Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-wilkinson/Chapter 12
Chapter 12: A Cold Face Can Turn: A Single Banquet Creates an Enemy
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. Page numbers preserved as [p. N]. Some scan errors may remain -- compare with the modern translation and Chinese original to verify.
[Volume III, Book III, Chapters I (cont.)-II]
• Cu,.,. XII. In the Tranflator•• manufcript. may may not do it without our privity, I will go to my niece and make her fend for him." " That, faid his f~n-in-law; will be to do him a _pleafure; nay will afford him an opportunity to bind the marriage contracl: with her, and then all my hopes are . at an' end, and I am utterly loft." · " Fear not, replied the other, what I propofe is the only means to prevent ~is doing it*·" Then taking his leave, he went to the young lady, whom be thus accofted ; " Niece, you have certainly great penetration and difcernment with regard to mankind : • The Chint/e Author hath not made this appear, but he probably meant, that by 'involving them in the folpicion of an illicit corref pondence, he fhould effeaually hinder their union. Such is the delicacy of the Chinefe on the fubjea of marriage See the fequel of this Hiftory;
- VOL. III. E I fhall
I 1hall henceforth pay great deference to your opinion. For fomctimc fince, when there was a rumour that ·crubtbung- u had been guilty of a great mif- · demeanour, and was nothing lcfs than an hypocrite and a cheat, you would not give the leaft credit to it, but believed as well of him as before. Future , inquiries have confirmed your- judgment, and I am now fatisfied he is a man of great honour, fobricty, and juftice." "That, Jhe replied, is an old affair : why do you mention what is paft ?" He faid, " I faw this ilranger again to-day: and am therefore con! vinced he hath the good quaHties I fpoke of." "How can you know a man's good qualities, faid lhc, by barely feeing him?'~ Sbut]-g1"Win told her, that --. that .he' had met •him that morning ~oming out of her houfe; and had inquired hii bufinefs-: " For I was ap- . ,. prehenfive, faid -he, that he had been doing fomething, which might bring a refie~Hon upon you ; and therefore tjiought it behoved me to call him to 4ccount: but he vindicated himfclf lo handfomel y, and appeared to have come hither with fo good an intentio~, that I find hiln tO be. a very well-difpofed., finccre, honeft man. " U nde, laid the young lady, how could you know that he came hither with a good intention ?11 "He told me, replied he, . that hearing. -at -court that the Grand . Vilitor had · in"ued out .two orders to compel you to marry. and knowing how much it muft: be againft your E 2 inclyia· 52 · - inclinations, ·he had come hither on; ,. purpofe to prevent it. That with thit- , view, and to make proper • inquiries,: he came to-day to your houfe, but • finding upon the wall the Kao-jbe or . declaration "in your favour, he was fatisfied; and about to return to court. From all this I cannot but conclude favourably of his character. "He acted juft in this noble and upright manner, replied his niece, from the very firft, · when he faw me going to the Cbe•bien's. He is a youth of that jufticc and generous ardor, that I could not but do what I did, in recompcnce of fo much merit." " Certainly, faid her uncle, the afilftance he afforded you at that time, and the kindnefs yQu fuewed him afteryvards, were both highly
,53 Jughly laudable. And now upo? the bare report that you were 1likcly to be injured, ·he hath come fo far to your relief. But would it be right to let him return without any notice of, or thanks for his trouble ?" d Your queftion, faid 1he, is very proper : but what can I . do ? · I am a young woman and Jingle ; and muft a.void giving further occafion for fcandal. What though he hath taken a.l l this trouble, I know he expects no return from me : thoroughly convincecd of my grateful temper, he requires no public proof of it." " That is very true, faid Shlle')gwwi11; and yet it .would be but right to invite him to come, that you might at leaft pay your compliments to hi ,, m. _4 E3 Shuey• · o,,""' ,, 54 ~ Shuey-ping.Jin had learnt from her old fervant, that he . had met with 'lieb,. elnmg-u near Pe-ld11g, and there intreucd his affi~ancc; and that he had afterwards been fetched back again without ever explaii\ing the rcafon of it to hi~. She therefore readily fuppofed, that the young gentleman having miffed him, was come thither t9 know the truth of the ma~tcr: and imagining there could be no better occafion to inform him of what he muft defire to know, confented to follow her uncle's advice. And yet 1he was not without fuf picic;m, that the latter had fome other defign in view than he would acknowledge. She told him therefore fhe would be guided by him, and would prepare a 'litb-tfl or paper of invitation, but it muft run in his name." She She accordingly_ dif patched Sh~ey-yeong with it; whom her uncle direcied to the young gentleman's lod_gings. 'Iieb-chung-u was reflecting on the oddnefs of the adventure," and on the inconfiftency of the Grand Vifitor's conduct, when he faw ·. the old fervant enter, who had occafioned him fo much perplexity. He was very glad to fee him~ and eagerly inquired why he did not follow him to Pekt'} g, · The old man informed him . of all ~hat happe~ed · from the time they parted ; and accounted for the change in the Grand Vifitor's cond~cl: at the fame time he explained the reafon of his abrupt ret1,1rn, and begged his pardon, as he fuppofed it had occa• fioned hisjourney thither._ 1:,hen ~ping him t~at · his lady was gla~ ~o - hear of his arrival, he prefented the biUc~ of invitation. CJ'ieh-chung-u was highly . pleafed with the account he gave-him, but would not 'receive the CJ'ieb-tje. " When ( went this morning to her houfe, faid he, I faw the dcdaration, which fatisfied me of her. fu_fety; you have now _cleared up all remaining • , -doubts; why then fuould I fray ? I ' will depart to-morrow." " Sir, re-· plied the fervant, will· not you accept of the invitation, which I bring in the name of my fecond mafter * ?" u There are, faid the youth, many reafons why' it would . be improper. / •i.e. His mafter's brother. Trasif. And And I muft infift upon it that there be · no feaft or other public acknow. ledgment on. accouat of my arrival. [Your lady's excellentjudgt:nent knows that -it would be wrong in me to go, although her complaifance may have induced her to 'inv;fe me *.] Return therefore, and prefent to her my moft. refpectful · fervJces." Sbuey-yeong did not prefs him farther, but went and re.:. ported to, his lady and her uncle what .: ~e had faid. . The latter was much difappointed
- but his niece remained very
well fatisfied with . his refufal, fuppo- , fing it proceeded from a forefight of fome mifchief intended him. Shuey- • The Editor hath foftened a few palfaies in thi!i and the preceding page, which to rho eye Shuey guwin, greatly mortified with the difappointment, went to his fon-inlaw, and related to him what had happened, telling him he looked upon the other's Jbynefs as only counterfeited in order to cover a defign of feeing his niece in private. He therefore advifed him fiill to keep a good look out. " This fellow, faid Kwo-khe-tzu, is a demon; .And as l am a plain ~an void of all art , or cunning, how fhall I be able tO' look out after him. Am not I the chief perfon of figure in t~is city ? He knows too, how much I defire to marry your niece ; yet he is always coming rye of an European did not appear, quite fo reft, eftful in the originJI. Jnfiead of the pa!fagc which is inC'luded above in bracke,s, ill the M.S, · jt is [" I am refolvcd not to go."] here here and foliciting her : in which he oppofes me, and declares himfelf my enemy. I:le hath already difcovered our intentions to deceive him, and therefore will henceforth be diflrull:ful. To what purpofe then fhall we wait for an occafion to catch him? No: to-morrow I will go myfelf and vifit him m form : he cannot but return the compliment : when he comes I will receive. him with great courtefy, and make a handfome entertainment; to which I will invite feveral young rakes of this city, . fonstof great Mandarines, and my particu'lar acquaintance
- at the fame time we will plant
fome ftrong lufty fellows near at hand. When he comes we will ply him with wine, and when he is in liquor, provoke voke him to throw out fome affronting expreffion ; which will afford us a handle to fall upon him, and beat him fo feverely that he fhall breathe his laft. 'Then will we prefent a petition to t4e Grand Vifiror, wherein the difturbance fhall be made to appear the effect of his own quarrelfome difpofi- · tion. Thus fhall we get clear of this difficulty, and prevent any body of figllre from ever venturing again to try their ftrength with the principal youths of this city: which we fhall alfo render famous for mcjof bravery and valour." Sbuey-guwin approved of this defign, · yet could not help e~preffing fome apprehenfion about the confequence. •~ What, faid the other, have I to fear ? do you confider the exalted rank · of of my father ?" " Go then, replied Shuey-gr,win, fet about it directly, he intends to b~ gone early in the morn- . ing." Upon which the other calling his people together, and preparing a J>illet of compliments, ordered his chair, and fet out immediately with great attendance. When he arri'7ed at the lodgings, he fent in the paper, and Siow-tan informed his mailer of the · vifit; who thereupon bade him to return for anf wer that he was not at home •. Ku·o-lche-tzu called to the boy, and getting out of bis chair talked to , • If the Chin,fl are not difpofed to fee com~ pany, it is fufficient to fay, that they are .not at home : in which cafe if the ~ntant leaves his /Rptr of complime11ts [ See note vol. I. p. 13 5.] with the porter or fervant, the vi.fit is the fame Ii
,2 to him a good while: then_ got into it again and returned home. 'lieb-cbu11g-u learnt from his fervant, that Kwo-kbi-Jzu had inquired after him with great courtefy, and had_ given him a very kind invitation to fee him. " Wherefore is all this .thew of kindnefs, faid he to himfelf? He is certainly my enemy~ and only mew u if received in perfon, and mad be returned in form. Sometimes a Mandarine will receive the 6ilkt by his porter, and will fend to defire the vifitant not to be at the trouble to alight from bis chair. In either cafe the vifit muft be ret.DrDed, either the fame day, or on one of !he three following. and if pofilblc in the morn-; 1ng. . If a per(on is defirous of being extufed the trouble of receiving thefe civilitiea, lie affixes over his gate a paper written with white leucn, " That be is retired to his garden houfe." P. Set11edo, p. 60. P. Du Halde, "• 1. ·p. i96. - . . . ·. to ~o deceive me. Befides, what time have I to f pend in feafting and merriment ? No ! I am fatisfieq that Shuey-ping-fin is jn fafety, and will return to-morrow.,, But then he fuddenly recollecl:ed · that the other was the fon of a J.\,fandarine ~ the firO: rank. " Befides, faid he, he ~ame like a 'fo-ja7?g or Whirlwind•; heraifed • It is remarkable that the Chinefi To-F~Nc. or Whirlwind, corruptly pronounced by OGI' voyagers 'Tu.ffoon, is called in Greek by a fimilar Dame (T11~'1v) 7'yph,n. . The kind of frorm hete mentioned is frequent on the coalls of China in the fummer months. and is generally preceded (fometimes for hours) by a boding cloud in the N.E. which near tbe ~orizon is very black, but upwards is of a darlc copper hue, and higher ftill is brighter, ti:I it fades to a whitilh glaring colour at the very edge of the cloud : nothing can be conceived more dreadful and ghaftly than this appearance. When this cloud begins to move apace, the fiorm may foon be expecled: which comes 011 fierce and blows very violent at N. E. for twdve_ how. .
6+ raifed the whole city as he came along, and every body is acquainted with the honour he did me. After this. if I do not go, 1 fhall be univerfally con• demned for rudenefs and ill-manners; therefore I cannot avoid it. Upon fecond thoughts I will go early in the morning. He is a man of eafe boars or more, accompanied with terrible claps of thunder, frequent flalhes of lightning, and exceffive hard rain. When the wind begins to abate, it dies away fuddenly, and fa!HnP' into a. flat calm continues fo for abc:.:t an h; Jr : then the wind comes about to S.W. and it blowa and rains as fierce from that quarter• as it did from the other, and as long. This ftorm is more terrible than can be conceived : one would think that heaven and earth were retarn\ng to their ancient Chao10 fo that it is· no wonder the ribs of the ftouteff: fhips fhould be loofened. It rages not only at fea, but alfo on land; and overturns houfes, pulls up trees by the roots, and caniea greac fhips a quarter of a mile from the fea. · See Dampier's voy, vol, z. p. 36, Varenii Geograph. , and o,,, •obv A CHINESE HlSTORY. 6 5 and' luxury, an~ lies in bed f te ; I will therefore go before M is ftirrmg. 41 will only leave my compliments for , him and will return." Having formed this refolution, he ordered his fervant to prepare his bed, and to call him up early. Thefe precautions were howeve~ fruitJefs; for Kwo-kbe.tzu had.appointed one · of his attendants to wait near the inn,.
- tnd to pick up what information he
could about the repayment of his vifit • . From a fervant of the inn this man learnt the direcl:ions the young gentleman had given when he retired to reft ; of which he did not fail to apprize his n1after : fo that when 'Iitbd, ung-u went in the morning, he found· 66 HAU K.IOU fHO.AAN. he had long been waiting to receive him.• Kwf-Jchi-tzw gave him the mott 'courteous recefttion, ~aving eveA gone out into the fueet to meet him. Why ! faid he, fmiling with great appearance of joy, an4 faluting hi{n in the moft ref pctlful manner ; Why do you give yourfelf fo much trouble in doing me this favour ?" 'lub-,btmg~11 feeing himfelf fo highly careffed, ima. · gined it was to cover fome evil defign. He would gladly have returned, butcould not now without greatincivili(y : he .accordingly attended him into the great hall, and would there have made him the cuftomary falutc ; but the other told him it was too ordinary a place for · that honour, and therefore begged he might 1how him farthcrwichin the houfe. ~ He
A CHINESE ·ntSTOR Y. 61 He then carried him into the · fecond haJlt _where the . ufual ceremonies pait between them. · This done, they fat down, and K'WO-lthi•t%1' called for tea~ He afterwa~ took . occaf10n to tell his ~ud¼, that he ·had long ftnce heard of his-high reputation, ;and.-had withed to have the honwr of cgnverfing with him. " When . I was firft infortned {If your coming here, faid he, I fought for an occafion to· fee you : and to-day it is my good forrune 'to be favoured with a vifit. I 1hould . be gltd if yuu would extend it to eight or .ten days • ., 'Iitb-cbung-u .having drunk his tea, fet down hi, cup, and rifing from his chair '-id, " Sis:, your regard ~ fritndthip tertain:Ty demand that I fuould ftay here longer. But I muft be gone im ·mcdiattly': ftr~ng necefiity requires it: 68 ' could I fly as fwift as an arrow from a bow it would not be amifs." This faid, he was going away : but Kwolchi- t:zu embraced . him faying, " You. muft then ftay three days with me/' " It is very certain, he replied, that I muft be gone ; I beg therefore you will not detain ,me." He then was going to force himfelf from him : but the other took · hold of his hand, and faid, " Although I am unworthy of this favour myfdf, you ought to lhew fome refped: to my family and rank: you fhould not have viiited rite, if you cf. teemed us all fo infignificant. No! · now you are come, I muft make you owner ( or mafter) of di is country • by giving· you an entertainment." " I would • An EurtJ/tan would have been contented co welcome him. by defiring him to confider the houfo
A. CHINESE HISTORY. 69 would not willingly refufe the many favours you confer on me, faip 'J'ie6- cbung-u: · but I muft be gone Every thing is packed up ready for my departure
- and it is impoffiblc for me
to ftay here longer." " I cannot force you to ftay, faid the other; but I , - am a~amed that I am not able to ·perfuade you. However, as you are come fo early you muft ftay and break.fail: with me : it lhall not detain you long. You muft not mortify me by houfe as his own, or to look upon himfelf as at home. But the above high-llrained expreffion of civility prevails in other parts of the Eall bcfides China. When a party of Engli!h merchants. full vifited Palmyra in the year 1678, they wei:e met by two Ara6s, one of whom was an officer of the Emir, who told them, " in the bold me" taphor of an ea!lern compliment (fays the " writer of the account) that ail the country was " theirs, and that his lord was their friend." Sec Memoir& Roy. Soc. N° u7. F 3 a re• a. r efufal of this. When brcakfaft i, . ,, · .. . over ye. may profccutt your . jour • . . ney/' " Would yoμ _le a\l'e me:io my . own inclination.,, f.,id 'l'ieJ,..cnng-11.,_ I · .rowld wifh_ to be· excufed : , but . if fl:\tl • will haye it fo, I muft jaJ,mit. Yet accordi~ to or.dar atld ~iety, Upolf. the ndl vrit 1ww can I fby ~ -give ~ tkis trouble-?n Between· frien~ Npl:ied the otbcr, you muft oot ta1iF . of· trouble-.'" .. CH Ar; V. ·T· HE SE w«ds. weie, fca«efy ut~ '· . tered when S/Juey.-g,rwin made his appearan(:e. H'e faluted the young ftr~ngert and• fmitiog, faid, " Yefc-er~ day ~y ojeee- heating Qf !,lie grtat . . . favpHr oo -~ , 7l favour you did her in coming fo far on her account, fent to invi~ you l'e her houfe. · I know not what we had done to difoblige you. But as I have . now the good fortune to meet with you here, I hope you will let me wait on you to her.') 'Iieb-cbung-u replied, " I came hither in ,he greatcft. hafte, and muft · return with equal difpatch. I brought nothing with me to prcfent her with, and how·can I prefome to go to her houfc with empty hands •. · To• day I came to .vifit Kwo:.Jtbe-tzu onlt . , , •· Not only in ·Cbi11a, bet all over the Eall, it is tho11ght a breach of good manners to appear empty-handed before thofe whom they protef, to refpea. Among the Chintji the commo.n prefents are for the moll part, ftuifs, female or~ aments, or tile like i ffl!nJhoes. ftocki1gs, handkerchiefs, porcelain, ink, pencils, &c. are thus bellowed ; and fomerimcs ·tltit1ga to eat. They a,re very careful to chqfe every ahing she bell: of the ki"'1 for this purpo~: P. Semeao, p. 64. F 4 . ~o
72 HAU KIO:U CHOAAN. -to pay my ref peels to him, and to know his door again : I intended to have returned immediately: but though I have been prevailed on to ftay a moment, I cannot bear to receive (o ma• ny favours, .and fhould be glad of your directions how to return them." " Formerly, faid Sbuey-guwin, good friends would Jay all ceremony afide : cannot you do the fame by my fonin- law ? I look upon you both as better than thofc of former ages ; why then fhould you foHow the corrup~ practices of the prcfent times ?'• Kwokbe- tzu laughed and faid, "My father, you fay right : it ought to be fo.'• By fo many courteous and obliging fpecches 'Iieb-cbung-u was divefted of .all farther fufpicion. He fat down, Kwo"! Kwo-khe-tztt making him take the firU: chair t. Prefently after · wine was brought.. " Bec~ufe I came early, faid the yeuth, you infitl:cd on my fraying ~o eat a little. Why then do you bring wine ? it is not time to drink that yet!' ~' Drink it by degrees, f~id Kwo-khe-tzu, ~nd we fhall not think time unfuitable." Then fitting all of them down, they . were very cheaifol and drank about for a little while; after which 'I'ieb-,bu11g-u rofe up to witljdraw ~ At the fame inftant word was brought that the young Mandarine Whang was entering the doors. This young gcntle~ an, who was fon of the Ping-1:.ho •, . ' t See note, vol. :z. p. 76. • ~ee note, vol, 1. p. 69. and note, voJ. ~· _pag. Z7'J• . or Mandarine of-the third chair of the tribunal of arms, was ref peB:fully falutec' by all the companr, who after• wards fat down. " Sir, faid Kwo-lcbf. tzu,' you come in good time to meet with that gentleman, who is a perfon of worth and of great reputation for his courage and gallantry." "What ! faid the other i is that 'fieh-thrmg-u ? the young gentleman who forced his way into 'I ah-q«tlJ' s palace ? " Sbuey-guwin affured him it was. Is it poffiblc ,! faid he. Oh, Sir! have I then the happinefs to meet with you here ! a hap_ J> ine1' which I was prevented from ~n~ joying at court m1:1ch againft my in• J:]in~s. Give me he~e a great goblet." Then offering it ,with wine to f#fb-fhtt11_g-•, tile latter drank it off and and returned it full to him. again : ihus they cantinued till each had Glinmk c,if three goblets. '.f",eb-cbtmg-• was now about a,. ~, when he was again prevnred by the arrival of che young Maodarinc- Let, ~ond fon to the G~nd Prctid,nt of the royal college• .. They were rifing
- ap co receive him, but he catched
ho1d • Ia ~ t>rigi.ital it ia Ha,,./i,,.._,... wmdt lterall7 fignincs a Gardn, or Wootifa,uri~i•s ii( uarni,,g" bt,u/1411. Tlais naae the Chi111fa &ive ao a tribmtal or collr.gc compu4cd of ioall oi the mot learned of their~, wllo -. .d.c&d ale, the following manna-. livery thra years all thac: are ol die- depee ef , . Kia-git. or Licnllilltt • rebt to Pe-lmtg IO c,bcaia& their doaor's degree, where the1 are e:1aminal for thirfl:en <Ltys toietha, fo fbicU7 dat not _abov.ethrce bumkedcan be admitted oat of many thoufands. A.m01111: thefe new doclors.. uicx. that .. · · fiavo . o,,,,,oob,Googlc ' hold of a chair, and told them, as friends they• muft not do fo. " Another time, faid Kwo-lchi-tzu, we may d.ifpenfe with this ceremony ; but today WC have a ftranger with us." With thi\t crieb-chung-u rofe up and made his compliments to him. The other would have prevented it : " Excufe me, Sir, have given fuperior proofs of their capacity and learnini are chofcn to compofe ~he college of the Han-lin. Thefe doctors affemble in the imperial palace, where they fuperintend the education r,f the, young prince; compofe the hi!lory of the empire; and are confulted by the Emperor on all literary fubjech. Out of. their body are appointed thofe who are fent into the feveral provinces to examine the candidates for inferi_or ciegrees : and the Co-Jaus t and Prefidents ofthe fupreme tribunals•, are frequently chofen fro~ among them, fo that they are at once refpeaed and dreaded. , . Sec P. Du Halde, v. 1. p. 251. P. Magalh. p. 218. Lettrcs edif. xxi. p. 1oz. &c. t Yul, z; p. 78, not,, • Y,1, s, p. s73, note. faid o;g;,;,edby faid he, your appearance doth· not owe· me fo much ref pect'I Pray how am I to call you ?,. 'l'ieb-chung-u told him hi~ name and city. . " What ! faid he, the · eldeft fon of the Supreme Viceroy!" then making him the moft profound reverence, he congratulated. his good fortune in having met with a perfon whom he had fo often wHhed. to fee. Kwo-kbe tzu made them all fit down. By this tiq1e 'l'ieb-chung-u perceived the wine began to. affecc him, and therefore refolvcd to ftay no longer. " With your leave, Sir, faid he to the young mafter of the houfe, I muft now l:e gone. I know cuftom forbids that I fhould go fo foon after the · arrival of this young gentleman, but I' came here early and have drunk a great deal : and
78 HAU. KI_OU CHOAAN. and therefore_ mu(t go." The young Mandarine Lee • hearing this, changed countenance, and faid, " You put a pat flight upon me, Sir. Why did not you go at firft ? What ! can't you lay a .lictle while longer? Y OJJ think me not good enough to drink with you." Truly, faid Sbuey-guwin, he . bath a great while defircd to be gone : and it is not upon your account that •he would go now ; but. if he will not firft drink a cup . of wine with you, you . have reafon to accufe him of ill manners. Let him pay the fame compliment to you, as he did to tho • The original is Ltt-ttJt1g-1%11, which properly fignifies Lu a ManJarint's fan. See note. YOI. 1. P· 114. Thv remark mull be applied wherever the words ro,mg M11111lllril11 occur throughout tbia chapter, youns
7t y~g Mandarine Whang, then he may life his pleafure, and we will no longer ~on.fider him as a gueft." The- other hearing that, was extremely well pleaf. ed, and agreed it was right : up011. • which they fat down, and each of them c.irank three cups-of wine. This was no fooner over but a ferYant came to tell of the arrival of the young Mandarine Chang, eldcft fon to the Prefident of the tribunal of rites • : he entered the hall as fooo IS the fcrvant had f poke : and came ftaggering along, his cap on one fide, with ftaring eyes and a red bloated face, crying " Which is this 'lieb? this Man~ darine's fon? if he hath a mind to • Sec note, vol 2. p. 171 pafs.
So pafs for a . va:liant fellow in the city of 'Ifie-nan, why doth he not come and encounter me ?" The youth, who had rifen up to pay him the ufual refpecb; hearing thefe words ftood frill : "I, faid he, am called 'Iieb-cbung-u: have· you any thing to fay to· me?" The other made him no anfwer nor compliment, but ftood ftaring at him in a very difcourteous manner, and then burft out into laughter : " I thought, faid ' . ' he, this young 'l'ieh was a terrible fellow. From people's reports, I concluded he had feven heads, and eight galls in his ftomach. But his eye-· brows are fine and fmall : he is fmockfaced and delicate ; and hath all over the air of a dainty young lady. People talk of his being valiant. . I fancy it
A ·cHINESE HISTORY. St: it muft be a monkey changed into that fhape. Come, let us have fome wine, we fhall prefentJy fee whether he is valiant Qr not." "Certainly, cried the others prefent, that is the way to- try people's ftrength •." " Wine, faid 'l'ieh-cbung-u, is drunk upon feveral accounts; but there arc only three on which it is proper; and for each of thefe, three ·cups are allowable : ~k are friendfhip, mirth, and to fatisfy nature "t. A$ Wbang-tmg-tzu began • The literal tranllation is, " Thoie that are " ftrong always fhew it by their eating and ~• drinking." t The Reader will remark that this allowance ( much exceeds thac known regllluion of Sir William 'Tempk's, viz. tf'ht firjl_ gltifs far 111Jfi(/. tht fi,o,uJ for airy frittttls, tbt thirtl for p,i..b.,. mour, tht fourth far mnu ,,,,,,,;,,,. Spectator, vol.~- N° 195. VoL. III. G ~
n •. with three c., f() will I drink · thrc¢ more, which will be fuflicim.r. "Vt::ry well, faid the other, fit down then : u and taking him hy the flecve pulled him iAto · t1te chair. Then calling for two 'large cups of wine, u put the: one into the hand of 'i'ieb-cbung-u., and ~ -tlae other h,imilf. , "Wine, faid he; difcovers the lu:art. This is the: irfi: 1~1 drink with you." Then taking• it~ he turned it up, crying iJHum orcltAUti t 'J'ieJ,.:c'q-u diought he co.ttld hardly mu.age his wine, but findmg m Qther remedy at length he drank it : at which Chong cried out, " That's fometliing like, and as a friend 1hould.,. .Then he order¢d two more to be filled. On which 'litb-cbung-u would have rct• ~red,. faying he had drunk a great deal~- .., I
A CfitNESE HISTORY. Sj h I h.t'N. drunk, faid he, three cups with ta.ch of thcfu gentlemen, and now one with you. I have had enough, you muft th~efore excufe me." Cbllllg replied, •J What then, will you cut me off two cups ? you make me l~ de,: I cannot ler tl1ac pafs upon me; . who arn u confiderable as any of this city : come, you muft mllk.c up l1lf fuH ·nwuber." Then~ a-mood cup, he drank to his health .. 'Ilth•ch1D1g•• was now alm&>fl; · rrtcrcome with wme, for ht had. been drink,. mg frOftl early iA the,- morQing till t.ca ddook, without having mtcn a morfel: ·wt..eatbmfore Chmtg had dnJqk &fflhe· fffl>nd c:vp he wooid not phtdgc. h• bur put she wine Cibnl l!!Pin ~on ,he G 2 table, . o,,, •obv table. Which the other feeing, cried out, " Is this handfome ! will not you do me the fame courtefy. that you have done the reft ?" It is not poffible for me, faid ~itb-,J,m,g-., to drink any more : if it was, I would not refufe you." "This cup, replied the other, you muft and fhall drink." " If I don't, faid he, . what then?" Upon which Cb1,1111 began to roar : faying., " Who are you; you animal ? If you· thus tak~ upon you, why did not you ftay in your own city l What, do you come here to brave \JI? If you will not comply I fhall make you [ repent it]." And with· that
- he threw it in his face. 'I'ub-,Jna,g-•
was fo provoked with this abu~, that. his anger and reioiment got the better of his wine: he looked a while fted- , faftly
· 85 faftly at him, then ruing from his. chair feized him by the ftomach and · -lhook him fevcrcly, faying, " What,! dare you get upon the tygcr's head and pull out his hairs ?" Cbag cried out, " What ! have you a mind to beat me?" ." Yes, replied the other, what of that ?" and gave him a box of the ear. Whi~h the other young Mandarincs feeing, cried out, " What do you mean by this ? we hav~ treated you with good-will, and now you are drunk· '· you aJ>ufe us for it. Come, come, Jhut the door, we will drub . you till you are fober, and to-morrow carry you to the· Grand Vifitor. Then Kwo-lcbe-lzt1 made a fignal, and immediately from a fide chamber G 3 . ruJbed
!6 HAU :r.1ou CHOAAN.;_ rufhed out i•m or eight lufty fellows: vthile Bh•9""'!tlffl#Pr$:mdingto compofe. the dilfcrence. endeavoured .to Jay boJd of his hartd$. f'ieJ,..,lmng-11, who was. riow- beeome fobtr, pertti v.cd tlbeir de• fcgns againft· him, alld found he was bctr~d : eeYerthel¢ls ht tiitd our,. ~Wait:! fflt• you a parcel of -dogs, thsUl }f-0.U thtJ! fei ~ and \Wrry.·mie:ru ._.,n: taking upeha,g-1tthrew hirnhudJoog • · tbe: gtQundi, and gave him: um oll ahteo hcar.t1 kick~ This fl!Qnc he c~oUffli to w.11e~: ai fui?t fooa:i one ofi tlut. tablcs for· a weapcn,,. but could JtQt: ge.t itt looft :, Shuey•guwmi came up to preventt him, but he re£ti.ved him with a kick or two, that· fent him,fighttten: w twenty. cnids • befure him,: t Cn1it/ fecms to be a contraruon of the Portuguefc
A CHINESE HSTORY. ·17 him : " Take that i faid .he. For the . fake of your · nicoe, I will give you ,no more." The twe young Mandarinea contented themfulves with making an outcry, but . durft not come near him: inftead of which Kw,~/cbi ·'• ordered the fellows to fall upon him. Then feizing Cb.tmg he fwm,g him rQund-! crying out, " · I will brain this , fellow .agamft the fi.rft .that offers to approach me." Upon which Chang crying out, ,begecci them te> i>r .. _-hear and let him alone. · "1 due tupel"e won! wval,, i. e, a azljit. Tbe Chillfle Ell or Cubit, (called by the Natives Che) is of fcveral kinds, but that moll: commonly ufed itl traffic, is to the Englifb Foot, as 676 is to 600 ; or fomething more than thirteen inches. See Bayer, pref. pig. 13-4-. Harria's v.oyag. vol. 1. p. 854. Tavernier, Pt. 2. ch. 10 .• -P. Du Halde, :yQ!. 1. p, 141. L,ttra cclif. X, 157, G4 nothing n10re, faid 'J'"ub-,h#ng:.11, than - to be fuffered to go out : but you fhall accompany me to the door." "Ay, ay I with all my heart, faid the other, I will go out with you." Which done 'litb-cbung-u difmiffed him ; Go, faid he, and tell your fellows, if I had been provided with any weapon for my defence, l fuould not h:lve been afraid of a thoufand fuch as they. What fignify four or five drunkards and gluttons, with the porters you hav~ hired ? Had it not been for your fathers, I had made fome of you halted : but I have been very favourable, and you ought to thank me." This {aid, he haftencd to his lodgings, where Si«v•latl had prepared every
A CHINESE· HISTORY. !9 every thing for his departur~: here he found Sbuey-yeong with a horfe ready faddled and waiting for him. 'J'ieb-cbung-u inquired the meaning of this: the old man told him that his miftrefs hearing of the ~vitation, had fufpecl:ed it was with an ill -defign : ··that her fufpicions were afterwards confirmed by the event, which .fhe was alfo informed of; and though .fhe never doubted but he would get the better, yet forefeeing that it might be followed by a great deal of trouble, · Jhe had fent him that horfe, which .(he intrea,ted him ~o mount immediately, and to go and acquaint the Grand Vifitor with the ~ affair. 'Iieh-chung-u ,was charmed with her difcretion and difcernment : " How kind -and obliging, faid he, is your ' miftrefs? o;g; ;,ad by go HAU KI0U CHOAAN. tniftrd"s ? I {hall !)ever be able t-o retum thefe favours." He was' goi.og to fet out, but the mafkr of the houie afking him to dine, he accepted his offer; and immediately after, mounting the ~orfe, departed for 9:'otft-cha,rgfoo: to vthich city the Grand Vifitor had .removed his tribunal •. As • The Supreme Mandarines, whofe jurifdiction is very extenfive, { viz. the Vifiturs, Viceroys, &c.) although tlley ha~ cenerally their palaces in the capital city of the province, are not always refident ther4; but make cim1its from pla4e to place for the more convenient di(patchof bllAners. P. Magat. pag. 24-z. N. B. 'Tlmg-clumgfH is a large aAd opulent city : the third in t~e province of Shan-tong, and
- is fttuated on the Grani llll}erial Ctual. .
China is every where full of very fine C=l,, iwhich open a -communication between every prnvince an~ almoft between every town and village; the'fe run in ftraight lines, and have caufeys . ,on each ~. fac«I with flat fiones or marble: but the Grand Imperial Canal is one of the wonder,
A. CHINESE HISTORY. 91 As foon -as he alighted be .drew op a petition, wherein he related all thac ' ltad happened : then haftening to the doors of .the audience, he found them Jh\lt : but being impatient he w¢nt and ftruck upon the drum. In confequence of which he was bound and carried before the tribunal :' where the Grand Vifitor had feated himfelf upon hearing the drum. The youth obferved the wonders of the world, being three hlledre4 lcagraes in length, and fonnin; a great road of water, on which 111ore than nine thoufand im~ perial barks tranfport lhe tribate w.hicil the Emperor anl}ually receives from the fouthern provinces. This ft11pcadou1 work, which waa compleated about five hundred years ago, is k,> cont1-~ved by means of fiuices, &c. to detain the water, and forms fuch a communication with ether canals and rivers. tllat one tnay travel the length of the waole empire from Pe-ling to Call• 1011 and Ma,ao, above fix )11mdred leaguea by water." P. Du Halde, vol. 1, p. 105, 17. :u5. i86. 325· ·ufual
92 . ufual order of refpecl: in offering his ~tition •. The Grand Vifitor imagined it was 'Iieb-cbung-u before he opened it, and when he found he was right in his conjecl:ure, he addrdled him with great complaifance : "I knew nothing., Sir, of your coming into thefc • This 111ay be explained from P. Maga//,4i,,1, who thus defcribea the manner of proceeding at the Chinefe tribunals. · " When a man hatb any bulinefs to Jay before them, he fets it down on paper : whicn done he goes to the palace of the uibunal and beats on a drum, which he finds at the fecond gate ; 'and then falling on his knees, he raifea his petition with both his h3nds u high as hi• hrad; at which time an officer apPointed for that employment takes the paper from him, and . Jays it betore the Mandarine who prelides,,. Pag. ao3. N. B. With regard to binding the petitioner, &c, as defczribed above, there i\ in the Tranflator'• M.S. a marginal note which tel16 us, that" It is " the cufiom to do fo to any that lhike on the ,, drum: but thit is mentioned in no other writer, parts. parts. ,vhcn did you arrive and what occafioned your journey ?" He told him, that he travelled for his pleafure: but that yefterday comirig to 'l'fie-111Jnfoo, he had met wi~h people, who had ufed ·him very ill ; infomuch that he had narrowly efcapcd with his life: and there.;. fore he applied to his Excellency : for juftice. ·" Who dares abufe you, faid the . Mandarinc ? I · will make an example of them." " Sir, r~licd he, ·you will .find their names in my pctiti ·on. "· He looked into it, and fhaking his .head, expreffed grrat difiike of the -affair. The youth afked him what he was dif pleafed at. The Mandarinc ihewcd a great unwillingnefs to proceed, faying, " l did not think thc1c young men had been concerned : although they arefour of of the grcatefl: brutes and libertiaes ia the world." u Why, faid 'Iitb-cbung-11, fhould you make any dtmur in the matter? Ahhough they be people of th~ firft quality, why thould you make a difficulty of chaftifmg them?" " It is noc out of fear, replied the other, but their fathers being of my acquaintance at · court, complaints of this kind will be Yery difagrttable to them. They are a parctl ot young unthinking rakes, that value themfelves only upon their fathers graodtur. But as this affail' is not qf fo very high a nature, as abk> lutely 10 require them to be brought to public trial in all the forms of law and juftice ; therefore I could wi1h , you would let me find fome other way of giving ~ redrefs, without making
95 · making QWt a formal prokcucion." "I am far fro,m defiring to give your Ex~ cellency troubk, replied 'Iul,--clzll1lg-u ; I am fully fatisfied in having acquaint.:. cd you with. it a which I did only that you might fee a mark upon them for their actions." The Grand Vifitor was very well plcafed. and told him, he did him~ favour in quitting all farther ~udoo. " Come, faid he, yao muft ftay a ttNl days with me.,, The youth ehankcd him, but wged his ddirc cot to be detained. When the Mandarine f0'1nd he cowd not pre- 11ail with him, he IDlde up a paper er twdvc IIUb or fdvu • , and gave it him; f~ying, " Jf you doo't accept • TWtlvt 'T-" of ilvcir •• .abeut +t. itding. of o,g • .,,, 96 HAU KIC1U · CHOAAN •. of it, I fhall think you are angry with me." To prevent that fufpicion he received it, and withdrew. Where he went will be found in the next chapter. CH AP .. VI.• TI E H-cbung-u taking his leave of • the Grand Vifitor, went and told Shuey-yeong who had attended him there, all that had paft at the tribunal : and concluded with dcfiring him to recommend him to his miftrefs, and to prefent his thanks for the advice fhe had given him. " It is not in my • Cuu. XIU. Ia the Tranllator'• manafaipt. power power, faid he, . to fend any p~efent as an acknowledgment of her goadnefs: neither could . I prefume to· do it, a fingle man as I am, to :a young . ' unmarried lady_,, Then delivering. his horfe to the old fervant, arid hiring: a mule, he departed for his _·own city ; and Shuey-yeong returntd to his , miftrefs. Let us now return to Kwo-kbe-tzu and his c..:>mpanions, whom we have feen difappointed in their defigns on 'Iieb-cbttng-u. When they found he was got clear out of their hands, · they· were ready to burft with rage and madnefs. The firft that broke filence was Sbuey-guwin, who . faid, " Who would· have fi.ifpected this young man to have . VoL, III. H been 9f · ·. been poffefied of K> much. . ftrcngth an4 rourage ?" " It was owing to neither of thefe that he tfcaped, faid his fon• .i(l•laW1 but he had got Cbang•&Dllg• . . izu at fuch difadvantage, that he could neither hdp himfelf, nor we conveniently affift him. But he muft not go. off fo :- let us muftcr up a proper. company, and go find him out: let \1S ftill treat him as he defcrves : and afterwards gin in a petition to theGrand Vifieor.• This propofal Wat approved by. them all: the ~ung Mandarinc Cbaag infiantly prom~d to, bring thlrt.y people • eae.h of the otheB likewife engaged t-o raife as D12D)?. Thefc to the numbe.r of a hundred were f00!1 affcmblcd, and with theii mafters at their head, Shue,-g,rwin leadii2g.
A. CHINESg : HISTORY. 91 irig the way, drove along the ftreets like a fwarm of beers. But when they came to the ·.-inn, where the young ftranger- had 1odgtd, they were told that he went away almoft as • foon as· Ad came home. They were quite difconcerced at this information. " However, faid Kwo-Ui-tzu to the reft, this 1hall not ferve his turn ; we will im- . mediately apply to the Grand Vifitor of the province, and he £hall do us juftice." Sbuey-guwin told him, that their enemy was of the province of Pe-king, and therefore was not under that Mandarine's. jurifdiction. " Well then, faid Kwo-khe-tza and his companions, we will all together draw up a petition, wherein we will accufe him of endea- H :,, vouring o;g;,;,edby • 100 HAU KlOU CHO:AAN~. vouring to raife a rebellion • ; thiswill authorife the Mandarincs of any province to lay hold of him. The Grand Vifitor muft give an account of this at court ;. where we will fa.Ad . IO • In order to render this and· fome of the following pages intelligible, itmuft be remarkecl tiar there is i~ China, a horrid.fea called Pe /im-lia always difpofed to rebellion,' and who are therefore fure to be punifhed, whenever they are dif-• . covered. This fea confifts of people, who enter into a cenfederacy to oltertUJ'n the eflablifhed government, for which purpofe, with certain malieal rites, they elea an E-mperor out of their number, diftribute among tbemfelves the principal employments of the ftate, mark out certain families for deftruaion, and lie concealed tillfoJDC infurretlion of the people aft"ords them an opportunity -of putting thcmfelvca at their head. China, on account of its vaft extent, prodigiou1 populoufnefs and frequency of famines, is very liable to {editions and infurredions, which thra'. the pufillanimity and feeblenefs of its military government arc alway, dangerous, and indeedhave often produced intirc revolutions in the iatc..
·101 to our fathcrs ·and friends to acquaint them of the affair; thus we fhall quickty humble him, notwithftanding all his bravery and valour .. •~ They were excecdlngly plcafcd with this propofal, and accordingly got their petition wrote, which Shl«)-gttWin figncd as a witnefs : they then repaired to ftate. Now as in thefe revolutions, it hath frequently happened that fome of the very dregs o£ the people have been raifed to the throne ; this upon tNery infam:aioa encovages the ringleaders to afpire to the empire: who, if tbey are not nipped in the bud, are fore to draw together the dilfolute, the difcontented, and the needy; 'till thcyformalargebody and become very formidable to the government. Upon all thefe accouau . the Mandarines are obliged to be exceedingly jealoas and watchful over the leaft tendency to re.: volt; and to be careful to extin$uilh the firft and minuteft fparks of rebellion, which would otherwjfe foon involve the whole empire in a flame. P. Semedo, p. 91. Lettres edif. xxvii. 344. 'l', Du Halde, vol. r. p. 243. ' H3 the
1102 J\. the city of ~ng-cbog ;, .. and .fiad-ieg the au~nce open: for receiving :peti, tioris, prcfented -themfelv.es bcforic :t~ tribunal. The Grand Vifitor rei:;ciJ(ed their petition, and ordered them all out of the hall, except· Sbtle,-gtlfbin. " This paper, md he, cont~i~~ : 13 ftrange ftory of a ~bellion attemp.f~ in this country by 'lieb-cpjl11g-,: if-.h~ was fo. dangerous a perfon, how came you to be fo dcfirous of his company, and to invite him lo earneftly to drink wine with you ? Did he drop any hint . of his intention to raifc a tumult or rebellion in the city, ih the midft of his cups, or af rcrwards in the quarrel ?" s~xuwin finding the Grand Viiitor fo inquifitive, knew not what to an.: f wer; and therefore remained filent. "You , '" A 'CHINESE HISTOR ~ 101 ~ Y-ou are a very forry fctloti,, w4, the Mandarine. I am well acquainte4 with the whole ftory : ncverthelef& if y<>u do not relate it exactly from be. ginning to end, I will bring your fin. gers to the Ki••tso11 or Tormenting .. flicks." Sbuey-guwin's fear became ex. ceffive when he faw the other fo angrn. and found he fhould be forced to con• fefs the truth. "Sir, faid he, it is true. he was drinking with the others.'.' c, Very weμ, faid the Mandarine, if you were drinking all together, I muff: fuppofe you all equally guilty: nay it is mpre likely that you five lhould form feditious defigns upon the city, than h~ whom you accufe, who perhaps would not join in fuch an attempt, and fo you have agreed to impeach him firft." . " My Lord, r~lied he, KW9-lcbe-lZ!' H + invited o,,,, adb,Googlc ~04 8AU KIOU CHOAAN.·. iti;iittd this young man to his houfe out ofcivility and good-will, and when he was· ,in his cups all the fecret came oui:. ; · Nothing would pacify him; he overfet the table . and fell to fighting, crying out to the young Mandarines, thaf if there were a thoufand of them, he would not regard them : and that if he.- fhould come to be Emperor he would :d~ftroy the, four> houfes to which they · belong: The yo·ung gentlemeA · detp}y· concerned at'thefe things, could not refrain from lodging a complaint with · your Excellency : which , they ·would not have · prefumed to do, had it beeri .falfe. ~' ·A likely ftory, faid
- the GrandVifitor~ that oneperfon fhould
· be~t and abufe four or' five of you •. No! ~o ! you muft not think to impofe on me at this rate. " Sir, faid Shueyiuwin,
ie5 guwin, the broken pieces of furniture are ftill to be feen : nothing is more certain. u The Mandarine took hini up ihort, " How fhould a ftranger of another city come and raife fuch a diftu:rbance, unlefs he had been provoked by fome injury or infult ? However if it be as you alledge, have you fecured or brought him with you ?'• "No, he replied; he ·~as like a tyger., there was no taking· hold of him : he went away without any one's daring to oppofe him." The Grand Vifitor ordered all he had reported to be taken down in writing by the fecretary of the tribunal: then faid to him, " Are not you a!hamed, an old fdlow as iou are, to come here with thefe
106 :. thefe ftorics : arid to keep oompany with young 'rakes, drinking and em-. broiling yourfelf in their quarrels ~ This petition you have brought me is falfe and fcandalous. Go home and tell the four' Mandarincs fons to b~ quiet : I know the whole ftory, better than they imagine. If it were not for the connC\..'tions of thefc young men, I would throw you into prifon, where you {hould die with hunger : however I muft make you a prefent of twenty or thirty baftinadoes •. ~• At thefe words Sbuey-guwin in great terror, cryed out that he was old, and begged he would -pardon and not difhonour him fo • In the orig. it is "of four or five Bam/Joos" ( or Tallies, each five ftrokcs,) See note, vol. z. pag. 189- much.
.. Jo7 much~ ". Hono\Ji' l. faid the Grand Vifitor, what honour have you ?u He faid, " I am brother to the fecond Man .. darine •of the. tribunal of arms." " Ard you his brother, faid the magi~ i why who keeps his houfe? ·" My bro• (her, he replied, bath no fon : but only one. daughter, who heretofore hath r.eceived great favour from your Excellency. "If it be fo, replied the Grand Vifitor, for he, fake I wiU p3l• don you: but then tell me truly, who it is that bears fuch implacable enmity againil: this young ilranger." . "I. am not his enemy, anfwered Shueyguwi11: but it is Kwo-khe-tzu, who being difappointcd in his defign of marrying my niece, by the other's interpofal, hath ever fince retained a· fecret
10S fecret malice and ddire of revenge; and it was in order to gratify his revenge., that he now invited him to his houfe : but for my part I owe him no kind of ill will." The Grand Vifitor ordered-hi$ iccretary to make . a . memorand11m. of this ; then giving him back the petition, l,ade him go · tell . thofe young men to mind their ftudies, and let him hear no more of them : " For this once, faid he, I pardon them on account of their fathers ! who would find a great deal of trouble, fhould fuch complaints be brought againft them at court." Shuey-guwin having thus obtained leave to retire, was ready to leap out of his fkin for joy : but when he was gQt without the audience where the others
A 'CHINESE HISTORY. 109 others ,were waiting for him, he fhrugged up his thoulders, and made figna to them to hold their tongues : at the fight of which,. and of the petition which he held in his hand, they were alarmed ;and being informed of aH that had happened, fem in a Sbo-poutt • or billet of thanks, to the Graod Vifitor for hislenity, and afterwards returned home not a little athamed. However KwoJcbe- tzu could not be prevailed on. t& lay afide his refentment, or to drop, his purfuit. On the contrary,. he Walt the more obftinately refolved to perfift in both;. and recollecting that Chun-lcef. had been gone fome time, he dif patched. a meffenger to enquire after him. • A folded paper with a black c.ver~ Trant. Now
110 •. Now Cbun•kie in performance of his promife had made the bcft of his way . to the court : where as foon as be arrived, he delivered to the. ininifter Kwo-jho-Ju the letter from his fon. As f oon as the Mandarine had read the Jetter, he withdrew with him into his. library, and inviting him to .fit down, inquired about his fon's propofal of marriage with Sbttty-ping-.fin. " Her fa th.er, faid he, is now in difgrace : this · match cannot be for our credit:, as we are advanced to fuch a degree in the ftate.0 " This young lady, replied the other,. is endowed with wonduful perfeci:ions · both of mind and perfon, and ia of. lJnex&mpled mo-defty J. in fhort there is not her fellow to be.found in the world. Wherefore ".i,. •• your I
A.'.CHINESE HISTORY. r11· your fon hath fworn either by gentle or violent means to marry her.•' Kwo-Jhofa laughed and faid, " I am afraid my fon is very weak and fimple. If he had a mind to marry her,. he needed not have ient to court, when the Chtfafk and Che-him, the fathen of the country,. might eafily have compleated the marriage for hi~ You have had a greaa tleal of troubh: in coming fo far : and now he would give me mu more, in re• quiring me to fund without the wall into 'larta,ry for her father's con~nt.'" u He hath not been wanting in applica-, tion to the Cbe1of> and Cb1-bie11; replied the other ; he hath. lefr no means t{) prevail with her wiattempted; but fucthatb always by very geru:le but artf~ methods found mellll! .to chide hit purfuit. o;g; ;,ad by purfuit. Your Lordfhip muft not talk of the Che-Joo and Che-him, fince · the Grand Vifitor of the province, who was your pupil, endeavoured · to promote the fuit of your fon, but fhe fo far baffled him, that he hath been glad to put forth a declaration, forbidding any one to moleft her on the fubject of marriage. Now if a Mandarine of 'his rank is afraid to meddle with her, who befides dares approach her gates ? Kwo-khi~tZ# therefore had no other remedy, but to apply to your Lordfhip.,, The Mandarine K'UJQ-jbo-fu was furprized at this account, and faid, " Surely this is a young lady of fine underftanding, and it is on that account my fon fo much admires . her. But this Sbueykeu- yi,
A : CHINESE HISTOR:Y: · i 13 km-ye, her father;: .is a very· pofiti vc man: if he doc~ not heartily appro\le of any. meafure, he is :not to·be moved to engage in .it : · befides I am -·not very intimate with him. He is .a man of one word: when he held an audience, there was very little application made to him, becaufe he was known to favour no body. He hath only this daughter ; and I remember I once ap• plied to him about ~er, but without fuccefs. However, as he is now in trouble, perhaps he will be more inclined to .comp)y: there feems at prefent a good opportunity to afk his confc: nt." " But in what manner, faid Cbun-kei, will your Lordlhip apply t~ him ?" " It muft be done, faid the other, with all the ufual ceremonies. VoL. III. 1 A friend A ' frief?d muft mft be employed. to break the matter : aftuwards we mufl: fend a prtfcnt. Bot hcrt lu:s the d.iffi.. cuky : as he is diftant from us DQ le& than two bUJ1drcd leaguts, I cannot afk any Mandarine of great quality to go fo far. 1 bllicve I muft write . a letter and beg the favour of you to carry i~ together with the prefent." Cbu11 /ti/, replied, " Your Lord1hip may command my bell iervices. Let me alfo. carry letters to fuch of the great Mandarnes thn-e as are able to influence him." ~ You are righr.,,, faid the MiBifter; and accordingly felc:6:ing a for.;.. tunate day, be wrote the letters- and dif• patched him witl\ them ...
- A CHINESE . HISTORY. 115, CH-AP. VU. r·N OW the cdt of) the Man .. · --darine Sbuey-1:m-yi [ was u fetlowi;] upon recemng notice that a war had broke out -with the '.f ar_tarsand that thtre was . not any v~ant ma,n to head the troops t [.he had] . made inquiry after fuch a perfon, and (had] found among die pt!ople of his audieACe t a .man called H11-bia11, GOO of . . • From the Editor's additions inclad"cd · ia brackett,use Reador will pwceiYc; how abrllj>t the traalition is in the original. The fame abrupt .. aeft i. oblervaWe th,ougaout the whole Jriftory. t All tlte officer& ~ war throughoat ~he Chi- 11,ji eft14H,e. from the- hlgheft co the loweft, ar• \lnder the jQ,ifdi&iea- of tht 'Trih,1111,,l ef Arms,, which-,-ak~oogji compofed 0£ none but literary Mandarines, hath the abfolute and intire direction of all military affairs. · in Chi1111 the· pro- I :a feJiion
1'6 · .. of the north-weft country, who had offered hiaifelf for that. fervic,. Of this Shuey Jceu-ye informed the Emperor, who confented to employ him, ther~ bting none other that cared .to go tguinft the enemy. He was . accord• ingly. conftitutcd General, with orders ro · go · a~d vi6t. chafe parts that were; the feat of war, and to ad as he 1hould fcfiou of arms is held vaftly inferior and (ubcrdinate to that of letters. This, together with thrir natural eifemioacy, ud·tbe conftaat peac:& ~hey generally enjoy, will account for the unwarlike turn of the· Chin,ji • . P. S.tmttlo tells llS that it was ufual (at leaft i'n his time J for the Chintft to fend with tlicir armies a man of the long robe, who bad ·tbt fupreme command, even over the General himfelf. This Mandarine waa always in the middles of the main l,a11alia, and many times a day·• journey from the field of aaion ; fo that akhoogla he would be too remote to give ordcra, be wa, always ready to nm away chc firft in cafe of danger. 811 I• 100. think A· CHINESE HISTORY. 117 think heft for the public fervke. Re executed thefe orders with fuch d1fpatch-; that he would not ftop to pay the- ufual 'Vifits•of ceremony to any of the ·other Mandarines in command, but went im- · mediately in fcarch of the enemy. Thi' gave · fo much difguft to thole officers that they would not go to his afiiflaocei, . nor unite their forces with his. Neverthelefs he attacked the enemy, and had a fharp engagement for a · whole -day with equal advantage on both.fidesl Small as this fuccefs was, it was reprcfented ftill lcfs to the Emperor by t'he difaffec9:ed Mandarines, and both · he and Shuey-ke1'-ye were fuf pended from their employments : the one being fent to prifon, and the other an exile into Tartary. , 1 S H~ lJ . XlQU CHOA,A~. The latter ha~ now remai"eQ abQul: a yc,r itJ banifiuneot: where, althougb he tliU ~~e<;l his dignity of Manda. rine, thf!PC ,v;is tal<M lj~le nptk'e .of him, and he ha.4 fm_aU hopes , of returniPg ho.me. One rporni,ig ~ fervant belcng: iog to his trwuqal (for notwirhftand .. )tlg hi~ difgr~_ h~ ftill had an hall ef audien.ce · aJfigped hqn) came. ·t? ~11 him tQt\t ~here: w~ a. Jne1fenger iu-riY~d -ft-om. P~-1'i11g, with letters from <?ne of Ji~· MinHl:ers of ft~e. Sbue.1--1ce1'·'1, wh~ hau lookc;d μpon himfelf as intire.. l y forgotten at c9urt~ was fur prized ·~ this news. Neverthelefs he ordered the meffenger to be admitted. Cbunlcii was ll(:cordingly fuewn in, attended ,by two fervants whom he had brought with him. He performed his reverences, 0,0<1,edb,Googlc A . CHINESE HISTORY: 119 rences, and prefented a 'lieb-Jfi. or billet ef ·compliments. · The Mandarine pcruf~ it, and. ,finding·CAiun-kii to be no ftr:vant, but th particufar aoquaintance of .the pe.rfon : wbo fcnt him• -de~tcd Jaim-;to fit down. : ~ l un fo' unhappy, Jaid; he, as to · be mtt . of · fav01Jr : and it is a long while .. fince I h1.vc : been taken notice cf . by any ~ .How happens it then, · that you . arc come fo fu ~o me? Upon' what account?" " l fhpuld not have: taken this liberty, re• plied the other,. had I not been lent by Kwo-jho-/11, whofc bufmefs abrpad I •metimes tranfack : and it is on his account that I have now taken (o long .a journey." W hm I was at court, [aid Sbuey-keu-yi, l had very litt.le acquaintaee with that_ Mand~rinc. I fup- 1 4 pofe
uo •. · . . pofe therefore my punifhment. is -naw: going . to be increafed." · · Cbun-ltii replied~ "J t will not be long before :your Lordfhip will return :to: Pe-king : I am only come at prefent in behalf of this nobleman~• fon; who. defires yeur daughter in marriage : but as 1be hadi not your . permiffion or order, I am fent to intreat you to grant it." Then afking the fervants .for the letter, he prefented it to SbutJ-lceu-ye-: who open.;. ing. it, and having read it, thought that the whole affair was not rightly conducted, according to the manner among people of. quality ; nor f ~ ably to the dignity of his rank. ~t .the fame time being not unacquamtcd with the character of Kwo-lcbi-lztJ, and having no great opinion of the Mandarinc
A .CHINESE HI:STORY: U\ darine his· f~ther, he, .r~fQ.l vc:d not to confent . to; their req~.: This refo-: lution . be . was the •. ·i;~th,~[ confirmed in, as:he fuppofed if ;h~ 9:rnghter had approved of. it, they w~ld; never have ientfo · far to hirn. ,A.ft~ fome paufe, Cbun-kie: took the liberty ~o afk him if he had read ~he letter, · He replied, " I have, and th~nk you for the great trouble you. have been at ·in bringing it : I am obliged to Kwo.jho-fu for the high honour ·he doth me: and lhould eftrem it-great good forcune that he is pleafed to· defire my daughter for his .._ : but only that: I am now under ~,j~ajefty's difpltjlfure, and removed above two hundred leagues from home, from whence I have been abfent five years- at court, and ·one in banifhment. As As I have no fon, and;only-this daughter, who is unto :me as a fon, and as fuch hath the· whole dir-eaion-of my houfe, I ·fhall therefore permit her to govern herfelf in this affair according to her own indinations. If Ku'llkbe- tztt had fo great a delire to marry ~e·r, why did not he apply to the Che• foo and Che-hien, who are the public ·' guardians of the people •i •.:-and to my brother Sb111J-guwin? What need had he to take ro much trouble in Mnding fo far?" "' Sir, replied Cb1111.:.Jc«, you fpeak very weU; and KfDo-lthl-tu did ·iatt year purfue the method you -defcribt; but after Oie had many tim'5 put him off, fhe at length confeffed, • The Clliufi icl;'em is, " Wbo are the •· Grandfather and .Father of the reople." it
~- CHINESE :H~~TORX; fii it was becaufe ihe .h;td not your per• ' . ' . ( . , ~iffiQJl, and therefore htt hath got ·me io .come for it." . The Mandarine. Sbu~•-keu ye judged from his dif courfe,_ that his . da~hter w.as not inclined to marry Kwo-khitzu, iUld therefore he faid, " As I am now , . . . . i~ .difgracc, I look upon it that I hav~ nothing to do ~it~ -my family,. nor can I .pretend to difpofe of my daugh• ier •. I. have been here a.twelvemonth, ~d have not fo much as fent home one letter: and it is becaufe I am not yet acquitted. Now under thefe cu-;,. cumftancesi fhould I p..retcnd to give QUt an order about. my daughter-, it would !lggravate my o.Efence: E dare not ~erefore offer to do it." CJ,«;11.·kei faid
.. 1 • • 124 HAU -KIOU ·CHOAAN.· faid, " Let me· have but you~ word~ and it wiU be fufficient." He was very importunate, infomuch that Shuey~ ~eu-ye grew downright angry, and faid, that it was not a thing of a flight or indifferent nature: and cuftom required that there thould be more than two to concert fo important an affair as marriage. Without any further fatisfaction he difmiffed him, but ordered him alodg,. ing : from whence Chun-lcee often . paid hiin vi fits, but to no P~re6fe: he ~here: fore fent to all the n~jgbl,ouring ·Man~ darines, and got them to fpeak to him ·on the fubject of the marriage. They were · accordingly very urgent and preJ'fing, which made Sbuey-lceu ye fo uneafy, that he fent for Chun-kei and faid : · I never did any ill to the Man·• darine o,,, ,,,, ·,, A -.CHINESE HISTORY.- u5 ~rine Kwo-jho-fa: why then doth he give me fo much troμble, and is · foi-~ taking my daughtc:r by force ? (i.o horn¢, and tell h~m, I will never compel , her to at\: againll . h~r inclinations. As for myfelf, . J never expect to carry i;ny bones home .ag!lin: my life is to me of little value : [ but I will .not spake my daughter miferable.] Nay fhould ,the Emperor himfelf order me t~ compel her, I would ftill leave her ~o her own choice : and lhould all the '• M~ndarines here my fuperiors do their l,ltmoft to make me fuffer, I regard it not. Therefore take your letter· and. your prefent back again." .. Chun-Me finding it would be in vain to perfift, packed up · his baggage and returned
1i6 HAU KIOt( CHOAAN. · retmncd to the court. Where being arrived with rio Iitcle fhame for hit ill fuccefs, he gave · ·ba~k to 'Ktwrkjho-Ju his letter and pref«nt,· · At which tht Minifter was very · Muth inraged, and refolved to refene it tho firft opportunity. It was nO! Jong bef~e he fouO<l on&, -'#for there beit1g a demand for more troops to go againft the 'Tatt11rs, on ;account of the · hav~ and lo{s whict. f1ad been made of thofe who went before;· that Mandarine, when he advifcd • the· Emperor of it,. did not fail to lay the blame on the former mifmanagement' of Sht,teJ-keu..yE, and on that of his general Hu-hiau : reprefefttit\g to his Ma.jefty, that if they were tak~n off' by d\e punitlitm~nt they deferved, warriors- cnow weuld offer rhemfel~ and 3 bring
A .CHINESE HISTORY. n, bring the war· to a conclufion :. but thac. this could not be exped.ed dll all fuf,. picion was taken away of their ever returning into employment; in the difcharge of which they had both ren• dered themfelves extremely odious. The Emperor approved of this remonftrance, and referred it to the confideration of the San-fa-tjeh, or tribunal of three• : which was commanded to affemble • '/'he 'J',,r&111tal of 'Three is cOZ11pofcd of the following tribeDals; viz. of the Hi-g-p,,, or Tribunal of crimes; of the <f11h-u-fu, which may be catted The Tribaml of revifors • ; and of tho' fi,h-,lt.y_,, or Superb Tribnal of vi6to,s. The la1l of thefe hath been alrcad), dcfcribccl f&t w/. z-. l"K· 1~;. •olA] and ought ew:,y where to have been entitled, as beJC. &, P. M«g.: ,. 219- . The Ping-p., or Tribunal of crilllCI, is one of ffiO' • Stt L,t1r1s tdif. :rix. 16:i. 11.
i.is HAU .. KIOU .. CH:OAAN. affemble and examine-into. the cdndu=.c of Hu-bia'! . in -0rdcr to bring that ge- · neral tojuftice. the fix fovereign courts at Pe-king, [ See note vol. · 2.p. 279.J and hai:h under it fourteen fubor-. dinate tribunals according to the number of pro• vince~. · It belongs to them to examine , try and punilh all criminals t}lroughout the empire. P. Du Ha/de, v. I. p. 249, (;ie. . · The Tribunal of 'Tab-k-ju,i. e. offupremc n:afon or juflice, is as it were the great Chancery of the empire. It examines in t)te laft .ap~al the judgments and fentences paired in other tribumils: efpecially in criminal caules, or in matters of great moml!n~. P, Mag. p. 228 . P. S,m, do, p. 125. · · ' · · ' • When the 'Trihunal if Crimes hath paired fentence of death on a perfon, whofe crime was not very cl~ar, or when any perfon is to be condemned in a cafe thatwould admit of doubt, " the Emperor, (fays P. Magalhtu11s) refers it always .to the San-fa-fu [ or lj'eb] which is as it were his council of confcience. Theo the three tribunals abovementioru:d aliemble together, either to re-examine the merits of the caufe, or to pals the more folemn feotence. & it is not fo eafy to corrupt them thus .united, -as feparate, great regard is had to their decifion, which is generally confirmed by the Emperor. P. M11g. 1· 229. Ltttrts edif. xix. 162. · CH AP.
A -CHINESE. HISTORY. I 29 C H A P. VIII.• T HE tribunal of three having received the Emperor's commiffion; appointed a day to hear and determine the caufe of Hu-biau. When that day came, as foon as the Mandarines were feated, theSuprerne Vice-roy CJ'ieb-ying being one of them, that unfor~ tunate general was brought out of prifon, and entered upon his trial. , . : . 1 It happened that the fame day. 'Iiehchung- u arrived at .Pe-ki.ng, where .he had never been· fince hi~ return from Shan-tong. As foon as he alighted he