Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-wilkinson/Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Chapter Information

Wiki Chapter	29
Translator's MS	Chapter XVI
Volume	IV
Status	OCR cleaned — footnotes pending

Part of the Hao Qiu Zhuan Wilkinson/Percy translation (1761).

• CHay, XVI. In the Tranſlator's manuſcript.

Theſe Theſe two perſons, who had been encouraged by Korf. wo make the propoſals abovementioned, hearing nowo f the marriage that had taken place between the young couple, were inclined to deſiſt; and ſent to inform that Mandarine of their reſolutions. He was very much chagrined, and diſappointed at the news, and reſolved to ſend ſome of his ſervants to the houſe of the young lady to liflen and ſpy out what was: tranſacting: he did the ſame to the houſe of the Supreme Viceroy. The firſt information he received was, that the young Mandarine Tieh-chung-u had not brought the bride home to his houſe, but had gone to refide with her at her father's. Soon after it was— — him, that although they they were married, they ſtill continued in ſeparate apartments. He afterwards learnt, that theb ridegroowmas ſo enamoured of his lady, that he had not ſtirred from her for two or three days. Theſe. different accounts ſomewhat puzzled; Kwo-ſbo:ju their behaviour was ſingular and myſterious, ſo that he imagined there was ſomething more than ordinary at the bottom. At length from their living in ſeparate apartments, he concluded that the matter was neither more nor leſs than this, that the marriage was only a feint, in order to avoid the propoſals of Jahquay and the Eunuch Chu. Well, ſaid he, if they have not yet cohabited, tis ſtill poſſible. to ſeparate them, and ſpoil their marriage. Tab-quay muſt NeTTMEe= E, EIeNeA EeeES, O7runno etes 77 32KF<Fp 5o <YxIe " D EL N*; * *e e ee83EAIgeHEOS er Ae ; be informed of this, and encouraged to renew his a application : but then her friends will refuſe him under pretence of this marriage, and as ſhe ſeldom ſtirs out, he will find no opportunity to carry her away. Before he takes any ſtepof this kind, it will be better to ſet Chou-thay-kien atw ork: I will go and perſuade that Eunuch to intice this Tieh into his houſe; and when he has him there to compel him at once to marry his niece,” 2 Full of theſe deſigns he haſted to the houſe of Chou thay- ien, to whom he related as well the information he ö | had picked up, as the meaſures which, he thought neceſſary to be taken. The = Eunuch thought them practicable, and For. IV; E pre5o promiſed to give him notice, as ſoon. as he had enticed the youth to his houſe: deſiring him in that caſe to come to him immediately. Ko. I- fi was pleaſetdo fee him ſo readily adopt his deſign, and promiſed nothing ſhould delay or prevent his coming. Then taking his leave he went home, impatiently waiting till he ſhould be ſent for. We 7 IS Tieb- chung u, on account of his pretended marriage had obtained leave of the Emperor to abſent himſelf ten days from court. Theſe were expired, and he muſt now return: Shuey-ping-/en, whoſe judgment and penetration were admirable, ſeeing him about to go, ſaid to him as follows, * Kwo-ſbo-ſu 4 having ²AOo»Ao na TES o aC T eee"a e2ee e ee ˙nA¹˙Üär A having laid a plot with a viewto get us both diſpoſed of, the one to Tab. quay, and the other to the niece of the Eunuch Chou, hath hitherto been diſappointed : it is not however to be - ſuppoſed that he will give us up fo _ eafily : he will ſtill ſeek ſome way to embroil us. With regard to abquay, as he is not within the precints of the palace, he would be liable to reproof from ſuperior ttibunals ſhould he do any thing amiſs: and therefore I apprehend nothing from him. But this Eunuch, who is a domeſtic fervant of the Emperor's, preſuming upon his favour, and | knowing his mind, regards nothing but his own inclinations. If therefore you go to court, be fure be RS HG upon upon your guard againſt his attempts.“ Jou argue rightly, ſaid Tieb-chung-u, and talk with your uſual judgment and diſcretion. _ But this Eunuch is of a mean, low caſt: what can he do? what is there to be feared from him?“ She replied, „Such perſons it is true are deſpicable, and not to be feared : but at preſent as things are circumſtanced, and as he hath got the ear of his Majeſty, it would not be amiſs to be upon your guard.” The young Mandarine agreed it would be proper; then taking his leave of her went to the palace. | ECD»E YOne*, O PE

• 2

70 e

a i $ N : fy i + B 1

if

% Is i 1 ws #25 N U 5 4

[

{ 1

• .

2 1 1 . 1 3 s T t = "*. o * | 1 * "4; 1 * * "OY * + p — 1 45 L R 2 7 4 }

I - 7 $ 85 27 1. 18 c l * i .H | l x 1 1 © C 1 4 + 3 15 % 8 . I * by 4 4 * ? Ps

*

, 7; FF ;

6

i : i « . 3 8 as 1

. 5

=; j ? 1 8 7

a 9

5 7 . 14 x b E $ 4 - % 14 ĩtr«7²˙oeaT+ r e en As he was thence returning home, who ſhould meet him but the Eunuch himſelf, Holding up his hands, he PRtEOkn* aouRtr s R Y R jdta*g„a okpon nti eacc ona Eee8nW91AA©0C.E Ree S e hN=nr86N:*aa 123 7 0 88 N 2c e s C8n—.* e . a. r

• EOh3T*EONJA*oR 8 1JLDIS PIu H4 ; E ES TE WRSEh T T
• FDP*4*— 6 .

..3nF: ;P , a r p faluted the youth with great familiarity. The latter would have proceeded on his way, but the other laid hold of his horſe's bridle, « I was even now going,, faid he;:to ſend to your houſe 'to defire to ſpeak with you.? What buſineſs, ſaid Tiebthung- u, can you have with me? Your affairs and mine can have no relation. My province lies without the palace, and yours within?“ If it were only on my own account, replied the Eunuch, I ſhould not have taken the liberty to ſtop you : but J have buſineſs of the Emperor's to impart. to you, which muſt not be deferred: you had better then go home with me, and let us talk it over there,” |B efore I do that, 8 E 3 replied „6— WbaWrh2en I—a2EeA« 4 ,T .S E pyS"Fm \d Sen , h«FN"h3 aw——oerIs” o— tE ee n n —Z;ee.:V 3a—— 2oS.ln:=— -- 3 ——s1l.w e e3«d s — — N＋nn"en1—8 2 ee4eso— w— wt . Ycr a s yyy . 11 y9T ">I — * K45 a Ir T TY. C3MP5t . —i—O75— oo:l n rI—ne C ” ——- —D2pN P Non "—4* 1 { \ q- a— 22 F* * ,*P IFFa* 4 R ” W Kanab ? o vie —1p nN= Fe* e nn —dves t b—dH in . replied 7ich-chung-u, you muſt tell me plainly what your buſineſs is.” « Sir, faid the other, do you think I would ga. about to deceive you? or durſt abuſe. the Emperor's authority? To tell you truly then, his Majeſty hath | heard that you are a fine poet; and requires you to write ſome verſes on two pieces of painting, whichh eg reatly, values.” The youth inquired where they were: and was anſwered, at his houſe. Tich-chung-u immediatelrye - collected the words of his lovely miſreſs; but found he could not avoid the ſnare,a st he other had got the Emperor's order. He accordingly went home | with Chou thay-kien. ZE When they were got within his doors, the Eunuch ordered tea to be brought and a table to be ſpread for an entertainment. No! no! ſaid the young Mandarine, the firſt things to be attended to are the pictures, I dare not enter on any thing elſe till they are diſpatched.” Sir, replied the other, you know very well what the generality of us Euauchs are: we are a fooliſh illiterate ſet of people : however I cannot but take great ſatisfaction in ſeeing a perſon of your ingenuity and learning : I hope therefore you will honourme fo far as to drink ſomething with me: and will permit me to ſhew the great reſpect I entertain for you. I believe if I had ſent to invite you, you would hardly have come: but as his Majeſty's buſineſs hath brought AEM E4 5 you -"47 W2ol "u oo. Aas” L—a2 B* - e =8= —|- |N— -* ——= .C—— — o a —— — NE*——2L=ID—20—S"sC1." aFn> 1 —5 >N8—a 8am 8 .8u— I* , oo 3 A ao l h——82Iroþ22 1p— a S s, 2 2. 2 jo51 A4 i;*F—o+W— «F5"r =n o — fN O oway—1Ary5**1*—.—44 ' 4 5 Y- ˖HeCoRt&——3aF—sd*.—eyoI :*2 F"f wac"e Y.a — is o— O5 T—>,.—— - >ne R— ;I — r——m*——A:———I —JW s = 0 I- I L E I ̃S. C T n1 * you here, you muſt oblige us a little with your company. And pray don't look upon me in the ſame mean and deſpicable light as the reſt of my brethren, ſince I have obtained this great honour :' upon which account I hope you will overlook the liberty I take of fitting down with you.” „Pray don't talk in this manner, ſaid Tieh- chung-u, are not we both the Emperor's ſervants? But as there is his Majeſty's order to be obeyed; let chat be firſt diſpaiched, and afterwards we will converſe together.“ Perhaps, replied he, when that is performed, you will not ſtay any longer. Well then; you mall write upon one of the pictures firſt, and before you take the other in hand you ſhall do me the favour to 5 9 = drink drian liktt le wine.“ To this the young Mandarine aſſented. Chou-thay-kien then led him into a hall, and callinga ſervant, ordered him to take down a painthtati wans ghun g up, and lay it on a table. Tieb- chung-2 found it to be a beautiful flower piece, containing the picture of a double jaſmin: then taking a pencil he n wrote a few lines over it. | He had ſcarcely dale, when word was brought that the Mandarine Koſhorſu was arrived. He was accordingly deſired to walk in. The Eunuch Chou told him he was very opportunely arrived to meet with the great Doctor Tieb-cbungu ; who was come g'r*0—a—51 2 P42-e — tO sS SE bss -— —. b—s =« ————eWBpeR——n———„r—— a7n nes—-nn r t— — — — —_—— rN2E*—"8 4 RSi6 —I r

come there to write upon ſome pictures by the Emperor's order,© And here, faid he, he hath diſpatched one in leſs time than you would drink off a diſh of rea.” The Mandarine wo. ſpo- ſu told him that thoſe that were maſters of their art were generally expeditious. Pray my Lord, ſaid the Eunuch Choy, be fo kinda s to read the inſcription to me, and tell me what it contains; that I may the better talk of it to the Emperor when I carry it to him.” The other aſſented, Tieb- chung-u defiring him to pardon and overlook the faults he ſhould find in it. When XK wor- po- ſi had peruſed the verſes, he cried out, 4 I'hey are written with a great deal of ſpirit, and ſhew a fine underſtand- . * ang.” The Eunuch appeared extreme- "a8„eSeegta[5g aeeUe C eee eE Sr 4 4 '® * 7 : bag F7Aeee{!i3rr5LowE d acLe etE S c £6 175 ſaid he, you doi It with the greateſt A CHINESE. HISTORY, 53 ly fatisfied with this account, and immediately ordered an entertainment to be ſerved upon the table. 7. leb chung · u intreated, that he would permit him to Ng both the pictures now he was about But the Eunuch would not let him: eaſe and pleaſure: why can t you then | firſt. ſit down and regale yourſelf, and afterwards. finiſh the verſes at IO; leiſure "Ys | T wo —_ Gs . ery Ho- ſis ſat down at the firſt: the Eunuch with Tieb- chung - u at the ſecond. After ſome little converſation on indifferent ſubjects, Chou-thay-kiew Aae him, eo the later, wd. aid: 222— yt -

>o k\ ay e2— e e "$a -A= ©

=—DE ... = = =

[1 = || „nP—-2%to2nc*—*20 £ of ã5 44s.b.h y8 6 " , o* reeA>——ce o y e er 9rbyyr 4I» A%=

• 4

faid : His Majefly being informed of your great ingenuity, Kath ordered theſe two pictures to be ſent here, that you ſhould write ſomething upont hem: but it was at my intreaty in order to bring you to my houſe, "where I have ſomething to impart to you of great moment. It is alſo a peculiar happineſs that this Mandarine hath chanced to drop ii n, and that Tc an do it in his preſence.** © What, ſaid Ktoo- Jpo-ſu, have you of moment to im part to this Mandarine in my hearing: 992 The Eunuch replied, If a drum bi not ſtruck upon, it returns no ſound z if a bell be not rung, it will not be heard; excuſe me therefore if I enter at once upon the matter in hand, without farther ceremony, or delay. I have a niece born with no great beauty; nor isl | yet yet. very ill-favoured: but ſhei s very good tempered, chearful and pleaſant. she is now about eighteen years of age, and yet I have not hitherto founda proper match for her. Now, Sir, ſaid he, addreſſing himſelf to Tieb-chung-u, you are the man I would chuſe for her huſband : ſhe is ingaged to no other perſon: I have got the conſent of the Mandarine your father : and yeſterday I begged of the Emperor to have the marriage performed: in order to which he gave me theſe two pictures to ratify the contract.“ How much ſoever Tieb-chung-u was ſurprized, and chagrined to diſcover this treachery, he endeavoured ro conceal it from obſervation, He even aſſumed an appearance of ſatisfaction, and told the Eunuch he was extremely obliged to him: that his propoſal was what he could not poſſibly have refuſed, had it been in his power to have accepted of it; but that he was already married to Shuey-ping-/m, the daughter of the Lord Preſident of Arms: and that it was impoſſible for him to be married twice . +Chou-thay-kien ſmiled and ſaid, . Sir,

• This is to be underſtood of a primary or

chief wife: it would have been an affront to have thought of the niece of ſo powerful 2 Eunuch for a ſecondary one or concubine. + From this place to the end of the Hiſtory, the tranſlation is carried on in the Portugue/e language: which the Editor hath rendered into Engliſh. rea. you you muſt not think todeceive me, I have examined the affair to the bottom: your proceedings. were a feint, in order to avoid marrying my niece; as alſo to prevent the. addrefleso f 7.a h-quay to the young lady: and as it was fo eaſy to ſee through this impoſition, I wonder you ſhould think of attempting it.” | Tzeb-chung-u anſwered, © Your Lordſhip ſurprizes me: in an affair of any other nature, ſuch. an attempt might be feaſible : but in ſuch a ſubject as marriage, how can any impoſition take place? If you are really and truly married, ſaid the Eunuch, why did not you conduct the bride home to your houſe, but on-the contrary go to reſide in that of her father? Why alſo don't you cohabit with your 18 wife? ? wife? Why do you continue in ſeparate apartments ?˙² *I do not bring home my bride, ſaid the Mandarine Tieb, becauſe her father hath never a ſon; I dwell therefore with him, in order to attend and comfort him in his old age: but whether we reſide in the ſame apartments or not, is an affair of no conſequence to any but ourſelves: it is ſufficient that the marriage hath been duely celebrated. Beſide as your Lordſhip is continually with the Emperor, how can you tell what paſſes in the houſe of another perſon ? and this being the caſe, you ought not to believe any ſuch ſtory.” I ſhall not enter any farther into the merits of theſe reports, ſaid the other : it concerns not me whether they are true or falſe: it is ſufficient that I have ſpoke with his Majeſty about your marriage with my niece: and have the ſanction of his authority. It is in vain thereforteo think to avoid it..Not | z avoid it! faid Tieb-cbung-u. From the remoteſt antiquity till the preſent hour, it hath never been heaofr, dtha t a man endowed: with reaſon hath been married to one wife, and then taken another . I have already eſpouſed a a

• young lady with all the due ſolemnitiesof

law; for this reaſon I muſt refuſe all other: yet had you made me be offer of your niece firſt, I ſnould not have lighted it.“ Before you. had _ in this manner, ſaid the Gus

• This is till to be underſtood of the primary

or chief wife. Vide notee ſupray p 62. | Vor. IV. — nuch, 1 4 Ls: 1 f 8 o \ * 22 i \ «MN s 4 o *; = : 31 ity l K. 2 + '* 1 3 N * 19 17 - 9 N 1 14 U n : Ih | G my 2 n 7 k % F 4 4 Li __

• vi :

« * 9 5 (+:|

!

| b i 4. 0 * 1 bs

9 1

G 5 ">> | b

dr

\ 4

• f 33

5 £ 4 o 1 q 4 4 jp [4 % . ! 1 ; : | #58 £ * E 11 . j => SS 4 U D 4 12 £6

g

Falk . N 1 4 4 3 EZ8 f 1 5 3

• F ae |

. 1

1 *

oO: 2 NH a1 4 1

• *

4 +4 5 x t ; BJ 7 * 1 $ . oj N 4

• + 3. :
• + Af 4

4 F {

• 7 :

7 * : 5 a - # Pls . £

• 4

SS 4 os 1 bs 1 413 71 1 F , 1 | 0 4 4 7

• | 3» 1

x = 'T þ : od WF 5 + - A; E iy. XA :

• hu 4

neceſſury, but theint i s only for the 66 Hat KISU/ CHOAAN: nuch, you ſhould have made it appear - that you were really married. When the bride is once carried to the houſe of her huſband, then it may be reputed a true marriage : then ſhe may be conſidered as a firſt br ſecondary. wife : but this cannot properly be done ill ſhe is carried from ber on houſe. And this ceremony the Rites require.” I grant your Lordſhip, ſaid Jeb. ehiing-u; that generally ſpeaking this is _ Eſpecially in obedience to the expreſs 2 commands of a parent,” / 4 You talk of obedience to your parents, ſaid Chouthey: k ienP will you pay attention to n 6 8 them, them; and neglect to obey the orders of the Emperor? Do you think then that the private | commands of your parents are to take place of thoſe of | his Majeſty?” « Far from it,” ſaid Treb-chung-u; who began to be yexed, to hear him talk in fo unreaſonable a a manner: I only ſay that marriage is a thing of great importance; and ought to be conducted with regularity and order: otherwiſe you violate the laws and rites of the empire. This is not a private affair between your Lordſhip and myſelf, but a thing of public concernment; and if his Majeſty will be pleaſed to conſult all the doctors of the empire, he will fee that I am, right.” What occaſion for ſo much trouble? faid the Eunuch: or why is it needfult o conſult all the doctors, when there is preſent ſo great aà doctor as No- Ho-ſ u, one who is fo capableo f determining the queſtion ?” Very true, replied the youth; will your Lordſhip aſk him to Judge between us?” „ My Lord,” ſaid the Eunuch, addreſſing himſelf to that Mandarine, e you have been here ſome time liſtening to the diſpute between this gentleman and myſelf: be pleaſed to favour us with your opinion of the caſe.” * If you alone had aſked me, faid the Miniſter, and if the Mandarine Tieb- chung- u himſelf had not alſo applied to me, I ſhould not have hazarded a word between you: but as he alſo deſires it, I will ſpeak according wI.WWHnAySeoL0T* -E Nn>m E Ke . AmS , E eE gHI7tafndiocaCeteaIarbea tnb s a1t rei e rs nt rS, an1 y : R 1 FFP —*—ea — a L5PPRPeIaS7S,Tneoebnee:o lY 4 o O , e: E O W ba1h%:EoTB..o 4Tg: A;R IES s EdEO H.u E eTOAeSD eE, according to my conſcience, without partiality to either ſide. With regard to the rites of marriage, there are reaſons within other reaſons, and the ſubject contains ſome things ſo intricate, that all the doctors in the empire cannot infallibly decide upon it. But if the queſtion turns upon the Emperor's authority, I am of opinion that the rites of marriage are ſubject to it, and that he may over-rule them at pleaſure. For if you look back through all ages, you will find that the Emperor hath power to change the laws of the realm, and even to aboliſh the whole eſtate of his Mandarinate, by which thoſe laws _ are executed and ſupported.” Tha Eunuch Chou hearing theſe words, could not conceal his ſatisfaction: he laughed and ſaid, * Your Lordſhip is 9 „ certainly certainly right, the Mandarine Tieb cannot anſwer one word to this. Then callifnorg a cup of wine,h e took it in his hand, and preſented it with great reverence to Awoſbo.- ſu , intreating him to be brideſman or mediator to the marriage of his niece. As you have obtained his Majeſty's licence, replied he, addreſſing himſelf to Chaythay- kien, it is no longer left to your diſcretion; I ſhall therefore act in that behalf, for I dare not diſobey his Majeſty. Then he drank off the wine . _O which he addreſſed himſelf to ieb- abung - u: * As the Emperor, ſaid 5 hath nnn to lend his ſancof ® This * to have been a qo form, "A wh he teſtified his intention to act as brideſ- | Man or mediator on this occaſion, | tion pua.EDWWePABEAnAnSnoEb e TNI ,Ole 8*N. YEs e1 - S 4 S T Re ; a r 1 oe nIPErOeiStAwxeoSO Ur a L s FPV tion to this marriage, you cannot refuſe | your compliance, notwithſtanding your prior engagement with Shuzy-ping-/in : let me then adviſe you, Sir, to ſtand off no longer, but e ſubmit, _ chap all will be _ *. E BNN Ande Tieb-c 17-4 was extremely chagrined and vexed, and could with much difficulty kept his patience : he nevertheleſs found it neceſſary to bridle his temper for many reaſons. In the firſt place, he confidered that they had made the point to reſt upon the Emperor's authority: again he reflected that the Eunuch Choy had continual aeceſs to his Majeſty's preſence, and would be able to give what turn he pleaſed to the T4; affair: »2 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. affair: he was alſo fearful that being within that Eunuch's houſe, he would not ſuffer him to go out: he was moreover. unwilling to quarrel openly with Kwo-ſ60-ſu : he therefore anſwered that Mandarine mildly z * I have nothing to object to your Lordſhip's opinion, and if his Majeſty hath given his order, far be it from me to diſpute it. But ſtill it is neceſſary for me to go, and inform myf ather and mother; that they may fix on a fortunate day; and ſettle the terms of the nuptial ſum : for I cannot pretend to take upon me to do it without their knowledge.“ Sir, faid the -Eunuch, you only want to ſhift off the affair; but it will not ſerve your -turn: if youd o not comply, you ſhew | contempt CfA—C2 ot5s FF RPI—8aD:8E ; * WyE I c O E O.nn,W38. 5::.Z7: 3dLT - :3 b* AE842E:4e —8*ay 53 * 4 S e 8 e ²AJ0N1 A—': —— A 0S0C eEexvIG*77NAc5A 494 a2« Pg1*"l %BY 8 a l Ed.aNR ” D¾HJEPOooO%5P Oon Wa:uͤe rOAoesEOaryPade— Rc s n T »T RJe I E _ contempt to his Majeſty's order: it wholly depends upon yourſelf whether you will obey it or not: you oveht to obey, and not to ſtudy theſe excuſes, This is a fortunate day : all that reates to invitations is already performed: the muſic is prepared : the banquet ready : and here by great good fortune is the Mandarine K*w0-ſbo-ſu to act as brideſman: within is the nuptial chamber fitted up for the bridegroom: let us now celebrate your marriage with my niece, and then I ſhall have diſcharged the moſt important duty that relates to this life. If you think, Sir, that your father or. mother. will complain of being neglected, you muſt lay the blame on his Majeſty's order; and then what complaincta n be made ? If you 1 make make any ſcruple about "the nuptial ſum, I will leave that entirely to yourſelves: that ſhall make no ground of diſpute.” « Really, Sir, ſaid Neo- Ho-ſ u to the young Mandarine Tieb, my Lord Chou-thay-kien diſcovers a great affection for you; if now you make any farther excuſes, you will certainly paſfso r an ungrateful perſon.” The young Mandarine replied, * Before one can acknowledge a favour, one ought to be certain of its propriety and reaſonableneſs. I came hither to- | day 'by his Majeſty's order to make ſome verſes or encomiums on two pictures. I have already finiſhed one; the other remains to be performed : and how can J dare tot akei nh and 2 70 other buſineſs till this is diſcharged? charged? Now I intreat your Lardſhip to give me here the other picture, that I may finiſiht ;a nd then J ſhall be at liberty to enter upon any other buſineſs.“ . Sir, ſaid the Eunuch, you ſay very well: but the ather picture is very large, and is laid up in an inner apartment: as therefore it would oeaiaſion a great deal of trouble to bring ith ere, you had better go withitno it.“ Although Tieb-chung-u ſuſpected that there was ſome ſecret deſign in this, which he could nat at preſent diſcover, he notwithſtanding thought it beſt to comply : which he ſignified accardingly, „ Well then, ſaid the Eunuch, let us drink once more, afterwards we will go within: for your Lordſhip is TUM in propoſing, that o0 ne thing be finiſhed niſhed before another be taken in hand. The young Mandarine Tieb ſaid to himſelf, When I have once diſpatched the other picture, I ſhall perhaps find a means to eſcape from this houſe.” Accordingly riſing up from the table, he ſaid, Come let us finiſh the verſes: I will drink no more.” The Eunuch Chou roſe up likewiſe, and ſaid, * Let us go.“ The Mandarine Kwo-ſbo-ſu expreſſed alſo an inclination to accompany them: but the Eunuch gave him a ſignal with his eye: pa immediately that Mandarine ſtopped and ſaid; It is not neceſſary that I be preſent at the compoſing of theſe verſes, I will wait for your return here without : and chen you have finiſhed them [ will compleat the . | Then Then Chou-thay-kien conducted the young Mandarine Tieb within: by which means he fell into the ſnare: for as ſoon as the other had led him into an inner apartment he left him and withdrew; two women ſervants immediately | ſhutting the doors upon him. 2 CHAP. VI. F1EH-chung-u being thus ſhut up within the inner apartments of the Eunuch's palace, found them all adorn - ed and fitted out in the moſt ſplendid manner. He entered one of the chambers, which ſhone with the richeſt and moſt elegant furniture; and faw in it a lady ſeated in a chair, who was n with jewels, and the coſtlieſt ornaments ornaments in great profuſion. . Tiehchung- u ſeeing her thus dreſſed out like a princeſs, compoſed the following verſes in his mind. I have ſeebne r figure, it is finely trick'd _ out with ornaments, But ber mouth is wide as the hw her bead high-as a mountain. * May the demons look upon ber, and bring ber to ſhame *, | This lady, who was no other than the + acai being the young: Mar- 29*77 Tb y words 9) the FIRE? tranſlation are, Vis ſua fieura, ita bem ornada ; - Mas a bica he grande e larga comoo L y tus he alta como monte; | Os demonios wvihde, faztm werftibdr. This ſpecimen, may ſerve to> theyt hei ncorreftreſs of the MS. verſion.” , darine datine enter, roſs up from her chair, and made ſigns to her women to perform their reverences to him: who aſked himt o draw near, and converſe with their lady. Far from complying wich their requeſt he drew back; but ſeeing all the doors were ſhut upon him, and that there was no remedy, at length he went ſome what nearer the lady, and bowed to her very low,; which done, he drew back a little a before: all this while the lady never opened her mouth. One of the moſt aged of the female attendants ſeeing this, came up to ſieb- bung a, and faid to him: * Your Lordſhip came here within the women's apartments to marry my lady : * huſbanadnd wife being This isa literal verſion of the Portugueſe, viz. * Marido e mulher ſendo caxado, dous ſam ue bun corps de huma carne. | | | 2 | Once once married, are both of one body, of one fleſh.. You are now Lord of all this houſe. ; You need not therefore be reſervedo r baſhful: but may come and ſit down here with your lady.“ I came here, ſaid he, by the Emperor's command to write verſes upon two pictures belonging to his Majeſty : how then can you fay I came here to marry? ” The pictures you ſpeak of, ſaid the ſervant, are without; if therefore your Lordſhip only came on that account, why did not you ſtay in the outer apartments ? Obediencet ot he Emperor's command did not require you to come in hither. Theſe are the apartments belonging to the women; which none ever enter but my lady and ourſelves. Tou could never have come . e here, but in order to marry her.“ « Your lady's uncle, ſaid he, the Eunuch Chou, with many wiles inticed me within: he hath deceived me. This is very diſreſpectful treatment of one of my rank, and is aanf front to his Majeſty, by whoſe favour I am advanced to be one of the firſt doors of the empire.** „As your Lordſhip is now here, | ſaid the ſervant, be eaſy and chearful; why do you talk of any thing that happened to you without ?” He replied in a rage, * You are all of you concerned in this picee of treachery. Jour maſter hath enſnared me by pretending the pictures were here within, and this the Mandarine Kwo-ſho-ſu can teſtify. But you are all of you deceived in thinking to conquer me:m y name Vol. IV. ga G EE” is Tieb, that is Jon; my body, my heart are all of iron, hard and inflexible, it is impoſſible to move me. I am more ſteady and reſolute than thoſe two ancient heroes Lieu-hiauwhey and Quan- in-chang * „ who are ſo famous in hiſtory for being firm

• . The firſt of theſe is mentioned before in vol.

2. p. 69. as alſo in the following paſlage of a Chineſe author, tranſlated by P. Halde. See « You have heard of the celebrated Lieu-biau-

• aubey. Neither the moſt frightful poverty

„with which he was threatened, nor the firſt 4c rank of the empire, with which he was tempt- < tered, could in the leaſt incline him to vice, or draw him aſide from virtue. The ſecond of theſe, Quan -in-chang, was a great general, ſo remarkable for his brave and gallant atchievements, that he is to this day revered by the Chineſe ; who in remembrance of his fublime virtue, adore him as a god, and ſet phim ages inH onour of him in their idol- tem- | x See before, vol. 3. P. 331: note,—See alfo 0 Kao. P. 125. we A CHINESE HISTORT. 83 and unſhaken. But indeed what effect can be expected from ſuch ſhallow plots as theſe? This girl is not only ugly: but alſo ſhameleſs. Notwithſtanding her fine ornaments, I regard her not: ſhe is a low and worthleſs creature, and not to be regarded.“ The young lady, although at firſt ſne was charmed with the graceful figure of the young Mandarine Dieb, and did not behold without ſome emotion, the fine features, and fair complexion of that beautiful youth; hearing this abuſe, could no longer contain herſelf, but broke ſilence, and ſaid, Sir, you treat me very ill, niece as I am to a great officer of the Emperor, and one who ſtands continually in his preſence. This honour puts him upon a level with any of the Mandarines, ſo that [ have a right to be conſidered with all the diſtinction of a Siaum-Zſieh or Mandarine's daughter *. His Majeſty hath commanded a marriage to be concluded between you and me: in which there is nothing wrong or indecent, Why then do you complain of plots | againſt you ? How dare you preſume to call me low and worthleſs. You diſgrace the honour of my family. But ſince! am ſo immodeſt and ſhameleſs, I will make you know whether I am to be regarded or not.” Then ſhe called out to her women, Bring this fellow here before me.“ All the attendants went up to him, and ſaid, Our lady orders us to bring you to her to Pay See vol. 1. pag. 114. note. 21411 4 J : 7 — V her her the reverence and reſpect due to her quality: if you do not comply, we muſt force you.” Notwithſtanding he was ſo much diſcompoſed and chagrined, he could not help ſmiling at them: but he neither ſtirred nor anſwered a ſyllable. The women enraged at this contempt, fell all upon him at once, ſtriving to force and drag him up before their miſtreſs, not without great tumult and diſturbance. Tieb- chung · however provoked at the ridiculous ſituation in which he ſaw. himſelf, reflect. edt hiat wtou ld be very indecent, and unmanly for him to contend, and fight with women: he therefore muſtered up his patience, and comforted him-

1. 6 HAU KIOU CHOAAN.

ſelf with the old proverb, „Who regards the little demonsof the wood ?” * Then drawing. a chair to him, he ſat down: and while the women were ſtruggling and talking round. him, he remained calm and unmoved ; repeating to himſelt the following verſes: - Hard ſubſtances became ſoft » 80 fee turn t0 parte - The Chineſe 1 ſuppoſe every ont af the univerſe to be under the influence of good or bad ſpirits, who have their reſpective diſtricts, This premiſed, the application of the Proverb is obvious. Nothing can place the feeble efforts of theſe women in a more contemptiblel ight, than to compare them to "thoſe little diminutive fiends, who only preſiding over untrequented ſolitudes, have very little Power or opportunity of doing miſchief, notwithſtanding: their natural malignity. | The Porrugueſe words are Quem faga caſo dot diabolbings do mate© 1 ſuppole iittr be Diaae Hard . . Hard and ſoft at times are ſtrong Mater is ſoft ; who can reſiſt its force“? In the midſt of this diſturbance came in the Eunuch Chou himſelf, having entered through another door; who booking round him, cried out to the women, © What is the meaning of this? Retire, How dare ye preſume to offer this rudeneſs in the preſence of people of quality? Then addreſſing himſelf to Tieh- chung u on the ſubject of the marriage, he ſaid, ** Well, Sir, it is in vain to reſiſt; you had better cop and put an end to all this EP. The Partogneh words are, Couſa dura chegou de eftar mole, Couſa mole wem ſe fazer dura, Dura e mole eſtas forte, A agoa mole quem pode reſaſtir faa forga ? diſturbance.“ He anſwered, „] don't _ refuſe my compliance: but we mult pay obediencteo the laws.” © Why not ?” ſaid the other. Your Lordſhip, replied he, forgets there is a book of the laws, which contains an injunction for the Mandarines within the palace to have no dealings or contracts with the Mandarines without

• . Now as there is this doubt

about the lawfulneſs of our engagement, what matters it, if we defer its ee for the preſent ?** That in- Junction, „This is a renulntion which the Chineſ Emrerors have frequently found it neceſſary to re. vive, in order to curb the exorbitant power of the Eunuchs, and to break through their connections with the other great officers. See P. Da Halde, vol. 1. p. 226 &fc. e 44 N. B. By the Mandarines within he palace is reculiarly meant the Eunuchs : theſe being by perly junction, ſaid the Eunuch, is old and obſolete: what occaſion to obſerve an obſolete law? But it is neceſſary to obey the preſent commands of the Emperor, and to execute what he injoins. The other is old and out of date.“ Tieb- cbung- u replied, If your Lordſhip would have me execute thoſe commands, ſhew me your patent; that I may firſt thank his Majeſty for his favourable notice of me *. Nay, Sir, | thew perly the only domeſtics the Emperor hath : and theſe are ſo numerous, that P. Semedo tells us, in his time their number was ſeldom ſo ſmall as | 12000. In the reign of a weak Emperor, the Eunuchs generally gain the aſcendant, and grow to an unſufferable pitch of inſolence. Since the Tartar race hath been in poſſeſſion of the throne of China, the number of theſe gentry hath been leſſened, and their authority diminiſned. P. Semedo, p. 114. & Auth, ſup. citat. C Jei s an indiſpenſible duty with the Man- | darines, go HAU KIOU CHOAAN. ſhew me the patent For how canI | preſume to conclude this marriage, thus hand over head, before I have returned the Emperor thanks?” While this contention laſted between them, there came two little Eunuchs in great haſte to the houſe of Chouthay- kien : he was called out to ſpeak to them. They told him that H. hiau, General of the Tartarian frontiers, was returned from the war, n. with "8 to pay 7 acknowledgments to the Emperor, upon every the leaſt notice taken of them, by: doing him immediate homage: which is — Ke by proſtrating themſelves nine times on the ground before him, or in hie abſence: before his empty throne. See P. Du Halde, &c. ** The Chingſe title is T I which p. Du Halde interprets Commandant General di Melic, Voi Tom. 3. fr. index. 255 him him a multitude of priſoners: that there were alſo come with him many ambaſſadors, loaded with tribute of great value“: and that the Emperor had ordered a banquet for them. They added, As the Mandarine Tieb-chung-u was the patron and protector of the General, his Majeſty commands him to accompany them. The banquet is prepared: we have already been at this nobleman's houſe to ſeek him, but he was not there; we were told be «T he ideas of Anbaſſader and Tr — are ine among the enden See vol. 2. p. 92. 288. make it a geacral rule not to ſend any themſelves to other courts. |V et they have _ once. departed from this rule, in ſending a ſplendid ambaſſage to Ruſia, in the reign of the 1 mpreſs Anne. "OiNd . Bay eri, tom. 1. dedicatio. FOE ö 1

V+! N j | } 1 4A! They look upon reading an ambaſſy, as 4 mark of vaſſalage and ſubmiſſion, and therefore came ———4e——— —r n —m ent k r—3—*E Y n—S-——7rn 2 5nC. n3 O —eDE — —. n.n e 1*—CP—*r* ———56kR+ 1 b Sy en—— me——* n ——2— ——.———r— ene E——*T 4 S Y AiR ra = * ——n w K+JAoA"o ct oE n R a. V =w”2—*o a » came home this morning with your Lordſhip. We are accordingly come hither to inquire after him: the meſſenger of ſtate waits for him in the outward court, and his ſervants are attending there with his horſe. Pleaſe to inform him to come away immediately.“ Not ſatisfied with this account, the Eunuch Chou went himſelf to the gate accompanied with the Miniſter Kzv0-- ſho-ſu: and finding it to be literally as they had related, theſe two looked at each other in great confuſion, not knowing what to ſay; eſpecial ly when they ſaw there was allo come the Mandarine whoſe buſineſs it was to provide the banquet, and that the ſummons would admit of no delay. Finding there was no remedy, the Eunuch I. TS ordered A CHINESE. HISTORY. 93 ordered the doors to be opened, and Tieh-chung-u to be ſuffered to come forth. The latter was wondering what could occaſion this unexpected deliverance, when the Mandarine of the banquet, and the Emperor's meſſenger informed him of the invitation, which required his immediate attendance. Chou-thay-kien greatly chagrined, ſaid,

• They ſay the Emperor commands

you to attend the banquet: his Majeſty alſo commanded you to write the verſes. Lou have finiſhed one picture, yet another remains to be diſpatched. To-morrow, when his Majeſty will demand of me why they were not done; what ſhall I anſwer ? You cannot go ttill both are: finiſhed.” This ke ſaid with a malicious deſign to embarraſs him, and render him incapable of complying with the order. But Tieb-chung-u anſwered, © I have long been deſiring you to let me have the other picture that I might diſpatch it: yet you would not give it me. This picture is here without, but you deceived me, and inticed me to go within : however bring the picture here, and I will finiſh it.” The Eunuch Chou brought him the picture; when in a moment he finiſhed all the verſes, end taking his leave, went away. Chou-thay-kien who accompanied him to the gate, returned to his friend woſhorſu, and ſaid. What aſtoniſhing abilities hath this young man ? And who would have thought he could have - _ eſcaped eſcaped the ſnare * ? This unexpected meſſage from the Emperor hath broke through all our meaſures.” They. remained both of them enraged and vexed at a diſappointment ſo little foreſeen. After ſome time K#wo-fbo-/ie broke ſilence, and ſaid, . Let us look out for ſome other expedient. The marriage with Shuey-ping:n is not completed: it is well known that they do not ſleep in the ſame chamber. I will yet cauſe them to be ſeparated. Think not I propoſe an impracticable attempt. I will revive the ſuſpicions that have been fo long dormant, with regard to her carrying him home to her houſe to attend him in his illneſs. I will refute this pretended excule, and Here is g tedious recapitulation in the orig. - I accuſe =—C —— 1777 | woJb—bf sef ᷑ieerLrA¶to—re+*I —o.I i D rͤ 2 N I 1 ! : | K 3 | | 7 he. + | * t 4 91 5 44 5 4 : 1 0 4 x i \ 1. 1 7 . if

• , -

| 11 1 17 | | LI 1 9 N „ a1 re- l 4 1 +3, 5 | 1 1 , c 4 4 TY ' N L , j i : $ 4 : Fx 3

• #4 1 Sa !

U j i as | Ps 4 it +4)

• 84? -
• ®. 7

ö 1 4N bog, || B Y = ' 675 . © z : 6 4

e*1 .

• — ———

accuſe them of diſorderly and unlawful motives. I will relate this to the Cenſor of the empire, whoi so bliged by his office to report it to his Majeſty. I will tell him, that after having had an unlawful amour, they now would increaſe the ſcandal by a patche·d u p marriage: and 1 will remonſtrate the contempt and reproach this will bring on the laws: eſpecially as they are people of ſuch rank in the ſtate. Your Lordſhip ſhall lend your aſſiſtance to forward and ſtrengthen this accuſation. Then will his Majeeſty ſummon the Tribunal of Rites to examine into it: in the mean time, I will apply to the Che- hien of the city where the affair happened, and will get him tot urn over all the papers of his ofkice, ii n order to procure minutes of the Y caſe A cHñNESE | HISTORY. 9 caſe, Where with to ſtu pport the accuſation. After this, the leaſt that can happen will be their being divorced and ſeparated for ever.“ True, ſaid the Eunuch Chou; and when once they are ſeparated, it willb ea n eaſy matter to ſpeak to the Emperor about the marriage with my niece;? Theſe re- "2 ſolutions. they formboteh dagr,eei ng thati no rdtoe rernde r them effectual, the utmoſt nee and cautionW d——y—<-n———i e . n. D—WEcEE EEN Y Bo—=ne —b—P Re C—erꝛCnEC⁰P¾PO—EenwC—r—C ˙ SC E I YC Em C FFF 1 Nin 7 1 4 13

• N

F 19

:

• i *

40 7

• 21

FF!) }' S iy| wa i 4 * a 4 s, r 4 ö p 7 :i 1 1 1 7 7 17 ? I -

• 34 '

' a « 0 77 + 4 þ

• "

"Sx — A l 4 6 —a=_ p t: a—BT C—e _— —eOOOoO C HAP. vn. 'T7 E Ab bang bi ſet at large by the invitation the Emperor ſent him to the banquet, took the firſt opportunity to adviſe with his 501, IV. H father, - 181 father, concerning his ſituation with Shugy-ping-fin. The Mandarine Tieh- Ying aid, Notwithſtanydoui nbogt h continue in ſeparate chambers, I am of opinion that your marriage is valid, and for life. But why don't you bring your wife home to your own houſe, that the world mabye th oroughly ſatisfied of your nuptials, and thus all occaſionof ſcandal removed? on account of his niece. Go and con- | ſult with your bride what courſe to take in this critical juncture.“” He accordingly went to the young lady, and told her what hisf athehra d aid. « My lord, ſaid ſhe with her accuſtomed diſeretion, I am your ſervant and handmaid; and will do whatever you ſhall preſcribe to me, in order to put an end to theſe clamours. All this diſ- 5 turbance ſprings from the malice of Kwo-ſho-ſu and his ſon. Let us then with the greateſt expedition perform whatever ceremonies remain unobſerved, and thereby convince the world that our marriage is duly” celebrated according to law,” When 7 ieb-chung-u found his lovely bride approved of his father's advice of bringing her home to his own houſe, it filled his heart with extreme ſatisfaction: You, ſaid he, are a lady chat always lend an ear to reaſon, I will not fail to acquaint my father and mother of our intentions: nor will I on thiso ccaſion forget my friend Hil-biau. 1 will then | apply to the Tribunal of Mathema- _ „„ tics tics “ in order to chuſe a good day for our nuptials, and will invite all the Mandarines to the marriage feaſt. The Kin- tien-xien or Tribunal of Mathematics, conliſts of a preſident, two aſſeſſors, and many ſubordinate Mandarines :w ho apply themſelves to aſtronomy and aſtrology ;. compole the imperial calendar, and diſtinguiſhthe days, hours, &c. into fortunate and unlucky. _ | It is an important branch of their office to predict all eclipſes: of which they give ſchemes to the Emperor, who lays them before the Tribunal of Rites, and they diſperſe copies of the ſame through all the provinces, to the end that the ceremonies uſual on that occaſion may be every where obſerved. Theſe conſiſt in beating kettle-drums, &c during the eclipſe; the' Mandarives: kneeling and making proſtrations all the while; the common people at the ſame time ſhouting, in order to fright away a ſuppoſed dragon, whe they believe 1is about to devour the fun or moon. This tribunal alſo deputes five aſtronomers every night to take their ſtand on the imperial obſervatory, who every morning report whatever Phenomena have occurred to them. | P. Magal. p. 23 1. Mod. Un. Hiſt. viii, 186; P. Du Halde. P. Le Compte, &c. The A CHINESE | HISTORY: 101 The truth is we have not complied with the cuſtom which requires us to preſent wine to each other +.” | Kwo:ſho-ſu' hearing that the young couple were preparing to celebrate their marriage afreſh, was very much- difturbed at it. He applied therefore to one of the Mandarines, whoſe . buſjneſs it is to accuſe all that are guilty of _ enormities, and with many intreaties prevailed on him to accuſe Tieb-chung-u and the young lady before the Emperor,

I The cuſtom is upon the wedding night, while the young couple are ſurrounded by all their friends, for the bride to offer a cup of wine to the bridegroom, which he drinks off; and then offers ſuch another cup to her. 3 Tranſ. The accuſation was drawn ho in the following terms. « I Yang-yo, Cenſor * of the em- 6“ pure, with great reſpect and reve- & rence preſent to your Majeſty this paper of accuſation concerninga & ſcandalous marriage, which violates ec the law: anI ddo it in order that « your Majeſty may examine into the cc ſame, and find out the truth. Of & the five ge: that _ to hu- The title & this leer * a below in the Portugueſe verſion is FU-SU [or XU] acuzador e avixor do imperio: i. e. The Ju-sv, the accuſer, and the leo of the empire.” But as this title is mentioned in no other writer, and as the office ſeems to be the ſame with that of CENSOR deſcribed before, [See pag. 10. nore] the Editor hath not ſcrupled to give that « man « man nature +, the firſt is marriage : « it: ought therefore to be obſerved % with-due care and attention, and with “all theſe ceremonies,; which the Em- 66 perors have enacted from the remoteſt antiquity. Now it is a thing „ unheard» of that a young woman « without father or mother ſhould re- By theſe ve things are probably meant thoſe ſeveral Relations of ſocial life, that gave birth to the relative duties; which the CHineſẽ diſtribute into five heads, and to which they reduce all their morality. Theſe five duties are, thoſeo f parents and children: prince and ſubjects: huſband and wife: elder and younger brethren: and friends with regard one to another, See P. Du Hale, vol. 2. pag. 37. GMC. Now although the Clint commonly look upon the relation between, parents and, children, as firſt in point of importance: yet in ſome reſpects the precedence , may be alſo: given to that of marriage, as it comes fi in order of time, and as moſt of the other relations ſpring from it. : et main under the ſame roof with a “% young man equally removed from cc his own parents, and that without the interpoſal of any mediator. or „ brideſman, or without the know-

• ledge and privityo f any. [All this
• hath happened, and] the parents of

& the offenders are the Mandarines & Shuey-keu-ye and Tieb ing, both great

• officers of your Majeſty's council.

« Who at length, after the fact is become notorious to all the world, < are preparing to patch up a mar- << riage between the guilty pair; which e they have the confidence to. celee brate with great feaſting and pa-

• rade: mean while, as the nuptial

te proceſſion marches along the ſtreets, $9 all the people are murmuring and et “laughing “laughing at a thing ſo unheard: of {© among perſons of quality. All theſe facts coming to the ears of me your © Majeſty's ſubject, I durſt not but inform you of them, that the offenders might be chaſtized for an examte ple to others.? T The Mandarine Vang- yo having preſented this paper, it was referred to the council named Ko-chung + : which confulted upon it, and made this report, What affects the fame of a None of the writers that the Editor hath been able to conſult, give any account of this tribunal, which is elſewhere in the Portugueſe MS. called Ko- chin. After all; the Portugue/e, which is very much corrupted in this place, will bear to be rendered, A councellor named Ko-

• • chung who deliberated upon it, &c.“
• virgin

virgin ought to be very clear. Here c ig no teſtimony, only hearſay in | the ſtreet; It ought diligently: to < be inquired what evidence chere int o 5 3 this . tin! EEO 8 irt E19 The mh Choi was every day importunate with them to purſue the inquiry with more rigour. Nevertheleſs it was not till after a conſiderable time that the accuſation was ſent to the Tribunal of Rites, for their farther inquiry. The Eunuch Chou vexed at this delay, applied to the Grand Eunuch, who is Preſident of all the Eunuchs of the palace *: and imme- »The Eunnchs of the palace are under cognizance of various tribunals of their own; where all regulations relating to them are enacted, and to which alone they are accountable. P. Semedo, pag. 114. | = Tk diately diately a petition was iſſued out for the Emperor's' own inſpection: who upon peruſal of it ſaid, * AsTieb-chung-it eig a young man, the pretence of « his going to be cured and nurſed « in his illneſs in the houſe of a « young woman, is n to be 6 ſuſpected. = TY While the Tribunal of Rites was deliberating what anſiver to return to his Majeſty, the news arrived to the Mandarine 'Tieh-ying, who gteatly alarmed related to the young couple what he had heard. The Mandarine Vang-yo, ſaid he, out of enmity which he bears you, hath delivered in a petition againſt you to the Emperor; it behoves you therefore to conſider e 1 well, what defence you are to make; and to draw up'a petition in your own behalf.“ The young couple replied, „We have long been apprized that this would happen, and are accordingly prepared: let us ſee what anſwer his Majeſty hath diſpatched, and we ſhall draw up a ſuitable memorial.” The Emperor referred the petition abovementioned to the Tribunal of Rites. That tribunal diſpatched it away to the province of . for the Viceroy to make inquiry. The Miniſter Kwo-ſbo-ſit upon the firſt notice of this, immediateſleyn t inſtructions to his ſon to gain the Che- hien of the city over to their intereſt; with n view he ee him to ſpare no expence, expence, and furniſhed him with a letter written to that Magiſtrate with his own hand. Kwo-kbi-tzu greatly delighted with the proſpect that ſeemed to open before him, immediately got ready a hundred pieces of gold “, in order to accompany his father's letter to the Che-hien. The name of the The Portugue/e expreſſion is, Pass de ouro, i. e. „Loaves of gold;“ and this is the name which, moſt nations have agreed to give to the uncoined pieces of gold which the CHineſe uſe in traffic. Theſe pieces are of two ſizes, the greater are commonly worth more than 1ool. ſterling, and the ſmaller about half as much, or according to their weight: for neither gold nor ſilver coin is current in China, all their payments being made by weight. For this reaſon every Chineg/e merchant is always furniſhed with very fine ſteelyards and a pair of ſhears for the more ready dividing their metal into the requiſite ſums, which they will do to any given yalue with the greateſt exactneſs. I bj. This may ſeem an aukward method of proceeding, Mandarine whoa t chis juncture poſſeſſed that office was Wey pbey; being the ſame perſon whom Tich-chung-uchad | formerly befriended in reſcuing and reſtoring to him his miſtreſs. This gentleman was but newly promoted to his 3 1 the Sage aar e fac\ h ſabtle* exquiſite cheats, that were money to paſs among them by tale, as in other countries, it would give birth to continual adulterations. For the ſame reaſon, when the Chineſe tranſport theſe Pas de ouro into other countries, the mercharits cut them through the middle, not daring to truſt that _ crafty people, who have a method of ſtuffing theſe pieces, inſomuch that withinſide ſhall be ſometimes found a third part of copper or ſilver. — But except it be in large ſums,” | ont is ſeldom uſed as a medium of traffic. N. B. The only coined money current in China, conſiſts of ſome very ſmall copper pieces, who have each a hole in Hy middle for the convenience of ſtringingm any of them together. Ten of theſe are not woreh, above a half. penny. See Tavernier part 2. pag. 8. f. Du Halde, office A CHINESE HISTORT. 1:1: office when NoE-he· t zu preſented | to nim the hundred pieces of gold together with his father's letter. The other had no ſooner peruſed it, than he was greatly ſurprized to find not only the miſchief intended againſt his benefactor, but that he himſelf was deſired to be inſtrumental in it. Nevertheleſs he concealed his ſentiments with ſeeming approbation; „ Very well, ſaid he; I accept your preſent; when th1e I arrives, I will not neglect _ Kwo-khei-tzu was ſatisfied with tias e and withdrew. The Governour Wey-phey called. together all | the clerks belonging to the tribunal *, "re os 110 bos y to every tribunal there are various Notaries, clerks, &c. who have ſmall | _ houſes and ordered them to examine into the affair of Tit eh-chung-u, and to inform him upon what pretence that youth was received into the houſe of Shuey-pingin. They all agreed that the young lady took him in, outof gratitudfeo r having reſcued her from K-h- tzu, who was carrying her off by force: and that this was notorious to all the | world. The Mandarine Hey-phey in- 9 uited howfa r their behaviour together afterwards was decent and- blameleſs.

• houſesi n the adjoining courts; Thaere ymai ntained

at the public expence, and enjoy their places for life: ſo that buſineſs goes on without interruption, notwithſtanding that the Mandarines their maſters are often changed; N. B. In each of the tribunals there are public regiſters, where every thing tranſacted before it is entered and recorded. . P. Da Halde, vol. 1. pag. 284. Lettres edif. They They replied, We know not: but the Pao Cbe- hien your predeceſſor, having the ſame doubt of their virtue, employed a ſpy to pry into their conduct; who was accordingly concealed for ſome time“ within the houſe: and this man gave ſuch an account of their behaviour, that the Pao Cbe- bien = conceived a great regard for the young ſtranger, and reverehdim as af aint.” The governor Mey. pbey ordered before him the ſpy abovementioned, as alſo the ſuperior of the Pagoda, where Tieh-chung-u had lodged. He examined them both ; and both. agreed The MS. _ Three lies Ades 2 but this is neither credible in itſelf, nor ſupported by the — part oft he ory. dee Wal.2 . chap. 4. By | A Vor. IV. 5 in in eſtabliſhing the purity of that gen | tleman's, conduct. Highly fatisfied and rejoiced with this reſult of his inquiries, Wey-pbey only waited for the 1 arrival of, the diſpatches from the Tribunal of Rites, and from the Viceroy, in order to make his report. After five days the diſpatches arrived. He immediately. returned back to the Viceroy. a- ſatisfaQtory anſwer. That Mandarine acknowledged the affair bore ave ry reputable aſpect, and immediately tranſmitted the account to the court. The Tribunalo f Rites expreſſed great ſatisfaction at the clear and unblemiſhed conduct of Jiebchung- u, whom they looked upon as a ſaint, and percetihev mealdic e of Kwo-ſpo-ſu ; nevertheleſs being obliged 2 to to obſerve all the due forms of law, they informed that Mandarine of the ſatisfactory account they had received of Tieb-chung-u's conduct, and invited him to come and peruſe. it himſelf. | Kwo-ſpo-fu was greatly inraged at the peruſal, and threw out many reproaches on the governor Wey-phey, © He is but newly made a doctor, ſaid he, and juſt .come to his office, how can he know the truth of this affair? He is very hardy and raſhi to pretend to acquit this criminal upon ſuch flight pretences: I cannot ſuffer this boldneſs to paſs unnoti 2 He therefore applied to the fupe rior Mandarine ·st oc all Wey-phey. to account for his preſumption. With this view Yang- 3 preſented another petition. to the | 1 "os I Em116 HAU KkIOU CHOAAN. Emperor: who accepted it, and gave orders for Wey-pbey to be fummoned to court, in order to juſtify his conduct. Wey-phey received this ſummons from the Viceroy: together with private notice to makthee be ſt preparations he could for his defence, for that he had powerful enemies to contend with. M.p beyw aited on the Viceroy to return him thanks for his advice, and withal aſſured him that he had nothing of which he could accuſe himſelf, and therefore was under no apprehenſion of the event. Then taking with him the ſpy, who had been employed by his predeceſſor, as wage nea s ara of the! Bonzees, Ce erg ah aaa. together 25 .» The:" Ching authorb een,i n the following | pars together with the letter of Ko. ſboſu, and his preſent of the hundred pieces of gold,he ſet out for the court. As ſoon as he arrived there, he durſt not preſume to preſent himſelf before the Emperor, but went and demanded audience of the Hing: pu, or Tribunal of Crimes +. It was inquired of him at that tribunal; how it happened, that he who was but newly promoted to his office, could pretend to decide ſo poſitively upon the conduct of Tieb- chung-u, and the young . And * 85 ROY nt of the ſtory to have FOR this circumſtance: for this witneſs is never produced af-| terwards. It is alſo ſome imputation on the Author's juſtice, that this Bonzee1 1 8 * puniſh 2 along with the other criminals, * 8 1 vol. z.p . 127. note. 1 "42 bribed Go ad 3 bribed to acquit them? Ng. pbey anſwered, As I was promoted by his Majeſty to the honourable Tribunal of Cbe· bien, it behoved me to examine clearly into all matters that came before it. It is true, my own perſonal knowledge of this affair cannot inable me to decide upon it: but [ not only inquired of my clerks and officers all they knew about it themſelves, but alſo what teſtimony they had to ſupport their account: the) referred me to a perſon, who was employed by the Pao Che-bien my predeceſſor expreſsly as a ſpy to obſerve the conduct of the young people, and from him I learnt a clear ſtate of the caſe. Your Lordſhips have aſked if I re- 5 no bribe Tom. Tieb- chung u. L have 1 have received nothing from that Mandarine. But from No. ſbo-ſu T have received not only a letter written vith his own hands, but alſo a hundred pieces of gold from thoſe of his ſon. Here is the ſpy, who is witneſs to the truth of the account, and here is alfo the letter and the geld.“ The Mandarines at the fight of this, were aſtoniſhed and confounded ; and finding no cauſe to blame Yey-phey, difmiffed him with orders to await the Emperor's farther pleaſure, and to attend them again upon the firſt ſummons. Then Mey. pbey performed the accuſtomed reverence, and withdrew. e 06 MB. | 120 HAU KIQU CHOAAN, 7-10.40. Gra Bug VIII. HE Mandarines that compoſed the Tribunal of Crimes ſeeing there was no remedy, and that they could not favour the cauſe of Kwo- | Hocſ u without danger to themſelves, applied to the Tribunal of Rites to preſent a memorial to his Majeſly, to acquaint him. with what they had done. The Emperor peruſed it himſelf, and ſaid, This is a rare incident. If this report be true, we have in our realm a moſt excellent perſon. The Eunuch Chou, who ſtood in his Majeſty's preſence, faid, „ This report comes from a new governor, who could not know the affair of his own own perſonal knowledge; if I might therefore preſume ſo far, I would queſtion the truth of this report: for if there was nothing wrong, why did not his father come to acquaint: and - conſult your Majeſty upon the caſe. The young people in the firſt place come together, and afterwards marry. The Emperor conſidered a little with himſelf, and then replied; Tou are right. Order each of the parties concerned to draw up a petition for my peruſal, I will afterwards examine into the affair myſelf.” When this order came to the two young perſons and theirp arentsth,e y remained very Joyful and well pleaſed: the Miniſter Kwo: ſbo-ſu was no leſs affected with cogcerp and dread: he thought toh ave wrought wrought the downfall of others, and ſaw the evil [ready to] fall upon him- ' elf. In the difficulty in which he found himſelf plunged, it occurred to him to repreſent in his petition | e overtyres/ of martizge that bad been made by his ſon, and to aſſign favour his cauſe : he therefore gave in ee to the 5 effec.

• 1 your Majeſty's vaſſal En

« this petition concerning the affair 2 ſchat hath fo lately happened. The r truth is, I wasat firſt diſpoſed to . marmry yſo n-to the daughter of « Shaey- ken-, and for that reaſon

• applied to her father in his behalf:
• * but afterwards hearing many things

a pre% How then could my ſon be ſup- « poſed likely. to make an attempt upon her by force * ? I ſubmit this “to Jour M ajeſty 8 conſideration,” 4 8 ſaw ba ide 1 his monks and inſtantly preſented another to the Emperor in anſwer to it, &« ] Tieb- chung · u in obedience to your Majeſty's orders, make this my pe- + tition, ſpeaking truth without guile. I did not preſume. to trouble your $ Mans n. on this * as

• * The trapftion 3 3 2 harſh and |

abrupt: it ought however to be obſerved, that the Emperor had been made acquainted with this circumſtance fam the 15 I relating to Ne Nel „the a ——A —K A ——— — A CHINESE HISTORY. 123 66 prejudicial to the fame of | the young « lady, I laid aſidmey intention. F- T4 S —mm———ęt e—m n—r. - ——— — ayEDE. I | ! ! i 6 |. tal [8 ne 1| 30 t :

',R

ö M Fi) ö n «the affair was trifling, and related « only to a ptivate family. I was tra- « yelling through the provinces, by « permiſſion of my father, when lo! s in the city of T/&-nan I was in- « terrupted by a great tumult and « diſturbance in the ſtreets: I inqui- «red the cauſe; and learnt that the ct ſon of Kwo-ſbo-ſu was carrying away

• the daughter of Shuey-keu-ys, in or-

<« der to marry her by force. Hearet ing of this outrage, though I was then < but a ſtripling, I was filled with int dignation, and ſaid, in marriage te the conſento f both parties, and 4 other ſolemn rites are neceſſary. «© The Che- bien yielding to my remon- 10- ſtrance, cauſed the lady to be carried «back to her houſe. All this while 4 1 bad no — Knowledge of of the « the parties : nor had any other view « but to promote peace and con- « cord, The ſon of Kwo-ſho-ſu finding « that I had hindered his unlawfut « deſigns, entertained a violent hatred e againſt me. I was lodged in a Pagoda e or convent. + He applied to the Bonrte of the convent to give me poĩ- « ſon. It was accordingly adminiſter- « ed to me in my victuals. I was « ſeized; with violent illneſs, and at the point of death. Shuey-ping-/in « diſcovering that I was dangerouſly e ill upon her account, was greatly concerned, and cauſed her people to convey me to her houſe, I was © then too much diſordered to know

• any thing of the matter: but ſhe

did it purely out of gratitude to _ 6 repay x26 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. K tte te ie e had done her. While I was in < her houſe I obſerved the ſtricteſt v modeſty* , nor gave the leaſt oc- & caſion for ſcandal. With. regard to << the marriage contracted with her < afterwards, I did it in obedience << to myf ather and mother; and this «© was "Owing to my having been « ſurety f for the” general Eidl ia, <. who by the victories he obtained, brought the young lady'sifather out „ of a long exile, which he had ſuf- 4 fered at the inſtigationo f No-

• ſo-fie, The general obſerving that

] was young and unmarrieidn, or- Iterally it is, J was very clean. + Protector. Port. | | | "CC der „der to return the benefits I had done him, became mediator and « brideſinan in my behalf, and apc plied to Shuey-keu-ye to give me his daughint maerrriag e. All this they «concerted among themſelves with- « out my knowledge. But notwith- «- ſtanding the marriage hath been twice e folemnized, it is not yet conſum-

• mated: fo careful have we been

ahout our reputation and good fame. We have even lived together under « the ſame roof with all the inno- „ cence of infants, This I here ſet forth in my petition conformably tt o

• n * 8 N 5 5

7 The your huty in like manner preſented her en to the Emperor. «© I Shuey- 1 l 4 - j 1 4 "* +, 0 | | | I Shuey-ping-/in in conformity to « your Majeſty's. command, make «* this. true memorial. I was left an <* orphan by the death of my mother, and by my father's baniſhment : I c remained alone in my houſe, where J lived in the greateſt reſerve and “retirement . In this ſolitude how <* could I make a marriage - contract? All ¶ the preſent diſturbance] ſprings « from the Mandarine Kwo-/bo-/u. His ſon, who is of the ſame city with myſelf, held me in ſuch «contempt, as to form deſigns fy of marrying me by force: he got e me into bis power by a coun- & terfeit een from aa . . The literal eiteni Ws, Y my.g at ns * ſhut.“ 1904 THE A | 60 8 4 As he was carrying me away We «wemret eby Tieb-chung-u: W ho ſse- « ing this outrage applied to the Che- « zien in my behalf. That Magiſtrate « ordered me to be carried back to my e houſe. Krvboe-- xu , inraged at his « diſappointment; conceived violentha- « tred againſt myd etiverer, and ſought « all means of revenge. The latter be- « ing lodgeidn àC onvent, the other „ commanded the Bontzo geivee h im « poiſon'z which brought himt o the point of death. Hea ring of his dan- 40 ger, by reſolved to run the riſl of

• my reputation,” rather than let my

« benefactor periſh. I ordered him 5 therefore to be conveyed to my « houſe, that I might ſuperintend his

• cure. IJ remained under thſe ame roof

{You IV, RC with änaS9i—„—roe4—EsDooU —IEs — Z- U—Ü —vü——P— — pa*7 ——mg—ah ——mn — —I_—2— ypE_ R—

• A« —— - "

—2> 2 =r* EK=Pn :xE —p n ——=eSe t — E— —— r6—xEeT— —AT. 8—— =- I LX A E T

• .n hL|2ER1 | 2 8g 0-.

2l2 4 —"* H ED ——— .——p y ——w ene—s- rt —=2 > 7 5 N Q.-²w C ——a—— ——9w y9y Ewh a. r Od | | a $48 « with him, with the greateſt * purity « and modeſty,yithourgny bad thought. « He is no leſs innocent. Whateyer

• is repreſented as diſorderly. in qur

«* marriage is falſe. It was undertaken 4 and conducted by my father. The General Ha. biau was brideſman or < mediator, and gave himſelf the trou- < ble of ſettling the contract. But although we are married, we have not yet cohabited. This being a private concern between man and wife, we thought it unneceſſary to < liberty I take now is in obedience to your Majeſty's. command, to < whoſe wiſdom. I refer the Je L of my cauſe.” | 9 Lu Non Veryc l and pure.“ The A. CHINESE HIST ORT. 131 The Mandarine Tieh-ying preſented likewiſe Aa memorial t to the . 8 Ki 7 . 1 thea Ti or Pa of «. the Viceroys, Tb vg by name, with great reſpe&t' and reverence preſent this memorial to your Majeſty. The rites of marriage ought to be «obſerved by the father and mother” of each party. When a father wants to marry” his ſon, it behoves him to ſeek out a woman of honeur and virtue. My fen, who is eree ated one of the firſt doctors of the e empire, cannot but underſtand all the Ceremonies and cuſtoms: much

• • leſs could he dare to violate the laws.

« We being your Te el 8 n and advanced to the hon 4 2 < of Mandarines, could not preſume <« to take any ſteps that were not le- «< gal. The young lady Shuey-ping-/in ce hath too much virtue and good c ſenſe: to conſent to any ſtep inju- « rious to ber reputation. Whatever therefore is repreſented as dif cc orderly in their marriage, is contracc ry to truth. But all theſe troubles cc are brought upon me through the c hatred and envy. of certain perſons. < This memorial I make in obedience

• to your Majeſty, whoſe wiſdom will

clearly diſcern the truth.“ The father of the young lady preſented

• his . " cre

> St 1 the P >reficent Tl the Tribunal = of, Arms, named Shuey-key-ye,, with « great reverence, and reſpect preſent e this memorial to your Majeſty. e In marriage, there ought to be the „ intire conſent, of both parties, free « from, all force and compulſion. With reſpect to my daughter, « ſhe would by no means be pre- 2 vailed on to marry Ko- Es- zu; 5 te whoſe father being one of your | Ma- « jeſty's great councellors, and having charge of the whole empire, ought © to. know all the laws and cuſtoms.

• And yet hath he been guilty, of the

e oreateſt outrage, and ſtill perſiſis in < preſenting memorials to your Ma- « jeſty full of lies and falſehood, de-

• faming the honour of ladies, prince

cipally that of my daughter; who i 1 | = 4 | bath already preſented cher memo- &« rial, which I an 8 to refer t to 4 er. e Ipy T tekf ive libel or memorials were | preſented: to the Emperor. His Majeſty received them, and calling together all the Mandarines 'of his council into his palace, he required them to take the petitions, and examine them carefully. They obeyed his commands, and were agreed as to the truth of the facts, viz. That NeoEbe-- t ʒu had carried away the lady by force: and that Tieb- cbungu was in her houſe to be nurſed ihni s Illneſs: but whether their behaviour together afterwards was as pure and unblemiſhed a| s was repreſented, they could not determine. To this end it was neceſſary to inquire of the Man- | darine, who filled the poſt of Gbedien when the affair happened. Immediately ah order was iſſued out to cits that Mandarine before them: who accordingly arrived. The Emperor himſelf examined him. You that were then Che- hien of that diſtrict, are you acquainted with the affair between Tieb ·c hung ua nd Shuey-ping-/in ? Take here theſe five memorials, conſider thoroughly on which fide lies the truth, and tellm e truly as far as you know; otherwiſe you ſhall be puniſhed in the ſame manner as the offenders themſelves.” The Pao Chebien peruſed the papers, and aſſured kis Majeſtthayt a s far he had op- Nane; of knowing, the defendants CATH K 4 . had aſſerted nothing but the truth; that indweithe redgar d to the regularity of their marriage afterwards, he was not able to pronounce about it, as it had been5 eee a3t 5 The ett Chou told a e ths with reſpect to every thing that paſt before, it might poſſibly be true; but after having been twice married, it was not credible that they had obſerved ſo ſtrai chcaſttity , as they would inſinuate. The Emperor agreed that his remark was juſt. Then he iſſued out an order for all the Mandarines of the court to meet together at the palace the next morn ning; and for Tiebchung- ua nd the 23 dt;t o attend them. | .C 1 A P. 5110n 1A f.I X. Tet 6 7 HE next morning when all the Mandarines were aſſembled in the palace, together with 7 jeb-chung-u and his bride, the Emperor himſelf | came amongſt them. [When they had | performed the profound reverence * due to his preſence,] his Majeſty ordered 7 ieb-chung-u to ſtand forth before him. He obeyed; and the Emperor ſeeing him to be a very graceful. and well made youth +, was pleaſed with his This isd one by proſtrating themſelves nine times before his throne, each time * their forchead againſt the ground, _ = See P. Du Halde, ce. . + It ſhould ſeem from hence 5 1 not before perſonally known to the Emperor, notwithſtanding he was appointed tutor to his ſon- TI is very credible, | | wee | ap- 2law""IAEEbT1—eitE— 0 IT —SE2—,r W 0 P : 8 E v IE ASTY To—<**r3n:-7= s— F

• 2AfA—nI-*P4 = e” 7 UpI%7 so.—- N I — p ——

nä: n=— 8y ——P. y appearance: What, ſaid he, are you the perſon that broke open the gates of Tah-quay, and reſcued the old man named Han-juen, together with his wife and daughter ?” He anſwered. in the affirmative. Was ity ou alſo that was protector of the general Z4- hiau?” He ſgnified| h isa ſſent. 4 Theſe two exploit, ſaid his Majeſty, indieate a diſpoſition highly to be applauded; you. muſt certainly. have great courage. When you went to the houſe of Shuey-ping-fin. in order to, be nurſed in; your, illneſs, to. remain under the ſame roof with her five nights and days pure and undefiled, is ſuch conduct as was never heard of from the earlieſt ages untif how + it is very extraor- dar. Iph isa lotr ue?1 2 7r eb-chung-u 470 ſaid, A cHINESE HISTORY; 339 ſaid; 4. It is very true. A ſincere and Jul man, faid. his Majeſty, may (ſometimes] be met with, but one like you it is difficult to find. But you ſay in your petition you were twice marriedz how happened that2 , , -

• * "% ' 6 * 3 "IE 1 75

Jieb. chung u anſwered, When I was carried to the houſe of the young lady to be nurſed in my illneſs, there vent abroad many evil reports concerning us this occaſioned us to be married twice. For when our parents agreed upon the marriage covenant, if we had come together at firſt, our integrity would always have remalned in doubt: for the ſame reaſon we have hitherto reGded in different apartments. And» Majeſty hath called our 3 | CON » —62— -—* x conduct in queſtion, we two have been as the ſun among clouds: now we are in your Majeſty's preſence, |w e beſeech you to cauſe the ſun to come from behind that obſcurity. The Emperor liſtened to him with great attention, and ſaid, According to your accoSub unch-t pi ng fn is yet a virgin.“ He then ordered that young lady to ſtand forth before him: and when / ſhe "appeared he thought her beautiful as an angel. He aſked if her name was buch- ping Hin. She anſwered, Tes.“ The Mandarine, faid he, that was Che- hien of your city hath told me, that three times with great ingenuity you delivered yourſelf out of the handso fR usAl.tt e u. Was itſ o orn ot! aer Ir replied, Cc I am I am a poor weak girl: Ko- Kb. tau foundm y father was baniſhed into Tartary, and therefore endeavoured to marry me by compulſion. Finding that I was unablteo reſiſt his power, I was obligetdo practiſe ſome artiſice to deliver. myſelf out of this, laughed and ſaid, Lou that were afraid of K¼πẽ mL, be- tau, how durſt you take a young ſtranger into your houſe to nurſe him? Were not you afraid that people would raiſe evil reports | of you?” She replied, When I was called upon to return benefits ſo. great as thoſe 1 had received, as longer regarded fame or report. The Emperor laughed again, and ſaid, In 3 the, when you hardly knew Tieh- T—.—=r P—

142 Hau klo cHoRAN. Tiebo chung -, ka took him in without regarding the murmurs and reproaches of che World 3 5 afterwards: when + you were | comaiinded by your father to marry him, why did you continue in ſeparate apartments? She teplied, “ The murmuring at firſt was but ſmall, and 1 knew would eafily! ceaſe together with my acquaintance with that gentleman. But now that a more ſerious connection Was going to take place between us by means of a regular marriage, there was danger of our incurring a diſgrace and inſamy that would terminate only with our lives. But your Majeſty hath ſummoned me into your preſence; and with great ſhame and trembling I am come to appear before you. The Emperor was great- LO. ty ly- pleaſed with the ingenumis modeſty and diffidence with which ſhe opened her cauſe, and faid, * Young lady, if you have all along kept yourſelf: pure the preſent hour. You in particular ought to be celebrated through all parotfst h ew orld, as af aint, In ow order four Eunuchs to attend this young lady to the Emprefs“: and let her appoint berla diest o examine ibihs e irg o0r5 1 00 It 5 fig Tr5; BA 7 As REY: 1 allowed iin e nn alsE mperor hath commoi * a good numberof wives; tho? but one, to whom 1 gives the titleo fE n- 750% or ſelect conſort;; 6 0 2al5on e is allowed to it at table with him. W er of the next

order are reckoned nine of a cond, and —_

Four Eunuchs immediately came forth, and conductethde young lady to the Empreſs; who received her, and ordered two of her attendants to anſwer the Emperor's inquiry. | They returnaendd , ſaid, „We have performed your Majeſty's command, of a third rank, and all of them ſtyled ae Next to them are thoſe ſtyled Qucens, but Who are in reality rather concubines and of theſeh e takes as great a numberas he pleaſes, and keeps them in different apartments from the former, except he ſhould take a particular fancyto any one of them, and bring her into the inward cdurt. But in general he ſtews the moſt reſpect and favour to thoſe who bring him moſt children, eſpecially to the mother of the firſt fon, tho they are all inferior to her, whom he hath chofan ts be the imperial conſort, and are obliged to wait on her, while ſhe fits at table with him. Mod. Univ. Hift, ..viti. .164—Sed. vide P. Magal. pag. 290., 308. Kc. P. Semedo, pag. 113. &c. P. Du Halde, vol. 1. p. 293 N. B. The Mandarines take care in the ſeveral provinces to chuſe out the moſt beautiful C and pronounce Shuey-ping-/in to be a ſpotleſs virgin.“ Then the Empreſs treated her with tea, and ordered their report to be carried to the Emperor. His Majeſty with great pleaſure communicated it to the Mandarines of the court: and ſaid, Although Shueyping-/ in hath been twice married to Tieb-chung-u by expreſs order of their parents; and though he was before, five days and nights with her in her houſe; ſhe hath nevertheleſs kept herſelf pure and chaſte. This hath been proved beyond all diſpute. I am rich, proceeded he, in having ſo valuable a jewel in my empire. This is ar are incident that hath happened: and affords a light to my people; an example to all my ſubjects. ö Yet if I Vol. IV, L --|:: f had not examined into the affair myſelf, ſo much rare merit had been buriedi n diſgrace: likea precious ſtone that is irrecoverably loſt *.” He then aſked the Mandarines, if this were truc or not. They all anſwered with one mouth, Your Majeſty hath examined and judged; and the deciſion is very certain and compleat.“ The Emperor commanded the Mandarine Kwo Sho.ſ u to ſtand forth, and ſaid to him, . You are a Miniſter of ſtate, and one of the firſt councellors of the empire, why did not you

• His Majeſty's own words contain a more

indelicate, but at the ſame time a more exact image. The literal Por/ugue/e verſion is, Cons hia pedra precioza caida no eftfreo. ** Like a precious ſtone fallen into dung.” chaſtiſe | chaſtiſe your fon? He thrice endeavoured to force awaa yyoun g lady of quality, and was guilty of other outrages

[in which he was not only countenanced

by you: but you endeavoured yourſelf to defame the innocent.] Theſe are are crimes that cannot be pardoned.” Kzwo-ſho-ſu hearing theſe words, was ſtruck with great terror and confuſion, and falling on his knees, proſtrated himſelf on the ground : « Tieb-chung-u and Sbuey- ping fi1r , ſaid he, both of them young perſons, had cohabitedi n the ſame houſe: finding they had been upon this footing, I could not help ſuſpecting the worſt. Your Majeſty therefore I hope will pardon me.” Then the Emperor commanded Yang-yo to be called forth, and L's ; ſaid ſaid to him: „Tou are the Cenſor of the empire; why did not you make a more exact inquiry into this affair, before you preſumed to repreſent it to me? It was great injuſtice to give a falſe repreſentation of a caſe, wherein the fame and honour of ſo many perſons were concerned. If I had not judged and examined it myſelf, but had reſted ſatisfied with, your report, the truth had been hid under reproach and infamy.” That Mandarine hearing words at once ſo juſt and ſevere, was ſtruck with confuſion and diſmay, and falling upon his knees, proſtrated | himſelf on the ground, crying out, ] deſerve puniſhment, let your Majeſty do with me what ſeemeth good.” The Emperor then called forth the gover 1 governor Mey- pbey, who preſented himſelf before him. His Majeſty ſaid, « As you, though lately made a doctor, and newly promoted to your poſt, had ſuch regard to juſtice, and could reſiſt the temptation of ſo large a bribe: and as you have been the inſtrument of delivering Shuey-ping-/m from her difficulties, and of reſtoring her to her good fame; for ſo much care and pains you deſerve to be promoted higher. Then his Majeſty pronounced ſentence according to the following declaration. 1G 4d «TI THE EMPEROR diſpatch and 58 publiſh this my order to all my L officers throughout the empire. 1 3 3

• There hath appeared an inſtance

ce of ſuch rare merit that it deſerves

• to be magnified and applauded

% throughout my dominions; and „ affords an example of virtue and <« integrity to all perſonso f both «© ſexes. Shuey-ping-fin is a young ce maid of great virtue, and forti- © tude. By her virtue ſhe thrice reſiſted the moſt preſſing attacks, in order to preſerve herſelf chaſte „ and pure. By her fortitude ſhe returned the kindneſſes of her be-

• nefactor, though at the hazard

of her reputation: for ſhe carried <« to her houſe a man, a ſtranger, to nurſe him in his illneſs, not- „ withſtanding ſhe was a lonely or- „ phan. All this | virtue and ex- ＋ s cellence e cellence lay hid and contemned „ by the world, till I the Emperor « diſcovered it: I have found that it is moſt pure and unblemiſhed, and deſerves to be extolled (0 through all parts of my empire.” cc With regard to Tieh-chung-u, he is «© a moſt excellent young man, of great virtue, juſtice, and courage. «© He was not afraid to enter into the palace of a man of the firſt & quality, breaking open his gates in order to reſcue from oppreſſion an old mahnis, wif e, and daugh- „ ter. He was likewiſe protector af the general Hu biau, anſwering for his conduct, He alſo

• + delivered Shuey-ping-fin out of the

L 4 | "2 hands —3— — e„ „ = ' F | | | | wh;

wp

HAU | KIOU CHOAAN. hands of violence. He was mar- © ried to her twice, and yet Preſerved her purity and chaſtity together with his own: at tlie fame time that he ſuſſered reproach for his conduct. All this was unknown, but 1 the Emperor have myſelf examined into it, and find it true. He is worthy to be- praiſed throughout the empire, and ought to be advanced above all captains. He deſerves to receive Shuey-png-/:1 for. his wife, and ſhe is worthy of ſuch a huſband : they are both of tranſcendant virtue. I the Emperora m extremely ſatisfied with them both, and applaud them highly. I therefore advance 2 ce the the ſaid Tieh-chung-u to the order of Ta-hio-tſe , or Magiſtrates of approved capacity, and moreover « conſtitute him firſt Co- lau or Mi- « niſter of State. And as for Shueypingſin, I make her a Fu-gen or dutcheſs *. I myſelf will be medi- « ator or badete between them: E ** on which account I make them 99 preſent of a hundred pieces of fine gold , and a hundred e cc of 7 See vol. I. pag. 74. note. 3 The titles of honour beſtowed on women in China, are independent of, and bear no affinity to thoſe of men. See various kinds of female titles in P. Du Halde, vol. p. 633, 4. 5, 6. The title given in the text ſeems to be origut the ſame with that mentioned in vol. pag. 23. The Editor could find no acal of it in any other book. 4 In the Pertigugſe, Cem Pas ps ourd. — 4 ſnould % of gold and filver . I alſo ap- = point to each of them ten royal “ veſts out of my own wardrobe, and to each of them a crown, Let them be accompanied with 4 my own muſic: let all the pre-

• parations for their marriage be

<« furniſhed out from my own pa- «lace: and let the bride be carſhould have been obſerved in the former note, pag. 109. that what the Portugueſe and ſeveral other nations call Loa ves of Gold, are by the Engliſh called Shoes of Gold; and by the Dutch Goltſchut or Boats of Gold from their oblong curved form reſembling a Shoe or Boat. A hundred of theſe are worth more than 10, oool. ſtirling. They are of the very fineſt and pureſt gold. Tavernier, part 2.p ag. 8, 5 The Portugue/e verſion of this paſſage is, E cem peſſarios de ouro de prata e de totas maneiras : the Editor confeſſes he knows not what to make of the word peſſarios, which he hath not found explained in any dictionary. It ſeems derived from pęſar to weigh. by e ried „ ried to the houſe of her ſpouſe &« with imperial ſplendor, accom- « panied by all the councellors, % Mandarines and officers of the % court. I the Emperor appoint this for the example and encou- « ragement of the juſt and good. « With regard to the Mandarines Shueyc keu-ye and Tieb-ying, I exalt them ce three degrees * higher in their rank, as a reward for the good | 0 edu-

• Theſe degrees arae ki nd of honorary diltinctions;

and where a Mandarine's conduct deſerves either ſlight reward or puniſhment, his ſuperiors are content with raiſing or lowering his rank three or four degrees : what renders theſe diſtindions important, is the Mandarine's being obliged to put at the top of whatever. orders he iſſues out, the number of degrees he hath been advanced or degraded. For inſtance, A. B. rai- Jed education they gave their ſon and daughter.“ « As to the governor Wej-phey; I re- « mand him back to his poſt of « Che-hien for three years, after. e wards heſh all be exalted to a highce er office, for his great juſtice.” « As to the former governor the Pa- (be- bien, who gave ſo juſt an ac- „ count of the affair, he is hereby „ exalted one degree | fed three degrees, or turned back * deg:r ees, doth give notice, Ic. By this means his reward or puniſhment is known to the common people. When a perſon hath been raiſed ten degrees, he may expect to be advanced to a ſuperior Mandarinate : on the contrary, if he has been depreſſed ten degrees, he is in danger of loſing his employment. P.D u Halde, vol. 1. pag. 258. « As « As to the Miniſter wo- ho- ſu, who in ſo bad a manner bred up his « ſon, and hath defamed the repu- <« tation of worthy perſons, he hath « deſerved death; nevertheleſs as he 8 <« hath ſerved me a long time, let him be carried to the Tribunal of Crimes, let him there be diveſted % of his office, and receive fifty « ſtrokes or baſtinadoes s. 5 « As In China the greateſt miniſters are not beyond the reach of puniſhment ; upon detection of their guilt the Emperor treats them with as little ceremony as the meaneſt of his ſubjects.— Inſtances of this kind often occur in the court of Pe-king, and ocaſion very little noiſe or diſturbance. P. Le Compte tells us, that when he was in China three Mandarines of the rank of Co- lau or Prime Miniſter had taken bribes. The Emperor who Was informed of it, deprived chem upon the {pot See vol. 1. pag. 78. of this mn, 158 HAU'KIOU cHñOAAN. « As to the Cenſor Yarg-y0, who gave in a falſe accuſation, let him be e degraded of his rank three dee orees, and amerced three years s income of his ſalary.” As to the young man Kwo-kbe-!2y, Who thrice attempted to carry c off Sbucy- ping. iin, and gave poiſon of all their employments. I know not, ſays „he, what became of the other two; but the „ third, an ancient magiſtrate, venerable for his age, and eſteemed for his capacity, was condemned to guard oneof the gates of the palace, with a companyof common ſoldiers among whom he was enrolled,— I ſaw him

• « myſelf one day in this ſtate of humiliation,

he was upon duty as a private centinel; but in paſſing by him, I ſhewed him the ſame «© reſpcR that every one elſe did, in bowing the _ ** knee to him: for all the Chine/e ſtill retained a reſpect for the ſhadow of that dignity „ with which he had been ſo lately inveſted.” Joi fein. 2. peg. _= cc 1 A. CHINESE HI STORY. 159 to Tieb-chung-u; notwithſtanding that it did not take effect, hei s guilty of a heinous offence. Let him be delivered therefore to the governor cf his city,i n order to receive a hundred ſtrokes or baſtinadoes , and afterwards to be baniſned twenty leagues from the place for life.“ the Emperor pronounce this ſentence upon every one accordingt o his deſerts. Thoſe that do well ſhall be rewarded : thoſe that do evil ſhall be puniſhed. Let this ſentence be publiſhed throughout the empire.“ 8 fewer blows than theſe are e e duk: cient to diſpatch a perſon. See vol. 2.e e note. 1 CHAP.