University of Virginia Library

CHAP. V.

TWO tables being prepared, Kwo-sho-su
sat down at the first: the
Eunuch with Tieh-chung-u at the second.
After some little conversation
on indifferent subjects, Chou-thay-kien
addressed himself to the latter, and

said: "His Majesty being informed
of your great ingenuity, hath ordered
these two pictures to be sent here, that
you should write something upon them:
but it was at my intreaty in order
to bring you to my house, where I
have something to impart to you of
great moment. It is also a peculiar
happiness that this Mandarine hath
chanced to drop in, and that I can do
it in his presence." "What, said Kwo-sho-su,
have you of moment to impart
to this Mandarine in my hearing?"
The Eunuch replied, "If a drum be
not struck upon, it returns no sound; if
a bell be not rung, it will not be heard;
excuse me therefore if I enter at once
upon the matter in hand, without farther
ceremony, or delay. I have a
niece born with no great beauty, nor
yet very ill-favoured: but she is very
good tempered, chearful and pleasant.
She is now about eighteen years of age,
and yet I have not hitherto found a
proper match for her. Now, Sir, said
he, addressing himself to Tieh-chung-u,
you are the man I would chuse for her
husband: she is ingaged to no other
person: I have got the consent of the
Mandarine your father: and yesterday
I begged of the Emperor to have the
marriage performed: in order to which
he gave me these two pictures to ratify
the contract."

How much soever Tieh-chung-u was
surprized, and chagrined to discover this
treachery, he endeavoured to conceal
it from observation. He even assumed

an appearance of satisfaction, and told
the Eunuch he was extremely obliged
to him: that his proposal was what
he could not possibly have refused, had
it been in his power to have accepted
of it; but that he was already married
to Shuey-ping-sin, the daughter of the
Lord President of Arms: and that it
was impossible for him to be married
twice[12] .

[13] Chou-thay-kien smiled and said, "Sir,

you must not think to deceive me, I have
examined the affair to the bottom:
your proceedings were a feint, in order
to avoid marrying my niece; as also
to prevent the addresses of Tah-quay
to the young lady: and as it was so
easy to see through this imposition, I
wonder you should think of attempting
it." Tieh-chung-u answered, "Your
Lordship surprizes me: in an affair
of any other nature, such an attempt
might be feasible: but in such a subject
as marriage, how can any imposition
take place?" "If you are really
and truly married, said the Eunuch,
why did not you conduct the bride
home to your house, but on the contrary
go to reside in that of her father?
Why also don't you cohabit with your
wife? Why do you continue in separate
apartments?" "I do not bring
home my bride, said the Mandarine
Tieh, because her father hath never a
son; I dwell therefore with him, in
order to attend and comfort him in
his old age: but whether we reside in
the same apartments or not, is an affair
of no consequence to any but ourselves:
it is sufficient that the marriage
hath been duely celebrated. Beside as
your Lordship is continually with the
Emperor, how can you tell what passes
in the house of another person? and
this being the case, you ought not
to believe any such story." "I shall
not enter any farther into the merits
of these reports, said the other: it concerns
not me whether they are true
or false: it is sufficient that I have
spoke with his Majesty about your marriage
with my niece: and have the
sanction of his authority. It is in vain
therefore to think to avoid it." "Not
avoid it! said Tieh-chung-u. From
the remotest antiquity 'till the present
hour, it hath never been heard of, that
a man endowed with reason hath been
married to one wife, and then taken
another[14] . I have already espoused a
young lady with all the due solemnities
of law; for this reason I must refuse
all other: yet had you made me
the offer of your niece first, I should not
have slighted it." "Before you had
argued in this manner, said the Eunuch,
you should have made it appear
that you were really married.
When the bride is once carried to the
house of her husband, then it may be reputed
a true marriage: then she may
be considered as a first or secondary
wife: but this cannot properly be done
'till she is carried from her own house.
And this ceremony the Rites require."
"I grant your Lordship, said Tieh-chung-u,
that generally speaking this is
necessary, but then it is only for the
security of the bride or bridegroom
with regard to each other: among people
of honour it may be dispensed with;
especially in obedience to the express
commands of a parent." "You talk
of obedience to your parents, said Chou-thay-kien;
will you pay attention to
them, and neglect to obey the orders
of the Emperor? Do you think then
that the private commands of your
parents are to take place of those of
his Majesty?" "Far from it," said
Tieh-chung-u; who began to be vexed,
to hear him talk in so unreasonable a
manner: "I only say that marriage
is a thing of great importance, and
ought to be conducted with regularity
and order: otherwise you violate
the laws and rites of the empire.
This is not a private affair between
your Lordship and myself, but a thing
of public concernment; and if his Majesty
will be pleased to consult all the
doctors of the empire, he will see that
I am right." "What occasion for
so much trouble? said the Eunuch:
or why is it needful to consult all the
doctors, when there is present so great
a doctor as Kwo-sho-su, one who is so
capable of determining the question?"
"Very true, replied the youth; will
your Lordship ask him to judge betweeen
us?"

"My Lord," said the Eunuch, addressing
himself to that Mandarine,
"you have been here some time listening
to the dispute between this gentleman
and myself: be pleased to favour us with
your opinion of the case." "If you
alone had asked me, said the Minister,
and if the Mandarine Tieh-chung-u himself
had not also applied to me, I should
not have hazarded a word between you:
but as he also desires it, I will speak

according to my conscience, without
partiality to either side. With regard
to the rites of marriage, there are reasons
within other reasons, and the subject
contains some things so intricate,
that all the doctors in the empire cannot
infallibly decide upon it. But if
the question turns upon the Emperor's
authority, I am of opinion that the
rites of marriage are subject to it, and
that he may over-rule them at pleasure.
For if you look back through all ages,
you will find that the Emperor hath
power to change the laws of the realm,
and even to abolish the whole estate of
his Mandarinate, by which those laws
are executed and supported." The
Eunuch Chou hearing these words,
could not conceal his satisfaction: he
laughed and said, "Your Lordship is
certainly right, the Mandarine Tieh cannot
answer one word to this."

Then calling for a cup of wine, he
took it in his hand, and presented it
with great reverence to Kwo-sho-su, intreating
him to be bridesman or mediator
to the marriage of his niece. "As
you have obtained his Majesty's licence,
replied he, addressing himself to Chou-thay-kien,
it is no longer left to your
discretion; I shall therefore act in that
behalf, for I dare not disobey his Majesty."
Then he drank off the wine[15] .
After which he addressed himself to
Tieh-chung-u: "As the Emperor, said
he, hath condescended to lend his sanction

to this marriage, you cannot refuse
your compliance, notwithstanding your
prior engagement with Shuey-ping-sin:
let me then advise you, Sir, to stand off
no longer, but quietly submit, and then
all will be well."

Although Tieh-chung-u was extremely
chagrined and vexed, and could
with much difficulty kept his patience:
he nevertheless found it necessary to
bridle his temper for many reasons.
In the first place, he considered that
they had made the point to rest
upon the Emperor's authority: again
he reflected that the Eunuch
Chou had continual access to his Majesty's
presence, and would be able
to give what turn he pleased to the

affair: he was also fearful that being
within that Eunuch's house, he would
not suffer him to go out: he was
moreover unwilling to quarrel openly
with Kwo-sho-su: he therefore answered
that Mandarine mildly; "I
have nothing to object to your Lordship's
opinion, and if his Majesty hath
given his order, far be it from me to
dispute it. But still it is necessary
for me to go, and inform my father
and mother; that they may fix on
a fortunate day; and settle the terms
of the nuptial sum: for I cannot pretend
to take upon me to do it without
their knowledge." "Sir, said the
Eunuch, you only want to shift off
the affair; but it will not serve your
turn: if you do not comply, you shew
contempt to his Majesty's order: it
wholly depends upon yourself whether
you will obey it or not: you ought
to obey, and not to study these excuses.
This is a fortunate day: all that relates
to invitations is already performed:
the music is prepared: the banquet
ready: and here by great good fortune
is the Mandarine Kwo-sho-su to act as
bridesman: within is the nuptial chamber
fitted up for the bridegroom: let
us now celebrate your marriage with my
niece, and then I shall have discharged
the most important duty that relates
to this life. If you think, Sir, that
your father or mother will complain
of being neglected, you must lay the
blame on his Majesty's order; and then
what complaint can be made? If you
make any scruple about the nuptial
sum, I will leave that entirely to yourselves:
that shall make no ground of
dispute." "Really, Sir, said Kwo-sho-su
to the young Mandarine Tieh,
my Lord Chou-thay-kien discovers a great
affection for you; if now you make
any farther excuses, you will certainly
pass for an ungrateful person." The
young Mandarine replied, "Before
one can acknowledge a favour, one
ought to be certain of its propriety
and reasonableness. I came hither today
by his Majesty's order to make
some verses or encomiums on two pictures.
I have already finished one:
the other remains to be performed:
and how can I dare to take in hand
any other business 'till this is discharged?
Now I intreat your Lordship
to give me here the other picture,
that I may finish it; and then I shall
be at liberty to enter upon any other
business." "Sir, said the Eunuch, you
say very well: but the other picture
is very large, and is laid up in an inner
apartment: as therefore it would occasion
a great deal of trouble to bring
it here, you had better go within to it."
Although Tieh-chung-u suspected that
there was some secret design in this,
which he could not at present discover,
he notwithstanding thought it best to
comply: which he signified accordingly.
"Well then, said the Eunuch,
let us drink once more, afterwards we
will go within: for your Lordship is
right in proposing, that one thing be finished
before another be taken in hand."
The young Mandarine Tieh said to himself,
"When I have once dispatched the
other picture, I shall perhaps find a
means to escape from this house." Accordingly
rising up from the table, he
said, "Come let us finish the verses: I
will drink no more." The Eunuch
Chou rose up likewise, and said, "Let
us go." The Mandarine Kwo-sho-su
expressed also an inclination to accompany
them: but the Eunuch gave him
a signal with his eye: and immediately
that Mandarine stopped and said; "It
is not necessary that I be present at
the composing of these verses, I will
wait for your return here without: and
when you have finished them I will
compleat the marriage."

Then Chou-thay-kien conducted the
young Mandarine Tieh within: by
which means he fell into the snare: for
as soon as the other had led him into an
inner apartment he left him and withdrew;
two women servants immediately
shutting the doors upon him.