String of pearls

To rescue the one he loves, the young man charges heedlessly into danger, entering the lair of the enemy with his sword drawn: and on the other side, his beloved hangs on desperately...

Male Role: Fan Jie

Female Role: Zixin

Comic Villain: Wu Wang

Scene I

(Fan Jie with a robe, stage upper left, Zixin sits alone, stage right)

(Dongtang, appassionato)

Fan Jie: "O cursed villain, to steal a maiden in broad daylight! My beloved suffers and I grieve."

Fan Jie: "So it falls to my sword to bring judgment on those who so forsake the law."

Fan Jie: "Let us away."

(Fan Jie spurs his horse and heads for Wu Wang's stronghold)

(Aside)

Fan Jie: "Swiftly did I ride here, pursuing the sounds of merriment from afar."

Fan Jie: "This, then, must be the wolf's den."

Fan Jie: "If I am to rescue Zixin, I must scout their lair out with care."

Fan Jie: "A good plan. We go!"

(Fan Jie leaps over the rear wall, exeunt.)

(Common time)

Zixin: "Within a lone lamp and half-burnt candles — and without lurk the wolves and tigers."

Zixin: "Who could have expected such disaster? And how shall I flee this hive of villainy?"

Scene II

(Wu Wang enters from right through a door, drunk)

(Aloud)

Wu Wang: "I come and go wherever I am pleased, and even gods fall if I am not appeased."

(Aside)

Wu Wang: "Haha, got one in the day, didn't I? Hehe."

Wu Wang: "That lovely, lovely lady."

Wu Wang: "Now that we have made merry, as is our wont. It is time — we meet the fair maiden!"

(Dongtang, andante calmo)

Zixin: "Here that impetuous drunken rascal comes. Still! The weeping candlelight is in my hand."

(Aside)

Zixin: "You shall not have me!"

(Wu Wang chases Zixin. Zixin strikes Wu Wang with the candlestick. He falls down. She slumps in relief.)

(Dongtang, andante calmo)

Zixin: "In the confusion, a stroke of fortune! On shaking feet I flee."

(Aside)

Zixin: "Not a light to be seen outside. How is this so dark?"

Zixin: "Perhaps I should relight this candle—"

Zixin: "No. Would I not be imperiled if recaptured?"

Zixin: "Better then to carry this unlit light, and grope our way out through the night."

Zixin: "Yes, so shall it be done."