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diff --git a/78208-h/78208-h.htm b/78208-h/78208-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6dab34c --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/78208-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4649 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no,date=no,address=no,email=no,url=no"> + <title> + Winning Buddha’s Smile | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 12%; + margin-right: 12%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; +} + +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .figright {float: right;} + +/* Poetry */ +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.ph1 { + text-align: center; + font-size: xx-large; + font-weight: bold; +} +.ph2 { + text-align: center; + font-size: x-large; + font-weight: bold; +} +.transnote { + margin-left:17.5%; + margin-right:17.5%; +} + +/* Conventional dropcaps */ +p.dropcap { + text-indent: 0em; +} +p.dropcap:first-letter { + float: left; + margin: 0.15em 0.1em 0em 0em; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: 0.85em; +} +.x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { + float: none; + margin: 0; + font-size: 100%; +} + +.upper-case +{ + text-transform: uppercase; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .ep6 {margin-top: 6em;} + + +li { margin-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom:0; line-height: 1.2em; } + +.copyr-bottom { margin-top: 6em; } +.x-ebookmaker .copyr-bottom { margin-top: 50%; } +.chap-img { margin-top: 6em; } +.x-ebookmaker .chap-img { margin-top: 30%; } + +.x-ebookmaker .no-epub-margin { margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em; } + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp20 {width: 20%;} +.illowp14 {width: 14%;} +.illowp30 {width: 30%;} +.illowp40 {width: 40%;} +.illowp60 {width: 60%;} +.illowp50 {width: 50%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp50 { width: 100%; } + +.section { } + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78208 ***</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp14" id="i_001" style="max-width: 7em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_001.png" lang="ko" alt="ㆁ ㅎ ㄱ ㅋ ㅁ ㄴ ㄹ ㅂ ㅍ ㅅ ㄷ ㅊ ㅌ ㅈ 아 야 ㆍ 어 여 으 이 오 요 우 유"> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> + + +<h1>WINNING BUDDHA’S<br> +SMILE</h1> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0.2em;"><i>A Korean Legend</i></p> + +<p class="center"><span style="font-size: small;">ADAPTED AND TRANSLATED BY</span><br> +<span style="font-size: large; word-spacing: 0.25em;">CHARLES M. TAYLOR</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp20" id="colophon" style="max-width: 10em; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/colophon.png" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</figure> + +<p class="center"><span style="font-size: small;">BOSTON</span><br> +<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.1em;">RICHARD G. BADGER</span><br> +<span style="font-size: small;">THE GORHAM PRESS</span></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1919, By Richard G. Badger</span></p> +<hr class="r5"> +<p class="center">All Rights Reserved</p> + +<p class="center copyr-bottom">Made in the United States of America</p> +<hr class="r5"> +<p class="center">The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.</p> +</div> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center ep6" style="line-height: 1.3;"> + <span style="font-size: small;">TO</span><br> + <span style="font-size: large;">MY MOTHER</span> +</p> +<p class="center" style="font-size: small;"> + WHOSE DESERVING FAR OUTSTRIPS<br> + MY POWERS OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a><a id="Page_7"></a>[Pg 7]</span></p> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="FOREWORD"> + FOREWORD + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Many of the best portions of Chinese literature +are readily obtainable in an English dress. From +time to time bits of Japanese literature pass before +English-reading eyes. But Korean literature remains, +as it has remained for years back, virtually +a thing unknown and unappreciated.</p> + +<p>“Winning Buddha’s Smile” is one of the oldest +existing specimens of Korean literature. Both the +author and date of its original composition are unknown, +but it is reasonably certain that it was well +known in a dramatic form about the close of the +fourteenth century.</p> + +<p>At one time when religious dissension was rife on +the peninsula, many of the monuments of a rich and +abundant literature, especially those tinged with Buddhistic +doctrines and thought, were consigned to the +bonfire. In some manner, our legend escaped this +wholesale literary destruction, and it is here presented +to English readers with the hope that it will +meet with an indulgent reception by the ever-widening +circle of those who take an interest in the things +of other peoples and other lands.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> + +<p>The translator is indebted to a French version of +the original text, made by the Korean scholar, Hong-Jong-Ou, +which was published under the auspices of +the Musée Guimet. He has attempted to preserve +the simple, child-like form of the narrative and has +made few alterations in it, and these only when +clearness and the English idiom required them.</p> + +<p class="right"> + C. M. T. +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="KOREANS_WHOSE_FOOTSTEPS_CROSS_THE"> + KOREANS WHOSE FOOTSTEPS CROSS THE + PATHS OF OUR LEGEND + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>SUN-YEN, the Benevolent, whose Virtue and +Goodness lead him from Prosperity through Adversity +unto Prosperity again.</p> + +<p>CHENG-SI, the Fair, his daughter.</p> + +<p>SAN-HOUNI, a scholar and friend of Sun-Yen.</p> + +<p>YENG-SI, the scholar’s wife.</p> + +<p>SAN-SYENG, the scholar’s son, whose Merit +findeth pleasure in the sight of Heaven and taketh +him unto High Offices.</p> + +<p>JA-JO-MI, the Unscrupulous, Prime Minister of +Korea.</p> + +<p>KI-SI, the young Prince of Korea.</p> + +<p>SU-RUNG, a murderer and thief.</p> + +<p>SU-YENG, the robber’s brother, a goodly man +by way of contrast.</p> + +<p>YENG-SO-YEI, a daughter of Korea.</p> + +<p>OU-PUNG, a Sister of Religion and a follower of +the True Path.</p> + +<p>HONG-JUN, an innkeeper.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a><a id="Page_11"></a>[Pg 11]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">I</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp40 chap-img" id="i_010" style="max-width: 20em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_010.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a><a id="Page_13"></a>[Pg 13]</span></p> + + + <p class="ph1"> + WINNING BUDDHA’S SMILE + </p> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="I"> + I + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">In</span> the far away days of the olden time when the +earth was still in its childhood and when the city +of Hpyeng-Yang was the capital of Korea, there +was numbered among its inhabitants a high dignitary +of the Court, Sun-Yen by name, who owed his +exalted position solely to his intelligence and capability.</p> + +<p>Although very rich, Sun-Yen looked down upon +no one. On the contrary, he sought diligently to help +all those who came within his sphere of influence. +His greatest happiness lay in alleviating the sorrows +of others. He was, therefore, beloved by the people +who saw in Sun-Yen a most disinterested protector in +whom they had absolute confidence.</p> + +<p>Now one day, all things changed as all things +sometimes do. Fortune, so long favorable to Sun-Yen, +forsook him. Formerly happy and influential, +our friend (for call him such we will) was to become +the most unfortunate and the most miserable +of men. It was due to the following circumstances.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span></p> + +<p>The King of Korea was giving a grand and sumptuous +banquet to the Governors of the various provinces +and the ladies of the Court. The occasion +was a very merry one. Shouts of joy and the chords +of harmonious music were heard on all sides. When +Sun-Yen was informed of this, instead of rejoicing +with the others, he became a prey to great sadness. +To get away from his own thoughts, he resolved to +go visit his friend, San-Houni, one of the greatest +scholars of Korea. So Sun-Yen, the benevolent, set +out accompanied by his servant—a faithful and +trusted fellow.</p> + +<p>While on his way thither, his attention was suddenly +drawn to a great crowd of people by the roadside. +“Go, see what is the matter,” he said to his +servant. The latter hastened—as all good servants +do—to obey his master’s orders. He made a way +through the crowd which had gathered and soon +learned the reason for the gathering.</p> + +<p>They were about to carry away several people +who had died by the highway. As soon as the servant +saw this ghastly spectacle he returned to his +master and told him what had taken place. Sun-Yen +was profoundly moved when he heard it but, +losing no time in passive sympathy, he summoned a +police agent, of whom he demanded, “Do you know +what caused the death of those unfortunates?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, they died of hunger.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> + +<p>“Why not carry them away then instead of leaving +them there on the road?” continued Sun, in a +tone of reproach.</p> + +<p>“I was about to do exactly as you suggest, sir,” +said the agent, who, with a quickened step, went +toward the group which by this time had increased +materially.</p> + +<p>Sun did not continue on his way to see his friend, +San-Houni. He went direct to the Palace and was +immediately ushered into the presence of the King.</p> + +<p>The monarch accorded Sun a hearty welcome, saying, +“It has been a very long time since I have had +the pleasure of having you come to see me.”</p> + +<p>“Sire,” replied Sun-Yen, “I rarely leave the comfort +of my humble home.”</p> + +<p>“And what is it that keeps you so close at home?”</p> + +<p>“Sire, either my duties or sickness. The reason I +have come to see you to-day is because I have a very +important revelation to make to you. Several of +your subjects have just died of starvation by the +roadside. The thing at first appeared incredible to +me. I could not believe that, if my King knew the +sad conditions in which so many of his people are living, +he would give himself up to pleasure as you are +doing. However, I have secured the evidence. Just +a few moments ago, I saw with my own eyes three +wretches who had died from want of food.”</p> + +<p>These words seemed deeply to impress the King +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>who, with a trace of emotion in his voice, inquired +of Sun, “Tell me, what should be done? I can +scarcely believe that this misfortune took place while +I was leading this life of idleness and pleasure.”</p> + +<p>“Sire,” continued Sun-Yen respectfully, “here lies +the source of the whole trouble. Who pays the expenses +of your amusements? Your people and no +one else, and the Governors instead of doing their +duty are also leading a frivolous and even vicious +life. You can believe the words of your old servant +whose devotion to your interests you are well aware +of.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you for this frankness,” rejoined the +King, “but candidly I can hardly credit what you have +just told me. I shall look more fully into this affair.”</p> + +<p>At these words, Sun left his sovereign and went +home and told his wife what he had done—the +mark of a dutiful husband.</p> + +<p>“You acted nobly,” she said, “but my intuition +tells me that your devotion to the King will cost you +dearly.”</p> + +<p>“Why?” asked Sun.</p> + +<p>“The King will not follow your advice. This is +the course things are going to take, mark my words. +The Governors, forewarned by your complaint, will +not allow themselves to be injured and their pleasures +curtailed, and upon you their anger will surely fall. +Yes, I fear the consequences of to-day’s work.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p> + +<p>“Reassure yourself, my dear, the King took my +words in a very good spirit and he has never yet +made light of my advice.”</p> + +<p>“I hope with all my heart that you are right. Let +us see what time will bring forth.”</p> + +<p>The King in reality did change his way of living. +His conduct made him a bit remorseful. He +promptly followed up Sun’s complaint and summoned +his Prime Minister.</p> + +<p>This official, who was named Ja-Jo-Mi, came +immediately. He was a man whose severity of character +and conduct had earned for him a terrible reputation. +Although no one knew of it, he had conceived +the scheme of usurping the throne but up to +the present time had revealed his intentions to nobody.</p> + +<p>The King demanded of his Minister, “Have you +nothing new to tell me?”</p> + +<p>“Absolutely nothing, sire.”</p> + +<p>At these words, the King cried in an excited voice, +“What, you, the Prime Minister, and you do not +know that several of my people have just died by the +roadside and that their death was caused from lack +of food? If there is any one who should be well +informed about what is going on in my Kingdom, it +should certainly be you.”</p> + +<p>“Sire, from whom did you get this news?”</p> + +<p>“From Sun-Yen.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, I can scarcely understand how this can be. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>I have just received the reports from the police and +I did not see a single word on the subject of this +affair, therefore, I am quite astounded.”</p> + +<p>“However that may be,” said the King, “I command +that this evening’s fete shall not continue an +instant longer.”</p> + +<p>“Your orders shall be executed. Sire, as soon as +I have carried them out I shall return to my office +and secure what testimony I can about this matter. +The guilty parties shall have their just deserts.”</p> + +<p>Bowing humbly before the monarch, Ja-Jo-Mi +withdrew. A few minutes later and the Palace, +which formerly echoed to the shouts of merrymaking, +was in complete silence.</p> + +<p>The Prime Minister, upon retiring to his office +gave himself up to reflection upon the situation. He +was greatly troubled because he feared that he might +be removed from his office by the revelations of +Sun-Yen. “That fellow is an infernal nuisance and +might bring down the King’s wrath upon my head. +To prevent a recurrence of such things there is but +one thing to be done—to get rid of him by sending +him into exile. With this dangerous fool out of the +way, nothing, nor nobody, can oppose me in the execution +of my ambitious designs and I can easily +secure the throne.”</p> + +<p>Such in substance were the reflections of the Prime +Minister, but it would be necessary to find a pretext +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>for the exile of Sun and Ja-Jo-Mi, the clever, +was not long in devising a scheme.</p> + +<p>He resolved to write a letter to San-Houni full +of bitter criticisms and threats against the King. +This letter he would sign with the name of Sun-Yen. +Then he would place it in the King’s hands with the +story that it had been found on the road by a police +agent.</p> + +<p>No sooner said than done. The letter was written. +Ja-Jo-Mi, adopting a disguise, left his home +and, dropping the missive in the path of an agent of +police, passed on in the darkness of the Korean night. +When the agent walked by he picked up the letter and +naturally glanced around but there was no one in +sight. He carried the note directly to his chief +so that the latter could look over the contents and +restore it to its owner.</p> + +<p>The Chief of Police read the letter through with +great astonishment. Desiring to give a proof of his +zeal, he ran to the palace and in a mysterious manner +demanded an immediate audience with the King. +The monarch had the Chief of Police brought to him +at once and was given the forged letter. One can +well imagine the surprise of the King. Anxious for +light upon the amazing situation he again called +his Prime Minister.</p> + +<p>Ja-Jo-Mi, the clever, came with dispatch. The +King passed over to him the malicious letter, asking +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>if he believed that Sun-Yen was really the author. +The Prime Minister pretended to read the communication. +He saw that the King was in a state of +uncertainty and he determined to take advantage of +it in order to ruin Sun-Yen, once and for all time.</p> + +<p>“Sire,” he said, “it often happens that we are +deceived by those whom we deem most faithful. As +far as Sun is concerned, I consider him perfectly +capable of this infamous business. I have known +for a long while that he has been thinking and dreaming +of taking your place on the throne. As for the +annoyance which he caused you a short time ago, he +was the principal instigator of that himself.”</p> + +<p>“That’s enough, my faithful Ja-Jo-Mi. Have +Sun thrown into prison. He will be tried immediately.”</p> + +<p>The Prime Minister, rejoicing over his triumph, +had Sun-Yen taken into custody. When the King +was informed of his arrest he went personally to interview +the prisoner.</p> + +<p>“Do you recognize this?” he shouted in rage, holding +out the letter.</p> + +<p>Words fail to give an idea of Sun’s astonishment. +He realized that he was the victim of a devilish +plot but such was his stupefaction that he could utter +nothing in his own defense. He burst into tears.</p> + +<p>The King continued: “I would never have believed +this of you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span></p> + +<p>“Sire, I know nothing of this,” wailed the wretched +Sun.</p> + +<p>These words irritated the King.</p> + +<p>“Ah, you understand nothing,” he cried. “Tell +me, then, who is the writer of this letter?”</p> + +<p>“In any case, it was not I, sire.”</p> + +<p>“Of course. Now just listen to me. You have +heard the proverb about the smoke?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sire.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you know where there is smoke there is +fire. I mean by this that if you had not been moved +by evil intentions, you would not have addressed this +letter to your friend.”</p> + +<p>“Sire, I see whence comes this evil. The revelations +which I recently made to you have stirred up +hatred in the hearts of certain personages who desire +to bring about my ruin. There’s a black heart +at work. I swear to you that I am innocent.”</p> + +<p>“So that’s all you have to say for yourself? +That’s enough.”</p> + +<p>The King withdrew, leaving Sun in despair. He +ordered the Prime Minister to banish Sun at once and +designated his place of exile as Kang-Sin. San-Houni, +who was also compromised in the plot, was +exiled to Ko-Kum-To.</p> + +<p>Escorted to his home by an agent of police, Sun +told his wife what had happened. The unfortunate +woman was prostrated with grief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> + +<p>“What did I tell you the other day,” she said to +her husband, but she soon gained control of herself +and regarded the misfortune which had fallen on +both of them in a calm light.</p> + +<p>“Let us be resigned, my dear. Doubtless it will +be painful to live so far from our King and our +friends but at least we shall have peace in the future.”</p> + +<p>Without delay, they busied themselves with preparations +for the departure. Sun summoned a few +poor families to whom he distributed the little money +he possessed.</p> + +<p>’Twas but a short while and the moment to leave +was at hand. Sun-Yen and his wife found it hard to +break away from the embraces of their relatives and +weeping friends.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here endeth the first step of our legend.</i></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">II</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp40 chap-img" id="i_022" style="max-width: 20em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_022.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a><a id="Page_25"></a>[Pg 25]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="II"> + II + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">The</span> journey of Sun-Yen and his wife to the +Island of Kang-Sin was uneventful and they +were soon alone in their new home. Their guards +then returned to the capital.</p> + +<p>What especially troubled Sun was the idea that +his wife might be lonely and depressed in this isolated +place. He spoke of this to her but she replied +with a great deal of cheerfulness, “Do not trouble +yourself about me. I have decided to follow you +wherever you may go and I shall never find the time +wearisome so long as I am with you”—the mark of +a dutiful wife.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, the days passed for our two +exiles just as quickly as if they had been living among +their relatives and friends. Very soon signs of +Spring were to be seen. So Sun said to his wife one +day:</p> + +<p>“Spring time has come, it is a delightful day. Let +us take advantage of it and go for a little outing.”</p> + +<p>“With pleasure, my dear.”</p> + +<p>“Good, let us climb the mountain if we can.”</p> + +<p>They set out gaily. On seeing them one would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>never have thought they were the victims of Fate. +They enjoyed to the fullness of their hearts the +charm of the landscape which lay about them, and +happiness was in their souls. Madame Sun was overflowing +with joy.</p> + +<p>“How peaceful everything is,” said she to her +husband. “It is a real pleasure to be walking here +alone with you. When we lived at the Capital I +was never able to accompany you in your walks.”</p> + +<p>“You are right. I was forced to conform to the +customs of the country.”</p> + +<p>“Now we are at the foot of the mountain,” she +continued. “What a beautiful panorama lies before +us. Just look at it. I feel a poetic instinct within +me. Listen to these verses:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">The day is beautiful; amid the shrubs</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Are fragrant blossoms, clustered in sweet sleep,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The butterflies that seek them eagerly</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Seem poised to count each rain-bow tinted leaf.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And stupid with the heat the serpent lies</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Stretched lazily along the languid boughs.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Among the reeds that tremble in the wind,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Deliberate leaps the frog, while swallows pass</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Bearing the insect-prisoners to their nests.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“Do you know,” she mused, “these animals are +happier than we.”</p> + +<p>“What makes you say that?” queried Sun.</p> + +<p>“Because they have little ones to care for while +we have no children.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + +<p>“Console yourself, my dear, we are not yet so old +that Heaven may not smile upon us. Have confidence +in the future. But I think it is time to return. +The sun is going down and you must be tired.”</p> + +<p>The two returned slowly to their home, lost in +thought.</p> + +<p>Now it came to pass one night that Sun’s wife had +a dream. She saw an angel from Heaven bending +over her. She awoke, startled by the vividness of +this vision, and immediately told her husband about +it.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the latter, “that is very queer but I +shouldn’t worry about it. Fatigue has caused this +nightmare.”</p> + +<p>The truth was that this noble lady was soon to +become a mother. In fact, it was not long before +she gave birth to a daughter to whom they gave +the name of Cheng-Si. Sun, the benevolent, was +overwhelmed with joy—as one should be when +Heaven smiles.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, his wife lay seriously ill. It was +soon evident that there was no hope of saving her. +Scarcely three days had passed after the birth of +little Cheng-Si when her mother died. She sensed +the approach of death and whispered weakly to her +husband:</p> + +<p>“My dear, I am going to leave you. I know that +your grief will be very great but do not give yourself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>up to it. You must look after our little one. +Get a nurse for her if you can.”</p> + +<p>With a supreme effort the dying woman clasped +her baby to her breast.</p> + +<p>“Alas,” she said with a deep sigh, “this is the +last time I shall have you so near me.”</p> + +<p>Sun, in tones of deepest sorrow, said to his wife:</p> + +<p>“Dearest wife, can it be true that you are going +to leave me? We have always protected and shared +with the unfortunate and yet the gods permit us to +be parted. It is an injustice.”</p> + +<p>His wife did not hear his final words. Death had +already touched her brow and called her to her ancestors. +Sun saw but did not wish at first to believe.</p> + +<p>He called to his wife, tears streaming down his +cheeks, but, alas, his words were unanswered.</p> + +<p>“Now, I am all alone,” he cried in despair. “What +will become of me and this child!”</p> + +<p>He gazed fondly at his daughter who was still +clasped to her mother’s breast. This sad sight increased +Sun’s grief. He took the little baby and +turned it over to the care of a nurse whom he managed +to secure. Then, beside himself with grief, +he busied himself with his wife’s burial.</p> + +<p>All this happened so quickly that Sun-Yen thought +it had happened in a dream, but the sad evidence was +there before his eyes. Each day he could be seen +walking to the spot where his wife was sleeping. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>These frequent visits merely aggravated his anguish +and it was impossible for him to control himself.</p> + +<p>Our friend was always in tears; he could get no +rest nor sleep and shortly more ill fortune came to +him. From having shed so many tears, Sun became +blind.</p> + +<p>This terrible blow almost prostrated him but he +continued to drag out the same wretched existence. +His greatest regret was in not being able to look upon +the face of his little daughter. So passed several +years.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Meanwhile, Cheng-Si was growing up. She was +now in her thirteenth year and was obliged to +help support her poor father who was without resources +of any kind. She had but one way to keep +Sun from starving and that was by begging. She +went about this sad task without any false modesty. +Her wits, however, were not asleep and one day +she said to her father:</p> + +<p>“There is something which I do not understand.”</p> + +<p>“What is that, my child?”</p> + +<p>“Father, how is it that so many other people can +live with their relatives and friends while we are +here all alone?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, my daughter, it is very true that we must +live by ourselves. But things were not always thus. +There was a time when I lived at the Capital of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>Korea with your poor mother and we were surrounded +by many friends. I occupied a high position. +Our family belonged to the highest nobility +and was always in good standing at the Court of +the King. But, one day, because of a malicious +slander, of which the King thought me guilty, I was +exiled here. My friend, San-Houni, was trapped in +the same affair and was sent to Ko-Kum-To. He +shares our downfall for he also comes from an excellent +family. I am very sorry that since my arrival +at this island I have had no news of my old +friend.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it is not possible for him to communicate +with you,” said the child in order to console the +old man. “Excuse me, father,” she added, “it is time +for me to go to work.”</p> + +<p>“Go, my child, and come home early.”</p> + +<p>Little Cheng-Si, the fair, walked at a rapid gait. +She went first to the cemetery to pray a moment beside +her mother’s grave. Cheng-Si was just as industrious +as she was intelligent. She gave up her +nights to study, while during the day she went from +door to door asking alms.</p> + +<p>One day, she went as usual to pray by her mother’s +resting place. She remained there longer than usual +and did not return home at the customary hour.</p> + +<p>Sun, missing his daughter, was sorely troubled. +At last, he resolved to go search for her. Leaning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>on his cane, he started out slowly and feebly. Unfortunately, +when he came to the edge of a pond +close by his home, he made a false step and fell +into the water. He groaned to himself, “This is +certain death for me, and my poor little girl will +hunt for me everywhere.” And he began to shout +lustily at the top of his voice.</p> + +<p>Happily Sun-Yen’s cries were heard by the disciple +of an anchorite who lived in a cave on the +mountain slope, a short distance from the lake. He +came running and soon had Sun out of the water.</p> + +<p>He demanded of him:</p> + +<p>“Where do you live?”</p> + +<p>“Right close by.”</p> + +<p>“But how is it that you, a blind man, go out alone? +Don’t you know that you are running a great risk +in doing this?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know it. I never do go out alone. To-day, +however, I ventured away from my home to +hunt for my little girl. She did not return at her +usual time so I went to look for her. That is how +I came to fall into the lake from which I would +never have come out alive without your assistance. +You have saved my life.”</p> + +<p>“I have only done my duty,” replied the disciple, +humbly.</p> + +<p>He took Sun by the arm and led him to his little +dwelling. On the way, he asked of him:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span></p> + +<p>“Will you have faith in what I am going to tell +you?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I predict, indeed I can read in your face, +that your evil days will not last forever. Within +three years you shall recover your sight and you +shall become Prime Minister. Your fortune also +shall be unsurpassed. To attain this goal you must +pray diligently to Chen-Houang (the Emperor of +Heaven).”</p> + +<p>“Have I heard you aright?” cried Sun, beside himself +with astonishment and joy.</p> + +<p>“Nothing can be nearer the truth,” gravely replied +the disciple.</p> + +<p>“But what must I do? Tell me, tell me!”</p> + +<p>“You must give me three hundred bags of rice and +I will pray in your stead.”</p> + +<p>“Alas, I cannot give what you require of me.”</p> + +<p>“That doesn’t make any difference. I do not ask +for the immediate delivery of the three hundred bags +of rice. It will be sufficient if you bind yourself in +writing to pay me when you have the means to do +so.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll accept on those conditions,” replied Sun.</p> + +<p>The disciple passed over to him a paper on which +the poor blind man placed his signature.</p> + +<p>“I am obliged to leave you, now,” said the disciple.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p> + +<p>“Then, good-bye, until we meet again.”</p> + +<p>When he was alone, Sun reflected upon what the +disciple had told him. The idea of seeing the sunlight +again and of acquiring honor and wealth filled +his very being with ecstasy. On the other hand, the +obligation of furnishing three hundred sacks of rice +considerably diminished his joy. A man, whose +daughter was obliged to beg to keep him from starving, +would never be able to fulfill the promise which +he had signed. He regretted having given a promise +which he could never hope to keep.</p> + +<p>Sun was drawn from his reveries by the arrival +of his daughter.</p> + +<p>“Why so melancholy, father?” inquired the child. +“Is it because I am late to-day that you seem sad? +I must ask your pardon. I went to the cemetery +and from there to gather some alms. They gave +me some things to eat, as your hands can tell. Don’t +you forgive me?”</p> + +<p>“My dear child, it is not you who makes me so +sad. Listen, and I will tell you what happened to +me. When you did not come home I was a little +worried and wanted to go and meet you. On the +way, I fell into the lake and gave myself up for lost +when I was rescued by a disciple of an anchorite. +This man led me home and said to me, while we +were walking along, ‘I predict to you that you will +no longer be blind and that some day you will become +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>the King’s Prime Minister.’ But I have to +pay him three hundred sacks of rice and I can never +do it. That is why I am sad.”</p> + +<p>“Do not worry too much about that, father. We +shall find a way that will enable you to keep your +promise.”</p> + +<p>After they had shared their meagre meal the +young girl went to her room where she began to reflect +upon her father’s story. Not succeeding in +going to sleep, she went out to take a bath in the +lake, after which she began to prepare the sacrifice +table in the garden. She placed in the centre a vase +filled with water, lighted the incense burner and two +candles, one at each end, and began to pray to +Heaven. Her prayers continued almost until daybreak.</p> + +<p>Not until then did Cheng-Si go to her room. Exhausted +with fatigue, she fell asleep almost immediately. +She dreamed that an old man was saying +to her, “Very shortly something is going to happen +to you. Some one will cross your path who will make +you an attractive proposal. Do not hesitate to accept, +for it is an exceptional opportunity.”</p> + +<p>On awakening, the child recalled her dream and +was pensive and thoughtful for a long while. In +reality her dream was soon to come true. Some +dreams do.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> + +<p>In the days of our story, Korean merchants in +search of business were accustomed to make one +trip a year across the Yellow Sea, which lies between +China and Korea. The crossing was very +difficult and dangerous because of the rapidity of +the current in certain spots. After each trip they +were always sure to report the loss of some boat. +Thinking to avoid this danger, the merchants had +recourse to a very ancient and very barbarous practice. +In each village where they traded they purchased +a young girl. These victims were thrown +into the sea and the perils of the voyage were +thought to be in this way forestalled.</p> + +<p>Now, this day, Cheng-Si, the fair, had scarcely left +her home when she met one of these traders in +search of a human victim. The merchant asked the +young girl if she knew where he could find what he +wanted. To this request Cheng-Si replied:</p> + +<p>“You need not look any farther. If you want +to take me, I will go, but what will you give me in +exchange for my life?”</p> + +<p>“Anything that you want.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose I ask for three hundred bags of rice?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll accept the offer, but I have some partners +and must consult with them, so I will not be able to +give you a positive answer for a few days.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll wait, then.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> + +<p>“Good-bye,” said the merchant.</p> + +<p>Happy at having concluded this bargain which +was to result so seriously for her, the young girl impatiently +awaited the merchant’s return. One beautiful +morning she saw him coming toward the house +and immediately went to meet him.</p> + +<p>“Has the affair been settled?” she asked him, +without manifesting the least emotion.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you shall have your three hundred bags of +rice. Do you want them right away?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, if I may. Please wait a moment, +I must tell my father.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si went into the house. She did not know +how to tell her father about her fatal decision.</p> + +<p>“To tell him the truth,” she said to herself “is to +condemn him to a death from grief. I can remember +his anxiety that day when I was a little late in +coming home. Now suppose I should never come +back—but it must be done.”</p> + +<p>The young girl threw her arms about her father’s +neck and cried in a joyful voice:</p> + +<p>“Father, I have found a way to get you the three +hundred bags of rice that you owe the disciple. Send +for him at once.”</p> + +<p>When the disciple had come, Cheng-Si took him +to the merchant’s place of business and turned over +to him the three hundred bags of rice. She then +demanded, in exchange, the paper bearing her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>father’s signature, thanked him for having saved +Sun-Yen’s life, and asked him to continue his prayers +for the blind man. The disciple promised to +do so and left the young girl.</p> + +<p>Very happy because of her sacrifice, she hastened +to her father and handed him the paper which he +had signed.</p> + +<p>“Where did you get this?” demanded the surprised +Sun.</p> + +<p>“From the disciple, to whom I gave the three hundred +sacks of rice.”</p> + +<p>“But, how in the world did you get all that rice, +my daughter?”</p> + +<p>“In a very simple way. I sold myself the other +day.”</p> + +<p>“What are you saying! Ah, unhappy girl, do +you want to kill me?”</p> + +<p>“Now do not worry about this, father. Let me +finish what I have to tell you. It is true that I have +sold myself but I am not going very far away and +perhaps I shall see you every day. There isn’t anything +to be troubled about. I am sacrificing my +liberty with the best of good will so as to insure your +happiness. When we have saved up enough money +I will pay back the price of the rice and then, once +I am free, nothing can prevent me from remaining +with you forever.”</p> + +<p>The young girl, having calmed somewhat her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>father’s fears, went to the merchant’s to learn the +date of her departure.</p> + +<p>The merchant told her that they were not going +to set sail for three months. Meanwhile, Cheng-Si +was thinking constantly of the solitude in which her +father would be after she had gone. What would +become of the poor blind man, alone and without +resources? This thought haunted her day and +night. She sought to accumulate a little money and +some food which would be enough for him to live +on decently for some little time.</p> + +<p>The three months soon came to an end and the +merchant returned to remind her of her promise. +She asked permission to speak to her father for the +last time. She had not yet revealed to him the entire +truth. The merchant, of course, consented and even +went into the house with her.</p> + +<p>“Father,” she said, “I must leave you.”</p> + +<p>“My daughter, leave me? And where are you +going?”</p> + +<p>“Father, I deceived you the other day. It was +not my liberty but my life which I gave in exchange +for the three hundred sacks of rice which you promised +the disciple. Yes, I was purchased, body and +soul. I have to plunge to the bottom of the Yellow +Sea to pray for a favorable passage for our sailors.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si had tenderly placed her arms about her +father to support him while she was making this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>fatal confession. Nevertheless, the blind man could +not bear the shock and he fell into a swoon.</p> + +<p>When he regained consciousness, he said in a +voice that was scarcely audible, “Unhappy child, is +it indeed true that you are going to abandon me in +this way? After having seen your mother die, +must I see you, too, leave the world before me? +Oh, tell me that it is a dream! Consider your poor +blind father and think what will become of him +when he no longer has you with him. No, it cannot +be, you are not going to die.”</p> + +<p>Sun-Yen burst into tears. His daughter tried +vainly to keep from weeping herself for she felt +that her heart was broken. The merchant, a witness +of the scene, was very much moved, too. He +beckoned the girl to him and said:</p> + +<p>“I will give you another hundred bags of rice and +we will not set sail for three days. Would you like +that?”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si thanked the man profusely and went +with him to the door. The following day, after she +had obtained the hundred sacks of rice, she sought +an audience with the leading magistrate of the town. +He consented to take charge of the maintenance of +the old gentleman in consideration of the one hundred +bags of rice which he took as a sort of deposit.</p> + +<p>The young girl did not leave her father until the +merchant came for her. She endeavored to console +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>the old gentleman as best she could. When the time +for the separation came, it was heart-rending. Sun-Yen +threw his arms about his daughter’s neck while +his frame was shaken with sobs.</p> + +<p>“I want to die with you. I will not let you go +alone.”</p> + +<p>The cries of the poor blind man attracted a number +of the neighbors, who were also moved to tears +at the pathetic sight. Finally the trader grasped the +girl by the arm and said in a trembling, gentle voice, +“We must go now.”</p> + +<p>Paralyzed by grief, Sun fainted and his arms +slipped from about his daughter’s form.</p> + +<p>“Good-bye, father,” she called back as she walked +away. “Don’t worry, we shall meet again in a +better place where we shall be happy forever.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si renewed her requests to the magistrate, +who, shortly after, visited the unfortunate father and +tried to console him a bit, without succeeding to the +slightest extent.</p> + +<p>For Cheng-Si had gone.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here cometh to a close the second step of our +legend.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">III</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp40 chap-img" id="i_040" style="max-width: 20em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_040.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a><a id="Page_43"></a>[Pg 43]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="III"> + III + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">San-Houni</span>, the scholar and intimate friend +of Sun-Yen, was likewise condemned to exile +on account of his friendship for the disgraced. He +was obliged to leave the Korean Capital, a circumstance +which he regretted exceedingly just at this +time because his wife, Yeng-Si, who was soon to +become a mother, would not have the comforts and +advantages of the city. But of what avail are innocence +and regret when a Prime Minister has rendered +one undesirable in the eyes of the Monarch? It +was decreed that San-Houni be banished and that he +be forced to live on the island of Ko-Kum-To, a desolate, +sparsely populated rock in the Yellow Sea.</p> + +<p>It was a long journey. The trip would consume +several days. San-Houni’s few servants took care +of the details of the packing but he himself went in +quest of a boatman who would agree to take him +and his wife across the waters to the island. His +choice was not a happy one but he was unaware of +it.</p> + +<p>The most violent contrast existed between the +characters of Su-Rung and Su-Yeng, the two brothers, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>whom San-Houni engaged for the trip. From +this difference in temperament great misfortunes +were to come.</p> + +<p>As long as they were in sight of the coast, things +went well, but when the party was on the open sea, +Su-Rung the wicked, revealed his designs.</p> + +<p>“I am somewhat taken with the wife of our passenger,” +he whispered to his brother, “I want her +and I’m going to get her. Her husband grates on +my nerves. I must get him out of the way.”</p> + +<p>“You are mad,” replied Su-Yeng. “Do you think +for a minute that I will ever allow you to do anything +like that?”</p> + +<p>“Bah! You are jealous of me,” cried Su-Rung, +in a fury.</p> + +<p>“Not at all, but your intentions disgust me.”</p> + +<p>Su-Rung said nothing further but it could readily +be seen that he had not given up his project.</p> + +<p>The terrible thing about all this was that San-Houni +and his wife had overheard the brothers. +Their anxiety grew and soon merged into real fear. +They discussed in low tones the peril which threatened +them and how it would be possible to escape.</p> + +<p>There was not much time left to them for reflection. +Su-Rung called the oarsmen and whispered +aside to them, “Men, I want you to grab that fellow +and his servant. Take and keep what money they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>have on them and kill them. The woman alone must +live. Make a good job of it.”</p> + +<p>Su-Yeng here interposed, “I think you should be +content with taking their money, but at least spare +their lives.”</p> + +<p>“Mind your own business,” shouted Su-Rung in +a rage. “I am master here. Get out of my way +and let me alone!”</p> + +<p>Su-Yeng was forced to obey his brother’s injunction. +As soon as he had turned his back, San-Houni +and his servant were put to death. The murder was +committed under the very eyes of the scholar’s wife. +She was dazed with anger and sorrow. Having no +desire to survive her husband, she plunged into the +sea, crying, “In spite of you, I shall die with my +husband.”</p> + +<p>Su-Rung, however, ordered his sailors to turn +about and rescue the unhappy woman. A few minutes +more and Yeng-Si was pulled into the boat +alive and safe.</p> + +<p>Then the assassin, judging it indiscreet to continue +in the direction of Ko-Kum-To, changed the course +of his vessel to a spot he was well acquainted with. +The boat made a landing shortly after. Su-Rung +jumped ashore and approached an old woman on +the beach, to whom he said:</p> + +<p>“Go aboard my boat, you will find a woman there. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>I want you to take her home with you. Be very +gentle and kind to her, encourage her, and console +her, for she has been deeply afflicted.”</p> + +<p>The old lady at once set about doing what Su-Rung +had requested.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Su-Rung had anchored his boat and +as a sign of self-satisfaction he invited his men to a +feast, where they made merry and drank freely. +Shortly all the guests were drunk except Su-Yeng. +He was broken up at the turn of events and his inability +to avert Su-Rung’s crime. Therefore, he resolved +to profit by the present situation by assisting, +if it were possible, his brother’s unfortunate captive. +He left the revelers without being noticed and, setting +out at a rapid gait, soon reached the home of the +old lady. He paused before entering at the sound +of voices and in the midst of the lamentations of +Yeng-Si, he could make out these words:</p> + +<p>“Where do you come from?”</p> + +<p>“The Capital.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so? I lived at Yeng-Yang.”</p> + +<p>“Then how is it that you are in these parts?”</p> + +<p>The old lady, for it was she who was talking with +Yeng-Si, uttered a deep sigh.</p> + +<p>“Alas, I have lived here for ten years, much +against my will. Like you, I am a victim of Su-Rung, +who murdered my husband. I am awaiting +the hour of vengeance, but it is slow in coming. Will +this monster remain unpunished forever?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> + +<p>Touched by her story, Yeng-Si forgot for the time +her own misfortunes to sympathize with her companion. +It was just at this moment that Su-Yeng entered +the room where the two women were and said +in a troubled voice:</p> + +<p>“Do not take things too hard. Perhaps you will +be rescued very soon. There is some one who is +looking out for you. I have a profound horror of +my brother’s evil deeds. Listen, if you wish to escape +you will never have an easier time than now.”</p> + +<p>“How so, your brother....”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be afraid. For the time being, he is not +capable of following you for he is asleep and dead +drunk, but there is not a minute to be lost. You +know the country for you have lived here a long +while. You must show the way to this lady who is a +stranger. Here, take this money, it will not do to +wait any longer.”</p> + +<p>The two women, weeping and sobbing, threw +themselves at the feet of their rescuer in gratitude.</p> + +<p>Su-Yeng helped them to their feet and urged +them again to leave. It would be advisable, he insisted, +to make haste for the rage of Su-Rung, if he +captured them, would be terrible.</p> + +<p>Yielding to the entreaties of Su-Yeng, the two +women set out. Their friend accompanied them for +a short distance. When they were alone, they walked +as rapidly as their strength would permit. At the +end of two hours Yeng-Si, thoroughly fatigued, requested +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>that they rest for a few moments. Her companion +consented quite willingly. So the two fugitives +sat down to rest their weary bodies. Suddenly +the elder of the two said to the other:</p> + +<p>“I’m going to ask you something.”</p> + +<p>“What can I do for you?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I would consider it a great favor if you +would let me have your sandals in exchange for +mine.”</p> + +<p>This request puzzled Yeng-Si a great deal as she +did not understand the purpose of the elder woman’s +intentions. However, the old lady gave her little +time for reflection.</p> + +<p>“You are,” she said, “like me, very tired, but you +are still young, consequently you are capable of enduring +greater hardships than I. I am very old. +You go on. If Su-Rung catches up—and he will not +wait long—I will tell him that I do not know in what +direction you went. Now, hurry on, but leave your +sandals here with me if you wish to be real kind.”</p> + +<p>Yeng-Si arose at once. She thanked her friend +for her excellent advice and handed her sandals to +her without understanding in the least what motive +she had in this request. As she was leaving, the old +lady continued:</p> + +<p>“Just a moment. I am going to show you the road +which you should take to escape from Su-Rung. +Keep straight ahead until you come to a grove of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>bamboo where you might rest a few moments if you +like, then keep on walking in the same direction +until you come upon the temple of Buddha. When +you arrive at this spot, you will be out of danger but +be careful to follow my directions explicitly.”</p> + +<p>“I will do so, thank you.”</p> + +<p>“Good, now, good-bye.”</p> + +<p>When Yeng-Si had gone a short way, the old +woman arose, and taking the sandals, she turned +toward a lake which was a short distance away. +Placing them at the water’s edge, she uttered a brief +prayer and jumped into the water.</p> + +<p>Yeng-Si, however, heard her cries. She immediately +retraced her steps, hastening to the lake where +she noticed the sandals beside the water and the body +of the old lady floating on the surface. This sight +almost overbore her.</p> + +<p>“Why did this poor woman drown herself?” she +muttered. “Can it be—yes, I imagine—her persistency +in asking for my sandals—oh, blessed one! +She had the idea of dying before saying good-bye. +She did not wish her death to be fruitless, so she +placed my sandals on the shore, that it would appear +as if I had committed suicide. Poor woman, how +devoted she was! May she have her reward in the +Hereafter.”</p> + +<p>If she had listened to the promptings of her heart, +Yeng-Si would have remained there mourning for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>her unfortunate companion. Remembering the entreaties +of the latter, however, she hurried her steps +and shortly came to the forest of bamboo. Suddenly +she experienced the most agonizing pains. She +trembled, shivered, broke out into a cold perspiration +and suffered terribly. She understood that she +was about to become a mother. What a terrible +situation she was in! Here alone, away from everybody, +what was to become of her?</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Yes, it was a little boy. She seized the poor, little +being and covered it with tears and kisses.</p> + +<p>“Poor child,” she said, “what can I do with you? +You have no father and your mother does not know +what is going to become of you.”</p> + +<p>Fortunately for Yeng-Si, some one had heard her +shrieks and cries. It was a nun from the temple +that the old lady had told her about. This nun ran +to the spot whence the cries came and was somewhat +surprised to find there the mother and child.</p> + +<p>After rendering what assistance she could, she +asked her how it came about that she gave birth to +the child in that place.</p> + +<p>Yeng-Si told briefly her sad story. The nun was +deeply touched at the tale—so fraught with sorrow.</p> + +<p>“What do you count upon doing?” she asked her.</p> + +<p>“Alas, I do not know. Here I am alone and without +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>resources. How can I bring up my little one? +I shall have to abandon him, but I shall not live long +anyway, I am sure of that, so perhaps I shall make +way with myself.”</p> + +<p>“That would not be doing exactly right. Suppose +you try to follow my advice. Give your child to some +charitable person and come live with me.”</p> + +<p>“I could not ask for anything better, but why can’t +I take my little one along with me?”</p> + +<p>“Because it is against the rules of our order to +receive children. I know it is hard for you to give +up your little one, but since you scarcely have any +choice in the matter, you must resign yourself. If +you were to continue on your way with your little +son you would unquestionably fall into the hands of +the brigands. Besides, it is possible that you may +be able to reclaim your child some day in the future. +When he becomes a man he will aid you in getting +retribution for his father’s death.”</p> + +<p>Yeng-Si followed the advice of the nun. She +wrapped the little fellow as well as she could, tearing +bandages from her own clothes. Since she wished +to have some sign which would enable her to recognize +her son, she took his arm and with a needle +traced on the pink flesh the characters forming the +name of San-Syeng. Then she went over these letters +with India ink which the nun gave her. Finally, +slipping off the ring which she wore, she placed it in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>the wrappings of the child. This finished, she started +out accompanied by the nun. They were going to +the neighboring village to place the child at a street +corner and then return to the temple.</p> + +<p>Very soon, Yeng-Si could sight the roofs of the +little village where she was to say “good-bye” to her +son. Alas, the child, whom she and her husband +had been looking forward to with such great joy, +would be abandoned just as if she were an unnatural +mother. Her cup was filled to the brim with sorrow, +for her husband had been murdered before her +eyes and now her son was to be left on a street corner. +More dead than alive, she gently placed the +child on the ground after giving him a last fond kiss. +With a supreme effort she regained her courage and +walked slowly away, shedding tears of sorrow, while +the hunger-cries of the baby grew louder and louder.</p> + +<p>She tottered along very, very feebly, she was so +torn with emotion and anguish. The nun, familiar +with sad scenes, was nevertheless deeply moved.</p> + +<p>“Pray, pray to Heaven,” she said to Yeng-Si, +“some day you will find your son. He will come to +you when he grows up. Something within me gives +me confidence in what I am telling you, but prepare +yourself for a long separation—take courage.”</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here endeth our third chapter.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">IV</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp60 chap-img" id="i_052" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_052.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a><a id="Page_55"></a>[Pg 55]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="IV"> + IV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">When</span> the vapors of intoxication had cleared +from Su-Rung’s brain, his first thought was +of his captive. He ran to the old woman’s hut where +the widow of San-Houni was confined. Great was +his astonishment on finding the house empty. In +vain did he burst into anger, and shout. No one answered. +Breathless from rage, he went to his +brother.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen these two women?”</p> + +<p>“No. I have not seen them since I was here last.”</p> + +<p>“They have disappeared, but I know how to find +them.”</p> + +<p>Su-Rung set out in pursuit accompanied by his +brother. The latter feared that Su-Rung in his fury +would do harm if he succeeded in coming upon the +fugitives and Su-Yeng wished to be present to protect +them should the worst come to the worst.</p> + +<p>Traveling speedily, the two brothers very soon +reached the shores of the lake, of which we have +spoken before. Here they saw Yeng-Si’s sandals +by the water’s edge and a body floating in the middle +of the lake.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> + +<p>Even Su-Rung was moved by the sight and cried:</p> + +<p>“The poor woman is drowned.”</p> + +<p>“Brother,” replied Su-Yeng, “you would not listen +to me and you have been punished. You wished to +make this woman your slave and she has escaped +from your clutches in spite of your efforts. What +a great misfortune for us.”</p> + +<p>“You mean to say that it is my fault,” took up +Su-Rung, angrily, “You are to blame yourself. Why +did you let my prisoner escape?”</p> + +<p>The dispute between the two brothers lasted in +this manner until Su-Rung’s rage had cooled. Instead +of retracing their steps at once they continued +on their way to the neighboring village and were +the first ones to find the baby which Yeng-Si had +left there a half hour or so before. Quite pleased +at his unusual discovery Su-Rung took the little being +and carried it home with him where he confided it to +a nurse, instructing her to take the greatest care of +the little boy.</p> + +<p>Several times Su-Rung questioned his brother concerning +the escape of the two women. Not being +successful, however, in learning anything about the +matter he dismissed the entire subject from his mind.</p> + +<p>The murderer of San-Houni gave all his time to +the education of the child he had adopted. He treated +him as if he were his own son. It must be said +that the little fellow gave him abundant cause for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>satisfaction. He was good to look upon, extremely +intelligent and grew up rapidly. One day he asked +Su-Rung:</p> + +<p>“Father, where is my mother?”</p> + +<p>“Your mother,” replied Su-Rung, very much embarrassed +by the question, “your mother died a short +time after you were born.”</p> + +<p>Su-Rung was in the habit of accompanying his +adopted son to school. The young scholar was not +long in distinguishing himself among his comrades +who could not witness his success without a show of +jealousy and hate. To obtain revenge they could +find nothing better to do than to taunt him about +having no parents.</p> + +<p>“No parents,” shouted the indignant boy. “Why, +I have a father and it is not my fault if I lost my +mother before I was able to know her. I do not see +why I deserve your reproaches.”</p> + +<p>“That shows that you really do not know anything +about yourself. Su-Rung is not your father. He is +only a thief and a robber. He found you on a street +corner and brought you up.”</p> + +<p>This revelation troubled the child very much and +he made it known to Su-Rung.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be troubled about that, my child,” replied +the latter. “These boys are jealous of you and they +invent these stories to anger you. They are not +worth bothering about at all.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> + +<p>Yeng-Si’s son was somewhat reassured by this. +But other circumstances aroused his suspicions. He +accidentally discovered the name of San-Syeng tattooed +on his arm. Additional evidence was furnished +him when he found a ring one day while rummaging +among some old books and papers. He hid this +precious object in his pocket, saying to himself:</p> + +<p>“I believe what the fellows told me was true after +all.”</p> + +<p>From this day on, San-Syeng was constantly preoccupied +with thoughts as to who his parents might +be. In order to more easily solve this problem he determined +to travel through the country, thinking that +some day he would be able to discover those to whom +he owed his birth.</p> + +<p>When he had reached his seventeenth year, San-Syeng +asked Su-Rung for permission to make a trip +through Korea in order to finish his education. Su-Rung +made no opposition, although he preferred +that his adopted son take a traveling companion. +Nevertheless, he did not insist but gave his consent +for San-Syeng to travel alone on a journey that would +consume perhaps two years.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng had been gone several weeks when he +came to a beautiful little village where he counted +upon remaining but a short while. Until now, his +voyage had been uneventful. But the time for adventure +was at hand. The first incident was somewhat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>distasteful. San-Syeng had stopped for a moment +in the street where some children were playing. +He was watching their antics with pleasure when he +received a shock. He had just heard one of the gamins +ask one of his comrades.</p> + +<p>“Do you know that robber, Su-Rung?”</p> + +<p>“By name, yes, but I have never seen him. Why +do you ask me that? He’s a wicked man.”</p> + +<p>“Because they tell a remarkable story about that +fellow. One of my friends was at school with the +son, or rather the adopted son, of this thief. It +seems, in fact, that Su-Rung found the child abandoned +by the roadside and took him home and raised +him. Thanks to his robberies, the man is very rich. +He has just sent his son on a long trip. That’s what +my friend told me.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng had not missed a word of this conversation. +His curiosity was aroused to the highest pitch, +so he approached the youngster who had spoken, and +asked,</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, friend, would you tell me your name? +Do you know Su-Rung?”</p> + +<p>“Sir, I know this man only through having heard +tales of him.”</p> + +<p>This reply hardly satisfied San-Syeng, but, believing +that the child had been frightened, he did not +pursue his questioning further but walked on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> + +<p>Shortly afterward, San-Syeng came to the village +of Yen-Yu, where he decided to tarry for a few days +to recover from the fatigue of his travels.</p> + +<p>Before seeking a lodging he took a stroll through +the village to see the sights. His attention was +drawn to a great mansion surrounded by a vast garden, +so he turned in this direction to view it more +closely. He came to a pause when he saw in the garden +a young girl of marvelous beauty. It was impossible +to approach her as the garden was surrounded +by a continuous wall. He walked on for a +few paces and then, yielding to some indescribable +impulse, he retraced his steps. The young girl was +still there. She turned a candid look toward the +walker, giving the young man a subtle thrill of pleasure. +It is true that his eyes had never met such a +sight—a bright oval face as fresh as a half ripened +peach, eyes that rivaled the stars in their brilliancy. +Her hair, which fell down over her shoulders, was as +fine and golden as the clouds which disappear behind +the mountain peaks in the rays of the setting sun. +Add to these attractions a very small hand and a gait +as graceful as the flight of a bird. The admiration +of San-Syeng could not be restrained. He could not +take his eyes away from the vision of loveliness. +The girl, walking up and down the garden, now and +then cast furtive glances at the youth who was watching +her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span></p> + +<p>San-Syeng was in a veritable daze. For a considerable +time he remained in the one spot, even after +the beautiful unknown had disappeared. Finally, he +decided to find a lodging, hoping also to obtain some +information concerning the beautiful girl whose +charms still held him. His first action, therefore, on +arriving at the village inn, was to inquire:</p> + +<p>“To whom does yonder mansion belong that is +surrounded by such a beautiful garden? Its owner +is doubtless a personage of some importance?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is the estate of a very rich family, the head +of which, Yeng-Yen-Sa, is dead. The only people +who live in that large house are his wife and his +daughter.”</p> + +<p>“Is the daughter married?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, she is scarcely seventeen years old.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng’s curiosity was satisfied for the moment. +When alone, he gave himself up to reflection. First, +he determined to lengthen his stay in Yen-Yu. He +was burning with desire to see the unknown beauty +again. Each day for hours at a time he would walk +in the neighborhood of the garden where he had first +seen the young girl who was constantly occupying his +thoughts. Alas! his beautiful stroller of the garden +remained indoors. He was sad unto death. One +evening, when his sorrow, revived again by the memory +of his parents, was more acute than ever, he +sought distraction in music. He took his flute, and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>stationing himself near the garden, improvised the +following verses:</p> + +<blockquote style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;"> +<p>“Homeless am I—I know neither Heaven nor Earth.</p> + +<p>I am walking in despair, seeking in vain for those who +gave me birth.</p> + +<p>In a garden there is a flower of marvelous beauty.</p> + +<p>I would like to pluck this blossom, but the branches +which bear it are so high I cannot reach them.</p> + +<p>My most ardent desire would be to die and become +a butterfly so that I could hover about this adorable +flower.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>San-Syeng then cleverly composed a sweet melody, +to serve as an accompaniment to this poetry, which +he played upon his instrument with much feeling.</p> + +<p>The young girl had heard everything. Deeply +perplexed, she asked herself what could be the meaning +of the charming words which had come to her +ears.</p> + +<p>“If this young man,” she mused, “does not know +Heaven nor Earth, it means he has lost his parents. +If he wants to be transformed into a butterfly to flit +around a flower, it means he loves a young girl.”</p> + +<p>Very much puzzled, she sent her servant to inquire +who could be the author of the verses she had just +heard. She wondered if it were not the young man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>whom she had seen a few days before walking near +the garden. Still impressed by what she had heard, +she took her own instrument and in turn improvised +the following verses:</p> + +<blockquote style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;"> +<p>“The spider spins her web from flower-stem to flower-stem, +but the butterfly does not come.</p> + +<p>I have dug a lake in my garden to attract the swans, but in +vain are my labors.</p> + +<p>I have planted a tree to serve as a refuge for the swallow, +but the bird remains mute to my call while displeasing +birds come a-flocking.</p> + +<p>To-day, however, I heard the song of the blue bird. He +has at last arrived and very soon he will be close and +dear to me.</p> + +<p>The age of sixteen is the fair Springtime of life. If I want +to be happy, I should not wait much longer.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>These words filled San-Syeng with a deep joy for +they seemed to be a reply to his own verses and he +felt overwhelmed with emotion. He went home, but +it was in vain that he tried to sleep.</p> + +<p>On her part, the young girl slept with difficulty, as +her mind was agitated by what had just taken place. +Now it came to pass that her father appeared before +her in a dream and said, “My daughter, there is +stopping at the inn nearest our home a traveler whose +merits I bring to your attention. It is the son of San-Houni, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>the scholar, one of my best friends. I would +like you to marry this young man.”</p> + +<p>She objected that she was not even acquainted with +the youth.</p> + +<p>“Yes, my daughter,” replied her father, “you have +already seen him. He comes of a very noble family. +Good-bye, my daughter.”</p> + +<p>The young girl wished to detain her father, but to +her sorrow her efforts were of no avail; the vision +faded and she awoke in tears.</p> + +<p>“How can I obey my father’s command,” she complained. +“I must devise some way to meet this +young man. I will go into the garden again this evening +and perhaps I shall see the man whom my +father has ordered me to marry.”</p> + +<p>She was not disappointed in her hopes. When +night had lowered its curtain of darkness she went +down into the garden and caught sight of San-Syeng. +But instead of going to meet him, she turned and +rushed into the house like a frightened kitten.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng was stupefied and broken up by her sudden +disappearance. Despairing of being able to talk +with the girl he loved, he resolved to write to her. +So the next evening he returned to the garden with a +letter. Again the young girl appeared for a few +minutes. He walked in front of her, tossed the letter +over the garden wall, and left.</p> + +<p>The young girl ran to pick it up, hurried with it to +her room, where she read the neat characters:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“Mademoiselle, excuse my boldness. I have but a few +words to say. Do you know what the butterfly is? It is +an insect that is fond of flowers. Nights when attracted +by the light of the lamps which it takes for flowers, it +throws itself into the flame and perishes.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“This is a comparison that applies to me closely,” +thought the young girl. “I shall have my answer for +this young man to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>The next evening when San-Syeng returned to his +post by the garden wall he saw the girl raise both +hands and point to the moon.</p> + +<p>After this graceful and significant gesture she ran +into the house.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng went home, much perplexed. “She +made a sign to me,” he pondered, “but what meaning +does this sign have?” He reflected for a long +time, conjuring up hypothesis after hypothesis. +Finally, he struck his forehead with an exclamation +of joy, crying: “I believe I have it. The girl raised +both of her hands, she must have meant the number +ten. Then she pointed to the moon, that surely +means at night. She wanted to tell me that she +would meet me to-morrow evening at ten o’clock. +That’s it beyond a doubt.”</p> + +<p>He awaited with impatience the following evening. +Long before the appointed time he was in the +garden, worried and anxious as to whether he had +not given an erroneous interpretation to the young +girl’s gesture. At ten o’clock she came daintily +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>along the garden path, advancing gaily and smiling. +She paused to pick a flower which she placed between +her lips. One might have thought she was playing +the flute, so sweet were the soft, low sounds of song +which came from her throat. Picking up a dead +branch she amused herself by whipping the leaves +which strewed the ground. San-Syeng contemplated +the vision with an admiration that held him spellbound. +One might have said it was like a cat entrapping +a mouse. When she arrived within a few +paces of him she stopped as if frightened and seemed +about to draw back. Then San-Syeng advanced toward +her. “How beautiful she is,” was his thought. +So great was his admiration that he could not find a +single word to say. The young girl too remained +silent. San-Syeng thought, “My first words must +express all the love I feel, but my tongue is weak +and incapable of it. What is her feeling toward me? +Does she have a tender and loving heart, or has +wickedness already penetrated this beautiful young +soul? Let’s try a little trick.”</p> + +<p>The girl saw San-Syeng drop suddenly to the +ground. Without an instant’s hesitation she ran to +his help. Supporting his head in her hands, and +after dusting off his clothes which had been soiled by +the fall, she assisted him to arise and led him to a +nearby bench.</p> + +<p>Then San-Syeng said wearily, as if he were just +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>regaining consciousness, “Pardon me, mademoiselle, +I am confused with all the trouble I am giving you.”</p> + +<p>“Not at all, sir,” replied the young girl. “I am +happy to have been able to render you assistance. I +only ask for permission to put one question to you. +Where do you live?”</p> + +<p>“I live at Nam-Hai and my name is San-Syeng.”</p> + +<p>“Has it been very long since you left that town?”</p> + +<p>“Almost six months.”</p> + +<p>“And have you seen many interesting things on +your journey?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, many.”</p> + +<p>“Your parents are still alive, I suppose?”</p> + +<p>“No, mademoiselle, I lost my parents a long time +ago. And are your father and mother still alive?”</p> + +<p>“My father is dead and I live with my mother. +Wasn’t it you who came here playing the flute the +other evening?”</p> + +<p>“It was I, mademoiselle. And tell me, didn’t you +reply on your instrument?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“I am very grateful. You have condescended to +listen, you have not repulsed me, and this evening +you have given me the greatest of pleasures by talking +with me.”</p> + +<p>“But, sir, were you ill just a while ago?”</p> + +<p>“Mademoiselle, I lost my head through love of +you. May I in turn ask why you did not reply to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>my note? You made a sign to me and I imagined +that you were inviting me to return this evening at +ten o’clock. Was I right?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, you divined my thoughts exactly. Do +you know you have given evidence of great intelligence. +You have captured my heart without the +slightest effort, like the fisherman who catches a fish +that is surprised to see itself so easily taken. Now +you may call me Yeng-So-Yei, for that is my name.”</p> + +<p>At these words, San-Syeng seized the hand of the +girl and covered it with kisses.</p> + +<p>“I have not sought to ensnare you. It was merely +my love, my boundless love, which impelled me to +act thus. But it is late. Your mother will notice +your absence and will become worried. Let us meet +again to-morrow at the same hour.”</p> + +<p>The young girl nodded her head as a sign of acquiescence +and withdrew into the house. In the solitude +of her room she thought for a long time of the +events of the evening. “I love this young man,” she +said, “he is so intelligent and has such a splendid +appearance. In giving him my heart I have done +nothing but obey my father’s counsel. Therefore, I +should have no remorse about my conduct. I shall +marry the man I love and accomplish my father’s +wish.”</p> + +<p>Similar reflections agitated San-Syeng’s mind. +“How beautiful and good she is!” he would repeat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>to himself. “I love her to distraction. I can never +wait until to-morrow evening to see her. How long +this night and day are going to be!”</p> + +<p>The hours rolled around, however, and the time +came for San-Syeng to visit the girl once more. She +came running to meet him, her face radiant with +joy and happiness. After they had exchanged a +few words of greeting she said to San-Syeng:</p> + +<p>“Let’s go into the house. We can talk better. +You can come to my room where no one will disturb +us.”</p> + +<p>“But don’t you fear that your mother will notice +something?”</p> + +<p>“My mother is very old and feeble, we have +nothing to fear from her.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng followed the young girl. He was much +impressed to see with what skill she had arranged +her room. He complimented her on her taste and +good judgment and added: “How happy you must +be!”</p> + +<p>“And aren’t you happy, too?”</p> + +<p>“Alas, I have lost my parents, and I am alone in +the world. Life is no longer attractive to me. You +have given me the first pleasure in my life and I +am obliged to resume my travels within a few days.”</p> + +<p>“But why must you leave? Haven’t you told me +that you loved me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I love you with all my heart and soul. But +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>it is only another misfortune for me because I can +never marry you.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you say that?”</p> + +<p>“I can never marry you because you are rich, +while I am penniless.”</p> + +<p>“Fie, foolish,” teased the girl, drawing him to her. +“Don’t you know that I love you and that nothing +can prevent me from being your wife and companion? +We shall marry. Do not leave me. Remain +with me to-night, my mother will not know.”</p> + +<p>Their lips were united in one long kiss. At daybreak +San-Syeng departed. He regarded himself +as the happiest of mortals and promised to spare +no effort to make life happy for the girl who had +chosen him for her husband.</p> + +<p>Every evening the young man went to visit his +wife. Now it came to pass one night, that her +mother, unable to sleep, arose from her couch and +went walking through the house. Passing before +the door of her daughter’s room she heard, above +the sound of mingled kisses, her daughter speaking +with some one. Immediately she fell into a great +fury. She tried to open the door, but was unsuccessful. +Calling a servant, she said:</p> + +<p>“Take a sabre, and place yourself before this +door. You are to kill the first person who leaves +that room.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng and his wife had not heard these words +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>for they were asleep. The girl had another dream +in which she saw her father. “My daughter,” he +said, “you are in great danger. Your husband’s +life is threatened. Arise and see what is on the other +side of your door. Find a way for your husband +to escape. Give him my favorite horse so that he +can take flight. You may also give him my sword. +You will be separated for some time, but you will +be united in the days to come.”</p> + +<p>Startled by the warning, the young girl softly +opened the door where she saw the servant with +drawn sabre.</p> + +<p>“What are you doing here—and with a weapon, +too?” she demanded.</p> + +<p>“I am standing guard at your mother’s orders +and I am to kill the first person who leaves your +room.”</p> + +<p>“Why, my mother is mad. There is no one with +me. I was just about to call you anyway and send +you on an errand. I would like to write and I +haven’t a single bit of paper. Will you get me +some?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot leave this post, mademoiselle.”</p> + +<p>“Why not? If you are afraid that my mother’s +prisoner will escape, let me have your sabre. I +will take your place while you get me what I want.”</p> + +<p>The servant was persuaded with little difficulty. +Scarcely had he left than the young lady ran to her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>husband and cried: “Up at once or you are lost. +My mother has learned that there is some one with +me and has stationed a servant at the door with orders +to kill any one who leaves my room. Wait for +me in the garden.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng arose hurriedly and descended cautiously +and quietly into the garden. The servant +returned and received the assurance that no one had +left the room which he had been guarding.</p> + +<p>“I think I shall take a walk in the garden,” the +girl suggested. “This room is too warm for me.”</p> + +<p>She went direct to the stables where she led out +the horse which her father had mentioned and +brought him to San-Syeng. The two lovers embraced +and wept bitterly at being forced to part in +so abrupt a fashion. The girl had gathered together +her jewels and what silver she had at hand and +turned them over to San-Syeng together with her +father’s favorite sword. San-Syeng, despite his protest, +was forced to accept them. He slipped from +his finger the ring which he had found among the +books long years before and the significance of +which he did not even guess.</p> + +<p>“Take this keepsake,” he said to his wife. “It +is a token of my undying love. As long as I live +I shall think only of you and I hope soon to come +back for you. I will go to the Capital and shall +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>soon have matters fixed so that I may rejoin you. +Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>He went away, his head bowed in sadness, while +the young girl, tears rolling down her cheeks, followed +him with her eyes until she saw him disappear +in the black depths of the wood.</p> + +<p>“I wish I could burn that forest and then my San-Syeng +would have to take the mountain road, and +I wish the plagued mountains were at the bottom +of the sea,” cried the unhappy girl—“for I would +be able to see my husband again.”</p> + +<p>She remained for a long time in the one spot motionless +as a statue. At last, she decided to go to +her room, following in spirit San-Syeng who was +galloping briskly toward the Capital. He arrived +there when there was great excitement among the +people of the city because of the death of the King +and the exile of the young Prince to the Isle of +Cho-To, events upon which we shall comment in the +coming stage of our story.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here the fourth stage of our legend cometh to +a close.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a><a id="Page_75"></a>[Pg 75]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">V</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp40 chap-img" id="i_074" style="max-width: 20em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_074.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a><a id="Page_77"></a>[Pg 77]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="V"> + V + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">It</span> was Ja-Jo-Mi, the Prime Minister, who had +been the chief cause of all the evils which had +come to Sun-Yen and San-Houni. This dignitary, no +longer having any one to fear, enjoyed absolute +power. The King had entire confidence in him and +placed in his hands the administration of the government. +Ja-Jo-Mi had taken advantage of this to give +all the important and lucrative offices to his followers. +For example, he discharged in disgrace a general +whom he disliked and replaced him with one of his +most zealous but incompetent partisans. Even with +all this power the ambitious Minister was not satisfied. +Why should he not push things to the limit +and place himself upon the throne? For the present, +it was only a dream which Ja-Jo-Mi hoped to realize +some day. But he was only awaiting a favorable +occasion and this was not long in presenting itself.</p> + +<p>The King fell suddenly ill. His condition became +so grave that the leading physicians of the Kingdom +were obliged to confess their inability to cure him. +He was well aware of his serious condition and +cherished no illusions about it. He sensed the flutter +of the wings of Death—wings drenched with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>tears of weeping humanity. He sent for the Prime +Minister, to whom he spoke after the following +fashion:</p> + +<p>“I am going to die. My great regret is in leaving +a son too young efficiently to govern the country. +Factions will take advantage of the situation to disturb +the peace of the Kingdom. Yet I want my son +to succeed me on the throne. Consequently I am +requiring of you a further proof of your devotion. +Promise me to give this child the guidance of your +counsel and wisdom. Teach him to govern kindly +and finish his education.”</p> + +<p>Ja-Jo-Mi, the unscrupulous, swore solemnly that +he would faithfully observe the last commands of his +master. The monarch desired to see his son, so +the latter was brought to his bedside. The King +tenderly took the youth in his arms. He seemed to +wish, through him, to cling longer to the life he +was leaving. But the fatal hour had come; he drew +his last breath in a sob.</p> + +<p>His son, overcome by grief, uttered wild cries—“Oh, +my father, my only refuge, why do you forsake +me? Why must you leave me?” Finally he +fell into a swoon.</p> + +<p>The Prime Minister, who was present at this +scene, tried to calm the young Prince with profuse +and hypocritical condolences. His words were far +from being in accord with his inner thoughts. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>King’s death filled his soul with joy, for it rendered +easier the project he had been dreaming about for +so long.</p> + +<p>When the funeral ceremonies were over, the Governors +of the provinces held a conference upon the +question of choosing a new King. The Governors’ +choice naturally fell upon the shoulders of the deceased +King’s son. This decision exasperated Ja-Jo-Mi; +he protested furiously against it, saying that +the Prince was too young to attend to affairs of +state and he painted a very black picture of the conditions +of the country if the government were placed +in his hands.</p> + +<p>“Moreover, the dying King appointed me to rule +until his son should be capable of taking the throne.”</p> + +<p>The Prime Minister expected favorable results +from this announcement. The Governors, however, +contented themselves with exchanging significant +glances, but they did not utter a word in support +of the Minister’s proposal.</p> + +<p>This cold reception did not leave Ja-Jo-Mi any +delusions as to the attitude of the Governors on the +subject. Renouncing the powers of peaceful persuasion, +he resolved to employ force. He summoned +the General whose support he was assured +of and said to him:</p> + +<p>“You will throw into prison any official who is +hostile to me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> + +<p>The General bowed in a sign of obedience and +withdrew. Although very much terrified, the Governors +did not submit peacefully to this new means +of intimidation and Ja-Jo-Mi condemned several of +the most influential of them to banishment. No one +was in a position now to oppose the execution of +his designs.</p> + +<p>Having thus overridden the opposition of the Governors, +Ja-Jo-Mi went to the young King.</p> + +<p>“All powerful Prince,” he said, kneeling respectfully, +“forgive me if I disturb you in your grief. +The welfare of the people compels me to discuss +with you certain things which I fain would defer to +a more opportune moment.”</p> + +<p>“Speak,” bade the young King.</p> + +<p>“You are doubtless well aware that, according to +the precepts laid down by the venerable philosopher, +Kong-Ji, no one can reign in Korea before attaining +a certain age. In spite of your exceptional intelligence +and remarkable ability I fear that you are +too young to rule alone. Your father, my regretted +master, on his death bed, requested me to look after +the interests of the State while you were preparing +to assume them yourself. It is with great regret that +I remind you of this last wish of the deceased King, +for I am aggravating your sorrow, I know. But I +hope that you will conform to your father’s desires +and the philosopher’s wisdom.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span></p> + +<p>Ja-Jo-Mi had hoped to convince the Prince with +these arguments. Great then was his astonishment +when the youth replied:</p> + +<p>“You are interpreting the last words of my dear +father for your own ends and in your own interests. +He asked you to guide and advise me but did not +intimate that you should take my place at the head +of the Koreans. Know then, that it is my intention +to govern in person. I have nothing more to add.”</p> + +<p>It was a summary dismissal. Ja-Jo-Mi, feigning +to acquiesce in the desires of his sovereign, withdrew +backwards, saying:</p> + +<p>“Sire, it shall be as you wish.”</p> + +<p>Thus the ambitious Minister had encountered, in +the energy of the young King, a formidable obstruction +in the path of his plans. But it did not discourage +him. Since the Prince would not relinquish +his post with a good grace, he would commandeer +it by force. It would be very easy. All the office-holders +at the Capital were devoted to Ja-Jo-Mi, +for it was through him that they held their places. +The people were not to be feared for they lacked +leaders. One bright and beautiful day, the King +found himself under arrest and transported to Cho-To. +The Prime Minister had ordered the prisoner +to be guarded by the troops day and night and the +deposed Prince was kept under the strictest surveillance +all the time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> + +<p>Ja-Jo-Mi, the unscrupulous, for the time being, +was master of the land. He hoped soon to be completely +rid of the legitimate King and to finish his +days tranquilly on the throne that he had so treacherously +usurped.</p> + +<p>These events had caused a growing unrest +throughout the length and breadth of Korea. The +people were talking and grumbling, but they did not +dare openly to manifest their disapproval. The +conduct of the Prime Minister became an every-day +topic of conversation. On the street corners, bolder +groups were wont to gather and discuss matters +vigorously.</p> + +<p>One day, when San-Syeng was out walking he noticed +one of these crowds; he hurried back to his +lodgings and inquired of Hong-Jun, his landlord, +who had formerly held an important commission in +the army,</p> + +<p>“What has happened? I see that the inhabitants +of this city, ordinarily so calm and peaceful, laboring +under unusual excitement. What’s the cause of +it?”</p> + +<p>“What, don’t you know?” replied Hong-Jun. “It +is rumored that the Prime Minister, who always did +have a detestable reputation, has just crowned his infamy +by exiling the King’s son. Instead of occupying +the throne, our young ruler is in prison.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng was thunder-struck. Heeding only the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>impulses of his noble heart, he resolved to discover +some means to help the unfortunate young ruler.</p> + +<p>He had a dream that night which served to +strengthen his resolution. He saw in his dream a +person whom he had already met in the course of +his travels and who asked his name.</p> + +<p>“My name is San-Syeng.”</p> + +<p>“Good, I belong to the same family as you. My +name is San-Houni. I was banished from the Capital +by Ja-Jo-Mi. While on my way to the island +of Ko-Kum-To I was murdered by the robber Su-Rung. +Listen, for I have something to ask of you. +At this very moment, the deceased King’s son is in +exile at Cho-To. He is also a victim of Ja-Jo-Mi. +Go, help him.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng told his questioner that he had fully +made up his mind to assist the young ruler. “Can +you not,” he added subsequently, “give me some information +about my family?”</p> + +<p>“It is impossible for me to grant your wish for +the present,” was the rejoinder, and the vision disappeared. +When San-Syeng awoke he recalled his +dream in all its minute details.</p> + +<p>What could this mystery be which surrounded Su-Rung? +San-Syeng had heard the man whom he regarded +as a father spoken of as a thief and now he +was pictured as an assassin. All this gave the young +man food for serious reflection. However, the most +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>urgent matter now was to go to the succour of the +young exile and San-Syeng took immediate steps to +leave for Cho-To.</p> + +<p>It was an island that was easily accessible but by +the orders of Ja-Jo-Mi no one was permitted to land +there without a permit from the Prime Minister. In +vain did San-Syeng try to evade the vigilance of the +soldiers who were guarding the shore. He was +forced to confess that it was impossible to land on +the island. Not disheartened by his failure, however, +he resolved to await more auspicious circumstances +for the carrying out of his project.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here endeth the fifth stage of our legend.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">VI</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp30 chap-img" id="i_084" style="max-width: 14em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_084.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a><a id="Page_87"></a>[Pg 87]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="VI"> + VI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">Let</span> us retrace our steps. The reader will recall +how the adorable Cheng-Si, daughter of +the unfortunate Sun-Yen, had agreed, in order to +procure help for her father, to become the victim +that the Korean merchants were to offer the hungry +monsters of the Yellow Sea.</p> + +<p>When the vessel that bore the young girl had +reached the open sea and the merchants had finished +a session of prayer, they summoned Cheng-Si before +them.</p> + +<p>“The time for the sacrifice has come,” they +told her. “Now you may retire, purify your body, +put on your most beautiful gown. We will wait for +you here.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si obeyed their commands with resignation. +She soon appeared on the deck, fresh as a new rose. +One might have thought that she was going to her +wedding instead of her death.</p> + +<p>The traders had prepared a magnificent altar covered +with white and bearing curiously carved incense +burners. From the midst of the incense arose fragrant +blue clouds of myrrh. At each end of the table +burned an immense candle, the flames from which +flickered to and fro in the breeze.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span></p> + +<p>The girl was stationed between the two candles, in +front of the incense burners. The merchants knelt +and began to pray. Cheng-Si, the fair, consigned her +soul to Heaven. Not that she experienced regret at +leaving this life, but her last thoughts were of the +blind father whom she had forsaken.</p> + +<p>Her prayers concluded, the girl, without showing +a trace of emotion, threw herself resolutely into the +sea while the vessel continued on its way. Cheng-Si, +who fully expected to drown in a few minutes, perceived +with astonishment that she was resting on +the surface of the water. In her plunge she had +struck an obstacle and this obstacle was nothing else +than a gigantic sea turtle. The animal kept on swimming, +without seeming to be incommoded by his unusual +burden. The young girl naturally seized this +unlooked for chance of salvation. She allowed herself +to be borne by the turtle and soon she enjoyed +such a feeling of security that she fell asleep and a +vision came to her. Her mother appeared before +her, borne on the fleecy sheets of a cloud, and left +with her these words:</p> + +<p>“My daughter, be not afraid. Heed what I have +to say to you and, above all things, follow my advice. +Do not forsake the turtle who has saved your +life until he has carried you safely to the shore.” +With this message, the vision vanished.</p> + +<p>Upon awakening, Cheng-Si glanced about her in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>all directions and noticed an island in the near distance. +“Doubtless that is to be my future home,” +she said to herself. “My dream is already beginning +to come true. I shall follow my dear mother’s +advice.”</p> + +<p>The turtle, arriving close to the shore, turned +aside into a deep subterranean passage and kept on +swimming for several hours until it reached a point +where the channel was very narrow. The innocent +Cheng-Si jumped ashore crying:</p> + +<p>“Thank you, good turtle, for saving my life.”</p> + +<p>While the large animal turned and swam back toward +the sea the girl tried to comprehend the situation +in which she found herself. Amidst the deep +darkness she was seized with a great fear. “Alas!” +she cried, “poor me! I have escaped death only for +a little while. How can I get out of this cave?” +Suddenly she saw a ray of sunlight that filtered +through the rocky vault above her head. She turned +in this direction and saw two small polished stone +flasks which shone in the sunlight. Lying conspicuously +close by was a letter addressed to Cheng-Si +herself. The young girl had had so many adventures +in so short a time that this strange coincidence +did not cause her any surprise. Breaking the seal +on the letter, she read the following:</p> + +<p>“Drink the contents of these two bottles. One of +them will wash away the fatigue of your long voyage. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>The other will clarify your ideas about the strange +events which no doubt have troubled you.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si drank the two beverages and she immediately +felt a renewed energy flowing through her +veins. Her head was as clear as a bell. She picked +her way carefully along the sides of the cavern in +the direction whence the sunlight came. Her way +was soon blocked by a pile of dirt which she painfully +dug aside with her own hands. Presently she +had made an opening large enough to admit her +slender body. Drawing herself up through the hole +she found that she was in the hollow trunk of an +immense tree whose roots reached way down into +the floor of the cave.</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si enjoyed to the fullest measure the dazzling +bright daylight. She was in an enchanted garden. +Not only were there trees of luxuriant green +foliage, spreading gorgeous blossoms caressed by +the soft, sweet breath of variegated butterflies, and +bees and birds, but the air itself was laden with an +intoxicating perfume. A huge wall served to close +the garden from outside view. In the centre arose +a magnificent dwelling which harmonized nicely with +its surroundings.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes rest, Cheng-Si picked her way +carefully through the briars and brambles covering +the trunk of the tree and began to stroll about the +garden.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> + +<p>Now it so happened that the beautiful house and +this fairy garden were the residence and place of +recreation for the young King whom Ja-Jo-Mi, the +unscrupulous, in his wickedness, had exiled, as we +have previously seen. His captivity had already +lasted for several months. The young Prince, giving +himself up to a bitter melancholy, could not take +his thoughts from the memory of his parents. +Ceaselessly he thought of his father and his mother, +both of whom had shown him such tender affection. +At times he would ponder over the future where he +could see no issue from the plight in which he found +himself but death.</p> + +<p>“Why should I cling to life any longer? This +everlasting loneliness, is it not the most cruel of +punishments? Yes, it is better to die,” mourned the +young Prince so sadly that at his approach even +the birds stopped singing.</p> + +<p>This very day he was determined to carry out his +dismal plans. He carefully made all his preparations. +A rope tightly attached to the bough of a +tree at one end with the other end passed around +his neck would be his instrument of deliverance. The +poor victim of Ja-Jo-Mi said his last prayers. In +a few minutes his body would be swinging into space. +But the Prince hesitated. He had just seen a young +girl, a beautiful vision in white, strolling along the +shady paths of his garden.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> + +<p>“Who in the world can that be?” queried the +Prince. “It seems that I am not here all alone, +after all. I must solve this mystery.”</p> + +<p>He forgot his plans of suicide; his melancholy +mood disappeared. A single glimpse of a woman +had had this potent effect on him—believe it or not. +He untied the cord from about his neck and started +in headlong pursuit after the charming apparition. +’Twas effort wasted! The girl turned around a +tree and vanished as if by magic.</p> + +<p>The young Prince was sorely perplexed. He questioned +whether he was not dreaming. But no, his +eyes had clearly seen. Later on, when the curtain +of twilight began to lower its darkness the prisoner +entered his house to seek slumber but all night long +he was haunted by the memory of the girl he had +seen in his garden and he could not sleep.</p> + +<p>Almost before daybreak, he dressed in great haste +and left the house. A butterfly hovered about his +head. He tried to catch it but could not. He stubbornly +gave chase, following it in its many turns +and wanderings about the garden. Suddenly the insect +disappeared in the hollow trunk of a tree. The +young man had closely watched the insect’s flight, +and feeling certain now of capturing his prey, he +advanced with open hands. He expected to find a +butterfly, and, behold, he discovered a beautiful +young girl before him. So great was his surprise +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>that he recoiled for a moment, but quickly suppressing +this instinctive impulse, he went toward +her, saying:</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, for having disturbed you in your retreat. +I stumbled upon it purely by accident. I was +chasing a butterfly that took refuge in the trunk of +this tree, and in trying to catch it I came upon you.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si needed these words to reassure her. At +the sight of the young man she was seized with an +unusual fear. Her agitation prevented her from +speaking, but the young King continued:</p> + +<p>“I am very sorry to have troubled you. Calm +yourself. May I ask where you live?”</p> + +<p>“I have no parents, or home, sir. I was walking +by the seashore when I fell into the water. A turtle +caught me on his back and carried me to this island +where I have been for several days.”</p> + +<p>“Like you, I am an orphan,” the Prince went on. +“I am a son of the late King of Korea. After my +father’s death I was banished to this island by the +Prime Minister, Ja-Jo-Mi. Both of us have been +unfortunate it seems. But, wouldn’t you like to come +and rest yourself for awhile in my house?”</p> + +<p>“Thank you very much. But as you are a prisoner +you are not free to allow this, are you?”</p> + +<p>“Be at ease about that. It is quite true that I am +a prisoner, but no one disturbs my lonely life. They +think that behind these high thick walls, outside of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>which they have stationed a number of soldiers, it +would be useless to inflict upon me other guards or +restrictions. You can follow me fearlessly. Come, +it will rest you a bit.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si followed the young man. Hand in hand +they went toward the exile’s home, exchanging very +few words.</p> + +<p>“Here, this will be your room,” said the young +King. “I will leave you to make yourself at home.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si, once alone, reflected upon what had happened +to her. “This young man is charming and +very likable,” was her thought. “Like me, he has +undergone great hardships.”</p> + +<p>As for Ki-Si, he had totally forgotten that only a +short time before he had planned to take his own +life. He could think of nothing but his beautiful +guest. He was drawn from his meditation by the +arrival of the servant who came each day to bring +his food.</p> + +<p>“Good,” said the young King. “Place it on that +table and leave me. I shall serve myself to-day.”</p> + +<p>When the servant had gone, Ki-Si went for the +girl.</p> + +<p>“Will you share my meagre dinner?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Gladly, sir.”</p> + +<p>They seated themselves and began to eat.</p> + +<p>“How happy I am to take my repast in your company,” +said the young Prince.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span></p> + +<p>“Why, sir, how is that?”</p> + +<p>“Because I have been here alone for so long.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I should think it must be very dreary for +you.”</p> + +<p>When the meal was over they went for a walk +in the garden, the King meanwhile relating all his +troubles to Cheng-Si, who was greatly moved thereby, +and said:</p> + +<p>“Do not take things too hardly, my friend. Have +patience. Later, when you regain the throne, you +will forget these unhappy days.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the young man. “There will be no +throne for me. Ja-Jo-Mi will have me killed.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si gave him a little pat on the cheek and +said,</p> + +<p>“Don’t be sad, my friend. Cheer up. The future +will smile upon you.”</p> + +<p>Several weeks passed. One afternoon, the two +went to sit down upon a bench in the garden, as was +their custom. The young Prince laughed scornfully, +as he pointed out to Cheng-Si the graves scattered +here and there in the sun-kissed grass.</p> + +<p>“Why are you laughing like that?” she questioned.</p> + +<p>“Why,” he replied absently, and as if speaking in +a trance. “I am laughing when I think that life is +nothing more than a long mockery of bitterness and +sorrow and lasts so briefly after all. Like the flies +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>that spend their lifetime in a single sun’s ray, we +live but a moment. We strive for honors and glory +and what not. And to what purpose, since death +gathers all of us under a common shroud and places +us on an equality. Friendship and love alone can +bind mankind to one another.”</p> + +<p>Then he was silent. The contrast between his +own sentiments and the aspect of Nature was striking. +The most profound sadness filled his heart. +Everything out-of-doors on the contrary seemed to +be dancing in a delightful frolic of love.</p> + +<p>Ki-Si, his head close to the pearly shell-like ear +of Cheng-Si, continued:</p> + +<p>“See that butterfly yonder! He is robbing that +little white flower. Perhaps he is intoxicated with +its perfume; perhaps he is leaving a kiss on its rosy +lips? Ah, these insects are happier than we +mortals.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si was pensive. She was thinking of the +many troubles that had made the young Prince +esteem life so lightly. But she said to herself that if +he could so easily detect love and the loveable in +Nature, his soul could not be entirely immune to the +sentiment itself. Possibly she was beloved by her +companion.</p> + +<p>She said to him merrily, “Chase away your sorrow. +You will not always be unhappy. As the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>Spring-time follows Winter, so laughter follows +tears. Soon the moon will be shining, for the moon +loves the sun and will pursue it into the darkness of +night. When it rains the earth is refreshed and +gladdened.”</p> + +<p>The sun was sinking below the horizon in a blaze +of gold and glory. Everything marked the hour of +rest and peace. The birds were flying to their nests, +shaking the branches in their flight. A great silence +lay over all Nature. The young Prince took Cheng-Si’s +delicate little hand in his and murmured,</p> + +<p>“I love you.”</p> + +<p>“I love you,” was the girl’s answer.</p> + +<p>After this tender confession, the two remained for +a long time without saying a word, buried in a deep +reverie, happy in their mutual love.</p> + +<p>When they had gone home and had finished their +evening repast, Ki-Si said to the young girl:</p> + +<p>“It is customary in our country for parents to +give their children in marriage, but we are orphans, +so what shall we do to get married?”</p> + +<p>“Let’s marry ourselves,” replied Cheng-Si, naively.</p> + +<p>“Good, let’s get ready for the ceremony.”</p> + +<p>They drew up a large table and covered it with a +red cloth. Two candles—signifying youth; a needle +and thread—signifying union; and incense burners, +were placed on this improvised altar before which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>the betrothed pair knelt to pray to Heaven, after +which they drank the sacramental wine from the +same cup.</p> + +<p>The ceremony was over. Love soon invited them +to its wedding joys and the following days were +filled with an ineffable happiness and delight.</p> + +<p>Now it came to pass one night that the Prince had +a dream. He saw in his dream a large bottle the +upper portion of which had been broken, whence a +crimson stream was slowly flowing. Ki-Si awoke +with a start and aroused his companion. “Ja-Jo-Mi +is going to kill me,” he cried with a sob. “I shall +be forced to desert you, soul of my soul. Listen to +my dream.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si, too, fell a victim to despair. “Let’s +save ourselves while we can,” she cried. “We will +set fire to our house and try to reach the seacoast. +Ja-Jo-Mi will believe that you are dead.”</p> + +<p>“No,” vetoed the King. “It will be futile. I +have had a dream which tells me of misfortune +which I shall try in vain to escape.”</p> + +<p>“But, I think,” rejoined Cheng-Si, who had regained +her composure, “that you are wrong to be so +alarmed at this dream. It does not have the meaning +which you attribute to it. When one breaks the +neck of a bottle one holds it carefully by the bottom. +This means that your people are determined to convey +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>to you their good wishes, and the blood which +trickles from the bottle signifies the royal purple with +which you will be vested.”</p> + +<p>This explanation assuaged Ki-Si’s griefs but imperfectly. +Nevertheless he said to Cheng-Si:</p> + +<p>“Well, suppose we leave. Let the fire burn up +this place. I have spent too many sad days here.”</p> + +<p>Placing burning brands in various parts of the +house they hurried into the garden. They made their +way to the hollow tree where Ki-Si had discovered +his treasure and through it descended into the cave. +Shortly they were by the seaside.</p> + +<p>How could they go any farther? They had no +boat. The young King, rather than fall alive into +the hands of Ja-Jo-Mi, determined to kill himself. +He ran toward the water but Cheng-Si like a flash +seized her husband by his gown and showered upon +him gentle reproaches:</p> + +<p>“Why would you desert me? Is it not my duty +to follow you wherever you may go, even to the +bottom of the sea? If you are bound to die, let us +die together.”</p> + +<p>“No, my dear, you are young. I met you by +chance. It is not fitting that your fate should be +thus linked to mine. Life for you may yet be a +happy one. Let me go. Let me die alone.”</p> + +<p>But Cheng-Si clung desperately to her lover. She +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>wanted to follow him into the Valley of the Shadows; +in fact, she would have preferred to have preceded +him into the Darkness.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here endeth the sixth stage of our legend.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">VII</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp30 chap-img" id="i_100" style="max-width: 14em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_100.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a><a id="Page_103"></a>[Pg 103]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="VII"> + VII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">San-Syeng</span> had been waiting impatiently for +several months for an opportunity to penetrate +the defenses of the island of Cho-To where the +young King was exiled. He was beginning to feel +discouraged when he had another dream. San-Houni +appeared before him saying, “You should take +a boat and go to the southern cape of the island. +There you will find the King and his Queen. But +make haste, if you are too late you will find that the +Prince has gone to abide with his ancestors.”</p> + +<p>On the strength of his dream, San-Syeng immediately +began preparations for his journey to the +spot that had been indicated to him. While yet some +distance from the island, he could distinguish on the +beach a man and woman, both apparently very +young, talking and gesticulating with great earnestness. +Soon he imagined he could catch a few words +which were carried to him on the light breeze, causing +the impression that a disagreement had arisen +between the two young people. When he came within +hailing distance he called politely: “Why are you +quarreling in this way when Spring-time is smiling +upon you so sweetly?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p> + +<p>Ki-Si replied: “We would like to cross the sea +but having no boat and deprived of all resources, +we are contemplating suicide. But I do not want +my gentle companion to follow me to the grave, +while she, on the other hand, is bent upon dying +with me. That is the cause of our dispute.”</p> + +<p>“Give up your melancholy ideas,” remonstrated +San-Syeng. “You are not going to die. I will place +my boat at your disposal and take you wherever you +want to go.”</p> + +<p>“Many thanks, you have saved our lives,” cried +Ki-Si, joyfully.</p> + +<p>The young King and Queen immediately clambered +aboard the boat and San-Syeng made a rapid +trip over the arm of the sea which separated the +island of Cho-To from the city of Chang-Yang.</p> + +<p>When they were safely ashore, Ki-Si inquired of +San-Syeng if he would kindly direct him to a place +where he and his wife could pass the night. San-Syeng +suggested that they put up at the same inn +where he was staying—an invitation which they +heartily accepted.</p> + +<p>So far San-Syeng’s dream had been realized. +Nothing was left for him to do but to make sure +that the young people were really those of whom +San-Houni had told him. But this was no easy +thing. He did not dare question them too closely. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>There was too much at stake to reveal the truth. +San-Syeng resolved to wait until time and opportunity +would dispel his doubt.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the house on the island where the +young Prince had lived since he had left the Capital +had become food for the fire and flame. The +guard in charge of Ki-Si rushed to inform the General +whom Ja-Jo-Mi had appointed to watch the +island of Cho-To. The General, greatly agitated +and worried, gave orders to double the guards about +the garden wall. Anyone who sought to leave was +to be arrested on the spot. Other soldiers were instructed +to do their utmost in fighting the spread +of the flames. They were too late. The house was +now like unto a gigantic furnace.</p> + +<p>“Search everywhere for the King,” ordered the +General. “If he isn’t dead he must be hidden somewhere +in the garden. Look in all the corners and +dark places.”</p> + +<p>This hunt was, as we well know, unsuccessful, and +the General, concluding that the royal prisoner had +perished in the flames, sent word to that effect posthaste +to Ja-Jo-Mi.</p> + +<p>Upon receipt of this news, the Prime Minister was +elated. The death of the rightful King swept aside +the last obstruction in the path of his plans. He +immediately summoned the General whom he had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>placed in command of the guards at Cho-To, and +when the latter came Ja-Jo-Mi met him with these +words:</p> + +<p>“How lucky we are! Such an event deserves to +be celebrated in proper style. Let’s have a grand +banquet to which we can invite all our friends.”</p> + +<p>Ja-Jo-Mi’s partisans were living in idleness and +ease, wallowing in an era of merry-making and debauchery. +Everywhere they went they continually +sang the praises of Ja-Jo-Mi, “the coming King of +Korea.” The people, however, were grumbling and +commenting, but the fear of the tyrant kept them +from expressing too openly their complaints.</p> + +<p>Ki-Si, whom Ja-Jo-Mi believed to be dead, was +keeping under cover at the little town of Chang-Yang. +One day when he was chatting with San-Syeng, +the proprietor of the inn burst in upon them +excitedly, saying: “There is great excitement in the +streets. Quite a number of troops, who are on their +way to the Capital, have just arrived in town.”</p> + +<p>“What’s exciting about that?” questioned San-Syeng.</p> + +<p>“These soldiers were ordered to guard our young +exiled King at the island of Cho-To. It seems that +the poor Prince lost his life in a big fire and the +General, who had charge of this mission, is bringing +back his men. The people, you know, fairly hate +Ja-Jo-Mi, who holds the support of the army and +who has placed a heavy yoke about the neck of all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>Korea. Hence, at the sight of these soldiers, excitement +has spread all over the town.”</p> + +<p>“Do you hate Ja-Jo-Mi, too?” asked San-Syeng +of the inn-keeper.</p> + +<p>“The same as every one else, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it doesn’t seem an easy matter to me to +overthrow this Ja-Jo-Mi. He has the army with +him and they haven’t much love for the common +people.”</p> + +<p>“That’s where you are wrong, sir. The only +troops really devoted to the Prime Minister’s cause +are those at the Capital; in fact, the others are hostile +to him. Why, the garrison of our town and the +Mandarin himself are opposed to Ja-Jo-Mi. If our +Mandarin were to appeal to the soldiers who are +here and if his example were followed by the other +Mandarins, Ja-Jo-Mi and his satellites could easily +be put down.”</p> + +<p>“But once Ja-Jo-Mi is deposed, whom can they +place upon the throne?”</p> + +<p>“That, sir, is a difficult question. Unhappily, the +King’s son is dead. Perhaps, however, a member +of the Royal Family might be found who would +accept the trust.”</p> + +<p>“And suppose, for the sake of argument, that it +were not true that the King’s son were dead?”</p> + +<p>“The simplest thing would be to confer upon him +the succession to his father.”</p> + +<p>“Your reasoning is good,” continued San-Syeng. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>“You stand well in the eyes of the people and you +are a friend of the Mandarin. Would you consent +for us to undertake the enterprise?”</p> + +<p>“Willingly,” replied the innkeeper. “We should +get together on this. I must, however, leave you +now for a while. I’ll see you presently.”</p> + +<p>When he was alone with Ki-Si, San-Syeng asked: +“Would you like to join us in our fight against Ja-Jo-Mi?” +At the question the Prince, who had seemed +afflicted with great uneasiness and a sort of illness +during the preceding conversation, fell to the floor +in a faint. San-Syeng turned his attention at once +to the prostrate form of his friend who lay as rigid +as a log and seemed to be unable to utter the least +sound. San-Syeng called Cheng-Si and she came running +in terror to her husband. San-Houni’s son told +her what had taken place. The young woman threw +herself on her husband’s breast and drenched him +with her tears. San-Syeng, profoundly moved by this +sight, cried to Cheng-Si: “In Heaven’s name, madame, +tell me who you are!”</p> + +<p>“I have great confidence in you, sir. You have +saved our lives and I will tell you the truth. My +husband is Ja-Jo-Mi’s victim, the King’s son. I met +him by chance. I fell into the sea and was carried +by a turtle to the island where the Prince was held +captive. I became his wife and we fled from our +prison together and you met us, rescued us, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>brought us here. That’s our story. And, now you +understand, sir, do you not?”</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the young King had regained consciousness. +When San-Syeng observed this he began +to withdraw toward the door saying: “Sire, forgive +my imprudence—excuse my impatience—.”</p> + +<p>Ki-Si tried to stop him.</p> + +<p>“No, sire, first of all you must pardon the familiarity +with which I treated you. My excuse is +that I did not know with what august personages I +was speaking. Now that I do know, it is hardly +fitting that I remain in the same room as yourselves.”</p> + +<p>It happened that the owner of the inn was passing +before the door of the room where Ki-Si and his +wife were and San-Syeng promptly told him the +story. The innkeeper prostrated himself and, with +his face to the floor, cried: “It is a supreme honor +to be permitted to house Your Majesties.”</p> + +<p>He lost no time in telling the Mandarin, who was +thunderstruck with amazement and who could scarcely +suppress his joy at hearing the news. Summoning +an escort of troops, he marched to the inn where +the King lodged. The soldiers surrounded the +house, while the Mandarin, in all the glory of his +gorgeous robes, went to pay his respects to the +Sovereign.</p> + +<p>The Prince gave him a hearty welcome. By his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>side stood San-Syeng, who, after bowing to the King, +turned to the Mandarin and said: “We must take +our Sovereign to the To-Wan (the Mandarin’s palace, +or town hall) so that he may be sheltered by a +roof worthy of his rank.”</p> + +<p>The Mandarin approved this suggestion, and at +once the party set out for the To-Wan.</p> + +<p>Hardly was he there before the King turned to +San-Syeng, saying: “I wish to bring about a complete +re-organization of the Government.”</p> + +<p>“Sire, all my ability, all my strength, are at your +disposal,” was San-Syeng’s respectful reply.</p> + +<p>“Good, then you become my General!” replied +the Prince.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng was confused, but had to obey the +wishes of the Prince and he knew the latter would +confer offices only upon those whom he deemed the +most worthy among his followers. Orders were issued +for the preparation of a great banquet and for +the dispatch of couriers to all corners of the Kingdom +to announce to the people the coming of their +King.</p> + +<p>This welcome news put joy and happiness into the +hearts of the Koreans, and shouts of joy were heard +throughout the length and breadth of the land.</p> + +<p>“O Beloved King! Night has vanished to give +place to the day. The times of wretchedness and +evil are gone and the era of happiness is at hand. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>Clouds were hiding the face of the Sun, and the +flowers, deprived of light, were wasting away; but +the wind has swept away the clouds and the light +comes to us again. Everything will flourish in the +gentle, healthful rays of the wonderful Sun. Hail, +son, hail brother—hail to our King! Forward! +Hold back—not for fire, nor for the waters, nor for +the mountains. Sweep aside all obstacles. If the +wicked-hearted seek to restrain you, kill them. But +look ever to the Sun; its warmth will give you +strength and courage. We want you—beloved +King! And we will serve you and keep you always. +Now—away with tender things and soft things—we’re +off to war!”</p> + +<p>While the populace was manifesting its delight +in talk and other harmless ways, the King was busy +with his preparations for the overthrowing of the +usurper. He questioned San-Syeng as to the distance +to the Capital. This distance was considerable +and, at the advice of his General, he decided that he +would put his forces on the march as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng took an active interest in the training +of the army. To toughen his men, he made them +attach small, but heavy, bags of sand to their legs. +For an entire day they were obliged to march with +this equipment.</p> + +<p>The following day, the army broke camp and took +the field. The soldiers now having only their weapons +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>to carry, made rapid progress. At the end of +two days they were before the Capital City. San-Syeng +stationed his troops in a cordon about the +city with orders to let no one—no matter who it +might be—leave or enter the town. Then he wrote +an ultimatum, which he ordered to be copied many +times on strips of bamboo, and distributed widely in +all parts of the city. This proclamation announced +the arrival of the legitimate King at the head of his +army and that His Majesty came to give battle to +the unfaithful Minister, Ja-Jo-Mi, the unscrupulous. +The latter was living in an atmosphere of absolute +security. Entertainment followed entertainment; +feast followed feast. Suddenly it was announced +to Ja-Jo-Mi that the King’s son was at the gates of +the Capital with an army and that there was a great +disturbance among the people.</p> + +<p>Ja-Jo-Mi, astounded by the news, summoned his +General, at whom he cast the most violent reproaches +and profane oaths (some of these we dare not print +as the transcriber of this legend is a pious man). +“How is it that you told me that the King’s son was +dead and now they say that the city is in a state of +siege? Who is it that is at the head of the troops +who are attacking us?”</p> + +<p>“It cannot possibly be the King’s son,” replied the +General, humbly. “I am positive that he died in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>that fire—his body is ashes. Doubtless it is some +daring adventurer who has brought this horde of +rogues and robbers upon us.”</p> + +<p>There was no time for further discussion. The +populace, having read the bamboo messages, arose +in revolt. They were already advancing toward the +Prime Minister’s palace. They burst down the doors +and swept through the palace like the demon waves +of the Yellow Sea. Ja-Jo-Mi and his General were +seized—the palace set on fire. Simultaneously the +King made a peaceful entry into the city at the head +of his troops and the people turned over to him the +usurping Minister and his General.</p> + +<p>Ki-Si called his Commander-in-Chief, San-Syeng.</p> + +<p>“No one shall be put to death. It will be sufficient, +for the time being, to throw the guilty wretches +into prison.” Subsequently, he issued orders to the +effect that only Ja-Jo-Mi, his General, and their +principal adherents, be held as prisoners.</p> + +<p>The new King had barely taken possession of the +palace of his fathers than he ordered a reduction in +the taxes which were oppressing his people. These +measures were approved by his Queen who desired +that they be even carried further.</p> + +<p>“Who knows,” she said, “if the Mandarins will +carry out the orders; perhaps they will continue to +persecute the people to their profit? You must be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>assured that everything is going as you wish and +dispatch deputies who are charged with seeing that +your decrees are observed.”</p> + +<p>The King recognized the wisdom of this idea and +ordered San-Syeng to send out in all directions honest +and devoted men on this errand. This done, the new +General left the Capital, wearing the modest clothes +he had worn when the King had placed the command +of the troops in his hands.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here cometh to a close the seventh stage of our +legend.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">VIII</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp40 chap-img" id="i_114" style="max-width: 18em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_114.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a><a id="Page_117"></a>[Pg 117]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="VIII"> + VIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">San-Syeng</span> had been a very powerful factor in +establishing the legitimate sovereign of Korea +on the throne but he did not by any means consider +his life work as finished. His primary duty was to +find his parents and to return to the lovely girl to +whom he had given his heart. Despite the many adventures +through which he had passed, he had never +ceased thinking of Yeng-So-Yei. He did not suspect +that serious events were also taking place in +her own little sphere.</p> + +<p>Now it came to pass one morning after San-Syeng’s +departure that Yeng-So-Yei found her +mother dead in her room. The poor young woman +was prostrated with grief. She refused to be consoled +and the solitude in which she lived merely aggravated +her anguish. And yet a new calamity lay +right in her path. The populace, rising in revolt +against the nobility and tax collectors, were burning +and pillaging throughout the village and Yeng-So-Yei +just had time enough to dash through a secret +gate in the city wall and make her escape into the +open country.</p> + +<p>In a short space of time she had lost her mother, +her fortune and her home. She did not, however, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>feel entirely cast down. “At least San-Syeng is left +to me,” was her thought.</p> + +<p>“I shall go to the Capital and hunt for him.” In +order to carry out her project more easily, she assumed +masculine attire and, thus disguised, set out +on her journey.</p> + +<p>Now it came to pass that having no notion of +the road she should follow, she completely lost her +way. Moreover, an intense fog settled down upon +the fields and earth to make her situation more unpleasant. +She walked and walked, but to her great +despair she met no one, nor could she find the +slightest shelter wherein she might escape the dampness. +Tired, almost unto death, she threw herself +down beside a clump of tall bamboo, intending to +rest but a few moments, but in spite of her well-meaning +resolutions, she was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The grove of bamboo toward which Fate had +turned the steps of Yeng-So-Yei was the very one +where so many long years before Yeng-Si had given +birth to San-Syeng. The unfortunate woman who +was obliged to abandon her child and to become a +nun would often visit the spot which brought back +such painful memories; indeed, she seemed to take +a keen pleasure in seeing the spot where she had +become a mother. And the sight thereof would +cause her to weep.</p> + +<p>It so happened that one day the nun, returning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>from her sad pilgrimage, saw a young man, sound +asleep, stretched across the narrow footpath. At +first she was a bit startled and frightened but, conquering +her distrust, she gazed curiously at the +sleeper. “My son would have been about the same +age,” she reflected. “I will wait until this young +man awakes and speak with him.” She stood by +his prostrate form and it seemed as if she were unable +to take her eyes from his face. Finally, unable +to be patient any longer, and after satisfying herself +that no one was watching her, she decided to +wake the strange traveler.</p> + +<p>“Pardon my curiosity, sir—but this situation is a +strange one.”</p> + +<p>“What situation?” demanded Yeng-So-Yei.</p> + +<p>“How comes it that you are sleeping here on this +road?”</p> + +<p>“It comes—because I was very tired.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you live?”</p> + +<p>“At Yen-Yu, but I am on my way to the Capital.”</p> + +<p>“To the Capital? But you are not on the right +road.”</p> + +<p>“Am I lost? Oh, what shall I do?”</p> + +<p>Tears came into the poor girl’s eyes. Yeng-Si +was moved also.</p> + +<p>“How,” she asked again, “does it happen that +you are traveling alone in this way? It is hardly +safe for you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span></p> + +<p>“I know that, but I am forced to do so for I am +an orphan.”</p> + +<p>“Would you like to come with me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I can accept your hospitality for a short +time only. I must be on my way.”</p> + +<p>At these words, they walked together toward the +temple of Ro-Ja.</p> + +<p>Ou-Pung, the sister, consented to take the young +traveler in, but made it very plain that it was impossible +for her to keep a man about the house for +more than two or three days.</p> + +<p>Yeng-So-Yei asked no more than that. After she +was installed in her room, she went to seek Yeng-Si. +The latter related the tale of her sad life and this +pitiful story so touched the young woman that she +wept with her new friend in sympathy.</p> + +<p>The next morning Yeng-Si stopped at the traveler’s +room. Picking up a ring which she saw lying +on the table, she examined it closely and demanded, +sharply:</p> + +<p>“Perhaps, I may be a bit inquisitive, but I would +be very much obliged to you if you would tell me +where you obtained this ring?”</p> + +<p>“It is a keepsake from my best friend.”</p> + +<p>“Where is your best friend?”</p> + +<p>“He has gone to the Capital. I want to join him +as soon as I can.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p> + +<p>“How old is he?”</p> + +<p>“We are almost the same age—both of us. But +why do you ask these questions?”</p> + +<p>Yeng-Si did not reply, at once. Her eyes filled +with tears, and suddenly she broke out, sobbing:</p> + +<p>“My son! My poor son! Where are you?”</p> + +<p>These words made a vivid impression on Yeng-So-Yei. +“Can it be that this poor woman is my +husband’s mother?” she thought to herself.</p> + +<p>She tenderly took her tearful companion in her +arms and asked gently,</p> + +<p>“Was your son called San-Syeng?”</p> + +<p>At the sound of this name, Yeng-Si, more agitated +than before, cried:</p> + +<p>“Yes, that was the name I gave him and I personally +inscribed the name of San-Syeng on my +baby’s arm in characters that could not be removed. +This ring, which I hold in my hand, I placed in his +clothes when I was obliged to abandon him.”</p> + +<p>“Mother, my dear mother,” cried Yeng-So-Yei, +throwing herself in Yeng-Si’s arms. “Your son is +my husband and I am on my way to find him.”</p> + +<p>“Do my ears hear aright?” cried Yeng-Si. “But, +what in the world does this costume mean?”</p> + +<p>“I put it on so as to be able to travel with more +security.”</p> + +<p>The two women embraced each other tenderly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>mingling their warm tears. Ou-Pung, the sister, who +was passing outside, hearing the sound of sobs, entered +the room.</p> + +<p>“What are you crying about?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Good friend, we have been showing hospitality +not to a young man, but to the wife of my own lost +son,” replied Yeng-Si.</p> + +<p>“How happy I am for your sakes!”</p> + +<p>Yeng-So-Yei then explained to the nun why she had +assumed the garb of a man.</p> + +<p>“You were right,” rejoined the sister, “but what +motive impelled you to leave the town where you +were living?”</p> + +<p>The young wife briefly told the story of her misfortune. +She was now more anxious than ever to +find her husband and she wasted few words in her +recital.</p> + +<p>“I shall find him easily,” she added, “no matter +how changed he may be. He has probably kept +the horse which I gave him when he left me and if +I cannot recognize the husband, I will know my father’s +horse.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the nun to Yeng-Si, “the end of all +your sorrows is at hand. Follow your daughter and +together you will find San-Syeng.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it will not be our fault if we do not find +him.”</p> + +<p>Accustomed to having lived together for so long, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>Yeng-Si and the sister experienced keen regret at +parting from each other. But Ou-Pung was the +first to suggest that Yeng-Si leave with her daughter-in-law +for she was happy at the good fortune which +had come to her deserving companion.</p> + +<p>So it came to pass that Yeng-Si and Yeng-So-Yei +set out together for the Capital. When they came +close to the grove of bamboo, San-Syeng’s mother +could not suppress her tears.</p> + +<p>“Why are you crying so, mother?”</p> + +<p>“It was here, my child, that seventeen years ago +I gave birth to him who is now your husband. A +short distance from here I abandoned him to go +with Ou-Pung, the nun. These recollections pain me +greatly.”</p> + +<p>The two women continued on their way. After +several hours’ walking, they came to the shores of +a wide lake. Yeng-Si paused by the water’s edge, +and raising her eyes to Heaven, cried in a weak +and trembling voice:</p> + +<p>“Dear and unfortunate friend, what has become +of you?”</p> + +<p>She told Yeng-So-Yei of the sublime devotion of +the woman, who had enabled her to escape from +the hands of Su-Rung.</p> + +<p>During the few following days their trip was +without incident until they came to the town of San-Jon. +Here they resolved to remain for a day as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>they were fatigued by their journey and they entered +the first inn which they stumbled upon.</p> + +<p>The inn-keeper’s son was at once smitten by Yeng-So-Yei +who was, as we know, a marvel of grace and +beauty. Finding his attentions repulsed, he resolved +to obtain revenge—the mark of a small mind. One +of the maid-servants was ordered to place in the +young wife’s apartment some jewels which belonged +to the young man. The thing was done without difficulty—and +the servant swore under threats of punishment +that she would tell the plot to no one.</p> + +<p>Next morning the rejected suitor entered Yeng-So-Yei’s +room, saying:</p> + +<p>“Madame, you will pardon me? Some one has +stolen my jewels. I have searched in all the other +rooms of the house and I ask your permission to do +the same in yours.”</p> + +<p>“Willingly, sir.”</p> + +<p>It can be readily imagined that the two women +were greatly astonished to see the young man discover +in their rooms, as if by magic, the jewels which +he claimed had been stolen from him. They asserted +that they were innocent, but it was useless. They +were arrested in the name of the Mandarin and were +taken before him for a preliminary examination.</p> + +<p>They renewed vigorously their denials, the Mandarin +meanwhile listening attentively. He had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>impressed by the singular beauty of Yeng-So-Yei, +but gave no visible evidence of it, and committed the +two women to prison. A few moments after, he had +word brought to them that if Yeng-So-Yei would +consent to marry him, no mention would ever be +made of the theft. In case of refusal—it was to be—death.</p> + +<p>The young wife spurned the Mandarin’s messenger +with great indignation.</p> + +<p>“Tell your master that he is a villain. I am +married and I will never be unfaithful to my husband, +not even to escape torture and death.”</p> + +<p>The Mandarin, very much irritated, gave orders +that the execution of the prisoners should take place +in three days. The keeper of the prison, who was +also the executioner, went about his sinister preparations. +Keenly touched by the plight of the two +women, he visited them and said:</p> + +<p>“I shall be very glad to render you any service +that you ask. I am obliged to obey the commands +of the Mandarin, but I do not hesitate to say that +he is one of the vilest of men.”</p> + +<p>The jailer’s voice trembled as he spoke. Yeng-Si +and her daughter-in-law, torn with anguish, were +wailing and sobbing. Was it thus that they were to +leave the world—one without having seen her son—the +other without embracing her husband?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, my San-Syeng! Oh, my San-Syeng!” they +cried. Their grief was so poignant that it overmastered +their strength and they lost consciousness.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>Here the eighth stage of our legend cometh to a +close.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">IX</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp40 chap-img" id="i_126" style="max-width: 20em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_126.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a><a id="Page_129"></a>[Pg 129]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="IX"> + IX + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">On</span> leaving the Capital, San-Syeng had a three-fold +mission in view: to make certain of the +faithful execution of the King’s commands, to find his +parents, and to rejoin his wife. The young man did +not make light of the difficulties that lay before him, +but he resolved to bend all his efforts toward accomplishing +his heart’s desires. He was optimistic and +cherished the brightest hopes of having his wishes +crowned with success.</p> + +<p>His adorable Yeng-So-Yei obviously had the first +claim to his attention, and he set out with haste to +see her. When but a short distance from the town +of Yen-Yu where his wife dwelt, the new General +learned that the place had been given over to revolt +and pillage. San-Syeng immediately mobilized the +royal troops from the neighboring towns and order +was restored in a few days. The Mandarin, whose +exactions had been the primary cause of the revolt, +was arrested and sent to the Capital together with +the ring-leaders in the disturbance.</p> + +<p>This task accomplished, San-Syeng made pleasant +preparations to surprise Yeng-So-Yei by his home-coming. +Alas the house where he expected to find +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>his beautiful little wife had been burned to the +ground, as if blasted by a dragon’s fiery breath. He +could not master his sorrow and burst into sobs. +His orderly, who accompanied him, endeavored to +console him, but in vain, and was at last obliged to +lead his master away from the heap of charred embers +and ashes. He learned that Yeng-So-Yei’s +mother was dead and that the orphan, when the +fire broke out, had fled and no one could tell whither +she had gone.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng naturally determined to travel in search +of his wife, but his body was tired and weary and +he resolved to indulge in the luxury of a short nap +before leaving the town. During his slumbers, San-Houni +appeared before him for the third time, +saying:</p> + +<p>“My poor child! You are looking for your parents +and you are unable to find them. It is now +time to tell you that I am your father. In the olden +days I enjoyed a great deal of influence at the Court, +but my enemy, Ja-Jo-Mi, had me sent into exile, with +my best friend, Sun-Yen. I was murdered by Su-Rung +whom I hired to take me to Ko-Kum-To. As +for your mother and your wife, you will find them +at San-Jon. A cruel Mandarin has condemned them +to death. Hurry to their rescue; the slightest delay +may be fatal.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng awoke with a start, shook himself and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>started on his journey. Presently he reached the +town referred to in his dream. He was not long in +learning that his mother and his wife, unjustly accused +of theft, were in a prison cell and were to be +put to death the very next morning.</p> + +<p>The young man ran to the prison where, of course, +he found it impossible to enter, so he had recourse to +a wise little trick. He entered a merchant’s shop +near by, threw his robe over a random object and +dashed out of the doorway. He was soon caught, +arrested, and thrown into prison.</p> + +<p>Before employing this ruse, San-Syeng had ordered +his servant to come early the next day with +his master’s horse and take his place before the +prison gates.</p> + +<p>The room into which the young man was thrust +after his arrest was very dark and small. Several +persons were already occupying it but it was too +dark to distinguish any of them clearly. He joined +one of the inmates in a loud protest for some light—the +inevitable result of which would be to bring +the jailer, who indeed did come running to see what +their outcries portended. He stepped between the +two men to quiet them.</p> + +<p>“I shall report you to the Mandarin,” he declared, +turning to San-Houni’s son. “What’s your +name, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“San-Syeng.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> + +<p>Yeng-So-Yei and Yeng-Si were naturally very +much surprised at hearing this name. They whispered +to each other:</p> + +<p>“That’s my son’s name, sure enough,” said Yeng-Si, +“but it cannot possibly be he for he is no thief.”</p> + +<p>The night passed without San-Syeng being recognized +by the two women. At daybreak, they were +startled by the loud neighing of a horse and Yeng-So-Yei, +who had gone to the narrow opening which +served as a window to their cell, cried:</p> + +<p>“Mother, come here. That horse which has been +neighing is the very one which I gave my husband, +or at least it resembles it very much.”</p> + +<p>Yeng-Si, by way of reply, moaned:</p> + +<p>“Oh, where can my poor son be?”</p> + +<p>Thereupon, San-Syeng approached his mother and +inquired the cause of her grief. Yeng-Si told him +of the many sad experiences she had undergone since +her departure into exile with San-Houni up to her +arrest and condemnation to death by the Mandarin +of San-Jon.</p> + +<p>When she had finished, the young man in turn told +his story. His concluding words were—“I have on +my arm the name of San-Syeng, but I do not know +how it is that I bear these characters which I have +tried in vain to remove.”</p> + +<p>Yeng-So-Yei who had been listening to the conversation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>could restrain herself no longer and cried:</p> + +<p>“Tell me, what was your wife’s name and where +did she live?”</p> + +<p>“Yeng-So-Yei was my wife’s name; she lived in +the village of Yen-Yu, but I found her home burned +to the ground.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my dear San-Syeng,” cried the young woman. +“Have I found you at last,” and turning to Yeng-Si, +“Mother mine, here is your son!”</p> + +<p>Their greetings naturally consumed some time—their +hearts were glad and they were not ashamed to +display their emotion. And yet the two women felt +bitter and sad to think that soon they were about +to die after having touched the threshold of that +happiness which their reunion promised. San-Syeng +ultimately succeeded in calming them. He enjoyed, +he said, certain extraordinary powers of which he +intended to make instant use.</p> + +<p>Presently the young General’s orderly visited his +master’s prison where he received orders to announce +to the village the arrival of San-Syeng, a special +envoy of the King, and to arrest the Mandarin +at once.</p> + +<p>’Twas but a brief while and the orderly came to +report to his master that his commands had been +carried out. Meantime, the town officials had rushed +to the prison where they surrounded San-Syeng and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>paid him their homage. At their urging, San-Houni’s +son left the prison and betook himself to the town-hall.</p> + +<p>Yeng-So-Yei, catching sight of the horse she had +given her husband, ran to the stately looking steed +and imprinted a kiss on the end of its nose. The +animal seemed to understand her message, for its +eyes as they turned toward the young wife, seemed +moist with tears.</p> + +<p>“No tears now, my good fellow,” laughed Yeng-So-Yei. +“You are happier than I for you can continually +accompany him whom I love, while I am +to be separated from him.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng, a witness of his wife’s gentle act, tenderly +drew her to his heart, and kissing her hair +said:</p> + +<p>“Henceforth we shall never part from each +other.”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng, his cup overflowing with happiness at +having found his mother and his wife at one and the +same time, desired to be told about his father, and, +at his urgent request, Yeng-Si, with tears in her eyes +and a faltering voice, related to him the misfortunes +of San-Houni.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry, mother dear,” pleaded San-Syeng. +“After so much suffering, you are going to have happiness +in abundance. I shall do everything I can to +make life pleasant for you. Suppose that first we go +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>visit Ou-Pung, the sister, who was so kind to you.”</p> + +<p>This suggestion was very pleasing to Yeng-Si and +they started on their journey to the temple of Ro-Ja. +When they were passing by the lake which recalled +so many bitter memories, Yeng-Si bade her son to +pause. The little party halted while she told the +melancholy tale of the devotion of the old lady who +had sacrificed herself without hope of recompense or +reward.</p> + +<p>“Mother,” declared San-Syeng, “I am going to +place a memorial in this spot to perpetuate the sublime +sacrifice of your poor companion.” The General’s +orderly was at once commissioned to employ +workmen who were to begin immediately to erect a +suitable tribute to the old lady’s memory.</p> + +<p>Before reaching the shrine of Ro-Ja, Yeng-Si related +to her son, while they were passing by the +grove of bamboo, which figures so conspicuously in +our story, under what pitiful circumstances he had +been born.</p> + +<p>Ou-Pung, the sister, did not count upon seeing +Yeng-Si and her daughter-in-law so soon again. +“This is my son,” proudly declared the nun’s former +companion.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng showered warm and profuse thanks +upon the sister for all the attentions and kindnesses +she had shown to Yeng-Si.</p> + +<p>“Do not thank me, sir,” replied the sister. “I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>have only done my duty in sheltering an unfortunate +woman. Buddha has taken pity upon her and has +rewarded her piety and her long suffering by permitting +her to find you.”</p> + +<p>Under the supervision of the orderly, a magnificent +pagoda was rapidly built by the water’s edge. +Upon it could be read this inscription:</p> + +<p> + WITH EVERLASTING GRATITUDE TO<br> + THE BENEFACTOR OF MY MOTHER. +</p> + +<p>Ou-Pung consented to go with her visitors to see +the temple that had just been completed. San-Syeng +had directed that an altar for sacrifices be +placed before the pagoda and that Su-Rung be arrested +and brought to him. All of the thief’s property +was to be seized.</p> + +<p>This very moment, strange to say, Su-Rung was +telling his brother, Su-Yeng, of a peculiar dream he +had had the preceding night. He had seen himself +surrounded by tongues of flame and his head, severed +from his body, was boiling in a large copper kettle.</p> + +<p>“It signifies that your end is near and that you will +die through the will of man,” asserted Su-Yeng. +“Why must you continue to lead this sinful life? It +would be more fitting that you experience remorse +and fear for an envoy of the King is in the neighborhood.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> + +<p>Scarcely had Su-Yeng uttered these words, when +there came a loud rapping at the door. After a brief +struggle, Su-Rung was reduced to helplessness and securely +bound. All the stolen objects that could be +found were collected, thrown in a heap, and the party +turned their steps toward the pagoda.</p> + +<p>When the criminal was brought face to face with +the young General, the latter demanded:</p> + +<p>“My name is San-Syeng. You know me, don’t +you?”</p> + +<p>Su-Rung, much surprised, could not imagine that +his adopted son had been elevated to the dignity of a +King’s envoy, so he replied, coolly:</p> + +<p>“Your name is not unfamiliar to me. My son was +called San-Syeng.”</p> + +<p>“You have a son, then?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he left me three years ago, to go to the +Capital and since that day I have had no news of +him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you may know that I am the man of whom +you boast being the father. But I am not the son of +a murderer. I have found my mother who has told +me about my birth and your infamous crimes. There, +do you recognize my mother?” added San-Syeng, indicating +Yeng-Si to the brigand with a gesture of his +hand.</p> + +<p>Yeng-Si, who had been watching Su-Rung attentively +for some time, burst out with:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p> + +<p>“You vile wretch, so you’re still alive! Thank +Heaven it is granted me to satisfy my thirst for vengeance. +My son, there stands your father’s murderer. +Kill him, strike him down, with your own +hand! I could tear the very eyes from his head!”</p> + +<p>San-Syeng’s mother was beside herself and he +sought to calm her, representing that he had no authority +to put any man to death without an order +from the King. Yeng-Si did not insist; her mind was +crowded with other more charitable thoughts when, +in company with her friends, she knelt in the beautiful +pagoda to pray for the soul of the martyred +woman to whom she owed her life.</p> + +<p>Su-Rung was immediately dispatched to the Capital +under heavy guard. When the troops and their +prisoner were about to depart, San-Syeng, turning to +Su-Yeng, said:</p> + +<p>“You have always been an honest, loyal man. Take +these things which your brother has unlawfully appropriated. +They are yours.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you so much, sir. But I no longer am in +need of anything, for I am going to die with my +brother.”</p> + +<p>“What is that? I do not comprehend your decision.”</p> + +<p>“When a tree is brought to the ground by the +woodsman, can the branches continue to live?”</p> + +<p>“But if your brother was a criminal, you have +nothing to reproach yourself with.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> + +<p>“That may be true, but nevertheless I am determined +to leave this life with the brother I have always +loved and with whom I have always lived.” +And San-Syeng found it useless to endeavor to dissuade +Su-Yeng from his fatal purpose.</p> + +<p>Before returning to the Capital, San-Houni’s son +visited several more of the provinces, looking after +the King’s business. When his mission was concluded, +he sought audience with the King for the purpose +of reporting what he had seen, heard, and done. +The Queen was a patient and attentive listener while +the young General was telling the story of his adventures. +However, when San-Syeng had finished speaking, +Cheng-Si, with a sob in her voice, cried:</p> + +<p>“Oh, you are so much happier than I!”</p> + +<p>Her strength failed her and she slipped from her +seat to the floor. Those in the Royal Chamber +crowded about the prostrate Queen—at a respectful +distance, however—who was not long in regaining +her consciousness. Thereupon San-Syeng asked her +tenderly, as he bowed before her, what had been the +cause of her sudden swoon.</p> + +<p>“Alas!” mourned Cheng-Si. “It has been three +years since I have seen my father, and in all that time +I have had no word of him. That is why I am so sad +and down-hearted.”</p> + +<p>The King and his General assured her that they +would use all possible means within their power to +find the Queen’s father. The Queen’s pretty and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>shapely head was bowed in deep meditation, when +suddenly she cried:</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s collect all the blind men in the Kingdom; +invite them to a big feast. I’m going to give +every one of them a little token.”</p> + +<p>“Majesty,” replied San-Syeng, “it shall happen as +you have wished.”</p> + +<p>No time was lost; orders were issued to every +Mandarin to send every blind man in his jurisdiction +to the Capital. And thus it came to pass that Cheng-Si +collected all the blind men of Korea in order to +give them a token.</p> + +<p class="p4"><i>But more anon, for here endeth the ninth step of +our legend.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> +<p class="ph2" style="float: left;">X</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figright illowp60 chap-img" id="i_140" style="max-width: 22em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_140.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a><a id="Page_143"></a>[Pg 143]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="X"> + X + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">Many</span> months had come and gone since the +day when the unfortunate and broken-hearted +Sun-Yen had seen his daughter pass away to certain +death. He led a wretched existence—his +strength being sustained only by the promise of the +disciple that his sight would be restored to him at +the end of three years. But the allotted time had +passed and the poor victim of Ja-Jo-Mi, the unscrupulous, +had not recovered his sight. His dejection +was pitiful to behold, and he awaited with +impatience the death that would free him from his +constant misery.</p> + +<p>Now, one day Sun-Yen was disturbed in the midst +of his morbid meditations by the arrival at his poor +dwelling of the Mandarin of the province.</p> + +<p>“The King,” declared this dignitary, “desires to +assemble all the blind men of the Kingdom at a banquet. +You must go to the Capital.”</p> + +<p>“My strength will never permit me to make such a +long journey,” replied Sun-Yen. “As it is, I can +scarcely take a few steps from my own door.”</p> + +<p>“You need not be troubled about that. I will provide +you with a horse and guide.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> + +<p>“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, but is it +really necessary to spend so much on my account?”</p> + +<p>“It is the King’s order. Everything is prepared +and you can start this very moment.”</p> + +<p>Sun-Yen was easily persuaded. A few days and he +was in the Capital.</p> + +<p>At the orders of San-Syeng, an elaborate and +tasty feast had been prepared. The ladies of the +Court had been instructed to see that nothing was +lacking for the comfort of the blind men who had +come from all corners of Korea. They watched over +them and came to their assistance when—on account +of their blindness—they were awkward and clumsy. +The banquet was nearing an end when Sun-Yen arrived—tired +and travel-stained. The servants led +him to one of the ladies who could not conceal a +grimace of disgust when she saw him. In fact, the +old gentleman did present a very disagreeable appearance +to the eye. The lady made a disparaging +remark which Sun-Yen overheard and to which he +replied:</p> + +<p>“I am well aware of what you are saying, but +kindly listen to what I have to say. The actions and +outer garb of men may differ much, but good hearts +and good manners should be in the bosoms of us all. +The wicked and crafty often conceal a cowardly and +vile disposition beneath a beautiful exterior. People +of wisdom pay no attention to form, but probe to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>the bottom where kindness and gentleness often +abide. When you see an apple that looks attractive +but contains a worm, you may contemplate its beauty +but you keep your mouth away. Heaven alone is of +lasting beauty and nothing beside it matters. I have +been deceived by a so-called religious man who had +no other intention but a selfish desire to supplant his +Master.</p> + +<p>“I planted a beautiful fruit tree and it bore a +single flower of exquisite beauty and charm. A gust +of wind swept this flower toward the sea where it +was peacefully rocked in the cradle of the waves. +The flower often thought of the poor tree from +which it had been stolen and the latter, shorn of its +only child, was slowly dying of a broken heart.</p> + +<p>“The crescent of the moon seems to emerge from +the waters. The fishes are frightened, believing they +see a golden hook on a gigantic line which will lift +them from their homes in the sea.</p> + +<p>“Every month the moon is hidden from our sight +for a brief season. Then soon its light reappears in +all its wondrous glory. But I, on the contrary, have +never seen the light of day since I was stricken by +blindness.</p> + +<p>“For three years my eyes have shed tears more +abundant than the rain which comes from the Heavens. +My sighs are sadder than the night wind that +whistles through the forest tops.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> + +<p>Concluding, the blind man said, with a sigh: “If +my lack of a comely appearance and a rich garb displeases +you, put me in a corner by myself, please.”</p> + +<p>The lady was surprised to hear such profound and +poetic speech from the mouth of this old man. She +begged his pardon for having treated him with so +little respect. At the request of Sun-Yen he was +placed at a table by himself.</p> + +<p>While he was eating, the lady went to the Queen +and repeated to her the strange speech of the blind +visitor.</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si was very much struck by the recital. She +told her impressions to her husband and then expressed +a desire to have all the blind men in the +Palace pass before her—one by one.</p> + +<p>“I wish to make a present to each one,” she said.</p> + +<p>Immediately, the long file began to form, Sun-Yen +being the last of the line. When he stood before the +Queen, the lady said:</p> + +<p>“Majesty, here is the blind man whose startling +words I brought you.”</p> + +<p>Cheng-Si summoned the old man closer and said to +him:</p> + +<p>“Why do you express such radical views against +our government, our religion and the world?”</p> + +<p>“Because, my Queen, the world and religion and +the government have caused me evils without number. +I was powerful and I was exiled. I had the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>best of wives and I lost her. I became blind and my +only consolation, a little daughter, was taken away. +She furnished a beautiful example of filial love, sacrificing +her life on the promise that I would regain +my sight. The poor girl is dead and I am still deprived +of the light of day.”</p> + +<p>These words moved Cheng-Si profoundly for in +this sordid old man she recognized her father. She +uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you know Cheng-Si?”</p> + +<p>“My daughter,” stammered Sun-Yen, and instantly +his eyes opened and he saw before him the daughter +that he had thought forever lost.</p> + +<p>The prediction of the disciple was at last fulfilled +and under these happy circumstances, shaken by emotion +and joy, father and daughter fell into each other’s +arms.</p> + +<p>The King, a witness of this scene—to him incomprehensible—did +not delay long in finding out the +cause, and he cried:</p> + +<p>“Stop the banquet. This requires no witnesses.”</p> + +<p>When alone with her father and her husband, +Cheng-Si told the King the story of her family.</p> + +<p>Sun-Yen was completely transformed with delight +as he heard his daughter speaking. When she had +finished her story he asked, “How did you escape +death? How did you come to marry the King?”</p> + +<p>So Cheng-Si told her father of her adventures +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>from the time of her embarkation on the merchant’s +vessel up to her arrival at the Capital with the King.</p> + +<p>“Then,” cried Sun-Yen, “it was San-Syeng who +saved you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, father.”</p> + +<p>“What’s he doing? Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“The King has appointed him General. I shall +have him brought to you.”</p> + +<p>When San-Syeng arrived, Sun-Yen asked him:</p> + +<p>“What was your father’s name?”</p> + +<p>“San-Houni.”</p> + +<p>On hearing this name, Sun-Yen embraced the +young man, crying, “Oh, son of my dearest friend, +tell me quickly where your father is.”</p> + +<p>“Alas, he is no longer in the world. He was exiled +when you were, but he was murdered by Su-Rung, +the thief, before reaching Ko-Kum-To. He sleeps +with his ancestors.”</p> + +<p>“What, he is dead?” cried the old man, bursting +into tears.</p> + +<p>San-Syeng’s eyes also moistened at the mention of +the father whom he had never known.</p> + +<p>The King offered them a few words of condolence +and said: “You shall be my Prime Minister,” indicating +Sun-Yen. The old man accepted this responsible +charge with a bow and a few well chosen words +of gratitude.</p> + +<p>“Now, proceed with the banquet,” said the Queen.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span></p> + +<p>The other blind men had been informed of what +had taken place and a few among them envied the +good fortune of Sun-Yen.</p> + +<p>“Alas,” they cried, “We cannot even see the recipient +of this good fortune.”</p> + +<p>Sun-Yen the benevolent, spoke to them in a gentle +tone and in the name of the King invited them to stay +several days at the Capital, and the blind men, you +may believe, accepted with joy, for they knew they +would be well taken care of.</p> + +<p>The new Prime Minister was not long in assuming +his office. The King constantly summoned him to his +councils. Now it came to pass one day that he sent +for him and said, “I am intending to lead an army +against Jin-Han. My father suffered a severe defeat +while attacking that country and it is my duty to +avenge him. What do you think of it?”</p> + +<p>“Sire,” replied Sun-Yen, “May I have permission +to reflect upon this matter for a few days before giving +you my opinion?”</p> + +<p>The same day, San-Syeng questioned the King’s +father-in-law upon the subject of Ja-Jo-Mi and Su-Rung. +The young General was thirsting for revenge. +He expected to find Sun-Yen in a similar frame of +mind but the Prime Minister spoke to him as he had +done to the King.</p> + +<p>“You will know my decision in a few days. I must +consider this.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span></p> + +<p>When he was alone Sun-Yen considered the problem +from every angle.</p> + +<p>Although misfortunes a-plenty had been his share, +he did not hold any resentment against humanity. He +felt a great tolerance for his most bitter enemies. +“Of what good is revenge,” he thought. “What will +it profit us to declare war which sooner or later will +bring reprisals?” Inspired by such sentiments, the +Prime Minister went to the Sovereign. “Sire,” he +said, “do you not believe that it would be advisable +to know what your subjects think of this war before +undertaking the campaign?”</p> + +<p>“Assuredly,” replied the King. “I would gladly +be informed upon that question, but how can we learn +the opinion of all the Koreans?”</p> + +<p>“That will be very easy, sire. Have a grand meeting +of your people here at the Capital. Their sentiment +will be the sentiment of the country at large. +I shall have a few words to say, and then if you persist +in your intentions, we shall begin the war.”</p> + +<p>The King approved Sun-Yen’s suggestion and orders +were issued that an immense feast be prepared. +Hundreds of tables were decorated and filled with +food. The guests were to be divided into five groups: +the Royal Family, the Governors, the Army, the +common people and the criminals and other unfit. +The repast, the first of this kind in all Korea, was a +merry one. Before the guests separated, Sun-Yen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>asked for silence, and in a powerful voice pronounced +the following words:</p> + +<p>“By virtue of my office as Prime Minister, I have +taken it upon myself to put one question to all of +you. Our Master, the King, wishes to undertake an +expedition against Jin-Han to avenge his father’s defeat. +Is this expedition opportune? To me, war is +the worst of evils. It causes destruction beyond +measure, and it is impossible to count the innocent +ones who perish on the battlefield and at home. +What is the cause of your heavy taxes if not the need +of maintaining a large army?</p> + +<p>“With peace all is different. The public welfare +increases. Mankind, created to love and not to +slaughter, may enter into relations which will increase +mutual happiness. Nature furnishes us an +example of peace, does it not? When we see a +ferocious dog on the highway attacking another dog, +incapable of defending itself, we hasten to help the +weaker. Why should we be more cruel with our +fellow men than with our animals? Perhaps the +stronger dog will always seek to oppress the weaker, +but are we not superior beings and do we not possess +reason which teaches tolerance and mercy to +our neighbors? Therefore, it is my opinion, sire, +that we should not declare war.</p> + +<p>“I do not wish the punishment of our guilty neighbors +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>although several of them have done me a great +deal of harm. Let us pardon them. May this example +serve as a lesson to those peoples who have +similar wicked thoughts.”</p> + +<p>These words met with unanimous approbation. +Every one seemed to be of Sun-Yen’s opinion and +loud shouts of approval went up from the crowd. +“What happiness is ours! We are like the grass +which the Springtime brings to life, like the beneficial +rain after a long drought.” From the tremendous +crowd arose cries of gladness which were a +token of thanks, a hymn of joy and a fervent prayer +for the future of the land.</p> + +<p>’Twas a happy epoch for our country. Content +reigned everywhere. Under the benevolent influence +of Sun-Yen, everybody in Korea worked and lived in +peace.</p> + +<p class="p4">One day the Prime Minister disappeared. He +could not be found. Possibly he had been carried to +Heaven in a cloud—to his last and well-deserved +home with his ancestors.</p> + +<div class="section"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> + +</div> + +<p class="p4 no-epub-margin"><i>For it has been proclaimed by The Great Teacher +and Venerable Philosopher from the depths of his +Wisdom, that all things having the appearance of +Evil are transient and that Goodness will overcome +and Virtue triumph.</i></p> + +<p class="p4"><i>So—having passed through the ten stages of its +life—our legend here cometh to an end.</i></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp50" id="back_cover" style="max-width: 24em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/back_cover.jpg" alt="" data-role="presentation"> +</figure> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> + <p class="ph2"> + TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES + </p> + + +<p><a href="#Page_79">Page 79</a>: “Governor’s” corrected to “Governors’”.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_97">Page 97</a>: “revery” corrected to “reverie”.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been left unchanged.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78208 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78208-h/images/back_cover.jpg b/78208-h/images/back_cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..88ad805 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/back_cover.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/colophon.png b/78208-h/images/colophon.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..06afc4d --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/colophon.png diff --git a/78208-h/images/cover.jpg b/78208-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..855dc0c --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_001.png b/78208-h/images/i_001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..01fec51 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_001.png diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_010.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_010.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4889c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_010.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_022.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_022.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1916fc --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_022.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_040.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_040.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c58df40 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_040.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_052.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_052.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9e31c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_052.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_074.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_074.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6913770 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_074.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_084.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_084.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..00bf443 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_084.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_100.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_100.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c85067b --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_100.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_114.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_114.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3fe92d --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_114.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_126.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_126.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..242c128 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_126.jpg diff --git a/78208-h/images/i_140.jpg b/78208-h/images/i_140.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..31587e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/78208-h/images/i_140.jpg |
