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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:54 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:54 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12086-0.txt b/12086-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c157bd --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4188 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12086 *** + + [Transcriber's Note: This book was published as Chinese Love Tales in + 1935 (translated from the original of George Souile De Morant + --a variation in the spelling of the middle name) with numerous + illustrations by Valenti Angelo. It was attacked and acquitted in the + courts, winning judicial recognition of its exceptional literary merit.] + + + + +_EASTERN SHAME GIRL_ + + + + +_Translated from the French of_ +GEORGE SOULIE DEMORANT + + + + +_Illustrations by_ +MARCEL AVOND + + + + +_New York +Privately Printed 1929_ + + + + +CONTENTS + + +EASTERN SHAME GIRL + +THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI + +A STRANGE DESTINY + +THE ERROR OF THE EMBROIDERED SLIPPER + +THE COUNTERFEIT OLD WOMAN + +THE MONASTERY OF THE ESTEEMED-LOTUS + +A COMPLICATED MARRIAGE + + +_Note:--The original source of the stories +appearing in "Eastern Shame Girl" is the +classic literature of China in the 17th Century._ + + + + +EASTERN SHAME GIRL + + + When there is a great peace + Under the gold cup of the sun + Joy reaches its flowering. + +In the twentieth year of the period Wan-li, there came, among the +thousands of students who gathered at Peking for the examinations, a +certain Li, whose first name was Chia and his surname Ch'ien-hsi, or +"Purified-a-thousand times." His family were from Shao-hsing fu in +Chekiang; his father was Judge of the province of Kang-su; and Li +himself was the eldest of three brothers. He had studied in the +village school from childhood and, not having yet attained to +literary rank, had come, according to custom, to present himself for +examination at Peking. While in that city, he consorted, before his +springtide, with the young libertines, the "willow twigs" of his +country; and, in order to gain experience, frequented the theatres +and music-halls. Thus he became acquainted with a famous singing girl +called Tu, whose first name was Mei, or "Elegance." As she was the +tenth of her family, she was known at the theatre as Shih-niang, "The +Tenth daughter." A delicate seduction diffused from her: her body was +all grace and perfume. The twin arches of her brows held the black +which is blue of distant mountains, and her eyes were as deep and +bright as autumn lakes. Her face had the glory of the lotus, and her +lips the glory of cherries. By what blunder of the gods had this piece +of flawless jade fallen in the windy dust, among the flowers beneath +the willow? When she was thirteen years old, Shih-niang had already +"broken her claws." Now she was nineteen, and it would not be +possible to enumerate the young Lords and Princes whose hearts she +had besotted, whose thoughts she had set in a turmoil, whose family +treasures she had swallowed without compunction. In the theatres, they +had composed an epigram about her: + + When Tu Shih-niang comes to a banquet + The guests drink a thousand great cups + Instead of a single small one. + When Tu Mei appears upon the stage + The actresses look like devils. + +It must be said that never, in the young passions of his life, had +Li Chia experienced the pain of beauty; but, when he saw Shih-niang, +emotion was awakened in him, and the feelings of a flowering willow +filled his breast. He himself was gifted with rare beauty, and a sweet +and gentle nature. He spent his money recklessly, with an unbridled +zeal for bestowing gifts. For this reason he held a double attraction +for Shih-niang, who considered that falsehood and avarice were opposed +to rectitude, and had also by this time made up her mind to return to +a life of honor. She appreciated Li Chia's gentleness and generosity, +and was drawn toward him. But he was afraid of his father and did not +dare to marry her at once, as she wished. Their love was not, on that +account, any the less tender. In the joys of dawn and the pleasures of +twilight they kept together as do husband and wife, and in their +vows they compared their love with the Ocean or with the Mountain, +recognizing no other vital motive. In truth: + + Their tenderness was deeper than the sea + For it was past sounding, + Their love was as the mountains + But even higher. + +Also, since Chia had been admitted to her favor, rich Lords and +powerful Ministers were no longer permitted to see the girl's beauty. +At first Li used to give large sums of money, so that the matron to +whom Shih-niang belonged, shrugged her shoulders and smiled. But the +days went quickly, and the months too; and a year had passed. Chia's +coffers had gradually become empty; and now his hand could no longer +keep pace with his wishes. But the ancient ma-ma remained patient. + +In the meanwhile the Judge had learned that his son was frequenting +the theatre, and sent him repeated orders to return home. But Chia, +who was infatuated, kept on delaying his departure until, hearing that +his father was truly furious, he no longer dared to return. It was +well said by the ancients: "As long as harmony endures there is unity; +when harmony ceases, there is separation." + +Shih-niang's love was sincere, and her heart only burned the more for +him whose hands were empty. The ma-ma frequently ordered her to send +her lover away; then, seeing that the young girl was indifferent to +her commands, she tried to exasperate Chia with stinging words, hoping +thus to compel him to depart. But her visitor's nature was so gentle +that his anger could not be provoked, and the only result was to +make him more amiable in his behavior to the old woman, who in her +impotence ended in reproaching Shih-niang: + +"We who keep open doors must eat our visitors three times a day, and +clothe ourselves with them. We lead out the departing guest by one +door, but to receive a fresh one by another. When desire is excited +under our roof, our silver and silks mount up like hills. But it is +more than a year since this Li Chia began troubling your curtains, and +now old patrons and new guests alike have discontinued their visiting. +The spirit Chung-k'uci no longer comes to our door; nay, not the +littlest devil. Therefore I am angry and humiliated. What will become +of us, now that we have no trace of visitors?" + +Shih-niang restrained herself with difficulty under these reproaches, +and answered calmly: + +"Young Lord Li did not come here with empty hands. He has paid us +considerable sums of money." + +"It was so at one time; but it is now so no longer. Tell him to give +me enough to pay for rice for the two of you.... Indeed, I have no +luck! Most of the girls I buy claim all the silver, and hardly care +whether their clients live or die. But now I have reared a white tiger +who refuses riches, opens wide the door, and makes my old body bear +the total burden. O miserable child! You wish to keep the poor for +nothing. Where will you find clothes and food? Tell your beggar to be +wise enough to give me a few ounces of silver. If you will not send +him away, I shall sell you and look for another slave. That would be +better for both of us." + +"Do you mean what you say?" asked the girl. + +"But you know that Li Chia has neither money nor clothes, and cannot +procure any." + +"I am not jesting," answered the old woman. + +"Then how much must he give to take me away?" + +"If any one else were in question, I should demand several thousand +ounces. Alas! This beggar cannot pay them! So I shall be satisfied +with three hundred ounces, with which to buy another 'tinted face.' If +he brings them within three days, I will take the silver with my left +hand and give the girl with my right. But after three days, it matters +not at all to me that three times seven are twenty-one; Lord or no +Lord, I shall beat out this young spark with my broom, and you must +bear no grudge for it." + +"In spite of all, he should be able to borrow three hundred ounces. +But three days is too little; he will need ten." + +"Ten days!" cried the other. "A hundred would be more like! Yet so be +it. I will wait ten days." + +"If he cannot get the money, he will not have the face to return. My +only fear is that you will go back on your promise, if he does bring +the three hundred ounces." + +"I am nearly fifty-one years old," answered the ma-ma. "Ten times I +have offered the great sacrifices. How should I dare not to keep +my word? If you mistrust me, let us strike the palms of our hands +together to fix the agreement. Nay, if I break my word, may I be +changed into a pig or dog!" + +That same evening, by the pillow-side, Shih-niang explained how her +body might be re-bought, and Li Qua said: + +"That would delight me, but how can I pay so much? My purse is as +empty as if it had been washed." + +"Your slave has arranged all with the ma-ma. She requires three +hundred ounces within ten days. Even if you have spent all that your +family gave you for your journey, you have still some friends or +relations from whom you can borrow. Then you will have me entirely to +yourself, and I shall never again have to endure that woman's anger." + +"Since I became obsessed by our love, my friends and relations have +ceased to recognize me. But perhaps, if I asked them to help me to pay +for my journey I might make up the sum." + +In the morning, when he had arranged his hair and, clothed himself, +and was about to leave Shih-niang, she said to him: + +"Do your uttermost, and come back to me with good news." + +He went to all his relations and friends, pretending that he was +taking leave of them before his departure. They all congratulated him; +but when he spoke of the expenses of the journey and asked for a +loan, all, without exception, told him that they could do nothing. His +friends knew the weakness of his character, and that he was besotted +with love for some "Flower-in-the-Mist" or other. He had remained in +Peking, up to that time, they knew, not daring to face his father's +anger. Was this departure genuine, now, or but pretended? If he spent +the borrowed money on "tinted faces," would not his father bear a +grudge against those who lent it? The most he could get together was +from ten to twenty ounces. + +Ashamed of his failure after a full three days of endeavor, he did not +dare to return to Shih-niang; yet, since he used to spend every night +with his mistress, he had no other lodging. After the first evening, +therefore, he went and asked shelter from his fellow-countryman, the +very learned Liu Yu-ch'un. This man, seeing the growing sadness of the +young man, at last ventured to question him and learned his story and +of his plan of marriage. Liu shook his head: "That is hardly possible. +She is the most famous of all the singing girls. Who would be content +with three hundred ounces for such a beauty? The old woman has +conceived this method of sending you away, and Shih-niang, knowing +that your hands are empty, asks you for this sum because she does not +dare to tell you to leave her. If you offered the silver, she would +laugh at you. It is a common trick. Do not trouble yourself further, +but resign yourself to the breaking off of your relations with the +girl." + +Li Chia was speechless for a long time, shaken by his doubts, and Liu +added: + +"Make no mistake about it. If you show that you really mean to take +your departure, many will help you. But as for your plan, you would +need not ten days, but ten months to find three hundred ounces." + +"Good Elder-Brother," answered Li, "your judgment is indeed profound." + +But none the less he continued his vain search for three further days. + +Shih-niang was most anxious when she did not see her lover come back +to her. She sent a little servant to look for him, and the child met +Li by chance, and said: + +"Lord, our Elder-Sister awaits you at the house." + +In his shame, Li answered: + +"I have no time to-day. To-morrow I will come to see her." + +But the boy had been commanded to bring him back, and to die sooner +than lose him, so he replied: + +"It is the absolute wish of the Elder-Sister that you come with me." + +Li could not refuse, and followed the messenger. + +Once in Shih-niang's presence he stood still, sobbing mo-mo, mo-mo, +without a word. + +"How is our plan going?" she asked. + +He only answered with a flood of tears; so she insisted: + +"Can people have been so hard as to refuse three hundred ounces?" + +Stifling his sobs, he answered with this verse: + + It is easier to catch a tiger in the mountains + Than to move the world with speech alone. + +"I have gone about for these six days, and my hands are empty. Shame +has kept me away from my perfumed companion, and it is only at her +command that I have come back. I have tried my hardest. Alas! such is +the spirit of the century." + +"We will say nothing to the ma-ma. Let my Lord stay here for the +night: his slave will propose another plan to him." + +She served him with a meal and wine, and made him lie down. Then in +the middle of the night she asked: + +"If you cannot find three hundred ounces to free me, what are we to +do?" + +He wept without answering. Shih-niang waited until the fifth watch; +then she drew from under her mattress a bag containing a hundred and +fifty ounces in small silver, and said: + +"This is my secret reserve. Since you cannot find the whole sum, I +will give you half of it. That should help you; but we have only four +days more. Above all, do not come too late!" + +Astonished and overjoyed, he carried away the bag and went back to +Liu, telling him what had happened and showing him the money. Liu +exclaimed: + +"Surely this woman has a loyal heart! Since she acts so, she must not +be allowed to suffer. I am going to act as mediator in your marriage." + +Leaving Li in his house, he went himself to ask for loans on all +sides. In two days he had amassed a hundred and fifty ounces. He gave +them to the young man, saying: + +"I have stood guarantor for you, for I am deeply touched by +Shih-niang's sentiment." + +Li took the silver, as delighted as if the money had fallen from the +sky, and ran to see his mistress. It was the ninth day. She asked +him: "Has it been very difficult? Have you found the hundred and fifty +ounces?" + +He then told her what Liu had done; and both, rejoicing, spent a night +of pleasure. Next day she said to him: + +"When this money is paid, I must follow my Lord. But we have made +no preparation for the boats and conveyances of our journey. I have +borrowed twenty ounces from my friends. My Lord may take them for +travelling expenses." + +In his uneasiness concerning these expenses, he had not dared to speak +of them. He took the money, and was full of joy. + +At that moment there was a knock on the door, and the old woman +entered, saying: + +"This is the tenth day." + +"I thank the ma-ma for recalling the fact to us," he answered. "I was +on the point of paying her a visit." + +And, taking up the bag, he poured the three hundred ounces on to the +table. The old woman had not supposed he could succeed. + +She changed color, and seemed on the point of gainsaying her word. +So Shih-niang said; "I have stayed in your house for a long time, and +have brought in several thousands of ounces. To-day I am marrying. If +you do not keep your word, I shall commit suicide before you, and you +will lose the money and the girl." + +The old woman could find no words to express her feeling. She took the +money in silence, and finally muttered: + +"If you mean to go away, you go now. But you shall take none of your +clothes or jewels with you." + +Hustling the two young people along, she led them through the door and +shot the bolt. + +It was then the ninth moon, and the weather was cold. Shih-niang had +but just risen from bed, and was not dressed; nor was her hair done. +Yet she saluted the ma-ma with two genuflexions. La Chia shook his +two hands joined together. Thus the married pair left that not too +pleasant old woman: + + Even as a carp escapes the metal hook, + Flirts its tail and shakes its head + And returns not. + +In front of the door La Chia said to his mistress: + +"Wait a moment! I will call a little palankeen to take you to the +house of Liu." + +She answered: + +"In this very court are my friends, my sisters, who have always been +in sympathy with me. + +"I must take leave of them; and I cannot neglect to thank them for the +money they have lent me." + +Accompanied by her Lord, she went to each pavilion to greet her +friends. Now, one of them, Yuch-lang, was a very close friend of +Shih-niang, so, seeing that she had not done her hair, she led her to +her own toilet-table, and ran to call another friend, Hsu Su-Su. Then +she took from her coffers many ornaments of king-fisher leather +and bracelets and jasper pins, even embroidered robes and girdles +ornamented with phoenix. She gave them to Shih-niang, over-coming her +with gratitude. + +She also ordered a feast of congratulation, to which all their friends +were invited, and finally, at the end of day, offered the pair a bed +for the night. + +When she was alone with Li Chia, Shih-niang asked: + +"Where shall we go when we have left the capital? Has my Lord made a +decision on this point?" + +"My father," he answered, "is still angry with me. If, in addition, he +learns that I have married my Little-Sister, and that I am coming back +with her, he will doubtless be carried quite away by rage. I have not +found a satisfactory plan." + +"Your father has feelings from Heaven. He could not break completely +with you. Would it not be better for us to go to him, and to keep to +our boat while you pray your friends to go and ask for a harmonious +reconciliation? After that, leading your slave, you may re-enter your +dwelling in peace." + +"That is an excellent plan," he answered. + +Next day they thanked Yuch-lang again, and went to the house of +Liu. On seeing the learned man, Shih-niang knelt down to express her +gratitude to him, saying: + +"Later we may both know how to return your kindness." + +Liu hastened to answer, according to the polite formality: + +"Your admirable sentiment far exceeds my most poor action. You are a +heroine among women. Why, then, do you hang such words to your/teeth?" + +All day the three of them drank wine of joy. Then the pair chose a +suitable day for their journey, and obtained horses and palankeens. +When the time for their departure drew near, Yuch-lang, Hsu-Su, and +all those friends came to bear the couple company. Yuch-lang sent her +servants to bring a metal casket, furnished with a golden lock, and +gave it to Shih-niang, who placed it in her palankeen without opening +it. + +The porters and servants urged the travelers forward, and they +started. Liu and the beautiful women escorted them as far as the other +side of the Ch'ung-wen gate, and there they drank a last cup together. +They separated with tears. + +When they reached the river Lu, Li Chia and Shih-niang abandoned +the land way and hired a cabin in a large junk which was going to +Kua-chow. After he had paid their passage in advance, there was only a +single piece of bronze left in Li Chia's bag; the twenty ounces which +Shih-niang had given him had vanished as if they had never been. The +young man had not been able to avoid giving certain presents, and he +had also bought blankets and other necessities for the journey. Sadly +he asked himself what to be done, but she said to him: + +"My Lord may cease to disturb himself. Our friends have given yet more +help." + +She opened her metal casket, while he looked on in shame. She took out +a red silk bag and put it on the table, bidding him open it. He found +the bag heavy; for, in fact, it contained fifty ounces of silver. +Shih-niang had already shut the casket again, without saying what +further was in it, now she said smilingly: + +"Have not our sisters the most desirable instinct? They did not wish +us to have any difficulty on our journey, and in this way they enable +us to cross mountains and rivers." + +Li Chia exclaimed in his delight and surprise: + +"If I had not met such generosity, I should have had no choice but +to wander, and at last to die without burial. Even when my hair turns +white, I shall not forget such virtue and such friendship." + +And he shed tears of emotion, until Shih-niang consoled him by, +diverting his thoughts. + +Some days later they reached Kua-chow, where the big junk stopped. But +Li Chia was now able to hire a smaller vessel for themselves alone, +and in this he stowed their baggage. On the morrow they were to travel +across the great river. + + * * * * * + +It was then the second quarter of the second month of winter. The moon +shone like water. The pair were sitting on the deck of the junk, and +the boy said: + +"Since we left the capital we have not been able to talk freely, +because we were in a cabin and our neighbors could hear us. Now we are +alone on our own junk. Also, we have left the cold of the North and +will to-morrow be on the south side of the river. Is it not a fitting +time to drink and rejoice, so as to forget our former sorrows? You to +whom I owe so much, what do you say?" + +"It is now long since your slave was deprived of little pleasantries +and laughters, and she had the same sentiment as yourself. Your words +prove that we have but one soul." + +They brought wine on deck; and, seated on a carpet beside his +mistress, he offered her cups. + +So they drank joyously, until they were a little drunk; and at length +he said: + +"O my benefactress, your voice of marvel used to trouble the six +theatres. Every time I heard you then, my spirit took wing from me. +It is long since you have overcome me in that way. The moon is bright +over the shimmering river. The night is deep and solitary. Will you +not consent to favor me with a song?" + +For a little, Shih-niang refused. Then she looked at the moon, and a +song escaped her. It was an affecting melody, taken from one of the +pieces of the Yuan dynasty, called "The Light Rose of the Peaches." In +truth: + + Her voice took flight to the Milky Way, + And the clouds stopped to listen. + Its echo fell into the deep water and the fishes hastened. + +Shih-niang sang. And in a near-by junk there was a young man called +Sun; his first name was Fu, Rich, and his surname was Shan-lai, +Excellent-in-Promise. His family was one of the wealthiest in Hsin-an +of Hui-chow; his ancestors had owned the salt monopoly in Yang-chow. +He was just twenty years old, and had moulded his character in +accordance with his passion, being a regular visitor at the blue +pavilions, where the smiles of painted roses are to be bought. He was +making a journey, and had cast anchor for the night at Kua-chow. He +was drinking in solitude, bemoaning the absence of companions. + +Suddenly in the night he heard a voice more sweet than the sighs of +the bird of passion, or than the warbling phoenix. No words seemed +adequate, he felt, to describe the beauty of this song. Walking out +from his cabin, he found that the music came from a junk not very far +distant from his own. + +In his eagerness to know who had enchanted him, he told his men to go +and question the boatmen. But he learned no more than that the junk +had been hired by Li Chia. He obtained no information concerning the +singer. He reflected: + +"Such a perfect voice could not belong to a woman of good family. How +can I manage to see this bird?" + +He could not sleep that night. In the morning, at about the fifth +watch, he heard the wind roaring on the water. The light of day was +strangely veiled by cloud, and flakes of snow were whirling madly. It +has been said; + + The clouds are swallowing + Countless thousands of trees upon the hill. + Footprints disappear on many footpaths. + The fisher in the bamboo hat + On the frail boat + Catches only snow and the frozen river. + +This snowstorm rendered it impossible to cross the river, and the +boats could not be set in motion. Sun, therefore, told his rowers to +leave his moorings and to make fast alongside Li Chia's junk. Then, in +a sable bonnet and wrapped in his fox-skin robe, he opened his cabin +window, pretending to look at the white snow as it fell. Shih-niang +had just arranged her hair, and, with her tapering fingers, was +pushing back the short curtains to throw out the dregs of tea in the +bottom of her cup. The freshened splendor of her rouge shone softly. + +Sun saw that celestial beauty, that incantation; he scented that +perfume; and his soul boiled over. For a long moment he gazed, and his +spirit was as if submerged. But he recovered himself and, leaning out +of the window, recited, nearly at full voice, the poem of the "Blossom +of the Plum Tree": + + Snow covers the mountain where the Sage abides, + Under the trees in the moonlight + Beauty advances. + +Li Chia heard the poem and came out of his cabin, curious to see who +was reciting it. In this way he fell into the trap set by Sun, who +hastened to salute him, asking: + +"Old-Elder-Brother, what is your honorable name? And what is your +first name which one does not presume to repeat?" + +Having answered in accordance with the convention, Li Chia had to +question Sun in his turn. They exchanged such words as are customary +between educated men. Finally the libertine said: + +"This snowstorm was sent by Heaven to effect our meeting. It is a +large piece of fortune for your little brother. I was lonely and +without diversion in my cabin. Would it not be my venerable brother's +pleasure that we should go to a riverside pavilion and divert +ourselves by drinking wine?" + +Li Chia answered: + +"The water-chestnuts meet at the caprice of the current. How should I +not be glad of this offer?" + +"Between the four seas all men are brothers." + +Then Sun ordered his servant to come with him, sheltering Li Chia +under a large parasol. The two men saluted each other again, landed on +the bank and, after walking a little distance, found a wine pavilion. + +Having entered, they chose seats by the window and sat down. The +attendant brought them hot wine, Sun raised his cup to give the +signal, and soon the two were conversing freely and had become +friends. At length Sun leaned forward and said in a low voice: + +"Last night a song arose from your honorable ship. Whose was that +voice?" + +Wishing to pose as a man of leisure making a journey, Li Chia at once +told the truth: + +"It was Tu Shih-niang, the famous singing girl of Peking." + +"How comes a singing girl to belong to my brother?" + +Li Chia then ingeniously told his story, and the other said: + +"To marry such a beauty is exceptional good fortune. But will your +honorable father be satisfied?" + +Li sighed and answered: + +"There is no lack of anxiety in my humble house. My father is of a +very stern disposition, and as yet knows nothing." + +Sun, developing his hidden traps, continued: + +"If your honorable father is not placable, where will my Elder-Brother +shelter the Beauty whom he has carried away? Have you come to some +arrangement with her on this point?" + +With heavy brows, La answered: + +"My little wife and I have already discussed the matter." + +"Your Honorable Favor has doubtless some admirable plan?" + +"Her ideas," explained La, "is to remain for the time at a place in +the country of Su and Hang, whilst I go forward to my family and ask +my friends and relations to appease my father." + +The other gave a deep sigh and assumed a saddened air: + +"Our friendship is not yet deep enough. I fear that you may consider +my words both strange and too outspoken." + +"When I have the good fortune to receive your learned and enlightening +counsel, how could I fail to respect it?" + +"Your honorable and noble father, being of stern character, +is certainly still angry at your conduct in Peking. And now my +Elder-Brother marries in the face of convention. How could your +prudent relatives and valuable friends fail to share the views of your +honorable father? When you rashly ask them to act on your behalf, they +will certainly refuse. Then will not the temporary residence of your +Honorable Favor become a permanent one? In your position, it will be +as difficult to advance as to retire." + +Li Chia knew that he had only fifty ounces in his purse, and that half +this sum would very soon have vanished. He could not help hanging his +head. His companion added: + +"I have yet another thing to say, and it comes from my heart. Will you +hear it?" + +"Having already received your sympathetic advice, I shall be most +happy to listen." + +"Since earliest time," said Sun, "the hearts of women have been as +changeable as the waves of the sea. And among the Flowers-in-the-Mist +especially there are few who are found faithful. Since the present +case concerns a famous singing girl, who knows the whole earth, it +is probable that she has some former associate in the regions of the +South. She has consequently availed herself of your help to conduct +her to the land where this other lives." + +"I beg to say that that is not certain," protested Li. + +"Even if it is not, the men of the South are very adroit and very +active. You leave a beautiful woman to live there all alone: can you +guarantee that none will climb her wall or penetrate her dwelling? +After all, the relations between father and son are from Heaven and +cannot be destroyed. If you abandon your family for the sake of a +singing girl, you will wander until you become one of those incorrect +Floating-on-the-Wave individuals. A woman is not Heaven. You must +ponder this matter seriously." + +Hearing this, Li Chia felt as if he were swept away by a torrent. At +last he answered: "What, in your enlightened opinion, ought I to do?" + +"Your servant has a plan which should be very profitable to you. But +I fear lest, weakened by die soft pillow of your love, you will not +be able to put it into execution, and that my words will therefore be +wasted." + +"If you have a really good suggestion, I shall be forever your debtor. +Why do you fear to speak?" + +"My Elder-Brother, for more than a year you have +Fluttered-in-the-Rain, obsessed by your brothel. You have not been +able to give your mind to the difficulties which will assail you when +you no longer know where to sleep or to eat. Your father's anger is +only due to your having become infatuated with Flowers, besotted by +Willows, until you poured out gold as if it were simple sand. He tells +himself that you will quickly consume the abundant wealth of +your family, and not be assured of having children. By returning +empty-handed you will justify his anger. If, O my Elder-Brother, you +could cut the knot which binds you to your love, I would willingly +make you a gift of a thousand ounces. With a thousand ounces of silver +to show your father, you could say that, during your stay at the +capital, you had rarely left your study chamber and that you had never +Skimmed the Waves. He will have confidence in you, and the harmony of +the house will be restored. Thus, without idle words, you change your +sorrow to joy. Give the matter three thoughts. I do not covet the +Beauty! I speak with no idea but of loyally helping a friend." + +La Chia was a man of naturally weak character; moreover, he was afraid +of his father. Sun's fine words troubled his heart. He rose, made a +deep bow, and said: + +"O Brother! Your noble counsel has cleared away the foolish and +tangled obstruction of my understanding. But my little favorite has +accompanied me for some thousands of li, and it would not be just for +me to leave her in this way. I will return to deliberate with her, +and to discover whether her mind is favorable to your project. I shall +inform you shortly." + +"In our conversation," answered Sun, "we have abandoned the paths of +strict politeness. + +"That was because my loyal heart could not endure to see the +separation of a father and son, and wished to help you to return to +your family." + +They both drank another cup of wine. The wind had dropped, and the +snow had ceased to fall. The color of the sky proclaimed the evening. +Sun caused his servant to pay for the drinks, and, taking Li Chia by +the hand, accompanied him as far as the junk. It is very true that: + + You meet a stranger and say three words + And tear off a piece of your heart. + +In the morning Shih-niang, on being left alone in her cabin, had +prepared a little feast for her friend, wishing to spend the day with +him in happiness; but the sun had set before Chia came back. She had +lanterns lit to guide him and, when he at last appeared and entered +the cabin, raised her eyes to his face and found the color of +displeasure. She poured out a cup of hot wine and offered it to him; +but he shook his head without a word, and refused to drink. Then he +went and threw himself on the bed. Sad at heart, Shih-niang put the +cups and dishes in order. She then undid her husband's clothes and, +leaning on the pillow, gently asked him: + +"What news have you heard that has so upset you?" + +Li Chia sighed, but without answering. She questioned him again three +or four times, but he was already asleep. Unable to be indifferent to +such lack of regard, she remained for a long time sitting on the edge +of the bed, incapable of sleep. + +In the middle of the night he awoke and gave another deep sigh; and +she said to him: + +"What is this difficult matter with which my Lord is troubled? What +are these sighings?" + +Li Chia threw off the blanket and seemed about to speak, but the words +would not come from him. His lips trembled like leaves, and finally +he burst out sobbing. She clasped his head with one arm and held it +against her breast, trying to comfort him, and saying tenderly: + +"The love which unites us has lasted for many days, for very nearly +two years. We have overcome a thousand hardships and bitter moments, +but now we are far beyond all difficulty. Why do you show such grief +to-day, when we are about to cross the river and to taste the joy of a +hundred years? There must surely be a reason. All things are shared in +common between husband and wife, in life and after death. If anything +is the matter, we must discuss it Why do you hide your sorrow from +me?" + +Thus urged, the young man mastered his tears and said: + +"I am crushed beneath the woe which Heaven heaps upon me. In the +generosity of your soul, you have not cast me by. You have endured a +thousand wrongs for me. That is no merit of mine. But I still think +of my father, whose commands I am defying and that against every +convention and all laws. He is of inflexible character, and I fear +that his wrath will grow double at the sight of me. Where, then, shall +we two, floating with the current, come to our anchorage? How shall +I ensure our happiness, when my father has broken with me? To-day my +friend Sun invited me to drink and spoke to me of my prospects, and +what he said has pierced my heart." + +"What is my Lord's intention?" she asked in great surprise. + +"I was turning madly in the web of our affairs, when my friend Sun +sketched out an excellent plan to me. But I fear that my benefactress +will refuse to allow it." + +"Who is this friend, Sun? If his plan is good, why should I not agree +to it?" + +"His first name is Fu, and his family had the salt monopoly at +Hsin-an. He is a man who has Drifted-in-the-Wind and knows life. Last +night he was charmed by your pure song. I told him where we came from, +and confided the difficulties which beset our return. Then, under +the impulsion of a generous thought, he offered to give me a thousand +ounces if you will marry him. With these thousand ounces as testimony +I shall be able to speak to my father. Also I shall know that you are +not without shelter. But I cannot contain my feeling, and that is why +I mourn." + +And his tears fell like a storm of rain. Ceasing to hold his head +against her breast, Shih-niang gently pushed him aside. At last she +smiled like ice and said to him: + +"This person must be a hero, a man of courage and virtue, to have +conceived a project so advantageous to my Lord. Not only will my Lord +have a thousand ounces to take back with him, not only will your slave +gain shelter, but your baggage will be lighter also and more easily +handled. As a plan it satisfies both convention and convenience. Where +are the thousand ounces?" + +Struggling with his tears, Li Chia replied: + +"I have not got your consent, so the silver was not given me." + +"You must demand it first thing to-morrow morning. A thousand ounces +is a considerable sum, and it must all be paid into your hand before +I enter his cabin. For I am not merchandise which may be bought on +credit." + +It was then the fourth watch of the night. + +Shih-niang prepared her toilet-table, saying: "To-day I must adorn +myself to bid farewell to my former protector and to do honor to my +new one. It is no commonplace event. I must therefore take great pains +with paint and perfume, and put on my best jewels and embroidered +robes." + +Thereafter, with perfume and paint and jewelry, she added to the +splendor of her petalled seduction. The sun had already risen before +she completed her preparations. + +Li Chia was disturbed, and yet seemed almost happy. Shih-niang urged +him to insist upon the payment of the money, and he at once carried +her answer to the other junk. Then Sun said: + +"It is easy for me to give the money; but I ought to have the fair +one's jewelry as a proof of her consent." + +Li Chia told this to Shih-niang, who pointed to the casket with the +golden lock, and caused it to be taken to Sun, who joyfully counted +out a thousand ounces of silver and sent them to Li's ship. The young +woman herself verified the weight and standard of the metal; and then, +leaning over the bulwarks, half opened her scarlet lips and showed her +white teeth saying to the dazzled Sun: + +"You can now, I think, give me back my casket for a time. The Lord +Li's passports are in it, and I must return them to him." + +The other at once ordered the little chest to be brought back and +placed on the bridge. Shih-niang opened it Inside there were several +compartments, and she asked Li Chia to help her lift out each in turn. + +In the first there were jewels in the shape of king-fisher feathers, +jasper pins, and precious earrings, to the value of many hundred +ounces. Shih-niang took up these things in handfuls and threw them +into the river. Li, Sun and the boatmen uttered exclamations of +dismay. + +In the second compartment were a jade flute and a golden flageolet. In +a third were antique jewels, gold furnishings and a hundred ornaments +worth thousands of ounces each. She threw them all into the river. The +stricken onlookers gave voice to their regret. + +Finally she drew out a box filled with pearls and rubies and emeralds +and cats' eyes, whose number and value were beyond computation. The +cries of the wondering bystanders beat in the air like thunder. She +wanted to throw all these into the river also; but Li Chia held her in +his arms, while Sun vehemently encouraged him. + +So, pushing Li away, she turned to the other and reviled him: + +"The Lord Li and I suffered many bitter moments before we came to +yesterday. And you, to serve a detestable and criminal lust, have +undone us and have caused me to hate the man I loved. After my death +I meet the Spirit of Retribution, and I shall not forget your vile +hypocrisy." + +Then, turning toward Li Chia, she continued: + +"During those many years when I lived in a disorder of the dust and +breeze, I secretly amassed these treasures, that they might some day +rescue my body. When I met my Lord, we vowed that our union should +be higher than the mountain, deeper than the sea. We swore that, even +when our hair was white, we should have our love. Before leaving the +capital, I pretended to receive this casket as a gift from my friends. +It contained a treasure of more than a myriad ounces. I intended to +deposit it in your treasury, when I had seen your father and mother. +Who would have thought your faith so shallow, that, on the strength +of a chance conversation, you would consent to lose my loyal heart? +To-day, before the eyes of all these people, I have shown you that +your thousand ounces were a very little sum of money. These persons +are my witness that it is my Lord who rejects his wife, that it is not +I who am wanting in my duty." + +Hearing these sad words, those who were present wept, and called down +curses upon Li, and reviled him as an ingrate. And he, being both +ashamed and desolate, shed tears of bitter repentance. He knelt down +to beg for her forgiveness. But Shih-niang, holding the jewels in each +hand, leaped into the yellow water of the river. + +The onlookers uttered a cry and rushed to save her. But, under a +sombre cloud, the waves in the heart of the river broke into boiling +foam, and no further trace was seen of that desperate woman. + +Alas! she was an illustrious singing girl, as beautiful as flowers or +jade. She had been swallowed in an instant by the water. + +The people, grinding their teeth, would have beaten Li and Sun; but +these, in terror and dismay, made haste to push their boats out from +the bank, and then went each his own way. + +Li Chia, seeing the thousand ounces of silver in his cabin, +unceasingly wept for the death of Shih-niang. His remorse gave birth +to a kind of madness in him, of which he could never be healed. + +Sun was so prostrated that he had to keep his bed. He thought he saw +Shih-niang standing in front of him all day and every day. It was not +long before he expiated his crime in death. + +We must now tell how Liu, having left the capital to return to his own +village, also halted at Kua-chow. Leaning over the river to take up +some water in a bronze basin, he let the thing slip, and therefore +begged certain fishermen to drag their net for it. + +When they drew up, there was a little box in the net. Liu opened +it, and it was full of pearls and precious stones. He rewarded the +fishermen generously, and placed the box near his pillow. + +In the night he had a dream. A young woman rose from the troubled +waters of the river, and he recognized Shih-niang. She drew near, +wishing him ten thousand happinesses. Then she recounted the unworthy +ingratitude of Li, and said: + +"Of your bounty you gave me a hundred and fifty ounces. I have +not forgotten your generosity, and I put this little box in the +fishermen's net as an offering of recognition." + +He awoke and, having learned thus of Shih-niang's death, sighed for a +long time. + +Later, those who told me this story declared that Sun, since he +thought he could acquire a beautiful woman for a thousand ounces, +was evidently not a respectable man. Li Chia, they said, had not +understood the sorrowful heart of Shih-niang, and was consequently +stupid, without refinement, and not worthy of mention. Shih-niang +alone was heroic. She was, in fact, unique since furtherest antiquity. +Why could she not meet some charming companion, some phoenix worthy +of her? Why did she make the mistake of loving Li Chia? An admirable +piece of jade was thrown to him who did not deserve it; so that love +turned to hate, and a thousand passionate impulses were drowned in the +deep water. Alas! + + +_Tu Shih-niang nu ch'en pai pao hsiang. (Tu Shih-niang, +being put to shame drowns herself with +her casket of a hundred treasures.)_ +_Chin ku chi'i kuan (17th Century.)_ + + + + +THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI + + +In the reign of the emperor Shen Tsung there lived an official named +Wu, who was at that time, Governor of Ch'ang-sha. His wife, Lin, had +given him a son named Ya-nei, or "In-the-Palace," who had that year +reached the age of sixteen. He was well endowed, although not without +tendency to wantonness; yet he had from childhood diligently studied +the classics and poetry. He had only one really extravagant failing; +to satisfy his appetite he needed more than three bushels of rice +every day, and over two pounds of meat. We will say nothing of his +drinking. In spite of all this, he ever seemed half starved. + +About the third Moon of that year, Wu was appointed Governor of +Yang-chow, and the equipages and boats of his new post came up to meet +him. He packed his belongings, said good-bye to his friends and went +on board, following the course of the river. On the second day he had +to stop, because of a storm of wind which raised up the waters of the +river in great waves. + +At the point on the river bank where the boat lay moored, there was +already another official junk, before the cabin of which stood a +middle-aged matron and a charming girl, surrounded by several women +slaves. Ya-nei perceived the youthful beauty, and thought her so +seductive that he immediately composed the following poem: + + Her soul has the tenderness of Autumn rivers + And her pure bones are made of jade. + The rose of the hibiscus lightens her, + Her eyebrows have the curve of willow leaves. + Is she not an Immortal from the Jasper Lake + Or from the Moon Palace? + +He looked at her so ardently that his troubled soul took flight +and alighted upon the maiden's breast. But his intelligence at once +conceived a plan, and he said to his father: + +"Tieh-tieh, why would you not tell the sailors to anchor our junk by +the side of that one? Would it not be safer?" + +Wu was also of this opinion and accordingly gave orders to his men. +When the vessel was alongside, he sent to inquire the name of the +voyagers, and was informed that they were a certain Ho Chang, the new +Governor of Kien-K'ang, going to his post with his wife Ho tsin, and +his daughter Elegant, who was just fifteen. + +Wu had known the excellent man formerly, so he had his name carried to +him. Then, clothed in his official robes, he stepped from one ship +to the other. His colleague was awaiting him before his cabin, and, +having exchanged formal greetings, they sat and talked together, +drinking a cup of tea. Wu returned to his boat where, after a few +moments, Ho Chang returned his visit. And Ya-nei was present at +the meeting. Ho Chang had no son, and took pleasure in seeing this +beautiful young man. He questioned him upon certain ancient and modern +books, and was satisfied with the ready answers which he obtained. He +praised him unreservedly for them, thinking: + +"This is just the son-in-law that I should like. He would make an +unprecedented match with my daughter. But he is going to live at +Pien-liang, and I will be at Kien-K'ang which is more than fifteen +days' journey to the south of that place." + +Wu asked him: + +"How many sons have you, O Old-Man-Born-Before-Me?" + +"I will not conceal from you the fact that I have only a daughter." + +Wu considered: + +"That charming child was his daughter then. She would be an +unprecedented wife for my son. But she is his only child, and he +certainly would not be willing to marry her at any great distance from +himself." + +He added aloud: + +"But if you have no son, you have only to take concubines." + +"I thank you for your suggestion. It had occurred to me." + +After having talked for some time, Ho Chang withdrew to his cabin, +where his wife and daughter were awaiting him. Being a little elated +by his cups of wine, he kept speaking of Ya-nei's merit, and of his +intention to invite the father and son for the next day. His words +sank deeply into his daughter's mind. + +On the following day the river was still churned by waves, and the +storm sent up spray to a height of more than thirty feet. The crash of +water was heard on all sides. + +Early in the morning Ho Chang sent his invitation, and, when the two +men arrived, the feast began. Elegant, in the next cabin, could see +Ya-nei through the cracks in the bulkhead, and her heart was secretly +moved. + +"If I could have him for my husband, my desire would be satisfied. But +I shall not persuade him into a proposal by merely looking at him. How +shall I set about making known my thought to him?" + +Ya-nei, for his part, looked in vain for some means of speaking to his +neighbor. When the meal was finished, he returned to his ship and lay +down on his bed. + +But Elegant was so much occupied in thinking of the young man that she +could not touch her dinner. Leaving her mother alone, she retired to +rest and was on the point of going to sleep, when the sound of a song +came to her. It was the voice of Ya-nei, singing: + + A dream has come to me from the Blue Bowl, + But I was not able to speak. + I could not tell her of my delight + Or appoint an endless alliance. + +She rose softly, opened her cabin door without sound and went up on +to the bridge. Ya-nei was standing on the other ship, and immediately +leaped to her side, and boldly took her in his arms. Between joy and +alarm, she did not dare to resist. He drew her into her cabin and +embraced her. + +At that moment one of the slaves passed before the cabin and, seeing +the door open, cried out: + +"The door is open! O thieves!" + +Elegant at once covered her lover with the blanket, but one of the +slaves saw the invader's feet. Ho Chang and his wife snatched away the +blanket. + +"How does this wretch dare to dishonor my family?" cried the Governor +in a rage. "Ah, throw him into the river!" + +In spite of the prayers of the culprit and the girl two men seized the +former, dragged him away and threw him into the water. She followed +him in despair, crying: + +"I have ruined him! I wish to follow!" + +And she too threw herself into the water. She woke with a start. It +was only a dream. + +Till morning she lay and thought, wondering if this dream were perhaps +an omen that her destiny ought not to be bound up with that of Ya-nei. + +He also had complicated dreams that night. He rose in the morning and +opened the port-hole of his cabin. Ho Chang's ship was touching his +own, and the port-hole opposite to him was open. Elegant appeared +there, and their eyes met. Surprised, delighted and embarrassed, they +smiled, as if they had known each other for a long time. They would +gladly have spoken, but were afraid of being heard. Then she made a +small sign to him, retired quickly into her cabin, and rapidly wrote +some words on a piece of paper ornamented with sprays of rose peach. +She rolled it in a silk handkerchief and cleverly threw it to Ya-nei, +who caught it in both hands. They saluted each other, and reclosed +their port-holes. + +He unfolded the handkerchief and smoothed out the crinkled leaf. It +bore this poem: + + Brocade characters are on this paper of flowers, + And the bowels of my sorris in this embroidery, + I have dreamed of a prince + And, carried upon a cloud, I come to him. + +But there was also a little word or two added: + +"This evening your submissive mistress will await you near the lamp. +The noise of my scissors will be the signal for our happiness, and of +our meeting." + +Beyond himself with joy, the lad hastened to take a leaf of golden +paper and wrote out a poem on it. Then he took off his embroidered +silken girdle, rolled it all together, and opened his port-hole. +Elegant had also opened hers; she received the small packet and at +once concealed it in her sleeve, for she heard the slaves approaching. +These were followed by her mother. At last the time came for her +father to cross to the other ship for the return feast given by Wu. + +Full of cunning, the maiden took a vessel brimming with liquor and +gave it to her slaves, who eyed the gift as a thirsty dragon looks +upon water. They were half-drunk when Ho Chang came back from the +feast, and Elegant told them to go to bed, and that she would do some +needle-work. As their faces were red, their ears burning and their +legs unsteady, they were only too glad to retire; and soon their +snores were heard over the ship. Little by little all other sounds +died away in both the junks. Then she gently knocked on her port-hole +with her scissors. + +Naturally Ya-nei was waiting for the signal; as soon as he heard it, +his body was as if it had been shaken to pieces. However, he softly +opened his shutter, stepped from one ship to the other, and glided +into the cabin where the maiden awaited him. She gave him formal +greeting, which he returned; but they looked at each other under the +lamp, and their passion already raged like fire. They could hardly +exchange a word, and Ya-nei's trembling hands were undoing. She +offered but very feeble resistance. He ardently embraced her, and with +his arms joined himself to the fresh breast that lighted him. + +At last they were able to speak. She told him of her dream, and of +her astonishment on recognizing, in his poem, the verses which she had +heard him sing in dream. He turned pale and sat down: + +"My dream was exactly yours. Before these omens are fulfilled, I shall +speak to my father to arrange our marriage." + +But, even as they talked, they silently fell asleep arm in arm. + +Now about the middle of the night, the wind fell and the river became +calmer. At the fifth watch the sailors untied their moorings and began +to haul their anchors, singing at their work. The noise awakened the +lovers, who heard the men say: + +"The ship catches the wind rarely. We shall not be long in getting to +Ch'i-Chow." + +They looked at each other in dismay: + +"What are we going to do now?" + +"Hush!" said she. You must remain hidden for the moment. We will at +last find a plan." + +"It is our dream come true." + +Remembering that the slaves had seen her lover's feet in her dream, +Elegant leaned forward and covered them carefully with an ample +blanket. At last she said: + +"I have a plan. During the day you must hide under the couch, and I +shall pretend to be ill, and keep in bed, or in the cabin. When we +reach Ch'i-Chow, I will give you a little money, and you must escape +in the confusion of the disembarkation. You shall rejoin your parents, +and we will arrange for our marriage. If, by any chance, my parents +were to refuse, we should tell the truth. My family has always loved +me excessively; they will certainly accede." + +As soon as they had determined on their course, Ya-nei slid under the +bed, and made himself a place among the baggages. The curtain fell +into place in front of him, and the young girl was still in bed when +her mother came in, saying: + +"Aya! Why are you resting like this?" + +"I do not feel very well. I must have taken cold." + +"Cover yourself well, my daughter, if that be so." + +At this moment a slave entered, asking if she should bring breakfast. + +"My child," said her mother, "if you are not well, you would do +better not to take any solid nourishment. I am going to make you an +occasional small rice broth until you are recovered." + +"I am not very fond of broth. Give me some rice. Let them bring it to +me here. I shall eat it by and by." + +"I will keep you company." + +"Aya! If you do not go and look after this rabble of women, they will +do their work most incontestably wrong." + +Without understanding, the mother did indeed go to the next cabin +at that moment when the breakfast was brought in. As soon as she had +turned her back, Elegant told the slave to set down the dish on the +table. + +"You may go away. I shall call you when I have finished." + +Ya-nei was watching, and came out from his hiding. On the dish there +were only two small bowls of vegetables mixed with meat, a bowl of +cooked green-stuff, and a little rice. Naturally, the young girl +was not in the habit of taking large quantities of food; but for her +lover, with his three bushels of rice a day, the matter was otherwise. +After their meal, he again glided under the bed, nearly as hungry as +before. She called the slave, and told her to bring in two more bowls +of rice. + +Her mother heard this, and entered, saying: + +"My child! You are not well. How is it that you want to eat all that?" + +"The reason is not far to seek," she answered. + +"I am hungry, that is all." + +And her father, who had come to see the invalid, said: + +"Let her be. She is growing, and needs nourishment." + +When night came, and the evening meal was finished, she shut the door +and told her lover he could get into the bed again. But the poor young +man was suffering cruelly from hunger. + +"Our stratagem," said he, "is admirable. But it is in one respect also +grievous. I cannot conceal from you that my appetite is considerable. +The three meals which I have had to-day seem scarcely a mouthful. On +such a diet, I shall starve before we come to Ch'i-Chow." + +"Why did you not say so? I shall make them bring me more to-morrow." + +"But are you not afraid of rousing suspicion?" + +"That is nothing. I shall see to it. But how much would you need?" + +"We shall never be able to obtain quite that. Ten bowls of rice at +each meal would not be enough." + +Next day, when her parents came to see her, Elegant complained. + +"I do not know what is the matter with me," she said. "I am dying of +hunger." + +But her mother began to laugh: + +"That is not a very serious affair. I will have more rice brought to +you." + +But when the young girl said that she needed about ten bowls, the good +woman was startled. She again wished to remain near her daughter. + +"If you stay here, mama, I shall not be able to take anything. Leave +me alone, and I shall eat more comfortably." + +Everybody indulged her caprice. When the cabin was empty, she shut +the door and Ya-nei came out. Hungry as he was, he made the ten bowls +vanish like a shooting star, and did not leave a single grain. Elegant +watched him with astonishment, and asked him in a low voice: + +"Is that still too little?" + +"It will suffice," answered the other, drinking a cup of tea. + +He hastened back to his hiding-place, while the young girl ate some +vegetables. Then she called the slaves, who came running up, wondering +whether she had been able to eat all that food. They looked at the +empty bowls and at their mistress's slim figure, and murmured as they +went away: + +"What a terrible illness!" + +One of them, in her anxiety, went to the father and showed him the +dish, suggesting that he should call a doctor as soon as possible. +And he, for his part, forbade them to give her so much another time, +fearing that she would burst. + +At mid-day he went himself to speak to her. + +She began to weep: her mother took her part; and they gave way to her. +The evening meal was just as large. + +They were approaching Ch'i-Chow, and Ho Chang, who was really alarmed, +ordered his boatmen to cast anchor near the town. Early in the morning +he sent his steward to find the best doctor, and when the man arrived, +brought him on board and explained the case to him. They then went to +examine the invalid and to try her pulse. The doctor at length came +back with the father into the central cabin. + +"Well? What is the illness?" + +The other coughed, and at last said: + +"Your daughter is suffering from lack of nourishment." + +Her father was staggered: + +"But I have told you that she ate thirty bowls of rice yesterday." + +"Yet, but your daughter is still a child. She is apparently fifteen +years old, but that is equivalent to fourteen in reality, or even to +thirteen and some months. Her food accumulates in her stomach, but +is not assimilated. From this cause arises the fever which burns her +stomach and makes her imagine herself to be always hungry. The more +she eats, therefore, the more her stomach burns. In one month it will +be too late to cure her, and she will die of hunger." + +"But how is she to be cured?" + +"First, I shall make her digest what she eats. Of course, she must eat +very little indeed." + +He wrote his prescription and went away. The servant went to get the +drugs, which were dissolved and boiled according to direction, and +finally presented to the young girl. + +She said that she would take them, and as soon as she was alone threw +them out of the port-hole. Thereafter she continued to ask for ten +bowls of rice for every meal. + +Every one on the ship was now discussing this extraordinary case. +Some said that they ought to call in sorcerers. Others thought that +religious men would do better, seeing that she had certainly been +possessed by one of those starving spirits which wander without +purpose in punishment for their sins, with a needle's eye for a mouth, +seeking in vain for food. + +At the next town, Ho Chang summoned another doctor. After his +examination, mention was made of the former diagnosis, and he burst +out laughing. + +"Nothing of the sort. It is an internal consumption." + +"But what, then, is the reason for this hunger?" + +"The hot and the cold principles are at variance in her, and +the resultant fire gives her continual opsomania. It is easy to +understand." + +"But she has no fever." + +"Outside she is cool, but she burns within. The malady is inside the +bones; and that is why it is not visible. If she had continued to take +the drugs which you have been giving her, it would have been difficult +to save her. I shall give her something to soothe her bowels. She will +then, of her own accord, refuse all food." + +It need not be said that it was the same in this case as in the other. +All the medicines went down the river. + +Meanwhile the two lovers continued to profit by the silence of the +night. Naturally, the young girl was at first, so to speak, passive +in the arms of the young man, who was himself bashful. But little by +little, penetrating further into the domain of pleasure, their amorous +intelligence redoubled with their rapture, and they forgot entirely +where they were. + +One night a slave woke up, and heard a "tsi-tsi-nung-nung" and a +"tsia-tsia" coming from within, and then quick breathing. Inwardly +surprised, she next day told her mistress, and the mother, seeing that +her daughter was always of a brilliantly healthy complexion, began to +think this unknown malady a very strange one. She did not inform her +husband, however, but ran herself to see her daughter. The child's +face seemed to her to be more beautiful and animated even than +usual. She went out, without seeing anything which might confirm her +suspicion, and, coming back again after breakfast, began gently to +question her daughter on her ideas of marriage. + +As they were talking, there suddenly came a snore from under the bed. +Ya-nei, after his efforts in the night and his morning meal, had gone +to sleep in his hiding-place. + +Elegant's mother at once shut the door and, quickly stooping to look +under the bed, saw the young man asleep. + +"Alas, how could you do this thing? And then frighten us with your +illness? Now everybody will know of it. Where does he come from? May +Heaven strike him dead!" + +Elegant's face was purple with shame. + +"It is all your child's fault. He is the son of the Lord Wu." + +"Ya-nei? But you have never seen him! Besides, he was at the dinner +with your father, and we came away at midnight. How can he be here?" + +Trusting in her mother's indulgence, the young girl confessed +everything, and added: + +"Your unworthy daughter has dishonored our name and lost her +innocence. My crime is unpardonable. But it was the will of Heaven. +There had to be that storm to make us meet, and then destiny prevented +our betrothal. Our strength was too small for the struggle, and we +have sworn to love each other until death. I implore you to speak to +my father and appease him; for if he makes an uproar; there is nothing +left for me but to die." + +Her tears fell like rain. And, while they were talking, Ya-nei's +snores sounded like thunder. + +"At least make him keep quiet," cried the mother in a fury. "We can no +longer hear ourselves speak." + +And she went out, slamming the door, while Elegant hastened to awaken +the sleeper. + +"Really you might snore less loudly!" she said with impatience. "All +is discovered now." + +When he heard this, Ya-nei's body was frozen with terror as if he had +received a drenching in cold water. His teeth chattered. + +"Do not be afraid. I have asked my mother to speak for us. If my +father is angry, there will be time enough for us to die then." + +The woman meanwhile had hurried to her husband, but there was a slave +with him, putting the cabin in order. So she waited, and the tears +rolled from her eyes. Ho Chang thought she was anxious about her +daughter's health, and reassured her: + +"She will be better in a few days. The doctor said so. Do not disturb +yourself." + +But she sneered at him: + +"You have been listening to the flower words of old Wise-Wand. Better +in a few days! She would have to be ill first!" + +"What do you mean?" + +Since the servant was no longer there, she told him in a low voice +what she had seen and heard. Ho Chang's anger was such that his sight +was troubled. She begged him to calm himself. + +"Enough! Enough!" he thundered. "This worthless daughter fouls the +very air upon our threshold. We must kill them both in the night, so +that none may know." + +The woman's face became as the earth. + +"We have already reached a ripe age, and this is the only flesh and +bone we have. If you kill her, what will be left to us? As for +Ya-nei, he is of a good family, he is intelligent, and well-built. Our +stations are identical and our houses equal. His only fault is that he +did not make a proposal, but rather forced everything in secret. +Yet so the matter is. Would it not be better to send him back with +a letter to Wu, requiring gifts of betrothal? We would lose all by +making a scandal." + +Ho Chang's rage was already half spent, and he now let himself be +persuaded by degrees. He went out and asked the boatmen where they +were. + +"We are approaching Wu-ch'ang." + +"You will anchor there." + +He then called his confidential steward and, explaining all to him, +gave him a letter. After this he went to see his daughter, who hid +herself under the blanket when she beheld him. He spoke no word +to her; but in a stern tone called out Ya-nei, who crept from his +hiding-place, saluted the older man, and said: + +"My crime deserves death." + +"How could a young man of your education commit such an act? My wife +has prevailed upon me to spare your life; but, if you would redeem +your fault, you must take my unworthy daughter as your wife. If this +is not your intention, do not count upon my pardon." + +Ya-nei abased himself in ritual prostration. + +"The honor which you do me is a reward which my conduct does not +deserve," he said. "I shall speak to my parents as soon as I return." + +Ho Chang hurried him away, without leaving him time to speak to the +young girl again. She was clinging to her mother, and whispered: + +"I do not know my father's intention. Could I not have a letter from +Ya-nei on his arrival?" + +Her truly indulgent mother went and spoke to the steward. + +The latter had already hired a boat, and, as it was night, the +intruder would be able to pass from one junk to the other without +being observed. They set out, while Elegant wept incessantly for +sorrow and uneasiness. We must now return to the family of Wu. + +After the night of Ya-nei's departure, their boat had proceeded for +several leagues before the young man's absence was noticed. But when +they called for him, and his cabin was found empty, the souls of his +parents left their bodies. They howled their despair, supposing that +their child had fallen unobserved into the water. + +They turned the ship about, hoping at least to recover the body; +but all searching was in vain, and they had perforce to resume their +journey in despair. + +They had been at their destination for two days when Ya-nei arrived; +you may suppose that their surprise was only equalled by their joy. +They read Ho Chang's letter, and understood everything. They scolded +their son, and made a feast for Ho Chang's envoy. When the betrothal +gifts were ready, they sent them in charge of their steward, to whom +Ya-nei entrusted a secret letter for his Elegant. + +Soon the time came for Ya-nei's examination at the capital, and he was +accepted. His father asked for a holiday, and the whole family went to +Kien-K'ang, where the marriage was celebrated. The fame of Elegant's +wisdom and beauty grew with the years, and the happiness of these two +was never dimmed. + +_Hsing shih heng yen (1627), +28th Tale._ + + + + +A STRANGE DESTINY + + + In epochs of deep peace + When days are lengthening, + The flute sounds and songs are heard + Among the drunken villages. + The Phoenix Car is said to be approaching + With the Emperor, + And each one turns his eye + To the splendor of that procession. + +In the reign of Hui Tsung of the Sung dynasty, near the capital of +the East, on the borders of the Lake of Clearness of Gold, a new wine +pavilion had just been opened, under the sign of The Quick Hedge. Fan, +the landlord, and his brother Erh-lang, were the proprietors. Neither +of them was married; and their business prospered. + +It was the week when Spring melts into Summer, and men walk abroad in +number to enjoy the freshness and beauty of nature. + +One day Erh-lang roamed the lakeside, delighting in the soft air, and +saw, in front of a teahouse, a ravishing girl of about eighteen, in +whose face, which was as dreamful as the Night Star, flowered all the +blossoms of the time. He stopped, fixed to the ground with admiration +and already riotous with love. He could not take his eyes from the +rose radiance of this face, peach blossom against flawless jade; from +this slender body, from the rare golden lotus of these delicate feet. +A scarlet hibiscus in flower framed this phoenix against stirring +landscape of the great lake. + +Alas! our emotions do not depend upon our will. The young girl +felt herself looked upon, and raised her eyes; her soul was at once +troubled, her child's heart secretly rejoiced. She thought: + +"If I could marry this beautiful man, I should know many happy +moments. But, though he is there now, where will he be tomorrow? How +can I tell him how to find me again?" + +Just then a seller of refreshments came by with his small vessels on +his shoulder. She called him: + +"Have you a little honey-water?" + +The merchant set down a bronze vase on the ground to serve her; but +she, with pretended clumsiness, upset the vase, and said to him: +"Never mind! Come to my house and I will pay for all. I will give you +my name and address." + +Erh-lang pricked his ears, as she continued: "I am the daughter +of Lord Chou, who lives near the Ts'ao Gate. My little name is +Victorious-Immortal. And I pray you do not charge too much, for I am +not yet betrothed or married." + +The young lover trembled with joy, saying to himself: + +"These words are meant for me, I am sure of that." + +The merchant was meanwhile protesting, and the young girl added: + +"My father is not at home just now. But he is terrible, and you will +undoubtedly be prosecuted if you try to rob us." + +Erh-lang earnestly desired to make himself known in his turn, and +being unable to think of any other expedient, he did as the girl had +done: asked for a bowl of cool water, and pretended clumsily to upset +the full jar. He then said: "Aya! Here is another misfortune! But it +does not matter. Come to my house, and you shall be well recompensed. +I am Erh-lang, brother of Fan. We are proprietors of THE PAVILION OF +THE QUICK HEDGE. I am nineteen, and no one has yet cheated me in my +business, I can draw a bow, and am not yet betrothed." + +"Are you not a little mad?" asked the merchant, looking at him in +astonishment. "Why do you tell me all that? Do you wish me to act as +the go-between for your marriage? I am an honest man, and have never +cheated anybody." + +Hearing her admirer's words, the girl rejoiced in her heart. She +suggested to her mother, who was sitting by her, that they should +go away; and rising to her feet, said to the merchant: "If you will +follow us, we will pay you at once." + +But her eyes spoke in reality to the young man; who walked slowly +behind her, admiring the poise of her gait. In this manner they +proceeded until the two women entered their house. But the young girl +came back almost at once to draw aside the big door-curtain and to +look out at him as he passed. He went on walking to and fro, as if he +had lost his senses, and did not return to his house till evening. + +From that particular day Victorious-Immortal remained so strangely +affected that she was quite unable to swallow a grain of rice, or even +to touch a cake. At last, one morning, she was too weak to rise. Her +mother ran to her bed. + +"My poor child," she asked, "what is the matter with you?" + +"I ache all over my body. I have pains in my head and cough a little." + +Her mother at once thought of calling in a doctor; but, in the absence +of the master of the house and his servant, there was no man to go +on the errand. But an old female attendant, named Kind-Welcome, was +present and observed: + +"The ancient woman Wang lives, as you know, quite close at hand. She +has helped more than a hundred children into the world. She can sew, +and she can act as go-between; but she can also feel a pulse and +diagnose an illness. Everybody calls her as soon as there is anything +the matter." + +"That is true. Go and fetch her quickly." + +Some few moments later the healer came and the mother began a long +explanation. But the woman interrupted her: + +"I shall know all about it when I have examined the patient." + +The sick girl put out a wasted hand, and the woman felt her pulse for +a long time. At last she said: + +"You have pains in the head, and all your body aches. You are in +continual agony, and the earth is hateful to you." + +"That is exactly the case," she answered from her bed. "Also I cough a +little." + +"But what has caused this illness?" + +As the girl did not answer, this wise old visitor turned to the mother +and the attendant, and signed them to go away. They dared not refuse, +and left the room. + +"Now we are going to cure you. The illness lies in your heart, and +nowhere else." + +"In my heart?" questioned the sick girl. + +"You have seen a handsome young man, and he pleases you. Your +suffering rises from that; is it not so?" + +"There is nothing of the sort," denied the other. + +"Come, come! Tell me the truth, and I will soon find a means to save +your life." + +Seeing a chance to reach to her desire, little Victorious-Immortal +decided to tell everything. When she had finished, the very old woman +said: + +"Do not be troubled. I know one of his relations who has spoken to +me of him. He is intelligent and level-headed. I shall go and see his +brother, to make arrangements for your marriage, if you finally wish +to marry him." + +"You know very well that I do," said the sick child with a smile. "But +will my mother consent?" + +"Do not be uneasy. I have my methods." + +She was already out of the room, and saying to the mother: + +"I know what is the matter with your daughter. If you would like me to +make it clear to you, have two cups of wine brought in." + +Kind-Welcome made haste to arrange all on the table. The healer drank +a draught of burning wine and, turning to the mother, repeated word +for word what the girl had confessed to her, adding: + +"And now there is nothing for it but to marry her to Erh-lang, for +otherwise her death is certain." + +"My husband will be away for a long time yet. I cannot decide without +him." + +"You have only to make the arrangements. You need not celebrate the +marriage until after my Lord's return. She must be given her desire; +there is no other way of saving her." + +"If the young man is as desirable as all that ..." the mother murmured +uneasily. "But how shall we bring the thing about?" + +"I am going to speak to his elder brother. I will keep you informed." + +Without further delay, the venerable go-between went straight to The +Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, where she found Fan behind his counter, +and saluted him: + +"Ten thousand happinesses!" + +"You come at the right time," he answered with a bow. "I was about to +send to beg you to do so. For some days, I assure you, my brother has +not been able to take a morsel of food. He says that his whole body is +aching, and now he stays in bed. Will you, please, feel his pulse?" + +"I will see him. But it is better for me to be alone with him." + +"Then I shall not come with you." + +So the old woman went up into the sick man's room, and he said to her +feebly: + +"Mother Wang, it is very long since I saw you. Alas! You come too +late! My life is finished!" + +"In what special way are you so seriously ill?" she asked, sitting +near the bed and touching his wrist. + +After a moment she continued: + +"Shall I tell you the name of your illness? It is called +Victorious-Immortal, little daughter of Chou, and her house is near +the Ts'ao Gate." + +The sick man was startled and sat up: + +"How do you know that?" + +"Her family has commissioned me to come and arrange your marriage." + +Immediate happiness revived the young man. + +He rose and came down with the wise visitor to his astonished brother. + +"I am cured," he announced, "And all goes very well." + +Meanwhile the old woman was saying: "The family of Chou has sent me +especially to talk to you about a marriage." + +All was soon settled, the first gifts were exchanged, and the +comforted hearts of the two young people were filled with joy. +But they had to wait Lord Chou's return before proceeding with the +ceremony. + +Chou did not come back until eight months later. It is needless to say +that, when he did so, all his relations and friends came to drink cups +of wine with him to "wash down the dust of the journey." At last his +wife told him what had happened, affirming that all was decided. But +the eyes of the master of the house became round and white, and he +bellowed: + +"O filthy imbecile, who gave you the right to betroth our daughter to +a wine merchant? Is there no son of decent family who would marry her? +Do you wish to make us a laughing-stock?" + +While he was thus cursing his wife, the servant came up to them, +crying: + +"Come quickly and save the child! She was behind the door, and heard +your cries. She fell down and is no longer breathing." + +Stumbling in her haste, the mother ran out. She saw her daughter lying +on the ground and was about to raise her, but her husband prevented +her, saying: + +"Leave her! She was bringing dishonor on us! If she is to die, then +let her die!" + +Seeing her mistress held back, Kind-Welcome bent over the girl. But +Chou, with a blow that made the air whistle between his fingers sent +her against the wall. In his rage, he seized his wife and shook her +roughly, and she howled like a dog. The neighbors heard her and ran +in, fearing that there was disaster. Soon the room was filled with +women, all talking at the same time. But the master of it roughly bade +them be silent: + +"I do not allow any spying upon my private affairs." + +The neighbors retired in discomfort, and the mother threw herself upon +her daughter's body, whose ends were already cold. She sobbed: + +"You would not have died if I had come to you. O murderer, you have +let her die of set purpose. You did not want to give her the four or +five thousand ounces which her grandfather left her." + +He went out, panting like a boar with anger. The mother did not cease +to lament her loss: her daughter had been so gentle and so clever. At +length the time came to shut down the coffin, and Chou angrily said to +his wife: + +"You pretend that I let her die so as not to lose four thousand +ounces? I order you to put all her jewels in the tomb with her. That +is more than five thousand ounces, one would think." + +They brought in the wu-tso, the Inspector of Corpses, and also his +assistant, to verify the death and to help in hearsing her. The keeper +of the family graveyard and his brother, the two Chang, were also +there to assist in the mournful work. + +The time came for the funeral, and the procession went forth from the +town. The coffin was placed in a brick tomb, and the first shovels of +earth were thrown upon it. Then all returned home. Three feet of cold +insensitive earth covered the body of this young beauty, and it had +been full of love. + +Now the Inspector of Corpses had a worthless fellow named Feng for his +assistant. This miserable boy, on coming back from the cemetery in +the evening, said to his mother: "An excellent day's work! Tomorrow we +shall be rich." + +"And what successful stroke of business have you concluded?" + +"Today we buried the daughter of Chou, and all her jewels were put +in the coffin with her. Instead of leaving them to enrich the earth, +would it not be better to take them?" + +"Think before you do such a terrible thing!" his mother begged. "This +is no matter of a mere whipping. Your father wanted to do the same +thing twenty years ago. He opened a coffin, and the corpse began to +smile at him. Your father died of that in four or five days. My son, +do not do it. It is no easy matter." + +"Mother," he answered simply, "my mind is made up. Do not waste your +breath on me, for that is useless." + +He bent over his bed, and took out of it a heavy iron tool. + +"O mother, not each person's destiny is the same. I have consulted +soothsayers, and they have told me that I shall become rich this +year." + +He took also an axe, a leather sack, and a dark lantern, which he +placed in readiness. Finally he wrapped himself in a great mantle of +reeds, for it was the eleventh moon and the snow had begun to fall. +He made a sort of hurdle with about ten inter-crossed bamboos, and +fastened it behind his mantle, so that it should drag along the ground +and efface his foot-prints. + +The second watch was sounding when he went out, and all was still +bustle and gaiety in the town. But beyond the walls both silence and +solitude reigned in the growing cold. The snow was already thick. Who +would have ventured out there? + +From time to time he turned his head, but no one followed him. At last +he reached the wall of the family graveyard and climbed in. Suddenly +a dog ran through the tall grass and leaped at him, barking. The thief +had prepared a portion of poisoned meat, and threw it to the dog. The +beast, being badly fed, smelt it and swallowed it. He still barked +a little, but the venom was potent, and he very soon writhed on the +ground. + +In the keeper's hut, young Chang said to his elder brother: + +"The dog has started barking, and then has stopped. Is that not +strange? Perhaps it is a thief. You ought to go and see." + +The elder brother rose from his hot bed and took up a weapon, +grumbling. Then he opened the door and went out. But he was seized +by a whirl of cold snow, and called to the dog: "What are you barking +for, O animal of the Gods?" + +Then he came back and glided under his blankets. + +"There is nothing at all. But it is very cold." + +From the distant town came the far sound of the gongs and drums of the +third watch. Taking heart, Feng went forward in a snow which deadened +his steps. He quickly shovelled the fresh earth from the grave, and +then lighted his lantern. Its yellow light lit up but a single point. +Forcing two long crowbars between the joints, he loosened one brick, +and then another. At last the coffin was uncovered. He inserted his +pick under the lid, and pried it off and laid it on one side. The +corpse was brought to view. + +"Small sister," he murmured. "I am only going to borrow a little of +your useless wealth. Do not you grudge it me!" + +He took the veil from that charming face. The head was covered with +ornaments of gold, and also with pearls. He took them all. He was +tempted by the fine and silken garments of the corpse. He stripped it. + +But suddenly, the body shook itself and pushed the thief away with +violence. He uttered a cry of imbecile terror and shrank back. The +corpse had sat up and, in that little light, looked at the open tomb, +the scattered tools, and her own unclothed body. The wretched lad, +obeying instinctive habit, trembled and lied: + +"Little sister, I have come to save you." + +Naturally, when little Victorious-Immortal had heard the foul Chou's +violent words, her despair had made her lose all sign of life. It was +for this reason that she had been put in her coffin while still +alive. Aroused now by the cold, her first thought was to remember her +father's anger. Her only refuge then was the house of her betrothed, +and she said: "If you will take me to The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, +you may have a heavy reward." + +"That is easy," answered Feng, seeking in vain for how he should +escape. + +Ought he to kill her? He hardly had the courage after such a shock. +He decided to give her back a few clothes. He put the jewels and his +implements in the sack, together with the extinguished lantern, and +quickly covered the grave with earth again. Then, because the girl +was too weak to walk, he took her on his back and went away from that +place. But instead of going to Fan's house, he went to his own. His +mother opened the door to him, and cried in terror: + +"Have you stolen the corpse also?" + +"Do not speak so loud," he answered, setting down his burdens. + +He went to his bed, and there put little Victorious-Immortal. He drew +a knife from his girdle and showed it to the girl: + +"Little one, I have some business to settle with you. If we come to +an agreement, I will take you to Fan's house. If not, you very well +behold this knife, and I shall cut you in two pieces." + +"What do you want with me?" she asked. + +"You are going to stay here without making a noise and without trying +to escape, until I take you to Fan. As for the rest, we will speak of +it another time." + +"I will do so! I will indeed do so!" + +Then the nasty youth led his mother into the next room to calm her a +little. + +"But what are you going to do?" she asked. + +"Do you think we can be safe when she has gone to Fan?" + +"I am not going to take her to Fan." + +"What are you going to do, then?" + +He gave a country laugh, full of suggestion. + + * * * * * + +Matters so continued until the fifteenth day of the first Moon, +the evening of the Feast of Lanterns. Feng went out to see the +illuminations, and also to profit by the opportunities for theft which +are always afforded in a crowd. The evening wore on, and he had not +yet returned, when a shout arose among the neighbors. Feng's mother +opened the door to see what was the matter. A fire had broken out near +there. In terror, the old woman made haste to carry her furniture into +the yard. Profiting by this confusion, the girl slipped through the +door; but in the street she did not know which way to turn. At +last she found the road to the Ts'ao Gate, and was running in that +direction when she lost herself again. However, when at length she +asked where The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge might be, she was shown a +near way to it. + +The attendant was before the door, and she asked him very politely: + +"Ten thousand happinesses! Is not this the house of Fan and Erh-lang?" + +"Certainly it is, small lady." + +"Could you not lead me to him?" + +"Assuredly," he answered. + +He showed her the way, calling from the door to his masters; but when +Erh-lang, in the pale light of the paper lanterns, recognized the +white face of his betrothed, he cried out in dismay: "Ghost! Ghost!" + +Confident in her love, she advanced toward him piteously repeating: + +"Elder brother! Elder brother! I am alive!" + +But he kept recoiling in terror, and crying: "Help! Help!" + +How could he fail to believe himself in the presence of a ghost, when +he had witnessed the funeral, and had, that very evening, encountered +the wife of Chou in mourning garments? + +As she was about to touch him and, cringing against the wall, he could +retreat no further, his terror redoubled. Not knowing what he did, he +picked up a heavy stool and struck his dear visitor on the head with +it. She fell back, and her head sounded dully on the stone flags. + +Fan ran up at the noise of this. He saw the woman on the ground, and +his brother holding the stool. + +"What have you done?" he cried. "What is the matter? Was it you who +killed her?" + +"She is a ghost," the other said. + +"If she were a ghost, she would not bleed. What have you done?" + +Already some ten persons had come up to see what was the matter. The +street guard came in to them and seized Erh-lang, who kept on saying: +"She is the ghost of Chou's daughter. I have killed her." + +Hearing this name, a neighbor ran to inform Chou, who would not at +first believe him. At length he decided to go to the wine pavilion, +where he was compelled to recognize her, though he kept on saying: + +"I buried her long since!" + +Nevertheless, the guard insisted upon leading Erh-lang to prison. +Fan had the doors shut then, and stayed with Chou by the corpse till +morning. + +Early next day the Governor inquired into the matter. The coffin was +opened. It was found empty, and the keepers told how their dog had +been found dead in the snow on the day after the funeral. In the +absence of any completer explanation, they proceeded with their +inquiry. + +Erh-lang, in his prison, was overcome with sorrowful remorse. +Sometimes he said that she could not have survived her burial; +sometimes he was rent with horror at the thought that she had been +alive when he struck her. He recalled her beauty and grace in Spring +by the lake side, and bitter tears rolled from him. While he was +musing in this way, he saw his cell door open, and the girl appeared. +In his emotion and fear, he cried: + +"Are you not dead, my darling?" + +"Your blow caused me more grief than harm. Now I have wakened, and +have come to see you." + +She approached the bench where he sat, and he took her hand: + +"How can I have been so foolish as to fear you?" + +They were talking thus, and already, in their deep love, they were in +each other's arms. His joy was so keen that suddenly he woke. It was a +dream. + +On the second night the same thing happened, and on the third, and his +passion grew stronger for her. As she was going away the third time, +she said: + +"My life on earth had come to an end, but my love was so great and +so potently called me to you, that the Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, the +Keeper-of-the-Frontier-of-the-Shadows, allowed me to come back to +you, for these three nights. I must leave you now. But, if you do not +forget, there will yet be something of me bound to your soul." + +Then she disappeared, and the young man sobbed most bitterly. + +In the end the matter was cleared up by chance. Feng's mother, having +filched a golden trifle from her son's bag, went to sell it to the +same jeweler who had made it for Chou. On being denounced before the +Governor, mother and son were apprehended, and all the jewels were +discovered in their house. Torture found them words, and the whole +matter became clear. Erh-lang had actually believed that he saw a +ghost, and was released. Feng was sentenced to slow death, and strips +were torn one by one from his body by the executioner. His mother was +only strangled. + +As for Erh-lang, his heart stayed faithful to the girl he had +so greatly loved. At every feast he went to the temple of the +Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, and burned incense, so that the pleasant +smoke of it might ascend to the palace of the soul of little +Victorious-Immortal. His fidelity touched even the rough heart of Chou +and, when he came to die a few years later, his body was buried in the +same tomb with her whom his arms had known only in sleep. + +_Nao fan lou to ch'ing sheng hsien (Chou Victorious-Immortal, +of abundant love, overthrows the Pavilion +of the Fan). Hsing shih heng yen +(1627), 14th Tale._ + + + + +THE ERROR OF THE EMBROIDERED SLIPPER + + + The sun is in our eyes + And we think we are running out towards joy; + Our heart pulls us down + And we shall never know the way of the sky + Or the end of all things. + +During the Hung-Chih period of our Dynasty there lived at Hang-chow +a young man who was called Chang Loyalty. After his parents died, +leaving him a great fortune, he no longer had anyone to guide him, and +therefore, throwing away his books, he spent his time with gallants of +the sort we name fou-lang-tzu, that is to say "floating-on-the-waves." +They do not know how to profit by opportunity. So Chang no longer +studied anything but various ball games, he abandoned himself to the +pleasures of the theatre, and took his delight in those gardens where +the breezes of love blow in the moonlight. In a word, he followed the +changing flowers of illusion; and, as he was himself seductive, as +impassioned as expert in pleasure, and rich and generous, he became +the favorite of all the women of the town. One day, when spring had +but just caused all the flowers to come out on the amiable banks of +the Lake of the West, Chang invited a company of singing girls and +idlers to spend the afternoon on the blue waters. + +He put on a gauze bonnet with floating wings, after the fashion of the +time. His great transparent silk robe was of purple and silver, over +a second embroidered one of pure white. White gauze stockings and red +slippers completed the elegance of his appearance. + +He went out, walking unhurriedly, gently waving a fan decorated with +paintings. Behind him walked his little slave, Clear-Lute, who carried +over his shoulder a mantle in case the weather should freshen, and a +long guitar with which to accompany the singing girls. + +As they were approaching the gate of Ch'ien-t'ang, Chang looked up, +for no particular reason. On the first story of a house a maiden +held back her window curtain and looked at him. From her whole person +emanated so troubling a charm that he stopped in his walk, and felt +a tremor in his body. For a long time they remained gazing at each +other, until she slowly broke into a smile, and he felt his soul fly +from him. + +At this moment the door of the house opened below, and a man came +forth; so Chang hastened to resume his walk, and returned in a few +moments. The curtain was drawn back over the window. He waited, but +there was no sign. At length he drew away, turning his head, and +walking as slowly as if he had already gone a hundred leagues on the +mountains. + +Yet eventually he passed the town gate and rejoined his friends on the +boat, which was at once steered to the middle of the lake. The banks +were smiling with peach blossom: the willow leaves were a mist of gold +and green. Little boats, with brightly-dressed passengers, crossed and +re-crossed like ants. In very truth: + + Hills are heaped upon hills + And the pavilions on the pavilions. + The songs and dances are never ceasing + On the West Lake. + The warm breeze fans the drunkenness + Of the pleasure walkers. + Heaven is above, + But here we have Hang-chow and Su-chow Lakes. + +But Chang carried the picture of that young girl in his soul, and had +no heart for pleasure. + +His companions offered him cups of wine, wondering at his melancholy; +but he was far from them. + +At twilight they returned, and Chang re-entered by the Ch'ien-t'ang +gate, passing before the girl's house. The window was shut. He +stopped, and forced a cough; but there was no sign. He went to the end +of the street, and came back again, but all was silent. Therefore he +had no choice but to go away. + +He returned next morning, and stayed at a shop near by to learn what +he could. He was told: + +"They are people called P'an. Their only daughter is sixteen years of +age, and is named Eternal Life. The father has some connection with +a certain powerful family which affords him protection. He lives by +swindling, and everyone fears him. He is a veritable skin-pinker and +bravo." + +This news made Chang a little thoughtful, but he walked on by the +house nevertheless. The young girl was again at her window. They +looked at each other; but there were people about, and he had to go +away. + +That evening, as soon as night fell, he went back. The moon was +shining as brightly as the sun, and the street was empty. The youthful +beauty leaned at her window, wrapped in thought and bathed in the +white light. She smiled at him, and he drew from his sleeve his +scarlet muslin handkerchief. He made the knot known as "union of +hearts gives victory." Rolling it in a ball, he threw it, and she +adroitly caught it in two hands. Then she stooped and took off one of +her little embroidered slippers. She dropped it into Chang's waiting +fingers. Enraptured with this gift, which was a pledge of love and +faith, he carried it to his lips and said softly: + +"Thank you; Thank you, with all my heart!" + +In tones of maddening sweetness, she replied: + +"Ten thousand happinesses!" + +Just then a rough voice was heard within the house. She made another +sign to him and closed the window. And he went home drunk through +silent streets made silver by the moon. Once in his library, he +examined the slipper. It was a golden lotus, so small and so light +that a thousand thoughts troubled the lover. He said: + +"I must find someone to arrange our meeting, or else die from an +over-stressing of desire." + +Early in the morning, he put some pieces of silver in his sleeve and +hastened to a little wine booth, not far from the house of P'an. +He knew that he would find an old woman there, whom he often met in +pleasurable places. In fact, he saw her and called to her. She at once +saluted him, saying: + +"Aya! My uncle, what brings you?" + +"I happened to be passing," he answered carelessly. + +"But I should like you to walk a little way with me." + +"In what can I serve you?" she hastened to ask. + +Without speaking, he took her into a quiet little tavern. When they +were seated, and the attendant had brought them fruit and dishes of +food, he poured out a full cup of hot wine and offered it to her, +saying: + +"I have something to ask of you, ma-ma Lu. But I am afraid that you +cannot accomplish it." + +"Without boasting," she answered with a wide smile, "there are few +enterprises, however difficult, in which I do not succeed. What is it +you desire?" + +"I want you to arrange a meeting for me with the daughter of P'an, +who lives in the Street of the Ten Officials. Here are five ounces +of silver to begin with. If you succeed, you shall have quite as much +more." + +"The small Eternal Life? The little witch! I thought her so demure! +I should never have imagined she was a wild flower. But the matter is +difficult. There are only the parents and the daughter in that house, +and the father is dangerous. He keeps a damnably suspicious watch over +his door. How could you get in? I dare not promise any success." + +"You have just boasted that you always succeed. Here are two ounces +more." + +The old woman's eyes gleamed like fire at the sight of the +snow-colored metal, and she said: + +"I will take the risk. If all goes well, it will be your fortune. +If not, I shall at least have done my best. But give me a proof, for +otherwise she would not listen to me." + +Not without regret, Chang took from his bosom the little slipper, and +gave it to her, wrapped in his handkerchief. The old woman at once +slipped it into her sleeve with the pieces of money. As she was +leaving him, she said again: + +"The affair is delicate. You must have patience and not hurry me. That +would be dangerous." + +"I only ask you to do your best. Come and tell me as soon as you have +an answer." + +Eternal Life was profoundly agitated. Since that moonlit night she had +had no more taste for food, but had said: + +"If I married him I would not have lived in vain. But I know neither +his name nor where he lives. When I saw him beneath the moon, why +had I not wings to fly to him? ... As it is, I had only this red +handkerchief." + +Yet she had to live and speak as usual. But as soon as she was alone +she fell again into her musing. + +Two days later, old Lu entered their house. The father had gone out. +The visitor said to mother and daughter: + +"I received certain artificial flowers yesterday, and have come to +show them to you." + +She took a bunch of a thousand shades out of her basket. + +"Would you not say they were real?" + +"When I was young," said the mother, "we only wore ordinary flowers, +and did not dream of marvels like these." + +"Yet these are only considered mediocre. But the price of the finest +is so high." + +"If we cannot buy them, we can at least admire them," the young girl +answered dryly. + +With gathering smiles, the old woman took from the basket a bunch +which was indeed incomparable. + +"And what is the price of that?" questioned the mother. + +"How should I dare to fix a price? I leave it to you. But if you have +a little tea, I would willingly drink of it." + +"In the admiration caused by your flowers, we have forgotten our +manners. Wait for one moment, while I fetch some boiling water." + +As soon as the mother had left the room, the woman took a slight +parcel from her sleeve. + +"What have you there?" asked Eternal Life. + +"Something important which you must not see." + +"Oh, but I must see it then." + +"I shall not give it to you," said the cunning old woman. "Aya! You +have taken it from me by force!" she added, letting the parcel into +the girl's hand. + +Impatiently the child untied the handkerchief, and recognized her +slipper. Her face flushed into scarlet, and she said with difficulty: +"A single one of these objects is of no use, ma-ma. Why did you show +it me?" + +"I know a certain Lord who would give his life to have the pair. Will +you not consent to help me?" + +Trembling all over, Eternal Life said to her softly: + +"Since you know all, tell me his name and where he lives." + +"He is called Chang, and he owns a hundred myriads of ounces. He is +very gentle; his love is as deep as the sea. He has lost his soul +through thinking of you, and has bidden me arrange a means for his +entry." + +"How can it be done? My father is terrible. When I have blown out +my lamp, he often comes to look into the rooms. What is your plan, +ma-ma?" + +The old woman thought for a minute, and then said: + +"It is not very difficult. You must go to bed early and, as soon as +your father has come up and gone down again, you must rise quietly and +open the window. You must wait for a signal, and let down a long piece +of cloth. He will climb up with the help of this rope, and, if he is +careful to go away before the fifth watch, no one will surprise you." + +"Admirable!" cried the delighted child. "When will he come?" + +"It is too late to-day. But I will go to him to-morrow morning. Give +me a pledge of re-assurance for him." + +"Assuredly! Take the other slipper. He will give it back to me +to-morrow." + +The old woman hid it in her sleeve, for the mother came in by this +time with the tea. Soon after, she took up her basket and went away, +accompanied to the door by the two women. + +She went straight to the house of Chang, but he was out. She offered +her flowers to the women of the house, waiting for some part of the +day in vain. + +Next morning she went again to find the young man, but he had not +returned. She went away thoughtful. + +The truth is that Chang had remained three days in the house of a +Flower-in-the-Mist. When he returned and heard of the old woman's two +visits, he hastened to find her. She said to him: + +"The pledge of love which you entrusted to me is in her hand. She bade +me tell you that her father is dangerous, but that he is to be away +for a long time shortly. She will inform us." On his return journey +the young man passed by P'an's house. Eternal Life was at her window, +and they smiled tenderly at one another. + + * * * * * + +Three months had passed. Chang was sitting one morning in his library, +when his servants told him that four police officers had come with a +summons. He asked himself fearfully whether he had been mixed up in +any scandal at a pleasure house; but he had to obey. He questioned the +officers. + +"It is a matter of taxes and duties," they answered. + +Reassured, he changed his clothes and went with them, followed by +several of his servants. He was taken at once to the hall where +the Court sat, and, standing before the red table, he saluted the +magistrate. The latter looked at him intently, and harshly asked: + +"How did you enter into an intrigue with P'an's daughter? How did you +kill her father and her mother?" + +Chang was a libertine. That is to say he had neither strength nor +energy. Hearing himself thus unexpectedly accused of a double crime, +he shook from head to foot, as if a bolt had fallen on him from a calm +sky. He stammered: + +"Although I had the intention of establishing a connection with her, +I have not yet succeeded in doing so. As yet I have not known her +house." + +The Governor thundered: + +"She has just confessed that her relation with you has lasted several +months. How dare you deny it?" + +Just then Chang perceived that the young girl was kneeling close to +him. Bewildered and not knowing what to do, he turned to Eternal Life +and asked: + +"How can you say that I have been intimate with you? With what object +are you trying to encompass my ruin?" + +She sobbed without answering. Meanwhile the Governor called upon the +officers to apply the buskin of torture to the young man. And they +swarmed about him like ants. + +Unhappily for him, Chang Loyalty had been brought up in muslin and +gauze, and had grown to manhood in a brocade. How could he endure +such torture? Hardly had he felt the pressure of the buskin before he +cried: + +"I confess everything!" + +The Governor had a brush and paper given to the accused, that he might +himself write out his confession. The unhappy man wept, saying: + +"What must I write? I know nothing of the matter!" Then he turned to +the young girl and added: "Do you at least tell me what you have done, +so that I may write my confession." + +Eternal Life answered in irritation: "Did you not look at me with +lecherous eyes under my window? Did you not throw your handkerchief? +Did you not match the pair of my embroidered slippers?" + +"All that is true. But about the rest?" + +The Governor here interrupted: + +"If one thing is true, the rest is also. What is the use of arguing +it? Since he refuses to write, let him be given thirty strokes of +the heavy bamboo, let him be cast into the cell for those who are +condemned to death." + +Happily for Chang, his gaolers knew that he was very rich. They but +touched him with their blows, and led him to prison with as much care +as they would a butterfly. Each of them cried: + +"Uncle, how could you do such a thing?" + +"O my elder brothers," he lamented, "if it is true that I desired +this girl, yet have I never met her. Do you believe that I could be a +murderer? I know nothing about the murder. Tell me of it." + +So he learned that, this very morning, Eternal Life on waking up had +been surprised by the silence of the house. From the ground-floor room +where she had passed the night, she had gone up to the story where her +parents slept, and had opened the door of their room. In front of the +bed, under the half-drawn curtains, the floor was a tarn of blood. + +She was so frightened that she tumbled down the stairs and fell upon +the street door, sobbing and crying out. Neighbors heard her and ran +up, and she said to them: + +"Yesterday, my parents went up to their room. I do not know who has +killed them both." + +The bolder ones went up the stairs to see. They opened the +bed-curtains, and there were the man and his wife, stiff and with +their throats cut across. They looked to right and left. The window +was shut, and nothing was disturbed. + +"It is a serious matter," they muttered. "Let us not act hastily." + +One of them went at once to warn the district chief of police, who +came and examined the scene of the crime. He shut and sealed the +house, and led Eternal Life to the Governor's Court. The girl knelt +down and told all that she knew, and the Governor said: + +"If the door and windows were closed, and nothing has been stolen, the +matter is dubious. Had your father an enemy?" + +"Not to my knowledge." + +"That is strange!" murmured the Governor, and thought for a moment. + +Suddenly he told the officers to take off the silken veil with which +the young girl had half-covered her head. He could then see her +exceptional beauty. + +"How old are you? Are you not betrothed?" + +"I am seventeen, and I am still free." + +"And you sleep on the ground-floor, while your parents have their room +above? That is very curious." + +"Until quite recently your slave slept above. But fifteen days ago +they made a change. I do not know why." + +The judge again reflected. Then he struck the table violently, crying +out: + +"It is you who have killed your father and mother. Or, rather, it is +your lover. Tell me his name." + +"Your slave never leaves the house. How could she have a forbidden +love? Would not the neighbors know it?" + +The judge made a salacious grimace: + +"In a case of murder the neighbors know nothing. It is clear that you +have had relations with a man. Your parents knew of it, and that is +why they changed their room. Your lover killed them in a rage." + +Hearing these words, she became scarlet and then pale. At a sign from +the Governor, the gaolers threw themselves like tigers upon the +little girl, closing a cruel pair of iron nippers on her pellucid +and delicate jade hand. As the jaws began to crush her fingers, she +uttered loud cries: + +"Mercy, my lord. I have a lover." + +"What is his name?" + +"Chang Loyalty." + +And then she fainted. The Governor knew enough. He summoned the young +man and, being convinced of his guilt, had him put in prison, while +awaiting further information. It is well said in a certain proverb: +"Even while you are sitting in your house with the doors shut, +misfortune falls from heaven." + +In prison, Chang reflected upon this sudden accusation. Could he have +committed this double crime in his sleep? In the end he offered his +gaolers ten ounces if they would take him to Eternal Life. When they +bargained, he promised twenty ounces. Then they led him as far as +the grill of the women's prison. The girl was there, weeping without +stint. As soon as she saw him, she reviled him between her sobs: + +"Ungrateful and dishonorable! You made me mad with love for you. Why +should you cut my parents' throats, and cause my death?" + +"Do not make unnecessary noise," he interrupted. + +"Let us rather try to clear up this mystery. It is certain that I sent +the old woman Lu to you with your little slipper. Did you see her?" + +"Naturally, wretch," she answered disdainfully. + +Again he interrupted: + +"She told me that you had kept your pledge, that your father was +terrible, and that you were awaiting his departure in order to arrange +a meeting. But since then I have known nothing of you, save a few rare +smiles." + +"Forgetful murderer," she groaned, "again you deny it. Did you not +confess all before the judge? Why do you come to torment me." + +"My unfortunate body could not endure the torture. By confessing I +gained some days of life. Do not fly into a rage, but answer me: what +happened after ma-ma Lu had visited you?" + +"We arranged everything for the next night. You came and gave me back +my slipper. Since then you have climbed up to my room each night. Dare +you say it is not true?" + +Chang thought deeply. The bystanders wondered whether he were guilty +and seeking a clever explanation to save himself, or whether he were +really innocent. At last he said: "Then if we have met often, you +should be very certain of my voice and body. Look at me well, and +think." + +The gaolers exclaimed: + +"What he says is just. If there were a mistake, would you leave him to +die?" + +Eternal Life was puzzled, and looked at him earnestly. He repeated: + +"Is it I? Dear heart, speak quickly!" + +"He who came," she said at last, "was perhaps bigger. But it was +always dark, and how can I be sure? But I remember that on your left +shoulder you have a scar as big as a copper piece." + +The bystanders at once exclaimed: + +"That is easy to verify. There can be no further mistake. Uncle, +unclothe yourself quickly. If there is nothing there, we shall inform +the Governor." + +Chang immediately uncovered his shoulder, and the white flesh was as +smooth as marble. Eternal Life could not believe her eyes. When the +young man had gone back, filled full of hope, to his prison, the +gaolers made their report to the Governor, who had already summoned +ma-ma Lu. + +In the audience chamber the old woman knelt down and was quite +overcome. The judge began by ordering her forty strokes for having +acted as an abettor of corruption. The flesh of her thighs was nothing +but a bloody paste. She told the whole story. + +After coming back from Chang's house without having seen him, old Lu +had found her son Wu-han in their little food shop. He had said to +her: + +"You come at the right time. I must kill a pig this morning, and our +assistant has gone out for the day." + +The old woman did not like this work. But she was very much afraid of +her son, and did not dare to refuse. + +"Wait till I have changed my clothes!" was all she said. + +While she was taking off her outer garment, a parcel fell from the +sleeve of it. Thinking that it was money, Wu-han quickly picked it up +and opened it. It was the pair of embroidered slippers. He said: + +"Oh! Oh! Who is the little girl who has such feet? She must be of a +very loving nature. If I could hold her to my heart for a whole night, +I should not have lived in vain. But how do these slippers come here, +for they have already been worn?" + +"Give them back to me!" she cried. "There is much money in them, +which I will hand to you." And she told him the whole matter. But he +objected: + +"It has been a common saying from the earliest times that acts not +committed can alone remain unknown. This P'an is a bravo. If he learns +of the matter, all the silver which you receive will be too little to +buy his silence. Our whole shop would fall into his hands." + +In dismay the old woman replied: + +"Your words are full of reason. I am going to give back the silver +and the slippers. I am going to let it be understood that I refuse to +embroil myself with curtain affairs." + +"Where is the silver?" he asked. + +The old woman took it from her sleeve, and he put it into his, saying: + +"Leave all to me. If they should happen to come and seek a quarrel +with us, we shall have proofs against them. And, if nothing comes of +it, no one will dare to reclaim the money." + +"But what shall I say if he asks me for news?" + +"That you have not had time enough. Or even that the matter cannot be +arranged." + +What could she do, she who was thus deprived of the money and the +pledge of love? She was surely obliged to lie. + +As for Wu-han, he at once went out and spent the money on rich clothes +and a fine gauze bonnet. + +In the evening, when his mother was asleep, he put on his pretty +clothes and set the slippers in his sleeve. As the great clock sounded +the first watch, he went out softly and made straight for the house of +P'an. Light clouds were hiding the moon. It was only half full. + +He coughed before the house. The window opened, and Eternal Life +appeared. She tied a piece of silk to the frame, and let the other end +fall. He caught it and climbed up, making use of the projections of +the wall with his two feet. Then, with a thousand precautions, he +stepped over the sill. Trembling, the girl hastened to draw back the +piece of silk and to shut the window. + +Then he took the child in his arms, and passion leaped up in their two +hearts. In the darkness, and in such emotion, how could that mistake +be known? The usurper drew her towards him. + +Even so is the precious scented flower of the nutmeg embraced by the +bind-weed. Even so is the plum blossom torn by the hail. Even so is +the sparrow's nest most outraged by the cuckoo. + +When the first clouds of their desire were dissipated by the rain of +caresses, Wu-han took from his sleeve the pledges of love. She gave +them back to him: + +"Now that I am happy, I no more wish to go out." + +About the fourth watch, before daylight, Wu-han arose and climbed +stealthily down to the street. + +Since that time there had to be a storm of rain, or the moon had to +be very clear, to prevent Wu-han from hurrying to the small woman. The +days, and then the months, passed in this way. + +One night the deceiver accidentally made some noise as he went away. +P'an immediately came up to them, but saw nothing; for Eternal Life +succeeded in not betraying herself. Next night she warned her lover, +saying to him in her sense: + +"Do not come for a few days. That will be safer. Let us give them time +to forget about it." + +But her father had his ears on the alert; he heard the window creak, +and he ran up, though again too late. In the morning he said to his +wife: + +"This baby is certainly about some villainy. She keeps her mouth as +tight as a trap." + +"I also have a suspicion," replied her mother. + +"Yet the room opens on to the stairs, which come down into our room." + +"I am going to give her a good taste of the rod to make her speak." + +"That is a bad plan, a very bad plan," said her mother. "It is a true +proverb that you must not show family blemishes. If you beat her, +all the neighbors will know, and who would wish to marry her? Let us +rather make her sleep in our room, which has no way out except the +door. We will spend the night up the stairs, and see what happens." + +On being told of this proposal, Eternal Life dared not say anything. +And on the higher floor husband and wife slept in peace. + +One evening Wu-ban felt his heart seething with passion. Fearing that +he might be attacked by P'an, he armed himself with a knife, which +he used to cut pigs' throats. Under Eternal Life's window, he coughed +softly. Nothing stirred. He coughed more loudly, thinking she was +asleep. But everything remained quiet. He was going back to his house, +in a thoughtful mood, when he saw a ladder left near to a house which +was being built. He seized upon it, carried it away, and put it up +against Eternal Life's window. The catch was not locked. He pushed it +open, climbed over the sill, and silently went toward the bed. + +Drunken with joy, Wu-ban was already disrobing himself of his clothes, +when, in the stillness of the night, his ears caught the sound of two +people breathing, instead of one. He listened with controlled breath. +Unmistakably the rough breathing of a man was mingled with the softer +murmur of a woman. + +He was suddenly blinded with violent anger: + +"This is why she did not answer my signal. The vile child has another +man within. It was to get rid of me that she told me of her father's +suspicion!" + +In his jealous madness he drew his knife and gently felt for the man's +throat. With a clean blow he drove the weapon into the flesh, and +before the woman could move, he cut her throat also, almost beheading +her. + +He wiped the knife and his hands on the blanket, opened the window, +and descended. He had closed the catches. Once outside, he ran to +replace the ladder, and went back to his house. Denounced by his +mother and brought before the Court, Wu-ban tried to deny the +accusation. But the officers, on uncovering his shoulder, brought +a scar to view. Eternal Life recognized his voice and his body. The +first tortures overcame his obstinacy, and he confessed all. + +The murderer was condemned to slow death. + +Eternal Life was strangled, as was old Lu. + +Chang, whose lecherous intentions had been the cause of all, was +sentenced to a heavy fine. In dismay, and half ruined, he no more +left his study chamber. Not long afterwards, he was carried off by a +lassitude and a languor. + +_Lu Wu-han yin liu ho chin hsieh (Lu Wi-han keeps +an Embroidered Slipper to his scathe) Hsing +Shih heng yen (1627), 16th Tale._ + + + + +THE COUNTERFEIT OLD WOMAN + + +During the Ch'eng-Hua period of our dynasty, there lived at Shantung +a young man named Flowering Mulberry, whose parents possessed a +sufficient fortune. He had just bound up his hair beneath his man's +bonnet; his fresh and rosy complexion added to the delicate charm of +his features. + +One day, as he was going to visit an uncle in a neighboring village, +he was overtaken on the way by a heavy storm of rain, and ran for +shelter into a disused temple; and there, seated on the ground waiting +for the rain to stop, was an old woman. Flowering Mulberry sat down +and, since the storm grew more violent, resigned himself to wait. + +Finding him beautiful, the old woman began to converse and ingratiate +herself with him, until at length she came across to him, and finally +her hands wandered gently over his body. + +He found this an agreeable manner of passing the time, but said after +a little while: "How is it that, although you are a woman, you have +the voice of a man?" + +"My son, I will tell you the truth, but you must not reveal it to +anybody. I am not really a woman, but a man. When I was little, I used +often to disguise myself and mimic the shrill tones of young girls; +and I even learned to sew just as well as they. I used often to go to +the neighboring market towns, pretending that I was a young girl and +offering to do needlework; and my skill was soon much admired by all +the dwellers in the houses where I worked. + +"I used to mingle with the women, and by degrees, according to the +licentiousness of their thought, we would enjoy our pleasure. Soon +the women found that they had no more occasion to go out for their +dalliance; and even the sober-minded girls among them became involved. +They did not dare to say anything, for fear of the scandal; and also I +had a drug which I applied during the night to their faces, stupefying +them so that they allowed me to do as I liked. When they recovered +their senses it was too late, and they dared not protest. On the +contrary, they used to bribe me with gold and silken stuffs to keep +silence and to leave their house. Ever since then--and I am now +forty-seven years of age--I have never again put on a man's garments. +I have traveled throughout the two capitals and the nine provinces, +and always when I see a beautiful woman I contrive to go to her house. +In this way I accumulate riches with but little labor; and I have +never been found out." + +"What an astonishing tale!" cried the fascinated Flowering Mulberry. +"I wonder whether I could do the like." + +"One as beautiful as you are," answered the other, "will be taken for +a woman by everyone. If you wish me to be your instructor you have +only to come with me. I will bind up your feet, and teach you to sew; +and we will go into every house together. You shall be my niece. If we +find a good opportunity I shall give you a little of my drug, and you +will then have no difficulty in achieving your purpose." + +The young man's heart was devoured by a desire to put this adventure +to the proof. Without further hesitation he prostrated himself four +times, and adopted the old woman as his master, taking not a moment's +thought for his parents or for his honor. Such an intoxicating thing +is vice. + +When it had stopped raining, he set out with the old woman; and as +soon as they were beyond the boundaries of Shantung they purchased +hair-pins and feminine dresses. The disguise was perfect, and anyone +would have sworn that Flowering Mulberry was an authentic woman. He +changed his first name for that of Niang "the little girl," though for +a few days he was so embarrassed that he did not dare to speak. + +But his master seemed no longer wishful to look for fresh victims. +Every evening he insisted upon his niece sharing his bed; and up to a +very late hour would proceed with his instruction and that even to the +furthest detail. + +It was not for this that Flowering Mulberry had disguised himself. One +day he declared that thenceforward each should go his own way, and the +other was bound to agree; but before leaving him, he gave the boy some +further advice: + +"Two highly important rules are to be observed in our profession. The +first is not to stop too long in the same house. If you stayed in the +one place more than half a month, you would certainly be discovered. +Therefore often change your district, so that from month to month +there may be no time for the traces of your passage to become +noticeable. The second rule is not to let a man come near you. You +are beautiful, young and alone in life, and they will all wish to +interfere with you. Therefore always surround yourself with women. One +last word: have nothing to do with little girls; for they cry out and +weep." + +So then the two parted. + +In the first village he came to, Flowering Mulberry perceived through +a door the silhouette of a most graceful young woman, and struck upon +the door by its copper knocker. The girl opened, and looked at him +through eyes filled with fire. A needle-woman was just what they +required. + +But in the evening the boy was disappointed by the arrival of a +husband, whose lusty appearance left him small hope for the night. + +He was forced to wait until the young woman was left alone in the +house by day, and came to work in the chamber where he sat. Then he +ventured an observation upon the appearance of the countryside, and +afterwards congratulated her on her husband. She blushed, and their +conversation became more intimate. It was not until the next day, +however, that he dared to make an advance. This met with immediate +success. Two days afterwards he was forced into a hurried departure; +for the husband had taken notice of him, and profited by his wife's +momentary absence to suggest caresses. + +Thenceforward he followed his trade. At the age of thirty-two he had +travelled over more than half the empire, and had beguiled several +thousand women. Often, he was so bold as to attack more than eight +persons at a time, in a single house, and not even the little slaves +escaped his attention. The happiness of which he was thus the cause +remained unsuspected, and no one suffered by it, since none could +dream of its existence. He always remembered his master's rule, and +never risked staying for more than a few days in the same place. + +At last he came to the province West-of-the-River, and was received +into an important house, where there were more than fifteen women, all +beautiful and young. His feeling toward each of these was of so lively +a nature that twenty days had passed before he could make up his mind +to go away. Now the husband of one of these girls perceived him and, +at once falling in love with him, arranged that his wife should +cause him to come to their house. Flowering Mulberry went, suspecting +nothing, and hardly had he entered before the man came into the room, +took him by the waist and embraced him. Naturally he protested and +began to cry out; but the husband took not the slightest notice +of that. He pushed him on to the next room and searched him with +shameless hands. It was his turn to cry out: the slaves ran in, bound +Flowering Mulberry, and led him to the court of justice. In front of +the judge he tried to plead that he had adopted his disguise in order +to gain his living. But torture drew from him his real name and the +true motive of his behavior, together with an account of his latest +exploits. + +The Governor sent a report to the higher authorities, for he had no +precedent and knew not to what punishment to condemn him. The Viceroy +decided that the case must come under the law of adultery, and also +under that which dealt with the propagation of immorality. The penalty +was a slow death. No extenuating circumstances were admitted. So ended +this story. + + +_Hsing shih heng yen (1627), +10th Tale._ + + + + +THE MONASTERY OF THE ESTEEMED-LOTUS + + +In the town of Eternal Purity there was once a large monastery +dedicated to the Esteemed-Lotus. It contained hundreds of rooms, and +its grounds covered several thousand acres. Its wealth and prosperity +were due to the possession of a famous relic. + +The bonzes, who numbered about a hundred, lived in luxury; and +visitors were sure to be received by one of them from the moment of +entry, and to be invited to take tea and cakes. Now in the temple +there was a "Babies' Chapel," which was reputed to possess miraculous +virtue. By passing the night in it and burning incense, women who +wished to have a son obtained a son: those who wished for a daughter +obtained a daughter. + +Round the main hall were set several cells. Women who wished for +children had to be of vigorous age and free from malady. They used +to fast for seven days, and then go into the temple to prostrate +themselves before Fo, and to consult the wands of divination. + +If the omens were favorable, they passed a night locked up alone +in one of the cells, for the purpose of prayer. If the omens were +unfavorable, it was because their prayers had not been sufficiently +sincere. The bonzes made this fault known to them; and they began +their seven days' fast anew, before returning to make their devotions. + +The cells had no sort of opening in their walls, and when a penitent +entered one of them, her family and attendants used to come and +install her. As soon as night came, she was locked in the cell, and +the bonzes insisted that a member of her family must pass the night +before her door, so that none might entertain the least suspicion of +an entry to her. When the woman returned to her home, the child was +already formed. It was born fat and beautiful always, and without any +blemish. + +There was, moreover, no household, either of public officials or the +common people, which did not send one or even two of its members +to pray in the Babies' Chapel. And women came to it even from the +provinces. + +Every day the crowd in the monastery was comparable with mountains +or the sea, and the place was filled with the gayest hubbub. They no +longer kept any reckoning of the offerings of every kind which flowed +in upon them. When the women were asked how, during the night, the +P'u-sa had made his answer intelligible, some answered simply that Fo +had told them in a dream that they would have a son. Others said that +they had dreamed that a lo-han had come and lain beside them. Others +asserted that they had had no dream. Others again blushed and declined +to answer. Some women never repeated this kind of prayer a second +time: others, on the contrary, went to the temple as often as +possible. + +You will tell me that this story of a Fo or of a P'u-sa coming every +night to the monastery is in no way short of preposterous. But it must +be borne in mind that the people of that district had a greater faith +in sorcerers than in doctors, and could not distinguish the true from +the false. Consequently they continued to send their wives to the +temple. + +As a matter of course these bonzes, whose outward behavior was so +laudable and correct, were wholly and unreservedly gluttons within, +both for luxury and debauch. + +Although the cells were apparently quite close, each really had a +secret door. When the women were sound asleep, the bonzes came softly +into the cell, and to such purpose that, when their victims were +aroused, it was already almost too late. Those who would have wished +to protest kept silence for the sake of their reputations. + +Now the women were young and sound: the bonzes were strong and +vigorous. They had, moreover, taken the precaution to cause certain +special pills to be administered to their visitors. Consequently it +but rarely happened that these prayers were not heard. Sober-minded +wives would have died with shame sooner than confess the matter to +their husbands; and, as for the others, they kept quiet so that they +might be able to do it again. + +Matters were in this case when a new Governor was appointed to the +district, the Lord Wang. Soon after he entered upon his office, he +heard tell of the Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, and could not help +thinking: + +"Since it is Fo and P'u-sa who are involved, it should be enough +simply to pray. Why, then, must the women also go and pass the night +in the temple? There must be some questionable artifice in that." + +But he could do nothing without proof; so he waited until the ninth +Sun of the ninth Moon, which was a great festival, and then mixed with +the crowd of the faithful who went to the holy place. + +Passing through the main gate, he found himself beneath great acacias +and hundred-year-old pines. Before him stood the temple, brightly +painted with vermilion and decorated by a tablet on which was +inscribed in gold letters: "Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, for +Retirement." To right and left was a succession of pavilions, and +innumerable visitors were going out and coming in. + +The first bonze who saw the Governor wished to run and warn his +companions. The Lord Wang attempted to stop him, but he broke +loose, and soon the drums and bells were sounding to do honor to +the magistrate, while the bonzes formed in two ranks and bowed as he +passed along. + +He entered the temple and burned some joss-sticks; after which the +Superior made him a low obeisance and begged him to come and rest +himself for a moment in the reception hall. Tea was served. Then, +concealing his true design, the Governor said: + +"I have learned of the great reputation of this Holy Retreat, and I +intend to ask the Emperor to grant you a tablet of honor inscribed +with the names and particulars of all the bonzes of the district." + +Naturally the delighted Superior wished to prostrate himself in +thanks; but the Governor continued: + +"They have spoken to me also of a miraculous chapel. Is the matter so +in truth? And in what manner are these prayers made?" + +The Superior answered without misgiving that the period of fasting was +seven days; but that by reason of the greatness of their desire and +the sincerity of their prayers it most frequently happened that the +petitions of the suppliants were granted in a dream during the night +which they passed at the monastery. + +The Governor asked carelessly what measures were taken to ensure the +preservation of the proprieties; and the other explained that the +cells had no other entrance than the door, before which a member of +the family had to pass the night. + +"Since that is the case," said the visitor, "I shall send my wife +here." + +"If you wish for a son, it is only necessary for both of you to pray +sincerely in your palace, and the miracle will be accomplished," the +Superior assured him hastily; for he was greatly afraid to see the +local authorities concerning themselves in this affair. + +"But why must the wives of the people come here, if my wife need not +disturb herself to do so?" + +"Are you not the protector of our doctrine, and is it not natural that +the spirits should pay special attention to your prayers?" answered +the astute bonze. + +"So be it," agreed Wang. "But allow me to visit this miraculous +chapel." + +The hall was filled with women, who fled to right and left. The statue +of Kwan-yin was covered with necklaces and pieces of embroidery. She +was represented holding a child in her arms, while four or five babies +clung to her robe. The altar and the walls were covered with votive +offerings, chiefly consisting of embroidered slippers. Candles beyond +number were held in branches of candlesticks. The hall was filled with +the smoke of incense. To the left was the immortal Chang who gives +us children. To the right was the "Officer of the Star of Extended +Longevity." + +Wang bowed before the goddess. Then he went to visit the penitents' +cells. Each ceiling was painted over with flowers, a carpet covered +each floor and the bed, the table and the chairs were spotlessly +clean. + +He examined the cells carefully all over and found no crack. Not +a mouse, not even an ant could have entered in. He went out in +perplexity and, after the usual formalities, again stepped into his +palankeen, which was accompanied to the gate by all the bonzes. + +Thinking to the right and musing to the left, as the proverb says, +the Governor suddenly conceived a plan. As soon as he arrived at the +palace, he summoned one of his secretaries, and said to him: + +"Go and find me two harlots, and clothe them as honest women. Give one +of them a box of black ink and the other a box of vermilion paste, and +send them to pass the night at the monastery. If any one approaches +them, let them mark his head with the red and the black. I shall go +myself to-morrow morning to examine the matter. Above all, let this +thing be kept the closest secret." + +The secretary at once went to seek out two public women of his +acquaintance. One was named Mei-chieh, and the other Wan-erh. He +took them to his house, explained the Governor's orders to them, and +clothed them as matrons of good family. He summoned two palankeens, +which he caused the sham penitents to enter, and himself conducted +the procession to the monastery. He left the women in their cells, and +came back to inform the monk on duty. + +After his departure, a little novice brought tea to the present +visitors, who were more than ten in number. Who would have thought of +troubling to examine the two new arrivals? + +At the sounding of the first watch, all the cells were locked. The +members of the various families took up their positions before the +doors. The bonzes shut themselves into their own apartments. + +When Mei-chieh found herself alone, she put her little box of +vermilion near the pillow, turned up the lamp, undressed herself, +and lay upon the bed. But she was unable to sleep for thinking of her +mission, and continually kept looking through the bed curtains. + +The second watch sounded. On every side the sounds of human life were +silenced, and all things were still. Suddenly she heard, under the +floor, this noise: Ko-Ko. She sat up, thinking it was a rat, and saw +a part of the floor move to one side. A shaven head appeared, and +was quickly followed by the whole body. It was a bonze. Mei-chieh was +astounded, and thought: + +"So these rascally priests have been outraging honest women!" + +But she did not stir. The bonze quietly blew out the lamp, came +towards the bed, let fall his robe, and slipped under the blankets. + +Mei-chieh pretended to be asleep. She felt him gently move her leg to +one side, and then she made as though to wake saying: + +"Who are you who come in the night and insult me?" She pushed him +away, but the bonze embraced her in his arms, and whispered: "I am a +lo-han with a body of gold, and I have come to give you a son." + +While speaking, he busied himself in accordance with his salacity. +It must be said that all bonzes have no mean talent in the matter of +cloud and rain; and this one was full of vigorous manhood. Mei-chieh +was a woman of great experience, but she was unable to resist him and +had difficulty, at length, in repressing herself. However, she took +advantage of his arriving at the supreme point of his emotion to dip +her fingers in the box of vermilion and to mark his head without his +perceiving it. After a certain time, the bonze glided from the bed, +leaving the girl a little packet, and saying: + +"Here are some pills to assist your prayer. Take three-tenths of an +ounce each day in hot water, and you will have a son." + +Weary in body, Mei-chieh was just dimly closing her eyes, when she +was aroused by a fresh touch, and, thinking that the same bonze had +returned, said in surprise: + +"What? Are you able to come back again, when even I am so tired?" + +But he answered without a pause: + +"You are making a mistake! I have but just come, and the saviour of my +comforts is as yet unknown to you." + +"But, I am tired...." + +"In that case, take one of these pills...." + +And he handed her a packet. But she was afraid that it might be poison +and placed it on the bed, contriving in the same movement to dip her +fingers in the vermilion and to stroke the newcomer's head. He +was even more terrible than the former, and did not cease before +cock-crow. + +As the old song says: + + In an old stone mortar + Where so many pestles have been worn away, + There is need of a heavy copper hammer, + Or the work is lost. + +At dawn, another bonze appeared and said to them in a low voice: + +"Perhaps you have had your fill. Is not my turn coming?" + +The first bonze gave a chuckle, but rose and went out. The other then +got upon the bed, and very gently caressed Mei-chieh. + +She pretended to repulse him, but he kissed her upon the lips, and +said in her ear: + +"If he has fatigued you, I have here some pills which will restore the +Springtime of your thoughts." + +And he thrust a pill into her mouth, which she could not avoid +swallowing. A perfume rose from her mouth into her nostrils, and +caused her bones to melt, imbuing her body with delicious warmth. + +But, even while thinking of herself, Mei-chieh did not forget the +Governor's orders. She marked the head of this new assailant also, +saying: + +"What a nice sleek old pate!" + +The bonze burst out laughing: + +"I am full of tender and reliable emotions. I am not like the +unmannerly people of our town. Come and see me often." + +And he retired. + +Meanwhile the Governor had left his yamen by the fifth watch, before +the day had yet broken, accompanied by an escort of about a hundred +resolute men, carrying chains and manacles. + +Arriving at the still closed gate of the monastery, he made the +greater part of his train hide to the right and left, keeping only +some ten men about him. The secretary knocked at the gate, crying that +the Governor was there and wished to enter. + +The first bonzes who heard his shout made haste to arrange their +garments and receive the visitor. But the Lord Wang, paying no +attention to their salutations, went straight to the apartment of the +Superior, who was already up and prepared to begin the ritual of his +greeting. But the Governor dryly ordered him to summon all the bonzes, +and to show him the Convent register. + +Somewhat alarmed, the Superior ordered bells and drums to be sounded, +and the bonzes, snatched from their sleep, ran up in groups. When the +names written on the register had been called, the Governor commanded +the astonished monks to remove their skullcaps. + +In the full light of the morning sun three heads were seen to be +marked with vermilion, but, Oh, prodigy, no less than eleven heads +were covered with black ink! + +"It no longer surprises me that these prayers should be so +successful," murmured the secretary. "Indeed these bonzes are very +conscientious!" + +Lord Wang pointed out the guilty ones, and caused them to be put in +chains, asking: "Whence come these marks of red and black upon you?" + +But the kneeling monks looked at each other and could not answer, +while the whole assembly remained stricken with wonder at this strange +event. + +Meanwhile the secretary had gone into the Babies' Chapel and, by dint +of shouting, had roused the two harlots from a heavy sleep. + +They quickly put on their garments, and came to kneel before the +Governor, who asked them: + +"What did you see during the night? Tell me the whole truth." + +Since they had agreed to the mission, the two women rendered a plain +account of the events of that night, showing the pills which the +bonzes had given them, and also their boxes of vermilion and black. + +The bonzes, seeing that their schemes were brought to light, felt +their livers turn and their hearts put out of working. They groaned in +their secret despair, while the fourteen culprits beat the earth with +their brows and begged for mercy. + +"Miserable wretches, you dare to preach divine intervention, so that +you may deceive the foolish and outrage the virtuous! What have you to +say?" + +But the cunning Superior already had his plan. He ordered all the +bonzes to kneel, and said: + +"These unhappy ones whom you have convicted are without excuse. But +they were the only ones who dared to act so. All my other monks are +pure. You have been able to discover the shame of the guilty, which I +in my ignorance could not, and there is nothing for it but to put them +to death." + +The Governor smiled: + +"Then it is only the cells which these two women occupied that have +secret passages?" + +"There are only those two cells," answered the unblushing Superior. + +"We shall question all the other women, and then see." + +The female visitors, who had already been wakened by the noise, came +in turns to give their evidence. They were all in agreement: no bonze +had come to trouble them. But the Governor knew that shame would +prevent them from speaking, and therefore had them searched. In the +pocket of each was found a little packet of pills. He asked them +whence these came; but the women, purple in the face and scarlet in +the neck, answered no word. + +While this examination was taking place, the husbands of the penitents +came up and took a part in it. And their anger made them tremble like +the hemp-plant or leaves of a tree. When the Governor, who did not +wish to push his questioning too far, had allowed the visitors to +depart, their husbands swallowed their shame and indignation, and led +them away. + +The Superior had not yet given up the fight. He asserted that the +pills had been given to the women as they entered the monastery. But +the two harlots again affirmed that they at least had received them +during the visit of the bonzes. + +"The matter is quite clear," the Governor cried at length. "Put all of +these adulterers in chains!" + +The bonzes had some thought of resisting; but they had no weapons and +were outnumbered. The only ones left free were an old man who kindled +the incense, and the two little novices still in childhood. + +The gate of the monastery was closed and guarded. On his return to the +yamen, the Governor took his seat in the Hall of Justice, and had his +prisoners questioned in the usual ways. Fear of pain loosened their +tongues, and they were condemned to death. They were cast into prison +to await the ratification of their sentence. + +As the Governor of the prison went his rounds to inspect their bonds, +the Superior whispered to him: + +"We have brought nothing, neither clothes, nor blankets, nor food. If +you will allow me to return for a moment to the monastery with three +or four of my monks, I will willingly give you a hundred ounces of +silver." + +The prison governor knew the wealth of the monastery. He smiled: + +"My price is a hundred ounces for myself, and two hundred for my men." + +The Superior made a grimace, but was compelled to promise this larger +sum. The warders consulted with each other, and finally, when night +came, led the Superior and three of his bonzes back to the monastery. +From a secret place among their cells the monks took the promised +three hundred ounces, and gave them at once to the warders. While +these were weighing them and sharing them among themselves, they +collected the rest of their treasure, and secretly laid hold of +weapons, short swords and hatchets, which they rolled up in their +blankets. Also they brought away wine. Thus heavily laden, warders +and bonzes alike returned to the prison, and held a feast. The priests +succeeded in making their warders drunk. In the middle of the night +they drew forth their weapons and, having first set each other +free, proceeded to force the gates. They might perhaps have escaped +altogether; but in their rancour against the Governor they went first +to attack the yamen. The troops of police were numerous and well +armed, and the bonzes were quickly overcome. The Superior gave his +men orders to return as quickly as possible to the prison, to lay down +their arms and to say that only a few of them had revolted, since this +might save the others. But the warders attacked them so hotly that +they were all put back in chains. + +Their crime was grave, and doubly aggravated by rebellion. Next day, +when the sun had well risen, the Governor gave his judgment. All the +hundred and twelve monks were led straight to the market-place and +beheaded. Groups of men provided with torches went to set fire to the +monastery, and it was soon a smoking ruin. Joy flowered upon the faces +of all the men of that town. But it is said that many of the women +wept in secret. + +_Adapted from Hsing shih heng yen +(1627), 39th Tale._ + + + + +A COMPLICATED MARRIAGE + + +Marriages have from all time been arranged beforehand by Heaven. If +such is the will of destiny, the most distantly separated persons +come together, and the nearest neighbors never see each other. All is +settled before birth, and every effort of mortals does but accomplish +the decree of Fate. This is proved by the following story. + +During the Ching-yu period of the Sung dynasty, there lived at +Hang-chow a doctor named Liu. His wife had given him a son and a +daughter. The son, who was but sixteen years old, had been called +Virgin Diamond, and was betrothed to young Pearl, of the family of +Sun. He was brilliant in his studies, and gave every promise that +he would one day attain to the highest literary standard, and to the +greatest honor. The daughter was named Prudence. She was fifteen years +old, and had just received marriage gifts from her betrothed, the son +of P'ei, a neighboring druggist. Her eyebrows were like the feelers +of a butterfly, and her eyes had the grace of those of a phoenix. +Her hips, flexible as willow branches swayed by the wind, wakened the +liveliest feeling. Her face was that of a flower; and the nimbleness +of her light body brought to mind the flight of swallows. + +The go-between who had concluded Prudence's betrothal came one day +at the instance of the P'ei family to ask that marriage might be +hastened. But Liu had determined first to accomplish the ceremonies +for his son, and accordingly took customary steps with this object in +view, so that a day was at length fixed. But when the appointed time +was drawing near, Virgin Diamond fell seriously ill. His father, Liu, +wished to postpone the ceremony, but his mother argued that perhaps +joy would cure him better than medicine. + +"But if, by mischance, our son should die?" he insisted. + +"We will send back the bride and all the gifts, and the family will +have nothing to say." + +The doctor, like many men, was wax in the hands of his wife, and +therefore her wish was fulfilled. + +But it chanced that one of their neighbors had been slightly affronted +by them, and had never forgiven them. He heard of Virgin Diamond's +illness, and spoke of it to the family of Sun. + +Sun had no intention of compromising his daughter's future; so he +summoned and questioned the go-between who had arranged the betrothal. +The poor woman was in a great quandary, fearing to offend either the +one family or the other; yet she was compelled to admit the truth. In +her anxiety she ran to the house of Liu to obtain a postponement of +the marriage until Virgin Diamond's recovery, and hinted that, failing +this, Sun would send his old nurse to see the sick bridegroom. + +Liu did not know what to do, and before he had come to a decision, +the nurse arrived. He saluted her, not knowing what excuse to make. +At last he said to the go-between: "Be so good as to entertain this +venerable aunt for a moment, while I go and find my Old-Thornbush." + +He hurried into the interior of the house, and in a few words told his +wife what was happening. + +"She is already here and wishes to see our son. I told you that it +would have been better to change the day." + +"You really are a decayed piece of goods. Their daughter has received +our gifts, and is already our daughter-in-law. You shall see." + +Then she said to Prudence: + +"Make haste and prepare our large room for a collation to the family +of Sun." + +She herself went to the room where the nurse was, and asked: + +"Has our new daughter's mother something to say to us?" + +"She is uneasy about the health of your honorable son, and has sent me +to see him, thinking that it would be better to postpone the marriage +if he were seriously ill." + +"I am gratified to receive this proof of her consideration. My son +has, in fact, taken cold, but it is not a serious indisposition. +As for choosing another day, that is not to be thought of. Our +preparations are made, and a delay would involve too great a loss. +Furthermore, happiness drives away every ill. The invitations are sent +out. We might imagine that your family had changed its intention...." + +"At least, can I see the invalid?" + +"He has just taken a drug and is asleep. Besides, I have told you that +he has caught cold. Are you trying to insult me by expressing a wish +to prove my words?" + +"If the matter stands thus," the nurse politely made haste to answer, +"it only remains for me to withdraw." + +"You cannot go in this way. You have not even taken a cup of tea. +If you please, let us go into the new room, for my house is all in +disorder." + +On entering, the nurse observed the excellent arrangement of the young +couple's apartment. + +"Everything is ready, as you see," said the wife of Liu. "And if my +son is not quite recovered after the ceremony, I shall take care +of him in my pavilion, until he is able to embark upon his conjugal +life." + +Having taken tea, the nurse at last arose and went away. On her return +she recounted to her master and mistress what had taken place, and Sun +and his wife found themselves in a difficult dilemma. They could not +think of allowing their daughter to ruin her life by entering of her +betrothed, if he were going to die, and, if the young man were not +seriously ill, they stood the risk of losing all their preparation, +and of giving occasion for slander. Suddenly their son Yu-lang, who +was present, said: + +"If they have not allowed him to be seen, it means that he is +seriously ill. There is no way by which we can go back on our +contract; and yet we cannot send my sister to her ruin in this +fashion. I have a plan, and you must tell me what you think of it. Let +us send the go-between to advise Liu that the marriage will take place +on the appointed day, but that the bride's equipment will not be sent +until after her husband's recovery. I am sure that they will reject +this offer, and then we shall have a good excuse for throwing the +blame on them." + +"But what if they should agree," objected his parents, after a +moment's reflection. + +"They will certainly not agree, or else they would have postponed the +marriage. Besides, it is impossible that they should be willing to +have another mouth to feed, without any dowry or plenishing." + +His father said: + +"Very well, if by any chance they do agree, you shall disguise +yourself as a woman and go in your sister's place. You could take a +man's clothing with you, and put it on if the sick youth recovered, or +matters seemed to take an unfortunate turn. They would not dare to say +anything for fear of being ridiculed." + +"Oh! that is impossible!" cried the young man. "In the first place +I would be discovered at once. And what would people say of me +afterwards?" + +"They would say that you had played a trick on these people, and that +is all. You are still in the freshness of youth. You are sufficiently +like your sister to deceive those who do not know you very well, +especially in a wedding garment. You must do it. That is decided. The +nurse can go with you to arrange your hair.... And in this way, if our +son-in-law dies, Liu will have neither my daughter nor her equipment." + +When the wife of Liu received Sun's proposal from the mouth of the +go-between, she hesitated for a moment. But then she reflected on the +false situation in which she would be placed by refusing. So, masking +her thoughts beneath a smile, she agreed to the arrangement. + +On the day fixed for the marriage, Yu-lang was constrained to disguise +himself. But two grave difficulties presented themselves. First +with regard to his feet: how was it possible for him to imitate his +sister's ravishing golden lotuses, so like to sphinx heads, and the +balancing of her light steps, a swaying of flowers in the soft +breeze? They gave him a petticoat which reached to the ground, and he +practised his sister's gait, at which she laughed until she cried. The +next question was his ear-rings. It so happened that his left lobe had +been pierced; for in his childhood they had made him wear one ring, +in order to persuade the evil spirits that he was a girl, whose +death would be of no importance. Everybody knows that the Jinn always +endeavor to rob us of that which is truly dear to us, and leave +untouched that which is of no value. + +So Yu-lang hung a jewel in his left lobe, and stuck a small piece of +plaster over his right ear, so that it might seem it had suffered a +slight wound. His great pearl-decorated headdress concealed his head, +brow and shoulders. His scarlet robes, embroidered with gold and +silver, helped to disguise his figure, and the transformation was +complete by rouge on his lips and cheeks. + +When evening at length drew near, drums and flutes were sounded, +the flowered palankeen entered the courtyard, and the hoodwinked +go-between, admiring the beauty of the bogus bride, herself opened +the scarlet curtains. Not seeing Yu-lang; she remarked upon this +circumstance, and they answered carelessly that he was indisposed and +kept to his bed. Actually at that moment he was taking leave of his +parents and imitating to the best of his ability the sobs which were +fitting to the occasion. + +The procession at last set out and all the bride's equipment was +a little leather trunk. At the house of Liu there was considerable +discussion: + +"When the bride arrives, our son will be unable to cross the threshold +as ritual demands, and the marriage will not be accomplished. +The bride will be left alone to salute the ancestors, and this is +impossible. What shall we do?" + +"It cannot be helped," answered the mother. "So much the worse! Our +daughter must make it known that she will take her brother's place. +She shall recite the poem of the threshold in his name, and the rites +will be thus observed." + +And Prudence, in her graceful girl's garments, did in fact receive +the false Pearl as she got out of the palankeen, pronounced the sacred +formulas, and led the new bride before the tablets. The two seeming +sisters-in-law knelt down, and several of the bystanders laughed +inwardly to see two women perform the marriage ceremony, and then +kneel for the purpose of the grand prostration. + +The wife of Liu led Yu-lang to the invalid's bed; but he had been +excited and troubled by the music and noise, and had fainted. They +had hastily to revive him by pouring some spoonfuls of hot soup in his +mouth. + +At length the false bride was led to the prepared pavilion, and her +great veil was taken off. Then her fresh beauty shone forth, and +everybody uttered exclamations of joy: the wife of Liu was alone in +feeling a certain compassion, for she thought of all that the new +bride would have to lose, and deplored her son's misfortune in falling +ill at the moment of tasting so great happiness. + +As for Yu-lang, the tedium of beholding the hideousness of all the +guests was curiously diminished by the pleasure of seeing Prudence's +delectable face. He thought: + +"What a misfortune that I am already betrothed! Here is she whom Fate +should have given me." + +Prudence, on her part, felt herself drawn towards him in an +irresistible manner, and said to her mother and the go-between: + +"Alas! surely my brother has no luck, and my sister-in-law will be +very unhappy alone tonight! Is she not charming? If my future husband +were like her, my life would be free from all regret." + +Meanwhile, the marriage feast came to an end, a present was sent to +the musicians, and the guests withdrew. The disguised boy, after being +conducted to his pavilion, had his nurse's assistance in unmaking +the complicated structure of his nuptial adornment. At last he found +himself alone, but with no wish for sleep. Now Liu and his wife said +to each other: + +"It seems hard to leave the newly-wed bride alone for her first night +under our roof. Would it not be better to tell Prudence to go and keep +her company?" + +As always, the father made certain objections which were not listened +to. Prudence insisted, and soon mother and daughter went together to +the new pavilion, and approached the bed, the curtains of which were +drawn shut. + +"Here is your sister-in-law come to spend the night with you...." + +Yu-lang did not know what to say. He was afraid of being discovered, +and held the curtains very tightly under his chin, as he put his head +through the opening. + +"I am accustomed to be alone," he stammered. But the mother said: + +"Aya! You are both of the same age, you are almost sisters. What are +you afraid of? If you want to be particular, you have only to keep a +blanket between you." + +During this time, Yu-lang was moved as much by fear as by delight. Was +it not strangely fortunate that Prudence's mother should herself have +come and let her in this manner to his bed? But if the young girl +should call out? On the other hand he thought: + +"She is fifteen years old, therefore she has been ready for some time; +the door of her emotions is ajar. If I take precaution and kindle her +heart little by little, there is no need to fear that she will refuse +to nibble at my hook." + +Now the wife of Liu had already retired, and Prudence had shot the +bolt of the door. She was laughing all over the bright chrysanthemum +of her face: + +"Sister-in-law, you have taken no refreshment. Are you not hungry? If +you wish for anything, tell me, and I will go and fetch it for you." + +"I am deeply grateful to my sister-in-law for her gentle thought." + +Prudence noticed that the wick of the lamp had not been trimmed, and +was burning long, straight and red. So she exclaimed: + +"That is for your happiness, sister-in-law!" + +The other could not restrain a burst of laughter. + +Prudence blushed and laughed also: + +"You know how to be merry." + +So they talked together. At length the maiden, taking the flowers out +of her hair, got upon the bed and knelt down to undress herself. He +asked her: + +"On which pillow would you like to sleep? The lower one?" + +"As my sister-in-law wishes." + +"Then, if you please, let us sleep on the same." + +"Very well." + +Prudence had slipped under the blankets to finish undressing, and the +boy did likewise, removing his upper garment. The lamp, placed on a +little table beside the bed, dimly lit up the recess through the thin +curtains. + +His emotion began to rise, and he asked: + +"How many flowering Springtides have you known?" + +"Fifteen, this year." + +"Are you betrothed?" + +But she was seized with unaccountable shyness, and dared not answer. +He brought his lips close to the delicate ear lying beside him, and +whispered: + +"Why are you so bashful? We are only two women together." + +Very low, she answered him: + +"I am betrothed to the son of P'ei, the druggist, and already they +are urging that the ceremony should take place. Happily nothing is yet +decided." + +"You are not very eager, then?" + +She pushed his head gently away, saying: + +"It is not nice of you to take hold of my words in this way, and to +make fun of me. If I am not eager, you do not seem to be any more so +than I." + +"And how do you know that, maiden? In any case, how could I be so when +we are two women." + +"You speak to me as if you were my mother," the other laughed. + +"Considering my age, I should rather be your husband," he +thoughtlessly said. + +She burst out laughing: + +"It is I who am the husband, seeing that I took my brother's place at +the wedding." + +"Well, let us not argue, but rather act as if we were husband and +wife." + +Thus both of them spoke words of meaning. They grew more and more +passionate. + +"Since we are husband and wife," he said impatiently, "why do we not +sleep under the same blanket?" + +As he spoke, he pushed back the thick quilt, and began to observe the +garment on the so sweet and smooth, so soft and graceful body. She +had kept on an under garment, but her heart was filled with Springtime +thoughts, and she offered no resistance to his eye. + +Then, trembling with desire, he came to her breasts that had so lately +dawned, and were so firm. Their tender points were red as a cock's +crest, and in all things lovable. + +Delighted with this game, Prudence put out her hands to return his +caresses, and also found his breasts. But there was nothing but quite +a little button. She was astonished, and said to herself: + +"She is as tall as I am. How comes it that she is not further +developed?" + +But by this time Yu-lang was holding her right in his arms, and +had his lips glued to her, wantonly thrusting out his tongue. She +continued the game by giving it a little nibble, and then thrust out +her own tongue. This he so tenderly caressed with his that the girl's +body seemed all at once to melt, and she said languorously: + +"This is no longer a game. We are truly husband and wife!" + +The false bride, seeing that he had fully awakened the passion of his +dupe, made answer: + +"Not yet. We must take off our under garments." + +"But I am afraid lest people should talk. It is not good to take them +off." + +He gave a nervous laugh and, without paying attention to her words, +undid her girdle and took off her garment. As he advanced toward her, +she protected herself with her two hands, saying: + +"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, you must not!" + +But he kissed her again upon the lips. + +"There is nothing to forbid it, little sister. You may caress me +also." + +In her agitation, and so as not to seem too stupid, she took off his +vest, and her timid little hand suddenly stopped short. Her surprise +was such that, for a moment, she could not speak. But at last she +said: "What man are you who dare to take my sister-in-law's place?" + +"I am your husband," he answered hugging her to him. + +She pushed him off, and said seriously: + +"If you do not tell me in plain truth who you are, I shall cry and +call out, and you will be sorry for that." + +"Do not be angry, little sister," he replied. "I will tell you +everything. I am Yu-lang, your sister-in-law's elder brother. My +parents heard that your brother was seriously ill, and did not wish my +sister to leave our house; but since your parents would not alter the +day of the marriage, I had to disguise myself and take my sister's +place, until your brother should be healed. I never expected that +Heaven would, in its bounty, allow me to become your husband. But we +alone must know of our love. Let us not betray it to any." + +Pressing forward again, he tried to bind her in his arms. Although +she had believed she was with a woman, Prudence had loved him from +the first; the feeling which she had mistaken for friendship quickly +changed to that of love, for it was kindled, as was all of her, by the +young man's ardour. Nevertheless she was suffused with shame, and so +wavered between one extremity and the other. + +As for him, in the freshness of his still maiden youth he spoke to +her of everlasting vows, of a love higher than the mountain and vaster +than the sea, and of a marriage shaped from a boundless happiness. Her +betrothed, her parents and her shame were all forgotten. She covered +her face with her hand and resisted no longer. + +When the cloud and the rain of their intoxication had been dispelled, +they clasped each other close and went to sleep. + +Meanwhile, the nurse, being in the secret of this disguise, had been +much disturbed at seeing Prudence share the young man's bed. From the +adjoining room she had heard their laughter, and then their sighs, +and had no further doubt of what had happened. And inwardly she cried: +"Woe! Woe!" + +In the morning, after Prudence had returned to her parents' house to +perform her toilet, the woman came in to wait upon Yu-lang, and said +to him in a low voice: + +"O practitioner! You have done a fine thing! What will happen if +people come to know of it?" + +"I did not search her out. Her mother led her to my bed. How could I +have avoided this?" + +"You ought to have resisted with all your might." + +"With such an adorably beautiful girl? Even a man of iron and stone +could not have resisted. Also, if you say nothing, who will know of +it?" + +When the process of disguise was again completed, he went to salute +the wife of Liu. Then all the women of the house and the cousins came +to see him. Finally Prudence came in, and they two laughed together. +For that day, as was the custom, Liu and his wife had invited their +relations and friends, and there was a great feast, with music and +a dinner lasting until the evening. Then, when the house was quiet +again, the girl went, as on the previous night, to keep young +Yu-lang company. That night, even more so than the preceding one, +the butterflies beat their wings, and the passionate phoenixes were +convulsed. + +In the morning, they kept together. Therefore the scandalized nurse +ran out and told everything to Sun said his wife, and they reeled with +surprise and emotion. + +"Alas, misfortune will certainly come of it! We must bring him back as +soon as possible." + +They summoned the go-between and told her that, according to custom, +on the third day after the marriage they wished to see their daughter +at their house. She therefore went to the home of Liu, and the two +lovers trembled when they heard of this request. But the wife of Liu +had not forgotten the difficulties which Sun had made with regard to +the marriage; and she was afraid of not seeing her daughter-in-law +again. So she said: + +"But my son is still suffering, and the marriage has not been +altogether accomplished. We will speak of this again at some later +time." + +This answer had to be sufficient. The nurse was in terror, and watched +the approaches of the room all night for fear lest anybody should hear +the rapturous exclamation of the lovers. + +The days passed, and Virgin Diamond gradually grew better. Since he +admired the beauty of his young wife, his desire to know her hastened +his recovery, and the time came when he was able to get up. Still +walking unsteadily, he went into the nuptial pavilion to see her who +was his bride, and came before the door, supported by his attendants. +The nurse was there, and cried out loud: + +"My Lord wishes to enter!" + +Yu-lang was, quite naturally, holding Prudence in his arms. He hastily +released her, and went close to the door. + +"You have succeeded in rising, my elder brother?" said Prudence. "You +will fatigue yourself." + +"That is no matter," he answered, making a deep obeisance before her +whom he believed to be his wife. + +"Ten thousand happinesses be with you!" Yu-lang graciously replied. + +"What an exquisite pair!" cried the wife of Liu, proud of her son and +happy at his fortune. + +The false bride's beauty was meanwhile strangely reviving the +invalid's vitality. And the other lad thought: + +"He is a fine boy in spite of his illness: there is no need to pity my +sister. But if he can get up, he will waste no time in coming to spend +the night with me. I must depart as quickly as possible." + +When evening came, he explained his fears to Prudence. + +"It is quite necessary to persuade your mother to send me back to +my home, that I may change places with my sister. Everything will be +discovered if we delay." + +"You wish to go? But what will become of me alone?" + +"I have already thought of that. Alas. Alas! But we are both betrothed +to another. What can we do?" + +"If you do not want me living, I must die so that my soul may follow +you." + +And she sobbed and sobbed. He dried her eyes saying to her: + +"Do not meet trouble in this way, but leave me to find a plan." + +They clasped each other in their arms, shedding most bitter tears. + +Now it must be said that the wife of Liu was a little wearied of +seeing her daughter night and day inseparable from her sister-in-law. +However, she said nothing, because the marriage was not actually +accomplished. But passing before the marriage pavilion on that day, +she heard a sobbing. She drew near noiselessly and, through a hole in +the window paper, saw them close in each other's arms and weeping. + +"This is very odd," she said. + +She wished to make an outcry, but remembered that her son was just +getting better, and would fall ill again from any sorrow. She gently +tried to push the door open, but it was locked. She called out: + +"It is strange that this door should be locked!" + +The lovers recognized her voice, and made haste to dry their tears and +open the door. She came in. + +"Why do you lock yourselves in during full daylight, and groan and +embrace each other?" + +They felt the blood flow to their faces, and answered nothing. The +mother's hands and feet were trembling with rage. She seized hold of +her daughter: + +"You are playing some pretty trick. Let me talk to you a little." + +And she dragged her into an empty room. The attendants who saw her +asked each other why the girl was being dragged along like that. But +by this time the mother had locked the door. When the attendants came +and looked through the holes in the paper, they saw her lifting a +stick, and heard her crying: + +"O wretch, tell me the truth, or I shall strike you! Why were you +weeping?" + +At first Prudence thought of denial. Then she said to herself that +it would be better to confess and to beg her parents to break off her +betrothal with the family of P'ei, so that they might marry her to +Yu-lang. If they refused, she would die. That was all. So she told the +whole matter without evasion. + +"We are husband and wife. Our love is boundless, and our vows will +endure for at least a hundred years. My brother is recovered, and +we fear that we shall be separated. Yu-lang wishes to return to his +parents, to send his sister in his place. It seemed, then, to your +daughter that a woman cannot have two husbands, and that if Yu-lang +cannot marry me, I must die." + +As she listened to her, her mother's breast opened with rage, and she +stamped her feet: "This rotten carrion has sent his son here and +has deceived me. And now my daughter is lost. I must beat him +unmercifully!" + +She seized her stick, opened the door and ran forth. Her daughter, +forgetting her shame, tried to prevent her; but the old woman pushed +her away violently, so that she fell down. Prudence got up and ran +after her. The attendants also ran. + +Now Yu-lang had very well understood that all was discovered when +Liu's wife had dragged her daughter away. A moment later, the nurse +hurried in. + +"O my Gods! And, ah unhappiness! All is well lost! Prudence is being +questioned with the stick." + +It seemed to him that two knives were piercing his heart. He burst out +into sobbing. But the nurse was already taking out his hair-pins and +clothing him as a man. In a state of stupor he let himself be hurried +to the main door and through the streets. A few moments later he was +back at his parents' house. + +His father did not fail to say to him: + +"I told you to play the girl, not the man. Why have you committed acts +of which Celestial Reason disapproves?" + +Yu-lang jostled thus by his father and his mother, no longer knew +where he stood. Meanwhile the nurse objected: + +"But what can they say there? Our young Lord has only to keep himself +hidden for a few days, and it will all pass over." + +But at Liu's house the nurse, as she went away, had unwittingly locked +the door, and Liu's wife had come to it and was shaking it violently, +stammering with rage and flourishing her stick. + +"Thief, whom may Heaven strike dead! O very vile rascal! For what did +you take me? I am going to show you who I am! I will have your life! +If you do not open the door, I shall break it open with a great case." + +But naturally no one answered. Prudence tried in vain to stay her +mother, who loaded her with insults; but at last, in her rage, she +succeeded in breaking the lock, and rushed into the room with her +stick uplifted. The cage was empty and the bird had flown. She knelt +on all fours to look under the bed and under the furniture, crying out +all the time: + +"Thief, you shall die!" + +But, as she was compelled to admit, there was no trace of the +ravisher. Then Prudence said to her, sobbing meanwhile: + +"And now, after this scandal, the P'ei family is let into the whole +secret. I entreat you to have pity on me and let me marry Yu-lang. +Otherwise, must I not die in order to redeem my shame?" + +She fell on her knees, weeping and groaning. + +"What you say is true," answered her mother resuming some measure of +calm. "After this wonderful affair, no one will want you." + +However, a mother's love cannot be altogether restrained. She drew +near to her daughter: "My poor child! All this is not your fault. It +is that rotten carrion of a Sun who has caused it. But we cannot, of +ourselves, break off the betrothal with P'ei." + +As Liu came up in the meantime, the matter had to be explained to him. +He was nearly half a day without being able to speak, and it may be +surmised that his first words were to throw the blame on his wife: + +"The whole fault is yours! By making me say I do not know what, you +arranged all this. Instead of altering the date as you should have +done! And to crown all, you insisted upon placing our daughter in his +arms! She has very well kept him company, has she not?" + +His wife's anger was not quite dead, and these remarks rekindled it. +Her voice rolled out like thunder: + +"You old tortoise!" she began.... + +But on this occasion he also was furious. He advanced, threatening to +strike her. Prudence tried to come between them, and all three were +nothing but a rolling, striking, shouting and weeping congeries. The +servants then ran to inform Virgin Diamond who rose from his bed and +unsteadily ran. His mother was moved with pity to see him, and his +father also stopped his vituperation. They both went out muttering. + +Virgin Diamond then asked his sister the cause of all this, and why +his young wife was no longer there. She answered only with tears; but +his mother, who had returned, told the whole story. + +Virgin Diamond's anger was so strong that his face became the color of +the earth. However, he contained himself, saying: + +"Let us not publish this family shame abroad. If the news spreads, +everybody will laugh at us." + +As a matter of course, their mischievous neighbor, Li, had heard their +shouting and weeping. He had quickly climbed on to his wall, but had +been unable to understand what was happening. Next morning he watched +for the first of the women slaves who came out, and drew her into +his house. Fifty pieces of copper decided the girl to speak, and the +delighted Li, letting her depart, ran to the house of P'ei, to whom he +told all that he knew. + +P'ei went straight to the house of Liu: + +"I know all," he cried. "Give back the gifts, and let no more be +said." + +Liu's face became red and white by turns. He thought: + +"How does he already know what happened in my house but yesterday?" + +Then he denied the matter: + +"Kinsman, whence come these words with which you are trying to sully +my family?" + +"Miserable cheat!" cried the other, "you are in very truth an old +tortoise." + +And he struck him on the face with his hand. + +"Murderer!" cried Liu in a fury. "Do you dare to come to my house and +insult me and strike me?" + +And he struck P'ei such a violent blow that the old man fell to the +ground. Then they began to belabor each other. Virgin Diamond and +his mother, hearing their cries, ran up and separated them. Afterward +P'ei, pointing with his finger and trembling, cried: + +"You know how to strike, old tortoise! We shall see whether you are as +clever in speaking before the judge." + +And he went out swearing. Liu exclaimed: + +"It is all Sun's fault. If I do not bring an action against them, they +will even now escape entirely free." + +In spite of his son's curses, he hurriedly set about writing an +accusation, and ran to the Governor s palace. + +The court was sitting, and Liu, holding his accusation, approached the +judge. P'ei was already there, and reviled him as soon as he saw him. +Liu retaliated, and the battle began anew. + +At this interruption, the magistrate sternly ordered the two to kneel +and explain themselves. Both spoke confusedly at the same time, but +the whole story was none the less made clear. All those who were +implicated in the matter were summoned, and they came to fall upon +their knees. + +At length the judge delivered sentence. All the former betrothals were +annulled. Yu-lang became betrothed to her whom he had outraged. But +the Sun family owed a compensation to the Liu family, which in its +turn owed a bride to the P'ei family. So Pearl Sun was given to the +son of P'ei, and Virgin Diamond was bestowed upon the former betrothed +of Yu-lang. Having settled the affair, the Governor summoned three +red palankeens and the three brides were conducted under escort to +the homes of their new husbands. The town of Hang-chow talked of this +affair for a long time, but in the end forgot it for some new scandal. + + +_Hsing shih heng yen (1627), +8th Tale._ + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Eastern Shame Girl, by Charles Georges Souli + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12086 *** diff --git a/12086-h/12086-h.htm b/12086-h/12086-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b807b55 --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/12086-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3528 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Windows (vers 1st November 2003), see www.w3.org"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<meta content="pg2html (binary version 0.12a)" name="generator"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of _Eastern Shame Girl_, by +George Soulie DeMorant.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + } + p { + text-align : justify; + } + blockquote { + text-align : justify; + } + h1 , h2 , h3 , h4 , h5 , h6 { + text-align : center; + } + h1 , h3 { + font-variant : small-caps; + } + h1 , h2 { + margin-bottom : 2em; + margin-top : 4em; + } + pre { + font-size : 0.7em; + } + hr { + text-align : center; + width : 50%; + } + html > body hr { + margin-left : 25%; + margin-right : 25%; + width : 50%; + } + hr.full { + width : 100%; + margin-top : 2em; + } + html > body hr.full { + margin-left : 0%; + margin-right : 0%; + width : 100%; + } + hr.short { + text-align : center; + width : 20%; + } + html > body hr.short { + margin-left : 40%; + margin-right : 40%; + width : 20%; + } + div.note { + border-style : dotted; + border-width : 2px; + margin-left : 15%; + margin-right : 15%; + } + .center { + text-align : center; + } + .author { + text-align : right; + } + .poem { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + text-align : left; + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + } + .poem p { + margin : 0; + padding-left : 3em; + text-indent : -3em; + } + .poem p.i2 { + margin-left : 1em; + } + .poem p.i4 { + margin-left : 2em; + } + .toc { + margin-left : 15%; + margin-bottom : 0; + font-variant : small-caps; + } + a { + text-decoration : none; + } + a:hover { + background-color : #ffffcc; + } + .figure , .figcenter { + padding : 1em; + margin : 0; + text-align : center; + font-size : 0.8em; + } + .figure img , .figcenter img { + border : medium none inherit; + margin-bottom : 1em; + } + + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12086 ***</div> + +<div class="note"><p>[Transcriber's Note: This book was published +as Chinese Love Tales in 1935 (translated from the original of George +Souile De Morant - a variation in the spelling of the middle name). It +was attacked and acquitted in the courts, winning judicial recognition +of its exceptional literary merit.]</p> +</div> +<h1><i>Eastern Shame Girl</i></h1> +<h4><i>Translated from the French of</i></h4> +<h3>George Soulie DeMorant</h3> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>Illustrations by</i></h4> +<h3>Marcel Avond</h3> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>New York<br> +Privately Printed 1929</i></h4> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p01.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p01s.png" alt= +"frontispiece"></a></div> +<hr> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<p class="toc"><a href="#EASTERN">Eastern Shame Girl</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#WEDDING">The Wedding of Ya-Nei</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#STRANGE">A Strange Destiny</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#ERROR">The Error of the Embroidered +Slipper</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#COUNTERFEIT">The Counterfeit Old +Woman</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#MONASTERY">The Monastery of the +Esteemed-Lotus</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#COMPLICATED">A Complicated +Marriage</a></p> +<br> +<br> +<div class="note"> +<p><i>Note:—The original source of the stories appearing in +"Eastern Shame Girl" is the classic literature of China in the 17th +Century.</i></p> +</div> +<hr class="full"> +<a name="EASTERN"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>EASTERN SHAME GIRL</h2> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When there is a great peace</p> +<p>Under the gold cup of the sun</p> +<p>Joy reaches its flowering.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In the twentieth year of the period Wan-li, there came, among +the thousands of students who gathered at Peking for the +examinations, a certain Li, whose first name was Chia and his +surname Ch'ien-hsi, or "Purified-a-thousand times." His family were +from Shao-hsing fu in Chekiang; his father was Judge of the +province of Kang-su; and Li himself was the eldest of three +brothers. He had studied in the village school from childhood and, +not having yet attained to literary rank, had come, according to +custom, to present himself for examination at Peking. While in that +city, he consorted, before his springtide, with the young +libertines, the "willow twigs" of his country; and, in order to +gain experience, frequented the theatres and music-halls. Thus he +became acquainted with a famous singing girl called Tu, whose first +name was Mei, or "Elegance." As she was the tenth of her family, +she was known at the theatre as Shih-niang, "The Tenth daughter." A +delicate seduction diffused from her: her body was all grace and +perfume. The twin arches of her brows held the black which is blue +of distant mountains, and her eyes were as deep and bright as +autumn lakes. Her face had the glory of the lotus, and her lips the +glory of cherries. By what blunder of the gods had this piece of +flawless jade fallen in the windy dust, among the flowers beneath +the willow? When she was thirteen years old, Shih-niang had already +"broken her claws." Now she was nineteen, and it would not be +possible to enumerate the young Lords and Princes whose hearts she +had besotted, whose thoughts she had set in a turmoil, whose family +treasures she had swallowed without compunction. In the theatres, +they had composed an epigram about her:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When Tu Shih-niang comes to a banquet</p> +<p>The guests drink a thousand great cups</p> +<p>Instead of a single small one.</p> +<p>When Tu Mei appears upon the stage</p> +<p>The actresses look like devils.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>It must be said that never, in the young passions of his life, +had Li Chia experienced the pain of beauty; but, when he saw +Shih-niang, emotion was awakened in him, and the feelings of a +flowering willow filled his breast. He himself was gifted with rare +beauty, and a sweet and gentle nature. He spent his money +recklessly, with an unbridled zeal for bestowing gifts. For this +reason he held a double attraction for Shih-niang, who considered +that falsehood and avarice were opposed to rectitude, and had also +by this time made up her mind to return to a life of honor. She +appreciated Li Chia's gentleness and generosity, and was drawn +toward him. But he was afraid of his father and did not dare to +marry her at once, as she wished. Their love was not, on that +account, any the less tender. In the joys of dawn and the pleasures +of twilight they kept together as do husband and wife, and in their +vows they compared their love with the Ocean or with the Mountain, +recognizing no other vital motive. In truth:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Their tenderness was deeper than the sea</p> +<p>For it was past sounding,</p> +<p>Their love was as the mountains</p> +<p>But even higher.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Also, since Chia had been admitted to her favor, rich Lords and +powerful Ministers were no longer permitted to see the girl's +beauty. At first Li used to give large sums of money, so that the +matron to whom Shih-niang belonged, shrugged her shoulders and +smiled. But the days went quickly, and the months too; and a year +had passed. Chia's coffers had gradually become empty; and now his +hand could no longer keep pace with his wishes. But the ancient +ma-ma remained patient.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile the Judge had learned that his son was +frequenting the theatre, and sent him repeated orders to return +home. But Chia, who was infatuated, kept on delaying his departure +until, hearing that his father was truly furious, he no longer +dared to return. It was well said by the ancients: "As long as +harmony endures there is unity; when harmony ceases, there is +separation."</p> +<p>Shih-niang's love was sincere, and her heart only burned the +more for him whose hands were empty. The ma-ma frequently ordered +her to send her lover away; then, seeing that the young girl was +indifferent to her commands, she tried to exasperate Chia with +stinging words, hoping thus to compel him to depart. But her +visitor's nature was so gentle that his anger could not be +provoked, and the only result was to make him more amiable in his +behavior to the old woman, who in her impotence ended in +reproaching Shih-niang:</p> +<p>"We who keep open doors must eat our visitors three times a day, +and clothe ourselves with them. We lead out the departing guest by +one door, but to receive a fresh one by another. When desire is +excited under our roof, our silver and silks mount up like hills. +But it is more than a year since this Li Chia began troubling your +curtains, and now old patrons and new guests alike have +discontinued their visiting. The spirit Chung-k'uci no longer comes +to our door; nay, not the littlest devil. Therefore I am angry and +humiliated. What will become of us, now that we have no trace of +visitors?"</p> +<p>Shih-niang restrained herself with difficulty under these +reproaches, and answered calmly:</p> +<p>"Young Lord Li did not come here with empty hands. He has paid +us considerable sums of money."</p> +<p>"It was so at one time; but it is now so no longer. Tell him to +give me enough to pay for rice for the two of you.... Indeed, I +have no luck! Most of the girls I buy claim all the silver, and +hardly care whether their clients live or die. But now I have +reared a white tiger who refuses riches, opens wide the door, and +makes my old body bear the total burden. O miserable child! You +wish to keep the poor for nothing. Where will you find clothes and +food? Tell your beggar to be wise enough to give me a few ounces of +silver. If you will not send him away, I shall sell you and look +for another slave. That would be better for both of us."</p> +<p>"Do you mean what you say?" asked the girl.</p> +<p>"But you know that Li Chia has neither money nor clothes, and +cannot procure any."</p> +<p>"I am not jesting," answered the old woman.</p> +<p>"Then how much must he give to take me away?"</p> +<p>"If any one else were in question, I should demand several +thousand ounces. Alas! This beggar cannot pay them! So I shall be +satisfied with three hundred ounces, with which to buy another +'tinted face.' If he brings them within three days, I will take the +silver with my left hand and give the girl with my right. But after +three days, it matters not at all to me that three times seven are +twenty-one; Lord or no Lord, I shall beat out this young spark with +my broom, and you must bear no grudge for it."</p> +<p>"In spite of all, he should be able to borrow three hundred +ounces. But three days is too little; he will need ten."</p> +<p>"Ten days!" cried the other. "A hundred would be more like! Yet +so be it. I will wait ten days."</p> +<p>"If he cannot get the money, he will not have the face to +return. My only fear is that you will go back on your promise, if +he does bring the three hundred ounces."</p> +<p>"I am nearly fifty-one years old," answered the ma-ma. "Ten +times I have offered the great sacrifices. How should I dare not to +keep my word? If you mistrust me, let us strike the palms of our +hands together to fix the agreement. Nay, if I break my word, may I +be changed into a pig or dog!"</p> +<p>That same evening, by the pillow-side, Shih-niang explained how +her body might be re-bought, and Li Qua said:</p> +<p>"That would delight me, but how can I pay so much? My purse is +as empty as if it had been washed."</p> +<p>"Your slave has arranged all with the ma-ma. She requires three +hundred ounces within ten days. Even if you have spent all that +your family gave you for your journey, you have still some friends +or relations from whom you can borrow. Then you will have me +entirely to yourself, and I shall never again have to endure that +woman's anger."</p> +<p>"Since I became obsessed by our love, my friends and relations +have ceased to recognize me. But perhaps, if I asked them to help +me to pay for my journey I might make up the sum."</p> +<p>In the morning, when he had arranged his hair and, clothed +himself, and was about to leave Shih-niang, she said to him:</p> +<p>"Do your uttermost, and come back to me with good news."</p> +<p>He went to all his relations and friends, pretending that he was +taking leave of them before his departure. They all congratulated +him; but when he spoke of the expenses of the journey and asked for +a loan, all, without exception, told him that they could do +nothing. His friends knew the weakness of his character, and that +he was besotted with love for some "Flower-in-the-Mist" or other. +He had remained in Peking, up to that time, they knew, not daring +to face his father's anger. Was this departure genuine, now, or but +pretended? If he spent the borrowed money on "tinted faces," would +not his father bear a grudge against those who lent it? The most he +could get together was from ten to twenty ounces.</p> +<p>Ashamed of his failure after a full three days of endeavor, he +did not dare to return to Shih-niang; yet, since he used to spend +every night with his mistress, he had no other lodging. After the +first evening, therefore, he went and asked shelter from his +fellow-countryman, the very learned Liu Yu-ch'un. This man, seeing +the growing sadness of the young man, at last ventured to question +him and learned his story and of his plan of marriage. Liu shook +his head: "That is hardly possible. She is the most famous of all +the singing girls. Who would be content with three hundred ounces +for such a beauty? The old woman has conceived this method of +sending you away, and Shih-niang, knowing that your hands are +empty, asks you for this sum because she does not dare to tell you +to leave her. If you offered the silver, she would laugh at you. It +is a common trick. Do not trouble yourself further, but resign +yourself to the breaking off of your relations with the girl."</p> +<p>Li Chia was speechless for a long time, shaken by his doubts, +and Liu added:</p> +<p>"Make no mistake about it. If you show that you really mean to +take your departure, many will help you. But as for your plan, you +would need not ten days, but ten months to find three hundred +ounces."</p> +<p>"Good Elder-Brother," answered Li, "your judgment is indeed +profound."</p> +<p>But none the less he continued his vain search for three further +days.</p> +<p>Shih-niang was most anxious when she did not see her lover come +back to her. She sent a little servant to look for him, and the +child met Li by chance, and said:</p> +<p>"Lord, our Elder-Sister awaits you at the house."</p> +<p>In his shame, Li answered:</p> +<p>"I have no time to-day. To-morrow I will come to see her."</p> +<p>But the boy had been commanded to bring him back, and to die +sooner than lose him, so he replied:</p> +<p>"It is the absolute wish of the Elder-Sister that you come with +me."</p> +<p>Li could not refuse, and followed the messenger.</p> +<p>Once in Shih-niang's presence he stood still, sobbing mo-mo, +mo-mo, without a word.</p> +<p>"How is our plan going?" she asked.</p> +<p>He only answered with a flood of tears; so she insisted:</p> +<p>"Can people have been so hard as to refuse three hundred +ounces?"</p> +<p>Stifling his sobs, he answered with this verse:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>It is easier to catch a tiger in the mountains</p> +<p>Than to move the world with speech alone.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"I have gone about for these six days, and my hands are empty. +Shame has kept me away from my perfumed companion, and it is only +at her command that I have come back. I have tried my hardest. +Alas! such is the spirit of the century."</p> +<p>"We will say nothing to the ma-ma. Let my Lord stay here for the +night: his slave will propose another plan to him."</p> +<p>She served him with a meal and wine, and made him lie down. Then +in the middle of the night she asked:</p> +<p>"If you cannot find three hundred ounces to free me, what are we +to do?"</p> +<p>He wept without answering. Shih-niang waited until the fifth +watch; then she drew from under her mattress a bag containing a +hundred and fifty ounces in small silver, and said:</p> +<p>"This is my secret reserve. Since you cannot find the whole sum, +I will give you half of it. That should help you; but we have only +four days more. Above all, do not come too late!"</p> +<p>Astonished and overjoyed, he carried away the bag and went back +to Liu, telling him what had happened and showing him the money. +Liu exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Surely this woman has a loyal heart! Since she acts so, she +must not be allowed to suffer. I am going to act as mediator in +your marriage."</p> +<p>Leaving Li in his house, he went himself to ask for loans on all +sides. In two days he had amassed a hundred and fifty ounces. He +gave them to the young man, saying:</p> +<p>"I have stood guarantor for you, for I am deeply touched by +Shih-niang's sentiment."</p> +<p>Li took the silver, as delighted as if the money had fallen from +the sky, and ran to see his mistress. It was the ninth day. She +asked him: "Has it been very difficult? Have you found the hundred +and fifty ounces?"</p> +<p>He then told her what Liu had done; and both, rejoicing, spent a +night of pleasure. Next day she said to him:</p> +<p>"When this money is paid, I must follow my Lord. But we have +made no preparation for the boats and conveyances of our journey. I +have borrowed twenty ounces from my friends. My Lord may take them +for travelling expenses."</p> +<p>In his uneasiness concerning these expenses, he had not dared to +speak of them. He took the money, and was full of joy.</p> +<p>At that moment there was a knock on the door, and the old woman +entered, saying:</p> +<p>"This is the tenth day."</p> +<p>"I thank the ma-ma for recalling the fact to us," he answered. +"I was on the point of paying her a visit."</p> +<p>And, taking up the bag, he poured the three hundred ounces on to +the table. The old woman had not supposed he could succeed.</p> +<p>She changed color, and seemed on the point of gainsaying her +word. So Shih-niang said; "I have stayed in your house for a long +time, and have brought in several thousands of ounces. To-day I am +marrying. If you do not keep your word, I shall commit suicide +before you, and you will lose the money and the girl."</p> +<p>The old woman could find no words to express her feeling. She +took the money in silence, and finally muttered:</p> +<p>"If you mean to go away, you go now. But you shall take none of +your clothes or jewels with you."</p> +<p>Hustling the two young people along, she led them through the +door and shot the bolt.</p> +<p>It was then the ninth moon, and the weather was cold. Shih-niang +had but just risen from bed, and was not dressed; nor was her hair +done. Yet she saluted the ma-ma with two genuflexions. La Chia +shook his two hands joined together. Thus the married pair left +that not too pleasant old woman:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Even as a carp escapes the metal hook,</p> +<p>Flirts its tail and shakes its head</p> +<p>And returns not.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In front of the door La Chia said to his mistress:</p> +<p>"Wait a moment! I will call a little palankeen to take you to +the house of Liu."</p> +<p>She answered:</p> +<p>"In this very court are my friends, my sisters, who have always +been in sympathy with me.</p> +<p>"I must take leave of them; and I cannot neglect to thank them +for the money they have lent me."</p> +<p>Accompanied by her Lord, she went to each pavilion to greet her +friends. Now, one of them, Yuch-lang, was a very close friend of +Shih-niang, so, seeing that she had not done her hair, she led her +to her own toilet-table, and ran to call another friend, Hsu Su-Su. +Then she took from her coffers many ornaments of king-fisher +leather and bracelets and jasper pins, even embroidered robes and +girdles ornamented with phoenix. She gave them to Shih-niang, +over-coming her with gratitude.</p> +<p>She also ordered a feast of congratulation, to which all their +friends were invited, and finally, at the end of day, offered the +pair a bed for the night.</p> +<p>When she was alone with Li Chia, Shih-niang asked:</p> +<p>"Where shall we go when we have left the capital? Has my Lord +made a decision on this point?"</p> +<p>"My father," he answered, "is still angry with me. If, in +addition, he learns that I have married my Little-Sister, and that +I am coming back with her, he will doubtless be carried quite away +by rage. I have not found a satisfactory plan."</p> +<p>"Your father has feelings from Heaven. He could not break +completely with you. Would it not be better for us to go to him, +and to keep to our boat while you pray your friends to go and ask +for a harmonious reconciliation? After that, leading your slave, +you may re-enter your dwelling in peace."</p> +<p>"That is an excellent plan," he answered.</p> +<p>Next day they thanked Yuch-lang again, and went to the house of +Liu. On seeing the learned man, Shih-niang knelt down to express +her gratitude to him, saying:</p> +<p>"Later we may both know how to return your kindness."</p> +<p>Liu hastened to answer, according to the polite formality:</p> +<p>"Your admirable sentiment far exceeds my most poor action. You +are a heroine among women. Why, then, do you hang such words to +your/teeth?"</p> +<p>All day the three of them drank wine of joy. Then the pair chose +a suitable day for their journey, and obtained horses and +palankeens. When the time for their departure drew near, Yuch-lang, +Hsu-Su, and all those friends came to bear the couple company. +Yuch-lang sent her servants to bring a metal casket, furnished with +a golden lock, and gave it to Shih-niang, who placed it in her +palankeen without opening it.</p> +<p>The porters and servants urged the travelers forward, and they +started. Liu and the beautiful women escorted them as far as the +other side of the Ch'ung-wen gate, and there they drank a last cup +together. They separated with tears.</p> +<p>When they reached the river Lu, Li Chia and Shih-niang abandoned +the land way and hired a cabin in a large junk which was going to +Kua-chow. After he had paid their passage in advance, there was +only a single piece of bronze left in Li Chia's bag; the twenty +ounces which Shih-niang had given him had vanished as if they had +never been. The young man had not been able to avoid giving certain +presents, and he had also bought blankets and other necessities for +the journey. Sadly he asked himself what to be done, but she said +to him:</p> +<p>"My Lord may cease to disturb himself. Our friends have given +yet more help."</p> +<p>She opened her metal casket, while he looked on in shame. She +took out a red silk bag and put it on the table, bidding him open +it. He found the bag heavy; for, in fact, it contained fifty ounces +of silver. Shih-niang had already shut the casket again, without +saying what further was in it, now she said smilingly:</p> +<p>"Have not our sisters the most desirable instinct? They did not +wish us to have any difficulty on our journey, and in this way they +enable us to cross mountains and rivers."</p> +<p>Li Chia exclaimed in his delight and surprise:</p> +<p>"If I had not met such generosity, I should have had no choice +but to wander, and at last to die without burial. Even when my hair +turns white, I shall not forget such virtue and such +friendship."</p> +<p>And he shed tears of emotion, until Shih-niang consoled him by, +diverting his thoughts.</p> +<p>Some days later they reached Kua-chow, where the big junk +stopped. But Li Chia was now able to hire a smaller vessel for +themselves alone, and in this he stowed their baggage. On the +morrow they were to travel across the great river.</p> +<hr class="short"> +<p>It was then the second quarter of the second month of winter. +The moon shone like water. The pair were sitting on the deck of the +junk, and the boy said:</p> +<p>"Since we left the capital we have not been able to talk freely, +because we were in a cabin and our neighbors could hear us. Now we +are alone on our own junk. Also, we have left the cold of the North +and will to-morrow be on the south side of the river. Is it not a +fitting time to drink and rejoice, so as to forget our former +sorrows? You to whom I owe so much, what do you say?"</p> +<p>"It is now long since your slave was deprived of little +pleasantries and laughters, and she had the same sentiment as +yourself. Your words prove that we have but one soul."</p> +<p>They brought wine on deck; and, seated on a carpet beside his +mistress, he offered her cups.</p> +<p>So they drank joyously, until they were a little drunk; and at +length he said:</p> +<p>"O my benefactress, your voice of marvel used to trouble the six +theatres. Every time I heard you then, my spirit took wing from me. +It is long since you have overcome me in that way. The moon is +bright over the shimmering river. The night is deep and solitary. +Will you not consent to favor me with a song?"</p> +<p>For a little, Shih-niang refused. Then she looked at the moon, +and a song escaped her. It was an affecting melody, taken from one +of the pieces of the Yuan dynasty, called "The Light Rose of the +Peaches." In truth:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Her voice took flight to the Milky Way,</p> +<p>And the clouds stopped to listen.</p> +<p>Its echo fell into the deep water and the fishes hastened.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Shih-niang sang. And in a near-by junk there was a young man +called Sun; his first name was Fu, Rich, and his surname was +Shan-lai, Excellent-in-Promise. His family was one of the +wealthiest in Hsin-an of Hui-chow; his ancestors had owned the salt +monopoly in Yang-chow. He was just twenty years old, and had +moulded his character in accordance with his passion, being a +regular visitor at the blue pavilions, where the smiles of painted +roses are to be bought. He was making a journey, and had cast +anchor for the night at Kua-chow. He was drinking in solitude, +bemoaning the absence of companions.</p> +<p>Suddenly in the night he heard a voice more sweet than the sighs +of the bird of passion, or than the warbling phoenix. No words +seemed adequate, he felt, to describe the beauty of this song. +Walking out from his cabin, he found that the music came from a +junk not very far distant from his own.</p> +<p>In his eagerness to know who had enchanted him, he told his men +to go and question the boatmen. But he learned no more than that +the junk had been hired by Li Chia. He obtained no information +concerning the singer. He reflected:</p> +<p>"Such a perfect voice could not belong to a woman of good +family. How can I manage to see this bird?"</p> +<p>He could not sleep that night. In the morning, at about the +fifth watch, he heard the wind roaring on the water. The light of +day was strangely veiled by cloud, and flakes of snow were whirling +madly. It has been said;</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>The clouds are swallowing</p> +<p>Countless thousands of trees upon the hill.</p> +<p>Footprints disappear on many footpaths.</p> +<p>The fisher in the bamboo hat</p> +<p>On the frail boat</p> +<p>Catches only snow and the frozen river.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>This snowstorm rendered it impossible to cross the river, and +the boats could not be set in motion. Sun, therefore, told his +rowers to leave his moorings and to make fast alongside Li Chia's +junk. Then, in a sable bonnet and wrapped in his fox-skin robe, he +opened his cabin window, pretending to look at the white snow as it +fell. Shih-niang had just arranged her hair, and, with her tapering +fingers, was pushing back the short curtains to throw out the dregs +of tea in the bottom of her cup. The freshened splendor of her +rouge shone softly.</p> +<p>Sun saw that celestial beauty, that incantation; he scented that +perfume; and his soul boiled over. For a long moment he gazed, and +his spirit was as if submerged. But he recovered himself and, +leaning out of the window, recited, nearly at full voice, the poem +of the "Blossom of the Plum Tree":</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Snow covers the mountain where the Sage abides,</p> +<p>Under the trees in the moonlight</p> +<p>Beauty advances.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Li Chia heard the poem and came out of his cabin, curious to see +who was reciting it. In this way he fell into the trap set by Sun, +who hastened to salute him, asking:</p> +<p>"Old-Elder-Brother, what is your honorable name? And what is +your first name which one does not presume to repeat?"</p> +<p>Having answered in accordance with the convention, Li Chia had +to question Sun in his turn. They exchanged such words as are +customary between educated men. Finally the libertine said:</p> +<p>"This snowstorm was sent by Heaven to effect our meeting. It is +a large piece of fortune for your little brother. I was lonely and +without diversion in my cabin. Would it not be my venerable +brother's pleasure that we should go to a riverside pavilion and +divert ourselves by drinking wine?"</p> +<p>Li Chia answered:</p> +<p>"The water-chestnuts meet at the caprice of the current. How +should I not be glad of this offer?"</p> +<p>"Between the four seas all men are brothers."</p> +<p>Then Sun ordered his servant to come with him, sheltering Li +Chia under a large parasol. The two men saluted each other again, +landed on the bank and, after walking a little distance, found a +wine pavilion.</p> +<p>Having entered, they chose seats by the window and sat down. The +attendant brought them hot wine, Sun raised his cup to give the +signal, and soon the two were conversing freely and had become +friends. At length Sun leaned forward and said in a low voice:</p> +<p>"Last night a song arose from your honorable ship. Whose was +that voice?"</p> +<p>Wishing to pose as a man of leisure making a journey, Li Chia at +once told the truth:</p> +<p>"It was Tu Shih-niang, the famous singing girl of Peking."</p> +<p>"How comes a singing girl to belong to my brother?"</p> +<p>Li Chia then ingeniously told his story, and the other said:</p> +<p>"To marry such a beauty is exceptional good fortune. But will +your honorable father be satisfied?"</p> +<p>Li sighed and answered:</p> +<p>"There is no lack of anxiety in my humble house. My father is of +a very stern disposition, and as yet knows nothing."</p> +<p>Sun, developing his hidden traps, continued:</p> +<p>"If your honorable father is not placable, where will my +Elder-Brother shelter the Beauty whom he has carried away? Have you +come to some arrangement with her on this point?"</p> +<p>With heavy brows, La answered:</p> +<p>"My little wife and I have already discussed the matter."</p> +<p>"Your Honorable Favor has doubtless some admirable plan?"</p> +<p>"Her ideas," explained La, "is to remain for the time at a place +in the country of Su and Hang, whilst I go forward to my family and +ask my friends and relations to appease my father."</p> +<p>The other gave a deep sigh and assumed a saddened air:</p> +<p>"Our friendship is not yet deep enough. I fear that you may +consider my words both strange and too outspoken."</p> +<p>"When I have the good fortune to receive your learned and +enlightening counsel, how could I fail to respect it?"</p> +<p>"Your honorable and noble father, being of stern character, is +certainly still angry at your conduct in Peking. And now my +Elder-Brother marries in the face of convention. How could your +prudent relatives and valuable friends fail to share the views of +your honorable father? When you rashly ask them to act on your +behalf, they will certainly refuse. Then will not the temporary +residence of your Honorable Favor become a permanent one? In your +position, it will be as difficult to advance as to retire."</p> +<p>Li Chia knew that he had only fifty ounces in his purse, and +that half this sum would very soon have vanished. He could not help +hanging his head. His companion added:</p> +<p>"I have yet another thing to say, and it comes from my heart. +Will you hear it?"</p> +<p>"Having already received your sympathetic advice, I shall be +most happy to listen."</p> +<p>"Since earliest time," said Sun, "the hearts of women have been +as changeable as the waves of the sea. And among the +Flowers-in-the-Mist especially there are few who are found +faithful. Since the present case concerns a famous singing girl, +who knows the whole earth, it is probable that she has some former +associate in the regions of the South. She has consequently availed +herself of your help to conduct her to the land where this other +lives."</p> +<p>"I beg to say that that is not certain," protested Li.</p> +<p>"Even if it is not, the men of the South are very adroit and +very active. You leave a beautiful woman to live there all alone: +can you guarantee that none will climb her wall or penetrate her +dwelling? After all, the relations between father and son are from +Heaven and cannot be destroyed. If you abandon your family for the +sake of a singing girl, you will wander until you become one of +those incorrect Floating-on-the-Wave individuals. A woman is not +Heaven. You must ponder this matter seriously."</p> +<p>Hearing this, Li Chia felt as if he were swept away by a +torrent. At last he answered: "What, in your enlightened opinion, +ought I to do?"</p> +<p>"Your servant has a plan which should be very profitable to you. +But I fear lest, weakened by die soft pillow of your love, you will +not be able to put it into execution, and that my words will +therefore be wasted."</p> +<p>"If you have a really good suggestion, I shall be forever your +debtor. Why do you fear to speak?"</p> +<p>"My Elder-Brother, for more than a year you have +Fluttered-in-the-Rain, obsessed by your brothel. You have not been +able to give your mind to the difficulties which will assail you +when you no longer know where to sleep or to eat. Your father's +anger is only due to your having become infatuated with Flowers, +besotted by Willows, until you poured out gold as if it were simple +sand. He tells himself that you will quickly consume the abundant +wealth of your family, and not be assured of having children. By +returning empty-handed you will justify his anger. If, O my +Elder-Brother, you could cut the knot which binds you to your love, +I would willingly make you a gift of a thousand ounces. With a +thousand ounces of silver to show your father, you could say that, +during your stay at the capital, you had rarely left your study +chamber and that you had never Skimmed the Waves. He will have +confidence in you, and the harmony of the house will be restored. +Thus, without idle words, you change your sorrow to joy. Give the +matter three thoughts. I do not covet the Beauty! I speak with no +idea but of loyally helping a friend."</p> +<p>La Chia was a man of naturally weak character; moreover, he was +afraid of his father. Sun's fine words troubled his heart. He rose, +made a deep bow, and said:</p> +<p>"O Brother! Your noble counsel has cleared away the foolish and +tangled obstruction of my understanding. But my little favorite has +accompanied me for some thousands of li, and it would not be just +for me to leave her in this way. I will return to deliberate with +her, and to discover whether her mind is favorable to your project. +I shall inform you shortly."</p> +<p>"In our conversation," answered Sun, "we have abandoned the +paths of strict politeness.</p> +<p>"That was because my loyal heart could not endure to see the +separation of a father and son, and wished to help you to return to +your family."</p> +<p>They both drank another cup of wine. The wind had dropped, and +the snow had ceased to fall. The color of the sky proclaimed the +evening. Sun caused his servant to pay for the drinks, and, taking +Li Chia by the hand, accompanied him as far as the junk. It is very +true that:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>You meet a stranger and say three words</p> +<p>And tear off a piece of your heart.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In the morning Shih-niang, on being left alone in her cabin, had +prepared a little feast for her friend, wishing to spend the day +with him in happiness; but the sun had set before Chia came back. +She had lanterns lit to guide him and, when he at last appeared and +entered the cabin, raised her eyes to his face and found the color +of displeasure. She poured out a cup of hot wine and offered it to +him; but he shook his head without a word, and refused to drink. +Then he went and threw himself on the bed. Sad at heart, Shih-niang +put the cups and dishes in order. She then undid her husband's +clothes and, leaning on the pillow, gently asked him:</p> +<p>"What news have you heard that has so upset you?"</p> +<p>Li Chia sighed, but without answering. She questioned him again +three or four times, but he was already asleep. Unable to be +indifferent to such lack of regard, she remained for a long time +sitting on the edge of the bed, incapable of sleep.</p> +<p>In the middle of the night he awoke and gave another deep sigh; +and she said to him:</p> +<p>"What is this difficult matter with which my Lord is troubled? +What are these sighings?"</p> +<p>Li Chia threw off the blanket and seemed about to speak, but the +words would not come from him. His lips trembled like leaves, and +finally he burst out sobbing. She clasped his head with one arm and +held it against her breast, trying to comfort him, and saying +tenderly:</p> +<p>"The love which unites us has lasted for many days, for very +nearly two years. We have overcome a thousand hardships and bitter +moments, but now we are far beyond all difficulty. Why do you show +such grief to-day, when we are about to cross the river and to +taste the joy of a hundred years? There must surely be a reason. +All things are shared in common between husband and wife, in life +and after death. If anything is the matter, we must discuss it Why +do you hide your sorrow from me?"</p> +<p>Thus urged, the young man mastered his tears and said:</p> +<p>"I am crushed beneath the woe which Heaven heaps upon me. In the +generosity of your soul, you have not cast me by. You have endured +a thousand wrongs for me. That is no merit of mine. But I still +think of my father, whose commands I am defying and that against +every convention and all laws. He is of inflexible character, and I +fear that his wrath will grow double at the sight of me. Where, +then, shall we two, floating with the current, come to our +anchorage? How shall I ensure our happiness, when my father has +broken with me? To-day my friend Sun invited me to drink and spoke +to me of my prospects, and what he said has pierced my heart."</p> +<p>"What is my Lord's intention?" she asked in great surprise.</p> +<p>"I was turning madly in the web of our affairs, when my friend +Sun sketched out an excellent plan to me. But I fear that my +benefactress will refuse to allow it."</p> +<p>"Who is this friend, Sun? If his plan is good, why should I not +agree to it?"</p> +<p>"His first name is Fu, and his family had the salt monopoly at +Hsin-an. He is a man who has Drifted-in-the-Wind and knows life. +Last night he was charmed by your pure song. I told him where we +came from, and confided the difficulties which beset our return. +Then, under the impulsion of a generous thought, he offered to give +me a thousand ounces if you will marry him. With these thousand +ounces as testimony I shall be able to speak to my father. Also I +shall know that you are not without shelter. But I cannot contain +my feeling, and that is why I mourn."</p> +<p>And his tears fell like a storm of rain. Ceasing to hold his +head against her breast, Shih-niang gently pushed him aside. At +last she smiled like ice and said to him:</p> +<p>"This person must be a hero, a man of courage and virtue, to +have conceived a project so advantageous to my Lord. Not only will +my Lord have a thousand ounces to take back with him, not only will +your slave gain shelter, but your baggage will be lighter also and +more easily handled. As a plan it satisfies both convention and +convenience. Where are the thousand ounces?"</p> +<p>Struggling with his tears, Li Chia replied:</p> +<p>"I have not got your consent, so the silver was not given +me."</p> +<p>"You must demand it first thing to-morrow morning. A thousand +ounces is a considerable sum, and it must all be paid into your +hand before I enter his cabin. For I am not merchandise which may +be bought on credit."</p> +<p>It was then the fourth watch of the night.</p> +<p>Shih-niang prepared her toilet-table, saying: "To-day I must +adorn myself to bid farewell to my former protector and to do honor +to my new one. It is no commonplace event. I must therefore take +great pains with paint and perfume, and put on my best jewels and +embroidered robes."</p> +<p>Thereafter, with perfume and paint and jewelry, she added to the +splendor of her petalled seduction. The sun had already risen +before she completed her preparations.</p> +<p>Li Chia was disturbed, and yet seemed almost happy. Shih-niang +urged him to insist upon the payment of the money, and he at once +carried her answer to the other junk. Then Sun said:</p> +<p>"It is easy for me to give the money; but I ought to have the +fair one's jewelry as a proof of her consent."</p> +<p>Li Chia told this to Shih-niang, who pointed to the casket with +the golden lock, and caused it to be taken to Sun, who joyfully +counted out a thousand ounces of silver and sent them to Li's ship. +The young woman herself verified the weight and standard of the +metal; and then, leaning over the bulwarks, half opened her scarlet +lips and showed her white teeth saying to the dazzled Sun:</p> +<p>"You can now, I think, give me back my casket for a time. The +Lord Li's passports are in it, and I must return them to him."</p> +<p>The other at once ordered the little chest to be brought back +and placed on the bridge. Shih-niang opened it Inside there were +several compartments, and she asked Li Chia to help her lift out +each in turn.</p> +<p>In the first there were jewels in the shape of king-fisher +feathers, jasper pins, and precious earrings, to the value of many +hundred ounces. Shih-niang took up these things in handfuls and +threw them into the river. Li, Sun and the boatmen uttered +exclamations of dismay.</p> +<p>In the second compartment were a jade flute and a golden +flageolet. In a third were antique jewels, gold furnishings and a +hundred ornaments worth thousands of ounces each. She threw them +all into the river. The stricken onlookers gave voice to their +regret.</p> +<p>Finally she drew out a box filled with pearls and rubies and +emeralds and cats' eyes, whose number and value were beyond +computation. The cries of the wondering bystanders beat in the air +like thunder. She wanted to throw all these into the river also; +but Li Chia held her in his arms, while Sun vehemently encouraged +him.</p> +<p>So, pushing Li away, she turned to the other and reviled +him:</p> +<p>"The Lord Li and I suffered many bitter moments before we came +to yesterday. And you, to serve a detestable and criminal lust, +have undone us and have caused me to hate the man I loved. After my +death I meet the Spirit of Retribution, and I shall not forget your +vile hypocrisy."</p> +<p>Then, turning toward Li Chia, she continued:</p> +<p>"During those many years when I lived in a disorder of the dust +and breeze, I secretly amassed these treasures, that they might +some day rescue my body. When I met my Lord, we vowed that our +union should be higher than the mountain, deeper than the sea. We +swore that, even when our hair was white, we should have our love. +Before leaving the capital, I pretended to receive this casket as a +gift from my friends. It contained a treasure of more than a myriad +ounces. I intended to deposit it in your treasury, when I had seen +your father and mother. Who would have thought your faith so +shallow, that, on the strength of a chance conversation, you would +consent to lose my loyal heart? To-day, before the eyes of all +these people, I have shown you that your thousand ounces were a +very little sum of money. These persons are my witness that it is +my Lord who rejects his wife, that it is not I who am wanting in my +duty."</p> +<p>Hearing these sad words, those who were present wept, and called +down curses upon Li, and reviled him as an ingrate. And he, being +both ashamed and desolate, shed tears of bitter repentance. He +knelt down to beg for her forgiveness. But Shih-niang, holding the +jewels in each hand, leaped into the yellow water of the river.</p> +<p>The onlookers uttered a cry and rushed to save her. But, under a +sombre cloud, the waves in the heart of the river broke into +boiling foam, and no further trace was seen of that desperate +woman.</p> +<p>Alas! she was an illustrious singing girl, as beautiful as +flowers or jade. She had been swallowed in an instant by the +water.</p> +<p>The people, grinding their teeth, would have beaten Li and Sun; +but these, in terror and dismay, made haste to push their boats out +from the bank, and then went each his own way.</p> +<p>Li Chia, seeing the thousand ounces of silver in his cabin, +unceasingly wept for the death of Shih-niang. His remorse gave +birth to a kind of madness in him, of which he could never be +healed.</p> +<p>Sun was so prostrated that he had to keep his bed. He thought he +saw Shih-niang standing in front of him all day and every day. It +was not long before he expiated his crime in death.</p> +<p>We must now tell how Liu, having left the capital to return to +his own village, also halted at Kua-chow. Leaning over the river to +take up some water in a bronze basin, he let the thing slip, and +therefore begged certain fishermen to drag their net for it.</p> +<p>When they drew up, there was a little box in the net. Liu opened +it, and it was full of pearls and precious stones. He rewarded the +fishermen generously, and placed the box near his pillow.</p> +<p>In the night he had a dream. A young woman rose from the +troubled waters of the river, and he recognized Shih-niang. She +drew near, wishing him ten thousand happinesses. Then she recounted +the unworthy ingratitude of Li, and said:</p> +<p>"Of your bounty you gave me a hundred and fifty ounces. I have +not forgotten your generosity, and I put this little box in the +fishermen's net as an offering of recognition."</p> +<p>He awoke and, having learned thus of Shih-niang's death, sighed +for a long time.</p> +<p>Later, those who told me this story declared that Sun, since he +thought he could acquire a beautiful woman for a thousand ounces, +was evidently not a respectable man. Li Chia, they said, had not +understood the sorrowful heart of Shih-niang, and was consequently +stupid, without refinement, and not worthy of mention. Shih-niang +alone was heroic. She was, in fact, unique since furtherest +antiquity. Why could she not meet some charming companion, some +phoenix worthy of her? Why did she make the mistake of loving Li +Chia? An admirable piece of jade was thrown to him who did not +deserve it; so that love turned to hate, and a thousand passionate +impulses were drowned in the deep water. Alas!</p> +<p class="center"><i>Tu Shih-niang nu ch'en pai pao hsiang. (Tu +Shih-<br> +niang, being put to shame drowns herself with<br> +her casket of a hundred treasures.)</i><br> +<i>Chin ku chi'i kuan (17th Century.)</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="WEDDING"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p02.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p02s.png" alt= +"THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI"></a></div> +<p>In the reign of the emperor Shen Tsung there lived an official +named Wu, who was at that time, Governor of Ch'ang-sha. His wife, +Lin, had given him a son named Ya-nei, or "In-the-Palace," who had +that year reached the age of sixteen. He was well endowed, although +not without tendency to wantonness; yet he had from childhood +diligently studied the classics and poetry. He had only one really +extravagant failing; to satisfy his appetite he needed more than +three bushels of rice every day, and over two pounds of meat. We +will say nothing of his drinking. In spite of all this, he ever +seemed half starved.</p> +<p>About the third Moon of that year, Wu was appointed Governor of +Yang-chow, and the equipages and boats of his new post came up to +meet him. He packed his belongings, said good-bye to his friends +and went on board, following the course of the river. On the second +day he had to stop, because of a storm of wind which raised up the +waters of the river in great waves.</p> +<p>At the point on the river bank where the boat lay moored, there +was already another official junk, before the cabin of which stood +a middle-aged matron and a charming girl, surrounded by several +women slaves. Ya-nei perceived the youthful beauty, and thought her +so seductive that he immediately composed the following poem:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Her soul has the tenderness of Autumn rivers</p> +<p>And her pure bones are made of jade.</p> +<p>The rose of the hibiscus lightens her,</p> +<p>Her eyebrows have the curve of willow leaves.</p> +<p>Is she not an Immortal from the Jasper Lake</p> +<p>Or from the Moon Palace?</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>He looked at her so ardently that his troubled soul took flight +and alighted upon the maiden's breast. But his intelligence at once +conceived a plan, and he said to his father:</p> +<p>"Tieh-tieh, why would you not tell the sailors to anchor our +junk by the side of that one? Would it not be safer?"</p> +<p>Wu was also of this opinion and accordingly gave orders to his +men. When the vessel was alongside, he sent to inquire the name of +the voyagers, and was informed that they were a certain Ho Chang, +the new Governor of Kien-K'ang, going to his post with his wife Ho +tsin, and his daughter Elegant, who was just fifteen.</p> +<p>Wu had known the excellent man formerly, so he had his name +carried to him. Then, clothed in his official robes, he stepped +from one ship to the other. His colleague was awaiting him before +his cabin, and, having exchanged formal greetings, they sat and +talked together, drinking a cup of tea. Wu returned to his boat +where, after a few moments, Ho Chang returned his visit. And Ya-nei +was present at the meeting. Ho Chang had no son, and took pleasure +in seeing this beautiful young man. He questioned him upon certain +ancient and modern books, and was satisfied with the ready answers +which he obtained. He praised him unreservedly for them, +thinking:</p> +<p>"This is just the son-in-law that I should like. He would make +an unprecedented match with my daughter. But he is going to live at +Pien-liang, and I will be at Kien-K'ang which is more than fifteen +days' journey to the south of that place."</p> +<p>Wu asked him:</p> +<p>"How many sons have you, O Old-Man-Born-Before-Me?"</p> +<p>"I will not conceal from you the fact that I have only a +daughter."</p> +<p>Wu considered:</p> +<p>"That charming child was his daughter then. She would be an +unprecedented wife for my son. But she is his only child, and he +certainly would not be willing to marry her at any great distance +from himself."</p> +<p>He added aloud:</p> +<p>"But if you have no son, you have only to take concubines."</p> +<p>"I thank you for your suggestion. It had occurred to me."</p> +<p>After having talked for some time, Ho Chang withdrew to his +cabin, where his wife and daughter were awaiting him. Being a +little elated by his cups of wine, he kept speaking of Ya-nei's +merit, and of his intention to invite the father and son for the +next day. His words sank deeply into his daughter's mind.</p> +<p>On the following day the river was still churned by waves, and +the storm sent up spray to a height of more than thirty feet. The +crash of water was heard on all sides.</p> +<p>Early in the morning Ho Chang sent his invitation, and, when the +two men arrived, the feast began. Elegant, in the next cabin, could +see Ya-nei through the cracks in the bulkhead, and her heart was +secretly moved.</p> +<p>"If I could have him for my husband, my desire would be +satisfied. But I shall not persuade him into a proposal by merely +looking at him. How shall I set about making known my thought to +him?"</p> +<p>Ya-nei, for his part, looked in vain for some means of speaking +to his neighbor. When the meal was finished, he returned to his +ship and lay down on his bed.</p> +<p>But Elegant was so much occupied in thinking of the young man +that she could not touch her dinner. Leaving her mother alone, she +retired to rest and was on the point of going to sleep, when the +sound of a song came to her. It was the voice of Ya-nei, +singing:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>A dream has come to me from the Blue Bowl,</p> +<p>But I was not able to speak.</p> +<p>I could not tell her of my delight</p> +<p>Or appoint an endless alliance.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>She rose softly, opened her cabin door without sound and went up +on to the bridge. Ya-nei was standing on the other ship, and +immediately leaped to her side, and boldly took her in his arms. +Between joy and alarm, she did not dare to resist. He drew her into +her cabin and embraced her.</p> +<p>At that moment one of the slaves passed before the cabin and, +seeing the door open, cried out:</p> +<p>"The door is open! O thieves!"</p> +<p>Elegant at once covered her lover with the blanket, but one of +the slaves saw the invader's feet. Ho Chang and his wife snatched +away the blanket.</p> +<p>"How does this wretch dare to dishonor my family?" cried the +Governor in a rage. "Ah, throw him into the river!"</p> +<p>In spite of the prayers of the culprit and the girl two men +seized the former, dragged him away and threw him into the water. +She followed him in despair, crying:</p> +<p>"I have ruined him! I wish to follow!"</p> +<p>And she too threw herself into the water. She woke with a start. +It was only a dream.</p> +<p>Till morning she lay and thought, wondering if this dream were +perhaps an omen that her destiny ought not to be bound up with that +of Ya-nei.</p> +<p>He also had complicated dreams that night. He rose in the +morning and opened the port-hole of his cabin. Ho Chang's ship was +touching his own, and the port-hole opposite to him was open. +Elegant appeared there, and their eyes met. Surprised, delighted +and embarrassed, they smiled, as if they had known each other for a +long time. They would gladly have spoken, but were afraid of being +heard. Then she made a small sign to him, retired quickly into her +cabin, and rapidly wrote some words on a piece of paper ornamented +with sprays of rose peach. She rolled it in a silk handkerchief and +cleverly threw it to Ya-nei, who caught it in both hands. They +saluted each other, and reclosed their port-holes.</p> +<p>He unfolded the handkerchief and smoothed out the crinkled leaf. +It bore this poem:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Brocade characters are on this paper of flowers,</p> +<p>And the bowels of my sorris in this embroidery,</p> +<p>I have dreamed of a prince</p> +<p>And, carried upon a cloud, I come to him.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>But there was also a little word or two added:</p> +<p>"This evening your submissive mistress will await you near the +lamp. The noise of my scissors will be the signal for our +happiness, and of our meeting."</p> +<p>Beyond himself with joy, the lad hastened to take a leaf of +golden paper and wrote out a poem on it. Then he took off his +embroidered silken girdle, rolled it all together, and opened his +port-hole. Elegant had also opened hers; she received the small +packet and at once concealed it in her sleeve, for she heard the +slaves approaching. These were followed by her mother. At last the +time came for her father to cross to the other ship for the return +feast given by Wu.</p> +<p>Full of cunning, the maiden took a vessel brimming with liquor +and gave it to her slaves, who eyed the gift as a thirsty dragon +looks upon water. They were half-drunk when Ho Chang came back from +the feast, and Elegant told them to go to bed, and that she would +do some needle-work. As their faces were red, their ears burning +and their legs unsteady, they were only too glad to retire; and +soon their snores were heard over the ship. Little by little all +other sounds died away in both the junks. Then she gently knocked +on her port-hole with her scissors.</p> +<p>Naturally Ya-nei was waiting for the signal; as soon as he heard +it, his body was as if it had been shaken to pieces. However, he +softly opened his shutter, stepped from one ship to the other, and +glided into the cabin where the maiden awaited him. She gave him +formal greeting, which he returned; but they looked at each other +under the lamp, and their passion already raged like fire. They +could hardly exchange a word, and Ya-nei's trembling hands were +undoing. She offered but very feeble resistance. He ardently +embraced her, and with his arms joined himself to the fresh breast +that lighted him.</p> +<p>At last they were able to speak. She told him of her dream, and +of her astonishment on recognizing, in his poem, the verses which +she had heard him sing in dream. He turned pale and sat down:</p> +<p>"My dream was exactly yours. Before these omens are fulfilled, I +shall speak to my father to arrange our marriage."</p> +<p>But, even as they talked, they silently fell asleep arm in +arm.</p> +<p>Now about the middle of the night, the wind fell and the river +became calmer. At the fifth watch the sailors untied their moorings +and began to haul their anchors, singing at their work. The noise +awakened the lovers, who heard the men say:</p> +<p>"The ship catches the wind rarely. We shall not be long in +getting to Ch'i-Chow."</p> +<p>They looked at each other in dismay:</p> +<p>"What are we going to do now?"</p> +<p>"Hush!" said she. You must remain hidden for the moment. We will +at last find a plan."</p> +<p>"It is our dream come true."</p> +<p>Remembering that the slaves had seen her lover's feet in her +dream, Elegant leaned forward and covered them carefully with an +ample blanket. At last she said:</p> +<p>"I have a plan. During the day you must hide under the couch, +and I shall pretend to be ill, and keep in bed, or in the cabin. +When we reach Ch'i-Chow, I will give you a little money, and you +must escape in the confusion of the disembarkation. You shall +rejoin your parents, and we will arrange for our marriage. If, by +any chance, my parents were to refuse, we should tell the truth. My +family has always loved me excessively; they will certainly +accede."</p> +<p>As soon as they had determined on their course, Ya-nei slid +under the bed, and made himself a place among the baggages. The +curtain fell into place in front of him, and the young girl was +still in bed when her mother came in, saying:</p> +<p>"Aya! Why are you resting like this?"</p> +<p>"I do not feel very well. I must have taken cold."</p> +<p>"Cover yourself well, my daughter, if that be so."</p> +<p>At this moment a slave entered, asking if she should bring +breakfast.</p> +<p>"My child," said her mother, "if you are not well, you would do +better not to take any solid nourishment. I am going to make you an +occasional small rice broth until you are recovered."</p> +<p>"I am not very fond of broth. Give me some rice. Let them bring +it to me here. I shall eat it by and by."</p> +<p>"I will keep you company."</p> +<p>"Aya! If you do not go and look after this rabble of women, they +will do their work most incontestably wrong."</p> +<p>Without understanding, the mother did indeed go to the next +cabin at that moment when the breakfast was brought in. As soon as +she had turned her back, Elegant told the slave to set down the +dish on the table.</p> +<p>"You may go away. I shall call you when I have finished."</p> +<p>Ya-nei was watching, and came out from his hiding. On the dish +there were only two small bowls of vegetables mixed with meat, a +bowl of cooked green-stuff, and a little rice. Naturally, the young +girl was not in the habit of taking large quantities of food; but +for her lover, with his three bushels of rice a day, the matter was +otherwise. After their meal, he again glided under the bed, nearly +as hungry as before. She called the slave, and told her to bring in +two more bowls of rice.</p> +<p>Her mother heard this, and entered, saying:</p> +<p>"My child! You are not well. How is it that you want to eat all +that?"</p> +<p>"The reason is not far to seek," she answered.</p> +<p>"I am hungry, that is all."</p> +<p>And her father, who had come to see the invalid, said:</p> +<p>"Let her be. She is growing, and needs nourishment."</p> +<p>When night came, and the evening meal was finished, she shut the +door and told her lover he could get into the bed again. But the +poor young man was suffering cruelly from hunger.</p> +<p>"Our stratagem," said he, "is admirable. But it is in one +respect also grievous. I cannot conceal from you that my appetite +is considerable. The three meals which I have had to-day seem +scarcely a mouthful. On such a diet, I shall starve before we come +to Ch'i-Chow."</p> +<p>"Why did you not say so? I shall make them bring me more +to-morrow."</p> +<p>"But are you not afraid of rousing suspicion?"</p> +<p>"That is nothing. I shall see to it. But how much would you +need?"</p> +<p>"We shall never be able to obtain quite that. Ten bowls of rice +at each meal would not be enough."</p> +<p>Next day, when her parents came to see her, Elegant +complained.</p> +<p>"I do not know what is the matter with me," she said. "I am +dying of hunger."</p> +<p>But her mother began to laugh:</p> +<p>"That is not a very serious affair. I will have more rice +brought to you."</p> +<p>But when the young girl said that she needed about ten bowls, +the good woman was startled. She again wished to remain near her +daughter.</p> +<p>"If you stay here, mama, I shall not be able to take anything. +Leave me alone, and I shall eat more comfortably."</p> +<p>Everybody indulged her caprice. When the cabin was empty, she +shut the door and Ya-nei came out. Hungry as he was, he made the +ten bowls vanish like a shooting star, and did not leave a single +grain. Elegant watched him with astonishment, and asked him in a +low voice:</p> +<p>"Is that still too little?"</p> +<p>"It will suffice," answered the other, drinking a cup of +tea.</p> +<p>He hastened back to his hiding-place, while the young girl ate +some vegetables. Then she called the slaves, who came running up, +wondering whether she had been able to eat all that food. They +looked at the empty bowls and at their mistress's slim figure, and +murmured as they went away:</p> +<p>"What a terrible illness!"</p> +<p>One of them, in her anxiety, went to the father and showed him +the dish, suggesting that he should call a doctor as soon as +possible. And he, for his part, forbade them to give her so much +another time, fearing that she would burst.</p> +<p>At mid-day he went himself to speak to her.</p> +<p>She began to weep: her mother took her part; and they gave way +to her. The evening meal was just as large.</p> +<p>They were approaching Ch'i-Chow, and Ho Chang, who was really +alarmed, ordered his boatmen to cast anchor near the town. Early in +the morning he sent his steward to find the best doctor, and when +the man arrived, brought him on board and explained the case to +him. They then went to examine the invalid and to try her pulse. +The doctor at length came back with the father into the central +cabin.</p> +<p>"Well? What is the illness?"</p> +<p>The other coughed, and at last said:</p> +<p>"Your daughter is suffering from lack of nourishment."</p> +<p>Her father was staggered:</p> +<p>"But I have told you that she ate thirty bowls of rice +yesterday."</p> +<p>"Yet, but your daughter is still a child. She is apparently +fifteen years old, but that is equivalent to fourteen in reality, +or even to thirteen and some months. Her food accumulates in her +stomach, but is not assimilated. From this cause arises the fever +which burns her stomach and makes her imagine herself to be always +hungry. The more she eats, therefore, the more her stomach burns. +In one month it will be too late to cure her, and she will die of +hunger."</p> +<p>"But how is she to be cured?"</p> +<p>"First, I shall make her digest what she eats. Of course, she +must eat very little indeed."</p> +<p>He wrote his prescription and went away. The servant went to get +the drugs, which were dissolved and boiled according to direction, +and finally presented to the young girl.</p> +<p>She said that she would take them, and as soon as she was alone +threw them out of the port-hole. Thereafter she continued to ask +for ten bowls of rice for every meal.</p> +<p>Every one on the ship was now discussing this extraordinary +case. Some said that they ought to call in sorcerers. Others +thought that religious men would do better, seeing that she had +certainly been possessed by one of those starving spirits which +wander without purpose in punishment for their sins, with a +needle's eye for a mouth, seeking in vain for food.</p> +<p>At the next town, Ho Chang summoned another doctor. After his +examination, mention was made of the former diagnosis, and he burst +out laughing.</p> +<p>"Nothing of the sort. It is an internal consumption."</p> +<p>"But what, then, is the reason for this hunger?"</p> +<p>"The hot and the cold principles are at variance in her, and the +resultant fire gives her continual opsomania. It is easy to +understand."</p> +<p>"But she has no fever."</p> +<p>"Outside she is cool, but she burns within. The malady is inside +the bones; and that is why it is not visible. If she had continued +to take the drugs which you have been giving her, it would have +been difficult to save her. I shall give her something to soothe +her bowels. She will then, of her own accord, refuse all food."</p> +<p>It need not be said that it was the same in this case as in the +other. All the medicines went down the river.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the two lovers continued to profit by the silence of +the night. Naturally, the young girl was at first, so to speak, +passive in the arms of the young man, who was himself bashful. But +little by little, penetrating further into the domain of pleasure, +their amorous intelligence redoubled with their rapture, and they +forgot entirely where they were.</p> +<p>One night a slave woke up, and heard a "tsi-tsi-nung-nung" and a +"tsia-tsia" coming from within, and then quick breathing. Inwardly +surprised, she next day told her mistress, and the mother, seeing +that her daughter was always of a brilliantly healthy complexion, +began to think this unknown malady a very strange one. She did not +inform her husband, however, but ran herself to see her daughter. +The child's face seemed to her to be more beautiful and animated +even than usual. She went out, without seeing anything which might +confirm her suspicion, and, coming back again after breakfast, +began gently to question her daughter on her ideas of marriage.</p> +<p>As they were talking, there suddenly came a snore from under the +bed. Ya-nei, after his efforts in the night and his morning meal, +had gone to sleep in his hiding-place.</p> +<p>Elegant's mother at once shut the door and, quickly stooping to +look under the bed, saw the young man asleep.</p> +<p>"Alas, how could you do this thing? And then frighten us with +your illness? Now everybody will know of it. Where does he come +from? May Heaven strike him dead!"</p> +<p>Elegant's face was purple with shame.</p> +<p>"It is all your child's fault. He is the son of the Lord +Wu."</p> +<p>"Ya-nei? But you have never seen him! Besides, he was at the +dinner with your father, and we came away at midnight. How can he +be here?"</p> +<p>Trusting in her mother's indulgence, the young girl confessed +everything, and added:</p> +<p>"Your unworthy daughter has dishonored our name and lost her +innocence. My crime is unpardonable. But it was the will of Heaven. +There had to be that storm to make us meet, and then destiny +prevented our betrothal. Our strength was too small for the +struggle, and we have sworn to love each other until death. I +implore you to speak to my father and appease him; for if he makes +an uproar; there is nothing left for me but to die."</p> +<p>Her tears fell like rain. And, while they were talking, Ya-nei's +snores sounded like thunder.</p> +<p>"At least make him keep quiet," cried the mother in a fury. "We +can no longer hear ourselves speak."</p> +<p>And she went out, slamming the door, while Elegant hastened to +awaken the sleeper.</p> +<p>"Really you might snore less loudly!" she said with impatience. +"All is discovered now."</p> +<p>When he heard this, Ya-nei's body was frozen with terror as if +he had received a drenching in cold water. His teeth chattered.</p> +<p>"Do not be afraid. I have asked my mother to speak for us. If my +father is angry, there will be time enough for us to die then."</p> +<p>The woman meanwhile had hurried to her husband, but there was a +slave with him, putting the cabin in order. So she waited, and the +tears rolled from her eyes. Ho Chang thought she was anxious about +her daughter's health, and reassured her:</p> +<p>"She will be better in a few days. The doctor said so. Do not +disturb yourself."</p> +<p>But she sneered at him:</p> +<p>"You have been listening to the flower words of old Wise-Wand. +Better in a few days! She would have to be ill first!"</p> +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> +<p>Since the servant was no longer there, she told him in a low +voice what she had seen and heard. Ho Chang's anger was such that +his sight was troubled. She begged him to calm himself.</p> +<p>"Enough! Enough!" he thundered. "This worthless daughter fouls +the very air upon our threshold. We must kill them both in the +night, so that none may know."</p> +<p>The woman's face became as the earth.</p> +<p>"We have already reached a ripe age, and this is the only flesh +and bone we have. If you kill her, what will be left to us? As for +Ya-nei, he is of a good family, he is intelligent, and well-built. +Our stations are identical and our houses equal. His only fault is +that he did not make a proposal, but rather forced everything in +secret. Yet so the matter is. Would it not be better to send him +back with a letter to Wu, requiring gifts of betrothal? We would +lose all by making a scandal."</p> +<p>Ho Chang's rage was already half spent, and he now let himself +be persuaded by degrees. He went out and asked the boatmen where +they were.</p> +<p>"We are approaching Wu-ch'ang."</p> +<p>"You will anchor there."</p> +<p>He then called his confidential steward and, explaining all to +him, gave him a letter. After this he went to see his daughter, who +hid herself under the blanket when she beheld him. He spoke no word +to her; but in a stern tone called out Ya-nei, who crept from his +hiding-place, saluted the older man, and said:</p> +<p>"My crime deserves death."</p> +<p>"How could a young man of your education commit such an act? My +wife has prevailed upon me to spare your life; but, if you would +redeem your fault, you must take my unworthy daughter as your wife. +If this is not your intention, do not count upon my pardon."</p> +<p>Ya-nei abased himself in ritual prostration.</p> +<p>"The honor which you do me is a reward which my conduct does not +deserve," he said. "I shall speak to my parents as soon as I +return."</p> +<p>Ho Chang hurried him away, without leaving him time to speak to +the young girl again. She was clinging to her mother, and +whispered:</p> +<p>"I do not know my father's intention. Could I not have a letter +from Ya-nei on his arrival?"</p> +<p>Her truly indulgent mother went and spoke to the steward.</p> +<p>The latter had already hired a boat, and, as it was night, the +intruder would be able to pass from one junk to the other without +being observed. They set out, while Elegant wept incessantly for +sorrow and uneasiness. We must now return to the family of Wu.</p> +<p>After the night of Ya-nei's departure, their boat had proceeded +for several leagues before the young man's absence was noticed. But +when they called for him, and his cabin was found empty, the souls +of his parents left their bodies. They howled their despair, +supposing that their child had fallen unobserved into the +water.</p> +<p>They turned the ship about, hoping at least to recover the body; +but all searching was in vain, and they had perforce to resume +their journey in despair.</p> +<p>They had been at their destination for two days when Ya-nei +arrived; you may suppose that their surprise was only equalled by +their joy. They read Ho Chang's letter, and understood everything. +They scolded their son, and made a feast for Ho Chang's envoy. When +the betrothal gifts were ready, they sent them in charge of their +steward, to whom Ya-nei entrusted a secret letter for his +Elegant.</p> +<p>Soon the time came for Ya-nei's examination at the capital, and +he was accepted. His father asked for a holiday, and the whole +family went to Kien-K'ang, where the marriage was celebrated. The +fame of Elegant's wisdom and beauty grew with the years, and the +happiness of these two was never dimmed.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Hsing shih heng yen (1627), 28th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="STRANGE"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>A STRANGE DESTINY</h2> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>In epochs of deep peace</p> +<p>When days are lengthening,</p> +<p>The flute sounds and songs are heard</p> +<p>Among the drunken villages.</p> +<p>The Phoenix Car is said to be approaching</p> +<p>With the Emperor,</p> +<p>And each one turns his eye</p> +<p>To the splendor of that procession.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In the reign of Hui Tsung of the Sung dynasty, near the capital +of the East, on the borders of the Lake of Clearness of Gold, a new +wine pavilion had just been opened, under the sign of The Quick +Hedge. Fan, the landlord, and his brother Erh-lang, were the +proprietors. Neither of them was married; and their business +prospered.</p> +<p>It was the week when Spring melts into Summer, and men walk +abroad in number to enjoy the freshness and beauty of nature.</p> +<p>One day Erh-lang roamed the lakeside, delighting in the soft +air, and saw, in front of a teahouse, a ravishing girl of about +eighteen, in whose face, which was as dreamful as the Night Star, +flowered all the blossoms of the time. He stopped, fixed to the +ground with admiration and already riotous with love. He could not +take his eyes from the rose radiance of this face, peach blossom +against flawless jade; from this slender body, from the rare golden +lotus of these delicate feet. A scarlet hibiscus in flower framed +this phoenix against stirring landscape of the great lake.</p> +<p>Alas! our emotions do not depend upon our will. The young girl +felt herself looked upon, and raised her eyes; her soul was at once +troubled, her child's heart secretly rejoiced. She thought:</p> +<p>"If I could marry this beautiful man, I should know many happy +moments. But, though he is there now, where will he be tomorrow? +How can I tell him how to find me again?"</p> +<p>Just then a seller of refreshments came by with his small +vessels on his shoulder. She called him:</p> +<p>"Have you a little honey-water?"</p> +<p>The merchant set down a bronze vase on the ground to serve her; +but she, with pretended clumsiness, upset the vase, and said to +him: "Never mind! Come to my house and I will pay for all. I will +give you my name and address."</p> +<p>Erh-lang pricked his ears, as she continued: "I am the daughter +of Lord Chou, who lives near the Ts'ao Gate. My little name is +Victorious-Immortal. And I pray you do not charge too much, for I +am not yet betrothed or married."</p> +<p>The young lover trembled with joy, saying to himself:</p> +<p>"These words are meant for me, I am sure of that."</p> +<p>The merchant was meanwhile protesting, and the young girl +added:</p> +<p>"My father is not at home just now. But he is terrible, and you +will undoubtedly be prosecuted if you try to rob us."</p> +<p>Erh-lang earnestly desired to make himself known in his turn, +and being unable to think of any other expedient, he did as the +girl had done: asked for a bowl of cool water, and pretended +clumsily to upset the full jar. He then said: "Aya! Here is another +misfortune! But it does not matter. Come to my house, and you shall +be well recompensed. I am Erh-lang, brother of Fan. We are +proprietors of THE PAVILION OF THE QUICK HEDGE. I am nineteen, and +no one has yet cheated me in my business, I can draw a bow, and am +not yet betrothed."</p> +<p>"Are you not a little mad?" asked the merchant, looking at him +in astonishment. "Why do you tell me all that? Do you wish me to +act as the go-between for your marriage? I am an honest man, and +have never cheated anybody."</p> +<p>Hearing her admirer's words, the girl rejoiced in her heart. She +suggested to her mother, who was sitting by her, that they should +go away; and rising to her feet, said to the merchant: "If you will +follow us, we will pay you at once."</p> +<p>But her eyes spoke in reality to the young man; who walked +slowly behind her, admiring the poise of her gait. In this manner +they proceeded until the two women entered their house. But the +young girl came back almost at once to draw aside the big +door-curtain and to look out at him as he passed. He went on +walking to and fro, as if he had lost his senses, and did not +return to his house till evening.</p> +<p>From that particular day Victorious-Immortal remained so +strangely affected that she was quite unable to swallow a grain of +rice, or even to touch a cake. At last, one morning, she was too +weak to rise. Her mother ran to her bed.</p> +<p>"My poor child," she asked, "what is the matter with you?"</p> +<p>"I ache all over my body. I have pains in my head and cough a +little."</p> +<p>Her mother at once thought of calling in a doctor; but, in the +absence of the master of the house and his servant, there was no +man to go on the errand. But an old female attendant, named +Kind-Welcome, was present and observed:</p> +<p>"The ancient woman Wang lives, as you know, quite close at hand. +She has helped more than a hundred children into the world. She can +sew, and she can act as go-between; but she can also feel a pulse +and diagnose an illness. Everybody calls her as soon as there is +anything the matter."</p> +<p>"That is true. Go and fetch her quickly."</p> +<p>Some few moments later the healer came and the mother began a +long explanation. But the woman interrupted her:</p> +<p>"I shall know all about it when I have examined the +patient."</p> +<p>The sick girl put out a wasted hand, and the woman felt her +pulse for a long time. At last she said:</p> +<p>"You have pains in the head, and all your body aches. You are in +continual agony, and the earth is hateful to you."</p> +<p>"That is exactly the case," she answered from her bed. "Also I +cough a little."</p> +<p>"But what has caused this illness?"</p> +<p>As the girl did not answer, this wise old visitor turned to the +mother and the attendant, and signed them to go away. They dared +not refuse, and left the room.</p> +<p>"Now we are going to cure you. The illness lies in your heart, +and nowhere else."</p> +<p>"In my heart?" questioned the sick girl.</p> +<p>"You have seen a handsome young man, and he pleases you. Your +suffering rises from that; is it not so?"</p> +<p>"There is nothing of the sort," denied the other.</p> +<p>"Come, come! Tell me the truth, and I will soon find a means to +save your life."</p> +<p>Seeing a chance to reach to her desire, little +Victorious-Immortal decided to tell everything. When she had +finished, the very old woman said:</p> +<p>"Do not be troubled. I know one of his relations who has spoken +to me of him. He is intelligent and level-headed. I shall go and +see his brother, to make arrangements for your marriage, if you +finally wish to marry him."</p> +<p>"You know very well that I do," said the sick child with a +smile. "But will my mother consent?"</p> +<p>"Do not be uneasy. I have my methods."</p> +<p>She was already out of the room, and saying to the mother:</p> +<p>"I know what is the matter with your daughter. If you would like +me to make it clear to you, have two cups of wine brought in."</p> +<p>Kind-Welcome made haste to arrange all on the table. The healer +drank a draught of burning wine and, turning to the mother, +repeated word for word what the girl had confessed to her, +adding:</p> +<p>"And now there is nothing for it but to marry her to Erh-lang, +for otherwise her death is certain."</p> +<p>"My husband will be away for a long time yet. I cannot decide +without him."</p> +<p>"You have only to make the arrangements. You need not celebrate +the marriage until after my Lord's return. She must be given her +desire; there is no other way of saving her."</p> +<p>"If the young man is as desirable as all that ..." the mother +murmured uneasily. "But how shall we bring the thing about?"</p> +<p>"I am going to speak to his elder brother. I will keep you +informed."</p> +<p>Without further delay, the venerable go-between went straight to +The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, where she found Fan behind his +counter, and saluted him:</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses!"</p> +<p>"You come at the right time," he answered with a bow. "I was +about to send to beg you to do so. For some days, I assure you, my +brother has not been able to take a morsel of food. He says that +his whole body is aching, and now he stays in bed. Will you, +please, feel his pulse?"</p> +<p>"I will see him. But it is better for me to be alone with +him."</p> +<p>"Then I shall not come with you."</p> +<p>So the old woman went up into the sick man's room, and he said +to her feebly:</p> +<p>"Mother Wang, it is very long since I saw you. Alas! You come +too late! My life is finished!"</p> +<p>"In what special way are you so seriously ill?" she asked, +sitting near the bed and touching his wrist.</p> +<p>After a moment she continued:</p> +<p>"Shall I tell you the name of your illness? It is called +Victorious-Immortal, little daughter of Chou, and her house is near +the Ts'ao Gate."</p> +<p>The sick man was startled and sat up:</p> +<p>"How do you know that?"</p> +<p>"Her family has commissioned me to come and arrange your +marriage."</p> +<p>Immediate happiness revived the young man.</p> +<p>He rose and came down with the wise visitor to his astonished +brother.</p> +<p>"I am cured," he announced, "And all goes very well."</p> +<p>Meanwhile the old woman was saying: "The family of Chou has sent +me especially to talk to you about a marriage."</p> +<p>All was soon settled, the first gifts were exchanged, and the +comforted hearts of the two young people were filled with joy. But +they had to wait Lord Chou's return before proceeding with the +ceremony.</p> +<p>Chou did not come back until eight months later. It is needless +to say that, when he did so, all his relations and friends came to +drink cups of wine with him to "wash down the dust of the journey." +At last his wife told him what had happened, affirming that all was +decided. But the eyes of the master of the house became round and +white, and he bellowed:</p> +<p>"O filthy imbecile, who gave you the right to betroth our +daughter to a wine merchant? Is there no son of decent family who +would marry her? Do you wish to make us a laughing-stock?"</p> +<p>While he was thus cursing his wife, the servant came up to them, +crying:</p> +<p>"Come quickly and save the child! She was behind the door, and +heard your cries. She fell down and is no longer breathing."</p> +<p>Stumbling in her haste, the mother ran out. She saw her daughter +lying on the ground and was about to raise her, but her husband +prevented her, saying:</p> +<p>"Leave her! She was bringing dishonor on us! If she is to die, +then let her die!"</p> +<p>Seeing her mistress held back, Kind-Welcome bent over the girl. +But Chou, with a blow that made the air whistle between his fingers +sent her against the wall. In his rage, he seized his wife and +shook her roughly, and she howled like a dog. The neighbors heard +her and ran in, fearing that there was disaster. Soon the room was +filled with women, all talking at the same time. But the master of +it roughly bade them be silent:</p> +<p>"I do not allow any spying upon my private affairs."</p> +<p>The neighbors retired in discomfort, and the mother threw +herself upon her daughter's body, whose ends were already cold. She +sobbed:</p> +<p>"You would not have died if I had come to you. O murderer, you +have let her die of set purpose. You did not want to give her the +four or five thousand ounces which her grandfather left her."</p> +<p>He went out, panting like a boar with anger. The mother did not +cease to lament her loss: her daughter had been so gentle and so +clever. At length the time came to shut down the coffin, and Chou +angrily said to his wife:</p> +<p>"You pretend that I let her die so as not to lose four thousand +ounces? I order you to put all her jewels in the tomb with her. +That is more than five thousand ounces, one would think."</p> +<p>They brought in the wu-tso, the Inspector of Corpses, and also +his assistant, to verify the death and to help in hearsing her. The +keeper of the family graveyard and his brother, the two Chang, were +also there to assist in the mournful work.</p> +<p>The time came for the funeral, and the procession went forth +from the town. The coffin was placed in a brick tomb, and the first +shovels of earth were thrown upon it. Then all returned home. Three +feet of cold insensitive earth covered the body of this young +beauty, and it had been full of love.</p> +<p>Now the Inspector of Corpses had a worthless fellow named Feng +for his assistant. This miserable boy, on coming back from the +cemetery in the evening, said to his mother: "An excellent day's +work! Tomorrow we shall be rich."</p> +<p>"And what successful stroke of business have you concluded?"</p> +<p>"Today we buried the daughter of Chou, and all her jewels were +put in the coffin with her. Instead of leaving them to enrich the +earth, would it not be better to take them?"</p> +<p>"Think before you do such a terrible thing!" his mother begged. +"This is no matter of a mere whipping. Your father wanted to do the +same thing twenty years ago. He opened a coffin, and the corpse +began to smile at him. Your father died of that in four or five +days. My son, do not do it. It is no easy matter."</p> +<p>"Mother," he answered simply, "my mind is made up. Do not waste +your breath on me, for that is useless."</p> +<p>He bent over his bed, and took out of it a heavy iron tool.</p> +<p>"O mother, not each person's destiny is the same. I have +consulted soothsayers, and they have told me that I shall become +rich this year."</p> +<p>He took also an axe, a leather sack, and a dark lantern, which +he placed in readiness. Finally he wrapped himself in a great +mantle of reeds, for it was the eleventh moon and the snow had +begun to fall. He made a sort of hurdle with about ten +inter-crossed bamboos, and fastened it behind his mantle, so that +it should drag along the ground and efface his foot-prints.</p> +<p>The second watch was sounding when he went out, and all was +still bustle and gaiety in the town. But beyond the walls both +silence and solitude reigned in the growing cold. The snow was +already thick. Who would have ventured out there?</p> +<p>From time to time he turned his head, but no one followed him. +At last he reached the wall of the family graveyard and climbed in. +Suddenly a dog ran through the tall grass and leaped at him, +barking. The thief had prepared a portion of poisoned meat, and +threw it to the dog. The beast, being badly fed, smelt it and +swallowed it. He still barked a little, but the venom was potent, +and he very soon writhed on the ground.</p> +<p>In the keeper's hut, young Chang said to his elder brother:</p> +<p>"The dog has started barking, and then has stopped. Is that not +strange? Perhaps it is a thief. You ought to go and see."</p> +<p>The elder brother rose from his hot bed and took up a weapon, +grumbling. Then he opened the door and went out. But he was seized +by a whirl of cold snow, and called to the dog: "What are you +barking for, O animal of the Gods?"</p> +<p>Then he came back and glided under his blankets.</p> +<p>"There is nothing at all. But it is very cold."</p> +<p>From the distant town came the far sound of the gongs and drums +of the third watch. Taking heart, Feng went forward in a snow which +deadened his steps. He quickly shovelled the fresh earth from the +grave, and then lighted his lantern. Its yellow light lit up but a +single point. Forcing two long crowbars between the joints, he +loosened one brick, and then another. At last the coffin was +uncovered. He inserted his pick under the lid, and pried it off and +laid it on one side. The corpse was brought to view.</p> +<p>"Small sister," he murmured. "I am only going to borrow a little +of your useless wealth. Do not you grudge it me!"</p> +<p>He took the veil from that charming face. The head was covered +with ornaments of gold, and also with pearls. He took them all. He +was tempted by the fine and silken garments of the corpse. He +stripped it.</p> +<p>But suddenly, the body shook itself and pushed the thief away +with violence. He uttered a cry of imbecile terror and shrank back. +The corpse had sat up and, in that little light, looked at the open +tomb, the scattered tools, and her own unclothed body. The wretched +lad, obeying instinctive habit, trembled and lied:</p> +<p>"Little sister, I have come to save you."</p> +<p>Naturally, when little Victorious-Immortal had heard the foul +Chou's violent words, her despair had made her lose all sign of +life. It was for this reason that she had been put in her coffin +while still alive. Aroused now by the cold, her first thought was +to remember her father's anger. Her only refuge then was the house +of her betrothed, and she said: "If you will take me to The +Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, you may have a heavy reward."</p> +<p>"That is easy," answered Feng, seeking in vain for how he should +escape.</p> +<p>Ought he to kill her? He hardly had the courage after such a +shock. He decided to give her back a few clothes. He put the jewels +and his implements in the sack, together with the extinguished +lantern, and quickly covered the grave with earth again. Then, +because the girl was too weak to walk, he took her on his back and +went away from that place. But instead of going to Fan's house, he +went to his own. His mother opened the door to him, and cried in +terror:</p> +<p>"Have you stolen the corpse also?"</p> +<p>"Do not speak so loud," he answered, setting down his +burdens.</p> +<p>He went to his bed, and there put little Victorious-Immortal. He +drew a knife from his girdle and showed it to the girl:</p> +<p>"Little one, I have some business to settle with you. If we come +to an agreement, I will take you to Fan's house. If not, you very +well behold this knife, and I shall cut you in two pieces."</p> +<p>"What do you want with me?" she asked.</p> +<p>"You are going to stay here without making a noise and without +trying to escape, until I take you to Fan. As for the rest, we will +speak of it another time."</p> +<p>"I will do so! I will indeed do so!"</p> +<p>Then the nasty youth led his mother into the next room to calm +her a little.</p> +<p>"But what are you going to do?" she asked.</p> +<p>"Do you think we can be safe when she has gone to Fan?"</p> +<p>"I am not going to take her to Fan."</p> +<p>"What are you going to do, then?"</p> +<p>He gave a country laugh, full of suggestion.</p> +<hr class="short"> +<p>Matters so continued until the fifteenth day of the first Moon, +the evening of the Feast of Lanterns. Feng went out to see the +illuminations, and also to profit by the opportunities for theft +which are always afforded in a crowd. The evening wore on, and he +had not yet returned, when a shout arose among the neighbors. +Feng's mother opened the door to see what was the matter. A fire +had broken out near there. In terror, the old woman made haste to +carry her furniture into the yard. Profiting by this confusion, the +girl slipped through the door; but in the street she did not know +which way to turn. At last she found the road to the Ts'ao Gate, +and was running in that direction when she lost herself again. +However, when at length she asked where The Pavilion of the Quick +Hedge might be, she was shown a near way to it.</p> +<p>The attendant was before the door, and she asked him very +politely:</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses! Is not this the house of Fan and +Erh-lang?"</p> +<p>"Certainly it is, small lady."</p> +<p>"Could you not lead me to him?"</p> +<p>"Assuredly," he answered.</p> +<p>He showed her the way, calling from the door to his masters; but +when Erh-lang, in the pale light of the paper lanterns, recognized +the white face of his betrothed, he cried out in dismay: "Ghost! +Ghost!"</p> +<p>Confident in her love, she advanced toward him piteously +repeating:</p> +<p>"Elder brother! Elder brother! I am alive!"</p> +<p>But he kept recoiling in terror, and crying: "Help! Help!"</p> +<p>How could he fail to believe himself in the presence of a ghost, +when he had witnessed the funeral, and had, that very evening, +encountered the wife of Chou in mourning garments?</p> +<p>As she was about to touch him and, cringing against the wall, he +could retreat no further, his terror redoubled. Not knowing what he +did, he picked up a heavy stool and struck his dear visitor on the +head with it. She fell back, and her head sounded dully on the +stone flags.</p> +<p>Fan ran up at the noise of this. He saw the woman on the ground, +and his brother holding the stool.</p> +<p>"What have you done?" he cried. "What is the matter? Was it you +who killed her?"</p> +<p>"She is a ghost," the other said.</p> +<p>"If she were a ghost, she would not bleed. What have you +done?"</p> +<p>Already some ten persons had come up to see what was the matter. +The street guard came in to them and seized Erh-lang, who kept on +saying: "She is the ghost of Chou's daughter. I have killed +her."</p> +<p>Hearing this name, a neighbor ran to inform Chou, who would not +at first believe him. At length he decided to go to the wine +pavilion, where he was compelled to recognize her, though he kept +on saying:</p> +<p>"I buried her long since!"</p> +<p>Nevertheless, the guard insisted upon leading Erh-lang to +prison. Fan had the doors shut then, and stayed with Chou by the +corpse till morning.</p> +<p>Early next day the Governor inquired into the matter. The coffin +was opened. It was found empty, and the keepers told how their dog +had been found dead in the snow on the day after the funeral. In +the absence of any completer explanation, they proceeded with their +inquiry.</p> +<p>Erh-lang, in his prison, was overcome with sorrowful remorse. +Sometimes he said that she could not have survived her burial; +sometimes he was rent with horror at the thought that she had been +alive when he struck her. He recalled her beauty and grace in +Spring by the lake side, and bitter tears rolled from him. While he +was musing in this way, he saw his cell door open, and the girl +appeared. In his emotion and fear, he cried:</p> +<p>"Are you not dead, my darling?"</p> +<p>"Your blow caused me more grief than harm. Now I have wakened, +and have come to see you."</p> +<p>She approached the bench where he sat, and he took her hand:</p> +<p>"How can I have been so foolish as to fear you?"</p> +<p>They were talking thus, and already, in their deep love, they +were in each other's arms. His joy was so keen that suddenly he +woke. It was a dream.</p> +<p>On the second night the same thing happened, and on the third, +and his passion grew stronger for her. As she was going away the +third time, she said:</p> +<p>"My life on earth had come to an end, but my love was so great +and so potently called me to you, that the +Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, the +Keeper-of-the-Frontier-of-the-Shadows, allowed me to come back to +you, for these three nights. I must leave you now. But, if you do +not forget, there will yet be something of me bound to your +soul."</p> +<p>Then she disappeared, and the young man sobbed most +bitterly.</p> +<p>In the end the matter was cleared up by chance. Feng's mother, +having filched a golden trifle from her son's bag, went to sell it +to the same jeweler who had made it for Chou. On being denounced +before the Governor, mother and son were apprehended, and all the +jewels were discovered in their house. Torture found them words, +and the whole matter became clear. Erh-lang had actually believed +that he saw a ghost, and was released. Feng was sentenced to slow +death, and strips were torn one by one from his body by the +executioner. His mother was only strangled.</p> +<p>As for Erh-lang, his heart stayed faithful to the girl he had so +greatly loved. At every feast he went to the temple of the +Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, and burned incense, so that the pleasant +smoke of it might ascend to the palace of the soul of little +Victorious-Immortal. His fidelity touched even the rough heart of +Chou and, when he came to die a few years later, his body was +buried in the same tomb with her whom his arms had known only in +sleep.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Nao fan lou to ch'ing sheng hsien (Chou +Victorious-<br> +Immortal, of abundant love, overthrows the Pa-<br> +vilion of the Fan). Hsing shih heng yen<br> +(1627), 14th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="ERROR"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE ERROR OF THE EMBROIDERED SLIPPER</h2> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>The sun is in our eyes</p> +<p>And we think we are running out towards joy;</p> +<p>Our heart pulls us down</p> +<p>And we shall never know the way of the sky</p> +<p>Or the end of all things.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>During the Hung-Chih period of our Dynasty there lived at +Hang-chow a young man who was called Chang Loyalty. After his +parents died, leaving him a great fortune, he no longer had anyone +to guide him, and therefore, throwing away his books, he spent his +time with gallants of the sort we name fou-lang-tzu, that is to say +"floating-on-the-waves." They do not know how to profit by +opportunity. So Chang no longer studied anything but various ball +games, he abandoned himself to the pleasures of the theatre, and +took his delight in those gardens where the breezes of love blow in +the moonlight. In a word, he followed the changing flowers of +illusion; and, as he was himself seductive, as impassioned as +expert in pleasure, and rich and generous, he became the favorite +of all the women of the town. One day, when spring had but just +caused all the flowers to come out on the amiable banks of the Lake +of the West, Chang invited a company of singing girls and idlers to +spend the afternoon on the blue waters.</p> +<p>He put on a gauze bonnet with floating wings, after the fashion +of the time. His great transparent silk robe was of purple and +silver, over a second embroidered one of pure white. White gauze +stockings and red slippers completed the elegance of his +appearance.</p> +<p>He went out, walking unhurriedly, gently waving a fan decorated +with paintings. Behind him walked his little slave, Clear-Lute, who +carried over his shoulder a mantle in case the weather should +freshen, and a long guitar with which to accompany the singing +girls.</p> +<p>As they were approaching the gate of Ch'ien-t'ang, Chang looked +up, for no particular reason. On the first story of a house a +maiden held back her window curtain and looked at him. From her +whole person emanated so troubling a charm that he stopped in his +walk, and felt a tremor in his body. For a long time they remained +gazing at each other, until she slowly broke into a smile, and he +felt his soul fly from him.</p> +<p>At this moment the door of the house opened below, and a man +came forth; so Chang hastened to resume his walk, and returned in a +few moments. The curtain was drawn back over the window. He waited, +but there was no sign. At length he drew away, turning his head, +and walking as slowly as if he had already gone a hundred leagues +on the mountains.</p> +<p>Yet eventually he passed the town gate and rejoined his friends +on the boat, which was at once steered to the middle of the lake. +The banks were smiling with peach blossom: the willow leaves were a +mist of gold and green. Little boats, with brightly-dressed +passengers, crossed and re-crossed like ants. In very truth:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Hills are heaped upon hills</p> +<p>And the pavilions on the pavilions.</p> +<p>The songs and dances are never ceasing</p> +<p>On the West Lake.</p> +<p>The warm breeze fans the drunkenness</p> +<p>Of the pleasure walkers.</p> +<p>Heaven is above,</p> +<p>But here we have Hang-chow and Su-chow Lakes.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>But Chang carried the picture of that young girl in his soul, +and had no heart for pleasure.</p> +<p>His companions offered him cups of wine, wondering at his +melancholy; but he was far from them.</p> +<p>At twilight they returned, and Chang re-entered by the +Ch'ien-t'ang gate, passing before the girl's house. The window was +shut. He stopped, and forced a cough; but there was no sign. He +went to the end of the street, and came back again, but all was +silent. Therefore he had no choice but to go away.</p> +<p>He returned next morning, and stayed at a shop near by to learn +what he could. He was told:</p> +<p>"They are people called P'an. Their only daughter is sixteen +years of age, and is named Eternal Life. The father has some +connection with a certain powerful family which affords him +protection. He lives by swindling, and everyone fears him. He is a +veritable skin-pinker and bravo."</p> +<p>This news made Chang a little thoughtful, but he walked on by +the house nevertheless. The young girl was again at her window. +They looked at each other; but there were people about, and he had +to go away.</p> +<p>That evening, as soon as night fell, he went back. The moon was +shining as brightly as the sun, and the street was empty. The +youthful beauty leaned at her window, wrapped in thought and bathed +in the white light. She smiled at him, and he drew from his sleeve +his scarlet muslin handkerchief. He made the knot known as "union +of hearts gives victory." Rolling it in a ball, he threw it, and +she adroitly caught it in two hands. Then she stooped and took off +one of her little embroidered slippers. She dropped it into Chang's +waiting fingers. Enraptured with this gift, which was a pledge of +love and faith, he carried it to his lips and said softly:</p> +<p>"Thank you; Thank you, with all my heart!"</p> +<p>In tones of maddening sweetness, she replied:</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses!"</p> +<p>Just then a rough voice was heard within the house. She made +another sign to him and closed the window. And he went home drunk +through silent streets made silver by the moon. Once in his +library, he examined the slipper. It was a golden lotus, so small +and so light that a thousand thoughts troubled the lover. He +said:</p> +<p>"I must find someone to arrange our meeting, or else die from an +over-stressing of desire."</p> +<p>Early in the morning, he put some pieces of silver in his sleeve +and hastened to a little wine booth, not far from the house of +P'an. He knew that he would find an old woman there, whom he often +met in pleasurable places. In fact, he saw her and called to her. +She at once saluted him, saying:</p> +<p>"Aya! My uncle, what brings you?"</p> +<p>"I happened to be passing," he answered carelessly.</p> +<p>"But I should like you to walk a little way with me."</p> +<p>"In what can I serve you?" she hastened to ask.</p> +<p>Without speaking, he took her into a quiet little tavern. When +they were seated, and the attendant had brought them fruit and +dishes of food, he poured out a full cup of hot wine and offered it +to her, saying:</p> +<p>"I have something to ask of you, ma-ma Lu. But I am afraid that +you cannot accomplish it."</p> +<p>"Without boasting," she answered with a wide smile, "there are +few enterprises, however difficult, in which I do not succeed. What +is it you desire?"</p> +<p>"I want you to arrange a meeting for me with the daughter of +P'an, who lives in the Street of the Ten Officials. Here are five +ounces of silver to begin with. If you succeed, you shall have +quite as much more."</p> +<p>"The small Eternal Life? The little witch! I thought her so +demure! I should never have imagined she was a wild flower. But the +matter is difficult. There are only the parents and the daughter in +that house, and the father is dangerous. He keeps a damnably +suspicious watch over his door. How could you get in? I dare not +promise any success."</p> +<p>"You have just boasted that you always succeed. Here are two +ounces more."</p> +<p>The old woman's eyes gleamed like fire at the sight of the +snow-colored metal, and she said:</p> +<p>"I will take the risk. If all goes well, it will be your +fortune. If not, I shall at least have done my best. But give me a +proof, for otherwise she would not listen to me."</p> +<p>Not without regret, Chang took from his bosom the little +slipper, and gave it to her, wrapped in his handkerchief. The old +woman at once slipped it into her sleeve with the pieces of money. +As she was leaving him, she said again:</p> +<p>"The affair is delicate. You must have patience and not hurry +me. That would be dangerous."</p> +<p>"I only ask you to do your best. Come and tell me as soon as you +have an answer."</p> +<p>Eternal Life was profoundly agitated. Since that moonlit night +she had had no more taste for food, but had said:</p> +<p>"If I married him I would not have lived in vain. But I know +neither his name nor where he lives. When I saw him beneath the +moon, why had I not wings to fly to him? ... As it is, I had only +this red handkerchief."</p> +<p>Yet she had to live and speak as usual. But as soon as she was +alone she fell again into her musing.</p> +<p>Two days later, old Lu entered their house. The father had gone +out. The visitor said to mother and daughter:</p> +<p>"I received certain artificial flowers yesterday, and have come +to show them to you."</p> +<p>She took a bunch of a thousand shades out of her basket.</p> +<p>"Would you not say they were real?"</p> +<p>"When I was young," said the mother, "we only wore ordinary +flowers, and did not dream of marvels like these."</p> +<p>"Yet these are only considered mediocre. But the price of the +finest is so high."</p> +<p>"If we cannot buy them, we can at least admire them," the young +girl answered dryly.</p> +<p>With gathering smiles, the old woman took from the basket a +bunch which was indeed incomparable.</p> +<p>"And what is the price of that?" questioned the mother.</p> +<p>"How should I dare to fix a price? I leave it to you. But if you +have a little tea, I would willingly drink of it."</p> +<p>"In the admiration caused by your flowers, we have forgotten our +manners. Wait for one moment, while I fetch some boiling +water."</p> +<p>As soon as the mother had left the room, the woman took a slight +parcel from her sleeve.</p> +<p>"What have you there?" asked Eternal Life.</p> +<p>"Something important which you must not see."</p> +<p>"Oh, but I must see it then."</p> +<p>"I shall not give it to you," said the cunning old woman. "Aya! +You have taken it from me by force!" she added, letting the parcel +into the girl's hand.</p> +<p>Impatiently the child untied the handkerchief, and recognized +her slipper. Her face flushed into scarlet, and she said with +difficulty: "A single one of these objects is of no use, ma-ma. Why +did you show it me?"</p> +<p>"I know a certain Lord who would give his life to have the pair. +Will you not consent to help me?"</p> +<p>Trembling all over, Eternal Life said to her softly:</p> +<p>"Since you know all, tell me his name and where he lives."</p> +<p>"He is called Chang, and he owns a hundred myriads of ounces. He +is very gentle; his love is as deep as the sea. He has lost his +soul through thinking of you, and has bidden me arrange a means for +his entry."</p> +<p>"How can it be done? My father is terrible. When I have blown +out my lamp, he often comes to look into the rooms. What is your +plan, ma-ma?"</p> +<p>The old woman thought for a minute, and then said:</p> +<p>"It is not very difficult. You must go to bed early and, as soon +as your father has come up and gone down again, you must rise +quietly and open the window. You must wait for a signal, and let +down a long piece of cloth. He will climb up with the help of this +rope, and, if he is careful to go away before the fifth watch, no +one will surprise you."</p> +<p>"Admirable!" cried the delighted child. "When will he come?"</p> +<p>"It is too late to-day. But I will go to him to-morrow morning. +Give me a pledge of re-assurance for him."</p> +<p>"Assuredly! Take the other slipper. He will give it back to me +to-morrow."</p> +<p>The old woman hid it in her sleeve, for the mother came in by +this time with the tea. Soon after, she took up her basket and went +away, accompanied to the door by the two women.</p> +<p>She went straight to the house of Chang, but he was out. She +offered her flowers to the women of the house, waiting for some +part of the day in vain.</p> +<p>Next morning she went again to find the young man, but he had +not returned. She went away thoughtful.</p> +<p>The truth is that Chang had remained three days in the house of +a Flower-in-the-Mist. When he returned and heard of the old woman's +two visits, he hastened to find her. She said to him:</p> +<p>"The pledge of love which you entrusted to me is in her hand. +She bade me tell you that her father is dangerous, but that he is +to be away for a long time shortly. She will inform us." On his +return journey the young man passed by P'an's house. Eternal Life +was at her window, and they smiled tenderly at one another.</p> +<hr class="short"> +<p>Three months had passed. Chang was sitting one morning in his +library, when his servants told him that four police officers had +come with a summons. He asked himself fearfully whether he had been +mixed up in any scandal at a pleasure house; but he had to obey. He +questioned the officers.</p> +<p>"It is a matter of taxes and duties," they answered.</p> +<p>Reassured, he changed his clothes and went with them, followed +by several of his servants. He was taken at once to the hall where +the Court sat, and, standing before the red table, he saluted the +magistrate. The latter looked at him intently, and harshly +asked:</p> +<p>"How did you enter into an intrigue with P'an's daughter? How +did you kill her father and her mother?"</p> +<p>Chang was a libertine. That is to say he had neither strength +nor energy. Hearing himself thus unexpectedly accused of a double +crime, he shook from head to foot, as if a bolt had fallen on him +from a calm sky. He stammered:</p> +<p>"Although I had the intention of establishing a connection with +her, I have not yet succeeded in doing so. As yet I have not known +her house."</p> +<p>The Governor thundered:</p> +<p>"She has just confessed that her relation with you has lasted +several months. How dare you deny it?"</p> +<p>Just then Chang perceived that the young girl was kneeling close +to him. Bewildered and not knowing what to do, he turned to Eternal +Life and asked:</p> +<p>"How can you say that I have been intimate with you? With what +object are you trying to encompass my ruin?"</p> +<p>She sobbed without answering. Meanwhile the Governor called upon +the officers to apply the buskin of torture to the young man. And +they swarmed about him like ants.</p> +<p>Unhappily for him, Chang Loyalty had been brought up in muslin +and gauze, and had grown to manhood in a brocade. How could he +endure such torture? Hardly had he felt the pressure of the buskin +before he cried:</p> +<p>"I confess everything!"</p> +<p>The Governor had a brush and paper given to the accused, that he +might himself write out his confession. The unhappy man wept, +saying:</p> +<p>"What must I write? I know nothing of the matter!" Then he +turned to the young girl and added: "Do you at least tell me what +you have done, so that I may write my confession."</p> +<p>Eternal Life answered in irritation: "Did you not look at me +with lecherous eyes under my window? Did you not throw your +handkerchief? Did you not match the pair of my embroidered +slippers?"</p> +<p>"All that is true. But about the rest?"</p> +<p>The Governor here interrupted:</p> +<p>"If one thing is true, the rest is also. What is the use of +arguing it? Since he refuses to write, let him be given thirty +strokes of the heavy bamboo, let him be cast into the cell for +those who are condemned to death."</p> +<p>Happily for Chang, his gaolers knew that he was very rich. They +but touched him with their blows, and led him to prison with as +much care as they would a butterfly. Each of them cried:</p> +<p>"Uncle, how could you do such a thing?"</p> +<p>"O my elder brothers," he lamented, "if it is true that I +desired this girl, yet have I never met her. Do you believe that I +could be a murderer? I know nothing about the murder. Tell me of +it."</p> +<p>So he learned that, this very morning, Eternal Life on waking up +had been surprised by the silence of the house. From the +ground-floor room where she had passed the night, she had gone up +to the story where her parents slept, and had opened the door of +their room. In front of the bed, under the half-drawn curtains, the +floor was a tarn of blood.</p> +<p>She was so frightened that she tumbled down the stairs and fell +upon the street door, sobbing and crying out. Neighbors heard her +and ran up, and she said to them:</p> +<p>"Yesterday, my parents went up to their room. I do not know who +has killed them both."</p> +<p>The bolder ones went up the stairs to see. They opened the +bed-curtains, and there were the man and his wife, stiff and with +their throats cut across. They looked to right and left. The window +was shut, and nothing was disturbed.</p> +<p>"It is a serious matter," they muttered. "Let us not act +hastily."</p> +<p>One of them went at once to warn the district chief of police, +who came and examined the scene of the crime. He shut and sealed +the house, and led Eternal Life to the Governor's Court. The girl +knelt down and told all that she knew, and the Governor said:</p> +<p>"If the door and windows were closed, and nothing has been +stolen, the matter is dubious. Had your father an enemy?"</p> +<p>"Not to my knowledge."</p> +<p>"That is strange!" murmured the Governor, and thought for a +moment.</p> +<p>Suddenly he told the officers to take off the silken veil with +which the young girl had half-covered her head. He could then see +her exceptional beauty.</p> +<p>"How old are you? Are you not betrothed?"</p> +<p>"I am seventeen, and I am still free."</p> +<p>"And you sleep on the ground-floor, while your parents have +their room above? That is very curious."</p> +<p>"Until quite recently your slave slept above. But fifteen days +ago they made a change. I do not know why."</p> +<p>The judge again reflected. Then he struck the table violently, +crying out:</p> +<p>"It is you who have killed your father and mother. Or, rather, +it is your lover. Tell me his name."</p> +<p>"Your slave never leaves the house. How could she have a +forbidden love? Would not the neighbors know it?"</p> +<p>The judge made a salacious grimace:</p> +<p>"In a case of murder the neighbors know nothing. It is clear +that you have had relations with a man. Your parents knew of it, +and that is why they changed their room. Your lover killed them in +a rage."</p> +<p>Hearing these words, she became scarlet and then pale. At a sign +from the Governor, the gaolers threw themselves like tigers upon +the little girl, closing a cruel pair of iron nippers on her +pellucid and delicate jade hand. As the jaws began to crush her +fingers, she uttered loud cries:</p> +<p>"Mercy, my lord. I have a lover."</p> +<p>"What is his name?"</p> +<p>"Chang Loyalty."</p> +<p>And then she fainted. The Governor knew enough. He summoned the +young man and, being convinced of his guilt, had him put in prison, +while awaiting further information. It is well said in a certain +proverb: "Even while you are sitting in your house with the doors +shut, misfortune falls from heaven."</p> +<p>In prison, Chang reflected upon this sudden accusation. Could he +have committed this double crime in his sleep? In the end he +offered his gaolers ten ounces if they would take him to Eternal +Life. When they bargained, he promised twenty ounces. Then they led +him as far as the grill of the women's prison. The girl was there, +weeping without stint. As soon as she saw him, she reviled him +between her sobs:</p> +<p>"Ungrateful and dishonorable! You made me mad with love for you. +Why should you cut my parents' throats, and cause my death?"</p> +<p>"Do not make unnecessary noise," he interrupted.</p> +<p>"Let us rather try to clear up this mystery. It is certain that +I sent the old woman Lu to you with your little slipper. Did you +see her?"</p> +<p>"Naturally, wretch," she answered disdainfully.</p> +<p>Again he interrupted:</p> +<p>"She told me that you had kept your pledge, that your father was +terrible, and that you were awaiting his departure in order to +arrange a meeting. But since then I have known nothing of you, save +a few rare smiles."</p> +<p>"Forgetful murderer," she groaned, "again you deny it. Did you +not confess all before the judge? Why do you come to torment +me."</p> +<p>"My unfortunate body could not endure the torture. By confessing +I gained some days of life. Do not fly into a rage, but answer me: +what happened after ma-ma Lu had visited you?"</p> +<p>"We arranged everything for the next night. You came and gave me +back my slipper. Since then you have climbed up to my room each +night. Dare you say it is not true?"</p> +<p>Chang thought deeply. The bystanders wondered whether he were +guilty and seeking a clever explanation to save himself, or whether +he were really innocent. At last he said: "Then if we have met +often, you should be very certain of my voice and body. Look at me +well, and think."</p> +<p>The gaolers exclaimed:</p> +<p>"What he says is just. If there were a mistake, would you leave +him to die?"</p> +<p>Eternal Life was puzzled, and looked at him earnestly. He +repeated:</p> +<p>"Is it I? Dear heart, speak quickly!"</p> +<p>"He who came," she said at last, "was perhaps bigger. But it was +always dark, and how can I be sure? But I remember that on your +left shoulder you have a scar as big as a copper piece."</p> +<p>The bystanders at once exclaimed:</p> +<p>"That is easy to verify. There can be no further mistake. Uncle, +unclothe yourself quickly. If there is nothing there, we shall +inform the Governor."</p> +<p>Chang immediately uncovered his shoulder, and the white flesh +was as smooth as marble. Eternal Life could not believe her eyes. +When the young man had gone back, filled full of hope, to his +prison, the gaolers made their report to the Governor, who had +already summoned ma-ma Lu.</p> +<p>In the audience chamber the old woman knelt down and was quite +overcome. The judge began by ordering her forty strokes for having +acted as an abettor of corruption. The flesh of her thighs was +nothing but a bloody paste. She told the whole story.</p> +<p>After coming back from Chang's house without having seen him, +old Lu had found her son Wu-han in their little food shop. He had +said to her:</p> +<p>"You come at the right time. I must kill a pig this morning, and +our assistant has gone out for the day."</p> +<p>The old woman did not like this work. But she was very much +afraid of her son, and did not dare to refuse.</p> +<p>"Wait till I have changed my clothes!" was all she said.</p> +<p>While she was taking off her outer garment, a parcel fell from +the sleeve of it. Thinking that it was money, Wu-han quickly picked +it up and opened it. It was the pair of embroidered slippers. He +said:</p> +<p>"Oh! Oh! Who is the little girl who has such feet? She must be +of a very loving nature. If I could hold her to my heart for a +whole night, I should not have lived in vain. But how do these +slippers come here, for they have already been worn?"</p> +<p>"Give them back to me!" she cried. "There is much money in them, +which I will hand to you." And she told him the whole matter. But +he objected:</p> +<p>"It has been a common saying from the earliest times that acts +not committed can alone remain unknown. This P'an is a bravo. If he +learns of the matter, all the silver which you receive will be too +little to buy his silence. Our whole shop would fall into his +hands."</p> +<p>In dismay the old woman replied:</p> +<p>"Your words are full of reason. I am going to give back the +silver and the slippers. I am going to let it be understood that I +refuse to embroil myself with curtain affairs."</p> +<p>"Where is the silver?" he asked.</p> +<p>The old woman took it from her sleeve, and he put it into his, +saying:</p> +<p>"Leave all to me. If they should happen to come and seek a +quarrel with us, we shall have proofs against them. And, if nothing +comes of it, no one will dare to reclaim the money."</p> +<p>"But what shall I say if he asks me for news?"</p> +<p>"That you have not had time enough. Or even that the matter +cannot be arranged."</p> +<p>What could she do, she who was thus deprived of the money and +the pledge of love? She was surely obliged to lie.</p> +<p>As for Wu-han, he at once went out and spent the money on rich +clothes and a fine gauze bonnet.</p> +<p>In the evening, when his mother was asleep, he put on his pretty +clothes and set the slippers in his sleeve. As the great clock +sounded the first watch, he went out softly and made straight for +the house of P'an. Light clouds were hiding the moon. It was only +half full.</p> +<p>He coughed before the house. The window opened, and Eternal Life +appeared. She tied a piece of silk to the frame, and let the other +end fall. He caught it and climbed up, making use of the +projections of the wall with his two feet. Then, with a thousand +precautions, he stepped over the sill. Trembling, the girl hastened +to draw back the piece of silk and to shut the window.</p> +<p>Then he took the child in his arms, and passion leaped up in +their two hearts. In the darkness, and in such emotion, how could +that mistake be known? The usurper drew her towards him.</p> +<p>Even so is the precious scented flower of the nutmeg embraced by +the bind-weed. Even so is the plum blossom torn by the hail. Even +so is the sparrow's nest most outraged by the cuckoo.</p> +<p>When the first clouds of their desire were dissipated by the +rain of caresses, Wu-han took from his sleeve the pledges of love. +She gave them back to him:</p> +<p>"Now that I am happy, I no more wish to go out."</p> +<p>About the fourth watch, before daylight, Wu-han arose and +climbed stealthily down to the street.</p> +<p>Since that time there had to be a storm of rain, or the moon had +to be very clear, to prevent Wu-han from hurrying to the small +woman. The days, and then the months, passed in this way.</p> +<p>One night the deceiver accidentally made some noise as he went +away. P'an immediately came up to them, but saw nothing; for +Eternal Life succeeded in not betraying herself. Next night she +warned her lover, saying to him in her sense:</p> +<p>"Do not come for a few days. That will be safer. Let us give +them time to forget about it."</p> +<p>But her father had his ears on the alert; he heard the window +creak, and he ran up, though again too late. In the morning he said +to his wife:</p> +<p>"This baby is certainly about some villainy. She keeps her mouth +as tight as a trap."</p> +<p>"I also have a suspicion," replied her mother.</p> +<p>"Yet the room opens on to the stairs, which come down into our +room."</p> +<p>"I am going to give her a good taste of the rod to make her +speak."</p> +<p>"That is a bad plan, a very bad plan," said her mother. "It is a +true proverb that you must not show family blemishes. If you beat +her, all the neighbors will know, and who would wish to marry her? +Let us rather make her sleep in our room, which has no way out +except the door. We will spend the night up the stairs, and see +what happens."</p> +<p>On being told of this proposal, Eternal Life dared not say +anything. And on the higher floor husband and wife slept in +peace.</p> +<p>One evening Wu-ban felt his heart seething with passion. Fearing +that he might be attacked by P'an, he armed himself with a knife, +which he used to cut pigs' throats. Under Eternal Life's window, he +coughed softly. Nothing stirred. He coughed more loudly, thinking +she was asleep. But everything remained quiet. He was going back to +his house, in a thoughtful mood, when he saw a ladder left near to +a house which was being built. He seized upon it, carried it away, +and put it up against Eternal Life's window. The catch was not +locked. He pushed it open, climbed over the sill, and silently went +toward the bed.</p> +<p>Drunken with joy, Wu-ban was already disrobing himself of his +clothes, when, in the stillness of the night, his ears caught the +sound of two people breathing, instead of one. He listened with +controlled breath. Unmistakably the rough breathing of a man was +mingled with the softer murmur of a woman.</p> +<p>He was suddenly blinded with violent anger:</p> +<p>"This is why she did not answer my signal. The vile child has +another man within. It was to get rid of me that she told me of her +father's suspicion!"</p> +<p>In his jealous madness he drew his knife and gently felt for the +man's throat. With a clean blow he drove the weapon into the flesh, +and before the woman could move, he cut her throat also, almost +beheading her.</p> +<p>He wiped the knife and his hands on the blanket, opened the +window, and descended. He had closed the catches. Once outside, he +ran to replace the ladder, and went back to his house. Denounced by +his mother and brought before the Court, Wu-ban tried to deny the +accusation. But the officers, on uncovering his shoulder, brought a +scar to view. Eternal Life recognized his voice and his body. The +first tortures overcame his obstinacy, and he confessed all.</p> +<p>The murderer was condemned to slow death.</p> +<p>Eternal Life was strangled, as was old Lu.</p> +<p>Chang, whose lecherous intentions had been the cause of all, was +sentenced to a heavy fine. In dismay, and half ruined, he no more +left his study chamber. Not long afterwards, he was carried off by +a lassitude and a languor.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Lu Wu-han yin liu ho chin hsieh (Lu Wi-han +keeps<br> +an Embroidered Slipper to his scathe) Hsing<br> +Shih heng yen (1627), 16th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="COUNTERFEIT"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE COUNTERFEIT OLD WOMAN</h2> +<p>During the Ch'eng-Hua period of our dynasty, there lived at +Shantung a young man named Flowering Mulberry, whose parents +possessed a sufficient fortune. He had just bound up his hair +beneath his man's bonnet; his fresh and rosy complexion added to +the delicate charm of his features.</p> +<p>One day, as he was going to visit an uncle in a neighboring +village, he was overtaken on the way by a heavy storm of rain, and +ran for shelter into a disused temple; and there, seated on the +ground waiting for the rain to stop, was an old woman. Flowering +Mulberry sat down and, since the storm grew more violent, resigned +himself to wait.</p> +<p>Finding him beautiful, the old woman began to converse and +ingratiate herself with him, until at length she came across to +him, and finally her hands wandered gently over his body.</p> +<p>He found this an agreeable manner of passing the time, but said +after a little while: "How is it that, although you are a woman, +you have the voice of a man?"</p> +<p>"My son, I will tell you the truth, but you must not reveal it +to anybody. I am not really a woman, but a man. When I was little, +I used often to disguise myself and mimic the shrill tones of young +girls; and I even learned to sew just as well as they. I used often +to go to the neighboring market towns, pretending that I was a +young girl and offering to do needlework; and my skill was soon +much admired by all the dwellers in the houses where I worked.</p> +<p>"I used to mingle with the women, and by degrees, according to +the licentiousness of their thought, we would enjoy our pleasure. +Soon the women found that they had no more occasion to go out for +their dalliance; and even the sober-minded girls among them became +involved. They did not dare to say anything, for fear of the +scandal; and also I had a drug which I applied during the night to +their faces, stupefying them so that they allowed me to do as I +liked. When they recovered their senses it was too late, and they +dared not protest. On the contrary, they used to bribe me with gold +and silken stuffs to keep silence and to leave their house. Ever +since then—and I am now forty-seven years of age—I have +never again put on a man's garments. I have traveled throughout the +two capitals and the nine provinces, and always when I see a +beautiful woman I contrive to go to her house. In this way I +accumulate riches with but little labor; and I have never been +found out."</p> +<p>"What an astonishing tale!" cried the fascinated Flowering +Mulberry. "I wonder whether I could do the like."</p> +<p>"One as beautiful as you are," answered the other, "will be +taken for a woman by everyone. If you wish me to be your instructor +you have only to come with me. I will bind up your feet, and teach +you to sew; and we will go into every house together. You shall be +my niece. If we find a good opportunity I shall give you a little +of my drug, and you will then have no difficulty in achieving your +purpose."</p> +<p>The young man's heart was devoured by a desire to put this +adventure to the proof. Without further hesitation he prostrated +himself four times, and adopted the old woman as his master, taking +not a moment's thought for his parents or for his honor. Such an +intoxicating thing is vice.</p> +<p>When it had stopped raining, he set out with the old woman; and +as soon as they were beyond the boundaries of Shantung they +purchased hair-pins and feminine dresses. The disguise was perfect, +and anyone would have sworn that Flowering Mulberry was an +authentic woman. He changed his first name for that of Niang "the +little girl," though for a few days he was so embarrassed that he +did not dare to speak.</p> +<p>But his master seemed no longer wishful to look for fresh +victims. Every evening he insisted upon his niece sharing his bed; +and up to a very late hour would proceed with his instruction and +that even to the furthest detail.</p> +<p>It was not for this that Flowering Mulberry had disguised +himself. One day he declared that thenceforward each should go his +own way, and the other was bound to agree; but before leaving him, +he gave the boy some further advice:</p> +<p>"Two highly important rules are to be observed in our +profession. The first is not to stop too long in the same house. If +you stayed in the one place more than half a month, you would +certainly be discovered. Therefore often change your district, so +that from month to month there may be no time for the traces of +your passage to become noticeable. The second rule is not to let a +man come near you. You are beautiful, young and alone in life, and +they will all wish to interfere with you. Therefore always surround +yourself with women. One last word: have nothing to do with little +girls; for they cry out and weep."</p> +<p>So then the two parted.</p> +<p>In the first village he came to, Flowering Mulberry perceived +through a door the silhouette of a most graceful young woman, and +struck upon the door by its copper knocker. The girl opened, and +looked at him through eyes filled with fire. A needle-woman was +just what they required.</p> +<p>But in the evening the boy was disappointed by the arrival of a +husband, whose lusty appearance left him small hope for the +night.</p> +<p>He was forced to wait until the young woman was left alone in +the house by day, and came to work in the chamber where he sat. +Then he ventured an observation upon the appearance of the +countryside, and afterwards congratulated her on her husband. She +blushed, and their conversation became more intimate. It was not +until the next day, however, that he dared to make an advance. This +met with immediate success. Two days afterwards he was forced into +a hurried departure; for the husband had taken notice of him, and +profited by his wife's momentary absence to suggest caresses.</p> +<p>Thenceforward he followed his trade. At the age of thirty-two he +had travelled over more than half the empire, and had beguiled +several thousand women. Often, he was so bold as to attack more +than eight persons at a time, in a single house, and not even the +little slaves escaped his attention. The happiness of which he was +thus the cause remained unsuspected, and no one suffered by it, +since none could dream of its existence. He always remembered his +master's rule, and never risked staying for more than a few days in +the same place.</p> +<p>At last he came to the province West-of-the-River, and was +received into an important house, where there were more than +fifteen women, all beautiful and young. His feeling toward each of +these was of so lively a nature that twenty days had passed before +he could make up his mind to go away. Now the husband of one of +these girls perceived him and, at once falling in love with him, +arranged that his wife should cause him to come to their house. +Flowering Mulberry went, suspecting nothing, and hardly had he +entered before the man came into the room, took him by the waist +and embraced him. Naturally he protested and began to cry out; but +the husband took not the slightest notice of that. He pushed him on +to the next room and searched him with shameless hands. It was his +turn to cry out: the slaves ran in, bound Flowering Mulberry, and +led him to the court of justice. In front of the judge he tried to +plead that he had adopted his disguise in order to gain his living. +But torture drew from him his real name and the true motive of his +behavior, together with an account of his latest exploits.</p> +<p>The Governor sent a report to the higher authorities, for he had +no precedent and knew not to what punishment to condemn him. The +Viceroy decided that the case must come under the law of adultery, +and also under that which dealt with the propagation of immorality. +The penalty was a slow death. No extenuating circumstances were +admitted. So ended this story.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Hsing shih heng yen (1627),<br> +10th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="MONASTERY"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE MONASTERY OF THE ESTEEMED-LOTUS</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p03.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p03s.png" alt= +"frontispiece"></a></div> +<p>In the town of Eternal Purity there was once a large monastery +dedicated to the Esteemed-Lotus. It contained hundreds of rooms, +and its grounds covered several thousand acres. Its wealth and +prosperity were due to the possession of a famous relic.</p> +<p>The bonzes, who numbered about a hundred, lived in luxury; and +visitors were sure to be received by one of them from the moment of +entry, and to be invited to take tea and cakes. Now in the temple +there was a "Babies' Chapel," which was reputed to possess +miraculous virtue. By passing the night in it and burning incense, +women who wished to have a son obtained a son: those who wished for +a daughter obtained a daughter.</p> +<p>Round the main hall were set several cells. Women who wished for +children had to be of vigorous age and free from malady. They used +to fast for seven days, and then go into the temple to prostrate +themselves before Fo, and to consult the wands of divination.</p> +<p>If the omens were favorable, they passed a night locked up alone +in one of the cells, for the purpose of prayer. If the omens were +unfavorable, it was because their prayers had not been sufficiently +sincere. The bonzes made this fault known to them; and they began +their seven days' fast anew, before returning to make their +devotions.</p> +<p>The cells had no sort of opening in their walls, and when a +penitent entered one of them, her family and attendants used to +come and install her. As soon as night came, she was locked in the +cell, and the bonzes insisted that a member of her family must pass +the night before her door, so that none might entertain the least +suspicion of an entry to her. When the woman returned to her home, +the child was already formed. It was born fat and beautiful always, +and without any blemish.</p> +<p>There was, moreover, no household, either of public officials or +the common people, which did not send one or even two of its +members to pray in the Babies' Chapel. And women came to it even +from the provinces.</p> +<p>Every day the crowd in the monastery was comparable with +mountains or the sea, and the place was filled with the gayest +hubbub. They no longer kept any reckoning of the offerings of every +kind which flowed in upon them. When the women were asked how, +during the night, the P'u-sa had made his answer intelligible, some +answered simply that Fo had told them in a dream that they would +have a son. Others said that they had dreamed that a lo-han had +come and lain beside them. Others asserted that they had had no +dream. Others again blushed and declined to answer. Some women +never repeated this kind of prayer a second time: others, on the +contrary, went to the temple as often as possible.</p> +<p>You will tell me that this story of a Fo or of a P'u-sa coming +every night to the monastery is in no way short of preposterous. +But it must be borne in mind that the people of that district had a +greater faith in sorcerers than in doctors, and could not +distinguish the true from the false. Consequently they continued to +send their wives to the temple.</p> +<p>As a matter of course these bonzes, whose outward behavior was +so laudable and correct, were wholly and unreservedly gluttons +within, both for luxury and debauch.</p> +<p>Although the cells were apparently quite close, each really had +a secret door. When the women were sound asleep, the bonzes came +softly into the cell, and to such purpose that, when their victims +were aroused, it was already almost too late. Those who would have +wished to protest kept silence for the sake of their +reputations.</p> +<p>Now the women were young and sound: the bonzes were strong and +vigorous. They had, moreover, taken the precaution to cause certain +special pills to be administered to their visitors. Consequently it +but rarely happened that these prayers were not heard. Sober-minded +wives would have died with shame sooner than confess the matter to +their husbands; and, as for the others, they kept quiet so that +they might be able to do it again.</p> +<p>Matters were in this case when a new Governor was appointed to +the district, the Lord Wang. Soon after he entered upon his office, +he heard tell of the Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, and could not +help thinking:</p> +<p>"Since it is Fo and P'u-sa who are involved, it should be enough +simply to pray. Why, then, must the women also go and pass the +night in the temple? There must be some questionable artifice in +that."</p> +<p>But he could do nothing without proof; so he waited until the +ninth Sun of the ninth Moon, which was a great festival, and then +mixed with the crowd of the faithful who went to the holy +place.</p> +<p>Passing through the main gate, he found himself beneath great +acacias and hundred-year-old pines. Before him stood the temple, +brightly painted with vermilion and decorated by a tablet on which +was inscribed in gold letters: "Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, +for Retirement." To right and left was a succession of pavilions, +and innumerable visitors were going out and coming in.</p> +<p>The first bonze who saw the Governor wished to run and warn his +companions. The Lord Wang attempted to stop him, but he broke +loose, and soon the drums and bells were sounding to do honor to +the magistrate, while the bonzes formed in two ranks and bowed as +he passed along.</p> +<p>He entered the temple and burned some joss-sticks; after which +the Superior made him a low obeisance and begged him to come and +rest himself for a moment in the reception hall. Tea was served. +Then, concealing his true design, the Governor said:</p> +<p>"I have learned of the great reputation of this Holy Retreat, +and I intend to ask the Emperor to grant you a tablet of honor +inscribed with the names and particulars of all the bonzes of the +district."</p> +<p>Naturally the delighted Superior wished to prostrate himself in +thanks; but the Governor continued:</p> +<p>"They have spoken to me also of a miraculous chapel. Is the +matter so in truth? And in what manner are these prayers made?"</p> +<p>The Superior answered without misgiving that the period of +fasting was seven days; but that by reason of the greatness of +their desire and the sincerity of their prayers it most frequently +happened that the petitions of the suppliants were granted in a +dream during the night which they passed at the monastery.</p> +<p>The Governor asked carelessly what measures were taken to ensure +the preservation of the proprieties; and the other explained that +the cells had no other entrance than the door, before which a +member of the family had to pass the night.</p> +<p>"Since that is the case," said the visitor, "I shall send my +wife here."</p> +<p>"If you wish for a son, it is only necessary for both of you to +pray sincerely in your palace, and the miracle will be +accomplished," the Superior assured him hastily; for he was greatly +afraid to see the local authorities concerning themselves in this +affair.</p> +<p>"But why must the wives of the people come here, if my wife need +not disturb herself to do so?"</p> +<p>"Are you not the protector of our doctrine, and is it not +natural that the spirits should pay special attention to your +prayers?" answered the astute bonze.</p> +<p>"So be it," agreed Wang. "But allow me to visit this miraculous +chapel."</p> +<p>The hall was filled with women, who fled to right and left. The +statue of Kwan-yin was covered with necklaces and pieces of +embroidery. She was represented holding a child in her arms, while +four or five babies clung to her robe. The altar and the walls were +covered with votive offerings, chiefly consisting of embroidered +slippers. Candles beyond number were held in branches of +candlesticks. The hall was filled with the smoke of incense. To the +left was the immortal Chang who gives us children. To the right was +the "Officer of the Star of Extended Longevity."</p> +<p>Wang bowed before the goddess. Then he went to visit the +penitents' cells. Each ceiling was painted over with flowers, a +carpet covered each floor and the bed, the table and the chairs +were spotlessly clean.</p> +<p>He examined the cells carefully all over and found no crack. Not +a mouse, not even an ant could have entered in. He went out in +perplexity and, after the usual formalities, again stepped into his +palankeen, which was accompanied to the gate by all the bonzes.</p> +<p>Thinking to the right and musing to the left, as the proverb +says, the Governor suddenly conceived a plan. As soon as he arrived +at the palace, he summoned one of his secretaries, and said to +him:</p> +<p>"Go and find me two harlots, and clothe them as honest women. +Give one of them a box of black ink and the other a box of +vermilion paste, and send them to pass the night at the monastery. +If any one approaches them, let them mark his head with the red and +the black. I shall go myself to-morrow morning to examine the +matter. Above all, let this thing be kept the closest secret."</p> +<p>The secretary at once went to seek out two public women of his +acquaintance. One was named Mei-chieh, and the other Wan-erh. He +took them to his house, explained the Governor's orders to them, +and clothed them as matrons of good family. He summoned two +palankeens, which he caused the sham penitents to enter, and +himself conducted the procession to the monastery. He left the +women in their cells, and came back to inform the monk on duty.</p> +<p>After his departure, a little novice brought tea to the present +visitors, who were more than ten in number. Who would have thought +of troubling to examine the two new arrivals?</p> +<p>At the sounding of the first watch, all the cells were locked. +The members of the various families took up their positions before +the doors. The bonzes shut themselves into their own +apartments.</p> +<p>When Mei-chieh found herself alone, she put her little box of +vermilion near the pillow, turned up the lamp, undressed herself, +and lay upon the bed. But she was unable to sleep for thinking of +her mission, and continually kept looking through the bed +curtains.</p> +<p>The second watch sounded. On every side the sounds of human life +were silenced, and all things were still. Suddenly she heard, under +the floor, this noise: Ko-Ko. She sat up, thinking it was a rat, +and saw a part of the floor move to one side. A shaven head +appeared, and was quickly followed by the whole body. It was a +bonze. Mei-chieh was astounded, and thought:</p> +<p>"So these rascally priests have been outraging honest +women!"</p> +<p>But she did not stir. The bonze quietly blew out the lamp, came +towards the bed, let fall his robe, and slipped under the +blankets.</p> +<p>Mei-chieh pretended to be asleep. She felt him gently move her +leg to one side, and then she made as though to wake saying:</p> +<p>"Who are you who come in the night and insult me?" She pushed +him away, but the bonze embraced her in his arms, and whispered: "I +am a lo-han with a body of gold, and I have come to give you a +son."</p> +<p>While speaking, he busied himself in accordance with his +salacity. It must be said that all bonzes have no mean talent in +the matter of cloud and rain; and this one was full of vigorous +manhood. Mei-chieh was a woman of great experience, but she was +unable to resist him and had difficulty, at length, in repressing +herself. However, she took advantage of his arriving at the supreme +point of his emotion to dip her fingers in the box of vermilion and +to mark his head without his perceiving it. After a certain time, +the bonze glided from the bed, leaving the girl a little packet, +and saying:</p> +<p>"Here are some pills to assist your prayer. Take three-tenths of +an ounce each day in hot water, and you will have a son."</p> +<p>Weary in body, Mei-chieh was just dimly closing her eyes, when +she was aroused by a fresh touch, and, thinking that the same bonze +had returned, said in surprise:</p> +<p>"What? Are you able to come back again, when even I am so +tired?"</p> +<p>But he answered without a pause:</p> +<p>"You are making a mistake! I have but just come, and the saviour +of my comforts is as yet unknown to you."</p> +<p>"But, I am tired...."</p> +<p>"In that case, take one of these pills...."</p> +<p>And he handed her a packet. But she was afraid that it might be +poison and placed it on the bed, contriving in the same movement to +dip her fingers in the vermilion and to stroke the newcomer's head. +He was even more terrible than the former, and did not cease before +cock-crow.</p> +<p>As the old song says:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza">In an old stone mortar Where so many pestles +have been worn away, There is need of a heavy copper hammer, Or the +work is lost.</div> +</div> +<p>At dawn, another bonze appeared and said to them in a low +voice:</p> +<p>"Perhaps you have had your fill. Is not my turn coming?"</p> +<p>The first bonze gave a chuckle, but rose and went out. The other +then got upon the bed, and very gently caressed Mei-chieh.</p> +<p>She pretended to repulse him, but he kissed her upon the lips, +and said in her ear:</p> +<p>"If he has fatigued you, I have here some pills which will +restore the Springtime of your thoughts."</p> +<p>And he thrust a pill into her mouth, which she could not avoid +swallowing. A perfume rose from her mouth into her nostrils, and +caused her bones to melt, imbuing her body with delicious +warmth.</p> +<p>But, even while thinking of herself, Mei-chieh did not forget +the Governor's orders. She marked the head of this new assailant +also, saying:</p> +<p>"What a nice sleek old pate!"</p> +<p>The bonze burst out laughing:</p> +<p>"I am full of tender and reliable emotions. I am not like the +unmannerly people of our town. Come and see me often."</p> +<p>And he retired.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the Governor had left his yamen by the fifth watch, +before the day had yet broken, accompanied by an escort of about a +hundred resolute men, carrying chains and manacles.</p> +<p>Arriving at the still closed gate of the monastery, he made the +greater part of his train hide to the right and left, keeping only +some ten men about him. The secretary knocked at the gate, crying +that the Governor was there and wished to enter.</p> +<p>The first bonzes who heard his shout made haste to arrange their +garments and receive the visitor. But the Lord Wang, paying no +attention to their salutations, went straight to the apartment of +the Superior, who was already up and prepared to begin the ritual +of his greeting. But the Governor dryly ordered him to summon all +the bonzes, and to show him the Convent register.</p> +<p>Somewhat alarmed, the Superior ordered bells and drums to be +sounded, and the bonzes, snatched from their sleep, ran up in +groups. When the names written on the register had been called, the +Governor commanded the astonished monks to remove their +skullcaps.</p> +<p>In the full light of the morning sun three heads were seen to be +marked with vermilion, but, Oh, prodigy, no less than eleven heads +were covered with black ink!</p> +<p>"It no longer surprises me that these prayers should be so +successful," murmured the secretary. "Indeed these bonzes are very +conscientious!"</p> +<p>Lord Wang pointed out the guilty ones, and caused them to be put +in chains, asking: "Whence come these marks of red and black upon +you?"</p> +<p>But the kneeling monks looked at each other and could not +answer, while the whole assembly remained stricken with wonder at +this strange event.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the secretary had gone into the Babies' Chapel and, by +dint of shouting, had roused the two harlots from a heavy +sleep.</p> +<p>They quickly put on their garments, and came to kneel before the +Governor, who asked them:</p> +<p>"What did you see during the night? Tell me the whole +truth."</p> +<p>Since they had agreed to the mission, the two women rendered a +plain account of the events of that night, showing the pills which +the bonzes had given them, and also their boxes of vermilion and +black.</p> +<p>The bonzes, seeing that their schemes were brought to light, +felt their livers turn and their hearts put out of working. They +groaned in their secret despair, while the fourteen culprits beat +the earth with their brows and begged for mercy.</p> +<p>"Miserable wretches, you dare to preach divine intervention, so +that you may deceive the foolish and outrage the virtuous! What +have you to say?"</p> +<p>But the cunning Superior already had his plan. He ordered all +the bonzes to kneel, and said:</p> +<p>"These unhappy ones whom you have convicted are without excuse. +But they were the only ones who dared to act so. All my other monks +are pure. You have been able to discover the shame of the guilty, +which I in my ignorance could not, and there is nothing for it but +to put them to death."</p> +<p>The Governor smiled:</p> +<p>"Then it is only the cells which these two women occupied that +have secret passages?"</p> +<p>"There are only those two cells," answered the unblushing +Superior.</p> +<p>"We shall question all the other women, and then see."</p> +<p>The female visitors, who had already been wakened by the noise, +came in turns to give their evidence. They were all in agreement: +no bonze had come to trouble them. But the Governor knew that shame +would prevent them from speaking, and therefore had them searched. +In the pocket of each was found a little packet of pills. He asked +them whence these came; but the women, purple in the face and +scarlet in the neck, answered no word.</p> +<p>While this examination was taking place, the husbands of the +penitents came up and took a part in it. And their anger made them +tremble like the hemp-plant or leaves of a tree. When the Governor, +who did not wish to push his questioning too far, had allowed the +visitors to depart, their husbands swallowed their shame and +indignation, and led them away.</p> +<p>The Superior had not yet given up the fight. He asserted that +the pills had been given to the women as they entered the +monastery. But the two harlots again affirmed that they at least +had received them during the visit of the bonzes.</p> +<p>"The matter is quite clear," the Governor cried at length. "Put +all of these adulterers in chains!"</p> +<p>The bonzes had some thought of resisting; but they had no +weapons and were outnumbered. The only ones left free were an old +man who kindled the incense, and the two little novices still in +childhood.</p> +<p>The gate of the monastery was closed and guarded. On his return +to the yamen, the Governor took his seat in the Hall of Justice, +and had his prisoners questioned in the usual ways. Fear of pain +loosened their tongues, and they were condemned to death. They were +cast into prison to await the ratification of their sentence.</p> +<p>As the Governor of the prison went his rounds to inspect their +bonds, the Superior whispered to him:</p> +<p>"We have brought nothing, neither clothes, nor blankets, nor +food. If you will allow me to return for a moment to the monastery +with three or four of my monks, I will willingly give you a hundred +ounces of silver."</p> +<p>The prison governor knew the wealth of the monastery. He +smiled:</p> +<p>"My price is a hundred ounces for myself, and two hundred for my +men."</p> +<p>The Superior made a grimace, but was compelled to promise this +larger sum. The warders consulted with each other, and finally, +when night came, led the Superior and three of his bonzes back to +the monastery. From a secret place among their cells the monks took +the promised three hundred ounces, and gave them at once to the +warders. While these were weighing them and sharing them among +themselves, they collected the rest of their treasure, and secretly +laid hold of weapons, short swords and hatchets, which they rolled +up in their blankets. Also they brought away wine. Thus heavily +laden, warders and bonzes alike returned to the prison, and held a +feast. The priests succeeded in making their warders drunk. In the +middle of the night they drew forth their weapons and, having first +set each other free, proceeded to force the gates. They might +perhaps have escaped altogether; but in their rancour against the +Governor they went first to attack the yamen. The troops of police +were numerous and well armed, and the bonzes were quickly overcome. +The Superior gave his men orders to return as quickly as possible +to the prison, to lay down their arms and to say that only a few of +them had revolted, since this might save the others. But the +warders attacked them so hotly that they were all put back in +chains.</p> +<p>Their crime was grave, and doubly aggravated by rebellion. Next +day, when the sun had well risen, the Governor gave his judgment. +All the hundred and twelve monks were led straight to the +market-place and beheaded. Groups of men provided with torches went +to set fire to the monastery, and it was soon a smoking ruin. Joy +flowered upon the faces of all the men of that town. But it is said +that many of the women wept in secret.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Adapted from Hsing shih heng yen<br> +(1627), 39th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="COMPLICATED"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>A COMPLICATED MARRIAGE</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p04.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p04s.png" alt= +"frontispiece"></a></div> +<p>Marriages have from all time been arranged beforehand by Heaven. +If such is the will of destiny, the most distantly separated +persons come together, and the nearest neighbors never see each +other. All is settled before birth, and every effort of mortals +does but accomplish the decree of Fate. This is proved by the +following story.</p> +<p>During the Ching-yu period of the Sung dynasty, there lived at +Hang-chow a doctor named Liu. His wife had given him a son and a +daughter. The son, who was but sixteen years old, had been called +Virgin Diamond, and was betrothed to young Pearl, of the family of +Sun. He was brilliant in his studies, and gave every promise that +he would one day attain to the highest literary standard, and to +the greatest honor. The daughter was named Prudence. She was +fifteen years old, and had just received marriage gifts from her +betrothed, the son of P'ei, a neighboring druggist. Her eyebrows +were like the feelers of a butterfly, and her eyes had the grace of +those of a phoenix. Her hips, flexible as willow branches swayed by +the wind, wakened the liveliest feeling. Her face was that of a +flower; and the nimbleness of her light body brought to mind the +flight of swallows.</p> +<p>The go-between who had concluded Prudence's betrothal came one +day at the instance of the P'ei family to ask that marriage might +be hastened. But Liu had determined first to accomplish the +ceremonies for his son, and accordingly took customary steps with +this object in view, so that a day was at length fixed. But when +the appointed time was drawing near, Virgin Diamond fell seriously +ill. His father, Liu, wished to postpone the ceremony, but his +mother argued that perhaps joy would cure him better than +medicine.</p> +<p>"But if, by mischance, our son should die?" he insisted.</p> +<p>"We will send back the bride and all the gifts, and the family +will have nothing to say."</p> +<p>The doctor, like many men, was wax in the hands of his wife, and +therefore her wish was fulfilled.</p> +<p>But it chanced that one of their neighbors had been slightly +affronted by them, and had never forgiven them. He heard of Virgin +Diamond's illness, and spoke of it to the family of Sun.</p> +<p>Sun had no intention of compromising his daughter's future; so +he summoned and questioned the go-between who had arranged the +betrothal. The poor woman was in a great quandary, fearing to +offend either the one family or the other; yet she was compelled to +admit the truth. In her anxiety she ran to the house of Liu to +obtain a postponement of the marriage until Virgin Diamond's +recovery, and hinted that, failing this, Sun would send his old +nurse to see the sick bridegroom.</p> +<p>Liu did not know what to do, and before he had come to a +decision, the nurse arrived. He saluted her, not knowing what +excuse to make. At last he said to the go-between: "Be so good as +to entertain this venerable aunt for a moment, while I go and find +my Old-Thornbush."</p> +<p>He hurried into the interior of the house, and in a few words +told his wife what was happening.</p> +<p>"She is already here and wishes to see our son. I told you that +it would have been better to change the day."</p> +<p>"You really are a decayed piece of goods. Their daughter has +received our gifts, and is already our daughter-in-law. You shall +see."</p> +<p>Then she said to Prudence:</p> +<p>"Make haste and prepare our large room for a collation to the +family of Sun."</p> +<p>She herself went to the room where the nurse was, and asked:</p> +<p>"Has our new daughter's mother something to say to us?"</p> +<p>"She is uneasy about the health of your honorable son, and has +sent me to see him, thinking that it would be better to postpone +the marriage if he were seriously ill."</p> +<p>"I am gratified to receive this proof of her consideration. My +son has, in fact, taken cold, but it is not a serious +indisposition. As for choosing another day, that is not to be +thought of. Our preparations are made, and a delay would involve +too great a loss. Furthermore, happiness drives away every ill. The +invitations are sent out. We might imagine that your family had +changed its intention...."</p> +<p>"At least, can I see the invalid?"</p> +<p>"He has just taken a drug and is asleep. Besides, I have told +you that he has caught cold. Are you trying to insult me by +expressing a wish to prove my words?"</p> +<p>"If the matter stands thus," the nurse politely made haste to +answer, "it only remains for me to withdraw."</p> +<p>"You cannot go in this way. You have not even taken a cup of +tea. If you please, let us go into the new room, for my house is +all in disorder."</p> +<p>On entering, the nurse observed the excellent arrangement of the +young couple's apartment.</p> +<p>"Everything is ready, as you see," said the wife of Liu. "And if +my son is not quite recovered after the ceremony, I shall take care +of him in my pavilion, until he is able to embark upon his conjugal +life."</p> +<p>Having taken tea, the nurse at last arose and went away. On her +return she recounted to her master and mistress what had taken +place, and Sun and his wife found themselves in a difficult +dilemma. They could not think of allowing their daughter to ruin +her life by entering of her betrothed, if he were going to die, +and, if the young man were not seriously ill, they stood the risk +of losing all their preparation, and of giving occasion for +slander. Suddenly their son Yu-lang, who was present, said:</p> +<p>"If they have not allowed him to be seen, it means that he is +seriously ill. There is no way by which we can go back on our +contract; and yet we cannot send my sister to her ruin in this +fashion. I have a plan, and you must tell me what you think of it. +Let us send the go-between to advise Liu that the marriage will +take place on the appointed day, but that the bride's equipment +will not be sent until after her husband's recovery. I am sure that +they will reject this offer, and then we shall have a good excuse +for throwing the blame on them."</p> +<p>"But what if they should agree," objected his parents, after a +moment's reflection.</p> +<p>"They will certainly not agree, or else they would have +postponed the marriage. Besides, it is impossible that they should +be willing to have another mouth to feed, without any dowry or +plenishing."</p> +<p>His father said:</p> +<p>"Very well, if by any chance they do agree, you shall disguise +yourself as a woman and go in your sister's place. You could take a +man's clothing with you, and put it on if the sick youth recovered, +or matters seemed to take an unfortunate turn. They would not dare +to say anything for fear of being ridiculed."</p> +<p>"Oh! that is impossible!" cried the young man. "In the first +place I would be discovered at once. And what would people say of +me afterwards?"</p> +<p>"They would say that you had played a trick on these people, and +that is all. You are still in the freshness of youth. You are +sufficiently like your sister to deceive those who do not know you +very well, especially in a wedding garment. You must do it. That is +decided. The nurse can go with you to arrange your hair.... And in +this way, if our son-in-law dies, Liu will have neither my daughter +nor her equipment."</p> +<p>When the wife of Liu received Sun's proposal from the mouth of +the go-between, she hesitated for a moment. But then she reflected +on the false situation in which she would be placed by refusing. +So, masking her thoughts beneath a smile, she agreed to the +arrangement.</p> +<p>On the day fixed for the marriage, Yu-lang was constrained to +disguise himself. But two grave difficulties presented themselves. +First with regard to his feet: how was it possible for him to +imitate his sister's ravishing golden lotuses, so like to sphinx +heads, and the balancing of her light steps, a swaying of flowers +in the soft breeze? They gave him a petticoat which reached to the +ground, and he practised his sister's gait, at which she laughed +until she cried. The next question was his ear-rings. It so +happened that his left lobe had been pierced; for in his childhood +they had made him wear one ring, in order to persuade the evil +spirits that he was a girl, whose death would be of no importance. +Everybody knows that the Jinn always endeavor to rob us of that +which is truly dear to us, and leave untouched that which is of no +value.</p> +<p>So Yu-lang hung a jewel in his left lobe, and stuck a small +piece of plaster over his right ear, so that it might seem it had +suffered a slight wound. His great pearl-decorated headdress +concealed his head, brow and shoulders. His scarlet robes, +embroidered with gold and silver, helped to disguise his figure, +and the transformation was complete by rouge on his lips and +cheeks.</p> +<p>When evening at length drew near, drums and flutes were sounded, +the flowered palankeen entered the courtyard, and the hoodwinked +go-between, admiring the beauty of the bogus bride, herself opened +the scarlet curtains. Not seeing Yu-lang; she remarked upon this +circumstance, and they answered carelessly that he was indisposed +and kept to his bed. Actually at that moment he was taking leave of +his parents and imitating to the best of his ability the sobs which +were fitting to the occasion.</p> +<p>The procession at last set out and all the bride's equipment was +a little leather trunk. At the house of Liu there was considerable +discussion:</p> +<p>"When the bride arrives, our son will be unable to cross the +threshold as ritual demands, and the marriage will not be +accomplished. The bride will be left alone to salute the ancestors, +and this is impossible. What shall we do?"</p> +<p>"It cannot be helped," answered the mother. "So much the worse! +Our daughter must make it known that she will take her brother's +place. She shall recite the poem of the threshold in his name, and +the rites will be thus observed."</p> +<p>And Prudence, in her graceful girl's garments, did in fact +receive the false Pearl as she got out of the palankeen, pronounced +the sacred formulas, and led the new bride before the tablets. The +two seeming sisters-in-law knelt down, and several of the +bystanders laughed inwardly to see two women perform the marriage +ceremony, and then kneel for the purpose of the grand +prostration.</p> +<p>The wife of Liu led Yu-lang to the invalid's bed; but he had +been excited and troubled by the music and noise, and had fainted. +They had hastily to revive him by pouring some spoonfuls of hot +soup in his mouth.</p> +<p>At length the false bride was led to the prepared pavilion, and +her great veil was taken off. Then her fresh beauty shone forth, +and everybody uttered exclamations of joy: the wife of Liu was +alone in feeling a certain compassion, for she thought of all that +the new bride would have to lose, and deplored her son's misfortune +in falling ill at the moment of tasting so great happiness.</p> +<p>As for Yu-lang, the tedium of beholding the hideousness of all +the guests was curiously diminished by the pleasure of seeing +Prudence's delectable face. He thought:</p> +<p>"What a misfortune that I am already betrothed! Here is she whom +Fate should have given me."</p> +<p>Prudence, on her part, felt herself drawn towards him in an +irresistible manner, and said to her mother and the go-between:</p> +<p>"Alas! surely my brother has no luck, and my sister-in-law will +be very unhappy alone tonight! Is she not charming? If my future +husband were like her, my life would be free from all regret."</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the marriage feast came to an end, a present was sent +to the musicians, and the guests withdrew. The disguised boy, after +being conducted to his pavilion, had his nurse's assistance in +unmaking the complicated structure of his nuptial adornment. At +last he found himself alone, but with no wish for sleep. Now Liu +and his wife said to each other:</p> +<p>"It seems hard to leave the newly-wed bride alone for her first +night under our roof. Would it not be better to tell Prudence to go +and keep her company?"</p> +<p>As always, the father made certain objections which were not +listened to. Prudence insisted, and soon mother and daughter went +together to the new pavilion, and approached the bed, the curtains +of which were drawn shut.</p> +<p>"Here is your sister-in-law come to spend the night with +you...."</p> +<p>Yu-lang did not know what to say. He was afraid of being +discovered, and held the curtains very tightly under his chin, as +he put his head through the opening.</p> +<p>"I am accustomed to be alone," he stammered. But the mother +said:</p> +<p>"Aya! You are both of the same age, you are almost sisters. What +are you afraid of? If you want to be particular, you have only to +keep a blanket between you."</p> +<p>During this time, Yu-lang was moved as much by fear as by +delight. Was it not strangely fortunate that Prudence's mother +should herself have come and let her in this manner to his bed? But +if the young girl should call out? On the other hand he +thought:</p> +<p>"She is fifteen years old, therefore she has been ready for some +time; the door of her emotions is ajar. If I take precaution and +kindle her heart little by little, there is no need to fear that +she will refuse to nibble at my hook."</p> +<p>Now the wife of Liu had already retired, and Prudence had shot +the bolt of the door. She was laughing all over the bright +chrysanthemum of her face:</p> +<p>"Sister-in-law, you have taken no refreshment. Are you not +hungry? If you wish for anything, tell me, and I will go and fetch +it for you."</p> +<p>"I am deeply grateful to my sister-in-law for her gentle +thought."</p> +<p>Prudence noticed that the wick of the lamp had not been trimmed, +and was burning long, straight and red. So she exclaimed:</p> +<p>"That is for your happiness, sister-in-law!"</p> +<p>The other could not restrain a burst of laughter.</p> +<p>Prudence blushed and laughed also:</p> +<p>"You know how to be merry."</p> +<p>So they talked together. At length the maiden, taking the +flowers out of her hair, got upon the bed and knelt down to undress +herself. He asked her:</p> +<p>"On which pillow would you like to sleep? The lower one?"</p> +<p>"As my sister-in-law wishes."</p> +<p>"Then, if you please, let us sleep on the same."</p> +<p>"Very well."</p> +<p>Prudence had slipped under the blankets to finish undressing, +and the boy did likewise, removing his upper garment. The lamp, +placed on a little table beside the bed, dimly lit up the recess +through the thin curtains.</p> +<p>His emotion began to rise, and he asked:</p> +<p>"How many flowering Springtides have you known?"</p> +<p>"Fifteen, this year."</p> +<p>"Are you betrothed?"</p> +<p>But she was seized with unaccountable shyness, and dared not +answer. He brought his lips close to the delicate ear lying beside +him, and whispered:</p> +<p>"Why are you so bashful? We are only two women together."</p> +<p>Very low, she answered him:</p> +<p>"I am betrothed to the son of P'ei, the druggist, and already +they are urging that the ceremony should take place. Happily +nothing is yet decided."</p> +<p>"You are not very eager, then?"</p> +<p>She pushed his head gently away, saying:</p> +<p>"It is not nice of you to take hold of my words in this way, and +to make fun of me. If I am not eager, you do not seem to be any +more so than I."</p> +<p>"And how do you know that, maiden? In any case, how could I be +so when we are two women."</p> +<p>"You speak to me as if you were my mother," the other +laughed.</p> +<p>"Considering my age, I should rather be your husband," he +thoughtlessly said.</p> +<p>She burst out laughing:</p> +<p>"It is I who am the husband, seeing that I took my brother's +place at the wedding."</p> +<p>"Well, let us not argue, but rather act as if we were husband +and wife."</p> +<p>Thus both of them spoke words of meaning. They grew more and +more passionate.</p> +<p>"Since we are husband and wife," he said impatiently, "why do we +not sleep under the same blanket?"</p> +<p>As he spoke, he pushed back the thick quilt, and began to +observe the garment on the so sweet and smooth, so soft and +graceful body. She had kept on an under garment, but her heart was +filled with Springtime thoughts, and she offered no resistance to +his eye.</p> +<p>Then, trembling with desire, he came to her breasts that had so +lately dawned, and were so firm. Their tender points were red as a +cock's crest, and in all things lovable.</p> +<p>Delighted with this game, Prudence put out her hands to return +his caresses, and also found his breasts. But there was nothing but +quite a little button. She was astonished, and said to herself:</p> +<p>"She is as tall as I am. How comes it that she is not further +developed?"</p> +<p>But by this time Yu-lang was holding her right in his arms, and +had his lips glued to her, wantonly thrusting out his tongue. She +continued the game by giving it a little nibble, and then thrust +out her own tongue. This he so tenderly caressed with his that the +girl's body seemed all at once to melt, and she said +languorously:</p> +<p>"This is no longer a game. We are truly husband and wife!"</p> +<p>The false bride, seeing that he had fully awakened the passion +of his dupe, made answer:</p> +<p>"Not yet. We must take off our under garments."</p> +<p>"But I am afraid lest people should talk. It is not good to take +them off."</p> +<p>He gave a nervous laugh and, without paying attention to her +words, undid her girdle and took off her garment. As he advanced +toward her, she protected herself with her two hands, saying:</p> +<p>"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, you must not!"</p> +<p>But he kissed her again upon the lips.</p> +<p>"There is nothing to forbid it, little sister. You may caress me +also."</p> +<p>In her agitation, and so as not to seem too stupid, she took off +his vest, and her timid little hand suddenly stopped short. Her +surprise was such that, for a moment, she could not speak. But at +last she said: "What man are you who dare to take my +sister-in-law's place?"</p> +<p>"I am your husband," he answered hugging her to him.</p> +<p>She pushed him off, and said seriously:</p> +<p>"If you do not tell me in plain truth who you are, I shall cry +and call out, and you will be sorry for that."</p> +<p>"Do not be angry, little sister," he replied. "I will tell you +everything. I am Yu-lang, your sister-in-law's elder brother. My +parents heard that your brother was seriously ill, and did not wish +my sister to leave our house; but since your parents would not +alter the day of the marriage, I had to disguise myself and take my +sister's place, until your brother should be healed. I never +expected that Heaven would, in its bounty, allow me to become your +husband. But we alone must know of our love. Let us not betray it +to any."</p> +<p>Pressing forward again, he tried to bind her in his arms. +Although she had believed she was with a woman, Prudence had loved +him from the first; the feeling which she had mistaken for +friendship quickly changed to that of love, for it was kindled, as +was all of her, by the young man's ardour. Nevertheless she was +suffused with shame, and so wavered between one extremity and the +other.</p> +<p>As for him, in the freshness of his still maiden youth he spoke +to her of everlasting vows, of a love higher than the mountain and +vaster than the sea, and of a marriage shaped from a boundless +happiness. Her betrothed, her parents and her shame were all +forgotten. She covered her face with her hand and resisted no +longer.</p> +<p>When the cloud and the rain of their intoxication had been +dispelled, they clasped each other close and went to sleep.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the nurse, being in the secret of this disguise, had +been much disturbed at seeing Prudence share the young man's bed. +From the adjoining room she had heard their laughter, and then +their sighs, and had no further doubt of what had happened. And +inwardly she cried: "Woe! Woe!"</p> +<p>In the morning, after Prudence had returned to her parents' +house to perform her toilet, the woman came in to wait upon +Yu-lang, and said to him in a low voice:</p> +<p>"O practitioner! You have done a fine thing! What will happen if +people come to know of it?"</p> +<p>"I did not search her out. Her mother led her to my bed. How +could I have avoided this?"</p> +<p>"You ought to have resisted with all your might."</p> +<p>"With such an adorably beautiful girl? Even a man of iron and +stone could not have resisted. Also, if you say nothing, who will +know of it?"</p> +<p>When the process of disguise was again completed, he went to +salute the wife of Liu. Then all the women of the house and the +cousins came to see him. Finally Prudence came in, and they two +laughed together. For that day, as was the custom, Liu and his wife +had invited their relations and friends, and there was a great +feast, with music and a dinner lasting until the evening. Then, +when the house was quiet again, the girl went, as on the previous +night, to keep young Yu-lang company. That night, even more so than +the preceding one, the butterflies beat their wings, and the +passionate phoenixes were convulsed.</p> +<p>In the morning, they kept together. Therefore the scandalized +nurse ran out and told everything to Sun said his wife, and they +reeled with surprise and emotion.</p> +<p>"Alas, misfortune will certainly come of it! We must bring him +back as soon as possible."</p> +<p>They summoned the go-between and told her that, according to +custom, on the third day after the marriage they wished to see +their daughter at their house. She therefore went to the home of +Liu, and the two lovers trembled when they heard of this request. +But the wife of Liu had not forgotten the difficulties which Sun +had made with regard to the marriage; and she was afraid of not +seeing her daughter-in-law again. So she said:</p> +<p>"But my son is still suffering, and the marriage has not been +altogether accomplished. We will speak of this again at some later +time."</p> +<p>This answer had to be sufficient. The nurse was in terror, and +watched the approaches of the room all night for fear lest anybody +should hear the rapturous exclamation of the lovers.</p> +<p>The days passed, and Virgin Diamond gradually grew better. Since +he admired the beauty of his young wife, his desire to know her +hastened his recovery, and the time came when he was able to get +up. Still walking unsteadily, he went into the nuptial pavilion to +see her who was his bride, and came before the door, supported by +his attendants. The nurse was there, and cried out loud:</p> +<p>"My Lord wishes to enter!"</p> +<p>Yu-lang was, quite naturally, holding Prudence in his arms. He +hastily released her, and went close to the door.</p> +<p>"You have succeeded in rising, my elder brother?" said Prudence. +"You will fatigue yourself."</p> +<p>"That is no matter," he answered, making a deep obeisance before +her whom he believed to be his wife.</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses be with you!" Yu-lang graciously +replied.</p> +<p>"What an exquisite pair!" cried the wife of Liu, proud of her +son and happy at his fortune.</p> +<p>The false bride's beauty was meanwhile strangely reviving the +invalid's vitality. And the other lad thought:</p> +<p>"He is a fine boy in spite of his illness: there is no need to +pity my sister. But if he can get up, he will waste no time in +coming to spend the night with me. I must depart as quickly as +possible."</p> +<p>When evening came, he explained his fears to Prudence.</p> +<p>"It is quite necessary to persuade your mother to send me back +to my home, that I may change places with my sister. Everything +will be discovered if we delay."</p> +<p>"You wish to go? But what will become of me alone?"</p> +<p>"I have already thought of that. Alas. Alas! But we are both +betrothed to another. What can we do?"</p> +<p>"If you do not want me living, I must die so that my soul may +follow you."</p> +<p>And she sobbed and sobbed. He dried her eyes saying to her:</p> +<p>"Do not meet trouble in this way, but leave me to find a +plan."</p> +<p>They clasped each other in their arms, shedding most bitter +tears.</p> +<p>Now it must be said that the wife of Liu was a little wearied of +seeing her daughter night and day inseparable from her +sister-in-law. However, she said nothing, because the marriage was +not actually accomplished. But passing before the marriage pavilion +on that day, she heard a sobbing. She drew near noiselessly and, +through a hole in the window paper, saw them close in each other's +arms and weeping.</p> +<p>"This is very odd," she said.</p> +<p>She wished to make an outcry, but remembered that her son was +just getting better, and would fall ill again from any sorrow. She +gently tried to push the door open, but it was locked. She called +out:</p> +<p>"It is strange that this door should be locked!"</p> +<p>The lovers recognized her voice, and made haste to dry their +tears and open the door. She came in.</p> +<p>"Why do you lock yourselves in during full daylight, and groan +and embrace each other?"</p> +<p>They felt the blood flow to their faces, and answered nothing. +The mother's hands and feet were trembling with rage. She seized +hold of her daughter:</p> +<p>"You are playing some pretty trick. Let me talk to you a +little."</p> +<p>And she dragged her into an empty room. The attendants who saw +her asked each other why the girl was being dragged along like +that. But by this time the mother had locked the door. When the +attendants came and looked through the holes in the paper, they saw +her lifting a stick, and heard her crying:</p> +<p>"O wretch, tell me the truth, or I shall strike you! Why were +you weeping?"</p> +<p>At first Prudence thought of denial. Then she said to herself +that it would be better to confess and to beg her parents to break +off her betrothal with the family of P'ei, so that they might marry +her to Yu-lang. If they refused, she would die. That was all. So +she told the whole matter without evasion.</p> +<p>"We are husband and wife. Our love is boundless, and our vows +will endure for at least a hundred years. My brother is recovered, +and we fear that we shall be separated. Yu-lang wishes to return to +his parents, to send his sister in his place. It seemed, then, to +your daughter that a woman cannot have two husbands, and that if +Yu-lang cannot marry me, I must die."</p> +<p>As she listened to her, her mother's breast opened with rage, +and she stamped her feet: "This rotten carrion has sent his son +here and has deceived me. And now my daughter is lost. I must beat +him unmercifully!"</p> +<p>She seized her stick, opened the door and ran forth. Her +daughter, forgetting her shame, tried to prevent her; but the old +woman pushed her away violently, so that she fell down. Prudence +got up and ran after her. The attendants also ran.</p> +<p>Now Yu-lang had very well understood that all was discovered +when Liu's wife had dragged her daughter away. A moment later, the +nurse hurried in.</p> +<p>"O my Gods! And, ah unhappiness! All is well lost! Prudence is +being questioned with the stick."</p> +<p>It seemed to him that two knives were piercing his heart. He +burst out into sobbing. But the nurse was already taking out his +hair-pins and clothing him as a man. In a state of stupor he let +himself be hurried to the main door and through the streets. A few +moments later he was back at his parents' house.</p> +<p>His father did not fail to say to him:</p> +<p>"I told you to play the girl, not the man. Why have you +committed acts of which Celestial Reason disapproves?"</p> +<p>Yu-lang jostled thus by his father and his mother, no longer +knew where he stood. Meanwhile the nurse objected:</p> +<p>"But what can they say there? Our young Lord has only to keep +himself hidden for a few days, and it will all pass over."</p> +<p>But at Liu's house the nurse, as she went away, had unwittingly +locked the door, and Liu's wife had come to it and was shaking it +violently, stammering with rage and flourishing her stick.</p> +<p>"Thief, whom may Heaven strike dead! O very vile rascal! For +what did you take me? I am going to show you who I am! I will have +your life! If you do not open the door, I shall break it open with +a great case."</p> +<p>But naturally no one answered. Prudence tried in vain to stay +her mother, who loaded her with insults; but at last, in her rage, +she succeeded in breaking the lock, and rushed into the room with +her stick uplifted. The cage was empty and the bird had flown. She +knelt on all fours to look under the bed and under the furniture, +crying out all the time:</p> +<p>"Thief, you shall die!"</p> +<p>But, as she was compelled to admit, there was no trace of the +ravisher. Then Prudence said to her, sobbing meanwhile:</p> +<p>"And now, after this scandal, the P'ei family is let into the +whole secret. I entreat you to have pity on me and let me marry +Yu-lang. Otherwise, must I not die in order to redeem my +shame?"</p> +<p>She fell on her knees, weeping and groaning.</p> +<p>"What you say is true," answered her mother resuming some +measure of calm. "After this wonderful affair, no one will want +you."</p> +<p>However, a mother's love cannot be altogether restrained. She +drew near to her daughter: "My poor child! All this is not your +fault. It is that rotten carrion of a Sun who has caused it. But we +cannot, of ourselves, break off the betrothal with P'ei."</p> +<p>As Liu came up in the meantime, the matter had to be explained +to him. He was nearly half a day without being able to speak, and +it may be surmised that his first words were to throw the blame on +his wife:</p> +<p>"The whole fault is yours! By making me say I do not know what, +you arranged all this. Instead of altering the date as you should +have done! And to crown all, you insisted upon placing our daughter +in his arms! She has very well kept him company, has she not?"</p> +<p>His wife's anger was not quite dead, and these remarks rekindled +it. Her voice rolled out like thunder:</p> +<p>"You old tortoise!" she began....</p> +<p>But on this occasion he also was furious. He advanced, +threatening to strike her. Prudence tried to come between them, and +all three were nothing but a rolling, striking, shouting and +weeping congeries. The servants then ran to inform Virgin Diamond +who rose from his bed and unsteadily ran. His mother was moved with +pity to see him, and his father also stopped his vituperation. They +both went out muttering.</p> +<p>Virgin Diamond then asked his sister the cause of all this, and +why his young wife was no longer there. She answered only with +tears; but his mother, who had returned, told the whole story.</p> +<p>Virgin Diamond's anger was so strong that his face became the +color of the earth. However, he contained himself, saying:</p> +<p>"Let us not publish this family shame abroad. If the news +spreads, everybody will laugh at us."</p> +<p>As a matter of course, their mischievous neighbor, Li, had heard +their shouting and weeping. He had quickly climbed on to his wall, +but had been unable to understand what was happening. Next morning +he watched for the first of the women slaves who came out, and drew +her into his house. Fifty pieces of copper decided the girl to +speak, and the delighted Li, letting her depart, ran to the house +of P'ei, to whom he told all that he knew.</p> +<p>P'ei went straight to the house of Liu:</p> +<p>"I know all," he cried. "Give back the gifts, and let no more be +said."</p> +<p>Liu's face became red and white by turns. He thought:</p> +<p>"How does he already know what happened in my house but +yesterday?"</p> +<p>Then he denied the matter:</p> +<p>"Kinsman, whence come these words with which you are trying to +sully my family?"</p> +<p>"Miserable cheat!" cried the other, "you are in very truth an +old tortoise."</p> +<p>And he struck him on the face with his hand.</p> +<p>"Murderer!" cried Liu in a fury. "Do you dare to come to my +house and insult me and strike me?"</p> +<p>And he struck P'ei such a violent blow that the old man fell to +the ground. Then they began to belabor each other. Virgin Diamond +and his mother, hearing their cries, ran up and separated them. +Afterward P'ei, pointing with his finger and trembling, cried:</p> +<p>"You know how to strike, old tortoise! We shall see whether you +are as clever in speaking before the judge."</p> +<p>And he went out swearing. Liu exclaimed:</p> +<p>"It is all Sun's fault. If I do not bring an action against +them, they will even now escape entirely free."</p> +<p>In spite of his son's curses, he hurriedly set about writing an +accusation, and ran to the Governor s palace.</p> +<p>The court was sitting, and Liu, holding his accusation, +approached the judge. P'ei was already there, and reviled him as +soon as he saw him. Liu retaliated, and the battle began anew.</p> +<p>At this interruption, the magistrate sternly ordered the two to +kneel and explain themselves. Both spoke confusedly at the same +time, but the whole story was none the less made clear. All those +who were implicated in the matter were summoned, and they came to +fall upon their knees.</p> +<p>At length the judge delivered sentence. All the former +betrothals were annulled. Yu-lang became betrothed to her whom he +had outraged. But the Sun family owed a compensation to the Liu +family, which in its turn owed a bride to the P'ei family. So Pearl +Sun was given to the son of P'ei, and Virgin Diamond was bestowed +upon the former betrothed of Yu-lang. Having settled the affair, +the Governor summoned three red palankeens and the three brides +were conducted under escort to the homes of their new husbands. The +town of Hang-chow talked of this affair for a long time, but in the +end forgot it for some new scandal.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Hsing shih heng yen (1627),<br> +8th Tale.</i></p> +<hr class="full"> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12086 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/12086-h/images/p01.png b/12086-h/images/p01.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b748fa --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p01.png diff --git a/12086-h/images/p01s.png b/12086-h/images/p01s.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..97d265a --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p01s.png diff --git a/12086-h/images/p02.png b/12086-h/images/p02.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..13fd35d --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p02.png diff --git a/12086-h/images/p02s.png b/12086-h/images/p02s.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..746349e --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p02s.png diff --git a/12086-h/images/p03.png b/12086-h/images/p03.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c972114 --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p03.png diff --git a/12086-h/images/p03s.png b/12086-h/images/p03s.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e23edd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p03s.png diff --git a/12086-h/images/p04.png b/12086-h/images/p04.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c2f080 --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p04.png diff --git a/12086-h/images/p04s.png b/12086-h/images/p04s.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fab9c06 --- /dev/null +++ b/12086-h/images/p04s.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc806e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12086 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12086) diff --git a/old/12086-h.zip b/old/12086-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..016cfca --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12086-h.zip diff --git a/old/12086-h/12086-h.htm b/old/12086-h/12086-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe5f6ef --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12086-h/12086-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3979 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Windows (vers 1st November 2003), see www.w3.org"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<meta content="pg2html (binary version 0.12a)" name="generator"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of _Eastern Shame Girl_, by +George Soulie DeMorant.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + } + p { + text-align : justify; + } + blockquote { + text-align : justify; + } + h1 , h2 , h3 , h4 , h5 , h6 { + text-align : center; + } + h1 , h3 { + font-variant : small-caps; + } + h1 , h2 { + margin-bottom : 2em; + margin-top : 4em; + } + pre { + font-size : 0.7em; + } + hr { + text-align : center; + width : 50%; + } + html > body hr { + margin-left : 25%; + margin-right : 25%; + width : 50%; + } + hr.full { + width : 100%; + margin-top : 2em; + } + html > body hr.full { + margin-left : 0%; + margin-right : 0%; + width : 100%; + } + hr.short { + text-align : center; + width : 20%; + } + html > body hr.short { + margin-left : 40%; + margin-right : 40%; + width : 20%; + } + div.note { + border-style : dotted; + border-width : 2px; + margin-left : 15%; + margin-right : 15%; + } + .center { + text-align : center; + } + .author { + text-align : right; + } + .poem { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + text-align : left; + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + } + .poem p { + margin : 0; + padding-left : 3em; + text-indent : -3em; + } + .poem p.i2 { + margin-left : 1em; + } + .poem p.i4 { + margin-left : 2em; + } + .toc { + margin-left : 15%; + margin-bottom : 0; + font-variant : small-caps; + } + a { + text-decoration : none; + } + a:hover { + background-color : #ffffcc; + } + .figure , .figcenter { + padding : 1em; + margin : 0; + text-align : center; + font-size : 0.8em; + } + .figure img , .figcenter img { + border : medium none inherit; + margin-bottom : 1em; + } + + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Eastern Shame Girl, by Charles Georges Souli + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Eastern Shame Girl + The Wedding of Ya-Nei; A Strange Destiny; The Error of the Embroidered + Slipper; The Counterfeit Old Woman; The Monastery of the + Esteemed-Lotus; A Complicated Marriage + + +Author: Charles Georges Souli + +Release Date: April 19, 2004 [EBook #12086] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EASTERN SHAME GIRL *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Alicia Williams, Sandra Brown and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="note"><p>[Transcriber's Note: This book was published +as Chinese Love Tales in 1935 (translated from the original of George +Souile De Morant - a variation in the spelling of the middle name). It +was attacked and acquitted in the courts, winning judicial recognition +of its exceptional literary merit.]</p> +</div> +<h1><i>Eastern Shame Girl</i></h1> +<h4><i>Translated from the French of</i></h4> +<h3>George Soulie DeMorant</h3> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>Illustrations by</i></h4> +<h3>Marcel Avond</h3> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>New York<br> +Privately Printed 1929</i></h4> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p01.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p01s.png" alt= +"frontispiece"></a></div> +<hr> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<p class="toc"><a href="#EASTERN">Eastern Shame Girl</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#WEDDING">The Wedding of Ya-Nei</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#STRANGE">A Strange Destiny</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#ERROR">The Error of the Embroidered +Slipper</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#COUNTERFEIT">The Counterfeit Old +Woman</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#MONASTERY">The Monastery of the +Esteemed-Lotus</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#COMPLICATED">A Complicated +Marriage</a></p> +<br> +<br> +<div class="note"> +<p><i>Note:—The original source of the stories appearing in +"Eastern Shame Girl" is the classic literature of China in the 17th +Century.</i></p> +</div> +<hr class="full"> +<a name="EASTERN"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>EASTERN SHAME GIRL</h2> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When there is a great peace</p> +<p>Under the gold cup of the sun</p> +<p>Joy reaches its flowering.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In the twentieth year of the period Wan-li, there came, among +the thousands of students who gathered at Peking for the +examinations, a certain Li, whose first name was Chia and his +surname Ch'ien-hsi, or "Purified-a-thousand times." His family were +from Shao-hsing fu in Chekiang; his father was Judge of the +province of Kang-su; and Li himself was the eldest of three +brothers. He had studied in the village school from childhood and, +not having yet attained to literary rank, had come, according to +custom, to present himself for examination at Peking. While in that +city, he consorted, before his springtide, with the young +libertines, the "willow twigs" of his country; and, in order to +gain experience, frequented the theatres and music-halls. Thus he +became acquainted with a famous singing girl called Tu, whose first +name was Mei, or "Elegance." As she was the tenth of her family, +she was known at the theatre as Shih-niang, "The Tenth daughter." A +delicate seduction diffused from her: her body was all grace and +perfume. The twin arches of her brows held the black which is blue +of distant mountains, and her eyes were as deep and bright as +autumn lakes. Her face had the glory of the lotus, and her lips the +glory of cherries. By what blunder of the gods had this piece of +flawless jade fallen in the windy dust, among the flowers beneath +the willow? When she was thirteen years old, Shih-niang had already +"broken her claws." Now she was nineteen, and it would not be +possible to enumerate the young Lords and Princes whose hearts she +had besotted, whose thoughts she had set in a turmoil, whose family +treasures she had swallowed without compunction. In the theatres, +they had composed an epigram about her:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When Tu Shih-niang comes to a banquet</p> +<p>The guests drink a thousand great cups</p> +<p>Instead of a single small one.</p> +<p>When Tu Mei appears upon the stage</p> +<p>The actresses look like devils.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>It must be said that never, in the young passions of his life, +had Li Chia experienced the pain of beauty; but, when he saw +Shih-niang, emotion was awakened in him, and the feelings of a +flowering willow filled his breast. He himself was gifted with rare +beauty, and a sweet and gentle nature. He spent his money +recklessly, with an unbridled zeal for bestowing gifts. For this +reason he held a double attraction for Shih-niang, who considered +that falsehood and avarice were opposed to rectitude, and had also +by this time made up her mind to return to a life of honor. She +appreciated Li Chia's gentleness and generosity, and was drawn +toward him. But he was afraid of his father and did not dare to +marry her at once, as she wished. Their love was not, on that +account, any the less tender. In the joys of dawn and the pleasures +of twilight they kept together as do husband and wife, and in their +vows they compared their love with the Ocean or with the Mountain, +recognizing no other vital motive. In truth:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Their tenderness was deeper than the sea</p> +<p>For it was past sounding,</p> +<p>Their love was as the mountains</p> +<p>But even higher.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Also, since Chia had been admitted to her favor, rich Lords and +powerful Ministers were no longer permitted to see the girl's +beauty. At first Li used to give large sums of money, so that the +matron to whom Shih-niang belonged, shrugged her shoulders and +smiled. But the days went quickly, and the months too; and a year +had passed. Chia's coffers had gradually become empty; and now his +hand could no longer keep pace with his wishes. But the ancient +ma-ma remained patient.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile the Judge had learned that his son was +frequenting the theatre, and sent him repeated orders to return +home. But Chia, who was infatuated, kept on delaying his departure +until, hearing that his father was truly furious, he no longer +dared to return. It was well said by the ancients: "As long as +harmony endures there is unity; when harmony ceases, there is +separation."</p> +<p>Shih-niang's love was sincere, and her heart only burned the +more for him whose hands were empty. The ma-ma frequently ordered +her to send her lover away; then, seeing that the young girl was +indifferent to her commands, she tried to exasperate Chia with +stinging words, hoping thus to compel him to depart. But her +visitor's nature was so gentle that his anger could not be +provoked, and the only result was to make him more amiable in his +behavior to the old woman, who in her impotence ended in +reproaching Shih-niang:</p> +<p>"We who keep open doors must eat our visitors three times a day, +and clothe ourselves with them. We lead out the departing guest by +one door, but to receive a fresh one by another. When desire is +excited under our roof, our silver and silks mount up like hills. +But it is more than a year since this Li Chia began troubling your +curtains, and now old patrons and new guests alike have +discontinued their visiting. The spirit Chung-k'uci no longer comes +to our door; nay, not the littlest devil. Therefore I am angry and +humiliated. What will become of us, now that we have no trace of +visitors?"</p> +<p>Shih-niang restrained herself with difficulty under these +reproaches, and answered calmly:</p> +<p>"Young Lord Li did not come here with empty hands. He has paid +us considerable sums of money."</p> +<p>"It was so at one time; but it is now so no longer. Tell him to +give me enough to pay for rice for the two of you.... Indeed, I +have no luck! Most of the girls I buy claim all the silver, and +hardly care whether their clients live or die. But now I have +reared a white tiger who refuses riches, opens wide the door, and +makes my old body bear the total burden. O miserable child! You +wish to keep the poor for nothing. Where will you find clothes and +food? Tell your beggar to be wise enough to give me a few ounces of +silver. If you will not send him away, I shall sell you and look +for another slave. That would be better for both of us."</p> +<p>"Do you mean what you say?" asked the girl.</p> +<p>"But you know that Li Chia has neither money nor clothes, and +cannot procure any."</p> +<p>"I am not jesting," answered the old woman.</p> +<p>"Then how much must he give to take me away?"</p> +<p>"If any one else were in question, I should demand several +thousand ounces. Alas! This beggar cannot pay them! So I shall be +satisfied with three hundred ounces, with which to buy another +'tinted face.' If he brings them within three days, I will take the +silver with my left hand and give the girl with my right. But after +three days, it matters not at all to me that three times seven are +twenty-one; Lord or no Lord, I shall beat out this young spark with +my broom, and you must bear no grudge for it."</p> +<p>"In spite of all, he should be able to borrow three hundred +ounces. But three days is too little; he will need ten."</p> +<p>"Ten days!" cried the other. "A hundred would be more like! Yet +so be it. I will wait ten days."</p> +<p>"If he cannot get the money, he will not have the face to +return. My only fear is that you will go back on your promise, if +he does bring the three hundred ounces."</p> +<p>"I am nearly fifty-one years old," answered the ma-ma. "Ten +times I have offered the great sacrifices. How should I dare not to +keep my word? If you mistrust me, let us strike the palms of our +hands together to fix the agreement. Nay, if I break my word, may I +be changed into a pig or dog!"</p> +<p>That same evening, by the pillow-side, Shih-niang explained how +her body might be re-bought, and Li Qua said:</p> +<p>"That would delight me, but how can I pay so much? My purse is +as empty as if it had been washed."</p> +<p>"Your slave has arranged all with the ma-ma. She requires three +hundred ounces within ten days. Even if you have spent all that +your family gave you for your journey, you have still some friends +or relations from whom you can borrow. Then you will have me +entirely to yourself, and I shall never again have to endure that +woman's anger."</p> +<p>"Since I became obsessed by our love, my friends and relations +have ceased to recognize me. But perhaps, if I asked them to help +me to pay for my journey I might make up the sum."</p> +<p>In the morning, when he had arranged his hair and, clothed +himself, and was about to leave Shih-niang, she said to him:</p> +<p>"Do your uttermost, and come back to me with good news."</p> +<p>He went to all his relations and friends, pretending that he was +taking leave of them before his departure. They all congratulated +him; but when he spoke of the expenses of the journey and asked for +a loan, all, without exception, told him that they could do +nothing. His friends knew the weakness of his character, and that +he was besotted with love for some "Flower-in-the-Mist" or other. +He had remained in Peking, up to that time, they knew, not daring +to face his father's anger. Was this departure genuine, now, or but +pretended? If he spent the borrowed money on "tinted faces," would +not his father bear a grudge against those who lent it? The most he +could get together was from ten to twenty ounces.</p> +<p>Ashamed of his failure after a full three days of endeavor, he +did not dare to return to Shih-niang; yet, since he used to spend +every night with his mistress, he had no other lodging. After the +first evening, therefore, he went and asked shelter from his +fellow-countryman, the very learned Liu Yu-ch'un. This man, seeing +the growing sadness of the young man, at last ventured to question +him and learned his story and of his plan of marriage. Liu shook +his head: "That is hardly possible. She is the most famous of all +the singing girls. Who would be content with three hundred ounces +for such a beauty? The old woman has conceived this method of +sending you away, and Shih-niang, knowing that your hands are +empty, asks you for this sum because she does not dare to tell you +to leave her. If you offered the silver, she would laugh at you. It +is a common trick. Do not trouble yourself further, but resign +yourself to the breaking off of your relations with the girl."</p> +<p>Li Chia was speechless for a long time, shaken by his doubts, +and Liu added:</p> +<p>"Make no mistake about it. If you show that you really mean to +take your departure, many will help you. But as for your plan, you +would need not ten days, but ten months to find three hundred +ounces."</p> +<p>"Good Elder-Brother," answered Li, "your judgment is indeed +profound."</p> +<p>But none the less he continued his vain search for three further +days.</p> +<p>Shih-niang was most anxious when she did not see her lover come +back to her. She sent a little servant to look for him, and the +child met Li by chance, and said:</p> +<p>"Lord, our Elder-Sister awaits you at the house."</p> +<p>In his shame, Li answered:</p> +<p>"I have no time to-day. To-morrow I will come to see her."</p> +<p>But the boy had been commanded to bring him back, and to die +sooner than lose him, so he replied:</p> +<p>"It is the absolute wish of the Elder-Sister that you come with +me."</p> +<p>Li could not refuse, and followed the messenger.</p> +<p>Once in Shih-niang's presence he stood still, sobbing mo-mo, +mo-mo, without a word.</p> +<p>"How is our plan going?" she asked.</p> +<p>He only answered with a flood of tears; so she insisted:</p> +<p>"Can people have been so hard as to refuse three hundred +ounces?"</p> +<p>Stifling his sobs, he answered with this verse:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>It is easier to catch a tiger in the mountains</p> +<p>Than to move the world with speech alone.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>"I have gone about for these six days, and my hands are empty. +Shame has kept me away from my perfumed companion, and it is only +at her command that I have come back. I have tried my hardest. +Alas! such is the spirit of the century."</p> +<p>"We will say nothing to the ma-ma. Let my Lord stay here for the +night: his slave will propose another plan to him."</p> +<p>She served him with a meal and wine, and made him lie down. Then +in the middle of the night she asked:</p> +<p>"If you cannot find three hundred ounces to free me, what are we +to do?"</p> +<p>He wept without answering. Shih-niang waited until the fifth +watch; then she drew from under her mattress a bag containing a +hundred and fifty ounces in small silver, and said:</p> +<p>"This is my secret reserve. Since you cannot find the whole sum, +I will give you half of it. That should help you; but we have only +four days more. Above all, do not come too late!"</p> +<p>Astonished and overjoyed, he carried away the bag and went back +to Liu, telling him what had happened and showing him the money. +Liu exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Surely this woman has a loyal heart! Since she acts so, she +must not be allowed to suffer. I am going to act as mediator in +your marriage."</p> +<p>Leaving Li in his house, he went himself to ask for loans on all +sides. In two days he had amassed a hundred and fifty ounces. He +gave them to the young man, saying:</p> +<p>"I have stood guarantor for you, for I am deeply touched by +Shih-niang's sentiment."</p> +<p>Li took the silver, as delighted as if the money had fallen from +the sky, and ran to see his mistress. It was the ninth day. She +asked him: "Has it been very difficult? Have you found the hundred +and fifty ounces?"</p> +<p>He then told her what Liu had done; and both, rejoicing, spent a +night of pleasure. Next day she said to him:</p> +<p>"When this money is paid, I must follow my Lord. But we have +made no preparation for the boats and conveyances of our journey. I +have borrowed twenty ounces from my friends. My Lord may take them +for travelling expenses."</p> +<p>In his uneasiness concerning these expenses, he had not dared to +speak of them. He took the money, and was full of joy.</p> +<p>At that moment there was a knock on the door, and the old woman +entered, saying:</p> +<p>"This is the tenth day."</p> +<p>"I thank the ma-ma for recalling the fact to us," he answered. +"I was on the point of paying her a visit."</p> +<p>And, taking up the bag, he poured the three hundred ounces on to +the table. The old woman had not supposed he could succeed.</p> +<p>She changed color, and seemed on the point of gainsaying her +word. So Shih-niang said; "I have stayed in your house for a long +time, and have brought in several thousands of ounces. To-day I am +marrying. If you do not keep your word, I shall commit suicide +before you, and you will lose the money and the girl."</p> +<p>The old woman could find no words to express her feeling. She +took the money in silence, and finally muttered:</p> +<p>"If you mean to go away, you go now. But you shall take none of +your clothes or jewels with you."</p> +<p>Hustling the two young people along, she led them through the +door and shot the bolt.</p> +<p>It was then the ninth moon, and the weather was cold. Shih-niang +had but just risen from bed, and was not dressed; nor was her hair +done. Yet she saluted the ma-ma with two genuflexions. La Chia +shook his two hands joined together. Thus the married pair left +that not too pleasant old woman:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Even as a carp escapes the metal hook,</p> +<p>Flirts its tail and shakes its head</p> +<p>And returns not.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In front of the door La Chia said to his mistress:</p> +<p>"Wait a moment! I will call a little palankeen to take you to +the house of Liu."</p> +<p>She answered:</p> +<p>"In this very court are my friends, my sisters, who have always +been in sympathy with me.</p> +<p>"I must take leave of them; and I cannot neglect to thank them +for the money they have lent me."</p> +<p>Accompanied by her Lord, she went to each pavilion to greet her +friends. Now, one of them, Yuch-lang, was a very close friend of +Shih-niang, so, seeing that she had not done her hair, she led her +to her own toilet-table, and ran to call another friend, Hsu Su-Su. +Then she took from her coffers many ornaments of king-fisher +leather and bracelets and jasper pins, even embroidered robes and +girdles ornamented with phoenix. She gave them to Shih-niang, +over-coming her with gratitude.</p> +<p>She also ordered a feast of congratulation, to which all their +friends were invited, and finally, at the end of day, offered the +pair a bed for the night.</p> +<p>When she was alone with Li Chia, Shih-niang asked:</p> +<p>"Where shall we go when we have left the capital? Has my Lord +made a decision on this point?"</p> +<p>"My father," he answered, "is still angry with me. If, in +addition, he learns that I have married my Little-Sister, and that +I am coming back with her, he will doubtless be carried quite away +by rage. I have not found a satisfactory plan."</p> +<p>"Your father has feelings from Heaven. He could not break +completely with you. Would it not be better for us to go to him, +and to keep to our boat while you pray your friends to go and ask +for a harmonious reconciliation? After that, leading your slave, +you may re-enter your dwelling in peace."</p> +<p>"That is an excellent plan," he answered.</p> +<p>Next day they thanked Yuch-lang again, and went to the house of +Liu. On seeing the learned man, Shih-niang knelt down to express +her gratitude to him, saying:</p> +<p>"Later we may both know how to return your kindness."</p> +<p>Liu hastened to answer, according to the polite formality:</p> +<p>"Your admirable sentiment far exceeds my most poor action. You +are a heroine among women. Why, then, do you hang such words to +your/teeth?"</p> +<p>All day the three of them drank wine of joy. Then the pair chose +a suitable day for their journey, and obtained horses and +palankeens. When the time for their departure drew near, Yuch-lang, +Hsu-Su, and all those friends came to bear the couple company. +Yuch-lang sent her servants to bring a metal casket, furnished with +a golden lock, and gave it to Shih-niang, who placed it in her +palankeen without opening it.</p> +<p>The porters and servants urged the travelers forward, and they +started. Liu and the beautiful women escorted them as far as the +other side of the Ch'ung-wen gate, and there they drank a last cup +together. They separated with tears.</p> +<p>When they reached the river Lu, Li Chia and Shih-niang abandoned +the land way and hired a cabin in a large junk which was going to +Kua-chow. After he had paid their passage in advance, there was +only a single piece of bronze left in Li Chia's bag; the twenty +ounces which Shih-niang had given him had vanished as if they had +never been. The young man had not been able to avoid giving certain +presents, and he had also bought blankets and other necessities for +the journey. Sadly he asked himself what to be done, but she said +to him:</p> +<p>"My Lord may cease to disturb himself. Our friends have given +yet more help."</p> +<p>She opened her metal casket, while he looked on in shame. She +took out a red silk bag and put it on the table, bidding him open +it. He found the bag heavy; for, in fact, it contained fifty ounces +of silver. Shih-niang had already shut the casket again, without +saying what further was in it, now she said smilingly:</p> +<p>"Have not our sisters the most desirable instinct? They did not +wish us to have any difficulty on our journey, and in this way they +enable us to cross mountains and rivers."</p> +<p>Li Chia exclaimed in his delight and surprise:</p> +<p>"If I had not met such generosity, I should have had no choice +but to wander, and at last to die without burial. Even when my hair +turns white, I shall not forget such virtue and such +friendship."</p> +<p>And he shed tears of emotion, until Shih-niang consoled him by, +diverting his thoughts.</p> +<p>Some days later they reached Kua-chow, where the big junk +stopped. But Li Chia was now able to hire a smaller vessel for +themselves alone, and in this he stowed their baggage. On the +morrow they were to travel across the great river.</p> +<hr class="short"> +<p>It was then the second quarter of the second month of winter. +The moon shone like water. The pair were sitting on the deck of the +junk, and the boy said:</p> +<p>"Since we left the capital we have not been able to talk freely, +because we were in a cabin and our neighbors could hear us. Now we +are alone on our own junk. Also, we have left the cold of the North +and will to-morrow be on the south side of the river. Is it not a +fitting time to drink and rejoice, so as to forget our former +sorrows? You to whom I owe so much, what do you say?"</p> +<p>"It is now long since your slave was deprived of little +pleasantries and laughters, and she had the same sentiment as +yourself. Your words prove that we have but one soul."</p> +<p>They brought wine on deck; and, seated on a carpet beside his +mistress, he offered her cups.</p> +<p>So they drank joyously, until they were a little drunk; and at +length he said:</p> +<p>"O my benefactress, your voice of marvel used to trouble the six +theatres. Every time I heard you then, my spirit took wing from me. +It is long since you have overcome me in that way. The moon is +bright over the shimmering river. The night is deep and solitary. +Will you not consent to favor me with a song?"</p> +<p>For a little, Shih-niang refused. Then she looked at the moon, +and a song escaped her. It was an affecting melody, taken from one +of the pieces of the Yuan dynasty, called "The Light Rose of the +Peaches." In truth:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Her voice took flight to the Milky Way,</p> +<p>And the clouds stopped to listen.</p> +<p>Its echo fell into the deep water and the fishes hastened.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Shih-niang sang. And in a near-by junk there was a young man +called Sun; his first name was Fu, Rich, and his surname was +Shan-lai, Excellent-in-Promise. His family was one of the +wealthiest in Hsin-an of Hui-chow; his ancestors had owned the salt +monopoly in Yang-chow. He was just twenty years old, and had +moulded his character in accordance with his passion, being a +regular visitor at the blue pavilions, where the smiles of painted +roses are to be bought. He was making a journey, and had cast +anchor for the night at Kua-chow. He was drinking in solitude, +bemoaning the absence of companions.</p> +<p>Suddenly in the night he heard a voice more sweet than the sighs +of the bird of passion, or than the warbling phoenix. No words +seemed adequate, he felt, to describe the beauty of this song. +Walking out from his cabin, he found that the music came from a +junk not very far distant from his own.</p> +<p>In his eagerness to know who had enchanted him, he told his men +to go and question the boatmen. But he learned no more than that +the junk had been hired by Li Chia. He obtained no information +concerning the singer. He reflected:</p> +<p>"Such a perfect voice could not belong to a woman of good +family. How can I manage to see this bird?"</p> +<p>He could not sleep that night. In the morning, at about the +fifth watch, he heard the wind roaring on the water. The light of +day was strangely veiled by cloud, and flakes of snow were whirling +madly. It has been said;</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>The clouds are swallowing</p> +<p>Countless thousands of trees upon the hill.</p> +<p>Footprints disappear on many footpaths.</p> +<p>The fisher in the bamboo hat</p> +<p>On the frail boat</p> +<p>Catches only snow and the frozen river.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>This snowstorm rendered it impossible to cross the river, and +the boats could not be set in motion. Sun, therefore, told his +rowers to leave his moorings and to make fast alongside Li Chia's +junk. Then, in a sable bonnet and wrapped in his fox-skin robe, he +opened his cabin window, pretending to look at the white snow as it +fell. Shih-niang had just arranged her hair, and, with her tapering +fingers, was pushing back the short curtains to throw out the dregs +of tea in the bottom of her cup. The freshened splendor of her +rouge shone softly.</p> +<p>Sun saw that celestial beauty, that incantation; he scented that +perfume; and his soul boiled over. For a long moment he gazed, and +his spirit was as if submerged. But he recovered himself and, +leaning out of the window, recited, nearly at full voice, the poem +of the "Blossom of the Plum Tree":</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Snow covers the mountain where the Sage abides,</p> +<p>Under the trees in the moonlight</p> +<p>Beauty advances.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>Li Chia heard the poem and came out of his cabin, curious to see +who was reciting it. In this way he fell into the trap set by Sun, +who hastened to salute him, asking:</p> +<p>"Old-Elder-Brother, what is your honorable name? And what is +your first name which one does not presume to repeat?"</p> +<p>Having answered in accordance with the convention, Li Chia had +to question Sun in his turn. They exchanged such words as are +customary between educated men. Finally the libertine said:</p> +<p>"This snowstorm was sent by Heaven to effect our meeting. It is +a large piece of fortune for your little brother. I was lonely and +without diversion in my cabin. Would it not be my venerable +brother's pleasure that we should go to a riverside pavilion and +divert ourselves by drinking wine?"</p> +<p>Li Chia answered:</p> +<p>"The water-chestnuts meet at the caprice of the current. How +should I not be glad of this offer?"</p> +<p>"Between the four seas all men are brothers."</p> +<p>Then Sun ordered his servant to come with him, sheltering Li +Chia under a large parasol. The two men saluted each other again, +landed on the bank and, after walking a little distance, found a +wine pavilion.</p> +<p>Having entered, they chose seats by the window and sat down. The +attendant brought them hot wine, Sun raised his cup to give the +signal, and soon the two were conversing freely and had become +friends. At length Sun leaned forward and said in a low voice:</p> +<p>"Last night a song arose from your honorable ship. Whose was +that voice?"</p> +<p>Wishing to pose as a man of leisure making a journey, Li Chia at +once told the truth:</p> +<p>"It was Tu Shih-niang, the famous singing girl of Peking."</p> +<p>"How comes a singing girl to belong to my brother?"</p> +<p>Li Chia then ingeniously told his story, and the other said:</p> +<p>"To marry such a beauty is exceptional good fortune. But will +your honorable father be satisfied?"</p> +<p>Li sighed and answered:</p> +<p>"There is no lack of anxiety in my humble house. My father is of +a very stern disposition, and as yet knows nothing."</p> +<p>Sun, developing his hidden traps, continued:</p> +<p>"If your honorable father is not placable, where will my +Elder-Brother shelter the Beauty whom he has carried away? Have you +come to some arrangement with her on this point?"</p> +<p>With heavy brows, La answered:</p> +<p>"My little wife and I have already discussed the matter."</p> +<p>"Your Honorable Favor has doubtless some admirable plan?"</p> +<p>"Her ideas," explained La, "is to remain for the time at a place +in the country of Su and Hang, whilst I go forward to my family and +ask my friends and relations to appease my father."</p> +<p>The other gave a deep sigh and assumed a saddened air:</p> +<p>"Our friendship is not yet deep enough. I fear that you may +consider my words both strange and too outspoken."</p> +<p>"When I have the good fortune to receive your learned and +enlightening counsel, how could I fail to respect it?"</p> +<p>"Your honorable and noble father, being of stern character, is +certainly still angry at your conduct in Peking. And now my +Elder-Brother marries in the face of convention. How could your +prudent relatives and valuable friends fail to share the views of +your honorable father? When you rashly ask them to act on your +behalf, they will certainly refuse. Then will not the temporary +residence of your Honorable Favor become a permanent one? In your +position, it will be as difficult to advance as to retire."</p> +<p>Li Chia knew that he had only fifty ounces in his purse, and +that half this sum would very soon have vanished. He could not help +hanging his head. His companion added:</p> +<p>"I have yet another thing to say, and it comes from my heart. +Will you hear it?"</p> +<p>"Having already received your sympathetic advice, I shall be +most happy to listen."</p> +<p>"Since earliest time," said Sun, "the hearts of women have been +as changeable as the waves of the sea. And among the +Flowers-in-the-Mist especially there are few who are found +faithful. Since the present case concerns a famous singing girl, +who knows the whole earth, it is probable that she has some former +associate in the regions of the South. She has consequently availed +herself of your help to conduct her to the land where this other +lives."</p> +<p>"I beg to say that that is not certain," protested Li.</p> +<p>"Even if it is not, the men of the South are very adroit and +very active. You leave a beautiful woman to live there all alone: +can you guarantee that none will climb her wall or penetrate her +dwelling? After all, the relations between father and son are from +Heaven and cannot be destroyed. If you abandon your family for the +sake of a singing girl, you will wander until you become one of +those incorrect Floating-on-the-Wave individuals. A woman is not +Heaven. You must ponder this matter seriously."</p> +<p>Hearing this, Li Chia felt as if he were swept away by a +torrent. At last he answered: "What, in your enlightened opinion, +ought I to do?"</p> +<p>"Your servant has a plan which should be very profitable to you. +But I fear lest, weakened by die soft pillow of your love, you will +not be able to put it into execution, and that my words will +therefore be wasted."</p> +<p>"If you have a really good suggestion, I shall be forever your +debtor. Why do you fear to speak?"</p> +<p>"My Elder-Brother, for more than a year you have +Fluttered-in-the-Rain, obsessed by your brothel. You have not been +able to give your mind to the difficulties which will assail you +when you no longer know where to sleep or to eat. Your father's +anger is only due to your having become infatuated with Flowers, +besotted by Willows, until you poured out gold as if it were simple +sand. He tells himself that you will quickly consume the abundant +wealth of your family, and not be assured of having children. By +returning empty-handed you will justify his anger. If, O my +Elder-Brother, you could cut the knot which binds you to your love, +I would willingly make you a gift of a thousand ounces. With a +thousand ounces of silver to show your father, you could say that, +during your stay at the capital, you had rarely left your study +chamber and that you had never Skimmed the Waves. He will have +confidence in you, and the harmony of the house will be restored. +Thus, without idle words, you change your sorrow to joy. Give the +matter three thoughts. I do not covet the Beauty! I speak with no +idea but of loyally helping a friend."</p> +<p>La Chia was a man of naturally weak character; moreover, he was +afraid of his father. Sun's fine words troubled his heart. He rose, +made a deep bow, and said:</p> +<p>"O Brother! Your noble counsel has cleared away the foolish and +tangled obstruction of my understanding. But my little favorite has +accompanied me for some thousands of li, and it would not be just +for me to leave her in this way. I will return to deliberate with +her, and to discover whether her mind is favorable to your project. +I shall inform you shortly."</p> +<p>"In our conversation," answered Sun, "we have abandoned the +paths of strict politeness.</p> +<p>"That was because my loyal heart could not endure to see the +separation of a father and son, and wished to help you to return to +your family."</p> +<p>They both drank another cup of wine. The wind had dropped, and +the snow had ceased to fall. The color of the sky proclaimed the +evening. Sun caused his servant to pay for the drinks, and, taking +Li Chia by the hand, accompanied him as far as the junk. It is very +true that:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>You meet a stranger and say three words</p> +<p>And tear off a piece of your heart.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In the morning Shih-niang, on being left alone in her cabin, had +prepared a little feast for her friend, wishing to spend the day +with him in happiness; but the sun had set before Chia came back. +She had lanterns lit to guide him and, when he at last appeared and +entered the cabin, raised her eyes to his face and found the color +of displeasure. She poured out a cup of hot wine and offered it to +him; but he shook his head without a word, and refused to drink. +Then he went and threw himself on the bed. Sad at heart, Shih-niang +put the cups and dishes in order. She then undid her husband's +clothes and, leaning on the pillow, gently asked him:</p> +<p>"What news have you heard that has so upset you?"</p> +<p>Li Chia sighed, but without answering. She questioned him again +three or four times, but he was already asleep. Unable to be +indifferent to such lack of regard, she remained for a long time +sitting on the edge of the bed, incapable of sleep.</p> +<p>In the middle of the night he awoke and gave another deep sigh; +and she said to him:</p> +<p>"What is this difficult matter with which my Lord is troubled? +What are these sighings?"</p> +<p>Li Chia threw off the blanket and seemed about to speak, but the +words would not come from him. His lips trembled like leaves, and +finally he burst out sobbing. She clasped his head with one arm and +held it against her breast, trying to comfort him, and saying +tenderly:</p> +<p>"The love which unites us has lasted for many days, for very +nearly two years. We have overcome a thousand hardships and bitter +moments, but now we are far beyond all difficulty. Why do you show +such grief to-day, when we are about to cross the river and to +taste the joy of a hundred years? There must surely be a reason. +All things are shared in common between husband and wife, in life +and after death. If anything is the matter, we must discuss it Why +do you hide your sorrow from me?"</p> +<p>Thus urged, the young man mastered his tears and said:</p> +<p>"I am crushed beneath the woe which Heaven heaps upon me. In the +generosity of your soul, you have not cast me by. You have endured +a thousand wrongs for me. That is no merit of mine. But I still +think of my father, whose commands I am defying and that against +every convention and all laws. He is of inflexible character, and I +fear that his wrath will grow double at the sight of me. Where, +then, shall we two, floating with the current, come to our +anchorage? How shall I ensure our happiness, when my father has +broken with me? To-day my friend Sun invited me to drink and spoke +to me of my prospects, and what he said has pierced my heart."</p> +<p>"What is my Lord's intention?" she asked in great surprise.</p> +<p>"I was turning madly in the web of our affairs, when my friend +Sun sketched out an excellent plan to me. But I fear that my +benefactress will refuse to allow it."</p> +<p>"Who is this friend, Sun? If his plan is good, why should I not +agree to it?"</p> +<p>"His first name is Fu, and his family had the salt monopoly at +Hsin-an. He is a man who has Drifted-in-the-Wind and knows life. +Last night he was charmed by your pure song. I told him where we +came from, and confided the difficulties which beset our return. +Then, under the impulsion of a generous thought, he offered to give +me a thousand ounces if you will marry him. With these thousand +ounces as testimony I shall be able to speak to my father. Also I +shall know that you are not without shelter. But I cannot contain +my feeling, and that is why I mourn."</p> +<p>And his tears fell like a storm of rain. Ceasing to hold his +head against her breast, Shih-niang gently pushed him aside. At +last she smiled like ice and said to him:</p> +<p>"This person must be a hero, a man of courage and virtue, to +have conceived a project so advantageous to my Lord. Not only will +my Lord have a thousand ounces to take back with him, not only will +your slave gain shelter, but your baggage will be lighter also and +more easily handled. As a plan it satisfies both convention and +convenience. Where are the thousand ounces?"</p> +<p>Struggling with his tears, Li Chia replied:</p> +<p>"I have not got your consent, so the silver was not given +me."</p> +<p>"You must demand it first thing to-morrow morning. A thousand +ounces is a considerable sum, and it must all be paid into your +hand before I enter his cabin. For I am not merchandise which may +be bought on credit."</p> +<p>It was then the fourth watch of the night.</p> +<p>Shih-niang prepared her toilet-table, saying: "To-day I must +adorn myself to bid farewell to my former protector and to do honor +to my new one. It is no commonplace event. I must therefore take +great pains with paint and perfume, and put on my best jewels and +embroidered robes."</p> +<p>Thereafter, with perfume and paint and jewelry, she added to the +splendor of her petalled seduction. The sun had already risen +before she completed her preparations.</p> +<p>Li Chia was disturbed, and yet seemed almost happy. Shih-niang +urged him to insist upon the payment of the money, and he at once +carried her answer to the other junk. Then Sun said:</p> +<p>"It is easy for me to give the money; but I ought to have the +fair one's jewelry as a proof of her consent."</p> +<p>Li Chia told this to Shih-niang, who pointed to the casket with +the golden lock, and caused it to be taken to Sun, who joyfully +counted out a thousand ounces of silver and sent them to Li's ship. +The young woman herself verified the weight and standard of the +metal; and then, leaning over the bulwarks, half opened her scarlet +lips and showed her white teeth saying to the dazzled Sun:</p> +<p>"You can now, I think, give me back my casket for a time. The +Lord Li's passports are in it, and I must return them to him."</p> +<p>The other at once ordered the little chest to be brought back +and placed on the bridge. Shih-niang opened it Inside there were +several compartments, and she asked Li Chia to help her lift out +each in turn.</p> +<p>In the first there were jewels in the shape of king-fisher +feathers, jasper pins, and precious earrings, to the value of many +hundred ounces. Shih-niang took up these things in handfuls and +threw them into the river. Li, Sun and the boatmen uttered +exclamations of dismay.</p> +<p>In the second compartment were a jade flute and a golden +flageolet. In a third were antique jewels, gold furnishings and a +hundred ornaments worth thousands of ounces each. She threw them +all into the river. The stricken onlookers gave voice to their +regret.</p> +<p>Finally she drew out a box filled with pearls and rubies and +emeralds and cats' eyes, whose number and value were beyond +computation. The cries of the wondering bystanders beat in the air +like thunder. She wanted to throw all these into the river also; +but Li Chia held her in his arms, while Sun vehemently encouraged +him.</p> +<p>So, pushing Li away, she turned to the other and reviled +him:</p> +<p>"The Lord Li and I suffered many bitter moments before we came +to yesterday. And you, to serve a detestable and criminal lust, +have undone us and have caused me to hate the man I loved. After my +death I meet the Spirit of Retribution, and I shall not forget your +vile hypocrisy."</p> +<p>Then, turning toward Li Chia, she continued:</p> +<p>"During those many years when I lived in a disorder of the dust +and breeze, I secretly amassed these treasures, that they might +some day rescue my body. When I met my Lord, we vowed that our +union should be higher than the mountain, deeper than the sea. We +swore that, even when our hair was white, we should have our love. +Before leaving the capital, I pretended to receive this casket as a +gift from my friends. It contained a treasure of more than a myriad +ounces. I intended to deposit it in your treasury, when I had seen +your father and mother. Who would have thought your faith so +shallow, that, on the strength of a chance conversation, you would +consent to lose my loyal heart? To-day, before the eyes of all +these people, I have shown you that your thousand ounces were a +very little sum of money. These persons are my witness that it is +my Lord who rejects his wife, that it is not I who am wanting in my +duty."</p> +<p>Hearing these sad words, those who were present wept, and called +down curses upon Li, and reviled him as an ingrate. And he, being +both ashamed and desolate, shed tears of bitter repentance. He +knelt down to beg for her forgiveness. But Shih-niang, holding the +jewels in each hand, leaped into the yellow water of the river.</p> +<p>The onlookers uttered a cry and rushed to save her. But, under a +sombre cloud, the waves in the heart of the river broke into +boiling foam, and no further trace was seen of that desperate +woman.</p> +<p>Alas! she was an illustrious singing girl, as beautiful as +flowers or jade. She had been swallowed in an instant by the +water.</p> +<p>The people, grinding their teeth, would have beaten Li and Sun; +but these, in terror and dismay, made haste to push their boats out +from the bank, and then went each his own way.</p> +<p>Li Chia, seeing the thousand ounces of silver in his cabin, +unceasingly wept for the death of Shih-niang. His remorse gave +birth to a kind of madness in him, of which he could never be +healed.</p> +<p>Sun was so prostrated that he had to keep his bed. He thought he +saw Shih-niang standing in front of him all day and every day. It +was not long before he expiated his crime in death.</p> +<p>We must now tell how Liu, having left the capital to return to +his own village, also halted at Kua-chow. Leaning over the river to +take up some water in a bronze basin, he let the thing slip, and +therefore begged certain fishermen to drag their net for it.</p> +<p>When they drew up, there was a little box in the net. Liu opened +it, and it was full of pearls and precious stones. He rewarded the +fishermen generously, and placed the box near his pillow.</p> +<p>In the night he had a dream. A young woman rose from the +troubled waters of the river, and he recognized Shih-niang. She +drew near, wishing him ten thousand happinesses. Then she recounted +the unworthy ingratitude of Li, and said:</p> +<p>"Of your bounty you gave me a hundred and fifty ounces. I have +not forgotten your generosity, and I put this little box in the +fishermen's net as an offering of recognition."</p> +<p>He awoke and, having learned thus of Shih-niang's death, sighed +for a long time.</p> +<p>Later, those who told me this story declared that Sun, since he +thought he could acquire a beautiful woman for a thousand ounces, +was evidently not a respectable man. Li Chia, they said, had not +understood the sorrowful heart of Shih-niang, and was consequently +stupid, without refinement, and not worthy of mention. Shih-niang +alone was heroic. She was, in fact, unique since furtherest +antiquity. Why could she not meet some charming companion, some +phoenix worthy of her? Why did she make the mistake of loving Li +Chia? An admirable piece of jade was thrown to him who did not +deserve it; so that love turned to hate, and a thousand passionate +impulses were drowned in the deep water. Alas!</p> +<p class="center"><i>Tu Shih-niang nu ch'en pai pao hsiang. (Tu +Shih-<br> +niang, being put to shame drowns herself with<br> +her casket of a hundred treasures.)</i><br> +<i>Chin ku chi'i kuan (17th Century.)</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="WEDDING"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p02.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p02s.png" alt= +"THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI"></a></div> +<p>In the reign of the emperor Shen Tsung there lived an official +named Wu, who was at that time, Governor of Ch'ang-sha. His wife, +Lin, had given him a son named Ya-nei, or "In-the-Palace," who had +that year reached the age of sixteen. He was well endowed, although +not without tendency to wantonness; yet he had from childhood +diligently studied the classics and poetry. He had only one really +extravagant failing; to satisfy his appetite he needed more than +three bushels of rice every day, and over two pounds of meat. We +will say nothing of his drinking. In spite of all this, he ever +seemed half starved.</p> +<p>About the third Moon of that year, Wu was appointed Governor of +Yang-chow, and the equipages and boats of his new post came up to +meet him. He packed his belongings, said good-bye to his friends +and went on board, following the course of the river. On the second +day he had to stop, because of a storm of wind which raised up the +waters of the river in great waves.</p> +<p>At the point on the river bank where the boat lay moored, there +was already another official junk, before the cabin of which stood +a middle-aged matron and a charming girl, surrounded by several +women slaves. Ya-nei perceived the youthful beauty, and thought her +so seductive that he immediately composed the following poem:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Her soul has the tenderness of Autumn rivers</p> +<p>And her pure bones are made of jade.</p> +<p>The rose of the hibiscus lightens her,</p> +<p>Her eyebrows have the curve of willow leaves.</p> +<p>Is she not an Immortal from the Jasper Lake</p> +<p>Or from the Moon Palace?</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>He looked at her so ardently that his troubled soul took flight +and alighted upon the maiden's breast. But his intelligence at once +conceived a plan, and he said to his father:</p> +<p>"Tieh-tieh, why would you not tell the sailors to anchor our +junk by the side of that one? Would it not be safer?"</p> +<p>Wu was also of this opinion and accordingly gave orders to his +men. When the vessel was alongside, he sent to inquire the name of +the voyagers, and was informed that they were a certain Ho Chang, +the new Governor of Kien-K'ang, going to his post with his wife Ho +tsin, and his daughter Elegant, who was just fifteen.</p> +<p>Wu had known the excellent man formerly, so he had his name +carried to him. Then, clothed in his official robes, he stepped +from one ship to the other. His colleague was awaiting him before +his cabin, and, having exchanged formal greetings, they sat and +talked together, drinking a cup of tea. Wu returned to his boat +where, after a few moments, Ho Chang returned his visit. And Ya-nei +was present at the meeting. Ho Chang had no son, and took pleasure +in seeing this beautiful young man. He questioned him upon certain +ancient and modern books, and was satisfied with the ready answers +which he obtained. He praised him unreservedly for them, +thinking:</p> +<p>"This is just the son-in-law that I should like. He would make +an unprecedented match with my daughter. But he is going to live at +Pien-liang, and I will be at Kien-K'ang which is more than fifteen +days' journey to the south of that place."</p> +<p>Wu asked him:</p> +<p>"How many sons have you, O Old-Man-Born-Before-Me?"</p> +<p>"I will not conceal from you the fact that I have only a +daughter."</p> +<p>Wu considered:</p> +<p>"That charming child was his daughter then. She would be an +unprecedented wife for my son. But she is his only child, and he +certainly would not be willing to marry her at any great distance +from himself."</p> +<p>He added aloud:</p> +<p>"But if you have no son, you have only to take concubines."</p> +<p>"I thank you for your suggestion. It had occurred to me."</p> +<p>After having talked for some time, Ho Chang withdrew to his +cabin, where his wife and daughter were awaiting him. Being a +little elated by his cups of wine, he kept speaking of Ya-nei's +merit, and of his intention to invite the father and son for the +next day. His words sank deeply into his daughter's mind.</p> +<p>On the following day the river was still churned by waves, and +the storm sent up spray to a height of more than thirty feet. The +crash of water was heard on all sides.</p> +<p>Early in the morning Ho Chang sent his invitation, and, when the +two men arrived, the feast began. Elegant, in the next cabin, could +see Ya-nei through the cracks in the bulkhead, and her heart was +secretly moved.</p> +<p>"If I could have him for my husband, my desire would be +satisfied. But I shall not persuade him into a proposal by merely +looking at him. How shall I set about making known my thought to +him?"</p> +<p>Ya-nei, for his part, looked in vain for some means of speaking +to his neighbor. When the meal was finished, he returned to his +ship and lay down on his bed.</p> +<p>But Elegant was so much occupied in thinking of the young man +that she could not touch her dinner. Leaving her mother alone, she +retired to rest and was on the point of going to sleep, when the +sound of a song came to her. It was the voice of Ya-nei, +singing:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>A dream has come to me from the Blue Bowl,</p> +<p>But I was not able to speak.</p> +<p>I could not tell her of my delight</p> +<p>Or appoint an endless alliance.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>She rose softly, opened her cabin door without sound and went up +on to the bridge. Ya-nei was standing on the other ship, and +immediately leaped to her side, and boldly took her in his arms. +Between joy and alarm, she did not dare to resist. He drew her into +her cabin and embraced her.</p> +<p>At that moment one of the slaves passed before the cabin and, +seeing the door open, cried out:</p> +<p>"The door is open! O thieves!"</p> +<p>Elegant at once covered her lover with the blanket, but one of +the slaves saw the invader's feet. Ho Chang and his wife snatched +away the blanket.</p> +<p>"How does this wretch dare to dishonor my family?" cried the +Governor in a rage. "Ah, throw him into the river!"</p> +<p>In spite of the prayers of the culprit and the girl two men +seized the former, dragged him away and threw him into the water. +She followed him in despair, crying:</p> +<p>"I have ruined him! I wish to follow!"</p> +<p>And she too threw herself into the water. She woke with a start. +It was only a dream.</p> +<p>Till morning she lay and thought, wondering if this dream were +perhaps an omen that her destiny ought not to be bound up with that +of Ya-nei.</p> +<p>He also had complicated dreams that night. He rose in the +morning and opened the port-hole of his cabin. Ho Chang's ship was +touching his own, and the port-hole opposite to him was open. +Elegant appeared there, and their eyes met. Surprised, delighted +and embarrassed, they smiled, as if they had known each other for a +long time. They would gladly have spoken, but were afraid of being +heard. Then she made a small sign to him, retired quickly into her +cabin, and rapidly wrote some words on a piece of paper ornamented +with sprays of rose peach. She rolled it in a silk handkerchief and +cleverly threw it to Ya-nei, who caught it in both hands. They +saluted each other, and reclosed their port-holes.</p> +<p>He unfolded the handkerchief and smoothed out the crinkled leaf. +It bore this poem:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Brocade characters are on this paper of flowers,</p> +<p>And the bowels of my sorris in this embroidery,</p> +<p>I have dreamed of a prince</p> +<p>And, carried upon a cloud, I come to him.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>But there was also a little word or two added:</p> +<p>"This evening your submissive mistress will await you near the +lamp. The noise of my scissors will be the signal for our +happiness, and of our meeting."</p> +<p>Beyond himself with joy, the lad hastened to take a leaf of +golden paper and wrote out a poem on it. Then he took off his +embroidered silken girdle, rolled it all together, and opened his +port-hole. Elegant had also opened hers; she received the small +packet and at once concealed it in her sleeve, for she heard the +slaves approaching. These were followed by her mother. At last the +time came for her father to cross to the other ship for the return +feast given by Wu.</p> +<p>Full of cunning, the maiden took a vessel brimming with liquor +and gave it to her slaves, who eyed the gift as a thirsty dragon +looks upon water. They were half-drunk when Ho Chang came back from +the feast, and Elegant told them to go to bed, and that she would +do some needle-work. As their faces were red, their ears burning +and their legs unsteady, they were only too glad to retire; and +soon their snores were heard over the ship. Little by little all +other sounds died away in both the junks. Then she gently knocked +on her port-hole with her scissors.</p> +<p>Naturally Ya-nei was waiting for the signal; as soon as he heard +it, his body was as if it had been shaken to pieces. However, he +softly opened his shutter, stepped from one ship to the other, and +glided into the cabin where the maiden awaited him. She gave him +formal greeting, which he returned; but they looked at each other +under the lamp, and their passion already raged like fire. They +could hardly exchange a word, and Ya-nei's trembling hands were +undoing. She offered but very feeble resistance. He ardently +embraced her, and with his arms joined himself to the fresh breast +that lighted him.</p> +<p>At last they were able to speak. She told him of her dream, and +of her astonishment on recognizing, in his poem, the verses which +she had heard him sing in dream. He turned pale and sat down:</p> +<p>"My dream was exactly yours. Before these omens are fulfilled, I +shall speak to my father to arrange our marriage."</p> +<p>But, even as they talked, they silently fell asleep arm in +arm.</p> +<p>Now about the middle of the night, the wind fell and the river +became calmer. At the fifth watch the sailors untied their moorings +and began to haul their anchors, singing at their work. The noise +awakened the lovers, who heard the men say:</p> +<p>"The ship catches the wind rarely. We shall not be long in +getting to Ch'i-Chow."</p> +<p>They looked at each other in dismay:</p> +<p>"What are we going to do now?"</p> +<p>"Hush!" said she. You must remain hidden for the moment. We will +at last find a plan."</p> +<p>"It is our dream come true."</p> +<p>Remembering that the slaves had seen her lover's feet in her +dream, Elegant leaned forward and covered them carefully with an +ample blanket. At last she said:</p> +<p>"I have a plan. During the day you must hide under the couch, +and I shall pretend to be ill, and keep in bed, or in the cabin. +When we reach Ch'i-Chow, I will give you a little money, and you +must escape in the confusion of the disembarkation. You shall +rejoin your parents, and we will arrange for our marriage. If, by +any chance, my parents were to refuse, we should tell the truth. My +family has always loved me excessively; they will certainly +accede."</p> +<p>As soon as they had determined on their course, Ya-nei slid +under the bed, and made himself a place among the baggages. The +curtain fell into place in front of him, and the young girl was +still in bed when her mother came in, saying:</p> +<p>"Aya! Why are you resting like this?"</p> +<p>"I do not feel very well. I must have taken cold."</p> +<p>"Cover yourself well, my daughter, if that be so."</p> +<p>At this moment a slave entered, asking if she should bring +breakfast.</p> +<p>"My child," said her mother, "if you are not well, you would do +better not to take any solid nourishment. I am going to make you an +occasional small rice broth until you are recovered."</p> +<p>"I am not very fond of broth. Give me some rice. Let them bring +it to me here. I shall eat it by and by."</p> +<p>"I will keep you company."</p> +<p>"Aya! If you do not go and look after this rabble of women, they +will do their work most incontestably wrong."</p> +<p>Without understanding, the mother did indeed go to the next +cabin at that moment when the breakfast was brought in. As soon as +she had turned her back, Elegant told the slave to set down the +dish on the table.</p> +<p>"You may go away. I shall call you when I have finished."</p> +<p>Ya-nei was watching, and came out from his hiding. On the dish +there were only two small bowls of vegetables mixed with meat, a +bowl of cooked green-stuff, and a little rice. Naturally, the young +girl was not in the habit of taking large quantities of food; but +for her lover, with his three bushels of rice a day, the matter was +otherwise. After their meal, he again glided under the bed, nearly +as hungry as before. She called the slave, and told her to bring in +two more bowls of rice.</p> +<p>Her mother heard this, and entered, saying:</p> +<p>"My child! You are not well. How is it that you want to eat all +that?"</p> +<p>"The reason is not far to seek," she answered.</p> +<p>"I am hungry, that is all."</p> +<p>And her father, who had come to see the invalid, said:</p> +<p>"Let her be. She is growing, and needs nourishment."</p> +<p>When night came, and the evening meal was finished, she shut the +door and told her lover he could get into the bed again. But the +poor young man was suffering cruelly from hunger.</p> +<p>"Our stratagem," said he, "is admirable. But it is in one +respect also grievous. I cannot conceal from you that my appetite +is considerable. The three meals which I have had to-day seem +scarcely a mouthful. On such a diet, I shall starve before we come +to Ch'i-Chow."</p> +<p>"Why did you not say so? I shall make them bring me more +to-morrow."</p> +<p>"But are you not afraid of rousing suspicion?"</p> +<p>"That is nothing. I shall see to it. But how much would you +need?"</p> +<p>"We shall never be able to obtain quite that. Ten bowls of rice +at each meal would not be enough."</p> +<p>Next day, when her parents came to see her, Elegant +complained.</p> +<p>"I do not know what is the matter with me," she said. "I am +dying of hunger."</p> +<p>But her mother began to laugh:</p> +<p>"That is not a very serious affair. I will have more rice +brought to you."</p> +<p>But when the young girl said that she needed about ten bowls, +the good woman was startled. She again wished to remain near her +daughter.</p> +<p>"If you stay here, mama, I shall not be able to take anything. +Leave me alone, and I shall eat more comfortably."</p> +<p>Everybody indulged her caprice. When the cabin was empty, she +shut the door and Ya-nei came out. Hungry as he was, he made the +ten bowls vanish like a shooting star, and did not leave a single +grain. Elegant watched him with astonishment, and asked him in a +low voice:</p> +<p>"Is that still too little?"</p> +<p>"It will suffice," answered the other, drinking a cup of +tea.</p> +<p>He hastened back to his hiding-place, while the young girl ate +some vegetables. Then she called the slaves, who came running up, +wondering whether she had been able to eat all that food. They +looked at the empty bowls and at their mistress's slim figure, and +murmured as they went away:</p> +<p>"What a terrible illness!"</p> +<p>One of them, in her anxiety, went to the father and showed him +the dish, suggesting that he should call a doctor as soon as +possible. And he, for his part, forbade them to give her so much +another time, fearing that she would burst.</p> +<p>At mid-day he went himself to speak to her.</p> +<p>She began to weep: her mother took her part; and they gave way +to her. The evening meal was just as large.</p> +<p>They were approaching Ch'i-Chow, and Ho Chang, who was really +alarmed, ordered his boatmen to cast anchor near the town. Early in +the morning he sent his steward to find the best doctor, and when +the man arrived, brought him on board and explained the case to +him. They then went to examine the invalid and to try her pulse. +The doctor at length came back with the father into the central +cabin.</p> +<p>"Well? What is the illness?"</p> +<p>The other coughed, and at last said:</p> +<p>"Your daughter is suffering from lack of nourishment."</p> +<p>Her father was staggered:</p> +<p>"But I have told you that she ate thirty bowls of rice +yesterday."</p> +<p>"Yet, but your daughter is still a child. She is apparently +fifteen years old, but that is equivalent to fourteen in reality, +or even to thirteen and some months. Her food accumulates in her +stomach, but is not assimilated. From this cause arises the fever +which burns her stomach and makes her imagine herself to be always +hungry. The more she eats, therefore, the more her stomach burns. +In one month it will be too late to cure her, and she will die of +hunger."</p> +<p>"But how is she to be cured?"</p> +<p>"First, I shall make her digest what she eats. Of course, she +must eat very little indeed."</p> +<p>He wrote his prescription and went away. The servant went to get +the drugs, which were dissolved and boiled according to direction, +and finally presented to the young girl.</p> +<p>She said that she would take them, and as soon as she was alone +threw them out of the port-hole. Thereafter she continued to ask +for ten bowls of rice for every meal.</p> +<p>Every one on the ship was now discussing this extraordinary +case. Some said that they ought to call in sorcerers. Others +thought that religious men would do better, seeing that she had +certainly been possessed by one of those starving spirits which +wander without purpose in punishment for their sins, with a +needle's eye for a mouth, seeking in vain for food.</p> +<p>At the next town, Ho Chang summoned another doctor. After his +examination, mention was made of the former diagnosis, and he burst +out laughing.</p> +<p>"Nothing of the sort. It is an internal consumption."</p> +<p>"But what, then, is the reason for this hunger?"</p> +<p>"The hot and the cold principles are at variance in her, and the +resultant fire gives her continual opsomania. It is easy to +understand."</p> +<p>"But she has no fever."</p> +<p>"Outside she is cool, but she burns within. The malady is inside +the bones; and that is why it is not visible. If she had continued +to take the drugs which you have been giving her, it would have +been difficult to save her. I shall give her something to soothe +her bowels. She will then, of her own accord, refuse all food."</p> +<p>It need not be said that it was the same in this case as in the +other. All the medicines went down the river.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the two lovers continued to profit by the silence of +the night. Naturally, the young girl was at first, so to speak, +passive in the arms of the young man, who was himself bashful. But +little by little, penetrating further into the domain of pleasure, +their amorous intelligence redoubled with their rapture, and they +forgot entirely where they were.</p> +<p>One night a slave woke up, and heard a "tsi-tsi-nung-nung" and a +"tsia-tsia" coming from within, and then quick breathing. Inwardly +surprised, she next day told her mistress, and the mother, seeing +that her daughter was always of a brilliantly healthy complexion, +began to think this unknown malady a very strange one. She did not +inform her husband, however, but ran herself to see her daughter. +The child's face seemed to her to be more beautiful and animated +even than usual. She went out, without seeing anything which might +confirm her suspicion, and, coming back again after breakfast, +began gently to question her daughter on her ideas of marriage.</p> +<p>As they were talking, there suddenly came a snore from under the +bed. Ya-nei, after his efforts in the night and his morning meal, +had gone to sleep in his hiding-place.</p> +<p>Elegant's mother at once shut the door and, quickly stooping to +look under the bed, saw the young man asleep.</p> +<p>"Alas, how could you do this thing? And then frighten us with +your illness? Now everybody will know of it. Where does he come +from? May Heaven strike him dead!"</p> +<p>Elegant's face was purple with shame.</p> +<p>"It is all your child's fault. He is the son of the Lord +Wu."</p> +<p>"Ya-nei? But you have never seen him! Besides, he was at the +dinner with your father, and we came away at midnight. How can he +be here?"</p> +<p>Trusting in her mother's indulgence, the young girl confessed +everything, and added:</p> +<p>"Your unworthy daughter has dishonored our name and lost her +innocence. My crime is unpardonable. But it was the will of Heaven. +There had to be that storm to make us meet, and then destiny +prevented our betrothal. Our strength was too small for the +struggle, and we have sworn to love each other until death. I +implore you to speak to my father and appease him; for if he makes +an uproar; there is nothing left for me but to die."</p> +<p>Her tears fell like rain. And, while they were talking, Ya-nei's +snores sounded like thunder.</p> +<p>"At least make him keep quiet," cried the mother in a fury. "We +can no longer hear ourselves speak."</p> +<p>And she went out, slamming the door, while Elegant hastened to +awaken the sleeper.</p> +<p>"Really you might snore less loudly!" she said with impatience. +"All is discovered now."</p> +<p>When he heard this, Ya-nei's body was frozen with terror as if +he had received a drenching in cold water. His teeth chattered.</p> +<p>"Do not be afraid. I have asked my mother to speak for us. If my +father is angry, there will be time enough for us to die then."</p> +<p>The woman meanwhile had hurried to her husband, but there was a +slave with him, putting the cabin in order. So she waited, and the +tears rolled from her eyes. Ho Chang thought she was anxious about +her daughter's health, and reassured her:</p> +<p>"She will be better in a few days. The doctor said so. Do not +disturb yourself."</p> +<p>But she sneered at him:</p> +<p>"You have been listening to the flower words of old Wise-Wand. +Better in a few days! She would have to be ill first!"</p> +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> +<p>Since the servant was no longer there, she told him in a low +voice what she had seen and heard. Ho Chang's anger was such that +his sight was troubled. She begged him to calm himself.</p> +<p>"Enough! Enough!" he thundered. "This worthless daughter fouls +the very air upon our threshold. We must kill them both in the +night, so that none may know."</p> +<p>The woman's face became as the earth.</p> +<p>"We have already reached a ripe age, and this is the only flesh +and bone we have. If you kill her, what will be left to us? As for +Ya-nei, he is of a good family, he is intelligent, and well-built. +Our stations are identical and our houses equal. His only fault is +that he did not make a proposal, but rather forced everything in +secret. Yet so the matter is. Would it not be better to send him +back with a letter to Wu, requiring gifts of betrothal? We would +lose all by making a scandal."</p> +<p>Ho Chang's rage was already half spent, and he now let himself +be persuaded by degrees. He went out and asked the boatmen where +they were.</p> +<p>"We are approaching Wu-ch'ang."</p> +<p>"You will anchor there."</p> +<p>He then called his confidential steward and, explaining all to +him, gave him a letter. After this he went to see his daughter, who +hid herself under the blanket when she beheld him. He spoke no word +to her; but in a stern tone called out Ya-nei, who crept from his +hiding-place, saluted the older man, and said:</p> +<p>"My crime deserves death."</p> +<p>"How could a young man of your education commit such an act? My +wife has prevailed upon me to spare your life; but, if you would +redeem your fault, you must take my unworthy daughter as your wife. +If this is not your intention, do not count upon my pardon."</p> +<p>Ya-nei abased himself in ritual prostration.</p> +<p>"The honor which you do me is a reward which my conduct does not +deserve," he said. "I shall speak to my parents as soon as I +return."</p> +<p>Ho Chang hurried him away, without leaving him time to speak to +the young girl again. She was clinging to her mother, and +whispered:</p> +<p>"I do not know my father's intention. Could I not have a letter +from Ya-nei on his arrival?"</p> +<p>Her truly indulgent mother went and spoke to the steward.</p> +<p>The latter had already hired a boat, and, as it was night, the +intruder would be able to pass from one junk to the other without +being observed. They set out, while Elegant wept incessantly for +sorrow and uneasiness. We must now return to the family of Wu.</p> +<p>After the night of Ya-nei's departure, their boat had proceeded +for several leagues before the young man's absence was noticed. But +when they called for him, and his cabin was found empty, the souls +of his parents left their bodies. They howled their despair, +supposing that their child had fallen unobserved into the +water.</p> +<p>They turned the ship about, hoping at least to recover the body; +but all searching was in vain, and they had perforce to resume +their journey in despair.</p> +<p>They had been at their destination for two days when Ya-nei +arrived; you may suppose that their surprise was only equalled by +their joy. They read Ho Chang's letter, and understood everything. +They scolded their son, and made a feast for Ho Chang's envoy. When +the betrothal gifts were ready, they sent them in charge of their +steward, to whom Ya-nei entrusted a secret letter for his +Elegant.</p> +<p>Soon the time came for Ya-nei's examination at the capital, and +he was accepted. His father asked for a holiday, and the whole +family went to Kien-K'ang, where the marriage was celebrated. The +fame of Elegant's wisdom and beauty grew with the years, and the +happiness of these two was never dimmed.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Hsing shih heng yen (1627), 28th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="STRANGE"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>A STRANGE DESTINY</h2> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>In epochs of deep peace</p> +<p>When days are lengthening,</p> +<p>The flute sounds and songs are heard</p> +<p>Among the drunken villages.</p> +<p>The Phoenix Car is said to be approaching</p> +<p>With the Emperor,</p> +<p>And each one turns his eye</p> +<p>To the splendor of that procession.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>In the reign of Hui Tsung of the Sung dynasty, near the capital +of the East, on the borders of the Lake of Clearness of Gold, a new +wine pavilion had just been opened, under the sign of The Quick +Hedge. Fan, the landlord, and his brother Erh-lang, were the +proprietors. Neither of them was married; and their business +prospered.</p> +<p>It was the week when Spring melts into Summer, and men walk +abroad in number to enjoy the freshness and beauty of nature.</p> +<p>One day Erh-lang roamed the lakeside, delighting in the soft +air, and saw, in front of a teahouse, a ravishing girl of about +eighteen, in whose face, which was as dreamful as the Night Star, +flowered all the blossoms of the time. He stopped, fixed to the +ground with admiration and already riotous with love. He could not +take his eyes from the rose radiance of this face, peach blossom +against flawless jade; from this slender body, from the rare golden +lotus of these delicate feet. A scarlet hibiscus in flower framed +this phoenix against stirring landscape of the great lake.</p> +<p>Alas! our emotions do not depend upon our will. The young girl +felt herself looked upon, and raised her eyes; her soul was at once +troubled, her child's heart secretly rejoiced. She thought:</p> +<p>"If I could marry this beautiful man, I should know many happy +moments. But, though he is there now, where will he be tomorrow? +How can I tell him how to find me again?"</p> +<p>Just then a seller of refreshments came by with his small +vessels on his shoulder. She called him:</p> +<p>"Have you a little honey-water?"</p> +<p>The merchant set down a bronze vase on the ground to serve her; +but she, with pretended clumsiness, upset the vase, and said to +him: "Never mind! Come to my house and I will pay for all. I will +give you my name and address."</p> +<p>Erh-lang pricked his ears, as she continued: "I am the daughter +of Lord Chou, who lives near the Ts'ao Gate. My little name is +Victorious-Immortal. And I pray you do not charge too much, for I +am not yet betrothed or married."</p> +<p>The young lover trembled with joy, saying to himself:</p> +<p>"These words are meant for me, I am sure of that."</p> +<p>The merchant was meanwhile protesting, and the young girl +added:</p> +<p>"My father is not at home just now. But he is terrible, and you +will undoubtedly be prosecuted if you try to rob us."</p> +<p>Erh-lang earnestly desired to make himself known in his turn, +and being unable to think of any other expedient, he did as the +girl had done: asked for a bowl of cool water, and pretended +clumsily to upset the full jar. He then said: "Aya! Here is another +misfortune! But it does not matter. Come to my house, and you shall +be well recompensed. I am Erh-lang, brother of Fan. We are +proprietors of THE PAVILION OF THE QUICK HEDGE. I am nineteen, and +no one has yet cheated me in my business, I can draw a bow, and am +not yet betrothed."</p> +<p>"Are you not a little mad?" asked the merchant, looking at him +in astonishment. "Why do you tell me all that? Do you wish me to +act as the go-between for your marriage? I am an honest man, and +have never cheated anybody."</p> +<p>Hearing her admirer's words, the girl rejoiced in her heart. She +suggested to her mother, who was sitting by her, that they should +go away; and rising to her feet, said to the merchant: "If you will +follow us, we will pay you at once."</p> +<p>But her eyes spoke in reality to the young man; who walked +slowly behind her, admiring the poise of her gait. In this manner +they proceeded until the two women entered their house. But the +young girl came back almost at once to draw aside the big +door-curtain and to look out at him as he passed. He went on +walking to and fro, as if he had lost his senses, and did not +return to his house till evening.</p> +<p>From that particular day Victorious-Immortal remained so +strangely affected that she was quite unable to swallow a grain of +rice, or even to touch a cake. At last, one morning, she was too +weak to rise. Her mother ran to her bed.</p> +<p>"My poor child," she asked, "what is the matter with you?"</p> +<p>"I ache all over my body. I have pains in my head and cough a +little."</p> +<p>Her mother at once thought of calling in a doctor; but, in the +absence of the master of the house and his servant, there was no +man to go on the errand. But an old female attendant, named +Kind-Welcome, was present and observed:</p> +<p>"The ancient woman Wang lives, as you know, quite close at hand. +She has helped more than a hundred children into the world. She can +sew, and she can act as go-between; but she can also feel a pulse +and diagnose an illness. Everybody calls her as soon as there is +anything the matter."</p> +<p>"That is true. Go and fetch her quickly."</p> +<p>Some few moments later the healer came and the mother began a +long explanation. But the woman interrupted her:</p> +<p>"I shall know all about it when I have examined the +patient."</p> +<p>The sick girl put out a wasted hand, and the woman felt her +pulse for a long time. At last she said:</p> +<p>"You have pains in the head, and all your body aches. You are in +continual agony, and the earth is hateful to you."</p> +<p>"That is exactly the case," she answered from her bed. "Also I +cough a little."</p> +<p>"But what has caused this illness?"</p> +<p>As the girl did not answer, this wise old visitor turned to the +mother and the attendant, and signed them to go away. They dared +not refuse, and left the room.</p> +<p>"Now we are going to cure you. The illness lies in your heart, +and nowhere else."</p> +<p>"In my heart?" questioned the sick girl.</p> +<p>"You have seen a handsome young man, and he pleases you. Your +suffering rises from that; is it not so?"</p> +<p>"There is nothing of the sort," denied the other.</p> +<p>"Come, come! Tell me the truth, and I will soon find a means to +save your life."</p> +<p>Seeing a chance to reach to her desire, little +Victorious-Immortal decided to tell everything. When she had +finished, the very old woman said:</p> +<p>"Do not be troubled. I know one of his relations who has spoken +to me of him. He is intelligent and level-headed. I shall go and +see his brother, to make arrangements for your marriage, if you +finally wish to marry him."</p> +<p>"You know very well that I do," said the sick child with a +smile. "But will my mother consent?"</p> +<p>"Do not be uneasy. I have my methods."</p> +<p>She was already out of the room, and saying to the mother:</p> +<p>"I know what is the matter with your daughter. If you would like +me to make it clear to you, have two cups of wine brought in."</p> +<p>Kind-Welcome made haste to arrange all on the table. The healer +drank a draught of burning wine and, turning to the mother, +repeated word for word what the girl had confessed to her, +adding:</p> +<p>"And now there is nothing for it but to marry her to Erh-lang, +for otherwise her death is certain."</p> +<p>"My husband will be away for a long time yet. I cannot decide +without him."</p> +<p>"You have only to make the arrangements. You need not celebrate +the marriage until after my Lord's return. She must be given her +desire; there is no other way of saving her."</p> +<p>"If the young man is as desirable as all that ..." the mother +murmured uneasily. "But how shall we bring the thing about?"</p> +<p>"I am going to speak to his elder brother. I will keep you +informed."</p> +<p>Without further delay, the venerable go-between went straight to +The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, where she found Fan behind his +counter, and saluted him:</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses!"</p> +<p>"You come at the right time," he answered with a bow. "I was +about to send to beg you to do so. For some days, I assure you, my +brother has not been able to take a morsel of food. He says that +his whole body is aching, and now he stays in bed. Will you, +please, feel his pulse?"</p> +<p>"I will see him. But it is better for me to be alone with +him."</p> +<p>"Then I shall not come with you."</p> +<p>So the old woman went up into the sick man's room, and he said +to her feebly:</p> +<p>"Mother Wang, it is very long since I saw you. Alas! You come +too late! My life is finished!"</p> +<p>"In what special way are you so seriously ill?" she asked, +sitting near the bed and touching his wrist.</p> +<p>After a moment she continued:</p> +<p>"Shall I tell you the name of your illness? It is called +Victorious-Immortal, little daughter of Chou, and her house is near +the Ts'ao Gate."</p> +<p>The sick man was startled and sat up:</p> +<p>"How do you know that?"</p> +<p>"Her family has commissioned me to come and arrange your +marriage."</p> +<p>Immediate happiness revived the young man.</p> +<p>He rose and came down with the wise visitor to his astonished +brother.</p> +<p>"I am cured," he announced, "And all goes very well."</p> +<p>Meanwhile the old woman was saying: "The family of Chou has sent +me especially to talk to you about a marriage."</p> +<p>All was soon settled, the first gifts were exchanged, and the +comforted hearts of the two young people were filled with joy. But +they had to wait Lord Chou's return before proceeding with the +ceremony.</p> +<p>Chou did not come back until eight months later. It is needless +to say that, when he did so, all his relations and friends came to +drink cups of wine with him to "wash down the dust of the journey." +At last his wife told him what had happened, affirming that all was +decided. But the eyes of the master of the house became round and +white, and he bellowed:</p> +<p>"O filthy imbecile, who gave you the right to betroth our +daughter to a wine merchant? Is there no son of decent family who +would marry her? Do you wish to make us a laughing-stock?"</p> +<p>While he was thus cursing his wife, the servant came up to them, +crying:</p> +<p>"Come quickly and save the child! She was behind the door, and +heard your cries. She fell down and is no longer breathing."</p> +<p>Stumbling in her haste, the mother ran out. She saw her daughter +lying on the ground and was about to raise her, but her husband +prevented her, saying:</p> +<p>"Leave her! She was bringing dishonor on us! If she is to die, +then let her die!"</p> +<p>Seeing her mistress held back, Kind-Welcome bent over the girl. +But Chou, with a blow that made the air whistle between his fingers +sent her against the wall. In his rage, he seized his wife and +shook her roughly, and she howled like a dog. The neighbors heard +her and ran in, fearing that there was disaster. Soon the room was +filled with women, all talking at the same time. But the master of +it roughly bade them be silent:</p> +<p>"I do not allow any spying upon my private affairs."</p> +<p>The neighbors retired in discomfort, and the mother threw +herself upon her daughter's body, whose ends were already cold. She +sobbed:</p> +<p>"You would not have died if I had come to you. O murderer, you +have let her die of set purpose. You did not want to give her the +four or five thousand ounces which her grandfather left her."</p> +<p>He went out, panting like a boar with anger. The mother did not +cease to lament her loss: her daughter had been so gentle and so +clever. At length the time came to shut down the coffin, and Chou +angrily said to his wife:</p> +<p>"You pretend that I let her die so as not to lose four thousand +ounces? I order you to put all her jewels in the tomb with her. +That is more than five thousand ounces, one would think."</p> +<p>They brought in the wu-tso, the Inspector of Corpses, and also +his assistant, to verify the death and to help in hearsing her. The +keeper of the family graveyard and his brother, the two Chang, were +also there to assist in the mournful work.</p> +<p>The time came for the funeral, and the procession went forth +from the town. The coffin was placed in a brick tomb, and the first +shovels of earth were thrown upon it. Then all returned home. Three +feet of cold insensitive earth covered the body of this young +beauty, and it had been full of love.</p> +<p>Now the Inspector of Corpses had a worthless fellow named Feng +for his assistant. This miserable boy, on coming back from the +cemetery in the evening, said to his mother: "An excellent day's +work! Tomorrow we shall be rich."</p> +<p>"And what successful stroke of business have you concluded?"</p> +<p>"Today we buried the daughter of Chou, and all her jewels were +put in the coffin with her. Instead of leaving them to enrich the +earth, would it not be better to take them?"</p> +<p>"Think before you do such a terrible thing!" his mother begged. +"This is no matter of a mere whipping. Your father wanted to do the +same thing twenty years ago. He opened a coffin, and the corpse +began to smile at him. Your father died of that in four or five +days. My son, do not do it. It is no easy matter."</p> +<p>"Mother," he answered simply, "my mind is made up. Do not waste +your breath on me, for that is useless."</p> +<p>He bent over his bed, and took out of it a heavy iron tool.</p> +<p>"O mother, not each person's destiny is the same. I have +consulted soothsayers, and they have told me that I shall become +rich this year."</p> +<p>He took also an axe, a leather sack, and a dark lantern, which +he placed in readiness. Finally he wrapped himself in a great +mantle of reeds, for it was the eleventh moon and the snow had +begun to fall. He made a sort of hurdle with about ten +inter-crossed bamboos, and fastened it behind his mantle, so that +it should drag along the ground and efface his foot-prints.</p> +<p>The second watch was sounding when he went out, and all was +still bustle and gaiety in the town. But beyond the walls both +silence and solitude reigned in the growing cold. The snow was +already thick. Who would have ventured out there?</p> +<p>From time to time he turned his head, but no one followed him. +At last he reached the wall of the family graveyard and climbed in. +Suddenly a dog ran through the tall grass and leaped at him, +barking. The thief had prepared a portion of poisoned meat, and +threw it to the dog. The beast, being badly fed, smelt it and +swallowed it. He still barked a little, but the venom was potent, +and he very soon writhed on the ground.</p> +<p>In the keeper's hut, young Chang said to his elder brother:</p> +<p>"The dog has started barking, and then has stopped. Is that not +strange? Perhaps it is a thief. You ought to go and see."</p> +<p>The elder brother rose from his hot bed and took up a weapon, +grumbling. Then he opened the door and went out. But he was seized +by a whirl of cold snow, and called to the dog: "What are you +barking for, O animal of the Gods?"</p> +<p>Then he came back and glided under his blankets.</p> +<p>"There is nothing at all. But it is very cold."</p> +<p>From the distant town came the far sound of the gongs and drums +of the third watch. Taking heart, Feng went forward in a snow which +deadened his steps. He quickly shovelled the fresh earth from the +grave, and then lighted his lantern. Its yellow light lit up but a +single point. Forcing two long crowbars between the joints, he +loosened one brick, and then another. At last the coffin was +uncovered. He inserted his pick under the lid, and pried it off and +laid it on one side. The corpse was brought to view.</p> +<p>"Small sister," he murmured. "I am only going to borrow a little +of your useless wealth. Do not you grudge it me!"</p> +<p>He took the veil from that charming face. The head was covered +with ornaments of gold, and also with pearls. He took them all. He +was tempted by the fine and silken garments of the corpse. He +stripped it.</p> +<p>But suddenly, the body shook itself and pushed the thief away +with violence. He uttered a cry of imbecile terror and shrank back. +The corpse had sat up and, in that little light, looked at the open +tomb, the scattered tools, and her own unclothed body. The wretched +lad, obeying instinctive habit, trembled and lied:</p> +<p>"Little sister, I have come to save you."</p> +<p>Naturally, when little Victorious-Immortal had heard the foul +Chou's violent words, her despair had made her lose all sign of +life. It was for this reason that she had been put in her coffin +while still alive. Aroused now by the cold, her first thought was +to remember her father's anger. Her only refuge then was the house +of her betrothed, and she said: "If you will take me to The +Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, you may have a heavy reward."</p> +<p>"That is easy," answered Feng, seeking in vain for how he should +escape.</p> +<p>Ought he to kill her? He hardly had the courage after such a +shock. He decided to give her back a few clothes. He put the jewels +and his implements in the sack, together with the extinguished +lantern, and quickly covered the grave with earth again. Then, +because the girl was too weak to walk, he took her on his back and +went away from that place. But instead of going to Fan's house, he +went to his own. His mother opened the door to him, and cried in +terror:</p> +<p>"Have you stolen the corpse also?"</p> +<p>"Do not speak so loud," he answered, setting down his +burdens.</p> +<p>He went to his bed, and there put little Victorious-Immortal. He +drew a knife from his girdle and showed it to the girl:</p> +<p>"Little one, I have some business to settle with you. If we come +to an agreement, I will take you to Fan's house. If not, you very +well behold this knife, and I shall cut you in two pieces."</p> +<p>"What do you want with me?" she asked.</p> +<p>"You are going to stay here without making a noise and without +trying to escape, until I take you to Fan. As for the rest, we will +speak of it another time."</p> +<p>"I will do so! I will indeed do so!"</p> +<p>Then the nasty youth led his mother into the next room to calm +her a little.</p> +<p>"But what are you going to do?" she asked.</p> +<p>"Do you think we can be safe when she has gone to Fan?"</p> +<p>"I am not going to take her to Fan."</p> +<p>"What are you going to do, then?"</p> +<p>He gave a country laugh, full of suggestion.</p> +<hr class="short"> +<p>Matters so continued until the fifteenth day of the first Moon, +the evening of the Feast of Lanterns. Feng went out to see the +illuminations, and also to profit by the opportunities for theft +which are always afforded in a crowd. The evening wore on, and he +had not yet returned, when a shout arose among the neighbors. +Feng's mother opened the door to see what was the matter. A fire +had broken out near there. In terror, the old woman made haste to +carry her furniture into the yard. Profiting by this confusion, the +girl slipped through the door; but in the street she did not know +which way to turn. At last she found the road to the Ts'ao Gate, +and was running in that direction when she lost herself again. +However, when at length she asked where The Pavilion of the Quick +Hedge might be, she was shown a near way to it.</p> +<p>The attendant was before the door, and she asked him very +politely:</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses! Is not this the house of Fan and +Erh-lang?"</p> +<p>"Certainly it is, small lady."</p> +<p>"Could you not lead me to him?"</p> +<p>"Assuredly," he answered.</p> +<p>He showed her the way, calling from the door to his masters; but +when Erh-lang, in the pale light of the paper lanterns, recognized +the white face of his betrothed, he cried out in dismay: "Ghost! +Ghost!"</p> +<p>Confident in her love, she advanced toward him piteously +repeating:</p> +<p>"Elder brother! Elder brother! I am alive!"</p> +<p>But he kept recoiling in terror, and crying: "Help! Help!"</p> +<p>How could he fail to believe himself in the presence of a ghost, +when he had witnessed the funeral, and had, that very evening, +encountered the wife of Chou in mourning garments?</p> +<p>As she was about to touch him and, cringing against the wall, he +could retreat no further, his terror redoubled. Not knowing what he +did, he picked up a heavy stool and struck his dear visitor on the +head with it. She fell back, and her head sounded dully on the +stone flags.</p> +<p>Fan ran up at the noise of this. He saw the woman on the ground, +and his brother holding the stool.</p> +<p>"What have you done?" he cried. "What is the matter? Was it you +who killed her?"</p> +<p>"She is a ghost," the other said.</p> +<p>"If she were a ghost, she would not bleed. What have you +done?"</p> +<p>Already some ten persons had come up to see what was the matter. +The street guard came in to them and seized Erh-lang, who kept on +saying: "She is the ghost of Chou's daughter. I have killed +her."</p> +<p>Hearing this name, a neighbor ran to inform Chou, who would not +at first believe him. At length he decided to go to the wine +pavilion, where he was compelled to recognize her, though he kept +on saying:</p> +<p>"I buried her long since!"</p> +<p>Nevertheless, the guard insisted upon leading Erh-lang to +prison. Fan had the doors shut then, and stayed with Chou by the +corpse till morning.</p> +<p>Early next day the Governor inquired into the matter. The coffin +was opened. It was found empty, and the keepers told how their dog +had been found dead in the snow on the day after the funeral. In +the absence of any completer explanation, they proceeded with their +inquiry.</p> +<p>Erh-lang, in his prison, was overcome with sorrowful remorse. +Sometimes he said that she could not have survived her burial; +sometimes he was rent with horror at the thought that she had been +alive when he struck her. He recalled her beauty and grace in +Spring by the lake side, and bitter tears rolled from him. While he +was musing in this way, he saw his cell door open, and the girl +appeared. In his emotion and fear, he cried:</p> +<p>"Are you not dead, my darling?"</p> +<p>"Your blow caused me more grief than harm. Now I have wakened, +and have come to see you."</p> +<p>She approached the bench where he sat, and he took her hand:</p> +<p>"How can I have been so foolish as to fear you?"</p> +<p>They were talking thus, and already, in their deep love, they +were in each other's arms. His joy was so keen that suddenly he +woke. It was a dream.</p> +<p>On the second night the same thing happened, and on the third, +and his passion grew stronger for her. As she was going away the +third time, she said:</p> +<p>"My life on earth had come to an end, but my love was so great +and so potently called me to you, that the +Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, the +Keeper-of-the-Frontier-of-the-Shadows, allowed me to come back to +you, for these three nights. I must leave you now. But, if you do +not forget, there will yet be something of me bound to your +soul."</p> +<p>Then she disappeared, and the young man sobbed most +bitterly.</p> +<p>In the end the matter was cleared up by chance. Feng's mother, +having filched a golden trifle from her son's bag, went to sell it +to the same jeweler who had made it for Chou. On being denounced +before the Governor, mother and son were apprehended, and all the +jewels were discovered in their house. Torture found them words, +and the whole matter became clear. Erh-lang had actually believed +that he saw a ghost, and was released. Feng was sentenced to slow +death, and strips were torn one by one from his body by the +executioner. His mother was only strangled.</p> +<p>As for Erh-lang, his heart stayed faithful to the girl he had so +greatly loved. At every feast he went to the temple of the +Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, and burned incense, so that the pleasant +smoke of it might ascend to the palace of the soul of little +Victorious-Immortal. His fidelity touched even the rough heart of +Chou and, when he came to die a few years later, his body was +buried in the same tomb with her whom his arms had known only in +sleep.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Nao fan lou to ch'ing sheng hsien (Chou +Victorious-<br> +Immortal, of abundant love, overthrows the Pa-<br> +vilion of the Fan). Hsing shih heng yen<br> +(1627), 14th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="ERROR"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE ERROR OF THE EMBROIDERED SLIPPER</h2> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>The sun is in our eyes</p> +<p>And we think we are running out towards joy;</p> +<p>Our heart pulls us down</p> +<p>And we shall never know the way of the sky</p> +<p>Or the end of all things.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>During the Hung-Chih period of our Dynasty there lived at +Hang-chow a young man who was called Chang Loyalty. After his +parents died, leaving him a great fortune, he no longer had anyone +to guide him, and therefore, throwing away his books, he spent his +time with gallants of the sort we name fou-lang-tzu, that is to say +"floating-on-the-waves." They do not know how to profit by +opportunity. So Chang no longer studied anything but various ball +games, he abandoned himself to the pleasures of the theatre, and +took his delight in those gardens where the breezes of love blow in +the moonlight. In a word, he followed the changing flowers of +illusion; and, as he was himself seductive, as impassioned as +expert in pleasure, and rich and generous, he became the favorite +of all the women of the town. One day, when spring had but just +caused all the flowers to come out on the amiable banks of the Lake +of the West, Chang invited a company of singing girls and idlers to +spend the afternoon on the blue waters.</p> +<p>He put on a gauze bonnet with floating wings, after the fashion +of the time. His great transparent silk robe was of purple and +silver, over a second embroidered one of pure white. White gauze +stockings and red slippers completed the elegance of his +appearance.</p> +<p>He went out, walking unhurriedly, gently waving a fan decorated +with paintings. Behind him walked his little slave, Clear-Lute, who +carried over his shoulder a mantle in case the weather should +freshen, and a long guitar with which to accompany the singing +girls.</p> +<p>As they were approaching the gate of Ch'ien-t'ang, Chang looked +up, for no particular reason. On the first story of a house a +maiden held back her window curtain and looked at him. From her +whole person emanated so troubling a charm that he stopped in his +walk, and felt a tremor in his body. For a long time they remained +gazing at each other, until she slowly broke into a smile, and he +felt his soul fly from him.</p> +<p>At this moment the door of the house opened below, and a man +came forth; so Chang hastened to resume his walk, and returned in a +few moments. The curtain was drawn back over the window. He waited, +but there was no sign. At length he drew away, turning his head, +and walking as slowly as if he had already gone a hundred leagues +on the mountains.</p> +<p>Yet eventually he passed the town gate and rejoined his friends +on the boat, which was at once steered to the middle of the lake. +The banks were smiling with peach blossom: the willow leaves were a +mist of gold and green. Little boats, with brightly-dressed +passengers, crossed and re-crossed like ants. In very truth:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Hills are heaped upon hills</p> +<p>And the pavilions on the pavilions.</p> +<p>The songs and dances are never ceasing</p> +<p>On the West Lake.</p> +<p>The warm breeze fans the drunkenness</p> +<p>Of the pleasure walkers.</p> +<p>Heaven is above,</p> +<p>But here we have Hang-chow and Su-chow Lakes.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p>But Chang carried the picture of that young girl in his soul, +and had no heart for pleasure.</p> +<p>His companions offered him cups of wine, wondering at his +melancholy; but he was far from them.</p> +<p>At twilight they returned, and Chang re-entered by the +Ch'ien-t'ang gate, passing before the girl's house. The window was +shut. He stopped, and forced a cough; but there was no sign. He +went to the end of the street, and came back again, but all was +silent. Therefore he had no choice but to go away.</p> +<p>He returned next morning, and stayed at a shop near by to learn +what he could. He was told:</p> +<p>"They are people called P'an. Their only daughter is sixteen +years of age, and is named Eternal Life. The father has some +connection with a certain powerful family which affords him +protection. He lives by swindling, and everyone fears him. He is a +veritable skin-pinker and bravo."</p> +<p>This news made Chang a little thoughtful, but he walked on by +the house nevertheless. The young girl was again at her window. +They looked at each other; but there were people about, and he had +to go away.</p> +<p>That evening, as soon as night fell, he went back. The moon was +shining as brightly as the sun, and the street was empty. The +youthful beauty leaned at her window, wrapped in thought and bathed +in the white light. She smiled at him, and he drew from his sleeve +his scarlet muslin handkerchief. He made the knot known as "union +of hearts gives victory." Rolling it in a ball, he threw it, and +she adroitly caught it in two hands. Then she stooped and took off +one of her little embroidered slippers. She dropped it into Chang's +waiting fingers. Enraptured with this gift, which was a pledge of +love and faith, he carried it to his lips and said softly:</p> +<p>"Thank you; Thank you, with all my heart!"</p> +<p>In tones of maddening sweetness, she replied:</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses!"</p> +<p>Just then a rough voice was heard within the house. She made +another sign to him and closed the window. And he went home drunk +through silent streets made silver by the moon. Once in his +library, he examined the slipper. It was a golden lotus, so small +and so light that a thousand thoughts troubled the lover. He +said:</p> +<p>"I must find someone to arrange our meeting, or else die from an +over-stressing of desire."</p> +<p>Early in the morning, he put some pieces of silver in his sleeve +and hastened to a little wine booth, not far from the house of +P'an. He knew that he would find an old woman there, whom he often +met in pleasurable places. In fact, he saw her and called to her. +She at once saluted him, saying:</p> +<p>"Aya! My uncle, what brings you?"</p> +<p>"I happened to be passing," he answered carelessly.</p> +<p>"But I should like you to walk a little way with me."</p> +<p>"In what can I serve you?" she hastened to ask.</p> +<p>Without speaking, he took her into a quiet little tavern. When +they were seated, and the attendant had brought them fruit and +dishes of food, he poured out a full cup of hot wine and offered it +to her, saying:</p> +<p>"I have something to ask of you, ma-ma Lu. But I am afraid that +you cannot accomplish it."</p> +<p>"Without boasting," she answered with a wide smile, "there are +few enterprises, however difficult, in which I do not succeed. What +is it you desire?"</p> +<p>"I want you to arrange a meeting for me with the daughter of +P'an, who lives in the Street of the Ten Officials. Here are five +ounces of silver to begin with. If you succeed, you shall have +quite as much more."</p> +<p>"The small Eternal Life? The little witch! I thought her so +demure! I should never have imagined she was a wild flower. But the +matter is difficult. There are only the parents and the daughter in +that house, and the father is dangerous. He keeps a damnably +suspicious watch over his door. How could you get in? I dare not +promise any success."</p> +<p>"You have just boasted that you always succeed. Here are two +ounces more."</p> +<p>The old woman's eyes gleamed like fire at the sight of the +snow-colored metal, and she said:</p> +<p>"I will take the risk. If all goes well, it will be your +fortune. If not, I shall at least have done my best. But give me a +proof, for otherwise she would not listen to me."</p> +<p>Not without regret, Chang took from his bosom the little +slipper, and gave it to her, wrapped in his handkerchief. The old +woman at once slipped it into her sleeve with the pieces of money. +As she was leaving him, she said again:</p> +<p>"The affair is delicate. You must have patience and not hurry +me. That would be dangerous."</p> +<p>"I only ask you to do your best. Come and tell me as soon as you +have an answer."</p> +<p>Eternal Life was profoundly agitated. Since that moonlit night +she had had no more taste for food, but had said:</p> +<p>"If I married him I would not have lived in vain. But I know +neither his name nor where he lives. When I saw him beneath the +moon, why had I not wings to fly to him? ... As it is, I had only +this red handkerchief."</p> +<p>Yet she had to live and speak as usual. But as soon as she was +alone she fell again into her musing.</p> +<p>Two days later, old Lu entered their house. The father had gone +out. The visitor said to mother and daughter:</p> +<p>"I received certain artificial flowers yesterday, and have come +to show them to you."</p> +<p>She took a bunch of a thousand shades out of her basket.</p> +<p>"Would you not say they were real?"</p> +<p>"When I was young," said the mother, "we only wore ordinary +flowers, and did not dream of marvels like these."</p> +<p>"Yet these are only considered mediocre. But the price of the +finest is so high."</p> +<p>"If we cannot buy them, we can at least admire them," the young +girl answered dryly.</p> +<p>With gathering smiles, the old woman took from the basket a +bunch which was indeed incomparable.</p> +<p>"And what is the price of that?" questioned the mother.</p> +<p>"How should I dare to fix a price? I leave it to you. But if you +have a little tea, I would willingly drink of it."</p> +<p>"In the admiration caused by your flowers, we have forgotten our +manners. Wait for one moment, while I fetch some boiling +water."</p> +<p>As soon as the mother had left the room, the woman took a slight +parcel from her sleeve.</p> +<p>"What have you there?" asked Eternal Life.</p> +<p>"Something important which you must not see."</p> +<p>"Oh, but I must see it then."</p> +<p>"I shall not give it to you," said the cunning old woman. "Aya! +You have taken it from me by force!" she added, letting the parcel +into the girl's hand.</p> +<p>Impatiently the child untied the handkerchief, and recognized +her slipper. Her face flushed into scarlet, and she said with +difficulty: "A single one of these objects is of no use, ma-ma. Why +did you show it me?"</p> +<p>"I know a certain Lord who would give his life to have the pair. +Will you not consent to help me?"</p> +<p>Trembling all over, Eternal Life said to her softly:</p> +<p>"Since you know all, tell me his name and where he lives."</p> +<p>"He is called Chang, and he owns a hundred myriads of ounces. He +is very gentle; his love is as deep as the sea. He has lost his +soul through thinking of you, and has bidden me arrange a means for +his entry."</p> +<p>"How can it be done? My father is terrible. When I have blown +out my lamp, he often comes to look into the rooms. What is your +plan, ma-ma?"</p> +<p>The old woman thought for a minute, and then said:</p> +<p>"It is not very difficult. You must go to bed early and, as soon +as your father has come up and gone down again, you must rise +quietly and open the window. You must wait for a signal, and let +down a long piece of cloth. He will climb up with the help of this +rope, and, if he is careful to go away before the fifth watch, no +one will surprise you."</p> +<p>"Admirable!" cried the delighted child. "When will he come?"</p> +<p>"It is too late to-day. But I will go to him to-morrow morning. +Give me a pledge of re-assurance for him."</p> +<p>"Assuredly! Take the other slipper. He will give it back to me +to-morrow."</p> +<p>The old woman hid it in her sleeve, for the mother came in by +this time with the tea. Soon after, she took up her basket and went +away, accompanied to the door by the two women.</p> +<p>She went straight to the house of Chang, but he was out. She +offered her flowers to the women of the house, waiting for some +part of the day in vain.</p> +<p>Next morning she went again to find the young man, but he had +not returned. She went away thoughtful.</p> +<p>The truth is that Chang had remained three days in the house of +a Flower-in-the-Mist. When he returned and heard of the old woman's +two visits, he hastened to find her. She said to him:</p> +<p>"The pledge of love which you entrusted to me is in her hand. +She bade me tell you that her father is dangerous, but that he is +to be away for a long time shortly. She will inform us." On his +return journey the young man passed by P'an's house. Eternal Life +was at her window, and they smiled tenderly at one another.</p> +<hr class="short"> +<p>Three months had passed. Chang was sitting one morning in his +library, when his servants told him that four police officers had +come with a summons. He asked himself fearfully whether he had been +mixed up in any scandal at a pleasure house; but he had to obey. He +questioned the officers.</p> +<p>"It is a matter of taxes and duties," they answered.</p> +<p>Reassured, he changed his clothes and went with them, followed +by several of his servants. He was taken at once to the hall where +the Court sat, and, standing before the red table, he saluted the +magistrate. The latter looked at him intently, and harshly +asked:</p> +<p>"How did you enter into an intrigue with P'an's daughter? How +did you kill her father and her mother?"</p> +<p>Chang was a libertine. That is to say he had neither strength +nor energy. Hearing himself thus unexpectedly accused of a double +crime, he shook from head to foot, as if a bolt had fallen on him +from a calm sky. He stammered:</p> +<p>"Although I had the intention of establishing a connection with +her, I have not yet succeeded in doing so. As yet I have not known +her house."</p> +<p>The Governor thundered:</p> +<p>"She has just confessed that her relation with you has lasted +several months. How dare you deny it?"</p> +<p>Just then Chang perceived that the young girl was kneeling close +to him. Bewildered and not knowing what to do, he turned to Eternal +Life and asked:</p> +<p>"How can you say that I have been intimate with you? With what +object are you trying to encompass my ruin?"</p> +<p>She sobbed without answering. Meanwhile the Governor called upon +the officers to apply the buskin of torture to the young man. And +they swarmed about him like ants.</p> +<p>Unhappily for him, Chang Loyalty had been brought up in muslin +and gauze, and had grown to manhood in a brocade. How could he +endure such torture? Hardly had he felt the pressure of the buskin +before he cried:</p> +<p>"I confess everything!"</p> +<p>The Governor had a brush and paper given to the accused, that he +might himself write out his confession. The unhappy man wept, +saying:</p> +<p>"What must I write? I know nothing of the matter!" Then he +turned to the young girl and added: "Do you at least tell me what +you have done, so that I may write my confession."</p> +<p>Eternal Life answered in irritation: "Did you not look at me +with lecherous eyes under my window? Did you not throw your +handkerchief? Did you not match the pair of my embroidered +slippers?"</p> +<p>"All that is true. But about the rest?"</p> +<p>The Governor here interrupted:</p> +<p>"If one thing is true, the rest is also. What is the use of +arguing it? Since he refuses to write, let him be given thirty +strokes of the heavy bamboo, let him be cast into the cell for +those who are condemned to death."</p> +<p>Happily for Chang, his gaolers knew that he was very rich. They +but touched him with their blows, and led him to prison with as +much care as they would a butterfly. Each of them cried:</p> +<p>"Uncle, how could you do such a thing?"</p> +<p>"O my elder brothers," he lamented, "if it is true that I +desired this girl, yet have I never met her. Do you believe that I +could be a murderer? I know nothing about the murder. Tell me of +it."</p> +<p>So he learned that, this very morning, Eternal Life on waking up +had been surprised by the silence of the house. From the +ground-floor room where she had passed the night, she had gone up +to the story where her parents slept, and had opened the door of +their room. In front of the bed, under the half-drawn curtains, the +floor was a tarn of blood.</p> +<p>She was so frightened that she tumbled down the stairs and fell +upon the street door, sobbing and crying out. Neighbors heard her +and ran up, and she said to them:</p> +<p>"Yesterday, my parents went up to their room. I do not know who +has killed them both."</p> +<p>The bolder ones went up the stairs to see. They opened the +bed-curtains, and there were the man and his wife, stiff and with +their throats cut across. They looked to right and left. The window +was shut, and nothing was disturbed.</p> +<p>"It is a serious matter," they muttered. "Let us not act +hastily."</p> +<p>One of them went at once to warn the district chief of police, +who came and examined the scene of the crime. He shut and sealed +the house, and led Eternal Life to the Governor's Court. The girl +knelt down and told all that she knew, and the Governor said:</p> +<p>"If the door and windows were closed, and nothing has been +stolen, the matter is dubious. Had your father an enemy?"</p> +<p>"Not to my knowledge."</p> +<p>"That is strange!" murmured the Governor, and thought for a +moment.</p> +<p>Suddenly he told the officers to take off the silken veil with +which the young girl had half-covered her head. He could then see +her exceptional beauty.</p> +<p>"How old are you? Are you not betrothed?"</p> +<p>"I am seventeen, and I am still free."</p> +<p>"And you sleep on the ground-floor, while your parents have +their room above? That is very curious."</p> +<p>"Until quite recently your slave slept above. But fifteen days +ago they made a change. I do not know why."</p> +<p>The judge again reflected. Then he struck the table violently, +crying out:</p> +<p>"It is you who have killed your father and mother. Or, rather, +it is your lover. Tell me his name."</p> +<p>"Your slave never leaves the house. How could she have a +forbidden love? Would not the neighbors know it?"</p> +<p>The judge made a salacious grimace:</p> +<p>"In a case of murder the neighbors know nothing. It is clear +that you have had relations with a man. Your parents knew of it, +and that is why they changed their room. Your lover killed them in +a rage."</p> +<p>Hearing these words, she became scarlet and then pale. At a sign +from the Governor, the gaolers threw themselves like tigers upon +the little girl, closing a cruel pair of iron nippers on her +pellucid and delicate jade hand. As the jaws began to crush her +fingers, she uttered loud cries:</p> +<p>"Mercy, my lord. I have a lover."</p> +<p>"What is his name?"</p> +<p>"Chang Loyalty."</p> +<p>And then she fainted. The Governor knew enough. He summoned the +young man and, being convinced of his guilt, had him put in prison, +while awaiting further information. It is well said in a certain +proverb: "Even while you are sitting in your house with the doors +shut, misfortune falls from heaven."</p> +<p>In prison, Chang reflected upon this sudden accusation. Could he +have committed this double crime in his sleep? In the end he +offered his gaolers ten ounces if they would take him to Eternal +Life. When they bargained, he promised twenty ounces. Then they led +him as far as the grill of the women's prison. The girl was there, +weeping without stint. As soon as she saw him, she reviled him +between her sobs:</p> +<p>"Ungrateful and dishonorable! You made me mad with love for you. +Why should you cut my parents' throats, and cause my death?"</p> +<p>"Do not make unnecessary noise," he interrupted.</p> +<p>"Let us rather try to clear up this mystery. It is certain that +I sent the old woman Lu to you with your little slipper. Did you +see her?"</p> +<p>"Naturally, wretch," she answered disdainfully.</p> +<p>Again he interrupted:</p> +<p>"She told me that you had kept your pledge, that your father was +terrible, and that you were awaiting his departure in order to +arrange a meeting. But since then I have known nothing of you, save +a few rare smiles."</p> +<p>"Forgetful murderer," she groaned, "again you deny it. Did you +not confess all before the judge? Why do you come to torment +me."</p> +<p>"My unfortunate body could not endure the torture. By confessing +I gained some days of life. Do not fly into a rage, but answer me: +what happened after ma-ma Lu had visited you?"</p> +<p>"We arranged everything for the next night. You came and gave me +back my slipper. Since then you have climbed up to my room each +night. Dare you say it is not true?"</p> +<p>Chang thought deeply. The bystanders wondered whether he were +guilty and seeking a clever explanation to save himself, or whether +he were really innocent. At last he said: "Then if we have met +often, you should be very certain of my voice and body. Look at me +well, and think."</p> +<p>The gaolers exclaimed:</p> +<p>"What he says is just. If there were a mistake, would you leave +him to die?"</p> +<p>Eternal Life was puzzled, and looked at him earnestly. He +repeated:</p> +<p>"Is it I? Dear heart, speak quickly!"</p> +<p>"He who came," she said at last, "was perhaps bigger. But it was +always dark, and how can I be sure? But I remember that on your +left shoulder you have a scar as big as a copper piece."</p> +<p>The bystanders at once exclaimed:</p> +<p>"That is easy to verify. There can be no further mistake. Uncle, +unclothe yourself quickly. If there is nothing there, we shall +inform the Governor."</p> +<p>Chang immediately uncovered his shoulder, and the white flesh +was as smooth as marble. Eternal Life could not believe her eyes. +When the young man had gone back, filled full of hope, to his +prison, the gaolers made their report to the Governor, who had +already summoned ma-ma Lu.</p> +<p>In the audience chamber the old woman knelt down and was quite +overcome. The judge began by ordering her forty strokes for having +acted as an abettor of corruption. The flesh of her thighs was +nothing but a bloody paste. She told the whole story.</p> +<p>After coming back from Chang's house without having seen him, +old Lu had found her son Wu-han in their little food shop. He had +said to her:</p> +<p>"You come at the right time. I must kill a pig this morning, and +our assistant has gone out for the day."</p> +<p>The old woman did not like this work. But she was very much +afraid of her son, and did not dare to refuse.</p> +<p>"Wait till I have changed my clothes!" was all she said.</p> +<p>While she was taking off her outer garment, a parcel fell from +the sleeve of it. Thinking that it was money, Wu-han quickly picked +it up and opened it. It was the pair of embroidered slippers. He +said:</p> +<p>"Oh! Oh! Who is the little girl who has such feet? She must be +of a very loving nature. If I could hold her to my heart for a +whole night, I should not have lived in vain. But how do these +slippers come here, for they have already been worn?"</p> +<p>"Give them back to me!" she cried. "There is much money in them, +which I will hand to you." And she told him the whole matter. But +he objected:</p> +<p>"It has been a common saying from the earliest times that acts +not committed can alone remain unknown. This P'an is a bravo. If he +learns of the matter, all the silver which you receive will be too +little to buy his silence. Our whole shop would fall into his +hands."</p> +<p>In dismay the old woman replied:</p> +<p>"Your words are full of reason. I am going to give back the +silver and the slippers. I am going to let it be understood that I +refuse to embroil myself with curtain affairs."</p> +<p>"Where is the silver?" he asked.</p> +<p>The old woman took it from her sleeve, and he put it into his, +saying:</p> +<p>"Leave all to me. If they should happen to come and seek a +quarrel with us, we shall have proofs against them. And, if nothing +comes of it, no one will dare to reclaim the money."</p> +<p>"But what shall I say if he asks me for news?"</p> +<p>"That you have not had time enough. Or even that the matter +cannot be arranged."</p> +<p>What could she do, she who was thus deprived of the money and +the pledge of love? She was surely obliged to lie.</p> +<p>As for Wu-han, he at once went out and spent the money on rich +clothes and a fine gauze bonnet.</p> +<p>In the evening, when his mother was asleep, he put on his pretty +clothes and set the slippers in his sleeve. As the great clock +sounded the first watch, he went out softly and made straight for +the house of P'an. Light clouds were hiding the moon. It was only +half full.</p> +<p>He coughed before the house. The window opened, and Eternal Life +appeared. She tied a piece of silk to the frame, and let the other +end fall. He caught it and climbed up, making use of the +projections of the wall with his two feet. Then, with a thousand +precautions, he stepped over the sill. Trembling, the girl hastened +to draw back the piece of silk and to shut the window.</p> +<p>Then he took the child in his arms, and passion leaped up in +their two hearts. In the darkness, and in such emotion, how could +that mistake be known? The usurper drew her towards him.</p> +<p>Even so is the precious scented flower of the nutmeg embraced by +the bind-weed. Even so is the plum blossom torn by the hail. Even +so is the sparrow's nest most outraged by the cuckoo.</p> +<p>When the first clouds of their desire were dissipated by the +rain of caresses, Wu-han took from his sleeve the pledges of love. +She gave them back to him:</p> +<p>"Now that I am happy, I no more wish to go out."</p> +<p>About the fourth watch, before daylight, Wu-han arose and +climbed stealthily down to the street.</p> +<p>Since that time there had to be a storm of rain, or the moon had +to be very clear, to prevent Wu-han from hurrying to the small +woman. The days, and then the months, passed in this way.</p> +<p>One night the deceiver accidentally made some noise as he went +away. P'an immediately came up to them, but saw nothing; for +Eternal Life succeeded in not betraying herself. Next night she +warned her lover, saying to him in her sense:</p> +<p>"Do not come for a few days. That will be safer. Let us give +them time to forget about it."</p> +<p>But her father had his ears on the alert; he heard the window +creak, and he ran up, though again too late. In the morning he said +to his wife:</p> +<p>"This baby is certainly about some villainy. She keeps her mouth +as tight as a trap."</p> +<p>"I also have a suspicion," replied her mother.</p> +<p>"Yet the room opens on to the stairs, which come down into our +room."</p> +<p>"I am going to give her a good taste of the rod to make her +speak."</p> +<p>"That is a bad plan, a very bad plan," said her mother. "It is a +true proverb that you must not show family blemishes. If you beat +her, all the neighbors will know, and who would wish to marry her? +Let us rather make her sleep in our room, which has no way out +except the door. We will spend the night up the stairs, and see +what happens."</p> +<p>On being told of this proposal, Eternal Life dared not say +anything. And on the higher floor husband and wife slept in +peace.</p> +<p>One evening Wu-ban felt his heart seething with passion. Fearing +that he might be attacked by P'an, he armed himself with a knife, +which he used to cut pigs' throats. Under Eternal Life's window, he +coughed softly. Nothing stirred. He coughed more loudly, thinking +she was asleep. But everything remained quiet. He was going back to +his house, in a thoughtful mood, when he saw a ladder left near to +a house which was being built. He seized upon it, carried it away, +and put it up against Eternal Life's window. The catch was not +locked. He pushed it open, climbed over the sill, and silently went +toward the bed.</p> +<p>Drunken with joy, Wu-ban was already disrobing himself of his +clothes, when, in the stillness of the night, his ears caught the +sound of two people breathing, instead of one. He listened with +controlled breath. Unmistakably the rough breathing of a man was +mingled with the softer murmur of a woman.</p> +<p>He was suddenly blinded with violent anger:</p> +<p>"This is why she did not answer my signal. The vile child has +another man within. It was to get rid of me that she told me of her +father's suspicion!"</p> +<p>In his jealous madness he drew his knife and gently felt for the +man's throat. With a clean blow he drove the weapon into the flesh, +and before the woman could move, he cut her throat also, almost +beheading her.</p> +<p>He wiped the knife and his hands on the blanket, opened the +window, and descended. He had closed the catches. Once outside, he +ran to replace the ladder, and went back to his house. Denounced by +his mother and brought before the Court, Wu-ban tried to deny the +accusation. But the officers, on uncovering his shoulder, brought a +scar to view. Eternal Life recognized his voice and his body. The +first tortures overcame his obstinacy, and he confessed all.</p> +<p>The murderer was condemned to slow death.</p> +<p>Eternal Life was strangled, as was old Lu.</p> +<p>Chang, whose lecherous intentions had been the cause of all, was +sentenced to a heavy fine. In dismay, and half ruined, he no more +left his study chamber. Not long afterwards, he was carried off by +a lassitude and a languor.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Lu Wu-han yin liu ho chin hsieh (Lu Wi-han +keeps<br> +an Embroidered Slipper to his scathe) Hsing<br> +Shih heng yen (1627), 16th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="COUNTERFEIT"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE COUNTERFEIT OLD WOMAN</h2> +<p>During the Ch'eng-Hua period of our dynasty, there lived at +Shantung a young man named Flowering Mulberry, whose parents +possessed a sufficient fortune. He had just bound up his hair +beneath his man's bonnet; his fresh and rosy complexion added to +the delicate charm of his features.</p> +<p>One day, as he was going to visit an uncle in a neighboring +village, he was overtaken on the way by a heavy storm of rain, and +ran for shelter into a disused temple; and there, seated on the +ground waiting for the rain to stop, was an old woman. Flowering +Mulberry sat down and, since the storm grew more violent, resigned +himself to wait.</p> +<p>Finding him beautiful, the old woman began to converse and +ingratiate herself with him, until at length she came across to +him, and finally her hands wandered gently over his body.</p> +<p>He found this an agreeable manner of passing the time, but said +after a little while: "How is it that, although you are a woman, +you have the voice of a man?"</p> +<p>"My son, I will tell you the truth, but you must not reveal it +to anybody. I am not really a woman, but a man. When I was little, +I used often to disguise myself and mimic the shrill tones of young +girls; and I even learned to sew just as well as they. I used often +to go to the neighboring market towns, pretending that I was a +young girl and offering to do needlework; and my skill was soon +much admired by all the dwellers in the houses where I worked.</p> +<p>"I used to mingle with the women, and by degrees, according to +the licentiousness of their thought, we would enjoy our pleasure. +Soon the women found that they had no more occasion to go out for +their dalliance; and even the sober-minded girls among them became +involved. They did not dare to say anything, for fear of the +scandal; and also I had a drug which I applied during the night to +their faces, stupefying them so that they allowed me to do as I +liked. When they recovered their senses it was too late, and they +dared not protest. On the contrary, they used to bribe me with gold +and silken stuffs to keep silence and to leave their house. Ever +since then—and I am now forty-seven years of age—I have +never again put on a man's garments. I have traveled throughout the +two capitals and the nine provinces, and always when I see a +beautiful woman I contrive to go to her house. In this way I +accumulate riches with but little labor; and I have never been +found out."</p> +<p>"What an astonishing tale!" cried the fascinated Flowering +Mulberry. "I wonder whether I could do the like."</p> +<p>"One as beautiful as you are," answered the other, "will be +taken for a woman by everyone. If you wish me to be your instructor +you have only to come with me. I will bind up your feet, and teach +you to sew; and we will go into every house together. You shall be +my niece. If we find a good opportunity I shall give you a little +of my drug, and you will then have no difficulty in achieving your +purpose."</p> +<p>The young man's heart was devoured by a desire to put this +adventure to the proof. Without further hesitation he prostrated +himself four times, and adopted the old woman as his master, taking +not a moment's thought for his parents or for his honor. Such an +intoxicating thing is vice.</p> +<p>When it had stopped raining, he set out with the old woman; and +as soon as they were beyond the boundaries of Shantung they +purchased hair-pins and feminine dresses. The disguise was perfect, +and anyone would have sworn that Flowering Mulberry was an +authentic woman. He changed his first name for that of Niang "the +little girl," though for a few days he was so embarrassed that he +did not dare to speak.</p> +<p>But his master seemed no longer wishful to look for fresh +victims. Every evening he insisted upon his niece sharing his bed; +and up to a very late hour would proceed with his instruction and +that even to the furthest detail.</p> +<p>It was not for this that Flowering Mulberry had disguised +himself. One day he declared that thenceforward each should go his +own way, and the other was bound to agree; but before leaving him, +he gave the boy some further advice:</p> +<p>"Two highly important rules are to be observed in our +profession. The first is not to stop too long in the same house. If +you stayed in the one place more than half a month, you would +certainly be discovered. Therefore often change your district, so +that from month to month there may be no time for the traces of +your passage to become noticeable. The second rule is not to let a +man come near you. You are beautiful, young and alone in life, and +they will all wish to interfere with you. Therefore always surround +yourself with women. One last word: have nothing to do with little +girls; for they cry out and weep."</p> +<p>So then the two parted.</p> +<p>In the first village he came to, Flowering Mulberry perceived +through a door the silhouette of a most graceful young woman, and +struck upon the door by its copper knocker. The girl opened, and +looked at him through eyes filled with fire. A needle-woman was +just what they required.</p> +<p>But in the evening the boy was disappointed by the arrival of a +husband, whose lusty appearance left him small hope for the +night.</p> +<p>He was forced to wait until the young woman was left alone in +the house by day, and came to work in the chamber where he sat. +Then he ventured an observation upon the appearance of the +countryside, and afterwards congratulated her on her husband. She +blushed, and their conversation became more intimate. It was not +until the next day, however, that he dared to make an advance. This +met with immediate success. Two days afterwards he was forced into +a hurried departure; for the husband had taken notice of him, and +profited by his wife's momentary absence to suggest caresses.</p> +<p>Thenceforward he followed his trade. At the age of thirty-two he +had travelled over more than half the empire, and had beguiled +several thousand women. Often, he was so bold as to attack more +than eight persons at a time, in a single house, and not even the +little slaves escaped his attention. The happiness of which he was +thus the cause remained unsuspected, and no one suffered by it, +since none could dream of its existence. He always remembered his +master's rule, and never risked staying for more than a few days in +the same place.</p> +<p>At last he came to the province West-of-the-River, and was +received into an important house, where there were more than +fifteen women, all beautiful and young. His feeling toward each of +these was of so lively a nature that twenty days had passed before +he could make up his mind to go away. Now the husband of one of +these girls perceived him and, at once falling in love with him, +arranged that his wife should cause him to come to their house. +Flowering Mulberry went, suspecting nothing, and hardly had he +entered before the man came into the room, took him by the waist +and embraced him. Naturally he protested and began to cry out; but +the husband took not the slightest notice of that. He pushed him on +to the next room and searched him with shameless hands. It was his +turn to cry out: the slaves ran in, bound Flowering Mulberry, and +led him to the court of justice. In front of the judge he tried to +plead that he had adopted his disguise in order to gain his living. +But torture drew from him his real name and the true motive of his +behavior, together with an account of his latest exploits.</p> +<p>The Governor sent a report to the higher authorities, for he had +no precedent and knew not to what punishment to condemn him. The +Viceroy decided that the case must come under the law of adultery, +and also under that which dealt with the propagation of immorality. +The penalty was a slow death. No extenuating circumstances were +admitted. So ended this story.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Hsing shih heng yen (1627),<br> +10th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="MONASTERY"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>THE MONASTERY OF THE ESTEEMED-LOTUS</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p03.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p03s.png" alt= +"frontispiece"></a></div> +<p>In the town of Eternal Purity there was once a large monastery +dedicated to the Esteemed-Lotus. It contained hundreds of rooms, +and its grounds covered several thousand acres. Its wealth and +prosperity were due to the possession of a famous relic.</p> +<p>The bonzes, who numbered about a hundred, lived in luxury; and +visitors were sure to be received by one of them from the moment of +entry, and to be invited to take tea and cakes. Now in the temple +there was a "Babies' Chapel," which was reputed to possess +miraculous virtue. By passing the night in it and burning incense, +women who wished to have a son obtained a son: those who wished for +a daughter obtained a daughter.</p> +<p>Round the main hall were set several cells. Women who wished for +children had to be of vigorous age and free from malady. They used +to fast for seven days, and then go into the temple to prostrate +themselves before Fo, and to consult the wands of divination.</p> +<p>If the omens were favorable, they passed a night locked up alone +in one of the cells, for the purpose of prayer. If the omens were +unfavorable, it was because their prayers had not been sufficiently +sincere. The bonzes made this fault known to them; and they began +their seven days' fast anew, before returning to make their +devotions.</p> +<p>The cells had no sort of opening in their walls, and when a +penitent entered one of them, her family and attendants used to +come and install her. As soon as night came, she was locked in the +cell, and the bonzes insisted that a member of her family must pass +the night before her door, so that none might entertain the least +suspicion of an entry to her. When the woman returned to her home, +the child was already formed. It was born fat and beautiful always, +and without any blemish.</p> +<p>There was, moreover, no household, either of public officials or +the common people, which did not send one or even two of its +members to pray in the Babies' Chapel. And women came to it even +from the provinces.</p> +<p>Every day the crowd in the monastery was comparable with +mountains or the sea, and the place was filled with the gayest +hubbub. They no longer kept any reckoning of the offerings of every +kind which flowed in upon them. When the women were asked how, +during the night, the P'u-sa had made his answer intelligible, some +answered simply that Fo had told them in a dream that they would +have a son. Others said that they had dreamed that a lo-han had +come and lain beside them. Others asserted that they had had no +dream. Others again blushed and declined to answer. Some women +never repeated this kind of prayer a second time: others, on the +contrary, went to the temple as often as possible.</p> +<p>You will tell me that this story of a Fo or of a P'u-sa coming +every night to the monastery is in no way short of preposterous. +But it must be borne in mind that the people of that district had a +greater faith in sorcerers than in doctors, and could not +distinguish the true from the false. Consequently they continued to +send their wives to the temple.</p> +<p>As a matter of course these bonzes, whose outward behavior was +so laudable and correct, were wholly and unreservedly gluttons +within, both for luxury and debauch.</p> +<p>Although the cells were apparently quite close, each really had +a secret door. When the women were sound asleep, the bonzes came +softly into the cell, and to such purpose that, when their victims +were aroused, it was already almost too late. Those who would have +wished to protest kept silence for the sake of their +reputations.</p> +<p>Now the women were young and sound: the bonzes were strong and +vigorous. They had, moreover, taken the precaution to cause certain +special pills to be administered to their visitors. Consequently it +but rarely happened that these prayers were not heard. Sober-minded +wives would have died with shame sooner than confess the matter to +their husbands; and, as for the others, they kept quiet so that +they might be able to do it again.</p> +<p>Matters were in this case when a new Governor was appointed to +the district, the Lord Wang. Soon after he entered upon his office, +he heard tell of the Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, and could not +help thinking:</p> +<p>"Since it is Fo and P'u-sa who are involved, it should be enough +simply to pray. Why, then, must the women also go and pass the +night in the temple? There must be some questionable artifice in +that."</p> +<p>But he could do nothing without proof; so he waited until the +ninth Sun of the ninth Moon, which was a great festival, and then +mixed with the crowd of the faithful who went to the holy +place.</p> +<p>Passing through the main gate, he found himself beneath great +acacias and hundred-year-old pines. Before him stood the temple, +brightly painted with vermilion and decorated by a tablet on which +was inscribed in gold letters: "Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, +for Retirement." To right and left was a succession of pavilions, +and innumerable visitors were going out and coming in.</p> +<p>The first bonze who saw the Governor wished to run and warn his +companions. The Lord Wang attempted to stop him, but he broke +loose, and soon the drums and bells were sounding to do honor to +the magistrate, while the bonzes formed in two ranks and bowed as +he passed along.</p> +<p>He entered the temple and burned some joss-sticks; after which +the Superior made him a low obeisance and begged him to come and +rest himself for a moment in the reception hall. Tea was served. +Then, concealing his true design, the Governor said:</p> +<p>"I have learned of the great reputation of this Holy Retreat, +and I intend to ask the Emperor to grant you a tablet of honor +inscribed with the names and particulars of all the bonzes of the +district."</p> +<p>Naturally the delighted Superior wished to prostrate himself in +thanks; but the Governor continued:</p> +<p>"They have spoken to me also of a miraculous chapel. Is the +matter so in truth? And in what manner are these prayers made?"</p> +<p>The Superior answered without misgiving that the period of +fasting was seven days; but that by reason of the greatness of +their desire and the sincerity of their prayers it most frequently +happened that the petitions of the suppliants were granted in a +dream during the night which they passed at the monastery.</p> +<p>The Governor asked carelessly what measures were taken to ensure +the preservation of the proprieties; and the other explained that +the cells had no other entrance than the door, before which a +member of the family had to pass the night.</p> +<p>"Since that is the case," said the visitor, "I shall send my +wife here."</p> +<p>"If you wish for a son, it is only necessary for both of you to +pray sincerely in your palace, and the miracle will be +accomplished," the Superior assured him hastily; for he was greatly +afraid to see the local authorities concerning themselves in this +affair.</p> +<p>"But why must the wives of the people come here, if my wife need +not disturb herself to do so?"</p> +<p>"Are you not the protector of our doctrine, and is it not +natural that the spirits should pay special attention to your +prayers?" answered the astute bonze.</p> +<p>"So be it," agreed Wang. "But allow me to visit this miraculous +chapel."</p> +<p>The hall was filled with women, who fled to right and left. The +statue of Kwan-yin was covered with necklaces and pieces of +embroidery. She was represented holding a child in her arms, while +four or five babies clung to her robe. The altar and the walls were +covered with votive offerings, chiefly consisting of embroidered +slippers. Candles beyond number were held in branches of +candlesticks. The hall was filled with the smoke of incense. To the +left was the immortal Chang who gives us children. To the right was +the "Officer of the Star of Extended Longevity."</p> +<p>Wang bowed before the goddess. Then he went to visit the +penitents' cells. Each ceiling was painted over with flowers, a +carpet covered each floor and the bed, the table and the chairs +were spotlessly clean.</p> +<p>He examined the cells carefully all over and found no crack. Not +a mouse, not even an ant could have entered in. He went out in +perplexity and, after the usual formalities, again stepped into his +palankeen, which was accompanied to the gate by all the bonzes.</p> +<p>Thinking to the right and musing to the left, as the proverb +says, the Governor suddenly conceived a plan. As soon as he arrived +at the palace, he summoned one of his secretaries, and said to +him:</p> +<p>"Go and find me two harlots, and clothe them as honest women. +Give one of them a box of black ink and the other a box of +vermilion paste, and send them to pass the night at the monastery. +If any one approaches them, let them mark his head with the red and +the black. I shall go myself to-morrow morning to examine the +matter. Above all, let this thing be kept the closest secret."</p> +<p>The secretary at once went to seek out two public women of his +acquaintance. One was named Mei-chieh, and the other Wan-erh. He +took them to his house, explained the Governor's orders to them, +and clothed them as matrons of good family. He summoned two +palankeens, which he caused the sham penitents to enter, and +himself conducted the procession to the monastery. He left the +women in their cells, and came back to inform the monk on duty.</p> +<p>After his departure, a little novice brought tea to the present +visitors, who were more than ten in number. Who would have thought +of troubling to examine the two new arrivals?</p> +<p>At the sounding of the first watch, all the cells were locked. +The members of the various families took up their positions before +the doors. The bonzes shut themselves into their own +apartments.</p> +<p>When Mei-chieh found herself alone, she put her little box of +vermilion near the pillow, turned up the lamp, undressed herself, +and lay upon the bed. But she was unable to sleep for thinking of +her mission, and continually kept looking through the bed +curtains.</p> +<p>The second watch sounded. On every side the sounds of human life +were silenced, and all things were still. Suddenly she heard, under +the floor, this noise: Ko-Ko. She sat up, thinking it was a rat, +and saw a part of the floor move to one side. A shaven head +appeared, and was quickly followed by the whole body. It was a +bonze. Mei-chieh was astounded, and thought:</p> +<p>"So these rascally priests have been outraging honest +women!"</p> +<p>But she did not stir. The bonze quietly blew out the lamp, came +towards the bed, let fall his robe, and slipped under the +blankets.</p> +<p>Mei-chieh pretended to be asleep. She felt him gently move her +leg to one side, and then she made as though to wake saying:</p> +<p>"Who are you who come in the night and insult me?" She pushed +him away, but the bonze embraced her in his arms, and whispered: "I +am a lo-han with a body of gold, and I have come to give you a +son."</p> +<p>While speaking, he busied himself in accordance with his +salacity. It must be said that all bonzes have no mean talent in +the matter of cloud and rain; and this one was full of vigorous +manhood. Mei-chieh was a woman of great experience, but she was +unable to resist him and had difficulty, at length, in repressing +herself. However, she took advantage of his arriving at the supreme +point of his emotion to dip her fingers in the box of vermilion and +to mark his head without his perceiving it. After a certain time, +the bonze glided from the bed, leaving the girl a little packet, +and saying:</p> +<p>"Here are some pills to assist your prayer. Take three-tenths of +an ounce each day in hot water, and you will have a son."</p> +<p>Weary in body, Mei-chieh was just dimly closing her eyes, when +she was aroused by a fresh touch, and, thinking that the same bonze +had returned, said in surprise:</p> +<p>"What? Are you able to come back again, when even I am so +tired?"</p> +<p>But he answered without a pause:</p> +<p>"You are making a mistake! I have but just come, and the saviour +of my comforts is as yet unknown to you."</p> +<p>"But, I am tired...."</p> +<p>"In that case, take one of these pills...."</p> +<p>And he handed her a packet. But she was afraid that it might be +poison and placed it on the bed, contriving in the same movement to +dip her fingers in the vermilion and to stroke the newcomer's head. +He was even more terrible than the former, and did not cease before +cock-crow.</p> +<p>As the old song says:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza">In an old stone mortar Where so many pestles +have been worn away, There is need of a heavy copper hammer, Or the +work is lost.</div> +</div> +<p>At dawn, another bonze appeared and said to them in a low +voice:</p> +<p>"Perhaps you have had your fill. Is not my turn coming?"</p> +<p>The first bonze gave a chuckle, but rose and went out. The other +then got upon the bed, and very gently caressed Mei-chieh.</p> +<p>She pretended to repulse him, but he kissed her upon the lips, +and said in her ear:</p> +<p>"If he has fatigued you, I have here some pills which will +restore the Springtime of your thoughts."</p> +<p>And he thrust a pill into her mouth, which she could not avoid +swallowing. A perfume rose from her mouth into her nostrils, and +caused her bones to melt, imbuing her body with delicious +warmth.</p> +<p>But, even while thinking of herself, Mei-chieh did not forget +the Governor's orders. She marked the head of this new assailant +also, saying:</p> +<p>"What a nice sleek old pate!"</p> +<p>The bonze burst out laughing:</p> +<p>"I am full of tender and reliable emotions. I am not like the +unmannerly people of our town. Come and see me often."</p> +<p>And he retired.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the Governor had left his yamen by the fifth watch, +before the day had yet broken, accompanied by an escort of about a +hundred resolute men, carrying chains and manacles.</p> +<p>Arriving at the still closed gate of the monastery, he made the +greater part of his train hide to the right and left, keeping only +some ten men about him. The secretary knocked at the gate, crying +that the Governor was there and wished to enter.</p> +<p>The first bonzes who heard his shout made haste to arrange their +garments and receive the visitor. But the Lord Wang, paying no +attention to their salutations, went straight to the apartment of +the Superior, who was already up and prepared to begin the ritual +of his greeting. But the Governor dryly ordered him to summon all +the bonzes, and to show him the Convent register.</p> +<p>Somewhat alarmed, the Superior ordered bells and drums to be +sounded, and the bonzes, snatched from their sleep, ran up in +groups. When the names written on the register had been called, the +Governor commanded the astonished monks to remove their +skullcaps.</p> +<p>In the full light of the morning sun three heads were seen to be +marked with vermilion, but, Oh, prodigy, no less than eleven heads +were covered with black ink!</p> +<p>"It no longer surprises me that these prayers should be so +successful," murmured the secretary. "Indeed these bonzes are very +conscientious!"</p> +<p>Lord Wang pointed out the guilty ones, and caused them to be put +in chains, asking: "Whence come these marks of red and black upon +you?"</p> +<p>But the kneeling monks looked at each other and could not +answer, while the whole assembly remained stricken with wonder at +this strange event.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the secretary had gone into the Babies' Chapel and, by +dint of shouting, had roused the two harlots from a heavy +sleep.</p> +<p>They quickly put on their garments, and came to kneel before the +Governor, who asked them:</p> +<p>"What did you see during the night? Tell me the whole +truth."</p> +<p>Since they had agreed to the mission, the two women rendered a +plain account of the events of that night, showing the pills which +the bonzes had given them, and also their boxes of vermilion and +black.</p> +<p>The bonzes, seeing that their schemes were brought to light, +felt their livers turn and their hearts put out of working. They +groaned in their secret despair, while the fourteen culprits beat +the earth with their brows and begged for mercy.</p> +<p>"Miserable wretches, you dare to preach divine intervention, so +that you may deceive the foolish and outrage the virtuous! What +have you to say?"</p> +<p>But the cunning Superior already had his plan. He ordered all +the bonzes to kneel, and said:</p> +<p>"These unhappy ones whom you have convicted are without excuse. +But they were the only ones who dared to act so. All my other monks +are pure. You have been able to discover the shame of the guilty, +which I in my ignorance could not, and there is nothing for it but +to put them to death."</p> +<p>The Governor smiled:</p> +<p>"Then it is only the cells which these two women occupied that +have secret passages?"</p> +<p>"There are only those two cells," answered the unblushing +Superior.</p> +<p>"We shall question all the other women, and then see."</p> +<p>The female visitors, who had already been wakened by the noise, +came in turns to give their evidence. They were all in agreement: +no bonze had come to trouble them. But the Governor knew that shame +would prevent them from speaking, and therefore had them searched. +In the pocket of each was found a little packet of pills. He asked +them whence these came; but the women, purple in the face and +scarlet in the neck, answered no word.</p> +<p>While this examination was taking place, the husbands of the +penitents came up and took a part in it. And their anger made them +tremble like the hemp-plant or leaves of a tree. When the Governor, +who did not wish to push his questioning too far, had allowed the +visitors to depart, their husbands swallowed their shame and +indignation, and led them away.</p> +<p>The Superior had not yet given up the fight. He asserted that +the pills had been given to the women as they entered the +monastery. But the two harlots again affirmed that they at least +had received them during the visit of the bonzes.</p> +<p>"The matter is quite clear," the Governor cried at length. "Put +all of these adulterers in chains!"</p> +<p>The bonzes had some thought of resisting; but they had no +weapons and were outnumbered. The only ones left free were an old +man who kindled the incense, and the two little novices still in +childhood.</p> +<p>The gate of the monastery was closed and guarded. On his return +to the yamen, the Governor took his seat in the Hall of Justice, +and had his prisoners questioned in the usual ways. Fear of pain +loosened their tongues, and they were condemned to death. They were +cast into prison to await the ratification of their sentence.</p> +<p>As the Governor of the prison went his rounds to inspect their +bonds, the Superior whispered to him:</p> +<p>"We have brought nothing, neither clothes, nor blankets, nor +food. If you will allow me to return for a moment to the monastery +with three or four of my monks, I will willingly give you a hundred +ounces of silver."</p> +<p>The prison governor knew the wealth of the monastery. He +smiled:</p> +<p>"My price is a hundred ounces for myself, and two hundred for my +men."</p> +<p>The Superior made a grimace, but was compelled to promise this +larger sum. The warders consulted with each other, and finally, +when night came, led the Superior and three of his bonzes back to +the monastery. From a secret place among their cells the monks took +the promised three hundred ounces, and gave them at once to the +warders. While these were weighing them and sharing them among +themselves, they collected the rest of their treasure, and secretly +laid hold of weapons, short swords and hatchets, which they rolled +up in their blankets. Also they brought away wine. Thus heavily +laden, warders and bonzes alike returned to the prison, and held a +feast. The priests succeeded in making their warders drunk. In the +middle of the night they drew forth their weapons and, having first +set each other free, proceeded to force the gates. They might +perhaps have escaped altogether; but in their rancour against the +Governor they went first to attack the yamen. The troops of police +were numerous and well armed, and the bonzes were quickly overcome. +The Superior gave his men orders to return as quickly as possible +to the prison, to lay down their arms and to say that only a few of +them had revolted, since this might save the others. But the +warders attacked them so hotly that they were all put back in +chains.</p> +<p>Their crime was grave, and doubly aggravated by rebellion. Next +day, when the sun had well risen, the Governor gave his judgment. +All the hundred and twelve monks were led straight to the +market-place and beheaded. Groups of men provided with torches went +to set fire to the monastery, and it was soon a smoking ruin. Joy +flowered upon the faces of all the men of that town. But it is said +that many of the women wept in secret.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Adapted from Hsing shih heng yen<br> +(1627), 39th Tale.</i></p> +<hr> +<a name="COMPLICATED"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<h2>A COMPLICATED MARRIAGE</h2> +<div class="figcenter"><a href="images/p04.png" target= +"blank"><img width="150" src="images/p04s.png" alt= +"frontispiece"></a></div> +<p>Marriages have from all time been arranged beforehand by Heaven. +If such is the will of destiny, the most distantly separated +persons come together, and the nearest neighbors never see each +other. All is settled before birth, and every effort of mortals +does but accomplish the decree of Fate. This is proved by the +following story.</p> +<p>During the Ching-yu period of the Sung dynasty, there lived at +Hang-chow a doctor named Liu. His wife had given him a son and a +daughter. The son, who was but sixteen years old, had been called +Virgin Diamond, and was betrothed to young Pearl, of the family of +Sun. He was brilliant in his studies, and gave every promise that +he would one day attain to the highest literary standard, and to +the greatest honor. The daughter was named Prudence. She was +fifteen years old, and had just received marriage gifts from her +betrothed, the son of P'ei, a neighboring druggist. Her eyebrows +were like the feelers of a butterfly, and her eyes had the grace of +those of a phoenix. Her hips, flexible as willow branches swayed by +the wind, wakened the liveliest feeling. Her face was that of a +flower; and the nimbleness of her light body brought to mind the +flight of swallows.</p> +<p>The go-between who had concluded Prudence's betrothal came one +day at the instance of the P'ei family to ask that marriage might +be hastened. But Liu had determined first to accomplish the +ceremonies for his son, and accordingly took customary steps with +this object in view, so that a day was at length fixed. But when +the appointed time was drawing near, Virgin Diamond fell seriously +ill. His father, Liu, wished to postpone the ceremony, but his +mother argued that perhaps joy would cure him better than +medicine.</p> +<p>"But if, by mischance, our son should die?" he insisted.</p> +<p>"We will send back the bride and all the gifts, and the family +will have nothing to say."</p> +<p>The doctor, like many men, was wax in the hands of his wife, and +therefore her wish was fulfilled.</p> +<p>But it chanced that one of their neighbors had been slightly +affronted by them, and had never forgiven them. He heard of Virgin +Diamond's illness, and spoke of it to the family of Sun.</p> +<p>Sun had no intention of compromising his daughter's future; so +he summoned and questioned the go-between who had arranged the +betrothal. The poor woman was in a great quandary, fearing to +offend either the one family or the other; yet she was compelled to +admit the truth. In her anxiety she ran to the house of Liu to +obtain a postponement of the marriage until Virgin Diamond's +recovery, and hinted that, failing this, Sun would send his old +nurse to see the sick bridegroom.</p> +<p>Liu did not know what to do, and before he had come to a +decision, the nurse arrived. He saluted her, not knowing what +excuse to make. At last he said to the go-between: "Be so good as +to entertain this venerable aunt for a moment, while I go and find +my Old-Thornbush."</p> +<p>He hurried into the interior of the house, and in a few words +told his wife what was happening.</p> +<p>"She is already here and wishes to see our son. I told you that +it would have been better to change the day."</p> +<p>"You really are a decayed piece of goods. Their daughter has +received our gifts, and is already our daughter-in-law. You shall +see."</p> +<p>Then she said to Prudence:</p> +<p>"Make haste and prepare our large room for a collation to the +family of Sun."</p> +<p>She herself went to the room where the nurse was, and asked:</p> +<p>"Has our new daughter's mother something to say to us?"</p> +<p>"She is uneasy about the health of your honorable son, and has +sent me to see him, thinking that it would be better to postpone +the marriage if he were seriously ill."</p> +<p>"I am gratified to receive this proof of her consideration. My +son has, in fact, taken cold, but it is not a serious +indisposition. As for choosing another day, that is not to be +thought of. Our preparations are made, and a delay would involve +too great a loss. Furthermore, happiness drives away every ill. The +invitations are sent out. We might imagine that your family had +changed its intention...."</p> +<p>"At least, can I see the invalid?"</p> +<p>"He has just taken a drug and is asleep. Besides, I have told +you that he has caught cold. Are you trying to insult me by +expressing a wish to prove my words?"</p> +<p>"If the matter stands thus," the nurse politely made haste to +answer, "it only remains for me to withdraw."</p> +<p>"You cannot go in this way. You have not even taken a cup of +tea. If you please, let us go into the new room, for my house is +all in disorder."</p> +<p>On entering, the nurse observed the excellent arrangement of the +young couple's apartment.</p> +<p>"Everything is ready, as you see," said the wife of Liu. "And if +my son is not quite recovered after the ceremony, I shall take care +of him in my pavilion, until he is able to embark upon his conjugal +life."</p> +<p>Having taken tea, the nurse at last arose and went away. On her +return she recounted to her master and mistress what had taken +place, and Sun and his wife found themselves in a difficult +dilemma. They could not think of allowing their daughter to ruin +her life by entering of her betrothed, if he were going to die, +and, if the young man were not seriously ill, they stood the risk +of losing all their preparation, and of giving occasion for +slander. Suddenly their son Yu-lang, who was present, said:</p> +<p>"If they have not allowed him to be seen, it means that he is +seriously ill. There is no way by which we can go back on our +contract; and yet we cannot send my sister to her ruin in this +fashion. I have a plan, and you must tell me what you think of it. +Let us send the go-between to advise Liu that the marriage will +take place on the appointed day, but that the bride's equipment +will not be sent until after her husband's recovery. I am sure that +they will reject this offer, and then we shall have a good excuse +for throwing the blame on them."</p> +<p>"But what if they should agree," objected his parents, after a +moment's reflection.</p> +<p>"They will certainly not agree, or else they would have +postponed the marriage. Besides, it is impossible that they should +be willing to have another mouth to feed, without any dowry or +plenishing."</p> +<p>His father said:</p> +<p>"Very well, if by any chance they do agree, you shall disguise +yourself as a woman and go in your sister's place. You could take a +man's clothing with you, and put it on if the sick youth recovered, +or matters seemed to take an unfortunate turn. They would not dare +to say anything for fear of being ridiculed."</p> +<p>"Oh! that is impossible!" cried the young man. "In the first +place I would be discovered at once. And what would people say of +me afterwards?"</p> +<p>"They would say that you had played a trick on these people, and +that is all. You are still in the freshness of youth. You are +sufficiently like your sister to deceive those who do not know you +very well, especially in a wedding garment. You must do it. That is +decided. The nurse can go with you to arrange your hair.... And in +this way, if our son-in-law dies, Liu will have neither my daughter +nor her equipment."</p> +<p>When the wife of Liu received Sun's proposal from the mouth of +the go-between, she hesitated for a moment. But then she reflected +on the false situation in which she would be placed by refusing. +So, masking her thoughts beneath a smile, she agreed to the +arrangement.</p> +<p>On the day fixed for the marriage, Yu-lang was constrained to +disguise himself. But two grave difficulties presented themselves. +First with regard to his feet: how was it possible for him to +imitate his sister's ravishing golden lotuses, so like to sphinx +heads, and the balancing of her light steps, a swaying of flowers +in the soft breeze? They gave him a petticoat which reached to the +ground, and he practised his sister's gait, at which she laughed +until she cried. The next question was his ear-rings. It so +happened that his left lobe had been pierced; for in his childhood +they had made him wear one ring, in order to persuade the evil +spirits that he was a girl, whose death would be of no importance. +Everybody knows that the Jinn always endeavor to rob us of that +which is truly dear to us, and leave untouched that which is of no +value.</p> +<p>So Yu-lang hung a jewel in his left lobe, and stuck a small +piece of plaster over his right ear, so that it might seem it had +suffered a slight wound. His great pearl-decorated headdress +concealed his head, brow and shoulders. His scarlet robes, +embroidered with gold and silver, helped to disguise his figure, +and the transformation was complete by rouge on his lips and +cheeks.</p> +<p>When evening at length drew near, drums and flutes were sounded, +the flowered palankeen entered the courtyard, and the hoodwinked +go-between, admiring the beauty of the bogus bride, herself opened +the scarlet curtains. Not seeing Yu-lang; she remarked upon this +circumstance, and they answered carelessly that he was indisposed +and kept to his bed. Actually at that moment he was taking leave of +his parents and imitating to the best of his ability the sobs which +were fitting to the occasion.</p> +<p>The procession at last set out and all the bride's equipment was +a little leather trunk. At the house of Liu there was considerable +discussion:</p> +<p>"When the bride arrives, our son will be unable to cross the +threshold as ritual demands, and the marriage will not be +accomplished. The bride will be left alone to salute the ancestors, +and this is impossible. What shall we do?"</p> +<p>"It cannot be helped," answered the mother. "So much the worse! +Our daughter must make it known that she will take her brother's +place. She shall recite the poem of the threshold in his name, and +the rites will be thus observed."</p> +<p>And Prudence, in her graceful girl's garments, did in fact +receive the false Pearl as she got out of the palankeen, pronounced +the sacred formulas, and led the new bride before the tablets. The +two seeming sisters-in-law knelt down, and several of the +bystanders laughed inwardly to see two women perform the marriage +ceremony, and then kneel for the purpose of the grand +prostration.</p> +<p>The wife of Liu led Yu-lang to the invalid's bed; but he had +been excited and troubled by the music and noise, and had fainted. +They had hastily to revive him by pouring some spoonfuls of hot +soup in his mouth.</p> +<p>At length the false bride was led to the prepared pavilion, and +her great veil was taken off. Then her fresh beauty shone forth, +and everybody uttered exclamations of joy: the wife of Liu was +alone in feeling a certain compassion, for she thought of all that +the new bride would have to lose, and deplored her son's misfortune +in falling ill at the moment of tasting so great happiness.</p> +<p>As for Yu-lang, the tedium of beholding the hideousness of all +the guests was curiously diminished by the pleasure of seeing +Prudence's delectable face. He thought:</p> +<p>"What a misfortune that I am already betrothed! Here is she whom +Fate should have given me."</p> +<p>Prudence, on her part, felt herself drawn towards him in an +irresistible manner, and said to her mother and the go-between:</p> +<p>"Alas! surely my brother has no luck, and my sister-in-law will +be very unhappy alone tonight! Is she not charming? If my future +husband were like her, my life would be free from all regret."</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the marriage feast came to an end, a present was sent +to the musicians, and the guests withdrew. The disguised boy, after +being conducted to his pavilion, had his nurse's assistance in +unmaking the complicated structure of his nuptial adornment. At +last he found himself alone, but with no wish for sleep. Now Liu +and his wife said to each other:</p> +<p>"It seems hard to leave the newly-wed bride alone for her first +night under our roof. Would it not be better to tell Prudence to go +and keep her company?"</p> +<p>As always, the father made certain objections which were not +listened to. Prudence insisted, and soon mother and daughter went +together to the new pavilion, and approached the bed, the curtains +of which were drawn shut.</p> +<p>"Here is your sister-in-law come to spend the night with +you...."</p> +<p>Yu-lang did not know what to say. He was afraid of being +discovered, and held the curtains very tightly under his chin, as +he put his head through the opening.</p> +<p>"I am accustomed to be alone," he stammered. But the mother +said:</p> +<p>"Aya! You are both of the same age, you are almost sisters. What +are you afraid of? If you want to be particular, you have only to +keep a blanket between you."</p> +<p>During this time, Yu-lang was moved as much by fear as by +delight. Was it not strangely fortunate that Prudence's mother +should herself have come and let her in this manner to his bed? But +if the young girl should call out? On the other hand he +thought:</p> +<p>"She is fifteen years old, therefore she has been ready for some +time; the door of her emotions is ajar. If I take precaution and +kindle her heart little by little, there is no need to fear that +she will refuse to nibble at my hook."</p> +<p>Now the wife of Liu had already retired, and Prudence had shot +the bolt of the door. She was laughing all over the bright +chrysanthemum of her face:</p> +<p>"Sister-in-law, you have taken no refreshment. Are you not +hungry? If you wish for anything, tell me, and I will go and fetch +it for you."</p> +<p>"I am deeply grateful to my sister-in-law for her gentle +thought."</p> +<p>Prudence noticed that the wick of the lamp had not been trimmed, +and was burning long, straight and red. So she exclaimed:</p> +<p>"That is for your happiness, sister-in-law!"</p> +<p>The other could not restrain a burst of laughter.</p> +<p>Prudence blushed and laughed also:</p> +<p>"You know how to be merry."</p> +<p>So they talked together. At length the maiden, taking the +flowers out of her hair, got upon the bed and knelt down to undress +herself. He asked her:</p> +<p>"On which pillow would you like to sleep? The lower one?"</p> +<p>"As my sister-in-law wishes."</p> +<p>"Then, if you please, let us sleep on the same."</p> +<p>"Very well."</p> +<p>Prudence had slipped under the blankets to finish undressing, +and the boy did likewise, removing his upper garment. The lamp, +placed on a little table beside the bed, dimly lit up the recess +through the thin curtains.</p> +<p>His emotion began to rise, and he asked:</p> +<p>"How many flowering Springtides have you known?"</p> +<p>"Fifteen, this year."</p> +<p>"Are you betrothed?"</p> +<p>But she was seized with unaccountable shyness, and dared not +answer. He brought his lips close to the delicate ear lying beside +him, and whispered:</p> +<p>"Why are you so bashful? We are only two women together."</p> +<p>Very low, she answered him:</p> +<p>"I am betrothed to the son of P'ei, the druggist, and already +they are urging that the ceremony should take place. Happily +nothing is yet decided."</p> +<p>"You are not very eager, then?"</p> +<p>She pushed his head gently away, saying:</p> +<p>"It is not nice of you to take hold of my words in this way, and +to make fun of me. If I am not eager, you do not seem to be any +more so than I."</p> +<p>"And how do you know that, maiden? In any case, how could I be +so when we are two women."</p> +<p>"You speak to me as if you were my mother," the other +laughed.</p> +<p>"Considering my age, I should rather be your husband," he +thoughtlessly said.</p> +<p>She burst out laughing:</p> +<p>"It is I who am the husband, seeing that I took my brother's +place at the wedding."</p> +<p>"Well, let us not argue, but rather act as if we were husband +and wife."</p> +<p>Thus both of them spoke words of meaning. They grew more and +more passionate.</p> +<p>"Since we are husband and wife," he said impatiently, "why do we +not sleep under the same blanket?"</p> +<p>As he spoke, he pushed back the thick quilt, and began to +observe the garment on the so sweet and smooth, so soft and +graceful body. She had kept on an under garment, but her heart was +filled with Springtime thoughts, and she offered no resistance to +his eye.</p> +<p>Then, trembling with desire, he came to her breasts that had so +lately dawned, and were so firm. Their tender points were red as a +cock's crest, and in all things lovable.</p> +<p>Delighted with this game, Prudence put out her hands to return +his caresses, and also found his breasts. But there was nothing but +quite a little button. She was astonished, and said to herself:</p> +<p>"She is as tall as I am. How comes it that she is not further +developed?"</p> +<p>But by this time Yu-lang was holding her right in his arms, and +had his lips glued to her, wantonly thrusting out his tongue. She +continued the game by giving it a little nibble, and then thrust +out her own tongue. This he so tenderly caressed with his that the +girl's body seemed all at once to melt, and she said +languorously:</p> +<p>"This is no longer a game. We are truly husband and wife!"</p> +<p>The false bride, seeing that he had fully awakened the passion +of his dupe, made answer:</p> +<p>"Not yet. We must take off our under garments."</p> +<p>"But I am afraid lest people should talk. It is not good to take +them off."</p> +<p>He gave a nervous laugh and, without paying attention to her +words, undid her girdle and took off her garment. As he advanced +toward her, she protected herself with her two hands, saying:</p> +<p>"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, you must not!"</p> +<p>But he kissed her again upon the lips.</p> +<p>"There is nothing to forbid it, little sister. You may caress me +also."</p> +<p>In her agitation, and so as not to seem too stupid, she took off +his vest, and her timid little hand suddenly stopped short. Her +surprise was such that, for a moment, she could not speak. But at +last she said: "What man are you who dare to take my +sister-in-law's place?"</p> +<p>"I am your husband," he answered hugging her to him.</p> +<p>She pushed him off, and said seriously:</p> +<p>"If you do not tell me in plain truth who you are, I shall cry +and call out, and you will be sorry for that."</p> +<p>"Do not be angry, little sister," he replied. "I will tell you +everything. I am Yu-lang, your sister-in-law's elder brother. My +parents heard that your brother was seriously ill, and did not wish +my sister to leave our house; but since your parents would not +alter the day of the marriage, I had to disguise myself and take my +sister's place, until your brother should be healed. I never +expected that Heaven would, in its bounty, allow me to become your +husband. But we alone must know of our love. Let us not betray it +to any."</p> +<p>Pressing forward again, he tried to bind her in his arms. +Although she had believed she was with a woman, Prudence had loved +him from the first; the feeling which she had mistaken for +friendship quickly changed to that of love, for it was kindled, as +was all of her, by the young man's ardour. Nevertheless she was +suffused with shame, and so wavered between one extremity and the +other.</p> +<p>As for him, in the freshness of his still maiden youth he spoke +to her of everlasting vows, of a love higher than the mountain and +vaster than the sea, and of a marriage shaped from a boundless +happiness. Her betrothed, her parents and her shame were all +forgotten. She covered her face with her hand and resisted no +longer.</p> +<p>When the cloud and the rain of their intoxication had been +dispelled, they clasped each other close and went to sleep.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the nurse, being in the secret of this disguise, had +been much disturbed at seeing Prudence share the young man's bed. +From the adjoining room she had heard their laughter, and then +their sighs, and had no further doubt of what had happened. And +inwardly she cried: "Woe! Woe!"</p> +<p>In the morning, after Prudence had returned to her parents' +house to perform her toilet, the woman came in to wait upon +Yu-lang, and said to him in a low voice:</p> +<p>"O practitioner! You have done a fine thing! What will happen if +people come to know of it?"</p> +<p>"I did not search her out. Her mother led her to my bed. How +could I have avoided this?"</p> +<p>"You ought to have resisted with all your might."</p> +<p>"With such an adorably beautiful girl? Even a man of iron and +stone could not have resisted. Also, if you say nothing, who will +know of it?"</p> +<p>When the process of disguise was again completed, he went to +salute the wife of Liu. Then all the women of the house and the +cousins came to see him. Finally Prudence came in, and they two +laughed together. For that day, as was the custom, Liu and his wife +had invited their relations and friends, and there was a great +feast, with music and a dinner lasting until the evening. Then, +when the house was quiet again, the girl went, as on the previous +night, to keep young Yu-lang company. That night, even more so than +the preceding one, the butterflies beat their wings, and the +passionate phoenixes were convulsed.</p> +<p>In the morning, they kept together. Therefore the scandalized +nurse ran out and told everything to Sun said his wife, and they +reeled with surprise and emotion.</p> +<p>"Alas, misfortune will certainly come of it! We must bring him +back as soon as possible."</p> +<p>They summoned the go-between and told her that, according to +custom, on the third day after the marriage they wished to see +their daughter at their house. She therefore went to the home of +Liu, and the two lovers trembled when they heard of this request. +But the wife of Liu had not forgotten the difficulties which Sun +had made with regard to the marriage; and she was afraid of not +seeing her daughter-in-law again. So she said:</p> +<p>"But my son is still suffering, and the marriage has not been +altogether accomplished. We will speak of this again at some later +time."</p> +<p>This answer had to be sufficient. The nurse was in terror, and +watched the approaches of the room all night for fear lest anybody +should hear the rapturous exclamation of the lovers.</p> +<p>The days passed, and Virgin Diamond gradually grew better. Since +he admired the beauty of his young wife, his desire to know her +hastened his recovery, and the time came when he was able to get +up. Still walking unsteadily, he went into the nuptial pavilion to +see her who was his bride, and came before the door, supported by +his attendants. The nurse was there, and cried out loud:</p> +<p>"My Lord wishes to enter!"</p> +<p>Yu-lang was, quite naturally, holding Prudence in his arms. He +hastily released her, and went close to the door.</p> +<p>"You have succeeded in rising, my elder brother?" said Prudence. +"You will fatigue yourself."</p> +<p>"That is no matter," he answered, making a deep obeisance before +her whom he believed to be his wife.</p> +<p>"Ten thousand happinesses be with you!" Yu-lang graciously +replied.</p> +<p>"What an exquisite pair!" cried the wife of Liu, proud of her +son and happy at his fortune.</p> +<p>The false bride's beauty was meanwhile strangely reviving the +invalid's vitality. And the other lad thought:</p> +<p>"He is a fine boy in spite of his illness: there is no need to +pity my sister. But if he can get up, he will waste no time in +coming to spend the night with me. I must depart as quickly as +possible."</p> +<p>When evening came, he explained his fears to Prudence.</p> +<p>"It is quite necessary to persuade your mother to send me back +to my home, that I may change places with my sister. Everything +will be discovered if we delay."</p> +<p>"You wish to go? But what will become of me alone?"</p> +<p>"I have already thought of that. Alas. Alas! But we are both +betrothed to another. What can we do?"</p> +<p>"If you do not want me living, I must die so that my soul may +follow you."</p> +<p>And she sobbed and sobbed. He dried her eyes saying to her:</p> +<p>"Do not meet trouble in this way, but leave me to find a +plan."</p> +<p>They clasped each other in their arms, shedding most bitter +tears.</p> +<p>Now it must be said that the wife of Liu was a little wearied of +seeing her daughter night and day inseparable from her +sister-in-law. However, she said nothing, because the marriage was +not actually accomplished. But passing before the marriage pavilion +on that day, she heard a sobbing. She drew near noiselessly and, +through a hole in the window paper, saw them close in each other's +arms and weeping.</p> +<p>"This is very odd," she said.</p> +<p>She wished to make an outcry, but remembered that her son was +just getting better, and would fall ill again from any sorrow. She +gently tried to push the door open, but it was locked. She called +out:</p> +<p>"It is strange that this door should be locked!"</p> +<p>The lovers recognized her voice, and made haste to dry their +tears and open the door. She came in.</p> +<p>"Why do you lock yourselves in during full daylight, and groan +and embrace each other?"</p> +<p>They felt the blood flow to their faces, and answered nothing. +The mother's hands and feet were trembling with rage. She seized +hold of her daughter:</p> +<p>"You are playing some pretty trick. Let me talk to you a +little."</p> +<p>And she dragged her into an empty room. The attendants who saw +her asked each other why the girl was being dragged along like +that. But by this time the mother had locked the door. When the +attendants came and looked through the holes in the paper, they saw +her lifting a stick, and heard her crying:</p> +<p>"O wretch, tell me the truth, or I shall strike you! Why were +you weeping?"</p> +<p>At first Prudence thought of denial. Then she said to herself +that it would be better to confess and to beg her parents to break +off her betrothal with the family of P'ei, so that they might marry +her to Yu-lang. If they refused, she would die. That was all. So +she told the whole matter without evasion.</p> +<p>"We are husband and wife. Our love is boundless, and our vows +will endure for at least a hundred years. My brother is recovered, +and we fear that we shall be separated. Yu-lang wishes to return to +his parents, to send his sister in his place. It seemed, then, to +your daughter that a woman cannot have two husbands, and that if +Yu-lang cannot marry me, I must die."</p> +<p>As she listened to her, her mother's breast opened with rage, +and she stamped her feet: "This rotten carrion has sent his son +here and has deceived me. And now my daughter is lost. I must beat +him unmercifully!"</p> +<p>She seized her stick, opened the door and ran forth. Her +daughter, forgetting her shame, tried to prevent her; but the old +woman pushed her away violently, so that she fell down. Prudence +got up and ran after her. The attendants also ran.</p> +<p>Now Yu-lang had very well understood that all was discovered +when Liu's wife had dragged her daughter away. A moment later, the +nurse hurried in.</p> +<p>"O my Gods! And, ah unhappiness! All is well lost! Prudence is +being questioned with the stick."</p> +<p>It seemed to him that two knives were piercing his heart. He +burst out into sobbing. But the nurse was already taking out his +hair-pins and clothing him as a man. In a state of stupor he let +himself be hurried to the main door and through the streets. A few +moments later he was back at his parents' house.</p> +<p>His father did not fail to say to him:</p> +<p>"I told you to play the girl, not the man. Why have you +committed acts of which Celestial Reason disapproves?"</p> +<p>Yu-lang jostled thus by his father and his mother, no longer +knew where he stood. Meanwhile the nurse objected:</p> +<p>"But what can they say there? Our young Lord has only to keep +himself hidden for a few days, and it will all pass over."</p> +<p>But at Liu's house the nurse, as she went away, had unwittingly +locked the door, and Liu's wife had come to it and was shaking it +violently, stammering with rage and flourishing her stick.</p> +<p>"Thief, whom may Heaven strike dead! O very vile rascal! For +what did you take me? I am going to show you who I am! I will have +your life! If you do not open the door, I shall break it open with +a great case."</p> +<p>But naturally no one answered. Prudence tried in vain to stay +her mother, who loaded her with insults; but at last, in her rage, +she succeeded in breaking the lock, and rushed into the room with +her stick uplifted. The cage was empty and the bird had flown. She +knelt on all fours to look under the bed and under the furniture, +crying out all the time:</p> +<p>"Thief, you shall die!"</p> +<p>But, as she was compelled to admit, there was no trace of the +ravisher. Then Prudence said to her, sobbing meanwhile:</p> +<p>"And now, after this scandal, the P'ei family is let into the +whole secret. I entreat you to have pity on me and let me marry +Yu-lang. Otherwise, must I not die in order to redeem my +shame?"</p> +<p>She fell on her knees, weeping and groaning.</p> +<p>"What you say is true," answered her mother resuming some +measure of calm. "After this wonderful affair, no one will want +you."</p> +<p>However, a mother's love cannot be altogether restrained. She +drew near to her daughter: "My poor child! All this is not your +fault. It is that rotten carrion of a Sun who has caused it. But we +cannot, of ourselves, break off the betrothal with P'ei."</p> +<p>As Liu came up in the meantime, the matter had to be explained +to him. He was nearly half a day without being able to speak, and +it may be surmised that his first words were to throw the blame on +his wife:</p> +<p>"The whole fault is yours! By making me say I do not know what, +you arranged all this. Instead of altering the date as you should +have done! And to crown all, you insisted upon placing our daughter +in his arms! She has very well kept him company, has she not?"</p> +<p>His wife's anger was not quite dead, and these remarks rekindled +it. Her voice rolled out like thunder:</p> +<p>"You old tortoise!" she began....</p> +<p>But on this occasion he also was furious. He advanced, +threatening to strike her. Prudence tried to come between them, and +all three were nothing but a rolling, striking, shouting and +weeping congeries. The servants then ran to inform Virgin Diamond +who rose from his bed and unsteadily ran. His mother was moved with +pity to see him, and his father also stopped his vituperation. They +both went out muttering.</p> +<p>Virgin Diamond then asked his sister the cause of all this, and +why his young wife was no longer there. She answered only with +tears; but his mother, who had returned, told the whole story.</p> +<p>Virgin Diamond's anger was so strong that his face became the +color of the earth. However, he contained himself, saying:</p> +<p>"Let us not publish this family shame abroad. If the news +spreads, everybody will laugh at us."</p> +<p>As a matter of course, their mischievous neighbor, Li, had heard +their shouting and weeping. He had quickly climbed on to his wall, +but had been unable to understand what was happening. Next morning +he watched for the first of the women slaves who came out, and drew +her into his house. Fifty pieces of copper decided the girl to +speak, and the delighted Li, letting her depart, ran to the house +of P'ei, to whom he told all that he knew.</p> +<p>P'ei went straight to the house of Liu:</p> +<p>"I know all," he cried. "Give back the gifts, and let no more be +said."</p> +<p>Liu's face became red and white by turns. He thought:</p> +<p>"How does he already know what happened in my house but +yesterday?"</p> +<p>Then he denied the matter:</p> +<p>"Kinsman, whence come these words with which you are trying to +sully my family?"</p> +<p>"Miserable cheat!" cried the other, "you are in very truth an +old tortoise."</p> +<p>And he struck him on the face with his hand.</p> +<p>"Murderer!" cried Liu in a fury. "Do you dare to come to my +house and insult me and strike me?"</p> +<p>And he struck P'ei such a violent blow that the old man fell to +the ground. Then they began to belabor each other. Virgin Diamond +and his mother, hearing their cries, ran up and separated them. +Afterward P'ei, pointing with his finger and trembling, cried:</p> +<p>"You know how to strike, old tortoise! We shall see whether you +are as clever in speaking before the judge."</p> +<p>And he went out swearing. Liu exclaimed:</p> +<p>"It is all Sun's fault. If I do not bring an action against +them, they will even now escape entirely free."</p> +<p>In spite of his son's curses, he hurriedly set about writing an +accusation, and ran to the Governor s palace.</p> +<p>The court was sitting, and Liu, holding his accusation, +approached the judge. P'ei was already there, and reviled him as +soon as he saw him. Liu retaliated, and the battle began anew.</p> +<p>At this interruption, the magistrate sternly ordered the two to +kneel and explain themselves. Both spoke confusedly at the same +time, but the whole story was none the less made clear. All those +who were implicated in the matter were summoned, and they came to +fall upon their knees.</p> +<p>At length the judge delivered sentence. All the former +betrothals were annulled. Yu-lang became betrothed to her whom he +had outraged. But the Sun family owed a compensation to the Liu +family, which in its turn owed a bride to the P'ei family. So Pearl +Sun was given to the son of P'ei, and Virgin Diamond was bestowed +upon the former betrothed of Yu-lang. Having settled the affair, +the Governor summoned three red palankeens and the three brides +were conducted under escort to the homes of their new husbands. The +town of Hang-chow talked of this affair for a long time, but in the +end forgot it for some new scandal.</p> +<p class="center"><i>Hsing shih heng yen (1627),<br> +8th Tale.</i></p> +<hr class="full"> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Eastern Shame Girl, by Charles Georges Souli + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EASTERN SHAME GIRL *** + +***** This file should be named 12086-h.htm or 12086-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/8/12086/ + +Produced by David Starner, Alicia Williams, Sandra Brown and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Eastern Shame Girl + The Wedding of Ya-Nei; A Strange Destiny; The Error of the Embroidered + Slipper; The Counterfeit Old Woman; The Monastery of the + Esteemed-Lotus; A Complicated Marriage + + +Author: Charles Georges Souli + +Release Date: April 19, 2004 [EBook #12086] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EASTERN SHAME GIRL *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Alicia Williams, Sandra Brown and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + [Transcriber's Note: This book was published as Chinese Love Tales in + 1935 (translated from the original of George Souile De Morant + --a variation in the spelling of the middle name) with numerous + illustrations by Valenti Angelo. It was attacked and acquitted in the + courts, winning judicial recognition of its exceptional literary merit.] + + + + +_EASTERN SHAME GIRL_ + + + + +_Translated from the French of_ +GEORGE SOULIE DEMORANT + + + + +_Illustrations by_ +MARCEL AVOND + + + + +_New York +Privately Printed 1929_ + + + + +CONTENTS + + +EASTERN SHAME GIRL + +THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI + +A STRANGE DESTINY + +THE ERROR OF THE EMBROIDERED SLIPPER + +THE COUNTERFEIT OLD WOMAN + +THE MONASTERY OF THE ESTEEMED-LOTUS + +A COMPLICATED MARRIAGE + + +_Note:--The original source of the stories +appearing in "Eastern Shame Girl" is the +classic literature of China in the 17th Century._ + + + + +EASTERN SHAME GIRL + + + When there is a great peace + Under the gold cup of the sun + Joy reaches its flowering. + +In the twentieth year of the period Wan-li, there came, among the +thousands of students who gathered at Peking for the examinations, a +certain Li, whose first name was Chia and his surname Ch'ien-hsi, or +"Purified-a-thousand times." His family were from Shao-hsing fu in +Chekiang; his father was Judge of the province of Kang-su; and Li +himself was the eldest of three brothers. He had studied in the +village school from childhood and, not having yet attained to +literary rank, had come, according to custom, to present himself for +examination at Peking. While in that city, he consorted, before his +springtide, with the young libertines, the "willow twigs" of his +country; and, in order to gain experience, frequented the theatres +and music-halls. Thus he became acquainted with a famous singing girl +called Tu, whose first name was Mei, or "Elegance." As she was the +tenth of her family, she was known at the theatre as Shih-niang, "The +Tenth daughter." A delicate seduction diffused from her: her body was +all grace and perfume. The twin arches of her brows held the black +which is blue of distant mountains, and her eyes were as deep and +bright as autumn lakes. Her face had the glory of the lotus, and her +lips the glory of cherries. By what blunder of the gods had this piece +of flawless jade fallen in the windy dust, among the flowers beneath +the willow? When she was thirteen years old, Shih-niang had already +"broken her claws." Now she was nineteen, and it would not be +possible to enumerate the young Lords and Princes whose hearts she +had besotted, whose thoughts she had set in a turmoil, whose family +treasures she had swallowed without compunction. In the theatres, they +had composed an epigram about her: + + When Tu Shih-niang comes to a banquet + The guests drink a thousand great cups + Instead of a single small one. + When Tu Mei appears upon the stage + The actresses look like devils. + +It must be said that never, in the young passions of his life, had +Li Chia experienced the pain of beauty; but, when he saw Shih-niang, +emotion was awakened in him, and the feelings of a flowering willow +filled his breast. He himself was gifted with rare beauty, and a sweet +and gentle nature. He spent his money recklessly, with an unbridled +zeal for bestowing gifts. For this reason he held a double attraction +for Shih-niang, who considered that falsehood and avarice were opposed +to rectitude, and had also by this time made up her mind to return to +a life of honor. She appreciated Li Chia's gentleness and generosity, +and was drawn toward him. But he was afraid of his father and did not +dare to marry her at once, as she wished. Their love was not, on that +account, any the less tender. In the joys of dawn and the pleasures of +twilight they kept together as do husband and wife, and in their +vows they compared their love with the Ocean or with the Mountain, +recognizing no other vital motive. In truth: + + Their tenderness was deeper than the sea + For it was past sounding, + Their love was as the mountains + But even higher. + +Also, since Chia had been admitted to her favor, rich Lords and +powerful Ministers were no longer permitted to see the girl's beauty. +At first Li used to give large sums of money, so that the matron to +whom Shih-niang belonged, shrugged her shoulders and smiled. But the +days went quickly, and the months too; and a year had passed. Chia's +coffers had gradually become empty; and now his hand could no longer +keep pace with his wishes. But the ancient ma-ma remained patient. + +In the meanwhile the Judge had learned that his son was frequenting +the theatre, and sent him repeated orders to return home. But Chia, +who was infatuated, kept on delaying his departure until, hearing that +his father was truly furious, he no longer dared to return. It was +well said by the ancients: "As long as harmony endures there is unity; +when harmony ceases, there is separation." + +Shih-niang's love was sincere, and her heart only burned the more for +him whose hands were empty. The ma-ma frequently ordered her to send +her lover away; then, seeing that the young girl was indifferent to +her commands, she tried to exasperate Chia with stinging words, hoping +thus to compel him to depart. But her visitor's nature was so gentle +that his anger could not be provoked, and the only result was to +make him more amiable in his behavior to the old woman, who in her +impotence ended in reproaching Shih-niang: + +"We who keep open doors must eat our visitors three times a day, and +clothe ourselves with them. We lead out the departing guest by one +door, but to receive a fresh one by another. When desire is excited +under our roof, our silver and silks mount up like hills. But it is +more than a year since this Li Chia began troubling your curtains, and +now old patrons and new guests alike have discontinued their visiting. +The spirit Chung-k'uci no longer comes to our door; nay, not the +littlest devil. Therefore I am angry and humiliated. What will become +of us, now that we have no trace of visitors?" + +Shih-niang restrained herself with difficulty under these reproaches, +and answered calmly: + +"Young Lord Li did not come here with empty hands. He has paid us +considerable sums of money." + +"It was so at one time; but it is now so no longer. Tell him to give +me enough to pay for rice for the two of you.... Indeed, I have no +luck! Most of the girls I buy claim all the silver, and hardly care +whether their clients live or die. But now I have reared a white tiger +who refuses riches, opens wide the door, and makes my old body bear +the total burden. O miserable child! You wish to keep the poor for +nothing. Where will you find clothes and food? Tell your beggar to be +wise enough to give me a few ounces of silver. If you will not send +him away, I shall sell you and look for another slave. That would be +better for both of us." + +"Do you mean what you say?" asked the girl. + +"But you know that Li Chia has neither money nor clothes, and cannot +procure any." + +"I am not jesting," answered the old woman. + +"Then how much must he give to take me away?" + +"If any one else were in question, I should demand several thousand +ounces. Alas! This beggar cannot pay them! So I shall be satisfied +with three hundred ounces, with which to buy another 'tinted face.' If +he brings them within three days, I will take the silver with my left +hand and give the girl with my right. But after three days, it matters +not at all to me that three times seven are twenty-one; Lord or no +Lord, I shall beat out this young spark with my broom, and you must +bear no grudge for it." + +"In spite of all, he should be able to borrow three hundred ounces. +But three days is too little; he will need ten." + +"Ten days!" cried the other. "A hundred would be more like! Yet so be +it. I will wait ten days." + +"If he cannot get the money, he will not have the face to return. My +only fear is that you will go back on your promise, if he does bring +the three hundred ounces." + +"I am nearly fifty-one years old," answered the ma-ma. "Ten times I +have offered the great sacrifices. How should I dare not to keep +my word? If you mistrust me, let us strike the palms of our hands +together to fix the agreement. Nay, if I break my word, may I be +changed into a pig or dog!" + +That same evening, by the pillow-side, Shih-niang explained how her +body might be re-bought, and Li Qua said: + +"That would delight me, but how can I pay so much? My purse is as +empty as if it had been washed." + +"Your slave has arranged all with the ma-ma. She requires three +hundred ounces within ten days. Even if you have spent all that your +family gave you for your journey, you have still some friends or +relations from whom you can borrow. Then you will have me entirely to +yourself, and I shall never again have to endure that woman's anger." + +"Since I became obsessed by our love, my friends and relations have +ceased to recognize me. But perhaps, if I asked them to help me to pay +for my journey I might make up the sum." + +In the morning, when he had arranged his hair and, clothed himself, +and was about to leave Shih-niang, she said to him: + +"Do your uttermost, and come back to me with good news." + +He went to all his relations and friends, pretending that he was +taking leave of them before his departure. They all congratulated him; +but when he spoke of the expenses of the journey and asked for a +loan, all, without exception, told him that they could do nothing. His +friends knew the weakness of his character, and that he was besotted +with love for some "Flower-in-the-Mist" or other. He had remained in +Peking, up to that time, they knew, not daring to face his father's +anger. Was this departure genuine, now, or but pretended? If he spent +the borrowed money on "tinted faces," would not his father bear a +grudge against those who lent it? The most he could get together was +from ten to twenty ounces. + +Ashamed of his failure after a full three days of endeavor, he did not +dare to return to Shih-niang; yet, since he used to spend every night +with his mistress, he had no other lodging. After the first evening, +therefore, he went and asked shelter from his fellow-countryman, the +very learned Liu Yu-ch'un. This man, seeing the growing sadness of the +young man, at last ventured to question him and learned his story and +of his plan of marriage. Liu shook his head: "That is hardly possible. +She is the most famous of all the singing girls. Who would be content +with three hundred ounces for such a beauty? The old woman has +conceived this method of sending you away, and Shih-niang, knowing +that your hands are empty, asks you for this sum because she does not +dare to tell you to leave her. If you offered the silver, she would +laugh at you. It is a common trick. Do not trouble yourself further, +but resign yourself to the breaking off of your relations with the +girl." + +Li Chia was speechless for a long time, shaken by his doubts, and Liu +added: + +"Make no mistake about it. If you show that you really mean to take +your departure, many will help you. But as for your plan, you would +need not ten days, but ten months to find three hundred ounces." + +"Good Elder-Brother," answered Li, "your judgment is indeed profound." + +But none the less he continued his vain search for three further days. + +Shih-niang was most anxious when she did not see her lover come back +to her. She sent a little servant to look for him, and the child met +Li by chance, and said: + +"Lord, our Elder-Sister awaits you at the house." + +In his shame, Li answered: + +"I have no time to-day. To-morrow I will come to see her." + +But the boy had been commanded to bring him back, and to die sooner +than lose him, so he replied: + +"It is the absolute wish of the Elder-Sister that you come with me." + +Li could not refuse, and followed the messenger. + +Once in Shih-niang's presence he stood still, sobbing mo-mo, mo-mo, +without a word. + +"How is our plan going?" she asked. + +He only answered with a flood of tears; so she insisted: + +"Can people have been so hard as to refuse three hundred ounces?" + +Stifling his sobs, he answered with this verse: + + It is easier to catch a tiger in the mountains + Than to move the world with speech alone. + +"I have gone about for these six days, and my hands are empty. Shame +has kept me away from my perfumed companion, and it is only at her +command that I have come back. I have tried my hardest. Alas! such is +the spirit of the century." + +"We will say nothing to the ma-ma. Let my Lord stay here for the +night: his slave will propose another plan to him." + +She served him with a meal and wine, and made him lie down. Then in +the middle of the night she asked: + +"If you cannot find three hundred ounces to free me, what are we to +do?" + +He wept without answering. Shih-niang waited until the fifth watch; +then she drew from under her mattress a bag containing a hundred and +fifty ounces in small silver, and said: + +"This is my secret reserve. Since you cannot find the whole sum, I +will give you half of it. That should help you; but we have only four +days more. Above all, do not come too late!" + +Astonished and overjoyed, he carried away the bag and went back to +Liu, telling him what had happened and showing him the money. Liu +exclaimed: + +"Surely this woman has a loyal heart! Since she acts so, she must not +be allowed to suffer. I am going to act as mediator in your marriage." + +Leaving Li in his house, he went himself to ask for loans on all +sides. In two days he had amassed a hundred and fifty ounces. He gave +them to the young man, saying: + +"I have stood guarantor for you, for I am deeply touched by +Shih-niang's sentiment." + +Li took the silver, as delighted as if the money had fallen from the +sky, and ran to see his mistress. It was the ninth day. She asked +him: "Has it been very difficult? Have you found the hundred and fifty +ounces?" + +He then told her what Liu had done; and both, rejoicing, spent a night +of pleasure. Next day she said to him: + +"When this money is paid, I must follow my Lord. But we have made +no preparation for the boats and conveyances of our journey. I have +borrowed twenty ounces from my friends. My Lord may take them for +travelling expenses." + +In his uneasiness concerning these expenses, he had not dared to speak +of them. He took the money, and was full of joy. + +At that moment there was a knock on the door, and the old woman +entered, saying: + +"This is the tenth day." + +"I thank the ma-ma for recalling the fact to us," he answered. "I was +on the point of paying her a visit." + +And, taking up the bag, he poured the three hundred ounces on to the +table. The old woman had not supposed he could succeed. + +She changed color, and seemed on the point of gainsaying her word. +So Shih-niang said; "I have stayed in your house for a long time, and +have brought in several thousands of ounces. To-day I am marrying. If +you do not keep your word, I shall commit suicide before you, and you +will lose the money and the girl." + +The old woman could find no words to express her feeling. She took the +money in silence, and finally muttered: + +"If you mean to go away, you go now. But you shall take none of your +clothes or jewels with you." + +Hustling the two young people along, she led them through the door and +shot the bolt. + +It was then the ninth moon, and the weather was cold. Shih-niang had +but just risen from bed, and was not dressed; nor was her hair done. +Yet she saluted the ma-ma with two genuflexions. La Chia shook his +two hands joined together. Thus the married pair left that not too +pleasant old woman: + + Even as a carp escapes the metal hook, + Flirts its tail and shakes its head + And returns not. + +In front of the door La Chia said to his mistress: + +"Wait a moment! I will call a little palankeen to take you to the +house of Liu." + +She answered: + +"In this very court are my friends, my sisters, who have always been +in sympathy with me. + +"I must take leave of them; and I cannot neglect to thank them for the +money they have lent me." + +Accompanied by her Lord, she went to each pavilion to greet her +friends. Now, one of them, Yuch-lang, was a very close friend of +Shih-niang, so, seeing that she had not done her hair, she led her to +her own toilet-table, and ran to call another friend, Hsu Su-Su. Then +she took from her coffers many ornaments of king-fisher leather +and bracelets and jasper pins, even embroidered robes and girdles +ornamented with phoenix. She gave them to Shih-niang, over-coming her +with gratitude. + +She also ordered a feast of congratulation, to which all their friends +were invited, and finally, at the end of day, offered the pair a bed +for the night. + +When she was alone with Li Chia, Shih-niang asked: + +"Where shall we go when we have left the capital? Has my Lord made a +decision on this point?" + +"My father," he answered, "is still angry with me. If, in addition, he +learns that I have married my Little-Sister, and that I am coming back +with her, he will doubtless be carried quite away by rage. I have not +found a satisfactory plan." + +"Your father has feelings from Heaven. He could not break completely +with you. Would it not be better for us to go to him, and to keep to +our boat while you pray your friends to go and ask for a harmonious +reconciliation? After that, leading your slave, you may re-enter your +dwelling in peace." + +"That is an excellent plan," he answered. + +Next day they thanked Yuch-lang again, and went to the house of +Liu. On seeing the learned man, Shih-niang knelt down to express her +gratitude to him, saying: + +"Later we may both know how to return your kindness." + +Liu hastened to answer, according to the polite formality: + +"Your admirable sentiment far exceeds my most poor action. You are a +heroine among women. Why, then, do you hang such words to your/teeth?" + +All day the three of them drank wine of joy. Then the pair chose a +suitable day for their journey, and obtained horses and palankeens. +When the time for their departure drew near, Yuch-lang, Hsu-Su, and +all those friends came to bear the couple company. Yuch-lang sent her +servants to bring a metal casket, furnished with a golden lock, and +gave it to Shih-niang, who placed it in her palankeen without opening +it. + +The porters and servants urged the travelers forward, and they +started. Liu and the beautiful women escorted them as far as the other +side of the Ch'ung-wen gate, and there they drank a last cup together. +They separated with tears. + +When they reached the river Lu, Li Chia and Shih-niang abandoned +the land way and hired a cabin in a large junk which was going to +Kua-chow. After he had paid their passage in advance, there was only a +single piece of bronze left in Li Chia's bag; the twenty ounces which +Shih-niang had given him had vanished as if they had never been. The +young man had not been able to avoid giving certain presents, and he +had also bought blankets and other necessities for the journey. Sadly +he asked himself what to be done, but she said to him: + +"My Lord may cease to disturb himself. Our friends have given yet more +help." + +She opened her metal casket, while he looked on in shame. She took out +a red silk bag and put it on the table, bidding him open it. He found +the bag heavy; for, in fact, it contained fifty ounces of silver. +Shih-niang had already shut the casket again, without saying what +further was in it, now she said smilingly: + +"Have not our sisters the most desirable instinct? They did not wish +us to have any difficulty on our journey, and in this way they enable +us to cross mountains and rivers." + +Li Chia exclaimed in his delight and surprise: + +"If I had not met such generosity, I should have had no choice but +to wander, and at last to die without burial. Even when my hair turns +white, I shall not forget such virtue and such friendship." + +And he shed tears of emotion, until Shih-niang consoled him by, +diverting his thoughts. + +Some days later they reached Kua-chow, where the big junk stopped. But +Li Chia was now able to hire a smaller vessel for themselves alone, +and in this he stowed their baggage. On the morrow they were to travel +across the great river. + + * * * * * + +It was then the second quarter of the second month of winter. The moon +shone like water. The pair were sitting on the deck of the junk, and +the boy said: + +"Since we left the capital we have not been able to talk freely, +because we were in a cabin and our neighbors could hear us. Now we are +alone on our own junk. Also, we have left the cold of the North and +will to-morrow be on the south side of the river. Is it not a fitting +time to drink and rejoice, so as to forget our former sorrows? You to +whom I owe so much, what do you say?" + +"It is now long since your slave was deprived of little pleasantries +and laughters, and she had the same sentiment as yourself. Your words +prove that we have but one soul." + +They brought wine on deck; and, seated on a carpet beside his +mistress, he offered her cups. + +So they drank joyously, until they were a little drunk; and at length +he said: + +"O my benefactress, your voice of marvel used to trouble the six +theatres. Every time I heard you then, my spirit took wing from me. +It is long since you have overcome me in that way. The moon is bright +over the shimmering river. The night is deep and solitary. Will you +not consent to favor me with a song?" + +For a little, Shih-niang refused. Then she looked at the moon, and a +song escaped her. It was an affecting melody, taken from one of the +pieces of the Yuan dynasty, called "The Light Rose of the Peaches." In +truth: + + Her voice took flight to the Milky Way, + And the clouds stopped to listen. + Its echo fell into the deep water and the fishes hastened. + +Shih-niang sang. And in a near-by junk there was a young man called +Sun; his first name was Fu, Rich, and his surname was Shan-lai, +Excellent-in-Promise. His family was one of the wealthiest in Hsin-an +of Hui-chow; his ancestors had owned the salt monopoly in Yang-chow. +He was just twenty years old, and had moulded his character in +accordance with his passion, being a regular visitor at the blue +pavilions, where the smiles of painted roses are to be bought. He was +making a journey, and had cast anchor for the night at Kua-chow. He +was drinking in solitude, bemoaning the absence of companions. + +Suddenly in the night he heard a voice more sweet than the sighs of +the bird of passion, or than the warbling phoenix. No words seemed +adequate, he felt, to describe the beauty of this song. Walking out +from his cabin, he found that the music came from a junk not very far +distant from his own. + +In his eagerness to know who had enchanted him, he told his men to go +and question the boatmen. But he learned no more than that the junk +had been hired by Li Chia. He obtained no information concerning the +singer. He reflected: + +"Such a perfect voice could not belong to a woman of good family. How +can I manage to see this bird?" + +He could not sleep that night. In the morning, at about the fifth +watch, he heard the wind roaring on the water. The light of day was +strangely veiled by cloud, and flakes of snow were whirling madly. It +has been said; + + The clouds are swallowing + Countless thousands of trees upon the hill. + Footprints disappear on many footpaths. + The fisher in the bamboo hat + On the frail boat + Catches only snow and the frozen river. + +This snowstorm rendered it impossible to cross the river, and the +boats could not be set in motion. Sun, therefore, told his rowers to +leave his moorings and to make fast alongside Li Chia's junk. Then, in +a sable bonnet and wrapped in his fox-skin robe, he opened his cabin +window, pretending to look at the white snow as it fell. Shih-niang +had just arranged her hair, and, with her tapering fingers, was +pushing back the short curtains to throw out the dregs of tea in the +bottom of her cup. The freshened splendor of her rouge shone softly. + +Sun saw that celestial beauty, that incantation; he scented that +perfume; and his soul boiled over. For a long moment he gazed, and his +spirit was as if submerged. But he recovered himself and, leaning out +of the window, recited, nearly at full voice, the poem of the "Blossom +of the Plum Tree": + + Snow covers the mountain where the Sage abides, + Under the trees in the moonlight + Beauty advances. + +Li Chia heard the poem and came out of his cabin, curious to see who +was reciting it. In this way he fell into the trap set by Sun, who +hastened to salute him, asking: + +"Old-Elder-Brother, what is your honorable name? And what is your +first name which one does not presume to repeat?" + +Having answered in accordance with the convention, Li Chia had to +question Sun in his turn. They exchanged such words as are customary +between educated men. Finally the libertine said: + +"This snowstorm was sent by Heaven to effect our meeting. It is a +large piece of fortune for your little brother. I was lonely and +without diversion in my cabin. Would it not be my venerable brother's +pleasure that we should go to a riverside pavilion and divert +ourselves by drinking wine?" + +Li Chia answered: + +"The water-chestnuts meet at the caprice of the current. How should I +not be glad of this offer?" + +"Between the four seas all men are brothers." + +Then Sun ordered his servant to come with him, sheltering Li Chia +under a large parasol. The two men saluted each other again, landed on +the bank and, after walking a little distance, found a wine pavilion. + +Having entered, they chose seats by the window and sat down. The +attendant brought them hot wine, Sun raised his cup to give the +signal, and soon the two were conversing freely and had become +friends. At length Sun leaned forward and said in a low voice: + +"Last night a song arose from your honorable ship. Whose was that +voice?" + +Wishing to pose as a man of leisure making a journey, Li Chia at once +told the truth: + +"It was Tu Shih-niang, the famous singing girl of Peking." + +"How comes a singing girl to belong to my brother?" + +Li Chia then ingeniously told his story, and the other said: + +"To marry such a beauty is exceptional good fortune. But will your +honorable father be satisfied?" + +Li sighed and answered: + +"There is no lack of anxiety in my humble house. My father is of a +very stern disposition, and as yet knows nothing." + +Sun, developing his hidden traps, continued: + +"If your honorable father is not placable, where will my Elder-Brother +shelter the Beauty whom he has carried away? Have you come to some +arrangement with her on this point?" + +With heavy brows, La answered: + +"My little wife and I have already discussed the matter." + +"Your Honorable Favor has doubtless some admirable plan?" + +"Her ideas," explained La, "is to remain for the time at a place in +the country of Su and Hang, whilst I go forward to my family and ask +my friends and relations to appease my father." + +The other gave a deep sigh and assumed a saddened air: + +"Our friendship is not yet deep enough. I fear that you may consider +my words both strange and too outspoken." + +"When I have the good fortune to receive your learned and enlightening +counsel, how could I fail to respect it?" + +"Your honorable and noble father, being of stern character, +is certainly still angry at your conduct in Peking. And now my +Elder-Brother marries in the face of convention. How could your +prudent relatives and valuable friends fail to share the views of your +honorable father? When you rashly ask them to act on your behalf, they +will certainly refuse. Then will not the temporary residence of your +Honorable Favor become a permanent one? In your position, it will be +as difficult to advance as to retire." + +Li Chia knew that he had only fifty ounces in his purse, and that half +this sum would very soon have vanished. He could not help hanging his +head. His companion added: + +"I have yet another thing to say, and it comes from my heart. Will you +hear it?" + +"Having already received your sympathetic advice, I shall be most +happy to listen." + +"Since earliest time," said Sun, "the hearts of women have been as +changeable as the waves of the sea. And among the Flowers-in-the-Mist +especially there are few who are found faithful. Since the present +case concerns a famous singing girl, who knows the whole earth, it +is probable that she has some former associate in the regions of the +South. She has consequently availed herself of your help to conduct +her to the land where this other lives." + +"I beg to say that that is not certain," protested Li. + +"Even if it is not, the men of the South are very adroit and very +active. You leave a beautiful woman to live there all alone: can you +guarantee that none will climb her wall or penetrate her dwelling? +After all, the relations between father and son are from Heaven and +cannot be destroyed. If you abandon your family for the sake of a +singing girl, you will wander until you become one of those incorrect +Floating-on-the-Wave individuals. A woman is not Heaven. You must +ponder this matter seriously." + +Hearing this, Li Chia felt as if he were swept away by a torrent. At +last he answered: "What, in your enlightened opinion, ought I to do?" + +"Your servant has a plan which should be very profitable to you. But +I fear lest, weakened by die soft pillow of your love, you will not +be able to put it into execution, and that my words will therefore be +wasted." + +"If you have a really good suggestion, I shall be forever your debtor. +Why do you fear to speak?" + +"My Elder-Brother, for more than a year you have +Fluttered-in-the-Rain, obsessed by your brothel. You have not been +able to give your mind to the difficulties which will assail you when +you no longer know where to sleep or to eat. Your father's anger is +only due to your having become infatuated with Flowers, besotted by +Willows, until you poured out gold as if it were simple sand. He tells +himself that you will quickly consume the abundant wealth of +your family, and not be assured of having children. By returning +empty-handed you will justify his anger. If, O my Elder-Brother, you +could cut the knot which binds you to your love, I would willingly +make you a gift of a thousand ounces. With a thousand ounces of silver +to show your father, you could say that, during your stay at the +capital, you had rarely left your study chamber and that you had never +Skimmed the Waves. He will have confidence in you, and the harmony of +the house will be restored. Thus, without idle words, you change your +sorrow to joy. Give the matter three thoughts. I do not covet the +Beauty! I speak with no idea but of loyally helping a friend." + +La Chia was a man of naturally weak character; moreover, he was afraid +of his father. Sun's fine words troubled his heart. He rose, made a +deep bow, and said: + +"O Brother! Your noble counsel has cleared away the foolish and +tangled obstruction of my understanding. But my little favorite has +accompanied me for some thousands of li, and it would not be just for +me to leave her in this way. I will return to deliberate with her, +and to discover whether her mind is favorable to your project. I shall +inform you shortly." + +"In our conversation," answered Sun, "we have abandoned the paths of +strict politeness. + +"That was because my loyal heart could not endure to see the +separation of a father and son, and wished to help you to return to +your family." + +They both drank another cup of wine. The wind had dropped, and the +snow had ceased to fall. The color of the sky proclaimed the evening. +Sun caused his servant to pay for the drinks, and, taking Li Chia by +the hand, accompanied him as far as the junk. It is very true that: + + You meet a stranger and say three words + And tear off a piece of your heart. + +In the morning Shih-niang, on being left alone in her cabin, had +prepared a little feast for her friend, wishing to spend the day with +him in happiness; but the sun had set before Chia came back. She had +lanterns lit to guide him and, when he at last appeared and entered +the cabin, raised her eyes to his face and found the color of +displeasure. She poured out a cup of hot wine and offered it to him; +but he shook his head without a word, and refused to drink. Then he +went and threw himself on the bed. Sad at heart, Shih-niang put the +cups and dishes in order. She then undid her husband's clothes and, +leaning on the pillow, gently asked him: + +"What news have you heard that has so upset you?" + +Li Chia sighed, but without answering. She questioned him again three +or four times, but he was already asleep. Unable to be indifferent to +such lack of regard, she remained for a long time sitting on the edge +of the bed, incapable of sleep. + +In the middle of the night he awoke and gave another deep sigh; and +she said to him: + +"What is this difficult matter with which my Lord is troubled? What +are these sighings?" + +Li Chia threw off the blanket and seemed about to speak, but the words +would not come from him. His lips trembled like leaves, and finally +he burst out sobbing. She clasped his head with one arm and held it +against her breast, trying to comfort him, and saying tenderly: + +"The love which unites us has lasted for many days, for very nearly +two years. We have overcome a thousand hardships and bitter moments, +but now we are far beyond all difficulty. Why do you show such grief +to-day, when we are about to cross the river and to taste the joy of a +hundred years? There must surely be a reason. All things are shared in +common between husband and wife, in life and after death. If anything +is the matter, we must discuss it Why do you hide your sorrow from +me?" + +Thus urged, the young man mastered his tears and said: + +"I am crushed beneath the woe which Heaven heaps upon me. In the +generosity of your soul, you have not cast me by. You have endured a +thousand wrongs for me. That is no merit of mine. But I still think +of my father, whose commands I am defying and that against every +convention and all laws. He is of inflexible character, and I fear +that his wrath will grow double at the sight of me. Where, then, shall +we two, floating with the current, come to our anchorage? How shall +I ensure our happiness, when my father has broken with me? To-day my +friend Sun invited me to drink and spoke to me of my prospects, and +what he said has pierced my heart." + +"What is my Lord's intention?" she asked in great surprise. + +"I was turning madly in the web of our affairs, when my friend Sun +sketched out an excellent plan to me. But I fear that my benefactress +will refuse to allow it." + +"Who is this friend, Sun? If his plan is good, why should I not agree +to it?" + +"His first name is Fu, and his family had the salt monopoly at +Hsin-an. He is a man who has Drifted-in-the-Wind and knows life. Last +night he was charmed by your pure song. I told him where we came from, +and confided the difficulties which beset our return. Then, under +the impulsion of a generous thought, he offered to give me a thousand +ounces if you will marry him. With these thousand ounces as testimony +I shall be able to speak to my father. Also I shall know that you are +not without shelter. But I cannot contain my feeling, and that is why +I mourn." + +And his tears fell like a storm of rain. Ceasing to hold his head +against her breast, Shih-niang gently pushed him aside. At last she +smiled like ice and said to him: + +"This person must be a hero, a man of courage and virtue, to have +conceived a project so advantageous to my Lord. Not only will my Lord +have a thousand ounces to take back with him, not only will your slave +gain shelter, but your baggage will be lighter also and more easily +handled. As a plan it satisfies both convention and convenience. Where +are the thousand ounces?" + +Struggling with his tears, Li Chia replied: + +"I have not got your consent, so the silver was not given me." + +"You must demand it first thing to-morrow morning. A thousand ounces +is a considerable sum, and it must all be paid into your hand before +I enter his cabin. For I am not merchandise which may be bought on +credit." + +It was then the fourth watch of the night. + +Shih-niang prepared her toilet-table, saying: "To-day I must adorn +myself to bid farewell to my former protector and to do honor to my +new one. It is no commonplace event. I must therefore take great pains +with paint and perfume, and put on my best jewels and embroidered +robes." + +Thereafter, with perfume and paint and jewelry, she added to the +splendor of her petalled seduction. The sun had already risen before +she completed her preparations. + +Li Chia was disturbed, and yet seemed almost happy. Shih-niang urged +him to insist upon the payment of the money, and he at once carried +her answer to the other junk. Then Sun said: + +"It is easy for me to give the money; but I ought to have the fair +one's jewelry as a proof of her consent." + +Li Chia told this to Shih-niang, who pointed to the casket with the +golden lock, and caused it to be taken to Sun, who joyfully counted +out a thousand ounces of silver and sent them to Li's ship. The young +woman herself verified the weight and standard of the metal; and then, +leaning over the bulwarks, half opened her scarlet lips and showed her +white teeth saying to the dazzled Sun: + +"You can now, I think, give me back my casket for a time. The Lord +Li's passports are in it, and I must return them to him." + +The other at once ordered the little chest to be brought back and +placed on the bridge. Shih-niang opened it Inside there were several +compartments, and she asked Li Chia to help her lift out each in turn. + +In the first there were jewels in the shape of king-fisher feathers, +jasper pins, and precious earrings, to the value of many hundred +ounces. Shih-niang took up these things in handfuls and threw them +into the river. Li, Sun and the boatmen uttered exclamations of +dismay. + +In the second compartment were a jade flute and a golden flageolet. In +a third were antique jewels, gold furnishings and a hundred ornaments +worth thousands of ounces each. She threw them all into the river. The +stricken onlookers gave voice to their regret. + +Finally she drew out a box filled with pearls and rubies and emeralds +and cats' eyes, whose number and value were beyond computation. The +cries of the wondering bystanders beat in the air like thunder. She +wanted to throw all these into the river also; but Li Chia held her in +his arms, while Sun vehemently encouraged him. + +So, pushing Li away, she turned to the other and reviled him: + +"The Lord Li and I suffered many bitter moments before we came to +yesterday. And you, to serve a detestable and criminal lust, have +undone us and have caused me to hate the man I loved. After my death +I meet the Spirit of Retribution, and I shall not forget your vile +hypocrisy." + +Then, turning toward Li Chia, she continued: + +"During those many years when I lived in a disorder of the dust and +breeze, I secretly amassed these treasures, that they might some day +rescue my body. When I met my Lord, we vowed that our union should +be higher than the mountain, deeper than the sea. We swore that, even +when our hair was white, we should have our love. Before leaving the +capital, I pretended to receive this casket as a gift from my friends. +It contained a treasure of more than a myriad ounces. I intended to +deposit it in your treasury, when I had seen your father and mother. +Who would have thought your faith so shallow, that, on the strength +of a chance conversation, you would consent to lose my loyal heart? +To-day, before the eyes of all these people, I have shown you that +your thousand ounces were a very little sum of money. These persons +are my witness that it is my Lord who rejects his wife, that it is not +I who am wanting in my duty." + +Hearing these sad words, those who were present wept, and called down +curses upon Li, and reviled him as an ingrate. And he, being both +ashamed and desolate, shed tears of bitter repentance. He knelt down +to beg for her forgiveness. But Shih-niang, holding the jewels in each +hand, leaped into the yellow water of the river. + +The onlookers uttered a cry and rushed to save her. But, under a +sombre cloud, the waves in the heart of the river broke into boiling +foam, and no further trace was seen of that desperate woman. + +Alas! she was an illustrious singing girl, as beautiful as flowers or +jade. She had been swallowed in an instant by the water. + +The people, grinding their teeth, would have beaten Li and Sun; but +these, in terror and dismay, made haste to push their boats out from +the bank, and then went each his own way. + +Li Chia, seeing the thousand ounces of silver in his cabin, +unceasingly wept for the death of Shih-niang. His remorse gave birth +to a kind of madness in him, of which he could never be healed. + +Sun was so prostrated that he had to keep his bed. He thought he saw +Shih-niang standing in front of him all day and every day. It was not +long before he expiated his crime in death. + +We must now tell how Liu, having left the capital to return to his own +village, also halted at Kua-chow. Leaning over the river to take up +some water in a bronze basin, he let the thing slip, and therefore +begged certain fishermen to drag their net for it. + +When they drew up, there was a little box in the net. Liu opened +it, and it was full of pearls and precious stones. He rewarded the +fishermen generously, and placed the box near his pillow. + +In the night he had a dream. A young woman rose from the troubled +waters of the river, and he recognized Shih-niang. She drew near, +wishing him ten thousand happinesses. Then she recounted the unworthy +ingratitude of Li, and said: + +"Of your bounty you gave me a hundred and fifty ounces. I have +not forgotten your generosity, and I put this little box in the +fishermen's net as an offering of recognition." + +He awoke and, having learned thus of Shih-niang's death, sighed for a +long time. + +Later, those who told me this story declared that Sun, since he +thought he could acquire a beautiful woman for a thousand ounces, +was evidently not a respectable man. Li Chia, they said, had not +understood the sorrowful heart of Shih-niang, and was consequently +stupid, without refinement, and not worthy of mention. Shih-niang +alone was heroic. She was, in fact, unique since furtherest antiquity. +Why could she not meet some charming companion, some phoenix worthy +of her? Why did she make the mistake of loving Li Chia? An admirable +piece of jade was thrown to him who did not deserve it; so that love +turned to hate, and a thousand passionate impulses were drowned in the +deep water. Alas! + + +_Tu Shih-niang nu ch'en pai pao hsiang. (Tu Shih-niang, +being put to shame drowns herself with +her casket of a hundred treasures.)_ +_Chin ku chi'i kuan (17th Century.)_ + + + + +THE WEDDING OF YA-NEI + + +In the reign of the emperor Shen Tsung there lived an official named +Wu, who was at that time, Governor of Ch'ang-sha. His wife, Lin, had +given him a son named Ya-nei, or "In-the-Palace," who had that year +reached the age of sixteen. He was well endowed, although not without +tendency to wantonness; yet he had from childhood diligently studied +the classics and poetry. He had only one really extravagant failing; +to satisfy his appetite he needed more than three bushels of rice +every day, and over two pounds of meat. We will say nothing of his +drinking. In spite of all this, he ever seemed half starved. + +About the third Moon of that year, Wu was appointed Governor of +Yang-chow, and the equipages and boats of his new post came up to meet +him. He packed his belongings, said good-bye to his friends and went +on board, following the course of the river. On the second day he had +to stop, because of a storm of wind which raised up the waters of the +river in great waves. + +At the point on the river bank where the boat lay moored, there was +already another official junk, before the cabin of which stood a +middle-aged matron and a charming girl, surrounded by several women +slaves. Ya-nei perceived the youthful beauty, and thought her so +seductive that he immediately composed the following poem: + + Her soul has the tenderness of Autumn rivers + And her pure bones are made of jade. + The rose of the hibiscus lightens her, + Her eyebrows have the curve of willow leaves. + Is she not an Immortal from the Jasper Lake + Or from the Moon Palace? + +He looked at her so ardently that his troubled soul took flight +and alighted upon the maiden's breast. But his intelligence at once +conceived a plan, and he said to his father: + +"Tieh-tieh, why would you not tell the sailors to anchor our junk by +the side of that one? Would it not be safer?" + +Wu was also of this opinion and accordingly gave orders to his men. +When the vessel was alongside, he sent to inquire the name of the +voyagers, and was informed that they were a certain Ho Chang, the new +Governor of Kien-K'ang, going to his post with his wife Ho tsin, and +his daughter Elegant, who was just fifteen. + +Wu had known the excellent man formerly, so he had his name carried to +him. Then, clothed in his official robes, he stepped from one ship +to the other. His colleague was awaiting him before his cabin, and, +having exchanged formal greetings, they sat and talked together, +drinking a cup of tea. Wu returned to his boat where, after a few +moments, Ho Chang returned his visit. And Ya-nei was present at +the meeting. Ho Chang had no son, and took pleasure in seeing this +beautiful young man. He questioned him upon certain ancient and modern +books, and was satisfied with the ready answers which he obtained. He +praised him unreservedly for them, thinking: + +"This is just the son-in-law that I should like. He would make an +unprecedented match with my daughter. But he is going to live at +Pien-liang, and I will be at Kien-K'ang which is more than fifteen +days' journey to the south of that place." + +Wu asked him: + +"How many sons have you, O Old-Man-Born-Before-Me?" + +"I will not conceal from you the fact that I have only a daughter." + +Wu considered: + +"That charming child was his daughter then. She would be an +unprecedented wife for my son. But she is his only child, and he +certainly would not be willing to marry her at any great distance from +himself." + +He added aloud: + +"But if you have no son, you have only to take concubines." + +"I thank you for your suggestion. It had occurred to me." + +After having talked for some time, Ho Chang withdrew to his cabin, +where his wife and daughter were awaiting him. Being a little elated +by his cups of wine, he kept speaking of Ya-nei's merit, and of his +intention to invite the father and son for the next day. His words +sank deeply into his daughter's mind. + +On the following day the river was still churned by waves, and the +storm sent up spray to a height of more than thirty feet. The crash of +water was heard on all sides. + +Early in the morning Ho Chang sent his invitation, and, when the two +men arrived, the feast began. Elegant, in the next cabin, could see +Ya-nei through the cracks in the bulkhead, and her heart was secretly +moved. + +"If I could have him for my husband, my desire would be satisfied. But +I shall not persuade him into a proposal by merely looking at him. How +shall I set about making known my thought to him?" + +Ya-nei, for his part, looked in vain for some means of speaking to his +neighbor. When the meal was finished, he returned to his ship and lay +down on his bed. + +But Elegant was so much occupied in thinking of the young man that she +could not touch her dinner. Leaving her mother alone, she retired to +rest and was on the point of going to sleep, when the sound of a song +came to her. It was the voice of Ya-nei, singing: + + A dream has come to me from the Blue Bowl, + But I was not able to speak. + I could not tell her of my delight + Or appoint an endless alliance. + +She rose softly, opened her cabin door without sound and went up on +to the bridge. Ya-nei was standing on the other ship, and immediately +leaped to her side, and boldly took her in his arms. Between joy and +alarm, she did not dare to resist. He drew her into her cabin and +embraced her. + +At that moment one of the slaves passed before the cabin and, seeing +the door open, cried out: + +"The door is open! O thieves!" + +Elegant at once covered her lover with the blanket, but one of the +slaves saw the invader's feet. Ho Chang and his wife snatched away the +blanket. + +"How does this wretch dare to dishonor my family?" cried the Governor +in a rage. "Ah, throw him into the river!" + +In spite of the prayers of the culprit and the girl two men seized the +former, dragged him away and threw him into the water. She followed +him in despair, crying: + +"I have ruined him! I wish to follow!" + +And she too threw herself into the water. She woke with a start. It +was only a dream. + +Till morning she lay and thought, wondering if this dream were perhaps +an omen that her destiny ought not to be bound up with that of Ya-nei. + +He also had complicated dreams that night. He rose in the morning and +opened the port-hole of his cabin. Ho Chang's ship was touching his +own, and the port-hole opposite to him was open. Elegant appeared +there, and their eyes met. Surprised, delighted and embarrassed, they +smiled, as if they had known each other for a long time. They would +gladly have spoken, but were afraid of being heard. Then she made a +small sign to him, retired quickly into her cabin, and rapidly wrote +some words on a piece of paper ornamented with sprays of rose peach. +She rolled it in a silk handkerchief and cleverly threw it to Ya-nei, +who caught it in both hands. They saluted each other, and reclosed +their port-holes. + +He unfolded the handkerchief and smoothed out the crinkled leaf. It +bore this poem: + + Brocade characters are on this paper of flowers, + And the bowels of my sorris in this embroidery, + I have dreamed of a prince + And, carried upon a cloud, I come to him. + +But there was also a little word or two added: + +"This evening your submissive mistress will await you near the lamp. +The noise of my scissors will be the signal for our happiness, and of +our meeting." + +Beyond himself with joy, the lad hastened to take a leaf of golden +paper and wrote out a poem on it. Then he took off his embroidered +silken girdle, rolled it all together, and opened his port-hole. +Elegant had also opened hers; she received the small packet and at +once concealed it in her sleeve, for she heard the slaves approaching. +These were followed by her mother. At last the time came for her +father to cross to the other ship for the return feast given by Wu. + +Full of cunning, the maiden took a vessel brimming with liquor and +gave it to her slaves, who eyed the gift as a thirsty dragon looks +upon water. They were half-drunk when Ho Chang came back from the +feast, and Elegant told them to go to bed, and that she would do some +needle-work. As their faces were red, their ears burning and their +legs unsteady, they were only too glad to retire; and soon their +snores were heard over the ship. Little by little all other sounds +died away in both the junks. Then she gently knocked on her port-hole +with her scissors. + +Naturally Ya-nei was waiting for the signal; as soon as he heard it, +his body was as if it had been shaken to pieces. However, he softly +opened his shutter, stepped from one ship to the other, and glided +into the cabin where the maiden awaited him. She gave him formal +greeting, which he returned; but they looked at each other under the +lamp, and their passion already raged like fire. They could hardly +exchange a word, and Ya-nei's trembling hands were undoing. She +offered but very feeble resistance. He ardently embraced her, and with +his arms joined himself to the fresh breast that lighted him. + +At last they were able to speak. She told him of her dream, and of +her astonishment on recognizing, in his poem, the verses which she had +heard him sing in dream. He turned pale and sat down: + +"My dream was exactly yours. Before these omens are fulfilled, I shall +speak to my father to arrange our marriage." + +But, even as they talked, they silently fell asleep arm in arm. + +Now about the middle of the night, the wind fell and the river became +calmer. At the fifth watch the sailors untied their moorings and began +to haul their anchors, singing at their work. The noise awakened the +lovers, who heard the men say: + +"The ship catches the wind rarely. We shall not be long in getting to +Ch'i-Chow." + +They looked at each other in dismay: + +"What are we going to do now?" + +"Hush!" said she. You must remain hidden for the moment. We will at +last find a plan." + +"It is our dream come true." + +Remembering that the slaves had seen her lover's feet in her dream, +Elegant leaned forward and covered them carefully with an ample +blanket. At last she said: + +"I have a plan. During the day you must hide under the couch, and I +shall pretend to be ill, and keep in bed, or in the cabin. When we +reach Ch'i-Chow, I will give you a little money, and you must escape +in the confusion of the disembarkation. You shall rejoin your parents, +and we will arrange for our marriage. If, by any chance, my parents +were to refuse, we should tell the truth. My family has always loved +me excessively; they will certainly accede." + +As soon as they had determined on their course, Ya-nei slid under the +bed, and made himself a place among the baggages. The curtain fell +into place in front of him, and the young girl was still in bed when +her mother came in, saying: + +"Aya! Why are you resting like this?" + +"I do not feel very well. I must have taken cold." + +"Cover yourself well, my daughter, if that be so." + +At this moment a slave entered, asking if she should bring breakfast. + +"My child," said her mother, "if you are not well, you would do +better not to take any solid nourishment. I am going to make you an +occasional small rice broth until you are recovered." + +"I am not very fond of broth. Give me some rice. Let them bring it to +me here. I shall eat it by and by." + +"I will keep you company." + +"Aya! If you do not go and look after this rabble of women, they will +do their work most incontestably wrong." + +Without understanding, the mother did indeed go to the next cabin +at that moment when the breakfast was brought in. As soon as she had +turned her back, Elegant told the slave to set down the dish on the +table. + +"You may go away. I shall call you when I have finished." + +Ya-nei was watching, and came out from his hiding. On the dish there +were only two small bowls of vegetables mixed with meat, a bowl of +cooked green-stuff, and a little rice. Naturally, the young girl +was not in the habit of taking large quantities of food; but for her +lover, with his three bushels of rice a day, the matter was otherwise. +After their meal, he again glided under the bed, nearly as hungry as +before. She called the slave, and told her to bring in two more bowls +of rice. + +Her mother heard this, and entered, saying: + +"My child! You are not well. How is it that you want to eat all that?" + +"The reason is not far to seek," she answered. + +"I am hungry, that is all." + +And her father, who had come to see the invalid, said: + +"Let her be. She is growing, and needs nourishment." + +When night came, and the evening meal was finished, she shut the door +and told her lover he could get into the bed again. But the poor young +man was suffering cruelly from hunger. + +"Our stratagem," said he, "is admirable. But it is in one respect also +grievous. I cannot conceal from you that my appetite is considerable. +The three meals which I have had to-day seem scarcely a mouthful. On +such a diet, I shall starve before we come to Ch'i-Chow." + +"Why did you not say so? I shall make them bring me more to-morrow." + +"But are you not afraid of rousing suspicion?" + +"That is nothing. I shall see to it. But how much would you need?" + +"We shall never be able to obtain quite that. Ten bowls of rice at +each meal would not be enough." + +Next day, when her parents came to see her, Elegant complained. + +"I do not know what is the matter with me," she said. "I am dying of +hunger." + +But her mother began to laugh: + +"That is not a very serious affair. I will have more rice brought to +you." + +But when the young girl said that she needed about ten bowls, the good +woman was startled. She again wished to remain near her daughter. + +"If you stay here, mama, I shall not be able to take anything. Leave +me alone, and I shall eat more comfortably." + +Everybody indulged her caprice. When the cabin was empty, she shut +the door and Ya-nei came out. Hungry as he was, he made the ten bowls +vanish like a shooting star, and did not leave a single grain. Elegant +watched him with astonishment, and asked him in a low voice: + +"Is that still too little?" + +"It will suffice," answered the other, drinking a cup of tea. + +He hastened back to his hiding-place, while the young girl ate some +vegetables. Then she called the slaves, who came running up, wondering +whether she had been able to eat all that food. They looked at the +empty bowls and at their mistress's slim figure, and murmured as they +went away: + +"What a terrible illness!" + +One of them, in her anxiety, went to the father and showed him the +dish, suggesting that he should call a doctor as soon as possible. +And he, for his part, forbade them to give her so much another time, +fearing that she would burst. + +At mid-day he went himself to speak to her. + +She began to weep: her mother took her part; and they gave way to her. +The evening meal was just as large. + +They were approaching Ch'i-Chow, and Ho Chang, who was really alarmed, +ordered his boatmen to cast anchor near the town. Early in the morning +he sent his steward to find the best doctor, and when the man arrived, +brought him on board and explained the case to him. They then went to +examine the invalid and to try her pulse. The doctor at length came +back with the father into the central cabin. + +"Well? What is the illness?" + +The other coughed, and at last said: + +"Your daughter is suffering from lack of nourishment." + +Her father was staggered: + +"But I have told you that she ate thirty bowls of rice yesterday." + +"Yet, but your daughter is still a child. She is apparently fifteen +years old, but that is equivalent to fourteen in reality, or even to +thirteen and some months. Her food accumulates in her stomach, but +is not assimilated. From this cause arises the fever which burns her +stomach and makes her imagine herself to be always hungry. The more +she eats, therefore, the more her stomach burns. In one month it will +be too late to cure her, and she will die of hunger." + +"But how is she to be cured?" + +"First, I shall make her digest what she eats. Of course, she must eat +very little indeed." + +He wrote his prescription and went away. The servant went to get the +drugs, which were dissolved and boiled according to direction, and +finally presented to the young girl. + +She said that she would take them, and as soon as she was alone threw +them out of the port-hole. Thereafter she continued to ask for ten +bowls of rice for every meal. + +Every one on the ship was now discussing this extraordinary case. +Some said that they ought to call in sorcerers. Others thought that +religious men would do better, seeing that she had certainly been +possessed by one of those starving spirits which wander without +purpose in punishment for their sins, with a needle's eye for a mouth, +seeking in vain for food. + +At the next town, Ho Chang summoned another doctor. After his +examination, mention was made of the former diagnosis, and he burst +out laughing. + +"Nothing of the sort. It is an internal consumption." + +"But what, then, is the reason for this hunger?" + +"The hot and the cold principles are at variance in her, and +the resultant fire gives her continual opsomania. It is easy to +understand." + +"But she has no fever." + +"Outside she is cool, but she burns within. The malady is inside the +bones; and that is why it is not visible. If she had continued to take +the drugs which you have been giving her, it would have been difficult +to save her. I shall give her something to soothe her bowels. She will +then, of her own accord, refuse all food." + +It need not be said that it was the same in this case as in the other. +All the medicines went down the river. + +Meanwhile the two lovers continued to profit by the silence of the +night. Naturally, the young girl was at first, so to speak, passive +in the arms of the young man, who was himself bashful. But little by +little, penetrating further into the domain of pleasure, their amorous +intelligence redoubled with their rapture, and they forgot entirely +where they were. + +One night a slave woke up, and heard a "tsi-tsi-nung-nung" and a +"tsia-tsia" coming from within, and then quick breathing. Inwardly +surprised, she next day told her mistress, and the mother, seeing that +her daughter was always of a brilliantly healthy complexion, began to +think this unknown malady a very strange one. She did not inform her +husband, however, but ran herself to see her daughter. The child's +face seemed to her to be more beautiful and animated even than +usual. She went out, without seeing anything which might confirm her +suspicion, and, coming back again after breakfast, began gently to +question her daughter on her ideas of marriage. + +As they were talking, there suddenly came a snore from under the bed. +Ya-nei, after his efforts in the night and his morning meal, had gone +to sleep in his hiding-place. + +Elegant's mother at once shut the door and, quickly stooping to look +under the bed, saw the young man asleep. + +"Alas, how could you do this thing? And then frighten us with your +illness? Now everybody will know of it. Where does he come from? May +Heaven strike him dead!" + +Elegant's face was purple with shame. + +"It is all your child's fault. He is the son of the Lord Wu." + +"Ya-nei? But you have never seen him! Besides, he was at the dinner +with your father, and we came away at midnight. How can he be here?" + +Trusting in her mother's indulgence, the young girl confessed +everything, and added: + +"Your unworthy daughter has dishonored our name and lost her +innocence. My crime is unpardonable. But it was the will of Heaven. +There had to be that storm to make us meet, and then destiny prevented +our betrothal. Our strength was too small for the struggle, and we +have sworn to love each other until death. I implore you to speak to +my father and appease him; for if he makes an uproar; there is nothing +left for me but to die." + +Her tears fell like rain. And, while they were talking, Ya-nei's +snores sounded like thunder. + +"At least make him keep quiet," cried the mother in a fury. "We can no +longer hear ourselves speak." + +And she went out, slamming the door, while Elegant hastened to awaken +the sleeper. + +"Really you might snore less loudly!" she said with impatience. "All +is discovered now." + +When he heard this, Ya-nei's body was frozen with terror as if he had +received a drenching in cold water. His teeth chattered. + +"Do not be afraid. I have asked my mother to speak for us. If my +father is angry, there will be time enough for us to die then." + +The woman meanwhile had hurried to her husband, but there was a slave +with him, putting the cabin in order. So she waited, and the tears +rolled from her eyes. Ho Chang thought she was anxious about her +daughter's health, and reassured her: + +"She will be better in a few days. The doctor said so. Do not disturb +yourself." + +But she sneered at him: + +"You have been listening to the flower words of old Wise-Wand. Better +in a few days! She would have to be ill first!" + +"What do you mean?" + +Since the servant was no longer there, she told him in a low voice +what she had seen and heard. Ho Chang's anger was such that his sight +was troubled. She begged him to calm himself. + +"Enough! Enough!" he thundered. "This worthless daughter fouls the +very air upon our threshold. We must kill them both in the night, so +that none may know." + +The woman's face became as the earth. + +"We have already reached a ripe age, and this is the only flesh and +bone we have. If you kill her, what will be left to us? As for +Ya-nei, he is of a good family, he is intelligent, and well-built. Our +stations are identical and our houses equal. His only fault is that he +did not make a proposal, but rather forced everything in secret. +Yet so the matter is. Would it not be better to send him back with +a letter to Wu, requiring gifts of betrothal? We would lose all by +making a scandal." + +Ho Chang's rage was already half spent, and he now let himself be +persuaded by degrees. He went out and asked the boatmen where they +were. + +"We are approaching Wu-ch'ang." + +"You will anchor there." + +He then called his confidential steward and, explaining all to him, +gave him a letter. After this he went to see his daughter, who hid +herself under the blanket when she beheld him. He spoke no word +to her; but in a stern tone called out Ya-nei, who crept from his +hiding-place, saluted the older man, and said: + +"My crime deserves death." + +"How could a young man of your education commit such an act? My wife +has prevailed upon me to spare your life; but, if you would redeem +your fault, you must take my unworthy daughter as your wife. If this +is not your intention, do not count upon my pardon." + +Ya-nei abased himself in ritual prostration. + +"The honor which you do me is a reward which my conduct does not +deserve," he said. "I shall speak to my parents as soon as I return." + +Ho Chang hurried him away, without leaving him time to speak to the +young girl again. She was clinging to her mother, and whispered: + +"I do not know my father's intention. Could I not have a letter from +Ya-nei on his arrival?" + +Her truly indulgent mother went and spoke to the steward. + +The latter had already hired a boat, and, as it was night, the +intruder would be able to pass from one junk to the other without +being observed. They set out, while Elegant wept incessantly for +sorrow and uneasiness. We must now return to the family of Wu. + +After the night of Ya-nei's departure, their boat had proceeded for +several leagues before the young man's absence was noticed. But when +they called for him, and his cabin was found empty, the souls of his +parents left their bodies. They howled their despair, supposing that +their child had fallen unobserved into the water. + +They turned the ship about, hoping at least to recover the body; +but all searching was in vain, and they had perforce to resume their +journey in despair. + +They had been at their destination for two days when Ya-nei arrived; +you may suppose that their surprise was only equalled by their joy. +They read Ho Chang's letter, and understood everything. They scolded +their son, and made a feast for Ho Chang's envoy. When the betrothal +gifts were ready, they sent them in charge of their steward, to whom +Ya-nei entrusted a secret letter for his Elegant. + +Soon the time came for Ya-nei's examination at the capital, and he was +accepted. His father asked for a holiday, and the whole family went to +Kien-K'ang, where the marriage was celebrated. The fame of Elegant's +wisdom and beauty grew with the years, and the happiness of these two +was never dimmed. + +_Hsing shih heng yen (1627), +28th Tale._ + + + + +A STRANGE DESTINY + + + In epochs of deep peace + When days are lengthening, + The flute sounds and songs are heard + Among the drunken villages. + The Phoenix Car is said to be approaching + With the Emperor, + And each one turns his eye + To the splendor of that procession. + +In the reign of Hui Tsung of the Sung dynasty, near the capital of +the East, on the borders of the Lake of Clearness of Gold, a new wine +pavilion had just been opened, under the sign of The Quick Hedge. Fan, +the landlord, and his brother Erh-lang, were the proprietors. Neither +of them was married; and their business prospered. + +It was the week when Spring melts into Summer, and men walk abroad in +number to enjoy the freshness and beauty of nature. + +One day Erh-lang roamed the lakeside, delighting in the soft air, and +saw, in front of a teahouse, a ravishing girl of about eighteen, in +whose face, which was as dreamful as the Night Star, flowered all the +blossoms of the time. He stopped, fixed to the ground with admiration +and already riotous with love. He could not take his eyes from the +rose radiance of this face, peach blossom against flawless jade; from +this slender body, from the rare golden lotus of these delicate feet. +A scarlet hibiscus in flower framed this phoenix against stirring +landscape of the great lake. + +Alas! our emotions do not depend upon our will. The young girl +felt herself looked upon, and raised her eyes; her soul was at once +troubled, her child's heart secretly rejoiced. She thought: + +"If I could marry this beautiful man, I should know many happy +moments. But, though he is there now, where will he be tomorrow? How +can I tell him how to find me again?" + +Just then a seller of refreshments came by with his small vessels on +his shoulder. She called him: + +"Have you a little honey-water?" + +The merchant set down a bronze vase on the ground to serve her; but +she, with pretended clumsiness, upset the vase, and said to him: +"Never mind! Come to my house and I will pay for all. I will give you +my name and address." + +Erh-lang pricked his ears, as she continued: "I am the daughter +of Lord Chou, who lives near the Ts'ao Gate. My little name is +Victorious-Immortal. And I pray you do not charge too much, for I am +not yet betrothed or married." + +The young lover trembled with joy, saying to himself: + +"These words are meant for me, I am sure of that." + +The merchant was meanwhile protesting, and the young girl added: + +"My father is not at home just now. But he is terrible, and you will +undoubtedly be prosecuted if you try to rob us." + +Erh-lang earnestly desired to make himself known in his turn, and +being unable to think of any other expedient, he did as the girl had +done: asked for a bowl of cool water, and pretended clumsily to upset +the full jar. He then said: "Aya! Here is another misfortune! But it +does not matter. Come to my house, and you shall be well recompensed. +I am Erh-lang, brother of Fan. We are proprietors of THE PAVILION OF +THE QUICK HEDGE. I am nineteen, and no one has yet cheated me in my +business, I can draw a bow, and am not yet betrothed." + +"Are you not a little mad?" asked the merchant, looking at him in +astonishment. "Why do you tell me all that? Do you wish me to act as +the go-between for your marriage? I am an honest man, and have never +cheated anybody." + +Hearing her admirer's words, the girl rejoiced in her heart. She +suggested to her mother, who was sitting by her, that they should +go away; and rising to her feet, said to the merchant: "If you will +follow us, we will pay you at once." + +But her eyes spoke in reality to the young man; who walked slowly +behind her, admiring the poise of her gait. In this manner they +proceeded until the two women entered their house. But the young girl +came back almost at once to draw aside the big door-curtain and to +look out at him as he passed. He went on walking to and fro, as if he +had lost his senses, and did not return to his house till evening. + +From that particular day Victorious-Immortal remained so strangely +affected that she was quite unable to swallow a grain of rice, or even +to touch a cake. At last, one morning, she was too weak to rise. Her +mother ran to her bed. + +"My poor child," she asked, "what is the matter with you?" + +"I ache all over my body. I have pains in my head and cough a little." + +Her mother at once thought of calling in a doctor; but, in the absence +of the master of the house and his servant, there was no man to go +on the errand. But an old female attendant, named Kind-Welcome, was +present and observed: + +"The ancient woman Wang lives, as you know, quite close at hand. She +has helped more than a hundred children into the world. She can sew, +and she can act as go-between; but she can also feel a pulse and +diagnose an illness. Everybody calls her as soon as there is anything +the matter." + +"That is true. Go and fetch her quickly." + +Some few moments later the healer came and the mother began a long +explanation. But the woman interrupted her: + +"I shall know all about it when I have examined the patient." + +The sick girl put out a wasted hand, and the woman felt her pulse for +a long time. At last she said: + +"You have pains in the head, and all your body aches. You are in +continual agony, and the earth is hateful to you." + +"That is exactly the case," she answered from her bed. "Also I cough a +little." + +"But what has caused this illness?" + +As the girl did not answer, this wise old visitor turned to the mother +and the attendant, and signed them to go away. They dared not refuse, +and left the room. + +"Now we are going to cure you. The illness lies in your heart, and +nowhere else." + +"In my heart?" questioned the sick girl. + +"You have seen a handsome young man, and he pleases you. Your +suffering rises from that; is it not so?" + +"There is nothing of the sort," denied the other. + +"Come, come! Tell me the truth, and I will soon find a means to save +your life." + +Seeing a chance to reach to her desire, little Victorious-Immortal +decided to tell everything. When she had finished, the very old woman +said: + +"Do not be troubled. I know one of his relations who has spoken to +me of him. He is intelligent and level-headed. I shall go and see his +brother, to make arrangements for your marriage, if you finally wish +to marry him." + +"You know very well that I do," said the sick child with a smile. "But +will my mother consent?" + +"Do not be uneasy. I have my methods." + +She was already out of the room, and saying to the mother: + +"I know what is the matter with your daughter. If you would like me to +make it clear to you, have two cups of wine brought in." + +Kind-Welcome made haste to arrange all on the table. The healer drank +a draught of burning wine and, turning to the mother, repeated word +for word what the girl had confessed to her, adding: + +"And now there is nothing for it but to marry her to Erh-lang, for +otherwise her death is certain." + +"My husband will be away for a long time yet. I cannot decide without +him." + +"You have only to make the arrangements. You need not celebrate the +marriage until after my Lord's return. She must be given her desire; +there is no other way of saving her." + +"If the young man is as desirable as all that ..." the mother murmured +uneasily. "But how shall we bring the thing about?" + +"I am going to speak to his elder brother. I will keep you informed." + +Without further delay, the venerable go-between went straight to The +Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, where she found Fan behind his counter, +and saluted him: + +"Ten thousand happinesses!" + +"You come at the right time," he answered with a bow. "I was about to +send to beg you to do so. For some days, I assure you, my brother has +not been able to take a morsel of food. He says that his whole body is +aching, and now he stays in bed. Will you, please, feel his pulse?" + +"I will see him. But it is better for me to be alone with him." + +"Then I shall not come with you." + +So the old woman went up into the sick man's room, and he said to her +feebly: + +"Mother Wang, it is very long since I saw you. Alas! You come too +late! My life is finished!" + +"In what special way are you so seriously ill?" she asked, sitting +near the bed and touching his wrist. + +After a moment she continued: + +"Shall I tell you the name of your illness? It is called +Victorious-Immortal, little daughter of Chou, and her house is near +the Ts'ao Gate." + +The sick man was startled and sat up: + +"How do you know that?" + +"Her family has commissioned me to come and arrange your marriage." + +Immediate happiness revived the young man. + +He rose and came down with the wise visitor to his astonished brother. + +"I am cured," he announced, "And all goes very well." + +Meanwhile the old woman was saying: "The family of Chou has sent me +especially to talk to you about a marriage." + +All was soon settled, the first gifts were exchanged, and the +comforted hearts of the two young people were filled with joy. +But they had to wait Lord Chou's return before proceeding with the +ceremony. + +Chou did not come back until eight months later. It is needless to say +that, when he did so, all his relations and friends came to drink cups +of wine with him to "wash down the dust of the journey." At last his +wife told him what had happened, affirming that all was decided. But +the eyes of the master of the house became round and white, and he +bellowed: + +"O filthy imbecile, who gave you the right to betroth our daughter to +a wine merchant? Is there no son of decent family who would marry her? +Do you wish to make us a laughing-stock?" + +While he was thus cursing his wife, the servant came up to them, +crying: + +"Come quickly and save the child! She was behind the door, and heard +your cries. She fell down and is no longer breathing." + +Stumbling in her haste, the mother ran out. She saw her daughter lying +on the ground and was about to raise her, but her husband prevented +her, saying: + +"Leave her! She was bringing dishonor on us! If she is to die, then +let her die!" + +Seeing her mistress held back, Kind-Welcome bent over the girl. But +Chou, with a blow that made the air whistle between his fingers sent +her against the wall. In his rage, he seized his wife and shook her +roughly, and she howled like a dog. The neighbors heard her and ran +in, fearing that there was disaster. Soon the room was filled with +women, all talking at the same time. But the master of it roughly bade +them be silent: + +"I do not allow any spying upon my private affairs." + +The neighbors retired in discomfort, and the mother threw herself upon +her daughter's body, whose ends were already cold. She sobbed: + +"You would not have died if I had come to you. O murderer, you have +let her die of set purpose. You did not want to give her the four or +five thousand ounces which her grandfather left her." + +He went out, panting like a boar with anger. The mother did not cease +to lament her loss: her daughter had been so gentle and so clever. At +length the time came to shut down the coffin, and Chou angrily said to +his wife: + +"You pretend that I let her die so as not to lose four thousand +ounces? I order you to put all her jewels in the tomb with her. That +is more than five thousand ounces, one would think." + +They brought in the wu-tso, the Inspector of Corpses, and also his +assistant, to verify the death and to help in hearsing her. The keeper +of the family graveyard and his brother, the two Chang, were also +there to assist in the mournful work. + +The time came for the funeral, and the procession went forth from the +town. The coffin was placed in a brick tomb, and the first shovels of +earth were thrown upon it. Then all returned home. Three feet of cold +insensitive earth covered the body of this young beauty, and it had +been full of love. + +Now the Inspector of Corpses had a worthless fellow named Feng for his +assistant. This miserable boy, on coming back from the cemetery in +the evening, said to his mother: "An excellent day's work! Tomorrow we +shall be rich." + +"And what successful stroke of business have you concluded?" + +"Today we buried the daughter of Chou, and all her jewels were put +in the coffin with her. Instead of leaving them to enrich the earth, +would it not be better to take them?" + +"Think before you do such a terrible thing!" his mother begged. "This +is no matter of a mere whipping. Your father wanted to do the same +thing twenty years ago. He opened a coffin, and the corpse began to +smile at him. Your father died of that in four or five days. My son, +do not do it. It is no easy matter." + +"Mother," he answered simply, "my mind is made up. Do not waste your +breath on me, for that is useless." + +He bent over his bed, and took out of it a heavy iron tool. + +"O mother, not each person's destiny is the same. I have consulted +soothsayers, and they have told me that I shall become rich this +year." + +He took also an axe, a leather sack, and a dark lantern, which he +placed in readiness. Finally he wrapped himself in a great mantle of +reeds, for it was the eleventh moon and the snow had begun to fall. +He made a sort of hurdle with about ten inter-crossed bamboos, and +fastened it behind his mantle, so that it should drag along the ground +and efface his foot-prints. + +The second watch was sounding when he went out, and all was still +bustle and gaiety in the town. But beyond the walls both silence and +solitude reigned in the growing cold. The snow was already thick. Who +would have ventured out there? + +From time to time he turned his head, but no one followed him. At last +he reached the wall of the family graveyard and climbed in. Suddenly +a dog ran through the tall grass and leaped at him, barking. The thief +had prepared a portion of poisoned meat, and threw it to the dog. The +beast, being badly fed, smelt it and swallowed it. He still barked +a little, but the venom was potent, and he very soon writhed on the +ground. + +In the keeper's hut, young Chang said to his elder brother: + +"The dog has started barking, and then has stopped. Is that not +strange? Perhaps it is a thief. You ought to go and see." + +The elder brother rose from his hot bed and took up a weapon, +grumbling. Then he opened the door and went out. But he was seized +by a whirl of cold snow, and called to the dog: "What are you barking +for, O animal of the Gods?" + +Then he came back and glided under his blankets. + +"There is nothing at all. But it is very cold." + +From the distant town came the far sound of the gongs and drums of the +third watch. Taking heart, Feng went forward in a snow which deadened +his steps. He quickly shovelled the fresh earth from the grave, and +then lighted his lantern. Its yellow light lit up but a single point. +Forcing two long crowbars between the joints, he loosened one brick, +and then another. At last the coffin was uncovered. He inserted his +pick under the lid, and pried it off and laid it on one side. The +corpse was brought to view. + +"Small sister," he murmured. "I am only going to borrow a little of +your useless wealth. Do not you grudge it me!" + +He took the veil from that charming face. The head was covered with +ornaments of gold, and also with pearls. He took them all. He was +tempted by the fine and silken garments of the corpse. He stripped it. + +But suddenly, the body shook itself and pushed the thief away with +violence. He uttered a cry of imbecile terror and shrank back. The +corpse had sat up and, in that little light, looked at the open tomb, +the scattered tools, and her own unclothed body. The wretched lad, +obeying instinctive habit, trembled and lied: + +"Little sister, I have come to save you." + +Naturally, when little Victorious-Immortal had heard the foul Chou's +violent words, her despair had made her lose all sign of life. It was +for this reason that she had been put in her coffin while still +alive. Aroused now by the cold, her first thought was to remember her +father's anger. Her only refuge then was the house of her betrothed, +and she said: "If you will take me to The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge, +you may have a heavy reward." + +"That is easy," answered Feng, seeking in vain for how he should +escape. + +Ought he to kill her? He hardly had the courage after such a shock. +He decided to give her back a few clothes. He put the jewels and his +implements in the sack, together with the extinguished lantern, and +quickly covered the grave with earth again. Then, because the girl +was too weak to walk, he took her on his back and went away from that +place. But instead of going to Fan's house, he went to his own. His +mother opened the door to him, and cried in terror: + +"Have you stolen the corpse also?" + +"Do not speak so loud," he answered, setting down his burdens. + +He went to his bed, and there put little Victorious-Immortal. He drew +a knife from his girdle and showed it to the girl: + +"Little one, I have some business to settle with you. If we come to +an agreement, I will take you to Fan's house. If not, you very well +behold this knife, and I shall cut you in two pieces." + +"What do you want with me?" she asked. + +"You are going to stay here without making a noise and without trying +to escape, until I take you to Fan. As for the rest, we will speak of +it another time." + +"I will do so! I will indeed do so!" + +Then the nasty youth led his mother into the next room to calm her a +little. + +"But what are you going to do?" she asked. + +"Do you think we can be safe when she has gone to Fan?" + +"I am not going to take her to Fan." + +"What are you going to do, then?" + +He gave a country laugh, full of suggestion. + + * * * * * + +Matters so continued until the fifteenth day of the first Moon, +the evening of the Feast of Lanterns. Feng went out to see the +illuminations, and also to profit by the opportunities for theft which +are always afforded in a crowd. The evening wore on, and he had not +yet returned, when a shout arose among the neighbors. Feng's mother +opened the door to see what was the matter. A fire had broken out near +there. In terror, the old woman made haste to carry her furniture into +the yard. Profiting by this confusion, the girl slipped through the +door; but in the street she did not know which way to turn. At +last she found the road to the Ts'ao Gate, and was running in that +direction when she lost herself again. However, when at length she +asked where The Pavilion of the Quick Hedge might be, she was shown a +near way to it. + +The attendant was before the door, and she asked him very politely: + +"Ten thousand happinesses! Is not this the house of Fan and Erh-lang?" + +"Certainly it is, small lady." + +"Could you not lead me to him?" + +"Assuredly," he answered. + +He showed her the way, calling from the door to his masters; but when +Erh-lang, in the pale light of the paper lanterns, recognized the +white face of his betrothed, he cried out in dismay: "Ghost! Ghost!" + +Confident in her love, she advanced toward him piteously repeating: + +"Elder brother! Elder brother! I am alive!" + +But he kept recoiling in terror, and crying: "Help! Help!" + +How could he fail to believe himself in the presence of a ghost, when +he had witnessed the funeral, and had, that very evening, encountered +the wife of Chou in mourning garments? + +As she was about to touch him and, cringing against the wall, he could +retreat no further, his terror redoubled. Not knowing what he did, he +picked up a heavy stool and struck his dear visitor on the head with +it. She fell back, and her head sounded dully on the stone flags. + +Fan ran up at the noise of this. He saw the woman on the ground, and +his brother holding the stool. + +"What have you done?" he cried. "What is the matter? Was it you who +killed her?" + +"She is a ghost," the other said. + +"If she were a ghost, she would not bleed. What have you done?" + +Already some ten persons had come up to see what was the matter. The +street guard came in to them and seized Erh-lang, who kept on saying: +"She is the ghost of Chou's daughter. I have killed her." + +Hearing this name, a neighbor ran to inform Chou, who would not at +first believe him. At length he decided to go to the wine pavilion, +where he was compelled to recognize her, though he kept on saying: + +"I buried her long since!" + +Nevertheless, the guard insisted upon leading Erh-lang to prison. +Fan had the doors shut then, and stayed with Chou by the corpse till +morning. + +Early next day the Governor inquired into the matter. The coffin was +opened. It was found empty, and the keepers told how their dog had +been found dead in the snow on the day after the funeral. In the +absence of any completer explanation, they proceeded with their +inquiry. + +Erh-lang, in his prison, was overcome with sorrowful remorse. +Sometimes he said that she could not have survived her burial; +sometimes he was rent with horror at the thought that she had been +alive when he struck her. He recalled her beauty and grace in Spring +by the lake side, and bitter tears rolled from him. While he was +musing in this way, he saw his cell door open, and the girl appeared. +In his emotion and fear, he cried: + +"Are you not dead, my darling?" + +"Your blow caused me more grief than harm. Now I have wakened, and +have come to see you." + +She approached the bench where he sat, and he took her hand: + +"How can I have been so foolish as to fear you?" + +They were talking thus, and already, in their deep love, they were in +each other's arms. His joy was so keen that suddenly he woke. It was a +dream. + +On the second night the same thing happened, and on the third, and his +passion grew stronger for her. As she was going away the third time, +she said: + +"My life on earth had come to an end, but my love was so great and +so potently called me to you, that the Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, the +Keeper-of-the-Frontier-of-the-Shadows, allowed me to come back to +you, for these three nights. I must leave you now. But, if you do not +forget, there will yet be something of me bound to your soul." + +Then she disappeared, and the young man sobbed most bitterly. + +In the end the matter was cleared up by chance. Feng's mother, having +filched a golden trifle from her son's bag, went to sell it to the +same jeweler who had made it for Chou. On being denounced before the +Governor, mother and son were apprehended, and all the jewels were +discovered in their house. Torture found them words, and the whole +matter became clear. Erh-lang had actually believed that he saw a +ghost, and was released. Feng was sentenced to slow death, and strips +were torn one by one from his body by the executioner. His mother was +only strangled. + +As for Erh-lang, his heart stayed faithful to the girl he had +so greatly loved. At every feast he went to the temple of the +Marshal-of-the-Five-Ways, and burned incense, so that the pleasant +smoke of it might ascend to the palace of the soul of little +Victorious-Immortal. His fidelity touched even the rough heart of Chou +and, when he came to die a few years later, his body was buried in the +same tomb with her whom his arms had known only in sleep. + +_Nao fan lou to ch'ing sheng hsien (Chou Victorious-Immortal, +of abundant love, overthrows the Pavilion +of the Fan). Hsing shih heng yen +(1627), 14th Tale._ + + + + +THE ERROR OF THE EMBROIDERED SLIPPER + + + The sun is in our eyes + And we think we are running out towards joy; + Our heart pulls us down + And we shall never know the way of the sky + Or the end of all things. + +During the Hung-Chih period of our Dynasty there lived at Hang-chow +a young man who was called Chang Loyalty. After his parents died, +leaving him a great fortune, he no longer had anyone to guide him, and +therefore, throwing away his books, he spent his time with gallants of +the sort we name fou-lang-tzu, that is to say "floating-on-the-waves." +They do not know how to profit by opportunity. So Chang no longer +studied anything but various ball games, he abandoned himself to the +pleasures of the theatre, and took his delight in those gardens where +the breezes of love blow in the moonlight. In a word, he followed the +changing flowers of illusion; and, as he was himself seductive, as +impassioned as expert in pleasure, and rich and generous, he became +the favorite of all the women of the town. One day, when spring had +but just caused all the flowers to come out on the amiable banks of +the Lake of the West, Chang invited a company of singing girls and +idlers to spend the afternoon on the blue waters. + +He put on a gauze bonnet with floating wings, after the fashion of the +time. His great transparent silk robe was of purple and silver, over +a second embroidered one of pure white. White gauze stockings and red +slippers completed the elegance of his appearance. + +He went out, walking unhurriedly, gently waving a fan decorated with +paintings. Behind him walked his little slave, Clear-Lute, who carried +over his shoulder a mantle in case the weather should freshen, and a +long guitar with which to accompany the singing girls. + +As they were approaching the gate of Ch'ien-t'ang, Chang looked up, +for no particular reason. On the first story of a house a maiden +held back her window curtain and looked at him. From her whole person +emanated so troubling a charm that he stopped in his walk, and felt +a tremor in his body. For a long time they remained gazing at each +other, until she slowly broke into a smile, and he felt his soul fly +from him. + +At this moment the door of the house opened below, and a man came +forth; so Chang hastened to resume his walk, and returned in a few +moments. The curtain was drawn back over the window. He waited, but +there was no sign. At length he drew away, turning his head, and +walking as slowly as if he had already gone a hundred leagues on the +mountains. + +Yet eventually he passed the town gate and rejoined his friends on the +boat, which was at once steered to the middle of the lake. The banks +were smiling with peach blossom: the willow leaves were a mist of gold +and green. Little boats, with brightly-dressed passengers, crossed and +re-crossed like ants. In very truth: + + Hills are heaped upon hills + And the pavilions on the pavilions. + The songs and dances are never ceasing + On the West Lake. + The warm breeze fans the drunkenness + Of the pleasure walkers. + Heaven is above, + But here we have Hang-chow and Su-chow Lakes. + +But Chang carried the picture of that young girl in his soul, and had +no heart for pleasure. + +His companions offered him cups of wine, wondering at his melancholy; +but he was far from them. + +At twilight they returned, and Chang re-entered by the Ch'ien-t'ang +gate, passing before the girl's house. The window was shut. He +stopped, and forced a cough; but there was no sign. He went to the end +of the street, and came back again, but all was silent. Therefore he +had no choice but to go away. + +He returned next morning, and stayed at a shop near by to learn what +he could. He was told: + +"They are people called P'an. Their only daughter is sixteen years of +age, and is named Eternal Life. The father has some connection with +a certain powerful family which affords him protection. He lives by +swindling, and everyone fears him. He is a veritable skin-pinker and +bravo." + +This news made Chang a little thoughtful, but he walked on by the +house nevertheless. The young girl was again at her window. They +looked at each other; but there were people about, and he had to go +away. + +That evening, as soon as night fell, he went back. The moon was +shining as brightly as the sun, and the street was empty. The youthful +beauty leaned at her window, wrapped in thought and bathed in the +white light. She smiled at him, and he drew from his sleeve his +scarlet muslin handkerchief. He made the knot known as "union of +hearts gives victory." Rolling it in a ball, he threw it, and she +adroitly caught it in two hands. Then she stooped and took off one of +her little embroidered slippers. She dropped it into Chang's waiting +fingers. Enraptured with this gift, which was a pledge of love and +faith, he carried it to his lips and said softly: + +"Thank you; Thank you, with all my heart!" + +In tones of maddening sweetness, she replied: + +"Ten thousand happinesses!" + +Just then a rough voice was heard within the house. She made another +sign to him and closed the window. And he went home drunk through +silent streets made silver by the moon. Once in his library, he +examined the slipper. It was a golden lotus, so small and so light +that a thousand thoughts troubled the lover. He said: + +"I must find someone to arrange our meeting, or else die from an +over-stressing of desire." + +Early in the morning, he put some pieces of silver in his sleeve and +hastened to a little wine booth, not far from the house of P'an. +He knew that he would find an old woman there, whom he often met in +pleasurable places. In fact, he saw her and called to her. She at once +saluted him, saying: + +"Aya! My uncle, what brings you?" + +"I happened to be passing," he answered carelessly. + +"But I should like you to walk a little way with me." + +"In what can I serve you?" she hastened to ask. + +Without speaking, he took her into a quiet little tavern. When they +were seated, and the attendant had brought them fruit and dishes of +food, he poured out a full cup of hot wine and offered it to her, +saying: + +"I have something to ask of you, ma-ma Lu. But I am afraid that you +cannot accomplish it." + +"Without boasting," she answered with a wide smile, "there are few +enterprises, however difficult, in which I do not succeed. What is it +you desire?" + +"I want you to arrange a meeting for me with the daughter of P'an, +who lives in the Street of the Ten Officials. Here are five ounces +of silver to begin with. If you succeed, you shall have quite as much +more." + +"The small Eternal Life? The little witch! I thought her so demure! +I should never have imagined she was a wild flower. But the matter is +difficult. There are only the parents and the daughter in that house, +and the father is dangerous. He keeps a damnably suspicious watch over +his door. How could you get in? I dare not promise any success." + +"You have just boasted that you always succeed. Here are two ounces +more." + +The old woman's eyes gleamed like fire at the sight of the +snow-colored metal, and she said: + +"I will take the risk. If all goes well, it will be your fortune. +If not, I shall at least have done my best. But give me a proof, for +otherwise she would not listen to me." + +Not without regret, Chang took from his bosom the little slipper, and +gave it to her, wrapped in his handkerchief. The old woman at once +slipped it into her sleeve with the pieces of money. As she was +leaving him, she said again: + +"The affair is delicate. You must have patience and not hurry me. That +would be dangerous." + +"I only ask you to do your best. Come and tell me as soon as you have +an answer." + +Eternal Life was profoundly agitated. Since that moonlit night she had +had no more taste for food, but had said: + +"If I married him I would not have lived in vain. But I know neither +his name nor where he lives. When I saw him beneath the moon, why +had I not wings to fly to him? ... As it is, I had only this red +handkerchief." + +Yet she had to live and speak as usual. But as soon as she was alone +she fell again into her musing. + +Two days later, old Lu entered their house. The father had gone out. +The visitor said to mother and daughter: + +"I received certain artificial flowers yesterday, and have come to +show them to you." + +She took a bunch of a thousand shades out of her basket. + +"Would you not say they were real?" + +"When I was young," said the mother, "we only wore ordinary flowers, +and did not dream of marvels like these." + +"Yet these are only considered mediocre. But the price of the finest +is so high." + +"If we cannot buy them, we can at least admire them," the young girl +answered dryly. + +With gathering smiles, the old woman took from the basket a bunch +which was indeed incomparable. + +"And what is the price of that?" questioned the mother. + +"How should I dare to fix a price? I leave it to you. But if you have +a little tea, I would willingly drink of it." + +"In the admiration caused by your flowers, we have forgotten our +manners. Wait for one moment, while I fetch some boiling water." + +As soon as the mother had left the room, the woman took a slight +parcel from her sleeve. + +"What have you there?" asked Eternal Life. + +"Something important which you must not see." + +"Oh, but I must see it then." + +"I shall not give it to you," said the cunning old woman. "Aya! You +have taken it from me by force!" she added, letting the parcel into +the girl's hand. + +Impatiently the child untied the handkerchief, and recognized her +slipper. Her face flushed into scarlet, and she said with difficulty: +"A single one of these objects is of no use, ma-ma. Why did you show +it me?" + +"I know a certain Lord who would give his life to have the pair. Will +you not consent to help me?" + +Trembling all over, Eternal Life said to her softly: + +"Since you know all, tell me his name and where he lives." + +"He is called Chang, and he owns a hundred myriads of ounces. He is +very gentle; his love is as deep as the sea. He has lost his soul +through thinking of you, and has bidden me arrange a means for his +entry." + +"How can it be done? My father is terrible. When I have blown out +my lamp, he often comes to look into the rooms. What is your plan, +ma-ma?" + +The old woman thought for a minute, and then said: + +"It is not very difficult. You must go to bed early and, as soon as +your father has come up and gone down again, you must rise quietly and +open the window. You must wait for a signal, and let down a long piece +of cloth. He will climb up with the help of this rope, and, if he is +careful to go away before the fifth watch, no one will surprise you." + +"Admirable!" cried the delighted child. "When will he come?" + +"It is too late to-day. But I will go to him to-morrow morning. Give +me a pledge of re-assurance for him." + +"Assuredly! Take the other slipper. He will give it back to me +to-morrow." + +The old woman hid it in her sleeve, for the mother came in by this +time with the tea. Soon after, she took up her basket and went away, +accompanied to the door by the two women. + +She went straight to the house of Chang, but he was out. She offered +her flowers to the women of the house, waiting for some part of the +day in vain. + +Next morning she went again to find the young man, but he had not +returned. She went away thoughtful. + +The truth is that Chang had remained three days in the house of a +Flower-in-the-Mist. When he returned and heard of the old woman's two +visits, he hastened to find her. She said to him: + +"The pledge of love which you entrusted to me is in her hand. She bade +me tell you that her father is dangerous, but that he is to be away +for a long time shortly. She will inform us." On his return journey +the young man passed by P'an's house. Eternal Life was at her window, +and they smiled tenderly at one another. + + * * * * * + +Three months had passed. Chang was sitting one morning in his library, +when his servants told him that four police officers had come with a +summons. He asked himself fearfully whether he had been mixed up in +any scandal at a pleasure house; but he had to obey. He questioned the +officers. + +"It is a matter of taxes and duties," they answered. + +Reassured, he changed his clothes and went with them, followed by +several of his servants. He was taken at once to the hall where +the Court sat, and, standing before the red table, he saluted the +magistrate. The latter looked at him intently, and harshly asked: + +"How did you enter into an intrigue with P'an's daughter? How did you +kill her father and her mother?" + +Chang was a libertine. That is to say he had neither strength nor +energy. Hearing himself thus unexpectedly accused of a double crime, +he shook from head to foot, as if a bolt had fallen on him from a calm +sky. He stammered: + +"Although I had the intention of establishing a connection with her, +I have not yet succeeded in doing so. As yet I have not known her +house." + +The Governor thundered: + +"She has just confessed that her relation with you has lasted several +months. How dare you deny it?" + +Just then Chang perceived that the young girl was kneeling close to +him. Bewildered and not knowing what to do, he turned to Eternal Life +and asked: + +"How can you say that I have been intimate with you? With what object +are you trying to encompass my ruin?" + +She sobbed without answering. Meanwhile the Governor called upon the +officers to apply the buskin of torture to the young man. And they +swarmed about him like ants. + +Unhappily for him, Chang Loyalty had been brought up in muslin and +gauze, and had grown to manhood in a brocade. How could he endure +such torture? Hardly had he felt the pressure of the buskin before he +cried: + +"I confess everything!" + +The Governor had a brush and paper given to the accused, that he might +himself write out his confession. The unhappy man wept, saying: + +"What must I write? I know nothing of the matter!" Then he turned to +the young girl and added: "Do you at least tell me what you have done, +so that I may write my confession." + +Eternal Life answered in irritation: "Did you not look at me with +lecherous eyes under my window? Did you not throw your handkerchief? +Did you not match the pair of my embroidered slippers?" + +"All that is true. But about the rest?" + +The Governor here interrupted: + +"If one thing is true, the rest is also. What is the use of arguing +it? Since he refuses to write, let him be given thirty strokes of +the heavy bamboo, let him be cast into the cell for those who are +condemned to death." + +Happily for Chang, his gaolers knew that he was very rich. They but +touched him with their blows, and led him to prison with as much care +as they would a butterfly. Each of them cried: + +"Uncle, how could you do such a thing?" + +"O my elder brothers," he lamented, "if it is true that I desired +this girl, yet have I never met her. Do you believe that I could be a +murderer? I know nothing about the murder. Tell me of it." + +So he learned that, this very morning, Eternal Life on waking up had +been surprised by the silence of the house. From the ground-floor room +where she had passed the night, she had gone up to the story where her +parents slept, and had opened the door of their room. In front of the +bed, under the half-drawn curtains, the floor was a tarn of blood. + +She was so frightened that she tumbled down the stairs and fell upon +the street door, sobbing and crying out. Neighbors heard her and ran +up, and she said to them: + +"Yesterday, my parents went up to their room. I do not know who has +killed them both." + +The bolder ones went up the stairs to see. They opened the +bed-curtains, and there were the man and his wife, stiff and with +their throats cut across. They looked to right and left. The window +was shut, and nothing was disturbed. + +"It is a serious matter," they muttered. "Let us not act hastily." + +One of them went at once to warn the district chief of police, who +came and examined the scene of the crime. He shut and sealed the +house, and led Eternal Life to the Governor's Court. The girl knelt +down and told all that she knew, and the Governor said: + +"If the door and windows were closed, and nothing has been stolen, the +matter is dubious. Had your father an enemy?" + +"Not to my knowledge." + +"That is strange!" murmured the Governor, and thought for a moment. + +Suddenly he told the officers to take off the silken veil with which +the young girl had half-covered her head. He could then see her +exceptional beauty. + +"How old are you? Are you not betrothed?" + +"I am seventeen, and I am still free." + +"And you sleep on the ground-floor, while your parents have their room +above? That is very curious." + +"Until quite recently your slave slept above. But fifteen days ago +they made a change. I do not know why." + +The judge again reflected. Then he struck the table violently, crying +out: + +"It is you who have killed your father and mother. Or, rather, it is +your lover. Tell me his name." + +"Your slave never leaves the house. How could she have a forbidden +love? Would not the neighbors know it?" + +The judge made a salacious grimace: + +"In a case of murder the neighbors know nothing. It is clear that you +have had relations with a man. Your parents knew of it, and that is +why they changed their room. Your lover killed them in a rage." + +Hearing these words, she became scarlet and then pale. At a sign from +the Governor, the gaolers threw themselves like tigers upon the +little girl, closing a cruel pair of iron nippers on her pellucid +and delicate jade hand. As the jaws began to crush her fingers, she +uttered loud cries: + +"Mercy, my lord. I have a lover." + +"What is his name?" + +"Chang Loyalty." + +And then she fainted. The Governor knew enough. He summoned the young +man and, being convinced of his guilt, had him put in prison, while +awaiting further information. It is well said in a certain proverb: +"Even while you are sitting in your house with the doors shut, +misfortune falls from heaven." + +In prison, Chang reflected upon this sudden accusation. Could he have +committed this double crime in his sleep? In the end he offered his +gaolers ten ounces if they would take him to Eternal Life. When they +bargained, he promised twenty ounces. Then they led him as far as +the grill of the women's prison. The girl was there, weeping without +stint. As soon as she saw him, she reviled him between her sobs: + +"Ungrateful and dishonorable! You made me mad with love for you. Why +should you cut my parents' throats, and cause my death?" + +"Do not make unnecessary noise," he interrupted. + +"Let us rather try to clear up this mystery. It is certain that I sent +the old woman Lu to you with your little slipper. Did you see her?" + +"Naturally, wretch," she answered disdainfully. + +Again he interrupted: + +"She told me that you had kept your pledge, that your father was +terrible, and that you were awaiting his departure in order to arrange +a meeting. But since then I have known nothing of you, save a few rare +smiles." + +"Forgetful murderer," she groaned, "again you deny it. Did you not +confess all before the judge? Why do you come to torment me." + +"My unfortunate body could not endure the torture. By confessing I +gained some days of life. Do not fly into a rage, but answer me: what +happened after ma-ma Lu had visited you?" + +"We arranged everything for the next night. You came and gave me back +my slipper. Since then you have climbed up to my room each night. Dare +you say it is not true?" + +Chang thought deeply. The bystanders wondered whether he were guilty +and seeking a clever explanation to save himself, or whether he were +really innocent. At last he said: "Then if we have met often, you +should be very certain of my voice and body. Look at me well, and +think." + +The gaolers exclaimed: + +"What he says is just. If there were a mistake, would you leave him to +die?" + +Eternal Life was puzzled, and looked at him earnestly. He repeated: + +"Is it I? Dear heart, speak quickly!" + +"He who came," she said at last, "was perhaps bigger. But it was +always dark, and how can I be sure? But I remember that on your left +shoulder you have a scar as big as a copper piece." + +The bystanders at once exclaimed: + +"That is easy to verify. There can be no further mistake. Uncle, +unclothe yourself quickly. If there is nothing there, we shall inform +the Governor." + +Chang immediately uncovered his shoulder, and the white flesh was as +smooth as marble. Eternal Life could not believe her eyes. When the +young man had gone back, filled full of hope, to his prison, the +gaolers made their report to the Governor, who had already summoned +ma-ma Lu. + +In the audience chamber the old woman knelt down and was quite +overcome. The judge began by ordering her forty strokes for having +acted as an abettor of corruption. The flesh of her thighs was nothing +but a bloody paste. She told the whole story. + +After coming back from Chang's house without having seen him, old Lu +had found her son Wu-han in their little food shop. He had said to +her: + +"You come at the right time. I must kill a pig this morning, and our +assistant has gone out for the day." + +The old woman did not like this work. But she was very much afraid of +her son, and did not dare to refuse. + +"Wait till I have changed my clothes!" was all she said. + +While she was taking off her outer garment, a parcel fell from the +sleeve of it. Thinking that it was money, Wu-han quickly picked it up +and opened it. It was the pair of embroidered slippers. He said: + +"Oh! Oh! Who is the little girl who has such feet? She must be of a +very loving nature. If I could hold her to my heart for a whole night, +I should not have lived in vain. But how do these slippers come here, +for they have already been worn?" + +"Give them back to me!" she cried. "There is much money in them, +which I will hand to you." And she told him the whole matter. But he +objected: + +"It has been a common saying from the earliest times that acts not +committed can alone remain unknown. This P'an is a bravo. If he learns +of the matter, all the silver which you receive will be too little to +buy his silence. Our whole shop would fall into his hands." + +In dismay the old woman replied: + +"Your words are full of reason. I am going to give back the silver +and the slippers. I am going to let it be understood that I refuse to +embroil myself with curtain affairs." + +"Where is the silver?" he asked. + +The old woman took it from her sleeve, and he put it into his, saying: + +"Leave all to me. If they should happen to come and seek a quarrel +with us, we shall have proofs against them. And, if nothing comes of +it, no one will dare to reclaim the money." + +"But what shall I say if he asks me for news?" + +"That you have not had time enough. Or even that the matter cannot be +arranged." + +What could she do, she who was thus deprived of the money and the +pledge of love? She was surely obliged to lie. + +As for Wu-han, he at once went out and spent the money on rich clothes +and a fine gauze bonnet. + +In the evening, when his mother was asleep, he put on his pretty +clothes and set the slippers in his sleeve. As the great clock sounded +the first watch, he went out softly and made straight for the house of +P'an. Light clouds were hiding the moon. It was only half full. + +He coughed before the house. The window opened, and Eternal Life +appeared. She tied a piece of silk to the frame, and let the other end +fall. He caught it and climbed up, making use of the projections of +the wall with his two feet. Then, with a thousand precautions, he +stepped over the sill. Trembling, the girl hastened to draw back the +piece of silk and to shut the window. + +Then he took the child in his arms, and passion leaped up in their two +hearts. In the darkness, and in such emotion, how could that mistake +be known? The usurper drew her towards him. + +Even so is the precious scented flower of the nutmeg embraced by the +bind-weed. Even so is the plum blossom torn by the hail. Even so is +the sparrow's nest most outraged by the cuckoo. + +When the first clouds of their desire were dissipated by the rain of +caresses, Wu-han took from his sleeve the pledges of love. She gave +them back to him: + +"Now that I am happy, I no more wish to go out." + +About the fourth watch, before daylight, Wu-han arose and climbed +stealthily down to the street. + +Since that time there had to be a storm of rain, or the moon had to +be very clear, to prevent Wu-han from hurrying to the small woman. The +days, and then the months, passed in this way. + +One night the deceiver accidentally made some noise as he went away. +P'an immediately came up to them, but saw nothing; for Eternal Life +succeeded in not betraying herself. Next night she warned her lover, +saying to him in her sense: + +"Do not come for a few days. That will be safer. Let us give them time +to forget about it." + +But her father had his ears on the alert; he heard the window creak, +and he ran up, though again too late. In the morning he said to his +wife: + +"This baby is certainly about some villainy. She keeps her mouth as +tight as a trap." + +"I also have a suspicion," replied her mother. + +"Yet the room opens on to the stairs, which come down into our room." + +"I am going to give her a good taste of the rod to make her speak." + +"That is a bad plan, a very bad plan," said her mother. "It is a true +proverb that you must not show family blemishes. If you beat her, +all the neighbors will know, and who would wish to marry her? Let us +rather make her sleep in our room, which has no way out except the +door. We will spend the night up the stairs, and see what happens." + +On being told of this proposal, Eternal Life dared not say anything. +And on the higher floor husband and wife slept in peace. + +One evening Wu-ban felt his heart seething with passion. Fearing that +he might be attacked by P'an, he armed himself with a knife, which +he used to cut pigs' throats. Under Eternal Life's window, he coughed +softly. Nothing stirred. He coughed more loudly, thinking she was +asleep. But everything remained quiet. He was going back to his house, +in a thoughtful mood, when he saw a ladder left near to a house which +was being built. He seized upon it, carried it away, and put it up +against Eternal Life's window. The catch was not locked. He pushed it +open, climbed over the sill, and silently went toward the bed. + +Drunken with joy, Wu-ban was already disrobing himself of his clothes, +when, in the stillness of the night, his ears caught the sound of two +people breathing, instead of one. He listened with controlled breath. +Unmistakably the rough breathing of a man was mingled with the softer +murmur of a woman. + +He was suddenly blinded with violent anger: + +"This is why she did not answer my signal. The vile child has another +man within. It was to get rid of me that she told me of her father's +suspicion!" + +In his jealous madness he drew his knife and gently felt for the man's +throat. With a clean blow he drove the weapon into the flesh, and +before the woman could move, he cut her throat also, almost beheading +her. + +He wiped the knife and his hands on the blanket, opened the window, +and descended. He had closed the catches. Once outside, he ran to +replace the ladder, and went back to his house. Denounced by his +mother and brought before the Court, Wu-ban tried to deny the +accusation. But the officers, on uncovering his shoulder, brought +a scar to view. Eternal Life recognized his voice and his body. The +first tortures overcame his obstinacy, and he confessed all. + +The murderer was condemned to slow death. + +Eternal Life was strangled, as was old Lu. + +Chang, whose lecherous intentions had been the cause of all, was +sentenced to a heavy fine. In dismay, and half ruined, he no more +left his study chamber. Not long afterwards, he was carried off by a +lassitude and a languor. + +_Lu Wu-han yin liu ho chin hsieh (Lu Wi-han keeps +an Embroidered Slipper to his scathe) Hsing +Shih heng yen (1627), 16th Tale._ + + + + +THE COUNTERFEIT OLD WOMAN + + +During the Ch'eng-Hua period of our dynasty, there lived at Shantung +a young man named Flowering Mulberry, whose parents possessed a +sufficient fortune. He had just bound up his hair beneath his man's +bonnet; his fresh and rosy complexion added to the delicate charm of +his features. + +One day, as he was going to visit an uncle in a neighboring village, +he was overtaken on the way by a heavy storm of rain, and ran for +shelter into a disused temple; and there, seated on the ground waiting +for the rain to stop, was an old woman. Flowering Mulberry sat down +and, since the storm grew more violent, resigned himself to wait. + +Finding him beautiful, the old woman began to converse and ingratiate +herself with him, until at length she came across to him, and finally +her hands wandered gently over his body. + +He found this an agreeable manner of passing the time, but said after +a little while: "How is it that, although you are a woman, you have +the voice of a man?" + +"My son, I will tell you the truth, but you must not reveal it to +anybody. I am not really a woman, but a man. When I was little, I used +often to disguise myself and mimic the shrill tones of young girls; +and I even learned to sew just as well as they. I used often to go to +the neighboring market towns, pretending that I was a young girl and +offering to do needlework; and my skill was soon much admired by all +the dwellers in the houses where I worked. + +"I used to mingle with the women, and by degrees, according to the +licentiousness of their thought, we would enjoy our pleasure. Soon +the women found that they had no more occasion to go out for their +dalliance; and even the sober-minded girls among them became involved. +They did not dare to say anything, for fear of the scandal; and also I +had a drug which I applied during the night to their faces, stupefying +them so that they allowed me to do as I liked. When they recovered +their senses it was too late, and they dared not protest. On the +contrary, they used to bribe me with gold and silken stuffs to keep +silence and to leave their house. Ever since then--and I am now +forty-seven years of age--I have never again put on a man's garments. +I have traveled throughout the two capitals and the nine provinces, +and always when I see a beautiful woman I contrive to go to her house. +In this way I accumulate riches with but little labor; and I have +never been found out." + +"What an astonishing tale!" cried the fascinated Flowering Mulberry. +"I wonder whether I could do the like." + +"One as beautiful as you are," answered the other, "will be taken for +a woman by everyone. If you wish me to be your instructor you have +only to come with me. I will bind up your feet, and teach you to sew; +and we will go into every house together. You shall be my niece. If we +find a good opportunity I shall give you a little of my drug, and you +will then have no difficulty in achieving your purpose." + +The young man's heart was devoured by a desire to put this adventure +to the proof. Without further hesitation he prostrated himself four +times, and adopted the old woman as his master, taking not a moment's +thought for his parents or for his honor. Such an intoxicating thing +is vice. + +When it had stopped raining, he set out with the old woman; and as +soon as they were beyond the boundaries of Shantung they purchased +hair-pins and feminine dresses. The disguise was perfect, and anyone +would have sworn that Flowering Mulberry was an authentic woman. He +changed his first name for that of Niang "the little girl," though for +a few days he was so embarrassed that he did not dare to speak. + +But his master seemed no longer wishful to look for fresh victims. +Every evening he insisted upon his niece sharing his bed; and up to a +very late hour would proceed with his instruction and that even to the +furthest detail. + +It was not for this that Flowering Mulberry had disguised himself. One +day he declared that thenceforward each should go his own way, and the +other was bound to agree; but before leaving him, he gave the boy some +further advice: + +"Two highly important rules are to be observed in our profession. The +first is not to stop too long in the same house. If you stayed in the +one place more than half a month, you would certainly be discovered. +Therefore often change your district, so that from month to month +there may be no time for the traces of your passage to become +noticeable. The second rule is not to let a man come near you. You +are beautiful, young and alone in life, and they will all wish to +interfere with you. Therefore always surround yourself with women. One +last word: have nothing to do with little girls; for they cry out and +weep." + +So then the two parted. + +In the first village he came to, Flowering Mulberry perceived through +a door the silhouette of a most graceful young woman, and struck upon +the door by its copper knocker. The girl opened, and looked at him +through eyes filled with fire. A needle-woman was just what they +required. + +But in the evening the boy was disappointed by the arrival of a +husband, whose lusty appearance left him small hope for the night. + +He was forced to wait until the young woman was left alone in the +house by day, and came to work in the chamber where he sat. Then he +ventured an observation upon the appearance of the countryside, and +afterwards congratulated her on her husband. She blushed, and their +conversation became more intimate. It was not until the next day, +however, that he dared to make an advance. This met with immediate +success. Two days afterwards he was forced into a hurried departure; +for the husband had taken notice of him, and profited by his wife's +momentary absence to suggest caresses. + +Thenceforward he followed his trade. At the age of thirty-two he had +travelled over more than half the empire, and had beguiled several +thousand women. Often, he was so bold as to attack more than eight +persons at a time, in a single house, and not even the little slaves +escaped his attention. The happiness of which he was thus the cause +remained unsuspected, and no one suffered by it, since none could +dream of its existence. He always remembered his master's rule, and +never risked staying for more than a few days in the same place. + +At last he came to the province West-of-the-River, and was received +into an important house, where there were more than fifteen women, all +beautiful and young. His feeling toward each of these was of so lively +a nature that twenty days had passed before he could make up his mind +to go away. Now the husband of one of these girls perceived him and, +at once falling in love with him, arranged that his wife should +cause him to come to their house. Flowering Mulberry went, suspecting +nothing, and hardly had he entered before the man came into the room, +took him by the waist and embraced him. Naturally he protested and +began to cry out; but the husband took not the slightest notice +of that. He pushed him on to the next room and searched him with +shameless hands. It was his turn to cry out: the slaves ran in, bound +Flowering Mulberry, and led him to the court of justice. In front of +the judge he tried to plead that he had adopted his disguise in order +to gain his living. But torture drew from him his real name and the +true motive of his behavior, together with an account of his latest +exploits. + +The Governor sent a report to the higher authorities, for he had no +precedent and knew not to what punishment to condemn him. The Viceroy +decided that the case must come under the law of adultery, and also +under that which dealt with the propagation of immorality. The penalty +was a slow death. No extenuating circumstances were admitted. So ended +this story. + + +_Hsing shih heng yen (1627), +10th Tale._ + + + + +THE MONASTERY OF THE ESTEEMED-LOTUS + + +In the town of Eternal Purity there was once a large monastery +dedicated to the Esteemed-Lotus. It contained hundreds of rooms, and +its grounds covered several thousand acres. Its wealth and prosperity +were due to the possession of a famous relic. + +The bonzes, who numbered about a hundred, lived in luxury; and +visitors were sure to be received by one of them from the moment of +entry, and to be invited to take tea and cakes. Now in the temple +there was a "Babies' Chapel," which was reputed to possess miraculous +virtue. By passing the night in it and burning incense, women who +wished to have a son obtained a son: those who wished for a daughter +obtained a daughter. + +Round the main hall were set several cells. Women who wished for +children had to be of vigorous age and free from malady. They used +to fast for seven days, and then go into the temple to prostrate +themselves before Fo, and to consult the wands of divination. + +If the omens were favorable, they passed a night locked up alone +in one of the cells, for the purpose of prayer. If the omens were +unfavorable, it was because their prayers had not been sufficiently +sincere. The bonzes made this fault known to them; and they began +their seven days' fast anew, before returning to make their devotions. + +The cells had no sort of opening in their walls, and when a penitent +entered one of them, her family and attendants used to come and +install her. As soon as night came, she was locked in the cell, and +the bonzes insisted that a member of her family must pass the night +before her door, so that none might entertain the least suspicion of +an entry to her. When the woman returned to her home, the child was +already formed. It was born fat and beautiful always, and without any +blemish. + +There was, moreover, no household, either of public officials or the +common people, which did not send one or even two of its members +to pray in the Babies' Chapel. And women came to it even from the +provinces. + +Every day the crowd in the monastery was comparable with mountains +or the sea, and the place was filled with the gayest hubbub. They no +longer kept any reckoning of the offerings of every kind which flowed +in upon them. When the women were asked how, during the night, the +P'u-sa had made his answer intelligible, some answered simply that Fo +had told them in a dream that they would have a son. Others said that +they had dreamed that a lo-han had come and lain beside them. Others +asserted that they had had no dream. Others again blushed and declined +to answer. Some women never repeated this kind of prayer a second +time: others, on the contrary, went to the temple as often as +possible. + +You will tell me that this story of a Fo or of a P'u-sa coming every +night to the monastery is in no way short of preposterous. But it must +be borne in mind that the people of that district had a greater faith +in sorcerers than in doctors, and could not distinguish the true from +the false. Consequently they continued to send their wives to the +temple. + +As a matter of course these bonzes, whose outward behavior was so +laudable and correct, were wholly and unreservedly gluttons within, +both for luxury and debauch. + +Although the cells were apparently quite close, each really had a +secret door. When the women were sound asleep, the bonzes came softly +into the cell, and to such purpose that, when their victims were +aroused, it was already almost too late. Those who would have wished +to protest kept silence for the sake of their reputations. + +Now the women were young and sound: the bonzes were strong and +vigorous. They had, moreover, taken the precaution to cause certain +special pills to be administered to their visitors. Consequently it +but rarely happened that these prayers were not heard. Sober-minded +wives would have died with shame sooner than confess the matter to +their husbands; and, as for the others, they kept quiet so that they +might be able to do it again. + +Matters were in this case when a new Governor was appointed to the +district, the Lord Wang. Soon after he entered upon his office, he +heard tell of the Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, and could not help +thinking: + +"Since it is Fo and P'u-sa who are involved, it should be enough +simply to pray. Why, then, must the women also go and pass the night +in the temple? There must be some questionable artifice in that." + +But he could do nothing without proof; so he waited until the ninth +Sun of the ninth Moon, which was a great festival, and then mixed with +the crowd of the faithful who went to the holy place. + +Passing through the main gate, he found himself beneath great acacias +and hundred-year-old pines. Before him stood the temple, brightly +painted with vermilion and decorated by a tablet on which was +inscribed in gold letters: "Monastery of the Esteemed-Lotus, for +Retirement." To right and left was a succession of pavilions, and +innumerable visitors were going out and coming in. + +The first bonze who saw the Governor wished to run and warn his +companions. The Lord Wang attempted to stop him, but he broke +loose, and soon the drums and bells were sounding to do honor to +the magistrate, while the bonzes formed in two ranks and bowed as he +passed along. + +He entered the temple and burned some joss-sticks; after which the +Superior made him a low obeisance and begged him to come and rest +himself for a moment in the reception hall. Tea was served. Then, +concealing his true design, the Governor said: + +"I have learned of the great reputation of this Holy Retreat, and I +intend to ask the Emperor to grant you a tablet of honor inscribed +with the names and particulars of all the bonzes of the district." + +Naturally the delighted Superior wished to prostrate himself in +thanks; but the Governor continued: + +"They have spoken to me also of a miraculous chapel. Is the matter so +in truth? And in what manner are these prayers made?" + +The Superior answered without misgiving that the period of fasting was +seven days; but that by reason of the greatness of their desire and +the sincerity of their prayers it most frequently happened that the +petitions of the suppliants were granted in a dream during the night +which they passed at the monastery. + +The Governor asked carelessly what measures were taken to ensure the +preservation of the proprieties; and the other explained that the +cells had no other entrance than the door, before which a member of +the family had to pass the night. + +"Since that is the case," said the visitor, "I shall send my wife +here." + +"If you wish for a son, it is only necessary for both of you to pray +sincerely in your palace, and the miracle will be accomplished," the +Superior assured him hastily; for he was greatly afraid to see the +local authorities concerning themselves in this affair. + +"But why must the wives of the people come here, if my wife need not +disturb herself to do so?" + +"Are you not the protector of our doctrine, and is it not natural that +the spirits should pay special attention to your prayers?" answered +the astute bonze. + +"So be it," agreed Wang. "But allow me to visit this miraculous +chapel." + +The hall was filled with women, who fled to right and left. The statue +of Kwan-yin was covered with necklaces and pieces of embroidery. She +was represented holding a child in her arms, while four or five babies +clung to her robe. The altar and the walls were covered with votive +offerings, chiefly consisting of embroidered slippers. Candles beyond +number were held in branches of candlesticks. The hall was filled with +the smoke of incense. To the left was the immortal Chang who gives +us children. To the right was the "Officer of the Star of Extended +Longevity." + +Wang bowed before the goddess. Then he went to visit the penitents' +cells. Each ceiling was painted over with flowers, a carpet covered +each floor and the bed, the table and the chairs were spotlessly +clean. + +He examined the cells carefully all over and found no crack. Not +a mouse, not even an ant could have entered in. He went out in +perplexity and, after the usual formalities, again stepped into his +palankeen, which was accompanied to the gate by all the bonzes. + +Thinking to the right and musing to the left, as the proverb says, +the Governor suddenly conceived a plan. As soon as he arrived at the +palace, he summoned one of his secretaries, and said to him: + +"Go and find me two harlots, and clothe them as honest women. Give one +of them a box of black ink and the other a box of vermilion paste, and +send them to pass the night at the monastery. If any one approaches +them, let them mark his head with the red and the black. I shall go +myself to-morrow morning to examine the matter. Above all, let this +thing be kept the closest secret." + +The secretary at once went to seek out two public women of his +acquaintance. One was named Mei-chieh, and the other Wan-erh. He +took them to his house, explained the Governor's orders to them, and +clothed them as matrons of good family. He summoned two palankeens, +which he caused the sham penitents to enter, and himself conducted +the procession to the monastery. He left the women in their cells, and +came back to inform the monk on duty. + +After his departure, a little novice brought tea to the present +visitors, who were more than ten in number. Who would have thought of +troubling to examine the two new arrivals? + +At the sounding of the first watch, all the cells were locked. The +members of the various families took up their positions before the +doors. The bonzes shut themselves into their own apartments. + +When Mei-chieh found herself alone, she put her little box of +vermilion near the pillow, turned up the lamp, undressed herself, +and lay upon the bed. But she was unable to sleep for thinking of her +mission, and continually kept looking through the bed curtains. + +The second watch sounded. On every side the sounds of human life were +silenced, and all things were still. Suddenly she heard, under the +floor, this noise: Ko-Ko. She sat up, thinking it was a rat, and saw +a part of the floor move to one side. A shaven head appeared, and +was quickly followed by the whole body. It was a bonze. Mei-chieh was +astounded, and thought: + +"So these rascally priests have been outraging honest women!" + +But she did not stir. The bonze quietly blew out the lamp, came +towards the bed, let fall his robe, and slipped under the blankets. + +Mei-chieh pretended to be asleep. She felt him gently move her leg to +one side, and then she made as though to wake saying: + +"Who are you who come in the night and insult me?" She pushed him +away, but the bonze embraced her in his arms, and whispered: "I am a +lo-han with a body of gold, and I have come to give you a son." + +While speaking, he busied himself in accordance with his salacity. +It must be said that all bonzes have no mean talent in the matter of +cloud and rain; and this one was full of vigorous manhood. Mei-chieh +was a woman of great experience, but she was unable to resist him and +had difficulty, at length, in repressing herself. However, she took +advantage of his arriving at the supreme point of his emotion to dip +her fingers in the box of vermilion and to mark his head without his +perceiving it. After a certain time, the bonze glided from the bed, +leaving the girl a little packet, and saying: + +"Here are some pills to assist your prayer. Take three-tenths of an +ounce each day in hot water, and you will have a son." + +Weary in body, Mei-chieh was just dimly closing her eyes, when she +was aroused by a fresh touch, and, thinking that the same bonze had +returned, said in surprise: + +"What? Are you able to come back again, when even I am so tired?" + +But he answered without a pause: + +"You are making a mistake! I have but just come, and the saviour of my +comforts is as yet unknown to you." + +"But, I am tired...." + +"In that case, take one of these pills...." + +And he handed her a packet. But she was afraid that it might be poison +and placed it on the bed, contriving in the same movement to dip her +fingers in the vermilion and to stroke the newcomer's head. He +was even more terrible than the former, and did not cease before +cock-crow. + +As the old song says: + + In an old stone mortar + Where so many pestles have been worn away, + There is need of a heavy copper hammer, + Or the work is lost. + +At dawn, another bonze appeared and said to them in a low voice: + +"Perhaps you have had your fill. Is not my turn coming?" + +The first bonze gave a chuckle, but rose and went out. The other then +got upon the bed, and very gently caressed Mei-chieh. + +She pretended to repulse him, but he kissed her upon the lips, and +said in her ear: + +"If he has fatigued you, I have here some pills which will restore the +Springtime of your thoughts." + +And he thrust a pill into her mouth, which she could not avoid +swallowing. A perfume rose from her mouth into her nostrils, and +caused her bones to melt, imbuing her body with delicious warmth. + +But, even while thinking of herself, Mei-chieh did not forget the +Governor's orders. She marked the head of this new assailant also, +saying: + +"What a nice sleek old pate!" + +The bonze burst out laughing: + +"I am full of tender and reliable emotions. I am not like the +unmannerly people of our town. Come and see me often." + +And he retired. + +Meanwhile the Governor had left his yamen by the fifth watch, before +the day had yet broken, accompanied by an escort of about a hundred +resolute men, carrying chains and manacles. + +Arriving at the still closed gate of the monastery, he made the +greater part of his train hide to the right and left, keeping only +some ten men about him. The secretary knocked at the gate, crying that +the Governor was there and wished to enter. + +The first bonzes who heard his shout made haste to arrange their +garments and receive the visitor. But the Lord Wang, paying no +attention to their salutations, went straight to the apartment of the +Superior, who was already up and prepared to begin the ritual of his +greeting. But the Governor dryly ordered him to summon all the bonzes, +and to show him the Convent register. + +Somewhat alarmed, the Superior ordered bells and drums to be sounded, +and the bonzes, snatched from their sleep, ran up in groups. When the +names written on the register had been called, the Governor commanded +the astonished monks to remove their skullcaps. + +In the full light of the morning sun three heads were seen to be +marked with vermilion, but, Oh, prodigy, no less than eleven heads +were covered with black ink! + +"It no longer surprises me that these prayers should be so +successful," murmured the secretary. "Indeed these bonzes are very +conscientious!" + +Lord Wang pointed out the guilty ones, and caused them to be put in +chains, asking: "Whence come these marks of red and black upon you?" + +But the kneeling monks looked at each other and could not answer, +while the whole assembly remained stricken with wonder at this strange +event. + +Meanwhile the secretary had gone into the Babies' Chapel and, by dint +of shouting, had roused the two harlots from a heavy sleep. + +They quickly put on their garments, and came to kneel before the +Governor, who asked them: + +"What did you see during the night? Tell me the whole truth." + +Since they had agreed to the mission, the two women rendered a plain +account of the events of that night, showing the pills which the +bonzes had given them, and also their boxes of vermilion and black. + +The bonzes, seeing that their schemes were brought to light, felt +their livers turn and their hearts put out of working. They groaned in +their secret despair, while the fourteen culprits beat the earth with +their brows and begged for mercy. + +"Miserable wretches, you dare to preach divine intervention, so that +you may deceive the foolish and outrage the virtuous! What have you to +say?" + +But the cunning Superior already had his plan. He ordered all the +bonzes to kneel, and said: + +"These unhappy ones whom you have convicted are without excuse. But +they were the only ones who dared to act so. All my other monks are +pure. You have been able to discover the shame of the guilty, which I +in my ignorance could not, and there is nothing for it but to put them +to death." + +The Governor smiled: + +"Then it is only the cells which these two women occupied that have +secret passages?" + +"There are only those two cells," answered the unblushing Superior. + +"We shall question all the other women, and then see." + +The female visitors, who had already been wakened by the noise, came +in turns to give their evidence. They were all in agreement: no bonze +had come to trouble them. But the Governor knew that shame would +prevent them from speaking, and therefore had them searched. In the +pocket of each was found a little packet of pills. He asked them +whence these came; but the women, purple in the face and scarlet in +the neck, answered no word. + +While this examination was taking place, the husbands of the penitents +came up and took a part in it. And their anger made them tremble like +the hemp-plant or leaves of a tree. When the Governor, who did not +wish to push his questioning too far, had allowed the visitors to +depart, their husbands swallowed their shame and indignation, and led +them away. + +The Superior had not yet given up the fight. He asserted that the +pills had been given to the women as they entered the monastery. But +the two harlots again affirmed that they at least had received them +during the visit of the bonzes. + +"The matter is quite clear," the Governor cried at length. "Put all of +these adulterers in chains!" + +The bonzes had some thought of resisting; but they had no weapons and +were outnumbered. The only ones left free were an old man who kindled +the incense, and the two little novices still in childhood. + +The gate of the monastery was closed and guarded. On his return to the +yamen, the Governor took his seat in the Hall of Justice, and had his +prisoners questioned in the usual ways. Fear of pain loosened their +tongues, and they were condemned to death. They were cast into prison +to await the ratification of their sentence. + +As the Governor of the prison went his rounds to inspect their bonds, +the Superior whispered to him: + +"We have brought nothing, neither clothes, nor blankets, nor food. If +you will allow me to return for a moment to the monastery with three +or four of my monks, I will willingly give you a hundred ounces of +silver." + +The prison governor knew the wealth of the monastery. He smiled: + +"My price is a hundred ounces for myself, and two hundred for my men." + +The Superior made a grimace, but was compelled to promise this larger +sum. The warders consulted with each other, and finally, when night +came, led the Superior and three of his bonzes back to the monastery. +From a secret place among their cells the monks took the promised +three hundred ounces, and gave them at once to the warders. While +these were weighing them and sharing them among themselves, they +collected the rest of their treasure, and secretly laid hold of +weapons, short swords and hatchets, which they rolled up in their +blankets. Also they brought away wine. Thus heavily laden, warders +and bonzes alike returned to the prison, and held a feast. The priests +succeeded in making their warders drunk. In the middle of the night +they drew forth their weapons and, having first set each other +free, proceeded to force the gates. They might perhaps have escaped +altogether; but in their rancour against the Governor they went first +to attack the yamen. The troops of police were numerous and well +armed, and the bonzes were quickly overcome. The Superior gave his +men orders to return as quickly as possible to the prison, to lay down +their arms and to say that only a few of them had revolted, since this +might save the others. But the warders attacked them so hotly that +they were all put back in chains. + +Their crime was grave, and doubly aggravated by rebellion. Next day, +when the sun had well risen, the Governor gave his judgment. All the +hundred and twelve monks were led straight to the market-place and +beheaded. Groups of men provided with torches went to set fire to the +monastery, and it was soon a smoking ruin. Joy flowered upon the faces +of all the men of that town. But it is said that many of the women +wept in secret. + +_Adapted from Hsing shih heng yen +(1627), 39th Tale._ + + + + +A COMPLICATED MARRIAGE + + +Marriages have from all time been arranged beforehand by Heaven. If +such is the will of destiny, the most distantly separated persons +come together, and the nearest neighbors never see each other. All is +settled before birth, and every effort of mortals does but accomplish +the decree of Fate. This is proved by the following story. + +During the Ching-yu period of the Sung dynasty, there lived at +Hang-chow a doctor named Liu. His wife had given him a son and a +daughter. The son, who was but sixteen years old, had been called +Virgin Diamond, and was betrothed to young Pearl, of the family of +Sun. He was brilliant in his studies, and gave every promise that +he would one day attain to the highest literary standard, and to the +greatest honor. The daughter was named Prudence. She was fifteen years +old, and had just received marriage gifts from her betrothed, the son +of P'ei, a neighboring druggist. Her eyebrows were like the feelers +of a butterfly, and her eyes had the grace of those of a phoenix. +Her hips, flexible as willow branches swayed by the wind, wakened the +liveliest feeling. Her face was that of a flower; and the nimbleness +of her light body brought to mind the flight of swallows. + +The go-between who had concluded Prudence's betrothal came one day +at the instance of the P'ei family to ask that marriage might be +hastened. But Liu had determined first to accomplish the ceremonies +for his son, and accordingly took customary steps with this object in +view, so that a day was at length fixed. But when the appointed time +was drawing near, Virgin Diamond fell seriously ill. His father, Liu, +wished to postpone the ceremony, but his mother argued that perhaps +joy would cure him better than medicine. + +"But if, by mischance, our son should die?" he insisted. + +"We will send back the bride and all the gifts, and the family will +have nothing to say." + +The doctor, like many men, was wax in the hands of his wife, and +therefore her wish was fulfilled. + +But it chanced that one of their neighbors had been slightly affronted +by them, and had never forgiven them. He heard of Virgin Diamond's +illness, and spoke of it to the family of Sun. + +Sun had no intention of compromising his daughter's future; so he +summoned and questioned the go-between who had arranged the betrothal. +The poor woman was in a great quandary, fearing to offend either the +one family or the other; yet she was compelled to admit the truth. In +her anxiety she ran to the house of Liu to obtain a postponement of +the marriage until Virgin Diamond's recovery, and hinted that, failing +this, Sun would send his old nurse to see the sick bridegroom. + +Liu did not know what to do, and before he had come to a decision, +the nurse arrived. He saluted her, not knowing what excuse to make. +At last he said to the go-between: "Be so good as to entertain this +venerable aunt for a moment, while I go and find my Old-Thornbush." + +He hurried into the interior of the house, and in a few words told his +wife what was happening. + +"She is already here and wishes to see our son. I told you that it +would have been better to change the day." + +"You really are a decayed piece of goods. Their daughter has received +our gifts, and is already our daughter-in-law. You shall see." + +Then she said to Prudence: + +"Make haste and prepare our large room for a collation to the family +of Sun." + +She herself went to the room where the nurse was, and asked: + +"Has our new daughter's mother something to say to us?" + +"She is uneasy about the health of your honorable son, and has sent me +to see him, thinking that it would be better to postpone the marriage +if he were seriously ill." + +"I am gratified to receive this proof of her consideration. My son +has, in fact, taken cold, but it is not a serious indisposition. +As for choosing another day, that is not to be thought of. Our +preparations are made, and a delay would involve too great a loss. +Furthermore, happiness drives away every ill. The invitations are sent +out. We might imagine that your family had changed its intention...." + +"At least, can I see the invalid?" + +"He has just taken a drug and is asleep. Besides, I have told you that +he has caught cold. Are you trying to insult me by expressing a wish +to prove my words?" + +"If the matter stands thus," the nurse politely made haste to answer, +"it only remains for me to withdraw." + +"You cannot go in this way. You have not even taken a cup of tea. +If you please, let us go into the new room, for my house is all in +disorder." + +On entering, the nurse observed the excellent arrangement of the young +couple's apartment. + +"Everything is ready, as you see," said the wife of Liu. "And if my +son is not quite recovered after the ceremony, I shall take care +of him in my pavilion, until he is able to embark upon his conjugal +life." + +Having taken tea, the nurse at last arose and went away. On her return +she recounted to her master and mistress what had taken place, and Sun +and his wife found themselves in a difficult dilemma. They could not +think of allowing their daughter to ruin her life by entering of her +betrothed, if he were going to die, and, if the young man were not +seriously ill, they stood the risk of losing all their preparation, +and of giving occasion for slander. Suddenly their son Yu-lang, who +was present, said: + +"If they have not allowed him to be seen, it means that he is +seriously ill. There is no way by which we can go back on our +contract; and yet we cannot send my sister to her ruin in this +fashion. I have a plan, and you must tell me what you think of it. Let +us send the go-between to advise Liu that the marriage will take place +on the appointed day, but that the bride's equipment will not be sent +until after her husband's recovery. I am sure that they will reject +this offer, and then we shall have a good excuse for throwing the +blame on them." + +"But what if they should agree," objected his parents, after a +moment's reflection. + +"They will certainly not agree, or else they would have postponed the +marriage. Besides, it is impossible that they should be willing to +have another mouth to feed, without any dowry or plenishing." + +His father said: + +"Very well, if by any chance they do agree, you shall disguise +yourself as a woman and go in your sister's place. You could take a +man's clothing with you, and put it on if the sick youth recovered, or +matters seemed to take an unfortunate turn. They would not dare to say +anything for fear of being ridiculed." + +"Oh! that is impossible!" cried the young man. "In the first place +I would be discovered at once. And what would people say of me +afterwards?" + +"They would say that you had played a trick on these people, and that +is all. You are still in the freshness of youth. You are sufficiently +like your sister to deceive those who do not know you very well, +especially in a wedding garment. You must do it. That is decided. The +nurse can go with you to arrange your hair.... And in this way, if our +son-in-law dies, Liu will have neither my daughter nor her equipment." + +When the wife of Liu received Sun's proposal from the mouth of the +go-between, she hesitated for a moment. But then she reflected on the +false situation in which she would be placed by refusing. So, masking +her thoughts beneath a smile, she agreed to the arrangement. + +On the day fixed for the marriage, Yu-lang was constrained to disguise +himself. But two grave difficulties presented themselves. First +with regard to his feet: how was it possible for him to imitate his +sister's ravishing golden lotuses, so like to sphinx heads, and the +balancing of her light steps, a swaying of flowers in the soft +breeze? They gave him a petticoat which reached to the ground, and he +practised his sister's gait, at which she laughed until she cried. The +next question was his ear-rings. It so happened that his left lobe had +been pierced; for in his childhood they had made him wear one ring, +in order to persuade the evil spirits that he was a girl, whose +death would be of no importance. Everybody knows that the Jinn always +endeavor to rob us of that which is truly dear to us, and leave +untouched that which is of no value. + +So Yu-lang hung a jewel in his left lobe, and stuck a small piece of +plaster over his right ear, so that it might seem it had suffered a +slight wound. His great pearl-decorated headdress concealed his head, +brow and shoulders. His scarlet robes, embroidered with gold and +silver, helped to disguise his figure, and the transformation was +complete by rouge on his lips and cheeks. + +When evening at length drew near, drums and flutes were sounded, +the flowered palankeen entered the courtyard, and the hoodwinked +go-between, admiring the beauty of the bogus bride, herself opened +the scarlet curtains. Not seeing Yu-lang; she remarked upon this +circumstance, and they answered carelessly that he was indisposed and +kept to his bed. Actually at that moment he was taking leave of his +parents and imitating to the best of his ability the sobs which were +fitting to the occasion. + +The procession at last set out and all the bride's equipment was +a little leather trunk. At the house of Liu there was considerable +discussion: + +"When the bride arrives, our son will be unable to cross the threshold +as ritual demands, and the marriage will not be accomplished. +The bride will be left alone to salute the ancestors, and this is +impossible. What shall we do?" + +"It cannot be helped," answered the mother. "So much the worse! Our +daughter must make it known that she will take her brother's place. +She shall recite the poem of the threshold in his name, and the rites +will be thus observed." + +And Prudence, in her graceful girl's garments, did in fact receive +the false Pearl as she got out of the palankeen, pronounced the sacred +formulas, and led the new bride before the tablets. The two seeming +sisters-in-law knelt down, and several of the bystanders laughed +inwardly to see two women perform the marriage ceremony, and then +kneel for the purpose of the grand prostration. + +The wife of Liu led Yu-lang to the invalid's bed; but he had been +excited and troubled by the music and noise, and had fainted. They +had hastily to revive him by pouring some spoonfuls of hot soup in his +mouth. + +At length the false bride was led to the prepared pavilion, and her +great veil was taken off. Then her fresh beauty shone forth, and +everybody uttered exclamations of joy: the wife of Liu was alone in +feeling a certain compassion, for she thought of all that the new +bride would have to lose, and deplored her son's misfortune in falling +ill at the moment of tasting so great happiness. + +As for Yu-lang, the tedium of beholding the hideousness of all the +guests was curiously diminished by the pleasure of seeing Prudence's +delectable face. He thought: + +"What a misfortune that I am already betrothed! Here is she whom Fate +should have given me." + +Prudence, on her part, felt herself drawn towards him in an +irresistible manner, and said to her mother and the go-between: + +"Alas! surely my brother has no luck, and my sister-in-law will be +very unhappy alone tonight! Is she not charming? If my future husband +were like her, my life would be free from all regret." + +Meanwhile, the marriage feast came to an end, a present was sent to +the musicians, and the guests withdrew. The disguised boy, after being +conducted to his pavilion, had his nurse's assistance in unmaking +the complicated structure of his nuptial adornment. At last he found +himself alone, but with no wish for sleep. Now Liu and his wife said +to each other: + +"It seems hard to leave the newly-wed bride alone for her first night +under our roof. Would it not be better to tell Prudence to go and keep +her company?" + +As always, the father made certain objections which were not listened +to. Prudence insisted, and soon mother and daughter went together to +the new pavilion, and approached the bed, the curtains of which were +drawn shut. + +"Here is your sister-in-law come to spend the night with you...." + +Yu-lang did not know what to say. He was afraid of being discovered, +and held the curtains very tightly under his chin, as he put his head +through the opening. + +"I am accustomed to be alone," he stammered. But the mother said: + +"Aya! You are both of the same age, you are almost sisters. What are +you afraid of? If you want to be particular, you have only to keep a +blanket between you." + +During this time, Yu-lang was moved as much by fear as by delight. Was +it not strangely fortunate that Prudence's mother should herself have +come and let her in this manner to his bed? But if the young girl +should call out? On the other hand he thought: + +"She is fifteen years old, therefore she has been ready for some time; +the door of her emotions is ajar. If I take precaution and kindle her +heart little by little, there is no need to fear that she will refuse +to nibble at my hook." + +Now the wife of Liu had already retired, and Prudence had shot the +bolt of the door. She was laughing all over the bright chrysanthemum +of her face: + +"Sister-in-law, you have taken no refreshment. Are you not hungry? If +you wish for anything, tell me, and I will go and fetch it for you." + +"I am deeply grateful to my sister-in-law for her gentle thought." + +Prudence noticed that the wick of the lamp had not been trimmed, and +was burning long, straight and red. So she exclaimed: + +"That is for your happiness, sister-in-law!" + +The other could not restrain a burst of laughter. + +Prudence blushed and laughed also: + +"You know how to be merry." + +So they talked together. At length the maiden, taking the flowers out +of her hair, got upon the bed and knelt down to undress herself. He +asked her: + +"On which pillow would you like to sleep? The lower one?" + +"As my sister-in-law wishes." + +"Then, if you please, let us sleep on the same." + +"Very well." + +Prudence had slipped under the blankets to finish undressing, and the +boy did likewise, removing his upper garment. The lamp, placed on a +little table beside the bed, dimly lit up the recess through the thin +curtains. + +His emotion began to rise, and he asked: + +"How many flowering Springtides have you known?" + +"Fifteen, this year." + +"Are you betrothed?" + +But she was seized with unaccountable shyness, and dared not answer. +He brought his lips close to the delicate ear lying beside him, and +whispered: + +"Why are you so bashful? We are only two women together." + +Very low, she answered him: + +"I am betrothed to the son of P'ei, the druggist, and already they +are urging that the ceremony should take place. Happily nothing is yet +decided." + +"You are not very eager, then?" + +She pushed his head gently away, saying: + +"It is not nice of you to take hold of my words in this way, and to +make fun of me. If I am not eager, you do not seem to be any more so +than I." + +"And how do you know that, maiden? In any case, how could I be so when +we are two women." + +"You speak to me as if you were my mother," the other laughed. + +"Considering my age, I should rather be your husband," he +thoughtlessly said. + +She burst out laughing: + +"It is I who am the husband, seeing that I took my brother's place at +the wedding." + +"Well, let us not argue, but rather act as if we were husband and +wife." + +Thus both of them spoke words of meaning. They grew more and more +passionate. + +"Since we are husband and wife," he said impatiently, "why do we not +sleep under the same blanket?" + +As he spoke, he pushed back the thick quilt, and began to observe the +garment on the so sweet and smooth, so soft and graceful body. She +had kept on an under garment, but her heart was filled with Springtime +thoughts, and she offered no resistance to his eye. + +Then, trembling with desire, he came to her breasts that had so lately +dawned, and were so firm. Their tender points were red as a cock's +crest, and in all things lovable. + +Delighted with this game, Prudence put out her hands to return his +caresses, and also found his breasts. But there was nothing but quite +a little button. She was astonished, and said to herself: + +"She is as tall as I am. How comes it that she is not further +developed?" + +But by this time Yu-lang was holding her right in his arms, and +had his lips glued to her, wantonly thrusting out his tongue. She +continued the game by giving it a little nibble, and then thrust out +her own tongue. This he so tenderly caressed with his that the girl's +body seemed all at once to melt, and she said languorously: + +"This is no longer a game. We are truly husband and wife!" + +The false bride, seeing that he had fully awakened the passion of his +dupe, made answer: + +"Not yet. We must take off our under garments." + +"But I am afraid lest people should talk. It is not good to take them +off." + +He gave a nervous laugh and, without paying attention to her words, +undid her girdle and took off her garment. As he advanced toward her, +she protected herself with her two hands, saying: + +"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, you must not!" + +But he kissed her again upon the lips. + +"There is nothing to forbid it, little sister. You may caress me +also." + +In her agitation, and so as not to seem too stupid, she took off his +vest, and her timid little hand suddenly stopped short. Her surprise +was such that, for a moment, she could not speak. But at last she +said: "What man are you who dare to take my sister-in-law's place?" + +"I am your husband," he answered hugging her to him. + +She pushed him off, and said seriously: + +"If you do not tell me in plain truth who you are, I shall cry and +call out, and you will be sorry for that." + +"Do not be angry, little sister," he replied. "I will tell you +everything. I am Yu-lang, your sister-in-law's elder brother. My +parents heard that your brother was seriously ill, and did not wish my +sister to leave our house; but since your parents would not alter the +day of the marriage, I had to disguise myself and take my sister's +place, until your brother should be healed. I never expected that +Heaven would, in its bounty, allow me to become your husband. But we +alone must know of our love. Let us not betray it to any." + +Pressing forward again, he tried to bind her in his arms. Although +she had believed she was with a woman, Prudence had loved him from +the first; the feeling which she had mistaken for friendship quickly +changed to that of love, for it was kindled, as was all of her, by the +young man's ardour. Nevertheless she was suffused with shame, and so +wavered between one extremity and the other. + +As for him, in the freshness of his still maiden youth he spoke to +her of everlasting vows, of a love higher than the mountain and vaster +than the sea, and of a marriage shaped from a boundless happiness. Her +betrothed, her parents and her shame were all forgotten. She covered +her face with her hand and resisted no longer. + +When the cloud and the rain of their intoxication had been dispelled, +they clasped each other close and went to sleep. + +Meanwhile, the nurse, being in the secret of this disguise, had been +much disturbed at seeing Prudence share the young man's bed. From the +adjoining room she had heard their laughter, and then their sighs, +and had no further doubt of what had happened. And inwardly she cried: +"Woe! Woe!" + +In the morning, after Prudence had returned to her parents' house to +perform her toilet, the woman came in to wait upon Yu-lang, and said +to him in a low voice: + +"O practitioner! You have done a fine thing! What will happen if +people come to know of it?" + +"I did not search her out. Her mother led her to my bed. How could I +have avoided this?" + +"You ought to have resisted with all your might." + +"With such an adorably beautiful girl? Even a man of iron and stone +could not have resisted. Also, if you say nothing, who will know of +it?" + +When the process of disguise was again completed, he went to salute +the wife of Liu. Then all the women of the house and the cousins came +to see him. Finally Prudence came in, and they two laughed together. +For that day, as was the custom, Liu and his wife had invited their +relations and friends, and there was a great feast, with music and +a dinner lasting until the evening. Then, when the house was quiet +again, the girl went, as on the previous night, to keep young +Yu-lang company. That night, even more so than the preceding one, +the butterflies beat their wings, and the passionate phoenixes were +convulsed. + +In the morning, they kept together. Therefore the scandalized nurse +ran out and told everything to Sun said his wife, and they reeled with +surprise and emotion. + +"Alas, misfortune will certainly come of it! We must bring him back as +soon as possible." + +They summoned the go-between and told her that, according to custom, +on the third day after the marriage they wished to see their daughter +at their house. She therefore went to the home of Liu, and the two +lovers trembled when they heard of this request. But the wife of Liu +had not forgotten the difficulties which Sun had made with regard to +the marriage; and she was afraid of not seeing her daughter-in-law +again. So she said: + +"But my son is still suffering, and the marriage has not been +altogether accomplished. We will speak of this again at some later +time." + +This answer had to be sufficient. The nurse was in terror, and watched +the approaches of the room all night for fear lest anybody should hear +the rapturous exclamation of the lovers. + +The days passed, and Virgin Diamond gradually grew better. Since he +admired the beauty of his young wife, his desire to know her hastened +his recovery, and the time came when he was able to get up. Still +walking unsteadily, he went into the nuptial pavilion to see her who +was his bride, and came before the door, supported by his attendants. +The nurse was there, and cried out loud: + +"My Lord wishes to enter!" + +Yu-lang was, quite naturally, holding Prudence in his arms. He hastily +released her, and went close to the door. + +"You have succeeded in rising, my elder brother?" said Prudence. "You +will fatigue yourself." + +"That is no matter," he answered, making a deep obeisance before her +whom he believed to be his wife. + +"Ten thousand happinesses be with you!" Yu-lang graciously replied. + +"What an exquisite pair!" cried the wife of Liu, proud of her son and +happy at his fortune. + +The false bride's beauty was meanwhile strangely reviving the +invalid's vitality. And the other lad thought: + +"He is a fine boy in spite of his illness: there is no need to pity my +sister. But if he can get up, he will waste no time in coming to spend +the night with me. I must depart as quickly as possible." + +When evening came, he explained his fears to Prudence. + +"It is quite necessary to persuade your mother to send me back to +my home, that I may change places with my sister. Everything will be +discovered if we delay." + +"You wish to go? But what will become of me alone?" + +"I have already thought of that. Alas. Alas! But we are both betrothed +to another. What can we do?" + +"If you do not want me living, I must die so that my soul may follow +you." + +And she sobbed and sobbed. He dried her eyes saying to her: + +"Do not meet trouble in this way, but leave me to find a plan." + +They clasped each other in their arms, shedding most bitter tears. + +Now it must be said that the wife of Liu was a little wearied of +seeing her daughter night and day inseparable from her sister-in-law. +However, she said nothing, because the marriage was not actually +accomplished. But passing before the marriage pavilion on that day, +she heard a sobbing. She drew near noiselessly and, through a hole in +the window paper, saw them close in each other's arms and weeping. + +"This is very odd," she said. + +She wished to make an outcry, but remembered that her son was just +getting better, and would fall ill again from any sorrow. She gently +tried to push the door open, but it was locked. She called out: + +"It is strange that this door should be locked!" + +The lovers recognized her voice, and made haste to dry their tears and +open the door. She came in. + +"Why do you lock yourselves in during full daylight, and groan and +embrace each other?" + +They felt the blood flow to their faces, and answered nothing. The +mother's hands and feet were trembling with rage. She seized hold of +her daughter: + +"You are playing some pretty trick. Let me talk to you a little." + +And she dragged her into an empty room. The attendants who saw her +asked each other why the girl was being dragged along like that. But +by this time the mother had locked the door. When the attendants came +and looked through the holes in the paper, they saw her lifting a +stick, and heard her crying: + +"O wretch, tell me the truth, or I shall strike you! Why were you +weeping?" + +At first Prudence thought of denial. Then she said to herself that +it would be better to confess and to beg her parents to break off her +betrothal with the family of P'ei, so that they might marry her to +Yu-lang. If they refused, she would die. That was all. So she told the +whole matter without evasion. + +"We are husband and wife. Our love is boundless, and our vows will +endure for at least a hundred years. My brother is recovered, and +we fear that we shall be separated. Yu-lang wishes to return to his +parents, to send his sister in his place. It seemed, then, to your +daughter that a woman cannot have two husbands, and that if Yu-lang +cannot marry me, I must die." + +As she listened to her, her mother's breast opened with rage, and she +stamped her feet: "This rotten carrion has sent his son here and +has deceived me. And now my daughter is lost. I must beat him +unmercifully!" + +She seized her stick, opened the door and ran forth. Her daughter, +forgetting her shame, tried to prevent her; but the old woman pushed +her away violently, so that she fell down. Prudence got up and ran +after her. The attendants also ran. + +Now Yu-lang had very well understood that all was discovered when +Liu's wife had dragged her daughter away. A moment later, the nurse +hurried in. + +"O my Gods! And, ah unhappiness! All is well lost! Prudence is being +questioned with the stick." + +It seemed to him that two knives were piercing his heart. He burst out +into sobbing. But the nurse was already taking out his hair-pins and +clothing him as a man. In a state of stupor he let himself be hurried +to the main door and through the streets. A few moments later he was +back at his parents' house. + +His father did not fail to say to him: + +"I told you to play the girl, not the man. Why have you committed acts +of which Celestial Reason disapproves?" + +Yu-lang jostled thus by his father and his mother, no longer knew +where he stood. Meanwhile the nurse objected: + +"But what can they say there? Our young Lord has only to keep himself +hidden for a few days, and it will all pass over." + +But at Liu's house the nurse, as she went away, had unwittingly locked +the door, and Liu's wife had come to it and was shaking it violently, +stammering with rage and flourishing her stick. + +"Thief, whom may Heaven strike dead! O very vile rascal! For what did +you take me? I am going to show you who I am! I will have your life! +If you do not open the door, I shall break it open with a great case." + +But naturally no one answered. Prudence tried in vain to stay her +mother, who loaded her with insults; but at last, in her rage, she +succeeded in breaking the lock, and rushed into the room with her +stick uplifted. The cage was empty and the bird had flown. She knelt +on all fours to look under the bed and under the furniture, crying out +all the time: + +"Thief, you shall die!" + +But, as she was compelled to admit, there was no trace of the +ravisher. Then Prudence said to her, sobbing meanwhile: + +"And now, after this scandal, the P'ei family is let into the whole +secret. I entreat you to have pity on me and let me marry Yu-lang. +Otherwise, must I not die in order to redeem my shame?" + +She fell on her knees, weeping and groaning. + +"What you say is true," answered her mother resuming some measure of +calm. "After this wonderful affair, no one will want you." + +However, a mother's love cannot be altogether restrained. She drew +near to her daughter: "My poor child! All this is not your fault. It +is that rotten carrion of a Sun who has caused it. But we cannot, of +ourselves, break off the betrothal with P'ei." + +As Liu came up in the meantime, the matter had to be explained to him. +He was nearly half a day without being able to speak, and it may be +surmised that his first words were to throw the blame on his wife: + +"The whole fault is yours! By making me say I do not know what, you +arranged all this. Instead of altering the date as you should have +done! And to crown all, you insisted upon placing our daughter in his +arms! She has very well kept him company, has she not?" + +His wife's anger was not quite dead, and these remarks rekindled it. +Her voice rolled out like thunder: + +"You old tortoise!" she began.... + +But on this occasion he also was furious. He advanced, threatening to +strike her. Prudence tried to come between them, and all three were +nothing but a rolling, striking, shouting and weeping congeries. The +servants then ran to inform Virgin Diamond who rose from his bed and +unsteadily ran. His mother was moved with pity to see him, and his +father also stopped his vituperation. They both went out muttering. + +Virgin Diamond then asked his sister the cause of all this, and why +his young wife was no longer there. She answered only with tears; but +his mother, who had returned, told the whole story. + +Virgin Diamond's anger was so strong that his face became the color of +the earth. However, he contained himself, saying: + +"Let us not publish this family shame abroad. If the news spreads, +everybody will laugh at us." + +As a matter of course, their mischievous neighbor, Li, had heard their +shouting and weeping. He had quickly climbed on to his wall, but had +been unable to understand what was happening. Next morning he watched +for the first of the women slaves who came out, and drew her into +his house. Fifty pieces of copper decided the girl to speak, and the +delighted Li, letting her depart, ran to the house of P'ei, to whom he +told all that he knew. + +P'ei went straight to the house of Liu: + +"I know all," he cried. "Give back the gifts, and let no more be +said." + +Liu's face became red and white by turns. He thought: + +"How does he already know what happened in my house but yesterday?" + +Then he denied the matter: + +"Kinsman, whence come these words with which you are trying to sully +my family?" + +"Miserable cheat!" cried the other, "you are in very truth an old +tortoise." + +And he struck him on the face with his hand. + +"Murderer!" cried Liu in a fury. "Do you dare to come to my house and +insult me and strike me?" + +And he struck P'ei such a violent blow that the old man fell to the +ground. Then they began to belabor each other. Virgin Diamond and +his mother, hearing their cries, ran up and separated them. Afterward +P'ei, pointing with his finger and trembling, cried: + +"You know how to strike, old tortoise! We shall see whether you are as +clever in speaking before the judge." + +And he went out swearing. Liu exclaimed: + +"It is all Sun's fault. If I do not bring an action against them, they +will even now escape entirely free." + +In spite of his son's curses, he hurriedly set about writing an +accusation, and ran to the Governor s palace. + +The court was sitting, and Liu, holding his accusation, approached the +judge. P'ei was already there, and reviled him as soon as he saw him. +Liu retaliated, and the battle began anew. + +At this interruption, the magistrate sternly ordered the two to kneel +and explain themselves. Both spoke confusedly at the same time, but +the whole story was none the less made clear. All those who were +implicated in the matter were summoned, and they came to fall upon +their knees. + +At length the judge delivered sentence. All the former betrothals were +annulled. Yu-lang became betrothed to her whom he had outraged. But +the Sun family owed a compensation to the Liu family, which in its +turn owed a bride to the P'ei family. So Pearl Sun was given to the +son of P'ei, and Virgin Diamond was bestowed upon the former betrothed +of Yu-lang. Having settled the affair, the Governor summoned three +red palankeens and the three brides were conducted under escort to +the homes of their new husbands. The town of Hang-chow talked of this +affair for a long time, but in the end forgot it for some new scandal. + + +_Hsing shih heng yen (1627), +8th Tale._ + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Eastern Shame Girl, by Charles Georges Souli + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EASTERN SHAME GIRL *** + +***** This file should be named 12086.txt or 12086.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/8/12086/ + +Produced by David Starner, Alicia Williams, Sandra Brown and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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