the ninth vibration-第20章

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oser。

Like　the　austere　Hippolytus　to　his　unseen　Goddess；　I　could　say；

　　　〃Who　am　more　to　thee　than　other　mortals　are；　　　　　Whose　is　the　holy　lot；　　　　　As　friend　with　friend　to　walk　and　talk　with　thee；　　　　　Hearing　thy　sweet　mouth's　music　in　mine　ear；　　　　　But　thee　beholding　not。〃

That　was　much；　but　later；　the　sunshine　was　no　bar；　the　bond　strengthened　and　there　have　been　days　in　the　heights　of　the　hills；　in　the　depths　of　the　woods；　when　I　saw　her　as　in　life；　passing　at　a　distance；　but　real　and　lovely。　Life？　She　had　never　lived　as　she　did　now　…　a　spirit；　freed　and　rejoicing。　For　me　the　door　she　had　opened　would　never　shut。　The　Presences　were　about　me；　and　I　entered　upon　my　heritage　of　joy；　knowing　that　in　Kashmir；　the　holy　land　of　Beauty；　they　walk　very　near；　and　lift　up　the　folds　of　the　Dark　that　the　initiate　may　see　the　light　behind。

So　I　began　my　solitary　life　of　gladness。　I　wrote；　aided　by　the　little　book　she　had　left　me；　full　of　strangest　stories；　stranger　by　far　than　my　own　brain　could　conceive。　Some　to　be　revealed　…　some　to　be　hidden。　And　thus　the　world　will　one　day　receive　the　story　of　the　Dancer　of　Peshawar　in　her　upward　lives；　that　it　may　know；　if　it　will；　that　death　is　nothing　…　for　Life　and　Love　are　all。



THE　INCOMPARABLE　LADY

A　STORY　OF　CHINA　WITH　A　MORAL

It　is　recorded　that　when　the　Pearl　Empress　（his　mother）　asked　of　the　philosophic　Yellow　Emperor　which　he　considered　the　most　beautiful　of　the　Imperial　concubines；　he　replied　instantly：　〃The　Lady　A…Kuei〃：　and　when　the　Royal　Parent　in　profound　astonishment　demanded　bow　this　could　be；　having　regard　to　the　exquisite　beauties　in　question；　the　Emperor　replied；

〃I　have　never　seen　her。　It　was　dark　when　I　entered　the　Dragon　Chamber　and　dusk　of　dawn　when　I　rose　and　left　her。〃

Then　said　the　Pearl　Princess；

〃Possibly　the　harmony　of　her　voice　solaced　the　Son　of　Heaven？〃

But　he　replied；

〃She　spoke　not。〃

And　the　Pearl　Empress　rejoined：

〃Her　limbs　then　are　doubtless　softer　than　the　kingfisher's　plumage？〃

But　the　Yellow　Emperor　replied；

〃Doubtless。　Yet　I　have　not　touched　them。　I　was　that　night　immersed　in　speculations　on　the　Yin　and　the　Yang。　How　then　should　I　touch　a　woman？〃

And　the　Pearl　Empress　was　silent　from　very　great　amazement；　not　daring　to　question　further　but　marveling　how　the　thing　might　be。　And　seeing　this；　the　Yellow　Emperor　recited　a　poem　to　the　following　effect：

　　　　〃It　is　said　that　Power　rules　the　world　　　　　And　who　shall　gainsay　it？　　　　　But　Loveliness　is　the　head…jewel　upon　the　brow　of　Power。〃

And　when　the　Empress　had　listened　with　reverence　to　the　Imperial　Poet；　she　quitted　the　August　Presence。

Immediately；　having　entered　her　own　palace　of　the　Tranquil　Motherly　Virtues；　she　caused　the　Lady　A…Kuei　to　be　summoned　to　her　presence；　who　came；　habited　in　a　purple　robe　and　with　pins　of　jade　and　coral　in　her　hair。　And　the　Pearl　Empress　considered　her　attentively；　recalling　the　perfect　features　of　the　White　Jade　Concubine；　the　ambrosial　smile　of　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety；　and　the　willow…leaf　eyebrows　of　the　Lady　of　Chen；　and　her　astonishment　was　excessive；　because　the　Lady　A…Kuei　could　not　in　beauty　approach　any　one　of　these　ladies。　Reflecting　further　she　then　placed　her　behind　the　screen；　and　summoned　the　court　artist；　Lo　Cheng；　who　had　been　formerly　commissioned　to　paint　the　heavenly　features　of　the　Emperor's　Ladies；　mirrored　in　still　water；　though　he　had　naturally　not　been　permitted　to　view　the　beauties　themselves。　Of　him　the　Empress　demanded：

〃Who　is　the　most　beautiful　…　which　the　most　priceless　jewel　of　the　dwellers　in　the　Dragon　Palace？〃

And；　with　humility；　Lo　Cheng　replied：

〃What　mortal　man　shall　decide　between　the　white　Crane　and　the　Swan；　or　between　the　paeony　flower　and　the　lotus？〃　And　having　thus　said　he　remained　silent；　and　in　him　was　no　help。　Finally　and　after　exhortation　the　Pearl　Empress　condescended　to　threaten　him　with　the　loss　of　a　head　so　useless　to　himself　and　to　her　majesty。　Then；　in　great　fear　and　haste　he　replied：

〃Of　all　the　flowers　that　adorn　the　garden　of　the　Sun　of　Heaven；　the　Lady　A…Kuei　is　the　fittest　to　be　gathered　by　the　Imperial　Hand；　and　this　is　my　deliberate　opinion。〃

Now；　hearing　this　statement；　the　Pearl　Empress　was　submerged　in　bewilderment；　knowing　that　the　Lady　A…Kuei　had　modestly　retired　when　the　artist　had　depicted　the　reflection　of　the　assembled　loveliness　of　the　Inner　Chambers；　as　not　counting　herself　worthy　of　portraiture；　and　her　features　were　therefore　unknown　to　him。　Nor　could　the　Empress　further　question　the　artist；　for　when　she　had　done　so；　he　replied　only：

〃This　is　the　secret　of　the　Son　of　Heaven；〃　and；　having　gained　permission；　he　swiftly　departed。

Nor　could　the　Lady　A…Kuei　herself　aid　her　Imperial　Majesty；　for　on　being　questioned　she　was　overwhelmed　with　modesty　and　confusion；　and　with　stammering　lips　could　only　repeat：

〃This　is　the　secret　of　his　Divine　Majesty；〃　imploring　with　the　utmost　humility；　forgiveness　from　the　Imperial　Mother。

The　Pearl　Empress　was　unable　to　eat　her　supper。　In　vain　were　spread　before　her　the　delicacies　of　the　Empire。　She　could　but　trifle　with　a　shark's　fin　and　a　〃Silver　Ear〃　fungus　and　a　dish　of　slugs　entrapped　upon　roses；　with　the　dew…like　pearls　upon　them。　Her　burning　curiosity　had　wholly　deprived　her　of　appetite；　nor　could　the　amusing　exertions　of　the　Palace　mimes；　or　a　lantern　fete　upon　the　lake　restore　her　to　any　composure。　〃This　circumstance　will　cause　my　flight　on　the　Dragon　（death）；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃unless　I　succeed　in　unveiling　the　mystery。　What　therefore　should　be　my　next　proceeding？〃

And　so；　deeply　reflecting；　she　caused　the　Chief　of　the　Eunuchs　to　summon　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety；　the　White　Jade　Concubine　and　all　the　other　exalted　beauties　of　the　Heavenly　Palace。

In　due　course　of　time　these　ladies　arrived；　paying　suitable　respect　and　obeisance　to　the　Mother　of　his　Divine　Majesty。　They　were　resplendent　in　king…fisher　ornaments；　in　jewels　of　jade；　crystal　and　coral；　in　robes　of　silk　and　gauze；　and　still　more　resplendent　in　charms　that　not　the　Celestial　Empire　itself　could　equal；　setting　aside　entirely　all　countries　of　the　foreign　barbarians。　And　in　grace　and　elegance　of　manners；　in　skill　in　the　arts　of　poetry　and　the　lute；　what　could　surpass　them？

Like　a　parterre　of　flowers　they　surrounded　her　Majesty；　and　awaited　her　pleasure　with　perfect　decorum；　when；　having　saluted　them　with　affability　she　thus　addressed　them　…　〃Lovely　ones　…　ladies　distinguished　by　the　particular　attention　of　your　sovereign　and　mine；　I　have　sent　for　you　to　resolve　a　doubt　and　a　difficulty。　On　questioning　our　sovereign　as　to　whom　he　regarded　as　the　loveliest　of　his　garden　of　beauty　he　benignantly　replied：　〃The　Lady　A…Kuei　is　incomparable；〃　and　though　this　may　well　be；　he　further　graciously　added　that　he　had　never　seen　her。　Nor；　on　pursuing　the　subject；　could　I　learn　the　Imperial　reason。　The　artist　Lo　Cheng　follows　in　his　Master's　footsteps；　he　also　never　having　seen　the　favored　lady；　and　he　and　she　reply　to　me　that　this　is　an　Imperial　secret。　Declare　to　me　therefore　if　your　perspicacity　and　the　feminine　interest　which　every　lady　property　takes　in　the　other　can　unravel　this　mystery；　for　my　liver　is　tormented　with　anxiety　beyond　measure。〃

As　soon　as　the　Pearl　Empress　had　spoken　she　realized　that　she　had　committed　a　great　indiscretion。　A　babel　of　voices；　of　cries；　questions　and　contradictions　instantly　arose。　Decorum　was　abandoned。　The　Lady　of　Chen　swooned；　nor　could　she　be　revived　for　an　hour；　and　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety　and　the　White　Jade　Concubine　could　be　dragged　apart　only　by　the　united　efforts　of　six　of　the　Palace　matrons；　so　great　was　their　fury　the　one　with　the　other；　each　accusing　each　of　encouragement　to　the　Lady　A…Kuei's　pretensions。　So　also　with　the　remaining　ladies。　Shrieks　resounded　through　the　Hall　of　Virtuous　Tranquillity；　and　when　the　Pearl　Empress　attempted　to　pour　oil　on　the　troubled　waters　by　speaking　soothing　and　comfortable　words；　the　august　Voice　was　entirely　inaudible　in　the　tumult。

All　sought　at　length　in　united　indignation　for　the　Lady　A…Kuei；　but　she　had　modestly　withdrawn　to　the　Pearl　Pavilion　in　the　Imperial　Garden　and；　foreseeing　anxieties；　had　there　secured　herself　on　hearing　the　opening　of　the　Royal　Speech。

Finally　the　ladies　were　led　away　by　their　attendants；　weeping；　lamenting；　raging；　according　to　their　several　dispositions；　and　the　Pearl　Empress；　left　with　her　own　maidens；　beheld　the　floor　strewn　with　jade　pins；　kingfisher　and　coral　jewels；　and　even　with　fragments　of　silk　and　gauze。　Nor　was　she　any　nearer　the　solution　of　the　desired　secret。

That　night　she　tossed　upon　a　bed　sleepless　though　heaped　with　down；　and　her　mind　raged　like　a　fire　up　and　down　all　possible　answers　to　the　riddle；　but　none　would　serve。　Then；　at　the　dawn；　raising　herself　on　one　august　elbow　she　called　to　her　venerable　nurse　and　foster　mother；　the　Lady　Ma；　wise　and　resourceful　in　the　affairs　and　difficulties　of　women；　and；　repeating　the　circumstances；　demanded　her　counsel。

The　Lady　Ma　considering　the　matter　long　and　deeply；　slowly　replied：

〃This　is　a　great　riddle　and　dangerous；　for　to　intermeddle　with　the　divine　secrets　is　the　high　road　to　the　Yellow　Springs　（death）。　But　the　child　of　my　breasts　and　my　exalted　Mistress　shall　never　ask　in　vain；　for　a　thwarted　curiosity　is　dangerous　as　a　suppressed　fever。　I　will　conceal　myself　nightly　in　the　Dragon　Bedchamber　and　this　will　certainly　unveil　the　truth。　And　if　I　perish　I　perish。〃

It　is　impossible　to　describe　how　the　Empress　heaped　Lady　Ma　with　costly　jewels　and　silken　brocades　and　taels　of　silver　beyond　measuring　…　how　she　placed　on　her　breast　the　amulet　of　jade　that　had　guarded　herself　from　all　evil　influences；　how　she　called　the　ancestral　spirits　to　witness　that　she　would　provide　for　the　Lady　Ma's　remotest　descendants　if　she　lost　her　life　in　this　sublime　devotion　to　duty。

That　night　Lady　Ma　concealed　herself　behind　the　Imperial　couch　in　the　Dragon　Chamber；　to　await　the　coming　of　the　Son　of　Heaven。　Slowly　dripped　the　water…clock　as　the　minutes　fled　away；　sorely　ached　the　venerable　limbs　of　the　Lady　Ma　as　she　crouched　in　the　shadows　and　saw　the　rising　moon　scattering　silver　through　the　elegant　traceries　of　carved　ebony　and　ivory；　wildly　beat　her　heart　as　delicately　tripping　footsteps　approached　the　Dragon　Chamber；　and　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety；　attended　by　her　maidens；　ascended　the　Imperial　Couch　and　hastily　dismissed　them。　Yet　no　sweet　repose　awaited　this　favored　lady。　The　Lady　Ma　could　hear　her　smothered　sobs；　her　muttered　exclamations　…　nay　could　even　feel　the　couch　itself　tremble　as　the　Princess　uttered　the　hated　name　of　the　Lady　A…Kuei；　the　poison　of　jealousy　running　in　every　vein。　It　was　impossible　for　Lady　Ma　to　decide　which　was　the　most　virulent；　this；　or　the　poison　of　curiosity　in　the　heart　of　the　Pearl　Empress。　Though　she　loved　not　the　Princess　she　was　compelled　to　pity　such　suffering。　But　all　thought　was　banished　by　the　approach　of　the　Yellow　Emperor；　prepared　for　repose　and　unattended；　in　simple　but　divine　grandeur。

It　cannot　indeed　be　supposed　that　a　Celestial　Emperor　is　human；　yet　there　was　mortality　in　the　start　which　his　Augustness　gave　when　the　Princess　of　Feminine　Propriety　flinging　herself　from　the　Dragon　cou