The Dream of the Red Chamber. Book I
The Dream of the Red Chamber. Book ICHAPTER I.CHAPTER II.CHAPTER III.CHAPTER IV.CHAPTER V.CHAPTER VI.CHAPTER VII.CHAPTER VIII.CHAPTER IX.CHAPTER X.CHAPTER XI.CHAPTER XII.CHAPTER XIII.CHAPTER XIV.CHAPTER XV.CHAPTER XVI.CHAPTER XVII.CHAPTER XVIII.CHAPTER XIX.CHAPTER XX.CHAPTER XXI.CHAPTER XXII.CHAPTER XXIII.CHAPTER XXIV.Copyright
The Dream of the Red Chamber. Book I
Cao Xueqin
CHAPTER I.
Chen Shih-yin, in a vision,
apprehends perception and spirituality.
Chia Yü-ts'un, in the (windy and dusty) world,
cherishes fond thoughts
of a beautiful
maiden.This is the opening section; this the first chapter.
Subsequent to the visions of a dream which he had, on some previous
occasion, experienced, the writer personally relates, he designedly
concealed the true circumstances, and borrowed the attributes of
perception and spirituality to relate this story of the Record of
the Stone. With this purpose, he made use of such designations as
Chen Shih-yin (truth under the garb of fiction) and the like. What
are, however, the events recorded in this work? Who are the
dramatis personae?Wearied with the drudgery experienced of late in the world,
the author speaking for himself, goes on to explain, with the lack
of success which attended every single concern, I suddenly
bethought myself of the womankind of past ages. Passing one by one
under a minute scrutiny, I felt that in action and in lore, one and
all were far above me; that in spite of the majesty of my
manliness, I could not, in point of fact, compare with these
characters of the gentle sex. And my shame forsooth then knew no
bounds; while regret, on the other hand, was of no avail, as there
was not even a remote possibility of a day of remedy.On this very day it was that I became desirous to compile, in
a connected form, for publication throughout the world, with a view
to (universal) information, how that I bear inexorable and manifold
retribution; inasmuch as what time, by the sustenance of the
benevolence of Heaven, and the virtue of my ancestors, my apparel
was rich and fine, and as what days my fare was savory and
sumptuous, I disregarded the bounty of education and nurture of
father and mother, and paid no heed to the virtue of precept and
injunction of teachers and friends, with the result that I incurred
the punishment, of failure recently in the least trifle, and the
reckless waste of half my lifetime. There have been meanwhile,
generation after generation, those in the inner chambers, the whole
mass of whom could not, on any account, be, through my influence,
allowed to fall into extinction, in order that I, unfilial as I
have been, may have the means to screen my own
shortcomings.Hence it is that the thatched shed, with bamboo mat windows,
the bed of tow and the stove of brick, which are at present my
share, are not sufficient to deter me from carrying out the fixed
purpose of my mind. And could I, furthermore, confront the morning
breeze, the evening moon, the willows by the steps and the flowers
in the courtyard, methinks these would moisten to a greater degree
my mortal pen with ink; but though I lack culture and erudition,
what harm is there, however, in employing fiction and unrecondite
language to give utterance to the merits of these characters? And
were I also able to induce the inmates of the inner chamber to
understand and diffuse them, could I besides break the weariness of
even so much as a single moment, or could I open the eyes of my
contemporaries, will it not forsooth prove a boon?This consideration has led to the usage of such names as Chia
Yü-ts'un and other similar appellations.More than any in these pages have been employed such words as
dreams and visions; but these dreams constitute the main argument
of this work, and combine, furthermore, the design of giving a word
of warning to my readers.Reader, can you suggest whence the story begins?The narration may border on the limits of incoherency and
triviality, but it possesses considerable zest. But to
begin.The Empress Nü Wo, (the goddess of works,) in fashioning
blocks of stones, for the repair of the heavens, prepared, at the
Ta Huang Hills and Wu Ch'i cave, 36,501 blocks of rough stone, each
twelve chang in height, and twenty-four chang square. Of these
stones, the Empress Wo only used 36,500; so that one single block
remained over and above, without being turned to any account. This
was cast down the Ch'ing Keng peak. This stone, strange to say,
after having undergone a process of refinement, attained a nature
of efficiency, and could, by its innate powers, set itself into
motion and was able to expand and to contract.When it became aware that the whole number of blocks had been
made use of to repair the heavens, that it alone had been destitute
of the necessary properties and had been unfit to attain selection,
it forthwith felt within itself vexation and shame, and day and
night, it gave way to anguish and sorrow.One day, while it lamented its lot, it suddenly caught sight,
at a great distance, of a Buddhist bonze and of a Taoist priest
coming towards that direction. Their appearance was uncommon, their
easy manner remarkable. When they drew near this Ch'ing Keng peak,
they sat on the ground to rest, and began to converse. But on
noticing the block newly-polished and brilliantly clear, which had
moreover contracted in dimensions, and become no larger than the
pendant of a fan, they were greatly filled with admiration. The
Buddhist priest picked it up, and laid it in the palm of his
hand."Your appearance," he said laughingly, "may well declare you
to be a supernatural object, but as you lack any inherent quality
it is necessary to inscribe a few characters on you, so that every
one who shall see you may at once recognise you to be a remarkable
thing. And subsequently, when you will be taken into a country
where honour and affluence will reign, into a family cultured in
mind and of official status, in a land where flowers and trees
shall flourish with luxuriance, in a town of refinement, renown and
glory; when you once will have been there…"The stone listened with intense delight."What characters may I ask," it consequently inquired, "will
you inscribe? and what place will I be taken to? pray, pray explain
to me in lucid terms." "You mustn't be inquisitive," the bonze
replied, with a smile, "in days to come you'll certainly understand
everything." Having concluded these words, he forthwith put the
stone in his sleeve, and proceeded leisurely on his journey, in
company with the Taoist priest. Whither, however, he took the
stone, is not divulged. Nor can it be known how many centuries and
ages elapsed, before a Taoist priest, K'ung K'ung by name, passed,
during his researches after the eternal reason and his quest after
immortality, by these Ta Huang Hills, Wu Ch'i cave and Ch'ing Keng
Peak. Suddenly perceiving a large block of stone, on the surface of
which the traces of characters giving, in a connected form, the
various incidents of its fate, could be clearly deciphered, K'ung
K'ung examined them from first to last. They, in fact, explained
how that this block of worthless stone had originally been devoid
of the properties essential for the repairs to the heavens, how it
would be transmuted into human form and introduced by Mang Mang the
High Lord, and Miao Miao, the Divine, into the world of mortals,
and how it would be led over the other bank (across the San Sara).
On the surface, the record of the spot where it would fall, the
place of its birth, as well as various family trifles and trivial
love affairs of young ladies, verses, odes, speeches and enigmas
was still complete; but the name of the dynasty and the year of the
reign were obliterated, and could not be ascertained.On the obverse, were also the following enigmatical
verses:Lacking in virtues meet the azure skies to
mend,
In vain the mortal world full many a year I wend,
Of a former and after life these facts that be,
Who will for a tradition strange record for
me?K'ung K'ung, the Taoist, having pondered over these lines for
a while, became aware that this stone had a history of some
kind."Brother stone," he forthwith said, addressing the stone,
"the concerns of past days recorded on you possess, according to
your own account, a considerable amount of interest, and have been
for this reason inscribed, with the intent of soliciting
generations to hand them down as remarkable occurrences. But in my
own opinion, they lack, in the first place, any data by means of
which to establish the name of the Emperor and the year of his
reign; and, in the second place, these constitute no record of any
excellent policy, adopted by any high worthies or high loyal
statesmen, in the government of the state, or in the rule of public
morals. The contents simply treat of a certain number of maidens,
of exceptional character; either of their love affairs or
infatuations, or of their small deserts or insignificant talents;
and were I to transcribe the whole collection of them, they would,
nevertheless, not be estimated as a book of any exceptional
worth.""Sir Priest," the stone replied with assurance, "why are you
so excessively dull? The dynasties recorded in the rustic
histories, which have been written from age to age, have, I am fain
to think, invariably assumed, under false pretences, the mere
nomenclature of the Han and T'ang dynasties. They differ from the
events inscribed on my block, which do not borrow this customary
practice, but, being based on my own experiences and natural
feelings, present, on the contrary, a novel and unique character.
Besides, in the pages of these rustic histories, either the
aspersions upon sovereigns and statesmen, or the strictures upon
individuals, their wives, and their daughters, or the deeds of
licentiousness and violence are too numerous to be computed.
Indeed, there is one more kind of loose literature, the wantonness
and pollution in which work most easy havoc upon
youth."As regards the works, in which the characters of scholars
and beauties is delineated their allusions are again repeatedly of
Wen Chün, their theme in every page of Tzu Chien; a thousand
volumes present no diversity; and a thousand characters are but a
counterpart of each other. What is more, these works, throughout
all their pages, cannot help bordering on extreme licence. The
authors, however, had no other object in view than to give
utterance to a few sentimental odes and elegant ballads of their
own, and for this reason they have fictitiously invented the names
and surnames of both men and women, and necessarily introduced, in
addition, some low characters, who should, like a buffoon in a
play, create some excitement in the plot."Still more loathsome is a kind of pedantic and profligate
literature, perfectly devoid of all natural sentiment, full of
self-contradictions; and, in fact, the contrast to those maidens in
my work, whom I have, during half my lifetime, seen with my own
eyes and heard with my own ears. And though I will not presume to
estimate them as superior to the heroes and heroines in the works
of former ages, yet the perusal of the motives and issues of their
experiences, may likewise afford matter sufficient to banish
dulness, and to break the spell of melancholy."As regards the several stanzas of doggerel verse, they may
too evoke such laughter as to compel the reader to blurt out the
rice, and to spurt out the wine."In these pages, the scenes depicting the anguish of
separation, the bliss of reunion, and the fortunes of prosperity
and of adversity are all, in every detail, true to human nature,
and I have not taken upon myself to make the slightest addition, or
alteration, which might lead to the perversion of the
truth."My only object has been that men may, after a drinking bout,
or after they wake from sleep or when in need of relaxation from
the pressure of business, take up this light literature, and not
only expunge the traces of antiquated books, and obtain a new kind
of distraction, but that they may also lay by a long life as well
as energy and strength; for it bears no point of similarity to
those works, whose designs are false, whose course is immoral. Now,
Sir Priest, what are your views on the subject?"K'ung K'ung having pondered for a while over the words, to
which he had listened intently, re-perused, throughout, this record
of the stone; and finding that the general purport consisted of
nought else than a treatise on love, and likewise of an accurate
transcription of facts, without the least taint of profligacy
injurious to the times, he thereupon copied the contents, from
beginning to end, to the intent of charging the world to hand them
down as a strange story.Hence it was that K'ung K'ung, the Taoist, in consequence of
his perception, (in his state of) abstraction, of passion, the
generation, from this passion, of voluptuousness, the transmission
of this voluptuousness into passion, and the apprehension, by means
of passion, of its unreality, forthwith altered his name for that
of "Ch'ing Tseng" (the Voluptuous Bonze), and changed the title of
"the Memoir of a Stone" (Shih-t'ou-chi,) for that of "Ch'ing Tseng
Lu," The Record of the Voluptuous Bonze; while K'ung Mei-chi of
Tung Lu gave it the name of "Feng Yüeh Pao Chien," "The Precious
Mirror of Voluptuousness." In later years, owing to the devotion by
Tsao Hsüeh-ch'in in the Tao Hung study, of ten years to the perusal
and revision of the work, the additions and modifications effected
by him five times, the affix of an index and the division into
periods and chapters, the book was again entitled "Chin Ling Shih
Erh Ch'ai," "The Twelve Maidens of Chin Ling." A stanza was
furthermore composed for the purpose. This then, and no other, is
the origin of the Record of the Stone. The poet says
appositely:—Pages full of silly litter,
Tears a handful sour and bitter;
All a fool the author hold,
But their zest who can unfold?You have now understood the causes which brought about the
Record of the Stone, but as you are not, as yet, aware what
characters are depicted, and what circumstances are related on the
surface of the block, reader, please lend an ear to the narrative
on the stone, which runs as follows:—In old days, the land in the South East lay low. In
this South-East part of the world, was situated a walled town, Ku
Su by name. Within the walls a locality, called the Ch'ang Men, was
more than all others throughout the mortal world, the centre, which
held the second, if not the first place for fashion and life.
Beyond this Ch'ang Men was a street called Shih-li-chieh
(TenListreet); in this street
a lane, the Jen Ch'ing lane (Humanity and Purity); and in this lane
stood an old temple, which on account of its diminutive dimensions,
was called, by general consent, the Gourd temple. Next door to this
temple lived the family of a district official, Chen by surname,
Fei by name, and Shih-yin by style. His wife, née Feng, possessed a
worthy and virtuous disposition, and had a clear perception of
moral propriety and good conduct. This family, though not in actual
possession of excessive affluence and honours, was, nevertheless,
in their district, conceded to be a clan of well-to-do standing. As
this Chen Shih-yin was of a contented and unambitious frame of
mind, and entertained no hankering after any official distinction,
but day after day of his life took delight in gazing at flowers,
planting bamboos, sipping his wine and conning poetical works, he
was in fact, in the indulgence of these pursuits, as happy as a
supernatural being.One thing alone marred his happiness. He had lived over half
a century and had, as yet, no male offspring around his knees. He
had one only child, a daughter, whose infant name was Ying Lien.
She was just three years of age. On a long summer day, on which the
heat had been intense, Shih-yin sat leisurely in his library.
Feeling his hand tired, he dropped the book he held, leant his head
on a teapoy, and fell asleep.Of a sudden, while in this state of unconsciousness, it
seemed as if he had betaken himself on foot to some spot or other
whither he could not discriminate. Unexpectedly he espied, in the
opposite direction, two priests coming towards him: the one a
Buddhist, the other a Taoist. As they advanced they kept up the
conversation in which they were engaged. "Whither do you purpose
taking the object you have brought away?" he heard the Taoist
inquire. To this question the Buddhist replied with a smile: "Set
your mind at ease," he said; "there's now in maturity a plot of a
general character involving mundane pleasures, which will presently
come to a denouement. The whole number of the votaries of
voluptuousness have, as yet, not been quickened or entered the
world, and I mean to avail myself of this occasion to introduce
this object among their number, so as to give it a chance to go
through the span of human existence." "The votaries of
voluptuousness of these days will naturally have again to endure
the ills of life during their course through the mortal world," the
Taoist remarked; "but when, I wonder, will they spring into
existence? and in what place will they descend?""The account of these circumstances," the bonze ventured to
reply, "is enough to make you laugh! They amount to this: there
existed in the west, on the bank of the Ling (spiritual) river, by
the side of the San Sheng (thrice-born) stone, a blade of the
Chiang Chu (purple pearl) grass. At about the same time it was that
the block of stone was, consequent upon its rejection by the
goddess of works, also left to ramble and wander to its own
gratification, and to roam about at pleasure to every and any
place. One day it came within the precincts of the Ching Huan
(Monitory Vision) Fairy; and this Fairy, cognizant of the fact that
this stone had a history, detained it, therefore, to reside at the
Ch'ih Hsia (purple clouds) palace, and apportioned to it the duties
of attendant on Shen Ying, a fairy of the Ch'ih Hsia
palace."This stone would, however, often stroll along the banks of
the Ling river, and having at the sight of the blade of spiritual
grass been filled with admiration, it, day by day, moistened its
roots with sweet dew. This purple pearl grass, at the outset,
tarried for months and years; but being at a later period imbued
with the essence and luxuriance of heaven and earth, and having
incessantly received the moisture and nurture of the sweet dew,
divested itself, in course of time, of the form of a grass;
assuming, in lieu, a human nature, which gradually became perfected
into the person of a girl."Every day she was wont to wander beyond the confines of the
Li Hen (divested animosities) heavens. When hungry she fed on the
Pi Ch'ing (hidden love) fruit—when thirsty she drank the Kuan ch'ou
(discharged sorrows,) water. Having, however, up to this time, not
shewn her gratitude for the virtue of nurture lavished upon her,
the result was but natural that she should resolve in her heart
upon a constant and incessant purpose to make suitable
acknowledgment."I have been," she would often commune within herself, "the
recipient of the gracious bounty of rain and dew, but I possess no
such water as was lavished upon me to repay it! But should it ever
descend into the world in the form of a human being, I will also
betake myself thither, along with it; and if I can only have the
means of making restitution to it, with the tears of a whole
lifetime, I may be able to make adequate return.""This resolution it is that will evolve the descent into the
world of so many pleasure-bound spirits of retribution and the
experience of fantastic destinies; and this crimson pearl blade
will also be among the number. The stone still lies in its original
place, and why should not you and I take it along before the
tribunal of the Monitory Vision Fairy, and place on its behalf its
name on record, so that it should descend into the world, in
company with these spirits of passion, and bring this plot to an
issue?""It is indeed ridiculous," interposed the Taoist. "Never
before have I heard even the very mention of restitution by means
of tears! Why should not you and I avail ourselves of this
opportunity to likewise go down into the world? and if successful
in effecting the salvation of a few of them, will it not be a work
meritorious and virtuous?""This proposal," remarked the Buddhist, "is quite in harmony
with my own views. Come along then with me to the palace of the
Monitory Vision Fairy, and let us deliver up this good-for-nothing
object, and have done with it! And when the company of
pleasure-bound spirits of wrath descend into human existence, you
and I can then enter the world. Half of them have already fallen
into the dusty universe, but the whole number of them have not, as
yet, come together.""Such being the case," the Taoist acquiesced, "I am ready to
follow you, whenever you please to go."But to return to Chen Shih-yin. Having heard every one of
these words distinctly, he could not refrain from forthwith
stepping forward and paying homage. "My spiritual lords," he said,
as he smiled, "accept my obeisance." The Buddhist and Taoist
priests lost no time in responding to the compliment, and they
exchanged the usual salutations. "My spiritual lords," Shih-yin
continued; "I have just heard the conversation that passed between
you, on causes and effects, a conversation the like of which few
mortals have forsooth listened to; but your younger brother is
sluggish of intellect, and cannot lucidly fathom the import! Yet
could this dulness and simplicity be graciously dispelled, your
younger brother may, by listening minutely, with undefiled ear and
careful attention, to a certain degree be aroused to a sense of
understanding; and what is more, possibly find the means of
escaping the anguish of sinking down into Hades."The two spirits smiled, "The conversation," they added,
"refers to the primordial scheme and cannot be divulged before the
proper season; but, when the time comes, mind do not forget us two,
and you will readily be able to escape from the fiery
furnace."Shih-yin, after this reply, felt it difficult to make any
further inquiries. "The primordial scheme," he however remarked
smiling, "cannot, of course, be divulged; but what manner of thing,
I wonder, is the good-for-nothing object you alluded to a short
while back? May I not be allowed to judge for myself?""This object about which you ask," the Buddhist Bonze
responded, "is intended, I may tell you, by fate to be just glanced
at by you." With these words he produced it, and handed it over to
Shih-yin.Shih-yin received it. On scrutiny he found it, in fact, to be
a beautiful gem, so lustrous and so clear that the traces of
characters on the surface were distinctly visible. The characters
inscribed consisted of the four "T'ung Ling Pao Yü," "Precious Gem
of Spiritual Perception." On the obverse, were also several columns
of minute words, which he was just in the act of looking at
intently, when the Buddhist at once expostulated."We have already reached," he exclaimed, "the confines of
vision." Snatching it violently out of his hands, he walked away
with the Taoist, under a lofty stone portal, on the face of which
appeared in large type the four characters: "T'ai Hsü Huan Ching,"
"The Visionary limits of the Great Void." On each side was a scroll
with the lines:When falsehood stands for truth, truth likewise
becomes false,
Where naught be made to aught, aught changes into
naught.Shih-yin meant also to follow them on the other side, but, as
he was about to make one step forward, he suddenly heard a crash,
just as if the mountains had fallen into ruins, and the earth sunk
into destruction. As Shih-yin uttered a loud shout, he looked with
strained eye; but all he could see was the fiery sun shining, with
glowing rays, while the banana leaves drooped their heads. By that
time, half of the circumstances connected with the dream he had
had, had already slipped from his memory.He also noticed a nurse coming towards him with Ying Lien in
her arms. To Shih-yin's eyes his daughter appeared even more
beautiful, such a bright gem, so precious, and so lovable.
Forthwith stretching out his arms, he took her over, and, as he
held her in his embrace, he coaxed her to play with him for a
while; after which he brought her up to the street to see the great
stir occasioned by the procession that was going past.He was about to come in, when he caught sight of two priests,
one a
Taoist, the other a Buddhist, coming hither from the opposite
direction.
The Buddhist had a head covered with mange, and went barefooted.
The
Taoist had a limping foot, and his hair was all
dishevelled.Like maniacs, they jostled along, chattering and laughing as
they drew near.As soon as they reached Shih-yin's door, and they perceived
him with
Ying Lien in his arms, the Bonze began to weep
aloud.Turning towards Shih-yin, he said to him: "My good Sir, why
need you carry in your embrace this living but luckless thing,
which will involve father and mother in trouble?"These words did not escape Shih-yin's ear; but persuaded that
they amounted to raving talk, he paid no heed whatever to the
bonze."Part with her and give her to me," the Buddhist still went
on to say.Shih-yin could not restrain his annoyance; and hastily
pressing his daughter closer to him, he was intent upon going in,
when the bonze pointed his hand at him, and burst out in a loud fit
of laughter.He then gave utterance to the four lines that
follow:You indulge your tender daughter and are laughed
at as inane;
Vain you face the snow, oh mirror! for it will
evanescent wane,
When the festival of lanterns is gone by, guard 'gainst
your doom,
'Tis what time the flames will kindle, and the fire
will consume.Shih-yin understood distinctly the full import of what he
heard; but his heart was still full of conjectures. He was about to
inquire who and what they were, when he heard the Taoist
remark,—"You and I cannot speed together; let us now part company,
and each of us will be then able to go after his own business.
After the lapse of three ages, I shall be at the Pei Mang mount,
waiting for you; and we can, after our reunion, betake ourselves to
the Visionary Confines of the Great Void, there to cancel the name
of the stone from the records.""Excellent! first rate!" exclaimed the Bonze. And at the
conclusion of these words, the two men parted, each going his own
way, and no trace was again seen of them."These two men," Shih-yin then pondered within his heart,
"must have had many experiences, and I ought really to have made
more inquiries of them; but at this juncture to indulge in regret
is anyhow too late."While Shih-yin gave way to these foolish reflections, he
suddenly noticed the arrival of a penniless scholar, Chia by
surname, Hua by name, Shih-fei by style and Yü-ts'un by nickname,
who had taken up his quarters in the Gourd temple next door. This
Chia Yü-ts'un was originally a denizen of Hu-Chow, and was also of
literary and official parentage, but as he was born of the youngest
stock, and the possessions of his paternal and maternal ancestors
were completely exhausted, and his parents and relatives were dead,
he remained the sole and only survivor; and, as he found his
residence in his native place of no avail, he therefore entered the
capital in search of that reputation, which would enable him to put
the family estate on a proper standing. He had arrived at this
place since the year before last, and had, what is more, lived all
along in very straitened circumstances. He had made the temple his
temporary quarters, and earned a living by daily occupying himself
in composing documents and writing letters for customers. Thus it
was that Shih-yin had been in constant relations with
him.As soon as Yü-ts'un perceived Shih-yin, he lost no time in
saluting him. "My worthy Sir," he observed with a forced smile;
"how is it you are leaning against the door and looking out? Is
there perchance any news astir in the streets, or in the public
places?""None whatever," replied Shih-yin, as he returned the smile.
"Just a while back, my young daughter was in sobs, and I coaxed her
out here to amuse her. I am just now without anything whatever to
attend to, so that, dear brother Chia, you come just in the nick of
time. Please walk into my mean abode, and let us endeavour, in each
other's company, to while away this long summer day."After he had made this remark, he bade a servant take his
daughter in, while he, hand-in-hand with Yü-ts'un, walked into the
library, where a young page served tea. They had hardly exchanged a
few sentences, when one of the household came in, in flying haste,
to announce that Mr. Yen had come to pay a visit.Shih-yin at once stood up. "Pray excuse my rudeness," he
remarked apologetically, "but do sit down; I shall shortly rejoin
you, and enjoy the pleasure of your society." "My dear Sir,"
answered Yü-ts'un, as he got up, also in a conceding way, "suit
your own convenience. I've often had the honour of being your
guest, and what will it matter if I wait a little?" While these
apologies were yet being spoken, Shih-yin had already walked out
into the front parlour. During his absence, Yü-ts'un occupied
himself in turning over the pages of some poetical work to dispel
ennui, when suddenly he heard, outside the window, a woman's cough.
Yü-ts'un hurriedly got up and looked out. He saw at a glance that
it was a servant girl engaged in picking flowers. Her deportment
was out of the common; her eyes so bright, her eyebrows so well
defined. Though not a perfect beauty, she possessed nevertheless
charms sufficient to arouse the feelings. Yü-ts'un unwittingly
gazed at her with fixed eye. This waiting-maid, belonging to the
Chen family, had done picking flowers, and was on the point of
going in, when she of a sudden raised her eyes and became aware of
the presence of some person inside the window, whose head-gear
consisted of a turban in tatters, while his clothes were the worse
for wear. But in spite of his poverty, he was naturally endowed
with a round waist, a broad back, a fat face, a square mouth; added
to this, his eyebrows were swordlike, his eyes resembled stars, his
nose was straight, his cheeks square.This servant girl turned away in a hurry and made her
escape."This man so burly and strong," she communed within herself,
"yet at the same time got up in such poor attire, must, I expect,
be no one else than the man, whose name is Chia Yü-ts'un or such
like, time after time referred to by my master, and to whom he has
repeatedly wished to give a helping hand, but has failed to find a
favourable opportunity. And as related to our family there is no
connexion or friend in such straits, I feel certain it cannot be
any other person than he. Strange to say, my master has further
remarked that this man will, for a certainty, not always continue
in such a state of destitution."As she indulged in this train of thought, she could not
restrain herself from turning her head round once or
twice.When Yü-ts'un perceived that she had looked back, he readily
interpreted it as a sign that in her heart her thoughts had been of
him, and he was frantic with irrepressible joy."This girl," he mused, "is, no doubt, keen-eyed and eminently
shrewd, and one in this world who has seen through
me."The servant youth, after a short time, came into the room;
and when Yü-ts'un made inquiries and found out from him that the
guests in the front parlour had been detained to dinner, he could
not very well wait any longer, and promptly walked away down a side
passage and out of a back door.When the guests had taken their leave, Shih-yin did not go
back to rejoin Yü-ts'un, as he had come to know that he had already
left.In time the mid-autumn festivities drew near; and Shih-yin,
after the family banquet was over, had a separate table laid in the
library, and crossed over, in the moonlight, as far as the temple
and invited Yü-ts'un to come round.The fact is that Yü-ts'un, ever since the day on which he had
seen the girl of the Chen family turn twice round to glance at him,
flattered himself that she was friendly disposed towards him, and
incessantly fostered fond thoughts of her in his heart. And on this
day, which happened to be the mid-autumn feast, he could not, as he
gazed at the moon, refrain from cherishing her remembrance. Hence
it was that he gave vent to these pentameter verses:Alas! not yet divined my lifelong wish,
And anguish ceaseless comes upon anguish
I came, and sad at heart, my brow I frowned;
She went, and oft her head to look turned round.
Facing the breeze, her shadow she doth watch,
Who's meet this moonlight night with her to
match?
The lustrous rays if they my wish but read
Would soon alight upon her beauteous
head!Yü-ts'un having, after this recitation, recalled again to
mind how that throughout his lifetime his literary attainments had
had an adverse fate and not met with an opportunity (of reaping
distinction), went on to rub his brow, and as he raised his eyes to
the skies, he heaved a deep sigh and once more intoned a couplet
aloud:The gem in the cask a high price it seeks,
The pin in the case to take wing it
waits.As luck would have it, Shih-yin was at the moment
approaching, and upon hearing the lines, he said with a smile: "My
dear Yü-ts'un, really your attainments are of no ordinary
capacity."Yü-ts'un lost no time in smiling and replying. "It would be
presumption in my part to think so," he observed. "I was simply at
random humming a few verses composed by former writers, and what
reason is there to laud me to such an excessive degree? To what, my
dear Sir, do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he went on to
inquire. "Tonight," replied Shih-yin, "is the mid-autumn feast,
generally known as the full-moon festival; and as I could not help
thinking that living, as you my worthy brother are, as a mere
stranger in this Buddhist temple, you could not but experience the
feeling of loneliness. I have, for the express purpose, prepared a
small entertainment, and will be pleased if you will come to my
mean abode to have a glass of wine. But I wonder whether you will
entertain favourably my modest invitation?" Yü-ts'un, after
listening to the proposal, put forward no refusal of any sort; but
remarked complacently: "Being the recipient of such marked
attention, how can I presume to repel your generous
consideration?"As he gave expression to these words, he walked off there and
then, in company with Shih-yin, and came over once again into the
court in front of the library. In a few minutes, tea was
over.The cups and dishes had been laid from an early hour, and
needless to say the wines were luscious; the fare
sumptuous.The two friends took their seats. At first they leisurely
replenished their glasses, and quietly sipped their wine; but as,
little by little, they entered into conversation, their good cheer
grew more genial, and unawares the glasses began to fly round, and
the cups to be exchanged.At this very hour, in every house of the neighbourhood,
sounded the fife and lute, while the inmates indulged in music and
singing. Above head, the orb of the radiant moon shone with an
all-pervading splendour, and with a steady lustrous light, while
the two friends, as their exuberance increased, drained their cups
dry so soon as they reached their lips.Yü-ts'un, at this stage of the collation, was considerably
under the influence of wine, and the vehemence of his high spirits
was irrepressible. As he gazed at the moon, he fostered thoughts,
to which he gave vent by the recital of a double
couplet.'Tis what time three meets five, Selene is a
globe!
Her pure rays fill the court, the jadelike rails
enrobe!
Lo! in the heavens her disk to view doth now
arise,
And in the earth below to gaze men lift their
eyes."Excellent!" cried Shih-yin with a loud voice, after he had
heard these lines; "I have repeatedly maintained that it was
impossible for you to remain long inferior to any, and now the
verses you have recited are a prognostic of your rapid advancement.
Already it is evident that, before long, you will extend your
footsteps far above the clouds! I must congratulate you! I must
congratulate you! Let me, with my own hands, pour a glass of wine
to pay you my compliments."Yü-ts'un drained the cup. "What I am about to say," he
explained as he suddenly heaved a sigh, "is not the maudlin talk of
a man under the effects of wine. As far as the subjects at present
set in the examinations go, I could, perchance, also have well been
able to enter the list, and to send in my name as a candidate; but
I have, just now, no means whatever to make provision for luggage
and for travelling expenses. The distance too to Shen Ching is a
long one, and I could not depend upon the sale of papers or the
composition of essays to find the means of getting
there."Shih-yin gave him no time to conclude. "Why did you not speak
about this sooner?" he interposed with haste. "I have long
entertained this suspicion; but as, whenever I met you, this
conversation was never broached, I did not presume to make myself
officious. But if such be the state of affairs just now, I lack, I
admit, literary qualification, but on the two subjects of friendly
spirit and pecuniary means, I have, nevertheless, some experience.
Moreover, I rejoice that next year is just the season for the
triennial examinations, and you should start for the capital with
all despatch; and in the tripos next spring, you will, by carrying
the prize, be able to do justice to the proficiency you can boast
of. As regards the travelling expenses and the other items, the
provision of everything necessary for you by my own self will again
not render nugatory your mean acquaintance with me."Forthwith, he directed a servant lad to go and pack up at
once fifty taels of pure silver and two suits of winter
clothes."The nineteenth," he continued, "is a propitious day, and you
should lose no time in hiring a boat and starting on your journey
westwards. And when, by your eminent talents, you shall have soared
high to a lofty position, and we meet again next winter, will not
the occasion be extremely felicitous?"Yü-ts'un accepted the money and clothes with but scanty
expression of gratitude. In fact, he paid no thought whatever to
the gifts, but went on, again drinking his wine, as he chattered
and laughed.It was only when the third watch of that day had already
struck that the two friends parted company; and Shih-yin, after
seeing Yü-ts'un off, retired to his room and slept, with one sleep
all through, never waking until the sun was well up in the
skies.Remembering the occurrence of the previous night, he meant to
write a couple of letters of recommendation for Yü-ts'un to take
along with him to the capital, to enable him, after handing them
over at the mansions of certain officials, to find some place as a
temporary home. He accordingly despatched a servant to ask him to
come round, but the man returned and reported that from what the
bonze said, "Mr. Chia had started on his journey to the capital, at
the fifth watch of that very morning, that he had also left a
message with the bonze to deliver to you, Sir, to the effect that
men of letters paid no heed to lucky or unlucky days, that the sole
consideration with them was the nature of the matter in hand, and
that he could find no time to come round in person and bid
good-bye."Shih-yin after hearing this message had no alternative but to
banish the subject from his thoughts.In comfortable circumstances, time indeed goes by with easy
stride. Soon drew near also the happy festival of the 15th of the
1st moon, and Shih-yin told a servant Huo Ch'i to take Ying Lien to
see the sacrificial fires and flowery lanterns.About the middle of the night, Huo Ch'i was hard pressed, and
he forthwith set Ying Lien down on the doorstep of a certain house.
When he felt relieved, he came back to take her up, but failed to
find anywhere any trace of Ying Lien. In a terrible plight, Huo
Ch'i prosecuted his search throughout half the night; but even by
the dawn of day, he had not discovered any clue of her whereabouts.
Huo Ch'i, lacking, on the other hand, the courage to go back and
face his master, promptly made his escape to his native
village.Shih-yin—in fact, the husband as well as the wife—seeing that
their child had not come home during the whole night, readily
concluded that some mishap must have befallen her. Hastily they
despatched several servants to go in search of her, but one and all
returned to report that there was neither vestige nor tidings of
her.This couple had only had this child, and this at the meridian
of their life, so that her sudden disappearance plunged them in
such great distress that day and night they mourned her loss to
such a point as to well nigh pay no heed to their very
lives.A month in no time went by. Shih-yin was the first to fall
ill, and his wife, Dame Feng, likewise, by dint of fretting for her
daughter, was also prostrated with sickness. The doctor was, day
after day, sent for, and the oracle consulted by means of
divination.Little did any one think that on this day, being the 15th of
the 3rd moon, while the sacrificial oblations were being prepared
in the Hu Lu temple, a pan with oil would have caught fire, through
the want of care on the part of the bonze, and that in a short time
the flames would have consumed the paper pasted on the
windows.Among the natives of this district bamboo fences and wooden
partitions were in general use, and these too proved a source of
calamity so ordained by fate (to consummate this
decree).With promptness (the fire) extended to two buildings, then
enveloped three, then dragged four (into ruin), and then spread to
five houses, until the whole street was in a blaze, resembling the
flames of a volcano. Though both the military and the people at
once ran to the rescue, the fire had already assumed a serious
hold, so that it was impossible for them to afford any effective
assistance for its suppression.It blazed away straight through the night, before it was
extinguished, and consumed, there is in fact no saying how many
dwelling houses. Anyhow, pitiful to relate, the Chen house,
situated as it was next door to the temple, was, at an early part
of the evening, reduced to a heap of tiles and bricks; and nothing
but the lives of that couple and several inmates of the family did
not sustain any injuries.Shih-yin was in despair, but all he could do was to stamp his
feet and heave deep sighs. After consulting with his wife, they
betook themselves to a farm of theirs, where they took up their
quarters temporarily. But as it happened that water had of late
years been scarce, and no crops been reaped, robbers and thieves
had sprung up like bees, and though the Government troops were bent
upon their capture, it was anyhow difficult to settle down quietly
on the farm. He therefore had no other resource than to convert, at
a loss, the whole of his property into money, and to take his wife
and two servant girls and come over for shelter to the house of his
father-in-law.His father-in-law, Feng Su, by name, was a native of Ta Ju
Chou. Although only a labourer, he was nevertheless in easy
circumstances at home. When he on this occasion saw his son-in-law
come to him in such distress, he forthwith felt at heart
considerable displeasure. Fortunately Shih-yin had still in his
possession the money derived from the unprofitable realization of
his property, so that he produced and handed it to his
father-in-law, commissioning him to purchase, whenever a suitable
opportunity presented itself, a house and land as a provision for
food and raiment against days to come. This Feng Su, however, only
expended the half of the sum, and pocketed the other half, merely
acquiring for him some fallow land and a dilapidated
house.Shih-yin being, on the other hand, a man of books and with no
experience in matters connected with business and with sowing and
reaping, subsisted, by hook and by crook, for about a year or two,
when he became more impoverished.In his presence, Feng Su would readily give vent to specious
utterances, while, with others, and behind his back, he on the
contrary expressed his indignation against his improvidence in his
mode of living, and against his sole delight of eating and playing
the lazy.Shih-yin, aware of the want of harmony with his
father-in-law, could not help giving way, in his own heart, to
feelings of regret and pain. In addition to this, the fright and
vexation which he had undergone the year before, the anguish and
suffering (he had had to endure), had already worked havoc (on his
constitution); and being a man advanced in years, and assailed by
the joint attack of poverty and disease, he at length gradually
began to display symptoms of decline.Strange coincidence, as he, on this day, came leaning on his
staff and with considerable strain, as far as the street for a
little relaxation, he suddenly caught sight, approaching from the
off side, of a Taoist priest with a crippled foot; his maniac
appearance so repulsive, his shoes of straw, his dress all in
tatters, muttering several sentiments to this effect:All men spiritual life know to be good,
But fame to disregard they ne'er succeed!
From old till now the statesmen where are they?
Waste lie their graves, a heap of grass, extinct.
All men spiritual life know to be good,
But to forget gold, silver, ill succeed!
Through life they grudge their hoardings to be
scant,
And when plenty has come, their eyelids close.
All men spiritual life hold to be good,
Yet to forget wives, maids, they ne'er succeed!
Who speak of grateful love while lives their
lord,
And dead their lord, another they pursue.
All men spiritual life know to be good,
But sons and grandsons to forget never succeed!
From old till now of parents soft many,
But filial sons and grandsons who have
seen?Shih-yin upon hearing these words, hastily came up to the
priest, "What were you so glibly holding forth?" he inquired. "All
I could hear were a lot of hao liao (excellent,
finality.")"You may well have heard the two words 'hao liao,'" answered
the Taoist with a smile, "but can you be said to have fathomed
their meaning? You should know that all things in this world are
excellent, when they have attained finality; when they have
attained finality, they are excellent; but when they have not
attained finality, they are not excellent; if they would be
excellent, they should attain finality. My song is entitled
Excellent-finality (hao liao)."Shih-yin was gifted with a natural perspicacity that enabled
him, as soon as he heard these remarks, to grasp their
spirit."Wait a while," he therefore said smilingly; "let me unravel
this excellent-finality song of yours; do you mind?""Please by all means go on with the interpretation," urged
the Taoist; whereupon Shih-yin proceeded in this
strain:Sordid rooms and vacant courts,
Replete in years gone by with beds where statesmen
lay;
Parched grass and withered banian trees,
Where once were halls for song and dance!
Spiders' webs the carved pillars intertwine,
The green gauze now is also pasted on the straw
windows!
What about the cosmetic fresh concocted or the powder
just scented;
Why has the hair too on each temple become white like
hoarfrost!
Yesterday the tumulus of yellow earth buried the
bleached bones,
To-night under the red silk curtain reclines the
couple!
Gold fills the coffers, silver fills the boxes,
But in a twinkle, the beggars will all abuse you!
While you deplore that the life of others is not
long,
You forget that you yourself are approaching
death!
You educate your sons with all propriety,
But they may some day, 'tis hard to say become
thieves;
Though you choose (your fare and home) the fatted
beam,
You may, who can say, fall into some place of easy
virtue!
Through your dislike of the gauze hat as mean,
You have come to be locked in a cangue;
Yesterday, poor fellow, you felt cold in a tattered
coat,
To-day, you despise the purple embroidered dress as
long!
Confusion reigns far and wide! you have just sung your
part, I come on
the boards,
Instead of yours, you recognise another as your native
land;
What utter perversion!
In one word, it comes to this we make wedding clothes
for others!
(We sow for others to reap.)The crazy limping Taoist clapped his hands. "Your
interpretation is explicit," he remarked with a hearty laugh, "your
interpretation is explicit!"Shih-yin promptly said nothing more than,—"Walk on;" and
seizing the stole from the Taoist's shoulder, he flung it over his
own. He did not, however, return home, but leisurely walked away,
in company with the eccentric priest.The report of his disappearance was at once bruited abroad,
and plunged the whole neighbourhood in commotion; and converted
into a piece of news, it was circulated from mouth to
mouth.Dame Feng, Shih-yin's wife, upon hearing the tidings, had
such a fit of weeping that she hung between life and death; but her
only alternative was to consult with her father, and to despatch
servants on all sides to institute inquiries. No news was however
received of him, and she had nothing else to do but to practise
resignation, and to remain dependent upon the support of her
parents for her subsistence. She had fortunately still by her side,
to wait upon her, two servant girls, who had been with her in days
gone by; and the three of them, mistress as well as servants,
occupied themselves day and night with needlework, to assist her
father in his daily expenses.This Feng Su had after all, in spite of his daily murmurings
against his bad luck, no help but to submit to the
inevitable.On a certain day, the elder servant girl of the Chen family
was at the door purchasing thread, and while there, she of a sudden
heard in the street shouts of runners clearing the way, and every
one explain that the new magistrate had come to take up his
office.The girl, as she peeped out from inside the door, perceived
the lictors and policemen go by two by two; and when unexpectedly
in a state chair, was carried past an official, in black hat and
red coat, she was indeed quite taken aback."The face of this officer would seem familiar," she argued
within herself; "just as if I had seen him somewhere or other ere
this."Shortly she entered the house, and banishing at once the
occurrence from her mind, she did not give it a second thought. At
night, however, while she was waiting to go to bed, she suddenly
heard a sound like a rap at the door. A band of men boisterously
cried out: "We are messengers, deputed by the worthy magistrate of
this district, and come to summon one of you to an
enquiry."Feng Su, upon hearing these words, fell into such a terrible
consternation that his eyes stared wide and his mouth
gaped.What calamity was impending is not as yet ascertained, but,
reader, listen to the explanation contained in the next
chapter.
CHAPTER II.
The spirit of Mrs. Chia Shih-yin departs from
the town of Yang Chou.
Leng Tzu-hsing dilates upon the Jung Kuo
Mansion.To continue. Feng Su, upon hearing the shouts of the public
messengers, came out in a flurry and forcing a smile, he asked them
to explain (their errand); but all these people did was to continue
bawling out: "Be quick, and ask Mr. Chen to come out.""My surname is Feng," said Feng Su, as he promptly forced
himself to smile; "It is'nt Chen at all: I had once a son-in-law
whose surname was Chen, but he has left home, it is now already a
year or two back. Is it perchance about him that you are
inquiring?"To which the public servants remarked: "We know nothing about
Chen or Chia (true or false); but as he is your son-in-law, we'll
take you at once along with us to make verbal answer to our master
and have done with it."And forthwith the whole bevy of public servants hustled Feng
Su on, as they went on their way back; while every one in the Feng
family was seized with consternation, and could not imagine what it
was all about.It was no earlier than the second watch, when Feng Su
returned home; and they, one and all, pressed him with questions as
to what had happened."The fact is," he explained, "the newly-appointed Magistrate,
whose surname is Chia, whose name is Huo and who is a native of
Hu-chow, has been on intimate terms, in years gone by, with our
son-in-law; that at the sight of the girl Chiao Hsing, standing at
the door, in the act of buying thread, he concluded that he must
have shifted his quarters over here, and hence it was that his
messengers came to fetch him. I gave him a clear account of the
various circumstances (of his misfortunes), and the Magistrate was
for a time much distressed and expressed his regret. He then went
on to make inquiries about my grand-daughter, and I explained that
she had been lost, while looking at the illuminations. 'No matter,'
put in the Magistrate, 'I will by and by order my men to make
search, and I feel certain that they will find her and bring her
back.' Then ensued a short conversation, after which I was about to
go, when he presented me with the sum of two taels."The mistress of the Chen family (Mrs. Chen Shih-yin) could
not but feel very much affected by what she heard, and the whole
evening she uttered not a word.The next day, at an early hour, Yü-ts'un sent some of his men
to bring over to Chen's wife presents, consisting of two packets of
silver, and four pieces of brocaded silk, as a token of gratitude,
and to Feng Su also a confidential letter, requesting him to ask of
Mrs. Chen her maid Chiao Hsing to become his second
wife.Feng Su was so intensely delighted that his eyebrows
expanded, his eyes smiled, and he felt eager to toady to the
Magistrate (by presenting the girl to him). He hastened to employ
all his persuasive powers with his daughter (to further his
purpose), and on the same evening he forthwith escorted Chiao Hsing
in a small chair to the Yamên.The joy experienced by Yü-ts'un need not be dilated upon. He
also presented Feng Su with a packet containing one hundred ounces
of gold; and sent numerous valuable presents to Mrs. Chen,
enjoining her "to live cheerfully in the anticipation of finding
out the whereabouts of her daughter."It must be explained, however, that the maid Chi'ao Hsing was
the very person, who, a few years ago, had looked round at Yü-ts'un
and who, by one simple, unpremeditated glance, evolved, in fact,
this extraordinary destiny which was indeed an event beyond
conception.Who would ever have foreseen that fate and fortune would both
have so favoured her that she should, contrary to all anticipation,
give birth to a son, after living with Yü-ts'un barely a year, that
in addition to this, after the lapse of another half year,
Yü-ts'un's wife should have contracted a sudden illness and
departed this life, and that Yü-ts'un should have at once raised
her to the rank of first wife. Her destiny is adequately expressed
by the lines:Through but one single, casual look
Soon an exalted place she took.The fact is that after Yü-ts'un had been presented with the
money by Shih-yin, he promptly started on the 16th day for the
capital, and at the triennial great tripos, his wishes were
gratified to the full. Having successfully carried off his degree
of graduate of the third rank, his name was put by selection on the
list for provincial appointments. By this time, he had been raised
to the rank of Magistrate in this district; but, in spite of the
excellence and sufficiency of his accomplishments and abilities, he
could not escape being ambitious and overbearing. He failed
besides, confident as he was in his own merits, in respect toward
his superiors, with the result that these officials looked upon him
scornfully with the corner of the eye.A year had hardly elapsed, when he was readily denounced in a
memorial to the Throne by the High Provincial authorities, who
represented that he was of a haughty disposition, that he had taken
upon himself to introduce innovations in the rites and ceremonies,
that overtly, while he endeavoured to enjoy the reputation of
probity and uprightness, he, secretly, combined the nature of the
tiger and wolf; with the consequence that he had been the cause of
much trouble in the district, and that he had made life intolerable
for the people, &c. &c.The Dragon countenance of the Emperor was considerably
incensed. His Majesty lost no time in issuing commands, in reply to
the Memorial, that he should be deprived of his official
status.On the arrival of the despatch from the Board, great was the
joy felt by every officer, without exception, of the prefecture in
which he had held office. Yü-ts'un, though at heart intensely
mortified and incensed, betrayed not the least outward symptom of
annoyance, but still preserved, as of old, a smiling and cheerful
countenance.He handed over charge of all official business and removed
the savings which he had accumulated during the several years he
had been in office, his family and all his chattels to his original
home; where, after having put everything in proper order, he
himself travelled (carried the winds and sleeved the moon) far and
wide, visiting every relic of note in the whole
Empire.As luck would have it, on a certain day while making a second
journey through the Wei Yang district, he heard the news that the
Salt Commissioner appointed this year was Lin Ju-hai. This Lin
Ju-hai's family name was Lin, his name Hai and his style Ju-hai. He
had obtained the third place in the previous triennial examination,
and had, by this time, already risen to the rank of Director of the
Court of Censors. He was a native of Kú Su. He had been recently
named by Imperial appointment a Censor attached to the Salt
Inspectorate, and had arrived at his post only a short while
back.In fact, the ancestors of Lin Ju-hai had, from years back,
successively inherited the title of Marquis, which rank, by its
present descent to Ju-hai, had already been enjoyed by five
generations. When first conferred, the hereditary right to the
title had been limited to three generations; but of late years, by
an act of magnanimous favour and generous beneficence,
extraordinary bounty had been superadded; and on the arrival of the
succession to the father of Ju-hai, the right had been extended to
another degree. It had now descended to Ju-hai, who had, besides
this title of nobility, begun his career as a successful graduate.
But though his family had been through uninterrupted ages the
recipient of imperial bounties, his kindred had all been anyhow men
of culture.The only misfortune had been that the several branches of the
Lin family had not been prolific, so that the numbers of its
members continued limited; and though there existed several
households, they were all however to Ju-hai no closer relatives
than first cousins. Neither were there any connections of the same
lineage, or of the same parentage.Ju-hai was at this date past forty; and had only had a son,
who had died the previous year, in the third year of his age.
Though he had several handmaids, he had not had the good fortune of
having another son; but this was too a matter that could not be
remedied.By his wife, née Chia, he had a daughter, to whom the infant
name of Tai Yü was given. She was, at this time, in her fifth year.
Upon her the parents doated as much as if she were a brilliant
pearl in the palm of their hand. Seeing that she was endowed with
natural gifts of intelligence and good looks, they also felt
solicitous to bestow upon her a certain knowledge of books, with no
other purpose than that of satisfying, by this illusory way, their
wishes of having a son to nurture and of dispelling the anguish
felt by them, on account of the desolation and void in their family
circle (round their knees).But to proceed. Yü-ts'un, while sojourning at an inn, was
unexpectedly laid up with a violent chill. Finding on his recovery,
that his funds were not sufficient to pay his expenses, he was
thinking of looking out for some house where he could find a
resting place when he suddenly came across two friends acquainted
with the new Salt Commissioner. Knowing that this official was
desirous to find a tutor to instruct his daughter, they lost no
time in recommending Yü-ts'un, who moved into the
Yamên.His female pupil was youthful in years and delicate in
physique, so that her lessons were irregular. Besides herself,
there were only two waiting girls, who remained in attendance
during the hours of study, so that Yü-ts'un was spared considerable
trouble and had a suitable opportunity to attend to the improvement
of his health.In a twinkle, another year and more slipped by, and when
least expected, the mother of his ward, née Chia, was carried away
after a short illness. His pupil (during her mother's sickness) was
dutiful in her attendance, and prepared the medicines for her use.
(And after her death,) she went into the deepest mourning
prescribed by the rites, and gave way to such excess of grief that,
naturally delicate as she was, her old complaint, on this account,
broke out anew.Being unable for a considerable time to prosecute her
studies, Yü-ts'un lived at leisure and had no duties to attend to.
Whenever therefore the wind was genial and the sun mild, he was
wont to stroll at random, after he had done with his
meals.