University of Virginia Library

CHAP. II.

THE village of Wey-tswün was distant
fifty lee[17] from the court,
where Tieh-chung-u arrived in two hours:
he hastened to his father's house: he
found every thing still and quiet before
the doors; not a person to be seen. He
alighted off his horse, and went into
the hall of audience; but neither was
one of the clerks, or any one else, to be
met with there: he would have proceeded
farther, but he found the doors
fast shut. He knocked and called; the
servants within knew his voice: they
unlocked the door, and meeting their
young master cryed out! "Bad news!
things go very ill!" He asked them,
why? "Our master, replied they, is cast

into prison by the Emperor's order:
you are now arrived in good time:
pray go immediately to our lady your
mother's apartment, and advise with
her." Tieh-chung-u was struck speechless
with surprize and grief, and suffered
himself to be led to the door of
her apartment. His mother, who was
called She-fu-jen, or my Lady Sheh,
perceiving him, went and caught hold
of his sleeve, crying, "My son, you
are arrived in good time. Your father
has discharged the part of a good
man, with the most unwearied perseverance:
eager to redress grievances,
he would be presenting petitions, from
morning to night[18] : there has happened
an affair of great consequence:
I know not whether he is dead or
alive: he is in prison." Tieh-chung-u
fell into a violent transport of grief:
but observing, how deeply his mother
was affected, he fell upon his knees before
her and said: "Mother, be not
cast down, you must not give yourself
up to affliction: though the affair be
as great as the heavens are high, we
must not yield to despair: we must consult
together: you must tell me plainly
all that has happened." She bade him
rise and take a chair, then told him
as follows: "Some days ago, as your
father was returning from the Emperor's
palace, he was stopped in his way
home by an old man and his wife, who
had their hair loose and disordered,
their faces bruised and bloody, and
their cloaths rent: they threw themselves
before his horse's feet, crying out
for justice. Your father asked them who
they were, and by whom they were
injured. I am a Doctor of law, said the
old man, of the second degree, my name
is Han-yuen: I have a daughter, whom
I have long promised in marriage:
but a great Mandarine, named Tah-quay,
hearing of her, and that she was
something handsome, ordered people
to come, and propose terms of marriage,
for her to be a second wife, or
concubine[19] to him: I answered, that
it was impossible for me to consent,
for I had already engaged her to another:
if he has a mind to take my life,
I am content; but I can never yield
to give him my daughter. Tah-quay
was much enraged: "What! said he,
have I made so reasonable a proposal,
and am to see it rejected! I'll try whether
force can be more successful." Accordingly
he sent people to carry her
off; which endeavouring to prevent,
they abused both of us, in the manner
you see. Your father was much affected
with his tale, and passionately
moved to procure them redress: hurrying
home therefore, he instantly
drew up a petition to present to the
Emperor. But alas, proceeded the
Lady Sheh, your father, notwithstanding
his great judgement, was at that
time overseen, not to secure the two old
people for witnesses: for the Emperor,
when he had read his petition,
demanded what evidence he had to
support it. Upon which he went to
seek them, but in vain: for Tah-quay
had immediate advice of the affair, and
instantly secreted them. The awe of
his power drew almost all the Manda-rines
of the court over to his party.
And he in his turn delivered in a petition,
wherein he charged your father,
with abusing the Emperor's confidence,
and possessing him with falsehoods
against his faithful servants. Upon
this your father's office was taken
away, and he was sent to prison. And
though some of the Mandarines expressed
an inclination to assist him, it was to
no purpose, as he had no witnesses to
produce in his favour: and if he can
procure none, he must suffer death."

When she had finished her relation,
the countenance of Tieh-chung-u cleared
up: "And is Han-yuen, said he, the
occasion of all this? this is an affair of
trifling consequence; Han-yuen and his
daughter every body knows, and the
seizing them in their house is known to
many. Be no longer dejected, Madam,
but take comfort; they cannot be lost.
Robbers and thieves, though they be fled
into other provinces, are to be found[20] , and

why not those that are about the court:
fear not then but we shall find these people:
nay I myself know where they are
concealed." "How! said Sheh-fu-jen,
is it possible? do you speak certainly
true?" "Can a son, said Tieh-chung-u
speak untruths before his mother? that
can never be." The Lady Sheh at this
was greatly rejoiced, and said, "If this
news is true, rest a little and refresh
yourself: then hasten to see your father
in prison, and take away his sorrow."
Upon this she ordered a table to be
spread for him to eat; which having
done, and changed his cloaths, she
called for a servant to attend him.
"Madam, said Tieh-chung u, there is
no occasion for such haste; I will first
draw up a petition for my father to
shew the Emperor." When he had
finished it, he asked his mother for his
father's chop or seal: and taking that,
together with the petition of Wey-phey,
he put them both in his sleeve, and
bade the servant shew him the way to
his father.

The Mandarine, that was governor
of the prison, knew Tieh-chung-u,
and received him with great courtesy:
"Sir, said he, the Mandarine your
father is within; pray be pleased to go
to him; pardon me that I don't wait
on you: you have doubtless something
to impart to him in private." Tieh-chung-u
returned his civilities in a proper

manner, and went in. He found
his father sitting, without irons, in
great composure. He immediately
ran and bowed down four times at his
feet; asking pardon for not coming
sooner to assist him in his troubles:
that he deserved not the name of a son,
for being absent when he might have
performed him services, or at least have
known his commands. Tieh-u-sheh[21]
raised himself from his chair: "I am,
said he, in the place where my duty
requires me to be: why are you not at
home minding your studies and doing
your duty." "Sir, said Tieh-chung-u, if
if it is your duty to be here, it is mine
also to be here to wait upon you."
His father paused: at length he answered,
"You are in the right: you do
your duty: but we live in times, when
the Mandarines of the court are corrupted,
and duty has no longer any regard
paid to it: from a just sense of
mine, I presented my petition, putting
to the hazard whether it would be
heard or not: and now, whether I shall
live or die, is in the hand of the Emperor:
your coming here will avail me
nothing." "Sir, replied Tieh chung-u,
I am made acquainted with the cause
of your confinement: but why do you
sit down quietly under it: why do
not you continue to seek out the old
man and his wife; and without trusting
to others, petition for leave to do
it in your own person." "That, said
Tieh-u-sheh, it would not be difficult to
obtain: but I fear, if I should apply
for such licence, and be still unsuccessful,
it will only aggravate my
crime, and increase my disgrace." "I
have notice of these three people, said
the son, but without an express order
from the Emperor, they cannot
be apprehended." "His order
was issued out at the first, replied
the father, but they could not be
found: my friends inquired, but could
learn no news of them. And that you,
who are but just arrived, should know
any thing of them, is very unlikely.
'Tis all a jest! you are but a boy, and
having heard something of it, from
people's discourse, only love to hear
yourself talk. Go! you are a simpleton."
"Sir, answered Tieh-chung-u, this
is a matter which regards your life: is
it possible for a son to jest upon such
an occasion?" Then looking round to
see, that nobody was within hearing, he
related all that had happened on his
journey, both the discourse he had had
with the old woman, and with Wey-phey,
whose petition he shewed him. At this
Tieh-u-sheh became joyful, and said, "If
it be so, the Emperor will see that I am
blameless: there will then be no danger of
my suffering death. But is it not to be
feared, that this Tah quay has poisoned,
or otherwise made away with these people?"
Tieh-chung-u answered, "The
palace where he resides, is the Emperor's
gift, which no one can enter: your
adversary is a wicked man, and of very
mean understanding; wholly addicted
to pleasure, and immersed in luxury,
he thinks of nothing farther:
imagining himself secure, he neither
suspects any danger, nor has contrivance
enough to prevent it: be not
therefore, Sir, cast down or sorrowful."
"Son, said the Mandarine Tieh,
you say well: go home now, and
fetch some paper and my seal, that I
may draw up a petition to the Emperor."
"That is already done, said his
son, I have here brought it with me:
if you like it, let it go: if not, please to
draw it up afresh with greater elegance
and accuracy." He read it, and pronounced
it was very well, and required
no alteration: then putting his seal to
it, he folded it up, and gave it to the
governor of the prison, desiring it
might be delivered to a Mandarine of
the Emperor's audience chamber, called
Tong-ching-su, whose business it is to
receive petitions.