“My beloved lord!” said Mian sadly, on a morning after many days had passed since the return of Ling, “have you not every possession for which the heart of a wise person searches? Yet the dark mark is scarcely ever absent from your symmetrical brow. If she who stands before you, and is henceforth an integral part of your organization, has failed you in any particular, no matter how unimportant, explain the matter to her, and the amendment2 will be a speedy and a joyful3 task.”
It was indeed true that Ling’s mind was troubled, but the fault did not lie with Mian, as the person in question was fully4 aware, for before her eyes as before those of Ling the unevadable compact which had been entered into with Chang-ch’un was ever present, insidiously5 planting bitterness within even the most select and accomplished6 delights. Nor with increasing time did the obstinate7 and intrusive8 person Wang become more dignified9 in his behaviour; on the contrary, he freely made use of his position to indulge in every variety of abandonment, and almost each day he prevented, by reason of his knowledge of the things to be done and not to be done, some refined and permissible10 entertainment upon which Ling and Mian had determined11. Ling had despatched many communications upon this subject to Chang-ch’un, praying also that some expert way out of the annoyance12 of the lesser13 and more unimportant things not to be done should be arrived at, but the time when he might reasonably expect an answer to these written papers had not yet arrived.
It was about this period that intelligence was brought to Ling from the villages on the road to Peking, how Li Keen, having secretly ascertained14 that his Yamen was standing15 and his goods uninjured, had determined to return, and was indeed at that hour within a hundred li of Si-chow. Furthermore, he had repeatedly been understood to pronounce clearly that he considered Ling to be the head and beginning of all his inconveniences, and to declare that the first act of justice which he should accomplish on his return would be to submit the person in question to the most unbearable16 tortures, and then cause him to lose his head publicly as an outrager of the settled state of things and an enemy of those who loved tranquillity17. Not doubting that Li Keen would endeavour to gain an advantage by treachery if the chance presented itself, Ling determined to go forth1 to meet him, and without delay settle the entire disturbance18 in one well-chosen and fatally-destructive encounter. To this end, rather than disturb the placid19 mind of Mian, to whom the thought of the engagement would be weighted with many disquieting20 fears, he gave out that he was going upon an expedition to surprise and capture certain fish of a very delicate flavour, and attended by only two persons, he set forth in the early part of the day.
Some hours later, owing to an ill-considered remark on the part of the deaf attendant, to whom the matter had been explained in an imperfect light, Mian became possessed21 of the true facts of the case, and immediately all the pleasure of existence went from her. She despaired of ever again beholding22 Ling in an ordinary state, and mournfully reproached herself for the bitter words which had risen to her lips when the circumstance of his condition and the arrangement with Chang-ch’un first became known to her. After spending an interval23 in a polished lament24 at the manner in which things were inevitably25 tending, the thought occurred to Mian whether by any means in her power she could influence the course and settled method of affairs. In this situation the memory of the person Wang, and the fact that on several occasions he had made himself objectionable when Ling had proposed to place himself in such a position that he incurred26 some very remote chance of death by drowning or by fire, recurred27 to her. Subduing28 the natural and pure-minded repulsion which she invariably experienced at the mere29 thought of so debased an individual, she sought for him, and discovering him in the act of constructing cardboard figures of men and animals, which it was his custom to dispose skilfully30 in little-frequented paths for the purpose of enjoying the sudden terror of those who passed by, she quickly put the matter before him, urging him, by some means, to prevent the encounter, which must assuredly cost the life of the one whom he had so often previously31 obstructed32 from incurring33 the slightest risk.
“By no means,” exclaimed Wang, when he at length understood the full meaning of the project; “it would be a most unpresentable action for this commonplace person to interfere34 in so honourable35 an undertaking36. Had the priceless body of the intrepid37 Ling been in any danger of disappearing, as, for example, by drowning or being consumed in fire, the nature of the circumstance would have been different. As the matter exists, however, there is every appearance that the far-seeing Chang-ch’un will soon reap the deserved reward of his somewhat speculative38 enterprise, and to that end this person will immediately procure39 a wooden barrier and the services of four robust40 carriers, and proceed to the scene of the conflict.”
Deprived of even this hope of preventing the encounter, Mian betook herself in extreme dejection to the secret room of the magician, which had been unopened since the day when the two attendants had searched for substances to apply to their master, and there she diligently41 examined every object in the remote chance of discovering something which might prove of value in averting42 the matter in question.
Not anticipating that the true reason of his journey would become known to Mian, Ling continued on his way without haste, and passing through Si-chow before the sun had risen, entered upon the great road to Peking. At a convenient distance from the town he came to a favourable43 piece of ground where he decided44 to await the arrival of Li Keen, spending the time profitably in polishing his already brilliant sword, and making observations upon the nature of the spot and the condition of the surrounding omens45, on which the success of his expedition would largely depend.
As the sun reached the highest point in the open sky the sound of an approaching company could be plainly heard; but at the moment when the chair of the Mandarin46 appeared within the sight of those who waited, the great luminary47, upon which all portents48 depend directly or indirectly49, changed to the colour of new-drawn blood and began to sink towards the earth. Without any misgivings50, therefore, Ling disposed his two attendants in the wood, with instructions to step forth and aid him if he should be attacked by overwhelming numbers, while he himself remained in the way. As the chair approached, the Mandarin observed a person standing alone, and thinking that it was one who, hearing of his return, had come out of the town to honour him, he commanded the bearers to pause. Thereupon, stepping up to the opening, Ling struck the deceptive51 and incapable52 Li Keen on the cheek, at the same time crying in a full voice, “Come forth, O traitorous53 and two-stomached Mandarin! for this person is very desirous of assisting you in the fulfilment of your boastful words. Here is a most irreproachable54 sword which will serve excellently to cut off this person’s undignified head; here is a waistcord which can be tightened55 around his breast, thereby56 producing excruciating pains over the entire body.”
At the knowledge of who the one before him was, and when he heard the words which unhesitatingly announced Ling’s fixed57 purpose, Li Keen first urged the carriers to fall upon Ling and slay58 him, and then, perceiving that such a course was exceedingly distasteful to their natural tendencies, to take up the chair and save him by flight. But Ling in the meantime engaged their attention, and fully explained to them the treacherous59 and unworthy conduct of Li Keen, showing them how his death would be a just retribution for his ill-spent life, and promising60 them each a considerable reward in addition to their arranged payment when the matter in question had been accomplished. Becoming convinced of the justice of Ling’s cause, they turned upon Li Keen, insisting that he should at once attempt to carry out the ill-judged threats against Ling, of which they were consistent witnesses, and announcing that, if he failed to do so, they would certainly bear him themselves to a not far distant well of stagnant61 water, and there gain the approbation62 of the good spirits by freeing the land of so unnatural63 a monster.
Seeing only a dishonourable death on either side, Li Keen drew his sword, and made use of every artifice64 of which he had knowledge in order to disarm65 Ling or to take him at a disadvantage. In this he was unsuccessful, for Ling, who was by nature a very expert sword-user, struck him repeatedly, until he at length fell in an expiring condition, remarking with his last words that he had indeed been a narrow-minded and extortionate person during his life, and that his death was an enlightened act of celestial66 accuracy.
Directing Wang and his four hired persons, who had in the meantime arrived, to give the body of the Mandarin an honourable burial in the deep of the wood, Ling rewarded and dismissed the chairbearers, and without delay proceeded to Si-chow, where he charitably distributed the goods and possessions of Li Keen among the poor of the town. Having in this able and conscientious67 manner completely proved the misleading nature of the disgraceful statements which the Mandarin had spread abroad concerning him, Ling turned his footsteps towards Mian, whose entrancing joy at his safe return was judged by both persons to be a sufficient reward for the mental distress68 with which their separation had been accompanied.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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insidiously
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| 潜在地，隐伏地，阴险地 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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intrusive
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| adj.打搅的；侵扰的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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permissible
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| adj.可允许的，许可的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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21
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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23
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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subduing
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| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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32
obstructed
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| 阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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35
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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39
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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41
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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42
averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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43
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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45
omens
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| n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 ) | |
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46
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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47
luminary
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| n.名人，天体 | |
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48
portents
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| n.预兆( portent的名词复数 )；征兆；怪事；奇物 | |
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49
indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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50
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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51
deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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52
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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53
traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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54
irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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55
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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56
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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58
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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59
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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60
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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61
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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