CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Lin Hsiao-Hsiang carries the first prize in the poems on chrysanthemums. Hsueh Heng-wu chaffs Pao-yue by composing verses in the same style as his on the crabs.
After Pao-ch'ai and Hsiang-yuen, we will now explain, settled everythingin their deliberations, nothing memorable occurred, the whole night,which deserves to be put on record.
The next day, Hsiang-yuen invited dowager lady Chia and her otherrelatives to come and look at the olea flowers. Old lady Chia and everyone else answered that as she had had the kind attention to ask them,they felt it their duty to avail themselves of her gracious invitation,much though they would be putting her to trouble and inconvenience. Attwelve o'clock, therefore, old lady Chia actually took with her MadameWang and lady Feng, as well as Mrs. Hsueeh and other members of herfamily whom she had asked to join them, and repaired into the garden.
"Which is the best spot?" old lady Chia inquired.
"We are ready to go wherever you may like, dear senior," Madame Wangventured in response.
"A collation has already been spread in the Lotus Fragrance Arbour,"lady Feng interposed. "Besides, the two olea plants, on that hill,yonder, are now lovely in their full blossom, and the water of thatstream is jade-like and pellucid, so if we sit in the pavilion in themiddle of it, won't we enjoy an open and bright view? It will berefreshing too to our eyes to watch the pool."
"Quite right!" assented dowager lady Chia at this suggestion; and whileexpressing her approbation, she ushered her train of followers into theArbour of Lotus Fragrance.
This Arbour of Lotus Fragrance had, in fact, been erected in the centreof the pool. It had windows on all four sides. On the left and on theright, stood covered passages, which spanned the stream and connectedwith the hills. At the back, figured a winding bridge.
As the party ascended the bamboo bridge, lady Feng promptly advanced andsupported dowager lady Chia. "Venerable ancestor," she said, "just walkboldly and with confident step; there's nothing to fear; it's the way ofthese bamboo bridges to go on creaking like this."
Presently, they entered the arbour. Here they saw two additional bambootables, placed beyond the balustrade. On the one, were arranged cups,chopsticks and every article necessary for drinking wine. On the other,were laid bamboo utensils for tea, a tea-service and various cups andsaucers. On the off side, two or three waiting-maids were engaged infanning the stove to boil the water for tea. On the near side werevisible several other girls, who were trying with their fans to get afire to light in the stove so as to warm the wines.
"It was a capital idea," dowager lady Chia hastily exclaimed laughinglywith vehemence, "to bring tea here. What's more, the spot and theappurtenances are alike so spick and span!"
"These things were brought by cousin Pao-ch'ai," Hsiang-yuen smilinglyexplained, "so I got them ready."
"This child is, I say, so scrupulously particular," old lady Chiaobserved, "that everything she does is thoroughly devised."
As she gave utterance to her feelings, her attention was attracted by apair of scrolls of black lacquer, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, suspendedon the pillars, and she asked Hsiang-yuen to tell her what the mottoeswere.
The text she read was:
Snapped is the shade of the hibiscus by the fragrant oar of a boat homeward bound. Deep flows the perfume of the lily and the lotus underneath the bamboo bridge.
After listening to the motto, old lady Chia raised her head and cast aglance upon the tablet; then turning round: "Long ago, when I wasyoung," she observed, addressing herself to Mrs. Hsueeh, "we likewise hadat home a pavilion like this called 'the Hall reclining on the russetclouds,' or some other such name. At that time, I was of the same age asthe girls, and my wont was to go day after day and play with my sistersthere. One day, I, unexpectedly, slipped and fell into the water, and Ihad a narrow escape from being drowned; for it was after greatdifficulty, that they managed to drag me out safe and sound. But my headwas, after all, bumped about against the wooden nails; so much so, thatthis hole of the length of a finger, which you can see up to this day onmy temple, comes from the bruises I sustained. All my people were in afunk that I'd be the worse for this ducking and continued in fear andtrembling lest I should catch a chill. 'It was dreadful, dreadful!' theyopined, but I managed, little though every one thought it, to keep insplendid health."
Lady Feng allowed no time to any one else to put in a word; butanticipating them: "Had you then not survived, who would now be enjoyingthese immense blessings!" she smiled. "This makes it evident that nosmall amount of happiness and long life were in store for you, venerableancestor, from your very youth up! It was by the agency of the spiritsthat this hole was knocked open so that they might fill it up withhappiness and longevity! The old man Shou Hsing had, in fact, a hole inhis head, which was so full of every kind of blessing conducive tohappiness and long life that it bulged up ever so high!"
Before, however, she could conclude, dowager lady Chia and the rest wereconvulsed with such laughter that their bodies doubled in two.
"This monkey is given to dreadful tricks!" laughed old lady Chia. "She'salways ready to make a scapegoat of me to evoke amusement. But wouldthat I could take that glib mouth of yours and rend it in pieces."
"It's because I feared that the cold might, when you by and bye havesome crabs to eat, accumulate in your intestines," lady Feng pleaded,"that I tried to induce you, dear senior, to have a laugh, so as to makeyou gay and merry. For one can, when in high spirits, indulge in acouple of them more with impunity."
"By and bye," smiled old lady Chia, "I'll make you follow me day andnight, so that I may constantly be amused and feel my mind diverted; Iwon't let you go back to your home."
"It's that weakness of yours for her, venerable senior," Madame Wangobserved with a smile, "that has got her into the way of behaving inthis manner, and, if you go on speaking to her as you do, she'll soonbecome ever so much the more unreasonable."
"I like her such as she is," dowager lady Chia laughed. "Besides, she'struly no child, ignorant of the distinction between high and low. Whenwe are at home, with no strangers present, we ladies should be on termslike these, and as long, in fact, as we don't overstep propriety, it'sall right. If not, what would he the earthly use of making them behavelike so many saints?"
While bandying words, they entered the pavilion in a body. After tea,lady Feng hastened to lay out the cups and chopsticks. At the uppertable then seated herself old lady Chia, Mrs. Hsueeh, Pao-ch'ai, Tai-yueand Pao-yue. Round the table, on the east, sat Shih Hsiang-yuen, MadameWang, Ying Ch'un, T'an Ch'un and Hsi Ch'un. At the small table, leaningagainst the door on the west side, Li Wan and lady Feng assignedthemselves places. But it was for the mere sake of appearances, asneither of them ventured to sit down, but remained in attendance at thetwo tables, occupied by old lady Chia and Madame Wang.
"You'd better," lady Feng said, "not bring in too many crabs at a time.Throw these again into the steaming-basket! Only serve ten; and whenthey're eaten, a fresh supply can be fetched!"
Asking, at the same time, for water, she washed her hands, and, takingher position near dowager lady Chia, she scooped out the meat from acrab, and offered the first help to Mrs. Hsueeh.
"They'll be sweeter were I to open them with my own hands," Mrs. Hsueehremarked, "there's no need for any one to serve me."
Lady Feng, therefore, presented it to old lady Chia and handed a secondportion to Pao-yue.
"Make the wine as warm as possible and bring it in!" she then went on tocry. "Go," she added, directing the servant-girls, "and fetch thepowder, made of green beans, and scented with the leaves ofchrysanthemums and the stamens of the olea fragrans; and keep it readyto rinse our hands with."
Shih Hsiang-yuen had a crab to bear the others company, but no sooner hadshe done than she retired to a lower seat, from where she helped herguests. When she, however, walked out a second time to give orders tofill two dishes and send them over to Mrs. Chao, she perceived lady Feng
come up to her again. "You're not accustomed to entertaining," she said,"so go and have your share to eat. I'll attend to the people for youfirst, and, when they've gone, I'll have all I want."
Hsiang-yuen would not agree to her proposal. But giving furtherdirections to the servants to spread two tables under the verandah onthe off-side, she pressed Yuean Yang, Hu Po, Ts'ai Hsia, Ts'ai Yuen andP'ing Erh to go and seat themselves.
"Lady Secunda," consequently ventured Yuean Yang, "you're in here doingthe honours, so may I go and have something to eat?"
"You can all go," replied lady Feng; "leave everything in my charge, andit will be all right."
While these words were being spoken, Shih Hsiang-yuen resumed her placeat the banquet. Lady Feng and Li Wan then took hurry-scurry something toeat as a matter of form; but lady Feng came down once more to look afterthings. After a time, she stepped out on the verandah where Yuean Yangand the other girls were having their refreshments in high glee. As soonas they caught sight of her, Yuan Yang and her companions stood up."What has your ladyship come out again for?" they inquired. "Do let usalso enjoy a little peace and quiet!"
"This chit Yuean Yang is worse than ever!" lady Feng laughed. "Here I'mslaving away for you, and, instead of feeling grateful to me, you bearme a grudge! But don't you yet quick pour me a cup of wine?"
Yuean Yang immediately smiled, and filling a cup, she applied it to ladyFeng's lips. Lady Feng stretched out her neck and emptied it. But Hu Poand Ts'ai Hsia thereupon likewise replenished a cup and put it to ladyFeng's mouth. Lady Feng swallowed the contents of that as well. P'ingErh had, by this time, brought her some yellow meat which she had pickedout from the shell. "Pour plenty of ginger and vinegar!" shouted ladyFeng, and, in a moment, she made short work of that too. "You people,"she smiled, "had better sit down and have something to eat, for I'm offnow."
"You brazen-faced thing," exclaimed Yuean Yang laughingly, "to eat whatwas intended for us!"
"Don't be so captious with me!" smiled lady Feng. "Are you aware thatyour master Secundus, Mr. Lien, has taken such a violent fancy to youthat he means to speak to our old lady to let you be his secondarywife!"
Yuean Yang blushed crimson. "Ts'ui!" she shouted. "Are these really wordsto issue from the mouth of a lady! But if I don't daub your face allover with my filthy hands, I won't feel happy!"
Saying this, she rushed up to her. She was about to besmear her face,when lady Feng pleaded: "My dear child, do let me off this time!"
"Lo, that girl Yuean," laughed Hu Po, "wishes to smear her, and thathussey P'ing still spares her! Look here, she has scarcely had twocrabs, and she has drunk a whole saucerful of vinegar!"
P'ing Erh was holding a crab full of yellow meat, which she was in theact of cleaning. As soon therefore as she heard this taunt, she came,crab in hand, to spatter Hu Po's face, as she laughingly reviled her."I'll take you minx with that cajoling tongue of yours" she cried,"and...."
But, Hu Po, while also indulging in laughter, drew aside; so P'ing Erhbeat the air, and fell forward, daubing, by a strange coincidence, thecheek of lady Feng. Lady Feng was at the moment having a littlegood-humoured raillery with Yuean Yang, and was taken so much off herguard, that she was quite startled out of her senses. "Ai-yah!" sheejaculated. The bystanders found it difficult to keep their countenance,and, with one voice, they exploded into a boisterous fit of laughter.Lady Feng as well could not help feeling amused, and smilingly sheupbraided her. "You stupid wench!" she said; "Have you by gorging lostyour eyesight that you recklessly smudge your mistress' face?"
P'ing Erh hastily crossed over and wiped her face for her, and then wentin person to fetch some water.
"O-mi-to-fu," ejaculated Yuean Yang, "this is a distinct retribution!"
Dowager lady Chia, though seated on the other side, overheard theirshouts, and she consecutively made inquiries as to what they had seen totickled their fancy so. "Tell us," (she urged), "what it is so that wetoo should have a laugh."
"Our lady Secunda," Yuean Yang and the other maids forthwith laughinglycried, "came to steal our crabs and eat them, and P'ing Erh got angryand daubed her mistress' face all over with yellow meat. So our mistressand that slave-girl are now having a scuffle over it."
This report filled dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other inmateswith them with much merriment. "Do have pity on her," dowager lady Chialaughed, "and let her have some of those small legs and entrails to eat,and have done!"
Yuan Yang and her companions assented, much amused. "Mistress Secunda,"they shouted in a loud tone of voice, "you're at liberty to eat thiswhole tableful of legs!"
But having washed her face clean, lady Feng approached old lady Chia andthe other guests and waited upon them for a time, while they partook ofrefreshments.
Tai-yue did not, with her weak physique, venture to overload her stomach,so partaking of a little meat from the claws, she left the table.Presently, however, dowager lady Chia too abandoned all idea of havinganything more to eat. The company therefore quitted the banquet; and,when they had rinsed their hands, some admired the flowers, some playedwith the water, others looked at the fish.
After a short stroll, Madame Wang turned round and remarked to old ladyChia: "There's plenty of wind here. Besides, you've just had crabs; soit would be prudent for you, venerable senior, to return home and rest.And if you feel in the humour, we can come again for a turn to-morrow."
"Quite true!" acquiesced dowager lady Chia, in reply to this suggestion."I was afraid that if I left, now that you're all in exuberant spirits,I mightn't again be spoiling your fun, (so I didn't budge). But as theidea originates from yourselves do go as you please, (while I retire).But," she said to Hsiang-yuen, "don't allow your cousin Secundus, Pao-yue,and your cousin Lin to have too much to eat." Then when Hsiang-yuen hadsignified her obedience, "You two girls," continuing, she recommendedHsiang-yuen and Pao-ch'ai, "must not also have more than is good for you.Those things are, it's true, luscious, but they're not very wholesome;and if you eat immoderately of them, why, you'll get stomachaches."
Both girls promised with alacrity to be careful; and, having escortedher beyond the confines of the garden, they retraced their steps andordered the servants to clear the remnants of the banquet and to lay outa new supply of refreshments.
"There's no use of any regular spread out!" Pao-yue interposed. "When youare about to write verses, that big round table can be put in the centreand the wines and eatables laid on it. Neither will there be any need toceremoniously have any fixed seats. Let those who may want anything toeat, go up to it and take what they like; and if we seat ourselves,scattered all over the place, won't it be far more convenient for us?"
"Your idea is excellent!" Pao-ch'ai answered.
"This is all very well," Hsiang-yuen observed, "but there are others tobe studied besides ourselves!"
Issuing consequently further directions for another table to be laid,and picking out some hot crabs, she asked Hsi Jen, Tzu Chuean, Ssu Ch'i,Shih Shu, Ju Hua, Ying Erh, Ts'ui Mo and the other girls to sit togetherand form a party. Then having a couple of flowered rugs spread under theolea trees on the hills, she bade the matrons on duty, the waiting-maidsand other servants to likewise make themselves comfortable and to eatand drink at their pleasure until they were wanted, when they could comeand answer the calls.
Hsiang-yuen next fetched the themes for the verses and pinned them with aneedle on the wall. "They're full of originality," one and all exclaimedafter perusal, "we fear we couldn't write anything on them."
Hsiang-yuen then went onto explain to them the reasons that had promptedher not to determine upon any particular rhymes.
"Yes, quite right!" put in Pao-yue. "I myself don't fancy hard and fastrhymes!"
But Lin Tai-yue, being unable to stand much wine and to take any crabs,told, on her own account, a servant to fetch an embroidered cushion;and, seating herself in such a way as to lean against the railing, shetook up a fishing-rod and began to fish. Pao-ch'ai played for a timewith a twig of olea she held
in her hand, then resting on thewindow-sill, she plucked the petals, and threw them into the water,attracting the fish, which went by, to rise to the surface and nibble atthem. Hsiang-yuen, after a few moments of abstraction, urged Hsi Jen andthe other girls to help themselves to anything they wanted, and beckonedto the servants, seated at the foot of the hill, to eat to their heart'scontent. Tan Ch'un, in company with Li Wan and Hsi Ch'un, stoodmeanwhile under the shade of the weeping willows, and looked at thewidgeons and egrets. Ying Ch'un, on the other hand, was all alone underthe shade of some trees, threading double jasmine flowers, with a needlespecially adapted for the purpose. Pao-yue too watched Tai-yue fishing fora while. At one time he leant next to Pao-ch'ai and cracked a few jokeswith her. And at another, he drank, when he noticed Hsi Jen feasting oncrabs with her companions, a few mouthfuls of wine to keep her company.At this, Hsi Jen cleaned the meat out of a shell, and gave it to him toeat.
Tai-yue then put down the fishing-rod, and, approaching the seats, shelaid hold of a small black tankard, ornamented with silver plum flowers,and selected a tiny cup, made of transparent stone, red like a begonia,and in the shape of a banana leaf. A servant-girl observed hermovements, and, concluding that she felt inclined to have a drink, shedrew near with hurried step to pour some wine for her.
"You girls had better go on eating," Tai-yue remonstrated, "and let mehelp myself; there'll be some fun in it then!"
So speaking, she filled for herself a cup half full; but discoveringthat it was yellow wine, "I've eaten only a little bit of crab," shesaid, "and yet I feel my mouth slightly sore; so what would do for menow is a mouthful of very hot distilled spirit."
Pao-yue hastened to take up her remark. "There's some distilled spirit,"he chimed in. "Take some of that wine," he there and then shouted out toa servant, "scented with acacia flowers, and warm a tankard of it."
When however it was brought Tai-yue simply took a sip and put it downagain.
Pao-ch'ai too then came forward, and picked up a double cup; but, afterdrinking a mouthful of it, she lay it aside, and, moistening her pen,she walked up to the wall, and marked off the first theme: "longing forchrysanthemums," below which she appended a character "Heng."
"My dear cousin," promptly remarked Pao-yue. "I've already got four linesof the second theme so let me write on it!"
"I managed, after ever so much difficulty, to put a stanza together,"Pao-ch'ai smiled, "and are you now in such a hurry to deprive me of it?"
Without so much as a word, Tai-yue took a pen and put a distinctive signopposite the eighth, consisting of: "ask the chrysanthemums;" and,singling out, in quick succession, the eleventh: "dream ofchrysanthemums," as well, she too affixed for herself the word "Hsiao"below. But Pao-yue likewise got a pen, and marked his choice, the twelfthon the list: "seek for chrysanthemums," by the side of which he wrotethe character "Chiang."
T'an Ch'un thereupon rose to her feet. "If there's no one to write on'Pinning the chrysanthemums'" she observed, while scrutinising thethemes, "do let me have it! It has just been ruled," she continued,pointing at Pao-yue with a significant smile, "that it is on no accountpermissible to introduce any expressions, bearing reference to the innerchambers, so you'd better be on your guard!"
But as she spoke, she perceived Hsiang-yuen come forward, and jointlymark the fourth and fifth, that is: "facing the chrysanthemums," and"putting chrysanthemums in vases," to which she, like the others,appended a word, Hsiang."
"You too should get a style or other!" T'an Ch'un suggested.
"In our home," smiled Hsiang-yuen, "there exist, it is true, at presentseveral halls and structures, but as I don't live in either, there'll beno fun in it were I to borrow the name of any one of them!"
"Our venerable senior just said," Pao-ch'ai observed laughingly, "thatthere was also in your home a water-pavilion called 'leaning on russetclouds hall,' and is it likely that it wasn't yours? But albeit itdoesn't exist now-a-days, you were anyhow its mistress of old."
"She's right!" one and all exclaimed.
Pao-yue therefore allowed Hsiang-yuen no time to make a move, butforthwith rubbed off the character "Hsiang," for her and substitutedthat of "Hsia" (russet).
A short time only elapsed before the compositions on the twelve themeshad all been completed. After they had each copied out their respectiveverses, they handed them to Ying Ch'un, who took a separate sheet ofsnow-white fancy paper, and transcribed them together, affixingdistinctly under each stanza the style of the composer. Li Wan and herassistants then began to read, starting from the first on the list, theverses which follow:
"Longing for chrysanthemums," by the "Princess of Heng Wu."
With anguish sore I face the western breeze, and wrapt in grief, I pine for you! What time the smart weed russet turns, and the reeds white, my heart is rent in two. When in autumn the hedges thin, and gardens waste, all trace of you is gone. When the moon waxeth cold, and the dew pure, my dreams then know something of you. With constant yearnings my heart follows you as far as wild geese homeward fly. Lonesome I sit and lend an ear, till a late hour to the sound of the block! For you, ye yellow flowers, I've grown haggard and worn, but who doth pity me, And breathe one word of cheer that in the ninth moon I will soon meet you again?
"Search for chrysanthemums," by the "Gentleman of I Hung:"
When I have naught to do, I'll seize the first fine day to try and stroll about. Neither wine-cups nor cups of medicine will then deter me from my wish. Who plants the flowers in all those spots, facing the dew and under the moon's rays? Outside the rails they grow and by the hedge; but in autumn where do they go? With sandals waxed I come from distant shores; my feelings all exuberant; But as on this cold day I can't exhaust my song, my spirits get depressed. The yellow flowers, if they but knew how comfort to a poet to afford, Would not let me this early morn trudge out in vain with my cash-laden staff.
"Planting chrysanthemums," by the Gentleman of "I Hung:"
When autumn breaks, I take my hoe, and moving them myself out of the park, I plant them everywhere near the hedges and in the foreground of the halls. Last night, when least expected, they got a good shower, which made them all revive. This morn my spirits still rise high, as the buds burst in bloom bedecked with frost. Now that it's cool, a thousand stanzas on the autumn scenery I sing. In ecstasies from drink, I toast their blossom in a cup of cold, and fragrant wine. With spring water. I sprinkle them, cover the roots with mould and well tend them, So that they may, like the path near the well, be free of every grain of dirt.
"Facing the chrysanthemums," by the "Old friend of the Hall reclining onthe russet clouds."
From other gardens I transplant them, and I treasure them like gold. One cluster bears light-coloured bloom; another bears dark shades. I sit with head uncovered by the sparse-leaved artemesia hedge, And in their pure and cool fragrance, clasping my knees, I hum my lays. In the whole world, methinks, none see the light as peerless as these flowers. From all I see you have no other friend more intimate than me. Such autumn splendour, I must not misuse, as steadily it fleets. My gaze I fix on you as I am fain each moment to enjoy!
"Putting chrysanthemums in vases," by the "Old Friend of the hallreclining on the russet clouds."
The lute I thrum, and quaff my wine, joyful at heart that ye are meet to be my mates. The various tables, on which ye are laid, adorn with beauteous grace this quiet nook. The fragrant dew, next to the spot I sit, is far apart from that by the three paths. I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig full of your autumn (bloom). What time the frost is pure, a new dream steals o'er me, as by the paper screen I rest. When cold holdeth the park, and the sun's rays do slant, I long and yearn for you, old friends. I too differ from others in this world, for my own tastes resemble those of yours. The vernal winds do not hinder the peach tree and the pear fr
om bursting forth in bloom.
"Singing chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort."
Eating the bread of idleness, the frenzy of poetry creeps over me both night and day. Round past the hedge I wend, and, leaning on the rock, I intone verses gently to myself. From the point of my pencil emanate lines of recondite grace, so near the frost I write. Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth, and, turning to the moon, I sing my sentiments. With self-pitying lines pages I fill, so as utterance to give to all my cares and woes. From these few scanty words, who could fathom the secrets of my heart about the autumntide? Beginning from the time when T'ao, the magistrate, did criticise the beauty of your bloom, Yea, from that date remote up to this very day, your high renown has ever been extolled.
"Drawing chrysanthemums," by the "Princess of Heng Wu."
Verses I've had enough, so with my pens I play; with no idea that I am mad. Do I make use of pigments red or green as to involve a task of toilsome work? To form clusters of leaves, I sprinkle simply here and there a thousand specks of ink. And when I've drawn the semblance of the flowers, some spots I make to represent the frost. The light and dark so life-like harmonise with the figure of those there in the wind, That when I've done tracing their autumn growth, a fragrant smell issues under my wrist. Do you not mark how they resemble those, by the east hedge, which you leisurely pluck? Upon the screens their image I affix to solace me for those of the ninth moon.
"Asking the chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort."
Your heart, in autumn, I would like to read, but know it no one could! While humming with my arms behind my back, on the east hedge I rap. So peerless and unique are ye that who is meet with you to stay? Why are you of all flowers the only ones to burst the last in bloom? Why in such silence plunge the garden dew and the frost in the hall? When wild geese homeward fly and crickets sicken, do you think of me? Do not tell me that in the world none of you grow with power of speech? But if ye fathom what I say, why not converse with me a while?
"Pinning the chrysanthemums in the hair," by the "Visitor under thebanana trees."
I put some in a vase, and plant some by the hedge, so day by day I have ample to do. I pluck them, yet don't fancy they are meant for girls to pin before the glass in their coiffure. My mania for these flowers is just as keen as was that of the squire, who once lived in Ch'ang An. I rave as much for them as raved Mr. P'eng Tse, when he was under the effects of wine. Cold is the short hair on his temples and moistened with dew, which on it dripped from the three paths. His flaxen turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance of the autumn frost in the ninth moon. That strong weakness of mine to pin them in my hair is viewed with sneers by my contemporaries. They clap their hands, but they are free to laugh at me by the roadside as much us e'er they list.
"The shadow of the chrysanthemums," by the "Old Friend of the hallreclining on the russet clouds."
In layers upon layers their autumn splendour grows and e'er thick and thicker. I make off furtively, and stealthily transplant them from the three crossways. The distant lamp, inside the window-frame, depicts their shade both far and near. The hedge riddles the moon's rays, like unto a sieve, but the flowers stop the holes. As their reflection cold and fragrant tarries here, their soul must too abide. The dew-dry spot beneath the flowers is so like them that what is said of dreams is trash. Their precious shadows, full of subtle scent, are trodden down to pieces here and there. Could any one with eyes half closed from drinking, not mistake the shadow for the flowers.
"Dreaming of chrysanthemums," by the "Hsiao Hsiang consort."
What vivid dreams arise as I dose by the hedge amidst those autumn scenes! Whether clouds bear me company or the moon be my mate, I can't discern. In fairyland I soar, not that I would become a butterfly like Chang. So long I for my old friend T'ao, the magistrate, that I again seek him. In a sound sleep I fell; but so soon as the wild geese cried, they broke my rest. The chirp of the cicadas gave me such a start that I bear them a grudge. My secret wrongs to whom can I go and divulge, when I wake up from sleep? The faded flowers and the cold mist make my feelings of anguish know no bounds.
"Fading of the chrysanthemums," by the "Visitor under the banana trees."
The dew congeals; the frost waxes in weight; and gradually dwindles their bloom. After the feast, with the flower show, follows the season of the 'little snow.' The stalks retain still some redundant smell, but the flowers' golden tinge is faint. The stems do not bear sign of even one whole leaf; their verdure is all past. Naught but the chirp of crickets strikes my ear, while the moon shines on half my bed. Near the cold clouds, distant a thousand li, a flock of wild geese slowly fly. When autumn breaks again next year, I feel certain that we will meet once more. We part, but only for a time, so don't let us indulge in anxious thoughts.
Each stanza they read they praised; and they heaped upon each otherincessant eulogiums.
"Let me now criticise them; I'll do so with all fairness!" Li Wansmiled. "As I glance over the page," she said, "I find that each of youhas some distinct admirable sentiments; but in order to be impartial inmy criticism to-day, I must concede the first place to: 'Singing thechrysanthemums;' the second to: 'Asking the chrysanthemums;' and thethird to: 'Dreaming of chrysanthemums.' The original nature of thethemes makes the verses full of originality, and their conception stillmore original. But we must allow to the 'Hsiao Hsiang consort' thecredit of being the best; next in order following: 'Pinningchrysanthemums in the hair,' 'Facing the chrysanthemums,' 'Putting thechrysanthemums, in vases,' 'Drawing the chrysanthemums,' and 'Longingfor chrysanthemums,' as second best."
This decision filled Pao-yue with intense gratification. Clapping hishands, "Quite right! it's most just," he shouted.
"My verses are worth nothing!" Tai-yue remarked. "Their fault, after all,is that they are a little too minutely subtile."
"They are subtile but good," Li Wan rejoined; "for there's noartificialness or stiffness about them."
"According to my views," Tai-yue observed, "the best line is:
"'When cold holdeth the park and the sun's rays do slant, I long and yearn for you, old friends.'
"The metonomy:
"'I fling my book aside and turn my gaze upon a twig of autumn.'
is already admirable! She has dealt so exhaustively with 'puttingchrysanthemums in a vase' that she has left nothing unsaid that could besaid, and has had in consequence to turn her thought back and considerthe time anterior to their being plucked and placed in vases. Hersentiments are profound!"
"What you say is certainly so," explained Li Wan smiling; "but that lineof yours:
"'Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth,....'
"beats that."
"After all," said T'an Ch'un, "we must admit that there's depth ofthought in those of the 'Princess of Heng Wu' with:
"'...in autumn all trace of you is gone;'
"and
"'...my dreams then know something of you!'
"They really make the meaning implied by the words 'long for' stand outclearly."
"Those passages of yours:
"'Cold is the short hair on his temples and moistened....'
"and
"'His flaxen turban is suffused with the sweet fragrance....;'"
laughingly observed Puo-ch'ai, "likewise bring out the idea of 'pinningthe chrysanthemums in the hair' so thoroughly that one couldn't get aloop hole for fault-finding."
Hsiang-yuen then smiled.
"'...who is meet with you to stay'"
she said, "and
"'...burst the last in bloom.'
"are questions so straight to the point set to the chrysanthemums, thatthey are quite at a loss what answer to give."
/> "Were what you say:
"'I sit with head uncovered....'
"and
"'...clasping my knees, I hum my lays....'
"as if you couldn't, in fact, tear yourself away for even a moment fromthem," Li Wan laughed, "to come to the knowledge of the chrysanthemums,why, they would certainly be sick and tired of you."
This joke made every one laugh.
"I'm last again!" smiled Pao-yue. "Is it likely that:
"'Who plants the flowers?.... ...in autumn where do they go? With sandals waxed I come from distant shores;.... ...and as on this cold day I can't exhaust my song;....'
"do not all forsooth amount to searching for chrysanthemums? And that
"'Last night they got a shower.... And this morn ... bedecked with frost,'
"don't both bear on planting them? But unfortunately they can't come upto these lines:
"'Some scent I hold by the side of my mouth and turning to the moon I sing my sentiments.' 'In their pure and cool fragrance, clasping my knees I hum my lays.' '...short hair on his temples....' 'His flaxen turban.... ...golden tinge is faint. ...verdure is all past. ...in autumn ... all trace of you is gone. ...my dreams then know something of you.'
"But to-morrow," he proceeded, "if I have got nothing to do, I'll writetwelve stanzas my self."
"Yours are also good," Li Wan pursued, "the only thing is that theyaren't as full of original conception as those other lines, that's all."
But after a few further criticisms, they asked for some more warm crabs;and, helping themselves, as soon as they were brought, from the largecircular table, they regaled themselves for a time.
"With the crabs to-day in one's hand and the olea before one's eyes, onecannot help inditing verses," Pao-yue smiled. "I've already thought of afew; but will any of you again have the pluck to devise any?"
With this challenge, he there and then hastily washed his hands andpicking up a pen he wrote out what, his companions found on perusal, torun in this strain:
When in my hands I clasp a crab what most enchants my heart is the cassia's cool shade. While I pour vinegar and ground ginger, I feel from joy as if I would go mad. With so much gluttony the prince's grandson eats his crabs that he should have some wine. The side-walking young gentleman has no intestines in his frame at all. I lose sight in my greediness that in my stomach cold accumulates. To my fingers a strong smell doth adhere and though I wash them yet the smell clings fast. The main secret of this is that men in this world make much of food. The P'o Spirit has laughed at them that all their lives they only seek to eat.
"I could readily compose a hundred stanzas with such verses in no time,"Tai-yue observed with a sarcastic smile.
"Your mental energies are now long ago exhausted," Pao-yue rejoinedlaughingly, "and instead of confessing your inability to devise any, youstill go on heaping invective upon people!"
Tai-yue, upon catching this insinuation, made no reply of any kind; butslightly raising her head she hummed something to herself for a while,and then taking up a pen she completed a whole stanza with a few dashes.
The company then read her lines. They consisted of--
E'en after death, their armour and their lengthy spears are never cast away. So nice they look, piled in the plate, that first to taste them I'd fain be. In every pair of legs they have, the crabs are full of tender jade-like meat. Each piece of ruddy fat, which in their shell bumps up, emits a fragrant smell. Besides much meat, they have a greater relish for me still, eight feet as well. Who bids me drink a thousand cups of wine in order to enhance my joy? What time I can behold their luscious food, with the fine season doth accord When cassias wave with fragrance pure, and the chrysanthemums are decked with frost.
Pao-yue had just finished conning it over and was beginning to sing itspraise, when Tai-yue, with one snatch, tore it to pieces and bade aservant go and burn it.
"As my compositions can't come up to yours," she then observed, "I'llburn it. Yours is capital, much better than the lines you wrote a littletime back on the chrysanthemums, so keep it for the benefit of others."
"I've likewise succeeded, after much effort, in putting together astanza," Pao-ch'ai laughingly remarked. "It cannot, of course, be worthmuch, but I'll put it down for fun's sake."
As she spoke, she too wrote down her lines. When they came to look atthem, they read--
On this bright beauteous day, I bask in the dryandra shade, with a cup in my hand. When I was at Ch'ang An, with drivelling mouth, I longed for the ninth day of the ninth moon. The road stretches before their very eyes, but they can't tell between straight and transverse. Under their shells in spring and autumn only reigns a vacuum, yellow and black.
At this point, they felt unable to refrain from shouting: "Excellent!""She abuses in fine style!" Pao-yue shouted. "But my lines should also becommitted to the flames."
The company thereupon scanned the remainder of the stanza, which wascouched in this wise:
When all the stock of wine is gone, chrysanthemums then use to scour away the smell. So as to counteract their properties of gath'ring cold, fresh ginger you should take. Alas! now that they have been dropped into the boiling pot, what good do they derive? About the moonlit river banks there but remains the fragrant aroma of corn.
At the close of their perusal, they with one voice, explained that thiswas a first-rate song on crab-eating; that minor themes of this kindshould really conceal lofty thoughts, before they could be held to be ofany great merit, and that the only thing was that it chaffed peoplerather too virulently.
But while they were engaged in conversation, P'ing Erh was again seencoming into the garden. What she wanted is not, however, yet known; so,reader, peruse the details given in the subsequent chapter.