the ninth vibration-第23部分

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ich　his　Augustness　gave　when　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety　flinging　herself　from　the　Dragon　couch；　threw　herself　at　his　feet　and　with　tears　that　flowed　like　that　river　known　as　〃The　Sorrow　of　China；〃　demanded　to　know　what　she　had　done　that　another　should　be　preferred　before　her；　reciting　in　frantic　haste　such　imperfections　of　the　Lady　A…Kuei's　appearance　as　she　could　recall　（or　invent）　in　the　haste　of　that　agitating　moment。

〃That　one　of　her　eyes　is　larger　than　the　other　…　no　human　being　can　doubt〃　sobbed　the　lady　…〃　and　surely　your　Divine　Majesty　cannot　be　aware　that　her　hair　reaches　but　to　her　waist；　and　that　there　is　a　brown　mole　on　the　nape　of　her　neck？　When　she　sings　it　resembles　the　croak　of　the　crow。　It　is　true　that　most　of　the　Palace　ladies　are　chosen　for　anything　but　beauty；　yet　she　is　the　most　ill…favored。　And　is　it　this　…　this　bat…faced　lady　who　is　preferred　to　me！　Would　I　had　never　been　born：　Yet　even　your　Majesty's　own　lips　have　told　me　I　am　fair！〃

The　Yellow　Emperor　supported　the　form　of　the　Princess　in　his　arms。　There　are　moments　when　even　a　Son　of　Heaven　is　but　human。　〃Fair　as　the　rainbow；〃　he　murmured；　and　the　Princess　faintly　smiled；　then　gathering　the　resolution　of　the　Philosopher　he　added　manfully　…　〃But　the　Lady　A…Kuei　is　incomparable。　And　the　reason　is　…〃

The　Lady　Ma　eagerly　stretched　her　head　forward　with　a　hand　to　either　ear。　But　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety　with　one　shriek　had　swooned　and　in　the　hurry　of　summoning　attendants　and　causing　her　to　be　conveyed　to　her　own　apartments　that　precious　sentence　was　never　completed。

Still　the　Lady　Ma　groveled　behind　the　Dragon　Couch　as　the　Son　of　Heaven；　left　alone；　approached　the　veranda　and　apostrophizing　the　moon；　murmured　…

〃0　loveliest　pale　watcher　of　the　destinies　of　men；　illuminate　the　beauty　of　the　Lady　A…Kuei；　and　grant　that　I　who　have　never　seen　that　beauty　may　never　see　it；　but　remain　its　constant　admirer！〃　So　saying；　he　sought　his　solitary　couch　and　slept；　while　the　Lady　Ma；　in　a　torment　of　bewilderment；　glided　from　the　room。

The　matter　remained　in　suspense　for　several　days。　The　White　Jade　Concubine　was　the　next　lady　commanded　to　the　Dragon　Chamber；　and　again　the　Lady　Ma　was　in　her　post　of　observation。　Much　she　heard；　much　she　saw　that　was　not　to　the　point；　but　the　scene　ended　as　before　by　the　dismissal　of　the　lady　in　tears；　and　the　departure　of　the　Lady　Ma　in　ignorance　of　the　secret。

The　Emperor's　peace　was　ended。

The　singular　circumstance　was　that　the　Lady　A…Kuei　was　never　summoned　by　the　Yellow　Emperor。　Eagerly　as　the　Empress　watched；　no　token　of　affection　for　her　was　ever　visible。　Nothing　could　be　detected。　It　was　inexplicable。　Finally；　devoured　by　curiosity　that　gave　her　no　respite；　she　resolved　on　a　stratagem　that　should　dispel　the　mystery；　though　it　carried　with　it　a　risk　on　which　she　trembled　to　reflect。　It　was　the　afternoon　of　a　languid　summer　day；　and　the　Yellow　Emperor；　almost　unattended；　had　come　to　pay　a　visit　of　filial　respect　to　the　Pearl　Empress。　She　received　him　with　the　ceremony　due　to　her　sovereign　in　the　porcelain　pavilion　of　the　Eastern　Gardens；　with　the　lotos　fish　ponds　before　them；　and　a　faint　breeze　occasionally　tinkling　the　crystal　wind…bells　that　decorated　the　shrubs　on　the　cloud　and　dragon…wrought　slopes　of　the　marble　approach。　A　bird　of　brilliant　plumage　uttered　a　cry　of　reverence　from　its　gold　cage　as　the　Son　of　Heaven　entered。　As　was　his　occasional　custom；　and　after　suitable　inquiries　as　to　his　parent's　health；　the　attendants　were　all　dismissed　out　of　earshot　and　the　Emperor　leaned　on　his　cushions　and　gazed　reflectively　into　the　sunshine　outside。　So　had　the　Court　Artist　represented　him　as　〃The　Incarnation　of　Philosophic　Calm。〃

〃These　gardens　are　fair；〃　said　the　Empress　after　a　respectful　silence；　moving　her　fan　illustrated　with　the　emblem　of　Immortality　…　the　Ho　Bird。

〃Fair　indeed；〃　returned　the　Emperor。　…　〃It　might　be　supposed　that　all　sorrow　and　disturbance　would　be　shut　without　the　Forbidden　Precincts。　Yet　it　is　not　so。　And　though　the　figures　of　my　ladies　moving　among　the　flowers　appear　at　this　distance　instinct　with　joy；　yet　…〃

He　was　silent。

〃They　know　not；〃　said　the　Empress　with　solemnity　〃that　death　entered　the　Forbidden　Precincts　but　last　night。　A　disembodied　spirit　has　returned　to　its　place　and　doubtless　exists　in　bliss。〃　〃Indeed？〃　returned　the　Yellow　Emperor　with　indifference　…　〃yet　if　the　spirit　is　absorbed　into　the　Source　whence　it　came；　and　the　bones　have　crumbled　into　nothingness；　where　does　the　Ego　exist？　The　dead　are　venerable；　but　no　longer　of　interest。〃

〃Not　even　when　they　were　loved　in　life？〃　said　the　Empress；　caressing　the　bird　in　the　cage　with　one　jewelled　finger；　but　attentively　observing　her　son　from　the　corner　of　her　august　eye。　〃They　were；　they　are　not；〃　he　remarked　sententiously　and　stifling　a　yawn；　it　was　a　drowsy　afternoon。　〃But　who　is　it　that　has　abandoned　us？　Surely　not　the　Lady　Ma　…　your　Majesty's　faithful　foster…mother？〃

〃A　younger；　a　lovelier　spirit　has　sought　the　Yellow　Springs〃　replied　the　trembling　Empress。　〃I　regret　to　inform　your　Majesty　that　a　sudden　convulsion　last　night　deprived　the　Lady　A…Kuei　of　life。　I　would　not　permit　the　news　to　reach　you　lest　it　should　break　your　august　night's　rest。〃

There　was　a　silence；　then　the　Emperor　turned　his　eyes　serenely　upon　his　Imperial　Mother。　〃That　the　statement　of　my　august　Parent　is　merely　…　let　us　say　…　allegoric　…　does　not　detract　from　its　interest。　But　had　the　Lady　A…Kuei　in　truth　departed　to　the　Yellow　Springs　I　should　none　the　less　have　received　the　news　without　uneasiness。　What　though　the　sun　set　…　is　not　the　memory　of　his　light　all　surpassing？〃

No　longer　could　the　Pearl　Empress　endure　the　excess　of　her　curiosity。　Deeply　kowtowing；　imploring　pardon；　with　raised　hands　and　tears　which　no　son　dare　neglect；　she　besought　the　Emperor　to　enlighten　her　as　to　this　mystery；　recounting　his　praises　of　the　lady　and　his　admission　that　he　had　never　beheld　her；　and　all　the　circumstances　connected　with　this　remark…　able　episode。　She　omitted　only；　（from　considerations　of　delicacy　and　others；）　the　vigils　of　the　Lady　Ma　in　the　Dragon　Chamber。　The　Emperor；　sighing；　looked　upon　the　ground；　and　for　a　time　was　silent。　Then　he　replied　as　follows：

〃Willingly　would　I　have　kept　silence；　but　what　child　dare　withstand　the　plea　of　a　parent？　Is　it　necessary　to　inform　the　Heavenly　Empress　that　beauty　seen　is　beauty　made　familiar　and　that　familiarity　is　the　foe　of　admiration？　How　is　it　possible　that　I　should　see　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety；　for　instance；　by　night　and　day　without　becoming　aware　of　her　imperfections　as　well　as　her　graces？　How　awake　in　the　night　without　hearing　the　snoring　of　the　White　Jade　Concubine　and　considering　the　mouth　from　which　it　issues　as　the　less　lovely。　How　partake　of　the　society　of　any　woman　without　finding　her　chattering　as　the　crane；　avid　of　admiration；　jealous；　destructive　of　philosophy；　fatal　to　composure；　fevered　with　curiosity；　a　creature；　in　short；　a　little　above　the　gibbon；　but　infinitely　below　the　notice　of　the　sage；　save　as　a　temporary　measure　of　amusement　in　itself　unworthy　the　philosopher。　The　faces　of　all　my　ladies　are　known　to　me。　All　are　fair　and　all　alike。　But　one　night；　as　I　lay　in　the　Dragon　Couch；　lost　in　speculation；　absorbed　in　contemplation　of　the　Yin　and　the　Yang；　the　night　passed　for　the　solitary　dreamer　as　a　dream。　In　the　darkness　of　the　dawn　I　rose　still　dreaming；　and　departed　to　the　Pearl　Pavilion　in　the　garden；　and　there　remained　an　hour　viewing　the　sunrise　and　experiencing　ineffable　opinions　on　the　destiny　of　man。　Returning　then　to　a　couch　which　I　believed　to　have　been　that　of　the　solitary　philosopher　I　observed　a　depression　where　another　form　had　lain；　and　in　it　a　jade　hairpin　such　as　is　worn　by　my　junior　beauties。　Petrified　with　amazement　at　the　display　of　such　reserve；　such　continence；　such　august　self…restraint；　I　perceived　that；　lost　in　my　thoughts；　I　had　had　an　unimagined　companion　and　that　this　gentle　reminder　was　from　her　gentle　hand。　But　whom？　I　knew　not。　I　then　observed　Lo　Cheng　the　Court　Artist　in　attendance　and　immediately　despatched　him　to　make　secret　enquiry　and　ascertain　the　name　and　circumstances　of　that　beauty　who；　unknown；　had　shared　my　vigil。　I　learnt　on　his　return　that　it　was　the　Lady　A…Kuei。　I　had　entered　the　Dragon　Chamber　in　a　low　moonlight；　and　guessed　not　her　presence。　She　spoke　no　word。　Finding　her　Imperial　Master　thus　absorbed；　she　invited　no　attention；　nor　in　any　way　obtruded　her　beauties　upon　my　notice。　Scarcely　did　she　draw　breath。　Yet　reflect　upon　what　she　might　have　done！　The　night　passed　and　I　remained　entirely　unconscious　of　her　presence；　and　out　of　respect　she　would　not　sleep　but　remained　reverently　and　modestly　awake；　assisting；　if　it　may　so　be　expressed；　at　a　humble　distance；　in　the　speculations　which　held　me　prisoner。　What　a　pearl　was　here！　On　learning　these　details　by　Lo　Cheng　from　her　own　roseate　lips；　and　remembering　the　unexampled　temptation　she　had　resisted　（for　well　she　knew　that　had　she　touched　the　Emperor　the　Philosopher　had　vanished）　I　despatched　an　august　rescript　to　this　favored　Lady；　conferring　on　her　the　degree　of　Incomparable　Beauty　of　the　First　Rank。　On　condition　of　secrecy。〃

The　Pearl　Empress；　still　in　deepest　bewilderment；　besought　his　majesty　to　proceed。　He　did　so；　with　his　usual　dignity。

〃Though　my　mind　could　not　wholly　restrain　its　admiration；　yet　secrecy　was　necessary；　for　had　the　facts　been　known；　every　lady；　from　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety　to　the　Junior　Beauty　of　the　Bed　Chamber　would　henceforward　have　observed　only　silence　and　a　frigid　decorum　in　the　Dragon　Bed　Chamber。　And　though　the　Emperor　be　a　philosopher；　yet　a　philosopher　is　still　a　man；　and　there　are　moments　when　decorum　…〃

The　Emperor　paused　discreetly；　then　resumed。

〃The　world　should　not　be　composed　entirely　of　A…Kueis；　yet　in　my　mind　I　behold　the　Incomparable　Lady　fair　beyond　expression。　Like　the　moon　she　sails　glorious　in　the　heavens　to　be　adored　only　in　vision　as　the　one　woman　who　could　respect　the　absorption　of　the　Emperor；　and　of　whose　beauty　as　she　lay　beside　him　the　philosopher　could　remain　unconscious　and　therefore　untroubled　in　body。　To　see　her；　to　find　her　earthly；　would　be　an　experience　for　which　the　Emperor　might　ha