浣紗記 The Story of Washing Gauze
浣紗記
《浣紗記》為明朝梁辰魚所作，是崑曲搬上戲曲舞台的最早作品，促成了崑曲的流傳與發展。該劇寫吳越爭霸，越王勾踐敗於吳王夫差後，臥薪嚐膽，為夫差洗馬嚐糞，又獻美女西施，離間吳國君臣，夫差中計，誅忠臣伍員，最後勾踐復國，夫差敗亡。
折子戲: 寄子
〈寄子〉描寫吳王夫差因聽信佞臣之言，欲出兵伐齊，命伍員出使齊國去請戰期。伍員預料越國將乘虛而入，決心死諫，但因不忍伍氏絕嗣，遂帶幼子同往，將其托給自己的結拜兄弟、齊國大夫鮑牧收養，捨子獨回。
The Story of Washing Gauze
The Story of Washing Gauze, written by Chenyu Liang of the sixteenth century, is the first known play that employed kunqu in stage performance and contributed greatly to the art form’s popularization and development.
The play depicts the conflict between the kingdoms of Wu and Yue. Gojian, king of Yue, resolutely plans his revenge after being defeated by Fuchai, king of Wu. Gojian submits himself to Fuchai as a menial servant to win his trust, offers the famed beauty Xishi to be his concubine, and shakes Fuchai’s faith in his loyal lords. Fuchai falls into Gojian’s trap and kills his outspoken and honorable lord Yuan Wu. The kingdom of Yue is eventually restored as Fuchai is defeated and killed.
Scene: Entrusting the Son
Entrusting the Son depicts the episode in which Yuan Wu is sent by Fuchai to the kingdom of Qi to set a date of battle between the kingdoms of Qi and Wu. Knowing the battle will give the kingdom of Yue an opportunity to attack his country, Wu has determined to remonstrate against this plan to Fuchai when he returns. In the hope of preserving his family from total destruction, Wu brings along his youngest son and leaves him with his sworn brother Mu Bao, a lord of Qi. Despite his son’s protests and pleas, Wu returns to Wu alone to face his death.
