University of Virginia Library

CHAP IX.[83]

KWO-khé-tzu was not so overjoyed
that he had secured the prize, as to
be neglectful of what might happen;

left therefore upon her arrival at his
house, she would make a disturbance
and reject the marriage, he made all
possible haste to fetch the Magistrates
of the city, together with others of his
relations and friends; in order to produce
her eight letters before them;
and to silence whatever she might plead
to the contrary. He was transported
that he should now recover his credit,
in shewing himself capable of outwitting
her; and congratulated himself as well
for the happy concerting of his project,
as for the resolution and dexterity with
which it had been executed. He used
such expedition in mustering his friends,
that he was got home before the chair.
It was not however long behind him.
He soon saw it coming; his people
driving along the streets, and clearing
their way like a swarm of wasps. They
were going to set it down at the gates:
but he would not let them, neither at
the second door, but made them carry
it into the great hall. Upon this the
Che-foo, the Che-hien, and all his relations
and friends rose up, and came to meet
him, crying out, "Kong-héé, or much
joy to you! how rare is it to find
a woman so beautiful and so accomplished
as Shuey-ping-sin? What cause
have you to rejoice in having at length
obtained so inestimable a treasure?"
Kwo-khé-tzu beheld the chair with the
most evident satisfaction, and advancing
towards the upper end of the hall,
returned their compliments with equal
civility: "Extraordinary, said he, as
this step I have taken may appear, I
have been guilty of no unwarrantable
violence: this lady was the person to
whom I was originally contracted in
marriage; and the receiving another
woman in her stead, was the effect of
her contrivance: the opportunity I
now have, permits me but barely to do
myself justice: I must therefore desire
you all to be my witnesses; and that
the Che-foo and Che-hien will be in this
affair as my father and mother, in making
the marriage firm and valid, and
in preventing any farther trouble about
it.

Those magistrates advised him to
bury in profound silence all that was
past; telling him they were ready

to attest what he had asserted; that
since he had brought her there, he was
now obliged to marry her, and therefore
had nothing to do, but to carry
her in, and have performed the
usual ceremonies[84] . Kwo-khé-tzu desired
before this was done, she might
appear before them; that she might
have no pretence to complain of compulsive
or hasty measures, or that the
marriage was conducted otherwise than
openly, with the most proper and deliberate
decorum. "Well, said the
Che-foo,if you would rather have it so,
let the chair be opened, and let the lady
appear."

Kwo-khé-tzu then ordered his women
to go to the chair, and lifting up the
curtain, to open the door. They went
accordingly, but found it lock'd: of
which they returned and inform'd their
master. He was not surpriz'd at this,
attributing it either to her delicacy or
her fear. Then going himself and
trying in vain to open the lock, at length
he broke it. On this, the women advanced
to open the door, which as soon
as they had done, they stood still for
some minutes. Enrag'd at this delay he
began to storm at them, asking, why
they stood staring, and did not hand
their lady out of the chair? With looks
of the utmost astonishment and confusion,
they told him there was no lady;
not so much as the shadow of one. He

was greatly surprized, and advancing
to the chair to be satisfied himself, instead
of the fair Shuey-ping-sin, he saw
nothing but a bundle wrapt about with
a scarlet cloth. At this he fell a stamping
and raving like one distracted: "How
can this be possible? said he; one of my
own women servants this morning saw
her drest, and ready to go into the chair,
but a little while before it set out."

The Che-foo and Che-hien, with the
rest that were invited, went also to the
chair, and with equal astonishment saw
nobody was in it. "Surely, said they
all, this young lady must be a prophetess,
and have a power of divining, thus
to foresee, and avoid all your pursuits:
'tis enough; you must think no more

of her: for whether she be saint or
demon, there is no fathoming her contrivances:
she must surely be of no
common capacity." Kwo-khé-tzu was
too much mortified and confounded to
answer a syllable. The Che-foo seeing
him cast down and dejected, ordered
them to take out the bundle and see
what was in it. Opening it they found
only a box filled with pebble stones.
At this every body laugh'd: and taking
their leave, left Kwo-khé-tzu to
bewail his disgrace[85] .

He was so disturbed in his mind,
that for some time he did not perceive
they had left him: at length raising
up his head and looking round, he saw
his hall empty, and nobody left, except
one friend, who sat unobserv'd in a
corner, and seem'd buried in profound
thought. The name of this person
was Chun kéé. Taking courage to
find he was not totally deserted, the
youth called out, inviting him to come
and sit down with him, and to talk
over the affair that had happen'd.
"To-day, said he, after having thought
myself secure of the accomplishment

of my wishes beyond all possibility
of disappointment, how have I been
deceived, and shamed and mortified?
I cannot account for the trick she
hath play'd me; it seems to exceed
all human power: and yet I cannot
forget her; neither shall I give her
up, as those here advised me. Tell me
how you would act in like situation?"
"This young lady, answer'd Chun-kéé, is
very subtle; she is no less uncomplying
and obstinate: to think to obtain her
therefore by soft and gentle means, will
be involving yourself in an endless
pursuit: nothing but downright force
can succeed with her." "Alas! replied
the other, of what little effect bare force
can be, the disappointment of this day
may shew: besides, after this unsuccessful
attempt, she will not easily fall in
my way again: her youth and sex will
afford her no occasion to stir out for
the future: nor will she readily venture
of herself." "Do not despair, said the
other, I have bethought myself of an
expedient, that does not seem unlikely."
Kwo-khé-tzu listen'd with great attention.
"Her father, proceeded Chun kéé,
is in banishment, and I hear 'tis a long
while that she hath had no news of
him: I hear also that she preserves for
him the most ardent affection, and continually
feeds an hope that he will one day
obtain the Emperor's pardon." "All
this said the other, may be very true:
but what is it to our purpose?" "You
must get, said his friend, a coloured
paper, upon which let it be written,
that a great Mandarine hath procured
a pardon for him, and that the Emperor
has restored him to his office
again. Send this dispatch to her house
by a train of twenty messengers, and
let her be called upon to receive the
mandate[86] with due respect. This will
oblige her to come out to meet it.
Then let a chair be ready, and the moment
she steps out of the hall force her
into it and away."

Kwo-khé-tzu applauded this scheme,
and thought it might be successful.
"But stay, proceeded Chun-kéé, we must
at the same time make some provision
for our own security. Shuey-ping-sin is

the daughter of a Mandarine of good
family: and when she sees herself thus
suddenly beset and carried away by violence,
it may cause her to commit some
desperate action: perhaps to strangle
herself with her garter; or to stab herself
with her scissars, or some other implement
she may have about her. To
prevent therefore the blame of any such
action, you shall present a petition to
the Che-foo and Che-hien to summon her
before them at your suit: by which
you will have their officers to accompany
your people, and their authority for
your sanction: and at the same time that
you are screen'd from the consequences[87]
of the attempt, you will have those
magistrates ready to compleat the marriage."
Kwo-khé-tzu could not conceal
his satisfaction at so artful and at the same
time so safe a contrivance: "This,
says he, is a thousand[88] times better than
any I have undertaken before: nothing
remains but to fix the time for its execution."
When they had settled this
point between them, they parted.

Shuey-ping-sin, having thus a third
time narrowly escaped falling into the
hands of her persecutor, kept herself
very close at home, and would scarcely
suffer any one to go in or out of her
house. As for Shuey-guwin and his
sons, being sensible she strongly suspected
them, they came in her way as

little as possible. Yet greatly as she
had been harrassed, alarmed and terrified,
her concern on that account
was light, compared with what she
suffered for the sake of her father.
His misfortunes and disgrace were the
constant subject of her thoughts: and if
she sometimes encouraged an hope, that
he would one day be restored to his
family and his friends, it was as often interrupted
by doubt and stifled by despair.
One morning as she was employed
in dressing her head[89] , she was
alarmed by a great noise and disturbance
in the street at the gate of her
court: she sent an old woman of her
attendants to inquire the meaning of it.
But before she could get to the gate,
it was already broken down, and a
great many people came running in
with the coloured paper, who cried out,
"Good news! much joy to Shuey-ping-sin!"
These words, though not very
distinctly heard, reached the ears of the
young lady: she therefore hastened
into the hall, and stood behind the
door to be the better satisfied: where
she saw the people, and heard very
plainly what they said: crying aloud,
"Here is the Emperor's mandate,
she must come out immediately to
meet and receive it." Upon this, accompanied
by two of her maids, she
ventured out: and was instantly surrounded.
She asked where the order
was: they answered, at the Che-foo's,
and that she must go there: and
immediately a chair was brought into
the hall. Perceiving how matters were
conducted, she began to suspect all
was not right, and that some evil
design was in agitation against her:
but finding it too late to retreat, she
mustered up a noble courage and resolution,
and concealing her fear and
surprize, waved her hand to be heard.
"You that are now come here, said
she, upon this pretence, belong to,
or are sent by Kwo-khé-tzu; and the
reason he sends you hither to take me,
is not because he hates me or is my
enemy, but it rather proceeds from
his violent regard: and therefore if
I comply with his desires and marry
him, don't I not only gratify his utmost
wishes, but also immediately become
your mistress? As therefore it will
then be in my power to punish you as
I please, be careful how you are guilty
here of any indecency." Chun-kéé,
who was in the crowd, hearing what
she said, cried out, "It is very true,
Lady, and therefore if you will please
to go into the chair, no one will offer
the least discourtesy." "Well then,
said she, stand aside a little and give me
room; let me speak to my people, and
make some little change in my dress."
Then calling a female attendant to bid
her bring her cloaths, she whispered in
her ear, to conceal a knife in the sleeve
of her gown. All this was performed,
and she accordingly changed her habit.
Then having given orders to her servants
about the management of her
house, she addressed herself once more
to the people: "To-day, said she,
if you would gain an interest in your
master, by doing me a favour, you
must oblige me in one thing." "If
you will but marry Kwo-khé-tzu, replied
Chun-kéé, there is nothing we
shall dare to refuse you." She proceeded,
"It is now three times that
that young Lord hath come to marry
me: it is not in my power to resist
him any longer, but then you must
not carry me directly to his house; for I
will sooner dye, than be married there by
force, and in a low clandestine manner.
Therefore carry me first to the Man-darines
of the city: and let the marriage
be performed openly and honourably
before those Magistrates, suitable
to the dignity of my rank, and of
his pretensions." "You say right,
said Chun-kéé, it shall be as you order,
you shall go first to the Che-hien, then
to the Che-foo, and afterwards to the
house of your husband: thus will every
thing be decent and regular." Shuey-ping-sin
then ordering two of her maids
to attend her, and bidding one of her
servants to take down the coloured
paper, which had been fixed to the gate,
and to bring it along to the Che-hien's,
called for the chair, and threw herself
into it.

The people of Kwo-khé-tzu, who
were about thirty in number, having
thus got possession of the prize, which
had so often eluded their master's pursuit,
with the utmost alacrity and speed
took up the chair and ran away with it
through the city, regardless of every
thing they met in their passage; like a
flight of crows, that are winging their
way through the air. They had now
almost reached the audience of the
Che-hien, when in crossing a street, they

ran against a young gentleman mounted
on a mule with such violence, that they
had like to have beaten both to the
ground.

Upon this the stranger, who was
dressed in a student's habit, and was followed
by one servant, instantly dismounted,
and not a little incensed
at their rudeness, laid hold of the chairmen,
calling them impertinent and
clownish rascals: "You are not, said
he, escaping from fire or thieves, wherefore
then do you hurry along at this
uncivil and disorderly rate, overturning
every thing in your way? How durst
you affront me in this audacious manner?"
They answered, that they were
employed about a marriage of distinction;

and who should hinder them?
"Were you gold or diamonds, iron
or glass, said they, go with us to the
Che-hien, and we will grind you to powder."
"If this marriage, replied he,
is between people of quality, where
are the usual ceremonies to attend it?
Where is the chair of state adorned
for that purpose? Where is the music,
and other splendid attendance? Here
is nothing of all this; but you rather
seem to be villains that have stolen away
some unfortunate lady: and as that is
the case, I will go along with you to
the audience myself."

Chun-kéé hearing what he said, and
perceiving by his mien, that he was no
ordinary person, addressed him very

respectfully, and said, "Pray, Sir, excuse
the incivility done you by these
fellows, who are clowns and know no
better: they deserve correction, but in
truth are not worthy your notice: better
let them alone."

The stranger recollected himself, and
was going away; when of a sudden he
heard a voice from the chair crying
out for succour: "I am greatly injured:
you seem to be a person of
valour: O assist and save me!" Upon
which he laid his hand on the chair, and
once more stopped it: saying, "Is this
then the reason of your indecent haste?
Come away, I will go with you to
the Mandarine's audience." The chairmen
thus interrupted, seeing he would

not quit them, went to fall upon him
with their fists: but loosing the chair,
he so well exerted himself, that he
quickly laid many of them at his feet.
Upon which Chun-kéé came up to him,
and said: "Sir, you must not beat the
people thus; though you would not
before have gone to the Che-hien, now
we must oblige you: let go the chair;
and we will go there together." "By
no means, said the young stranger: not
'till I am got to the door of the audience."

As soon as they were arrived there,
he raised the end of his whip, and
struck the great drum[90] that stood at

the door: upon which all the people
came out, wondering at his boldness.
The Che-hien, who had expected the
chair, sate in the hall waiting for it,
when hearing the drum beat, he could
not conceive what was the matter: immediately
he saw his people come in,
bringing in the stranger: "This, they
said, is the person that beat on the
drum."