After he had beheld6 Mian’s face and understood the circumstances of his escape and recovery, Ling quickly shook off the evil vapours which had held him down so long, and presently he was able to walk slowly in the courtyard and in the shady paths of the wood beyond, leaning upon Mian for the support he still required.
“Oh, graceful7 one,” he said on such an occasion, when little stood between him and the full powers which he had known before the battle, “there is a matter which has been pressing upon this person’s mind for some time past. It is as dark after light to let the thoughts dwell around it, yet the thing itself must inevitably8 soon be regarded, for in this life one’s actions are for ever regulated by conditions which are neither of one’s own seeking nor within one’s power of controlling.”
At these words all brightness left Mian’s manner, for she at once understood that Ling referred to his departure, of which she herself had lately come to think with unrestrained agitation9.
“Oh, Ling,” she exclaimed at length, “most expert of sword-users and most noble of men, surely never was a maiden more inelegantly placed than the one who is now by your side. To you she owes her life, yet it is unseemly for her even to speak of the incident; to you she must look for protection, yet she cannot ask you to stay by her side. She is indeed alone. The magician is dead, Ki has fallen, Ling is going, and Mian is undoubtedly10 the most unhappy and solitary11 person between the Wall and the Nan Hai.”
“Beloved Mian,” exclaimed Ling, with inspiring vehemence12, “and is not the utterly13 unworthy person before you indebted to you in a double measure that life is still within him? Is not the strength which now promotes him to such exceptional audacity14 as to aspire15 to your lovely hand, of your own creating? Only encourage Ling to entertain a well-founded hope that on his return he shall not find you partaking of the wedding feast of some wealthy and exceptionally round-bodied Mandarin16, and this person will accomplish the journey to Canton and back as it were in four strides.”
“Oh, Ling, reflexion of my ideal, holder17 of my soul, it would indeed be very disagreeable to my own feelings to make any reply save one,” replied Mian, scarcely above a breath-voice. “Gratitude alone would direct me, were it not that the great love which fills me leaves no resting-place for any other emotion than itself. Go if you must, but return quickly, for your absence will weigh upon Mian like a dragon-dream.”
“Violet light of my eyes,” exclaimed Ling, “even in surroundings which with the exception of the matter before us are uninspiring in the extreme, your virtuous18 and retiring encouragement yet raises me to such a commanding eminence19 of demonstrative happiness that I fear I shall become intolerably self-opinionated towards my fellow-men in consequence.”
“Such a thing is impossible with my Ling,” said Mian, with conviction. “But must you indeed journey to Canton?”
“Alas!” replied Ling, “gladly would this person decide against such a course did the matter rest with him, for as the Verses say, ‘It is needless to apply the ram’s head to the unlocked door.’ But Ki is demolished20, the unassuming Mandarin Li Keen has retired21 to Peking, and of the fortunes of his bowmen this person is entirely22 ignorant.”
“Such as survived returned to their homes,” replied Mian, “and Si-chow is safe, for the scattered23 and broken rebels fled to the mountains again; so much this person has learned.”
“In that case Si-chow is undoubtedly safe for the time, and can be left with prudence,” said Ling. “It is an unfortunate circumstance that there is no Mandarin of authority between here and Canton who can receive from this person a statement of past facts and give him instructions for the future.”
“And what will be the nature of such instructions as will be given at Canton?” demanded Mian.
“By chance they may take the form of raising another company of bowmen,” said Ling, with a sigh, “but, indeed, if this person can obtain any weight by means of his past service, they will tend towards a pleasant and unambitious civil appointment.”
“Oh, my artless and noble-minded lover!” exclaimed Mian, “assuredly a veil has been before your eyes during your residence in Canton, and your naturally benevolent24 mind has turned all things into good, or you would not thus hopefully refer to your brilliant exploits in the past. Of what commercial benefit have they been to the sordid25 and miserly persons in authority, or in what way have they diverted a stream of taels into their insatiable pockets? Far greater is the chance that had Si-chow fallen many of its household goods would have found their way into the Yamens of Canton. Assuredly in Li Keen you will have a friend who will make many delicate allusions26 to your ancestors when you meet, and yet one who will float many barbed whispers to follow you when you have passed; for you have planted shame before him in the eyes of those who would otherwise neither have eyes to see nor tongues to discuss the matter. It is for such a reason that this person distrusts all things connected with the journey, except your constancy, oh, my true and strong one.”
“Such faithfulness would alone be sufficient to assure my safe return if the matter were properly represented to the supreme27 Deities,” said Ling. “Let not the thin curtain of bitter water stand before your lustrous28 eyes any longer, then, the events which have followed one another in the past few days in a fashion that can only be likened to thunder following lightning are indeed sufficient to distress29 one with so refined and swan-like an organization, but they are now assuredly at an end.”
“It is a hope of daily recurrence30 to this person,” replied Mian, honourably31 endeavouring to restrain the emotion which openly exhibited itself in her eyes; “for what maiden would not rather make successful offerings to the Great Mother Kum-Fa than have the most imposing32 and verbose33 Triumphal Arch erected34 to commemorate35 an empty and unsatisfying constancy?”
In this amiable36 manner the matter was arranged between Ling and Mian, as they sat together in the magician’s garden drinking peach-tea, which the two attendants—not without discriminating37 and significant expressions between themselves—brought to them from time to time. Here Ling made clear the whole manner of his life from his earliest memory to the time when he fell in dignified38 combat, nor did Mian withhold39 anything, explaining in particular such charms and spells of the magician as she had knowledge of, and in this graceful manner materially assisting her lover in the many disagreeable encounters and conflicts which he was shortly to experience.
It was with even more objectionable feelings than before that Ling now contemplated40 his journey to Canton, involving as it did the separation from one who had become as the shadow of his existence, and by whose side he had an undoubted claim to stand. Yet the necessity of the undertaking41 was no less than before, and the full possession of all his natural powers took away his only excuse for delaying in the matter. Without any pleasurable anticipations42, therefore, he consulted the Sacred Flat and Round Sticks, and learning that the following day would be propitious43 for the journey, he arranged to set out in accordance with the omen44.
When the final moment arrived at which the invisible threads of constantly passing emotions from one to the other must be broken, and when Mian perceived that her lover’s horse was restrained at the door by the two attendants, who with unsuspected delicacy45 of feeling had taken this opportunity of withdrawing, the noble endurance which had hitherto upheld her melted away, and she became involved in very melancholy46 and obscure meditations47 until she observed that Ling also was quickly becoming affected48 by a similar gloom.
“Alas!” she exclaimed, “how unworthy a person I am thus to impose upon my lord a greater burden than that which already weighs him down! Rather ought this one to dwell upon the happiness of that day, when, after successfully evading49 or overthrowing50 the numerous bands of assassins which infest51 the road from here to Canton, and after escaping or recovering from the many deadly pestilences52 which invariably reduce that city at this season of the year, he shall triumphantly53 return. Assuredly there is a highly-polished surface united to every action in life, no matter how funereal54 it may at first appear. Indeed, there are many incidents compared with which death itself is welcome, and to this end Mian has reserved a farewell gift.”
Speaking in this manner the devoted55 and magnanimous maiden placed in Ling’s hands the transparent56 vessel57 of liquid which the magician had grasped when he fell. “This person,” she continued, speaking with difficulty, “places her lover’s welfare incomparably before her own happiness, and should he ever find himself in a situation which is unendurably oppressive, and from which death is the only escape—such as inevitable58 tortures, the infliction59 of violent madness, or the subjection by magic to the will of some designing woman—she begs him to accept this means of freeing himself without regarding her anguish60 beyond expressing a clearly defined last wish that the two persons in question may be in the end happily reunited in another existence.”
Assured by this last evidence of affection, Ling felt that he had no longer any reason for internal heaviness; his spirits were immeasurably raised by the fragrant61 incense62 of Mian’s great devotion, and under its influence he was even able to breathe towards her a few words of similar comfort as he left the spot and began his journey.
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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7
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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8
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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12
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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16
Mandarin
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| n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
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17
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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18
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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20
demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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21
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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22
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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23
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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24
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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25
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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26
allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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29
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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30
recurrence
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| n.复发，反复，重现 | |
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honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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32
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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verbose
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| adj.用字多的；冗长的；累赘的 | |
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34
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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commemorate
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| vt.纪念，庆祝 | |
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36
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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39
withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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40
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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41
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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42
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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43
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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44
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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45
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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46
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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47
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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48
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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49
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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50
overthrowing
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| v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的现在分词 )；使终止 | |
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51
infest
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| v.大批出没于；侵扰；寄生于 | |
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52
pestilences
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| n.瘟疫， （尤指）腺鼠疫( pestilence的名词复数 ) | |
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53
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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54
funereal
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| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
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55
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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56
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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57
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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58
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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59
infliction
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| n.（强加于人身的）痛苦，刑罚 | |
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60
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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61
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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62
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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