Chapter 17: When Hidden Truths Are Revealed, True Chivalry Shines Forth

From: Hau Kiou Choaan, or The Pleasing History. Translated by James Wilkinson, edited by Thomas Percy (London, 1761)

Note: This text was digitized via OCR from the original 1761 print. Some scan errors may remain -- compare with the modern translation and Chinese original to verify.

[Volume IV, Book IV, Chapter VII]

C HAP. vn. 'T 7E Ab bang bi set at large by the invitation the Em- peror sent him to the banquet, took the first opportunity to advise with his 501, IV. H father,

[p. 181]

98 HAU KIOU.CHOAAN.. father, concerning his situation with Shugy-ping-fin. The Mandarine Tieh- Ying aid, Notwithstanding you both 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 may be tho- roughly satisfied of your nuptials, and thus all occasion of 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 his father had aid. « My lord, said she with her accustomed diseretion, I am your servant and hand- maid; and will do whatever you shall 151141 S 1 Pre:

A CHINESE HISTORY. 99 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 unobserv- ed, 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 inten- tions: nor will I on this occasion for- get my friend Hil-biau. 1 will then | apply to the Tribunal of Mathema- _ „„ tics

100 HAU kIOU cHoOAAN.

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 Mathema- tics, conlists of a president, two assessors, and many subordinate Mandarines : who apply them- selves 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 Tri- bunal 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 prostra- tions all the while; the common people at the same time shouting, in order to fright away a supposed dragon, whe they believe 1 is 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- dif- turbed at it. He applied therefore to one of the Mandarines, whose . busj- ness 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 Em- peror, 199140. 4147 to 3 tf

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.

3 - <6 T0

102 HAU KIOU HO AAN.

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 concerning a & scandalous marriage, which violates ec the law: and I do 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] acuza- dor 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

A CHINESE HISTORY. 10g « 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 re- motest 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 re- duce all their morality. These five duties are, those of parents and children: prince and sub- jects: husband and wife: elder and younger bre- thren: 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 re- spects 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. :

6. x PF

x - 0677 - % 541110

R

104 HAU KIOU cHOAAN.

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- C

ledge and privity of 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 considence to. cele- e 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

A CHINESE HISTORY. 105 “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 offend- ers might be chastized for an exam- te ple to others.? T

The Mandarine Vang- yo having pre- sented this paper, it was referred to the council named Ko-chung + : which confulted upon it, and made this re- port, 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

106 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. 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 in to 5 3 this . tin! EEO 8 irt E19 The mh Choi was every day importunate with them to pursue the inquiry with more rigour. Neverthe- less it was not till after a consider- able time that the accusation was sent to the Tribunal of Rites, for their far- ther inquiry. The Eunuch Chou vex- ed 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 cog- nizance 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

A CHINESE HISTORY. 107 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 a- larmed 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 pe- tition against you to the Emperor; it behoves you therefore to consider

e 1

108 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. 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 accord- ingly 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 no- tice of this, immediately sent instruc- tions 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,

A CHINESE HISTORY. 103 expence, and furnished him with a let- ter written to that Magistrate with his own hand. Kwo-kbi-tzu greatly de- lighted 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 com- monly 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 mer- chant is always furnished with very fine steel- yards and a pair of shears for the more rea- dy 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 pro- ceeding,

10 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. Mandarine who at chis juncture pos- sessed that office was Wey pbey; being

the same person whom Tich-chung-uchad | formerly befriended in rescuing and re- storing to him his mistress. This gen- tleman was but newly promoted to his

3 1 the Sage a are fach \ sabtle * ex- quisite 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 sil- ver. — But except it be in large sums,” | ont is seldom used as a medium of traffic.

N. B. The only coined money current in Chi- na, consists of some very small copper pieces, who have each a hole in Hy middle for the convenience of stringing m any of them toge- ther. Ten of these are not woreh, above a half. penny.

See Tavernier part 2. pag. 8. f. Du Halde,

vol. 1. p. 330. |

office

A CHINESE HISTORY. 1:1: office when No- Ehe · tzu presented | to nim the hundred pieces of gold toge- ther 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 benefac- tor, but that he himself was desired to be instrumental in it. Neverthe- less he concealed his sentiments with seeming approbation; „ Very well, said he; I accept your present; when the 1 I arrives, I will not neglect

_ Kwo-khei-tzu was satisfied with

tis ae and withdrew. The Go- vernour Wey-phey called. together all | the clerks belonging to the tribunal *, "re os 110

[p. 9]

bs oy to every tribunal there are va-

rious Notaries, clerks, &c. who have small | _ houses

112 HAU KIOU cHOAAN.

and ordered them to examine into the affair of Ti teh-chung-u, and to inform him upon what pretence that youth was received into the house of Shuey-ping- in. They all agreed that the young lady took him in, out of gratitude for 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 how far their behaviour together afterwards was decent and- blameless.

houses in the adjoining courts; They are main-

tained at the public expence, and enjoy their places for life: so that business goes on without interruption, notwithstanding that the Manda- rines 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

A CHINESE HISTORY. 112 They replied, We know not: but the Pao Cbe- hien your predecessor, having the same doubt of their virtue, em- ployed a spy to pry into their con- duct; who was accordingly conceal- ed 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 revered him as a faint.” The governor Mey. pbey ordered be- fore 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 support- ed by the — part of the ory. dee Wal. 2.

chap. 4. By | A Vor. IV. 5 in

114 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. in establishing the purity of that gen | tleman's, conduct. Highly satisfied 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 Vice-

roy, in order to make his report. Af-

ter five days the dispatches arrived. He immediately. returned back to the Viceroy. a- satisfaQtory answer. That Mandarine acknowledged the affair bore a very reputable aspect, and im- mediately transmitted the account to the court. The Tribunal of Rites expressed great satisfaction at the clear and unblemished conduct of Jieb- chung-u, whom they looked upon as a saint, and perceived the malice 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 bold- ness to pass unnoti 2 He there- fore applied to the fu perior Manda- rines · to call Wey-phey. to account for his presumption. With this view Yang- 3 presented another petition. to the | 1 "os I Em-

116 HAU KkIOU CHOAAN. Emperor: who accepted it, and gave orders for Wey-pbey to be fummoned to court, in order to justify his con- duct. Wey-phey received this sum- mons from the Viceroy: together with private notice to make the best pre- parations he could for his defence, for that he had powerful enemies to contend with. M. pbey waited 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 un- der no apprehension of the event. Then taking with him the spy, who had been employed by his predecessor, as wage ne as ara of the! Bonzees , Ce erg ah aaa. together

25 . » The: "Ching author been, in the following | pars

A CHINESE HISTORY. 117

together with the letter of Ko. sbo- su, 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 him- self before the Emperor, but went and demanded audience of the Hing: pu, or Tribunal of Crimes +. It was inqui- red of him at that tribunal; how it happened, that he who was but new- ly promoted to his office, could pre- tend 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 circum- stance: for this witness is never produced af- | terwards. It is also some imputation on the Author's justice, that this Bonzee 1 18 * punish 2 along with the other criminals, * 8

1 vol. z. p. 127. note. 1 "42 bribed

Go ad 3 n

118 HAU klo HOAAN. bribed to acquit them? Ng. pbey an-

swered, As I was promoted by his

Majesty to the honourable Tribunal of Cbe· bien, it behoved me to exa- mine clearly into all matters that came

before it. It is true, my own per- sonal 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 them-

selves, but also what testimony they

had to support their account: the) referred me to a person, who was em- ployed by the Pao Che-bien my prede-

cessor 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

A CHINESE HISTORY. 29 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 hun- dred 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 find- ing no cause to blame Yey-phey, dif- miffed him with orders to await the Emperor's farther pleasure, and to at- tend them again upon the first sum- mons. 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- |

Hoc su 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 him- self, and said, This is a rare in- cident. If this report be true, we have in our realm a most excellent person. The Eunuch Chou, who stood in his Majesty's presence, said, „ This report comes from a new governor, who could not know the affair of his own

A CHINESE HISTORY. 121

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 mar- ry. 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 their parents, they remained very Joyful and well pleased: the Minister Kwo: sbo-su was no less affected with cogcerp and dread: he thought to have

wrought

122 HAU KIOU CHO AAN.

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 was at first disposed to . marry my son-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 ano-

ther 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

[p. 1]

* 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

—ͤä— —— —ͤ A a — — K A — —— — —

A CHINESE HISTORY. 123

66 prejudicial to the fame of | the young « lady, I laid aside my intention.

- FTS 4 — —-—- ä

4 S -- = — — — —ę— tn mm mer ———— —-— .

— ——— — ay. DE EI

3 I

p

i 6 l [p. 1] [p. 9] tal [p. 7] 'Y [8 ne [p. 1] [p. 30] t :

',R

[p. 11] ö M in i Fi) [p. 1] ö n

124 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. «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. Hear- et ing of this outrage, though I was then < but a stripling, I was filled with in- t dignation, and said, in marriage te the consent of 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

A CHINESE HISTORY. 125

« 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 Bon- rte 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 my father and mother; and this «© was "Owing to my having been « surety f for the” general Eid lia, <. who by the victories he obtained, brought the young lady'sifather out „ of a long exile, which he had suf- 4 fered at the instigation of No-

so-fie, The general observing that

] was young and unmarried, in or-

Iterally it is, J was very clean.

+ Protector. Port. | | | "CC der

A CHINESE HISTORY. 127

„der to return the benefits I had done him, became mediator and

« bridesinan in my behalf, and ap-

c plied to Shuey-keu-ye to give me his daughter in marriage. 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 t to

n * 8 N 5 5

[p. 1] 'S f 1 l WF 4 - j 1 "3 4 "* [p. 11] +, 0 [p. 11] [p. 1] [p. 14]

28 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. 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 eiten is, WY my. gat ns * shut.“ 1904 THE A | 60 8

A CHINESE HISTORY. 129

4 As he was carrying me away We

«were met by Tieb-chung-u : Who sse-

« ing this outrage applied to the Che- « zien in my behalf. That Magistrate « ordered me to be carried back to my e house. Krvo- be- xu, inraged at his « disappointment; conceived violentha- « tred against my detiverer, and sought « all means of revenge. The latter be- « ing lodged in à Convent, the other „ commanded the Bonzee to give him « poison'z which brought him to 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 the same roof

{You IV, RC with

ä„œDUI—ZUÜ—ü—P— 4 — —— SEE aro 9s i n—os-—v—_— 7 pa *

mg — ——— — — hm an

2 — —_y_— Ip ER — « A" — * - — — 22 >

= 5 = — — * — — > — — 12 » _ — £ . — ; ra ” ; —_— 5 — * — — — rr — — « _ . g 2 . K r * ES : p = == Pet EE ne x ————— — — n 8 x re — EXT 6. ALE TA I — = T — — — - — * — — — — — — — — —.— —— — - — L N _ _ 5-4 - — 3 pa 3 — 5 r P IT RY — ——_ 1 — hs — - —— > —_ - - : . . P — — — r = 5 1 2 - * F ” 1 7 VP a _— . — — 4

| . | LR hg 1 E . n 8 2 2 0 -

4 b £ * " 7 mY I — - - —— > l 2 2 4

— "HED *

————— A — — — . — — py — w — nr et es — - — 2 =

> 7 5 N [p. 1] . ² - ² Q CEO — wayward — — — — — wy 99h.

a $48

130 HAU klo CHOAAN. « 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 Very cl and pure.“ The

A. CHINESE HIST ORT. 131

The Mandarine Tieh-ying presented likewise Aa memorial t to the . 8

Ki 7

. 1 the Ti a 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 ere- e 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

132 HAU KIOU CHOAAN. < 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. What- ever therefore is represented as dif cc orderly in their marriage, is contra- cc 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 pre- sented * his . " cre

> St 1 the P >reficent Tl the Tribunal bs 8 8 1 60 of

A CHINESE HISTORY. 133

= 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, prin-

ce cipally that of my daughter; who [p. 7]

i [p. 1]

[p. 4] [p. 1]

134 HAU KIoU CHOAAN, bath already presented cher memo-

&« rial, which I an 8 to refer t to 4 er. e

1 =". : 4 . * ( 14

End of Chapter 17

Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-wilkinson/Chapter 17

Chapter 17: When Hidden Truths Are Revealed, True Chivalry Shines Forth

Navigation menu

Search