CHAPTER III. THE PROBATION OF SEN HENG
Related by Kai Lung, at Wu-whei, as a rebuke to Wang Yu and certain others who had questioned the practical value of his stories.
"It is an undoubted fact that this person has not realized the directremunerative advantage which he confidently anticipated," remarked theidle and discontented pipe-maker Wang Yu, as, with a few other personsof similar inclination, he sat in the shade of the great mulberry treeat Wu-whei, waiting for the evil influence of certain very mysterioussounds, which had lately been heard, to pass away before he resumedhis occupation. "When the seemingly proficient and trustworthy Kai Lungfirst made it his practice to journey to Wu-whei, and narrate to us thedoings of persons of all classes of life," he continued, "it seemed tothis one that by closely following the recital of how Mandarins obtainedtheir high position, and exceptionally rich persons their wealth, hemust, in the end, inevitably be rendered competent to follow in theirillustrious footsteps. Yet in how entirely contrary a direction hasthe whole course of events tended! In spite of the honourable intentionwhich involved a frequent absence from his place of commerce, thosewho journeyed thither with the set purpose of possessing one of hisjustly-famed opium pipes so perversely regarded the matter that, aftertwo or three fruitless visits, they deliberately turned their footstepstowards the workshop of the inelegant Ming-yo, whose pipes areconfessedly greatly inferior to those produced by the person who is nowspeaking. Nevertheless, the rapacious Kai Lung, to whose influencethe falling off in custom was thus directly attributable, persistentlydeclined to bear any share whatever in the loss which his professioncaused, and, indeed, regarded the circumstance from so grasping andnarrow-minded a point of observation that he would not even go to thelength of suffering this much-persecuted one to join the circle of hishearers without on every occasion making the customary offering. In thismanner a well-intentioned pursuit of riches has insidiously led thisperson within measurable distance of the bolted dungeon for those who donot meet their just debts, while the only distinction likely to resultfrom his assiduous study of the customs and methods of those highin power is that of being publicly bowstrung as a warning to others.Manifestedly the pointed finger of the unreliable Kai Lung is a verytreacherous guide."
"It is related," said a dispassionate voice behind them, "that a personof limited intelligence, on being assured that he would certainly oneday enjoy an adequate competence if he closely followed the industrioushabits of the thrifty bee, spent the greater part of his life inanointing his thighs with the yellow powder which he laboriouslycollected from the flowers of the field. It is not so recorded; butdoubtless the nameless one in question was by profession a maker ofopium pipes, for this person has observed from time to time how thatoccupation, above all others, tends to degrade the mental faculties, andto debase its followers to a lower position than that of the beasts oflabour. Learn therefrom, O superficial Wang Yu, that wisdom lies inan intelligent perception of great principles, and not in a slavishimitation of details which are, for the most part, beyond your simpleand insufficient understanding."
"Such may, indeed, be the case, Kai Lung," replied Wang Yu sullenly--forit was the story-teller in question who had approached unperceived, andwho now stood before them--"but it is none the less a fact that, on thelast occasion when this misguided person joined the attending circleat your uplifted voice, a Mandarin of the third degree chanced topass through Wu-whei, and halted at the door-step of 'The Fountain ofBeauty,' fully intending to entrust this one with the designing andfashioning of a pipe of exceptional elaborateness. This matter, by hisabsence, has now passed from him, and to-day, through listening to thenarrative of how the accomplished Yuin-Pel doubled his fortune, he isthe poorer by many taels."
"Yet to-morrow, when the name of the Mandarin of the third degreeappears in the list of persons who have transferred their entireproperty to those who are nearly related to them in order to avoid itbeing seized to satisfy the just claims made against them," replied KaiLung, "you will be able to regard yourself the richer by so many taels."
At these words, which recalled to the minds of all who were present thenot uncommon manner of behaving observed by those of exalted rank, whofreely engaged persons to supply them with costly articles without inany way regarding the price to be paid, Wang Yu was silent.
"Nevertheless," exclaimed a thin voice from the edge of the group whichsurrounded Kai Lung, "it in nowise follows that the stories are inthemselves excellent, or of such a nature that the hearing of theirrecital will profit a person. Wang Yu may be satisfied with empty words,but there are others present who were studying deep matters when WangYu was learning the art of walking. If Kai Lung's stories are of suchremunerative benefit as the person in question claims, how does itchance that Kai Lung himself who is assuredly the best acquainted withthem, stands before us in mean apparel, and on all occasions confessingan unassuming poverty?"
"It is Yan-hi Pung," went from mouth to mouth among thebystanders--"Yan-hi Pung, who traces on paper the words of chants andhistorical tales, and sells them to such as can afford to buy. Andalthough his motive in exposing the emptiness of Kai Lung's stories maynot be Heaven-sent--inasmuch as Kai Lung provides us with such matteras he himself purveys, only at a much more moderate price--yet his wordsare well considered, and must therefore be regarded."
"O Yan-hi Pung," replied Kai Lung, hearing the name from those whostood about him, and moving towards the aged person, who stood meanwhileleaning upon his staff, and looking from side to side with quicklymoving eyelids in a manner very offensive towards the story-teller,"your just remark shows you to be a person of exceptional wisdom, evenas your well-bowed legs prove you to be one of great bodily strength;for justice is ever obvious and wisdom hidden, and they who buildstructures for endurance discard the straight and upright and insistupon such an arch as you so symmetrically exemplify."
Speaking in this conciliatory manner, Kai Lung came up to Yan-hi Pung,and taking between his fingers a disc of thick polished crystal,which the aged and short-sighted chant-writer used for the purpose ofmagnifying and bringing nearer the letters upon which he was engaged,and which hung around his neck by an embroidered cord, the story-tellerheld it aloft, crying aloud:
"Observe closely, and presently it will be revealed and made clear howthe apparently very conflicting words of the wise Yan-hi Pung, and thoseof this unassuming but nevertheless conscientious person who is nowaddressing you, are, in reality, as one great truth."
With this assurance Kai Lung moved the crystal somewhat, so that itengaged the sun's rays, and concentrated them upon the uncovered crownof the unsuspecting and still objectionably-engaged person beforehim. Without a moment's pause, Yan-hi Pung leapt high into the air,repeatedly pressing his hand to the spot thus selected and crying aloud:
"Evil dragons and thunderbolts! but the touch was as hot as a scar leftby the uncut nail of the sublime Buddha!"
"Yet the crystal--" remarked Kai Lung composedly, passing it into thehands of those who stood near.
"Is as cool as the innermost leaves of the riverside sycamore," theydeclared.
Kai Lung said nothing further, but raised both his hands above his head,as if demanding their judgment. Thereupon a loud shout went up on hisbehalf, for the greater part of them loved to see the manner in whichhe brushed aside those who would oppose him; and the sight of the agedperson Yan-hi Pung leaping far into the air had caused them to becomeexceptionally amused, and, in consequence, very amiably disposed towardsthe one who had afforded them the entertainment.
"The story of Sen Heng," began Kai Lung, when the discussion hadterminated in the manner already recorded, "concerns itself with one whopossessed an unsuspecting and ingenious nature, which ill-fitted himto take an ordinary part in the everyday affairs of life, no matter howengaging such a character rendered him among his friends and relations.Having at an early age been entrusted with a burden of rice and otherproduce from his father's fields to dispose of in the best possiblemanner at a neighbour
ing mart, and having completed the transaction in amanner extremely advantageous to those with whom he trafficked but veryintolerable to the one who had sent him, it at once became apparent thatsome other means of gaining a livelihood must be discovered for him.
"'Beyond all doubt,' said his father, after considering the matter for aperiod, 'it is a case in which one should be governed by the wise adviceand example of the Mandarin Poo-chow.'
"'Illustrious sire,' exclaimed Sen Heng, who chanced to be present, 'theilliterate person who stands before you is entirely unacquaintedwith the one to whom you have referred; nevertheless, he will, as yousuggest, at once set forth, and journeying with all speed to the abodeof the estimable Poo-chow, solicit his experience and advice.'
"'Unless a more serious loss should be occasioned,' replied the fathercoldly, 'there is no necessity to adopt so extreme a course. Thebenevolent Mandarin in question existed at a remote period of the Thangdynasty, and the incident to which an allusion has been made arose inthe following way: To the public court of the enlightened Poo-chow therecame one day a youth of very inferior appearance and hesitatingmanner, who besought his explicit advice, saying: "The degraded andunprepossessing being before you, O select and venerable Mandarin, is bynature and attainments a person of the utmost timidity and fearfulness.From this cause life itself has become a detestable observance in hiseyes, for those who should be his companions of both sexes hold him inundisguised contempt, making various unendurable allusions to the colourand nature of his internal organs whenever he would endeavour to jointhem. Instruct him, therefore, the manner in which this cowardice may beremoved, and no service in return will be esteemed too great." "Thereis a remedy," replied the benevolent Mandarin, without any hesitationwhatever, "which if properly carried out is efficacious beyond thepossibility of failure. Certain component parts of your body arelacking, and before the desired result can be obtained these must besupplied from without. Of all courageous things the tiger is the mostfearless, and in consequence it combines all those ingredients which yourequire; furthermore, as the teeth of the tiger are the instruments withwhich it accomplishes its vengeful purpose, there reside the essentialprinciples of its inimitable courage. Let the person who seeksinstruction in the matter, therefore, do as follows: taking the teeth ofa full-grown tiger as soon as it is slain, and before the essenceshave time to return into the body, he shall grind them to a powder, andmixing the powder with a portion of rice, consume it. After seven dayshe must repeat the observance, and yet again a third time, after anothersimilar lapse. Let him, then, return for further guidance; for thepresent the matter interests this person no further." At these words theyouth departed, filled with a new and inspired hope; for the wisdom ofthe sagacious Poo-chow was a matter which did not admit of any doubtwhatever, and he had spoken with well-defined certainty of the successof the experiment. Nevertheless, after several days industriously spentin endeavouring to obtain by purchase the teeth of a newly-slain tiger,the details of the undertaking began to assume a new and entirelyunforeseen aspect; for those whom he approached as being the mostlikely to possess what he required either became very immoderately anddisagreeably amused at the nature of the request, or regarded it as anew and ill-judged form of ridicule, which they prepared to avenge byblows and by base remarks of the most personal variety. At length itbecame unavoidably obvious to the youth that if he was to obtain thearticles in question it would first be necessary that he should becomeadept in the art of slaying tigers, for in no other way were therequired conditions likely to be present. Although the prospect was onewhich did not greatly tend to allure him, yet he did not regard itwith the utterly incapable emotions which would have been present on anearlier occasion; for the habit of continually guarding himself fromthe onslaughts of those who received his inquiry in an attitude ofnarrow-minded distrust had inspired him with a new-found valour, whilehis amiable and unrestrained manner of life increased his bodily vigourin every degree. First perfecting himself in the use of the bow andarrow, therefore, he betook himself to a wild and very extensive forest,and there concealed himself among the upper foliage of a tall treestanding by the side of a pool of water. On the second night of hiswatch, the youth perceived a large but somewhat ill-conditioned tigerapproaching the pool for the purpose of quenching its thirst, whereuponhe tremblingly fitted an arrow to his bowstring, and profiting by theinstruction he had received, succeeded in piercing the creature tothe heart. After fulfilling the observance laid upon him by thediscriminating Poo-chow, the youth determined to remain in the forest,and sustain himself upon such food as fell to his weapons, until thetime arrived when he should carry out the rite for the last time. At theend of seven days, so subtle had he become in all kinds of hunting, andso strengthened by the meat and herbs upon which he existed, that hedisdained to avail himself of the shelter of a tree, but standing openlyby the side of the water, he engaged the attention of the first tigerwhich came to drink, and discharged arrow after arrow into its body withunfailing power and precision. So entrancing, indeed, had the pursuitbecome that the next seven days lengthened out into the apparent periodof as many moons, in such a leisurely manner did they rise and fall. Onthe appointed day, without waiting for the evening to arrive, the youthset out with the first appearance of light, and penetrated into the mostinaccessible jungles, crying aloud words of taunt-laden challenge to allthe beasts therein, and accusing the ancestors of their race of everyimaginable variety of evil behaviour. Yet so great had become the renownof the one who stood forth, and so widely had the warning voice beenpassed from tree to tree, preparing all who dwelt in the forest againsthis anger, that not even the fiercest replied openly, though low growlsand mutterings proceeded from every cave within a bow-shot's distancearound. Wearying quickly of such feeble and timorous demonstrations, theyouth rushed into the cave from which the loudest murmurs proceeded, andthere discovered a tiger of unnatural size, surrounded by the bones ofinnumerable ones whom it had devoured; for from time to time itsravages became so great and unbearable, that armies were raised inthe neighbouring villages and sent to destroy it, but more than afew stragglers never returned. Plainly recognizing that a just andinevitable vengeance had overtaken it, the tiger made only a veryinferior exhibition of resistance, and the youth, having first stunnedit with a blow of his closed hand, seized it by the middle, andrepeatedly dashed its head against the rocky sides of its retreat. Hethen performed for the third time the ceremony enjoined by the Mandarin,and having cast upon the cringing and despicable forms concealed in thesurrounding woods and caves a look of dignified and ineffable contempt,set out upon his homeward journey, and in the space of three days' timereached the town of the versatile Poo-chow. "Behold," exclaimed thatperson, when, lifting up his eyes, he saw the youth approaching ladenwith the skins of the tigers and other spoils, "now at least the youthsand maidens of your native village will no longer withdraw themselvesfrom the company of so undoubtedly heroic a person." "IllustriousMandarin," replied the other, casting both his weapons and his trophiesbefore his inspired adviser's feet, "what has this person to do with thelittle ones of either sex? Give him rather the foremost place in yourever-victorious company of bowmen, so that he may repay in part theundoubted debt under which he henceforth exists." This proposal foundfavour with the pure-minded Poo-chow, so that in course of time theunassuming youth who had come supplicating his advice became thevaliant commander of his army, and the one eventually chosen to presentplighting gifts to his only daughter.'
"When the father had completed the narrative of how the faint-heartedyouth became in the end a courageous and resourceful leader of bowmen,Sen looked up, and not in any degree understanding the purpose of thestory, or why it had been set forth before him, exclaimed:
"'Undoubtedly the counsel of the graceful and intelligent MandarinPoo-chow was of inestimable service in the case recorded, and thisperson would gladly adopt it as his guide for the future, on the chanceof it leading to a similar honourable career; but alas! there are notigers to be found throug
hout this Province.'
"'It is a loss which those who are engaged in commerce in the city ofHankow strive to supply adequately,' replied his father, who had anassured feeling that it would be of no avail to endeavour to showSen that the story which he had just related was one setting forth adefinite precept rather than fixing an exact manner of behaviour. 'Forthat reason,' he continued, 'this person has concluded an arrangement bywhich you will journey to that place, and there enter into the house ofcommerce of an expert and conscientious vendor of moving contrivances.Among so rapacious and keen-witted a class of persons as they of Hankow,it is exceedingly unlikely that your amiable disposition will involveany individual one in an unavoidably serious loss, and even shouldsuch an unforeseen event come to pass, there will, at least, be theundeniable satisfaction of the thought that the unfortunate occurrencewill in no way affect the prosperity of those to whom you are bound bythe natural ties of affection.'
"'Benevolent and virtuous-minded father,' replied Sen gently, butspeaking with an inspired conviction; 'from his earliest infancy thisunassuming one has been instructed in an inviolable regard for the FiveGeneral Principles of Fidelity to the Emperor, Respect for Parents,Harmony between Husband and Wife, Agreement among Brothers, andConstancy in Friendship. It will be entirely unnecessary to inform sopious-minded a person as the one now being addressed that no evil canattend the footsteps of an individual who courteously observes theseenactments.'
"'Without doubt it is so arranged by the protecting Deities,' repliedthe father; 'yet it is an exceedingly desirable thing for those who areresponsible in the matter that the footsteps to which reference has beenmade should not linger in the neighbourhood of the village, but should,with all possible speed, turn in the direction of Hankow.'
"In this manner it came to pass that Sen Heng set forth on the followingday, and coming without delay to the great and powerful city of Hankow,sought out the house of commerce known as 'The Pure Gilt Dragon ofExceptional Symmetry,' where the versatile King-y-Yang engaged in theentrancing occupation of contriving moving figures, and other devices ofan ingenious and mirth-provoking character, which he entrusted into thehands of numerous persons to sell throughout the Province. From thiscause, although enjoying a very agreeable recompense from the saleof the objects, the greatly perturbed King-y-Yang suffered continualinternal misgivings; for the habit of behaving of those whom heappointed to go forth in the manner described was such that he could notentirely dismiss from his mind an assured conviction that the detailswere not invariably as they were represented to be. Frequently wouldone return in a very deficient and unpresentable condition of garment,asserting that on his return, while passing through a lonely andunprotected district, he had been assailed by an armed band of robbers,and despoiled of all he possessed. Another would claim to have been madethe sport of evil spirits, who led him astray by means of false signsin the forest, and finally destroyed his entire burden of commodities,accompanying the unworthy act by loud cries of triumph and remarks ofan insulting nature concerning King-y-Yang; for the honourable characterand charitable actions of the person in question had made him veryobjectionable to that class of beings. Others continually accountedfor the absence of the required number of taels by declaring that ata certain point of their journey they were made the object of marksof amiable condescension on the part of a high and dignified publicofficial, who, on learning in whose service they were, immediatelyprofessed an intimate personal friendship with the estimableKing-y-Yang, and, out of a feeling of gratified respect for him, tookaway all such contrivances as remained undisposed of, promising toarrange the payment with the refined King-y-Yang himself when theyshould next meet. For these reasons King-y-Yang was especially desirousof obtaining one whose spoken word could be received, upon all points,as an assured fact, and it was, therefore, with an emotion of internallightness that he confidently heard from those who were acquaintedwith the person that Sen Heng was, by nature and endowments, utterlyincapable of representing matters of even the most insignificant degreeto be otherwise than what they really were.
Filled with an acute anxiety to discover what amount of success wouldbe accorded to his latest contrivance, King-y-Yang led Sen Heng to asecluded chamber, and there instructed him in the method of sellingcertain apparently very ingeniously constructed ducks, which would havethe appearance of swimming about on the surface of an open vessel ofwater, at the same time uttering loud and ever-increasing cries, afterthe manner of their kind. With ill-restrained admiration at the skilfulnature of the deception, King-y-Yang pointed out that the ducks whichwere to be disposed of, and upon which a seemingly very low price wasfixed, did not, in reality, possess any of these accomplishments, butwould, on the contrary, if placed in water, at once sink to the bottomin a most incapable manner; it being part of Sen's duty to exhibit onlya specially prepared creature which was restrained upon the surface bymeans of hidden cords, and, while bending over it, to simulate the criesas agreed upon. After satisfying himself that Sen could perform thesemovements competently, King-y-Yang sent him forth, particularly charginghim that he should not return without a sum of money which fullyrepresented the entire number of ducks entrusted to him, or an adequatenumber of unsold ducks to compensate for the deficiency.
"At the end of seven days Sen returned to King-y-Yang, and althoughentirely without money, even to the extent of being unable to providehimself with the merest necessities of a frugal existence, he honourablyreturned the full number of ducks with which he had set out. It thenbecame evident that although Sen had diligently perfected himself in thesounds and movements which King-y-Yang had contrived, he had notfully understood that they were to be executed stealthily, but had,in consequence, manifested the accomplishment openly, not unreasonablysupposing that such an exhibition would be an additional inducement tothose who appeared to be well-disposed towards the purchase. From thiscause it came about that although large crowds were attracted by Sen'smanner of conducting the enterprise, none actually engaged to purchaseeven the least expensively-valued of the ducks, although severalpublicly complimented Sen on his exceptional proficiency, and repeatedlyurged him to louder and more frequent cries, suggesting that by suchmeans possible buyers might be attracted to the spot from remote andinaccessible villages in the neighbourhood.
"When King-y-Yang learned how the venture had been carried out, hebecame most intolerably self-opinionated in his expressions towardsSen's mental attainments and the manner of his bringing up. It wasentirely in vain that the one referred to pointed out in a tone ofpersuasive and courteous restraint that he had not, down to the mostminute particulars, transgressed either the general or the specificobligations of the Five General Principles, and that, therefore, he wasblameless, and even worthy of commendation for the manner in which hehad acted. With an inelegant absence of all refined feeling, King-y-Yangmost incapably declined to discuss the various aspects of thecontroversy in an amiable manner, asserting, indeed, that for theconsideration of as many brass cash as Sen had mentioned principleshe would cause him to be thrown into prison as a person of unnaturalineptitude. Then, without rewarding Sen for the time spent in hisservice, or even inviting him to partake of food and wine, theinsufferable deviser of very indifferent animated contrivances againsent him out, this time into the streets of Hankow with a number ofdelicately inlaid boxes, remarking in a tone of voice which plainlyindicated an exactly contrary desire that he would be filled with anoverwhelming satisfaction if Sen could discover any excuse for returninga second time without disposing of anything. This remark Sen's ingenuousnature led him to regard as a definite fact, so that when a passer-by,who tarried to examine the boxes chanced to remark that the coloursmight have been arranged to greater advantage, in which case he wouldcertainly have purchased at least one of the articles, Sen hastenedback, although in a distant part of the city, to inform King-y-Yang ofthe suggestion, adding that he himself had been favourably impressedwith the improvement which could be effected by such an alteration.
"The nature of
King-y-Yang's emotion when Sen again presented himselfbefore him--and when by repeatedly applied tests on various parts of hisbody he understood that he was neither the victim of malicious demons,nor wandering in an insensible condition in the Middle Air, but that thecause of the return was such as had been plainly stated--was of so mixedand benumbing a variety, that for a considerable space of time he wasquite unable to express himself in any way, either by words or by signs.By the time these attributes returned there had formed itself withinKing-y-Yang's mind a design of most contemptible malignity, which seemedto present to his enfeebled intellect a scheme by which Sen would beadequately punished, and finally disposed of, without causing him anyfurther trouble in the matter. For this purpose he concealed the realcondition of his sentiments towards Sen, and warmly expressed himself interms of delicate flattery regarding that one's sumptuous and unfailingtaste in the matter of the blending of the colours. Without doubt, hecontinued, such an alteration as the one proposed would greatly increasethe attractiveness of the inlaid boxes, and the matter should be engagedupon without delay. In the meantime, however, not to waste the immediateservices of so discriminating and persevering a servant, he wouldentrust Sen with a mission of exceptional importance, which wouldcertainly tend greatly to his remunerative benefit. In the districtof Yun, in the north-western part of the Province, said the craftyand treacherous King-y-Yang, a particular kind of insect was greatlyesteemed on account of the beneficent influence which it exercised overthe rice plants, causing them to mature earlier, and to attain a greatersize than ever happened in its absence. In recent years this creaturehad rarely been seen in the neighbourhood of Yun, and, in consequence,the earth-tillers throughout that country had been brought into a mostdisconcerting state of poverty, and would, inevitably, be prepared toexchange whatever they still possessed for even a few of the insects, inorder that they might liberate them to increase, and so entirely reversethe objectionable state of things. Speaking in this manner, King-y-Yangentrusted to Sen a carefully prepared box containing a score of theinsects, obtained at a great cost from a country beyond the BitterWater, and after giving him further directions concerning the journey,and enjoining the utmost secrecy about the valuable contents of the box,he sent him forth.
"The discreet and sagacious will already have understood the nature ofKing-y-Yang's intolerable artifice; but, for the benefit of the amiableand unsuspecting, it is necessary to make it clear that the words whichhe had spoken bore no sort of resemblance to affairs as they reallyexisted. The district around Yun was indeed involved in a mostunprepossessing destitution, but this had been caused, not by theabsence of any rare and auspicious insect, but by the presence of vasthordes of locusts, which had overwhelmed and devoured the entire facethe country. It so chanced that among the recently constructed devicesat 'The Pure Gilt Dragon of Exceptional Symmetry' were a number ofelegant representations of rice fields and fruit gardens so skilfullyfashioned that they deceived even the creatures, and attracted, amongother living things, all the locusts in Hankow into that place ofcommerce. It was a number of these insects that King-y-Yang vindictivelyplaced in the box which he instructed Sen to carry to Yun, well knowingthat the reception which would be accorded to anyone who appeared thereon such a mission would be of so fatally destructive a kind that theconsideration of his return need not engage a single conjecture.
"Entirely tranquil in intellect--for the possibility of King-y-Yang'sintention being in any way other than what he had represented it tobe did not arise within Sen's ingenuous mind--the person in questioncheerfully set forth on his long but unavoidable march towards theregion of Yun. As he journeyed along the way, the nature of hismeditation brought up before him the events which had taken place sincehis arrival at Hankow; and, for the first time, it was brought withinhis understanding that the story of the youth and the three tigers,which his father had related to him, was in the likeness of a proverb,by which counsel and warning is conveyed in a graceful and inoffensivemanner. Readily applying the fable to his own condition, he could notdoubt but that the first two animals to be overthrown were representedby the two undertakings which he had already conscientiously performedin the matter of the mechanical ducks and the inlaid boxes, and theconviction that he was even then engaged on the third and last trialfilled him with an intelligent gladness so unobtrusive and refined thathe could express his entrancing emotions in no other way that by liftingup his voice and uttering the far-reaching cries which he had used onthe first of the occasions just referred to.
"In this manner the first part of the journey passed away with engagingcelerity. Anxious as Sen undoubtedly was to complete the third task, andapproach the details which, in his own case, would correspond with thecommand of the bowmen and the marriage with the Mandarin's daughter ofthe person in the story, the noontide heat compelled him to rest in theshade by the wayside for a lengthy period each day. During one ofthese pauses it occurred to his versatile mind that the time which wasotherwise uselessly expended might be well disposed of in endeavouringto increase the value and condition of the creatures under his care byinstructing them in the performance of some simple accomplishments,such as might not be too laborious for their feeble and immatureunderstanding. In this he was more successful than he had imagined couldpossibly be the case, for the discriminating insects, from the first,had every appearance of recognizing that Sen was inspired by a sincereregard for their ultimate benefit, and was not merely using them forhis own advancement. So assiduously did they devote themselves to theirallotted tasks, that in a very short space of time there was no detailin connexion with their own simple domestic arrangements that was notunderstood and daily carried out by an appointed band. Entranced at thisintelligent manner of conducting themselves, Sen industriously appliedhis time to the more congenial task of instructing them in the refinedarts, and presently he had the enchanting satisfaction of witnessing anumber of the most cultivated faultlessly and unhesitatingly perform aportion of the well-known gravity-removing play entitled "The BenevolentOmen of White Dragon Tea Garden; or, Three Times a Mandarin." Not evencontent with this elevating display, Sen ingeniously contrived, fromvarious objects which he discovered at different points by the wayside,an effective and life-like representation of a war-junk, for which hetrained a crew, who, at an agreed signal, would take up their appointedplaces and go through the required movements, both of sailing, and ofdischarging the guns, in a reliable and efficient manner.
"As Sen was one day educating the least competent of the insects in thesimpler parts of banner-carriers, gong-beaters, and the like, to theirmore graceful and versatile companions, he lifted up his eyes andbeheld, standing by his side, a person of very elaborately embroideredapparel and commanding personality, who had all the appearance of onewho had been observing his movements for some space of time. Callingup within his remembrance the warning which he had received fromKing-y-Yang, Sen was preparing to restore the creatures to their closedbox, when the stranger, in a loud and dignified voice, commanded him torefrain, adding:
"'There is, resting at a spot within the immediate neighbourhood,a person of illustrious name and ancestry, who would doubtless begratified to witness the diverting actions of which this one hasrecently been a spectator. As the reward of a tael cannot be unwelcometo a person of your inferior appearance and unpresentable garments, takeup your box without delay, and follow the one who is now before you.'
"With these words the richly-clad stranger led the way through a narrowwoodland path, closely followed by Sen, to whom the attraction of thepromised reward--a larger sum, indeed, than he had ever possessed--wassufficiently alluring to make him determined that the other should not,for the briefest possible moment, pass beyond his sight.
"Not to withhold that which Sen was entirely ignorant of until a laterperiod, it is now revealed that the person in question was the officialProvider of Diversions and Pleasurable Occupations to the sacredand illimitable Emperor, who was then engaged in making an unusuallyextensive march through the eight Pr
ovinces surrounding his Capital--forthe acute and well-educated will not need to be reminded that Nankingoccupied that position at the time now engaged with. Until hisprovidential discovery of Sen, the distinguished Provider had beenimmersed in a most unenviable condition of despair, for his enlightenedbut exceedingly perverse-minded master had, of late, declined to bein any way amused, or even interested, by the simple and unpretentiousentertainment which could be obtained in so inaccessible a region. Thewell-intentioned efforts of the followers of the Court, who engaginglyendeavoured to divert the Imperial mind by performing certain featswhich they remembered to have witnessed on previous occasions, butwhich, until the necessity arose, they had never essayed, were entirelywithout result of a beneficial order. Even the accomplished Provider'sone attainment--that of striking together both the hands and the feetthrice simultaneously, while leaping into the air, and at the same timeproducing a sound not unlike that emitted by a large and vigorous beewhen held captive in the fold of a robe, an action which never failedto throw the illustrious Emperor into a most uncontrollable state ofamusement when performed within the Imperial Palace--now only drewfrom him the unsympathetic, if not actually offensive, remark that theattitude and the noise bore a marked resemblance to those produced by aperson when being bowstrung, adding, with unprepossessing significance,that of the two entertainments he had an unevadable conviction that thebowstringing would be the more acceptable and gravity-removing.
"When Sen beheld the size and the silk-hung magnificence of the campinto which his guide led him, he was filled with astonishment, and atthe same time recognized that he had acted in an injudicious and hastymanner by so readily accepting the offer of a tael; whereas, if he hadbeen in possession of the true facts of the case, as they now appeared,he would certainly have endeavoured to obtain double that amount beforeconsenting. As he was hesitating within himself whether the matter mightnot even yet be arranged in a more advantageous manner, he was suddenlyled forward into the most striking and ornamental of the tents, andcommanded to engage the attention of the one in whose presence he foundhimself, without delay.
"From the first moment when the inimitable creatures began, at Sen'sspoken word, to go through the ordinary details of their domesticaffairs, there was no sort of doubt as to the nature of the success withwhich their well-trained exertions would be received. The dark shadowsinstantly forsook the enraptured Emperor's select brow, and from timeto time he expressed himself in words of most unrestrained and intimateencouragement. So exuberant became the overjoyed Provider's emotion athaving at length succeeded in obtaining the services of one who wasable to recall his Imperial master's unclouded countenance, that he cameforward in a most unpresentable state of haste, and rose into the airuncommanded, for the display of his usually not unwelcome acquirement.This he would doubtless have executed competently had not Sen, who stoodimmediately behind him, suddenly and unexpectedly raised his voice ina very vigorous and proficient duck cry, thereby causing the one beforehim to endeavour to turn around in alarm, while yet in the air--anintermingled state of movements of both the body and the mind thatcaused him to abandon his original intention in a manner which removedthe gravity of the Emperor to an even more pronounced degree than hadbeen effected by the diverting attitudes of the insects.
"When the gratified Emperor had beheld every portion of the taskswhich Sen had instilled into the minds of the insects, down even to theminutest detail, he called the well-satisfied Provider before him,and addressing him in a voice which might be designed to betray eithersternness or an amiable indulgence, said:
"'You, O Shan-se, are reported to be a person of no particular intellector discernment, and, for this reason, these ones who are speaking have adesire to know how the matter will present itself in your eyes. Whichis it the more commendable and honourable for a person to train toa condition of unfailing excellence, human beings of confessedintelligence or insects of a low and degraded standard?'
"To this remark the discriminating Shan-se made no reply, being, indeed,undecided in his mind whether such a course was expected of him. Onseveral previous occasions the somewhat introspective Emperor hadaddressed himself to persons in what they judged to be the form of aquestion, as one might say, 'How blue is the unapproachable air canopy,and how delicately imagined the colour of the clouds!' yet when they hadexpressed their deliberate opinion on the subjects referred to,stating the exact degree of blueness, and the like, the nature oftheir reception ever afterwards was such that, for the future, personsendeavoured to determine exactly the intention of the Emperor's mindbefore declaring themselves in words. Being exceedingly doubtful on thisoccasion, therefore, the very cautious Shan-se adopted the more prudentand uncompromising attitude, and smiling acquiescently, he raised bothhis hands with a self-deprecatory movement.
"'Alas!' exclaimed the Emperor, in a tone which plainly indicated thatthe evasive Shan-se had adopted a course which did not commend itself,'how unendurable a condition of affairs is it for a person of acutemental perception to be annoyed by the inopportune behaviour of onewho is only fit to mix on terms of equality with beggars, and low-castestreet cleaners--'
"'Such a condition of affairs is indeed most offensively unbearable,illustrious Being,' remarked Shan-se, who clearly perceived that hisformer silence had not been productive of a delicate state of feelingtowards himself.
"'It has frequently been said,' continued the courteous and pure-mindedEmperor, only signifying his refined displeasure at Shan-se's reallyill-considered observation by so arranging his position that the personin question on longer enjoyed the sublime distinction of gazing upon hisbenevolent face, 'that titles and offices have been accorded, from timeto time, without any regard for the fitting qualifications of those towhom they were presented. The truth that such a state of things doesoccasionally exist has been brought before our eyes during the pastfew days by the abandoned and inefficient behaviour of one who willhenceforth be a marked official; yet it has always been our endeavourto reward expert and unassuming merit, whenever it is discovered. Aswe were setting forth, when we were interrupted in a most obstinate andsuperfluous manner, the one who can guide and cultivate the minds ofunthinking, and not infrequently obstinate and rapacious, insects wouldcertainly enjoy an even greater measure of success if entrusted with thediscriminating intellects of human beings. For this reason it appearsthat no more fitting person could be found to occupy the important andwell-rewarded position of Chief Arranger of the Competitive Examinationsthan the one before us--provided his opinions and manner of expressinghimself are such as commend themselves to us. To satisfy us on thispoint let Sen Heng now stand forth and declare his beliefs.'
"On this invitation Sen advanced the requisite number of paces, and notin any degree understanding what was required of him, determined thatthe occasion was one when he might fittingly declare the Five GeneralPrinciples which were ever present in his mind. 'Unquestioning Fidelityto the Sacred Emperor--' he began, when the person in question signifiedthat the trial was over.
"'After so competent and inspired an expression as that which has justbeen uttered, which, if rightly considered, includes all lesser things,it is unnecessary to say more,' he declared affably. 'The appointmentwhich has already been specified is now declared to be legallyconferred. The evening will be devoted to a repetition of the entrancingmanoeuvres performed by the insects, to be followed by a feast and musicin honour of the recognized worth and position of the accomplished SenHeng. There is really no necessity for the apparently over-fatiguedShan-se to attend the festival.'
"In such a manner was the foundation of Sen's ultimate prosperityestablished, by which he came in the process of time to occupy a veryhigh place in public esteem. Yet, being a person of honourably-mindedconscientiousness, he did not hesitate, when questioned by those whomade pilgrimages to him for the purpose of learning by what means hehad risen to so remunerative a position, to ascribe his success, notentirely to his own intelligent perception of persons and events, but,in part, also to a ne
ver-failing regard for the dictates of the FiveGeneral Principles, and a discriminating subservience to the inspiredwisdom of the venerable Poo-chow, as conveyed to him in the story ofthe faint-hearted youth and the three tigers. This story Sen furthermorecaused to be inscribed in letters of gold, and displayed in a prominentposition in his native village, where it has since doubtless been themeans of instructing and advancing countless observant ones who have notbeen too insufferable to be guided by the experience of those who havegone before."
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