the wallet of kai lung-第34部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
not the bamboo…trees to which you have referred provided you with the
ideal material wherewith to roof over those cunningly…constructed pits
into which it has ever been the chief delight of the young and
audacious to lure dignified and unnaturally stout Mandarins？ All these
things you have seen and used ever since your mother made a successful
offering to the Goddess Kum…Fa。 How； then； can they be even equal to
the products of remote Honan and fabulous Peking？ Assuredly the
generally veracious Wang Yu speaks this time with closed eyes and
will； upon mature reflexion； eat his words。〃
The silence was broken by a very aged man who arose from among the
bystanders。
〃Behold the length of this person's pigtail；〃 he exclaimed； 〃the
whiteness of his moustaches and the venerable appearance of his beard！
There is no more aged person presentif； indeed； there be such a one
in all the Province。 It accordingly devolves upon him to speak in this
matter； which shall be as follows： The noble…minded and proficient Kai
Lung shall relate the story as he has proposed； and the garrulous Wang
Yu shall twice contribute to Kai Lung's bowl when it is passed round；
once for himself and once for this person； in order they he may learn
either to be more discreet or more proficient in the art of aptly
replying。〃
〃The events which it is this person's presumptuous intention to
describe to this large…hearted and providentially indulgent
gathering；〃 began Kai Lung； when his audience had become settled； and
the wooden bowl had passed to and fro among them； 〃did not occupy many
years； although they were of a nature which made them of far more
importance than all the remainder of his existence； thereby supporting
the sage discernment of the philosopher Wen…weng； who first made the
observation that man is greatly inferior to the meanest fly； inasmuch
as that creature； although granted only a day's span of life；
contrives during that period to fulfil all the allotted functions of
existence。
〃Unutterably to the astonishment and dismay of this person and all
those connected with him （for several of the most expensive readers of
the future to be found in the Empire had declared that his life would
be marked by great events； his career a source of continual wonder；
and his death a misfortune to those who had dealings with him） his
efforts to take a degree at the public literary competitions were not
attended with any adequate success。 In view of the plainly expressed
advice of his father it therefore became desirable that this person
should turn his attention to some other method of regaining the esteem
of those upon whom he was dependent for all the necessaries of
existence。 Not having the means wherewith to engage in any form of
commerce； and being entirely ignorant of all matters save the now
useless details of attempting to pass public examinations； he
reluctantly decided that he was destined to become one of those who
imagine and write out stories and similar devices for printed leaves
and books。
〃This determination was favourably received； and upon learning it；
this person's dignified father took him aside； and with many
assurances of regard presented to him a written sentence； which； he
said； would be of incomparable value to one engaged in a literary
career； and should in fact； without any particular qualifications；
insure an honourable competency。 He himself； he added； with what at
the time appeared to this one as an unnecessary regard for detail；
having taken a very high degree； and being in consequence appointed to
a distinguished and remunerative position under the Board of Fines and
Tortures； had never made any use of it。
〃The written sentence； indeed； was all that it had been pronounced。 It
had been composed by a remote ancestor； who had spent his entire life
in crystallizing all his knowledge and experience into a few written
lines； which as a result became correspondingly precious。 It defined
in a very original and profound manner several undisputable
principles； and was so engagingly subtle in its manner of expression
that the most superficial person was irresistibly thrown into a deep
inward contemplation upon reading it。 When it was complete； the person
who had contrived this ingenious masterpiece； discovering by means of
omens that he still had ten years to live； devoted each remaining year
to the task of reducing the sentence by one word without in any way
altering its meaning。 This unapproachable example of conciseness found
such favour in the eyes of those who issue printed leaves that as fast
as this person could inscribe stories containing it they were eagerly
purchased； and had it not been for a very incapable want of foresight
on this narrow…minded individual's part； doubtless it would still be
affording him an agreeable and permanent means of living。
〃Unquestionably the enlightened Wen…weng was well acquainted with the
subject when he exclaimed； 'Better a frugal dish of olives flavoured
with honey than the most sumptuously devised puppy…pie of which the
greater portion is sent forth in silver…lined boxes and partaken of by
others。' At that time； however； this versatile sayingwhich so
gracefully conveys the truth of the undeniable fact that what a person
possesses is sufficient if he restrain his mind from desiring aught
elsewould have been lightly treated by this self…conceited
story…teller even if his immature faculties had enabled him fully to
understand the import of so profound and well…digested a remark。
〃At that time Tiao Ts'un was undoubtedly the most beautiful maiden in
all Peking。 So frequently were the verses describing her habits and
appearances affixed in the most prominent places of the city； that
many persons obtained an honourable livelihood by frequenting those
spots and disposing of the sacks of written papers which they
collected to merchants who engaged in that commerce。 Owing to the fame
attained by his written sentence； this really very much inferior being
had many opportunities of meeting the incomparable maiden Tiao at
flower…feasts； melon…seed assemblies； and those gatherings where
persons of both sexes exhibit themselves in revolving attitudes； and
are permitted to embrace openly without reproach； whereupon he became
so subservient to her charms and virtues that he lost no opportunity
of making himself utterly unendurable to any who might chance to speak
to； or even gaze upon； this Heaven…sent creature。
〃So successful was this person in his endeavour to meet the sublime
Tiao and to gain her conscientious esteem that all emotions of
prudence forsook him； or it would soon have become apparent even to
his enfeebled understanding that such consistent good fortune could
only be the work of unforgiving and malignant spirits whose ill…will
he had in some way earned； and who were luring him on in order that
they might accomplish his destruction。 That object was achieved on a
certain evening when this person stood alone with Tiao upon an
eminence overlooking the city and watched the great sky…lantern rise
from behind the hills。 Under these delicate and ennobling influences
he gave speech to many very ornamental and refined thoughts which
arose within his mind concerning the graceful brilliance of the light
which was cast all around； yet notwithstanding which a still more
exceptional and brilliant light was shining in his own internal organs
by reason of the nearness of an even purer and more engaging orb。
There was no need； this person felt； to hide even his most inside
thoughts from the dignified and sympathetic being at his side； so
without hesitation he spokein what he believes even now must have
been a very decorative mannerof the many thousand persons who were
then wrapped in sleep； of the constantly changing lights which
appeared in the city beneath； and of the vastness which everywhere lay
around。
〃'O Kai Lung；' exclaimed the lovely Tiao； when this person had made an
end of speaking； 'how expertly and in what a proficient manner do you
express yourself； uttering even the sentiments which this person has
felt inwardly； but for which she has no words。 Why； indeed； do you not
inscribe them in a book？'
〃Under her elevating influence it had already occurred to this
illiterate individual that it would be a more dignified and； perhaps；
even a more profitable course for him to write out and dispose of； to
those who print such matters； the versatile and high…minded
expressions which now continually formed his thoughts； rather than be
dependent upon the concise sentence for which； indeed； he was indebted
to the wisdom of a remote ancestor。 Tiao's spoken word fully settled
his determination； so that without delay he set himself to the task of
composing a story which should omit the usual sentence； but should
contain instead a large number of his most graceful and diamond…like
thoughts。 So engrossed did this near…sighted and superficial person
become in the task （which daily seemed to increase rather than lessen
as new and still more sublime images arose within his mind） that many
months passed before the matter was complete。 In the end； instead of a
story； it had assumed the proportions of an important and many…volumed
book； while Tiao had in the meantime accepted the wedding gifts of a
