Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-davis/Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Shueypingsin Adroitly Changes the Flower
From: The Fortunate Union, a Chinese Romance. Translated from the Chinese Original by John Francis Davis (London, 1829)
Note: This text was digitized via OCR from the original 1829 print. Some scan errors may remain -- compare with the modern translation and Chinese original to verify.
CHAPTER III.
“ SHUEYPINGSIN ADROITLY CHANGES THE FLOWER."
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That weakness is a woman's lot, all know, . Few know a woman can sometimes be wise !
A single word the lurking mischief quell’d,
The fiying fate was by a turn avoided :
No sound, no signal, did her plans require ;
But all succeeded in the time of trial : While to her foes’ vile schemes full play she gave,
— Schemes fraught with late repentance !
Wuen Teihchungyu, in compliance with his fa- ther’s advice, commenced his tour, he was still unde- cided as to the best route to be pursued : considering, however, that Shantong was a province celebrated for the birth of extraordinary persons,* of men emi- nent on account of their talents and virtue, he thought he could do no better than proceed in that. direction, with the chance of encountering such characters. His mind thus made up, he desired Seaoutau to hire a good mule, and proceeded without delay on his journey.
Who studies books must close his silent cell ; But Wisdom’s search lies farther off from home.
Explore each untried nook beneath the sky,t And fill the inlets of the mind with knowledge.
We will leave him for the present, and take up
- Confucius among the rest.
+ “ Beneath the sky,” in Chinese acceptation, is only ‘ the empire.’
another part of our narrative. In Leihching Héen, a
subordinate district dependent on the chief city of
Shantong province, was the family residence of a
person of rank, named Shueykeuyih, who had for
many years been a member of the Military tribunal at
Peking, where he acquired a great reputation by the
bold independence of his character. It was his mis-
fortune, however, towards the advanced age of sixty,
to lose his lady, who left him no son, and only a
single daugbter, named Shueypingsin, of extraor-
dinary beauty.* Her eyebrows were like the slender
leaflet of the willow in spring, and her whole aspect
that of a delicate autumnal flower. Brought up
tenderly in the retirement of the female apartments,
she surpassed in delicacy a silken tissue. Still, how-
ever, when the occasion called for it, sle possessed
talents and resolution beyond many of the other sex.
Her father loved and valued her as a gem, and being
obliged to reside chiefly at the capital in his official
capacity, entrusted the management of his household
entirely
- Chinese ideas of beauty are peculiar; their ladies resemble those
described in Terence :
«¢ = quas matres student
“ Demissis humeris esse : vincto pectore (pede), ut graciles sient :
- Si qua est habitior paulo, pugilem esse aiunt : deducunt cibum :
“ Tametsi bona est natura, reddunt curatura junceas.”—Eun. II. 3,
+ It is well known tobe the policy of the Chinese government, that no person shall hold a responsible office in his own province and city. The statutes farther provide, that no officer shall purchase lands or tenements within his jurisdiction.
entirely to his daughter, who supplied to him the
place of a son. It was in this manner that she
reached the age of seventeen without any steps being
taken towards ber marriage.
Her father bed unfortunately a very worthless younger brother, named Shueyun, who, in spite of some pretensions that he made to letters, was withal deplorably ignorant. Satisfied with the rank and consequence derived from his family and connexions, he associated with the vilest companions, and thereby naturally became reduced both in money and credit : for though he sometimes contrived by unworthy means to collect a little together, it soon slipped away, and left him as poor as ever. It was the happy fate of this man to have three sons, who inherited all their father’s ignorance and bad qualities. He had a daughter too, exceedingly plain, but young, and born in the same year with her cousin Shueypingsin, than whom she was only two months older.
Shueyan, seeing that his brother had no son, aud that his estate was large, longed extremely to get the management of it into his own hands. Unfortunately for him, however, this was impossible, as long as his niece remained single: and for this reason he was constantly employing their mutual relations to urge marriage to her. One match was praised for its wealth, another for its honours, and a third for the youth, the talents, or the handsome person of the
E2 proposed
proposed bridegroom. But the young lady had no
views ‘of that sort at ‘Present, and their speeches made
not the least impression on her. ~ ‘
Shueyun, at a loss what. step to take, discovered that
the son of the minister Kwoloongtung, a neighbour of
theirs, was in search of a wife, and presently despatched
some one to propose his niece.. This young man, Kwo-
ketsu, was a debauched libertine, who in his choice of a
spouse dreamed of nothing but her personal attractions: he
accordingly inquired if she were handsome or otherwise ?
—to which of course a reply was made, giving a splendid
account of her beauty and accomplishments. Kwoketsu
did not seem to place much faith in what he heard, but
rather kept aloof from assenting to the proposals; upon
which Shueyun, beginning to grow anxious, agreed that
he should have a sight of his niece by stealth. Now
although the two brothers had long lived separate, their
mansion was originally one house, divided into two equal
parts; and along the line of internal separation were
points whence some view could be obtained of the con-
tiguous apartments. Kwoketsu was led thither by the
uncle to steal a look, and perceiving at once the un-
common beauty of Shueypingsin, he became eager to
obtain her in marriage. When his emissaries, however,
went over to make proposals, the > young uty rejected .
them altogether.
Much chagrined at this refusal, the young man deter-
mined on applying to the principal magistrate of the
district,
district, and endeavouring by rich presents to’ obtain his
assistarice.. That officer, on the first proposal, being
aware of the high rank and character. of the young lady’s
father at court, expressed his fears of any unadvised
proceeding ; but unwilling at the same time to offend
Kwoketsu, he called on Shueypingsin,* and endeavoured
to influence her by argument ; when soon finding it was of
no avail, he thought proper to give up the scheme at once.
He heard, however, some time after this, that the
father of Shueypingsin had fallen into disgrace with the |
emperor, for recommending a military leader who was
unhappily defeated in an engagement with the enemy,
in consequence of which his patron had been deprived of
his seat in the Military tribunal, and immediately banished
to the frontier... Finding, too, that Kwoloongtong had
been lately promoted to the émperor’s council, and ob-
serving the eagerness with which his son continued to
solicit his assistance, he thought it expedient to change
his former policy, and further the young man’s views.
He accordingly sent for the uncle Shueyun, and ad-
dressed him thus: ‘‘ When young persons of either sex
. have
© This may appear a violation of the strict seclusion of females in
China: but the Chehten had a magisterial right to make such a visit
which an indifferent person could not have assumed ; and this visit would
of course be made under the usual restrictions and formalities, a screen
being ‘interposed, and the lady being heard, but not seen. They will
sometimes depart from their strict rules in favour even of strangers ; and
Englishmen have occasionally been allowed the honour of a visit to ladies
of some consideration, when they allowed themselves not only to be heard, but seen too.
have reached the proper age, and a suitable match
presents itself, it should not be neglected. That a
daughter ought to await her father’s commands on this
point, is doubtless the genefal rule: but if time presses,
and further delay is inexpedient, the general rule must
yield to the particular case. Your niece is now of a
marriageable age, she is left at home without the pro-
tection of either mother or brothers; and there are a
number of youths among the household, which alone is
objectionable. All this, however, would be of less con-
sequence, were her father still in office at Peking, as it
might then be argued that she was awaiting his choice:
but now, unhappily, he is exiled to the frontier, and his
very existence becomes extremely uncertain; why not
act, then, according to the exigency of the case: and
since your niece may not chuse for herself, make use of
your privilege, as her nearest relation, to chuse for her?
Besides, the father of Kwoketsu has been promoted to
the highest dignity, and that youth himself possesses
good abilities. It is altogether an excellent match, and
you ought by no means to allow the transient prejudices
of your niece to interfere with such important arrange-
ments for her future life. I asked you to come hither
on purpose to give you this advice; and if you do nat
chuse to follow it, you will not only miss a good match,
but throw away an opportunity of benefiting your own
private interests.”*
Shueyun
- He takes care that the strongest argument shall come last.
Shueyun very readily fell in with a scheme which so
exactly suited his own views. “ Sir,” said he to the
magistrate, “‘ I have already taken great pains to persuade
my niece ; but accustomed, -like a spoiled child as she
ia, to consult nothing but her own whims, she treated
every proposal of the kind with contempt. Backed
however by the weight of your worship’s wise and en-
lightened instructions, I shall now go and convey them
to my niece. She cannot plead her father’s wishes as
an excuse for her obstinacy, and will hardly venture to
Oppose your authority.”
He proceeded straight home, and went over to see his niece with an affectation of great alarm. “ You know,” said he to her, “ what pains I took to persuade you to compliance when the Chefoo came here with his pro- poezals ; and with how little success. The mischief that @n underling in office can do, when provoked, to those under his authority, is proverbial: what then may you not expect from a person of his power and gonsequence! As long as your father remained in office, he was inclmed to keep some terms with us; but now that he is disgraced and banished, the case becomes quite altered. His worship begins to use very strong language; and unless you comply forthwith, the worst is to be feared. You are an unprotected orphan ; I myself have no influence: what then can we do to oppose him?” He concluded by repeating his former praises of Kwoketsu, and advising his niece to consider,
that
that if she refused this fair offer, she might live to repent
it two or three years hence, when an equally good match
should be out of the question. .
Shueypingsin replied by urging the necessity of her parents’ consent on a subject so important as marriage, and the impropriety of her being guided by any other authority. “ But,” said her uncle, “the magistrate has already settled this point: he has determined, that since your father’s consent cannot be obtained, the con- sent of the local civil officer is the same thing ; or at least that your uncle’s authority may supply its place. Do not persist any longer in your obstinacy.”
His niece held down her head in a thoughtful posture, and seemed to reflect within herself for a few moments. “ The magistrate must, no doubt, be respected,” said she; “ but still he is not a member of the family. If you, my uncle, however, chuse to supply my father’s place on this occasion, it certainly admits of conside- ration.”
“ And why not?” said Shueyun; “ Are not a father and an uncle the nearest possible relations ?”
“1 have always looked on my father’s consent as indispensable,” replied his niece ; “ but if a father and an uncle are really the same thing, then do you take the whole affair upon yourself: there can be no occasion to consult me about it.”
Shueyun was overjoyed to hear her talk in this way. “ Now,” exclaimed he, “ you begin to think reason-
ably!
ably! What should have made me take such pains on
this subject, had I not felt myself competent to carry it
through? But hear me, child: you will experience
hereafter the full advantages of this match: your future
father-in-law is of the emperor’s council; and should
matters turn.out well, he may be induced to present a
petition for. your father’s recal from exile.” -
“ This indeed would be fortunate!” observed his
“* Now,” continued he, “ as the magistrate is expect- ing your answer, suppose you make out, in your own hand-writmg, a ticket of nativity,* that I may present it in token of your consent.”
“ It will be more proper for you ta provide the nup- tial ticket,” replied his niece ; “ for it would seem inde- coreus on the part of a female.”
“ Well,” answered he, “I represent your father, and:may do so with great propriety ; but pray give me a draft at least of your eight characters.”
Shueypingsin immediately took up a pencil; and when she had written out eight characters by pairs, in four rows, gave the paper to her uncle. He, delighted with his acquisition, hurried home to his own house ;
and
© Consisting of eight characters, which express in pairs the year, month, day, and hour of a person’s birth, and are the ground-work of a calculation which the professors of judicial astrology, among this super- stitious people, pretend to make of one’s fortune. In negociating a
marriage, the puisze (eight characters) of either party are sent and com- pared together.
and calling his three sons together, told them that the
marriage was finally settled. ,
. “ But it was only yesterday,” observed the eldest, “ that our cousin® made every possible objection ; whence comes this sudden compliance to-day ?”
“ The only difficulty with her,” replied Shueyun, “ was the want of her father’s consent; but the moment I told her an uncle’s would do as well, she complied once.”
‘* Yes,” said the son; “‘ but when she considers the matter again, I fear she may change her mind.”
“ There can be no changing now,” cried the father ; _ “ Thave made her give me her eight characters ;” so taking the paper out of his sleeve, he shewed it to his three sons.
They all viewed it with delight; and agreed that changing was now quite out of the question. “ Very -well,” said Shueyun ; “ but there is something to be done yet”—and being asked to explain himself, continued :— “ she says, that since I act in her father’s place, the
nuptial
- Literally, ‘ our sister on the other side of the wall.’ The sons and
daughters of an uncle on the father’s side, as they have the same family name, and very often live under the same roof, are styled brothers and sisters, with some such qualification as the above, and, like brothers and sisters, cannot intermarry with their cousins: not so the children of an aunt, siace a woman, when once married, belongs altogether to her hus- band’s ‘amily, and becomes almost alienated from her own relations by blood. This, however, must be understood with the exception of her lawful allegiance to ber own father and mother, which seems to remain
in full force (see Leuw-lee), while the additional and equally strong subjection to the parents of her husband is superadded.
nuptial ticket, and the usual presents, must be provided
by myself.”
“ We must spend a little to obtain more,” observed his eldest son; “ unless we chuse to incur this small expense. now, we can hardly expect to possess her fa- ther’s property by and bye.”
“ That is all very well,” replied Shueyun “ but where is the money to come from ?”
After a little consultation they agreed to pledge a portion of the family wardrobe ;* and being thus pos- sessed of some ready money, they first provided a roll of scarlet silk, on which the eight characters were bla- zoned+ in solid gold; and a handsome nuptial ticket being thus prepared, they took it in person to the Chefoo, telling that magistrate they had brought him the rati- fication of the match according to his desire. He was very glad to see it, and directed that it might be taken to his deputy the Chehéen, with his request to that
officer ® The necessity of so low an expedient cannot be considered as very probable in a family so connected: but the design of the author perhaps was, to sacrifice even a little probability for the sake of placing this par- ticular family in the most contemptible and ridiculous light. The ward- robe of a Chinese, however, being composed of embroidered silks and furs--o< very expensive and ‘asting materials, forms c. more serious portion of his property than in Europe. The translator remembers being at an entertainment where the narty, according to the custom of the coustry, being seated in an open room, without fires, the European guests soon began to complain of cold; upon which the host immediately accommo- dated the whole number (ien or twelve) with handsome spencers, all made of the most costly furs; telling them, at the same time, that be had plenty more in reserve. t Literally, ‘nailed, or rivetted.’
officer to superintend the wedding.* When the latter
heard it was his superior’s desire, he felt himself oblig-
ed to undertake the office, so a fortunate day was
selected ; and he went in procession, attended by music,
to present the nuptial ticket to the bridegroom. Kwo-
ketsu seized upon the prize.as though it had been a
treasure, of pearls; and having prepared a sumptuous
repast, made much of the Cheheéen. After the lapse of a
short period, he provided costly marriage presents ; and
chusing a fortunate day in his turn, requested that ma-
gistrate to escort them in state to the family mansion of
‘Shueypingsin.
On the day before their arrival, Shueyun had told his niece to prepare herself for their reception. She how- ever replied, “‘ This house, desolate and deserted as it is from the long absence of my father, is hardly a pro- per place to receive the marriage presents: and since you, my uncle, personate my father on this occasion, and issue the nuptial ticket, the presents also should be sent to your house. Besides, we are all descended from the same stock, and their being received on that side or this, amounts to just the same thing.”
“ Well,” said her uncle, “ they shall be received at my house; but I fancy that, in sending an answer, it will be correct to write your father’s name.”
“If you write my father’s name,” observed the young
lady,
® The Chefoo, conscious that he had been guilty of a stretch of power, wished to appear as little as possible in the transaction.
lady, “how can you be said to act instead of my father ?
Besides, he is exiled, and in disgrace with the emperor,
and should you write his name, it may be treated with
some disrespect by ‘the family of Kwoketsu. The
usual ceremonies being conducted by yourself in person,
it surely will be more proper to write your © own name
than my father’s.”
. The simple Shueyun assented likewise: to this, and hurrying home to procure some omamented tickets, came back and requested his niece to write upon _ “ Very well,” said she, “ I will do so; but you had better tell people they were written by your sons, for fear they should laugh at you.”
. He readily agreed to this, and when Shueypingsin bad inscribed his name on the tickets, she added below, that they were to return thanks for “his daughter’s nuptial presents,” and read them aloud to her uncle.
- “ But why write my daughter ?” enquired he.
“* You personate my father,” said the young lady ; “* why not call me your daughter ?”
He made no objections, but taking up the tickets, car- fied them over to his house. “‘ These tickets,” said he to his sons, “ run in my name, and speak of my niece as my own daughter; not to mention the marriage pre- sents, then, the fate of the whole property is settled at once.”
They all rejoiced together, and congratulated each
other
other apon their good fortune ; and on the following day,
before the arrival of the presents, they dressed them-
selves in their habits of ceremony, throwing open the
central gate,* and preparing the great hall with silk
hangings and carpets for their reception.
The magistrate was met with a loud concert of music, and entertained in a sumptuous manner through the day. Shueypingsin, on her part, took no notice whatever of their proceedings ; but when the guests had all dispersed, her uncle opened the little door of communication, and invited her over to see the arrangements. He then asked her who was to take possession of the marriage presents. “‘ As you, my uncle,” replied the young lady, “incur so much pains and expense on account of this wedding, and as you represent my father, they must certainly pertain to yourself; it is almost needless to ask the question. Not only these, however, but the whole of my father’s property, as he has no sons, must shortly belong to yourself and my cousins; though for the pre- sent, my father being exiled, and I uncertain of his life or death, it does not befit me to deliver them up entirely without authority.”
Shueyun clapped his ‘hands together, and exclaimed with delight, “ Niece, you are indeed an extraordinary young woman! where did you learn to think and speak with so much understanding?” He then sent for his three sons and his daughter, and when the marriage pre-
sents
- See page 29, note.
THE FORTUNATE UNION, 63
sents had been inspected by them, the whole were pat away in order. A speculation oft, through thirst inordinate Of gain, is ruin’d—avarice dulls mes’s wit ! "Twas not the quality of the tempting bait— —Onur greedy fish was ready to gulp all!
When more than a month had elapsed, Kwoketsu got his house ready for the bride’s reception, and having care- fully selected the most fortunate day in the calendar, gave notice that he was coming in procession with the gilded sedan and band of music to take her away. Shueyun hurried over to inform his niece, and bid her prepare herself. She, however, with affected ignorance, and the greatest shew of unconcern, inquired what it was she was to prepare for?
“You seem disposed to joke,” exclaimed her uncle, with some surprise. “ Kwoketsu is coming in state this very day to wed you,—the procession will presently be at the door—you must know this—why affect ignorance of it?”
“ He is coming to wed your daughter,” replied his niece: “‘ what concem has it with me?”
More astonished still, the other cried out, “ Has this young man engaged the assistance and good offices of so many friends to wed your cousin? A pretty crea- ture is she, truly, that he should send all those presents on her account!”
“ In the absence of my exiled father,” said Shuey-
pingsin,
pmgsin, “ his whole household is under my especial
charge—it cannot be me that Kwoketsu is coming to
wed.”
Annoyed as heams, Shueyun still pretended to laugh it off; “ You talk-wery well,” said he—“ but your pro- ceedings have not been quite so prudent.”
' “ If I do not wish to marry,” replied his niece, “¢ who is there here that shall compel me? I -am con- scious of nothing improper in what I have done.”
“Not wishing to marry,” said Shueyun, “ you should not’ have written and delivered to me your ticket of nativity: but that being once sent to the bride- . groom, I suspect the two words ‘ not marry’ are not so easily to be uttered.”
“ Uncle,” exclaimed she, “do not persist in your - dream: I never wished to wed this person—what then should have induced me to write out my own nuptial ticket for him ?”
' “ My good niece,” said he, laughing, “ this cannot avail you any thing: do you think that when I took the eight characters, written by your own hand, to have them beaten out in gold, I could have been under any mistake about the fact ? However, I am more prudent on this occasion than yourself, for the original paper is preserved in proof: therefore, say what you will, it can avail you nothing.”
“ If I really did write my own eight characters,” replied Shueypingsin, “there is nothing more to be
said ;
said; but if I did not, you must cease to persecute
me farther on this subject. Suppose you go and bring
the paper, that we may all examine it together.”
“ That will be very fair,” said he, and. went straight over to his house, whence he brought the paper in question, accompanied by his three sons, to confront them with his niece.—“ Now,” cried Shueyun, hold- ing up the paper to her, “ was not that written by yourself—what have you to say to that ?”
“ Uncle,” said the young lady, “ let me ask you the date of my birth?”
“ You were bom,” replied he, “on the 15th of the 8th moon, in the second watch—the same evening I was sitting drinking with your father, in celebration of the harvest moon : it would be strange if I did not know the day.”
“ And when was my cousin bom 2?” inquired | his niece.
“On the 6th of the 6th moon,” replied he, “ mid-day : the weather was very hot, and season much suffering to her mother.”
“* Have you examined this ticket of nativity,” said Shueypingsin, “ to see what date it records ?”
“ Those are merely eight astronomical characters,” replied Shueyun, “ without any mention of months or days—what should I examine them for?”
“‘ But do you not understand what they mean ?” said his niece.
VOL. 1. F “No,
“ No,” answered he, “ I do not*—I only know that
when they were beaten out in gold, the eight characters
together weighed about one tael and one-third.”
“The eight characters on this ticket,” observed Shueypingsin, “‘ express the date of my cousin’s birth— they have no reference to me whatever: why do you come and torment me, then?”
“ They are your’s,” exclaimed Shueyun, in a tone of rage and despair, “ for you wrote them yourself !—how can you pretend they are your cousin’s ?”
“ Do not put yourself into a passion, uncle,” said the young lady, “ but let us, in order to remove all doubt, send for a calculator of nativities, and ask him whether these characters mean the 15th of the 8th moon, or the 6th of the 6th.”
Shueyun stood stupified for a while, and then began to rave, and stamp with his feet. ‘“‘ My daughter,” exclaimed he, “ has been sold and deceived by you, it is evident; but your falsehood must suffer, and the truth prevail. Not only do Kwoketsu and the two magistrates know it, but the whole neighbourhood can witness that the match was made for yourself; and though you may have falsified the nuptial ticket, yet if all the persons engaged in the transaction are of one voice, how are you to extricate yourself so cleanly ?”
“There is nothing from which I need extricate
myself,”
- This is as before, to place him in a contemptibte light, for being
gnorant of what he ought to know.
myself,” replied his niece: “ if the young man espoused
me, why did he send the presents to your house instead
of to mine ?—why did you receive them, and return an
acknowledgment on account of your daughter?—not a
single word Shronghout the business had any reference
to myself.” : - : .
“ But it was with your own consent,” said he, « that
I ected as your father, and therefore called you my
daughter,—it wes in consequence of our mutual engage-
ment !”
“ Had you no daughter of your own,” -answered she,
“ that indefinite term might have been allowable ; but
as-you have a-daughter,; you should have made some
distinction between us, and called me your younger, or
second daughter :~—even according to your own argu-
ment, then, you-can make nothing of it.”
The unfortunate uncle, finding the case go so nmueh
against him, lost all patience: he thumped his breast,
stamped on the ground, and began to weep aloud.
“ Enough, enough,” cried: he, “I see you have undone
me! This young man is notoriously violent ; his father
is of the emperor’s council: he bas spent avast deal of
money on your accownt; then, to-day, on the joyful
occasion of his ‘nuptials, he has invited all his noble
relatives, and prepared a feast ; the music and the state
sedan have been ready since morming:—and when even-
ing arrives, he will ride hither on purpose to carry you
away. What think you he will do when he finds no
r2 bride
bride ready for him? I make you responsible for
whatever happens ;—nay, for my very life! You have
had no scruple in injuring me; and I, for my part,
shall not hesitate to set aside every feeling, and accuse
you before the magistrates ; when the circumstances are
known, it will be plain that you have deceived me, not
that I deceived Kwoketsu. The magistrates shall judge
between us; and when it comes to that, I suspect you
will make but a poor figure, whatever may be your elo-
quence or address.” So saying he began to weep afresh.
. “ If you accuse me, uncle,” said Shueypingsin, very
calmly, “ mine will not be a difficult task ; I need only
state that you would have taken advantage of my
father’s exile to inveigle me, a helpless orphan, into
marriage, for the sake of possessing the family pro-
perty. I apprehend your guilt would considerably
exceed mine.”
“IT do not wish to accuse you,” said her uncle, frightened by what she said; “ but how can I other- wise escape the consequences of this affair ?”
“ If you only wish to escape the consequences,” observed the young lady, “ without involving me in the question, there is an easy way for you.”
Shueyun was somewhat calmed on hearing this; but still exclaimed, “‘ A god or a spirit* could hardly unravel the knot—why talk, then, of its being so easy ?”
“ f ® What the Chinese denominate Shinsten, wre race of imagines
beings, haunting the woods and mountains, and enjoying a state of lazy , beatitude,
“ If you will listen to my scheme,” answeted she,
the extreme trouble in which you are now placed, will
be converted into an equal excess of joy and satis-
faction.” - .
Shueyun thought this was very strange. “ With little less than death hanging over me,” said he, “ what hopes can I entertain of the kind? I shall be satis- fied if you can only save me from the resentment of the bridegroom.”
“ T think my cousin, your daughter,” said Shuey- pingsin, “‘ is seventeen years of age, and you must wish her married. What prevents your taking this opportu- nity, and boldly effecting her nuptials?—Why go in search of trouble, when you may conclude this business so admirably ?”
. Her uncle held down his head in deep silence, and then exclaimed, with a mixture of fear and joy, “ This, to be sure, is one way; but then your cousin is so inelegant, and so unlike yourself, that Kwoketsu will be discontented and find fault.” _ “« The nuptial ticket,” replied the young lady, “ was evidently
beatitude, exempt from the cares and the passions of life; but still exercising some influence over human affairs. They are drawn as old men with long beards, or as young females, sauntering about in the moonshine, amidst a landscape of rocks and woods. We find something analogous in the early superstitions of every country.
“* Jam tum relligio pavidos terrebat agrestes
“ Dira loci: jam tum sylvam saxumque tremebant ;
“* Hoc nemus, hunc inquit, frondoso vertice collem
- Quis Deus incertum est, habitat Deus.”
evidently my. cousin’s: the presents were evidently
brought to your house; and the card of acknowledg-
ment as evidently received them on account of your
daughter. This evening he comes openly to your
house to espouse her ; and she ought plainly, therefore,
to go and be married to him. What fault can he find ?
«But let him find fault ; you have done nothing infor-
mal, and have nothing to fear. Besides, this match
will place you at once among the first persons in the
province:;* and whatever may have occurred previously,
may afterwards be easily got over. Was I right in pro-
musing that your sorrow should be converted into joy ?”
Shueyun’s countenance cleared up. “‘ Whence is it,
child,” exclaimed he, “ that, young and inexperienced as you are, such excellent contrivances should arise in your mind,—that you should be able to reduce your uncle to the brink of death, and then so suddenly restore him to life again ?”
“ You have no right to complain of my deceiving you, uncle,” “answered she ; ; “you sought to do me a serious injury,+ and I was obliged to protect myself to the best of my power.”
“ Say no more about it,” said the other ;—“ but now
for
- Literally, ‘ you will possess the honours of Tueshan.’ This is 9
famous mountain in Shantong province (where the scene is laid), near Tsenanfoo, the chief city.
+ Although in her own defence, the deception practised throughout
by Shueypingsin must not be too strictly judged by European notions. In
for your cousin, plain and awkward as she is, and so
totally unprepared for this emergency: you must come
over and array her for the marriage !”
Shueypingsin readily assented to this, and taking over two of her own waiting-maids, superintended her cousin’s toilet from noon even until dusk, seeing her hair combed, her face smoothed, her teeth scrubbed, and her eyebrows dressed.* Then the various orna- ments were piled upon her head; her person was ar rayed in habiliments of costly silk and embroidery, and she was duly perfumed with rare and precious wnguents. Our young lady next instructed her cousin to affect an excess of modesty on being introduced to the inner apartments ; to insist on all the lights being extinguished ; and, in order to prevent a too early exposure of her face, to retire to rest very soon. The
maids In fact, deceit of all kinds is rather honoured than discouraged in China. The very words which express it, imply some superiority over the person deceived. Of the common expression he-péen ‘to cheat,’ the first syllable meansalso to ‘ insult ;’ and the second, in its original and derivative sense, implies ‘ to bestride a horse and ride him.’ Gibbon, in a note to his History, observes: ‘‘ There is yet room for an interesting work, which ‘* should trace the connexion between the manners and the languages of “ nations.” In China, where almost every long journey is performed by water, haow foongshuey, ‘good wind and water,’ has become expres- sive, not only of ‘ good luck’ on a journey, but of good luck in every circumstance and affair of life. In like manner (if we quit China), it could only be among a polished people that ‘benigne !’ meant the refusal
of a favour ; or that, among ourselves, ‘ pardon me,’ has become equi- valent to ‘no.’
- By reducing them to a narrow curved line, which they compare
to a willow-leaf in spring. The above is of cuurse said satirically.
maids were likewise directed, when they came to fill the
cup of alliance, to cause the bridegroom to get as tipsy
as possible. If the latter, after a view of her face the
next morning, began to give vent to his anger and dis-
appointment, her cousin was instructed to throw herself
into a fit of pretended desperation, and search for some
means of destroying herself; which would, no doubt,
alarm the bridegroom, and bring him to his senses.
Though this young lady’s intellect was not of the first
order, she soon learnt a lesson which conduced so mate-
tially to the promotion of her own selfish interests ;—
she was presently arrayed, and prepared in all respects
for the enterprize.
The bridegroom, mounted on a choice steed, and attended by a huge retinue, came in the evening to fetch home his bride ; and the terrified Shueyun, with- out a choice left him how to act, dried the sweat from his forehead as he pushed his daughter into the state sedan ;* when the music striking up, she was carried off in nuptial procession.
Though cunning their vile plots, and laid with care, No match prov’d they for her intelligence: Vain was the fury of the t robber bird, Its destined victim had removed her nest. The
- There was some reason for his alarm ; for the law is, “ If the family
of the bride deceives the family of the bridegroom, so as to induce them to contract a marriage by indicating and leading them to expect a different person from the one actually named and described in the contract, the giver away of the woman shall be punished with eighty blows, and her family shall restore the marriage presents."°—STAUN- ton’s Penal Cade, sect. cis + See Treatise on Poetry, part ii.
- Theyoung man, delighted at the idea of having secured
such a prize as Shueypingsin, escorted the bride to the
gate of his own house, where a crowd of female at-
tendants met and supported her to the principal hall.
An embroidered silk veil being thrown over her head, and
her whole person adorned like some goddess, the people
present of course took her for Shueypingsin, and were
very loud in their admiration. When the usual re-
verences had been performed, they proceeded to the
bridal chamber, where the cup of alliance was prepared,
and where she was invited to pledge the bridegroom—
but the young lady had received her lesson, and ran
immediately to hide herself within the curtains, shew-
ing the most determined resolution to remain there.
Kwoketsu took this for a natural bashfulness, and
unwilling to use violence, went out to the principal hall,
where his relations were assembled to celebrate the
nuptials. The joyfulness of the occasion, and the
exhortations of his friends, caused him very soon to
become fuddled ; but he contrived to make his way
back to where his bride was, and where he found only
a few of the candles lighted, and the young lady herself
ensconced within the curtains. He made his way towards
the bed, tipsy as he was, and asked why she was not
asleep at that late hour? She, however, turned her
face another way, and called to the women, in a low
voice, to extinguish the lights. The maids, before they
ventured to obey, waited for orders from Kwoketsu,
who
who very complaisantly told them to do as their
mistress bade them, and take their departure.
Thenext moming about daylight, when both awaked, the bridegroom turned his eyes towards his new wife, and to his utter dismay perceived, instead of the beauty whom he had before beheld by stealth, a woman with a broad forehead, square face, and the most plain and ordinary features! He jumped up, and throwing on his clothes in a great hurry, exclaimed, “ You are not the bride I was contracted to !—what do you do here ?”
“ Who shall tell me that ?” replied the lady; “ look
again.”.
Kwoketsu stared at her, and shook his head. “‘ Alas, no!” said he, “ she whom I meant was like a fair flower* after rain, or the willow seen through a mist !— nothing like what I now behold !—I have been sadly abused by that old dog Shueyun !”
His spouse now flew into a great passion. “ Have you not married me?” cried she; “ am I not your wife ?— why do you abuse my father to my face in this un- mannerly style ?”
“ Alas, alas! then,” said the young man, “ it was his niece whom he took me to see; you call him father, and must needs be his own daughter, not her whom I intended to espouse.”
“ How can you be so stupid,” exclaimed his spouse,
as
- Hibiscus mutabilis—Fooyung.
as she sat up in bed and put on her clothes ; “ you are
talking of my uncle's daughter! If you wished to marry
her, what prevented your asking /is consent, instead of
coming to my father? Besides, the nuptial ticket,
which my father sent, was mine, and on the card of
acknowledgment was written ‘ his daughter,’—surely
you must have seen this! Your presents, moreover,
were sent to our house, and you came in person to our
house to receive me: how then can you pretend it was
to espouse any one but myself? Allied to a family of
rank, I have been brought to your house, and openly
accepted as your wife, with all the customary and legal
forms of marriage, and after all, you begin to insult me
with such language as this! How am I to perform the
duties of a wife,* or to raise up descendants for you
hereafter ?—nay, it is better to put an end to myself
at once!” With this she jumped down from the bed
in a pretended paroxysm of despair, and seized hold
of a large red handkerchief, as if about to strangle
herself.
The vexation of Kwoketsu was sufficiently great on the occasion, but he was in a still greater fright to see her in this desperate temper. Besotted and deceived as he had been by the violence of his passion,—would the reader learn the farther fruits of his folly, he must attend to the following chapter.
- Literally, ‘ draw water and pound rice,’ a figurative expression for
the same.