，再 行 延醫 診治
After you enter their house, they will arrange for a physician to always be in attendance.
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsng-sueh? lim-ke keng-zieng puk-iong peⁿ-zu
X說？林家 竟然 不容 病癒
What does that mean? The Lim household does not care about illness,
pieng aiⁿ pek-tshu moh?
便 愛 迫娶 麼？
and want to force a marriage?
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
員外 • ueng-gua
ziak tsai thua-ieng, tha-ke pieng aiⁿ tong-khi kuaⁿ-si
若 再 拖延，他家 便 愛 動起 官司
If this keeps being delayed, they will bring this to the magistrate.
安人 • ang-zing
tse tsing sai tia-nie ui-lang liou
這 真使 爹娘 爲難 了
That would put your parents in a difficult position.
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia-nie a!
爹娘 呀！
Father, Mother!
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
thiaⁿ-ngang lai, hng iu ai
聽言 來，恨 又 哀
Hearing what you say, makes me upset and mournful.
tse-puaⁿ khi-nang-li ho tsai
這般 欺人理 何在
What is the logic behind this bullying?
nang peⁿ hueng-aiⁿ lai ngieng-tshu
人 病 還愛 來 迎娶
To force a marriage in the face of illness,
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
sik (?) pek ua sang tsuaⁿ-thai
實 X 迫 我 喪 泉臺
would be forcing me to the grave.
mo tia-nie, lai tsoh-tsu
望 爹娘，來 作主
Please Father, Mother, make the right decision,
mieng nṳng-zi, tsau hua-tsai
免 女兒，遭 禍災
and spare your daughter from a calamnitous fate!
益春 • iah-tshung
ueng-gua, ang-zing,
員外，安人
Master, Mistress,
lṳ thoiⁿ a-nie peⁿ zu-tshṳ bo-zu,
你看 阿娘 病 如此 無癒
you see how Miss’s illness has resisted a cure.
printed: 小姐病體未癒 (siou-tsia peⁿ-thi bue-zu)
hung-khi hueng-si tshong-mang ui-si
婚期 還是 從緩 爲是
It is better not to rush into the marriage.
員外 • ueng-gua
hng!
嗯！
Hmph!
安人 • ang-zing
nṳng-zi, m-si tia-nie sim-hng
女兒，唔是 爹娘 心狠
Daughter, it is not that your parents are heartless,
printed: 不 (puk) for 唔
tsi-ing lim-ke kuaⁿ-kau si-tai,
只因 林家 官高 勢大
but the Lim household is powerful and has a high official position.
ziak-si tik-tsue tha-ke, lṳ tia khiong u puk-pieng o!
若是 得罪 他家，你 爹 恐 有 不便 啊
If we offend them, life could very difficult for your father.
printed: 如果 (zu-kue) for 若是
五娘 • ngou-nie
zu-tshṳ tia-nie tsiu-si aiⁿ pa nṳng-zi ti-i si-ti, ti-i si-ti liou
如此 爹娘 就是 把 女兒 置於死地，置於死地 了
If that is the case, then Father, Mother, you are sending your daugther to the grave.
員外 • ueng-gua
haⁿ?! pe-bo ui-lṳ tsong-sing tieh-sieⁿ
～！父母 爲你 終身 着想
What? Your parents have been doing everything with your future in mind.
tsa-moh hueng-kuai khi pe-bo lai-liou?
怎麼 反怪 起 父母 來了？
How can you come and accuse us like this?
安人 • ang-zing
si-a! nṳng-zi, lṳ tsiu sung-tshong tia-tia ti ue pa
是啊！女兒，你 就 順從 爹爹 的話 吧
That’s right! Daughter, you had better listen to your father.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
na lim-tua puk-kou nang seⁿ-si, sam-huang-si-tshṳ pek hung-khi
那 林大 不顧 人 生死，三番四次 迫 婚期
That Lim-dua doesn’t care if people live or die, but presses without cease for a marriage.
tsi khiong tha-ke ngieng-tshu zik, tsiaⁿ si nṳng-zi pik-mia-si
只 恐 他家 迎娶 日，正是 女兒 畢命時
Only that on the day that their house prepares to receive a bride, what they get is instead the corpse of your daughter.
printed: 只怕 (tsi-phaⁿ) for 只恐
安人 • ang-zing
ueng-gua, lṳ thoiⁿ zu-ho si ho?
員外，你 看 如何 是好？
Master, what do you think we should do?
員外 • ueng-gua
hng! lṳ ho tsai-tau? lṳ iⁿ siu-liou lim-ke tsṳ phiaⁿ
哼！你 何 知道，你 已 受了 林家 之聘
Hmph! You know that you have already accepted the Lims’ proposal.
seⁿ-ui lim-ke tsṳ nang si-ui lim-ke tsṳ kui
生爲 林家 之人 死爲 林家 之鬼
You will live as a member of their household, and as a ghost you will haunt their house.
lṳ si-liou ua ia pa-lṳ ke kau lim-ke khṳ!
你 死了 我 也 把你 嫁 到 林家 去！
Even if you are dead I shall marry you off to them!
五娘 • ngou-nie
bo-tshing! puk-zu ziang nṳng-zi hing-tsai si-liou, tau ia kang-tseng
母親！不如 讓 女兒 現在 死了，倒 也 乾淨
Mother! Just let your daughter die now, and spare us all this!
安人 • ang-zing
ho nṳng-zi, ho nṳng-zi, tshoiⁿ-bueng puk-iou tse-ieⁿ
好 女兒，好 女兒，千萬 不要 這樣
Daughter, daughter be good, don’t be like this.
員外 • ueng-gua
hng! ngek-nṳng, hung-ing tai-sṳ, pe-bo tsak-tsu
哼！逆女，婚姻 大事，父母 作主
Hmph! Rebellious woman, the matter of betrothal is decided by the parents.
lṳ tshui-saⁿ-iang-si, puk thiaⁿ ka-hung, si ho tau-li?
你 催三延四，不聽 教訓，是 何 道理？
You push for this and delay in that, refusing to heed instructions, what is the meaning of it all?
mok-hui lṳ… mok-hui lṳ piak u ng-tsheng?
莫非 你……莫非 你 別 有 隱情？
Unless you… unless you have a secret lover?
tsuaⁿ-pi, ua thiaⁿ siou-tshik sueh lṳ tse-ki-zik kau-tshu lueng-tshuang
賤婢，我 聽 小七 說 你 這幾日 高處 亂闖
You cheap maid, I heard from Siou-cik that you have been running about these past few days,
huang-li huang-tsiang, kiu-keng si ui-liou sim-moh?
慌裏 慌張，究竟 是 爲了 什麼？
flustered and bothered, and for what reason?
printed: 何事 (ho-sṳ) for 什麼
khuai-khuai kiang-lai! kiang! kiang! khuai-khuai kiang-lai!
快快 講來！講！講！快快 講來！
Out with it! Quickly, out with it!
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia-tia! tia-tia kiⁿ-gi, nṳng-zi tsi-ho iⁿ-si meng-tsi
爹爹！爹爹 見疑，女兒 只好 以死 明志
Father! If even my own father has such suspicions, then your daughter can only prove herself through death.
安人 • ang-zing
ai-ia! nṳng-zi puk-kho! nṳng-zi puk-khoi ia!
哎呀！女兒 不可，女兒 不可！
Aiyah! Daughter, you mustn’t, you mustn’t!
員外 • ueng-gua
tsuaⁿ-pi, lṳ puk-thiaⁿ pe meng, tsiu-si puk-hau
賤婢，你 不聽 父命，就是 不孝
Cheap maid, you don’t obey your father, that means you are unfilial.
puk-hau tsṳ nṳng, si u ṳ-ku
不孝 之 女，死有餘辜
Unfilial daughters cannot be redeemed even by death.
安人 • ang-zing
nṳng-zi, nṳng-zi!
女兒，女兒！
Daughter! Daughter!
僕婦 • pok-hu
khi-ping ueng-gua, lim-tua-ia tshing-tsṳ tsoiⁿ-lai
啓稟 員外，林大爺 親自 前來
Sir, Master Lim-dua has come personally,
iou-kiⁿ ueng-gua ang-zing
要見 員外 安人
and wishes to meet with Sir and Madam.
員外 • ueng-gua
ho, tsiu lai, lai, hia-lau pa!
好，就來，來，下樓 吧！
Fine, we’ll come. Come, let us go down!
安人 • ang-zing
iah-tshung, ho-ho hok-si a-nie!
益春，好好 服侍 阿娘
Iah-cung, take good care of your miss.
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
hieng-mue!
賢妹
Sister!
五娘 • ngou-nie
saⁿ-hiaⁿ!
三兄！
Brother San!
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
huang-tshai tsṳ sṳ, leng-nang kho-keng kho-kam
方才 之事，令人 可敬可感
What happened just now, stirs one to respect and emotion.
zu-u so-meng, peh-kheng bueng-si puk-si
如有 所命，伯卿 萬死不辭
If there were such a command, Beh-keng would not leave even in the face of death.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
zu-kim kip-hue i zieng-bai, bo-hang sieⁿ-sim lui muaⁿ-i
如今 急火 已 燃眉，無限 傷心 淚滿衣
Now the fire has already begun to singe the eyebrows, and in limitless anguish my tears have soaked all my clothes.
lim-ke thang-ziak tsai siang-pek, piaⁿ-tsiang tsek-si tshiu ti-iⁿ
林家 倘若 再 相迫，拚 將 一死 酬 知已
Should the Lims want to force it, then we shall pay them in death.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
seⁿ tsek tang-seⁿ si tang-si, mue si ua ia ngueng siang-sui
生 則 同生 死 同死，妹 死 我 亦 願 相隨
If you jump, I jump.
sṳ-kau zieng-bai su tsṳ-kuek, tsoh-tshu bue-pik bo seⁿ-ki
事 到 燃眉 須 自決，絕處 未必 無 生機
At this urgent juncture, we don’t necessarily lack a reprieve.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
kam-sia saⁿ-hiaⁿ tshim-tsheng-ngi, puk-uang phek-kṳ tsek-phieng tshi
感謝 三兄 深情義，不枉 碧琚 一片 癡
Heartfelt thanks, Brother San, for your deep affection. Pek-gv’s foolishness was not in vain.
hang-siu ngueng pa tsong-sing thoh, seⁿ-seⁿ si-si puk hung-li
含羞 願 把 終身 托，生生 世世 不分離
bashfully I am willing to be by your side, a whole life spent unseparated.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsek-phieng tsing-seng lai meng-si
一片 真誠 來 盟誓
With true intentions let us make an oath.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tshṳ-sim kuang-kuang thieng kho-ti
此心 耿耿 天 可知
This heart is devoted, as Heaven knows.
二人 • ri-nang • together
〔合唱 • hah-tshiang • in unison〕
to-thiⁿ ngueng-tsak pi-ek-tsiou
在天 願作 比翼鳥
Like a pair of lovebirds in the sky,
to-ti ngueng-ui lieng-li-ki
在地 願爲 連理枝
Like intertwined branches on the ground,
hai-kou-tsieh-lang tsheng bo-tsing
海枯石爛 情 無盡
Love without end, lasting until the ocean runs dry and rocks go soft.
海枯石爛 - idiom, “forever”
ti-lau-thiⁿ-huang tsi puk-i
地老天荒 志 不移
Our intention never wavering, as the earth grows old and the sky goes desolate.
地老天荒 - idiom, also 天荒地老, “until the end of time”.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, a-nie! sṳ-tsheng puk-ho liou!
阿娘，阿娘！事情 不好 了！
Miss! Miss! Bad news!
printed: 小姐 (siou-tsia) for 阿娘
五娘 • ngou-nie
ho-sṳ huang-tsiang?
何事 慌張？
What makes you so flustered?
益春 • iah-tshung
huang-tshai lim-tua tsoiⁿ-lai tshui-tshing
方才 林大 前來 催親
Lim-dua came by just now to seek a marriage date.
ueng-gua iⁿ hṳ tha pung-gueh tsap-poih-zik tsoiⁿ-lai ngieng-tshu liou
員外 已 許 他 本月 十八日 前來 迎娶 了
Your father told him to come on the eighteenth of this month to perform the ceremony.
五娘 • ngou-nie
tsap-poih tsiu aiⁿ ngieng-tshu?
十八 就 愛 迎娶？
To be married off on the eighteenth?
printed: 要 (iou) for 愛
益春 • iah-tshung
heⁿ! hung-khi sṳng-lai tsi-u si-thiⁿ, taⁿ zu-ho si ho?
嗯！婚期 算來 只有 四天，旦 如何 是 好？
Yes! That is only four days away. What can we do now?
printed: 小姐你看如何是好 (siou-tsia lṳ thoiⁿ zu-ho si ho)
五娘 • ngou-nie
tia tia! lṳ thai hng-sim liou
爹爹！你 太 狠心 了
Father! You are too cruel.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
nie-kiaⁿ, sṳ iⁿ king-kip, tsi-u ieng-tsau kau-pue
娘囝，事 已 緊急，只有 遠走 高飛
Young miss, matters are now become urgent, the only path is to flee.
hueng-si sui ua tang-hueng tsuaⁿ-tsiu
還是 隨 我 同返 泉州
Come back with me to Zuan-ziu.
益春 • iah-tshung
a-nie, tshṳ-si puk-tsau, lang-tau to-tshṳ sok-tshiu-thai-pi?
阿娘，此時 不走，難道 在此 束手待斃？
Miss, if we do not leave now, you will be delivering up yourself bound to the execution ground.
束手待斃 - idiom, “resign oneself to death”
五娘 • ngou-nie
ia-pa! ki-si tia-tia zu-tshṳ tsoh-tsheng, hiuⁿ-kuai nṳng-zi bo ngi
也罷！既是 爹爹 如此 絕情，休怪 女兒 無義
So be it! Since Father is so heartless, he cannot blame his daughter for being unprincipled.
ua i-sing ki hṳ-kung, seⁿ-si siang-sui
我 既 以身 許君，生死 相隨
I have dedicated myself to this gentleman, to follow him in life and in death.
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
(??) kim-me saⁿ-keⁿ si-hau…
XX 今夜 三更 時候……
Tonight, at the third watch…
nang saⁿ-nang…
俺 三人……
We three…
三人同 • san-nang-dang • three in unison
tsek-tang khi-sing!
一同 起身！
Shall set forth together!
第七章 • Doin-cik-ziang • Act 7
第二十二場 • toiⁿ-zi-tsap-zi-tieⁿ • Scene 22
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
tsiou-lau kou iⁿ saⁿ-keⁿ tsueng
樵褸鼓 已 三更 轉
The watchtower drum has struck the third watch.
kie iah-tshung, sok tsiaⁿ heng-tsuang ho tong-sing
叫 益春，速 整 行裝 好 動身
Iah-cung, gather our bags, let us move out.
益春 • iah-tshung
heng-tsuang tsa-iⁿ siu-sip ho liou
行裝 早已 收拾 好了
The bags have long since been packed.
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
hiem se buang-liou tse-ui tua peng-zing
險 些 忘了 這位 大冰人
Ah, we almost forgot our great matchmakers.
Matchmaker - referring to the lychee branch and handkerchief
陳三 • tang-saⁿ
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
to-sia li-ki ho siu-phe, tshueng-tsiang lṳ seng-tsiu ho hung-ing
多謝 荔枝 和 綉帞，全仗 你 成就 好 婚姻
Many thanks to this lychee branch and embroidered handkerchief, it is because of you that we could accomplish this marriage.
五娘 • ngou-nie
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
lim-piek i-i hue-siu mo, tshong-kim iong-piek lau-sang-tshing
臨別 依依 回首 望，從今 永別 老雙親
In departure I keep reluctantly looking back; from today I say farewell to my parents forever.
益春 • iah-tshung
〔唱 • tshiang • singing〕
a-nie lṳ mo kiaⁿ-sim, thih-tsiang-kung lang-tang u-sim-zing
阿娘 你 莫 驚心，鐵將軍 難擋 有心人
Miss, do not be afraid. Even the Iron General cannot stop people of destiny.
鐵將軍 - padlock on a door (idiomatic expression).
第二十三場 • toiⁿ-zi-tsap-saⁿ-tieⁿ • Scene 23
幕外合唱 • mo-ghua-hah-ciang • singing offstage
tshong-tshuk huam-lang sing tsṳ-tsai
沖出 樊籠 身 自在
Dashing out of the gilded cage, we are free.
puk-phaⁿ kueng-suaⁿ teng tso-gai
不怕 關山 重 阻礙
Unafraid of the mountains in our way.
u-tsheng kim iⁿ seng kueng-sok
有情 今 已 成 眷屬
Love has made us a family.
nang saⁿ-nang peng-koiⁿ hiⁿ tshiu tshie ngang khai
俺 三人 併肩 攜手 笑 顏開
We three hand-in-hand, smiles breaking out.
ngiang-mo thieng-khong tsiou-hung suaⁿ
仰望 天空 鳥雲 散
Looking up at the sky, the dark clouds are clearing.
ngou-sek tsiou-hia pang kuang-tshai
五色 朝 霞 放 光彩
A multi-colored dawn unleashing its brilliance.
tsek-lung ang-zik tsieⁿ-thieng lai
一輪 紅日 上天 來
A bright red sun coming up into the sky.