"He spoke3 truly," the Viceroy would murmur4, "and only the son of a mandarin5 shall have her in marriage."
And then he would sigh to think that even now it was time to betroth6 her. But while he pondered over these things he received news from Peking that completely banished7 all thoughts of Tuen from his mind, and forever changed the current of her life. Now the Viceroy stood high in imperial favor on account of many valuable services, and for his zeal8 in checking the famous rebellion, and he had several times been advanced in rank by his sovereign. But he had just received tidings that a new and a higher decoration had been conferred upon him, and he sought for some costly9 gift to lay at the feet of that august and jealous ruler who calls himself the Son of Heaven. For every mark of favor received from[Pg 104] the Emperor's hands the subject is expected to send some valuable present as a token of gratitude10, and the Viceroy had already presented so many gifts that he was at loss what to send. He searched the province for some treasure that would be worthy11 the acceptance of a monarch12, and had brought before him all the richest wares13 of the land, but he found nothing to satisfy his fastidious taste. Beset14 by these perplexities, he determined15 to give a great feast and invite all the learned and influential16 men of the city, with the hope that some of them would know of a curio or article of vertu that he might be able to procure17. Accordingly crimson18 tickets were sent out to all the high officials of Lu Chang, requesting them to bestow19 "the illumination of their presence" on a given night the following week, and a theatrical20 troupe21 was engaged to give a performance on that occasion, for with the Chinese the theatre may [Pg 105]almost be considered the national amusement, so great is the fondness of all classes for this form of diversion.
When the appointed evening arrived a distinguished22 assembly was gathered in the audience hall at the Viceroy's yamen, at one end of which a stage had been erected23. The Viceroy and his guest of the highest rank—the governor-general of a neighboring province—occupied a table placed on a slightly elevated platform, while the other guests were arranged in two rows on each side of the room, seated two at a table. When all had assembled, the Viceroy stood up and drank the health of his friends from a small gilt24 cup shaped like a Grecian urn2, then amid the sound of gong and bell the first course was placed upon the tables, and the feast commenced. First, salted relishes25 were served in dainty porcelain26 saucers, and then came that greatest delicacy27 to Chinese epicures28, bird-nest soup, accompanied by pigeons'[Pg 106] eggs and soy, while hot wine was poured for all from silver tankards in the hands of obsequious29 servants. These were followed by fish, game, and poultry30, cut fine and made into stews31, which the company very dexterously32 managed by means of their silver-tipped ivory chopsticks.
In the meantime the players, clad in brilliant costumes, tell the story of a beautiful wife of a former Emperor, who was demanded as a tribute by the Tartar Khan. The Emperor is in despair, for his country is weak and not prepared to go to war with this formidable chieftain, and so dearly does he love his charming wife that he cannot consent to part with her. At last he is forced to yield. The music swells33 louder and louder as the moment arrives for the last farewell between the Emperor and his beloved. The guests look up from the bowls of shark-fins before them and nod approvingly,[Pg 107] and even the Viceroy's countenance34 expresses his pleasure at the scene.
Now a savory35 dish composed of the sinews of deer was brought in, followed by bowls of rice. The music sinks to a low, reverberating36 wail37 as the Princess tragically38 exclaims:
"What place is this?"
For she is on her way to the home of the hostile Khan—the price of peace.
And when the Khan had answered her:
"It is the river of the Black Dragon, the frontier between the Tartar boundaries and those of China. This southern shore is the Emperor's—on the northern side commences our Tartar dominion," the Princess said calmly:
"Great King, I take a cup of wine and pour a libation towards the south, a final adieu to the Emperor."
And as she finishes this rite39 she adds:
"Sovereign of Han, this life is finished,—I await thee in the next."
[Pg 108]
With these words upon her lips she casts herself in the dark, turgid waters of the Black Dragon, and is never seen again by mortal eyes.
As this climax40 is reached the rice is removed and the tables strewn with flowers, and from amid this mass of loveliness peep out sweetmeats and confections of every kind, intermixed with the fragrant42 citron or Buddha's hand, of which, while growing, the skin is cut into strips, each forming an end like fingers, while golden oranges, grapes, and monstrous43, yet unpalatable, pears strew41 the board. This course completed the banquet, and the servants came in bringing tea, while on the stage the Emperor wailed44 the loss of his beautiful love in agonizing45 strains.
As they chatted merrily and sipped46 their tea, the Viceroy broached47 the subject that lay nearest his heart, but he found to his dismay that none of his friends were able to help him. One and all they shook[Pg 109] their heads after he had enumerated48 the choice articles he had already examined.
"There is nothing richer in the Empire," the governor-general said decisively.
"But it will be an insult to my Emperor to send him a gift that is excelled by something I have already presented," the Viceroy cried despairingly. "Can no one help me out of this unfortunate difficulty?"
All were for a time silent, then Wo Ting, a mandarin and a man of much wisdom, said sententiously:
"The Viceroy of Kiang-si is said to have lately found a lovely daughter. Let him draw his inspiration from the play we have just seen."
The Viceroy looked at him in puzzled wonder, and as the meaning of the strange words dawned upon him he exclaimed in amazement49:
"Send Tuen to the Emperor!"
[Pg 110]
Wo Ting made a sign of assent50, and someone else remarked:
"Why not? 'Tis no small honor to be the handmaid of the Son of Heaven, the greatest king upon earth. Find yourself a son, and let the girl go."
"I do not wish to part with her, not just yet," the Viceroy said slowly.
"She will go away sooner or later to the household of her husband," the governor-general told him. "After all it is the same thing, for in either case she is lost to you. It is only a son who is a joy forever."
"True! True!" cried a dozen voices. "What matters a girl?"
"I will consider the question, my friends," the Viceroy said. "She is indeed beautiful and wise and good—my dearest treasure—and a fitting recompense for any honor. She is worthy the acceptance of the greatest of monarchs51."
So saying he turned again to the stage[Pg 111] and listened to the lamentations of the grief-stricken Emperor, and the fate of Tuen was not further discussed that night.
But Wo Ting remarked in a low tone to his neighbor:
"I should very much like to see that girl. It is whispered that he bought her for a slave, but that she turned out to be so uncommonly52 wise that he found a teacher for her, and she has been learning to read. After he found what a wonder she was, since she was also pretty, he adopted her. He is a very rich man, and doubtless he would provide well for her if he gave her in marriage. I have a son about her age, and I had been thinking of sending one of the match-makers to arrange matters with him, and get her for my son. But of course if she goes to the Emperor that settles it. If he does not send her—and I think he is loath53 to start her on such a long journey—I may decide to take her for my daughter-in-law. It[Pg 112] wouldn't be a bad plan," and he scratched his chin reflectively.
But Tuen was sweetly sleeping, and dreaming of the day when she would be a wise woman who could read, and she did not know that her fate hung in the balance. And even if she had known she would have been powerless to change it.
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1
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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urn
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| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
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3
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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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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betroth
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| v.订婚 | |
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7
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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9
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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10
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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13
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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14
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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16
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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17
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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18
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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20
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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troupe
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| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
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22
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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23
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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24
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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25
relishes
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| n.滋味( relish的名词复数 )；乐趣；（大量的）享受；快乐v.欣赏( relish的第三人称单数 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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26
porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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27
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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epicures
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| n.讲究饮食的人( epicure的名词复数 ) | |
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29
obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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30
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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31
stews
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| n.炖煮的菜肴( stew的名词复数 )；烦恼，焦虑v.炖( stew的第三人称单数 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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32
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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33
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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34
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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35
savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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36
reverberating
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的现在分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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37
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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38
tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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39
rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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40
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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41
strew
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| vt.撒；使散落；撒在…上，散布于 | |
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42
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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43
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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44
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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46
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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48
enumerated
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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50
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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51
monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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52
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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53
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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