Chapter 6 Daughter of King Manipur

A thousand ringing whips, on the background of the blue sky, aroused a booming expectation. At 9:24, the dark green carriage, like an ancient ship returning from the distant sea, was quietly moored on the platform of Beijing Qianmen Railway Station.The welcome crowd immediately stood in a row, looking solemn, waiting for that solemn moment.This is a guard of honor for cultural celebrities.Liang Qichao, Cai Yuanpei, Hu Shi, Jiang Menglin, Liang Shuming, Gu Hongming, Xiong Xiling, Fan Yuanlian, Lin Changmin, etc. all had neat suits or flowing long gowns. Only Lin Huiyin's brown dress and beige top were so clean and elegant that they stood out from the crowd.A bouquet of red tulips was held in front of her chest, and the flowers with human faces reflected each other.

The car door opened. When the old man with a red bonnet, a light brown robe, a childlike face and white hair, and a flowing beard appeared at the door of the car, Lin Huiyin's heart seemed to jump out of his chest. Is this the poet Tagore?What appeared in front of her was clearly the wise and wise Santa Claus and the benevolent oriental birthday star.He seemed to come from a fairy tale, from a kingdom of the Holy Spirit outside the sky. If it wasn't for the reminder from the eyes of Xu Zhimo who appeared at the door of the car at the same time, she almost forgot to offer the flowers in her hand.

The firecrackers went off.The rain of flying flowers is embellished with the epic memory of April 23, 1924. This is the most classical Chinese welcome ceremony.Tagore was very excited. He smiled like a child and stretched out his arms, as if to embrace the whole sky. From April 12th when the "Retian Maru" slowly sailed into the Huangpu River, Tagore was always in a state of excitement.The visit of this world-renowned Nobel laureate excited the nerves of the Chinese intellectual circles.He came to this long-awaited country together with the spring, and a magical power seemed to be injected into his life.

In Longhua where the peach blossoms are like clouds, in the West Lake where the willows are singing, in the Qinhuai where the six dynasties are hazy, in the spring city where the jade is shedding pearls, in Taidai where the five mountains are the only one,... He is bathed in the denseness of Chinese culture. The Yellow River converged in his heart.He visited the ruins and gave speeches, never tired of it.Xu Zhimo was always by his side. In those days, Xu Zhimo was also in a state of high excitement. Tai Weng's speech on China's visit was translated by him in advance, and the old man's itinerary was carefully arranged by him.They get along day and night, talking about the life of creation, the freedom of the soul, the realization of universal love, and the transformation of education. Their words are like flowing springs in mountains, clouds in the sky, and two poetic hearts beat together.Accompanying Tai Weng on a tour of the West Lake in Hangzhou, he became very popular in poetry for a while, and wrote a poem under a crabapple tree.Liang Qichao praised the heroic deeds of the students. He once collected the words of Wu Mengxiao and Jiang Baishi from the Song Dynasty and wrote a couplet:

Linliu Ke Naiqinghuang, beside the fourth bridge, Huanbi Huanbi; This meaning is flying in my life, under the crabapple tree, playing the flute until dawn. Although Lin Huiyin's emotions are not as unrestrained as Xu Zhimo's, the spring water in her heart has never stopped.From the day Tagore set foot on the land of China, she paid attention to the daily newspapers and calculated the travel dates for them.She has long been familiar with Tagore's popular masterpieces, and she looks forward to seeing her idol one day soon, but when Tagore appeared in front of her, she herself entered the fairy tale-like realm involuntarily at that moment.

The auspicious clouds of the pigeon flock fly by in large numbers, and the blue whistle is as clear as blue. The lawn of Ritan Park has just been trimmed, and the sun spreads on it. Every blade of grass is shining with gold, and a refreshing smell evaporates. The sound of peace. The rally was originally scheduled to be held in Temple of Heaven Park, but because the Temple of Heaven Park charged tickets, and considering that most of the young students attending the lecture were financially struggling, it was changed to Ritan Park, which does not charge tickets. The gathering to welcome Mr. Tagore is held on this lush lawn full of life.

Lin Huiyin, the poet and philosopher Tagore, was supported by Lin Huiyin on the podium, and Xu Zhimo was the interpreter.On that day, all the newspapers in Kyoto opened up eye-catching pages, exaggerating the grand occasion of the rally.It is said that Ms. Lin is as beautiful as a flower, walking arm in arm with the old poet, and Xu Zhimo, who is thin in a long robe and white face, is like a picture of three friends with green pines, bamboos and plums. Lin Huiyin's innocent beauty, Xu Zhimo's elegant demeanor, and Tagore's old man complement each other brilliantly, and became a good talk in the capital for a while.

Tagore's speech was impromptu.Full of sympathy and kindness, he watched the hearts and minds of China.He said: "Today we gather in this beautiful place, a symbol of peace, well-being and abundance for mankind. Through the centuries, guests from trade, military and other professions have continuously come to you. But before that, you I have never considered inviting anyone, you are not admiring my personal character, but paying homage to the spring of the new era." He cleared his voice and continued: "Now, when I approach you, I want to win your heart with my heart full of hope for you and the great future of Asia. When your country is for that future , stand up and express the spirit of our nation, and we will all share in the joy of that future. Again, I point out that no matter where the truth comes from, we should accept it and praise it without hesitation. If we do not accept it, Our civilization will be one-sided and stagnant. Science has given us the power of reason, and he has given us the ability to acquire a positive awareness of our ideal values."

After a short pause, he took a sip of the hot tea offered by Lin Huiyin, looked at the distant sky, and his words became passionate. "We sorely need this kind of exploration in order to emerge from the darkness of dying traditional habits. For this we should turn, with gratitude, to the living human heart." He reminded, "Today, our destinies are bound up with each other. .Society, after all, is nurtured by moral values ​​which, though changing over time, still have - a moral spirit. Evil, though it may manifest victory, is not eternal." His long silver-white beard fluttered, like a sage standing on the Alps, speaking to the entire human race.In his sonorous, spirited voice, "Before I finish my lecture, I want to read you a favorite line of mine:

Those who rely on the help of evil build prosperity, He who trusts in the help of evil overcomes his enemy, Those who rely on the help of evil, their desires are fulfilled, However, one day they will be completely destroyed. " His recitation is like a spring gushing out of the forest.Xu Zhimo's translation is also full of literary talents. His Jing accent mixed with Xiashi Mandarin is mellow, like flowing clouds and flowing water, and it is audible.Lin Huiyin gave him praise from time to time. After the lecture, Lin Huiyin praised Xu Zhimo approvingly: "Your translation is so good today, many people are fascinated by it."

Xu Zhimo said: "With Tagore, my inspiration has wings, and I can always find the best feeling immediately." Lin Huiyin said: "I just think the old man is so profound. Do you still remember the poems of Whitman you read to me in Cambridge? - From you, I seem to see a wide sea of ​​people. Facing the old man Tagore, I feel He really is like the mouth of the sea, broad and broad." Large photos of Lin Huiyin and Xu Zhimo, one on the left and one on the right, accompanied by Tagore, were published in many newspapers of the day, and the capital became "Luoyang paper expensive" for a while. May 8th is Mr. Tagore's 64th birthday.When preparing for the celebration, Lin Huiyin asked Xu Zhimo how to celebrate, and Xu Zhimo said, of course, according to the traditional Chinese way. The birthday dinner was very lively.Hu Shi was the chairman, and 400 of the most famous people in Beijing attended the banquet. The birthday presents for Tagore were more than a dozen famous paintings and an ancient porcelain.However, what made Tagore most happy was that he got a Chinese name.The naming ceremony was presided over by Liang Qichao himself. He said that Rabindra's name, Mr. Tagore's name, means "sun" and "thunder". , and "Aurora" is precisely the name Cheenastnana that ancient India called China. The transliteration should be "Aurora", and the free translation should be "Taishi".Mr. Tagore's Chinese name "Zhendan" symbolizes the permanent union of Chinese and Indian cultures.Liang Qichao also said that according to the Chinese custom, a name should have a surname, India's country name is Tianzhu, and Tagore should use the country's surname, and his full name is "Zhu Zhendan". Xu Zhimo translated Liang Qichao's words to Tagore in high spirits. Tagore left the seat excitedly and stood up, clasped his hands together, and the audience burst into warm applause. Amid the applause, Liang Qichao dedicated a bloodstone seal to Tagore, on which Tagore's Chinese name "Zhu Zhendan" was engraved in authentic gold inscriptions. Tagore held the precious bloodstone seal to his chest and said: "Today I got a name. , also gained a new life, and all of this came from an ancient oriental country, which I cherish very much." After the birthday dinner, a performance was carefully arranged for him in the Dongdan Sanjo Concord Auditorium.This auditorium faces north and is a traditional Chinese building. The gate tower with cornices and brackets is authentic Chinese style. The interior of the auditorium is brightly lit, and the seats and benches are arranged in rows. It is a modern building in northern China in the 1920s. Many celebrities often come here to give speeches and parties. Tagore liked to watch plays, especially the plays he wrote.What is performed for him today is the lyric drama "Chitra" written by him based on a story in the book "Mahad Bharata". Because it was a special performance, and the dialogues of the characters were all in English, there were only a few dozen people in the audience. Liang Qichao, who was not very proficient in English, was translated by Chen Tongbo. Before the performance, Lin Huiyin played the role of a girl in ancient costume yearning for the "New Moon", sculpturally showing the unprecedented performance organized by the New Moon Club. The story of this script is derived from the plot of the Indian epic Mahabharata. Chidra is the daughter of King Manipur. She was the only daughter of his father Chidravahana, so his father wanted to treat her as a son to carry on the family line and make her the heir apparent.Princess Chitra was not born beautiful, but she was trained as a prince since she was a child.Arjuna, the prince of the neighboring country, came to Manipur on his way to fulfill his ascetic vows.One day the prince fell asleep sitting in meditation in the forest, and was awakened by Chidra, who was hunting in the mountains, and fell in love at first sight.For the first time in her life, Chitra felt that her lack of feminine beauty was the biggest shortcoming. Disappointed, Chitra prayed to the God of Love to give her youthful beauty, even if it was only for one day.The god of love was moved by Chitra's sincerity, and promised to give her beauty for a year. The ugly Chitra transformed into a flowery beauty, won the love of the prince, and married.But this heroine is unwilling to pretend to be a beauty. At the same time, the prince expresses his admiration for Chidra, the heroine who put down the bandits. He doesn't know that his wife is this princess.So Chitra prayed to Venus to take back her beauty and reveal her true colors to her husband. In the play, Lin Huiyin plays Chidra, Zhang Xinhai plays Ashuna, Xu Zhimo and Lin Changmin play the gods of love and spring. The Indian painter Nandarapos who accompanied Tagore made up for them in the background.Indian men and women have big and round eyes. Lin Huiyin’s almond eyes are difficult to put on makeup, but Nandarapos said that she looks like the Manibu people of Assam in India, because the Manibu people in Assam are all Mongolian, which is different from that in China. People are very close. The velvet curtain slowly opened. Lin Huiyin and Xu Zhimo did not expect that they would enter the scene so quickly: Chitra—are you the god with the five arrows, master of love? Madana (the god of love played by Xu Zhimo) I am the first child born from the heart of the creator.I bind the lives of men and women in chains of pain and pleasure! CHITRA I know, I know what the pain and the chains are. —Who are you, my lord? Vasenta I am his friend - Vasenta - King of Seasons.Death and old age dragged the world to pieces, but I followed him, attacking them constantly.I am eternal youth. CHITRA I bow to you, Lord Vasenta. Fair stranger of Madana, what oath did you swear?Why do you wither your youth with confession and practice?It is inappropriate to worship Eros with such a sacrifice.Who are you and what are you praying for? Chitra I am Chitra, the daughter of the royal family of Manipur.Lord Shiva descended from the divine grace and promised my royal ancestors to be the male heirs that will last for generations.But God's will has no power to change the spark of life in my mother's womb - so strong is my nature, though I am a woman. Madana I know, so your father raised you as a son.He taught you to draw the bow and shoot the arrow and all the duties of a king. Chitra Yes, so I put on men's clothes and go out of the boudoir.I don't understand women's tricks to win hearts.My hands can draw a strong bow, but I have never learned the art of arrowing with the eyes of the god of love. There is no need to learn Madana, beauty.The eye will work without a coach, it will know how well it has done and what heart it has hit. Chitra, you world-conquering love, and you, Vasenta, young god of the seasons, take from my young body the natural injustice and unattractive commonality.Just one day makes me beautiful, as beautiful as the love that suddenly opens in my heart.Give me complete beauty for just one day, and I will repay you with the days to come. Madana I agree to your request. Vasenta is not just a short day, but a whole year, and the charm of spring flowers will be pinned on your limbs. The performances of Lin Huiyin and Xu Zhimo moved the audience. They were so tacit and harmonious, and every look in their eyes was quickly understood by the other party. They seemed to have forgotten the existence of this stage and the audience in the audience. They saw In the first flash of morning light, I saw the angels flying in the sky, saw the rose-red brilliance of dawn, and saw the streaming sunlight on their faces, but did not see Liang Qichao's astonished and sullen eyes. Madana, you mortal daughter!I stole the fragrant and mellow fairy wine from the sky library, poured it to the full for a night in the world, put it in your hand, and asked you to drink it—but I still hear the call of this longing! CHITRA (bitterly) Who's got this drink?The rarest fulfillment of life's wishes, the first union of love, has been offered to me, and has been snatched from my grasp!This borrowed beauty, this enveloping falsehood, will slip from me, and take with me, as petals from a dead flower, the only remnant of that sweet union; Women, will sit and weep day and night.O Cupid, this accursed appearance follows me like a demon that snatches from me all my rewards—all the kisses my heart desires. Madana, how empty your night was!The happy boat is in sight, but the waves won't let it near the shore! Finally, Chitra asks the gods of love and spring to take back her beauty. Chidra I am Chidra.Not a goddess to be worshipped, nor a common object of pity to be brushed aside like a moth. Today I dedicate Chitra only to you, daughter of a king. Dear Arjuna, my life is complete. The red curtain fell quickly. End of play. The audience stood up excitedly, applause, applause, only waves of applause swirled around the walls. Tagore stepped onto the stage and patted Lin Huiyin on the shoulder: "Daughter of King Manipu, your beauty and wisdom are not borrowed, they are gifts from the God of Love, not just for you to have a day or a year, but With you throughout your life, you radiate light because of it." The next morning, Tagore published the first of his prepared speeches, which aroused sharp criticism among some young people. The second lecture was also met with organized protests and leaflets were distributed. Tagore was very Angry, he announced that the rest of the classes would be cancelled. He said that he was very tired and went to Xishan to rest, where he spent about the last week in China. This performance was originally a gift dedicated to Tagore, and it was also the first fruit of the Crescent Society after its establishment.However, this performance also caused a storm in the Liang family.Mrs. Li and her eldest daughter, Sishun, were deeply worried. They could not tolerate the future daughter-in-law of the Liang family humiliating the family. Liang Sicheng was also slightly unhappy. He and Lin Huiyin were reading and dating in the main library of Beihai Kuaixuetang Songpo Library. Sometimes Xu Zhimo would come over to chat with them. Liang Sicheng didn't want to be harassed, so he pasted a note on the door, Big Book Lovers Want to be left alone. (Lover does not want to be disturbed.) The train is about to start. May 20 was the day Tagore left.During the visit, Lin Huiyin stayed close to the old poet, which greatly enhanced Tagore's stay in China. He wrote a poem for her as a souvenir: Blue sky Overlooking the lush forest, among them A sighing breeze blew. Tagore leaned out from the car window, clasped his hands together, and greeted the people seeing off on the platform frequently. His eyes were blurred. The stay in Beijing for nearly a month gave him good memories that could be treasured for a lifetime. Xu Zhimo spread paper and pen on the small table by the window. He didn't dare to look at the beautiful figure outside the window. Before getting into the car, Lin Huiyin told him that she and Liang Sicheng were going to study in the United States soon. Xu Zhimo suddenly had a feeling of farewell. He was afraid of all kinds of parting, and every time parting with him was a kind of death.Xu Zhimo once told Tagore in private that he was still passionately in love with Lin Huiyin, and the old poet also interceded on his behalf, but Lin Huiyin did not change his mind.Xu Zhimo knew that this farewell was really far apart.I performed on the same stage yesterday, and my eyes are looking forward to it. Today, the labor and swallows are flying, and the sea and the sky have no boundaries.He wrote furiously: I really don't know what I'm going to say.I have picked up the pen several times to write, but every time I can't write an article.In the past two days, my mind has always been in a daze. I opened and closed my eyes but only saw the blurred and desolate moonlight of the night before, illuminating the vehicle we didn't want, retreating slowly into the wilderness. Tears welled up in his eyes, he took off his glasses, and wiped off the mist on the lenses. He heard Lin Huiyin yell out the car window: "Xu Zhimo is crying!" He buried his head deeply: parting!How can people believe it?I'm going crazy just thinking about it.With so many threads, who can cut them?My eyes are dark again! ... The whistle did not dissociate from people's farewell, and it sounded stubbornly.The train rolled out of the platform slowly.Xu Zhimo glanced out of the car window, all the scenery was blurred, he felt that his heart had been planted on the platform forever. He read the half letter he had just written again, smiled wryly, and opened the car window, intending to throw this withered leaf into the endless wilderness. The moment he stretched out his hand, Tagore's English secretary, En Hou, In a hurry, he snatched it and stuffed it into his suitcase. The lights receded quickly. That round of yellow and clear full moon flew into the half-open car window.