A Synopsis of the Tale of the Sword
During the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Lin Chong, a head instructor of 800 thousand imperial guards, was hated by Gao Qiu for his admonition to the Emperor. Meanwhile, Gao Qiu’s son took fancy to Lin Chong’s wife and tried to take possession of her. Persecuted by Gao Wiu and his son, Lin Chong was exiled to Cangzhou to guard the fodder storage. Gao Qiu sent Lu Qian to kill Lin Chong but failed. Having killed Lu Qian, Lin Chong hid himself in Chai Jin’s manor before the soldiers sent by Gao were going to arrest him. With no other choice, Lin Chong was forced to go to the Liangshan Mountain, the mountainous area controlled by the rebel army. Later, he and the rebel army surrounded the capital and forced the Empero to hand over Gao Qiu and his son to them. At last, Lin Chong killed Gao Qiu and his son.

A Synopsis of “Night Escape”
   “Night Escape”, Scene Thirty-Seven in The Tale of the Sword, depicts the complicated mentality of Lin Chong on his way to the Liangshan Mountain after his escaped from the fodder storage. It is in this scene that Lin Chong’s emotins are fully conveyed and the theme of the whole drama is exhibited. It gives a vivid description of Lin Chong’s mental confilict between fidelity and treason, while the depiction of the scenery serves as a foil to the mournful atmosphere for Lin Chong’s escape. This scene has been performed on the stage of Kunqu Opera for many generations.

Scene Thirty-Seven Night Escape
(Enter Lin Chong)
LIN CHONG:
To the tune of Dianjiangchun
I count the timing clappers heating,
And listen to the silver water clock’s dripping.
Escaping from the pursuers sent by Gao Qiu,
I can no longer return to my hometown.
Whom can I turn to for help?
“Standing at a high place, I try to see my faraway hometown,
My gloomy thoughts lingering on the Hengyang Road.
As I haven’t for long heard from my house,
Several times I thought of writing sad poems,
I turn around and see the setting sun in the west sky;
Even a minute was hard to pass for a lonely guy.
Man never sheds tears at random,
Just because he hasn’t come into deep sorrows.”

To the tune of Shuangdiaoxinshuiling
With the Longquan sword in hand,
I put on the war robe speckled with tears and blood,
Wandering about lonely and destitute.
I look back at the Celestial Empire,
Though I have decided to go to the marsh for shelter.
Hurriedly rushing away,
I can hardly give a thought of loyalty and piety.
To the tune of Zhumating
In such an enless beautiful night,
I will not knock at the door for an overnight stay.
Looking at the crescent moon from the distance,
I pass stealthily every garrison.
And stride quickly in the wildness.
I am not afraid of the long way,
But afraid of being discovered by someone.
My heart almost misses a beat out of fears;
My heart almost misses a beat out of fear;
The world of mortals destroys my youth.

To the tone of Gumeijiu
Holding tight the dagger in my chest,
I cry and wail at every step I take.
Hauling my robe, I wind through the meandering paths in haste,
Thanks to the glittering stars that lighten my way.
All of a sudden, it turns gloomy and cloudy,
The rustling leaves are falling in the gale,
The tigers are roaring frighteningly in the mountains,
The apes are wailing thrillingly in the ravines.
I am so frightened to run helter-skelter
That I cannot find my way after I left the temple.
To the tune of Shoujiangnan
Alas!
The crows are roused from the twigs,
By the tooting horns of fishermen and woodmen.
I had better lodge my lonely heart in an inn.
As my dream is desolate behind the bed-curtains,
Nobody would accompany me but the wind and rain
In such a bleak night!