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Read Ebook: Graham's Magazine Vol. XXXIV No. 4 April 1849 by Various Graham George R Editor
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Ebook has 439 lines and 48882 words, and 9 pages
Editor: George R. Graham J. R. Patterson J. B. Taylor
Table of Contents
GRAHAM'S MAGAZINE.
A FRAGMENT FROM THE CHINESE.
Do not draw upon you a person's enmity, for enmity is never appeased--injury returns upon him who injures--and sharp words recoil against him who says them.
Moreover, he was of a most beautiful countenance, while the antelope that fed among the hills was not more swift of foot. Who like L? could draw such music from the seven silken strings of the Kin! or when with graceful touch his fingers swept the lute, adding thereto the well-skilled melody of his voice, youths and maidens opened their ears to listen, for wonderful was the ravishing harmony.
Yet L? was of a merry heart--and, as all the world knows, there is no better panacea for the ills of fortune than the spirit of cheerfulness. Thus, although poverty barred the way to promotion, it could not materially affect his happiness--no more than the passing wind which for a moment ruffled the surface of the lake, yet had no power to move its depths.
Now it happened that one day taking his nets L? went down to the lake, and as he cast them within the waters, not knowing any one was near, he broke forth into a merry song, which sent its glad burthen far off to the lips of mocking Echo, like Ariel, seeming to "ride on the curled clouds." Now it also chanced, that within a grove of the graceful bamboo, which skirted the path down which L? had passed on his way, walked the great Mandarin Hok-wan.
If the mere melody of the voice had so charmed the mandarin, how much more was he captivated by the wit and learning of the youth, who, thus poorly appareled, and humbly employed, seemed to share wisdom with the gods! Hok-wan stroked his eye-brows in astonishment, and then bidding L? leave his nets, he bore him off as a rare prize to his own house, where he that day feasted a numerous company.
First conducting L? to an inner apartment, he presented him with a magnificent robe richly embroidered, together with every article necessary to complete the toilet of a person of distinction, and when thus appareled, introduced him into the presence of his guests. And truly L? walked in among them with all the stateliness and hauteur of a man who feels that he is conferring an honor, instead of being honored, as no doubt L? should have considered himself, in such an august assemblage of grave mandarins. With what an air he seated himself at the sumptuously loaded table! where, according to Chinese custom of the higher classes, the various dishes of meats, soups, fish, preserves, etc., were all nearly hidden by large bouquets of beautiful flowers, and pyramids of green leaves.
And now no sooner had Hok-wan delivered with all customary formality the speech of welcome, and drained to the health of his guests the tiny goblet of crystal, embossed with gold, than rising to his feet, and joining his hands before his breast, in token of respect to his host, L? called a servant, and bidding him take a part from all the good things spread before him, said:
"Carry these to the dwelling of Whanki, the mother of L?. Say to her that as the sands on the lake shore, countless are the blessings of the gods, who have this day smiled upon her son. Bid her eat--for although from hunger he should gnaw his flesh, and from thirst drink his blood, yet not one morsel of this banquet shall pass the lips of L? unless his aged mother be also sustained by the same delicacies."
At hearing which, all the mandarins, and Hok-wan himself, loudly expressed their admiration. Such is the esteem which the Chinese entertain for filial piety.
This duty discharged, L? attacked the dainties before him like a hungry soldier, yet seasoning all he said and did with so much wit and humor, that the guests laid down their chop-sticks and listened with wonder. With the wine, Li grew still more merry--his wit cut like hail-stones wheresoe'er it lighted, and at his jovial songs the grave dignitaries forgetting their rank, snapped their fingers, wagged their shorn heads, and even rising from the table embraced him familiarly. At length, when after an interval of a few hours their hilarity was somewhat abated, during which the guests walked in the beautiful gardens, or reclining upon luxuriant cushions, regaled themselves with their pipes, or in masticating their favorite betel-nut, L? made bare his bosom before them, and to their astonishment they found it was only a needy scholar whose praises they had been shouting.
"Go to the capital--go to Kiang-fu," "thou wilt perplex the learned--thou wilt bewilder the ignorant!" said one.
"Appear boldly in the 'Scientific Halls' before the Examiners," said a third, "and never fear but thy name shall be cried at midnight from the highest tower in the city, as the successful L?, with whom no other candidate can compete!"
"When the wind blows over the fields does not the grass bend before it!" said Hok-wan. "When the great Ho speaks will not inferiors obey! the learned academician Ho is my brother--to him then you shall go--one word from him, and even the judges themselves shall cry your name."
Giddy with wine, and with the excitement of high hopes for the future, at a late hour L? was borne in a sumptuous palankeen to the humble dwelling of Whanki.
The poor old soul at first knew not the gay gallant who stood before her, so much had the gift-robes of the mandarin changed his appearance.
"Now tu-h, mother," answered L?, "if thy son has been drinking with fools, they wore fine feathers--and now embrace me, for I am going to the capital."
"L?, thou art drunk--go to bed--the capital indeed! Ah cursed, cursed I-tih!" exclaimed the old woman.
But when at length L? convinced her that he was neither drunk nor crazy, but in reality about to start for Nankin, as a candidate for honors in the Scientific Halls, and with a letter to the great Ho in his pouch, Whanki knocked her head reverently before the shrine of the household gods in token of gratitude.
The remainder of the night was passed in preparations for the journey, and just as the golden ripples of the lake danced in the rays of the rising sun, L? tenderly embraced his aged parent, and set forth on foot for Nankin, more than a hundred miles distant.
Now this was a capital stroke of L?. For the academician cared not so much for any dignitary under the Emperor Supreme, as he did for a man of learning, or even for one who could tickle the moments as they flew with witty jests, provoking laughter. Ho saw at once that L? not only possessed this recommendation, but that his knowledge could also ring on as many topics as there were bells to the Porcelain Tower. When, therefore, he had perused the letter of Hok-wan, which, after securing his ground, L? put into his hand, and after having listened to the history which the youth gave of his hard struggles, of his poverty, and earnest desire to come before the judges on the day of examination, than Ho, embracing him, bade him be of good cheer.
And now the day of examination approached, and confident of success, L? boldly presented himself for admission.
Offering the memorial of Ho, which was to insure him, as he supposed, the favor of the judges, he was much surprised to see those great men, Yang and Kau, after turning over the missive with elevated noses, expressive of their contempt, cast it from them with scorn.
Then commenced the tedious formula of the examination. The candidates, hundreds in number, were all obliged to undergo the strict search of the officers in attendance. Their robes, pockets, shoes, and even their nicely plaited queues were examined, to see they had not secreted some essay or composition of some kind, which they might substitute for one written on the spot without preparation, when the examiners should command them. This done, they were all seated on long benches with their paper and pencils ready for the trial--the doors and windows in the meanwhile being closely barred and guarded, that no one from without should have the power of smuggling any written paper into the hands of the students.
At a signal-gun the theme for composition was given out, and, like the velvet feet of butterflies, the pencils of the rival candidates glided smoothly and fleetly over the tinted paper. With perfect composure and ease, L? wrote off his essay in the most beautiful characters, without a single erasure or omission--handling the subject with great skill and judgment, and gave it into the hands of Yang.
"To grind your ink!" quoth Kau, "say rather he is only fit to lace my buskins!"
And laughing loudly at their own wit, the great judges Yang and Kau turned their backs upon the unfortunate L?.
When he found L? preparing to return home, he embraced him kindly, and bade him tarry yet another year in the capital.
"In the end thou wilt surely succeed, O L?. The next year the examiners will not be the same, and thou may'st then be certain of success," said Ho. "Remain with me until the time comes round--thy days and nights shall roll off bright and rosy as morning clouds--wine, wit, and music, yes, and the smiles of women, shall make thee forget the insults thou hast received."
But L? remembered his aged mother, sitting solitary in her humble home by the side of the lake, and his resolution strengthened.
"Know, O Ho, that an old mother waits for L? afar off. Summer and harvest will come, but Whanki has no one to sow her rice, and desolation will sit in her dwelling. The fish sport and gambol amid the waters of the lake--Whanki has no strength to draw them forth, therefore hunger and death will await her! What profit, O wise Ho, should I gain if my aged parent suffered! Would not the gods curse the race of L?!"
"Noble youth, take this purse--it is heavy," exclaimed Ho--"hasten to relieve the necessities of thy mother--a happy mother in so dutiful a son--then return without delay and await the examination. I promise thee, thou shalt not this time lack a present for the greedy judges--though, by Budha, I would like to give it them at the dagger's point!"
Accordingly L? bade farewell to his generous friend, promising to return as speedily as possible.
A deleterious liquor distilled from rice.
A Chinese coin.
The custom of announcing the names of the successful candidates at the examination.
The god of intoxicating liquors.
Within the "Tranquil Palace of Heaven," Hwant-sung sat upon the Dragon's Throne, with all his court prostrate before him.
There was evidently "something rotten in the state of Denmark," for the clouds which veiled the august features of the Celestial Monarch were black as night--thunder might soon be expected, and low in the dust his humble courtiers awaited the outpouring of his terrible wrath.
Before his footstool knelt the Premier Yang, bearing in his hand an official document inscribed with curious hieroglyphics.
At this order well might Yang turn pale--for there was no more meaning to him in the characters on which his eyes were fixed, than in the slimy trail which the green lizard draws upon the sand. Over and over he turned it--now on this side, now on that--watched narrowly and jealously meanwhile by all around--for when was one high in favor with princes also the favorite with the mass! At length, nine times reverently knocking his head before Hwant-sung, Yang said:
"Let not the displeasure of Earth's Glory, before whose frown the whole world stands affrighted, annihilate his slave that the gods have not granted him power to do the will of his majesty in this thing. He cannot read."
Then did the academician Ho humbly present himself at the foot of the throne.
"Will the emperor deign to open the ears of graciousness while the humblest of his slaves speaks? Know then, O mighty sovereign, there arrived last night at my house a man in whom all knowledge seems to centre. His mind, keen as the lightning, penetrates the most hidden mysteries--there is no science, no art, which he hath not already mastered. Command then that he appear before thee to make plain that which doth perplex thy majesty's servants."
Hwant-sung rejoiced greatly at this information, and bade Ho bring the learned scholar at once into his presence.
But when Ho, eager with joy, related to L? the good fortune he had secured him, that audacious youth positively refused compliance with the commands of the emperor! offering as an excuse, that as he was but a poor scholar, without title or degree, he dared not presume to appear before so much majesty.
With this answer then the unhappy Ho returned to the palace, not doubting but the rage of Hwant-sung would vent itself not only upon L?, but also upon himself.
Kneeling before the monarch, Ho exclaimed reverently--
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