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THE
FORTUNATE UNION,
A CHINESE ROMANCE.
\.
■V
h'J'So.3
A
LONDON ; PRINTED BY J. L. COX, GREAT QUEEN ffTREET.
TO
SIR GEORGE THOMAS STAUNTON, Bart.
LL.D. F.R.S.
Ac. Ac. Ac.
THIS VERSION OF A WORK,
WHICH HE HAS ALREADY PERUSED IN THE ORIGINAL,
IS WITH MUCH ESTEEM INSCEIBED,
BY HIS VRIY FAITHFUL
rilEND AND SEAYANT,
THE TRANSLATOR.
A
LONDON : PRINTED BY J. L. COX, GREAT QUEEN STREET.
• I
THE
FORTUNATE UNION,
A ROMANCE,
TIIANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE ORIGINAL.
WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
TO WHICH IS ADOKD,
A CHINESE TRAGEDY.
By JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS, F.R.S.
MEMBER OP THR lOYAL ASIATIC 'flOCIETY, AND OF THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION COMMITTBE, &C.
JN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I.
LONDON:
PIUNTED FOUTIIE OUIENTALTUANSI.ATION Fl'Nl>.
AaiKoMby J. MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET ; PARBURY, ALLEN, & CO., LEAOENIIALL STREET; AND HOWELL & HTEWART, IIOLBORN.
1829.
PREFACE.
The following translation was the amuse- ment of some leisure hours in the country which it describes. The perusal of the origi- nal work, entitled Haoukewchuen, or * A tale of the fortunate, or appropriate union,' had impressed the translator with a good opinion of its merits ; and, after finishing the two first chapters on trial, he was encouraged to proceed towards a complete version of the Romance^ with the addition of such notes and explanations as his long personal acquaintance with the people might qualify him to afford. The illustrative parts have derived advantage from the able assistance of the Rev. Dr. Morrison ; while some botanical notes were the contributions of John Reeves, Esq. of the East-India Com- pany's service, F.R.S. and L.S. a gentleman well versed in the natural history of China.
The Haoukewchuen seems to relate to the period when the Mingy or last native dynasty, occupied the throne, previously to the Manchow Tartar conquest : but, with the exception of
some
Vlll PREFACE.
some changes in their dress and coiffure^ the Chinese are at this moment, in every respect, the identical people which our work describes. — The very great number of typographical errors in the original, almost inseparable from the mode in which their books are printed,* were, in the first instance, carefully revised and cor- rected by a competent native.
It is nearly seventy years since Dr. Hugh Percy, Bishop of Dromore, edited from a manuscript, partly English and partly Portu- guese, and dated more than a century ago, what was little better than a copious abstract of our romance, and without the poetical pas- sages, under the title of the * Pleasing History.' In this (commencing, it will be perceived, with the very title), much was mistranslated, much interpolated, and a great deal omitted altogether. One notable instance of omission is the heroine's visit to the tombs and the pavi- lion, in the fourth chapter. Any Chinese scho- lar who thought it worth his while to compare the * Pleasing History,' with the Haoukew-
chuen,
* It 18 scarcely secessary to mention that each page b stereotyped on a block of fine-grained wood ;— any slip of the carver's instrument is there- fore frequently left uncorrected, as the correction involves, either the in- sertion of a new piece of wood, or the commencement ah initio of a new block.
PREFACE. IX
chuen, could not fix upon a better portion of the work than the five memorials in the seven- teenth chapter of the original.* These, in the Chinese, are excellent specimens of composi- tion in that particular line, but in the misnamed version they have scarcely been attempted. The * Pleasing History ' speaks of a penknife f among a people who have no pens — makes a delicate lady talk of '' her enemies being sacri- ficed, and their flesh offered to appease her resentment":}; — repret^ents the hero entering into debate with his attendant concerning his own marriage § — with many other the like instances. The most remarkable case, however, is where the Editor, misled by his manuscript, accuses the Chinese author of * an affectation of modesty'— whereas, the original is so outrageously the re- verse^ that we could not do otherwise than sup- press the passage altogether, towards the end of the third chapter. In justice, at the same time, to the Haoukewchuen, it must be observed that this passage, and another short one, are the only untranslateable specimens throughout the work.
But
* Tlie real divisions of the romance are, witliout any adequate reason, confounded in the ' Pleasing History,* t Pleas. Hist. vol. ii. p. 61. \ Vol. ii. p. 51. § Vol. ii. p. 108.
X PREFACE.
But it would be absurd to detract from the merit of Dr. Percy's labours on account of the imperfection of his materials, or to deny that he most ably edited, and very correctly illus- trated (except where his version misled him) what certainly was, at the time when it ap- peared, by far the best picture of Chinese man- ners and society that we possessed. He was naturally puzzled by some parts of his manu- script, and expresses his surprise in notes at a number of incongruities, which, on a reference to the original, are not found to exist.
In the Haoukewchuen we see the most singu- lar people on earth, (self- insulated as they are from all the rest of the world), pourtrayed by a native hand in almost every variety and con- dition of human life.
Quicquid agunt homines — ^votum, timer, ira, voluptas, Gaudia, discursus — aostri est farrago libelli.
The interest and bustle of the scene, the spirit of the dialogue, the strong delineation and strict keeping of all the characters, joined to the generally excellent moral that is con- veyed throughout, may serve to impress us with no unfavourable sentiments in regard to Chinese taste. The story commences with an act of generous devotion on the part of the hero, and the gratitude of the person whom he
obliges
A
PREFACE. XI
obliges becomes the ultimate occasion of his own triumph over the combinations of his enemies. The profligate, the malicious, and the base, when they have exhausted ail the resources of ingenuity, meet with their just reward ; — ^while rectitude, prudence^ and courage carry their possessors not only unharmed, but glorious, through every trial. In the rival is exactly pourtrayed the reckless audacity of a young minion of wealth and power : — and the low devices of the uncle, 'spite of the craftiness of the fox, and the slipperiness of the fish (to both of which he is compared) serve but to multiply his mortifications and defeats.
It may be proper to observe, that in the hero and heroine are accurately described the prin- ciples of the Confucian sect of philosophy, — a sect which in its professed admiration of virtue, and in its high tone of self-sufficiency and pride, assimilates somewhat to the ancient Stoics. Many of the precepts which the disci- ples of Confucius are in the habit of repeating, cannot be surpassed in wisdom and practical excellence. They talk of ' treating other men according to the treatment which you would de- sire at their hands' — of ' guarding the thoughts i as the sources of action, &c.; — but in common with every other scheme of doctrines merely
human,
Xll PREFACE.
human, theirs exhibits much that is exceptionable both in principle and practice. Revenge, or the le.v talionis, was in some cases enjoined by Con- fucius himself, — and humility (though this virtue seems to have been inculcated by their sage) is not a distinguishing trait of his disciples. Com- bining within their own body all the talent and intellect of the state, and certainly almost all the virtue that is to be found in the country, they look with great contempt on the supersti- tious votaries of Buddha and Laoukeun. The translator received the following very just opi- nion of them from a gentleman whom thirty years residence at Peking had qualified to judge. *' The lettered class possessing a great ascendancy over the people, the policy of each successive dynasty has fully availed itself of their services : — and it is without doubt to this concentration of talent that China owes her wealth, her peace, and her prosperity."
As we often find in our own favourite fic- tions, a number of the names in similar Chinese works have a reference to the characters of those who bear them. Thus the hero of the Fortunate Union is named from iron (quasi Ironside) ; the heroine is pingsin, * icy-hearted ;' — a term, however, which in her country means chaslCy and not what we should call cold heart-
edy
«%
PREFACE. Xlll
ed. Her father's designation literally means ' dwelling in singleness of purpose,' which sufficiently expresses his inflexible character — and so of many other appellatives. The indi- vidual personages are occasionally known un- der different names. In our translation, how- ever, it has been thought advisable to adhere to arte only for each, as a means of preventing perplexity, and avoiding the unnecessary mul- tiplication of ill-looking and worse-sounding exotic words. The use, too, of those copulatives disjunctive, called hyphens, has been forborne, as they serve rather to separate than unite the syllables of names, which by- the Chinese are pronounced as much like single words, as any polysyllables in European speech. In regard to titles of honour, the translator was obliged to make use of equivalents from our own lan- guage. Laouyatfy the ordinary address of a ms^strate in China, is sufficiently expressed by our common term * worship;' — and the Chi- nese title Tajln (literally magnate) is pretty nearly rendered by * lordship' or * excellency.' The higher terms of respect, being less familiar and vulgar, may be occasionally used with a sparing hand ; — but to tack such household ap- pendages as * mistress' and ' miss ' to foreign names like the Chinese, can only be attended
with
XIV PREFACE.
with a ridiculous effect, and certainly does not convey a just impression of the original.
The * Fortunate Union ' may be considered as a more faithful picture of Chinese manners, inasmuch as the hero espouses but one wife. It is not strictly true that their laws sanction polygamy^ though they permit concubinage. A Chinese can have but one Tse or wife, properly so called, who is distinguished by a title, es- poused with ceremonies, and chosen from a rank of life, totally different from his Tsee^ or handmaids, of wiiom he may have as many or as few as he pleases ; and though the offspring of the latter possess many of the rights of legi- timacy, (ranking however after the children of the wife,) this circumstance makes little dif- ference as to the truth of the position. Even in the present romance, the profligate rival aims at effecting his union with the heroine, only by setting aside his previous marriage with her cousin as informal. Any Chinese fiction, there- fore, (and of these there are many,) which des- cribes a man espousing two wives, is in this re- spect no truer a picture of existing manners, than in respect to any other silly or amusing extrava- gance which it may happen to contain. These observations are not hastily made, being the result of careful examination and enquiry, and
derived
PREFACE. XV
derived in China from native authorities ; and the present work affords sufficient corroboration, were any required. The resolution of the scho- hur Hanyuen to suffer death, rather than allow his daughter to be degraded to the rank of a handmaid, even to a noble ; and the attempts of the same noble, towards the conclusion of the story, to espouse the heroine Shueypingsin as his wife, because he had just lost his former spouse, afford abundant confirmation. In fact, the wife is of equal rank with her husband by birth, and espoused with regular marriage ce- remonies; possessing, moreover, certain legal rights, such as they are:— the handmaid is bought for money, and received into the house nearly like any other domestic. The principle on which Chinese law and custom admit the offspring of concubinage to legitimate rights is obvious — the importance which attaches in that country to the securing of male descen- dants. It is plain that the Tse and the Tsee stand to each other in very much the same relation as the Sarah and the Hagar of the Old Testament, and therefore the common expres- sion ^rj< and secofid wife, which the translator himself has used on former occasions, in imita- tion of his predecessors, is hardly correct. The reader will observe many remarkable
points
XVI PREFACE.
points of resemblance between the ' Fortunate Union' and our own novels and romances at the present day. Every chapter is headed by a few verses bearing some relation to its con- tents, and appropriate lines are occasionally introduced as embellishments to the story. Care has been taken to give a correct version of these poetical passages, as well as to explain the remote allusions which they frequently contain. A prose translation of poetry is con- fessedly objectionable, and rhyme sometimes imposes trammels which may interfere with the strictness of the sense. A middle course was therefore adopted, and recourse had to blank verse, which, while it admits all that is desirable on the score of fidelity, is less crab- bed and uninviting than mere literal prose. That the student of Chinese, however, might be able to avail himself of the translation in reading the original, a perfectly literal prose version of the poetical passages has been printed as an Appendix at the end of the last volume. In these may be observed some of the prin- cipal points noticed in the translator's * Trea- tise on the Poetry of the Chinese,' — parti- cularly that of parallelism^ which in numerous instances is as apparent as such a feature can be rendered out of the original language.
The
PREFACE. XVll
The scattered poetry of the Haoukewchuen does not comprise above four hundred lines in the aggregate : but to represent adequately the meaning of these in a literal, and their spirit in a metrical version, gave the translator nearly as much trouble as ai] the rest of the work. Except in some highly sustained dialogues, the prose parts convey the tone of ordinary conversation or narrative, and to any person daily accustomed to speak the language of the country, there is little more than the trouble of writing down the meaning.
Sufficient aids exist, even in Europe, for the elucidation of />ro;pe compositions ; but until a dictionary of Chinese poetry (at present a great want) shall have been compiled, the subject must be considered as almost out of the reach of European scholars. The frequent and remote allusions, which in some measure con- stitute the beauty of their poetry, are hardly to be seized by those who are unacquainted with the most popular tales, traditions, or fancies of the Chinese, and, at the same time, unsupplied with all the means of original in- formation. It is therefore, perhaps, unfortunate that Professor Remusat, of Paris, should have chosen for translation the novel of Yu-keaou- le, (or, as he writes it, lu-kiao-li,) which is full
VOL. I. b of
XVlll PREFACE.
of verse. To notice a single instance at the commencement of the Fourteenth Chapter, he has mistaken the name of the fair and impru- dent damsel Wunkeun (in allusion to one of the commonest stories in China,* tod bearing an evident reference to the subject of the chapter) for the title of some male personage. Instead of giving the proper name, he translates the two words that compose it, and renders the same by '' the Prince of letters ;" a character and a sex the most unsuited to the runaway fair one, whom he, for the first time, dignifies with such a title. There is, however, nothing surprising in this, — and other instances might be. noted, were it a gracious task to find fault, and were Chinese criticism likely to in- terest English readers. But it is singular that M. Remusat should have misunderstood the meaning of lines so simple as the following :
* Mais ce n*est pas le m^rite et la renomm^ qui re-
muent le monde, ' Est-il bon de recevoir ainsi Thospitalit^ en tous lieux ?*
The very opposite is the sense of the original :
' If
• See note to Appendix, vol. ii. p. 251, et passim.
PREFACE. XIX
* If talent and reputation did not move (or affect) the
whole empire^
* How could he every where have met with such a re-
ception ?
There is much greater satisfaction, however, in bearing testimony to the more general correct- ness of the translation from the prose. In effec- tive knowledge of the language, M. Remusat seems to be without a rival in France; and his tone and language, in speaking of his own works, or those of others, entitle his ob- servations to respect. He does not, with an absurd and blind fury (the motive of which is obvious) decry those advantages which are inseparable from a residence in China itself: — advantages which have enabled Dr. Morrison to achieve his dictionary, that co- lossal labour of utility, which is an honour at once to himself and to his country, — and which has met with its due praise from competent judges. It is of the author of this dictionary that M. Klaproth, after declaring that the book is " very troublesome in use,'' and '* full of faults,'' adds the following extraordinary observation: — ** If ifideed, he is really the author of the work which he has published."— ^ut Dr. Morrison knows perfectly well how to estimate M. Kla- proth's remarks.
Such
XX PREFACE.
Such attacks might well remain unnoticed ; and the translator himself has accordingly treat- ed with invariable disregard the liberal obser- vations and inuendos with which M. Klaproth (in his own peculiar style and language) has long thought it necessary to favour him — more especially as M . de Sorsum and M. Remusat deemed it worth their while to edit in French those very translations * (trifles as they were) which excited our critic's irritability. But the resolution of the committee to reprint the Chi- nese tragedy in octavo at the end of the ro- mance, affords him a convenient opportunity (without which he should have been silent) to notice briefly some extracts which he has read from M. Klaproth's observations upon that drama, and in so doing he craves the reader's pardon for being dull. Our critic finds fault with the name Hanchenyu ; but had he a prac- tical acquaintance with the people, he would have known that Hanchenyu and Chenyu are the appellations which the Chinese, (who are not fond of more than three syllables in a proper name) constantly apply to that person in their frequent repetitions of the story, whether in
drawings.
* Concerning one of these M. Ilemusat observed, ' M. Davis, en le publiant, a done rendu un veritable service aux amis de la littereture Asiatique. *
PREFACE. XXI
drawings, conversation, poetry, or prose. He seems to be unaware that they usually make use of a single syllable of foreign names, with the addition of some adjunct ; and that, could he speak enough of the language to talk to a Chinese about Hoo-han-ye'Chen-yUf he would not be much more intelligible than the lady who affects to be dumb in a certain well-known French comedy. It may seem tedious to dwell on such a subject ;-Hbut the translation itself disproves the insinuation, that the translator took the first syllable of the Tartar name "" dans le sens de s^appelerJ"' It says, *' \ am Han- chenyu,*' not ** I am called^' &c. The heroine Chaoukeun is also called Mingfei and Wor^- tseang ; but this would have been a miserable reason for lumbering our version with a string of harsh-sounding words, tending only to pro- duce confusion, and revolt the reader: and whatever anachronisms (of little consequence in a work of imagination) the original may contain, the translation is quite in accordance vrith the popular Chinese version of the story. The only real oversight, in the case of Wei- keang, has been corrected in the present edition. M . Klaproth has contrived to enliven so dull a topic by a little entertainment. *' M. Davis traduit, / ynet a maiden, daughter of one Wong-
changy
XXll PREFACE.
change ' J'ai trouv6 une demoiselle, fiUe d'uN Wang tchhang.' Mais Wang tchhang n'est pas un litre; c'est le nom propre, &c." Our critic may well be excused if he is not one perfect English scholar ; but he should at least be able to understand what he pretends to condemn.
A real master of Chinese literature has pro- nouncedy that '* the dramatic works of the Chinese are certainly less calculated, on the whole, than their novels, to reward the labour of the translator."* So much has been given of the Sorrows of Han, as appeared likely to be read or endured. It was thought that a plain and sufficient reason had been advanced for inserting only some of the operatic passages, of which pfere Premare, in his version of the '' Orphan of Chaou," had before given none. M . Klaproth, however, hints as usual that this was (j)eut'^tre) because the translator did not understand them. Be it so ; — ^but what curious reason will he next discover for so opposite a course^ as the insertion of a double version, metrical and literal, of all the poetry in the
UaMANCE?
* Sir George Staunton.
CONTENTS.
VOL. I.
CHAPTER I.
Pane
The hero visits Peking, and takes pity on a lover in distreie 1
CHAPTER II.
The attack on the tiger's den, and the skilful recovery of the prize 26
CHAPTER III. Shuejrpingsin adroitly changes the flower • .49
CHAPTER IV. Kwoketsu stupidly grasps at the moon's shadow . 76
CHAPTER V.
The generous hero arraigns a public tribunal, and to save another, hazards himself 101
CHAPTER VI.
Calumny is braved, and the place o£ lodging changed, in requital o£ services rendered . . • .128
CHAPTER VII.
Five dajTS are blamelessly passed, and the hero is de- tained to an entertainment 153
XXIV CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
Page
An affronting proposal occasions the sudden departure of Teilichungyu 178
CHAPTER IX.
They attempt to deceive the fair heroine, but only excite her scorn 205
CHAPTER X.
By her appeal to the Emperor, Shueypingsin terrifies the Commissioner 230
THL
FORTUNATE UNION.
CHAPTER I.
THE HERO VISITS PEKING, AND TAKES PITY ON A
LOVER IN DISTRESS.
Though broad th* expanse of earth, of hiU and stream,
Beneath yon broader heaven — ^though countless years
Still follow years gone by^^as rolls the tide
Of human life in endless ebb, how few x
The worthies of our race !
• • «- •
Asleep or wake, one object all absorbs
His mind— he yields to passion's force, and feels
Beauty's* soft sway— and did not adverse &te
Stin thwart his hopes, their union were complete !
It is related that there Uved during a former dynasty, in the city of Tamingyt a young student, whose fa- mily name, with the addition of his personal appella- tion, was Teihchungyuy and his adopted title Tingseng. The features of this youth were so regular and perfect, as to resemble those of some beautiful woman, and
VOL. I. B gained
* In the original, the phrase " arched eyebrows," is a poetical term for female beauty.
f One of the principal cities of tlie chief province, in which Peking the capital, is situated.
2 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
gained for him, among his neighbours and acquaintance^ the nickname of the " fair lady." An exterior thus graceful and pleasing might properly have been matched by a soft and yielding disposition ; while that of Teihchungyu,* on the contrary, partook of the rigid inflexibility of iron itself. His impetuous and ardent temper readily betrayed him into acts of intemperate violence : nor was it an easy matter to appease him when once irritated. Some deemed it strange, that in his social dealings with the world, he would meet the rich and great with studied coldness and formality, and readily take offence at the slightest omission on their parts ,• while on the other hand, did he chance to fall in with any of his poor and humble acquaintance, he would regale them with wine, and entertain them by his conversation, passing the whole day in friendly in- tercourse, without either fatigue or distaste. He pos- sessed, however, one very good quality : for when people in real distress applied to him, he relieved them at once, without r^ard to their rank or other pretensions ; but as for those flatterers, who came merely to humour him with a view to exciting his favour, he would pre- tend not to hear them. Thus it proved, that while many were justly grateful to him for his benefits, none ever ventured to approach him without having some good title to his bounty.
His
* An allusion to the word Teih, signifying iron : moet of the names in Chinese fictions have a reference to the chaiacters of those who bear them.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. '^
His father^ named Teihying, was of the highest lite- rary order, a man of an upright and straightforward temper, who held a place in the Censorate, and was celebrated for his bcddness in giving advice to the sovereign. The mother of Teihchmigyu accompanied her husband to his office at court ; but their son, be- cause of his violent disposition, and the consequent chance of its involving them in trouble, was left at the family house in his native city. Possessed of great natural endowments, our hero made a proportionate pro- gress in learning, and soon became superior to the genera- lity of persons of his own age and rank. He passed his whole time in retirement, amusing himself with books, and indulging his taste for pleasure, not without wine, amidst flowers and willow groves, hills and streams.
He had reached the age of fifteen or sixteen, when his fiither and mother determined on chusing him a wife : but the youth himself urged objections. '* I am naturaUy hard to please," s^id he ; '^ the choice of a spouse is very different from that of a mere friend, who may be got rid of if he does not suit you ; but once married, the union is for life, and should the selection prove to be a bad one, there is not much difference between the two evils of living together, or being di- vorced. On this account, I entreat that you will allow a little more time in a matter of such consequence." As there was reason in what he said, they complied with his wishes.
B 2 Thus
4 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
Thus it happened that he attained to nearly twenty years of age without marrying, or even thinking of marriage. About this time, as he was one day reading, and drinking in the intervals, he came suddenly upon the history of Pekan,* who fell a victim to the honesty with which he reproved his sovereign. " Such fidelity," thought the youth to himself, '* is doubtless a noble virtue in a minister ; yet, to deserve the highest praise, he should be able to preserve himself from destruction, at the same time that he arouses his master to a sense q( his errors. Let the fervency of his zeal lead him to disregard consequences, he not only fails in his object, but provokes at once his sovereign's fury, and completes his own ruin ; and when it comes to this, where is the use of his fideUty V'f
Having
* The last emperor of the Shang dynasty had a wife, fomed for her sensuality, as well as for her influence over her husband. Various stories are related of the cruelty of this pair, whose vices had at lengtli the natural effect of provoking rebeUion among their subjects. One of the emperor's relations having ventured to reprove him, escaped the conse- quences of his temerity by counterfeiting madness: another, whose name was Pekan, was not so wise, or so fortunate. The cruel monarch ordered his heart to be taken out and brought to him for inspection, observing, with an inhuman jest, that he wished to know if the heart of a sage differed from those of other men. The tjrrant was dethroned by Woowong, the founder of the next race. When reduced to despaur, he arrayed himself in his splendour, and mounting a funeral pile, burnt himself to death like Sardanapalus. The Chinese annals place him 1130 years BiC.
f Tacitus more than once expresses a like sentiment : ' Obsequiumque ac modestiam, si industria ac vigor adsint, eo laudis excedere, quo ple- rique per nbmpta, sed in nullum reipublicee usum, ambitiosft morte incla- ruerunt.'— Vit. Agr. c. 42.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. O
Having refreshed himself with another cup or two, Teihchungyu considered that his father was in a situa- tion which exposed him to similar dangers, while the unbending disposition, for which he was so well known, was only the more likely to involve him in a similar fate. He became extremely uneasy on the sub- ject, and began to wish himself at the capital, that he might assist his father with his advice. After passing a restless night, distracted and irresolute amidst a variety of projects, he rose with daylight the next morning, and giving the household in charge to a careful old domestic, ordered his horse and travelling furniture* to be prepared. Then desiring only his trusty atten- dant, Seaoutan, to follow him, he set out on a journey to Peking to see his father and mother.
Strong 18 the sovereign's claim, e*en unto death. On his good subjects* service — nor less strong The claims primeval of paternity ! Unnumber'd though the sodal links that bind Man to his fellow man, none may compete With thejhe ckUJ rdaHonM.f
Teihchungyu travelled with all haste towards the capital : and at the expiration of two days^ his anxiety to proceed occasioned his finding himself, on the ap- proach of night, far from any regular resting-place, so
that
* This generally consists of a quilt or mat to lie upon, and a hard pillow. The Chinese do not incommode themselves with a superfluity of baggage, and used to express their surprise at the large quantity belonging to the embassy of 1816.
t Viz, prince and subject, fatlicr and son, husband and wife, brothers among themselves, and friends reciprocally.
b THE FORTUNATE UNION.
that he was obliged to strike into a path leading to a scattered village, where, indisposed to lose time in se- lecting a lodging, he dismounted at the door of the first house he came to. His boy was desired to hold the horse, while he went in and called. An old woman presently came out, and observing his scholar's dress, I said, " I suppose, sir," you come from Peking to see the young student Weipei, and would have me Ndiew you his house?" He told her that he knew no such person, but had lost his way, and was in search of a bed for the night. " Then sir," repUed the woman, " you are welcome to what we can give you ; but we are poor people, and you must excuse an indif- ferent lodging." He said that he should be glad of any thing she could let him have until the morning : so the boy was desired to bring in the travelling furni- ture, while the old woman found a shed for the horse, and shewing her guest into a little side-room, brought him some tea to drink.
After refreshing himself, Teihchungyu inquired of his hostess, what had made her so curious about the object of his coming to the village, and who that stu- dent might be, of whom she had spoken ? " You seem to be ignorant, sir," repUed the woman, " that this place was not originally called Weitsuiif^ but that many years since an inhabitant of that name attained to high honours, and his family became so numerous
and
• The hamlet of Wei.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 7
and flourishing^ as to occupy the greater part of the neigfaboiirhood and give their own name to it. I'hey soon afterwards declined^ and their wealtii and numbers graduaUy diminished^ until they were reduced to the meanest condition. Their fortune^ however, at length took another turn, and one of the family, after readiing the age of sixteen or seventeen, attained to the rank of Badielor in Letters. He chanced at Peking to become acqwdnted with a scholar of the same d^ee, who con- ceiving an affection ibr him on account of his youth and eariy attainments, contracted him to his own daughter. Their poverty was the occasion of the marriage being ddayed for some years, and in die mean while a rich and poweHul lord, happening to observe the beauty of the intended bride, was determined to obtain possession of her. The parents would on no account give their con sent, and the great man, enraged thereat, made such a bad use of Ins power as to send a nmnber of people to seiee the lady and carry her off by force. Scmie person came hither to acquaint the student with his misfortune, and he hurried to Pdung to make inquiries, but could learn no tidings of either his wife or her relations. He would tiien have pres^ated a complaint, but could procure no witnesses to back him ; besides which, his enemy was so powerful, that there seemed little chance of obtain- ing redress. This morning he returned home in despair, and after recounting his griefs to his mother, went out, as she apprehended, to drown himself. She flew to all
her
8 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
her neighbours, and to my husband among the rest, entreating them to pursue him and prevent his inten- tions ; but I know not if they have succeeded. Thus, sir, I was led to suppose on your arrival that you might be a friend come to see him."
She had hardly done speaking, when they heard a confused sound of voices in the road, and coming out of the house, perceived a number of people surrounding a young man in the dress of a student, who covered his &ce and wept. The old woman called out to her hus- band in the crowd to return home, telling him there was a guest in the house. Upon this he immediately left the throng, and perceiving Teihchungyu, asked his wife if that young gentleman was their guest ?
'^ Yes," replied she, '^ he has lost his way, and wants a lodging for the night."
If so," said the other, " why don't you go and prepare supper, instead of staring about here ?"
'^ I was acquainting this gentleman," replied the old woman, " with the history of the young student, and as you are present, can you inform us how it happened that he could discover no traces of his bride, although she was carried off in broad daylight by such a number of persons ?"
'^ There were plenty who could have informed him," repUed the villager; " but his enemy is a power- ful courtier, and few persons would be so rash as to incur danger by mentioning what did not concern
them ;
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 9
them ; however," continued he, " though they had re- lated every thing, it would have been of little use to
the young gentleman."
" Alas, alas !" exclaimed the old woman, " I fear
that his misfortunes will kill him !" and so saying she
went into the house to prepare supper.
'' How timorous and spiritless are you country peo- ple !" said Teihchungyu, smiling, — " though I can- not help thinking you must be mistaken on this subject, and talk at random."
The old man assured him that he himself, at least, was well-informed, and being asked where he got his information, repUed, '^ Sir, you seem to be a stranger, quite unconnected with this affair, — I have therefore no objection to mentioning it before you: but let me ask, where would you suppose that the young lady had been concealed ?"
She must be lodged in the female apartments of the noble* who carried her off," said Teihchungyu. That can hardly be the case," replied the other,
since there is always somebody going in and out, and it would be difficult to keep the matter a secret ; but they say that the emperor for some particular de- serts bestowed on him a palace of retirement, sacred
from
* It has been yery ignonmtly asserted, that the Chinese possess nothing like hereditary nobility. There are five grades of these (besides the descendants of Confucius), who enjoy hereditary rank to all intents and purposes : though official rank in China is certainly of more consequence than that derived from mere descent.
it
it
10 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
fW>m all intrusion, wherein he might dwell and enjoy himself. A nephew of mine, who went to the city to sell forage, saw the young lady seized, and carried to this place."
'' What then prevented his immediately acquainting the young man," said our hero, ^* that he might go and procure the liberation of his bride ?"
It was useless," replied the villager, " for I my- self spoke to him very earnestly, but he despaired of doing any good." Being asked if he knew where this palace was situated, '^ Yes," continued he ; *^ it is not much more than half a mile from one of the city gates; the place is well known to every one, but none dare ent^ it" By this time the old woman came to say that supper was ready: and when Teihchungyu had satisfied his himger, he desired his page to prepare a bed for him to sleep.
After breakfast in the morning, he told Seaoutan to weigh out half a tael of silver for their host The latter, as Teihchungyu was mounting his horse to depart, cautioned him, for fear of mischief, not to say a word at Peking of what had passed between them on the pre- ceding evening. The youth desired him to set his mind at ease, for he should hardly talk of what did not con- cern him : and so taking leave of the old man, he soon found himself on the high road to the capital.
Vain are the crafty villain's wiles, most vain Often, when vaunted most— disgrace, defeat. Rush headlong in from quarters little feor*d !
Hearken
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 11
Hearken to counsel, friend, and when secure You deem yourself from mortals* purblind eyes, Think there's a heaven above, that surreys ail !
Scarcely hid he proceeded a mile on the journey, when he percdved at a shc^ distance before him the young student, weeping aloud, and with erery outward token of despair calling on heaven, and complaining of his fieite. Teihchungyu no sooner discovered who he was, than he made all haste to gallop up, and dis- mounting from his horse, clapped him on the shoulder. " Friend," said he, " do not yidd to despair, — your difficulties are not insuperable : I will use my endea- vours, and feel confident of having your fair mistress restored to you."
The student looked up with surprise, and perceiving the 8tranger*s imposing exterior, ^* Alas ! sir," cried he, '' I am but poor and mean, undeserving of the notice of such a person as yourself. I cannot guess how you should have learned who I am. Your kind consolations are entitled to my warmest thanks ; but these misfor- tones seem to be a judgment from heaven, and aUowing you to be possessed of superhuman power, I fear you can do me no good !"
Our hero laughed, and exclaimed, '' It is the mere sting of a bee ! if I do not set it all to rights, you shall be at liberty to say that the age of achievements is past."
" Sir," said the other with increased surprise, " I fear the intensity of my grief has impaired my under- standing,
it
12 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
standing, and I may have spoken disrespectfully in doubting the ability of one who now appears to me possessed of extraordinary goodness and power. But let me beg your name and title, that I may know and remember to whom I stand so much indebted."
I will not tell you that just now," said the youth,
but pray let me know your own particular designation, and what your present plans are ; for it is necessary that I should be informed."
The other acquainted him with his designation, and then added, " I should have been driven by my misery to seek death, had it not been for two reflections : first, that my mother must in such a case be left child- less ; secondly, that mider the government, and almost in the presence of so divine an emperor, it seemed im- possible that the wicked noble who robbed me of my betrothed wife could be allowed to persist in his violence and injustice. Last night, after some irresolution, I wrote a statement of my case, and was just now on my road to Peking, where, indifferent to my fate, I would have gone to all the various tribunals, and accused my enemy. I knew that his rank and opulence made him a very unequal opponent to myself, but the business had anived at such a pitch as to put these considera- tions out of the question."
He then drew the document from his sleeve, and still weeping, requested Teihchungyu to peruse it, and judge of the extremity of his hardship. The
youth
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 13
3pouth read the paper^ and found that his father-in-law, named Hanyuen, was a scholar of the same degree with the student himself, and that the ravisher was Takwae, a noble of high rank. " Very well," said he to the other ; '^ this statement is clear and well drawn up ; but to be effectual, it must be submitted to the emperor's own inspection ; if taken to the tribunals, the different oflicers will support each other ; if you present it your- self to his majesty, that too. will prove unavaiUng; but entrust it to my care, and I may perhaps find out a way to assist you."
The student bowed low. " Sir, your kindness to- wards me is like the influence of Spring on a dying tree.* But it is not fit that I remain idle while you are labouring for me — let me follow your horse*s steps to Peking, where I shall be ready to obey your commands."
" No," said Teihchungyu, " were you to go with me, it might excite attention, and place your enemies on their guard ; you had better return home, and in ten days hence, if I have any good news to communicate,
you shall hear it."
" Your goodness, sir," repUed the other, " surpasses
the
• In Cowper*s beautiful address to Yardley Oak, we have the same
idea:
" Yet life still lingers in thee, and puts forth Proof not contemptible of what she can, Even where death predominates. The Spring Finds thee not less alive to her sweet force/* &c.
14 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
the heavens and the earth ! But alas, you labour in vain for an ill-fated wretch like myself!" and with that bis tears began to flow afresh.
" What is there in the whole world," exclaimed Teihchungyu, '^ that a young man like yourself need despair of accomplishing ? Take heart, then, and cease this childish mood."
The student thanked him gratefully, and our hero, putting the paper into his sleeve, and bidding the other a hasty adieu, mounted his horse and proceeded with his attendant towards the capital. The young man, overwhelmed with conflicting emotions, stood by the way*side and followed him with his eyes. The whole appeared like a dream, which he hardly dared to think was true, and yet would not willingly believe to be false. In this state he lingered until Teihchungyu and his horse vanished from his sight : and then, turning round, walked pensively towards his home.
No resting-place the troubled bosom finds, Th* embitterM soul in sighs must seek relief. Say not, that tears to women*8 softer mood, Or babes alone pertain— by grief opprest, The sternest oft will weep.
The village was not above twelve or fiheen miles from Peking, and our hero travelled with such expedi- tion as to arrive there by noon. He resolved to take the statement directly to his father, and consult with him on petitioning the emperor for a warrant to proceed against Takwae. On aniving at the private
door
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 15
door of his father's house he observed, to his great surprise and concern, that not a single attendant was to be seen. Wondering what coold be the matter, he dismounted in haste and entered the hall of audience, where none of the clerks or other officers were in wait- ing. Still more alarmed by these appearances, he hur- ried towards the inner apartments, which he found shut. He then called aloud to the people within, who instantly recognised his voice, and opening the doors, exclaimed as they met him : ^' Alas ! sir, things have gone very ill ; my lord has offended the emperor by an address, and just been thrown into prison!" They added, that he had come most opportunely, and urged his going immediately to consult with his mother.
Teihchungyu asked with the greatest surprise what this address could be ; and without waiting for an answer, walked straight into the room where his mother was sitting. As soon as the latter saw him she caught hold of his sleeve, and exclaimed with tears, *' My son, it is well that you are here ! Your father, in his anxious soUcitude to perform the part of a faithful minister, was constantly presenting memorials ; and a misfortune has at length befallen him, which puts his life in some danger."
The young man was much alarmed by this intelli- gence ; but seeing his mother in such distress, he could not but endeavour to offer her some consolation : so kneeling down, he entreated her to be composed :
" Though
16 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
Though this affair were as arduous as the heavens/ said he, " we might still find out a remedy ; tell me then, mother, what was the petition, and in what manner worded, thus fearfully to provoke the anger of the emperor ?"
The lady raised him, and desiring that he would sit down by her side, proceeded to relate as follows. " Your father was returning from the audience a few days since, when he was stopped half way by an old man and his wife, who with dishevelled hair and torn garments stood before his horse's head, and cried out for justice. Being asked who they were, and what was the matter, the old man stated that he was a scholar, named Hanyuen, and that his daughter being already affianced, but not yet married, a powerful noble had heard of her beauty, and sent a peremptory message to demand her as his mistress. The fiither replied, that pledges had already passed between the betroth- ed, and that he would rather die than give his assent to such a proposal; adding at the same time some other expressions which exasperated the great man, who then made a vile use of his power, and sent a number of the vn^tches* in his pay to enter the house by force, and carry off the daughter. The father pursued and endeavoured to prevent them ; but in so doing only exposed himself to be beaten and maltreated in a shocking manner. Your father was much moved
* Literally ' vultures and dogs.*
THB FORTUNATE UNION. 17
by this detail of the outrage, and presently addressed a petition to the emperor, praying him to degrade and punish the ravishen Had your father proceeded with due caution, he woidd, at the same time that he pie- sented the address, have secured Hanyuen and his wife as witnesses : but exasperated feelings unhappily deprived him of his usual foresight. When his ma- jesty's order was issued to the Criminal tribunal to sub- ject the offender to trial and punishment, that wicked DoUe, being possessed of abundant wealth and re- sources, contrived to place the old man and his wife out of the way, and to secrete their daughter beyond the leadi of inquiry ; so that when the trial came on, there were no prosecutors. He then presented a memo- rial to the emperor, accusing your fether of slandering a feithful minister and deceiving his sovereign, winning over at the same time to his cause the judges of the tribunal, who advised his majesty that your fether should be degraded and punished. The emperor was highly offended, and issued an order for his imprison- ment; and though some of his powerful friends would gladly have exerted themselves to save him, yet the want of accusers and witnesses in this case made it im- possible— and alas! I fear that the worst still remains behind.**
On hearing his mother's story, Teihchungyu felt perfectly relieved, and told her that she might set her nund i|t rest ** Any matter connected with the palace,'*
VOL. I. c observed
18 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
obfierved he, " might have proved very serious : but as for Takwae, and his seizure of the scholar's daugh^ ter, 'tis but a trifle."
That may be true," said the lady ; " but still the parties are not forthcomings and it amounts in ap-' pearance to the crime of deceiving the emperor."
Had my father," replied he, " made use of ialse names and fictitious circumstances to implicate Takwae^ such would have been the complexion of his offence ; but Hanyuen is a person of Uterary rank, and his daughter being carried off in the sight of great niunbers, it was nothing more than the duty of my father's office to take notice of the affair-^much less a crime against his sovereign."
Finding that his mother still despaired of discover- ing the secreted parties, Teihchungyu observed, " that when robbers and malefactors, in spite of their various tricks and disguises, were discovered in the remotest districts, what difficulty could there be in finding this scholar and his &mily, who, oppressed and maltreated as they had been, were shut up within the very pre- cincts of the court ? Besides," added he, " I myself have all the necessary information respecting them."
His mother appeared scarcely to believe this: Upon which he asked her reproachfully if she thought himi capable of deceit ? " Then," exclaimed she, with joy, ^' if such be really the case, hasten, as soon as you have refreshed yourself, to your father in prison, impart to
him
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 19
him this intelligence, and pnt to end to his sorrow/' So saying, the lady desired her attendants to prepare a iepast for her son, and causing him to change his tra- velling dress^ gare orders that a sufficient number of persons might be ready to attend him to the prison.
Teihchungyu, however, paused, aiid told them not to be in a hurry. He went into the library, and wrote out an address to the emperor; then requesting his mother to give him the seals of his father's office, he put the whole up, together with the young student's memorial, into his sleeve, and caUing for his servants, proceeded towards the prison to visit his father.
'Tis fortitude's proud attribute and boast
In time of trial to be self-possest :
— When danger threatens, mind is most requir*d !
Did mere brute rage usurp the honours due
To nobler courage, long might tku remain
Robb'd of its proper meed !
When Teihchungyu arrived at the prison, the officer in charge of it knewwhohe was, and received him with civility. '^ Your father is within," said he, leading him towards the interior, ** you can go in and see him; and as you may wish for some private conversation I will not accompany you.''
The youth thanked him, and entered the apartment, where he saw his father sitting up in a dignified man- ner, unencumbered with fetters. Having paid the cus- tomary respect, " Sir," said he, " I have been guilty
c 2 of
20 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
of great n^ligenoe in not coming sooner to wait upon and assist you/'
The censor arose fix>m his seat with surprise^ and said, '^ I am here, in my proper character, as a faith- ful minister — ^what is the reason that I see you in this place, at a time when you should be attending to your studies at home V
I heard/' repUed his son, " that your loyalty had involved you in trouble : how was it possible for me to remain at a distance V*
Teihying paused. — " Your coming," said he, " was certainly an act of duty — I perceived there were abuses, and deemed it right to speak my mind : but whether I be listened to or not— whether I live or die — must remain with the emperor, and your presence can do me no good whatever."
*' Sir," replied Teihchungyu, " it is doubtless the business of your station to speak your mind : but it is prudent, at the saine sime, to select occasions, when remonstrance may be attended with effect. Those who without regarding such opportunities, satisfy themselves with the mere boldness of their interference, are like the inconsiderate mortals who, continually chasing the wind and catching at shadows, think to get themselves a name by the mere loudness of their outcries. Do such deserve the name of faithful and useful ministers, or is this the object of his majesty in instituting their office ?"
" When
ti
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 21
'' When I reported the affair/' said Teihying sighing,
I had every reason to suppose there was sufficient eridenoe; nor was it possible to foresee the wiles which haye been practised by that villain. When Hanyuen and his wife openly called on me for protection, I re- presented their case ; and it was equally impossible to divine that when the Criminal tribunal had received orders to apf^rehend all persons concerned, the chief accusers diould be secreted out of the reach of inquiry ; — ^thus throwing all the responsibiUty on myself. Events have turned out in direct variance with my expectations : I may, therefore, be acquitted of the charge of ' persecut- ing the wind and catching at shadows,' no less than of a widi to deceive my sovereign.''
** It is true," observed his son, '^ that we cannot fixesee every contingency ; but we should adopt all the precautionB in our power. Instead, however, of dwel- lii^ on what is past, let us consult on a remedy for the evil, lest a further delay produce further mischief. As long as there is hope, sir, why should you lose your time in inactivity, while your enemies are plotting against you?"
*^ If I remain inactive, it proceeds fix>m necessity ; where can be the utility of exerting myself, as long as I hate no means of tracing those people ?"
" There are traces enough of them," said Teihchungyu, ^ but the Criminal tribunal favour Takwae, and remain inactive. You, sir, should obtain the emperor's express
authority
22 THE FORTUNATE UNION*
authority to prosecute this case in persoii| and you will no doubt succeed."
" There would not be much difficulty in that," ob- served the censor ;-^*' but if, after all, the people should not be discovered, it would only aggravate my own offence."
Teihchungyu then took occasion to inform him, that the place of concealment was known to himself; but as it was sacred from intrusion, the imperial permissicHi must be obtained to enter it, and apprehend the parties.
His father grew impatient. " The Criminal court," exclaimed he, *^ have received orders in vain to find them; I myself have fruitlessly engaged the exertions of my friends in power ; and do you, just arrived at the capital, pretend to know so much about it ? — Go to, you are a prating, self-sufficient boy !"
Teihchungyu replied, that in a matter of Ufe and death, it was quite impossible for him to be guilty of such levity ; and then, looking round to see that nobody was within hearing, he recounted all that he had learned fipom the young student and the villager, presenting at the same time the student's memorial for his father's inspec- tion.
Teihying was rejoiced at the perusal of the document.
This memorial," cried he, " will suffice to exculpate me, even though the people should not be discovered : — still, however, I cannot help suspecting that they are not secreted in that place."
His
THB FORTUNATE UNION. 23
His son observed, that as the palace was sacred firom all intrusion, there could be no doubt whatever of its being the place of concealment.
But when Takwae found his case growing despe- rate, would he not effect the death of these people, with a view to making himself secure V
He is sufficiently bad," answered Teihchungyu; ^ but I beUeve him to be nothing worse than a de- bauched Ubertine, who has abused his rank and power :— it does not follow that he is a murderer to boot. Be- sides, his attachment to the young woman's beauty would not let him give her up : and the security of his fortress, the connivance of the Criminal tribunal, and your being in prison, would all tend to make him feel secure. Think no more about that, sir, I beg."
What you say is very true," observed his father ; and this is no time for scruples. Wait until I have written a petition, and in the meanwhile procure my seal from home, that I may present it directly."
Yon need not take that trouble, sir," answered the youth, '' for I have both the petition and the seal ready. If you approve this paper, it may go without any alteraticm." So saying, he presented the writing to his fiUher, who opened and perused it as follows :
The imprisoned Teihying, late inspector-general of Honan province, humbly addresses his imperial Ma- jesty, to intreat that he may be furnished with authority for apprehending certain persons, and thereby clear
himself
it
24 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
himfidf fixMn imputed blame. To pake use of the eyes and ears of his servants is the virtue of the sovereign : to offer up his poor advice is the duty of the minister. Hence a member of the Censorate is permitted to re- port what he hears, although such a representation, made without proof, has been the cause of my present ^graoe.
*^ When the hereditary noble Takwae in open day carried off the daughter of the scholar Hanyuen, already betrothed, and thus offended against morality* and the ritual laws, I besought your Majesty to command that the Criminal tribmial should try that noble, with a view to vindicate the ritual laws and the cause of moraUty ; but the vncked culprit, vrith diabolical artifice, secreted the complainant, that he might deceive heavenf (your Majesty), while the Criminal tribunal through improper motives connived at and favoured him, and converted me, your Majesty's adviser, into the guilty party. In the simpleness of my integrity, I could derive no profit finom corruption : heavenf well knows the purity of my intentions : and it now only remains that I intreat my sacred master, in compassion to his servant who has suffered wrong, to issue an order, authorizing me to ap- prehend
* Mmgkeaou, * the fiunoos doctrine ' of Confucius— a Bystem of mond philosophy, £^ ' the ritual laws,'— of equal consequence among the Chinese.
t Here the word t*hl^ * heaven,' is used in almost the same sentence with two different meanings ; first, as the emperor^-secondly, in its usual Hense. This may serve to shew the idea which the Chinese entertain of their sovereign!
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 25
prebend the parties myself. Should the order arrive in the morning, and I foil to produce them before night, I win cheerfully await the severest punishment; but should they be forthcoming, then the discovery of their secretion will be a sufficient proof of the guilt and inno- cence of the respective parties. In the event of your Ma- jesty's gracious command being issued, I intreat that it may be secret, to prevent Takwae again shifting the hiding-place — and that there may be no restriction to the extent of search, in order to complete the elucidation of the facts. With the greatest anxiety I await your Majesty's pleasure. Appended to this is the statement of the young scholar himself, in further evidence."
Teihying was much pleased with the address, which he pronounced to be clear and well written, and so agreeable with his own wishes, as to require no alte- ration. He folded it up, and deUvered it to the governor of the prison, who received his directions to forward it to the proper office for receiving memorials. But to learn the result — ^to see the cage of jasper* broken, and the golden lock destroyed, let the reader proceed to the following chapter.
• This aOudet to a fluniliar poeticd oouplett wliicfa nmj be thus nndcred:—
" The Cige of jasper broken, the nuiegated pbcenix flew out> Hie golden lode destroyed, the divgon regained his liberty.'*
( 26 )
CHAPTER II.
** THE ATTACK. ON THE TIGER*8 DEN, AND THE SKILFUL
RECOVERY OF THE PRIZE.
Oocasioiis rise, when forms and rules prescribed Must to a straigfater course of action yield : He,* whom the sculptured column could not blind, Got praise — not so the over-scrupulous fool : Search for the hare amidst her likeliest haunts. And from the birds of prey a lesson learn In seizing her — 'twas thus our hero won His prize ; and bravely scorning vulgar forms, Fashion'd his conduct as the case demanded.
In less than two days after the Censor had^ in con- currence with his son's advice^ presented the petition to the emperor, a secret reply came from his majesty to the prison. Teihying opened it in private, and found that it granted his request, and gave him au- thority to apprehend the ravisher. Much rejoiced at this, he proceeded to erect a table of incense, and to
oflFer
* Allusion to the stories of Leying and ChangknSen. The first of these, being in search of a female who had been forcibly carried off, ransacked in vain the mansion of her ravisher, until, suspecting that the wooden columns of the house might from their size be capable of con- cealing the object of his pursuit, he ordered them to be cut open, and in that manner discovered her. The second, being in virtue of his office about to apprehend a criminal of high rank, was so unadvised as to precede his visit to the house of the guilty person l>y the transmission of a ceremonial ticket, which had the effect of warning his victim of the danger, and causing his escape.
THB FORTUNATE UNION. 27
offer op thanks in front of the imperial order ;* then carefally folding up the despatch, lest it should be seen, he began to consider what was best to be done.
" The emperor's permission/' thought he, " is ob- tained ; but should I be so unfortunate as to fail in apprehending the parties, I shall be in a dilemma." He consulted his son, and was for setting out forth- with.
*• Softly, sir," said the youth ; — " if you leave the prison at once, it will excite attention, and place our enemy on his guard. Wait here a while : let me precede you quietly, and break into his house ; then when I have rescued the young woman and her parents, I will give you notice, that you may hasten thither on horseback, and proclaim the imperial order : this will be the safest course." His father nodded assent ; and charging secresy on the officer of the prison, gave directions to his son to proceed with great caution. .
Teihchungyu going straight home, informed his mother of the circumstances, and inquired for hia brazen mace, weighing between twenty and thirty pounds, which he had formerly as a boy provided for his own exercise and amusement, being skilful in the use of his weapons, and robust withal. When called to Peking, his father had been apprehensive
lest
* This is an indigpeimble ceremony, on receiving any writing from the emperor.
28 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
lest this weapon might be prodactive of mischief, and directed tl\at his son should be deprived of it. The lady was therefore startled by his application at this time, and demanded with surprise for what purpose he required it ?
^' I am going/' replied he, " to explore the ti- ger's den : and how shall I defend myself without arms?"
Persuaded he was right, she gave directions that it should be delivered to him, but with a caution that he used it only defensively. The youth then privately ordered that from ten to twenty active attendants should follow at a distance, and be ready at his need. He next caUed for wine, and refreshed himself ; then putting on a military garb, in which he looked like some god, he took his brazen mace, and throwing an ordi- nary dress over all, mounted his white horse, being accompanied by a single attendant, and issued forth at the city gate without being remarked by any one.
On reaching the open road he gave his horse the rein, and soon observed^ at some distance on the left hand, a very magnificent mansion, which he knew must be the place. He dismounted at once, and deriring his boy to hold the horse, proceeded cau- tiously to reconnoitre the premises. On either side of the entrance was erected an inscription * to the
honour
* These are given in the original, consisting of four words each, and constituting gne of those paralUiims of which the Chinese are so fond,
but
THE FOBTUNATE UNIOK. 29
honoor of the noble inhabitaDt; and between tbem stood a triple portal of lofty dimensions, with this notification in golden letters on high : The Palace OF Retirement; conferebd bt his Majesty the Emperor. All three of the gates were fast shut.*
Seeing that he could not enter here, Teihchungyn bethought him that there must be a private door else- where ; so following the course of a high wall, and turning the comer into a side lane, he perceived, about midway, a small gate with red folding-doors, also closed, and secured with a great padlock* The nobleman's insignia, which had been pasted cross* wise over the doors, were torn and broken in conse*> quence of these having been frequently opened ; and
on
bttt wliieh cannot alwsjB be rendered yerj intelligiUe in EngilialL Lltft- nllj they are :
" Merit, reaching to the northern palace. Dignity, subjecting the sonthem heayen !**
* Efeiy oonsiderahle honae, as well as every temple, has a gateway* conaiating of one huge folding-door in the centre, and a smaller one on ettfaer side. These last serve for ordinary occasions ; while the first is thrown open for the reception of distinguished guests. The ornamental and booonuy gateways in the middle of Chinese streets (sometimes improperly termed triumphal arches) are of a similar construction, thoqi^ in dieae the doorways are never furnished with valv». Their beauty ariaea wholly from the painting and gildings and not from the proportiona, which are weak and flimsy. The roo( and what may be called the entablature, overweigh altogether the long and slender pillars beneath. As we refer the origin of colunms in European architecture to the trunks of trees, tapering in proportion as they rise from the ground, so the Chinese pillars may be traced to the original use of the baasboo^ which in its slender proportions, and nearly uniform diameter throogfaottt the whole length, assimilates to their columns at present
30 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
on looking tbrougb a crevice, he perceived that the bolts within were not fastened. On one side was pasted up this prohibition in large characters : Take NOTICE, his Imperial Majesty has declared
THIS PLACE SACRED FROM INTRUSION; NONE, WHAT- EVER BE THEIR CONDITION, MAY APPROACH OR LOOK IN, WITHOUT INCURRING THE SEVEREST PENALTIES.
Two lodges witbinside were filled with attendants, placed there as a guard. The youth perceiving this, would not alarm them yet ; but returning to where his page led the horse, threw off his scholar's dress, and displayed the military garb underneath ; then, seizing bis mace, he got on horseback, and gave directions to Seaoutan to call up the attendants, adding, that if any persons were apprehendedj he must instantly fly to his lord (in prison) with the intelligence.
Teihchungyu then galloped back to the small gate, and jumping off his horse, cried out aloud, ^^ I have the imperial order to see the nobleman Takwae ; go in instantly and announce me."
Four or five servants, in caps and dresses of cere« mony, rushed out from the lodges, and in the midst of their confusion and alarm gave for answer, that ^^ their lord was not there."
^^ Nonsense !" said the youth, with an exclama- tion of rage, " I know very well that he is. How dare ye, wretched slaves, act in opposition to the imperial order ? Be sui'e you shall all be seized and
put
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 31
pat to death/' The fellows looked at each otherj but were so frightiened that they could return no answer ; — while he cried out in a louder tone^ to ask what they meant by not opening the gate ?
An old domestic at last ventured to speak. ^' Who durst open it when our master is absent ? Besides^ were the gate open^ you woiild not presume to enter^ in opposition to the emperor'd prohibition V*
^ Not presume to enter with his majesty's express warrant ?" cried Teihchungyu in It rage ; but if you will not open the gate^ I must ;*' So lifting up his mace, he knocked off the padlock and staple at one stroke, and the doors immediately flew open. He strode in with a lofty air ; while the servants, fright* ened at his appearance, made no attempt to stop him ; but ran into the house in a body, exclaiming against this forcible entry.
When Takwae, in the height of his pride and power, first took possession of the daughter of Han- yuen, he looked upon the latter as a poor scholar who could obtain no redress for the outrage, little expecting that the censor Teihying would become his accuser to the emperor. On his majesty ordering the Criminal tri- bunal to investigate the matter, he had nothing left but to seize Hanyuen and his wife, and secrete them in his palace, to prevent their giving evidence. Afraid at first of their being discovered even there, he would have changed their hiding-place; but finding that the
Criminal
32 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
Criminal tribunal befriended him, and instead of pro-* secuting the aflair, threw Teihying into prison, he became quite at ease, and gave himself no farther concern on that score. Still apprehensive, however, . that the young lady might seek to put an end to her- self, rather than consent to his wishes, and her father and mother continuing inexorable, he treated them all handsomely for a while ; until, provoked by their obstinacy, he had that very^ day seated himself in his hall, and ordered Hanyuen to be stripped, bound, and brought before him, thinking that blows might have the eiSect of making him comply.
'^ Though you do possess literaiy rank," * said he, addressing his prisoner, '^ I have you very safe in this place, and can put you to death if I chuse. How shall such a poor wretch as you find any redress ?"
*^ You may murder me if you please," replied Hanyuen, " but heaven is not to be insulted — ^nor the laws violated with impunity. You will have to repent your crime when it is too late ; think a little, then, before you act."
•^ You call on me to think," exclaimed Takwae — why not consider a little for yourself. It certainly is no disgrace to a poor scholar to have a daughter in the family of a noble.f If you consent, you shall all of you be sumptuously clothed and fed, and well
provided
* Asa protection.
t That it, as a handmaid, not as his wife. See Prefiice.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 33
provided for; this will be a good deal better than your present state of poverty."
^^ I am a poor scholar^" replied Hanyuen; ^* but the adage says^ ^ better be honored among the little^ than despised among the great.*' How shall a disciple of Confueius^ from any sordid desire of wealth or luxury, disgrace the sacred religion of the emperor?"
Takwae now grew enraged, and desired his ser- vants to begin their work with him — when behold four or five of those at the gate came rushing in, exclaiming, ^' Alas ! my lord, a young man in a military dress, armed with a brazen mace, and pro- claiming a warrant from the emperor, has, in defiance of our opposition, burst into the gate. We know not who he is; but he will be here presently, and we come to put you on your guard."
Takwae became almost stupified with fright when he heard this, and looking wildly about, would have retreated into an inner room ; but Teihchungyu had already strode into the hall, and seeing him standing there, raised his hands and saluted him.
'* My lord, I come on business from his majesty, and must speak with you. How is it that you oppose the imperial pleasure in refiising me admittance ?"
Seeing that escape was out of the question, Takwae was obliged to come forward. ^^ If you bring his majesty's order," said he, " why had not I previous
VOL. I. D notice,
* Literally, * Better precede a hen, than follow a cow.*
34 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
notice, that a table of incense might be prepared ? — ^Why enter in this rude and boisterous man- ner ?"
" The order was both secret and urgent," replied the youth, ^^ and did not admit of being either di-* vulged or delayed." Then advancing forward with his mace in his right hand, he seized fast hold of Takwae with his left. ^^ I beg leave to ask, since this is a place conferred by the emperor for purposes of retirement and privacy, and not a court of justice, what poor man is this, whom you are stripping and beating ?"
Conscious of his guilt in imprisoning the poor scholar, and hearing the imperial order so frequently repeated, Takwae became more and more frightened, and would gladly have made his escape : but, seized and detained as he was, it became necessary to put on a bold face. " These are my own domestics," said he, " under my own government ; they have no concern with public justice." He then desired his people to take away the prisoner, under pretence of inquiring the imperial order ; but Teihchungyu would not permit this ; and Hanyuen cried aloud from the bottom of the hall, that " truly he was not a domestic of Takwae, but a poor scholar whom he had seized and imprisoned :" calling on the youth at the same time to save his life.
Teihchungyu felt rejoiced to hear that this was
really
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 35
really Hanyuen ; but affecting to be much astonished, '^ How came you to be concealed here," inquired he, ^^ when the Criminal tribunal had an order to produce you ? — ^This is a contempt of the emperor, and can hardly be expiated with life !"
The page had by this time come in, and his master made him a sign,, which he presently understood. He ran out to summon the attendants in a body, and then galloped off to give information to the Censor in prison. The youth pointed out Hanyuen to his people, and told them to seize him, as he was the emperor's prisoner. " If you have been injured by Takwae," said he, addressing him, ^* what pre- vented your going for redress to the Criminal court, instead of lurking here, and conniving at his ill- conduct.''
The poor man began to weep. " When my daugh- ter," replied he, " was seized by the wicked ravisher, I did all in ray power to procure redress : I presumed not to conceal myself from the Criminal tribunal ; but, poor and helpless as I am, was carried off by a num- ber of his creatures, as a sheep is seized by a tiger* My wife and I were immured in this place, and daily threatened with punishment, unless we consented to his demands. Our death awaited us, when you, brave sir, came as if from heaven to our rescue, and re- stored us to the light. Believe me that you found us here in a pitfall, and with no consent of our own."
D 2 *Mt
36 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
" It would seem, then, that your wife and daughter are both here ?" said Teihchungyu.
" Indeed, sir, they are," replied the other. " My unhappy wife is imprisoned in a back room ; and my daughter, who I believe is confined in an upper story, looks daily to death as a refuge. I am even ignorant if she be dead or alive."
This account excited the high indignation of Teih- chungyu, who made a sign to his people to carry Hanyuen to the back of the house in search of his wife and daughter-. Takwae perceived that all was lost ; but, enraged at seeing the men going into his private rooms, he became careless of consequences, and loudly vociferated to Teihchungyu, that this sanctuary, conferred by his majesty, and his here- ditary rank, entitled him to the judgment of the emperor. " What man are you," cried he, *^ that dare thus armed to break into my doors on your own proper authority, and insult me thus grossly ? Your own crime is sufficient to destroy you, without any interference with the concerns of others." So saying, he endeavoured to grapple with the youth, but failing in that, called on his sen^ants to apprehend him.
His whole household had assembled at the com- mencement of the aiSair to assist their lord 5 but seeing him in the hand« of Teihchungyu, who waa armed, and withal of a formidable aspect, they had not ventured to come forward. Thus called upon,
however.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 37
however, some of the boldest advanced to seize (tic young roan, who exclaimed : " Wretched slaves ! whom would you dare to touch ?" Then seizing Tkkwae by the middle, he swayed him round, and at one sweep, sent all the fellows tumbling over one another. His prisoner, being advanced in age, and moreover weak and enervated by luxury, could ill bear this rough treatment. He became sick, dizzy, and out of breath, and could only just wave his hand and cry out to his people, " Be quiet ! be quiet !"
Takwae had some friends, nobles like himself, who being informed of what was going on, came directly to the spot, and seeing their acquaintance in such an awkward situation began to remonstrate with Teih- cbungyu. " Sir," said they, " be pleased to control your resentment awhile, and let us talk over the mat- ter with you ; but do not use force, and violate the dignity of a noble."
" This fellow," exclaimed the youth, " is a wretch who has deceived his sovereign, and infringed the laws — death is no punishment for him : what nobility or dignity is there in the case ?"
" If there be any thing wrong in his conduct," said they again, '^ it should be properly investigated; but this kind of treatment cannot be agreeable with the emperor's wish."
" What you say is sufficiently reasonable in itself," replied Teihchungyu, " but you are ignorant of the
cii'cum-
38 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
circumstances: the atrocity of this man's conduct requires another mode of proceeding ; the case is too urgent for the application of common rules/'
" We are not acquainted," said they, " with the occasion which has called forth your prowess, and beg to ask whether yon came hither to revenge some injury of your own, or to right some other per- son ; when we know the facts, we shall be aUe to judge."
" I came for neither of those purposes," answered he, *' but with the emperor's private order to appre- hend criminals."
" Why not let us hear it read ?" cried the others, " to remove all doubts ?"
That may readily be done," replied the youth 5
let an altar of incense be quickly prepared."
Directions being given for this purpose, Takwae, who had in the mean while recovered his breath, observing that his partisans were numerous, began to assume courage. ** Friends," exclaimed he, " do not listen to his nonsensical speeches ; he is neither an authorized oflGicer, nor any minister of the emperor : what pretensions has he to the imperial warrant? It is some associate of Hanyuen, who puts on this brave appearance to impose on us. Having impu- dently broken into this sanctuary, and assaulted a noble, his crime is too great to admit of his escaping us. I call on you to assist me. Send for the two
niagis*
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 39
magistrates of the district ; tell them that a murderer has broken into my house in open day^ and if they do not come to my assistance, they shall hear of it to-morrovr."
His friends now began to think this was all true, and turning toTeihchungyu, " Such exploits as yours," said they, ^' might succeed in the dark on some poor man in a remote village ; but here, and in broad daylight, it could hardly be expected. Where is the warrant for this violence — let it be read : if you can- not produce it, your crime is indeed heavy ! You bad better tell us your name, and the whole truth. Submit, and we may still do something for you ; but if you think to escape us, you will scarcely succeed, even with wings."
Teihchungyu smiled at this. ^' What is there to prevent my going away now, if I pleased ?" said he : *' it will be time enough to go when the warrant is read, and the prisoners are secured."
^^ Then let it be read instantly," exclaimed the others.
^^ I am alone," said the youth, ^' and he has his friends on the spot : he will pervert the meaning, and I shall lose my labour : wait, then, until the magis- trates arrive."
The others agreed that this was a fair arrangement, and a messenger being sent to hasten the magistrates,* they soon arrived, separately. When informed of the
business,
* The Chefoo and Chchilen.
40 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
business^ the superior officer replied that they must first see the warrant, and would then give their deci- sion. The incense altar was prepared, and the chief magistrate called on the youth to read the paper, re- minding him of his guilt if it should prove informal.
Before he could return an answer, the attendants announced that Teihying had alighted from his horse at the gate. Takwae, with ill-suppressed alarm, ex- claimed, "When did he get out of prison ?** just as his great enemy stalked in with dignity, holding up reverently in both hands a yellow cover which con- tained the warrant.* Advancing up to the altar of incense, he unfolded the imperial document; while his son took Takwae and made him kneel down in front, ordering the people at the same time to con- duct Hanyuen to the bottom of the steps. He next addressed himself to those present, " The criminal noble Takwae having refused to surrender the pri- soners, let the imperial warrant be read."
The Censor, perceiving that the two magistrates were present, addressed himself to the Chefoo. " Sir, your presence here is fortunate : be pleased to step up and read aloud this peremptory order from his majesty.'*
That officer immediately obeyed, and receiving the paper, proceeded to read it out as follows : while
Teih-
* This was precisely the way in which the Viceroy of Canton deli- vered to Lord Amherst the emperor's letter to the Prince Regent ; a yellow tent or tabernacle being prepared for the ceremony.
THB FORTUNATE UNION. 41
TeibyiDg went and knelt down by the side of Ta- kwae.*
*^ Teihying informs us that Takwae has seized and imprisoned Hanyuen, with his wife and daughter : what then prevented the Criminal tribunal from appre- hending them? He is hereby authorized to secure those persons wherever they may be found, and let the tribunal judge and report to us. Should they not be forthcoming within three days, Teihying shall be severely punished for deceiving us/'
When he had returned thanks for the imperial goodness, the Censor rose to pay his respects to the nobles who were present. These, however, bad left the house as soon as they heard the order read ; and the domestics, too, bad quietly slunk off. The two magistrates only remained, and Takwae, seeing that his case was desperate, was obliged to humble him- self before Teihying. " Sir," said he, " I am to blame, and hope that you will consider me with indulgence."
*• I wish only,** replied the Censor, " to prove clearly that i have not deceived his majesty — I shall then be satisfied. Hanyuen has declared that his wife and daughter are both here with himself: you had better send for them at once, and prevent our going in to search."
" No," said Takwae ; " he came here of his own
accord ; his wife and daugjhtcr are not here."
" I
* This he did in acknowledgment of his still being under the empe- ror's displeasure ; i. e, until he had cleared himself. It will be seen that he returns^ to prison as soon as ho has executed the order.
42 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
*^ I will not contradict you," answered the other, ^' but we must obey the emperor's order and look for them." So saying, he directed his son and the rest to begin the search : which Takwae would gladly have prevented, but could not. None of his own family were in the house ; but as soon as the party went in, they presently heard somebody weeping, and Hanyuen cried out to his daughter ^^ to diy her tears, for her deliverance was at hand." His wife, too, who was in a side room, cried out to be released. They found the door locked, but Teihchungyu soon knocked it open with his mace, and the poor woman ran out, being, like her husband, in great apprehen- sion for their daughter.
The latter, on hearing her father's voice, endeavour- ed to come down, but was prevented by several female attendants, who however immediately released her, when the mother made known the emperor's order. There were heaps of fine garments and jewels in the apartment, thrown on one side ; and the young lady's face and dishevelled hair being shaded with a plain covering, she was conducted down to the hall, where the father, mother, and daughter, all three knelt down before the Censor, and thanked him gratefully for their deliverance.
** You need not thank me," replied he, " it pro- ceeds entirely from the emperor's goodness : but your case is still before the Criminal court, who alone
may
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 43
may decide it." Then turning to the second magis- trate, " These three are his majesty's prisoners — it will be best for you to deliver them in person to the tribunal."
When that officer had conducted them away, the Censor observed to the superior magistrate, ^^ that Takwae's rank entitled him to be treated with con- sideration, and he ought therefore to escort him to the proper tribunal in person ; that as for himself, he lay still under the emperor's displeasure, and must return to prison." So saying, he mounted his horse, and departed in company with his son.
Dragg*d from hU lair, the savage tiger owns His hunter's prowess ; — and the wily fox, Track'd in his flight, to arts superior yields. The peari,* long-lost, to its glad owner giyen, Prov*d generous deeds, though rare, no fabled things.
We will not stop to relate the various arts of influence and bribery to which Takwae had recourse, with a view to escaping the punishment of his mis- deeds ; but proceed to observe, that the Censor, on his return to the prison, made out a clear statement of his successful proceedings, and sent it up to the em- peror. On the following morning, this reply was
received :
" Teih-
* H6poo Hem, in Canton province, was of old fiunous for its pearls. There was a pure and upright magistrate of that district, who, having received a valuable present of pearls from one of the inhabitants, said no- thing at the time, but sent them back to the owner after his departure from the government of the place. " The return of the pearls to H6poo Hieo,** is become proverbial for any act of disinterestedness.
44 THE FOBTUNATE UNION.
a
Teihying, by discoveriiig and apprehending the persons who were secreted^ has proved the truth of his representation, and vindicated himself. Let him leave bis confinement, and fill his former oflSce for a time, until the decision of the Criminal tribunal be known: he niay then be promoted. Respect this."
When he had returned thanks for the imperial bounty, the Censor proceeded to join his family, and was joyfully received by his wife and son.
The Criminal court in the meanwhile, though they would gladly have assisted Takwae, having already involved themselves on his account, were obliged to be cautious on the present occasion. The testimony of the three persons who had been seized and con- fined by that wicked noble was so irresistible, that they were compelled to pronounce him guilty ; though at the end of their report to the emperor they added a few words in his favour. "Takwae/* said they, " is some forty years of age, and it was from his anxiety alone to obtain an heir that he desired to possess the virtuous young woman in question. After taking her to his house, he made use of no criminal violence, but sought her consent by mere kindness and persuasion. The merits of his ancestors, too, may entitle him to indulgence: the final decision, however, must be pronounced by your majesty; it does not befit us, your ministei*s, to say more on the subject, but to await the imperial command with
reve-
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 46
reverence." In two days the following answer was received :
" The noble Takwae, enjoying high hereditary rank^ forgot his duty, and carried off the daughter of Hanyuen, betrothed to the scholar Weipei. This act was sufficiently unlawful ; but when the Censor accused him to us, far from repenting of his former offence^ he seized the parents of the young woman, and concealing them in the retreat which we had conferred on him, accused Teihying in return of having deceived us. His guilt is very atrocious^ and being regularly proved against him, ought to be punished with degradation and death. But in con- sideration of the merits of his family, we cannot punish his crime as it deserves. Let him be confined to his palace for three years, and deprived of one year's revenue, which is to be given to Hanyuen in reparation of injuries sustained. As the latter shewed a brave determination in the defence of his prin- ciples, and proved himself a worthy disciple of the true doctrine,* let him be rewarded with an official situation, in which his merits will not be thrown away; and let his daughter, who maintained her virtue, be happily united with her betrothed lover. Teihying, in reward of the uprightness and deter- mination of his conduct, which has given us high satisfaction, is promoted to be one of the chiefs of
the
* Of Confucius.
46 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
the Censorate. Let the Criminal tribunal be amerced in three months' salary^ for having unjustly favoured Takwae. — Respect this."
The whole of Peking was presently filled^ on re- ceipt of this edicts with the fame of Teihchungyu's exploit. Every one became anxious to see and be acquainted with him^ and his visitors were pouring In from morning till night. The gratitude of Hanyuen and the young student^ his son-in-law^ of whom the first had obtained promotion, and the second a spouse, through the exertions of our hero, was boundless. They treated him as a superior, or a god ! But the Censor became very uneasy on his son's account. ^' Heaven," said he to him, ^' will not allow mortals to be too proud and elated. Recollect that pros- perity and adversity are very neariy allied; — ^it is but a short time since I was in prison — ^my fortune then seemed to be at the lowest ebb ; but the emperor's goodness as suddenly restored me to the height of prosperity. The unprincipled Takwae can never for- get the disgrace you have brought upon him, and will certainly seek revenge for the indignities you offered to his person. As for myself, I am the minister of the emperor, and entirely at his disposal : life and death, happiness and misery, I must equally accept at his hands : but you are free to rove whither you please ; — ^better then retire from this dangerous place. The gradual extension of your fame, and intercourse
in
THE FORTUNAtA^ UNION. 47
in the metropolis^ may expose you to the machina- tions of the envious and malicious. I advise you> therefore, under pretext of travelling for information, to retire to some distance. It will have the usual effect of magnifying your merits, as every thing which is imperfectly known, is more esteemed than that which is familiar and vulgar."*
^' I myself, sir,'' replied his son, ^^ am tired of so much society, and entertain the same sentiments with yourself : still, considering that your censorial office peculiarly subjects you to men's resentment, I can- not feel easy in leaving you exposed to it alone."
*^ I have clothed myself in uprightness," said his
father, ^^ and walked in the straight path of rectitude;
besides, being now happily exalted by the emperor to
a higher station, I may despise little slanders, and feel
secure from any great evil. You need not, therefore,
remain on that account ; but when you go, neglect
not to prosecute your studies, nor forget to make the
virtuous ancients your models : and on no account
let the impetuosity of your temper betray you into trouble."
The youth bowed low, and thanked his father for
his advice ; and in two or three days more, finding
that his visitors rather increased than diminished, he
made preparations for his journey, and bidding adieu
to
* In the original there is an allusion to the partial and indistinct ap- peannce of the fiibled dragon— a sort of uncertainty that excites men's awe and wonder: — " Omne ignotiim,** &c.
48 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
to bis father and mother, set ofT on his return to the family house^ accompanied by his page.
He came— by uiigeDt calls of duty led, He wen^-to foil the vengeance of his foes : The destinies that o*er his movements hung Heav'n will in time reveal!
On his arrival, however, Teibcbungyu found that the fame of his own exploit, and of his father's pro- motion, had preceded him. Not only did his relations and friends throng to wait upon him, but the whole district was thrown into a commotion. ^^ Should it be always thus," thought he to himself, " I had bet- ter have remained at home in Peking. I must follow my father's advice and go to some distance, under plea of ti-avelling for instruction."
After the expiration of a month he delivered the house in charge to a domestic, and proceeded, ac- companied by Seaeutan, on his travels. But this ex- pedition must be separately related : — to learn the effects of spirited resolution, and the embarrassments that resulted from services mutually rendered, it will be necessai*y to peruse the following chapters.
( 49 )
CHAPTER III.
" SHOKTPINOSIH ADROITLY CHAMOK8 THK FLOWER."
Tliat wetknets is a woman's lot, all know. Few kDOw a woman can sometimes be wise ! A single word the lurking mischief quell'd. Hie flying late was by a turn avoided : No sound, no signal, did her plans require ; But an succeeded in the time of trial : While to her foes* vile schemes fiill play she gave, — Schemes ftaugfat with late repentance !
Whbn Teihchungyu, in compliance with his ffi- tber's advice, commenced his tour, he was still unde- cided as to the best route to be pursued : considering, however, that Shantong was a province celebrated for the birth of extraordinary persons,*^ of men emi- nent on account of their talents and virtue, he thought he could do no better than proceed in that direction, with the chance of encountering such characters. His mind thus made up, he desired Seaoutau to hire a good mule, and proceeded without delay on his journey.
Who studies books must close his silent cell ; But Wisdom's search lies fiurther off from home. Explore each untried nook beneath the sky,t And flU the inlets of the mind with knowledge.
We will leave him for the present, and take up VOL. I. B another
* Confudns among the rest.
t " Beneath the sky,** in Chinese acceptation, is only ' the empire.*
60 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
another part of our narrative. In Leihching H^en, a subordinate district dependent on the chief city of Shantong province, was the family residence of a person of rank, named Shueykeuyib, who bad for many years been a member of the Military tribunal at Peking, where he acquired a great reputation by the bold independence of his character. It was his mis- fortune, however, towards the advanced age of sixty^ to lose his lady, who left hini no son, and only a single daughter, named Shueypingsin, of extraor- dinary beauty.* Her eyebrows were like the slender leaflet of the willow in spring, and her whole aspect that of a delicate autumnal flower. Brought up tenderly in the retirement of the female apartments^ sbe surpassed in delicacy a silken tissue. Still, how- ever, when the occasion called for it, she possessed talents and resolution beyond many of the other sex. Her father loved and valued her as a gem, and being obliged to reside chiefly at the capital in his official capacity,t entrusted the management of his household
entirely
-* Chinese ideas of beauty are peculiar ; their ladies resemble those in Terence :
a
quas matres Student
" Demissis humeiis esse : ?incto peecore (pcde), ut gradles sient : ** Si qua est habttior paulo^ pugilem esse aiunt : deducunt cibum : '' Xunetsi bona est natura, reddunt curaturft junceas.**— £iai. //. $,
t It is well known to be the policy of the Chinese government, that no person shall hold a responsible office in his own province and city. The statutes fiEUther provide, that no officer shaH purchase lands or tenements wkhin his jurisdiction.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 51
entirely to his daughter^ who supplied to him the place of a son. It was in this manner that she reached the age of seventeen without any steps being taken towards her marriage.
Her fether bad unfbrtonately a very worthless yonnger brother, named Shneynn, who, in spite of some pretensions that he made to letters, was withal deplorabfy ignorant. Satisfied with the rank and oonaeqaenoe derived from his fiunily and connexions, be associated with the vilest companions, and thereby natnrally became rodooed both in money and credit: tor though he sometimes contrived by unworthy means to collect a little together, it soon slipped away, and left him as poor as ever. It was the happy fate of this man to have three sons, who inherited all their father's ignorance and bad qualities. He had a daiq^hter too, exceedingly plain, but young, and bom Id the same year with her cousin Shneypingsin, than whom she was only two months older.
Shueyun, seeing that his brother had no son, and that his estate was large, longed extremely to get the management of it into his own hands. Unfortunately for him, however, this was impossible, as long as his niece remained single: and for this reason he was constantly employing their mutual relations to uige marriage to her. One match was praised for its wealth, another for its honours, and a third for the youth, the talents, or the handsome person of the
E 2 proposed
52 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
proposed bridegroom. But the young lady had no
yiews of that sort at present, and their speeches made
not the least unpression on her.
Shueyun, at a loss what step to take, discovered that
the son of the minister Kwolobngtuhg, a neighbour of theirs; was in s^ux^h of a wife, and presently despatched some one to propose his niece.' This young man, Kwo- ketsu, was a debauched Ubertine, who in his choice of a spouse dreamed of nothing but her personal attractions: he accordingly inquired if she were handsome or otherwise ? -*to which of course a reply was made, giving a splendid account of her beauty and accomplishments. Kwoketsu did not seem to place much faith in what he heard^ but rather kept aloof fix)m assenting to the proposals ; upon which Shiieyun, beginning to grow anxious, agreed that he should have a sight of his niece by stealth. Now idthough the two brothers had long lived separate, their mansion was originally one house, divided into two equal parts; and along the line of internal separation were points whence some view could be obtained of the con- tiguous apartments. Kwoketsu was led thither by the uncle to steal a look, and perceivii^ at once the un- common beauty of Shueypingsin, he became eager to obtain her in marriage. When his emissaries, however, went over to make proposals, the young lady rejected them altogether.
Much chagrined at this refusal, the young man deter- mined on applying to the principal magistrate of the
district,
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 53
district, and endeayouring by rich presents'to' obtain his assistaiice.- That officer, on the first proposal, being aware of the high rank and character of ihe young lady's &ther at court, expressed his fears of any unadvised proceeding ; but unwilhi^ at the same time to offend Kwoketsn, he called on Shueypingsin,* and endeavoured to influence her by argument ; when soon finding it was of ix> avail, he thought proper to give up the scheme at once.
He heard, however, some time after this, that the father of Shueypingsin.had fallen into disgrace with the emperor, for recommending a miUtary leader who was unhappily defeated in an engagement with the enemy, in consecjuence of which his patron had been deprived of his seat in the Military tribunal, and immediately banished to the frontier. . Finding, too, that Kwoloongtong had been lately promoted to the emperor's council, and ob- serving the eagerness with which his son continued to BcXkat his assistance, he thought it expedient to change his former.policy, and further the young man's views.
He accordingly sent for the uncle Shueyun, and ad- dressed him thus : '* When young persons of either sex
have
* TliM may appear a yiolation of tbe strict seduaion of females in China : but the Chehten had a magisterial right to make such a visit whidi an indifferent person could not have assumed ; and this visit would of course be made under the usual restrictions and formalities, a screen being interposed, and the lady being heard, but not seen. They will aometinies depart from their strict rules in finvour even of strangers ; and Englishmen have occasionally been allowed the honour of a visit to ladies of some consideration, when they allowed themselves not only to be heardy but seen toa
64 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
have reached the proper age, and a suitable matdi pre8eht$ itself, it should not be neglected. That a daughter ought to await her father's commands on this pointy is doubtless the genefal rule : but if time presses, and further delay is inexpedient, the general rule must yield to the particular case. Your niece is now of a marriageable age, she is left at home without the pio- taction of either mother or brothers ; and there are a number of youths among the household, which alone is objecticmable. All this, however, would be of less ood- sequence, were her father still in office at Peking, as H might then be aigued that she was awaiting his choice : but now, unhappily, he is exiled to the fiontier, and his very exbtence becomes extremely uncertain; indiy not act, then, according to the exigency of the case : and since your niece may not chuse for herself, make use of your privilege, as her nearest relation, to chuse for her? Besides, the father of Kwoketsu has been prcxnoted to the highest dignity, and that youth himself possesses good abilities. It is altogether an excellent match, and you ought by no means to allow the transient fnejudioes of your niece to interfere with such important arrange- ments for her future life. I asked you to come hither Gtk purpose to give you this advice ; and if you do not chuse to follow it, you will not only miss a good match, but throw away an opportunity of benefiting your own private interests.*'*
Shueyun
* He takes care that the strongest argument shall come last
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 56
Shueyun very readily fell in with a scheme which so emctly suited his own views. '' Sir/' said he to the magistrate, ''I have already taken great pains to persuade my niece ; but accustomed, -like a spoiled child as she is» to consult nothing but her own whims, she treated ^eiy proposal of the kind ?rith contempt Backed howe?er 1^ the weight of your worship's wise and en- lightened instructions, I shall now go and convey them to my niece. She cannot plead her fiither's wishes as an excuse for her obstinacy, and wiU hardly venture to oppose your authority."
He proceeded straight home, and went over to see his mece with an affectation of great alann. ** You know," md he to her, '^ what pains I took to persuade you to compliance when the Chefbo came here with his pro- posals ; and with how httle success* The mischief that on underling in office can do, when provoked, to -dioae under his authority, is proverl»al: what then may you not expect finom a person of his power and fuxisequence ! As long as your &ther remained in office, he was inclined to keep some terms with us ; but now that he is disgraced and banished, the case becomes qntte altaned. His worship b^ins to use very strong language ; and unless you comply fiHlhwith, the worst is to be feared. You are an unprotected orphan; I myself have no influence : what then can we do to oppose him?" He concluded by repeating his former praises of Kwoketsu, and advising his niece to consider^
that
56 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
that if she refused this fair ofFer^ she might live to repent it two or three years hence^ when an equally good match should be out of the question.
Shueypingsin replied by urging the neceissity of her parents* consent on a subject so important as marriage, and the impropriety of her being guided by any other authority. '^ But," said her uncle, '' the magistrate has already settled this point : he has determined, that since your father's consent cannot be obtained, the con- sent of the local civil officer is the same thing ; or at least that your uncle's authority may supply its place. Do not persist any longer in your obstinacy."
His niece held down her head in a thoughtful posture, and seemed to reflect within herself for a few moments. '' The ms^traie must, no doubt, be respected," said she ; ** but still he is not a member of the fiemuly. If you, my uncle, however, chuse to supply my father's place on this occasion, it certainly admits of conside- ration."
" And why not ?" said Shueyun ; " Are not a father and an uncle the nearest possible relations ?"
" I have always looked on my father's consent as indispensable," replied his niece ; *^ but if a fisither and an uncle are really the same thing, then do you take the whole affair upon yourself: there can be no occasion to consult me about it"
Shueyun was overjoyed to hear her talk in this way.
Now," exclaimed he, " you begin to think reason- ably !
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 67
ably ! What should have made me take such pains ca this subject, had I not felt myself competent to carry it through? But hear me, child: you will experieiice hereafter the full advantages of this match : your future fiither-in-law is of the emperor's council; and should matters turn out well, he may be induced to present a petititm for your fieitherfs recal fix>m exile.''
** This indeed would be fortunate!" observed his niece.
'* Now," continued he, '^ as the magistrate is expect- ing your answer, suppose you make out, in your own hand-writing, a ticket of nativity,* that I may presen^t it in token of your consent."
** It will be more proper for you to provide the nup- tial ticket," replied his niece ; '' for it would seem inde- coraus cm the part of a female."
** Well," answered he, " I represent your £Either, and: may do so with great propriety ; but pray give me a draft at least of your eight characters."
Shneypingsin immediately took up a pencil; and whoi she had written out eight characters by pairs, in four rows, gave the paper to her uncle. He, delighted with his acquisition, hurried home to his own house;
and
* Connstiiig of eight characters, which express in pairs the year, month, day, and hour of a person's birth, and are the grounds work of a calculation which the professors of judicial astrology, among this super- stitious people, pretend to make of one's fortune. In negociadng a mafriage, the pHiMze (eight characters) of either party arc sent and com- pared together.
58 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
aikd calling his three sons togetheri told them that the marriage was finally settled.
But it was only yesterday/' obsenred the ddest,
that our cousin* made«?eiy posnble objection ; whence c(»nes this sudden compliance to-day ?"
** The only difficulty with her/' replied Shneyini^ " was thewant of her &ther'iB consent; but the momeni I told her an uncle's would do as well, she eomphed at
once."
*^ Yes/' said the son ; '' but when she considers the matter again, I fear she may change her mind."
** There can be no changing now/' cried the &ther;
I have made her give me her eight characters ;" so taking the paper <out of his sleeve, he shewed it to his three sons*
They all viewed it with delight; and agreed thai changii^ was now quite out of the question. '' Very : well|" said Shueyun ; ** but there is something to be done yet" — and being asked to explain himself, continued :^- '* she says, that since I act in her fether's place, the
nuptial
* litendlj, ' our sister on the other side of the wall.* The sons tod daughters of an unde on the father's side, as they hare the same fiunily name, and very often live under the same roof, are styled brotfaen and anters, with some such qualification as the above, and, like brothers and sisters, cannot intermarry with their cousins : not so the children of an oamf, since a woman, when once marned, belongs altogether to her hus- band's 2unily, and becomes almost alienated ftom her own lektiona by blood. This, however, must be understood with the eiception of her Jawftd allegiance to her own fiither and mother, which seems to remain in fuU force (see Leu4ee}, while the additional and equally strong subjection to the parents of her husband is superadded.
THE FOBTL'NATE UNION. 59
nuptial ticket^ and the usual presents, must be pr<mded by myself/'
" We must spend a little to obtain more,^ observed his eldest son ; '' unless we ebuse to incur this fflnall expense now, we can hardly expect to possess bar far ther's proper^ by and bye.''
" That is all very well," leplied Shueyun; " but where is the money to come fix>m ?"
After a little consultation they agreed to pledge a portioo of the &mily wardrobe ;* and being thus pos^ sessed of some ready money, they first prcmded a roU of scarlet silk, on which the e^ht characters were blar- sonedf in solid gold ; and a handsome nuptial ticket being thus prepared, they took it in person to the Chefoo, telling that magistrate they had brought him the rati- fication of the match according to his desire. He was very glad to see it, and directed that it might be taken to his deputy the Cheheen, with his request to that
officer
* The DMefsity of to low an eipedient cniDOt be cooeidered at veiy prolMble in a family ao coonected : bat the deaign of tbe author perhape wai^ to aaeriflee eren a little probability for the sake of placing this par- tieolar fiHofly In the moat eontemptible and ridicaloiii light. Hie waid- rabe of a Chineae, howerert Mng eompoaed of embroidered ailka and ftv»*-oC toy eipenai?e and laaUng materials^ forms r. more aerioos portiofl ofhiapnipcrtythaBinEmope. Hie tnnalator rememben beins it an entertainment irtiere the iNuty, according to the cuitom of the conntry, being seated in an open room, without fires, tbe European guests soon began to complain of cold } upon which the boet immediately accommo- dated the whole number (ten or twelve) with handsome spencers, aU made of the most costly furs ; telling them, at tbe same time, that be had plenty more in reserve.
t iriteraliy, 'nailed, or rivettodi*
60 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
officer to superintend the wedding.* When the latter heard it was his superior's desire^ he felt himself oblig- ed to undertake the office^ so a fortunate day was selected ; and he went in procession, attended by music, to present the nuptial ticket to the bridegroom. Kwo- ketsu seized upon the prize as though it had been a treasure of pearls; and having prepared a stmiptuous repast, made much of the Cheheen. After the lapse of a short period, he provided costly mairii^e presents ; and chusing a fortunate day in his turn, requested that ma- gistrate to escort them in state to the family mansion of Shueypingsin.
On the day before their arrival, Shueyun had told his niece to prepare herself for their reception. She how- ever repUed, ** This house, desolate and deserted as it is from the long absence of my father, is hardly a pro- per place to receive the marriage presents : and since you, my uncle, personate my father on this occasion, and issue the nuptial ticket, the presents also should be sent to your house. Besides, we are all descended from the same stock, and their being received on that side or this, amounts to just the same thing.''
" Well," said her uncle, " they shall be received at my house ; but I fiamcy that, in sending an answer, it will be correct to write your father's name."
" If you write my father's name,*' observed the young
lady,
* The Chefoo, conscious that he had been guilty of a stretch of power, wished to appear as litUe as possible in the transaction.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 61
it
ti
lady, how can you be said to act instead of my father ? 6e»de8, he is exiled, and in disgrace with the emperor, and should you write his name, it may be treated with some disrespect by the family of Kwoketsu. The usual ceremonies being conducted by yourself in person, it surely will be more proper to write your own name than my &ther's."
. The simple Shueyun assented likewise to this, and hurrying home to procure some ornamented tickets, came back and requested his niece to write upon them.
Very weD," said she, " I will do so ; but you had better tell people they were written by your sons, for fear they should laugh at you."
. He readily . agreed to this, and when Shueypingsin bad inscribed his name on the tickets, she added below, that they were to return thanks for '' his daughter's nuptial presents," and read them aloud to her unde. But why write my daughter ?" enquired he. You personate my father," said the young lady ; why not call me your daughter?" He made no objections, but taking up the tickets, car- ried them over to his house. ** These tickets," said he to his scnos, - ' run in my name, and speak of my niece as my own daughter ; not to mention the marriage pre- sents, then, the fate of the whole property is settled at
it
once."
They all rejoiced together, and congratulated each
other
62 THK FORTUNATE UNION.
oiber ^apoa their good fi»tune ; and od the following diq^, before the arriyal of the presents, they dressed them* selves in their habits of ceremony, throwing open the central gate,* and preparing the great hall with silk hangings and carpets for their reception.
The magistrate was met with a loud concert of mnsic, and entertained in a sumptuous manner throng the day. Shueypingsin, on her part, took no notice whatever of their proceedings; but when the guests had all dispersed, her uncl€^ opaaed the little door of communication, and invited her over to see the arrangements. He then asked her who was to take possession of the marriage presets. *^ As you^ my unde," replied the young lady, '^ incur so much pains and expense on account of this wedding, and as you represait my father, they must certainly pertain to yourself; it is almost needless to ask the question. Not only these, however, but the whole of my father's property, as he has no sons, must shortly belong to yourself and my cousins ; though for the pre- sent, my &ther being exiled, and I uncertain of his life or death, it does not befit me to deliver them up entirely without authmty."
Shueyun clapped his hands together, and exclaimed with delight, *^ Niece, you are indeed an extraordinary young w(»nan ! where did you learn to think and speak with so much understanding V^ He then sent for his three sons and his daughter, and when the maniage pre- sents
* See page 29» note.
THB FORTUNATE UNION, 63
tKHts had been inspected by them, the whole were put Away in order.
A tpeeulatioii oft» through thint mordinate OtpoBf is niin'd— «nviee dulls SBaa's wit ! *Twas not the qualitj of the temptiog bait— —Our greedy fish was ready to gulp all !
Wheal more than a month had elapsed, Kwoketsu got his house feady for the bride's reception, and having care- fully selected the most fortunate day in the calendar, gave notice that he was coming in procession with the gilded sedan and band of music to take her away, Shueyun hurried over to inform his niece, and bid her prepare herself. She, however, with affected ignorance, and the greatest shew of unconcern, inquired what it was she vras to prepare for?
'' You seem disposed to joke,'' exclaimed her unde, with some surprise. " Kwoketsu is coming in state this very day to wed you, — the procession will presently be at the door-^you must know this — why affect ignorance of it?"
'' He is coming to wed yawr daughter/* rqdied his niece : '' what concern has it with me?"
More astonished still, the other cried out, " Has this young man engaged the assistance and good offices of so many friends to wed your cousin? A pretty crear ture is she, truly, that he should send all those presents on A«r account!"
In the absence of my exiled father," said Shuey-
pingsin,
u
64 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
po^in, '^ lu8 whole household is under my especial charge — ^it cannot be me that Kwoketsu is coming to wed."
Annoyed as hammsy Shueyun stiU pretended to laugh it oflF; " You talknery well," said he — ^'^ but your pro- ceedings have not been quite so prudent." ' " If I do not wish to marry," repUed his niece, ^* who is there here that shall compel me ? I am con- scious of nothing improper in what I have done."
'* Not wishing. to marry," said Shueyun, " you should not have written and detivered to me your ticket of nativity : but that being once sent to the bride- groom, I suspect the two words * not marry' are not so easily to be uttered."
" Uncle," exclaimed she, " do not persist in your dream : I never wished to wed this person — ^what then should have indtioed me to write out my own nuptial ticket for him ?"
My good niece," said he, laughing, " this cannot avail you any thing : do you think that when I took the eight characters, written by your own hand, to have them beaten out in gold, I could have been under any mistake about the &ct ? However, I am more prudent on this occasion than yourself, for the original paper is preserved in proof: therefore, say what you will, it can avail you nothing."
" If I really did write my own eight characters," replied Shueypingsin, " there is nothing more to be
said ;
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 65
said ; bat if I did not, you must cease to persecute me fiuther on this subject. Suppose you go and bring the paper, that we may all examine it together."
" That will be very feir," said he, and went straight over to his house, whence he brought the paper in question, accompanied by his three sons, to confront them with his niece. — " Now," cried Shueyun, hold- ing up the paper to her, " was not that written by youTBelf— what have you to say to that ?"
" Uncle," said the young lady, " let me ask you the date of my birth ?"
You were bom," repUed he, " on the 16th of the 8th mocm, in the second watch — ^the same evening I was sitting drinking with your father, in celebration of the harvest moon : it would be strange if I did not know the day -
'' And when was my cousin bom ?" inquired hiA
it
" On the 6th of the 6th moon," replied he, " at mid-day : the weather was very hot, and occasioned much suffering to her mother."
Have you examined this ticket of nativity," said " to see what date it records ?"
Those are merely eight astronomical characters," replied Shueyun, " without any mention of months or days — what should I examine them for ?"
But do you not understand what they mean ?" said his niece.
VOL. I. F * No,"
66 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
" No/' answered he, " I do not* — I only know that when they were beaten out in gold, the eight eharacteiB together weighed about one tael and one-third/'
*^ The eight characters on this ticket," observed Shueypingsin, ^^ express the date of my cmtsin's birth-— they have no reference to me whatever: why do you come and torment me, then ?"
" They are your's," exclaimed Shueyun, in a tone of rage and despair, " for you wrote them yourself! — how can you pretend they are your cousin's V
*^ Do not put yourself into a passion, uncle," said the young lady, '^ but let us, in cmler to remove all doubt, send for a calculator of nativities, and ask him whether these characters mean the 15th c^ the 8th moon, or the 6th of the 6th."
Shueyun stood stupified for a while, and then b^an to rave, and stamp with his feet. ^' My daughter," exclaimed he, ** has been sold and deceived by you, it is evident; but your falsehood must suffer, and the truth prevaiL Not only do Kwoketsu and the two magistrates know it, but the whole ne^hbomrhood can witness that the match was made for yourself; and though you may have falsified the nuptial ticket, yet if all the persons engaged in the transaction are of one voice, how are you to extricate yourself so cleanly V* There is nothing from which I need extricate
myself,"
• This is as before, to place him in a contemptiUe light, for being gnorant of what he ought to Imow.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 67
mjsdf/' replied ins niece : ^' if the young man espoused flney why did he send the presents to your house instead of to mine?*— why did you receiTe them, and return an ftckncMrledgment an accoimt of your daughter? — not a flbigfe^cml timnig^ui the business had any reference to my8el£''
But it was with your own consent," sadd he, ^ that I acted as your fisther, and therefore called you my dm^btatp^t was in ecmsequenoe of our mutual eogage^ mentr
'* Had yoo no daughter of your own,'' answered she, *^ that indefiiBte term might have been allowable f but aayoa ham adaughter^ you should ha^e made some dtstinctioo between us, and called me your youi^r, or second daughter t'^evea according to your own aigu* meat, then,, yott^nm Make notbing^ of it*^
The unfortunate unde, finding the case go so rnndi agttnst hkn, lost all patience : be thumped his breast, staaiped on tiia ground, and began to we^ aloud* '' Enough, enou^,'" cried he, '^ I see you have undone me ! This young man is notoriously violent ; his father is of the emperor's eouncil : be has i^Mnt u vast deal of mon^ (m your aoeotyut ; then, to^di^, on- the joyfid ceeasioa of Us- tiuptials, he has invited all bis* noble lefailiTesy and prepared a feast ; the music and the state sedan havu-beea ready since moruing!-- and when evenr ing arrives, he will ride hither on purpose to carry you away. What think you he will do when he finds no
F 2 bride
68 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
bride ready for him? I make you responsible for whatever happens ; — nay, for my very hfe ! You have bad no scruple in injuring me ; and I, for my part, shall not hesitate to set aside every feeling, and accuse you before the magistrates ; when the circumstances are knovm, it vrill be plain that you have deceived me, not that I deceived Kwoketsu. The magistrates shall judge between us ; and when it comes to that, I suspect you will make but a poor figure, whatever may be your elo- quence or address/' So saying he began to weep afresh. , " If you accuse me, uncle," said Shueypingsin, very calmly, ^* mine will not be a difficult task ; I need only state that you would have taken advantage of my father's exile to inveigle me, a helpless orphan, into marriage, for the sake of possessing the family pro- perty. I apprehend your guilt would considerably exceed mine."
I do not wish to accuse you," said her uncle, frightened by what she said ; '' but how can I other- wise escape the consequences of this alSair ?"
If you only vrish to escape the consequences,"
observed the young lady, '^ without involving me in
the question, there is an easy way for you."
Shueyun was somewhat calmed on hearing this ; but
still exclaimed, '' A god or a spirit* could hardly unravel
the knot— why talk, then, of its being so easy ?"
"If
* What the Chinese denominate Shinsten, are a race of imaginary beings, haunting the woods and mountains, and enjoying a state of lazy
beatitude,
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 69
it
If you will listen to my scheme/' answei^ she^ the extreme trouble in which you are now placed, will be converted into an equal excess of joy and satis- faction/'
Shueyun thought this was veiy strange. ^* With little less than death hanging over me," said he, *' what hopes can I entertain of the kind ? I shall be satis- fied if you can only save me from the resentment of the bridegroom."
. ** I think my cousin, your daughter," said Shuey* pingsin, ^' is seventeen years of age, and you must wish ber married. What prevents your taking this opportu* nity, and boldly effecting her nuptials? — Why go in search of trouble, when you may conclude this business 80 admirably ?"
. Her unde held down his head in deep silence, and then exclaimed, with a mixture of fear and joy, ^* This, to be sure, is one way; but then your cousin is so inelegant, and so unlike yourself, that Kwoketsu will be disccmtented and find fault."
*^ The nuptial ticket," repUed the young lady, " was
«
evidently
bcatitudey exempt from the caret and the paarions of life; bat still fnrdaiiig tome influeiice orer human afliun. They are drawn as old men with long beards, or as young females, sauntering about in the moonshine, amidst a landscape of rocks and woods. We find something analogous in the early superstitions of every country.
" Jam tum relligio pavidos terrebat agrestes ** Dira loci : jam tum sylvam saxumque tremebant t '/ Hoc nemus, hunc inquit, frondoso vertice collem " Qttis Deus incertum est, habitat Deus."
70 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
dCTidently my cousin's : the presents were evidently brought to your house ; and the card of acknowledge ment as evidently received them on account of yo/ur daughter. This evening he comes openly to your house to espouse her ; and she ought plainly^ therefore, to go and be married to him. What fiudt can he find ? •4^Bat let him find fault ; you have done nothing infor- mal, and have nothing to fear. Besides, this matdi will place you at once among the first persons in the province ;''^ and whatever may have oeciured previously, may afterwards be easily got over. Was I right in pro- mising that your sorrow should be converted into joy 1** '. Shueyun's countenance cleared up. ^' Whence is it, child,^ exclaimed he, *^ that, young and inexperienced as you are, such excellent contrivances should arise in your mind,— that you should be able to reduce your unde to the brink of death, and then so suddenly restore him to Ufe again V
** You have no right to complain of my deceiving you, uncle,'' answered she ; ^' you sought to do me a serious ii\jury,t and I vms obliged to protect myself to the best of my power."
'' Say no more about it," said the other i^^" but now
for
* Litenllj, * you will possess the bonom of TWMon.* This is a fiunous mountain in Shantong ptoTince (where the scene is laid), near Tsenanfoo, the chief citj,
t Although in her own defence, the deception practised throughout by Shueypingsin must not be too strictly judged by European notions.
In
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 71
for your oousin, plain and awkward as she is, and so totally unprepared for this emergency : you must come over and array her for the marriage !"
Shueypingsin readily assented to thb, and taking oyer two of her own waiting^maids, supeiintended her cousin's toilet firom noon even until dusk, seeing her hair oombedi her &oe smoothed, her teeth scrubbed, and her eyebrows dressed.* Then the various orna- ments were piled upon her head ; her person was ar- rayed in habiliments of costly silk and embroidery, and she was duly perfiuned with rare and precious onguaits. Our young lady next instructed her cousin to affect an excess of modesty on being introduced to the inner apartments ; to insist on all the lights being extinguished ; and, in order to prevent a too early exposure of her face, to retire to rest very soon. The
maids
In fict» deceit of all kinds is rather honoured than d&conraged in China. The rery woids which express i^ imply some superiority over the person deceived. Of the common expression ke-pHkn 'to cheat,* the first syllable meansalso to ' insult ;* and the second, in its original and derivative sense* implies ' to bettride a horse and ride him.* Gibbon, in a note to his History, observes : '* There is yet room for an interesting work, which " should trace the connexion between the manners and the languages of " natiom.** In China, where almoet every long journey is performed by water, haoufoongskw^^ * good wind and water,' has become expres- sive, not only of ' good luck * on a journey, but of good luck in every drcomstance and afEur of life. In like manner (if we quit China), it could only be among a polished people that * benigne !* meant the refusal of a &vour ; or that, among ourselves, * pardon me,* has become equi- valent to ' no.*
* By reducing them to a narrow curved line, which tliey comi)arc to a willow-leaf in spring. The above is of course said satirically.
72 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
maids were likewise directed, when they came to fill the cup of alliance^ to cause the bridegroom to get as tipsy as possible. If the latter, after a view of her face the next morning, began to give vent to his anger and dis- appointment, her cousin was instructed to throw herself into a fit of pretended desperation, and search for some means of destroying herself; which would, no doubt, alarm the bridegroom, and bring him to his senses. Though this young lady's intellect was not of the first order, she soon learnt a lesson which conduced so mate- rially to the promotion of her own selfish interests ; — she was presently arrayed, and prepared in all respects for the enterprize.
The bridegroom, mounted on a choice steed, and attended by a huge retinue, came in the evening to fetch home his bride ; and the terrified Shueyun, with- out a choice left him how to act, dried the sweat from his forehead as he pushed his daughter into the state sedan ;* when the music striking up, she was carried ofi*in nuptial procession.
Though cunning their vile plots, and laid with care, No match prov*d they for her intelligence : Vain was the fury of the t robber bird. Its destined victim had removed her nest.
The
* There was some reason for his alarm ; for the law is, '' If the fiunily of the bride deceives the fiunily of the bridegroom, so as to induce them to contract a marriage by indicating and leading them' to expect a different person from the one actually named and described in the contract, the giver away of the woman shall be punished with eighty blows, and her family shall restore the marriage presents.*' — Staun- ton's Penal Code, sect ci* f See Treaiiae on Poetry, part ii.
THE FORTUNATE UNlOK« 73
Theyoung maiiy.delighted at the idea of having secured such a prize as Shueypingsin, escorted the bride to the gate of his own house, where a crowd of female at- tendants met and supported her to the principal hall. An embroidered silk veil being thrown over her head, and her whole person adorned like some goddess, the people present of course took her for Shueypingsin, and were ▼ery loud in their admiration. When the usual re* verences had been performed, they proceeded to the bridal chamber, where the cup of alliance was prepared, and where she was invited to pledge the bridegroom—* but the young lady had received her lesson, and ran immediately to hide herself within the curtains, shew- ing the most determined resolution to remain there. Kwoketsu took this for a natural bashfulness, and unwilling to use violence, went out to the principal hall, where his relations were assembled to celebrate the nuptials. The joyfulness of the occasion, and the exhortations of his friends, caused him very soon to become fuddled ; but he contrived to make his way back to where his bride was, and where he found only a few of the candles lighted, and the young lady herself ensconced within the curtains. He made his way towards the bed, tipsy as he was, and asked why she was not asleep at that late hour ? She, however, turned her fiice another way, and called to the women, in a low voice, to extinguish the lights. The maids, before they ventured to obey, waited for orders from Kwoketsu,
who
74 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
who very complaisantly told them to do as their mistress bade them, and take their departure.
Thenext monung about daylight, when both awaked, the brid^room turned his eyes towards his new wife, and to his utter dismay percerred, instead of the beauty whom he had before beheld by stealth, a woman with a broad forehead, square fiau%, and the most plain and ordinary features ! He jumped up, and throwing on his clothes in a great hurry, exclaimed, '' You are not the bride I was contracted to ! — ^what do you do here V
'' Who shall tell me that r replied the lady; '' look again."
Kwoketsu stared at her, and shook his head. ^' Alas, no !" said he, " she whom I meant was like a fair flower* after rain, or the wiUow seen through a mist !- nothing like what I now behold ! — I have been sadly abused by that old dog Shueyun !"
His spouse now flew into a great passion. ^^ Have you not married me ?" cried she ; " am I not your wife ?— why do you abuse my father to my face in this un« mannerly style ?"
'' Alas, alas ! then," said the young man, ^^ it was his niece whom he took me to see ; you call him father, and must needs be his own daughter, not her whom I intended to espouse."
How can you be so stupid," exclaimed his spouse,
as
* Hibiscus niutabilis—Fooyung.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 75
as she sat up in bed and put on her clothes ; '' you are talking of my uncle^s daughter ! If you wished to many her, what prevented your asking his consent, instead of coming to my father? Besides, the nuptial ticket, which my &ther sent, was mme, and on the card of acknowledgment was written ' his daughter,' — surely you must have seen this ! Your presents, moreover, were sent to our house, and you came in person to our house to receive me : how then can you pretend it was to espouse any one but myself? Allied to a family of rank, I have been brought to your house, and openly accepted as your wife, with all the customary and legal forms of marriage, and after all, you begin to insult me with such language as this ! How am I to perform the duties of a wife,^ or to raise up descendants for you hereafter ?—Hmy, it is better to put an end to myself at once !** With this she jumped down from the bed in a pretended paroxysm of despair, and seized hold of a large red handkerchief, as if about to strangle herself.
The vexation of Kwoketsu was sufficiently great on the occasion, but he was in a still greater fright to see her in this desperate temper. Besotted and deceived as he had been by the violence of his passion, — ^would the reader learn the farther fruits of his folly, he must attend to the following chapter.
* LitenUy, ' dnw water and pound rice>* a figurative expttauoa for the Hune.
( 76 )
CHAPTER. IV.
/^ KWOKETSU STUPIDLY GRASPS AT THE MOON's
SHADOW."
Oh wondrous dulness to which some are prone, Unapt to see what stares them full in view ! The spring dream fled, they still brood oyer it — The autumn clouds dispers'd, they fiuicy still They see them changing ! — Unless heaven befriend, The acutest become diill— -the powerful steed Unrein'dy ungovem'd, spends his speed in vain :— Adventurous though their plots, and boldly plann'd, Lo, a weak maiden's prudence foils them all !
We have already described the anger of Kwoketsu on finding that he had been deceivedy and the terror he experienced when his new wife, after a volley of irresisti- ble arguments, made him beUeve she was going to destroy herself. He gave the lady in strict charge to her female attendants, and then having dressed himself, proceeded forthwith in secret to the residence of the Chefoo.
He told that magistrate a piteous tale of the trick which had been played him by Shueyun ; how he had first of all taken him to steal a look at his niece, and then contrived that he should marry his daughter. The sums I have spent," exclaimed he, ^' are the least part of the evil, but it is a sore thing to be so befooled by
that
T»R FORTUNATE UNION. 77
that fellow ! and I come, sir, to conjure you, by the regard you bear my fiither, to afford me some redresi^ in punishing him."
The Chefoo, after a Uttle consideration replied, '' It id true enough that Shueyun has deceived you ; but how remiss and unmindfiil you were of your own interests in this business ! What made you receive the nuptial tid^et without inquiring into the age of the bride ? You have occasioned my being taken in, as well as your- self. But, allowing that such deceit could not easily be foreseen, how happened you not to send the presents to the bride's own house, instead of her uncle's ; and when the unde returned a card for his niece, and called her his daughter, you might very well have suspected some trick. You went, besides, to Shueyun's house to reoetve the lady ; a very plain way of espousing hid daughter. The thing, however, is settled, and she is fiuiiy your wife. Should you complain of your bargain, very few people will believe the stoiy. With regard to your stolen interview, it was an irregular transaction, and not rashly to be brought forward in court Say nothing about this business at present ; but go home, and wait quietly until I have had a private interview with Shueyun ; I may, perhaps, gain some intelligence from him which shall enable me to assist you."
Kwoketsu was obliged to be content with this : he w^t home, and tried to pacify his wife as well as he could ;-~and there we will leave him for the present
From
78 THB FORTUNATE UNION.
From tbe mome&t his daughter had quitted the hotts^ the terror of the unhappy Shueyun threw him into a cold sweat. He endeavoured to sleep away his feaiB ;— -but there was no sleep for him^ and he rose with the first dawn of lights for the purpose of sending a seciet messenger to reconnoitre tbe premises. The mes- senger came back, and reported that every thii^ was Tery quiet ; upon which he thought to himself, ^^ This Kwoketsu is a deodedly violnit diaraeter : he is not the man to bear an injury patiently !" Thus it Was that he remained full of the most horrible apprdien* ^ons, until about mid-day, when a messenger came fixxn the magistrate, with a request that he would walk ovar and see him* Though in miserable plight, Sbueyuil was obliged to muster' suffident resolution to carry him to the audience ; where having arrived, he was desired by the Chefoo to retire to a back apartment and sH down* The attend^tnts being dismissed, the following discourse was addressed to him by the magistrate :
You know very well that the person whom I intended as a wiie for Kwoketsu was your niece ; instead of whom you have, in a very artful and cri- minal inaniier, passed oflTyour daughter ; thus imposing upon myself as well as the young man ; who has this morning presented an address, begging me to subject ybu to the fullest penalties of the law in return for your vile deceit. Iii consideration of your eomiexions, I first of all send for you in tMs manner, thtudung there
may
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 79
may be something yet undivulged ; and should such be the case, your only chance is to make a full and free confession of all."
Shueyun^ in an extacy of terror, fell down on his knees. '' Alas ! sir/' cried he, '' how should I, who am under your w<»rship's especial government, and have my life in your hands, dare to think of deceiving you ! The transactions of yesterday were the result of mere necessity on my part, and involve details which I would ^adly explain to your worship, and hope for pardon and indulgence."
'^ Well,'' said the magistrate, '' sit down here, and let me hear them."
Shueyun rose up immediately, and taking his seat, gave a circumstantial relation of the whole affair fiom begkming to end, in which he shewed that the ex- pedient oi passing off his daughter had origmated with his niece, and been adopted by him merely to escape a nK>re dangerous predicament.* He conduded with urging that his daughter, with all her defects, being now the lawful .wife of Kwoketsu, might be regarded in some measure as the award of heaven ; and he trusted that his wonhip would consider her with indulgence.
The
* The Cbinete author here detail8» with the most tedious nitnuteneesy what the leidei ia already in posseasion of; aod the latter will probably thank the traoslator ft>r not following the example of those, who would insert every such useless repetition, for no better reason than because it exists in the original. — '* Truly, for mine own part," says honest Dog* beny, ** I could find it in my heart to bestow all my tediossneas on your worship."
80 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
The magistrate could not help listening with delight to the tale of Shueypingsin's prudence and address. " Whence," exclaimed he, " could your niece have acquired such wonderfol discretion at her tender years ! She is truly worthy of esteem and affection. But though the event has been sufficiently accounted for by your statement, it cannot be expected that the young man should readily submit to such treatment."
^* His vexation," said Shueyun, '^ arises entirely from
losing my niece ; and had she been disposed of, at the
same time that he espoused my daughter, to some other
person, the case would be irreparable : but though she
has escaped him on this occasion, she yet remains in
her primitive single state ; and if he is unable to dismiss
her firom his mind, let me try if I cannot contrive by
some means to cajole her yet, in expiation of my past
fault* There is no reason why we may not succeed."
Well," said the magistrate, who seemed pleased by
the proposal, ^* should she revert to Kwoketsu at last,
we will say no more about the matter : but how can
you impose upon your niece, with all her penetration ?"
As long as my daughter remained single," repUed
the other, my niece stood upon her guard, and succeeded
in * It will be seen that they endeavour to set aside the former mairiage by altering the nuptial ticket, which would have reduced Shueyun*s daughter from a wife to a concubine. The Chinese author loses no opportunity of placing Shueyun in the most contemptible and ridiculous light, and never more so than on this occasion, where he is made to propose his own daughter's disgrace : so different firom the conduct of the scholar Hanyuen, on a similar occasion (p. 32.)
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 81
inopposiiig ufi ; but quite at ease on that head now, she can hardly be prepared against another stratagem. Let me beg your worship to send for the young man him- selfy and propose to him an excellent scheme which occurs to me.*'
The magistrate told him that, in consideration of the zeal he now displayed^ no further notice should be taken of the past ; but he had better not play false again, as he could hardly expect a repetition of such lenity. A meaaenger was then despatched for Kwoketsu, who being made acquainted with the drift of the late conyersationy expressed great satisfaction thereat* He told Shueyun that it wa-not from any wish to treat his daughter lighdy, but in consequence of the sense he entertained of his niece's merits^ that he still desired to make the hUler his wife. '^ May I ask by what means you pro- pose to effect this V* added he.
" Sim|dy in this way," replied Shuej^u^: " do you go back to my daughter, and by your cheerful and satisfied demeanour make her quite easy, until the celebration of the third, sixth, or ninth* day arrives, ^en you must make great festive preparations, and invite all your friends. Among those of the male sex assembled in the outer hall will be their worships the magistrates ; and among the females, to whom the inner chamber will
VOL. I. G be
* The Ghtnase btfe many supentitiont relating to the number three and its midtiplet, particularly nine, in common with other nations. *< Neete triimM nodia lemoa, Amarylli, colorei.*'
82 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
be derotedy my niece cannot ayoid coming, as a near relation. This being effected, you have only to produce the marriage ticket, with her own eight characters in- scribed instead of my daughter's, and boldly claim her as your lawful wife, calling on the two magistrates pre- sent to settle the question. I myself shall be there to put in a word, and we need have no fear of her esca|nng us :* why should not my scheme succeed ?"
The young man was delighted, and exclaimed that it was excellent But the magistrate remarked, that though the plan was not a bad one, he feared Shueypingsin was too cunning to be prevailed on to attend.
'' If she finds the third and sixth days pass without observation," said the uncle, '' and my daughter seems &irly established in her new home, her suspicions will be entirely lulled ; and when the ninth or twelfth day arrives, there will be stronger reasons for her feeling se- cure. She can hardly fail to attend."
The consultation thus ended, the two others took their leave of the magistrate, and having renewed their mutual exhortations, separated each to his own home.
Reason's highway is straight and plain — unlike The ciookedy devious paths of worthless men : Did not a fiiultless heroine sometimes shine, Virtue's great cause entirely would fiiil !
Kwoketsu proceeded without loss of time to make the requisite preparations at his house ; where we will leave
him,
* Liteimlly, ' of her flying away up to heaven.'
THB FORTUNATE UNION. 83
hiokj wbA MOompttEiy Shueyun, who on his return w^it orer with a sembktfice of joy to visit his niece. ^^ Child,'' exclaimed he, ^' I wronged yon much in what my pas- aioD urged me te> say yesterday ; for unless erery thing had happened as yoo arranged it, we should have been in a terrible conditbn* to-day !" The young lady dis- claimed all pretensions to credit on the occasion, and maintained &at nothing whaterer had taken place be- yond the ordinary rules of propriety. " I was yery ap- prdiensiTe,'' observed Shueyun, '* o£ evil consequences this morning ; but no stir seems to be made about it, and we may hqpe all parties are disposed to rest satis- fied/'
" llat does not follow," replied his niece ; '^ they may think it useless to resort to unavailing reproaches, and yet be devising some scheme among themselves."
" What sdmnes should they devise ?" said he as he left her— -exclaiming to himself at the same time with astonislmient, '^ How oomesthis young girl to have such a dear ms^t into character ! I very much £ear she may yet refuse the invitation."
Three days previous to the twelfth morning of the marnage, five invitation tickets appeared, one for the unde, three more for his three sons, all of them in the name of Kwoketsu, and a fifth for Shueypingsin, written in the name of her cousin, as both the father and mother of that lady's husband were absent . Shueyun took all
G 2 the
* Literally, ' The skies would htve come down upon us.*
ii
84 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
the tickets to his niece. '' This whole business/' said he, laughing, '^ seems to turn out according to your prediction; our sorrow and perplexity have been con- verted into joy. There can remain no doubts after this invitation to our whole party to celebrate the marriage. JLet us then accept it, and by our personal attendance confirm the union."
Doubtless/' replied his niece, '^ we must all of us attend."
Shueyun now observed, that instead of going empty- handed, they should send some presents on the day pre- ceding, in order that due notice being thus given, their friends might be prepared. His niece assented to this also, and he presently brought a large red ticket, re- questing she would specify such articles as she wished to be procured. Shueypingsin, without the least hesita- tion, took up a pencil and wrote a long list of presents, which she requested he would take the trouble to provide.
Her uncle now considered the plot as more than half successiul, and joyfully conveyed a private notice to Kwoketsu ; afler which he got a calculator of nativities'*^ to furnish him with the eight characters of his niece, which he likewise conveyed to the young man, with a request that he would have the nuptial ticket altered accordingly. Still he could not help feeling apprehensive lest his niece
might
* That 18, he gave the professor of astrology the actual date of his niece's birth, and received from him the eight characters which ex- pressed it in the proper form.
TH£ FORTUNATE UNION. 86
might yet change her mind, and went about here and there, prying and eaves-dropping, for the chance of pick- ing up what she said — while Shueypingsin, with her ac- customed reserve, uttered not a word.
In the extremity of his anxiety, he sent a request to his dau^iter that she would, on the day previous to the festivities, despatch two of her women with a particular invitatioQ to Shueypingsin; and accordingly they came, saying that their mistress felt herself under infinite obU- gations to her cousin for all she had done for her, and most earnestly entreated she would come at an early hour on the following day to receive her acknowledg- ments in person. ^* To-morrow being your mistress's marriage festival," said Shueypingsin, '' I cannot fail to attand and present my congratulations;" then turning to her attendants, she ordered tea to be handed to the two women, and while they were taking it, addressed her conversation to them, inquiring if her coumn were just now engaged in any particular occupation?
** Nothing particular," replied one of the women. '' Ye^" said the other, '' she was this morning sewing something on a piece of red silk, but I do not know what they call it"*
I sup-
* The ignonnce of this attendant, and the incuriosity of her mistress OB the subject of what she was working, seem rather strange, as one might imagine that a nuptial ticket must be familiar to all classes. The only way of explaining it, is on the supposition that the use of red silk, with gold letters, ui lieu of the usual writing on crimson-coloured paper,
is
86 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
*^ I suppose they might be gold letters that your mistiess was sewing on?" observed Shueypingsin ; and when the attendant replied that they were, she turned the conversation at once, and adked no more ques- tions. The two women having drank their tea, she dismissed them, with a repetition of her promise to at- tend on the following day.
Shueyun, when he heard of this, was exceedingly happy, and by daylight next morning the two attendants again made their appearance, bringing with them a golden casket containing eight lai^e pearls of a fine edkmr, which they presented to Shueypingsin, telling her these were seat by their mistiess for her acceptance. '' These beautiful pearls,'* said the young lady when she had inspected them, '^ are of such a size and value, that I could not afford to purchase them myself; and if your mistress wishes to bestow them on me, carry them back, and wait until I have seen and spoken to her." The women, not knowing what to do, took their leave with the pearls ; and Shueyun immediately came over to ask his niece how many men she would require with the sedan and state umbrella 1*
Shueypingsin replied, *' that her father being in dis- grace with the emperor, it did not become her to use the great sedan and yellow umbrella ; and she should,
therefore.
Is uncommon, and exclusively confined to the very highest rank. We have seen before, that the author's drift is to expose to scorn the ignorance of Shiiejrun and his fomlly with regard to les convenances, * To which she was entitled from her other's rank.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 87
Ih^efiMre, proceed in a small chair: that on the pre- ceding day , when her tenant at the southern farm brought hia rent in grain,* she had engaged two of the country people to carry her ; and her uncle need giye himself no fiirther trouble.
*^ Whaty" ezdaimed Shueyun, ^' when Kwoketsu has aasembled all his relatives in such state to meet us, should not we too, who have just become aUied to his fiumily, observe some stale and ceremony ? If you go in a shabby sedan, with two bearers, and without the wmhrella, will not people laugh at you 1^
Let them laugh," said his niece; '^ I am deter- mined to do nothing incc^rect"
Seeing he could not prevail on her, '^ Well then," said he, '^ if you have engaged your chair, we will precede you in a befittmg style, and you may follow in any way you please." So saying he went out, and burned with hia three sons to the meeting.
like roUing grindstones their unsteady plots Still changing shift ;«lier*8 fix*d as rocks remain ! Now this way tend their efforts, and now that. Devoid of prinetple.
When Kwoketsu heard that Shueypingsin was really coming, he could not dissemble his joy, but sent re- peatedly to the two magistrates, reminding them of their promise to assist him. He had, at the same time, engaged three or four young men of his own violent and imprin-
ciplcd
* In a country like China, with a sinaii amount of circulating medium, the payment of rent in kind might be expected.
88 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
dpled character to be present on the occasion. The pearisj he wished to pretend, had been received as mar- riage pres^its ; and the nuptial ticket, with the date of Shneypingsin's birth in gold letters, was to be produced in proof of the contract. Seven or eight stout waiting- maids were then chosen, and these were instructed, as soon as the young lady left her chair and entered the gate, to surround her, and in case she att^npted to do herself any violence, to prevent it He also prepared one of his most retired apartments in a style of sump tuous elegance, hoping this might have some effect in reconciling her to her situation. Nor did his female emissaries cease going -to the house of Shueypingsin from daybreak until noon, about which time messengers came to announce that she had got into her chair ; then presently it was. reported that she was half-way, upon which the joy and satis&ction of Kwoketsu were at their height,''^ and he cried out to the musicians to arrange themselves to the right and left of the great gate, strik- ing up in full band as soon as the chair arrived.
In his impatient anxiety, the young man ran out at the gate to look, and perceived at some distance a small sedan, preceded by four waiting-maids, and followed by a number of men-servants ; the whole appearing to his eyes like the • descent of some superior being among mortals. However, he was obliged by decorum to re- enter the house before they reached the gate, and when
the
* Literally^ * his heart's flowers were all full blown."
thu fortunate union. 89
the two magistrateB heard him say that Shueypiiigsin was actaally ooming, they oould not hdp exclaiming to themsdves, " What intelligence and penetration did not this young woman display before ! — It is a pity she has fallen into the snare at last !"* The chair had by this time reached the gate ; and when it was set down^ the four waiting-maids displaced the blind in front. Shoeyfnngsin was already half out of the sedan^ when the seven or eight women within the gate ran out to assist her, the wh<de band striking up a loud peal at the same time. Shueypingsin on a sudden changed countenance, and exclaimed, '^ There is something in that music which persuades me they have laid a trap for my unwariness ; if I go in, I shall fiedl into the snare;'' 80 she instantly re-seated herself, and told her people to be away back in a moment. The two countrymen who bore the sedan had received their instructions, and hardly wuted for the order before they had the chair on their shoulders, and were hurrying away home, with the attendants af%er them.
How near the prey to the fell dragon's jaws !t —To beard the tiger tempts no common risk ! Like gems and gold, her mind superior shines ; Their plots in naked worthlessness appear.
Kwoketsu,
* They were acting contrary to their duty and inclination, through awe Hi Kwoketsu*s fiunily.
t The allusion is to a huge serpent or dragon, which the Chinese fre- quently carry in their processions, borne by fifty men^its body hoUow, transparent, and Tull of lights, and having suspended to its nose a ball swinging backwards and forwards.
90 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
Kwoketsuy on hearing the band strike up, waited in eager expectation to see her enter, and stole into a oom^ to (CBtch a passii^ glimpse ; but to his surprise the music stopped at once, and the seven or eight female attendants ran in to seek him. ^* Why does not the }ady come in ?" said he, advancing to meet them. They told him how Shueypingsin had ordered the chair home upon hearii^ the band, with her speech oa the occasion.
And you did not detain her V cried he, stamping with rage.*— They replied, that he could not have stopped her himself, she went away in such a hurry !
People were instantly sent in pursuit of the chair, but it was akeady &x beyond their reach. Kwoketsu stood for a mcnnent stupified with rage and vexation, and then rushing into the hall, UAd the magi^trates what had happened. They heard it with astonishment, though not without some secret satisfitction. ** This young woman, is really a w<xider," said the Chefoo, ^* to dis^ cover your intentions at once fix>m the sound of the music !" Then turning to Shueyun, he inquired if his niece had any skill in divination ?* ** She used to read learned books with her father," replied he, " and to pre- dict good or ill-fortune; though we paid no regard to
what
* Tlie most common mode of divination among the Chinese is by means of wooden slips, inscribed with characters, and tossed on the ground at random. This custom is described almost to the letter by Tacitus in his account of the Germans ; — ** Sortiuro consuetudo simplex ; virgam frugifene arbori decisam in surculos amputant, eosque notis quibusdam discretos super candidam vestem temere ac fortuito spargunt.**—
GtTlN. X.
THB FORTUNATE UNION. 91
what she said ; on this occasian, however, she seems to have divined rightly to our cost/'
The whole party present expressed their surprise and admiration* As for Kwoketsu, he could not give up all thoughts of her yet, but despatched two females with a message, '^ that they were all waiting for the young lady to assist at the celebration of the twelfth day ; — that he himself had no intentions distinct from th»,«— ^diy then so suddenly run away from the gate V
Shueypingsin, however, sent them back with this answer : '^ I went to your lord's house without hesita- tion, confident of his good intentions, and httle suspect- ing his designs against myself. I am now certain of the forgery of the nuptial ticket, and of his scheme regarding the pearis ; not to mention the presence of the two magistrates oa the occasion. Had the music not happily warned me, I might by this time have been cau^t in the snare. Go and present my most profound respects to your lord, — ^let him be omtented with the wife that he has got, for he and I were never intended to come togeth^, and he had better give up sudi foolish schemes and idle imaginations for the future.**
The guests, on hearing this, renewed their ex- pressions of admiration, and declared that the young lady was no ordinary person. AVhen they had talk- ed together confusedly for some time, and agreed that nothing more could be done, the entertainment
was
92 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
was served up, and the company departed to their houses.
KwoketsUy however, m the bitterness of his disap- pointment, detained Shueyun. '^ I suspect/' said he,
that your niece, talented as she is, and allowing her to be something more than human, could never have obtained this knowledge vrithout assistance. You cer- tainly have been leagued with her against me I"
In the utmost tribulation at such a charge, Shueyun fell down on his knees before heaven, and uttered this imprecation. *^ If I have been leagued with my niece to deceive you, may my whole house be involved in misery with myself !"*
Then," said the other, hastily raising him from the ground, ''if it be true that she has acted for herself on this occasion, I declare to you honestly, that her talents are an additional reason why I will never give her up !"
My good son," exclaimed Shueyun, " if you will not give her up, at least cease to persecute me ! — though I have still a desperate scheme in store, which you may try."
" What is that V inquired his son-in-law.
" The 20th of the 9th moon," rephed he, " is the anniversary of her mother's death,t when my niece never fails to proceed to the tomb near the southern
farm,
* Literally, Taaouwun, * catch the pest* t Called Keshin, * hateful, or dreadful hour.'
THE FOBTUNATE UNION. 93
farm, to sacrifice^ and perform the sepulchral rites. Her rents are at the same time presented to her, and she passes a ptniion of the day in visiting the flower gardens. This is so established a custom with her, that not a year passes without her repeating it: do you then, ^di^i the day arrives, mount a fast horse, and ordering your people to conceal themselves near the southern farm, wait until she has performed the oblations, and is returning home, when you may disperse her attendants and carry her off to your own house. I leave it to you to settle the plan with your own people; and whether it fails or succeeds, pray remember that you are not to persecute me farther on this subject''
** Good ! good !" exclaimed the young man in the same breath ; '' the plan is straight-forward and easy, and shall be adopted : — ^but suppose the day proves stormy, she may perhaps not go V*
" My niece,'' answered Shueyun, '^ has such a filial regard for her mother's memory, that let the weather be what it may, she is sure to go." His son-in-law was delisted to hear this, and their plans being settled, they parted.
Let not pretumptnooi mortals hope t'obtain A goddeft— but beware the iron scouiige Of the ayenging power ! — Still onreform'd, He madly holds his eoune^stil] dares to feed His liquorish hopes !
We leave Kwoketsu to prepare his enterprize, and
accompany
94 TgiE FORTUNATE UNION.
aceompahy Shueyun, who on reaching^ home went over to see his niece. ** How could you come to the door^" f»id he, '^ and then hurry away again so strangely, while people were actuated by the best intentions? You not only destroyed the festivity of the meeting, but involved me in the suspicion of being a party to such rudeness/'
'^ It is needless for me," replied Shueypingsin, '^ to discuss the young man's intenti(His, since they are best known to himself."
Here Shueyun joined his pahns together, and ex- claimed, '' I swear by the god F5 himsdf, that you do him vrrong ! He had no intenticxi to-day except to bring the family together ; I can vouch f<Nr the }»robity of his conduct."*
^' When I heard the three beats of the drum," said his aiece, '^ I was aware some deep scheme must be in agita- tion ; and though I have succeeded in f<Mling him this time, I feel certain that he will not give up the pursuit until he has made another attempt or two. You will learn hereafter that I did him no injury by my suspicion." Shueyun had not a word to say in reply; but, con- founded and abashed, slunk away home as quick as he could.
On
* By this oath he is made to appear at once in an odious and a ridiculous light, as he not only assevemtes to what it fiUse, but betrays his subsenrience to a superstition which is pretty generally despised among the Chinese. The sequel will shew the author's opinion of the priests ct F5y or Buddha.
THE FORTUNATE CJNtON. 96
On the nuHming of the 20thy Shueypingsin failed not to proceed with all the requisite preparations to perform the sepulchral rited at her mother's tomb.* On the pre- ceding day she had invited her uncle to accompany her, with his three sons ; but he, considering within himself that the seizure of his niece must necessarily be followed by some trouble, and that if he went in person, part of the reiqx)ii8ibility might attadi to himself, told her that he should be confined to the house by business of con^ sequence.
'' Well then,'' 6aid she, '^ if you cannot go yourself, why not let my three cousins attend me ?"
*^ The two elder," replied Shueyun, '^ have business at home ; but the youngest may go and perform the rites with you." This being settled, he privatdy in- fenned Kwoketsu of his motives for staying away — adding, that his youngest son might be found useful as a spyf on the occasion.
The southern farm being about four miles distant firom the city, the young lady rose at daylight to pre- pare herself, having a large state chair ready, closed on the four ndes with dark blinds, together with the yellow unbrdla to lead the way. Four waitingmaids followed in as many small sedans, and the young cousin, with some attendants, brought up the rear on horseback.
In
* Theie are detailed in the dnuna adled ' an heir in old age*' tians- lated by the author of the present Tertion.
f Litefally, ' an ear and eye.*
96 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
In this order they proceeded leisurely on their way to perform the sepulchral rites.
In the dear mirror the flowV-epangled iprig Reflected bloomt— the moon's pale image lurks In the bright wave— to mock the gazer's grasp ! Each effort vainly spent^ his prey remains Intangible, as shadows in the stream.
On the arrival of Shueypingsin at the farm, her tenant opened the gate, and conducted her chair straight to the principal room, upon which the door was closed, and the attendants on horseback remained without the enclosure. The farmer's wife brought in tea, and when Shueypingsin and her young cousin had partaken of it, the young lady inquired if all things were prepared at the tomb ? The woman repUed that all was ready ; upon which she rose, and proceeded with her cousin to the sepulchre at the back of the &rm, where they made the proper offerings to the departed, and burnt the gilt paper.
The rites being ended, Shueypingsin went to visit a pavilion on the west side of the farm, to view the beds of crysanthemum* in full bloom. To the east and west were two lofly summer-houses, of which the eastern was surrounded with young peach trees, for the sake of their blossoms in spring ;t and the western pavilion,
being
* The crysanthemnm Indicom (KeQh hwa) is esteemed by the Chi- nese on account of the variety of its colours, and towards winter the curious in flowers display large collections of this gaudy plant rpund their houses.
t There are two annual periods for visiting the tombs, corresponding
nearly
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 97
being intencled for autumnal visits, was provided in like manner with large collections of the crysanthemum. It was now autumn, and the young lady paid her visit to the latter, admiring the abundant richness and beauty of the flowers, which spread around the base of the building like a variegated carpet of gold.
Their slender shadows fill the enclosure, and a scattered scent pervades the fiower-bedsj planted in triple rows : the deeper and lighter tints' reflect a yellow light, and the leaves shine varied from beneath the drops of dew. Each hungry flowret inhales the pass- ing breeze, as it sheds around its incomparable lustre. The gazer sympathizes with tlie languishing blossoms, bending their heads all faint and delicate : the mournful view awakes in his mind thoughts suitable to autumn. Say not that it is a sight to satiate the eyes of the indifferent beholder — know that such flowers as these once inspired the poet Taouyuenming,* as he indulged his genius amidst verses and wine.
When she had admired the crysanthemums, Shuey- {Nngftin took a view of the country on tlie four sides of the paviUon, and observed the country people busily
VOL. I. H occupied
neatly to the equhiozes, and those who cannot go in the spring (which is the principal occasion), are expected to attend in autumn.
* Taoujuenming flourished towards the conclusion of the Tsin dynasty. He was celebrated for his contempt of every thing but lite- rature and ease, in which he indulged his whole life, amidst flowers, wOlows, and wine.
98 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
occupied with the autumnal harvest.* To her surprise, however, she perceived two idle-looking fellows standing by the side of a mat shed, gazing at the people carry- ing the grain. Struck by this circumstance, she looked round and perceived three more, seated on a heap of straw on the west side of the bmlding, who, on finding that they were ^observed, immediately rose. On the other fflde of the wall, too, she caught a glimpse of her cousin, deeply engaged in ocmversation with a young man in a blue dress. She instantly suspected some mischief was in agitation — but said not a word.
In a short time the fiurmer's wife invited her to take some refreshment within, and the yoimg lady, des- cending fitmi the pavilion, sait a message to her cousin to come and partake of it. When the repast was over, the latter urged their departure, proposing that, as they had nothing more to do, they should return home mime- diately. " Do you amuse yourself a Utile while longer," said Shueypingsin, ^' I must give directions to the dif- ferent tenants, and obtain from them some arrears of rent." When he was gone, she first settled with the people, whom having dismissed, she retired with her females to a small back-room, and seating herself there, made them turn all the clothes out of a leathern box, which was immdiately filled with broken stones and rubbish, collected for her by a trusty domestic who was called in to assist. The box was then quietly deposited
under
* There is a summer harvest, in contradistinction.
THE FORTUNATK UNION. 99
under the seat of the state chair ; a laige: stone was next bundled up in some clothes, and placed upon the seal itself; after which the door of the chair was locked, and the bhnds carefully secured on all sides. The fiEuth^ fill domestics being then called in, and properly inr structed, Shueypingsin dressed hqrself like one of her maidsy and stepped faito a small chair, the girl whose place ahe occupied being secretly left at the &rm-houfle, with a charge to the tcinant to send her home afterwaixb.
Every thing duly arranged, the doors were thpofvm open, and the chaic-beiM^erssuamiioiied* These inunediate- ly entered fiomthe ^iclosure, and each set of men going to their proper chair, and taking it up as before, carried it out ; while the imibrella-bearer led the way, and the cousin fdjowed on horseback attended by the servants.
They had not proceeded above a bowHshot itata the fiurvi, when between tea and twenty feUowa started up in various directions, two from one side and thiee from another, some of whom laid hold on die 8tate-ehair» while others began to belabour the carciecs. " This is our ground," cried they, " what right have you to interfere with our livelihood V** The four diair- men being beaten away from their load^ an equal num* ber of the assailants took it up on their shoulders, and ran away at full speed : upon which the mounted at-
H 2 tendants
* To eyery district there are porters attachetl, who have a sort of monopoly in their own boundary, by way of recompense for doing all goyemment work gratis.
100 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
tendants in the rear gallopped after them, exclaiming, ^* Ruffian slaves, it is the daughter of the President Shueykeuyih that you are carrying off in this insolent manner!" The others, however, only ran the &ster, and when the pursuers had nearly reached them, Kwo- ketsu, who was on horseback under some fir trees by the road side, with a party of mounted followers, threw himself in the way. *' That young lady," cried he, '' is my bride — ^what do you mean by detaining her?"
They pulled up in haste, and replied, ^^ We did not know it was you, sir ; but followed, lest our neglect should displease our lady."
" Go away home," said he, waving his hand, *^ I will be answerable for all consequences." With this he gave his horse the whip, and rode forwards with his attendants towards the sedan. The servants of Shueypingsin, being in her secret, were glad to bor- row this pretext for joining their young mistress in the small chair, and quietly attending her in safety to her home.
As for Kwoketsu, he escorted the state sedan in joy and exultation into the city — ^but to see his joy con- verted into rage, and his exultation into shame, it will be necessary to read the next chapter.
( 101 )
CHAPTER V.
<< THB GENEROUS HERO ARRAIGNS A PUBLIC TRIBUNAL, AND TO SAVE ANOTHER, HAZARDS HIMSELF."
Like the sea-monster now would he devour His prey ; now seize her like the robber bird ; Thus fertile are the base in foul devices ! They reck not that when destiny's decree Forbids soccess, their best laid schemes are vain ! They came and found her ; but misfortune cross*d Their homeward course— to enmities arise In narrow paths— though had not tangled grass Beset the way, perchance th* unrivall'd pair Had ne*er been matdi'd !
SiNCB the first arraDgement of his scheme in con- cert with Shueyan^ Kwoketsu^ in order to secure the possession of the young lady after he had stolen her^ engaged the assistance of the two magistrates^ wlio it was settled should be present on the occasion^ and place the matter beyond dispute by the inspection of the nuptial ticket. He did not neglect^ at the same time, to invite a crowd of relations and friends, that they might witness his triumphant possession of the prize after such disappointments.
In all the pride of success he reached the gate of his own dwelling, and as the chair-bearers waited his directions, he waved his hand and bade them carry the sedan into the liouse, repeating his orders until they
had
102 THE FORTUNATE L\N10N.
had passed the vestibule^ and got as far as the raised platform in the great hall, where it was placed down. The Chefoo and those present received him as he en- tered^ and told him that they wished him joy in propor- tion to the difficulties he had experienced in the pur- suit of his bride. Kwoketsu stalked up in triumph to the two magistrates^ and making them a slight bow^ '^ I am not conscious/' said he, '^ of any thing con* trary to rule on this occasion, for the person to whom I was affianced is in reality Shueypingsin-^here is the nuptial ticket in evidence. The deceit which was practised on me — the substitution of a stalk for a flower — 1 could hardly be expected to endure con- tentedly, and was therefore compelled to use this vio- lence in my own right. Let me beg your worships to decide on my claim."
They both replied together, that they had not been well acquainted with the commencement '^^ of these espousals, and it was unnecessary to recapitulate now, — that as he had merely brought to pass what should have been effected before, there could be no violation of propriety ; and they accordingly desired him to forget his former disappointments, and hasten to eu«- joy his present good fortune.
*' No," replied the young man, *' that may not be ; a want of formality might give this young lady herself
ground
* From its irregularity, they were desirous to be as ignorant as possi- ble on the subject.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 103
ground of complaint ; let every form be publicly ob- served^ to prevent disputes between ourselves here* after."
** Very well/' said the magistrates, " let the sedan be opened, and request the young lady to appear and speak for herself."
Kwoketsu called some of the women to open the sedan ; but when they attempted to obey, they found the door fastened with a small padlock, and informed him.
^ Oh, that is a trifle !" cried he, and walking up to the chair, twisted off the padlock. The women then proceeded to unclose the door, into which they looked, and opening it wider and wider, stared at each other in astonishment, without being able to utte^ a word. Kwoketsu, seeing them all gazing in motion- less stupidity, began to chide. '^ Idiot slaves ! make haste and hand the lady out ; — why do you stand gaping there ? "
They answered in trepidation, that there was no lady for them to hand ! and the young man rushed to the front of the sedan, into which he looked, and perceived nothing on the seat but a great yellow bun- dle—not a shadow of any living person I In an ecstacy of rage and disap|)ointmeut he stamped with his feet, and exclaimed ; *' Did I not see her plainly in the pavilion ? and yet this young girl has again foiled me ; — ^it is really detestable !"
The
104 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
The magistrates and all present walked up to the
chair^ into which they looked^ and, seeing it empty,
exclaimed in accents of astonishment, ^^ This young
woman must doubtless be something more than
human !'* They turned to Kwoketsu, and advised him
to give up all farther thoughts of her, for her actions
were so mysterious, and so nearly resembled those of
nuembodied spirits, that she could not be regarded
as an ordinary mortal. Stupified with vexation and
shame, Kwoketsu became unable to utter a word ;
be could only hang down his head and sigh, while
the first magistrate directed that the yellow bundle
and the trunk should be taken out of the chair and
examined. On finding the contents of these to be
nothing but a parcel of stones, the guests all burst
into an immoderate fit of laughter, and when they
had ended a confused sort of consultation, in which
it was discovered that nothing could be done, the
party dropped off one after the other.
A single person remained behind, a particular
friend of Kwoketsu, named Chingkee, who had the
freedom of his house. He sat quietly in his seat when
the rest had taken their leave, and his friend, going
up to him, observed despondingly, " that well as every
thing had been concerted for this day's enterprize,
it had ended in complete disappointment. Surely
there must be something in his destiny to prevent
the union !*'
" It
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 105
" It will be time enough to say that," replied the other^ ^^ when you find it impossible to effect your object ; though were it already effected, I would not vouch for its being a predestined union. In common cases, gentle means are used to induce compliance ; bat as you have power on your side, and can carry her off without fearing any body, the thing may be easily brought about — why vex yourself?"
" Alas !" said Kwoketsu, " do not regard it as so easy a matter ! To run away with her requires no ordinary invention, for she is so completely immured in her house, and so rarely ventures out, that let me possess all possible ingenuity, there is no opportunity for its exertion."
** Yes," answered his friend, " the present situa- tion of her father affords you an excellent opportu- nity." Being asked to explain himself, he continued — " I understand it is a great while since she heard any news of her father in exile, and being of a filial disposition, she cannot but wish earnestly for his re* call. Do you then prepare on a sheet of red paper a fictitious report, declaring that he has been graciously recalled by his Majesty at the recommendation of the College of Censors, and restored to office. You may send ten or twenty persons* with this straight to her
house,
* It 18 commonly a part of the punishment of exile to prohibit all commimication between the banished person and those whom he leaves behind, though the relations an sometimes permitted to accompany the exile.
106 THE FORTUNATE UNION,
honse^ as if in search of a reward for the joyful intel- ligence. Should she scruple even then to leave her apartments^ they may pretend that they bring a decla- tion of pardon from the emperor himself, and call on her to receive it. Her joy on such an occasion might well deprive her of foresight ; but when she hears of the imperial grant^ she cannot venture to do otherwise than come forth to pay the customary respect. A chair being prepared, let her be shut up in it at once and carried off— -her ingenuity can scarcely avail her on such an occasion/'
^' It is a good scheme 1" exclaimed the other, inter- rupting him with delight.
" Yes," continued Chingkee; " but I fear it may involve us in some trouble/'
'^ In what trouble should it involve us ?" inquired Kwoketsu confidently.
'^ She is of a distinguished family," replied his friend ; " this forcible abduction, if you take her straight home, may have such an effect on her deter- mined temper as to drive her to some desperate remedy. You, however, and the magistrates are one j*
begin
• The expression is a vulgarism, but inserted here as being a parallel idiom with the original. A curious collection might be made of such little analogies between the Chinese and other languages : as Xim too, < to do any thing by rotation;* Yin taou, * to lead the way;* Ta tsew foong, * to raise the wind '—to seek a fovour or advantage ; Kan fang, * to view lightly;* Tsing it^en, * of green age'— young; Shinmeih, 'very thick • with a person ; Ta tsing shin, * k grand nnatin ; Laou ahi, * prisca fides;' Kaekwo keang, • vertere modum— palinodiam canere/ &c.&c.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 107
begin by addressing them, and carry her after- wards to their respective tribunals, procuring from the superior one a reply to your address, to de* clare that slie was property affianced to you, and that therefore you may carry her home, llius you will be quite safie/'
*^ Better and better still !'' exclaimed the other, overjoyed at the fair promise of this plot ; and when they bad talked the matter over they separated.
Setree hM one TiUany beeniMrd, tnoCher Startt in its place— what peace b there for man ! Such pitMlt mi^t a woman's weakness well Hare sttonbled— trials meet ftv th* other sex !
Shueypingsin, ever since her happy escape from the last danger, had resolved, for the greater security, to close her doors against every one, not excepting even her own sex. As for her uncle« who so posi- tively asserted that there was no evil intention on the part of Kwoketsu, and whom the event had proved to be an accomplice with him— -even he did not pay her many visits. Nothing now disturbed the young lady's quiet except ' the recollection of her father,—- of whom she had received no intelligence for such a length of time, and whose uncertain fate could not but fill her with anxiety.
She had one morning just finished dressing, when her ear was struck by a loud uproar at the outer gate, and she was told that a number of persons had rush- ed in, bringing with them a great red paper, which
they
108 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
they fixed up aloft Id the hall^ bawling out at the same time that her father had received the imperial pardon and was restored to office^ and that they came in search of a reward with the joyful intelligence. Some of them added that they bad got the imperial edict, and invited her to come forth and read it. The noise and confusion were so great, that she could learn nothing clearly on the subject, and the young lady therefore proceeded to the apartment at the back of the great hall to obtain a peep at what was going on. Without exposing herself to view, she perceived from thence the red paper fixed up, and several persons proposing that she should come forth and hear the edict read.
Fearful of any disrespect towards his majesty's mandate, she walked out at once into the hall, at- tended by two of her females, and had scarcely ar- rived there, before she was surrounded by the whole party of strangers, some of them exclaiming, " The imperial edict is at the magistrate's ; let the young lady go thither to hear it." Hardly was this uttered, before a chair was introduced from the outside, and she was invited to get in.
The whole tnith now flashed upon Shueypingsin, — who, however, lost none of her presence of mind, but stood erect in the midst of the hall, and without changing colour in the least, addressed the people thus in her usual tone of voice : <^ Do not be violent,
but
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 109
bat listen to what I say. Yoa have been sent hither by yoar master to carry me to his house^ and must be aware that^ so far from being actuated by any enmity towards me, he wishes to make me his wife. The means he uses for the attainment of his end arc the mere consequence of my former incompliance. If I now yield to his wishes, however, I become his wife, and at the same time your mistress ; and should you offer me any indignity, I shall not fail to visit you with punishment hereafter, when you cannot plead that you received no warning."
It happened that Chmgkee was among the crowd, and he immediately replied, ^^ Lady, what you say is an admirable proof of your prudence and foresight ; but it is unnecessary on this occasion, for who present would dare to subject you to any indignity ?"
Well then," said Shueypingsin, " pray let the peo- ple stand aside a little, while I prepare my dress for going out, and give the requisite orders to my servants."
They immediately obeyed, and extended the circle in which she stood ; upon which the young lady desired her females to bring some addition to her dress, and whispering in the ear of one of them directed her to conceal a. small dagger with its sheath in the sleeve of her gown. This done, she again addressed herself to those present. " If you wish to obtain the good-will of your master, attend to what I am going to direct ;" and being assured by Chingkee that they would obey
her
110 TMB FORTUNATE UNION.
her eommands; she proceeded : " this union has cer- tainly been very contrary to my inclinations, but the earnestness with which Kwoketsu has thrice sought it, though in opposition to strict rules, has at least proved the sincerity of his attachment, and I cannot bring myself to give him a peremptory refusal. If, however, after surprising me in this manner, you were to carry me straight to his house, it would be so clandestine and indecent a proceeding, that I would rather die than give my consent: better, then, take me first to the two magistrates, and should they approve of the match, it will no longer bear such an irregular and disgraceful aspect; and when we reach the house of Kwoketsu, I may perhaps he induced to listen to his proposals/'
This agreed very well with their instructions, and Chingkee therefore repUed, that they would do exactly as she desired, requesting her at the same time to enter the sedan. Shueypingsin gave some farther directions to her servants, and took with her only a couple of female attendants, and two boys to follow the chair; though she privately directed a trusty domestic to take down the great red paper from the hall, and bring it after her to the magistrate's. That done, she cheerfully stepped into the sedan.
The prodigies she ytewM with fearless eye, She heard the thunders with undaunted ear -. Say ye to men's device a victim she Must fitll ?— The demons own their cunning vain !
When
THE FORTUNATE UNION. Ill
When the emissaries of Kwoketsu had &iriy got
possession of the young lady, they felt as glad as if they
had perfonued some grand exploit, and the whole twenty
or thirty of them hurried along with her towards the
magistrates, like a flight of crows or swallows on the
wing. Confident in the power and influence (^ the
master whom they served, they were speeding along in
this manner, without regarding any obstacles, when it
was &ted they should fiedl in with Teihchungyu, who
had lately entered the province of Shantong* on his
travels, and viras riding along leisurely upon his mule,
vrith Seaoutan following him. It was in the act of
turning a comer, without being prepared for such a
concussion, that he was suddenly met and nearly thrown
firom his mule by those who were carrying the chair.
Irritated by the violence of the blow, he leaped dovim,
and stopping the first chair-bearer by grasping hold of
his body, exclaimed, ^' Villainous slaves, is this a case of
fire or sudden death to justify your tearing along thus at
mid-day, as if in chase of a thief ? Know you who it
is you have nearly knocked down ? — ^what do you mean
by this conduct V*
The followers all ran up to the boni in a body, and being stopped by the youth, began to bawl out together at him. Some of them demanded who he was, and
how
* In the original it is printed Honan^ an evident mistake, as he is Mud hefoie to have resolved on going to Shaniang, which is the scene of the present incident The text abounds in misprints, and the timn8lator*8 copy was carefully corrected by a native.
112 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
how he dared to stop the marriage procession of tlie son of a minister of state; while others cried out, " Whoever you are, come along with us to the magistrate's, where you shall be properly handled."*
Still more incensed at such insolence, Teihchungyu demanded, ^' If this is a state marriage, where are the lanterns and the music ? — No, no ! it is plain you are carrying off somebody by force. Come to the Cheheen, and let us hear the truth."
Chingkee, who was concealed among the crowd, now came forward, and perceiving from the youth's striking exterior that he was a person of rank and station, went up and remonstrated with him quietly ; " It was a mere accident," said he, " not worth notice. I observe from your speech, sir, that you are a stranger here, and can have no concern with this matter : pray let the people go on."
Teihchungyu now felt really disposed to loosen his hold, but was prevented by a voice from within the chair, which exclaimed in accents of distress : " I am suffering violent vnrong, and rely on your bravery for succour !"
" So,"
* In the original he states his name, and the others make some contemptuous puns on it, an attempt to render which may be well dispensed with, considering the difficulty of conveying a jeu de mots from even an European language, which has generally some kind of affinity with our own. They tell him that * if he were gold or jewels, much less iron (his name), let him go to the magistrates, and he should be beaten to fragments.*
THE FORTU'NATE UNION. 113
*' So," cried he, resuming his grasp, '* it is just aa I said ! Do not think I am going to let you pass ; but make haste and bring the chair to the magistrate's*''
Seeing that he would not let them go on, the fellows thronged up in a body, and tried to force him aside : but the youth laid about him in such good earnest, that he sent them flying in every direction. Chingkee now interfered in great trepidation : '^ Do not use violence^ sir," cried he, ^* this affair has already arrived at a point that will not admit of its being passed over. It matters not your going to the magistrate's now, for whether you go or not, I doubt if the family you have insidted will submit to such treatment. Release the chair quietly, and allow us to proceed."
T^chungyu, however, paid no attention to him, and being already close to the Cheheen's office, they con- trived after some trouble to reach the gate. Here for the first time the youth relaxed his grasp, and walking up to the stand on which the great drum was placed, took his whip and struck a loud and continued peal^ The attendants of the office, alarmed by the sound, rushed out in a body and surrounded him. ^^ Who are you," cried they, '' that dare thus to strike the drum; make haste in before his worship."
The magistrate had been prepared to give audience to those who were carrying off Shueypingsin, and to award her by his sentence to Kwoketsu. Being ready seated in court, he was somewhat surprised when,
VOL I. I instead
114 THE FORTUNATE UNION.
iiiBtead of seeing the young lady whom he expected, he heard the drum beat, and presently after observed his peo- ple bringing in a person in a scholar's dress, whom they pointed out as the appellant.* That person, however, instead of kneeling on his introduction, or offering any other token of profound respect, merely raised his joined hands, and saluted the magistrate as among equals. The latter upon this demanded who he might be, and for what reason he had struck the drum ?
Who I am, sir," replied Teihchungyu, " you need not inquire, nor is there any necessity for me to answer. But I fell in, on the road, with a case of violent oppres- sion and wrong, at which I felt so shocked as to take the Uberty of striking the drum. I have to beg your worship's interference to adjust it, and to ascertain what is the real nature of the transaction ; — I shall at the same time have an opportunity of observing how your worship administers justice."
The Cheheen, perceiving something in the appear- ance and speech of Teihchungyu which excited his apprehensions, did not venture to be hasty with him, but asked with troubled voice and countenance what was the case of oppression he alluded to ? — Before there was time for a reply the whole party of Kwoketsu's people
were
* A drum is placed at the door of every magistnte's office, to secure a reception to appeals from the people in uigent cases. Such appeals, how- ever (and they lie gradatim from the lowest tribunal up to the Emperor lymself) are idways attended with great hazard, as they subject the ap- pellant to severe punishment should his case be deemed frivolous or inadmissible.
THE FORTUNATE UNION. 116
Weie throDging in ; but Shueypingsin had not yet shewn herself in court, when Chingkee took occasion to pass bimself off for a domestic of his friend, and going up to the magistrate, addressed him thus : ^* Our master Kwoketsu has long since been engaged to marry the young lady whom we have brou^t hither; but she dianged her mind, and wished to break off the match, fi)r which reason we have been commanded to convey the lady before your worship, and, first obtainii^ your sanc- tion, carry her home for the completion of the marriage.''
** Well," replied the magistrate, ^* that being the case, it is right that the match be solemnized forthwith ; why appeal to me ? — Do not bring the lady in, but carry her home at once."
Chingkee upon this turned short round, and stopped the people fixMn entering, telling them they had his wordiip's sanction for the marriage. But Shueypingsin, who had reached the middle of the passage leading into court, finding she was to be prevented from enter- ing, called out aloud that she was wronged, and ran a few paces forward ; upon which the attendants placed their weapons across, saying that the order had been given to depart, and she must obey it.
Perceiving the situaticm she was reduced to, and that they wanted to hurry her off, Shueypingsin sat down on the floor, and exclaimed loud enough to be heard in court : '^ It is your duty, as the people's parent,* to
I 2 redress
* The Chehifen is called ' the fiitther and mother* of his district
116 THK FORTUNATE UNION.'
redress their wrongs, instead of thus turning a deaf ear to their complaints."
♦ The Cheheen persisted in ordering her to be taken away^ when Teihchungyu, losing all patience, started up fiercely with a voice of thunder, and rushing to- wards the table, extended his arm towards tlie tribunal as he exclaimed : '^ Most stupid and worthless magistrate ^at you are, thus to listen, in this hall of public justice, to only one side of the question — thus to repress the com- plaints of the injured ! Such iniquity is quite unparal- leled. You might play these tricks with impunity were there nobody greater than a Cheheen in the empire ; but you shall find that there are authorities above you who will not suffer it to pass."
Finding himself rated in this humiliating style, the Cheheen became incensed in his turn, and striking the table with his hand, exclaimed, " What man are you, that dare thus to give a loose to your insolence in the emperor's public court ?"
Teihchungyu replied to this with a loud laugh : " A mighty high court, truly, must it be in my estimation ! who to rescue the oppressed have broken into a noble's sanctuary, conferred on him by the emperor himself, while nobody dared to charge me with insolence."
Now it so happened that this magistrate, who had not long filled his present situation, being in the neigh- * bourhood of Peking when Teihchungyu performed his' exploit, was well acquainted with the circumstances,
and
.THE FORTUNATE UNION. 117
*fand his oonstemation was not small at meeting him on .fitich an occasion as this. ^^ Su*/' exclaimed he in an