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diff --git a/1076-0.txt b/1076-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ccbef46 --- /dev/null +++ b/1076-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7950 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1076 *** + +THE WALLET OF KAI LUNG + +By Ernest Bramah + + + + “Ho, illustrious passers-by!” says Kai Lung as he spreads out his + embroidered mat under the mulberry-tree. “It is indeed unlikely + that you could condescend to stop and listen to the foolish words + of such an insignificant and altogether deformed person as myself. + Nevertheless, if you will but retard your elegant footsteps for a + few moments, this exceedingly unprepossessing individual will + endeavour to entertain you.” This is a collection of Kai Lung’s + entertaining tales, told professionally in the market places as he + travelled about; told sometimes to occupy and divert the minds of + his enemies when they were intent on torturing him. + + + + +I. +THE TRANSMUTATION OF LING + + +CHAPTER I +INTRODUCTION + + +The sun had dipped behind the western mountains before Kai Lung, with +twenty li or more still between him and the city of Knei Yang, entered +the camphor-laurel forest which stretched almost to his destination. +No person of consequence ever made the journey unattended; but Kai Lung +professed to have no fear, remarking with extempore wisdom, when warned +at the previous village, that a worthless garment covered one with +better protection than that afforded by an army of bowmen. Nevertheless, +when within the gloomy aisles, Kai Lung more than once wished himself +back at the village, or safely behind the mud walls of Knei Yang; and, +making many vows concerning the amount of prayer-paper which he would +assuredly burn when he was actually through the gates, he stepped +out more quickly, until suddenly, at a turn in the glade, he stopped +altogether, while the watchful expression into which he had unguardedly +dropped at once changed into a mask of impassiveness and extreme +unconcern. From behind the next tree projected a long straight rod, not +unlike a slender bamboo at a distance, but, to Kai Lung’s all-seeing +eye, in reality the barrel of a matchlock, which would come into line +with his breast if he took another step. Being a prudent man, more +accustomed to guile and subservience to destiny than to force, he +therefore waited, spreading out his hands in proof of his peaceful +acquiescence, and smiling cheerfully until it should please the owner +of the weapon to step forth. This the unseen did a moment later, still +keeping his gun in an easy and convenient attitude, revealing a stout +body and a scarred face, which in conjunction made it plain to Kai Lung +that he was in the power of Lin Yi, a noted brigand of whom he had heard +much in the villages. + +“O illustrious person,” said Kai Lung very earnestly, “this is evidently +an unfortunate mistake. Doubtless you were expecting some exalted +Mandarin to come and render you homage, and were preparing to overwhelm +him with gratified confusion by escorting him yourself to your +well-appointed abode. Indeed, I passed such a one on the road, very +richly apparelled, who inquired of me the way to the mansion of the +dignified and upright Lin Yi. By this time he is perhaps two or three li +towards the east.” + +“However distinguished a Mandarin may be, it is fitting that I should +first attend to one whose manners and accomplishments betray him to be +of the Royal House,” replied Lin Yi, with extreme affability. “Precede +me, therefore, to my mean and uninviting hovel, while I gain more +honour than I can reasonably bear by following closely in your elegant +footsteps, and guarding your Imperial person with this inadequate but +heavily-loaded weapon.” + +Seeing no chance of immediate escape, Kai Lung led the way, instructed +by the brigand, along a very difficult and bewildering path, until they +reached a cave hidden among the crags. Here Lin Yi called out some words +in the Miaotze tongue, whereupon a follower appeared, and opened a gate +in the stockade of prickly mimosa which guarded the mouth of the den. +Within the enclosure a fire burned, and food was being prepared. At a +word from the chief, the unfortunate Kai Lung found his hands seized and +tied behind his back, while a second later a rough hemp rope was fixed +round his neck, and the other end tied to an overhanging tree. + +Lin Yi smiled pleasantly and critically upon these preparations, and +when they were complete dismissed his follower. + +“Now we can converse at our ease and without restraint,” he remarked to +Kai Lung. “It will be a distinguished privilege for a person occupying +the important public position which you undoubtedly do; for myself, +my instincts are so degraded and low-minded that nothing gives me more +gratification than to dispense with ceremony.” + +To this Kai Lung made no reply, chiefly because at that moment the wind +swayed the tree, and compelled him to stand on his toes in order to +escape suffocation. + +“It would be useless to try to conceal from a person of your inspired +intelligence that I am indeed Lin Yi,” continued the robber. “It is a +dignified position to occupy, and one for which I am quite incompetent. +In the sixth month of the third year ago, it chanced that this unworthy +person, at that time engaged in commercial affairs at Knei Yang, became +inextricably immersed in the insidious delights of quail-fighting. +Having been entrusted with a large number of taels with which to +purchase elephants’ teeth, it suddenly occurred to him that if he +doubled the number of taels by staking them upon an exceedingly powerful +and agile quail, he would be able to purchase twice the number of teeth, +and so benefit his patron to a large extent. This matter was clearly +forced upon his notice by a dream, in which he perceived one whom he +then understood to be the benevolent spirit of an ancestor in the act +of stroking a particular quail, upon whose chances he accordingly +placed all he possessed. Doubtless evil spirits had been employed in the +matter; for, to this person’s great astonishment, the quail in question +failed in a very discreditable manner at the encounter. Unfortunately, +this person had risked not only the money which had been entrusted to +him, but all that he had himself become possessed of by some years of +honourable toil and assiduous courtesy as a professional witness in +law cases. Not doubting that his patron would see that he was himself +greatly to blame in confiding so large a sum of money to a comparatively +young man of whom he knew little, this person placed the matter before +him, at the same time showing him that he would suffer in the eyes of +the virtuous if he did not restore this person’s savings, which but for +the presence of the larger sum, and a generous desire to benefit his +patron, he would never have risked in so uncertain a venture as that of +quail-fighting. Although the facts were laid in the form of a dignified +request instead of a demand by legal means, and the reasoning carefully +drawn up in columns of fine parchment by a very illustrious writer, the +reply which this person received showed him plainly that a wrong view +had been taken of the matter, and that the time had arrived when it +became necessary for him to make a suitable rejoinder by leaving the +city without delay.” + +“It was a high-minded and disinterested course to take,” said Kai +Lung with great conviction, as Lin Yi paused. “Without doubt evil will +shortly overtake the avaricious-souled person at Knei Yang.” + +“It has already done so,” replied Lin Yi. “While passing through this +forest in the season of Many White Vapours, the spirits of his bad deeds +appeared to him in misleading and symmetrical shapes, and drew him out +of the path and away from his bowmen. After suffering many torments, he +found his way here, where, in spite of our continual care, he perished +miserably and in great bodily pain.... But I cannot conceal from +myself, in spite of your distinguished politeness, that I am becoming +intolerably tiresome with my commonplace talk.” + +“On the contrary,” replied Kai Lung, “while listening to your voice I +seemed to hear the beating of many gongs of the finest and most polished +brass. I floated in the Middle Air, and for the time I even became +unconscious of the fact that this honourable appendage, though +fashioned, as I perceive, out of the most delicate silk, makes it +exceedingly difficult for me to breathe.” + +“Such a thing cannot be permitted,” exclaimed Lin Yi, with some +indignation, as with his own hands he slackened the rope and, taking it +from Kai Lung’s neck, fastened it around his ankle. “Now, in return for +my uninviting confidences, shall not my senses be gladdened by a recital +of the titles and honours borne by your distinguished family? Doubtless, +at this moment many Mandarins of the highest degree are anxiously +awaiting your arrival at Knei Yang, perhaps passing the time by outdoing +one another in protesting the number of taels each would give rather +than permit you to be tormented by fire-brands, or even to lose a single +ear.” + +“Alas!” replied Kai Lung, “never was there a truer proverb than that +which says, ‘It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one’s +time in looking for the sacred Emperor in the low-class tea-shops.’ +Do Mandarins or the friends of Mandarins travel in mean garments and +unattended? Indeed, the person who is now before you is none other than +the outcast Kai Lung, the story-teller, one of degraded habits and no +very distinguished or reputable ancestors. His friends are few, and +mostly of the criminal class; his wealth is not more than some six or +eight cash, concealed in his left sandal; and his entire stock-in-trade +consists of a few unendurable and badly told stories, to which, however, +it is his presumptuous intention shortly to add a dignified narrative +of the high-born Lin Yi, setting out his domestic virtues and the +honour which he has reflected upon his house, his valour in war, the +destruction of his enemies, and, above all, his great benevolence and +the protection which he extends to the poor and those engaged in the +distinguished arts.” + +“The absence of friends is unfortunate,” said Lin Yi thoughtfully, after +he had possessed himself of the coins indicated by Kai Lung, and also +of a much larger amount concealed elsewhere among the story-teller’s +clothing. “My followers are mostly outlawed Miaotze, who have been +driven from their own tribes in Yun Nan for man-eating and disregarding +the sacred laws of hospitality. They are somewhat rapacious, and in this +way it has become a custom that they should have as their own, for +the purpose of exchanging for money, persons such as yourself, whose +insatiable curiosity has led them to this place.” + +“The wise and all-knowing Emperor Fohy instituted three degrees of +attainment: Being poor, to obtain justice; being rich, to escape +flattery; and being human, to avoid the passions,” replied Kai Lung. +“To these the practical and enlightened Kang added yet another, the +greatest: Being lean, to yield fatness.” + +“In such cases,” observed the brigand, “the Miaotze keep an honoured and +very venerable rite, which chiefly consists in suspending the offender +by a pigtail from a low tree, and placing burning twigs of hemp-palm +between his toes. To this person it seems a foolish and meaningless +habit; but it would not be well to interfere with their religious +observances, however trivial they may appear.” + +“Such a course must inevitably end in great loss,” suggested Kai Lung; +“for undoubtedly there are many poor yet honourable persons who would +leave with them a bond for a large number of taels and save the money +with which to redeem it, rather than take part in a ceremony which is +not according to one’s own Book of Rites.” + +“They have already suffered in that way on one or two occasions,” + replied Lin Yi; “so that such a proposal, no matter how nobly intended, +would not gladden their faces. Yet they are simple and docile persons, +and would, without doubt, be moved to any feeling you should desire by +the recital of one of your illustrious stories.” + +“An intelligent and discriminating assemblage is more to a story-teller +than much reward of cash from hands that conceal open mouths,” replied +Kai Lung with great feeling. “Nothing would confer more pleasurable +agitation upon this unworthy person than an opportunity of narrating +his entire stock to them. If also the accomplished Lin Yi would bestow +renown upon the occasion by his presence, no omen of good would be +wanting.” + +“The pleasures of the city lie far behind me,” said Lin Yi, after +some thought, “and I would cheerfully submit myself to an intellectual +accomplishment such as you are undoubtedly capable of. But as we have +necessity to leave this spot before the hour when the oak-leaves change +into night-moths, one of your amiable stories will be the utmost we can +strengthen our intellects with. Select which you will. In the meantime, +food will be brought to refresh you after your benevolent exertions +in conversing with a person of my vapid understanding. When you have +partaken, or thrown it away as utterly unendurable, the time will have +arrived, and this person, together with all his accomplices, will put +themselves in a position to be subjected to all the most dignified +emotions.” + + + +CHAPTER II + +“The story which I have selected for this gratifying occasion,” said Kai +Lung, when, an hour or so later, still pinioned, but released from the +halter, he sat surrounded by the brigands, “is entitled ‘Good and +Evil,’ and it is concerned with the adventures of one Ling, who bore the +honourable name of Ho. The first, and indeed the greater, part of +the narrative, as related by the venerable and accomplished writer +of history Chow-Tan, is taken up by showing how Ling was assuredly +descended from an enlightened Emperor of the race of Tsin; but as the +no less omniscient Ta-lin-hi proves beyond doubt that the person in +question was in no way connected with any but a line of hereditary +ape-worshippers, who entered China from an unknown country many +centuries ago, it would ill become this illiterate person to express +an opinion on either side, and he will in consequence omit the first +seventeen books of the story, and only deal with the three which refer +to the illustrious Ling himself.” + + +THE STORY OF LING + +Narrated by Kai Lung when a prisoner in the camp of Lin Yi. + +Ling was the youngest of three sons, and from his youth upwards proved +to be of a mild and studious disposition. Most of his time was spent in +reading the sacred books, and at an early age he found the worship of +apes to be repulsive to his gentle nature, and resolved to break through +the venerable traditions of his family by devoting his time to literary +pursuits, and presenting himself for the public examinations at Canton. +In this his resolution was strengthened by a rumour that an army of +bowmen was shortly to be raised from the Province in which he lived, +so that if he remained he would inevitably be forced into an occupation +which was even more distasteful to him than the one he was leaving. + +Having arrived at Canton, Ling’s first care was to obtain particulars of +the examinations, which he clearly perceived, from the unusual +activity displayed on all sides, to be near at hand. On inquiring from +passers-by, he received very conflicting information; for the persons to +whom he spoke were themselves entered for the competition, and therefore +naturally misled him in order to increase their own chances of success. +Perceiving this, Ling determined to apply at once, although the light +was past, to a Mandarin who was concerned in the examinations, lest by +delay he should lose his chance for the year. + +“It is an unfortunate event that so distinguished a person should have +selected this day and hour on which to overwhelm us with his affable +politeness!” exclaimed the porter at the gate of the Yamen, when Ling +had explained his reason for going. “On such a day, in the reign of the +virtuous Emperor Hoo Chow, a very benevolent and unassuming ancestor of +my good lord the Mandarin was destroyed by treachery, and ever since his +family has observed the occasion by fasting and no music. This person +would certainly be punished with death if he entered the inner room from +any cause.” + +At these words, Ling, who had been simply brought up, and chiefly in the +society of apes, was going away with many expressions of self-reproach +at selecting such a time, when the gate-keeper called him back. + +“I am overwhelmed with confusion at the position in which I find +myself,” he remarked, after he had examined his mind for a short time. +“I may meet with an ungraceful and objectionable death if I carry out +your estimable instructions, but I shall certainly merit and receive +a similar fate if I permit so renowned and versatile a person to leave +without a fitting reception. In such matters a person can only trust to +the intervention of good spirits; if, therefore, you will permit this +unworthy individual to wear, while making the venture, the ring which he +perceives upon your finger, and which he recognizes as a very powerful +charm against evil, misunderstandings, and extortion, he will go without +fear.” + +Overjoyed at the amiable porter’s efforts on his behalf, Ling did as he +was desired, and the other retired. Presently the door of the Yamen was +opened by an attendant of the house, and Ling bidden to enter. He +was covered with astonishment to find that this person was entirely +unacquainted with his name or purpose. + +“Alas!” said the attendant, when Ling had explained his object, “well +said the renowned and inspired Ting Fo, ‘When struck by a thunderbolt it +is unnecessary to consult the Book of Dates as to the precise meaning +of the omen.’ At this moment my noble-minded master is engaged in +conversation with all the most honourable and refined persons in Canton, +while singers and dancers of a very expert and nimble order have been +sent for. The entertainment will undoubtedly last far into the night, +and to present myself even with the excuse of your graceful and delicate +inquiry would certainly result in very objectionable consequences to +this person.” + +“It is indeed a day of unprepossessing circumstances,” replied Ling, +and after many honourable remarks concerning his own intellect and +appearance, and those of the person to whom he was speaking, he had +turned to leave when the other continued: + +“Ever since your dignified presence illumined this very ordinary +chamber, this person has been endeavouring to bring to his mind an +incident which occurred to him last night while he slept. Now it has +come back to him with a diamond clearness, and he is satisfied that it +was as follows: While he floated in the Middle Air a benevolent spirit +in the form of an elderly and toothless vampire appeared, leading by +the hand a young man, of elegant personality. Smiling encouragingly upon +this person, the spirit said, ‘O Fou, recipient of many favours from +Mandarins and of innumerable taels from gratified persons whom you have +obliged, I am, even at this moment, guiding this exceptional young man +towards your presence; when he arrives do not hesitate, but do as he +desires, no matter how great the danger seems or how inadequately you +may appear to be rewarded on earth.’ The vision then melted, but I now +clearly perceive that with the exception of the embroidered cloak which +you wear, you are the person thus indicated to me. Remove your cloak, +therefore, in order to give the amiable spirit no opportunity of denying +the fact, and I will advance your wishes; for, as the Book of Verses +indicates, ‘The person who patiently awaits a sign from the clouds +for many years, and yet fails to notice the earthquake at his feet, is +devoid of intellect.’” + +Convinced that he was assuredly under the especial protection of the +Deities, and that the end of his search was in view, Ling gave his rich +cloak to the attendant, and was immediately shown into another room, +where he was left alone. + +After a considerable space of time the door opened and there entered a +person whom Ling at first supposed to be the Mandarin. Indeed, he was +addressing him by his titles when the other interrupted him. “Do not +distress your incomparable mind by searching for honourable names +to apply to so inferior a person as myself,” he said agreeably. “The +mistake is, nevertheless, very natural; for, however miraculous it may +appear, this unseemly individual, who is in reality merely a writer of +spoken words, is admitted to be exceedingly like the dignified Mandarin +himself, though somewhat stouter, clad in better garments, and, it is +said, less obtuse of intellect. This last matter he very much doubts, +for he now finds himself unable to recognize by name one who is +undoubtedly entitled to wear the Royal Yellow.” + +With this encouragement Ling once more explained his position, narrating +the events which had enabled him to reach the second chamber of the +Yamen. When he had finished the secretary was overpowered with a +high-minded indignation. + +“Assuredly those depraved and rapacious persons who have both misled and +robbed you shall suffer bow-stringing when the whole matter is brought +to light,” he exclaimed. “The noble Mandarin neither fasts nor receives +guests, for, indeed, he has slept since the sun went down. This person +would unhesitatingly break his slumber for so commendable a purpose were +it not for a circumstance of intolerable unavoidableness. It must not +even be told in a low breath beyond the walls of the Yamen, but my +benevolent and high-born lord is in reality a person of very miserly +instinct, and nothing will call him from his natural sleep but the sound +of taels shaken beside his bed. In an unexpected manner it comes about +that this person is quite unsupplied with anything but thin printed +papers of a thousand taels each, and these are quite useless for the +purpose.” + +“It is unendurable that so obliging a person should be put to such +inconvenience on behalf of one who will certainly become a public +laughing-stock at the examinations,” said Ling, with deep feeling; and +taking from a concealed spot in his garments a few taels, he placed them +before the secretary for the use he had indicated. + +Ling was again left alone for upwards of two strokes of the gong, and +was on the point of sleep when the secretary returned with an expression +of dignified satisfaction upon his countenance. Concluding that he +had been successful in the manner of awakening the Mandarin, Ling was +opening his mouth for a polite speech, which should contain a delicate +allusion to the taels, when the secretary warned him, by affecting a +sudden look of terror, that silence was exceedingly desirable, and at +the same time opened another door and indicated to Ling that he should +pass through. + +In the next room Ling was overjoyed to find himself in the presence +of the Mandarin, who received him graciously, and paid many estimable +compliments to the name he bore and the country from which he came. +When at length Ling tore himself from this enchanting conversation, and +explained the reason of his presence, the Mandarin at once became a prey +to the whitest and most melancholy emotions, even plucking two hairs +from his pigtail to prove the extent and conscientiousness of his grief. + +“Behold,” he cried at length, “I am resolved that the extortionate and +many-handed persons at Peking who have control of the examination rites +and customs shall no longer grow round-bodied without remark. This +person will unhesitatingly proclaim the true facts of the case without +regarding the danger that the versatile Chancellor or even the sublime +Emperor himself may, while he speaks, be concealed in some part of this +unassuming room to hear his words; for, as it is wisely said, ‘When +marked out by destiny, a person will assuredly be drowned, even though +he passes the whole of his existence among the highest branches of a +date tree.’” + +“I am overwhelmed that I should be the cause of such an engaging display +of polished agitation,” said Ling, as the Mandarin paused. “If it would +make your own stomach less heavy, this person will willingly follow your +estimable example, either with or without knowing the reason.” + +“The matter is altogether on your account, O most unobtrusive young +man,” replied the Mandarin, when a voice without passion was restored +to him. “It tears me internally with hooks to reflect that you, whose +refined ancestors I might reasonably have known had I passed my youth +in another Province, should be victim to the cupidity of the ones in +authority at Peking. A very short time before you arrived there came a +messenger in haste from those persons, clearly indicating that a legal +toll of sixteen taels was to be made on each printed paper setting forth +the time and manner of the examinations, although, as you may see, the +paper is undoubtedly marked, ‘Persons are given notice that they are +defrauded of any sum which they may be induced to exchange for this +matter.’ Furthermore, there is a legal toll of nine taels on all persons +who have previously been examined--” + +“I am happily escaped from that,” exclaimed Ling with some satisfaction +as the Mandarin paused. + +“--and twelve taels on all who present themselves for the first time. +This is to be delivered over when the paper is purchased, so that you, +by reason of this unworthy proceeding at Peking, are required to forward +to that place, through this person, no less than thirty-two taels.” + +“It is a circumstance of considerable regret,” replied Ling; “for had +I only reached Canton a day earlier, I should, it appears, have avoided +this evil.” + +“Undoubtedly it would have been so,” replied the Mandarin, who had +become engrossed in exalted meditation. “However,” he continued a +moment later, as he bowed to Ling with an accomplished smile, “it +would certainly be a more pleasant thought for a person of your refined +intelligence that had you delayed until to-morrow the insatiable persons +at Peking might be demanding twice the amount.” + +Pondering the deep wisdom of this remark, Ling took his departure; but +in spite of the most assiduous watchfulness he was unable to discern any +of the three obliging persons to whose efforts his success had been due. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +It was very late when Ling again reached the small room which he had +selected as soon as he reached Canton, but without waiting for food or +sleep he made himself fully acquainted with the times of the forthcoming +examinations and the details of the circumstances connected with them. +With much satisfaction he found that he had still a week in which to +revive his intellect on the most difficult subjects. Having become +relieved on these points, Ling retired for a few hours’ sleep, but rose +again very early, and gave the whole day with great steadfastness to +contemplation of the sacred classics Y-King, with the exception of a +short period spent in purchasing ink, brushes and writing-leaves. The +following day, having become mentally depressed through witnessing +unaccountable hordes of candidates thronging the streets of Canton, +Ling put aside his books, and passed the time in visiting all the most +celebrated tombs in the neighbourhood of the city. Lightened in mind +by this charitable and agreeable occupation, he returned to his studies +with a fixed resolution, nor did he again falter in his purpose. On the +evening of the examination, when he was sitting alone, reading by the +aid of a single light, as his custom was, a person arrived to see him, +at the same time manifesting a considerable appearance of secrecy +and reserve. Inwardly sighing at the interruption, Ling nevertheless +received him with distinguished consideration and respect, setting tea +before him, and performing towards it many honourable actions with his +own hands. Not until some hours had sped in conversation relating to +the health of the Emperor, the unexpected appearance of a fiery dragon +outside the city, and the insupportable price of opium, did the visitor +allude to the object of his presence. + +“It has been observed,” he remarked, “that the accomplished Ling, who +aspires to a satisfactory rank at the examinations, has never before +made the attempt. Doubtless in this case a preternatural wisdom will +avail much, and its fortunate possessor will not go unrewarded. Yet +it is as precious stones among ashes for one to triumph in such +circumstances.” + +“The fact is known to this person,” replied Ling sadly, “and the thought +of the years he may have to wait before he shall have passed even the +first degree weighs down his soul with bitterness from time to time.” + +“It is no infrequent thing for men of accomplished perseverance, but +merely ordinary intellects, to grow venerable within the four walls +of the examination cell,” continued the other. “Some, again, become +afflicted with various malignant evils, while not a few, chiefly those +who are presenting themselves for the first time, are so overcome on +perceiving the examination paper, and understanding the inadequate +nature of their own accomplishments, that they become an easy prey to +the malicious spirits which are ever on the watch in those places; and, +after covering their leaves with unpresentable remarks and drawings +of men and women of distinguished rank, have at length to be forcibly +carried away by the attendants and secured with heavy chains.” + +“Such things undoubtedly exist,” agreed Ling; “yet by a due regard paid +to spirits, both good and bad, a proper esteem for one’s ancestors, and +a sufficiency of charms about the head and body, it is possible to be +closeted with all manner of demons and yet to suffer no evil.” + +“It is undoubtedly possible to do so, according to the Immortal +Principles,” admitted the stranger; “but it is not an undertaking in +which a refined person would take intelligent pleasure; as the proverb +says, ‘He is a wise and enlightened suppliant who seeks to discover +an honourable Mandarin, but he is a fool who cries out, “I have found +one.”’ However, it is obvious that the reason of my visit is understood, +and that your distinguished confidence in yourself is merely a graceful +endeavour to obtain my services for a less amount of taels than I should +otherwise have demanded. For half the usual sum, therefore, this person +will take your place in the examination cell, and enable your versatile +name to appear in the winning lists, while you pass your moments in +irreproachable pleasures elsewhere.” + +Such a course had never presented itself to Ling. As the person who +narrates this story has already marked, he had passed his life beyond +the influence of the ways and manners of towns, and at the same time +he had naturally been endowed with an unobtrusive highmindedness. It +appeared to him, in consequence, that by accepting this engaging offer +he would be placing those who were competing with him at a disadvantage. +This person clearly sees that it is a difficult matter for him to +explain how this could be, as Ling would undoubtedly reward the services +of the one who took his place, nor would the number of the competitors +be in any way increased; yet in such a way the thing took shape before +his eyes. Knowing, however, that few persons would be able to understand +this action, and being desirous of not injuring the estimable emotions +of the obliging person who had come to him, Ling made a number of +polished excuses in declining, hiding the true reason within himself. In +this way he earned the powerful malignity of the person in question, +who would not depart until he had effected a number of very disagreeable +prophecies connected with unpropitious omens and internal torments, all +of which undoubtedly had a great influence on Ling’s life beyond that +time. + +Each day of the examination found Ling alternately elated or depressed, +according to the length and style of the essay which he had written +while enclosed in his solitary examination cell. The trials each lasted +a complete day, and long before the fifteen days which composed the full +examination were passed, Ling found himself half regretting that he had +not accepted his visitor’s offer, or even reviling the day on which he +had abandoned the hereditary calling of his ancestors. However, when, +after all was over, he came to deliberate with himself on his chances of +attaining a degree, he could not disguise from his own mind that he had +well-formed hopes; he was not conscious of any undignified errors, and, +in reply to several questions, he had been able to introduce +curious knowledge which he possessed by means of his exceptional +circumstances--knowledge which it was unlikely that any other candidate +would have been able to make himself master of. + +At length the day arrived on which the results were to be made public; +and Ling, together with all the other competitors and many distinguished +persons, attended at the great Hall of Intellectual Coloured Lights +to hear the reading of the lists. Eight thousand candidates had been +examined, and from this number less than two hundred were to be selected +for appointments. Amid a most distinguished silence the winning names +were read out. Waves of most undignified but inevitable emotion passed +over those assembled as the list neared its end, and the chances of +success became less at each spoken word; and then, finding that his +was not among them, together with the greater part of those present, he +became a prey to very inelegant thoughts, which were not lessened by the +refined cries of triumph of the successful persons. Among this confusion +the one who had read the lists was observed to be endeavouring to make +his voice known, whereupon, in the expectation that he had omitted a +name, the tumult was quickly subdued by those who again had pleasurable +visions. + +“There was among the candidates one of the name of Ling,” said he, when +no-noise had been obtained. “The written leaves produced by this person +are of a most versatile and conflicting order, so that, indeed, the +accomplished examiners themselves are unable to decide whether they +are very good or very bad. In this matter, therefore, it is clearly +impossible to place the expert and inimitable Ling among the foremost, +as his very uncertain success may have been brought about with the +assistance of evil spirits; nor would it be safe to pass over his +efforts without reward, as he may be under the protection of powerful +but exceedingly ill-advised deities. The estimable Ling is told to +appear again at this place after the gong has been struck three times, +when the matter will have been looked at from all round.” + +At this announcement there arose another great tumult, several crying +out that assuredly their written leaves were either very good or very +bad; but no further proclamation was made, and very soon the hall was +cleared by force. + +At the time stated Ling again presented himself at the Hall, and was +honourably received. + +“The unusual circumstances of the matter have already been put forth,” + said an elderly Mandarin of engaging appearance, “so that nothing +remains to be made known except the end of our despicable efforts to +come to an agreeable conclusion. In this we have been made successful, +and now desire to notify the result. A very desirable and not +unremunerative office, rarely bestowed in this manner, is lately vacant, +and taking into our minds the circumstances of the event, and the fact +that Ling comes from a Province very esteemed for the warlike instincts +of its inhabitants, we have decided to appoint him commander of the +valiant and blood-thirsty band of archers now stationed at Si-chow, in +the Province of Hu-Nan. We have spoken. Let three guns go off in honour +of the noble and invincible Ling, now and henceforth a commander in +the ever-victorious Army of the Sublime Emperor, brother of the Sun and +Moon, and Upholder of the Four Corners of the World.” + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Many hours passed before Ling, now more downcast in mind than the most +unsuccessful student in Canton, returned to his room and sought his +couch of dried rushes. All his efforts to have his distinguished +appointment set aside had been without avail, and he had been ordered to +reach Si-chow within a week. As he passed through the streets, elegant +processions in honour of the winners met him at every corner, and drove +him into the outskirts for the object of quietness. There he remained +until the beating of paper drums and the sound of exulting voices could +be heard no more; but even when he returned lanterns shone in many +dwellings, for two hundred persons were composing verses, setting forth +their renown and undoubted accomplishments, ready to affix to their +doors and send to friends on the next day. Not giving any portion of +his mind to this desirable act of behaviour, Ling flung himself upon the +floor, and, finding sleep unattainable, plunged himself into profound +meditation of a very uninviting order. “Without doubt,” he exclaimed, +“evil can only arise from evil, and as this person has always +endeavoured to lead a life in which his devotions have been equally +divided between the sacred Emperor, his illustrious parents, and his +venerable ancestors, the fault cannot lie with him. Of the excellence of +his parents he has full knowledge; regarding the Emperor, it might +not be safe to conjecture. It is therefore probable that some of his +ancestors were persons of abandoned manner and inelegant habits, to +worship whom results in evil rather than good. Otherwise, how could it +be that one whose chief delight lies in the passive contemplation of the +Four Books and the Five Classics, should be selected by destiny to fill +a position calling for great personal courage and an aggressive nature? +Assuredly it can only end in a mean and insignificant death, perhaps not +even followed by burial.” + +In this manner of thought he fell asleep, and after certain very base +and impressive dreams, from which good omens were altogether absent, he +awoke, and rose to begin his preparations for leaving the city. After +two days spent chiefly in obtaining certain safeguards against treachery +and the bullets of foemen, purchasing opium and other gifts with +which to propitiate the soldiers under his charge, and in consulting +well-disposed witches and readers of the future, he set out, and by +travelling in extreme discomfort, reached Si-chow within five days. +During his journey he learned that the entire Province was engaged in +secret rebellion, several towns, indeed, having declared against +the Imperial army without reserve. Those persons to whom Ling spoke +described the rebels, with respectful admiration, as fierce and +unnaturally skilful in all methods of fighting, revengeful and merciless +towards their enemies, very numerous and above the ordinary height of +human beings, and endowed with qualities which made their skin capable +of turning aside every kind of weapon. Furthermore, he was assured that +a large band of the most abandoned and best trained was at that moment +in the immediate neighbourhood of Si-chow. + +Ling was not destined long to remain in any doubt concerning the truth +of these matters, for as he made his way through a dark cypress wood, +a few li from the houses of Si-chow, the sounds of a confused outcry +reached his ears, and on stepping aside to a hidden glade some distance +from the path, he beheld a young and elegant maiden of incomparable +beauty being carried away by two persons of most repulsive and +undignified appearance, whose dress and manner clearly betrayed them to +be rebels of the lowest and worst-paid type. At this sight Ling became +possessed of feelings of a savage yet agreeable order, which until +that time he had not conjectured to have any place within his mind, and +without even pausing to consider whether the planets were in favourable +positions for the enterprise to be undertaken at that time, he drew his +sword, and ran forward with loud cries. Unsettled in their intentions +at this unexpected action, the two persons turned and advanced upon Ling +with whirling daggers, discussing among themselves whether it would be +better to kill him at the first blow or to take him alive, and, when +the day had become sufficiently cool for the full enjoyment of the +spectacle, submit him to various objectionable tortures of so degraded a +nature that they were rarely used in the army of the Emperor except upon +the persons of barbarians. Observing that the maiden was not bound, Ling +cried out to her to escape and seek protection within the town, adding, +with a magnanimous absence of vanity: + +“Should this person chance to fall, the repose which the presence of +so lovely and graceful a being would undoubtedly bring to his departing +spirit would be out-balanced by the unendurable thought that his +commonplace efforts had not been sufficient to save her from the two +evilly-disposed individuals who are, as he perceives, at this moment, +neglecting no means within their power to accomplish his destruction.” + Accepting the discernment of these words, the maiden fled, first +bestowing a look upon Ling which clearly indicated an honourable regard +for himself, a high-minded desire that the affair might end profitably +on his account, and an amiable hope that they should meet again, when +these subjects could be expressed more clearly between them. + +In the meantime Ling had become at a disadvantage, for the time occupied +in speaking and in making the necessary number of bows in reply to +her entrancing glance had given the other persons an opportunity +of arranging their charms and sacred written sentences to greater +advantage, and of occupying the most favourable ground for the +encounter. Nevertheless, so great was the force of the new emotion which +had entered into Ling’s nature that, without waiting to consider the +dangers or the best method of attack, he rushed upon them, waving his +sword with such force that he appeared as though surrounded by a circle +of very brilliant fire. In this way he reached the rebels, who both fell +unexpectedly at one blow, they, indeed, being under the impression that +the encounter had not commenced in reality, and that Ling was merely +menacing them in order to inspire their minds with terror and raise his +own spirits. However much he regretted this act of the incident which +he had been compelled to take, Ling could not avoid being filled with +intellectual joy at finding that his own charms and omens were more +distinguished than those possessed by the rebels, none of whom, as he +now plainly understood, he need fear. + +Examining these things within his mind, and reflecting on the events +of the past few days, by which he had been thrown into a class of +circumstances greatly differing from anything which he had ever sought, +Ling continued his journey, and soon found himself before the southern +gate of Si-chow. Entering the town, he at once formed the resolution of +going before the Mandarin for Warlike Deeds and Arrangements, so that he +might present, without delay, the papers and seals which he had brought +with him from Canton. + +“The noble Mandarin Li Keen?” replied the first person to whom Ling +addressed himself. “It would indeed be a difficult and hazardous +conjecture to make concerning his sacred person. By chance he is in the +strongest and best-concealed cellar in Si-chow, unless the sumptuous +attractions of the deepest dry well have induced him to make a short +journey”; and, with a look of great unfriendliness at Ling’s dress and +weapons, this person passed on. + +“Doubtless he is fighting single-handed against the armed men by whom +the place is surrounded,” said another; “or perhaps he is constructing +an underground road from the Yamen to Peking, so that we may all escape +when the town is taken. All that can be said with certainty is that the +Heaven-sent and valorous Mandarin has not been seen outside the walls of +his well-fortified residence since the trouble arose; but, as you carry +a sword of conspicuous excellence, you will doubtless be welcome.” + +Upon making a third attempt Ling was more successful, for he inquired +of an aged woman, who had neither a reputation for keen and polished +sentences to maintain, nor any interest in the acts of the Mandarin +or of the rebels. From her he learned how to reach the Yamen, and +accordingly turned his footsteps in that direction. When at length +he arrived at the gate, Ling desired his tablets to be carried to the +Mandarin with many expressions of an impressive and engaging nature, +nor did he neglect to reward the porter. It was therefore with the +expression of a misunderstanding mind that he received a reply setting +forth that Li Keen was unable to receive him. In great doubt he +prevailed upon the porter, by means of a still larger reward, again to +carry in his message, and on this occasion an answer in this detail was +placed before him. + +“Li Keen,” he was informed, “is indeed awaiting the arrival of one Ling, +a noble and valiant Commander of Bowmen. He is given to understand, +it is true, that a certain person claiming the same honoured name is +standing in somewhat undignified attitudes at the gate, but he is unable +in any way to make these two individuals meet within his intellect. He +would further remind all persons that the refined observances laid down +by the wise and exalted Board of Rites and Ceremonies have a marked and +irreproachable significance when the country is in a state of disorder, +the town surrounded by rebels, and every breathing-space of time of more +than ordinary value.” + +Overpowered with becoming shame at having been connected with so +unseemly a breach of civility, for which his great haste had in reality +been accountable, Ling hastened back into the town, and spent many hours +endeavouring to obtain a chair of the requisite colour in which to +visit the Mandarin. In this he was unsuccessful, until it was at length +suggested to him that an ordinary chair, such as stood for hire in the +streets of Si-chow, would be acceptable if covered with blue paper. +Still in some doubt as to what the nature of his reception would be, +Ling had no choice but to take this course, and accordingly he again +reached the Yamen in such a manner, carried by two persons whom he had +obtained for the purpose. While yet hardly at the residence a salute was +suddenly fired; all the gates and doors were, without delay, thrown open +with embarrassing and hospitable profusion, and the Mandarin himself +passed out, and would have assisted Ling to step down from his chair +had not that person, clearly perceiving that such a course would be +too great an honour, evaded him by an unobtrusive display of versatile +dexterity. So numerous and profound were the graceful remarks which each +made concerning the habits and accomplishments of the other that more +than the space of an hour was passed in traversing the small enclosed +ground which led up to the principal door of the Yamen. There an almost +greater time was agreeably spent, both Ling and the Mandarin having +determined that the other should enter first. Undoubtedly Ling, who +was the more powerful of the two, would have conferred this courteous +distinction upon Li Keen had not that person summoned to his side +certain attendants who succeeded in frustrating Ling in his high-minded +intentions, and in forcing him through the doorway in spite of his +conscientious protests against the unsurmountable obligation under which +the circumstance placed him. + +Conversing in this intellectual and dignified manner, the strokes of +the gong passed unheeded; tea had been brought into their presence many +times, and night had fallen before the Mandarin allowed Ling to refer +to the matter which had brought him to the place, and to present his +written papers and seals. + +“It is a valuable privilege to have so intelligent a person as the +illustrious Ling occupying this position,” remarked the Mandarin, as he +returned the papers; “and not less so on account of the one who +preceded him proving himself to be a person of feeble attainments and an +unendurable deficiency of resource.” + +“To one with the all-knowing Li Keen’s mental acquisitions, such a +person must indeed have become excessively offensive,” replied Ling +delicately; “for, as it is truly said, ‘Although there exist many +thousand subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot +meet a cripple without talking about feet.’” + +“He to whom I have referred was such a one,” said Li Keen, appreciating +with an expression of countenance the fitness of Ling’s proverb. “He was +totally inadequate to the requirements of his position; for he possessed +no military knowledge, and was placed in command by those at Peking as +a result of his taking a high place at one of the examinations. But more +than this, although his three years of service were almost completed, +I was quite unsuccessful in convincing him that an unseemly degradation +probably awaited him unless he could furnish me with the means with +which to propitiate the persons in authority at Peking. This he +neglected to do with obstinate pertinacity, which compelled this person +to inquire within himself whether one of so little discernment could be +trusted with an important and arduous office. After much deliberation, +this person came to the decision that the Commander in question was not +a fit person, and he therefore reported him to the Imperial Board +of Punishment at Peking as one subject to frequent and periodical +eccentricities, and possessed of less than ordinary intellect. In +consequence of this act of justice, the Commander was degraded to the +rank of common bowman, and compelled to pay a heavy fine in addition.” + +“It was a just and enlightened conclusion of the affair,” said Ling, in +spite of a deep feeling of no enthusiasm, “and one which surprisingly +bore out your own prophecy in the matter.” + +“It was an inspired warning to persons who should chance to be in a like +position at any time,” replied Li Keen. “So grasping and corrupt are +those who control affairs in Peking that I have no doubt they would +scarcely hesitate in debasing even one so immaculate as the exceptional +Ling, and placing him in some laborious and ill-paid civil department +should he not accede to their extortionate demands.” + +This suggestion did not carry with it the unpleasurable emotions which +the Mandarin anticipated it would. The fierce instincts which had been +aroused within Ling by the incident in the cypress wood had died out, +while his lamentable ignorance of military affairs was ever before his +mind. These circumstances, together with his naturally gentle habits, +made him regard such a degradation rather favourably than otherwise. +He was meditating within himself whether he could arrange such a course +without delay when the Mandarin continued: + +“That, however, is a possibility which is remote to the extent of at +least two or three years; do not, therefore, let so unpleasing a thought +cast darkness upon your brows or remove the unparalleled splendour of +so refined an occasion... Doubtless the accomplished Ling is a master of +the art of chess-play, for many of our most thoughtful philosophers have +declared war to be nothing but such a game; let this slow-witted and +cumbersome person have an opportunity, therefore, of polishing his +declining facilities by a pleasant and dignified encounter.” + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +On the next day, having completed his business at the Yamen, Ling left +the town, and without desiring any ceremony quietly betook himself to +his new residence within the camp, which was situated among the millet +fields some distance from Si-chow. As soon as his presence became known +all those who occupied positions of command, and whose years of service +would shortly come to an end, hastened to present themselves before +him, bringing with them offerings according to the rank they held, they +themselves requiring a similar service from those beneath them. First +among these, and next in command to Ling himself, was the Chief of +Bowmen, a person whom Ling observed with extreme satisfaction to be very +powerful in body and possessing a strong and dignified countenance +which showed unquestionable resolution and shone with a tiger-like +tenaciousness of purpose. + +“Undoubtedly,” thought Ling, as he observed this noble and prepossessing +person, “here is one who will be able to assist me in whatever +perplexities may arise. Never was there an individual who seemed more +worthy to command and lead; assuredly to him the most intricate and +prolonged military positions will be an enjoyment; the most crafty +stratagems of the enemy as the full moon rising from behind a screen +of rushes. Without making any pretence of knowledge, this person will +explain the facts of the case to him and place himself without limit in +his hands.” + +For this purpose he therefore detained the Chief of Bowmen when the +others departed, and complimented him, with many expressive phrases, on +the excellence of his appearance, as the thought occurred to him that +by this means, without disclosing the full measure of his ignorance, the +person in question might be encouraged to speak unrestrainedly of the +nature of his exploits, and perchance thereby explain the use of the +appliances employed and the meaning of the various words of order, +in all of which details the Commander was as yet most disagreeably +imperfect. In this, however, he was disappointed, for the Chief of +Bowmen, greatly to Ling’s surprise, received all his polished sentences +with somewhat foolish smiles of great self-satisfaction, merely replying +from time to time as he displayed his pigtail to greater advantage or +rearranged his gold-embroidered cloak: + +“This person must really pray you to desist; the honour is indeed too +great.” + +Disappointed in his hope, and not desiring after this circumstance to +expose his shortcomings to one who was obviously not of a highly-refined +understanding, no matter how great his valour in war or his knowledge of +military affairs might be, Ling endeavoured to lead him to converse of +the bowmen under his charge. In this matter he was more successful, for +the Chief spoke at great length and with evilly-inspired contempt of +their inelegance, their undiscriminating and excessive appetites, and +the frequent use which they made of low words and gestures. Desiring to +become acquainted rather with their methods of warfare than with their +domestic details, Ling inquired of him what formation they relied upon +when receiving the foemen. + +“It is a matter which has not engaged the attention of this one,” + replied the Chief, with an excessive absence of interest. “There are so +many affairs of intelligent dignity which cannot be put aside, and +which occupy one from beginning to end. As an example, this person may +describe how the accomplished Li-Lu, generally depicted as the Blue-eyed +Dove of Virtuous and Serpent-like Attitudes, has been scattering glory +upon the Si-chow Hall of Celestial Harmony for many days past. It is +an enlightened display which the high-souled Ling should certainly +endeavour to dignify with his presence, especially at the portion +where the amiable Li-Lu becomes revealed in the appearance of a Peking +sedan-chair bearer and describes the manner and likenesses of certain +persons--chiefly high-priests of Buddha, excessively round-bodied +merchants who feign to be detained within Peking on affairs of commerce, +maidens who attend at the tables of tea-houses, and those of both sexes +who are within the city for the first time to behold its temples and +open spaces--who are conveyed from place to place in the chair.” + +“And the bowmen?” suggested Ling, with difficulty restraining an +undignified emotion. + +“Really, the elegant Ling will discover them to be persons of deficient +manners, and quite unworthy of occupying his well-bred conversation,” + replied the Chief. “As regards their methods--if the renowned Ling +insists--they fight by means of their bows, with which they discharge +arrows at the foemen, they themselves hiding behind trees and rocks. +Should the enemy be undisconcerted by the cloud of arrows, and advance, +the bowmen are instructed to make a last endeavour to frighten them back +by uttering loud shouts and feigning the voices of savage beasts of the +forest and deadly snakes.” + +“And beyond that?” inquired Ling. + +“Beyond that there are no instructions,” replied the Chief. “The +bowmen would then naturally take to flight, or, if such a course became +impossible, run to meet the enemy, protesting that they were convinced +of the justice of their cause, and were determined to fight on their +side in the future.” + +“Would it not be of advantage to arm them with cutting weapons also?” + inquired Ling; “so that when all their arrows were discharged they would +still be able to take part in the fight, and not be lost to us?” + +“They would not be lost to us, of course,” replied the Chief, “as we +would still be with them. But such a course as the one you suggest could +not fail to end in dismay. Being as well armed as ourselves, they +would then turn upon us, and, having destroyed us, proceed to establish +leaders of their own.” + +As Ling and the Chief of Bowmen conversed in this enlightened manner, +there arose a great outcry from among the tents, and presently there +entered to them a spy who had discovered a strong force of the enemy not +more than ten or twelve li away, who showed every indication of marching +shortly in the direction of Si-chow. In numbers alone, he continued, +they were greatly superior to the bowmen, and all were well armed. The +spreading of this news threw the entire camp into great confusion, many +protesting that the day was not a favourable one on which to fight, +others crying that it was their duty to fall back on Si-chow and protect +the women and children. In the midst of this tumult the Chief of Bowmen +returned to Ling, bearing in his hand a written paper which he regarded +in uncontrollable anguish. + +“Oh, illustrious Ling,” he cried, restraining his grief with difficulty, +and leaning for support upon the shoulders of two bowmen, “how +prosperous indeed are you! What greater misfortune can engulf a person +who is both an ambitious soldier and an affectionate son, than to lose +such a chance of glory and promotion as only occurs once within the +lifetime, and an affectionate and venerable father upon the same day? +Behold this mandate to attend, without a moment’s delay, at the funeral +obsequies of one whom I left, only last week, in the fullness of health +and power. The occasion being an unsuitable one, I will not call upon +the courteous Ling to join me in sorrow; but his own devout filial piety +is so well known that I can conscientiously rely upon an application for +absence to be only a matter of official ceremony.” + +“The application will certainly be regarded as merely official +ceremony,” replied Ling, without resorting to any delicate pretence of +meaning, “and the refined scruples of the person who is addressing me +will be fully met by the official date of his venerated father’s +death being fixed for a more convenient season. In the meantime, the +unobtrusive Chief of Bowmen may take the opportunity of requesting that +the family tomb be kept unsealed until he is heard from again.” + +Ling turned away, as he finished this remark, with a dignified feeling +of not inelegant resentment. In this way he chanced to observe a large +body of soldiers which was leaving the camp accompanied by their lesser +captains, all crowned with garlands of flowers and creeping plants. In +spite of his very inadequate attainments regarding words of order, the +Commander made it understood by means of an exceedingly short sentence +that he was desirous of the men returning without delay. + +“Doubtless the accomplished Commander, being but newly arrived in this +neighbourhood, is unacquainted with the significance of this display,” + said one of the lesser captains pleasantly. “Know then, O wise and +custom-respecting Ling, that on a similar day many years ago this +valiant band of bowmen was engaged in a very honourable affair with +certain of the enemy. Since then it has been the practice to commemorate +the matter with music and other forms of delight within the large square +at Si-chow.” + +“Such customs are excellent,” said Ling affably. “On this occasion, +however, the public square will be so insufferably thronged with the +number of timorous and credulous villagers who have pressed into the +town that insufficient justice would be paid to your entrancing display. +In consequence of this, we will select for the purpose some convenient +spot in the neighbourhood. The proceedings will be commenced by a +display of arrow-shooting at moving objects, followed by racing and +dancing, in which this person will lead. I have spoken.” + +At these words many of the more courageous among the bowmen became +destructively inspired, and raised shouts of defiance against the enemy, +enumerating at great length the indignities which they would heap upon +their prisoners. Cries of distinction were also given on behalf of Ling, +even the more terrified exclaiming: + +“The noble Commander Ling will lead us! He has promised, and assuredly +he will not depart from his word. Shielded by his broad and sacred body, +from which the bullets glance aside harmlessly, we will advance upon the +enemy in the stealthy manner affected by ducks when crossing the swamp. +How altogether superior a person our Commander is when likened unto the +leaders of the foemen--they who go into battle completely surrounded by +their archers!” + +Upon this, perceiving the clear direction in which matters were turning, +the Chief of Bowmen again approached Ling. + +“Doubtless the highly-favoured person whom I am now addressing has been +endowed with exceptional authority direct from Peking,” he remarked with +insidious politeness. “Otherwise this narrow-minded individual would +suggest that such a decision does not come within the judgment of a +Commander.” + +In his ignorance of military matters it had not entered the mind of +Ling that his authority did not give him the power to commence an +attack without consulting other and more distinguished persons. At the +suggestion, which he accepted as being composed of truth, he paused, the +enlightened zeal with which he had been inspired dying out as he plainly +understood the difficulties by which he was enclosed. There seemed a +single expedient path for him in the matter; so, directing a person +of exceptional trustworthiness to prepare himself for a journey, he +inscribed a communication to the Mandarin Li Keen, in which he narrated +the facts and asked for speedy directions, and then despatched it with +great urgency to Si-chow. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +When these matters were arranged, Ling returned to his tent, a victim +to feelings of a deep and confused doubt, for all courses seemed to +be surrounded by extreme danger, with the strong possibility of final +disaster. While he was considering these things attentively, the spy who +had brought word of the presence of the enemy again sought him. As he +entered, Ling perceived that his face was the colour of a bleached linen +garment, while there came with him the odour of sickness. + +“There are certain matters which this person has not made known,” he +said, having first expressed a request that he might not be compelled to +stand while he conversed. “The bowmen are as an inferior kind of jackal, +and they who lead them are pigs, but this person has observed that the +Heaven-sent Commander has internal organs like steel hardened in a white +fire and polished by running water. For this reason he will narrate +to him the things he has seen--things at which the lesser ones would +undoubtedly perish in terror without offering to strike a blow.” + +“Speak,” said Ling, “without fear and without concealment.” + +“In numbers the rebels are as three to one with the bowmen, and are, +in addition, armed with matchlocks and other weapons; this much I have +already told,” said the spy. “Yesterday they entered the village of Ki +without resistance, as the dwellers there were all peaceable persons, +who gain a living from the fields, and who neither understood nor +troubled about the matters between the rebels and the army. Relying on +the promises made by the rebel chiefs, the villagers even welcomed them, +as they had been assured that they came as buyers of their corn and +rice. To-day not a house stands in the street of Ki, not a person lives. +The men they slew quickly, or held for torture, as they desired at the +moment; the boys they hung from the trees as marks for their arrows. +Of the women and children this person, who has since been subject to +several attacks of fainting and vomiting, desires not to speak. The +wells of Ki are filled with the bodies of such as had the good fortune +to be warned in time to slay themselves. The cattle drag themselves from +place to place on their forefeet; the fish in the Heng-Kiang are dying, +for they cannot live on water thickened into blood. All these things +this person has seen.” + +When he had finished speaking, Ling remained in deep and funereal +thought for some time. In spite of his mild nature, the words which +he had heard filled him with an inextinguishable desire to slay in +hand-to-hand fighting. He regretted that he had placed the decision of +the matter before Li Keen. + +“If only this person had a mere handful of brave and expert warriors, he +would not hesitate to fall upon those savage and barbarous characters, +and either destroy them to the last one, or let his band suffer a like +fate,” he murmured to himself. + +The return of the messenger found him engaged in reviewing the bowmen, +and still in this mood, so that it was with a commendable feeling of +satisfaction, no less than virtuous contempt, that he learned of the +Mandarin’s journey to Peking as soon as he understood that the rebels +were certainly in the neighbourhood. + +“The wise and ornamental Li Keen is undoubtedly consistent in all +matters,” said Ling, with some refined bitterness. “The only +information regarding his duties which this person obtained from him +chanced to be a likening of war to skilful chess-play, and to this end +the accomplished person in question has merely availed himself of a +common expedient which places him at the remote side of the divine +Emperor. Yet this act is not unwelcome, for the responsibility of +deciding what course is to be adopted now clearly rests with this +person. He is, as those who are standing by may perceive, of under the +usual height, and of no particular mental or bodily attainments. But he +has eaten the rice of the Emperor, and wears the Imperial sign +embroidered upon his arm. Before him are encamped the enemies of his +master and of his land, and in no way will he turn his back upon them. +Against brave and skilful men, such as those whom this person commands, +rebels of a low and degraded order are powerless, and are, moreover, +openly forbidden to succeed by the Forty-second Mandate in the Sacred +Book of Arguments. Should it have happened that into this assembly any +person of a perfidious or uncourageous nature has gained entrance by +guile, and has not been detected and driven forth by his outraged +companions (as would certainly occur if such a person were discovered), +I, Ling, Commander of Bowmen, make an especial and well-considered +request that he shall be struck by a molten thunderbolt if he turns to +flight or holds thoughts of treachery.” + +Having thus addressed and encouraged the soldiers, Ling instructed them +that each one should cut and fashion for himself a graceful but weighty +club from among the branches of the trees around, and then return to the +tents for the purpose of receiving food and rice spirit. + +When noon was passed, allowing such time as would enable him to reach +the camp of the enemy an hour before darkness, Ling arranged the bowmen +in companies of convenient numbers, and commenced the march, sending +forward spies, who were to work silently and bring back tidings from +every point. In this way he penetrated to within a single li of the +ruins of Ki, being informed by the spies that no outposts of the enemy +were between him and that place. Here the first rest was made to +enable the more accurate and bold spies to reach them with trustworthy +information regarding the position and movements of the camp. With +little delay there returned the one who had brought the earliest +tidings, bruised and torn with his successful haste through the forest, +but wearing a complacent and well-satisfied expression of countenance. +Without hesitation or waiting to demand money before he would reveal his +knowledge, he at once disclosed that the greater part of the enemy were +rejoicing among the ruins of Ki, they having discovered there a quantity +of opium and a variety of liquids, while only a small guard remained in +the camp with their weapons ready. At these words Ling sprang from +the ground in gladness, so great was his certainty of destroying the +invaders utterly. It was, however, with less pleasurable emotions that +he considered how he should effect the matter, for it was in no way +advisable to divide his numbers into two bands. Without any feeling of +unendurable conceit, he understood that no one but himself could hold +the bowmen before an assault, however weak. In a similar manner, he +determined that it would be more advisable to attack those in the +village first. These he might have reasonable hopes of cutting down +without warning the camp, or, in any event, before those from the camp +arrived. To assail the camp first would assuredly, by the firing, draw +upon them those from the village, and in whatever evil state these might +arrive, they would, by their numbers, terrify the bowmen, who without +doubt would have suffered some loss from the matchlocks. + +Waiting for the last light of day, Ling led on the men again, and +sending forward some of the most reliable, surrounded the place of the +village silently and without detection. In the open space, among broken +casks and other inconsiderable matters, plainly shown by the large fires +at which burned the last remains of the houses of Ki, many men moved +or lay, some already dull or in heavy sleep. As the darkness dropped +suddenly, the signal of a peacock’s shriek, three times uttered, rang +forth, and immediately a cloud of arrows, directed from all sides, +poured in among those who feasted. Seeing their foemen defenceless +before them, the archers neglected the orders they had received, and +throwing away their bows they rushed in with uplifted clubs, uttering +loud shouts of triumph. The next moment a shot was fired in the wood, +drums beat, and in an unbelievably short space of time a small but +well-armed band of the enemy was among them. Now that all need of +caution was at an end, Ling rushed forward with raised sword, calling +to his men that victory was certainly theirs, and dealing discriminating +and inspiriting blows whenever he met a foeman. Three times he formed +the bowmen into a figure emblematic of triumph, and led them against the +line of matchlocks. Twice they fell back, leaving mingled dead under +the feet of the enemy. The third time they stood firm, and Ling threw +himself against the waving rank in a noble and inspired endeavour to +lead the way through. At that moment, when a very distinguished victory +seemed within his hand, his elegant and well-constructed sword broke +upon an iron shield, leaving him defenceless and surrounded by the +enemy. + +“Chief among the sublime virtues enjoined by the divine Confucius,” + began Ling, folding his arms and speaking in an unmoved voice, “is an +intelligent submission--” but at that word he fell beneath a rain of +heavy and unquestionably well-aimed blows. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Between Si-chow and the village of Ki, in a house completely hidden from +travellers by the tall and black trees which surrounded it, lived an +aged and very wise person whose ways and manner of living had become so +distasteful to his neighbours that they at length agreed to regard him +as a powerful and ill-disposed magician. In this way it became a custom +that all very unseemly deeds committed by those who, in the ordinary +course, would not be guilty of such behaviour, should be attributed +to his influence, so that justice might be effected without persons of +assured respectability being put to any inconvenience. Apart from the +feeling which resulted from this just decision, the uncongenial person +in question had become exceedingly unpopular on account of certain +definite actions of his own, as that of causing the greater part of +Si-chow to be burned down by secretly breathing upon the seven sacred +water-jugs to which the town owed its prosperity and freedom from fire. +Furthermore, although possessed of many taels, and able to afford such +food as is to be found upon the tables of Mandarins, he selected from +choice dishes of an objectionable nature; he had been observed to eat +eggs of unbecoming freshness, and the Si-chow Official Printed Leaf made +it public that he had, on an excessively hot occasion, openly partaken +of cow’s milk. It is not a matter for wonder, therefore, that when +unnaturally loud thunder was heard in the neighbourhood of Si-chow +the more ignorant and credulous persons refused to continue in any +description of work until certain ceremonies connected with rice spirit, +and the adherence to a reclining position for some hours, had been +conscientiously observed as a protection against evil. + +Not even the most venerable person in Si-chow could remember the time +when the magician had not lived there, and as there existed no written +record narrating the incident, it was with well-founded probability +that he was said to be incapable of death. Contrary to the most general +practice, although quite unmarried, he had adopted no son to found a +line which would worship his memory in future years, but had instead +brought up and caused to be educated in the most difficult varieties +of embroidery a young girl, to whom he referred, for want of a more +suitable description, as the daughter of his sister, although he would +admit without hesitation, when closely questioned, that he had never +possessed a sister, at the same time, however, alluding with some +pride to many illustrious brothers, who had all obtained distinction in +various employments. + +Few persons of any high position penetrated into the house of the +magician, and most of these retired with inelegant haste on perceiving +that no domestic altar embellished the great hall. Indeed, not to make +concealment of the fact, the magician was a person who had entirely +neglected the higher virtues in an avaricious pursuit of wealth. In that +way all his time and a very large number of taels had been expended, +testing results by means of the four elements, and putting together +things which had been inadequately arrived at by others. It was +confidently asserted in Si-chow that he possessed every manner of +printed leaf which had been composed in whatsoever language, and all the +most precious charms, including many snake-skins of more than ordinary +rarity, and the fang of a black wolf which had been stung by seven +scorpions. + +On the death of his father the magician had become possessed of great +wealth, yet he contributed little to the funeral obsequies nor did any +suggestion of a durable and expensive nature conveying his enlightened +name and virtues down to future times cause his face to become +gladdened. In order to preserve greater secrecy about the enchantments +which he certainly performed, he employed only two persons within the +house, one of whom was blind and the other deaf. In this ingenious +manner he hoped to receive attention and yet be unobserved, the +blind one being unable to see the nature of the incantations which he +undertook, and the deaf one being unable to hear the words. In this, +however, he was unsuccessful, as the two persons always contrived to +be present together, and to explain to one another the nature of the +various matters afterwards; but as they were of somewhat deficient +understanding, the circumstance was unimportant. + +It was with more uneasiness that the magician perceived one day that the +maiden whom he had adopted was no longer a child. As he desired secrecy +above all things until he should have completed the one important +matter for which he had laboured all his life, he decided with extreme +unwillingness to put into operation a powerful charm towards her, which +would have the effect of diminishing all her attributes until such time +as he might release her again. Owing to his reluctance in the matter, +however, the magic did not act fully, but only in such a way that her +feet became naturally and without binding the most perfect and beautiful +in the entire province of Hu Nan, so that ever afterwards she was called +Pan Fei Mian, in delicate reference to that Empress whose feet were so +symmetrical that a golden lily sprang up wherever she trod. Afterwards +the magician made no further essay in the matter, chiefly because he +was ever convinced that the accomplishment of his desire was within his +grasp. + +The rumours of armed men in the neighbourhood of Si-chow threw the +magician into an unendurable condition of despair. To lose all, as would +most assuredly happen if he had to leave his arranged rooms and secret +preparations and take to flight, was the more bitter because he felt +surer than ever that success was even standing by his side. The very +subtle liquid, which would mix itself into the component parts of the +living creature which drank it, and by an insidious and harmless process +so work that, when the spirit departed, the flesh would become resolved +into a figure of pure and solid gold of the finest quality, had engaged +the refined minds of many of the most expert individuals of remote +ages. With most of these inspired persons, however, the search had +been undertaken in pure-minded benevolence, their chief aim being an +honourable desire to discover a method by which one’s ancestors might +be permanently and effectively preserved in a fit and becoming manner to +receive the worship and veneration of posterity. Yet, in spite of these +amiable motives, and of the fact that the magician merely desired the +possession of the secret to enable him to become excessively wealthy, +the affair had been so arranged that it should come into his possession. + +The matter which concerned Mian in the dark wood, when she was only +saved by the appearance of the person who is already known as Ling, +entirely removed all pleasurable emotions from the magician’s mind, and +on many occasions he stated in a definite and systematic manner that he +would shortly end an ignoble career which seemed to be destined only +to gloom and disappointment. In this way an important misunderstanding +arose, for when, two days later, during the sound of matchlock +firing, the magician suddenly approached the presence of Mian with an +uncontrollable haste and an entire absence of dignified demeanour, +and fell dead at her feet without expressing himself on any subject +whatever, she deliberately judged that in this manner he had carried his +remark into effect, nor did the closed vessel of yellow liquid which he +held in his hand seem to lead away from this decision. In reality, the +magician had fallen owing to the heavy and conflicting emotions which +success had engendered in an intellect already greatly weakened by +his continual disregard of the higher virtues; for the bottle, indeed, +contained the perfection of his entire life’s study, the very expensive +and three-times purified gold liquid. + +On perceiving the magician’s condition, Mian at once called for the two +attendants, and directed them to bring from an inner chamber all the +most effective curing substances, whether in the form of powder or +liquid. When these proved useless, no matter in what way they were +applied, it became evident that there could be very little hope of +restoring the magician, yet so courageous and grateful for the benefits +which she had received from the person in question was Mian, that, in +spite of the uninviting dangers of the enterprise, she determined to +journey to Ki to invoke the assistance of a certain person who was known +to be very successful in casting out malicious demons from the bodies +of animals, and from casks and barrels, in which they frequently took +refuge, to the great detriment of the quality of the liquid placed +therein. + +Not without many hidden fears, Mian set out on her journey, greatly +desiring not to be subjected to an encounter of a nature similar to the +one already recorded; for in such a case she could hardly again hope for +the inspired arrival of the one whom she now often thought of in secret +as the well-formed and symmetrical young sword-user. Nevertheless, an +event of equal significance was destined to prove the wisdom of +the well-known remark concerning thoughts which are occupying one’s +intellect and the unexpected appearance of a very formidable evil +spirit; for as she passed along, quickly yet with so dignified a motion +that the moss received no impression beneath her footsteps, she became +aware of a circumstance which caused her to stop by imparting to her +mind two definite and greatly dissimilar emotions. + +In a grassy and open space, on the verge of which she stood, lay +the dead bodies of seventeen rebels, all disposed in very degraded +attitudes, which contrasted strongly with the easy and becoming position +adopted by the eighteenth--one who bore the unmistakable emblems of the +Imperial army. In this brave and noble-looking personage Mian at once +saw her preserver, and not doubting that an inopportune and treacherous +death had overtaken him, she ran forward and raised him in her arms, +being well assured that however indiscreet such an action might appear +in the case of an ordinary person, the most select maiden need not +hesitate to perform so honourable a service in regard to one whose +virtues had by that time undoubtedly placed him among the Three Thousand +Pure Ones. Being disturbed in this providential manner, Ling opened his +eyes, and faintly murmuring, “Oh, sainted and adorable Koon Yam, Goddess +of Charity, intercede for me with Buddha!” he again lost possession of +himself in the Middle Air. At this remark, which plainly proved Ling to +be still alive, in spite of the fact that both the maiden and the person +himself had thoughts to the contrary, Mian found herself surrounded by +a variety of embarrassing circumstances, among which occurred a +remembrance of the dead magician and the wise person at Ki whom she had +set out to summon; but on considering the various natural and sublime +laws which bore directly on the alternative before her, she discovered +that her plain destiny was to endeavour to restore the breath in the +person who was still alive rather than engage on the very unsatisfactory +chance of attempting to call it back to the body from which it had so +long been absent. + +Having been inspired to this conclusion--which, when she later examined +her mind, she found not to be repulsive to her own inner feelings--Mian +returned to the house with dexterous speed, and calling together the two +attendants, she endeavoured by means of signs and drawings to explain to +them what she desired to accomplish. Succeeding in this after some delay +(for the persons in question, being very illiterate and narrow-minded, +were unable at first to understand the existence of any recumbent male +person other than the dead magician, whom they thereupon commenced to +bury in the garden with expressions of great satisfaction at their +own intelligence in comprehending Mian’s meaning so readily) they all +journeyed to the wood, and bearing Ling between them, they carried him +to the house without further adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +It was in the month of Hot Dragon Breaths, many weeks after the fight in +the woods of Ki, that Ling again opened his eyes to find himself in an +unknown chamber, and to recognize in the one who visited him from time +to time the incomparable maiden whose life he had saved in the cypress +glade. Not a day had passed in the meanwhile on which Mian had neglected +to offer sacrifices to Chang-Chung, the deity interested in drugs and +healing substances, nor had she wavered in her firm resolve to bring +Ling back to an ordinary existence even when the attendants had +protested that the person in question might without impropriety be sent +to the Restoring Establishment of the Last Chance, so little did his +hope of recovering rest upon the efforts of living beings. + +After he had beheld Mian’s face and understood the circumstances of his +escape and recovery, Ling quickly shook off the evil vapours which had +held him down so long, and presently he was able to walk slowly in the +courtyard and in the shady paths of the wood beyond, leaning upon Mian +for the support he still required. + +“Oh, graceful one,” he said on such an occasion, when little stood +between him and the full powers which he had known before the battle, +“there is a matter which has been pressing upon this person’s mind for +some time past. It is as dark after light to let the thoughts dwell +around it, yet the thing itself must inevitably soon be regarded, for in +this life one’s actions are for ever regulated by conditions which are +neither of one’s own seeking nor within one’s power of controlling.” + +At these words all brightness left Mian’s manner, for she at once +understood that Ling referred to his departure, of which she herself had +lately come to think with unrestrained agitation. + +“Oh, Ling,” she exclaimed at length, “most expert of sword-users and +most noble of men, surely never was a maiden more inelegantly placed +than the one who is now by your side. To you she owes her life, yet it +is unseemly for her even to speak of the incident; to you she must +look for protection, yet she cannot ask you to stay by her side. She is +indeed alone. The magician is dead, Ki has fallen, Ling is going, and +Mian is undoubtedly the most unhappy and solitary person between the +Wall and the Nan Hai.” + +“Beloved Mian,” exclaimed Ling, with inspiring vehemence, “and is not +the utterly unworthy person before you indebted to you in a double +measure that life is still within him? Is not the strength which now +promotes him to such exceptional audacity as to aspire to your +lovely hand, of your own creating? Only encourage Ling to entertain a +well-founded hope that on his return he shall not find you partaking +of the wedding feast of some wealthy and exceptionally round-bodied +Mandarin, and this person will accomplish the journey to Canton and back +as it were in four strides.” + +“Oh, Ling, reflexion of my ideal, holder of my soul, it would indeed +be very disagreeable to my own feelings to make any reply save one,” + replied Mian, scarcely above a breath-voice. “Gratitude alone would +direct me, were it not that the great love which fills me leaves no +resting-place for any other emotion than itself. Go if you must, +but return quickly, for your absence will weigh upon Mian like a +dragon-dream.” + +“Violet light of my eyes,” exclaimed Ling, “even in surroundings which +with the exception of the matter before us are uninspiring in the +extreme, your virtuous and retiring encouragement yet raises me to such +a commanding eminence of demonstrative happiness that I fear I +shall become intolerably self-opinionated towards my fellow-men in +consequence.” + +“Such a thing is impossible with my Ling,” said Mian, with conviction. +“But must you indeed journey to Canton?” + +“Alas!” replied Ling, “gladly would this person decide against such +a course did the matter rest with him, for as the Verses say, ‘It +is needless to apply the ram’s head to the unlocked door.’ But Ki is +demolished, the unassuming Mandarin Li Keen has retired to Peking, and +of the fortunes of his bowmen this person is entirely ignorant.” + +“Such as survived returned to their homes,” replied Mian, “and Si-chow +is safe, for the scattered and broken rebels fled to the mountains +again; so much this person has learned.” + +“In that case Si-chow is undoubtedly safe for the time, and can be left +with prudence,” said Ling. “It is an unfortunate circumstance that there +is no Mandarin of authority between here and Canton who can receive from +this person a statement of past facts and give him instructions for the +future.” + +“And what will be the nature of such instructions as will be given at +Canton?” demanded Mian. + +“By chance they may take the form of raising another company of bowmen,” + said Ling, with a sigh, “but, indeed, if this person can obtain any +weight by means of his past service, they will tend towards a pleasant +and unambitious civil appointment.” + +“Oh, my artless and noble-minded lover!” exclaimed Mian, “assuredly a +veil has been before your eyes during your residence in Canton, and your +naturally benevolent mind has turned all things into good, or you would +not thus hopefully refer to your brilliant exploits in the past. Of what +commercial benefit have they been to the sordid and miserly persons +in authority, or in what way have they diverted a stream of taels into +their insatiable pockets? Far greater is the chance that had Si-chow +fallen many of its household goods would have found their way into the +Yamens of Canton. Assuredly in Li Keen you will have a friend who will +make many delicate allusions to your ancestors when you meet, and yet +one who will float many barbed whispers to follow you when you have +passed; for you have planted shame before him in the eyes of those who +would otherwise neither have eyes to see nor tongues to discuss the +matter. It is for such a reason that this person distrusts all things +connected with the journey, except your constancy, oh, my true and +strong one.” + +“Such faithfulness would alone be sufficient to assure my safe return if +the matter were properly represented to the supreme Deities,” said Ling. +“Let not the thin curtain of bitter water stand before your lustrous +eyes any longer, then, the events which have followed one another in the +past few days in a fashion that can only be likened to thunder following +lightning are indeed sufficient to distress one with so refined and +swan-like an organization, but they are now assuredly at an end.” + +“It is a hope of daily recurrence to this person,” replied Mian, +honourably endeavouring to restrain the emotion which openly exhibited +itself in her eyes; “for what maiden would not rather make successful +offerings to the Great Mother Kum-Fa than have the most imposing and +verbose Triumphal Arch erected to commemorate an empty and unsatisfying +constancy?” + +In this amiable manner the matter was arranged between Ling and Mian, as +they sat together in the magician’s garden drinking peach-tea, which the +two attendants--not without discriminating and significant expressions +between themselves--brought to them from time to time. Here Ling made +clear the whole manner of his life from his earliest memory to the +time when he fell in dignified combat, nor did Mian withhold anything, +explaining in particular such charms and spells of the magician as she +had knowledge of, and in this graceful manner materially assisting her +lover in the many disagreeable encounters and conflicts which he was +shortly to experience. + +It was with even more objectionable feelings than before that Ling now +contemplated his journey to Canton, involving as it did the separation +from one who had become as the shadow of his existence, and by whose +side he had an undoubted claim to stand. Yet the necessity of the +undertaking was no less than before, and the full possession of all his +natural powers took away his only excuse for delaying in the matter. +Without any pleasurable anticipations, therefore, he consulted the +Sacred Flat and Round Sticks, and learning that the following day would +be propitious for the journey, he arranged to set out in accordance with +the omen. + +When the final moment arrived at which the invisible threads of +constantly passing emotions from one to the other must be broken, and +when Mian perceived that her lover’s horse was restrained at the door by +the two attendants, who with unsuspected delicacy of feeling had taken +this opportunity of withdrawing, the noble endurance which had hitherto +upheld her melted away, and she became involved in very melancholy +and obscure meditations until she observed that Ling also was quickly +becoming affected by a similar gloom. + +“Alas!” she exclaimed, “how unworthy a person I am thus to impose upon +my lord a greater burden than that which already weighs him down! Rather +ought this one to dwell upon the happiness of that day, when, after +successfully evading or overthrowing the numerous bands of assassins +which infest the road from here to Canton, and after escaping or +recovering from the many deadly pestilences which invariably reduce that +city at this season of the year, he shall triumphantly return. Assuredly +there is a highly-polished surface united to every action in life, +no matter how funereal it may at first appear. Indeed, there are many +incidents compared with which death itself is welcome, and to this end +Mian has reserved a farewell gift.” + +Speaking in this manner the devoted and magnanimous maiden placed in +Ling’s hands the transparent vessel of liquid which the magician had +grasped when he fell. “This person,” she continued, speaking with +difficulty, “places her lover’s welfare incomparably before her own +happiness, and should he ever find himself in a situation which is +unendurably oppressive, and from which death is the only escape--such +as inevitable tortures, the infliction of violent madness, or the +subjection by magic to the will of some designing woman--she begs him +to accept this means of freeing himself without regarding her anguish +beyond expressing a clearly defined last wish that the two persons in +question may be in the end happily reunited in another existence.” + +Assured by this last evidence of affection, Ling felt that he had no +longer any reason for internal heaviness; his spirits were immeasurably +raised by the fragrant incense of Mian’s great devotion, and under its +influence he was even able to breathe towards her a few words of similar +comfort as he left the spot and began his journey. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +On entering Canton, which he successfully accomplished without any +unpleasant adventure, the marked absence of any dignified ostentation +which had been accountable for many of Ling’s misfortunes in the past, +impelled him again to reside in the same insignificant apartment that +he had occupied when he first visited the city as an unknown +and unimportant candidate. In consequence of this, when Ling was +communicating to any person the signs by which messengers might +find him, he was compelled to add, “the neighbourhood in which this +contemptible person resides is that officially known as ‘the mean +quarter favoured by the lower class of those who murder by treachery,’” + and for this reason he was not always treated with the regard to which +his attainments entitled him, or which he would have unquestionably +received had he been able to describe himself as of “the partly-drained +and uninfected area reserved to Mandarins and their friends.” + +It was with an ignoble feeling of mental distress that Ling exhibited +himself at the Chief Office of Warlike Deeds and Arrangements on the +following day; for the many disadvantageous incidents of his past life +had repeated themselves before his eyes while he slept, and the not +unhopeful emotions which he had felt when in the inspiring presence of +Mian were now altogether absent. In spite of the fact that he reached +the office during the early gong strokes of the morning, it was not +until the withdrawal of light that he reached any person who was in a +position to speak with him on the matter, so numerous were the lesser +ones through whose chambers he had to pass in the process. At length he +found himself in the presence of an upper one who had the appearance +of being acquainted with the circumstances, and who received him with +dignity, though not with any embarrassing exhibition of respect or +servility. + +“‘The hero of the illustrious encounter beyond the walls of Si-chow,’” + exclaimed that official, reading the words from the tablet of +introduction which Ling had caused to be carried into him, and at the +same time examining the person in question closely. “Indeed, no such one +is known to those within this office, unless the words chance to point +to the courteous and unassuming Mandarin Li Keen, who, however, is at +this moment recovering his health at Peking, as set forth in the amiable +and impartial report which we have lately received from him.” + +At these words Ling plainly understood that there was little hope of the +last events becoming profitable on his account. + +“Did not the report to which allusion has been made bear reference to +one Ling, Commander of the Archers, who thrice led on the fighting men, +and who was finally successful in causing the rebels to disperse towards +the mountains?” he asked, in a voice which somewhat trembled. + +“There is certainly reference to one of the name you mention,” said +the other; “but regarding the terms--perhaps this person would better +protect his own estimable time by displaying the report within your +sight.” + +With these words the upper one struck a gong several times, and after +receiving from an inner chamber the parchment in question, he placed +it before Ling, at the same time directing a lesser one to interpose +between it and the one who read it a large sheet of transparent +substance, so that destruction might not come to it, no matter in +what way its contents affected the reader. Thereon Ling perceived the +following facts, very skilfully inscribed with the evident purpose of +inducing persons to believe, without question, that words so elegantly +traced must of necessity be truthful also. + + A Benevolent Example of the Intelligent Arrangement by which the + most Worthy Persons outlive those who are Incapable. + + The circumstances connected with the office of the valuable and + accomplished Mandarin of Warlike Deeds and Arrangements at Si-chow + have, in recent times, been of anything but a prepossessing order. + Owing to the very inadequate methods adopted by those who earn a + livelihood by conveying necessities from the more enlightened + portions of the Empire to that place, it so came about that for a + period of five days the Yamen was entirely unsupplied with the + fins of sharks or even with goats’ eyes. To add to the polished + Mandarin’s distress of mind the barbarous and slow-witted rebels + who infest those parts took this opportunity to destroy the town + and most of its inhabitants, the matter coming about as follows: + + The feeble and commonplace person named Ling who commands the + bowmen had but recently been elevated to that distinguished + position from a menial and degraded occupation (for which, indeed, + his stunted intellect more aptly fitted him); and being in + consequence very greatly puffed out in self-gratification, he + became an easy prey to the cunning of the rebels, and allowed + himself to be beguiled into a trap, paying for this contemptible + stupidity with his life. The town of Si-chow was then attacked, + and being in this manner left defenceless through the weakness--or + treachery--of the person Ling, who had contrived to encompass the + entire destruction of his unyielding company, it fell after a + determined and irreproachable resistance; the Mandarin Li Keen + being told, as, covered with the blood of the foemen, he was + dragged away from the thickest part of the unequal conflict by his + followers, that he was the last person to leave the town. On his + way to Peking with news of this valiant defence, the Mandarin was + joined by the Chief of Bowmen, who had understood and avoided the + very obvious snare into which the stagnant-minded Commander had + led his followers, in spite of disinterested advice to the + contrary. For this intelligent perception, and for general + nobility of conduct when in battle, the versatile Chief of Bowmen + is by this written paper strongly recommended to the dignity of + receiving the small metal Embellishment of Valour. + + It has been suggested to the Mandarin Li Keen that the bestowal of + the Crystal Button would only be a fit and graceful reward for his + indefatigable efforts to uphold the dignity of the sublime + Emperor; but to all such persons the Mandarin has sternly replied + that such a proposal would more fitly originate from the renowned + and valuable Office of Warlike Deeds and Arrangements, he well + knowing that the wise and engaging persons who conduct that + indispensable and well-regulated department are gracefully + voracious in their efforts to reward merit, even when it is + displayed, as in the case in question, by one who from his + position will inevitably soon be urgently petitioning in a like + manner on their behalf. + +When Ling had finished reading this elegantly arranged but exceedingly +misleading parchment, he looked up with eyes from which he vainly +endeavoured to restrain the signs of undignified emotion, and said to +the upper one: + +“It is difficult employment for a person to refrain from unendurable +thoughts when his unassuming and really conscientious efforts are +represented in a spirit of no satisfaction, yet in this matter the very +expert Li Keen appears to have gone beyond himself; the Commander Ling, +who is herein represented as being slain by the enemy, is, indeed, the +person who is standing before you, and all the other statements are in a +like exactness.” + +“The short-sighted individual who for some hidden desire of his own is +endeavouring to present himself as the corrupt and degraded creature +Ling, has overlooked one important circumstance,” said the upper one, +smiling in a very intolerable manner, at the same time causing his head +to move slightly from side to side in the fashion of one who rebukes +with assumed geniality; and, turning over the written paper, he +displayed upon the under side the Imperial vermilion Sign. “Perhaps,” + he continued, “the omniscient person will still continue in his remarks, +even with the evidence of the Emperor’s unerring pencil to refute him.” + +At these words and the undoubted testimony of the red mark, which +plainly declared the whole of the written matter to be composed of +truth, no matter what might afterwards transpire, Ling understood that +very little prosperity remained with him. + +“But the town of Si-chow,” he suggested, after examining his mind; “if +any person in authority visited the place, he would inevitably find it +standing and its inhabitants in agreeable health.” + +“The persistent person who is so assiduously occupying my intellectual +moments with empty words seems to be unaccountably deficient in his +knowledge of the customs of refined society and of the meaning of the +Imperial Signet,” said the other, with an entire absence of benevolent +consideration. “That Si-chow has fallen and that Ling is dead are two +utterly uncontroversial matters truthfully recorded. If a person visited +Si-chow, he might find it rebuilt or even inhabited by those from the +neighbouring villages or by evil spirits taking the forms of the ones +who formerly lived there; as in a like manner, Ling might be restored +to existence by magic, or his body might be found and possessed by +an outcast demon who desired to revisit the earth for a period. Such +circumstances do not in any way disturb the announcement that Si-chow +has without question fallen, and that Ling has officially ceased to +live, of which events notifications have been sent to all who are +concerned in the matters.” + +As the upper one ceased speaking, four strokes sounded upon the gong, +and Ling immediately found himself carried into the street by the +current of both lesser and upper ones who poured forth at the signal. +The termination of this conversation left Ling in a more unenviable +state of dejection than any of the many preceding misfortunes had +done, for with enlarged inducements to possess himself of a competent +appointment he seemed to be even further removed from this attainment +than he had been at any time in his life. He might, indeed, present +himself again for the public examinations; but in order to do even that +it would be necessary for him to wait almost a year, nor could he assure +himself that his efforts would again be likely to result in an equal +success. Doubts also arose within his mind of the course which he should +follow in such a case; whether to adopt a new name, involving as it +would certain humiliation and perhaps disgrace if detection overtook +his footsteps, or still to possess the title of one who was in a measure +dead, and hazard the likelihood of having any prosperity which he might +obtain reduced to nothing if the fact should become public. + +As Ling reflected upon such details he found himself without intention +before the house of a wise person who had become very wealthy by +advising others on all matters, but chiefly on those connected with +strange occurrences and such events as could not be settled definitely +either one way or the other until a remote period had been reached. +Becoming assailed by a curious desire to know what manner of evils +particularly attached themselves to such as were officially dead but who +nevertheless had an ordinary existence, Ling placed himself before this +person, and after arranging the manner of reward related to him so many +of the circumstances as were necessary to enable a full understanding to +be reached, but at the same time in no way betraying his own interest in +the matter. + +“Such inflictions are to no degree frequent,” said the wise person after +he had consulted a polished sphere of the finest red jade for some +time; “and this is in a measure to be regretted, as the hair of these +persons--provided they die a violent death, which is invariably the +case--constitutes a certain protection against being struck by falling +stars, or becoming involved in unsuccessful law cases. The persons in +question can be recognized with certainty in the public ways by the +unnatural pallor of their faces and by the general repulsiveness of +their appearance, but as they soon take refuge in suicide, unless +they have the fortune to be removed previously by accident, it is an +infrequent matter that one is gratified by the sight. During their +existence they are subject to many disorders from which the generality +of human beings are benevolently preserved; they possess no rights +of any kind, and if by any chance they are detected in an act of a +seemingly depraved nature, they are liable to judgment at the hands of +the passers-by without any form whatever, and to punishment of a more +severe order than that administered to commonplace criminals. There +are many other disadvantages affecting such persons when they reach the +Middle Air, of which the chief--” + +“This person is immeasurably indebted for such a clear explanation of +the position,” interrupted Ling, who had a feeling of not desiring +to penetrate further into the detail; “but as he perceives a line +of anxious ones eagerly waiting at the door to obtain advice and +consolation from so expert and amiable a wizard, he will not make +himself uncongenial any longer with his very feeble topics of +conversation.” + +By this time Ling plainly comprehended that he had been marked out +from the beginning--perhaps for all the knowledge which he had to the +opposite effect, from a period in the life of a far-removed ancestor--to +be an object of marked derision and the victim of all manner of +malevolent demons in whatever actions he undertook. In this condition +of understanding his mind turned gratefully to the parting gift of Mian +whom he had now no hope of possessing; for the intolerable thought +of uniting her to so objectionable a being as himself would have been +dismissed as utterly inelegant even had he been in a manner of living +to provide for her adequately, which itself seemed clearly impossible. +Disregarding all similar emotions, therefore, he walked without pausing +to his abode, and stretching his body upon the rushes, drank the entire +liquid unhesitatingly, and prepared to pass beyond with a tranquil mind +entirely given up to thoughts and images of Mian. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Upon a certain occasion, the particulars of which have already been +recorded, Ling had judged himself to have passed into the form of a +spirit on beholding the ethereal form of Mian bending over him. After +swallowing the entire liquid, which had cost the dead magician so much +to distil and make perfect, it was with a well-assured determination of +never again awakening that he lost the outward senses and floated in the +Middle Air, so that when his eyes next opened upon what seemed to be +the bare walls of his own chamber, his first thought was a natural +conviction that the matter had been so arranged either out of a +charitable desire that he should not be overcome by a too sudden +transition to unparalleled splendour, or that such a reception was the +outcome of some dignified jest on the part of certain lesser and more +cheerful spirits. After waiting in one position for several hours, +however, and receiving no summons or manifestation of a celestial +nature, he began to doubt the qualities of the liquid, and applying +certain tests, he soon ascertained that he was still in the lower world +and unharmed. Nevertheless, this circumstance did not tend in any way +to depress his mind, for, doubtless owing to some hidden virtue of +the fluid, he felt an enjoyable emotion that he still lived; all his +attributes appeared to be purified, and he experienced an inspired +certainty of feeling that an illustrious and highly-remunerative future +lay before one who still had an ordinary existence after being both +officially killed and self-poisoned. + +In this intelligent disposition thoughts of Mian recurred to him with +unreproved persistence, and in order to convey to her an account of the +various matters which had engaged him since his arrival at the city, and +a well-considered declaration of the unchanged state of his own feelings +towards her, he composed and despatched with impetuous haste the +following delicate verses: + + + +CONSTANCY + + About the walls and gates of Canton + Are many pleasing and entertaining maidens; + Indeed, in the eyes of their friends and of the passers-by + Some of them are exceptionally adorable. + The person who is inscribing these lines, however, + Sees before him, as it were, an assemblage of deformed and un-prepossessing hags, + Venerable in age and inconsiderable in appearance; + For the dignified and majestic image of Mian is ever before him, + Making all others very inferior. + + Within the houses and streets of Canton + Hang many bright lanterns. + The ordinary person who has occasion to walk by night + Professes to find them highly lustrous. + But there is one who thinks contrary facts, + And when he goes forth he carries two long curved poles + To prevent him from stumbling among the dark and hidden places; + For he has gazed into the brilliant and pellucid orbs of Mian, + And all other lights are dull and practically opaque. + + In various parts of the literary quarter of Canton + Reside such as spend their time in inward contemplation. + In spite of their generally uninviting exteriors + Their reflexions are often of a very profound order. + Yet the unpopular and persistently-abused Ling + Would unhesitatingly prefer his own thoughts to theirs, + For what makes this person’s thoughts far more pleasing + Is that they are invariably connected with the virtuous and ornamental Mian. + +Becoming very amiably disposed after this agreeable occupation, Ling +surveyed himself at the disc of polished metal, and observed with +surprise and shame the rough and uninviting condition of his person. He +had, indeed, although it was not until some time later that he became +aware of the circumstance, slept for five days without interruption, and +it need not therefore be a matter of wonder or of reproach to him that +his smooth surfaces had become covered with short hair. Reviling himself +bitterly for the appearance which he conceived he must have exhibited +when he conducted his business, and to which he now in part attributed +his ill-success, Ling went forth without delay, and quickly discovering +one of those who remove hair publicly for a very small sum, he placed +himself in the chair, and directed that his face, arms, and legs should +be denuded after the manner affected by the ones who make a practice of +observing the most recent customs. + +“Did the illustrious individual who is now conferring distinction on +this really worn-out chair by occupying it express himself in favour of +having the face entirely denuded?” demanded the one who conducted the +operation; for these persons have become famous for their elegant and +persistent ability to discourse, and frequently assume ignorance in +order that they themselves may make reply, and not for the purpose +of gaining knowledge. “Now, in the objectionable opinion of this +unintelligent person, who has a presumptuous habit of offering his +very undesirable advice, a slight covering on the upper lip, delicately +arranged and somewhat fiercely pointed at the extremities, would +bestow an appearance of--how shall this illiterate person explain +himself?--dignity?--matured reflexion?--doubtless the accomplished +nobleman before me will understand what is intended with a more +knife-like accuracy than this person can describe it--but confer that +highly desirable effect upon the face of which at present it is entirely +destitute... ‘Entirely denuded?’ Then without fail it shall certainly be +so, O incomparable personage... Does the versatile Mandarin now present +profess any concern as to the condition of the rice plants?... Indeed, +the remark is an inspired one; the subject is totally devoid of interest +to a person of intelligence ... A remarkable and gravity-removing event +transpired within the notice of this unassuming person recently. A +discriminating individual had purchased from him a portion of his justly +renowned Thrice-extracted Essence of Celestial Herb Oil--a preparation +which in this experienced person’s opinion, indeed, would greatly +relieve the undoubted afflictions from which the one before him is +evidently suffering--when after once anointing himself--” + +A lengthy period containing no words caused Ling, who had in the +meantime closed his eyes and lost Canton and all else in delicate +thoughts of Mian, to look up. That which met his attention on doing so +filled him with an intelligent wonder, for the person before him held in +his hand what had the appearance of a tuft of bright yellow hair, which +shone in the light of the sun with a most engaging splendour, but which +he nevertheless regarded with a most undignified expression of confusion +and awe. + +“Illustrious demon,” he cried at length, kow-towing very respectfully, +“have the extreme amiableness to be of a benevolent disposition, and do +not take an unworthy and entirely unremunerative revenge upon this +very unimportant person for failing to detect and honour you from the +beginning.” + +“Such words indicate nothing beyond an excess of hemp spirit,” answered +Ling, with signs of displeasure. “To gain my explicit esteem, make me +smooth without delay, and do not exhibit before me the lock of hair +which, from its colour and appearance, has evidently adorned the head of +one of those maidens whose duty it is to quench the thirst of travellers +in the long narrow rooms of this city.” + +“Majestic and anonymous spirit,” said the other, with extreme reverence, +and an entire absence of the appearance of one who had gazed into +too many vessels, “if such be your plainly-expressed desire, this +superficial person will at once proceed to make smooth your peach-like +skin, and with a carefulness inspired by the certainty that the most +unimportant wound would give forth liquid fire, in which he would +undoubtedly perish. Nevertheless, he desires to make it evident that +this hair is from the head of no maiden, being, indeed, the uneven +termination of your own sacred pigtail, which this excessively +self-confident slave took the inexcusable liberty of removing, and which +changed in this manner within his hand in order to administer a fit +reproof for his intolerable presumption.” + +Impressed by the mien and unquestionable earnestness of the remover of +hair, Ling took the matter which had occasioned these various emotions +in his hand and examined it. His amazement was still greater when he +perceived that--in spite of the fact that it presented every appearance +of having been cut from his own person--none of the qualities of hair +remained in it; it was hard and wire-like, possessing, indeed, both the +nature and the appearance of a metal. + +As he gazed fixedly and with astonishment, there came back into +the remembrance of Ling certain obscure and little-understood facts +connected with the limitless wealth possessed by the Yellow Emperor--of +which the great gold life-like image in the Temple of Internal Symmetry +at Peking alone bears witness now--and of his lost secret. Many very +forcible prophecies and omens in his own earlier life, of which +the rendering and accomplishment had hitherto seemed to be dark and +incomplete, passed before him, and various matters which Mian had +related to him concerning the habits and speech of the magician took +definite form within his mind. Deeply impressed by the exact manner in +which all these circumstances fitted together, one into another, Ling +rewarded the person before him greatly beyond his expectation, and +hurried without delay to his own chamber. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +For many hours Ling remained in his room, examining in his mind all +passages, either in his own life or in the lives of others, which might +by any chance have influence on the event before him. In this thorough +way he became assured that the competition and its results, his journey +to Si-chow with the encounter in the cypress wood, the flight of the +incapable and treacherous Mandarin, and the battle of Ki, were all, +down to the matter of the smallest detail, parts of a symmetrical and +complete scheme, tending to his present condition. Cheered and upheld +by this proof of the fact that very able deities were at work on +his behalf, he turned his intellect from the entrancing subject to a +contemplation of the manner in which his condition would enable him to +frustrate the uninventive villainies of the obstinate person Li Keen, +and to provide a suitable house and mode of living to which he would be +justified in introducing Mian, after adequate marriage ceremonies had +been observed between them. In this endeavour he was less successful +than he had imagined would be the case, for when he had first fully +understood that his body was of such a substance that nothing was +wanting to transmute it into fine gold but the absence of the living +spirit, he had naturally, and without deeply examining the detail, +assumed that so much gold might be considered to be in his possession. +Now, however, a very definite thought arose within him that his own +wishes and interests would have been better secured had the benevolent +spirits who undertook the matter placed the secret within his knowledge +in such a way as to enable him to administer the fluid to some very +heavy and inexpensive animal, so that the issue which seemed inevitable +before the enjoyment of the riches could be entered upon should not +have touched his own comfort so closely. To a person of Ling’s refined +imagination it could not fail to be a subject of internal reproach that +while he would become the most precious dead body in the world, his +value in life might not be very honourably placed even by the most +complimentary one who should require his services. Then came the +thought, which, however degraded, he found himself unable to put quite +beyond him, that if in the meantime he were able to gain a sufficiency +for Mian and himself, even her pure and delicate love might not be able +to bear so offensive a test as that of seeing him grow old and remain +intolerably healthy--perhaps with advancing years actually becoming +lighter day by day, and thereby lessening in value before her eyes--when +the natural infirmities of age and the presence of an ever-increasing +posterity would make even a moderate amount of taels of inestimable +value. + +No doubt remained in Ling’s mind that the process of frequently making +smooth his surfaces would yield an amount of gold enough to suffice for +his own needs, but a brief consideration of the matter convinced him +that this source would be inadequate to maintain an entire household +even if he continually denuded himself to an almost ignominious extent. +As he fully weighed these varying chances the certainty became more +clear to him with every thought that for the virtuous enjoyment of +Mian’s society one great sacrifice was required of him. This act, it +seemed to be intimated, would without delay provide for an affluent +and lengthy future, and at the same time would influence all the +spirits--even those who had been hitherto evilly-disposed towards +him--in such a manner that his enemies would be removed from his path +by a process which would expose them to public ridicule, and he would be +assured in founding an illustrious and enduring line. To accomplish this +successfully necessitated the loss of at least the greater part of one +entire member, and for some time the disadvantages of going through an +existence with only a single leg or arm seemed more than a sufficient +price to pay even for the definite advantages which would be made +over to him in return. This unworthy thought, however, could not long +withstand the memory of Mian’s steadfast and high-minded affection, +and the certainty of her enlightened gladness at his return even in the +imperfect condition which he anticipated. Nor was there absent from his +mind a dimly-understood hope that the matter did not finally rest with +him, but that everything which he might be inspired to do was in reality +only a portion of the complete and arranged system into which he had +been drawn, and in which his part had been assigned to him from the +beginning without power for him to deviate, no matter how much to the +contrary the thing should appear. + +As no advantage would be gained by making any delay, Ling at once sought +the most favourable means of putting his resolution into practice, and +after many skilful and insidious inquiries he learnt of an accomplished +person who made a consistent habit of cutting off limbs which had become +troublesome to their possessors either through accident or disease. +Furthermore, he was said to be of a sincere and charitable disposition, +and many persons declared that on no occasion had he been known to +make use of the helpless condition of those who visited him in order to +extort money from them. + +Coming to the ill-considered conclusion that he would be able to conceal +within his own breast the true reason for the operation, Ling placed +himself before the person in question, and exhibited the matter to +him so that it would appear as though his desires were promoted by the +presence of a small but persistent sprite which had taken its abode +within his left thigh, and there resisted every effort of the most +experienced wise persons to induce it to come forth again. Satisfied +with this explanation of the necessity of the deed, the one who +undertook the matter proceeded, with Ling’s assistance, to sharpen his +cutting instruments and to heat the hardening irons; but no sooner had +he made a shallow mark to indicate the lines which his knife should +take, than his subtle observation at once showed him that the facts had +been represented to him in a wrong sense, and that his visitor, indeed, +was composed of no common substance. Being of a gentle and forbearing +disposition, he did not manifest any indication of rage at the +discovery, but amiably and unassumingly pointed out that such a course +was not respectful towards himself, and that, moreover, Ling might incur +certain well-defined and highly undesirable maladies as a punishment for +the deception. + +Overcome with remorse at deceiving so courteous and noble-minded +a person, Ling fully explained the circumstances to him, not even +concealing from him certain facts which related to the actions of remote +ancestors, but which, nevertheless, appeared to have influenced the +succession of events. When he had made an end of the narrative, the +other said: + +“Behold now, it is truly remarked that every Mandarin has three hands +and every soldier a like number of feet, yet it is a saying which is +rather to be regarded as manifesting the deep wisdom and discrimination +of the speaker than as an actual fact which can be taken advantage of +when one is so minded--least of all by so valiant a Commander as the one +before me, who has clearly proved that in time of battle he has exactly +reversed the position.” + +“The loss would undoubtedly be of considerable inconvenience +occasionally,” admitted Ling, “yet none the less the sage remark of Huai +Mei-shan, ‘When actually in the embrace of a voracious and powerful +wild animal, the desirability of leaving a limb is not a matter to be +subjected to lengthy consideration,’ is undoubtedly a valuable guide for +general conduct. This person has endured many misfortunes and suffered +many injustices; he has known the wolf-gnawings of great hopes, which +have withered and daily grown less when the difficulties of maintaining +an honourable and illustrious career have unfolded themselves within his +sight. Before him still lie the attractions of a moderate competency to +be shared with the one whose absence would make even the Upper Region +unendurable, and after having this entrancing future once shattered +by the tiger-like cupidity of a depraved and incapable Mandarin, he is +determined to welcome even the sacrifice which you condemn rather than +let the opportunity vanish through indecision.” + +“It is not an unworthy or abandoned decision,” said the one whose aid +Ling had invoked, “nor a matter in which this person would refrain from +taking part, were there no other and more agreeable means by which the +same results may be attained. A circumstance has occurred within +this superficial person’s mind, however: A brother of the one who +is addressing you is by profession one of those who purchase large +undertakings for which they have not the money to pay, and who thereupon +by various expedients gain the ear of the thrifty, enticing them by fair +offers of return to entrust their savings for the purpose of paying off +the debt. These persons are ever on the watch for transactions by which +they inevitably prosper without incurring any obligation, and doubtless +my brother will be able to gather a just share of the value of your +highly-remunerative body without submitting you to the insufferable +annoyance of losing a great part of it prematurely.” + +Without clearly understanding how so inviting an arrangement could be +effected, the manner of speaking was exceedingly alluring to Ling’s +mind, perplexed as he had become through weighing and considering +the various attitudes of the entire matter. To receive a certain and +sufficient sum of money without his person being in any way mutilated +would be a satisfactory, but as far as he had been able to observe an +unapproachable, solution to the difficulty. In the mind of the amiable +person with whom he was conversing, however, the accomplishment did not +appear to be surrounded by unnatural obstacles, so that Ling was content +to leave the entire design in his hands, after stating that he would +again present himself on a certain occasion when it was asserted that +the brother in question would be present. + +So internally lightened did Ling feel after this inspiring conversation, +and so confident of a speedy success had the obliging person’s words +made him become, that for the first time since his return to Canton he +was able to take an intellectual interest in the pleasures of the city. +Becoming aware that the celebrated play entitled “The Precious Lamp +of Spotted Butterfly Temple” was in process of being shown at the Tea +Garden of Rainbow Lights and Voices, he purchased an entrance, and after +passing several hours in this conscientious enjoyment, returned to +his chamber, and passed a night untroubled by any manifestations of an +unpleasant nature. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Chang-ch’un, the brother of the one to whom Ling had applied in his +determination, was confidently stated to be one of the richest persons +in Canton. So great was the number of enterprises in which he had +possessions, that he himself was unable to keep an account of them, +and it was asserted that upon occasions he had run through the streets, +crying aloud that such an undertaking had been the subject of most +inferior and uninviting dreams and omens (a custom observed by those who +wish a venture ill), whereas upon returning and consulting his written +parchments, it became plain to him that he had indulged in a very +objectionable exhibition, as he himself was the person most interested +in the success of the matter. Far from discouraging him, however, such +incidents tended to his advantage, as he could consistently point to +them in proof of his unquestionable commercial honourableness, and in +this way many persons of all classes, not only in Canton, or in the +Province, but all over the Empire, would unhesitatingly entrust money +to be placed in undertakings which he had purchased and was willing to +describe as “of much good.” A certain class of printed leaves--those in +which Chang-ch’un did not insert purchased mentions of his forthcoming +ventures or verses recording his virtues (in return for buying many +examples of the printed leaf containing them)--took frequent occasion of +reminding persons that Chang-ch’un owed the beginning of his prosperity +to finding a written parchment connected with a Mandarin of exalted rank +and a low caste attendant at the Ti-i tea-house among the paper +heaps, which it was at that time his occupation to assort into various +departments according to their quality and commercial value. Such +printed leaves freely and unhesitatingly predicted that the day on which +he would publicly lose face was incomparably nearer than that on which +the Imperial army would receive its back pay, and in a quaint and +gravity-removing manner advised him to protect himself against an +obscure but inevitable poverty by learning the accomplishment of +chair-carrying--an occupation for which his talents and achievements +fitted him in a high degree, they remarked. + +In spite of these evilly intentioned remarks, and of illustrations +representing him as being bowstrung for treacherous killing, being +seized in the action of secretly conveying money from passers-by to +himself and other similar annoying references to his private life, +Chang-ch’un did not fail to prosper, and his undertakings succeeded to +such an extent that without inquiry into the detail many persons were +content to describe as “gold-lined” anything to which he affixed his +sign, and to hazard their savings for staking upon the ventures. In all +other departments of life Chang was equally successful; his chief wife +was the daughter of one who stood high in the Emperor’s favour; his +repast table was never unsupplied with sea-snails, rats’ tongues, +or delicacies of an equally expensive nature, and it was confidently +maintained that there was no official in Canton, not even putting aside +the Taotai, who dare neglect to fondle Chang’s hand if he publicly +offered it to him for that purpose. + +It was at the most illustrious point of his existence--at the time, +indeed, when after purchasing without money the renowned and proficient +charm-water Ho-Ko for a million taels, he had sold it again for +ten--that Chang was informed by his brother of the circumstances +connected with Ling. After becoming specially assured that the matter +was indeed such as it was represented to be, Chang at once discerned +that the venture was of too certain and profitable a nature to be put +before those who entrusted their money to him in ordinary and doubtful +cases. He accordingly called together certain persons whom he was +desirous of obliging, and informing them privately and apart +from business terms that the opportunity was one of exceptional +attractiveness, he placed the facts before them. After displaying a +number of diagrams bearing upon the matter, he proposed that they should +form an enterprise to be called “The Ling (After Death) Without Much +Risk Assembly.” The manner of conducting this undertaking he explained +to be as follows: The body of Ling, whenever the spirit left it, should +become as theirs to be used for profit. For this benefit they would pay +Ling fifty thousand taels when the understanding was definitely arrived +at, five thousand taels each year until the matter ended, and when that +period arrived another fifty thousand taels to persons depending upon +him during his life. Having stated the figure business, Chang-ch’un +put down his written papers, and causing his face to assume the look of +irrepressible but dignified satisfaction which it was his custom to wear +on most occasions, and especially when he had what appeared at first +sight to be evil news to communicate to public assemblages of those +who had entrusted money to his ventures, he proceeded to disclose the +advantages of such a system. At the extreme, he said, the amount which +they would be required to pay would be two hundred and fifty +thousand taels; but this was in reality a very misleading view of the +circumstance, as he would endeavour to show them. For one detail, he had +allotted to Ling thirty years of existence, which was the extreme amount +according to the calculations of those skilled in such prophecies; but, +as they were all undoubtedly aware, persons of very expert intellects +were known to enjoy a much shorter period of life than the gross and +ordinary, and as Ling was clearly one of the former, by the fact of his +contriving so ingenious a method of enriching himself, they might with +reasonable foresight rely upon his departing when half the period had +been attained; in that way seventy-five thousand taels would be restored +to them, for every year represented a saving of five thousand. Another +agreeable contemplation was that of the last sum, for by such a time +they would have arrived at the most pleasurable part of the enterprise: +a million taels’ worth of pure gold would be displayed before them, and +the question of the final fifty thousand could be disposed of by cutting +off an arm or half a leg. Whether they adopted that course, or decided +to increase their fortunes by exposing so exceptional and symmetrical a +wonder to the public gaze in all the principal cities of the Empire, was +a circumstance which would have to be examined within their minds when +the time approached. In such a way the detail of purchase stood +revealed as only fifty thousand taels in reality, a sum so despicably +insignificant that he had internal pains at mentioning it to so wealthy +a group of Mandarins, and he had not yet made clear to them that each +year they would receive gold to the amount of almost a thousand taels. +This would be the result of Ling making smooth his surfaces, and it +would enable them to know that the person in question actually existed, +and to keep the circumstances before their intellects. + +When Chang-Ch’un had made the various facts clear to this extent, those +who were assembled expressed their feelings as favourably turned towards +the project, provided the tests to which Ling was to be put should prove +encouraging, and a secure and intelligent understanding of things to be +done and not to be done could be arrived at between them. To this end +Ling was brought into the chamber, and fixing his thoughts steadfastly +upon Mian, he permitted portions to be cut from various parts of his +body without betraying any signs of ignoble agitation. No sooner had +the pieces been separated and the virtue of Ling’s existence passed from +them than they changed colour and hardened, nor could the most delicate +and searching trials to which they were exposed by a skilful worker +in metals, who was obtained for the purpose, disclose any particular, +however minute, in which they differed from the finest gold. The hair, +the nails, and the teeth were similarly affected, and even Ling’s +blood dried into a fine gold powder. This detail of the trial being +successfully completed, Ling subjected himself to intricate questioning +on all matters connected with his religion and manner of conducting +himself, both in public and privately, the history and behaviour of his +ancestors, the various omens and remarkable sayings which had reference +to his life and destiny, and the intentions which he then possessed +regarding his future movements and habits of living. All the wise +sayings and written and printed leaves which made any allusion to the +existence of and possibility of discovery of the wonderful gold fluid +were closely examined, and found to be in agreement, whereupon those +present made no further delay in admitting that the facts were indeed +as they had been described, and indulged in a dignified stroking of +each other’s faces as an expression of pleasure and in proof of their +satisfaction at taking part in so entrancing and remunerative an affair. +At Chang’s command many rare and expensive wines were then brought +in, and partaken of without restraint by all persons, the repast being +lightened by numerous well-considered and gravity-removing jests having +reference to Ling and the unusual composition of his person. So amiably +were the hours occupied that it was past the time of no light when Chang +rose and read at full length the statement of things to be done and +things not to be done, which was to be sealed by Ling for his part and +the other persons who were present for theirs. It so happened, however, +that at that period Ling’s mind was filled with brilliant and versatile +thoughts and images of Mian, and many-hued visions of the manner in +which they would spend the entrancing future which was now before them, +and in this way it chanced that he did not give any portion of his +intellect to the reading, mistaking it, indeed, for a delicate and very +ably-composed set of verses which Chang-ch’un was reciting as a formal +blessing on parting. Nor was it until he was desired to affix his +sign that Ling discovered his mistake, and being of too respectful and +unobtrusive a disposition to require the matter to be repeated then, he +carried out the obligation without in any particular understanding the +written words to which he was agreeing. + +As Ling walked through the streets to his chamber after leaving the +house and company of Chang-Ch’un, holding firmly among his garments the +thin printed papers to the amount of fifty thousand taels which he had +received, and repeatedly speaking to himself in terms of general and +specific encouragement at the fortunate events of the past few days, he +became aware that a person of mean and rapacious appearance, whom he +had some memory of having observed within the residence he had but +just left, was continually by his side. Not at first doubting that +the circumstance resulted from a benevolent desire on the part of +Chang-ch’un that he should be protected on his passage through the city, +Ling affected not to observe the incident; but upon reaching his own +door the person in question persistently endeavoured to pass in also. +Forming a fresh judgment about the matter, Ling, who was very powerfully +constructed, and whose natural instincts were enhanced in every degree +by the potent fluid of which he had lately partaken, repeatedly threw +him across the street until he became weary of the diversion. At +length, however, the thought arose that one who patiently submitted +to continually striking the opposite houses with his head must have +something of importance to communicate, whereupon he courteously invited +him to enter the apartment and unweigh his mind. + +“The facts of the case appear to have been somewhat inadequately +represented,” said the stranger, bowing obsequiously, “for this +unornamental person was assured by the benignant Chang-ch’un that the +one whose shadow he was to become was of a mild and forbearing nature.” + +“Such words are as the conversation of birds to me,” replied Ling, not +conjecturing how the matter had fallen about. “This person has just left +the presence of the elegant and successful Chang-ch’un, and no word that +he spoke gave indication of such a follower or such a service.” + +“Then it is indeed certain that the various transactions have not been +fully understood,” exclaimed the other, “for the exact communication to +this unseemly one was, ‘The valuable and enlightened Ling has heard and +agreed to the different things to be done and not to be done, one +phrase of which arranges for your continual presence, so that he will +anticipate your attentions.’” + +At these words the truth became as daylight before Ling’s eyes, and +he perceived that the written paper to which he had affixed his sign +contained the detail of such an office as that of the person before him. +When too late, more than ever did he regret that he had not formed some +pretext for causing the document to be read a second time, as in view of +his immediate intentions such an arrangement as the one to which he had +agreed had every appearance of becoming of an irksome and perplexing +nature. Desiring to know the length of the attendant’s commands, Ling +asked him for a clear statement of his duties, feigning that he had +missed that portion of the reading through a momentary attack of the +giddy sickness. To this request the stranger, who explained that his +name was Wang, instantly replied that his written and spoken orders +were: never to permit more than an arm’s length of space to separate +them; to prevent, by whatever force was necessary for the purpose, all +attempts at evading the things to be done and not to be done, and to +ignore as of no interest all other circumstances. It seemed to Ling, +in consequence, that little seclusion would be enjoyed unless an +arrangement could be effected between Wang and himself; so to this end, +after noticing the evident poverty and covetousness of the person in +question, he made him an honourable offer of frequent rewards, provided +a greater distance was allowed to come between them as soon as Si-chow +was reached. On his side, Ling undertook not to break through the +wording of the things to be done and not to be done, and to notify to +Wang any movements upon which he meditated. In this reputable manner +the obstacle was ingeniously removed, and the intelligent nature of the +device was clearly proved by the fact that not only Ling but Wang also +had in the future a much greater liberty of action than would have +been possible if it had been necessary to observe the short-sighted and +evidently hastily-thought-of condition which Chang-ch’un had endeavoured +to impose. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +In spite of his natural desire to return to Mian as quickly as possible, +Ling judged it expedient to give several days to the occupation of +purchasing apparel of the richest kinds, weapons and armour in large +quantities, jewels and ornaments of worked metals and other objects to +indicate his changed position. Nor did he neglect actions of a pious +and charitable nature, for almost his first care was to arrange with the +chief ones at the Temple of Benevolent Intentions that each year, on the +day corresponding to that on which he drank the gold fluid, a sumptuous +and well-constructed coffin should be presented to the most deserving +poor and aged person within that quarter of the city in which he had +resided. When these preparations were completed, Ling set out with an +extensive train of attendants; but riding on before, accompanied only by +Wang, he quickly reached Si-chow without adventure. + +The meeting between Ling and Mian was affecting to such an extent +that the blind and deaf attendants wept openly without reproach, +notwithstanding the fact that neither could become possessed of more +than a half of the occurrence. Eagerly the two reunited ones examined +each other’s features to discover whether the separation had brought +about any change in the beloved and well-remembered lines. Ling +discovered upon Mian the shadow of an anxious care at his absence, while +the disappointments and trials which Ling had experienced in Canton had +left traces which were plainly visible to Mian’s penetrating gaze. In +such an entrancing occupation the time was to them without hours until +a feeling of hunger recalled them to lesser matters, when a variety +of very select foods and liquids was placed before them without delay. +After this elegant repast had been partaken of, Mian, supporting herself +upon Ling’s shoulder, made a request that he would disclose to her all +the matters which had come under his observation both within the city +and during his journey to and from that place. Upon this encouragement, +Ling proceeded to unfold his mind, not withholding anything which +appeared to be of interest, no matter how slight. When he had reached +Canton without any perilous adventure, Mian breathed more freely; as he +recorded the interview at the Office of Warlike Deeds and Arrangements, +she trembled at the insidious malignity of the evil person Li Keen. The +conversation with the wise reader of the future concerning the various +states of such as be officially dead almost threw her into the rigid +sickness, from which, however, the wonderful circumstance of the +discovered properties of the gold fluid quickly recalled her. But to +Ling’s great astonishment no sooner had he made plain the exceptional +advantages which he had derived from the circumstances, and the nature +of the undertaking at which he had arrived with Chang-ch’un, than she +became a prey to the most intolerable and unrestrained anguish. + +“Oh, my devoted but excessively ill-advised lover,” she exclaimed +wildly, and in tones which clearly indicated that she was inspired by +every variety of affectionate emotion, “has the unendurable position +in which you and all your household will be placed by the degrading +commercial schemes and instincts of the mercenary-souled person +Chang-ch’un occupied no place in your generally well-regulated +intellect? Inevitably will those who drink our almond tea, in order +to have an opportunity of judging the value of the appointments of the +house, pass the jesting remark that while the Lings assuredly have ‘a +dead person’s bones in the secret chamber,’ at the present they will not +have one in the family graveyard by reason of the death of Ling himself. +Better to lose a thousand limbs during life than the entire person after +death; nor would your adoring Mian hesitate to clasp proudly to her +organ of affection the veriest trunk that had parted with all its +attributes in a noble and sacrificing endeavour to preserve at least +some dignified proportions to embellish the Ancestral Temple and to +receive the worship of posterity.” + +“Alas!” replied Ling, with extravagant humiliation, “it is indeed true; +and this person is degraded beyond the common lot of those who break +images and commit thefts from sacred places. The side of the transaction +which is at present engaging our attention never occurred to this +superficial individual until now.” + +“Wise and incomparable one,” said Mian, in no degree able to restrain +the fountains of bitter water which clouded her delicate and expressive +eyes, “in spite of this person’s biting and ungracious words do not, she +makes a formal petition, doubt the deathless strength of her affection. +Cheerfully, in order to avert the matter in question, or even to save +her lover the anguish of unavailing and soul-eating remorse, would she +consign herself to a badly-constructed and slow-consuming fire or expose +her body to various undignified tortures. Happy are those even to whom +is left a little ash to be placed in a precious urn and diligently +guarded, for it, in any event, truly represents all that is left of the +once living person, whereas after an honourable and spotless existence +my illustrious but unthinking lord will be blended with a variety of +baser substances and passed from hand to hand, his immaculate organs +serving to reward murderers for their deeds and to tempt the weak and +vicious to all manner of unmentionable crimes.” + +So overcome was Ling by the distressing nature of the oversight he had +permitted that he could find no words with which to comfort Mian, who, +after some moments, continued: + +“There are even worse visions of degradation which occur to this person. +By chance, that which was once the noble-minded Ling may be disposed of, +not to the Imperial Treasury for converting into pieces of exchange, but +to some undiscriminating worker in metals who will fashion out of his +beautiful and symmetrical stomach an elegant food-dish, so that from the +ultimate developments of the circumstance may arise the fact that his +own descendants, instead of worshipping him, use his internal organs +for this doubtful if not absolutely unclean purpose, and thereby suffer +numerous well-merited afflictions, to the end that the finally-despised +Ling and this discredited person, instead of founding a vigorous and +prolific generation, become the parents of a line of feeble-minded and +physically-depressed lepers.” + +“Oh, my peacock-eyed one!” exclaimed Ling, in immeasurable distress, “so +proficient an exhibition of virtuous grief crushes this misguided person +completely to the ground. Rather would he uncomplainingly lose his +pigtail than--” + +“Such a course,” said a discordant voice, as the unpresentable person +Wang stepped forth from behind a hanging curtain, where, indeed, he had +stood concealed during the entire conversation, “is especially forbidden +by the twenty-third detail of the things to be done and not to be done.” + +“What new adversity is this?” cried Mian, pressing to Ling with a still +closer embrace. “Having disposed of your incomparable body after death, +surely an adequate amount of liberty and seclusion remains to us during +life.” + +“Nevertheless,” interposed the dog-like Wang, “the refined person in +question must not attempt to lose or to dispose of his striking and +invaluable pigtail; for by such an action he would be breaking through +his spoken and written word whereby he undertook to be ruled by the +things to be done and not to be done; and he would also be robbing the +ingenious-minded Chang-ch’un.” + +“Alas!” lamented the unhappy Ling, “that which appeared to be the end of +all this person’s troubles is obviously simply the commencement of a new +and more extensive variety. Understand, O conscientious but exceedingly +inopportune Wang, that the words which passed from this person’s mouth +did not indicate a fixed determination, but merely served to show the +unfeigned depth of his emotion. Be content that he has no intention of +evading the definite principles of the things to be done and not to +be done, and in the meantime honour this commonplace establishment by +retiring to the hot and ill-ventilated chamber, and there partaking of a +suitable repast which shall be prepared without delay.” + +When Wang had departed, which he did with somewhat unseemly haste, +Ling made an end of recording his narrative, which Mian’s grief had +interrupted. In this way he explained to her the reason of Wang’s +presence, and assured her that by reason of the arrangement he had made +with that person, his near existence would not be so unsupportable to +them as might at first appear to be the case. + +While they were still conversing together, and endeavouring to divert +their minds from the objectionable facts which had recently come within +their notice, an attendant entered and disclosed that the train of +servants and merchandise which Ling had preceded on the journey was +arriving. At this fresh example of her lover’s consistent thought +for her, Mian almost forgot her recent agitation, and eagerly lending +herself to the entrancing occupation of unfolding and displaying the +various objects, her brow finally lost the last trace of sadness. +Greatly beyond the imaginings of anticipation were the expensive +articles with which Ling proudly surrounded her; and in examining and +learning the cost of the set jewels and worked metals, the ornamental +garments for both persons, the wood and paper appointments for the +house--even incenses, perfumes, spices and rare viands had not been +forgotten--the day was quickly and profitably spent. + +When the hour of sunset arrived, Ling, having learned that certain +preparations which he had commanded were fully carried out, took Mian by +the hand and led her into the chief apartment of the house, where were +assembled all the followers and attendants, even down to the illiterate +and superfluous Wang. In the centre of the room upon a table of the +finest ebony stood a vessel of burning incense, some dishes of the most +highly-esteemed fruit, and an abundance of old and very sweet wine. +Before these emblems Ling and Mian placed themselves in an attitude of +deep humiliation, and formally expressed their gratitude to the Chief +Deity for having called them into existence, to the cultivated earth +for supplying them with the means of sustaining life, to the Emperor for +providing the numerous safeguards by which their persons were protected +at all times, and to their parents for educating them. This adequate +ceremony being completed, Ling explicitly desired all those present to +observe the fact that the two persons in question were, by that fact and +from that time, made as one being, and the bond between them, incapable +of severance. + +When the ruling night-lantern came out from among the clouds, Ling and +Mian became possessed of a great desire to go forth with pressed hands +and look again on the forest paths and glades in which they had spent +many hours of exceptional happiness before Ling’s journey to Canton. +Leaving the attendants to continue the feasting and drum-beating in a +completely unrestrained manner, they therefore passed out unperceived, +and wandering among the trees, presently stood on the banks of the +Heng-Kiang. + +“Oh, my beloved!” exclaimed Mian, gazing at the brilliant and unruffled +water, “greatly would this person esteem a short river journey, such as +we often enjoyed together in the days when you were recovering.” + +Ling, to whom the expressed desires of Mian were as the word of the +Emperor, instantly prepared the small and ornamental junk which was +fastened near for this purpose, and was about to step in, when a +presumptuous and highly objectionable hand restrained him. + +“Behold,” remarked a voice which Ling had some difficulty in ascribing +to any known person, so greatly had it changed from its usual tone, +“behold how the immature and altogether too-inferior Ling observes his +spoken and written assertions!” + +At this low-conditioned speech, Ling drew his well-tempered sword +without further thought, in spite of the restraining arms of Mian, +but at the sight of the utterly incapable person Wang, who stood near +smiling meaninglessly and waving his arms with a continuous and backward +motion, he again replaced it. + +“Such remarks can be left to fall unheeded from the lips of one who +bears every indication of being steeped in rice spirit,” he said with +unprovoked dignity. + +“It will be the plain duty of this expert and uncorruptible person +to furnish the unnecessary, but, nevertheless, very severe and +self-opinionated Chang-ch’un with a written account of how the +traitorous and deceptive Ling has endeavoured to break through the +thirty-fourth vessel of the liquids to be consumed and not to be +consumed,” continued Wang with increased deliberation and an entire +absence of attention to Ling’s action and speech, “and how by this +refined person’s unfailing civility and resourceful strategy he has been +frustrated.” + +“Perchance,” said Ling, after examining his thoughts for a short space, +and reflecting that the list of things to be done and not to be done was +to him as a blank leaf, “there may even be some small portion of that +which is accurate in his statement. In what manner,” he continued, +addressing the really unendurable person, who was by this time preparing +to pass the night in the cool swamp by the river’s edge, “does this +one endanger any detail of the written and sealed parchment by such an +action?” + +“Inasmuch,” replied Wang, pausing in the process of removing his +outer garments, “as the seventy-ninth--the intricate name given +to it escapes this person’s tongue at the moment--but the +ninety-seventh--experLingknowswhamean--provides that any person, with or +without, attempting or not avoiding to travel by sea, lake, or river, +or to place himself in such a position as he may reasonably and +intelligently be drowned in salt water, fresh water, or--or honourable +rice spirit, shall be guilty of, and suffer--complete loss of memory.” + With these words the immoderate and contemptible person sank down in a +very profound slumber. + +“Alas!” said Ling, turning to Mian, who stood near, unable to retire +even had she desired, by reason of the extreme agitation into which +the incident had thrown her delicate mind and body, “how intensely +aggravating a circumstance that we are compelled to entertain so +dissolute a one by reason of this person’s preoccupation when the matter +was read. Nevertheless, it is not unlikely that the detail he spoke of +was such as he insisted, to the extent of making it a thing not to be +done to journey in any manner by water. It shall be an early endeavour +of this person to get these restraining details equitably amended; but +in the meantime we will retrace our footsteps through the wood, and +the enraptured Ling will make a well-thought-out attempt to lighten the +passage by a recital of his recently-composed verses on the subject of +‘Exile from the Loved One; or, Farewell and Return.’” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +“My beloved lord!” said Mian sadly, on a morning after many days had +passed since the return of Ling, “have you not every possession for +which the heart of a wise person searches? Yet the dark mark is scarcely +ever absent from your symmetrical brow. If she who stands before you, +and is henceforth an integral part of your organization, has failed you +in any particular, no matter how unimportant, explain the matter to her, +and the amendment will be a speedy and a joyful task.” + +It was indeed true that Ling’s mind was troubled, but the fault did not +lie with Mian, as the person in question was fully aware, for before +her eyes as before those of Ling the unevadable compact which had been +entered into with Chang-ch’un was ever present, insidiously planting +bitterness within even the most select and accomplished delights. Nor +with increasing time did the obstinate and intrusive person Wang become +more dignified in his behaviour; on the contrary, he freely made use of +his position to indulge in every variety of abandonment, and almost each +day he prevented, by reason of his knowledge of the things to be done +and not to be done, some refined and permissible entertainment +upon which Ling and Mian had determined. Ling had despatched many +communications upon this subject to Chang-ch’un, praying also that +some expert way out of the annoyance of the lesser and more unimportant +things not to be done should be arrived at, but the time when he might +reasonably expect an answer to these written papers had not yet arrived. + +It was about this period that intelligence was brought to Ling from the +villages on the road to Peking, how Li Keen, having secretly ascertained +that his Yamen was standing and his goods uninjured, had determined +to return, and was indeed at that hour within a hundred li of Si-chow. +Furthermore, he had repeatedly been understood to pronounce clearly +that he considered Ling to be the head and beginning of all his +inconveniences, and to declare that the first act of justice which +he should accomplish on his return would be to submit the person in +question to the most unbearable tortures, and then cause him to lose his +head publicly as an outrager of the settled state of things and an +enemy of those who loved tranquillity. Not doubting that Li Keen would +endeavour to gain an advantage by treachery if the chance presented +itself, Ling determined to go forth to meet him, and without delay +settle the entire disturbance in one well-chosen and fatally-destructive +encounter. To this end, rather than disturb the placid mind of Mian, +to whom the thought of the engagement would be weighted with many +disquieting fears, he gave out that he was going upon an expedition +to surprise and capture certain fish of a very delicate flavour, and +attended by only two persons, he set forth in the early part of the day. + +Some hours later, owing to an ill-considered remark on the part of the +deaf attendant, to whom the matter had been explained in an imperfect +light, Mian became possessed of the true facts of the case, and +immediately all the pleasure of existence went from her. She despaired +of ever again beholding Ling in an ordinary state, and mournfully +reproached herself for the bitter words which had risen to her lips when +the circumstance of his condition and the arrangement with Chang-ch’un +first became known to her. After spending an interval in a polished +lament at the manner in which things were inevitably tending, the +thought occurred to Mian whether by any means in her power she could +influence the course and settled method of affairs. In this situation +the memory of the person Wang, and the fact that on several occasions he +had made himself objectionable when Ling had proposed to place himself +in such a position that he incurred some very remote chance of death +by drowning or by fire, recurred to her. Subduing the natural and +pure-minded repulsion which she invariably experienced at the mere +thought of so debased an individual, she sought for him, and discovering +him in the act of constructing cardboard figures of men and animals, +which it was his custom to dispose skilfully in little-frequented paths +for the purpose of enjoying the sudden terror of those who passed by, +she quickly put the matter before him, urging him, by some means, to +prevent the encounter, which must assuredly cost the life of the one +whom he had so often previously obstructed from incurring the slightest +risk. + +“By no means,” exclaimed Wang, when he at length understood the full +meaning of the project; “it would be a most unpresentable action for +this commonplace person to interfere in so honourable an undertaking. +Had the priceless body of the intrepid Ling been in any danger of +disappearing, as, for example, by drowning or being consumed in fire, +the nature of the circumstance would have been different. As the +matter exists, however, there is every appearance that the far-seeing +Chang-ch’un will soon reap the deserved reward of his somewhat +speculative enterprise, and to that end this person will immediately +procure a wooden barrier and the services of four robust carriers, and +proceed to the scene of the conflict.” + +Deprived of even this hope of preventing the encounter, Mian betook +herself in extreme dejection to the secret room of the magician, which +had been unopened since the day when the two attendants had searched for +substances to apply to their master, and there she diligently examined +every object in the remote chance of discovering something which might +prove of value in averting the matter in question. + +Not anticipating that the true reason of his journey would become known +to Mian, Ling continued on his way without haste, and passing through +Si-chow before the sun had risen, entered upon the great road to Peking. +At a convenient distance from the town he came to a favourable piece of +ground where he decided to await the arrival of Li Keen, spending the +time profitably in polishing his already brilliant sword, and making +observations upon the nature of the spot and the condition of the +surrounding omens, on which the success of his expedition would largely +depend. + +As the sun reached the highest point in the open sky the sound of an +approaching company could be plainly heard; but at the moment when the +chair of the Mandarin appeared within the sight of those who waited, the +great luminary, upon which all portents depend directly or indirectly, +changed to the colour of new-drawn blood and began to sink towards +the earth. Without any misgivings, therefore, Ling disposed his two +attendants in the wood, with instructions to step forth and aid him if +he should be attacked by overwhelming numbers, while he himself remained +in the way. As the chair approached, the Mandarin observed a person +standing alone, and thinking that it was one who, hearing of his return, +had come out of the town to honour him, he commanded the bearers to +pause. Thereupon, stepping up to the opening, Ling struck the deceptive +and incapable Li Keen on the cheek, at the same time crying in a full +voice, “Come forth, O traitorous and two-stomached Mandarin! for this +person is very desirous of assisting you in the fulfilment of your +boastful words. Here is a most irreproachable sword which will serve +excellently to cut off this person’s undignified head; here is a +waistcord which can be tightened around his breast, thereby producing +excruciating pains over the entire body.” + +At the knowledge of who the one before him was, and when he heard the +words which unhesitatingly announced Ling’s fixed purpose, Li Keen first +urged the carriers to fall upon Ling and slay him, and then, perceiving +that such a course was exceedingly distasteful to their natural +tendencies, to take up the chair and save him by flight. But Ling in +the meantime engaged their attention, and fully explained to them the +treacherous and unworthy conduct of Li Keen, showing them how his death +would be a just retribution for his ill-spent life, and promising them +each a considerable reward in addition to their arranged payment when +the matter in question had been accomplished. Becoming convinced of the +justice of Ling’s cause, they turned upon Li Keen, insisting that he +should at once attempt to carry out the ill-judged threats against Ling, +of which they were consistent witnesses, and announcing that, if he +failed to do so, they would certainly bear him themselves to a not far +distant well of stagnant water, and there gain the approbation of the +good spirits by freeing the land of so unnatural a monster. + +Seeing only a dishonourable death on either side, Li Keen drew his +sword, and made use of every artifice of which he had knowledge in +order to disarm Ling or to take him at a disadvantage. In this he was +unsuccessful, for Ling, who was by nature a very expert sword-user, +struck him repeatedly, until he at length fell in an expiring condition, +remarking with his last words that he had indeed been a narrow-minded +and extortionate person during his life, and that his death was an +enlightened act of celestial accuracy. + +Directing Wang and his four hired persons, who had in the meantime +arrived, to give the body of the Mandarin an honourable burial in the +deep of the wood, Ling rewarded and dismissed the chairbearers, and +without delay proceeded to Si-chow, where he charitably distributed the +goods and possessions of Li Keen among the poor of the town. Having +in this able and conscientious manner completely proved the misleading +nature of the disgraceful statements which the Mandarin had spread +abroad concerning him, Ling turned his footsteps towards Mian, whose +entrancing joy at his safe return was judged by both persons to be a +sufficient reward for the mental distress with which their separation +had been accompanied. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +After the departure of Ling from Canton, the commercial affairs of +Chang-ch’un began, from a secret and undetectable cause, to assume an +ill-regulated condition. No venture which he undertook maintained a +profitable attitude, so that many persons who in former times had been +content to display the printed papers setting forth his name and +virtues in an easily-seen position in their receiving-rooms, now placed +themselves daily before his house in order to accuse him of using their +taels in ways which they themselves had not sufficiently understood, and +for the purpose of warning passers-by against his inducements. It was +in vain that Chang proposed new undertakings, each of an infallibly +more prosperous nature than those before; the persons who had hitherto +supported him were all entrusting their money to one named Pung Soo, who +required millions where Chang had been content with thousands, and who +persistently insisted on greeting the sacred Emperor as an equal. + +In this unenviable state Chang’s mind continually returned to thoughts +of Ling, whose lifeless body would so opportunely serve to dispel the +embarrassing perplexities of existence which were settling thickly about +him. Urged forward by a variety of circumstances which placed him in +an entirely different spirit from the honourable bearing which he had +formerly maintained, he now closely examined all the papers connected +with the matter, to discover whether he might not be able to effect his +purpose with an outward exhibition of law forms. While engaged in this +degrading occupation, a detail came to his notice which caused him to +become very amiably disposed and confident of success. Proceeding with +the matter, he caused a well-supported report to be spread about that +Ling was suffering from a wasting sickness, which, without in any +measure shortening his life, would cause him to return to the size and +weight of a newly-born child, and being by these means enabled to secure +the entire matter of “The Ling (After Death) Without Much Risk Assembly” + at a very small outlay, he did so, and then, calling together a company +of those who hire themselves out for purposes of violence, journeyed to +Si-chow. + +Ling and Mian were seated together at a table in the great room, +examining a vessel of some clear liquid, when Chang-ch’un entered with +his armed ones, in direct opposition to the general laws of ordinary +conduct and the rulings of hospitality. At the sight, which plainly +indicated a threatened display of violence, Ling seized his renowned +sword, which was never far distant from him, and prepared to carry out +his spoken vow, that any person overstepping a certain mark on the floor +would assuredly fall. + +“Put away your undoubtedly competent weapon, O Ling,” said Chang, who +was desirous that the matter should be arranged if possible without any +loss to himself, “for such a course can be honourably adopted when it +is taken into consideration that we are as twenty to one, and have, +moreover, the appearance of being inspired by law forms.” + +“There are certain matters of allowed justice which over-rule all +other law forms,” replied Ling, taking a surer hold of his sword-grasp. +“Explain, for your part, O obviously double-dealing Chang-ch’un, from +whom this person only recently parted on terms of equality and courtesy, +why you come not with an agreeable face and a peaceful following, +but with a countenance which indicates both violence and terror, and +accompanied by many whom this person recognizes as the most outcast and +degraded from the narrow and evil-smelling ways of Canton?” + +“In spite of your blustering words,” said Chang, with some attempt at an +exhibition of dignity, “this person is endowed by every right, and +comes only for the obtaining, by the help of this expert and proficient +gathering, should such a length become necessary, of his just claims. +Understand that in the time since the venture was arranged this person +has become possessed of all the property of ‘The Ling (After Death) +Without Much Risk Assembly,’ and thereby he is competent to act fully +in the matter. It has now come within his attention that the one Ling +to whom the particulars refer is officially dead, and as the written +and sealed document clearly undertook that the person’s body was to be +delivered up for whatever use the Assembly decided whenever death should +possess it, this person has now come for the honourable carrying out of +the undertaking.” + +At these words the true nature of the hidden contrivance into which he +had fallen descended upon Ling like a heavy and unavoidable thunderbolt. +Nevertheless, being by nature and by reason of his late exploits +fearless of death, except for the sake of the loved one by his side, he +betrayed no sign of discreditable emotion at the discovery. + +“In such a case,” he replied, with an appearance of entirely +disregarding the danger of the position, “the complete parchment must be +of necessity overthrown; for if this person is now officially dead, he +was equally so at the time of sealing, and arrangements entered into by +dead persons have no actual existence.” + +“That is a matter which has never been efficiently decided,” admitted +Chang-ch’un, with no appearance of being thrown into a state of +confusion at the suggestion, “and doubtless the case in question can by +various means be brought in the end before the Court of Final Settlement +at Peking, where it may indeed be judged in the manner you assert. But +as such a process must infallibly consume the wealth of a province and +the years of an ordinary lifetime, and as it is this person’s unmoved +intention to carry out his own view of the undertaking without delay, +such speculations are not matters of profound interest.” + +Upon this Chang gave certain instructions to his followers, who +thereupon prepared to advance. Perceiving that the last detail of the +affair had been arrived at, Ling threw back his hanging garment, and +was on the point of rushing forward to meet them, when Mian, who had +maintained a possessed and reliant attitude throughout, pushed towards +him the vessel of pure and sparkling liquid with which they had been +engaged when so presumptuously broken in upon, at the same time speaking +to him certain words in an outside language. A new and Heaven-sent +confidence immediately took possession of Ling, and striking his sword +against the wall with such irresistible force that the entire chamber +trembled and the feeble-minded assassins shrank back in unrestrained +terror, he leapt upon the table, grasping in one hand the open vessel. + +“Behold the end, O most uninventive and slow-witted Chang-ch’un!” he +cried in a dreadful and awe-compelling voice. “As a reward for your +faithless and traitorous behaviour, learn how such avaricious-minded +incompetence turns and fastens itself upon the vitals of those who beget +it. In spite of many things which were not of a graceful nature +towards him, this person has unassumingly maintained his part of the +undertaking, and would have followed such a course conscientiously to +the last. As it is, when he has made an end of speaking, the body +which you are already covetously estimating in taels will in no way +be distinguishable from that of the meanest and most ordinary maker of +commercial ventures in Canton. For, behold! the fluid which he holds in +his hand, and which it is his fixed intention to drain to the last drop, +is in truth nothing but a secret and exceedingly powerful counteractor +against the virtues of the gold drug; and though but a single particle +passed his lips, and the swords of your brilliant and versatile +murderers met the next moment in his breast, the body which fell at your +feet would be meet for worms rather than for the melting-pot.” + +It was indeed such a substance as Ling represented it to be, Mian +having discovered it during her very systematic examination of the dead +magician’s inner room. Its composition and distillation had involved +that self-opinionated person in many years of arduous toil, for with a +somewhat unintelligent lack of foresight he had obstinately determined +to perfect the antidote before he turned his attention to the drug +itself. Had the matter been more ingeniously arranged, he would +undoubtedly have enjoyed an earlier triumph and an affluent and +respected old age. + +At Ling’s earnest words and prepared attitude an instant conviction of +the truth of his assertions took possession of Chang. Therefore, seeing +nothing but immediate and unevadable ruin at the next step, he called +out in a loud and imploring voice that he should desist, and no harm +would come upon him. To this Ling consented, first insisting that the +followers should be dismissed without delay, and Chang alone remain to +have conversation on the matter. By this just act the lower parts of +Canton were greatly purified, for the persons in question being driven +forth into the woods, mostly perished by encounters with wild animals, +or at the hands of the enraged villagers, to whom Ling had by this time +become greatly endeared. + +When the usual state had been restored, Ling made clear to Chang the +altered nature of the conditions to which he would alone agree. “It is +a noble-minded and magnanimous proposal on your part, and one to which +this misguided person had no claim,” admitted Chang, as he affixed his +seal to the written undertaking and committed the former parchment to +be consumed by fire. By this arrangement it was agreed that Ling should +receive only one-half of the yearly payment which had formerly been +promised, and that no sum of taels should become due to those depending +on him at his death. In return for these valuable allowances, there were +to exist no details of things to be done and not to be done, Ling merely +giving an honourable promise to observe the matter in a just spirit, +while--most esteemed of all--only a portion of his body was to pass to +Chang when the end arrived, the upper part remaining to embellish the +family altar and receive the veneration of posterity. + + * * * * * + +As the great sky-lantern rose above the trees and the time of no-noise +fell upon the woods, a flower-laden pleasure-junk moved away from its +restraining cords, and, without any sense of motion, gently bore Ling +and Mian between the sweet-smelling banks of the Heng-Kiang. Presently +Mian drew from beneath her flowing garment an instrument of stringed +wood, and touching it with a quick but delicate stroke, like the flight +and pausing of a butterfly, told in well-balanced words a refined +narrative of two illustrious and noble-looking persons, and how, after +many disagreeable evils and unendurable separations, they entered upon a +destined state of earthly prosperity and celestial favour. When she made +an end of the verses, Ling turned the junk’s head by one well-directed +stroke of the paddle, and prepared by using similar means to return to +the place of mooring. + +“Indeed,” he remarked, ceasing for a moment to continue this skilful +occupation, “the words which you have just spoken might, without +injustice, be applied to the two persons who are now conversing +together. For after suffering misfortunes and wrongs beyond an +appropriate portion, they have now reached that period of existence when +a tranquil and contemplative future is assured to them. In this manner +is the sage and matured utterance of the inspired philosopher Nien-tsu +again proved: that the life of every person is largely composed of two +varieties of circumstances which together build up his existence--the +Good and the Evil.” + + THE END OF THE STORY OF LING + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +When Kai Lung, the story-teller, made an end of speaking, he was +immediately greeted with a variety of delicate and pleasing remarks, all +persons who had witnessed the matter, down even to the lowest type of +Miaotze, who by reason of their obscure circumstances had been unable to +understand the meaning of a word that had been spoken, maintaining +that Kai Lung’s accomplishment of continuing for upwards of three hours +without a pause had afforded an entertainment of a very high and refined +order. While these polished sayings were being composed, together with +many others of a similar nature, Lin Yi suddenly leapt to his feet with +a variety of highly objectionable remarks concerning the ancestors of +all those who were present, and declaring that the story of Ling +was merely a well-considered stratagem to cause them to forget the +expedition which they had determined upon, for by that time it should +have been completely carried out. It was undoubtedly a fact that the +hour spoken of for the undertaking had long passed, Lin Yi having +completely overlooked the speed of time in his benevolent anxiety that +the polite and valorous Ling should in the end attain to a high and +remunerative destiny. + +In spite of Kai Lung’s consistent denials of any treachery, he could not +but be aware that the incident tended greatly to his disadvantage in +the eyes of those whom he had fixed a desire to conciliate, nor did +his well-intentioned offer that he would without hesitation repeat the +display for a like number of hours effect his amiable purpose. How the +complication would finally have been determined without interruption is +a matter merely of imagination, for at that moment an outpost, who had +been engaged in guarding the secrecy of the expedition, threw himself +into the enclosure in a torn and breathless condition, having run +through the forest many li in a winding direction for the explicit +purpose of warning Lin Yi that his intentions had become known, and that +he and his followers would undoubtedly be surprised and overcome if they +left the camp. + +At this intimation of the eminent service which Kai Lung had rendered +them, the nature of their faces towards him at once changed completely, +those who only a moment before had been demanding his death particularly +hailing him as their inspired and unobtrusive protector, and in all +probability, indeed, a virtuous and benignant spirit in disguise. + +Bending under the weight of offerings which Lin Yi and his followers +pressed upon him, together with many clearly set out desires for his +future prosperity, and assured of their unalterable protection on all +future occasions, Kai Lung again turned his face towards the lanterns +of Knei Yang. Far down the side of the mountain they followed his +footsteps, now by a rolling stone, now by a snapping branch of yellow +pine. Once again they heard his voice, cheerfully repeating to himself; +“Among the highest virtues of a pure existence--” But beyond that point +the gentle forest breath bore him away. + + + + +II. +THE STORY OF YUNG CHANG + + + Narrated by Kai Lung, in the open space of the tea-shop of The + Celestial Principles, at Wu-whei. + +“Ho, illustrious passers-by!” said Kai Lung, the story-teller, as he +spread out his embroidered mat under the mulberry-tree. “It is indeed +unlikely that you would condescend to stop and listen to the foolish +words of such an insignificant and altogether deformed person as myself. +Nevertheless, if you will but retard your elegant footsteps for a few +moments, this exceedingly unprepossessing individual will endeavour +to entertain you with the recital of the adventures of the noble Yung +Chang, as recorded by the celebrated Pe-ku-hi.” + +Thus adjured, the more leisurely-minded drew near to hear the history +of Yung Chang. There was Sing You the fruit-seller, and Li Ton-ti the +wood-carver; Hi Seng left his clients to cry in vain for water; and Wang +Yu, the idle pipe-maker, closed his shop of “The Fountain of Beauty,” + and hung on the shutter the gilt dragon to keep away customers in his +absence. These, together with a few more shopkeepers and a dozen or so +loafers, constituted a respectable audience by the time Kai Lung was +ready. + +“It would be more seemly if this ill-conditioned person who is now +addressing such a distinguished assembly were to reward his fine and +noble-looking hearers for their trouble,” apologized the story-teller. +“But, as the Book of Verses says, ‘The meaner the slave, the greater the +lord’; and it is, therefore, not unlikely that this majestic concourse +will reward the despicable efforts of their servant by handfuls of coins +till the air appears as though filled with swarms of locusts in the +season of much heat. In particular, there is among this august crowd +of Mandarins one Wang Yu, who has departed on three previous occasions +without bestowing the reward of a single cash. If the feeble and +covetous-minded Wang Yu will place within this very ordinary bowl the +price of one of his exceedingly ill-made pipes, this unworthy person +will proceed.” + +“Vast chasms can be filled, but the heart of man never,” quoted the +pipe-maker in retort. “Oh, most incapable of story-tellers, have you +not on two separate occasions slept beneath my utterly inadequate roof +without payment?” + +But he, nevertheless, deposited three cash in the bowl, and drew nearer +among the front row of the listeners. + +“It was during the reign of the enlightened Emperor Tsing Nung,” began +Kai Lung, without further introduction, “that there lived at a village +near Honan a wealthy and avaricious maker of idols, named Ti Hung. So +skilful had he become in the making of clay idols that his fame had +spread for many li round, and idol-sellers from all the neighbouring +villages, and even from the towns, came to him for their stock. No other +idol-maker between Honan and Nanking employed so many clay-gatherers or +so many modellers; yet, with all his riches, his avarice increased till +at length he employed men whom he called ‘agents’ and ‘travellers,’ who +went from house to house selling his idols and extolling his virtues in +verses composed by the most illustrious poets of the day. He did this +in order that he might turn into his own pocket the full price of the +idols, grudging those who would otherwise have sold them the few cash +which they would make. Owing to this he had many enemies, and his army +of travellers made him still more; for they were more rapacious than +the scorpion, and more obstinate than the ox. Indeed, there is still the +proverb, ‘With honey it is possible to soften the heart of the he-goat; +but a blow from an iron cleaver is taken as a mark of welcome by an +agent of Ti Hung.’ So that people barred the doors at their approach, +and even hung out signs of death and mourning. + +“Now, among all his travellers there was none more successful, more +abandoned, and more valuable to Ti Hung than Li Ting. So depraved was +Li Ting that he was never known to visit the tombs of his ancestors; +indeed, it was said that he had been heard to mock their venerable +memories, and that he had jestingly offered to sell them to anyone who +should chance to be without ancestors of his own. This objectionable +person would call at the houses of the most illustrious Mandarins, and +would command the slaves to carry to their masters his tablets, on which +were inscribed his name and his virtues. Reaching their presence, he +would salute them with the greeting of an equal, ‘How is your stomach?’ +and then proceed to exhibit samples of his wares, greatly overrating +their value. ‘Behold!’ he would exclaim, ‘is not this elegantly-moulded +idol worthy of the place of honour in this sumptuous mansion which my +presence defiles to such an extent that twelve basins of rose-water +will not remove the stain? Are not its eyes more delicate than the most +select of almonds? and is not its stomach rounder than the cupolas upon +the high temple at Peking? Yet, in spite of its perfections, it is not +worthy of the acceptance of so distinguished a Mandarin, and therefore +I will accept in return the quarter-tael, which, indeed, is less than my +illustrious master gives for the clay alone.’ + +“In this manner Li Ting disposed of many idols at high rates, and +thereby endeared himself so much to the avaricious heart of Ti Hung that +he promised him his beautiful daughter Ning in marriage. + +“Ning was indeed very lovely. Her eyelashes were like the finest willow +twigs that grow in the marshes by the Yang-tse-Kiang; her cheeks were +fairer than poppies; and when she bathed in the Hoang Ho, her body +seemed transparent. Her brow was finer than the most polished jade; +while she seemed to walk, like a winged bird, without weight, her hair +floating in a cloud. Indeed, she was the most beautiful creature that +has ever existed.” + +“Now may you grow thin and shrivel up like a fallen lemon; but it is +false!” cried Wang Yu, starting up suddenly and unexpectedly. “At +Chee Chou, at the shop of ‘The Heaven-sent Sugar-cane,’ there lives a +beautiful and virtuous girl who is more than all that. Her eyes are like +the inside circles on the peacock’s feathers; her teeth are finer than +the scales on the Sacred Dragon; her--” + +“If it is the wish of this illustriously-endowed gathering that this +exceedingly illiterate paper tiger should occupy their august moments +with a description of the deformities of the very ordinary young person +at Chee Chou,” said Kai Lung imperturbably, “then the remainder of the +history of the noble-minded Yung Chang can remain until an evil fate has +overtaken Wang Yu, as it assuredly will shortly.” + +“A fair wind raises no storm,” said Wang Yu sulkily; and Kai Lung +continued: + +“Such loveliness could not escape the evil eye of Li Ting, and +accordingly, as he grew in favour with Ti Hung, he obtained his consent +to the drawing up of the marriage contracts. More than this, he had +already sent to Ning two bracelets of the finest gold, tied together +with a scarlet thread, as a betrothal present. But, as the proverb +says, ‘The good bee will not touch the faded flower,’ and Ning, although +compelled by the second of the Five Great Principles to respect her +father, was unable to regard the marriage with anything but abhorrence. +Perhaps this was not altogether the fault of Li Ting, for on the evening +of the day on which she had received his present, she walked in the +rice fields, and sitting down at the foot of a funereal cypress, whose +highest branches pierced the Middle Air, she cried aloud: + +“‘I cannot control my bitterness. Of what use is it that I should be +called the “White Pigeon among Golden Lilies,” if my beauty is but for +the hog-like eyes of the exceedingly objectionable Li Ting? Ah, Yung +Chang, my unfortunate lover! what evil spirit pursues you that you +cannot pass your examination for the second degree? My noble-minded but +ambitious boy, why were you not content with an agricultural or even a +manufacturing career and happiness? By aspiring to a literary degree, +you have placed a barrier wider than the Whang Hai between us.’ + +“‘As the earth seems small to the soaring swallow, so shall insuperable +obstacles be overcome by the heart worn smooth with a fixed purpose,’ +said a voice beside her, and Yung Chang stepped from behind the cypress +tree, where he had been waiting for Ning. ‘O one more symmetrical than +the chrysanthemum,’ he continued, ‘I shall yet, with the aid of my +ancestors, pass the second degree, and even obtain a position of high +trust in the public office at Peking.’ + +“‘And in the meantime,’ pouted Ning, ‘I shall have partaken of the +wedding-cake of the utterly unpresentable Li Ting.’ And she exhibited +the bracelets which she had that day received. + +“‘Alas!’ said Yung Chang, ‘there are times when one is tempted to doubt +even the most efficacious and violent means. I had hoped that by this +time Li Ting would have come to a sudden and most unseemly end; for I +have drawn up and affixed in the most conspicuous places notifications +of his character, similar to the one here.’ + +“Ning turned, and beheld fastened to the trunk of the cypress an +exceedingly elegantly written and composed notice, which Yung read to +her as follows: + + “‘BEWARE OF INCURRING DEATH FROM STARVATION + + “‘Let the distinguished inhabitants of this district observe the + exceedingly ungraceful walk and bearing of the low person who + calls himself Li Ting. Truthfully, it is that of a dog in the act + of being dragged to the river because his sores and diseases + render him objectionable in the house of his master. So will this + hunchbacked person be dragged to the place of execution, and be + bowstrung, to the great relief of all who respect the five senses; + A Respectful Physiognomy, Passionless Reflexion, Soft Speech, + Acute Hearing, Piercing Sight. + + “‘He hopes to attain to the Red Button and the Peacock’s Feather; + but the right hand of the Deity itches, and Li Ting will assuredly + be removed suddenly.’ + +“‘Li Ting must certainly be in league with the evil forces if he can +withstand so powerful a weapon,’ said Ning admiringly, when her lover +had finished reading. ‘Even now he is starting on a journey, nor will he +return till the first day of the month when the sparrows go to the sea +and are changed into oysters. Perhaps the fate will overtake him while +he is away. If not--’ + +“‘If not,’ said Yung, taking up her words as she paused, ‘then I have +yet another hope. A moment ago you were regretting my choice of a +literary career. Learn, then, the value of knowledge. By its aid +(assisted, indeed, by the spirits of my ancestors) I have discovered a +new and strange thing, for which I can find no word. By using this new +system of reckoning, your illustrious but exceedingly narrow-minded and +miserly father would be able to make five taels where he now makes one. +Would he not, in consideration for this, consent to receive me as a +son-in-law, and dismiss the inelegant and unworthy Li Ting?’ + +“‘In the unlikely event of your being able to convince my illustrious +parent of what you say, it would assuredly be so,’ replied Ning. ‘But +in what way could you do so? My sublime and charitable father already +employs all the means in his power to reap the full reward of his sacred +industry. His “solid house-hold gods” are in reality mere shells of +clay; higher-priced images are correspondingly constructed, and his clay +gatherers and modellers are all paid on a “profit-sharing system.” + Nay, further, it is beyond likelihood that he should wish for more +purchasers, for so great is his fame that those who come to buy have +sometimes to wait for days in consequence of those before them; for my +exceedingly methodical sire entrusts none with the receiving of money, +and the exchanges are therefore made slowly. Frequently an unnaturally +devout person will require as many as a hundred idols, and so the +greater part of the day will be passed.’ + +“‘In what way?’ inquired Yung tremulously. + +“‘Why, in order that the countings may not get mixed, of course; it is +necessary that when he has paid for one idol he should carry it to a +place aside, and then return and pay for the second, carrying it to the +first, and in such a manner to the end. In this way the sun sinks behind +the mountains.’ + +“‘But,’ said Yung, his voice thick with his great discovery, ‘if he +could pay for the entire quantity at once, then it would take but a +hundredth part of the time, and so more idols could be sold.’ + +“‘How could this be done?’ inquired Ning wonderingly. ‘Surely it is +impossible to conjecture the value of so many idols.’ + +“‘To the unlearned it would indeed be impossible,’ replied Yung proudly, +‘but by the aid of my literary researches I have been enabled to +discover a process by which such results would be not a matter of +conjecture, but of certainty. These figures I have committed to tablets, +which I am prepared to give to your mercenary and slow-witted father +in return for your incomparable hand, a share of the profits, and the +dismissal of the uninventive and morally threadbare Li Ting.’ + +“‘When the earth-worm boasts of his elegant wings, the eagle can afford +to be silent,’ said a harsh voice behind them; and turning hastily they +beheld Li Ting, who had come upon them unawares. ‘Oh, most insignificant +of table-spoilers,’ he continued, ‘it is very evident that much +over-study has softened your usually well-educated brains. Were it +not that you are obviously mentally afflicted, I should unhesitatingly +persuade my beautiful and refined sword to introduce you to the spirits +of your ignoble ancestors. As it is, I will merely cut off your nose and +your left ear, so that people may not say that the Dragon of the Earth +sleeps and wickedness goes unpunished.’ + +“Both had already drawn their swords, and very soon the blows were so +hard and swift that, in the dusk of the evening, it seemed as though the +air were filled with innumerable and many-coloured fireworks. Each was +a practised swordsman, and there was no advantage gained on either side, +when Ning, who had fled on the appearance of Li Ting, reappeared, urging +on her father, whose usually leisurely footsteps were quickened by +the dread that the duel must surely result in certain loss to himself, +either of a valuable servant, or of the discovery which Ning had briefly +explained to him, and of which he at once saw the value. + +“‘Oh, most distinguished and expert persons,’ he exclaimed breathlessly, +as soon as he was within hearing distance, ‘do not trouble to give so +marvellous an exhibition for the benefit of this unworthy individual, +who is the only observer of your illustrious dexterity! Indeed, your +honourable condescension so fills this illiterate person with shame that +his hearing is thereby preternaturally sharpened, and he can plainly +distinguish many voices from beyond the Hoang Ho, crying for the +Heaven-sent representative of the degraded Ti Hung to bring them more +idols. Bend, therefore, your refined footsteps in the direction of +Poo Chow, O Li Ting, and leave me to make myself objectionable to this +exceptional young man with my intolerable commonplaces.’ + +“‘The shadow falls in such a direction as the sun wills,’ said Li Ting, +as he replaced his sword and departed. + +“‘Yung Chang,’ said the merchant, ‘I am informed that you have made a +discovery that would be of great value to me, as it undoubtedly would if +it is all that you say. Let us discuss the matter without ceremony. Can +you prove to me that your system possesses the merit you claim for it? +If so, then the matter of arrangement will be easy.’ + +“‘I am convinced of the absolute certainty and accuracy of the +discovery,’ replied Yung Chang. ‘It is not as though it were an ordinary +matter of human intelligence, for this was discovered to me as I was +worshipping at the tomb of my ancestors. The method is regulated by +a system of squares, triangles, and cubes. But as the practical proof +might be long, and as I hesitate to keep your adorable daughter out in +the damp night air, may I not call at your inimitable dwelling in the +morning, when we can go into the matter thoroughly?’ + +“I will not weary this intelligent gathering, each member of which +doubtless knows all the books on mathematics off by heart, with a +recital of the means by which Yung Chang proved to Ti Hung the accuracy +of his tables and the value of his discovery of the multiplication +table, which till then had been undreamt of,” continued the +story-teller. “It is sufficient to know that he did so, and that Ti Hung +agreed to his terms, only stipulating that Li Ting should not be made +aware of his dismissal until he had returned and given in his accounts. +The share of the profits that Yung was to receive was cut down very low +by Ti Hung, but the young man did not mind that, as he would live with +his father-in-law for the future. + +“With the introduction of this new system, the business increased like +a river at flood-time. All rivals were left far behind, and Ti Hung put +out this sign: + + “NO WAITING HERE! + + “Good-morning! Have you worshipped one of Ti Hung’s refined + ninety-nine cash idols? + + “Let the purchasers of ill-constructed idols at other + establishments, where they have grown old and venerable while + waiting for the all-thumb proprietors to count up to ten, come to + the shop of Ti Hung and regain their lost youth. Our ninety-nine + cash idols are worth a tael a set. We do not, however, claim that + they will do everything. The ninety-nine cash idols of Ti Hung + will not, for example, purify linen, but even the most contented + and frozen-brained person cannot be happy until he possesses one. + What is happiness? The exceedingly well-educated Philosopher + defines it as the accomplishment of all our desires. Everyone + desires one of the Ti Hung’s ninety-nine cash idols, therefore get + one; but be sure that it is Ti Hung’s. + + “Have you a bad idol? If so, dismiss it, and get one of Ti Hung’s + ninety-nine cash specimens. + + “Why does your idol look old sooner than your neighbours? Because + yours is not one of Ti Hung’s ninety-nine cash marvels. + + “They bring all delights to the old and the young, + The elegant idols supplied by Ti Hung. + + “N.B.--The ‘Great Sacrifice’ idol, forty-five cash; delivered, + carriage free, in quantities of not less than twelve, at any + temple, on the evening before the sacrifice. + +“It was about this time that Li Ting returned. His journey had been more +than usually successful, and he was well satisfied in consequence. It +was not until he had made out his accounts and handed in his money that +Ti Hung informed him of his agreement with Yung Chang. + +“‘Oh, most treacherous and excessively unpopular Ti Hung,’ exclaimed +Li Ting, in a terrible voice, ‘this is the return you make for all my +entrancing efforts in your services, then? It is in this way that you +reward my exceedingly unconscientious recommendations of your very +inferior and unendurable clay idols, with their goggle eyes and concave +stomachs! Before I go, however, I request to be inspired to make the +following remark--that I confidently predict your ruin. And now this +low and undignified person will finally shake the elegant dust of your +distinguished house from his thoroughly inadequate feet, and proceed to +offer his incapable services to the rival establishment over the way.’ + +“‘The machinations of such an evilly-disposed person as Li Ting will +certainly be exceedingly subtle,’ said Ti Hung to his son-in-law when +the traveller had departed. ‘I must counteract his omens. Herewith I +wish to prophecy that henceforth I shall enjoy an unbroken run of good +fortune. I have spoken, and assuredly I shall not eat my words.’ + +“As the time went on, it seemed as though Ti Hung had indeed spoken +truly. The ease and celerity with which he transacted his business +brought him customers and dealers from more remote regions than ever, +for they could spend days on the journey and still save time. The +army of clay-gatherers and modellers grew larger and larger, and the +work-sheds stretched almost down to the river’s edge. Only one thing +troubled Ti Hung, and that was the uncongenial disposition of his +son-in-law, for Yung took no further interest in the industry to which +his discovery had given so great an impetus, but resolutely set to work +again to pass his examination for the second degree. + +“‘It is an exceedingly distinguished and honourable thing to have failed +thirty-five times, and still to be undiscouraged,’ admitted Ti Hung; +‘but I cannot cleanse my throat from bitterness when I consider that +my noble and lucrative business must pass into the hands of strangers, +perhaps even into the possession of the unendurable Li Ting.’ + +“But it had been appointed that this degrading thing should not happen, +however, and it was indeed fortunate that Yung did not abandon his +literary pursuits; for after some time it became very apparent to Ti +Hung that there was something radically wrong with his business. It was +not that his custom was falling off in any way; indeed, it had lately +increased in a manner that was phenomenal, and when the merchant came to +look into the matter, he found to his astonishment that the least order +he had received in the past week had been for a hundred idols. All the +sales had been large, and yet Ti Hung found himself most unaccountably +deficient in taels. He was puzzled and alarmed, and for the next few +days he looked into the business closely. Then it was that the reason +was revealed, both for the falling off in the receipts and for the +increase in the orders. The calculations of the unfortunate Yung Chang +were correct up to a hundred, but at that number he had made a gigantic +error--which, however, he was never able to detect and rectify--with +the result that all transactions above that point worked out at a +considerable loss to the seller. It was in vain that the panic-stricken +Ti Hung goaded his miserable son-in-law to correct the mistake; it +was equally in vain that he tried to stem the current of his enormous +commercial popularity. He had competed for public favour, and he had won +it, and every day his business increased till ruin grasped him by the +pigtail. Then came an order from one firm at Peking for five millions of +the ninety-nine cash idols, and at that Ti Hung put up his shutters, and +sat down in the dust. + +“‘Behold!’ he exclaimed, ‘in the course of a lifetime there are many +very disagreeable evils that may overtake a person. He may offend the +Sacred Dragon, and be in consequence reduced to a fine dry powder; or he +may incur the displeasure of the benevolent and pure-minded Emperor, and +be condemned to death by roasting; he may also be troubled by demons or +by the disturbed spirits of his ancestors, or be struck by thunderbolts. +Indeed, there are numerous annoyances, but they become as Heaven-sent +blessings in comparison to a self-opinionated and more than ordinarily +weak-minded son-in-law. Of what avail is it that I have habitually +sold one idol for the value of a hundred? The very objectionable man in +possession sits in my delectable summer-house, and the unavoidable +legal documents settle around me like a flock of pigeons. It is indeed +necessary that I should declare myself to be in voluntary liquidation, +and make an assignment of my book debts for the benefit of my creditors. +Having accomplished this, I will proceed to the well-constructed tomb +of my illustrious ancestors, and having kow-towed at their incomparable +shrines, I will put an end to my distinguished troubles with this +exceedingly well-polished sword.’ + +“‘The wise man can adapt himself to circumstances as water takes the +shape of the vase that contains it,’ said the well-known voice of +Li Ting. ‘Let not the lion and the tiger fight at the bidding of the +jackal. By combining our forces all may be well with you yet. Assist +me to dispose of the entirely superfluous Yung Chang and to marry +the elegant and symmetrical Ning, and in return I will allot to you a +portion of my not inconsiderable income.’ + +“‘However high the tree, the leaves fall to the ground, and your hour +has come at last, O detestable Li Ting!’ said Yung, who had heard the +speakers and crept upon them unperceived. ‘As for my distinguished +and immaculate father-in-law, doubtless the heat has affected his +indefatigable brains, or he would not have listened to your contemptible +suggestion. For yourself, draw!’ + +“Both swords flashed, but before a blow could be struck the spirits +of his ancestors hurled Li Ting lifeless to the ground, to avenge the +memories that their unworthy descendant had so often reviled. + +“‘So perish all the enemies of Yung Chang,’ said the victor. ‘And now, +my venerated but exceedingly short-sighted father-in-law, learn how +narrowly you have escaped making yourself exceedingly objectionable +to yourself. I have just received intelligence from Peking that I have +passed the second degree, and have in consequence been appointed to a +remunerative position under the Government. This will enable us to live +in comfort, if not in affluence, and the rest of your engaging days can +be peacefully spent in flying kites.’” + + + + +III. +THE PROBATION OF SEN HENG + + + Related by Kai Lung, at Wu-whei, as a rebuke to Wang Yu and + certain others who had questioned the practical value of his + stories. + +“It is an undoubted fact that this person has not realized the direct +remunerative advantage which he confidently anticipated,” remarked the +idle and discontented pipe-maker Wang Yu, as, with a few other persons +of similar inclination, he sat in the shade of the great mulberry tree +at Wu-whei, waiting for the evil influence of certain very mysterious +sounds, which had lately been heard, to pass away before he resumed +his occupation. “When the seemingly proficient and trustworthy Kai Lung +first made it his practice to journey to Wu-whei, and narrate to us the +doings of persons of all classes of life,” he continued, “it seemed to +this one that by closely following the recital of how Mandarins obtained +their high position, and exceptionally rich persons their wealth, he +must, in the end, inevitably be rendered competent to follow in their +illustrious footsteps. Yet in how entirely contrary a direction has +the whole course of events tended! In spite of the honourable intention +which involved a frequent absence from his place of commerce, those +who journeyed thither with the set purpose of possessing one of his +justly-famed opium pipes so perversely regarded the matter that, after +two or three fruitless visits, they deliberately turned their footsteps +towards the workshop of the inelegant Ming-yo, whose pipes are +confessedly greatly inferior to those produced by the person who is now +speaking. Nevertheless, the rapacious Kai Lung, to whose influence +the falling off in custom was thus directly attributable, persistently +declined to bear any share whatever in the loss which his profession +caused, and, indeed, regarded the circumstance from so grasping and +narrow-minded a point of observation that he would not even go to the +length of suffering this much-persecuted one to join the circle of his +hearers without on every occasion making the customary offering. In this +manner a well-intentioned pursuit of riches has insidiously led this +person within measurable distance of the bolted dungeon for those who do +not meet their just debts, while the only distinction likely to result +from his assiduous study of the customs and methods of those high +in power is that of being publicly bowstrung as a warning to others. +Manifestedly the pointed finger of the unreliable Kai Lung is a very +treacherous guide.” + +“It is related,” said a dispassionate voice behind them, “that a person +of limited intelligence, on being assured that he would certainly one +day enjoy an adequate competence if he closely followed the industrious +habits of the thrifty bee, spent the greater part of his life in +anointing his thighs with the yellow powder which he laboriously +collected from the flowers of the field. It is not so recorded; but +doubtless the nameless one in question was by profession a maker of +opium pipes, for this person has observed from time to time how that +occupation, above all others, tends to degrade the mental faculties, and +to debase its followers to a lower position than that of the beasts of +labour. Learn therefrom, O superficial Wang Yu, that wisdom lies in +an intelligent perception of great principles, and not in a slavish +imitation of details which are, for the most part, beyond your simple +and insufficient understanding.” + +“Such may, indeed, be the case, Kai Lung,” replied Wang Yu sullenly--for +it was the story-teller in question who had approached unperceived, and +who now stood before them--“but it is none the less a fact that, on the +last occasion when this misguided person joined the attending circle +at your uplifted voice, a Mandarin of the third degree chanced to +pass through Wu-whei, and halted at the door-step of ‘The Fountain of +Beauty,’ fully intending to entrust this one with the designing and +fashioning of a pipe of exceptional elaborateness. This matter, by his +absence, has now passed from him, and to-day, through listening to the +narrative of how the accomplished Yuin-Pel doubled his fortune, he is +the poorer by many taels.” + +“Yet to-morrow, when the name of the Mandarin of the third degree +appears in the list of persons who have transferred their entire +property to those who are nearly related to them in order to avoid it +being seized to satisfy the just claims made against them,” replied Kai +Lung, “you will be able to regard yourself the richer by so many taels.” + +At these words, which recalled to the minds of all who were present the +not uncommon manner of behaving observed by those of exalted rank, who +freely engaged persons to supply them with costly articles without in +any way regarding the price to be paid, Wang Yu was silent. + +“Nevertheless,” exclaimed a thin voice from the edge of the group which +surrounded Kai Lung, “it in nowise follows that the stories are in +themselves excellent, or of such a nature that the hearing of their +recital will profit a person. Wang Yu may be satisfied with empty words, +but there are others present who were studying deep matters when Wang +Yu was learning the art of walking. If Kai Lung’s stories are of such +remunerative benefit as the person in question claims, how does it +chance that Kai Lung himself who is assuredly the best acquainted with +them, stands before us in mean apparel, and on all occasions confessing +an unassuming poverty?” + +“It is Yan-hi Pung,” went from mouth to mouth among the +bystanders--“Yan-hi Pung, who traces on paper the words of chants and +historical tales, and sells them to such as can afford to buy. And +although his motive in exposing the emptiness of Kai Lung’s stories may +not be Heaven-sent--inasmuch as Kai Lung provides us with such matter +as he himself purveys, only at a much more moderate price--yet his words +are well considered, and must therefore be regarded.” + +“O Yan-hi Pung,” replied Kai Lung, hearing the name from those who +stood about him, and moving towards the aged person, who stood meanwhile +leaning upon his staff, and looking from side to side with quickly +moving eyelids in a manner very offensive towards the story-teller, +“your just remark shows you to be a person of exceptional wisdom, even +as your well-bowed legs prove you to be one of great bodily strength; +for justice is ever obvious and wisdom hidden, and they who build +structures for endurance discard the straight and upright and insist +upon such an arch as you so symmetrically exemplify.” + +Speaking in this conciliatory manner, Kai Lung came up to Yan-hi Pung, +and taking between his fingers a disc of thick polished crystal, +which the aged and short-sighted chant-writer used for the purpose of +magnifying and bringing nearer the letters upon which he was engaged, +and which hung around his neck by an embroidered cord, the story-teller +held it aloft, crying aloud: + +“Observe closely, and presently it will be revealed and made clear how +the apparently very conflicting words of the wise Yan-hi Pung, and those +of this unassuming but nevertheless conscientious person who is now +addressing you, are, in reality, as one great truth.” + +With this assurance Kai Lung moved the crystal somewhat, so that it +engaged the sun’s rays, and concentrated them upon the uncovered crown +of the unsuspecting and still objectionably-engaged person before +him. Without a moment’s pause, Yan-hi Pung leapt high into the air, +repeatedly pressing his hand to the spot thus selected and crying aloud: + +“Evil dragons and thunderbolts! but the touch was as hot as a scar left +by the uncut nail of the sublime Buddha!” + +“Yet the crystal--” remarked Kai Lung composedly, passing it into the +hands of those who stood near. + +“Is as cool as the innermost leaves of the riverside sycamore,” they +declared. + +Kai Lung said nothing further, but raised both his hands above his head, +as if demanding their judgment. Thereupon a loud shout went up on his +behalf, for the greater part of them loved to see the manner in which +he brushed aside those who would oppose him; and the sight of the aged +person Yan-hi Pung leaping far into the air had caused them to become +exceptionally amused, and, in consequence, very amiably disposed towards +the one who had afforded them the entertainment. + +“The story of Sen Heng,” began Kai Lung, when the discussion had +terminated in the manner already recorded, “concerns itself with one who +possessed an unsuspecting and ingenious nature, which ill-fitted him +to take an ordinary part in the everyday affairs of life, no matter how +engaging such a character rendered him among his friends and relations. +Having at an early age been entrusted with a burden of rice and other +produce from his father’s fields to dispose of in the best possible +manner at a neighbouring mart, and having completed the transaction in a +manner extremely advantageous to those with whom he trafficked but very +intolerable to the one who had sent him, it at once became apparent that +some other means of gaining a livelihood must be discovered for him. + +“‘Beyond all doubt,’ said his father, after considering the matter for a +period, ‘it is a case in which one should be governed by the wise advice +and example of the Mandarin Poo-chow.’ + +“‘Illustrious sire,’ exclaimed Sen Heng, who chanced to be present, ‘the +illiterate person who stands before you is entirely unacquainted +with the one to whom you have referred; nevertheless, he will, as you +suggest, at once set forth, and journeying with all speed to the abode +of the estimable Poo-chow, solicit his experience and advice.’ + +“‘Unless a more serious loss should be occasioned,’ replied the father +coldly, ‘there is no necessity to adopt so extreme a course. The +benevolent Mandarin in question existed at a remote period of the Thang +dynasty, and the incident to which an allusion has been made arose in +the following way: To the public court of the enlightened Poo-chow there +came one day a youth of very inferior appearance and hesitating +manner, who besought his explicit advice, saying: “The degraded and +unprepossessing being before you, O select and venerable Mandarin, is by +nature and attainments a person of the utmost timidity and fearfulness. +From this cause life itself has become a detestable observance in his +eyes, for those who should be his companions of both sexes hold him in +undisguised contempt, making various unendurable allusions to the colour +and nature of his internal organs whenever he would endeavour to join +them. Instruct him, therefore, the manner in which this cowardice may be +removed, and no service in return will be esteemed too great.” “There +is a remedy,” replied the benevolent Mandarin, without any hesitation +whatever, “which if properly carried out is efficacious beyond the +possibility of failure. Certain component parts of your body are +lacking, and before the desired result can be obtained these must be +supplied from without. Of all courageous things the tiger is the most +fearless, and in consequence it combines all those ingredients which you +require; furthermore, as the teeth of the tiger are the instruments with +which it accomplishes its vengeful purpose, there reside the essential +principles of its inimitable courage. Let the person who seeks +instruction in the matter, therefore, do as follows: taking the teeth of +a full-grown tiger as soon as it is slain, and before the essences +have time to return into the body, he shall grind them to a powder, and +mixing the powder with a portion of rice, consume it. After seven days +he must repeat the observance, and yet again a third time, after another +similar lapse. Let him, then, return for further guidance; for the +present the matter interests this person no further.” At these words the +youth departed, filled with a new and inspired hope; for the wisdom of +the sagacious Poo-chow was a matter which did not admit of any doubt +whatever, and he had spoken with well-defined certainty of the success +of the experiment. Nevertheless, after several days industriously spent +in endeavouring to obtain by purchase the teeth of a newly-slain tiger, +the details of the undertaking began to assume a new and entirely +unforeseen aspect; for those whom he approached as being the most +likely to possess what he required either became very immoderately and +disagreeably amused at the nature of the request, or regarded it as a +new and ill-judged form of ridicule, which they prepared to avenge by +blows and by base remarks of the most personal variety. At length it +became unavoidably obvious to the youth that if he was to obtain the +articles in question it would first be necessary that he should become +adept in the art of slaying tigers, for in no other way were the +required conditions likely to be present. Although the prospect was one +which did not greatly tend to allure him, yet he did not regard it +with the utterly incapable emotions which would have been present on an +earlier occasion; for the habit of continually guarding himself from +the onslaughts of those who received his inquiry in an attitude of +narrow-minded distrust had inspired him with a new-found valour, while +his amiable and unrestrained manner of life increased his bodily vigour +in every degree. First perfecting himself in the use of the bow and +arrow, therefore, he betook himself to a wild and very extensive forest, +and there concealed himself among the upper foliage of a tall tree +standing by the side of a pool of water. On the second night of his +watch, the youth perceived a large but somewhat ill-conditioned tiger +approaching the pool for the purpose of quenching its thirst, whereupon +he tremblingly fitted an arrow to his bowstring, and profiting by the +instruction he had received, succeeded in piercing the creature to +the heart. After fulfilling the observance laid upon him by the +discriminating Poo-chow, the youth determined to remain in the forest, +and sustain himself upon such food as fell to his weapons, until the +time arrived when he should carry out the rite for the last time. At the +end of seven days, so subtle had he become in all kinds of hunting, and +so strengthened by the meat and herbs upon which he existed, that he +disdained to avail himself of the shelter of a tree, but standing openly +by the side of the water, he engaged the attention of the first tiger +which came to drink, and discharged arrow after arrow into its body with +unfailing power and precision. So entrancing, indeed, had the pursuit +become that the next seven days lengthened out into the apparent period +of as many moons, in such a leisurely manner did they rise and fall. On +the appointed day, without waiting for the evening to arrive, the youth +set out with the first appearance of light, and penetrated into the most +inaccessible jungles, crying aloud words of taunt-laden challenge to all +the beasts therein, and accusing the ancestors of their race of every +imaginable variety of evil behaviour. Yet so great had become the renown +of the one who stood forth, and so widely had the warning voice been +passed from tree to tree, preparing all who dwelt in the forest against +his anger, that not even the fiercest replied openly, though low growls +and mutterings proceeded from every cave within a bow-shot’s distance +around. Wearying quickly of such feeble and timorous demonstrations, the +youth rushed into the cave from which the loudest murmurs proceeded, and +there discovered a tiger of unnatural size, surrounded by the bones of +innumerable ones whom it had devoured; for from time to time its +ravages became so great and unbearable, that armies were raised in +the neighbouring villages and sent to destroy it, but more than a +few stragglers never returned. Plainly recognizing that a just and +inevitable vengeance had overtaken it, the tiger made only a very +inferior exhibition of resistance, and the youth, having first stunned +it with a blow of his closed hand, seized it by the middle, and +repeatedly dashed its head against the rocky sides of its retreat. He +then performed for the third time the ceremony enjoined by the Mandarin, +and having cast upon the cringing and despicable forms concealed in the +surrounding woods and caves a look of dignified and ineffable contempt, +set out upon his homeward journey, and in the space of three days’ time +reached the town of the versatile Poo-chow. “Behold,” exclaimed that +person, when, lifting up his eyes, he saw the youth approaching laden +with the skins of the tigers and other spoils, “now at least the youths +and maidens of your native village will no longer withdraw themselves +from the company of so undoubtedly heroic a person.” “Illustrious +Mandarin,” replied the other, casting both his weapons and his trophies +before his inspired adviser’s feet, “what has this person to do with the +little ones of either sex? Give him rather the foremost place in your +ever-victorious company of bowmen, so that he may repay in part the +undoubted debt under which he henceforth exists.” This proposal found +favour with the pure-minded Poo-chow, so that in course of time the +unassuming youth who had come supplicating his advice became the +valiant commander of his army, and the one eventually chosen to present +plighting gifts to his only daughter.’ + +“When the father had completed the narrative of how the faint-hearted +youth became in the end a courageous and resourceful leader of bowmen, +Sen looked up, and not in any degree understanding the purpose of the +story, or why it had been set forth before him, exclaimed: + +“‘Undoubtedly the counsel of the graceful and intelligent Mandarin +Poo-chow was of inestimable service in the case recorded, and this +person would gladly adopt it as his guide for the future, on the chance +of it leading to a similar honourable career; but alas! there are no +tigers to be found throughout this Province.’ + +“‘It is a loss which those who are engaged in commerce in the city of +Hankow strive to supply adequately,’ replied his father, who had an +assured feeling that it would be of no avail to endeavour to show +Sen that the story which he had just related was one setting forth a +definite precept rather than fixing an exact manner of behaviour. ‘For +that reason,’ he continued, ‘this person has concluded an arrangement by +which you will journey to that place, and there enter into the house of +commerce of an expert and conscientious vendor of moving contrivances. +Among so rapacious and keen-witted a class of persons as they of Hankow, +it is exceedingly unlikely that your amiable disposition will involve +any individual one in an unavoidably serious loss, and even should +such an unforeseen event come to pass, there will, at least, be the +undeniable satisfaction of the thought that the unfortunate occurrence +will in no way affect the prosperity of those to whom you are bound by +the natural ties of affection.’ + +“‘Benevolent and virtuous-minded father,’ replied Sen gently, but +speaking with an inspired conviction; ‘from his earliest infancy this +unassuming one has been instructed in an inviolable regard for the Five +General Principles of Fidelity to the Emperor, Respect for Parents, +Harmony between Husband and Wife, Agreement among Brothers, and +Constancy in Friendship. It will be entirely unnecessary to inform so +pious-minded a person as the one now being addressed that no evil can +attend the footsteps of an individual who courteously observes these +enactments.’ + +“‘Without doubt it is so arranged by the protecting Deities,’ replied +the father; ‘yet it is an exceedingly desirable thing for those who are +responsible in the matter that the footsteps to which reference has been +made should not linger in the neighbourhood of the village, but should, +with all possible speed, turn in the direction of Hankow.’ + +“In this manner it came to pass that Sen Heng set forth on the following +day, and coming without delay to the great and powerful city of Hankow, +sought out the house of commerce known as ‘The Pure Gilt Dragon of +Exceptional Symmetry,’ where the versatile King-y-Yang engaged in the +entrancing occupation of contriving moving figures, and other devices of +an ingenious and mirth-provoking character, which he entrusted into the +hands of numerous persons to sell throughout the Province. From this +cause, although enjoying a very agreeable recompense from the sale +of the objects, the greatly perturbed King-y-Yang suffered continual +internal misgivings; for the habit of behaving of those whom he +appointed to go forth in the manner described was such that he could not +entirely dismiss from his mind an assured conviction that the details +were not invariably as they were represented to be. Frequently would +one return in a very deficient and unpresentable condition of garment, +asserting that on his return, while passing through a lonely and +unprotected district, he had been assailed by an armed band of robbers, +and despoiled of all he possessed. Another would claim to have been made +the sport of evil spirits, who led him astray by means of false signs +in the forest, and finally destroyed his entire burden of commodities, +accompanying the unworthy act by loud cries of triumph and remarks of +an insulting nature concerning King-y-Yang; for the honourable character +and charitable actions of the person in question had made him very +objectionable to that class of beings. Others continually accounted +for the absence of the required number of taels by declaring that at +a certain point of their journey they were made the object of marks +of amiable condescension on the part of a high and dignified public +official, who, on learning in whose service they were, immediately +professed an intimate personal friendship with the estimable +King-y-Yang, and, out of a feeling of gratified respect for him, took +away all such contrivances as remained undisposed of, promising to +arrange the payment with the refined King-y-Yang himself when they +should next meet. For these reasons King-y-Yang was especially desirous +of obtaining one whose spoken word could be received, upon all points, +as an assured fact, and it was, therefore, with an emotion of internal +lightness that he confidently heard from those who were acquainted +with the person that Sen Heng was, by nature and endowments, utterly +incapable of representing matters of even the most insignificant degree +to be otherwise than what they really were. + +Filled with an acute anxiety to discover what amount of success would +be accorded to his latest contrivance, King-y-Yang led Sen Heng to a +secluded chamber, and there instructed him in the method of selling +certain apparently very ingeniously constructed ducks, which would have +the appearance of swimming about on the surface of an open vessel of +water, at the same time uttering loud and ever-increasing cries, after +the manner of their kind. With ill-restrained admiration at the skilful +nature of the deception, King-y-Yang pointed out that the ducks which +were to be disposed of, and upon which a seemingly very low price was +fixed, did not, in reality, possess any of these accomplishments, but +would, on the contrary, if placed in water, at once sink to the bottom +in a most incapable manner; it being part of Sen’s duty to exhibit only +a specially prepared creature which was restrained upon the surface by +means of hidden cords, and, while bending over it, to simulate the cries +as agreed upon. After satisfying himself that Sen could perform these +movements competently, King-y-Yang sent him forth, particularly charging +him that he should not return without a sum of money which fully +represented the entire number of ducks entrusted to him, or an adequate +number of unsold ducks to compensate for the deficiency. + +“At the end of seven days Sen returned to King-y-Yang, and although +entirely without money, even to the extent of being unable to provide +himself with the merest necessities of a frugal existence, he honourably +returned the full number of ducks with which he had set out. It then +became evident that although Sen had diligently perfected himself in the +sounds and movements which King-y-Yang had contrived, he had not +fully understood that they were to be executed stealthily, but had, +in consequence, manifested the accomplishment openly, not unreasonably +supposing that such an exhibition would be an additional inducement to +those who appeared to be well-disposed towards the purchase. From this +cause it came about that although large crowds were attracted by Sen’s +manner of conducting the enterprise, none actually engaged to purchase +even the least expensively-valued of the ducks, although several +publicly complimented Sen on his exceptional proficiency, and repeatedly +urged him to louder and more frequent cries, suggesting that by such +means possible buyers might be attracted to the spot from remote and +inaccessible villages in the neighbourhood. + +“When King-y-Yang learned how the venture had been carried out, he +became most intolerably self-opinionated in his expressions towards +Sen’s mental attainments and the manner of his bringing up. It was +entirely in vain that the one referred to pointed out in a tone of +persuasive and courteous restraint that he had not, down to the most +minute particulars, transgressed either the general or the specific +obligations of the Five General Principles, and that, therefore, he was +blameless, and even worthy of commendation for the manner in which he +had acted. With an inelegant absence of all refined feeling, King-y-Yang +most incapably declined to discuss the various aspects of the +controversy in an amiable manner, asserting, indeed, that for the +consideration of as many brass cash as Sen had mentioned principles +he would cause him to be thrown into prison as a person of unnatural +ineptitude. Then, without rewarding Sen for the time spent in his +service, or even inviting him to partake of food and wine, the +insufferable deviser of very indifferent animated contrivances again +sent him out, this time into the streets of Hankow with a number of +delicately inlaid boxes, remarking in a tone of voice which plainly +indicated an exactly contrary desire that he would be filled with an +overwhelming satisfaction if Sen could discover any excuse for returning +a second time without disposing of anything. This remark Sen’s ingenuous +nature led him to regard as a definite fact, so that when a passer-by, +who tarried to examine the boxes chanced to remark that the colours +might have been arranged to greater advantage, in which case he would +certainly have purchased at least one of the articles, Sen hastened +back, although in a distant part of the city, to inform King-y-Yang of +the suggestion, adding that he himself had been favourably impressed +with the improvement which could be effected by such an alteration. + +“The nature of King-y-Yang’s emotion when Sen again presented himself +before him--and when by repeatedly applied tests on various parts of his +body he understood that he was neither the victim of malicious demons, +nor wandering in an insensible condition in the Middle Air, but that the +cause of the return was such as had been plainly stated--was of so mixed +and benumbing a variety, that for a considerable space of time he was +quite unable to express himself in any way, either by words or by signs. +By the time these attributes returned there had formed itself within +King-y-Yang’s mind a design of most contemptible malignity, which seemed +to present to his enfeebled intellect a scheme by which Sen would be +adequately punished, and finally disposed of, without causing him any +further trouble in the matter. For this purpose he concealed the real +condition of his sentiments towards Sen, and warmly expressed himself in +terms of delicate flattery regarding that one’s sumptuous and unfailing +taste in the matter of the blending of the colours. Without doubt, he +continued, such an alteration as the one proposed would greatly increase +the attractiveness of the inlaid boxes, and the matter should be engaged +upon without delay. In the meantime, however, not to waste the immediate +services of so discriminating and persevering a servant, he would +entrust Sen with a mission of exceptional importance, which would +certainly tend greatly to his remunerative benefit. In the district +of Yun, in the north-western part of the Province, said the crafty +and treacherous King-y-Yang, a particular kind of insect was greatly +esteemed on account of the beneficent influence which it exercised over +the rice plants, causing them to mature earlier, and to attain a greater +size than ever happened in its absence. In recent years this creature +had rarely been seen in the neighbourhood of Yun, and, in consequence, +the earth-tillers throughout that country had been brought into a most +disconcerting state of poverty, and would, inevitably, be prepared to +exchange whatever they still possessed for even a few of the insects, in +order that they might liberate them to increase, and so entirely reverse +the objectionable state of things. Speaking in this manner, King-y-Yang +entrusted to Sen a carefully prepared box containing a score of the +insects, obtained at a great cost from a country beyond the Bitter +Water, and after giving him further directions concerning the journey, +and enjoining the utmost secrecy about the valuable contents of the box, +he sent him forth. + +“The discreet and sagacious will already have understood the nature of +King-y-Yang’s intolerable artifice; but, for the benefit of the amiable +and unsuspecting, it is necessary to make it clear that the words which +he had spoken bore no sort of resemblance to affairs as they really +existed. The district around Yun was indeed involved in a most +unprepossessing destitution, but this had been caused, not by the +absence of any rare and auspicious insect, but by the presence of vast +hordes of locusts, which had overwhelmed and devoured the entire face +the country. It so chanced that among the recently constructed devices +at ‘The Pure Gilt Dragon of Exceptional Symmetry’ were a number of +elegant representations of rice fields and fruit gardens so skilfully +fashioned that they deceived even the creatures, and attracted, among +other living things, all the locusts in Hankow into that place of +commerce. It was a number of these insects that King-y-Yang vindictively +placed in the box which he instructed Sen to carry to Yun, well knowing +that the reception which would be accorded to anyone who appeared there +on such a mission would be of so fatally destructive a kind that the +consideration of his return need not engage a single conjecture. + +“Entirely tranquil in intellect--for the possibility of King-y-Yang’s +intention being in any way other than what he had represented it to +be did not arise within Sen’s ingenuous mind--the person in question +cheerfully set forth on his long but unavoidable march towards the +region of Yun. As he journeyed along the way, the nature of his +meditation brought up before him the events which had taken place since +his arrival at Hankow; and, for the first time, it was brought within +his understanding that the story of the youth and the three tigers, +which his father had related to him, was in the likeness of a proverb, +by which counsel and warning is conveyed in a graceful and inoffensive +manner. Readily applying the fable to his own condition, he could not +doubt but that the first two animals to be overthrown were represented +by the two undertakings which he had already conscientiously performed +in the matter of the mechanical ducks and the inlaid boxes, and the +conviction that he was even then engaged on the third and last trial +filled him with an intelligent gladness so unobtrusive and refined that +he could express his entrancing emotions in no other way than by lifting +up his voice and uttering the far-reaching cries which he had used on +the first of the occasions just referred to. + +“In this manner the first part of the journey passed away with engaging +celerity. Anxious as Sen undoubtedly was to complete the third task, and +approach the details which, in his own case, would correspond with the +command of the bowmen and the marriage with the Mandarin’s daughter of +the person in the story, the noontide heat compelled him to rest in the +shade by the wayside for a lengthy period each day. During one of +these pauses it occurred to his versatile mind that the time which was +otherwise uselessly expended might be well disposed of in endeavouring +to increase the value and condition of the creatures under his care by +instructing them in the performance of some simple accomplishments, +such as might not be too laborious for their feeble and immature +understanding. In this he was more successful than he had imagined could +possibly be the case, for the discriminating insects, from the first, +had every appearance of recognizing that Sen was inspired by a sincere +regard for their ultimate benefit, and was not merely using them for +his own advancement. So assiduously did they devote themselves to their +allotted tasks, that in a very short space of time there was no detail +in connexion with their own simple domestic arrangements that was not +understood and daily carried out by an appointed band. Entranced at this +intelligent manner of conducting themselves, Sen industriously applied +his time to the more congenial task of instructing them in the refined +arts, and presently he had the enchanting satisfaction of witnessing a +number of the most cultivated faultlessly and unhesitatingly perform a +portion of the well-known gravity-removing play entitled “The Benevolent +Omen of White Dragon Tea Garden; or, Three Times a Mandarin.” Not even +content with this elevating display, Sen ingeniously contrived, from +various objects which he discovered at different points by the wayside, +an effective and life-like representation of a war-junk, for which he +trained a crew, who, at an agreed signal, would take up their appointed +places and go through the required movements, both of sailing, and of +discharging the guns, in a reliable and efficient manner. + +“As Sen was one day educating the least competent of the insects in the +simpler parts of banner-carriers, gong-beaters, and the like, to their +more graceful and versatile companions, he lifted up his eyes and +beheld, standing by his side, a person of very elaborately embroidered +apparel and commanding personality, who had all the appearance of one +who had been observing his movements for some space of time. Calling +up within his remembrance the warning which he had received from +King-y-Yang, Sen was preparing to restore the creatures to their closed +box, when the stranger, in a loud and dignified voice, commanded him to +refrain, adding: + +“‘There is, resting at a spot within the immediate neighbourhood, +a person of illustrious name and ancestry, who would doubtless be +gratified to witness the diverting actions of which this one has +recently been a spectator. As the reward of a tael cannot be unwelcome +to a person of your inferior appearance and unpresentable garments, take +up your box without delay, and follow the one who is now before you.’ + +“With these words the richly-clad stranger led the way through a narrow +woodland path, closely followed by Sen, to whom the attraction of the +promised reward--a larger sum, indeed, than he had ever possessed--was +sufficiently alluring to make him determined that the other should not, +for the briefest possible moment, pass beyond his sight. + +“Not to withhold that which Sen was entirely ignorant of until a later +period, it is now revealed that the person in question was the official +Provider of Diversions and Pleasurable Occupations to the sacred +and illimitable Emperor, who was then engaged in making an unusually +extensive march through the eight Provinces surrounding his Capital--for +the acute and well-educated will not need to be reminded that Nanking +occupied that position at the time now engaged with. Until his +providential discovery of Sen, the distinguished Provider had been +immersed in a most unenviable condition of despair, for his enlightened +but exceedingly perverse-minded master had, of late, declined to be +in any way amused, or even interested, by the simple and unpretentious +entertainment which could be obtained in so inaccessible a region. The +well-intentioned efforts of the followers of the Court, who engagingly +endeavoured to divert the Imperial mind by performing certain feats +which they remembered to have witnessed on previous occasions, but +which, until the necessity arose, they had never essayed, were entirely +without result of a beneficial order. Even the accomplished Provider’s +one attainment--that of striking together both the hands and the feet +thrice simultaneously, while leaping into the air, and at the same time +producing a sound not unlike that emitted by a large and vigorous bee +when held captive in the fold of a robe, an action which never failed +to throw the illustrious Emperor into a most uncontrollable state of +amusement when performed within the Imperial Palace--now only drew +from him the unsympathetic, if not actually offensive, remark that the +attitude and the noise bore a marked resemblance to those produced by a +person when being bowstrung, adding, with unprepossessing significance, +that of the two entertainments he had an unevadable conviction that the +bowstringing would be the more acceptable and gravity-removing. + +“When Sen beheld the size and the silk-hung magnificence of the camp +into which his guide led him, he was filled with astonishment, and at +the same time recognized that he had acted in an injudicious and hasty +manner by so readily accepting the offer of a tael; whereas, if he had +been in possession of the true facts of the case, as they now appeared, +he would certainly have endeavoured to obtain double that amount before +consenting. As he was hesitating within himself whether the matter might +not even yet be arranged in a more advantageous manner, he was suddenly +led forward into the most striking and ornamental of the tents, and +commanded to engage the attention of the one in whose presence he found +himself, without delay. + +“From the first moment when the inimitable creatures began, at Sen’s +spoken word, to go through the ordinary details of their domestic +affairs, there was no sort of doubt as to the nature of the success with +which their well-trained exertions would be received. The dark shadows +instantly forsook the enraptured Emperor’s select brow, and from time +to time he expressed himself in words of most unrestrained and intimate +encouragement. So exuberant became the overjoyed Provider’s emotion at +having at length succeeded in obtaining the services of one who was +able to recall his Imperial master’s unclouded countenance, that he came +forward in a most unpresentable state of haste, and rose into the air +uncommanded, for the display of his usually not unwelcome acquirement. +This he would doubtless have executed competently had not Sen, who stood +immediately behind him, suddenly and unexpectedly raised his voice in +a very vigorous and proficient duck cry, thereby causing the one before +him to endeavour to turn around in alarm, while yet in the air--an +intermingled state of movements of both the body and the mind that +caused him to abandon his original intention in a manner which removed +the gravity of the Emperor to an even more pronounced degree than had +been effected by the diverting attitudes of the insects. + +“When the gratified Emperor had beheld every portion of the tasks +which Sen had instilled into the minds of the insects, down even to the +minutest detail, he called the well-satisfied Provider before him, +and addressing him in a voice which might be designed to betray either +sternness or an amiable indulgence, said: + +“‘You, O Shan-se, are reported to be a person of no particular intellect +or discernment, and, for this reason, these ones who are speaking have a +desire to know how the matter will present itself in your eyes. Which +is it the more commendable and honourable for a person to train to +a condition of unfailing excellence, human beings of confessed +intelligence or insects of a low and degraded standard?’ + +“To this remark the discriminating Shan-se made no reply, being, indeed, +undecided in his mind whether such a course was expected of him. On +several previous occasions the somewhat introspective Emperor had +addressed himself to persons in what they judged to be the form of a +question, as one might say, ‘How blue is the unapproachable air canopy, +and how delicately imagined the colour of the clouds!’ yet when they had +expressed their deliberate opinion on the subjects referred to, +stating the exact degree of blueness, and the like, the nature of +their reception ever afterwards was such that, for the future, persons +endeavoured to determine exactly the intention of the Emperor’s mind +before declaring themselves in words. Being exceedingly doubtful on this +occasion, therefore, the very cautious Shan-se adopted the more prudent +and uncompromising attitude, and smiling acquiescently, he raised both +his hands with a self-deprecatory movement. + +“‘Alas!’ exclaimed the Emperor, in a tone which plainly indicated that +the evasive Shan-se had adopted a course which did not commend itself, +‘how unendurable a condition of affairs is it for a person of acute +mental perception to be annoyed by the inopportune behaviour of one +who is only fit to mix on terms of equality with beggars, and low-caste +street cleaners--’ + +“‘Such a condition of affairs is indeed most offensively unbearable, +illustrious Being,’ remarked Shan-se, who clearly perceived that his +former silence had not been productive of a delicate state of feeling +towards himself. + +“‘It has frequently been said,’ continued the courteous and pure-minded +Emperor, only signifying his refined displeasure at Shan-se’s really +ill-considered observation by so arranging his position that the person +in question on longer enjoyed the sublime distinction of gazing upon his +benevolent face, ‘that titles and offices have been accorded, from time +to time, without any regard for the fitting qualifications of those to +whom they were presented. The truth that such a state of things does +occasionally exist has been brought before our eyes during the past +few days by the abandoned and inefficient behaviour of one who will +henceforth be a marked official; yet it has always been our endeavour +to reward expert and unassuming merit, whenever it is discovered. As +we were setting forth, when we were interrupted in a most obstinate and +superfluous manner, the one who can guide and cultivate the minds of +unthinking, and not infrequently obstinate and rapacious, insects would +certainly enjoy an even greater measure of success if entrusted with the +discriminating intellects of human beings. For this reason it appears +that no more fitting person could be found to occupy the important and +well-rewarded position of Chief Arranger of the Competitive Examinations +than the one before us--provided his opinions and manner of expressing +himself are such as commend themselves to us. To satisfy us on this +point let Sen Heng now stand forth and declare his beliefs.’ + +“On this invitation Sen advanced the requisite number of paces, and not +in any degree understanding what was required of him, determined that +the occasion was one when he might fittingly declare the Five General +Principles which were ever present in his mind. ‘Unquestioning Fidelity +to the Sacred Emperor--’ he began, when the person in question signified +that the trial was over. + +“‘After so competent and inspired an expression as that which has just +been uttered, which, if rightly considered, includes all lesser things, +it is unnecessary to say more,’ he declared affably. ‘The appointment +which has already been specified is now declared to be legally +conferred. The evening will be devoted to a repetition of the entrancing +manoeuvres performed by the insects, to be followed by a feast and music +in honour of the recognized worth and position of the accomplished Sen +Heng. There is really no necessity for the apparently over-fatigued +Shan-se to attend the festival.’ + +“In such a manner was the foundation of Sen’s ultimate prosperity +established, by which he came in the process of time to occupy a very +high place in public esteem. Yet, being a person of honourably-minded +conscientiousness, he did not hesitate, when questioned by those who +made pilgrimages to him for the purpose of learning by what means he +had risen to so remunerative a position, to ascribe his success, not +entirely to his own intelligent perception of persons and events, but, +in part, also to a never-failing regard for the dictates of the Five +General Principles, and a discriminating subservience to the inspired +wisdom of the venerable Poo-chow, as conveyed to him in the story of +the faint-hearted youth and the three tigers. This story Sen furthermore +caused to be inscribed in letters of gold, and displayed in a prominent +position in his native village, where it has since doubtless been the +means of instructing and advancing countless observant ones who have not +been too insufferable to be guided by the experience of those who have +gone before.” + + + + +IV. +THE EXPERIMENT OF THE MANDARIN CHAN HUNG + + + Related by Kai Lung at Shan Tzu, on the occasion of his receiving + a very unexpected reward. + +“There are certainly many occasions when the principles of the Mandarin +Chan Hung appear to find practical favour in the eyes of those who form +this usually uncomplaining person’s audiences at Shan Tzu,” remarked Kai +Lung, with patient resignation, as he took up his collecting-bowl and +transferred the few brass coins which it held to a concealed place among +his garments. “Has the village lately suffered from a visit of one +of those persons who come armed with authority to remove by force or +stratagem such goods as bear names other than those possessed by their +holders? or is it, indeed--as they of Wu-whei confidently assert--that +when the Day of Vows arrives the people of Shan Tzu, with one accord, +undertake to deny themselves in the matter of gifts and free offerings, +in spite of every conflicting impulse?” + +“They of Wu-whei!” exclaimed a self-opinionated bystander, who had +by some means obtained an inferior public office, and who was, in +consequence, enabled to be present on all occasions without contributing +any offering. “Well is that village named ‘The Refuge of Unworthiness,’ +for its dwellers do little but rob and illtreat strangers, and spread +evil and lying reports concerning better endowed ones than themselves.” + +“Such a condition of affairs may exist,” replied Kai Lung, without +any indication of concern either one way or the other; “yet it is an +undeniable fact that they reward this commonplace story-teller’s too +often underestimated efforts in a manner which betrays them either to +be of noble birth, or very desirous of putting to shame their less +prosperous neighbouring places.” + +“Such exhibitions of uncalled-for lavishness are merely the signs of an +ill-regulated and inordinate vanity,” remarked a Mandarin of the eighth +grade, who chanced to be passing, and who stopped to listen to Kai +Lung’s words. “Nevertheless, it is not fitting that a collection of +decaying hovels, which Wu-whei assuredly is, should, in however small +a detail, appear to rise above Shan Tzu, so that if the versatile and +unassuming Kai Lung will again honour this assembly by allowing his +well-constructed bowl to pass freely to and fro, this obscure and +otherwise entirely superfluous individual will make it his especial care +that the brass of Wu-whei shall be answered with solid copper, and its +debased pewter with doubly refined silver.” + +With these encouraging words the very opportune Mandarin of the eighth +grade himself followed the story-teller’s collecting-bowl, observing +closely what each person contributed, so that, although he gave nothing +from his own store, Kai Lung had never before received so honourable an +amount. + +“O illustrious Kai Lung,” exclaimed a very industrious and ill-clad +herb-gatherer, who, in spite of his poverty, could not refrain from +mingling with listeners whenever the story-teller appeared in Shan Tzu, +“a single piece of brass money is to this person more than a block +of solid gold to many of Wu-whei; yet he has twice made the customary +offering, once freely, once because a courteous and pure-minded +individual who possesses certain written papers of his connected with +the repayment of some few taels walked behind the bowl and engaged +his eyes with an unmistakable and very significant glance. This fact +emboldens him to make the following petition: that in place of the not +altogether unknown story of Yung Chang which had been announced the +proficient and nimble-minded Kai Lung will entice our attention with the +history of the Mandarin Chan Hung, to which reference has already been +made.” + +“The occasion is undoubtedly one which calls for recognition to an +unusual degree,” replied Kai Lung with extreme affability. “To that end +this person will accordingly narrate the story which has been suggested, +notwithstanding the fact that it has been specially prepared for +the ears of the sublime Emperor, who is at this moment awaiting this +unseemly one’s arrival in Peking with every mark of ill-restrained +impatience, tempered only by his expectation of being the first to hear +the story of the well-meaning but somewhat premature Chan Hung. + +“The Mandarin in question lived during the reign of the accomplished +Emperor Tsint-Sin, his Yamen being at Fow Hou, in the Province of +Shan-Tung, of which place he was consequently the chief official. In his +conscientious desire to administer a pure and beneficent rule, he not +infrequently made himself a very prominent object for public disregard, +especially by his attempts to introduce untried things, when from +time to time such matters arose within his mind and seemed to promise +agreeable and remunerative results. In this manner it came about that +the streets of Fow Hou were covered with large flat stones, to the great +inconvenience of those persons who had, from a very remote period, been +in the habit of passing the night on the soft clay which at all +seasons of the year afforded a pleasant and efficient resting-place. +Nevertheless, in certain matters his engaging efforts were attended by +an obvious success. Having noticed that misfortunes and losses are much +less keenly felt when they immediately follow in the steps of an earlier +evil, the benevolent and humane-minded Chan Hung devised an ingenious +method of lightening the burden of a necessary taxation by arranging +that those persons who were the most heavily involved should be made the +victims of an attack and robbery on the night before the matter became +due. By this thoughtful expedient the unpleasant duty of parting from so +many taels was almost imperceptibly led up to, and when, after the lapse +of some slight period, the first sums of money were secretly returned, +with a written proverb appropriate to the occasion, the public rejoicing +of those who, had the matter been left to its natural course, +would still have been filling the air with bitter and unendurable +lamentations, plainly testified to the inspired wisdom of the +enlightened Mandarin. + +“The well-merited success of this amiable expedient caused the Mandarin +Chan Hung every variety of intelligent emotion, and no day passed +without him devoting a portion of his time to the labour of discovering +other advantages of a similar nature. Engrossed in deep and very sublime +thought of this order, he chanced upon a certain day to be journeying +through Fow Hou, when he met a person of irregular intellect, who +made an uncertain livelihood by following the unassuming and +charitably-disposed from place to place, chanting in a loud voice set +verses recording their virtues, which he composed in their honour. On +account of his undoubted infirmities this person was permitted a greater +freedom of speech with those above him than would have been the case had +his condition been merely ordinary; so that when Chan Hung observed him +becoming very grossly amused on his approach, to such an extent indeed, +that he neglected to perform any of the fitting acts of obeisance, +the wise and noble-minded Mandarin did not in any degree suffer his +complacency to be affected, but, drawing near, addressed him in a calm +and dignified manner. + +“‘Why, O Ming-hi,’ he said, ‘do you permit your gravity to be removed +to such an exaggerated degree at the sight of this in no way striking +or exceptional person? and why, indeed, do you stand in so unbecoming +an attitude in the presence of one who, in spite of his depraved +inferiority, is unquestionably your official superior, and could, +without any hesitation, condemn you to the tortures or even to +bowstringing on the spot?’ + +“‘Mandarin,’ exclaimed Ming-hi, stepping up to Chan Hung, and, without +any hesitation, pressing the gilt button which adorned the official’s +body garment, accompanying the action by a continuous muffled noise +which suggested the repeated striking of a hidden bell, ‘you wonder that +this person stands erect on your approach, neither rolling his lowered +head repeatedly from side to side, nor tracing circles in the dust +of Fow Hou with his submissive stomach? Know then, the meaning of the +proverb, “Distrust an inordinate appearance of servility. The estimable +person who retires from your presence walking backwards may adopt that +deferential manner in order to keep concealed the long double-edged +knife with which he had hoped to slay you.” The excessive amusement that +seized this offensive person when he beheld your well-defined figure in +the distance arose from his perception of your internal satisfaction, +which is, indeed, unmistakably reflected in your symmetrical +countenance. For, O Mandarin, in spite of your honourable endeavours +to turn things which are devious into a straight line, the matters upon +which you engage your versatile intellect--little as you suspect the +fact--are as grains of the finest Foo-chow sand in comparison with that +which escapes your attention.’ + +“‘Strange are your words, O Ming-hi, and dark to this person your +meaning,’ replied Chan Hung, whose feelings were evenly balanced between +a desire to know what thing he had neglected and a fear that his dignity +might suffer if he were observed to remain long conversing with a person +of Ming-hi’s low mental attainments. ‘Without delay, and with an entire +absence of lengthy and ornamental forms of speech, express the omission +to which you have made reference; for this person has an uneasy inside +emotion that you are merely endeavouring to engage his attention to +the end that you may make an unseemly and irrelevant reply, and thereby +involve him in an undeserved ridicule.’ + +“‘Such a device would be the pastime of one of immature years, and could +have no place in this person’s habit of conduct,’ replied Ming-hi, with +every appearance of a fixed sincerity. ‘Moreover, the matter is one +which touches his own welfare closely, and, expressed in the fashion +which the proficient Mandarin has commanded, may be set forth as +follows: By a wise and all-knowing divine system, it is arranged that +certain honourable occupations, which by their nature cannot become +remunerative to any marked degree, shall be singled out for special +marks of reverence, so that those who engage therein may be compensated +in dignity for what they must inevitably lack in taels. By this +refined dispensation the literary occupations, which are in general the +highroads to the Establishment of Public Support and Uniform Apparel, +are held in the highest veneration. Agriculture, from which it is +possible to wrest a competency, follows in esteem; while the various +branches of commerce, leading as they do to vast possessions and the +attendant luxury, are very justly deprived of all the attributes +of dignity and respect. Yet observe, O justice-loving Mandarin, how +unbecomingly this ingenious system of universal compensation has been +debased at the instance of grasping and avaricious ones. Dignity, riches +and ease now go hand in hand, and the highest rewarded in all matters +are also the most esteemed, whereas, if the discriminating provision of +those who have gone before and so arranged it was observed, the direct +contrary would be the case.’ + +“‘It is a state of things which is somewhat difficult to imagine in +general matters of life, in spite of the fair-seemingness of your +words,’ said the Mandarin thoughtfully; ‘nor can this rather obtuse and +slow-witted person fully grasp the practical application of the system +on the edge of the moment. In what manner would it operate in the case +of ordinary persons, for example?’ + +“‘There should be a fixed and settled arrangement that the low-minded +and degrading occupations--such as that of following charitable persons +from place to place, chanting verses composed in their honour, that of +misleading travellers who inquire the way, so that they fall into the +hands of robbers, and the like callings--should be the most highly +rewarded to the end that those who are engaged therein may obtain +some solace for the loss of dignity they experience, and the mean +intellectual position which they are compelled to maintain. By this +device they would be enabled to possess certain advantages and degrees +of comfort which at present are utterly beyond their grasp, so that in +the end they would escape being entirely debased. To turn to the other +foot, those who are now high in position, and engaged in professions +which enjoy the confidence of all persons, have that which in itself is +sufficient to insure contentment. Furthermore, the most proficient +and engaging in every department, mean or high-minded, have certain +attributes of respect among those beneath them, so that they might +justly be content with the lowest reward in whatever calling they +professed, the least skilful and most left-handed being compensated for +the mental anguish which they must undoubtedly suffer by receiving the +greatest number of taels.’ + +“‘Such a scheme would, as far as the matter has been expressed, appear +to possess all the claims of respect, and to be, indeed, what was +originally intended by those who framed the essentials of existence,’ +said Chan Hung, when he had for some space of time considered the +details. ‘In one point, however, this person fails to perceive how +the arrangement could be amiably conducted in Fow Hou. The one who +is addressing you maintains, as a matter of right, a position of +exceptional respect, nor, if he must express himself upon such a detail, +are his excessively fatiguing duties entirely unremunerative...’ + +“‘In the case of the distinguished and unalterable Mandarin,’ exclaimed +Ming-hi, with no appearance of hesitation, ‘the matter would of +necessity be arranged otherwise. Being from that time, as it were, the +controller of the destinies and remunerations of all those in Fow Hou, +he would, manifestly, be outside the working of the scheme; standing +apart and regulating, like the person who turns the handle of the +corn-mill, but does not suffer himself to be drawn between the +stones, he could still maintain both his respect and his remuneration +unaltered.’ + +“‘If the detail could honourably be regarded in such a light,’ said Chan +Hung, ‘this person would, without delay, so rearrange matters in Fow +Hou, and thereby create universal justice and an unceasing contentment +within the minds of all.’ + +“‘Undoubtedly such a course could be justly followed,’ assented Ming-hi, +‘for in precisely that manner of working was the complete scheme +revealed to this highly-favoured person.’ + +“Entirely wrapped up in thoughts concerning the inception and manner of +operation of this project Chan Hung began to retrace his steps towards +the Yamen, failing to observe in his benevolent abstraction of mind, +that the unaffectedly depraved person Ming-hi was stretching out his +feet towards him and indulging in every other form of low-minded and +undignified contempt. + +“Before he reached the door of his residence the Mandarin overtook +one who occupied a high position of confidence and remuneration in the +Department of Public Fireworks and Coloured Lights. Fully assured of +this versatile person’s enthusiasm on behalf of so humane and charitable +a device, Chan Hung explained the entire matter to him without delay, +and expressly desired that if there were any details which appeared +capable of improvement, he would declare himself clearly regarding them. + +“‘Alas!’ exclaimed the person with whom the Mandarin was conversing, +speaking in so unfeignedly disturbed and terrified a voice that several +who were passing by stopped in order to learn the full circumstance, +‘have this person’s ears been made the object of some unnaturally +light-minded demon’s ill-disposed pastime, or does the usually +well-balanced Chan Hung in reality contemplate so violent and un-Chinese +an action? What but evil could arise from a single word of the change +which he proposes to the extent of a full written book? The entire fixed +nature of events would become reversed; persons would no longer be fully +accountable to one another; and Fow Hou being thus thrown into a most +unendurable state of confusion, the protecting Deities would doubtless +withdraw their influence, and the entire region would soon be given over +to the malicious guardianship of rapacious and evilly-disposed spirits. +Let this person entreat the almost invariably clear-sighted Chan Hung +to return at once to his adequately equipped and sumptuous Yamen, and +barring well the door of his inner chamber, so that it can only be +opened from the outside, partake of several sleeping essences of unusual +strength, after which he will awake in an undoubtedly refreshed state +of mind, and in a condition to observe matters with his accustomed +diamond-like penetration.’ + +“‘By no means!’ cried one of those who had stopped to learn the occasion +of the incident--a very inferior maker of unserviceable imitation +pigtails--‘the devout and conscientious-minded Mandarin Chan Hung speaks +as the inspired mouth-piece of the omnipotent Buddha, and must, for +that reason, be obeyed in every detail. This person would unhesitatingly +counsel the now invaluable Mandarin to proceed to his well-constructed +residence without delay, and there calling together his entire staff of +those who set down his spoken words, put the complete Heaven-sent +plan into operation, and beyond recall, before he retires to his inner +chamber.’ + +“Upon this there arose a most inelegant display of undignified emotions +on the part of the assembly which had by this time gathered together. +While those who occupied honourable and remunerative positions very +earnestly entreated the Mandarin to act in the manner which had been +suggested by the first speaker, others--who had, in the meantime, made +use of imagined figures, and thereby discovered that the proposed change +would be greatly to their advantage--raised shouts of encouragement +towards the proposal of the pigtail-maker, urging the noble Mandarin not +to become small in the face towards the insignificant few who were ever +opposed to enlightened reform, but to maintain an unflaccid upper lip, +and carry the entire matter through to its destined end. In the course +of this very unseemly tumult, which soon involved all persons present +in hostile demonstrations towards each other, both the Mandarin and +the official from the Fireworks and Coloured Lights Department found +an opportunity to pass away secretly, the former to consider well the +various sides of the matter, towards which he became better disposed +with every thought, the latter to find a purchaser of his appointment +and leave Fow Hou before the likelihood of Chan Hung’s scheme became +generally known. + +“At this point an earlier circumstance, which affected the future +unrolling of events to no insignificant degree, must be made known, +concerning as it does Lila, the fair and very accomplished daughter +of Chan Hung. Possessing no son or heir to succeed him, the Mandarin +exhibited towards Lila a very unusual depth of affection, so marked, +indeed, that when certain evil-minded ones endeavoured to encompass +his degradation, on the plea of eccentricity of character, the written +papers which they dispatched to the high ones at Peking contained no +other accusation in support of the contention than that the individual +in question regarded his daughter with an obvious pride and pleasure +which no person of well-balanced intellect lavished on any but a son. + +“It was his really conscientious desire to establish Lila’s welfare +above all things that had caused Chan Hung to become in some degree +undecided when conversing with Ming-hi on the detail of the scheme; for, +unaffected as the Mandarin himself would have been at the prospect of +an honourable poverty, it was no part of his intention that the adorable +and exceptionally-refined Lila should be drawn into such an existence. +That, indeed, had been the essential of his reply on a certain and not +far removed occasion, when two persons of widely differing positions +had each made a formal request that he might be allowed to present +marriage-pledging gifts to the very desirable Lila. Maintaining an +enlightened openness of mind upon the subject, the Mandarin had replied +that nothing but the merit of undoubted suitableness of a person would +affect him in such a decision. As it was ordained by the wise and +unchanging Deities that merit should always be fittingly rewarded, +he went on to express himself, and as the most suitable person was +obviously the one who could the most agreeably provide for her, the +two circumstances inevitably tended to the decision that the one chosen +should be the person who could amass the greatest number of taels. To +this end he instructed them both to present themselves at the end of +a year, bringing with them the entire profits of their undertakings +between the two periods. + +“This deliberate pronouncement affected the two persons in question in +an entirely opposite manner, for one of them was little removed from a +condition of incessant and most uninviting poverty, while the other was +the very highly-rewarded picture-maker Pe-tsing. Both to this latter +person, and to the other one, Lee Sing, the ultimate conclusion of the +matter did not seem to be a question of any conjecture therefore, and, +in consequence, the one became most offensively self-confident, and +the other leaden-minded to an equal degree, neither remembering the +unswerving wisdom of the proverb, ‘Wait! all men are but as the black, +horn-cased beetles which overrun the inferior cooking-rooms of the city, +and even at this moment the heavily-shod and unerring foot of Buddha may +be lifted.’ + +“Lee Sing was, by profession, one of those who hunt and ensnare the +brilliantly-coloured winged insects which are to be found in various +parts of the Empire in great variety and abundance, it being his duty +to send a certain number every year to Peking to contribute to the +amusement of the dignified Emperor. In spite of the not too intelligent +nature of the occupation, Lee Sing took an honourable pride in all +matters connected with it. He disdained, with well-expressed contempt, +to avail himself of the stealthy and somewhat deceptive methods employed +by others engaged in a similar manner of life. In this way he had, from +necessity, acquired agility to an exceptional degree, so that he could +leap far into the air, and while in that position select from a passing +band of insects any which he might desire. This useful accomplishment +was, in a measure, the direct means of bringing together the person in +question and the engaging Lila; for, on a certain occasion, when Lee +Sing was passing through the streets of Fow Hou, he heard a great +outcry, and beheld persons of all ranks running towards him, pointing +at the same time in an upward direction. Turning his gaze in the manner +indicated, Lee beheld, with every variety of astonishment, a powerful +and unnaturally large bird of prey, carrying in its talons the +lovely and now insensible Lila, to whom it had been attracted by the +magnificence of her raiment. The rapacious and evilly-inspired creature +was already above the highest dwelling-houses when Lee first beheld it, +and was plainly directing its course towards the inaccessible mountain +crags beyond the city walls. Nevertheless, Lee resolved upon an +inspired effort, and without any hesitation bounded towards it with such +well-directed proficiency, that if he had not stretched forth his hand +on passing he would inevitably have been carried far above the desired +object. In this manner he succeeded in dragging the repulsive and +completely disconcerted monster to the ground, where its graceful and +unassuming prisoner was released, and the presumptuous bird itself +torn to pieces amid continuous shouts of a most respectful and engaging +description in honour of Lee and of his versatile attainment. + +“In consequence of this incident the grateful Lila would often +deliberately leave the society of the rich and well-endowed in order +to accompany Lee on his journeys in pursuit of exceptionally-precious +winged insects. Regarding his unusual ability as the undoubted cause of +her existence at that moment, she took an all-absorbing pride in such +displays, and would utter loud and frequent exclamations of triumph when +Lee leaped out from behind some rock, where he had lain concealed, and +with unfailing regularity secured the object of his adroit movement. In +this manner a state of feeling which was by no means favourable to +the aspiring picture-maker Pe-tsing had long existed between the two +persons; but when Lee Sing put the matter in the form of an explicit +petition before Chan Hung (to which adequate reference has already been +made), the nature of the decision then arrived at seemed to clothe +the realization of their virtuous and estimable desires with an air of +extreme improbability. + +“‘Oh, Lee,’ exclaimed the greatly-disappointed maiden when her lover had +explained to her the nature of the arrangement--for in her unassuming +admiration of the noble qualities of Lee she had anticipated that Chan +Hung would at once have received him with ceremonious embraces and +assurances of his permanent affection--‘how unendurable a state of +things is this in which we have become involved! Far removed from this +one’s anticipations was the thought of becoming inalienably associated +with that outrageous person Pe-tsing, or of entering upon an existence +which will necessitate a feigned admiration of his really unpresentable +efforts. Yet in such a manner must the entire circumstance complete its +course unless some ingenious method of evading it can be discovered in +the meantime. Alas, my beloved one! the occupation of ensnaring winged +insects is indeed an alluring one, but as far as this person has +observed, it is also exceedingly unproductive of taels. Could not some +more expeditious means of enriching yourself be discovered? Frequently +has the unnoticed but nevertheless very attentive Lila heard her father +and the round-bodied ones who visit him speak of exploits which seem +to consist of assuming the shapes of certain wild animals, and in that +guise appearing from time to time at the place of exchange within +the city walls. As this form of entertainment is undoubtedly very +remunerative in its results, could not the versatile and ready-witted +Lee conceal himself within the skin of a bear, or some other untamed +beast, and in this garb, joining them unperceived, play an appointed +part and receive a just share of the reward?’ + +“‘The result of such an enterprise might, if the matter chanced to take +an unforeseen development, prove of a very doubtful nature,’ replied +Lee Sing, to whom, indeed, the proposed venture appeared in a somewhat +undignified light, although, with refined consideration, he withheld +such a thought from Lila, who had proposed it for him, and also +confessed that her usually immaculate father had taken part in such an +exhibition. ‘Nevertheless, do not permit the dark shadow of an inward +cloud to reflect itself upon your almost invariably amiable countenance, +for this person has become possessed of a valuable internal suggestion +which, although he has hitherto neglected, being content with a small +but assured competency, would doubtless bring together a serviceable +number of taels if rightly utilized.’ + +“‘Greatly does this person fear that the valuable internal suggestion +of Lee Sing will weigh but lightly in the commercial balance against +the very rapidly executed pictures of Pe-tsing,’ said Lila, who had not +fully recalled from her mind a disturbing emotion that Lee would +have been well advised to have availed himself of her ingenious and +well-thought-out suggestion. ‘But of what does the matter consist?’ + +“‘It is the best explained by a recital of the circumstances leading up +to it,’ said Lee. ‘Upon an occasion when this person was passing through +the streets of Fow Hou, there gathered around him a company of those who +had, on previous occasions, beheld his exceptional powers of hurtling +himself through the air in an upward direction, praying that he would +again delight their senses by a similar spectacle. Not being unwilling +to afford those estimable persons of the amusement they desired, this +one, without any elaborate show of affected hesitancy, put himself +into the necessary position, and would without doubt have risen +uninterruptedly almost into the Middle Air, had he not, in making the +preparatory movements, placed his left foot upon an over-ripe wampee +which lay unperceived on the ground. In consequence of this really +blameworthy want of caution the entire manner and direction of this +short-sighted individual’s movements underwent a sudden and complete +change, so that to those who stood around it appeared as though he were +making a well-directed endeavour to penetrate through the upper surface +of the earth. This unexpected display had the effect of removing the +gravity of even the most aged and severe-minded persons present, and for +the space of some moments the behaviour and positions of those who stood +around were such that they were quite unable to render any assistance, +greatly as they doubtless wished to do so. Being in this manner allowed +a period for inward reflexion of a very concentrated order, it arose +within this one’s mind that at every similar occurrence which he had +witnessed, those who observed the event had been seized in a like +fashion, being very excessively amused. The fact was made even more +undoubted by the manner of behaving of an exceedingly stout and +round-faced person, who had not been present from the beginning, but who +was affected to a most incredible extent when the details, as they had +occurred, were made plain to him, he declaring, with many references to +the Sacred Dragon and the Seven Walled Temple at Peking, that he would +willingly have contributed a specified number of taels rather than +have missed the diversion. When at length this person reached his own +chamber, he diligently applied himself to the task of carrying into +practical effect the suggestion which had arisen in his mind. By an +arrangement of transparent glasses and reflecting surfaces--which, were +it not for a well-defined natural modesty, he would certainly be tempted +to describe as highly ingenious--he ultimately succeeded in bringing +about the effect he desired.’ + +“With these words Lee put into Lila’s hands an object which closely +resembled the contrivances by which those who are not sufficiently +powerful to obtain positions near the raised platform, in the Halls of +Celestial Harmony, are nevertheless enabled to observe the complexions +and attire of all around them. Regulating it by means of a hidden +spring, he requested her to follow closely the actions of a +heavily-burdened passerby who was at that moment some little distance +beyond them. Scarcely had Lila raised the glass to her eyes than she +became irresistibly amused to a most infectious degree, greatly to the +satisfaction of Lee, who therein beheld the realization of his hopes. +Not for the briefest space of time would she permit the object to pass +from her, but directed it at every person who came within her sight, +with frequent and unfeigned exclamations of wonder and delight. + +“‘How pleasant and fascinating a device is this!’ exclaimed Lila at +length. ‘By what means is so diverting and gravity-removing a result +obtained?’ + +“‘Further than that it is the concentration of much labour of +continually trying with glasses and reflecting surfaces, this person is +totally unable to explain it,’ replied Lee. ‘The chief thing, however, +is that at whatever moving object it is directed--no matter whether a +person so observed is being carried in a chair, riding upon an animal, +or merely walking--at a certain point he has every appearance of being +unexpectedly hurled to the ground in a most violent and mirth-provoking +manner. Would not the stout and round-faced one, who would cheerfully +have contributed a certain number of taels to see this person manifest a +similar exhibition, unhesitatingly lay out that sum to secure the means +of so gratifying his emotions whenever he felt the desire, even with +the revered persons of the most dignified ones in the Empire? Is there, +indeed, a single person between the Wall and the Bitter Waters on the +South who is so devoid of ambition that he would miss the opportunity of +subjecting, as it were, perhaps even the sacred Emperor himself to the +exceptional feat?’ + +“‘The temptation to possess one would inevitably prove overwhelming to +any person of ordinary intelligence,’ admitted Lila. ‘Yet, in spite of +this one’s unassumed admiration for the contrivance, internal doubts +regarding the ultimate happiness of the two persons who are now +discussing the matter again attack her. She recollects, somewhat dimly, +an almost forgotten, but nevertheless, very unassailable proverb, which +declares that more contentment of mind can assuredly be obtained from +the unexpected discovery of a tael among the folds of a discarded +garment than could, in the most favourable circumstances, ensue from +the well-thought-out construction of a new and hitherto unknown +device. Furthermore, although the span of a year may seem unaccountably +protracted when persons who reciprocate engaging sentiments are +parted, yet when the acceptance or refusal of Pe-tsing’s undesirable +pledging-gifts hangs upon the accomplishment of a remote and not very +probable object within that period, it becomes as a breath of wind +passing through an autumn forest.’ + +“Since the day when Lila and Lee had sat together side by side, and +conversed in this unrestrained and irreproachable manner, the great +sky-lantern had many times been obscured for a period. Only an +insignificant portion of the year remained, yet the affairs of Lee Sing +were in no more prosperous a condition than before, nor had he found an +opportunity to set aside any store of taels. Each day the unsupportable +Pe-tsing became more and more obtrusive and self-conceited, even to +the extent of throwing far into the air coins of insignificant value +whenever he chanced to pass Lee in the street, at the same time urging +him to leap after them and thereby secure at least one or two pieces of +money against the day of calculating. In a similar but entirely opposite +fashion, Lila and Lee experienced the acutest pangs of an ever-growing +despair, until their only form of greeting consisted in gazing into each +other’s eyes with a soul-benumbing expression of self-reproach. + +“Yet at this very time, when even the natural and unalterable powers +seemed to be conspiring against the success of Lee’s modest and +inoffensive hopes, an event was taking place which was shortly to +reverse the entire settled arrangement of persons and affairs, and +involved Fow Hou in a very inextricable state of uncertainty. For, not +to make a pretence of concealing a matter which has been already in part +revealed, the Mandarin Chan Hung had by this time determined to act in +the manner which Ming-hi had suggested; so that on a certain morning +Lee Sing was visited by two persons, bearing between them a very weighty +sack of taels, who also conveyed to him the fact that a like amount +would be deposited within his door at the end of each succeeding seven +days. Although Lee’s occupation had in the past been very meagrely +rewarded, either by taels or by honour, the circumstance which resulted +in his now receiving so excessively large a sum is not made clear until +the detail of Ming-hi’s scheme is closely examined. The matter then +becomes plain, for it had been suggested by that person that the most +proficient in any occupation should be rewarded to a certain extent, +and the least proficient to another stated extent, the original amounts +being reversed. When those engaged by Chang Hung to draw up the various +rates came to the profession of ensnaring winged insects, however, they +discovered that Lee Sing was the only one of that description in Fow +Hou, so that it became necessary in consequence to allot him a double +portion, one amount as the most proficient, and a much larger amount as +the least proficient. + +“It is unnecessary now to follow the not altogether satisfactory +condition of affairs which began to exist in Fow Hou as soon as the +scheme was put into operation. The full written papers dealing with the +matter are in the Hall of Public Reference at Peking, and can be seen by +any person on the payment of a few taels to everyone connected with +the establishment. Those who found their possessions reduced thereby +completely overlooked the obvious justice of the arrangement, and +immediately began to take most severe measures to have the order put +aside; while those who suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves +raised to positions of affluence tended to the same end by conducting +themselves in a most incapable and undiscriminating manner. And during +the entire period that this state of things existed in Fow Hou the +really contemptible Ming-hi continually followed Chan Hung about from +place to place, spreading out his feet towards him, and allowing himself +to become openly amused to a most unseemly extent. + +“Chief among those who sought to have the original manner of rewarding +persons again established was the picture-maker, Pe-tsing, who now found +himself in a condition of most abject poverty, so unbearable, indeed, +that he frequently went by night, carrying a lantern, in the hope that +he might discover some of the small pieces of money which he had been +accustomed to throw into the air on meeting Lee Sing. To his pangs of +hunger was added the fear that he would certainly lose Lila, so that +from day to day he redoubled his efforts, and in the end, by using false +statements and other artifices of a questionable nature, the party which +he led was successful in obtaining the degradation of Chan Hung and his +dismissal from office, together with an entire reversal of all his plans +and enactments. + +“On the last day of the year which Chan Hung had appointed as the period +of test for his daughter’s suitors, the person in question was seated +in a chamber of his new abode--a residence of unassuming appearance but +undoubted comfort--surrounded by Lila and Lee, when the hanging curtains +were suddenly flung aside, and Pe-tsing, followed by two persons of low +rank bearing sacks of money, appeared among them. + +“‘Chan Hung,’ he said at length, ‘in the past events arose which +compelled this person to place himself against you in your official +position. Nevertheless, he has always maintained towards you personally +an unchanging affection, and understanding full well that you are one of +those who maintain their spoken word in spite of all happenings, he has +now come to exhibit the taels which he has collected together, and to +claim the fulfilment of your deliberate promise.’ + +“With these words the commonplace picture-maker poured forth the +contents of the sacks, and stood looking at Lila in a most confident and +unprepossessing manner. + +“‘Pe-tsing,’ replied Chan Hung, rising from his couch and speaking in so +severe and impressive a voice that the two servants of Pe-tsing at once +fled in great apprehension, ‘this person has also found it necessary, in +his official position, to oppose you; but here the similarity ends, +for, on his part, he has never felt towards you the remotest degree of +affection. Nevertheless, he is always desirous, as you say, that persons +should regard their spoken word, and as you seem to hold a promise +from the Chief Mandarin of Fow Hou regarding marriage-gifts towards +his daughter, he would advise you to go at once to that person. +A misunderstanding has evidently arisen, for the one whom you are +addressing is merely Chan Hung, and the words spoken by the Mandarin +have no sort of interest for him--indeed, he understands that all that +person’s acts have been reversed, so that he fails to see how anyone +at all can regard you and your claim in other than a gravity-removing +light. Furthermore, the maiden in question is now definitely and +irretrievably pledged to this faithful and successful one by my side, +who, as you will doubtless be gracefully overjoyed to learn, has +recently disposed of a most ingenious and diverting contrivance for an +enormous number of taels, so many, indeed, that both the immediate and +the far-distant future of all the persons who are here before you are +now in no sort of doubt whatever.’ + +“At these words the three persons whom he had interrupted again turned +their attention to the matter before them; but as Pe-tsing walked away, +he observed, though he failed to understand the meaning, that they all +raised certain objects to their eyes, and at once became amused to a +most striking and uncontrollable degree.” + + + + +V. +THE CONFESSION OF KAI LUNG + + + Related by himself at Wu-whei when other matter failed him. + +As Kai Lung, the story-teller, unrolled his mat and selected, with grave +deliberation, the spot under the mulberry-tree which would the longest +remain sheltered from the sun’s rays, his impassive eye wandered round +the thin circle of listeners who had been drawn together by his uplifted +voice, with a glance which, had it expressed his actual thoughts, would +have betrayed a keen desire that the assembly should be composed of +strangers rather than of his most consistent patrons, to whom his stock +of tales was indeed becoming embarrassingly familiar. Nevertheless, when +he began there was nothing in his voice but a trace of insufficiently +restrained triumph, such as might be fitly assumed by one who has +discovered and makes known for the first time a story by the renowned +historian Lo Cha. + +“The adventures of the enlightened and nobly-born Yuin-Pel--” + +“Have already thrice been narrated within Wu-whei by the versatile but +exceedingly uninventive Kai Lung,” remarked Wang Yu placidly. “Indeed, +has there not come to be a saying by which an exceptionally frugal +host’s rice, having undoubtedly seen the inside of the pot many times, +is now known in this town as Kai-Pel?” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Kai Lung, “well was this person warned of Wu-whei +in the previous village, as a place of desolation and excessively +bad taste, whose inhabitants, led by an evil-minded maker of very +commonplace pipes, named Wang Yu, are unable to discriminate in all +matters not connected with the cooking of food and the evasion of just +debts. They at Shan Tzu hung on to my cloak as I strove to leave them, +praying that I would again entrance their ears with what they termed the +melodious word-music of this person’s inimitable version of the inspired +story of Yuin-Pel.” + +“Truly the story of Yuin-Pel is in itself excellent,” interposed the +conciliatory Hi Seng; “and Kai Lung’s accomplishment of having three +times repeated it here without deviating in the particular of a single +word from the first recital stamps him as a story-teller of no ordinary +degree. Yet the saying ‘Although it is desirable to lose persistently +when playing at squares and circles with the broad-minded and sagacious +Emperor, it is none the less a fact that the observance of this +etiquette deprives the intellectual diversion of much of its interest +for both players,’ is no less true today than when the all knowing H’sou +uttered it.” + +“They well said--they of Shan Tzu--that the people of Wu-whei were +intolerably ignorant and of low descent,” continued Kai Lung, without +heeding the interruption; “that although invariably of a timorous +nature, even to the extent of retiring to the woods on the approach of +those who select bowmen for the Imperial army, all they require in a +story is that it shall be garnished with deeds of bloodshed and violence +to the exclusion of the higher qualities of well-imagined metaphors and +literary style which alone constitute true excellence.” + +“Yet it has been said,” suggested Hi Seng, “that the inimitable Kai +Lung can so mould a narrative in the telling that all the emotions +are conveyed therein without unduly disturbing the intellects of the +hearers.” + +“O amiable Hi Seng,” replied Kai Lung with extreme affability, +“doubtless you are the most expert of water-carriers, and on a hot +and dusty day, when the insatiable desire of all persons is towards a +draught of unusual length without much regard to its composition, the +sight of your goat-skins is indeed a welcome omen; yet when in the +season of Cold White Rains you chance to meet the belated chair-carrier +who has been reluctantly persuaded into conveying persons beyond the +limit of the city, the solitary official watchman who knows that his +chief is not at hand, or a returning band of those who make a practise +of remaining in the long narrow rooms until they are driven forth at a +certain gong-stroke, can you supply them with the smallest portion of +that invigorating rice spirit for which alone they crave? From this +simple and homely illustration, specially conceived to meet the +requirements of your stunted and meagre understanding, learn not to +expect both grace and thorns from the willow-tree. Nevertheless, your +very immature remarks on the art of story-telling are in no degree more +foolish than those frequently uttered by persons who make a living by +such a practice; in proof of which this person will relate to the select +and discriminating company now assembled an entirely new and unrecorded +story--that, indeed, of the unworthy, but frequently highly-rewarded Kai +Lung himself.” + +“The story of Kai Lung!” exclaimed Wang Yu. “Why not the story of Ting, +the sightless beggar, who has sat all his life outside the Temple of +Miraculous Cures? Who is Kai Lung, that he should have a story? Is he +not known to us all here? Is not his speech that of this Province, his +food mean, his arms and legs unshaven? Does he carry a sword or wear +silk raiment? Frequently have we seen him fatigued with journeying; many +times has he arrived destitute of money; nor, on those occasions when a +newly-appointed and unnecessarily officious Mandarin has commanded +him to betake himself elsewhere and struck him with a rod has Kai Lung +caused the stick to turn into a deadly serpent and destroy its master, +as did the just and dignified Lu Fei. How, then, can Kai Lung have a +story that is not also the story of Wang Yu and Hi Seng, and all others +here?” + +“Indeed, if the refined and enlightened Wang Yu so decides, it must +assuredly be true,” said Kai Lung patiently; “yet (since even trifles +serve to dispel the darker thoughts of existence) would not the +history of so small a matter as an opium pipe chain his intelligent +consideration? such a pipe, for example, as this person beheld only +today exposed for sale, the bowl composed of the finest red clay, +delicately baked and fashioned, the long bamboo stem smoother than the +sacred tooth of the divine Buddha, the spreading support patiently and +cunningly carved with scenes representing the Seven Joys, and the Tenth +Hell of unbelievers.” + +“Ah!” exclaimed Wang Yu eagerly, “it is indeed as you say, a Mandarin +among masterpieces. That pipe, O most unobserving Kai Lung, is the work +of this retiring and superficial person who is now addressing you, and, +though the fact evidently escaped your all-seeing glance, the place +where it is exposed is none other than his shop of ‘The Fountain of +Beauty,’ which you have on many occasions endowed with your honourable +presence.” + +“Doubtless the carving is the work of the accomplished Wang Yu, and the +fitting together,” replied Kai Lung; “but the materials for so refined +and ornamental a production must of necessity have been brought many +thousand li; the clay perhaps from the renowned beds of Honan, the wood +from Peking, and the bamboo from one of the great forests of the North.” + +“For what reason?” said Wang Yu proudly. “At this person’s very door +is a pit of red clay, purer and infinitely more regular than any to +be found at Honan; the hard wood of Wu-whei is extolled among carvers +throughout the Empire, while no bamboo is straighter or more smooth than +that which grows in the neighbouring woods.” + +“O most inconsistent Wang Yu!” cried the story-teller, “assuredly a very +commendable local pride has dimmed your usually penetrating eyesight. +Is not the clay pit of which you speak that in which you fashioned +exceedingly unsymmetrical imitations of rat-pies in your childhood? How, +then, can it be equal to those of Honan, which you have never seen? +In the dark glades of these woods have you not chased the gorgeous +butterfly, and, in later years, the no less gaily attired maidens of +Wu-whei in the entrancing game of Kiss in the Circle? Have not the +bamboo-trees to which you have referred provided you with the ideal +material wherewith to roof over those cunningly-constructed pits into +which it has ever been the chief delight of the young and audacious to +lure dignified and unnaturally stout Mandarins? All these things you +have seen and used ever since your mother made a successful offering to +the Goddess Kum-Fa. How, then, can they be even equal to the products of +remote Honan and fabulous Peking? Assuredly the generally veracious Wang +Yu speaks this time with closed eyes and will, upon mature reflexion, +eat his words.” + +The silence was broken by a very aged man who arose from among the +bystanders. + +“Behold the length of this person’s pigtail,” he exclaimed, “the +whiteness of his moustaches and the venerable appearance of his beard! +There is no more aged person present--if, indeed, there be such a one +in all the Province. It accordingly devolves upon him to speak in this +matter, which shall be as follows: The noble-minded and proficient Kai +Lung shall relate the story as he has proposed, and the garrulous Wang +Yu shall twice contribute to Kai Lung’s bowl when it is passed round, +once for himself and once for this person, in order that he may learn +either to be more discreet or more proficient in the art of aptly +replying.” + +“The events which it is this person’s presumptuous intention to describe +to this large-hearted and providentially indulgent gathering,” began +Kai Lung, when his audience had become settled, and the wooden bowl had +passed to and fro among them, “did not occupy many years, although they +were of a nature which made them of far more importance than all the +remainder of his existence, thereby supporting the sage discernment of +the philosopher Wen-weng, who first made the observation that man is +greatly inferior to the meanest fly, inasmuch as that creature, although +granted only a day’s span of life, contrives during that period to +fulfil all the allotted functions of existence. + +“Unutterably to the astonishment and dismay of this person and all those +connected with him (for several of the most expensive readers of the +future to be found in the Empire had declared that his life would be +marked by great events, his career a source of continual wonder, and his +death a misfortune to those who had dealings with him) his efforts to +take a degree at the public literary competitions were not attended with +any adequate success. In view of the plainly expressed advice of his +father it therefore became desirable that this person should turn his +attention to some other method of regaining the esteem of those upon +whom he was dependent for all the necessaries of existence. Not having +the means wherewith to engage in any form of commerce, and being +entirely ignorant of all matters save the now useless details of +attempting to pass public examinations, he reluctantly decided that he +was destined to become one of those who imagine and write out stories +and similar devices for printed leaves and books. + +“This determination was favourably received, and upon learning it, this +person’s dignified father took him aside, and with many assurances of +regard presented to him a written sentence, which, he said, would be of +incomparable value to one engaged in a literary career, and should +in fact, without any particular qualifications, insure an honourable +competency. He himself, he added, with what at the time appeared to +this one as an unnecessary regard for detail, having taken a very +high degree, and being in consequence appointed to a distinguished and +remunerative position under the Board of Fines and Tortures, had never +made any use of it. + +“The written sentence, indeed, was all that it had been pronounced. It +had been composed by a remote ancestor, who had spent his entire life in +crystallizing all his knowledge and experience into a few written lines, +which as a result became correspondingly precious. It defined in a very +original and profound manner several undisputable principles, and was so +engagingly subtle in its manner of expression that the most superficial +person was irresistibly thrown into a deep inward contemplation upon +reading it. When it was complete, the person who had contrived this +ingenious masterpiece, discovering by means of omens that he still had +ten years to live, devoted each remaining year to the task of reducing +the sentence by one word without in any way altering its meaning. This +unapproachable example of conciseness found such favour in the eyes +of those who issue printed leaves that as fast as this person could +inscribe stories containing it they were eagerly purchased; and had it +not been for a very incapable want of foresight on this narrow-minded +individual’s part, doubtless it would still be affording him an +agreeable and permanent means of living. + +“Unquestionably the enlightened Wen-weng was well acquainted with the +subject when he exclaimed, ‘Better a frugal dish of olives flavoured +with honey than the most sumptuously devised puppy-pie of which the +greater portion is sent forth in silver-lined boxes and partaken of +by others.’ At that time, however, this versatile saying--which so +gracefully conveys the truth of the undeniable fact that what a person +possesses is sufficient if he restrain his mind from desiring +aught else--would have been lightly treated by this self-conceited +story-teller even if his immature faculties had enabled him fully to +understand the import of so profound and well-digested a remark. + +“At that time Tiao Ts’un was undoubtedly the most beautiful maiden in +all Peking. So frequently were the verses describing her habits and +appearances affixed in the most prominent places of the city, that many +persons obtained an honourable livelihood by frequenting those spots +and disposing of the sacks of written papers which they collected to +merchants who engaged in that commerce. Owing to the fame attained by +his written sentence, this really very much inferior being had many +opportunities of meeting the incomparable maiden Tiao at flower-feasts, +melon-seed assemblies, and those gatherings where persons of both sexes +exhibit themselves in revolving attitudes, and are permitted to embrace +openly without reproach; whereupon he became so subservient to her +charms and virtues that he lost no opportunity of making himself utterly +unendurable to any who might chance to speak to, or even gaze upon, this +Heaven-sent creature. + +“So successful was this person in his endeavour to meet the sublime +Tiao and to gain her conscientious esteem that all emotions of prudence +forsook him, or it would soon have become apparent even to his enfeebled +understanding that such consistent good fortune could only be the work +of unforgiving and malignant spirits whose ill-will he had in some way +earned, and who were luring him on in order that they might accomplish +his destruction. That object was achieved on a certain evening when this +person stood alone with Tiao upon an eminence overlooking the city and +watched the great sky-lantern rise from behind the hills. Under these +delicate and ennobling influences he gave speech to many very ornamental +and refined thoughts which arose within his mind concerning the graceful +brilliance of the light which was cast all around, yet notwithstanding +which a still more exceptional and brilliant light was shining in his +own internal organs by reason of the nearness of an even purer and more +engaging orb. There was no need, this person felt, to hide even his most +inside thoughts from the dignified and sympathetic being at his side, so +without hesitation he spoke--in what he believes even now must have been +a very decorative manner--of the many thousand persons who were then +wrapped in sleep, of the constantly changing lights which appeared in +the city beneath, and of the vastness which everywhere lay around. + +“‘O Kai Lung,’ exclaimed the lovely Tiao, when this person had made an +end of speaking, ‘how expertly and in what a proficient manner do you +express yourself, uttering even the sentiments which this person has +felt inwardly, but for which she has no words. Why, indeed, do you not +inscribe them in a book?’ + +“Under her elevating influence it had already occurred to this +illiterate individual that it would be a more dignified and, perhaps, +even a more profitable course for him to write out and dispose of, to +those who print such matters, the versatile and high-minded expressions +which now continually formed his thoughts, rather than be dependent upon +the concise sentence for which, indeed, he was indebted to the wisdom of +a remote ancestor. Tiao’s spoken word fully settled his determination, +so that without delay he set himself to the task of composing a story +which should omit the usual sentence, but should contain instead a large +number of his most graceful and diamond-like thoughts. So engrossed did +this near-sighted and superficial person become in the task (which daily +seemed to increase rather than lessen as new and still more sublime +images arose within his mind) that many months passed before the +matter was complete. In the end, instead of a story, it had assumed the +proportions of an important and many-volumed book; while Tiao had in the +meantime accepted the wedding gifts of an objectionable and excessively +round-bodied individual, who had amassed an inconceivable number of +taels by inducing persons to take part in what at first sight appeared +to be an ingenious but very easy competition connected with the order in +which certain horses should arrive at a given and clearly defined spot. +By that time, however, this unduly sanguine story-teller had become +completely entranced in his work, and merely regarded Tiao-Ts’un as a +Heaven-sent but no longer necessary incentive to his success. With +every hope, therefore, he went forth to dispose of his written leaves, +confident of finding some very wealthy person who would be in a +condition to pay him the correct value of the work. + +“At the end of two years this somewhat disillusionized but still +undaunted person chanced to hear of a benevolent and unassuming body of +men who made a habit of issuing works in which they discerned merit, +but which, nevertheless, others were unanimous in describing as ‘of no +good.’ Here this person was received with gracious effusion, and +being in a position to impress those with whom he was dealing with his +undoubted knowledge of the subject, he finally succeeded in making a +very advantageous arrangement by which he was to pay one-half of the +number of taels expended in producing the work, and to receive in return +all the profits which should result from the undertaking. Those who +were concerned in the matter were so engagingly impressed with the +incomparable literary merit displayed in the production that they +counselled a great number of copies being made ready in order, as they +said, that this person should not lose by there being any delay +when once the accomplishment became the one topic of conversation in +tea-houses and yamens. From this cause it came about that the matter of +taels to be expended was much greater than had been anticipated at the +beginning, so that when the day arrived on which the volumes were to +be sent forth this person found that almost his last piece of money had +disappeared. + +“Alas! how small a share has a person in the work of controlling his own +destiny. Had only the necessarily penurious and now almost degraded Kai +Lung been born a brief span before the great writer Lo Kuan Chang, his +name would have been received with every mark of esteem from one end of +the Empire to the other, while taels and honourable decorations would +have been showered upon him. For the truth, which could no longer be +concealed, revealed the fact that this inopportune individual possessed +a mind framed in such a manner that his thoughts had already been the +thoughts of the inspired Lo Kuan, who, as this person would not be so +presumptuous as to inform this ornamental and well-informed gathering, +was the most ingenious and versatile-minded composer of written words +that this Empire--and therefore the entire world--has seen, as, indeed, +his honourable title of ‘The Many-hued Mandarin Duck of the Yang-tse’ +plainly indicates. + +“Although this self-opinionated person had frequently been greatly +surprised himself during the writing of his long work by the brilliance +and manysidedness of the thoughts and metaphors which arose in his mind +without conscious effort, it was not until the appearance of the printed +leaves which make a custom of warning persons against being persuaded +into buying certain books that he definitely understood how all these +things had been fully expressed many dynasties ago by the all-knowing +Lo Kuan Chang, and formed, indeed, the great national standard of +unapproachable excellence. Unfortunately, this person had been so deeply +engrossed all his life in literary pursuits that he had never found an +opportunity to glance at the works in question, or he would have escaped +the embarrassing position in which he now found himself. + +“It was with a hopeless sense of illness of ease that this unhappy one +reached the day on which the printed leaves already alluded to would +make known their deliberate opinion of his writing, the extremity of his +hope being that some would at least credit him with honourable motives, +and perhaps a knowledge that if the inspired Lo Kuan Chan had never +been born the entire matter might have been brought to a very different +conclusion. Alas! only one among the many printed leaves which +made reference to the venture contained any words of friendship or +encouragement. This benevolent exception was sent forth from a city +in the extreme Northern Province of the Empire, and contained many +inspiring though delicately guarded messages of hope for the one to whom +they gracefully alluded as ‘this undoubtedly youthful, but nevertheless, +distinctly promising writer of books.’ While admitting that altogether +they found the production undeniably tedious, they claimed to have +discovered indications of an obvious talent, and therefore they +unhesitatingly counselled the person in question to take courage at the +prospect of a moderate competency which was certainly within his grasp +if he restrained his somewhat over-ambitious impulses and closely +observed the simple subjects and manner of expression of their own Chang +Chow, whose ‘Lines to a Wayside Chrysanthemum,’ ‘Mongolians who Have,’ +and several other composed pieces, they then set forth. Although it +became plain that the writer of this amiably devised notice was, like +this incapable person, entirely unacquainted with the masterpieces of +Lo Kuan Chang, yet the indisputable fact remained that, entirely on +its merit, the work had been greeted with undoubted enthusiasm, so that +after purchasing many examples of the refined printed leaf containing +it, this person sat far into the night continually reading over the one +unprejudiced and discriminating expression. + +“All the other printed leaves displayed a complete absence of good +taste in dealing with the matter. One boldly asserted that the entire +circumstance was the outcome of a foolish jest or wager on the part of +a person who possessed a million taels; another predicted that it was a +cunning and elaborately thought-out method of obtaining the attention of +the people on the part of certain persons who claimed to vend a reliable +and fragrantly-scented cleansing substance. The _Valley of Hoang Rose +Leaves and Sweetness_ hoped, in a spirit of no sincerity, that the +ingenious Kai Lung would not rest on his tea-leaves, but would soon +send forth an equally entertaining amended example of the _Sayings of +Confucious_ and other sacred works, while the _Pure Essence of the Seven +Days’ Happenings_ merely printed side by side portions from the two +books under the large inscription, ‘IS THERE REALLY ANY NEED FOR US TO +EXPRESS OURSELVES MORE CLEARLY?’ + +“The disappointment both as regards public esteem and taels--for, after +the manner in which the work had been received by those who advise +on such productions, not a single example was purchased--threw this +ill-destined individual into a condition of most unendurable depression, +from which he was only aroused by a remarkable example of the unfailing +wisdom of the proverb which says ‘Before hastening to secure a possible +reward of five taels by dragging an unobservant person away from a +falling building, examine well his features lest you find, when too +late, that it is one to whom you are indebted for double that amount.’ +Disappointed in the hope of securing large gains from the sale of his +great work, this person now turned his attention again to his former +means of living, only to find, however, that the discredit in which he +had become involved even attached itself to his concise sentence; for in +place of the remunerative and honourable manner in which it was formerly +received, it was now regarded on all hands with open suspicion. Instead +of meekly kow-towing to an evidently pre-arranged doom, the last +misfortune aroused this usually resigned story-teller to an ungovernable +frenzy. Regarding the accomplished but at the same time exceedingly +over-productive Lo Kuan Chang as the beginning of all his evils, he took +a solemn oath as a mark of disapproval that he had not been content to +inscribe on paper only half of his brilliant thoughts, leaving the other +half for the benefit of this hard-striving and equally well-endowed +individual, in which case there would have been a sufficiency of taels +and of fame for both. + +“For a very considerable space of time this person could conceive no +method by which he might attain his object. At length, however, as +a result of very keen and subtle intellectual searching, and many +well-selected sacrifices, it was conveyed by means of a dream that +one very ingenious yet simple way was possible. The renowned and +universally-admired writings of the distinguished Lo Kuan for the most +part take their action within a few dynasties of their creator’s +own time: all that remained for this inventive person to accomplish, +therefore, was to trace out the entire matter, making the words and +speeches to proceed from the mouths of those who existed in still +earlier periods. By this crafty method it would at once appear as though +the not-too-original Lo Kuan had been indebted to one who came before +him for all his most subtle thoughts, and, in consequence, his tomb +would become dishonoured and his memory execrated. Without any delay +this person cheerfully set himself to the somewhat laborious task +before him. Lo Kuan’s well-known exclamation of the Emperor Tsing on the +battlefield of Shih-ho, ‘A sedan-chair! a sedan-chair! This person will +unhesitatingly exchange his entire and well-regulated Empire for such an +article,’ was attributed to an Emperor who lived several thousand years +before the treacherous and unpopular Tsing. The new matter of a no less +frequently quoted portion ran: ‘O nobly intentioned but nevertheless +exceedingly morose Tung-shin, the object before you is your +distinguished and evilly-disposed-of father’s honourably-inspired +demon,’ the change of a name effecting whatever alteration was +necessary; while the delicately-imagined speech beginning ‘The person +who becomes amused at matters resulting from double-edged knives has +assuredly never felt the effect of a well-directed blow himself’ was +taken from the mouth of one person and placed in that of one of his +remote ancestors. In such a manner, without in any great degree altering +the matter of Lo Kuan’s works, all the scenes and persons introduced +were transferred to much earlier dynasties than those affected by the +incomparable writer himself, the final effect being to give an air of +extreme unoriginality to his really undoubtedly genuine conceptions. + +“Satisfied with his accomplishment, and followed by a hired person +of low class bearing the writings, which, by nature of the research +necessary in fixing the various dates and places so that even the wary +should be deceived, had occupied the greater part of a year, this now +fully confident story-teller--unmindful of the well-tried excellence of +the inspired saying, ‘Money is hundred-footed; upon perceiving a +tael lying apparently unobserved upon the floor, do not lose the time +necessary in stooping, but quickly place your foot upon it, for one +fails nothing in dignity thereby; but should it be a gold piece, +distrust all things, and valuing dignity but as an empty name, cast your +entire body upon it’--went forth to complete his great task of finally +erasing from the mind and records of the Empire the hitherto venerated +name of Lo Kuan Chang. Entering the place of commerce of the one who +seemed the most favourable for the purpose, he placed the facts as they +would in future be represented before him, explained the undoubtedly +remunerative fame that would ensue to all concerned in the enterprise +of sending forth the printed books in their new form, and, opening at a +venture the written leaves which he had brought with him, read out the +following words as an indication of the similarity of the entire work: + + “‘_Whai-Keng_. Friends, Chinamen, labourers who are engaged in + agricultural pursuits, entrust to this person your acute and + well-educated ears; + + “‘He has merely come to assist in depositing the body of Ko’ung in + the Family Temple, not for the purpose of making remarks about him + of a graceful and highly complimentary nature; + + “‘The unremunerative actions of which persons may have been guilty + possess an exceedingly undesirable amount of endurance; + + “‘The successful and well-considered almost invariably are + involved in a directly contrary course; + + “‘This person desires nothing more than a like fate to await + Ko’ung.’ + +“When this one had read so far, he paused in order to give the other +an opportunity of breaking in and offering half his possessions to +be allowed to share in the undertaking. As he remained unaccountably +silent, however, an inelegant pause occurred which this person at length +broke by desiring an expressed opinion on the matter. + +“‘O exceedingly painstaking, but nevertheless highly inopportune Kai +Lung,’ he replied at length, while in his countenance this person +read an expression of no-encouragement towards his venture, ‘all your +entrancing efforts do undoubtedly appear to attract the undesirable +attention of some spiteful and tyrannical demon. This closely-written +and elaborately devised work is in reality not worth the labour of a +single stroke, nor is there in all Peking a sender forth of printed +leaves who would encourage any project connected with its issue.’ + +“‘But the importance of such a fact as that which would clearly show the +hitherto venerated Lo Kuan Chang to be a person who passed off as his +own the work of an earlier one!’ cried this person in despair, well +knowing that the deliberately expressed opinion of the one before him +was a matter that would rule all others. ‘Consider the interest of the +discovery.’ + +“‘The interest would not demand more than a few lines in the ordinary +printed leaves,’ replied the other calmly. ‘Indeed, in a manner of +speaking, it is entirely a detail of no consequence whether or not the +sublime Lo Kuan ever existed. In reality his very commonplace name may +have been simply Lung; his inspired work may have been written a score +of dynasties before him by some other person, or they may have been +composed by the enlightened Emperor of the period, who desired to +conceal the fact, yet these matters would not for a moment engage the +interest of any ordinary passer-by. Lo Kuan Chang is not a person in the +ordinary expression; he is an embodiment of a distinguished and utterly +unassailable national institution. The Heaven-sent works with which +he is, by general consent, connected form the necessary unchangeable +standard of literary excellence, and remain for ever above rivalry and +above mistrust. For this reason the matter is plainly one which does not +interest this person.’ + +“In the course of a not uneventful existence this self-deprecatory +person has suffered many reverses and disappointments. During his youth +the high-minded Empress on one occasion stopped and openly complimented +him on the dignified outline presented by his body in profile, and when +he was relying upon this incident to secure him a very remunerative +public office, a jealous and powerful Mandarin substituted a somewhat +similar, though really very much inferior, person for him at the +interview which the Empress had commanded. Frequently in matters of +commerce which have appeared to promise very satisfactorily at the +beginning this person has been induced to entrust sums of money to +others, when he had hoped from the indications and the manner of +speaking that the exact contrary would be the case; and in one +instance he was released at a vast price from the torture dungeon in +Canton--where he had been thrown by the subtle and unconscientious +plots of one who could not relate stories in so accurate and unvarying +a manner as himself--on the day before that on which all persons were +freely set at liberty on account of exceptional public rejoicing. Yet in +spite of these and many other very unendurable incidents, this impetuous +and ill-starred being never felt so great a desire to retire to a +solitary place and there disfigure himself permanently as a mark of +his unfeigned internal displeasure, as on the occasion when he endured +extreme poverty and great personal inconvenience for an entire year in +order that he might take away face from the memory of a person who was +so placed that no one expressed any interest in the matter. + +“Since then this very ill-clad and really necessitous person has +devoted himself to the honourable but exceedingly arduous and in general +unremunerative occupation of story-telling. To this he would add nothing +save that not infrequently a nobly-born and highly-cultured audience +is so entranced with his commonplace efforts to hold the attention, +especially when a story not hitherto known has been related, that in +order to afford it an opportunity of expressing its gratification, he +has been requested to allow another offering to be made by all persons +present at the conclusion of the entertainment.” + + + + +VI. +THE VENGEANCE OF TUNG FEL + + +For a period not to be measured by days or weeks the air of Ching-fow +had been as unrestful as that of the locust plains beyond the Great +Wall, for every speech which passed bore two faces, one fair to hear, +as a greeting, but the other insidiously speaking behind a screen, of +rebellion, violence, and the hope of overturning the fixed order of +events. With those whom they did not mistrust of treachery persons spoke +in low voices of definite plans, while at all times there might appear +in prominent places of the city skilfully composed notices setting +forth great wrongs and injustices towards which resignation and a lowly +bearing were outwardly counselled, yet with the same words cunningly +inflaming the minds, even of the patient, as no pouring out of +passionate thoughts and undignified threatenings could have done. Among +the people, unknown, unseen, and unsuspected, except to the proved ones +to whom they desired to reveal themselves, moved the agents of the Three +Societies. While to the many of Ching-fow nothing was desired or even +thought of behind the downfall of their own officials, and, chief of +all, the execution of the evil-minded and depraved Mandarin Ping Siang, +whose cruelties and extortions had made his name an object of wide and +deserved loathing, the agents only regarded the city as a bright spot in +the line of blood and fire which they were fanning into life from Peking +to Canton, and which would presumably burst forth and involve the entire +Empire. + +Although it had of late become a plain fact, by reason of the manner +of behaving of the people, that events of a sudden and turbulent nature +could not long be restrained, yet outwardly there was no exhibition of +violence, not even to the length of resisting those whom Ping Siang sent +to enforce his unjust demands, chiefly because a well-founded whisper +had been sent round that nothing was to be done until Tung Fel should +arrive, which would not be until the seventh day in the month of Winged +Dragons. To this all persons agreed, for the more aged among them, +who, by virtue of their years, were also the formers of opinion in all +matters, called up within their memories certain events connected with +the two persons in question which appeared to give to Tung Fel the +privilege of expressing himself clearly when the matter of finally +dealing with the malicious and self-willed Mandarin should be engaged +upon. + +Among the mountains which enclose Ching-fow on the southern side dwelt +a jade-seeker, who also kept goats. Although a young man and entirely +without relations, he had, by patient industry, contrived to collect +together a large flock of the best-formed and most prolific goats to be +found in the neighbourhood, all the money which he received in exchange +for jade being quickly bartered again for the finest animals which he +could obtain. He was dauntless in penetrating to the most inaccessible +parts of the mountains in search of the stone, unfailing in his skilful +care of the flock, in which he took much honourable pride, and on all +occasions discreet and unassumingly restrained in his discourse and +manner of life. Knowing this to be his invariable practice, it was with +emotions of an agreeable curiosity that on the seventh day of the month +of Winged Dragons those persons who were passing from place to place in +the city beheld this young man, Yang Hu, descending the mountain path +with unmistakable signs of profound agitation, and an entire absence of +prudent care. Following him closely to the inner square of the city, on +the continually expressed plea that they themselves had business in +that quarter, these persons observed Yang Hu take up a position of +unendurable dejection as he gazed reproachfully at the figure of the +all-knowing Buddha which surmounted the Temple where it was his custom +to sacrifice. + +“Alas!” he exclaimed, lifting up his voice, when it became plain that +a large number of people was assembled awaiting his words, “to what end +does a person strive in this excessively evilly-regulated district? Or +is it that this obscure and ill-destined one alone is marked out as with +a deep white cross for humiliation and ruin? Father, and Sacred Temple +of Ancestral Virtues, wherein the meanest can repose their trust, he has +none; while now, being more destitute than the beggar at the gate, the +hope of honourable marriage and a robust family of sons is more remote +than the chance of finding the miracle-working Crystal Image which marks +the last footstep of the Pure One. Yesterday this person possessed no +secret store of silver or gold, nor had he knowledge of any special +amount of jade hidden among the mountains, but to his call there +responded four score goats, the most select and majestic to be found in +all the Province, of which, nevertheless, it was his yearly custom to +sacrifice one, as those here can testify, and to offer another as a duty +to the Yamen of Ping Siang, in neither case opening his eyes widely when +the hour for selecting arrived. Yet in what an unseemly manner is his +respectful piety and courteous loyalty rewarded! To-day, before this +person went forth on his usual quest, there came those bearing written +papers by which they claimed, on the authority of Ping Siang, the +whole of this person’s flock, as a punishment and fine for his not +contributing without warning to the Celebration of Kissing the Emperor’s +Face--the very obligation of such a matter being entirely unknown to +him. Nevertheless, those who came drove off this person’s entire +wealth, the desperately won increase of a life full of great toil and +uncomplainingly endured hardship, leaving him only his cave in the +rocks, which even the most grasping of many-handed Mandarins cannot +remove, his cloak of skins, which no beggar would gratefully receive, +and a bright and increasing light of deep hate scorching within his mind +which nothing but the blood of the obdurate extortioner can efficiently +quench. No protection of charms or heavily-mailed bowmen shall +avail him, for in his craving for just revenge this person will meet +witchcraft with a Heaven-sent cause and oppose an unsleeping subtlety +against strength. Therefore let not the innocent suffer through an +insufficient understanding, O Divine One, but direct the hand of your +faithful worshipper towards the heart that is proud in tyranny, and +holds as empty words the clearly defined promise of an all-seeing +justice.” + +Scarcely had Yang Hu made an end of speaking before there happened an +event which could be regarded in no other light than as a direct answer +to his plainly expressed request for a definite sign. Upon the clear +air, which had become unnaturally still at Yang Hu’s words, as though +to remove any chance of doubt that this indeed was the requested answer, +came the loud beating of many very powerful brass gongs, indicating the +approach of some person of undoubted importance. In a very brief period +the procession reached the square, the gong-beaters being followed +by persons carrying banners, bowmen in armour, others bearing various +weapons and instruments of torture, slaves displaying innumerable +changes of raiment to prove the rank and consequence of their master, +umbrella carriers and fan wavers, and finally, preceded by incense +burners and surrounded by servants who cleared away all obstructions by +means of their formidable and heavily knotted lashes, the unworthy and +deceitful Mandarin Ping Siang, who sat in a silk-hung and elaborately +wrought chair, looking from side to side with gestures and expressions +of contempt and ill-restrained cupidity. + +At the sign of this powerful but unscrupulous person all those who were +present fell upon their faces, leaving a broad space in their midst, +except Yang Hu, who stepped back into the shadow of a doorway, being +resolved that he would not prostrate himself before one whom Heaven had +pointed out as the proper object of his just vengeance. + +When the chair of Ping Siang could no longer be observed in the +distance, and the sound of his many gongs had died away, all the persons +who had knelt at his approach rose to their feet, meeting each other’s +eyes with glances of assured and profound significance. At length there +stepped forth an exceedingly aged man, who was generally believed to +have the power of reading omens and forecasting futures, so that at his +upraised hand all persons became silent. + +“Behold!” he exclaimed, “none can turn aside in doubt from the +deliberately pointed finger of Buddha. Henceforth, in spite of the +well-intentioned suggestions of those who would shield him under the +plea of exacting orders from high ones at Peking or extortions practised +by slaves under him of which he is ignorant, there can no longer be any +two voices concerning the guilty one. Yet what does the knowledge of +the cormorant’s cry avail the golden carp in the shallow waters of the +Yuen-Kiang? A prickly mormosa is an adequate protection against a naked +man armed only with a just cause, and a company of bowmen has been known +to quench an entire city’s Heaven-felt desire for retribution. This +person, and doubtless others also, would have experienced a more +heartfelt enthusiasm in the matter if the sublime and omnipotent +Buddha had gone a step further, and pointed out not only the one to +be punished, but also the instrument by which the destiny could be +prudently and effectively accomplished.” + +From the mountain path which led to Yang Hu’s cave came a voice, like +an expressly devised reply to this speech. It was that of some person +uttering the “Chant of Rewards and Penalties”: + + “How strong is the mountain sycamore! + “Its branches reach the Middle Air, and the eye of none can pierce + its foliage; + “It draws power and nourishment from all around, so that weeds + alone may flourish under its shadow. + “Robbers find safety within the hollow of its trunk; its branches + hide vampires and all manner of evil things which prey upon + the innocent; + “The wild boar of the forest sharpen their tusks against the bark, + for it is harder than flint, and the axe of the woodsman turns + back upon the striker. + “Then cries the sycamore, ‘Hail and rain have no power against me, + nor can the fiercest sun penetrate beyond my outside fringe; + “‘The man who impiously raises his hand against me falls by his + own stroke and weapon. + “‘Can there be a greater or a more powerful than this one? + Assuredly, _I_ am Buddha; let all things obey me.’ + “Whereupon the weeds bow their heads, whispering among themselves, + ‘The voice of the Tall One we hear, but not that of Buddha. + Indeed, it is doubtless as he says.’ + “In his musk-scented Heaven Buddha laughs, and not deigning to + raise his head from the lap of the Phœnix Goddess, he thrusts + forth a stone which lies by his foot. + “Saying, ‘A god’s present for a god. Take it carefully, O + presumptuous Little One, for it is hot to the touch.’ + “The thunderbolt falls and the mighty tree is rent in twain. ‘They + asked for my messenger,’ said the Pure One, turning again to + repose. + “_Lo, he comes_!” + +With the last spoken word there came into the sight of those who were +collected together a person of stern yet engaging appearance. His hands +and face were the colour of mulberry stain by long exposure to the sun, +while his eyes looked forth like two watch-fires outside a wolf-haunted +camp. His long pigtail was tangled with the binding tendrils of the +forest, and damp with the dew of an open couch. His apparel was in no +way striking or brilliant, yet he strode with the dignity and air of a +high official, pushing before him a covered box upon wheels. + +“It is Tung Fel!” cried many who stood there watching his approach, +in tones which showed those who spoke to be inspired by a variety of +impressive emotions. “Undoubtedly this is the seventh day of the month +of Winged Dragons, and, as he specifically stated would be the case, lo! +he has come.” + +Few were the words of greeting which Tung Fel accorded even to the most +venerable of those who awaited him. + +“This person has slept, partaken of fruit and herbs, and devoted an +allotted time to inward contemplation,” he said briefly. “Other and +more weighty matters than the exchange of dignified compliments and the +admiration of each other’s profiles remain to be accomplished. What, for +example, is the significance of the written parchment which is displayed +in so obtrusive a manner before our eyes? Bring it to this person +without delay.” + +At these words all those present followed Tung Fel’s gaze with +astonishment, for conspicuously displayed upon the wall of the Temple +was a written notice which all joined in asserting had not been there +the moment before, though no man had approached the spot. Nevertheless +it was quickly brought to Tung Fel, who took it without any fear or +hesitation and read aloud the words which it contained. + + “TO THE CUSTOM-RESPECTING PERSONS OF CHING-FOW. + + “Truly the span of existence of any upon this earth is brief and + not to be considered; therefore, O unfortunate dwellers of + Ching-fow, let it not affect your digestion that your bodies are + in peril of sudden and most excruciating tortures and your Family + Temples in danger of humiliating disregard. + + “Why do your thoughts follow the actions of the noble Mandarin + Ping Siang so insidiously, and why after each unjust exaction do + your eyes look redly towards the Yamen? + + “Is he not the little finger of those at Peking, obeying their + commands and only carrying out the taxation which others have + devised? Indeed, he himself has stated such to be the fact. If, + therefore, a terrible and unforeseen fate overtook the usually + cautious and well-armed Ping Siang, doubtless--perhaps after the + lapse of some considerable time--another would be sent from Peking + for a like purpose, and in this way, after a too-brief period of + heaven-sent rest and prosperity, affairs would regulate themselves + into almost as unendurable a condition as before. + + “Therefore ponder these things well, O passer-by. Yesterday the + only man-child of Huang the wood-carver was taken away to be sold + into slavery by the emissaries of the most just Ping Siang (who + would not have acted thus, we are assured, were it not for the + insatiable ones at Peking), as it had become plain that the very + necessitous Huang had no other possession to contribute to the + amount to be expended in coloured lights as a mark of public + rejoicing on the occasion of the moonday of the sublime Emperor. + The illiterate and prosaic-minded Huang, having in a most unseemly + manner reviled and even assailed those who acted in the matter, + has been effectively disposed of, and his wife now alternately + laughs and shrieks in the Establishment of Irregular Intellects. + + “For this reason, gazer, and because the matter touches you more + closely than, in your self-imagined security, you are prone to + think, deal expediently with the time at your disposal. Look twice + and lingeringly to-night upon the face of your first-born, and + clasp the form of your favourite one in a closer embrace, for he + by whose hand the blow is directed may already have cast devouring + eyes upon their fairness, and to-morrow he may say to his armed + men: ‘The time is come; bring her to me.’” + +“From the last sentence of the well-intentioned and undoubtedly +moderately-framed notice this person will take two phrases,” remarked +Tung Fel, folding the written paper and placing it among his +garments, “which shall serve him as the title of the lifelike and +accurately-represented play which it is his self-conceited intention +now to disclose to this select and unprejudiced gathering. The scene +represents an enlightened and well-merited justice overtaking an +arrogant and intolerable being who--need this person add?--existed many +dynasties ago, and the title is: + + “THE TIME IS COME! + BY WHOSE HAND?” + +Delivering himself in this manner, Tung Fel drew back the hanging +drapery which concealed the front of his large box, and disclosed to +those who were gathered round, not, as they had expected, a passage +from the Record of the Three Kingdoms, or some other dramatic work of +undoubted merit, but an ingeniously constructed representation of a +scene outside the walls of their own Ching-fow. On one side was a small +but minutely accurate copy of a wood-burner’s hut, which was known to +all present, while behind stood out the distant but nevertheless +unmistakable walls of the city. But it was the nearest part of the +spectacle that first held the attention of the entranced beholders, for +there disported themselves, in every variety of guileless and +attractive attitude, a number of young and entirely unconcerned doves. +Scarcely had the delighted onlookers fully observed the pleasing and +effective scene, or uttered their expressions of polished satisfaction +at the graceful and unassuming behaviour of the pretty creatures before +them, than the view entirely changed, and, as if by magic, the massive +and inelegant building of Ping Siang’s Yamen was presented before them. +As all gazed, astonished, the great door of the Yamen opened +stealthily, and without a moment’s pause a lean and ill-conditioned +rat, of unnatural size and rapacity, dashed out and seized the most +select and engaging of the unsuspecting prey in its hungry jaws. With +the expiring cry of the innocent victim the entire box was immediately, +and in the most unexpected manner, involved in a profound darkness, +which cleared away as suddenly and revealed the forms of the despoiler +and the victim lying dead by each other’s side. + +Tung Fel came forward to receive the well-selected compliments of all +who had witnessed the entertainment. + +“It may be objected,” he remarked, “that the play is, in a manner of +expressing one’s self, incomplete; for it is unrevealed by whose hand +the act of justice was accomplished. Yet in this detail is the accuracy +of the representation justified, for though the time has come, the hand +by which retribution is accorded shall never be observed.” + +In such a manner did Tung Fel come to Ching-fow on the seventh day of +the month of Winged Dragons, throwing aside all restraint, and no longer +urging prudence or delay. Of all the throng which stood before him +scarcely one was without a deep offence against Ping Siang, while those +who had not as yet suffered feared what the morrow might display. + +A wandering monk from the Island of Irredeemable Plagues was the first +to step forth in response to Tung Fel’s plainly understood suggestion. + +“There is no necessity for this person to undertake further acts of +benevolence,” he remarked, dropping the cloak from his shoulder and +displaying the hundred and eight scars of extreme virtue; “nor,” he +continued, holding up his left hand, from which three fingers were burnt +away, “have greater endurances been neglected. Yet the matter before +this distinguished gathering is one which merits the favourable +consideration of all persons, and this one will in no manner turn away, +recounting former actions, while he allows others to press forward +towards the accomplishment of the just and divinely-inspired act.” + +With these words the devout and unassuming person in question inscribed +his name upon a square piece of rice-paper, attesting his sincerity to +the fixed purpose for which it was designed by dipping his thumb into +the mixed blood of the slain animals and impressing this unalterable +seal upon the paper also. He was followed by a seller of drugs and +subtle medicines, whose entire stock had been seized and destroyed by +order of Ping Siang, so that no one in Ching-fow might obtain poison +for his destruction. Then came an overwhelming stream of persons, all of +whom had received some severe and well-remembered injury at the hands +of the malicious and vindictive Mandarin. All these followed a similar +observance, inscribing their names and binding themselves by the Blood +Oath. Last of all Yang Hu stepped up, partly from a natural modesty +which restrained him from offering himself when so many more versatile +persons of proved excellence were willing to engage in the matter, and +partly because an ill-advised conflict was taking place within his mind +as to whether the extreme course which was contemplated was the most +expedient to pursue. At last, however, he plainly perceived that he +could not honourably withhold himself from an affair that was in a +measure the direct outcome of his own unendurable loss, so that without +further hesitation he added his obscure name to the many illustrious +ones already in Tung Fel’s keeping. + +When at length dark fell upon the city and the cries of the watchmen, +warning all prudent ones to bar well their doors against robbers, +as they themselves were withdrawing until the morrow, no longer rang +through the narrow ways of Ching-fow, all those persons who had pledged +themselves by name and seal went forth silently, and came together at +the place whereof Tung Fel had secretly conveyed them knowledge. There +Tung Fel, standing somewhat apart, placed all the folded papers in the +form of a circle, and having performed over them certain observances +designed to insure a just decision and to keep away evil influences, +submitted the selection to the discriminating choice of the Sacred +Flat and Round Sticks. Having in this manner secured the name of +the appointed person who should carry out the act of justice and +retribution, Tung Fel unfolded the paper, inscribed certain words upon +it, and replaced it among the others. + +“The moment before great deeds,” began Tung Fel, stepping forward and +addressing himself to the expectant ones who were gathered round, “is +not the time for light speech, nor, indeed, for sentences of dignified +length, no matter how pleasantly turned to the ear they may be. Before +this person stand many who are undoubtedly illustrious in various +arts and virtues, yet one among them is pre-eminently marked out for +distinction in that his name shall be handed down in imperishable +history as that of a patriot of a pure-minded and uncompromising degree. +With him there is no need of further speech, and to this end I have +inscribed certain words upon his namepaper. To everyone this person will +now return the paper which has been entrusted to him, folded so that +the nature of its contents shall be an unwritten leaf to all others. Nor +shall the papers be unfolded by any until he is within his own chamber, +with barred doors, where all, save the one who shall find the message, +shall remain, not venturing forth until daybreak. I, Tung Fel, have +spoken, and assuredly I shall not eat my word, which is that a certain +and most degrading death awaits any who transgress these commands.” + +It was with the short and sudden breath of the cowering antelope when +the stealthy tread of the pitiless tiger approaches its lair, that Yang +Hu opened his paper in the seclusion of his own cave; for his mind was +darkened with an inspired inside emotion that he, the one doubting among +the eagerly proffering and destructively inclined multitude, would +be chosen to accomplish the high aim for which, indeed, he felt +exceptionally unworthy. The written sentence which he perceived +immediately upon unfolding the paper, instructing him to appear again +before Tung Fel at the hour of midnight, was, therefore, nothing but +the echo and fulfilment of his own thoughts, and served in reality to +impress his mind with calmer feelings of dignified unconcern than would +have been the case had he not been chosen. Having neither possessions +nor relations, the occupation of disposing of his goods and making +ceremonious and affectionate leavetakings of his family, against the +occurrence of any unforeseen disaster, engrossed no portion of Yang Hu’s +time. Yet there was one matter to which no reference has yet been made, +but which now forces itself obtrusively upon the attention, which was +in a large measure responsible for many of the most prominent actions +of Yang Hu’s life, and, indeed, in no small degree influenced his +hesitation in offering himself before Tung Fel. + +Not a bowshot distance from the place where the mountain path entered +the outskirts of the city lived Hiya-ai-Shao with her parents, who +were persons of assured position, though of no particular wealth. For a +period not confined to a single year it had been the custom of Yang Hu +to offer to this elegant and refined maiden all the rarest pieces +of jade which he could discover, while the most symmetrical and +remunerative she-goat in his flock enjoyed the honourable distinction of +bearing her incomparable name. Towards the almond garden of Hiya’s abode +Yang Hu turned his footsteps upon leaving his cave, and standing there, +concealed from all sides by the white and abundant flower-laden foliage, +he uttered a sound which had long been an agreed signal between them. +Presently a faint perfume of choo-lan spoke of her near approach, and +without delay Hiya herself stood by his side. + +“Well-endowed one,” said Yang Hu, when at length they had gazed upon +each other’s features and made renewals of their protestations of mutual +regard, “the fixed intentions of a person have often been fitly likened +to the seed of the tree-peony, so ineffectual are their efforts among +the winds of constantly changing circumstance. The definite hope of +this person had long pointed towards a small but adequate habitation, +surrounded by sweet-smelling olive-trees and not far distant from the +jade cliffs and pastures which would afford a sufficient remuneration +and a means of living. This entrancing picture has been blotted out for +the time, and in its place this person finds himself face to face with +an arduous and dangerous undertaking, followed, perhaps, by hasty and +immediate flight. Yet if the adorable Hiya will prove the unchanging +depths of her constantly expressed intention by accompanying him as +far as the village of Hing where suitable marriage ceremonies can be +observed without delay, the exile will in reality be in the nature of +a triumphal procession, and the emotions with which this person has +hitherto regarded the entire circumstance will undergo a complete and +highly accomplished change.” + +“Oh, Yang!” exclaimed the maiden, whose feelings at hearing these words +were in no way different from those of her lover when he was on the +point of opening the folded paper upon which Tung Fel had written; “what +is the nature of the mission upon which you are so impetuously resolved? +and why will it be followed by flight?” + +“The nature of the undertaking cannot be revealed by reason of a +deliberately taken oath,” replied Yang Hu; “and the reason of its +possible consequence is a less important question to the two persons who +are here conversing together than of whether the amiable and graceful +Hiya is willing to carry out her often-expressed desire for an +opportunity of displaying the true depths of her emotions towards this +one.” + +“Alas!” said Hiya, “the sentiments which this person expressed with +irreproachable honourableness when the sun was high in the heavens and +the probability of secretly leaving an undoubtedly well-appointed home +was engagingly remote, seem to have an entirely different significance +when recalled by night in a damp orchard, and on the eve of their +fulfilment. To deceive one’s parents is an ignoble prospect; +furthermore, it is often an exceedingly difficult undertaking. Let the +matter be arranged in this way: that Yang leaves the ultimate details +of the scheme to Hiya’s expedient care, he proceeding without delay +to Hing, or, even more desirable, to the further town of Liyunnan, +and there awaiting her coming. By such means the risk of discovery and +pursuit will be lessened, Yang will be able to set forth on his journey +with greater speed, and this one will have an opportunity of getting +together certain articles without which, indeed, she would be very +inadequately equipped.” + +In spite of his conscientious desire that Hiya should be by his side +on the journey, together with an unendurable certainty that evil would +arise from the course she proposed, Yang was compelled by an innate +feeling of respect to agree to her wishes, and in this manner the +arrangement was definitely concluded. Thereupon Hiya, without delay, +returned to the dwelling, remarking that otherwise her absence might be +detected and the entire circumstance thereby discovered, leaving Yang Hu +to continue his journey and again present himself before Tung Fel, as he +had been instructed. + +Tung Fel was engaged with brush and ink when Yang Hu entered. Round him +were many written parchments, some venerable with age, and a variety +of other matters, among which might be clearly perceived weapons, and +devices for reading the future. He greeted Yang with many tokens of +dignified respect, and with an evidently restrained emotion led him +towards the light of a hanging lantern, where he gazed into his face for +a considerable period with every indication of exceptional concern. + +“Yang Hu,” he said at length, “at such a moment many dark and searching +thoughts may naturally arise in the mind concerning objects and reasons, +omens, and the moving cycle of events. Yet in all these, out of a wisdom +gained by deep endurance and a hardly-won experience beyond the common +lot, this person would say, Be content. The hand of destiny, though it +may at times appear to move in a devious manner, is ever approaching its +appointed aim. To this end were you chosen.” + +“The choice was openly made by wise and proficient omens,” replied Yang +Hu, without any display of uncertainty of purpose, “and this person is +content.” + +Tung Fel then administered to Yang the Oath of Buddha’s Face and the One +called the Unutterable (which may not be further described in written +words) thereby binding his body and soul, and the souls and repose of +all who had gone before him in direct line and all who should in a like +manner follow after, to the accomplishment of the design. All spoken +matter being thus complete between them, he gave him a mask with which +he should pass unknown through the streets and into the presence of Ping +Siang, a variety of weapons to use as the occasion arose, and a sign +by which the attendants at the Yamen would admit him without further +questioning. + +As Yang Hu passed through the streets of Ching-fow, which were in a +great measure deserted owing to the command of Tung Fel, he was aware of +many mournful and foreboding sounds which accompanied him on all sides, +while shadowy faces, bearing signs of intolerable anguish and despair, +continually formed themselves out of the wind. By the time he reached +the Yamen a tempest of exceptional violence was in progress, nor were +other omens absent which tended to indicate that matters of a very +unpropitious nature were about to take place. + +At each successive door of the Yamen the attendant stepped back and +covered his face, so that he should by no chance perceive who had come +upon so destructive a mission, the instant Yang Hu uttered the sign with +which Tung Fel had provided him. In this manner Yang quickly reached the +door of the inner chamber upon which was inscribed: “Let the person who +comes with a doubtful countenance, unbidden, or meditating treachery, +remember the curse and manner of death which attended Lai Kuen, who +slew the one over him; so shall he turn and go forth in safety.” This +unworthy safeguard at the hands of a person who passed his entire life +in altering the fixed nature of justice, and who never went beyond his +outer gate without an armed company of bowmen, inspired Yang Hu with +so incautious a contempt, that without any hesitation he drew forth his +brush and ink, and in a spirit of bitter signification added the words, +“‘Come, let us eat together,’ said the wolf to the she-goat.” + +Being now within a step of Ping Siang and the completion of his +undertaking, Yang Hu drew tighter the cords of his mask, tested and +proved his weapons, and then, without further delay, threw open the door +before him and stepped into the chamber, barring the door quickly so +that no person might leave or enter without his consent. + +At this interruption and manner of behaving, which clearly indicated +the nature of the errand upon which the person before him had come, +Ping Siang rose from his couch and stretched out his hand towards a gong +which lay beside him. + +“All summonses for aid are now unavailing, Ping Siang,” exclaimed Yang, +without in any measure using delicate or set phrases of speech; “for, +as you have doubtless informed yourself, the slaves of tyrants are the +first to welcome the downfall of their lord.” + +“The matter of your speech is as emptiness to this person,” replied the +Mandarin, affecting with extreme difficulty an appearance of no-concern. +“In what manner has he fallen? And how will the depraved and self-willed +person before him avoid the well-deserved tortures which certainly await +him in the public square on the morrow, as the reward of his intolerable +presumptions?” + +“O Mandarin,” cried Yang Hu, “the fitness and occasion for such speeches +as the one to which you have just given utterance lie as far behind you +as the smoke of yesterday’s sacrifice. With what manner of eyes have you +frequently journeyed through Ching-fow of late, if the signs and +omens there have not already warned you to prepare a coffin adequately +designed to receive your well-proportioned body? Has not the pungent +vapour of burning houses assailed your senses at every turn, or the salt +tears from the eyes of forlorn ones dashed your peach-tea and spiced +foods with bitterness?” + +“Alas!” exclaimed Ping Siang, “this person now certainly begins to +perceive that many things which he has unthinkingly allowed would +present a very unendurable face to others.” + +“In such a manner has it appeared to all Ching-fow,” said Yang Hu; “and +the justice of your death has been universally admitted. Even should +this one fail there would be an innumerable company eager to take his +place. Therefore, O Ping Siang, as the only favour which it is within +this person’s power to accord, select that which in your opinion is the +most agreeable manner and weapon for your end.” + +“It is truly said that at the Final Gate of the Two Ways the necessity +for elegant and well-chosen sentences ends,” remarked Ping Siang with a +sigh, “otherwise the manner of your address would be open to reproach. +By your side this person perceives a long and apparently highly-tempered +sword, which, in his opinion, will serve the purpose efficiently. Having +no remarks of an improving but nevertheless exceedingly tedious nature +with which to imprint the occasion for the benefit of those who come +after, his only request is that the blow shall be an unhesitating and +sufficiently well-directed one.” + +At these words Yang Hu threw back his cloak to grasp the sword-handle, +when the Mandarin, with his eyes fixed on the naked arm, and evidently +inspired by every manner of conflicting emotions, uttered a cry of +unspeakable wonder and incomparable surprise. + +“The Serpent!” he cried, in a voice from which all evenness and control +were absent. “The Sacred Serpent of our Race! O mysterious one, who and +whence are you?” + +Engulfed in an all-absorbing doubt at the nature of events, Yang could +only gaze at the form of the serpent which had been clearly impressed +upon his arm from the earliest time of his remembrance, while Ping +Siang, tearing the silk garment from his own arm and displaying thereon +a similar form, continued: + +“Behold the inevitable and unvarying birthmark of our race! So it was +with this person’s father and the ones before him; so it was with his +treacherously-stolen son; so it will be to the end of all time.” + +Trembling beyond all power of restraint, Yang removed the mask which had +hitherto concealed his face. + +“Father or race has this person none,” he said, looking into Ping +Siang’s features with an all-engaging hope, tempered in a measure by a +soul-benumbing dread; “nor memory or tradition of an earlier state than +when he herded goats and sought for jade in the southern mountains.” + +“Nevertheless,” exclaimed the Mandarin, whose countenance was lightened +with an interest and a benevolent emotion which had never been seen +there before, “beyond all possibility of doubting, you are this +person’s lost and greatly-desired son, stolen away many years ago by +the treacherous conduct of an unworthy woman, yet now happily and +miraculously restored to cherish his declining years and perpetuate an +honourable name and race.” + +“Happily!” exclaimed Yang, with fervent indications of uncontrollable +bitterness. “Oh, my illustrious sire, at whose venerated feet this +unworthy person now prostrates himself with well-merited marks of +reverence and self-abasement, has the errand upon which an ignoble son +entered--the every memory of which now causes him the acutest agony +of the lost, but which nevertheless he is pledged to Tung Fel by the +Unutterable Oath to perform--has this unnatural and eternally cursed +thing escaped your versatile mind?” + +“Tung Fel!” cried Ping Siang. “Is, then, this blow also by the hand of +that malicious and vindictive person? Oh, what a cycle of events and +interchanging lines of destiny do your words disclose!” + +“Who, then, is Tung Fel, my revered Father?” demanded Yang. + +“It is a matter which must be made clear from the beginning,” replied +Ping Siang. “At one time this person and Tung Fel were, by nature +and endowments, united in the most amiable bonds of an inseparable +friendship. Presently Tung Fel signed the preliminary contract of +a marriage with one who seemed to be endowed with every variety of +enchanting and virtuous grace, but who was, nevertheless, as the +unrolling of future events irresistibly discovered, a person of +irregular character and undignified habits. On the eve of the marriage +ceremony this person was made known to her by the undoubtedly enraptured +Tung Fel, whereupon he too fell into the snare of her engaging +personality, and putting aside all thoughts of prudent restraint, made +her more remunerative offers of marriage than Tung Fel could by any +possible chance overbid. In such a manner--for after the nature of +her kind riches were exceptionally attractive to her degraded +imagination--she became this person’s wife, and the mother of his only +son. In spite of these great honours, however, the undoubted perversity +of her nature made her an easy accomplice to the duplicity of Tung +Fel, who, by means of various disguises, found frequent opportunity of +uttering in her presence numerous well-thought-out suggestions specially +designed to lead her imagination towards an existence in which this +person had no adequate representation. Becoming at length terrified at +the possibility of these unworthy emotions, obtruding themselves upon +this person’s notice, the two in question fled together, taking with +them the one who without any doubt is now before me. Despite the most +assiduous search and very tempting and profitable offers of reward, no +information of a reliable nature could be obtained, and at length +this dispirited and completely changed person gave up the pursuit as +unavailing. With his son and heir, upon whose future he had greatly +hoped, all emotions of a generous and high-minded nature left him, and +in a very short space of time he became the avaricious and deservedly +unpopular individual against whose extortions the amiable and +long-suffering ones of Ching-fow have for so many years protested +mildly. The sudden and not altogether unexpected fate which is now +on the point of reaching him is altogether too lenient to be entirely +adequate.” + +“Oh, my distinguished and really immaculate sire!” cried Yang Hu, in a +voice which expressed the deepest feelings of contrition. “No oaths or +vows, however sacred, can induce this person to stretch forth his hand +against the one who stands before him.” + +“Nevertheless,” replied Ping Siang, speaking of the matter as though it +were one which did not closely concern his own existence, “to neglect +the Unutterable Oath would inevitably involve not only the two persons +who are now conversing together, but also those before and those who are +to come after in direct line, in a much worse condition of affairs. That +is a fate which this person would by no means permit to exist, for one +of his chief desires has ever been to establish a strong and vigorous +line, to which end, indeed, he was even now concluding a marriage +arrangement with the beautiful and refined Hiya-ai-Shao, whom he had +at length persuaded into accepting his betrothal tokens without +reluctance.” + +“Hiya-ai-Shao!” exclaimed Yang; “she has accepted your silk-bound +gifts?” + +“The matter need not concern us now,” replied the Mandarin, not +observing in his complicated emotions the manner in which the name of +Hiya had affected Yang, revealing as it undoubtedly did the treachery of +his beloved one. “There only appears to be one honourable way in which +the full circumstances can be arranged, and this person will in no +measure endeavour to avoid it.” + +“Such an end is neither ignoble nor painful,” he said, in an unchanging +voice; “nor will this one in any way shrink from so easy and honourable +a solution.” + +“The affairs of the future do not exhibit themselves in delicately +coloured hues to this person,” said Yang Hu; “and he would, if the thing +could be so arranged, cheerfully submit to a similar fate in order that +a longer period of existence should be assured to one who has every +variety of claim upon his affection.” + +“The proposal is a graceful and conscientious one,” said Ping Siang, +“and is, moreover, a gratifying omen of the future of our race, which +must of necessity be left in your hands. But, for that reason itself, +such a course cannot be pursued. Nevertheless, the events of the past +few hours have been of so exceedingly prosperous and agreeable a nature +that this short-sighted and frequently desponding person can now +pass beyond with a tranquil countenance and every assurance of divine +favour.” + +With these words Ping Siang indicated that he was desirous of setting +forth the Final Expression, and arranging the necessary matters upon the +table beside him, he stretched forth his hands over Yang Hu, who placed +himself in a suitable attitude of reverence and abasement. + +“Yang Hu,” began the Mandarin, “undoubted son, and, after the +accomplishment of the intention which it is our fixed purpose to carry +out, fitting representative of the person who is here before you, +engrave well within your mind the various details upon which he now +gives utterance. Regard the virtues; endeavour to pass an amiable and +at the same time not unremunerative existence; and on all occasions +sacrifice freely, to the end that the torments of those who have gone +before may be made lighter, and that others may be induced in turn to +perform a like benevolent charity for yourself. Having expressed +himself upon these general subjects, this person now makes a last and +respectfully-considered desire, which it is his deliberate wish should +be carried to the proper deities as his final expression of opinion: +That Yang Hu may grow as supple as the dried juice of the bending-palm, +and as straight as the most vigorous bamboo from the forests of the +North. That he may increase beyond the prolificness of the white-necked +crow and cover the ground after the fashion of the binding grass. +That in battle his sword may be as a vividly-coloured and many-forked +lightning flash, accompanied by thunderbolts as irresistible as Buddha’s +divine wrath; in peace his voice as resounding as the rolling of many +powerful drums among the Khingan Mountains. That when the kindled fire +of his existence returns to the great Mountain of Pure Flame the earth +shall accept again its component parts, and in no way restrain the +divine essence from journeying to its destined happiness. These words +are Ping Siang’s last expression of opinion before he passes beyond, +given in the unvarying assurance that so sacred and important a petition +will in no way be neglected.” + +Having in this manner completed all the affairs which seemed to be of +a necessary and urgent nature, and fixing his last glance upon Yang Hu +with every variety of affectionate and estimable emotion, the Mandarin +drank a sufficient quantity of the liquid, and placing himself upon a +couch in an attitude of repose, passed in this dignified and unassuming +manner into the Upper Air. + +After the space of a few moments spent in arranging certain objects and +in inward contemplation, Yang Hu crossed the chamber, still holding +the half-filled vessel of gold-leaf in his hand, and drawing back the +hanging silk, gazed over the silent streets of Ching-fow and towards the +great sky-lantern above. + +“Hiya is faithless,” he said at length in an unspeaking voice; “this +person’s mother a bitter-tasting memory, his father a swiftly passing +shadow that is now for ever lost.” His eyes rested upon the closed +vessel in his hand. “Gladly would--” his thoughts began, but with +this unworthy image a new impression formed itself within his mind. “A +clearly-expressed wish was uttered,” he concluded, “and Tung Fel still +remains.” With this resolution he stepped back into the chamber and +struck the gong loudly. + + + + +VII. +THE CAREER OF THE CHARITABLE QUEN-KI-TONG + + + FIRST PERIOD + THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL + +“The motives which inspired the actions of the devout Quen-Ki-Tong have +long been ill-reported,” said Kai Lung the story-teller, upon a certain +occasion at Wu-whei, “and, as a consequence, his illustrious memory has +suffered somewhat. Even as the insignificant earth-worm may bring +the precious and many coloured jewel to the surface, so has it been +permitted to this obscure and superficially educated one to discover +the truth of the entire matter among the badly-arranged and frequently +really illegible documents preserved at the Hall of Public Reference at +Peking. Without fear of contradiction, therefore, he now sets forth the +credible version. + +“Quen-Ki-Tong was one who throughout his life had been compelled by +the opposing force of circumstances to be content with what was offered +rather than attain to that which he desired. Having been allowed to +wander over the edge of an exceedingly steep crag, while still a child, +by the aged and untrustworthy person who had the care of him, and yet +suffering little hurt, he was carried back to the city in triumph, +by the one in question, who, to cover her neglect, declared amid +many chants of exultation that as he slept a majestic winged form had +snatched him from her arms and traced magical figures with his body on +the ground in token of the distinguished sacred existence for which he +was undoubtedly set apart. In such a manner he became famed at a very +early age for an unassuming mildness of character and an almost inspired +piety of life, so that on every side frequent opportunity was given him +for the display of these amiable qualities. Should it chance that an +insufficient quantity of puppy-pie had been prepared for the family +repast, the undesirable but necessary portion of cold dried rat would +inevitably be allotted to the uncomplaining Quen, doubtless accompanied +by the engaging but unnecessary remark that he alone had a Heaven-sent +intellect which was fixed upon more sublime images than even the +best constructed puppy-pie. Should the number of sedan-chairs not be +sufficient to bear to the Exhibition of Kites all who were desirous of +becoming entertained in such a fashion, inevitably would Quen be the one +left behind, in order that he might have adequate leisure for dignified +and pure-minded internal reflexion. + +“In this manner it came about that when a very wealthy but unnaturally +avaricious and evil-tempered person who was connected with Quen’s father +in matters of commerce expressed his fixed determination that the most +deserving and enlightened of his friend’s sons should enter into a +marriage agreement with his daughter, there was no manner of hesitation +among those concerned, who admitted without any questioning between +themselves that Quen was undeniably the one referred to. + +“Though naturally not possessing an insignificant intellect, a +continuous habit, together with a most irreproachable sense of filial +duty, subdued within Quen’s internal organs whatever reluctance he might +have otherwise displayed in the matter, so that as courteously as was +necessary he presented to the undoubtedly very ordinary and slow-witted +maiden in question the gifts of irretrievable intention, and honourably +carried out his spoken and written words towards her. + +“For a period of years the circumstances of the various persons did not +in any degree change, Quen in the meantime becoming more pure-souled +and inward-seeing with each moon-change, after the manner of the sublime +Lien-ti, who studied to maintain an unmoved endurance in all varieties +of events by placing his body to a greater extent each day in a vessel +of boiling liquid. Nevertheless, the good and charitable deities to +whom Quen unceasingly sacrificed were not altogether unmindful of his +virtues; for a son was born, and an evil disease which arose from a most +undignified display of uncontrollable emotion on her part ended in his +wife being deposited with becoming ceremony in the Family Temple. + +“Upon a certain evening, when Quen sat in his inner chamber deliberating +upon the really beneficent yet somewhat inexplicable arrangement of the +all-seeing ones to whom he was very amiably disposed in consequence of +the unwonted tranquillity which he now enjoyed, yet who, it appeared to +him, could have set out the entire matter in a much more satisfactory +way from the beginning, he was made aware by the unexpected beating of +many gongs, and by other signs of refined and deferential welcome, that +a person of exalted rank was approaching his residence. While he was +still hesitating in his uncertainty regarding the most courteous and +delicate form of self-abasement with which to honour so important a +visitor--whether to rush forth and allow the chair-carriers to pass over +his prostrate form, to make a pretence of being a low-caste slave, and +in that guise doing menial service, or to conceal himself beneath +a massive and overhanging table until his guest should have availed +himself of the opportunity to examine at his leisure whatever the room +contained--the person in question stood before him. In every detail of +dress and appointment he had the undoubted appearance of being one to +whom no door might be safely closed. + +“‘Alas!’ exclaimed Quen, ‘how inferior and ill-contrived is the mind +of a person of my feeble intellectual attainments. Even at this moment, +when the near approach of one who obviously commands every engaging +accomplishment might reasonably be expected to call up within it an +adequate amount of commonplace resource, its ill-destined possessor +finds himself entirely incapable of conducting himself with the fitting +outward marks of his great internal respect. This residence is certainly +unprepossessing in the extreme, yet it contains many objects of some +value and of great rarity; illiterate as this person is, he would not +be so presumptuous as to offer any for your acceptance, but if you will +confer upon him the favour of selecting that which appears to be the +most priceless and unreplaceable, he will immediately, and with every +manifestation of extreme delight, break it irredeemably in your honour, +to prove the unaffected depth of his gratified emotions.’ + +“‘Quen-Ki-Tong,’ replied the person before him, speaking with an evident +sincerity of purpose, ‘pleasant to this one’s ears are your words, +breathing as they do an obvious hospitality and a due regard for the +forms of etiquette. But if, indeed, you are desirous of gaining this +person’s explicit regard, break no articles of fine porcelain or rare +inlaid wood in proof of it, but immediately dismiss to a very distant +spot the three-score gong-beaters who have enclosed him within two solid +rings, and who are now carrying out their duties in so diligent a manner +that he greatly doubts if the unimpaired faculties of hearing will ever +be fully restored. Furthermore, if your exceedingly amiable intentions +desire fuller expression, cause an unstinted number of vessels of some +uninflammable liquid to be conveyed into your chrysanthemum garden and +there poured over the numerous fireworks and coloured lights which still +appear to be in progress. Doubtless they are well-intentioned marks of +respect, but they caused this person considerable apprehension as he +passed among them, and, indeed, give to this unusually pleasant and +unassuming spot the by no means inviting atmosphere of a low-class +tea-house garden during the festivities attending the birthday of the +sacred Emperor.’ + +“‘This person is overwhelmed with a most unendurable confusion that the +matters referred to should have been regarded in such a light,’ replied +Quen humbly. ‘Although he himself had no knowledge of them until this +moment, he is confident that they in no wise differ from the usual +honourable manifestations with which it is customary in this Province to +welcome strangers of exceptional rank and titles.’ + +“‘The welcome was of a most dignified and impressive nature,’ replied +the stranger, with every appearance of not desiring to cause Quen any +uneasy internal doubts; ‘yet the fact is none the less true that at the +moment this person’s head seems to contain an exceedingly powerful and +well-equipped band; and also, that as he passed through the courtyard +an ingeniously constructed but somewhat unmanageable figure of gigantic +size, composed entirely of jets of many-coloured flame, leaped out +suddenly from behind a dark wall and made an almost successful attempt +to embrace him in its ever-revolving arms. Lo Yuen greatly fears that +the time when he would have rejoiced in the necessary display of agility +to which the incident gave rise has for ever passed away.’ + +“‘Lo Yuen!’ exclaimed Quen, with an unaffected mingling of the emotions +of reverential awe and pleasureable anticipation. ‘Can it indeed be +an uncontroversial fact that so learned and ornamental a person as the +renowned Controller of Unsolicited Degrees stands beneath this inelegant +person’s utterly unpresentable roof! Now, indeed, he plainly understands +why this ill-conditioned chamber has the appearance of being filled with +a Heaven-sent brilliance, and why at the first spoken words of the one +before him a melodious sound, like the rushing waters of the sacred +Tien-Kiang, seemed to fill his ears.’ + +“‘Undoubtedly the chamber is pervaded by a very exceptional splendour,’ +replied Lo Yuen, who, in spite of his high position, regarded graceful +talk and well-imagined compliments in a spirit of no-satisfaction; ‘yet +this commonplace-minded one has a fixed conviction that it is caused +by the crimson-eyed and pink-fire-breathing dragon which, despite your +slave’s most assiduous efforts, is now endeavouring to climb through +the aperture behind you. The noise which still fills his ears, also, +resembles rather the despairing cries of the Ten Thousand Lost Ones at +the first sight of the Pit of Liquid and Red-hot Malachite, yet +without question both proceed from the same cause. Laying aside further +ceremony, therefore, permit this greatly over-estimated person to +disclose the object of his inopportune visit. Long have your amiable +virtues been observed and appreciated by the high ones at Peking, O +Quen-Ki-Tong. Too long have they been unrewarded and passed over in +silence. Nevertheless, the moment of acknowledgement and advancement has +at length arrived; for, as the Book of Verses clearly says, “Even the +three-legged mule may contrive to reach the agreed spot in advance of +the others, provided a circular running space has been selected and +the number of rounds be sufficiently ample.” It is this otherwise +uninteresting and obtrusive person’s graceful duty to convey to you the +agreeable intelligence that the honourable and not ill-rewarded office +of Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms has been conferred upon you, and +to require you to proceed without delay to Peking, so that fitting +ceremonies of admittance may be performed before the fifteenth day of +the month of Feathered Insects.’ + +“Alas! how frequently does the purchaser of seemingly vigorous and +exceptionally low-priced flower-seeds discover, when too late, that they +are, in reality, fashioned from the root of the prolific and valueless +tzu-ka, skilfully covered with a disguising varnish! Instead of +presenting himself at the place of commerce frequented by those who +entrust money to others on the promise of an increased repayment when +certain very probable events have come to pass (so that if all +else failed he would still possess a serviceable number of taels), +Quen-Ki-Tong entirely neglected the demands of a most ordinary prudence, +nor could he be induced to set out on his journey until he had passed +seven days in public feasting to mark his good fortune, and then devoted +fourteen more days to fasting and various acts of penance, in order to +make known the regret with which he acknowledged his entire unworthiness +for the honour before him. Owing to this very conscientious, but +nevertheless somewhat short-sighted manner of behaving, Quen found +himself unable to reach Peking before the day preceding that to which Lo +Yuen had made special reference. From this cause it came about that only +sufficient time remained to perform the various ceremonies of admission, +without in any degree counselling Quen as to his duties and procedure in +the fulfilment of his really important office. + +“Among the many necessary and venerable ceremonies observed during the +changing periods of the year, none occupy a more important place than +those for which the fifteenth day of the month of Feathered Insects is +reserved, conveying as they do a respectful and delicately-fashioned +petition that the various affairs upon which persons in every +condition of life are engaged may arrive at a pleasant and remunerative +conclusion. At the earliest stroke of the gong the versatile Emperor, +accompanied by many persons of irreproachable ancestry and certain +others, very elaborately attired, proceeds to an open space set apart +for the occasion. With unassuming dexterity the benevolent Emperor for +a brief span of time engages in the menial occupation of a person of +low class, and with his own hands ploughs an assigned portion of land in +order that the enlightened spirits under whose direct guardianship the +earth is placed may not become lax in their disinterested efforts to +promote its fruitfulness. In this charitable exertion he is followed +by various other persons of recognized position, the first being, by +custom, the Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms, while at the same time +the amiably-disposed Empress plants an allotted number of mulberry +trees, and deposits upon their leaves the carefully reared insects +which she receives from the hands of their Guarder. In the case of the +accomplished Emperor an ingenious contrivance is resorted to by which +the soil is drawn aside by means of hidden strings as the plough passes +by, the implement in question being itself constructed from paper of the +highest quality, while the oxen which draw it are, in reality, +ordinary persons cunningly concealed within masks of cardboard. In this +thoughtful manner the actual labours of the sublime Emperor are greatly +lessened, while no chance is afforded for an inauspicious omen to be +created by the rebellious behaviour of a maliciously-inclined ox, or by +any other event of an unforeseen nature. All the other persons, however, +are required to make themselves proficient in the art of ploughing, +before the ceremony, so that the chances of the attendant spirits +discovering the deception which has been practised upon them in the case +of the Emperor may not be increased by its needless repetition. It was +chiefly for this reason that Lo Yuen had urged Quen to journey to Peking +as speedily as possible, but owing to the very short time which remained +between his arrival and the ceremony of ploughing, not only had the +person in question neglected to profit by instruction, but he was not +even aware of the obligation which awaited him. When, therefore, in +spite of every respectful protest on his part, he was led up to a +massively-constructed implement drawn by two powerful and undeniably +evilly-intentioned-looking animals, it was with every sign of great +internal misgivings, and an entire absence of enthusiasm in the +entertainment, that he commenced his not too well understood task. In +this matter he was by no means mistaken, for it soon became plain to all +observers--of whom an immense concourse was assembled--that the usually +self-possessed Guarder of the Imperial Silkworms was conducting +himself in a most undignified manner; for though he still clung to the +plough-handles with an inspired tenacity, his body assumed every variety +of base and uninviting attitude. Encouraged by this inelegant state +of affairs, the evil spirits which are ever on the watch to turn into +derision the charitable intentions of the pure-minded entered into +the bodies of the oxen and provoked within their minds a sudden and +malignant confidence that the time had arrived when they might with +safety break into revolt and throw off the outward signs of their +dependent condition. From these various causes it came about that Quen +was, without warning, borne with irresistible certainty against the +majestic person of the sacred Emperor, the inlaid box of Imperial +silkworms, which up to that time had remained safely among the folds +of his silk garment, alone serving to avert an even more violent and +ill-destined blow. + +“Well said the wise and deep-thinking Ye-te, in his book entitled +_Proverbs of Everyday Happenings_, ‘Should a person on returning from +the city discover his house to be in flames, let him examine well the +change which he has received from the chair-carrier before it is too +late; for evil never travels alone.’ Scarcely had the unfortunate Quen +recovered his natural attributes from the effect of the disgraceful +occurrence which has been recorded (which, indeed, furnished the matter +of a song and many unpresentable jests among the low-class persons +of the city), than the magnanimous Empress reached that detail of the +tree-planting ceremony when it was requisite that she should deposit the +living emblems of the desired increase and prosperity upon the leaves. +Stretching forth her delicately-proportioned hand to Quen for this +purpose, she received from the still greatly confused person in question +the Imperial silkworms in so unseemly a condition that her eyes had +scarcely rested upon them before she was seized with the rigid +sickness, and in that state fell to the ground. At this new and entirely +unforeseen calamity a very disagreeable certainty of approaching evil +began to take possession of all those who stood around, many crying +aloud that every omen of good was wanting, and declaring that unless +something of a markedly propitiatory nature was quickly accomplished, +the agriculture of the entire Empire would cease to flourish, and the +various departments of the commerce in silk would undoubtedly be thrown +into a state of most inextricable confusion. Indeed, in spite of all +things designed to have a contrary effect, the matter came about in the +way predicted, for the Hoang-Ho seven times overcame its restraining +barriers, and poured its waters over the surrounding country, thereby +gaining for the first time its well-deserved title of ‘The Sorrow of +China,’ by which dishonourable but exceedingly appropriate designation +it is known to this day. + +“The manner of greeting which would have been accorded to Quen had +he returned to the official quarter of the city, or the nature of his +treatment by the baser class of the ordinary people if they succeeded +in enticing him to come among them, formed a topic of such uninviting +conjecture that the humane-minded Lo Yuen, who had observed the +entire course of events from an elevated spot, determined to make +a well-directed effort towards his safety. To this end he quickly +purchased the esteem of several of those who make a profession of their +strength, holding out the hope of still further reward if they conducted +the venture to a successful termination. Uttering loud cries of an +impending vengeance, as Lo Yuen had instructed them in the matter, +and displaying their exceptional proportions to the astonishment and +misgivings of all beholders, these persons tore open the opium-tent in +which Quen had concealed himself, and, thrusting aside all opposition, +quickly dragged him forth. Holding him high upon their shoulders, in +spite of his frequent and ill-advised endeavours to cast himself to +the ground, some surrounded those who bore him--after the manner of +disposing his troops affected by a skilful leader when the enemy begin +to waver--and crying aloud that it was their unchanging purpose to +submit him to the test of burning splinters and afterwards to torture +him, they succeeded by this stratagem in bringing him through the +crowd; and hurling back or outstripping those who endeavoured to follow, +conveyed him secretly and unperceived to a deserted and appointed +spot. Here Quen was obliged to remain until other events caused the +recollection of the many to become clouded and unconcerned towards him, +suffering frequent inconveniences in spite of the powerful protection +of Lo Yuen, and not at all times being able to regard the most necessary +repast as an appointment of undoubted certainty. At length, in the guise +of a wandering conjurer who was unable to display his accomplishments +owing to an entire loss of the power of movement in his arms, Quen +passed undetected from the city, and safely reaching the distant and +unimportant town of Lu-Kwo, gave himself up to a protracted period of +lamentation and self-reproach at the unprepossessing manner in which he +had conducted his otherwise very inviting affairs. + + + SECOND PERIOD + THE TEMPLE BUILDER + +Two hand-counts of years passed away and Quen still remained at Lu-kwo, +all desire of returning either to Peking or to the place of his birth +having by this time faded into nothingness. Accepting the inevitable +fact that he was not destined ever to become a person with whom taels +were plentiful, and yet being unwilling to forego the charitable manner +of life which he had always been accustomed to observe, it came about +that he spent the greater part of his time in collecting together such +sums of money as he could procure from the amiable and well-disposed, +and with them building temples and engaging in other benevolent works. +From this cause it arose the Quen obtained around Lu-kwo a reputation +for high-minded piety, in no degree less than that which had been +conferred upon him in earlier times, so that pilgrims from far distant +places would purposely contrive their journey so as to pass through the +town containing so unassuming and virtuous a person. + +“During this entire period Quen had been accompanied by his only son, a +youth of respectful personality, in whose entertaining society he took +an intelligent interest. Even when deeply engaged in what he justly +regarded as the crowning work of his existence--the planning and +erecting of an exceptionally well-endowed marble temple, which was to +be entirely covered on the outside with silver paper, and on the inside +with gold-leaf--he did not fail to observe the various conditions of +Liao’s existence, and the changing emotions which from time to +time possessed him. Therefore, when the person in question, without +displaying any signs of internal sickness, and likewise persistently +denying that he had lost any considerable sum of money, disclosed a +continuous habit of turning aside with an unaffected expression of +distaste from all manner of food, and passed the entire night in +observing the course of the great sky-lantern rather than in sleep, the +sage and discriminating Quen took him one day aside, and asked him, as +one who might aid him in the matter, who the maiden was, and what class +and position her father occupied. + +“‘Alas!’ exclaimed Liao, with many unfeigned manifestations of an +unbearable fate, ‘to what degree do the class and position of her +entirely unnecessary parents affect the question? or how little hope +can this sacrilegious one reasonably have of ever progressing as far as +earthly details of a pecuniary character in the case of so adorable and +far-removed a Being? The uttermost extent of this wildly-hoping person’s +ambition is that when the incomparably symmetrical Ts’ain learns of +the steadfast light of his devotion, she may be inspired to deposit an +emblematic chrysanthemum upon his tomb in the Family Temple. For such a +reward he will cheerfully devote the unswerving fidelity of a lifetime +to her service, not distressing her gentle and retiring nature by the +expression of what must inevitably be a hopeless passion, but patiently +and uncomplainingly guarding her footsteps as from a distance.’ + +“Being in this manner made aware of the reason of Liao’s frequent and +unrestrained exclamations of intolerable despair, and of his fixed +determination with regard to the maiden Ts’ain (which seemed, above +all else, to indicate a resolution to shun her presence) Quen could not +regard the immediately-following actions of his son with anything but an +emotion of confusion. For when his eyes next rested upon the exceedingly +contradictory Liao, he was seated in the open space before the house in +which Ts’ain dwelt, playing upon an instrument of stringed woods, and +chanting verses into which the names of the two persons in question +had been skilfully introduced without restraint, his whole manner of +behaving being with the evident purpose of attracting the maiden’s +favourable attention. After an absence of many days, spent in this +graceful and complimentary manner, Liao returned suddenly to the house +of his father, and, prostrating his body before him, made a specific +request for his assistance. + +“‘As regards Ts’ain and myself,’ he continued, ‘all things are arranged, +and but for the unfortunate coincidence of this person’s poverty and +of her father’s cupidity, the details of the wedding ceremony would +undoubtedly now be in a very advanced condition. Upon these entrancing +and well-discussed plans, however, the shadow of the grasping and +commonplace Ah-Ping has fallen like the inopportune opium-pipe from the +mouth of a person examining substances of an explosive nature; for the +one referred to demands a large and utterly unobtainable amount of taels +before he will suffer his greatly-sought-after daughter to accept the +gifts of irretrievable intention.’ + +“‘Grievous indeed is your plight,’ replied Quen, when he thus understood +the manner of obstacle which impeded his son’s hopes; ‘for in the nature +of taels the most diverse men are to be measured through the same mesh. +As the proverb says, “‘All money is evil,’ exclaimed the philosopher +with extreme weariness, as he gathered up the gold pieces in exchange, +but presently discovering that one among them was such indeed as he had +described, he rushed forth without tarrying to take up a street garment; +and with an entire absence of dignity traversed all the ways of the city +in the hope of finding the one who had defrauded him.” Well does this +person know the mercenary Ah-Ping, and the unyielding nature of his +closed hand; for often, but always fruitlessly, he has entered his +presence on affairs connected with the erecting of certain temples. +Nevertheless, the matter is one which does not admit of any incapable +faltering, to which end this one will seek out the obdurate Ah-Ping +without delay, and endeavour to entrap him by some means in the course +of argument.’ + +“From the time of his earliest youth Ah-Ping had unceasingly devoted +himself to the object of getting together an overwhelming number of +taels, using for this purpose various means which, without being really +degrading or contrary to the written law, were not such as might have +been cheerfully engaged in by a person of high-minded honourableness. In +consequence of this, as he grew more feeble in body, and more venerable +in appearance, he began to express frequent and bitter doubts as to +whether his manner of life had been really well arranged; for, in spite +of his great wealth, he had grown to adopt a most inexpensive habit +on all occasions, having no desire to spend; and an ever-increasing +apprehension began to possess him that after he had passed beyond, his +sons would be very disinclined to sacrifice and burn money sufficient to +keep him in an affluent condition in the Upper Air. In such a state of +mind was Ah-Ping when Quen-Ki-Tong appeared before him, for it had just +been revealed to him that his eldest and favourite son had, by flattery +and by openly praising the dexterity with which he used his brush +and ink, entrapped him into inscribing his entire name upon certain +unwritten sheets of parchment, which the one in question immediately +sold to such as were heavily indebted to Ah-Ping. + +“‘If a person can be guilty of this really unfilial behaviour during the +lifetime of his father,’ exclaimed Ah-Ping, in a tone of unrestrained +vexation, ‘can it be prudently relied upon that he will carry out his +wishes after death, when they involve the remitting to him of several +thousand taels each year? O estimable Quen-Ki-Tong, how immeasurably +superior is the celestial outlook upon which you may safely rely as your +portion! When you are enjoying every variety of sumptuous profusion, +as the reward of your untiring charitable exertions here on earth, the +spirit of this short-sighted person will be engaged in doing menial +servitude for the inferior deities, and perhaps scarcely able, even by +those means, to clothe himself according to the changing nature of the +seasons.’ + +“‘Yet,’ replied Quen, ‘the necessity for so laborious and unremunerative +an existence may even now be averted by taking efficient precautions +before you pass to the Upper Air.’ + +“‘In what way?’ demanded Ah-Ping, with an awakening hope that the matter +might not be entirely destitute of cheerfulness, yet at the same time +preparing to examine with even unbecoming intrusiveness any expedient +which Quen might lay before him. ‘Is it not explicitly stated that +sacrifices and acts of a like nature, when performed at the end of one’s +existence by a person who to that time has professed no sort of interest +in such matters, shall in no degree be entered as to his good, but +rather regarded as examples of deliberate presumptuousness, and made the +excuse for subjecting him to more severe tortures and acts of penance +than would be his portion if he neglected the custom altogether?’ + +“‘Undoubtedly such is the case,’ replied Quen; ‘and on that account it +would indicate a most regrettable want of foresight for you to conduct +your affairs in the manner indicated. The only undeniably safe course +is for you to entrust the amount you will require to a person of +exceptional piety, receiving in return his written word to repay the +full sum whenever you shall claim it from him in the Upper Air. By this +crafty method the amount will be placed at the disposal of the person +in question as soon as he has passed beyond, and he will be held by his +written word to return it to you whenever you shall demand it.’ + +“So amiably impressed with this ingenious scheme was Ah-Ping that he +would at once have entered more fully into the detail had the thought +not arisen in his mind that the person before him was the father of +Liao, who urgently required a certain large sum, and that for this +reason he might with prudence inquire more fully into the matter +elsewhere, in case Quen himself should have been imperceptibly led +aside, even though he possessed intentions of a most unswerving +honourableness. To this end, therefore, he desired to converse again +with Quen on the matter, pleading that at that moment a gathering +of those who direct enterprises of a commercial nature required his +presence. Nevertheless, he would not permit the person referred to to +depart until he had complimented him, in both general and specific +terms, on the high character of his life and actions, and the +intelligent nature of his understanding, which had enabled him with so +little mental exertion to discover an efficient plan. + +“Without delay Ah-Ping sought out those most skilled in all varieties +of law-forms, in extorting money by devices capable of very different +meanings, and in expedients for evading just debts; but all agreed that +such an arrangement as the one he put before them would be unavoidably +binding, provided the person who received the money alluded to spent it +in the exercise of his charitable desires, and provided also that the +written agreement bore the duty seal of the high ones at Peking, and was +deposited in the coffin of the lender. Fully satisfied, and rejoicing +greatly that he could in this way adequately provide for his future and +entrap the avaricious ones of his house, Ah-Ping collected together the +greater part of his possessions, and converting it into pieces of gold, +entrusted them to Quen on the exact understanding that has already been +described, he receiving in turn Quen’s written and thumb-signed paper +of repayment, and his assurance that the whole amount should be expended +upon the silver-paper and gold-leaf Temple with which he was still +engaged. + +“It is owing to this circumstance that Quen-Ki-Tong’s irreproachable +name has come to be lightly regarded by many who may be fitly likened to +the latter person in the subtle and experienced proverb, ‘The wise man’s +eyes fell before the gaze of the fool, fearing that if he looked he +must cry aloud, “Thou hopeless one!” “There,” said the fool to himself, +“behold this person’s power!”’ These badly educated and undiscriminating +persons, being entirely unable to explain the ensuing train of events, +unhesitatingly declare that Quen-Ki-Tong applied a portion of the money +which he had received from Ah-Ping in the manner described to the object +of acquiring Ts’ain for his son Liao. In this feeble and incapable +fashion they endeavour to stigmatize the pure-minded Quen as one who +acted directly contrary to his deliberately spoken word, whereas the +desired result was brought about in a much more artful manner; they +describe the commercially successful Ah-Ping as a person of very +inferior prudence, and one easily imposed upon; while they entirely pass +over, as a detail outside the true facts, the written paper preserved +among the sacred relics in the Temple, which announces, among other +gifts of a small and uninviting character, ‘Thirty thousand taels from +an elderly ginseng merchant of Lu-kwo, who desires to remain nameless, +through the hand of Quen-Ki-Tong.’ The full happening in its real and +harmless face is now set forth for the first time. + +“Some weeks after the recorded arrangement had been arrived at by +Ah-Ping and Quen, when the taels in question had been expended upon the +Temple and were, therefore, infallibly beyond recall, the former person +chanced to be passing through the public garden in Lu-kwo when he heard +a voice lifted up in the expression of every unendurable feeling of +dejection to which one can give utterance. Stepping aside to learn the +cause of so unprepossessing a display of unrestrained agitation, and +in the hope that perhaps he might be able to use the incident in a +remunerative manner, Ah-Ping quickly discovered the unhappy being who, +entirely regardless of the embroidered silk robe which he wore, reclined +upon a raised bank of uninviting earth, and waved his hands from side to +side as his internal emotions urged him. + +“‘Quen-Ki-Tong!’ exclaimed Ah-Ping, not fully convinced that the fact +was as he stated it in spite of the image clearly impressed upon his +imagination; ‘to what unpropitious occurrence is so unlooked-for an +exhibition due? Are those who traffic in gold-leaf demanding a high and +prohibitive price for that commodity, or has some evil and vindicative +spirit taken up its abode within the completed portion of the Temple, +and by its offensive but nevertheless diverting remarks and actions +removed all semblance of gravity from the countenances of those who +daily come to admire the construction?’ + +“‘O thrice unfortunate Ah-Ping,’ replied Quen when he observed the +distinguishing marks of the person before him, ‘scarcely can this +greatly overwhelmed one raise his eyes to your open and intelligent +countenance; for through him you are on the point of experiencing a very +severe financial blow, and it is, indeed, on your account more than on +his own that he is now indulging in these outward signs of a grief too +far down to be expressed in spoken words.’ And at the memory of his +former occupation, Quen again waved his arms from side to side with +untiring assiduousness. + +“‘Strange indeed to this person’s ears are your words,’ said Ah-Ping, +outwardly unmoved, but with an apprehensive internal pain that he would +have regarded Quen’s display of emotion with an easier stomach if his +own taels were safely concealed under the floor of his inner chamber. +‘The sum which this one entrusted to you has, without any pretence +been expended upon the Temple, while the written paper concerning the +repayment bears the duty seal of the high ones at Peking. How, then, can +Ah-Ping suffer a loss at the hands of Quen-Ki-Tong?’ + +“‘Ah-Ping,’ said Quen, with every appearance of desiring that both +persons should regard the matter in a conciliatory spirit, ‘do not +permit the awaiting demons, which are ever on the alert to enter into +a person’s mind when he becomes distressed out of the common order of +events, to take possession of your usually discriminating faculties +until you have fully understood how this affair has come about. It is no +unknown thing for a person of even exceptional intelligence to reverse +his entire manner of living towards the end of a long and consistent +existence; the far-seeing and not lightly-moved Ah-Ping himself has +already done so. In a similar, but entirely contrary manner, the person +who is now before you finds himself impelled towards that which will +certainly bear a very unpresentable face when the circumstances +become known; yet by no other means is he capable of attaining his +greatly-desired object.’ + +“‘And to what end does that trend?’ demanded Ah-Ping, in no degree +understanding how the matter affected him. + +“‘While occupied with enterprises which those of an engaging and +complimentary nature are accustomed to refer to as charitable, +this person has almost entirely neglected a duty of scarcely less +importance--that of establishing an unending line, through which his +name and actions shall be kept alive to all time,’ replied Quen. ‘Having +now inquired into the matter, he finds that his only son, through whom +alone the desired result can be obtained, has become unbearably attached +to a maiden for whom a very large sum is demanded in exchange. The +thought of obtaining no advantage from an entire life of self-denial +is certainly unprepossessing in the extreme, but so, even to a more +advanced degree, is the certainty that otherwise the family monuments +will be untended, and the temple of domestic virtues become an early +ruin. This person has submitted the dilemma to the test of omens, and +after considering well the reply, he has decided to obtain the price of +the maiden in a not very honourable manner, which now presents itself, +so that Liao may send out his silk-bound gifts without delay.’ + +“‘It is an unalluring alternative,’ said Ah-Ping, whose only inside +thought was one of gratification that the exchange money for Ts’ain +would so soon be in his possession, ‘yet this person fails to perceive +how you could act otherwise after the decision of the omens. He now +understands, moreover, that the loss you referred to on his part was in +the nature of a figure of speech, as one makes use of thunderbolts +and delicately-scented flowers to convey ideas of harsh and amiable +passions, and alluded in reality to the forthcoming departure of his +daughter, who is, as you so versatilely suggested, the comfort and +riches of his old age.’ + +“‘O venerable, but at this moment somewhat obtuse, Ah-Ping,’ cried +Quen, with a recurrence to his former method of expressing his unfeigned +agitation, ‘is your evenly-balanced mind unable to grasp the essential +fact of how this person’s contemplated action will affect your own +celestial condition? It is a distressing but entirely unavoidable fact, +that if this person acts in the manner which he has determined upon, he +will be condemned to the lowest place of torment reserved for those +who fail at the end of an otherwise pure existence, and in this he +will never have an opportunity of meeting the very much higher placed +Ah-Ping, and of restoring to him the thirty-thousand taels as agreed +upon.’ + +“At these ill-destined words, all power of rigidness departed from +Ah-Ping’s limbs, and he sank down upon the forbidding earth by Quen’s +side. + +“‘O most unfortunate one who is now speaking,’ he exclaimed, when at +length his guarding spirit deemed it prudent to restore his power of +expressing himself in words, ‘happy indeed would have been your lot had +you been content to traffic in ginseng and other commodities of which +you have actual knowledge. O amiable Quen, this matter must be in some +way arranged without causing you to deviate from the entrancing paths of +your habitual virtue. Could not the very reasonable Liao be induced to +look favourably upon the attractions of some low-priced maiden, in which +case this not really hard-stomached person would be willing to advance +the necessary amount, until such time as it could be restored, at a very +low and unremunerative rate of interest?’ + +“‘This person has observed every variety of practical humility in the +course of his life,’ replied Quen with commendable dignity, ‘yet he now +finds himself totally unable to overcome an inward repugnance to the +thought of perpetuating his honoured name and race through the medium of +any low-priced maiden. To this end has he decided.’ + +“Those who were well acquainted with Ah-Ping in matters of commerce did +not hesitate to declare that his great wealth had been acquired by his +consistent habit of forming an opinion quickly while others hesitated. +On the occasion in question he only engaged his mind with the opposing +circumstances for a few moments before he definitely fixed upon the +course which he should pursue. + +“‘Quen-Ki-Tong,’ he said, with an evident intermingling of many very +conflicting emotions, ‘retain to the end this well-merited reputation +for unaffected honourableness which you have so fittingly earned. Few +in the entire Empire, with powers so versatilely pointing to an eminent +position in any chosen direction, would have been content to pass their +lives in an unremunerative existence devoted to actions of charity. Had +you selected an entirely different manner of living, this person has +every confidence that he, and many others in Lu-kwo, would by this time +be experiencing a very ignoble poverty. For this reason he will make +it his most prominent ambition to hasten the realization of the amiable +hopes expressed both by Liao and by Ts’ain, concerning their +future relationship. In this, indeed, he himself will be more than +exceptionally fortunate should the former one prove to possess even a +portion of the clear-sighted sagaciousness exhibited by his engaging +father.’ + + “VERSES COMPOSED BY A MUSICIAN OF LU-KWO, ON THE + OCCASION OF THE WEDDING CEREMONY OF + LIAO AND TS’AIN + + “Bright hued is the morning, the dark clouds have fallen; + At the mere waving of Quen’s virtuous hands they melted away. + Happy is Liao in the possession of so accomplished a parent, + Happy also is Quen to have so discriminating a son. + + “The two persons in question sit, side by side, upon an + embroidered couch, + Listening to the well-expressed compliments of those who pass to + and fro. + From time to time their eyes meet, and glances of a very + significant amusement pass between them; + Can it be that on so ceremonious an occasion they are recalling + events of a gravity-removing nature? + + “The gentle and rainbow-like Ts’ain has already arrived, + With the graceful motion of a silver carp gliding through a screen + of rushes, she moves among those who are assembled. + On the brow of her somewhat contentious father there rests the + shadow of an ill-repressed sorrow; + Doubtless the frequently-misjudged Ah-Ping is thinking of his + lonely hearth, now that he is for ever parted from that which + he holds most precious. + + “In the most commodious chamber of the house the elegant + wedding-gifts are conspicuously displayed; let us stand beside + the one which we have contributed, and point out its + excellence to those who pass by. + Surely the time cannot be far distant when the sound of many gongs + will announce that the very desirable repast is at length to + be partaken of.” + + + + +VIII. +THE VISION OF YIN, THE SON OF YAT HUANG + + +When Yin, the son of Yat Huang, had passed beyond the years assigned +to the pursuit of boyhood, he was placed in the care of the hunchback +Quang, so that he might be fully instructed in the management of the +various weapons used in warfare, and also in the art of stratagem, by +which a skilful leader is often enabled to conquer when opposed to an +otherwise overwhelming multitude. In all these accomplishments Quang +excelled to an exceptional degree; for although unprepossessing in +appearance he united matchless strength to an untiring subtlety. No +other person in the entire Province of Kiang-si could hurl a javelin so +unerringly while uttering sounds of terrifying menace, or could cause +his sword to revolve around him so rapidly, while his face looked +out from the glittering circles with an expression of ill-intentioned +malignity that never failed to inspire his adversary with irrepressible +emotions of alarm. No other person could so successfully feign to +be devoid of life for almost any length of time, or by his manner of +behaving create the fixed impression that he was one of insufficient +understanding, and therefore harmless. It was for these reasons that +Quang was chosen as the instructor of Yin by Yat Huang, who, without +possessing any official degree, was a person to whom marks of obeisance +were paid not only within his own town, but for a distance of many li +around it. + +At length the time arrived when Yin would in the ordinary course of +events pass from the instructorship of Quang in order to devote himself +to the commerce in which his father was engaged, and from time to time +the unavoidable thought arose persistently within his mind that although +Yat Huang doubtless knew better than he did what the circumstances of +the future required, yet his manner of life for the past years was not +such that he could contemplate engaging in the occupation of buying and +selling porcelain clay with feelings of an overwhelming interest. Quang, +however, maintained with every manifestation of inspired assurance that +Yat Huang was to be commended down to the smallest detail, inasmuch +as proficiency in the use of both blunt and sharp-edged weapons, and a +faculty for passing undetected through the midst of an encamped body +of foemen, fitted a person for the every-day affairs of life above all +other accomplishments. + +“Without doubt the very accomplished Yat Huan is well advised on this +point,” continued Quang, “for even this mentally short-sighted person +can call up within his understanding numerous specific incidents in the +ordinary career of one engaged in the commerce of porcelain clay when +such attainments would be of great remunerative benefit. Does the +well-endowed Yin think, for example, that even the most depraved person +would endeavour to gain an advantage over him in the matter of buying or +selling porcelain clay if he fully understood the fact that the one with +whom he was trafficking could unhesitatingly transfix four persons with +one arrow at the distance of a hundred paces? Or to what advantage would +it be that a body of unscrupulous outcasts who owned a field of inferior +clay should surround it with drawn swords by day and night, endeavouring +meanwhile to dispose of it as material of the finest quality, if the one +whom they endeavoured to ensnare in this manner possessed the power of +being able to pass through their ranks unseen and examine the clay at +his leisure?” + +“In the cases to which reference has been made, the possession of those +qualities would undoubtedly be of considerable use,” admitted Yin; +“yet, in spite of his entire ignorance of commercial matters, this one +has a confident feeling that it would be more profitable to avoid such +very doubtful forms of barter altogether rather than spend eight years +in acquiring the arts by which to defeat them. That, however, is a +question which concerns this person’s virtuous and engaging father more +than his unworthy self, and his only regret is that no opportunity has +offered by which he might prove that he has applied himself diligently +to your instruction and example, O amiable Quang.” + +It had long been a regret to Quang also that no incident of a disturbing +nature had arisen whereby Yin could have shown himself proficient in the +methods of defence and attack which he had taught him. This deficiency +he had endeavoured to overcome, as far as possible, by constructing +life-like models of all the most powerful and ferocious types of +warriors and the fiercest and most relentless animals of the forest, +so that Yin might become familiar with their appearance and discover in +what manner each could be the most expeditiously engaged. + +“Nevertheless,” remarked Quang, on an occasion when Yin appeared to be +covered with honourable pride at having approached an unusually large +and repulsive-looking tiger so stealthily that had the animal been +really alive it would certainly have failed to perceive him, “such +accomplishments are by no means to be regarded as conclusive in +themselves. To steal insidiously upon a destructively-included wild +beast and transfix it with one well-directed blow of a spear is attended +by difficulties and emotions which are entirely absent in the case of a +wickerwork animal covered with canvas-cloth, no matter how deceptive in +appearance the latter may be.” + +To afford Yin a more trustworthy example of how he should engage with +an adversary of formidable proportions, Quang resolved upon an ingenious +plan. Procuring the skin of a grey wolf, he concealed himself within it, +and in the early morning, while the mist-damp was still upon the ground, +he set forth to meet Yin, who had on a previous occasion spoken to +him of his intention to be at a certain spot at such an hour. In this +conscientious enterprise, the painstaking Quang would doubtless have +been successful, and Yin gained an assured proficiency and experience, +had it not chanced that on the journey Quang encountered a labourer of +low caste who was crossing the enclosed ground on his way to the rice +field in which he worked. This contemptible and inopportune person, +not having at any period of his existence perfected himself in the +recognized and elegant methods of attack and defence, did not act in +the manner which would assuredly have been adopted by Yin in similar +circumstances, and for which Quang would have been fully prepared. On +the contrary, without the least indication of what his intention was, +he suddenly struck Quang, who was hesitating for a moment what action to +take, a most intolerable blow with a formidable staff which he carried. +The stroke in question inflicted itself upon Quang upon that part of the +body where the head becomes connected with the neck, and would certainly +have been followed by others of equal force and precision had not Quang +in the meantime decided that the most dignified course for him to adopt +would be to disclose his name and titles without delay. Upon learning +these facts, the one who stood before him became very grossly and +offensively amused, and having taken from Quang everything of value +which he carried among his garments, went on his way, leaving Yin’s +instructor to retrace his steps in unendurable dejection, as he then +found that he possessed no further interest whatever in the undertaking. + +When Yat Huang was satisfied that his son was sufficiently skilled in +the various arts of warfare, he called him to his inner chamber, and +having barred the door securely, he placed Yin under a very binding oath +not to reveal, until an appointed period, the matter which he was going +to put before him. + +“From father to son, in unbroken line for ten generations, has such a +custom been observed,” he said, “for the course of events is not to be +lightly entered upon. At the commencement of that cycle, which period is +now fully fifteen score years ago, a very wise person chanced to incur +the displeasure of the Emperor of that time, and being in consequence +driven out of the capital, he fled to the mountains. There his subtle +discernment and the pure and solitary existence which he led resulted in +his becoming endowed with faculties beyond those possessed by ordinary +beings. When he felt the end of his earthly career to be at hand he +descended into the plain, where, in a state of great destitution and +bodily anguish, he was discovered by the one whom this person has +referred to as the first of the line of ancestors. In return for the +care and hospitality with which he was unhesitatingly received, +the admittedly inspired hermit spent the remainder of his days in +determining the destinies of his rescuer’s family and posterity. It +is an undoubted fact that he predicted how one would, by well-directed +enterprise and adventure, rise to a position of such eminence in the +land that he counselled the details to be kept secret, lest the envy +and hostility of the ambitious and unworthy should be raised. From this +cause it has been customary to reveal the matter fully from father +to son, at stated periods, and the setting out of the particulars in +written words has been severely discouraged. Wise as this precaution +certainly was, it has resulted in a very inconvenient state of things; +for a remote ancestor--the fifth in line from the beginning--experienced +such vicissitudes that he returned from his travels in a state of most +abandoned idiocy, and when the time arrived that he should, in turn, +communicate to his son, he was only able to repeat over and over again +the name of the pious hermit to whom the family was so greatly indebted, +coupling it each time with a new and markedly offensive epithet. The +essential details of the undertaking having in this manner passed beyond +recall, succeeding generations, which were merely acquainted with the +fact that a very prosperous future awaited the one who fulfilled the +conditions, have in vain attempted to conform to them. It is not an +alluring undertaking, inasmuch as nothing of the method to be pursued +can be learned, except that it was the custom of the early ones, who +held the full knowledge, to set out from home and return after a period +of years. Yet so clearly expressed was the prophecy, and so great the +reward of the successful, that all have eagerly journeyed forth when +the time came, knowing nothing beyond that which this person has now +unfolded to you.” + +When Yat Huang reached the end of the matter which it was his duty to +disclose, Yin for some time pondered the circumstances before replying. +In spite of a most engaging reverence for everything of a sacred nature, +he could not consider the inspired remark of the well-intentioned hermit +without feelings of a most persistent doubt, for it occurred to him that +if the person in question had really been as wise as he was represented +to be, he might reasonably have been expected to avoid the unaccountable +error of offending the enlightened and powerful Emperor under whom he +lived. Nevertheless, the prospect of engaging in the trade of porcelain +clay was less attractive in his eyes than that of setting forth upon a +journey of adventure, so that at length he expressed his willingness to +act after the manner of those who had gone before him. + +This decision was received by Yat Huang with an equal intermingling of +the feelings of delight and concern, for although he would have by no +means pleasurably contemplated Yin breaking through a venerable and +esteemed custom, he was unable to put entirely from him the thought of +the degrading fate which had overtaken the fifth in line who made the +venture. It was, indeed, to guard Yin as much as possible against +the dangers to which he would become exposed, if he determined on the +expedition, that the entire course of his training had been selected. In +order that no precaution of a propitious nature should be neglected, Yat +Huang at once despatched written words of welcome to all with whom he +was acquainted, bidding them partake of a great banquet which he was +preparing to mark the occasion of his son’s leave-taking. Every variety +of sacrifice was offered up to the controlling deities, both good and +bad; the ten ancestors were continuously exhorted to take Yin under +their special protection, and sets of verses recording his virtues and +ambitions were freely distributed among the necessitous and low-caste +who could not be received at the feast. + +The dinner itself exceeded in magnificence any similar event that +had ever taken place in Ching-toi. So great was the polished ceremony +observed on the occasion, that each guest had half a score of cups of +the finest apricot-tea successively placed before him and taken away +untasted, while Yat Huang went to each in turn protesting vehemently +that the honour of covering such pure-minded and distinguished persons +was more than his badly designed roof could reasonably bear, and +wittingly giving an entrancing air of reality to the spoken compliment +by begging them to move somewhat to one side so that they might escape +the heavy central beam if the event which he alluded to chanced to take +place. After several hours had been spent in this congenial occupation, +Yat Huang proceeded to read aloud several of the sixteen discourses on +education which, taken together, form the discriminating and infallible +example of conduct known as the Holy Edict. As each detail was dwelt +upon Yin arose from his couch and gave his deliberate testimony that +all the required tests and rites had been observed in his own case. +The first part of the repast was then partaken of, the nature of the +ingredients and the manner of preparing them being fully explained, +and in a like manner through each succeeding one of the four-and-forty +courses. At the conclusion Yin again arose, being encouraged by the +repeated uttering of his name by those present, and with extreme modesty +and brilliance set forth his manner of thinking concerning all subjects +with which he was acquainted. + +Early on the morning of the following day Yin set out on his travels, +entirely unaccompanied, and carrying with him nothing beyond a sum of +money, a silk robe, and a well-tried and reliable spear. For many days +he journeyed in a northerly direction, without encountering anything +sufficiently unusual to engage his attention. This, however, was +doubtless part of a pre-arranged scheme so that he should not be drawn +from a destined path, for at a small village lying on the southern shore +of a large lake, called by those around Silent Water, he heard of the +existence of a certain sacred island, distant a full day’s sailing, +which was barren of all forms of living things, and contained only a +single gigantic rock of divine origin and majestic appearance. Many +persons, the villagers asserted, had sailed to the island in the hope +of learning the portent of the rock, but none ever returned, and they +themselves avoided coming even within sight of it; for the sacred stone, +they declared, exercised an evil influence over their ships, and would, +if permitted, draw them out of their course and towards itself. For this +reason Yin could find no guide, whatever reward he offered, who would +accompany him; but having with difficulty succeeded in hiring a small +boat of inconsiderable value, he embarked with food, incense, and +materials for building fires, and after rowing consistently for nearly +the whole of the day, came within sight of the island at evening. +Thereafter the necessity of further exertion ceased, for, as they of the +village had declared would be the case, the vessel moved gently forward, +in an unswerving line, without being in any way propelled, and reaching +its destination in a marvellously short space of time, passed behind a +protecting spur of land and came to rest. It then being night, Yin did +no more than carry his stores to a place of safety, and after lighting +a sacrificial fire and prostrating himself before the rock, passed into +the Middle Air. + +In the morning Yin’s spirit came back to the earth amid the sound of +music of a celestial origin, which ceased immediately he recovered full +consciousness. Accepting this manifestation as an omen of Divine favour, +Yin journeyed towards the centre of the island where the rock stood, +at every step passing the bones of innumerable ones who had come on a +similar quest to his, and perished. Many of these had left behind them +inscriptions on wood or bone testifying their deliberate opinion of the +sacred rock, the island, their protecting deities, and the entire train +of circumstances, which had resulted in their being in such a condition. +These were for the most part of a maledictory and unencouraging nature, +so that after reading a few, Yin endeavoured to pass without being in +any degree influenced by such ill-judged outbursts. + +“Accursed be the ancestors of this tormented one to four generations +back!” was prominently traced upon an unusually large shoulder-blade. +“May they at this moment be simmering in a vat of unrefined dragon’s +blood, as a reward for having so undiscriminatingly reared the person +who inscribes these words only to attain this end!” “Be warned, O later +one, by the signs around!” Another and more practical-minded person had +written: “Retreat with all haste to your vessel, and escape while +there is yet time. Should you, by chance, again reach land through this +warning, do not neglect, out of an emotion of gratitude, to burn an +appropriate amount of sacrifice paper for the lessening of the torments +of the spirit of Li-Kao,” to which an unscrupulous one, who was plainly +desirous of sharing in the benefit of the requested sacrifice, without +suffering the exertion of inscribing a warning after the amiable manner +of Li-Kao, had added the words, “and that of Huan Sin.” + +Halting at a convenient distance from one side of the rock which, +without being carved by any person’s hand, naturally resembled the +symmetrical countenance of a recumbent dragon (which he therefore +conjectured to be the chief point of the entire mass), Yin built +his fire and began an unremitting course of sacrifice and respectful +ceremony. This manner of conduct he observed conscientiously for +the space of seven days. Towards the end of that period a feeling of +unendurable dejection began to possess him, for his stores of all kinds +were beginning to fail, and he could not entirely put behind him the +memory of the various well-intentioned warnings which he had received, +or the sight of the fleshless ones who had lined his path. On the eighth +day, being weak with hunger and, by reason of an intolerable thirst, +unable to restrain his body any longer in the spot where he had hitherto +continuously prostrated himself nine-and-ninety times each hour without +ceasing, he rose to his feet and retraced his steps to the boat in order +that he might fill his water-skins and procure a further supply of food. + +With a complicated emotion, in which was present every abandoned and +disagreeable thought to which a person becomes a prey in moments of +exceptional mental and bodily anguish, he perceived as soon as +he reached the edge of the water that the boat, upon which he was +confidently relying to carry him back when all else failed, had +disappeared as entirely as the smoke from an extinguished opium pipe. +At this sight Yin clearly understood the meaning of Li-Kao’s unregarded +warning, and recognized that nothing could now save him from adding his +incorruptible parts to those of the unfortunate ones whose unhappy +fate had, seven days ago, engaged his refined pity. Unaccountably +strengthened in body by the indignation which possessed him, and +inspired with a virtuous repulsion at the treacherous manner of behaving +on the part of those who guided his destinies, he hastened back to +his place of obeisance, and perceiving that the habitually placid and +introspective expression on the dragon face had imperceptibly changed +into one of offensive cunning and unconcealed contempt, he snatched up +his spear and, without the consideration of a moment, hurled it at +a score of paces distance full into the sacred but nevertheless very +unprepossessing face before him. + +At the instant when the presumptuous weapon touched the holy stone the +entire intervening space between the earth and the sky was filled with +innumerable flashes of forked and many-tongued lightning, so that the +island had the appearance of being the scene of a very extensive but +somewhat badly-arranged display of costly fireworks. At the same +time the thunder rolled among the clouds and beneath the sea in an +exceedingly disconcerting manner. At the first indication of these +celestial movements a sudden blindness came upon Yin, and all power of +thought or movement forsook him; nevertheless, he experienced an emotion +of flight through the air, as though borne upwards upon the back of a +winged creature. When this emotion ceased, the blindness went from him +as suddenly and entirely as if a cloth had been pulled away from his +eyes, and he perceived that he was held in the midst of a boundless +space, with no other object in view than the sacred rock, which had +opened, as it were, revealing a mighty throng within, at the sight of +whom Yin’s internal organs trembled as they would never have moved at +ordinary danger, for it was put into his spirit that these in whose +presence he stood were the sacred Emperors of his country from the +earliest time until the usurpation of the Chinese throne by the +devouring Tartar hordes from the North. + +As Yin gazed in fear-stricken amazement, a knowledge of the various Pure +Ones who composed the assembly came upon him. He understood that the +three unclad and commanding figures which stood together were the +Emperors of the Heaven, Earth, and Man, whose reigns covered a space of +more than eighty thousand years, commencing from the time when the world +began its span of existence. Next to them stood one wearing a robe of +leopard-skin, his hand resting upon a staff of a massive club, while on +his face the expression of tranquillity which marked his predecessors +had changed into one of alert wakefulness; it was the Emperor of Houses, +whose reign marked the opening of the never-ending strife between man +and all other creatures. By his side stood his successor, the Emperor of +Fire, holding in his right hand the emblem of the knotted cord, by which +he taught man to cultivate his mental faculties, while from his mouth +issued smoke and flame, signifying that by the introduction of fire he +had raised his subjects to a state of civilized life. + +On the other side of the boundless chamber which seemed to be contained +within the rocks were Fou-Hy, Tchang-Ki, Tcheng-Nung, and Huang, +standing or reclining together. The first of these framed the calendar, +organized property, thought out the eight Essential Diagrams, encouraged +the various branches of hunting, and the rearing of domestic animals, +and instituted marriage. From his couch floated melodious sounds +in remembrance of his discovery of the property of stringed woods. +Tchang-Ki, who manifested the property of herbs and growing plants, wore +a robe signifying his attainments by means of embroidered symbols. +His hand rested on the head of the dragon, while at his feet flowed a +bottomless canal of the purest water. The discovery of written letters +by Tcheng-Nung, and his ingenious plan of grouping them after the manner +of the constellations of stars, was emblemized in a similar manner, +while Huang, or the Yellow Emperor, was surrounded by ores of the +useful and precious metals, weapons of warfare, written books, silks +and articles of attire, coined money, and a variety of objects, all +testifying to his ingenuity and inspired energy. + +These illustrious ones, being the greatest, were the first to take +Yin’s attention, but beyond them he beheld an innumerable concourse of +Emperors who not infrequently outshone their majestic predecessors in +the richness of their apparel and the magnificence of the jewels which +they wore. There Yin perceived Hung-Hoang, who first caused the chants +to be collected, and other rulers of the Tcheon dynasty; Yong-Tching, +who compiled the Holy Edict; Thang rulers whose line is rightly called +“the golden,” from the unsurpassed excellence of the composed verses +which it produced; renowned Emperors of the versatile Han dynasty; and, +standing apart, and shunned by all, the malignant and narrow-minded +Tsing-Su-Hoang, who caused the Sacred Books to be burned. + +Even while Yin looked and wondered, in great fear, a rolling voice, +coming from one who sat in the midst of all, holding in his right hand +the sun, and in his left the moon, sounded forth, like the music of many +brass instruments playing in unison. It was the First Man who spoke. + +“Yin, son of Yat Huang, and creature of the Lower Part,” he said, +“listen well to the words I speak, for brief is the span of your +tarrying in the Upper Air, nor will the utterance I now give forth ever +come unto your ears again, either on the earth, or when, blindly groping +in the Middle Distance, your spirit takes its nightly flight. They who +are gathered around, and whose voices I speak, bid me say this: Although +immeasurably above you in all matters, both of knowledge and of power, +yet we greet you as one who is well-intentioned, and inspired with +honourable ambition. Had you been content to entreat and despair, as did +all the feeble and incapable ones whose white bones formed your pathway, +your ultimate fate would have in no wise differed from theirs. But +inasmuch as you held yourself valiantly, and, being taken, raised an +instinctive hand in return, you have been chosen; for the day to mute +submission has, for the time or for ever, passed away, and the hour is +when China shall be saved, not by supplication, but by the spear.” + +“A state of things which would have been highly unnecessary if I had +been permitted to carry out my intention fully, and restore man to his +prehistoric simplicity,” interrupted Tsin-Su-Hoang. “For that reason, +when the voice of the assemblage expresses itself, it must be understood +that it represents in no measure the views of Tsin-Su-Hoang.” + +“In the matter of what has gone before, and that which will follow +hereafter,” continued the Voice dispassionately, “Yin, the son +of Yat-Huang, must concede that it is in no part the utterance of +Tsin-Su-Hoang--Tsin-Su-Hoang who burned the Sacred Books.” + +At the mention of the name and offence of this degraded being a great +sound went up from the entire multitude--a universal cry of execration, +not greatly dissimilar from that which may be frequently heard in the +crowded Temple of Impartiality when the one whose duty it is to take up, +at a venture, the folded papers, announces that the sublime Emperor, +or some mandarin of exalted rank, has been so fortunate as to hold +the winning number in the Annual State Lottery. So vengeance-laden and +mournful was the combined and evidently preconcerted wail, that Yin +was compelled to shield his ears against it; yet the inconsiderable +Tsin-Su-Hoang, on whose account it was raised, seemed in no degree to +be affected by it, he, doubtless, having become hardened by hearing +a similar outburst, at fixed hours, throughout interminable cycles of +time. + +When the last echo of the cry had passed away the Voice continued to +speak. + +“Soon the earth will again receive you, Yin,” it said, “for it is not +respectful that a lower one should be long permitted to gaze upon our +exalted faces. Yet when you go forth and stand once more among men this +is laid on you: that henceforth you are as a being devoted to a fixed +and unchanging end, and whatever moves towards the restoring of the +throne of the Central Empire the outcast but unalterably sacred line of +its true sovereigns shall have your arm and mind. By what combination +of force and stratagem this can be accomplished may not be honourably +revealed by us, the all-knowing. Nevertheless, omens and guidance shall +not be lacking from time to time, and from the beginning the weapon by +which you have attained to this distinction shall be as a sign of our +favour and protection over you.” + +When the Voice made an end of speaking the sudden blindness came upon +Yin, as it had done before, and from the sense of motion which he +experienced, he conjectured that he was being conveyed back to the +island. Undoubtedly this was the case, for presently there came upon him +the feeling that he was awakening from a deep and refreshing sleep, +and opening his eyes, which he now found himself able to do without +any difficulty, he immediately discovered that he was reclining at full +length on the ground, and at a distance of about a score of paces from +the dragon head. His first thought was to engage in a lengthy course +of self-abasement before it, but remembering the words which had been +spoken to him while in the Upper Air, he refrained, and even ventured to +go forward with a confident but somewhat self-deprecatory air, to +regain the spear, which he perceived lying at the foot of the rock. With +feelings of a reassuring nature he then saw that the very undesirable +expression which he had last beheld upon the dragon face had melted into +one of encouraging urbanity and benignant esteem. + +Close by the place where he had landed he discovered his boat, newly +furnished with wine and food of a much more attractive profusion than +that which he had purchased in the village. Embarking in it, he made as +though he would have returned to the south, but the spear which he held +turned within his grasp, and pointed in an exactly opposite direction. +Regarding this fact as an express command on the part of the Deities, +Yin turned his boat to the north, and in the space of two days’ +time--being continually guided by the fixed indication of the spear--he +reached the shore and prepared to continue his travels in the same +direction, upheld and inspired by the knowledge that henceforth he moved +under the direct influence of very powerful spirits. + + + + +IX. +THE ILL-REGULATED DESTINY OF KIN YEN, THE PICTURE-MAKER + + + As recorded by himself before his sudden departure from Peking, + owing to circumstances which are made plain in the following + narrative. + +There are moments in the life of a person when the saying of the wise +Ni-Hyu that “Misfortune comes to all men and to most women” is endowed +with double force. At such times the faithful child of the Sun is a prey +to the whitest and most funereal thoughts, and even the inspired +wisdom of his illustrious ancestors seems more than doubtful, while the +continued inactivity of the Sacred Dragon appears for the time to give +colour to the scoffs of the Western barbarian. A little while ago these +misgivings would have found no resting-place in the bosom of the writer. +Now, however--but the matter must be made clear from the beginning. + +The name of the despicable person who here sets forth his immature story +is Kin Yen, and he is a native of Kia-Lu in the Province of Che-Kiang. +Having purchased from a very aged man the position of Hereditary +Instructor in the Art of Drawing Birds and Flowers, he gave lessons in +these accomplishments until he had saved sufficient money to journey +to Peking. Here it was his presumptuous intention to learn the art of +drawing figures in order that he might illustrate printed leaves of +a more distinguished class than those which would accept what true +politeness compels him to call his exceedingly unsymmetrical pictures +of birds and flowers. Accordingly, when the time arrived, he disposed of +his Hereditary Instructorship, having first ascertained in the interests +of his pupils that his successor was a person of refined morals and +great filial piety. + +Alas! it is well written, “The road to eminence lies through the cheap +and exceedingly uninviting eating-houses.” In spite of this person’s +great economy, and of his having begged his way from Kia-Lu to Peking in +the guise of a pilgrim, journeying to burn incense in the sacred Temple +of Truth near that city, when once within the latter place his taels +melted away like the smile of a person of low class when he discovers +that the mandarin’s stern words were not intended as a jest. Moreover, +he found that the story-makers of Peking, receiving higher rewards +than those at Kia-Lu, considered themselves bound to introduce living +characters into all their tales, and in consequence the very ornamental +drawings of birds and flowers which he had entwined into a legend +entitled “The Last Fight of the Heaven-sent Tcheng”--a story which +had been entrusted to him for illustration as a test of his skill--was +returned to him with a communication in which the writer revealed his +real meaning by stating contrary facts. It therefore became necessary +that he should become competent in the art of drawing figures without +delay, and with this object he called at the picture-room of Tieng Lin, +a person whose experience was so great that he could, without discomfort +to himself, draw men and women of all classes, both good and bad. When +the person who is setting forth this narrative revealed to Tieng Lin the +utmost amount of money he could afford to give for instruction in the +art of drawing living figures, Tieng Lin’s face became as overcast as +the sky immediately before the Great Rains, for in his ignorance of +this incapable person’s poverty he had treated him with equality and +courtesy, nor had he kept him waiting in the mean room on the plea that +he was at that moment closeted with the Sacred Emperor. However, upon +receiving an assurance that a rumour would be spread in which the number +of taels should be multiplied by ten, and that the sum itself should be +brought in advance, Tieng Lin promised to instruct this person in the +art of drawing five characters, which, he said, would be sufficient +to illustrate all stories except those by the most expensive and +highly-rewarded story-tellers--men who have become so proficient that +they not infrequently introduce a score or more of living persons into +their tales without confusion. + +After considerable deliberation, this unassuming person selected the +following characters, judging them to be the most useful, and the most +readily applicable to all phases and situations of life: + +1. A bad person, wearing a long dark pigtail and smoking an opium pipe. +His arms to be folded, and his clothes new and very expensive. + +2. A woman of low class. One who removes dust and useless things from +the rooms of the over-fastidious and of those who have long nails; she +to be carrying her trade-signs. + +3. A person from Pe-ling, endowed with qualities which cause the +beholder to be amused. This character to be especially designed to go +with the short sayings which remove gravity. + +4. One who, having incurred the displeasure of the sublime Emperor, has +been decapitated in consequence. + +5. An ordinary person of no striking or distinguished appearance. One +who can be safely introduced in all places and circumstances without +great fear of detection. + +After many months spent in constant practice and in taking measurements, +this unenviable person attained a very high degree of proficiency, and +could draw any of the five characters without hesitation. With renewed +hope, therefore, he again approached those who sit in easy-chairs, and +concealing his identity (for they are stiff at bending, and when once +a picture-maker is classed as “of no good” he remains so to the end, in +spite of change), he succeeded in getting entrusted with a story by +the elegant and refined Kyen Tal. This writer, as he remembered with +distrust, confines his distinguished efforts entirely to the doings of +sailors and of those connected with the sea, and this tale, indeed, he +found upon reading to be the narrative of how a Hang-Chow junk and its +crew, consisting mostly of aged persons, were beguiled out of their +course by an exceedingly ill-disposed dragon, and wrecked upon an island +of naked barbarians. It was, therefore, with a somewhat heavy stomach +that this person set himself the task of arranging his five characters +as so to illustrate the words of the story. + +The sayings of the ancient philosopher Tai Loo are indeed very subtle, +and the truth of his remark, “After being disturbed in one’s dignity by +a mandarin’s foot it is no unusual occurrence to fall flat on the +face in crossing a muddy street,” was now apparent. Great as was the +disadvantage owing to the nature of the five characters, this became as +nothing when it presently appeared that the avaricious and clay-souled +Tieng Lin, taking advantage of the blindness of this person’s +enthusiasm, had taught him the figures so that they all gazed in the +same direction. In consequence of this it would have been impossible +that two should be placed as in the act of conversing together had not +the noble Kyen Tal been inspired to write that “his companions turned +from him in horror.” This incident the ingenious person who is recording +these facts made the subject of three separate drawings, and having +in one or two other places effected skilful changes in the writing, so +similar in style to the strokes of the illustrious Kyen Tal as to +be undetectable, he found little difficulty in making use of all his +characters. The risks of the future, however, were too great to be run +with impunity; therefore it was arranged, by means of money--for this +person was fast becoming acquainted with the ways of Peking--that an +emissary from one who sat in an easy-chair should call upon him for a +conference, the narrative of which appeared in this form in the _Peking +Printed Leaves of Thrice-distilled Truth:_ + + The brilliant and amiable young picture-maker Kin Yen, in spite of + the immediate and universal success of his accomplished efforts, + is still quite rotund in intellect, nor is he, if we may use a + form of speaking affected by our friends across the Hoang Hai, + “suffering from swollen feet.” A person with no recognized + position, but one who occasionally does inferior work of this + nature for us, recently surprised Kin Yen without warning, and + found him in his sumptuously appointed picture-room, busy with + compasses and tracing-paper. About the place were scattered in + elegant confusion several of his recent masterpieces. From the + subsequent conversation we are in a position to make it known that + in future this refined and versatile person will confine himself + entirely to illustrations of processions, funerals, armies on the + march, persons pursued by others, and kindred subjects which + appeal strongly to his imagination. Kin Yen has severe emotions on + the subject of individuality in art, and does not hesitate to + express himself forcibly with reference to those who are content + to degrade the names of their ancestors by turning out what he + wittily describes as “so much of varied mediocrity.” + +The prominence obtained by this pleasantly-composed notice--for it was +copied by others who were unaware of the circumstance of its origin--had +the desired effect. In future, when one of those who sit in easy-chairs +wished for a picture after the kind mentioned, he would say to his +lesser one: “Oh, send to the graceful and versatile Kin Yen; he becomes +inspired on the subject of funerals,” or persons escaping from prison, +or families walking to the temple, or whatever it might be. In that way +this narrow-minded and illiterate person was soon both looked at and +rich, so that it was his daily practice to be carried, in silk garments, +past the houses of those who had known him in poverty, and on these +occasions he would puff out his cheeks and pull his moustaches, looking +fiercely from side to side. + +True are the words written in the elegant and distinguished Book of +Verses: “Beware lest when being kissed by the all-seeing Emperor, you +step upon the elusive banana-peel.” It was at the height of eminence in +this altogether degraded person’s career that he encountered the being +who led him on to his present altogether too lamentable condition. + +Tien Nung is the earthly name by which is known she who combines all the +most illustrious attributes which have been possessed of women since the +days of the divine Fou-Hy. Her father is a person of very gross habits, +and lives by selling inferior merchandise covered with some of good +quality. Upon past occasions, when under the direct influence of Tien, +and in the hope of gaining some money benefit, this person may have +spoken of him in terms of praise, and may even have recommended friends +to entrust articles of value to him, or to procure goods on his advice. +Now, however, he records it as his unalterable decision that the father +of Tien Nung is by profession a person who obtains goods by stratagem, +and that, moreover, it is impossible to gain an advantage over him on +matters of exchange. + +The events that have happened prove the deep wisdom of Li Pen when +he exclaimed “The whitest of pigeons, no matter how excellent in the +silk-hung chamber, is not to be followed on the field of battle.” Tien +herself was all that the most exacting of persons could demand, but +her opinions on the subject of picture-making were not formed by heavy +thought, and it would have been well if this had been borne in mind by +this person. One morning he chanced to meet her while carrying open in +his hands four sets of printed leaves containing his pictures. + +“I have observed,” said Tien, after the usual personal inquiries had +been exchanged, “that the renowned Kin Yen, who is the object of the +keenest envy among his brother picture-makers, so little regards the +sacredness of his accomplished art that never by any chance does he +depict persons of the very highest excellence. Let not the words of an +impetuous maiden disarrange his digestive organs if they should seem +too bold to the high-souled Kin Yen, but this matter has, since she has +known him, troubled the eyelids of Tien. Here,” she continued, taking +from this person’s hand one of the printed leaves which he was carrying, +“in this illustration of persons returning from extinguishing a fire, +is there one who appears to possess those qualities which appeal to +all that is intellectual and competitive within one? Can it be that the +immaculate Kin Yen is unacquainted with the subtle distinction between +the really select and the vastly ordinary? Ah, undiscriminating Kin Yen! +are not the eyelashes of the person who is addressing you as threads +of fine gold to junk’s cables when compared with those of the extremely +commonplace female who is here pictured in the art of carrying a bucket? +Can the most refined lack of vanity hide from you the fact that your own +person is infinitely rounder than this of the evilly-intentioned-looking +individual with the opium pipe? O blind Kin Yen!” + +Here she fled in honourable confusion, leaving this person standing in +the street, astounded, and a prey to the most distinguished emotions of +a complicated nature. + +“Oh, Tien,” he cried at length, “inspired by those bright eyes, narrower +than the most select of the three thousand and one possessed by the +sublime Buddha, the almost fallen Kin Yen will yet prove himself worthy +of your esteemed consideration. He will, without delay, learn to draw +two new living persons, and will incorporate in them the likenesses +which you have suggested.” + +Returning swiftly to his abode, he therefore inscribed and despatched +this letter, in proof of his resolve: + +“To the Heaven-sent human chrysanthemum, in whose body reside the +Celestial Principles and the imprisoned colours of the rainbow. + +“From the very offensive and self-opinionated picture-maker. + +“Henceforth this person will take no rest, nor eat any but the commonest +food, until he shall have carried out the wishes of his one Jade Star, +she whose teeth he is not worthy to blacken. + +“When Kin Yen has been entrusted with a story which contains a being in +some degree reflecting the character of Tien, he will embellish it with +her irreproachable profile and come to hear her words. Till then he bids +her farewell.” + +From that moment most of this person’s time was necessarily spent in +learning to draw the two new characters, and in consequence of this he +lost much work, and, indeed, the greater part of the connexion which +he had been at such pains to form gradually slipped away from him. Many +months passed before he was competent to reproduce persons resembling +Tien and himself, for in this he was unassisted by Tieng Lin, and his +progress was slow. + +At length, being satisfied, he called upon the least fierce of those +who sit in easy-chairs, and requested that he might be entrusted with a +story for picture-making. + +“We should have been covered with honourable joy to set in operation +the brush of the inspired Kin Yen,” replied the other with agreeable +condescension; “only at the moment, it does not chance that we have +before us any stories in which funerals, or beggars being driven from +the city, form the chief incidents. Perhaps if the polished Kin Yen +should happen to be passing this ill-constructed office in about six +months’ time--” + +“The brush of Kin Yen will never again depict funerals, or labourers +arranging themselves to receive pay or similar subjects,” exclaimed this +person impetuously, “for, as it is well said, ‘The lightning discovers +objects which the paper-lantern fails to reveal.’ In future none +but tales dealing with the most distinguished persons shall have his +attention.” + +“If this be the true word of the dignified Kin Yen, it is possible that +we may be able to animate his inspired faculties,” was the response. +“But in that case, as a new style must be in the nature of an +experiment, and as our public has come to regard Kin Yen as the +great exponent of Art Facing in One Direction, we cannot continue the +exceedingly liberal payment with which we have been accustomed to reward +his elegant exertions.” + +“Provided the story be suitable, that is a matter of less importance,” + replied this person. + +“The story,” said the one in the easy-chair, “is by the refined +Tong-king, and it treats of the high-minded and conscientious doubts +of one who would become a priest of Fo. When preparing for this +distinguished office he discovers within himself leanings towards +the religion of Lao-Tse. His illustrious scruples are enhanced by his +affection for Wu Ping, who now appears in the story.” + +“And the ending?” inquired this person, for it was desirable that the +two should marry happily. + +“The inimitable stories of Tong-king never have any real ending, and +this one, being in his most elevated style, has even less end than +most of them. But the whole narrative is permeated with the odour of +joss-sticks and honourable high-mindedness, and the two characters are +both of noble birth.” + +As it might be some time before another story so suitable should be +offered, or one which would afford so good an opportunity of wafting +incense to Tien, and of displaying her incomparable outline in dignified +and magnanimous attitudes, this was eagerly accepted, and for the next +week this obscure person spent all his days and nights in picturing the +lovely Tien and his debased self in the characters of the nobly-born +young priest of Fo and Wu Ping. The pictures finished, he caused them to +be carefully conveyed to the office, and then, sitting down, spent +many hours in composing the following letter, to be sent to Tien, +accompanying a copy of the printed leaves wherein the story and his +drawing should appear: + +“When the light has for a period been hidden from a person, it is +no uncommon thing for him to be struck blind on gazing at the sun; +therefore, if the sublime Tien values the eyes of Kin Yen, let her hide +herself behind a gauze screen on his approach. + +“The trembling words of Tien have sunk deep into the inside of Kin Yen +and become part of his being. Never again can he depict persons of the +quality and in the position he was wont to do. + +“With this he sends his latest efforts. In each case he conceives his +drawings to be the pictures of the written words; in the noble Tien’s +case it is undoubtedly so, in his own he aspires to it. Doubtless the +unobtrusive Tien would make no claim to the character and manner of +behaving of the one in the story, yet Kin Yen confidently asserts that +she is to the other as the glove is to the hand, and he is filled with +the most intelligent delight at being able to exhibit her in her true +robes, by which she will be known to all who see her, in spite of her +dignified protests. Kin Yen hopes; he will come this evening after +sunset.” + +The week which passed between the finishing of the pictures and the +appearance of the eminent printed leaves containing them was the longest +in this near-sighted person’s ill-spent life. But at length the day +arrived, and going with exceedingly mean haste to the place of sale, he +purchased a copy and sent it, together with the letter of his honourable +intention, on which he had bestowed so much care, to Tien. + +Not till then did it occur to this inconsiderable one that the +impetuousness of his action was ill-judged; for might it not be that the +pictures were evilly-printed, or that the delicate and fragrant words +painting the character of the one who now bore the features of Tien had +undergone some change? + +To satisfy himself, scarce as taels had become with him, he purchased +another copy. + +There are many exalted sayings of the wise and venerable Confucious +constructed so as to be of service and consolation in moments of strong +mental distress. These for the greater part recommend tranquillity +of mind, a complete abnegation of the human passions and the +like behaviour. The person who is here endeavouring to bring this +badly-constructed account of his dishonourable career to a close +pondered these for some moments after twice glancing through the matter +in the printed leaves, and then, finding the faculties of speech and +movement restored to him, procured a two-edged knife of distinguished +brilliance and went forth to call upon the one who sits in an +easy-chair. + +“Behold,” said the lesser one, insidiously stepping in between this +person an the inner door, “my intellectual and all-knowing chief is not +here to-day. May his entirely insufficient substitute offer words of +congratulation to the inspired Kin Yen on his effective and striking +pictures in this week’s issue?” + +“His altogether insufficient substitute,” answered this person, with +difficulty mastering his great rage, “may and shall offer words of +explanation to the inspired Kin Yen, setting forth the reason of his +pictures being used, not with the high-minded story of the elegant +Tong-king for which they were executed, but accompanying exceedingly +base, foolish, and ungrammatical words written by Klan-hi, the Peking +remover of gravity--words which will evermore brand the dew-like Tien +as a person of light speech and no refinement”; and in his agony this +person struck the lacquered table several times with his elegant knife. + +“O Kin Yen,” exclaimed the lesser one, “this matter rests not here. It +is a thing beyond the sphere of the individual who is addressing you. +All he can tell is that the graceful Tong-king withdrew his exceedingly +tedious story for some reason at the final moment, and as your eminent +drawings had been paid for, my chief of the inner office decided to use +them with this story of Klan-hi. But surely it cannot be that there is +aught in the story to displease your illustrious personality?” + +“Judge for yourself,” this person said, “first understanding that the +two immaculate characters figuring as the personages of the narrative +are exact copies of this dishonoured person himself and of the willowy +Tien, daughter of the vastly rich Pe-li-Chen, whom he was hopeful of +marrying.” + +Selecting one of the least offensive of the passages in the work, this +unhappy person read the following immature and inelegant words: + +“This well-satisfied writer of printed leaves had a highly-distinguished +time last night. After Chow had departed to see about food, and the junk +had been fastened up at the lock of Kilung, on the Yang-tse-Kiang, he +and the round-bodied Shang were journeying along the narrow path by the +river-side when the right leg of the graceful and popular person who +is narrating these events disappeared into the river. Suffering no +apprehension in the dark, but that the vanishing limb was the left leg +of Shang, this intelligent writer allowed his impassiveness to melt away +to an exaggerated degree; but at that moment the circumstance became +plain to the round-bodied Shang, who was in consequence very grossly +amused at the mishap and misapprehension of your good lord, the writer, +at the same time pointing out the matter as it really was. Then it +chanced that there came by one of the maidens who carry tea and jest for +small sums of money to the sitters at the little tables with round white +tops, at which this remarkable person, the confidant of many mandarins, +ever desirous of displaying his priceless power of removing gravity, +said to her: + +“‘How much of gladness, Ning-Ning? By the Sacred Serpent this is plainly +your night out.’ + +“Perceiving the true facts of the predicament of this commendable +writer, she replied: + +“‘Suffer not your illustrious pigtail to be removed, venerable Wang; for +in this maiden’s estimation it is indeed your night in.’ + +“There are times when this valued person wonders whether his method +of removing gravity be in reality very antique or quite new. On such +occasions the world, with all its schools, and those who interfere in +the concerns of others, continues to revolve around him. The wondrous +sky-lanterns come out silently two by two like to the crystallized music +of stringed woods. Then, in the mystery of no-noise, his head becomes +greatly enlarged with celestial and highly-profound thoughts; his +groping hand seems to touch matter which may be written out in his +impressive style and sold to those who print leaves, and he goes home to +write out such.” + +When this person looked up after reading, with tears of shame in his +eyes, he perceived that the lesser one had cautiously disappeared. +Therefore, being unable to gain admittance to the inner office, he +returned to his home. + +Here the remark of the omniscient Tai Loo again fixes itself upon the +attention. No sooner had this incapable person reached his house than he +became aware that a parcel had arrived for him from the still adorable +Tien. Retiring to a distance from it, he opened the accompanying letter +and read: + +“When a virtuous maiden has been made the victim of a heartless jest or +a piece of coarse stupidity at a person’s hands, it is no uncommon thing +for him to be struck blind on meeting her father. Therefore, if the +degraded and evil-minded Kin Yen values his eyes, ears, nose, pigtail, +even his dishonourable breath, let him hide himself behind a fortified +wall at Pe-li-Chen’s approach. + +“With this Tien returns everything she has ever accepted from Kin Yen. +She even includes the brace of puppies which she received anonymously +about a month ago, and which she did not eat, but kept for reasons of +her own--reasons entirely unconnected with the vapid and exceedingly +conceited Kin Yen.” + +As though this letter, and the puppies of which this person now heard +for the first time, making him aware of the existence of a rival lover, +were not enough, there almost immediately arrived a letter from Tien’s +father: + +“This person has taken the advice of those skilled in extorting money by +means of law forms, and he finds that Kin Yen has been guilty of a grave +and highly expensive act. This is increased by the fact that Tien had +conveyed his seemingly distinguished intentions to all her friends, +before whom she now stands in an exceedingly ungraceful attitude. The +machinery for depriving Kin Yen of all the necessaries of existence +shall be put into operation at once.” + +At this point, the person who is now concluding his obscure and +commonplace history, having spent his last piece of money on joss-sticks +and incense-paper, and being convinced of the presence of the spirits of +his ancestors, is inspired to make the following prophecies: That Tieng +Lin, who imposed upon him in the matter of picture-making, shall come +to a sudden end, accompanied by great internal pains, after suffering +extreme poverty; that the one who sits in an easy-chair, together with +his lesser one and all who make stories for them, shall, while sailing +to a rice feast during the Festival of Flowers, be precipitated into the +water and slowly devoured by sea monsters, Klan-hi in particular being +tortured in the process; that Pel-li-Chen, the father of Tien, shall +be seized with the dancing sickness when in the presence of the august +Emperor, and being in consequence suspected of treachery, shall, to +prove the truth of his denials, be submitted to the tests of boiling +tar, red-hot swords, and of being dropped from a great height on to the +Sacred Stone of Goodness and Badness, in each of which he shall fail to +convince his judges or to establish his innocence, to the amusement of +all beholders. + +These are the true words of Kin Yen, the picture-maker, who, having +unweighed his mind and exposed the avaricious villainy of certain +persons, is now retiring by night to a very select and hidden spot in +the Khingan Mountains. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1076 *** |