In this unenviable state Chang’s mind continually returned to thoughts of Ling, whose lifeless body would so opportunely8 serve to dispel9 the embarrassing perplexities of existence which were settling thickly about him. Urged forward by a variety of circumstances which placed him in an entirely10 different spirit from the honourable11 bearing which he had formerly12 maintained, he now closely examined all the papers connected with the matter, to discover whether he might not be able to effect his purpose with an outward exhibition of law forms. While engaged in this degrading occupation, a detail came to his notice which caused him to become very amiably13 disposed and confident of success. Proceeding14 with the matter, he caused a well-supported report to be spread about that Ling was suffering from a wasting sickness, which, without in any measure shortening his life, would cause him to return to the size and weight of a newly-born child, and being by these means enabled to secure the entire matter of “The Ling (After Death) Without Much Risk Assembly” at a very small outlay15, he did so, and then, calling together a company of those who hire themselves out for purposes of violence, journeyed to Si-chow.
Ling and Mian were seated together at a table in the great room, examining a vessel16 of some clear liquid, when Chang-ch’un entered with his armed ones, in direct opposition17 to the general laws of ordinary conduct and the rulings of hospitality. At the sight, which plainly indicated a threatened display of violence, Ling seized his renowned18 sword, which was never far distant from him, and prepared to carry out his spoken vow19, that any person overstepping a certain mark on the floor would assuredly fall.
“Put away your undoubtedly20 competent weapon, O Ling,” said Chang, who was desirous that the matter should be arranged if possible without any loss to himself, “for such a course can be honourably21 adopted when it is taken into consideration that we are as twenty to one, and have, moreover, the appearance of being inspired by law forms.”
“There are certain matters of allowed justice which over-rule all other law forms,” replied Ling, taking a surer hold of his sword-grasp. “Explain, for your part, O obviously double-dealing Chang-ch’un, from whom this person only recently parted on terms of equality and courtesy, why you come not with an agreeable face and a peaceful following, but with a countenance22 which indicates both violence and terror, and accompanied by many whom this person recognizes as the most outcast and degraded from the narrow and evil-smelling ways of Canton?”
“In spite of your blustering23 words,” said Chang, with some attempt at an exhibition of dignity, “this person is endowed by every right, and comes only for the obtaining, by the help of this expert and proficient24 gathering25, should such a length become necessary, of his just claims. Understand that in the time since the venture was arranged this person has become possessed26 of all the property of ‘The Ling (After Death) Without Much Risk Assembly,’ and thereby27 he is competent to act fully28 in the matter. It has now come within his attention that the one Ling to whom the particulars refer is officially dead, and as the written and sealed document clearly undertook that the person’s body was to be delivered up for whatever use the Assembly decided29 whenever death should possess it, this person has now come for the honourable carrying out of the undertaking5.”
At these words the true nature of the hidden contrivance into which he had fallen descended30 upon Ling like a heavy and unavoidable thunderbolt. Nevertheless, being by nature and by reason of his late exploits fearless of death, except for the sake of the loved one by his side, he betrayed no sign of discreditable emotion at the discovery.
“In such a case,” he replied, with an appearance of entirely disregarding the danger of the position, “the complete parchment must be of necessity overthrown31; for if this person is now officially dead, he was equally so at the time of sealing, and arrangements entered into by dead persons have no actual existence.”
“That is a matter which has never been efficiently32 decided,” admitted Chang-ch’un, with no appearance of being thrown into a state of confusion at the suggestion, “and doubtless the case in question can by various means be brought in the end before the Court of Final Settlement at Peking, where it may indeed be judged in the manner you assert. But as such a process must infallibly consume the wealth of a province and the years of an ordinary lifetime, and as it is this person’s unmoved intention to carry out his own view of the undertaking without delay, such speculations33 are not matters of profound interest.”
Upon this Chang gave certain instructions to his followers34, who thereupon prepared to advance. Perceiving that the last detail of the affair had been arrived at, Ling threw back his hanging garment, and was on the point of rushing forward to meet them, when Mian, who had maintained a possessed and reliant attitude throughout, pushed towards him the vessel of pure and sparkling liquid with which they had been engaged when so presumptuously35 broken in upon, at the same time speaking to him certain words in an outside language. A new and Heaven-sent confidence immediately took possession of Ling, and striking his sword against the wall with such irresistible37 force that the entire chamber38 trembled and the feeble-minded assassins shrank back in unrestrained terror, he leapt upon the table, grasping in one hand the open vessel.
“Behold39 the end, O most uninventive and slow-witted Chang-ch’un!” he cried in a dreadful and awe-compelling voice. “As a reward for your faithless and traitorous40 behaviour, learn how such avaricious-minded incompetence41 turns and fastens itself upon the vitals of those who beget42 it. In spite of many things which were not of a graceful43 nature towards him, this person has unassumingly maintained his part of the undertaking, and would have followed such a course conscientiously44 to the last. As it is, when he has made an end of speaking, the body which you are already covetously45 estimating in taels will in no way be distinguishable from that of the meanest and most ordinary maker46 of commercial ventures in Canton. For, behold! the fluid which he holds in his hand, and which it is his fixed47 intention to drain to the last drop, is in truth nothing but a secret and exceedingly powerful counteractor against the virtues of the gold drug; and though but a single particle passed his lips, and the swords of your brilliant and versatile48 murderers met the next moment in his breast, the body which fell at your feet would be meet for worms rather than for the melting-pot.”
It was indeed such a substance as Ling represented it to be, Mian having discovered it during her very systematic49 examination of the dead magician’s inner room. Its composition and distillation50 had involved that self-opinionated person in many years of arduous51 toil52, for with a somewhat unintelligent lack of foresight53 he had obstinately54 determined55 to perfect the antidote56 before he turned his attention to the drug itself. Had the matter been more ingeniously arranged, he would undoubtedly have enjoyed an earlier triumph and an affluent57 and respected old age.
At Ling’s earnest words and prepared attitude an instant conviction of the truth of his assertions took possession of Chang. Therefore, seeing nothing but immediate36 and unevadable ruin at the next step, he called out in a loud and imploring58 voice that he should desist, and no harm would come upon him. To this Ling consented, first insisting that the followers should be dismissed without delay, and Chang alone remain to have conversation on the matter. By this just act the lower parts of Canton were greatly purified, for the persons in question being driven forth into the woods, mostly perished by encounters with wild animals, or at the hands of the enraged59 villagers, to whom Ling had by this time become greatly endeared.
When the usual state had been restored, Ling made clear to Chang the altered nature of the conditions to which he would alone agree. “It is a noble-minded and magnanimous proposal on your part, and one to which this misguided person had no claim,” admitted Chang, as he affixed60 his seal to the written undertaking and committed the former parchment to be consumed by fire. By this arrangement it was agreed that Ling should receive only one-half of the yearly payment which had formerly been promised, and that no sum of taels should become due to those depending on him at his death. In return for these valuable allowances, there were to exist no details of things to be done and not to be done, Ling merely giving an honourable promise to observe the matter in a just spirit, while—most esteemed61 of all—only a portion of his body was to pass to Chang when the end arrived, the upper part remaining to embellish62 the family altar and receive the veneration63 of posterity64.
As the great sky-lantern rose above the trees and the time of no-noise fell upon the woods, a flower-laden pleasure-junk moved away from its restraining cords, and, without any sense of motion, gently bore Ling and Mian between the sweet-smelling banks of the Heng-Kiang. Presently Mian drew from beneath her flowing garment an instrument of stringed wood, and touching65 it with a quick but delicate stroke, like the flight and pausing of a butterfly, told in well-balanced words a refined narrative66 of two illustrious and noble-looking persons, and how, after many disagreeable evils and unendurable separations, they entered upon a destined67 state of earthly prosperity and celestial68 favour. When she made an end of the verses, Ling turned the junk’s head by one well-directed stroke of the paddle, and prepared by using similar means to return to the place of mooring69.
“Indeed,” he remarked, ceasing for a moment to continue this skilful70 occupation, “the words which you have just spoken might, without injustice71, be applied72 to the two persons who are now conversing73 together. For after suffering misfortunes and wrongs beyond an appropriate portion, they have now reached that period of existence when a tranquil74 and contemplative future is assured to them. In this manner is the sage75 and matured utterance76 of the inspired philosopher Nien-tsu again proved: that the life of every person is largely composed of two varieties of circumstances which together build up his existence—the Good and the Evil.”
THE END OF THE STORY OF LING
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
undertakings
|
|
| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
entrusting
|
|
| v.委托，托付( entrust的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
persistently
|
|
| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
opportunely
|
|
| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
dispel
|
|
| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
honourable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
amiably
|
|
| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
outlay
|
|
| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
renowned
|
|
| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
vow
|
|
| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
honourably
|
|
| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
blustering
|
|
| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
proficient
|
|
| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
overthrown
|
|
| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
efficiently
|
|
| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
speculations
|
|
| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
presumptuously
|
|
| adv.自以为是地，专横地，冒失地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
traitorous
|
|
| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
incompetence
|
|
| n.不胜任，不称职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
beget
|
|
| v.引起；产生 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
conscientiously
|
|
| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
covetously
|
|
| adv.妄想地，贪心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
maker
|
|
| n.制造者，制造商 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
versatile
|
|
| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
systematic
|
|
| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
distillation
|
|
| n.蒸馏，蒸馏法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
arduous
|
|
| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
toil
|
|
| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
foresight
|
|
| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
obstinately
|
|
| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
antidote
|
|
| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
affluent
|
|
| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
imploring
|
|
| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
affixed
|
|
| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
esteemed
|
|
| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
embellish
|
|
| v.装饰，布置；给…添加细节，润饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
veneration
|
|
| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
posterity
|
|
| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
narrative
|
|
| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
celestial
|
|
| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
mooring
|
|
| n.停泊处；系泊用具，系船具；下锚v.停泊，系泊（船只）(moor的现在分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
skilful
|
|
| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
injustice
|
|
| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
conversing
|
|
| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
tranquil
|
|
| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
sage
|
|
| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
utterance
|
|
| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |