University of Virginia Library

CHAP. IV.

IT happened, that at this juncture
arrived several great Mandarines
of Tah-quay's acquaintance, and seeing
him in this situation, trembling like
a mouse in the paws of a cat,
they said to Tieh-chung-u, "This
Mandarine is of great rank, and if he
has offended, you must not treat
him so as to violate his dignity and
honour: but let others, or some
of us, know the cause of this difference,

that matters may be composed
between you." "This man,
replied the youth, has deceived the
Emperor with false testimony, and is
guilty of the greatest crimes: what
dignity then, what honour is to be regarded?"
"If it be so, replied the
Mandarines, the Emperor ought to be
informed of it; that he may punish
them, as he shall think proper: but it
becomes not you to treat him thus."
"You say well; said Tieh-chung-u, but
being all alone, when I entered the
house, if I had not secured him, I
should have met with ill treatment."
"You are very brave and valiant, said
the Mandarines; pray did you come hither
to-day, in order to revenge any
former quarrel; or to asist these old
people?" "For neither of these reasons,
answered he, but by a private
order of the Emperor, to apprehend
them as persons concealed in this
house." "Why does not that order
appear? said they, read it to us."
He replied, "You shall see it presently."

Tah-quay perceiving so many of his
acquaintance near him, began to resume
courage; "Do not regard him,
he cried out; there is no truth in
what he says: he is no officer under the
Emperor: he is no way impowered
to execute his orders: he is no Manda-rine
of justice. He is only come with
these pretences, to carry off Han-yuen
his friend in a lawless manner, together

with his wife, and daughter."
"If you have not the Emperor's order,
said the others turning to Tieh-chung-u,
your coming hither to affront
this great Mandarine, and thus to violate
his honour and dignity, is a crime
of the deepest dye. Feats of this kind
might have been more safely performed
in some distant village: there you might
have appeared a valiant fellow. But
here, so nigh the city, and limits of the
court, to affront a Nobleman, and
thus to disgrace his family and rank, is
an unpardonable offence: altho' you
had wings, you could not escape. But
we must send to the city, for the Man-darines
of justice." "That is right,
said Tieh-chung-u, let them be called."
They were accordingly sent for.

Presently arrived the Che foo, and
soon after him, the Che-hien[27] . The
Mandarines rel ted to them, what had
happened. "We know not, said those
Magistrates, on which side lies the
truth: if there is the Emperor's order,
it must be read." Then the Che-hien
commanded a place for a tribunal to
to be prepared, and when it was ready,
the order to be produced. Before answer
could be made, notice was given
that Tieh-u-sheh was arrived. Tah-quay
and all the company were amazed:

"This man, said they, is under close
confinement: how came he here?"
Here Tieh-u-sheh entered, holding before
him the Emperor's order rolled in
yellow[28] . His son cried out, "Shew
respect to the Emperor's order." On
this, they all knelt down. Tieh-u-sheh
seeing so many Mandarines present,
said, "This order I am commissioned
to read; but my eyes being
weak, Sir, said he, addressing himself
to the Che-foo, be pleased to read it."
The Che-foo took the order, and read
as follows.

"This order requires Tieh-u-sheh to
go to the house of Tah-quay, and to

take into custody, Han-yuen, his wife,
and his daughter: which three persons,
wheresoever concealed, Tieh-u-sheh
is hereby impowered to make
search after, and to secure."

"This order shall continue in force
for three days."

When he had done, Tieh-u-sheh, and
all the company, made their profound
reverence, and rose up. The great
Mandarines of Tah-quay's acquaintance
departed in silence: leaving only the
two Mandarines of the city with them.

"These three persons, said Tieh u-sheh
to the Che-hien, are the Emperor's
prisoners: to your custody I commit
them, while I go to acquaint his Majesty

of it, and know his farther pleasure."
Han-yuen paid the most profound
respect to Tieh-u-sheh, and acknowledged
that himself, his wife, and daughter,
owed their lives to his great piety and
justice: but he told them, they must
thank the Emperor alone, for their
preservation and safety; then turning
to the Che-foo, he said, "I have committed
these persons to the care of the
Che-hien, in order to carry them to a
superior tribunal: but as Tah-quay is a
great Mandarine, and of grave and
respectable character, you, Sir, are
desired to attend him alone to the
same audience." Then Tieh-u-sheh,
attended by his son, returned back to
prison, to await the Emperor's further
order.

He then drew up a petition, to acquaint
his Majesty of their whole proceedings:
which he graciously received,
and returned for answer, "You have
done well, and have conducted your
self through this whole business like
a true Mandarine of justice: when the
affair is ended you shall be promoted
to a higher dignity." Orders were
then issued out to release him from
prison.

Tah quay in the mean time was not
idle: he offered presents to the Man-darines
of the tribunal: but none of
them durst accept any. The depositions
of the injured parties lay too
strongly against him; and proved beyond
all doubt, the forcible seizure
they had undergone, and all the other

ill usage they had received. The supreme
Mandarine of the audience, seeing
no other way to bring off his friend,
pronounced judgment as follows.

"Tah-quay is advanced in years, and
is without issue: this induced him
to carry away the young woman[29] :
but though he brought her home to
his house, it does not appear that he
ever offered her any dishonour. He
is descended from an illustrious family:
several of his ancestors have
served the Emperor in the capacity
of Generals, and have made extensive
conquests: he himself hath also
had his share, and given signal

proofs of his ability and courage.
All this considered, as the carrying
off this young woman was from
the motives above recited, and was
not followed by any violence, he is
neither guilty of a great offence, nor
deserving of very severe punishment:
but this must be left to the determination
of his Majesty."

The Emperor issued out this answer
to the proceedings of the audience.

"Tah-quay[30] is of an illustrious family;
and of a respectable rank: but
both these he hath forfeited: he hath
made a tyrannical use of his power

in forcing away these people: the
daughter was already engaged to
another; his attempt was therefore
the highest injustice: when Tieh-u-sheh
delivered in his petition; to
secrete them in his house was a contempt
of our authority: and to lodge
a false accusation against that Man-darine,
a great abuse of our confidence.
To do justice therefore, 'tis
necessary to take away his office: let
him also be confined to his house for
three years, paying to Han yuen one
year's income of his place: and for
the sake of his ancestors, let him
be excused any farther punishment.
The young woman, let Wey-phey
marry. Let Han-yuen be advanced
to a higher degree. Let Tieh-u-sheh
be promoted to the office of
Tu-cha-yuen, or Superior of the Viceroys.
And lastly, for the Mandarine
of the audience, who was judge in
this cause, let him be amerced three
months of his salary."

The determination of the Emperor
being made public, every body admired
Tieh-chung-u, for his wisdom and
courage. His fame spread abroad, and
he was the general topic of conversation.
Mandarines from all parts
came to make him visits of congratulation[31]
; from morning to night,

some or other came to pay him their
compliments.

Too much honour and respect conferred
on a youth, said the Mandarine
pensively to himself, may produce fatal
consequences: it may expose him to
envy: it may be productive of pride: it
may be misrepresented to his prejudice:
it may be followed by neglect. "Son,
said he, one day calling him to him,
the bow will break that is too violently
bent: no man should exceed
what is fit and becoming. Tah-quay
is now a prisoner, but he will one day
be at liberty; when you apprehended the
people at his house, you disgraced him
too much for him ever to forget: he
perhaps will hereafter study to requite

it, and will pay back the injury, he
thinks you have done him. I have
now, proceeded he, a great office conferred
on me by the Emperor, which I
am obliged to attend: whatever be my
success, I cannot abandon it: here I
must remain: but you are at liberty to
go where you please. You have now
gained to yourself a great deal of ho-nour;
you are admired as a youth of
uncommon courage and prudence; nothing
at present can add to your reputation;
it may be forfeited or tarnished."

"Sir, said Tieh-chung-u, I have been
so happy, as to entertain the same
sentiments myself: far am I from desiring
so large a share of the public

attention: I had much rather go out
of the way of it, did not the duty I
owe you, require me to stay, lest you
should have occasion for my service."
"As to that, replied his father, 'tis no
matter; I will excuse you: before I
was but a small Mandarine; now I
am raised to a superior rank, and fixed
above the malice of my enemies:
retire therefore from the court, and apply
yourself to your studies: nay rather
go travel, than continue here. I leave you
now to your own direction; but keep a
strict guard over your passions: learn
to curb your resentment, and to suppress
that extravagance of warmth, to
which your temper is addicted."

Tieh-chung-u bowed in token of obedience,

and went in to take leave of
his mother. She was concerned to
part with him so suddenly, and intreated
him to stay a few days longer.
He submitted: but before three days
were expired, so many people came to
visit him that he was quite wearied
out. He bad adieu therefore to his
father and mother, and set out, attended
only by Siow-tan.

He arrived at the city where he had
usually lived: but the news of his be-haviour
had got there before him:
the people were alarmed, and the
streets crowded as he passed along.
The Mandarines had all notice of his
arrival, and visited him in their turns,
to congratulate him on his success, and
the advancement of his father.

"Have I left the court, said Tieh-chung-u,
because of the fatiguing frequency
of visitants, and am come hither
purposely to avoid them? better were it
to have staid with my father: there
I should have had the advantage of
being with him, and of acquiring valuable
friends. Here is the same interruption,
without the enjoyment of
their company. I will, agreeable to
my father's permission, go visit the
four parts of the world[32] . When this
month is expired, I will resign the
house, and all that belongs to it, to the
care of my steward, and then I will
depart.

When that time was elapsed, he ordered
his travelling furniture to be packed
up, and accompanied with only
one servant, began his travels.