University of Virginia Library

CHAP. X.

SHUEY-keu-yé having learnt from
the friend he employed, that his
proposals were exceedingly acceptable
to the Supreme Viceroy, made a great
entertainment for that Mandarine, who
when he returned told his wife all
that had passed. Sheh-foo-jin, or my
lady Sheh, agreed that their son was
of a proper age to be married; and
that Shuey-ping-sin was a very desirable
person: for she had heard how she

had conducted herself while she was persecuted
by Kwo-khé-tzu, and that she
was a most ingenious and agreeable
young lady. She thought therefore that
such another could not be found for
their son, and that it would be a great
happiness to fix him so well. "And
yet, said she, if you ask his consent, you
will not obtain it; for he will be so
nice and curious that he must examine
every thing to the bottom, and will
be raising difficulties without occasion,
and without end. As the reputation
of Shuey-ping-sin is so established, and
her merits and accomplishments so
great, we may contract first, and acquaint
him with it afterwards." The
Mandarine Tieh approved of her opinion,
and told her it intirely agreed
with his own. Then choosing a fortunate
day, he made the customary
present to the parent of the young lady.
At the same time, he and his wife
sent to their son, and wished him joy,
informing him of the engagement they
had entered into in his behalf. He
was very much surprized, and immediately
went to his father and mother.
"Marriage, said he, is an affair of
consequence, and should not be too
precipitately managed. You have been
wholly guided by report: but who
can answer for the truth of reports?
You may have been deceived in the
accounts of this lady: and there may be
cause to repent it as long as one lives."
His father asked him whether he suspected
Shuey-ping-sin to be ugly? "No!
said he: I believe that her complection
is fair and clear as the most limpid
stream[60] ." "Perhaps, replied the
other, you are doubtful of her wit and
sense?" "Her understanding, he replied,
surpasses even that of our sex:
in whatever she does there appears such
discretion; all her actions are conducted
with such beautiful order, that it
exceeds imagination." "Perhaps then,
said his father, she hath been guilty
of something wrong." "No, he answered,
she hath never done any thing
the least amiss." With that the Supreme
Viceroy and the lady Sheh burst
into laughter, that he should make a
scruple of marrying a young lady with
so many perfections, and who had not
one quality but what deserved the
greatest praise. "Nay, proceeded the
youth, I should willingly marry this
young lady, even if it exposed me to so
great a misfortune as your displeasure;
for she is never absent from my
thoughts: but alas! there is a difficulty,
which I can never get over,
that shuts me out from all thoughts
of such an undertaking." This said, he
immediately told them all that happened
between him and the young lady: and
concluded with observing, that his
having so lately been the means of
restoring her father, would add strength
to the suspicion of their criminal correspondence.
As therefore the loss of
their good fame was to be the consequence
of their nuptials, he could not
think of purchasing even that happiness
at so dear a rate. His father commended
his nice concern for his reputation:
"But what hath happened, said he, may
be justified and cleared up. You are
but a young man, and not so well able
to judge as myself. However this union
may be rendered more free from censure
by your caution." Then his father
and mother both observed to him, that
they were advanced in years: and that
any delay was so much loss of their
happiness, as they could enjoy none
equal to that of seeing him married.
"You must not, said they, yield to
these scruples: retire to your studies,
and banish them from your thoughts.
At a proper time we shall send for you.
It is too late now for you to object to
this marriage, for our contract cannot
be set aside." Tieh-chung-u, perceiving
the anxious concern of his parents,
thought it would not become him to
contend with them farther: but imagined
that if he himself should consent,
the young lady could not easily be prevailed
on. He therefore said no more,
but taking his leave of them, returned
to his studies.

Shuey-keu-yé having concerted the
marriage between Tieh-chung-u and his
daughter, remained very well satisfied;
and as he had been so long absent,
had a great desire to see his family.
He accordingly petitioned his Majesty
for leave to retire, as being old and

infirm. The Emperor, who was desirous
to make up to him the time he
had lost in disgrace and banishment,
would not consent that he should so
soon lay down his office. He nevertheless
petitioned three times. The
Emperor at length seeing him so determined,
gave him leave to retire for
one year, ordering him after the expiration
of it to return to court: at
the same time he issued out a mandate,
requiring the Mandarines every where
to entertain him as he passed along,
and to supply him with whatever he
might want. Highly pleased with this,
he immediately prepared every thing
for his journey, and set out from Peking
with a very splendid retinue, attended
by a long train of great Mandarines,
who accompanied him quite out of the
city. But the Mandarine Kwo-sho-su
was not of their number, having been
ashamed to appear.

As soon as the news of what had
happened arrived at Tséé-nan soo, all
the Mandarines who resided in or near
that city, put up chops or red papers
with congratulatory inscriptions[61] : and
every great officer and person of fashion
went to the house of Shuey-keu-yé to
compliment his daughter on the news.
This ceremony they performed three
times. The first time, they congratulated
her on her father's return from banishment;
the second time on his promotion;

and lastly on the permission
he had obtained to retire from court.
Shuey-ping-sin at first gave no credit to
the news: for having been so oft deceived
by Kwo-khé-tzu she was afraid
to appear: but afterwards when she saw
the Mandarines of the city, she believed
it was all true: yet could not comprehend
how her father should have such
good fortune, as at once to be restored
and advanced to honour. Shuey-guwin
was not long before he went to her:
"Do you know, said he, by what
means it hath happened, that your father
is thus of a sudden returned home
with so much honour and promotion?"
She replied, "I do not: but was thinking
with some amazement how it could
happen." "You are then to know,
said he, that it is all through the means
of Tieh-chung-u." At which she laughed,
and said, "I cannot believe what you
say: it seems very fabulous." "Why
not believe it, said he?" She replied,
"Because Tieh-chung-u is not in any
office or power; but on the contrary is
but a simple student, and out of the
way of contributing to such an event."
"It proceeded originally, said he, from
Kwo-khé-tzu, who finding no other way
to obtain you for his wife, got his father
to send a messenger to my brother
to solicit his consent. Which he refusing,
that Mandarine renewed an accusation
against him, and also against Hû-hiau
a general chosen by him, charging
them with mismanagement in the wars:
upon which the Emperor appointed a
Tribunal of Three in order to bring that
general to his trial. He was therecon
demned, and ready to be executed, when
Tieh-chung-u interposed and became
his surety: in consequence of which,
the general was restored to his command,
and had such remarkable success
that he acquired great honour, not only
to himself, but also to that young gentleman
and your father." Shuey-ping-sin
inquired of her uncle what authority
he had for this report, and seemed to
doubt whether it were true. "Not
true, said he? why should you question
it? Wherefore else where the papers
put up? Did not the Mandarines themselves
come hither to compliment you
on the occasion?" She smiled at his
warmth, and said, "If this be true,
then doubtless Tieh-chung-u is a traitor,
that could be so impudent and bold before
the Tribunal of Three. Why
don't you petition against him, as one
that is going to raise a rebellion?"
Her uncle begged that nothing more
might be said on that subject, assuring
her that he was now reformed. "I go
no more, said he, among those rakes:
who abused me very much in forcing
me into what I did." As soon as he
was withdrawn, Shuey-ping-sin set herself
to reflect on the events that had
happened. She could not but admire,
that fortune should give that youth so
many occasions to assist her; and all
through their accidental meeting in the
streets. "The service he hath done me
is great, said she, but nothing to what
he hath done my father. His virtue
and generosity demand of me the most
grateful acknowledgments: miserable
I am, that I cannot yield him my love."

Shuey-ping-sin continued in daily expectation
of seeing her father: when at
length a servant came to inform her
of his approach. All the Mandarines
went out of the city to meet him:
and at noon he came home. She advanced
into the great hall to receive
him, where nothing could equal the joy
of them both.

What past farther between them, the
next book will inform us.

The End of Book the Third.

N. B. THE FOURTH BOOK, containing
the remainder of THE CHINESE HISTORY,
will be found in the next volume: the
Third and Fourth Books being shorter than
the rest, the Editor chose to insert here the following
independent PIECE, rather than a fragment
of BOOK THE FOURTH, which on
many accounts he chose to keep intire and unbroken.