University of Virginia Library

CHAP. V.[33]

TIeh-chung-u was already upon the
road, and had gone forward for
some time, before he could resolve on

the course of his journey: at last he
determined in favour of Shan-tong[34] , a
province no less noted for the beauty and
fertility of its lands, than for the courtesy
and integrity of its inhabitants.
He called therefore to Siow-tan, and
bade him hire the first ass he could
meet with on the road[35] , and follow
him to Shan-tong: whither we shall at
present leave him, pursuing his journey.

In the city of Tséé-nan, the capital of
that province, lived at that time a great

Mandarine, aged about sixty, who belonged
to the Ping-pû, or tribunal of
arms[36] ; his name was Shuey-kew-yeh:
he had lost his wife, and had no other
children, but only one daughter, who
was so exquisitely beautiful, that it
would exceed the power of the most
masterly pencil, to express the exactness
of her proportion: nor could the
whitest lilly, or richest carnation among
the flowery tribes, exhibit tints so lovely,
as were blended in her cheeks.
She was no less distinguished for the
rare endowments of her mind, and
greatness of her capacity, in which
she equalled the most eminent of the
opposite sex. Shuey-ping-sin[37] , for that
was her name, was the darling of
her father, who loved her with an
affection, equal to that he would have
had for a son of the same accomplishments[38]
, and gave her the entire
management of his house: where she
governed his family with such admirable
skill, that Shuey-kew-yeh, who was
continally at court, gave himself no
longer any care on that head. She was
now a young maid of about seventeen
years, and yet the great business of his
office so intirely ingrossed her father's
attention, as to make him neglect to
dispose of her in marriage.

This young lady had an uncle, named
Shuey-guwin, who affected the appearance
of a man of letters, and had
great respect shewn him on account of
his brother. But he was very illiterate,

and the whole aim of his studies
was by any indirect means to
extort money to spend on his pleasures.
He had three sons, as ignorant
and illiberal as himself; and also one
daughter, in manners and disposition
still more unamiable than her brothers,
and in person as disagreeable as her
manners. She was called Ghiang-koo[39] ,
and was born in the same year with
Shuey-ping-sin; than whom she was
about two months older.

"My brother, said Shuey-guwin, is a
very rich and honourable man, but
he has never a son: if he dies, all his

riches must fall to me: the only obstacle
is this girl of his, who remains unmarried,
and has the sole possession of
my brother's house. Could I once get
her disposed of, the whole then would
be mine[40] ." Upon this, he contrives
among his acquaintance to get her married,
and prevailed on several of their
relations, to come and propose to her
a great many matches with men, distinguished
for their persons, their possessions,
or accomplishments: to all
offers of this kind, she gave neither encouragement
nor answer[41] ; burying her
thoughts in profound and invincible
silence. This conduct of hers very
much perplexed her uncle, who found
she was not to be managed in that
manner. At last he bethought himself
of a young man of quality belonging to
the same place, for whom his friends
were looking out a wife. The father
of this youth, who was of the second
order of Mandarines which compose the
Emperor's privy council[42] , was called
Kwo sho-su: Kwo-khé-tzu was the name
of the son.

Shuey-guwin went to pay a visit to
the young gentleman, and taking an

opportunity to tell him of his niece,
asked him how he should like her for
his wife: "I know nothing of her,
said the youth, whether she be handsome
or ugly." "She is very handsome,
said her uncle, and has a fine
understanding." Kwo-khé-tzu expressed
some doubt of this. "To convince
you of the truth of what I have
said, answered he, you shall go home
with me: I live next door to her,
and she often comes through the garden
to visit my daughter, where you
will have a good opportunity of seeing
her." "If it be so, replied the other,
I will attend you." When they were
arrived at his house, Shuy-guwin desired
him to wait a little in the outward
apartment, while he went to see if Shuyping-sin
was with his daughter: he
returned immediately, crying out,
"This is a very favourable opportunity,
my fair niece is now with her
sister[43] : come, let us go see them together."
"How can that be? said
the other." "I'll carry you, replied
he, to a door that has a crevice in
it, through which you may see them
perfectly well." When Kwo-khé-tzu
had seen her; "She is indeed, said
he, as you told me; exquisitely
charming and beautiful. I will hasten
home, and immediately order a person
proper for this occasion to come
and discourse about the marriage."
All the way home, he did nothing but
revolve in his mind the charms of
the young lady he had seen, which had
made the deepest impression on his
heart: eager to obtain her, he rested
not a moment to send proposals of marriage.
She refused them, and slighted
his fairest offers.

Kwo-khé-tzu was plunged in the
greatest concern, but found no other
remedy, than to visit and make his
court to the Che-foo, by friends and
presents; desiring him to use his interest
to make him acceptable to the
young lady, he being equally acquainted
with both their fathers and
families. The Che-foo, unwilling to
disoblige him, with some difficulty
complied, and made her two visits:
but for all he could say he was not
able to prevail with her[44] . He acquainted

Kwo-khé-tzu with his success:
"Very well: we cannot help it: 'tis
sufficient:" said the youth with an
indifference but ill dissembled; while
his heart felt the deepest uneasiness.

In a short time after, arrived news
from court, that the father of Shuey-ping-sin
was fallen into disgrace, and sent
an exile into Tartary: and that the father
of Kwo-khé-tzu was advanced to
the dignity of Co-lau, or Minister of
state[45] . Transported with this news,

his son was encouraged once more to
sollicit the Che-foo, and to intreat him
to try again some way to accomplish a
marriage between him and the young
lady. The Che-foo sent for her uncle:
"Your niece, said he, is of age to be
married: you are a man of sense, and
must know the world: you cannot be
ignorant that time is not to be neglected:
and that when young persons
are arrived at the marriageable age,
it ought not to be deferred. While
her father was at liberty to direct her,
she did right in waiting for his pleasure
therein: not knowing perhaps, but he
was looking out a proper match for her
at court. But she has now no longer that
pretence: his office is taken away, he
is disgraced and sent into Tartary: no
one knows whether he's dead or alive.
Besides, as she is grown up, and has a
great many servants and young men in
her house, 'tis to be feared that people
will give a liberty to their tongues that
will hurt her reputation: you are her
uncle, and nearest in blood, cannot you
lay your commands upon her, now in
the absence of your brother? Kwo-khé-tzu
is a youth of great spirit, capacity
and worth; and his father's advancement
renders him still more respectable:
if she persists in refusing
him, she will not easily meet with so valuable
an offer: go home therefore, and
persuade your niece to accept of him."
"Sir, replied Shuey-guwin, you speak
with great judgment; I shall obey."

Taking leave of the Che-foo, he went
to her house with such visible marks of
displeasure in his countenance, that she
enquired the reason: he told her it was
because she had slighted the offers of
marriage that had been made to her in
favour of Kwo-khé-tzu; especially as
the Che-foo had come in person to
propose them to her with the greatest
marks of courtesy and respect. "Now
your father is in disgrace, proceeded he,
you must not expect that Magistrate
will give himself the trouble of waiting
on you any more: he will not shew
you so much complaisance. He sent

for me to-day to upbraid me with your
contemptuous treatment of the young
gentleman; and even exhorted me to
use the authority I have a right to
exert in my brother's absence." He
ceased speaking, and Shuey-ping-sin stood
fixed in profound silence,: he urged
her to answer: "Well, replied she
fighing after some time, "as my father
is banished, and the Che-foo commands
me to respect you as my father, whatever
you are pleased to order I must
obey: 'tis in vain to resist: you must
do in this matter whatever you please."
"This ready compliance, answered her
uncle overjoyed at her submission, shews
your good sense and judgment: you
don't perhaps know how wealthy and
considerable the house of Kwo-khé-tzu
is: he is a youth of great merit and
understanding: his father is lately promoted
to a very high office; and should
you marry his son, he may be able
to restore my brother." "'Tis indeed
possible, said the young lady."—
"Well then, replied Shuey-guwin eagerly,
I'll go and acquaint the Che-foo
that you consent to the proposals: give
me here the Nean-kung[46] , or writing
of eight letters." "If it must be so,
said Shuey-ping-sin, please to let me
have the paper[47] , and I will write
it." It was presently brought, and she
wrote upon it according to form.

Shuey-guwin took the paper, and folded
it up with great content: then bidding
her adieu, he hasted home to his
house, and acquainted his sons and
daughter that his niece had at last given
her consent. They were too well acquainted
with her aversion to the match
to be over-ready in believing him:
"Surely, said they, it must be a work of
more difficulty than this to procure
her compliance: you may be deceived
in her, for she is very artful: she
will seem to consent to-day, but put
you off to-morrow." He told them,

that she had submitted to obey him as
her father: "Beside, said he, here is
the Nean-kung, as an acknowledgment
of the marriage." They saw it and had
no farther scruples: "'Tis very well,
said they, and yet there is one thing
wanting; as it is the marriage of persons
of quality, and in a Mandarine's family,
the eight letters ought to be in
gold upon scarlet taffaty, and not
upon paper." He agreed it was proper,
and ordered them to be fixed on
accordingly. He then carried it to
the Che-foo, who when he saw it was
very well pleased, but told him he could
not order the marriage [farther]; he
must take the writing to the Che-hien.

The latter of these Mandarines received

the writing, as sent by the other;
and carried it the day after to the youth
whom it concerned. Kwo-khé-tzu
was no less transported, than if he had
found the most valuable jewel in the
world. He instantly ordered a Nean-kung
to be drawn up on his part, and
looking in the calendar for a fortunate
day[48] , made a great entertainment,
wherein the Che-foo and Che-hien were
the principal guests. When the feast
was over the latter of those magistrates
went with the writing to the house of
Shuey-guwin.

He immediately acquainted his niece
of it: and told her, "The day after
to-morrow, is a fortunate or good
day, when Kwo-khé-tzu designs to send
you the nuptial present: command
your house to be put in order, and sit
out your hall to receive it." "Sir,
replied she, if the present should come,
order it to your own house. As my
father is not at home it will be
more proper: and whether it is
brought hither or there the difference
will be little." "Very well, said her
uncle, and what name shall be prefixed

to the letter of thanks to be returned
for the present?" "Yours, Sir, said
she; let your name be to it: you are
my father here; my own father being
disgraced and banished the prefixing of
his name may occasion some discourtesy.
And whatever relates to the
paying of compliments, or the like, on
this occasion it will be proper for you
to take upon you." "It is true, said
Shuey-guwin, it ought to be so."

He then sent to buy a great number
of Tieh-tse, or red and gilded papers,
to write invitations upon[49] , and desired
Shuey-ping-sin to write them. She said, "I
will do it as you cannot write yourself,

but you must not let any one know
but that you wrote them." "Very
well, said he; there must also be the
letter of compliments[50] ." "I will
write that likewise, said the young
lady." When she had finished, she
desired her uncle to read it. He obeyed
and began thus; "My daughter"—

"How, says he, my daughter!
what do you mean by that? am not I
your uncle?" "Yes, said she, but is not
my own father banished, and don't you
tell me I must obey you as my father?"
Shuey-guwin was satisfied: then he took

the papers, and went home rejoicing.
"These writings, said he to his children,
are in my name, and your cousin
is in them stiled it my daughter: by
which not only her house, but whatever
she is now presented with, will be ours."

After two days Kwo-khé-tzu sent the
customary present[51] : at which Shuey-guwin
rejoiced, and put on his habit of

ceremony, ordering music to be provided,
his house to be adorned, and the
great gates thrown open to receive
it. The Che-hien accompanied it in
person: Shuey-guwin sent for his friends
and acquaintance in order to receive
him with the greater respect. He made
a grand feast on the occasion; and to
the servants that brought the present
he gave gifts of money; expressing
throughout the whole day the supreme
content and satisfaction of a man who
is near the accomplishment of a favourite
project.

Shuey-ping-sin heard all these rejoicings
without any emotion. When the
feast was over and the guests retired,
her uncle invited her to go see the present:

she complied with his request.
He asked her, who now must take it?
"Certainly, said she, it belongs to you,
you are my uncle and father; you have
been at great expence and trouble; this
is but a small return; a trifle hardly
worth mentioning, since my house,
my people, and my land, and whatever
else belongs to me is yours." "Why,
said he, should you think they are
mine?" "My father, she replied, has
no son, and is now in banishment: I
only am left, and under your direction
as your daughter, therefore
all I have is yours: but as I only govern
in my father's absence, and cannot
learn whether he is dead or alive,
I dare not yet deliver up my charge."
"Niece, said Shuey-guwin, you have
great generosity and penetration, and
shew an uncommon knowledge of
the world." He then called his three
sons and daughter, and bade them take
the present and lay it up; and upon
her offering to go, entreated her to
sit down and drink something with
them. This she waved on pretence of
some late indisposition, and begged to
retire. Shuey-guwin attributed her refusal
to that shyness and modesty, which
commonly prevails among young ladies
upon so delicate an occasion as the
receiving of the nuptial present; and
permitted her to withdraw.