stories by english authors-orient (英国作家故事集)-第10章
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reappeared only to vanish again； and from that time forth Tokubei knew
no rest； and was haunted night and day。
At length； undone by such ceaseless vexation； Tokubei fell ill； and kept
muttering； 〃Oh； misery！ misery！ the wandering priest is coming to torture
me！〃 Hearing his moans and the disturbance he made； the people in the
house fancied he was mad； and called in a physician； who prescribed for
him。 But neither pill nor potion could cure Tokubei； whose strange frenzy
soon became the talk of the whole neighbourhood。
Now it chanced that the story reached the ears of a certain wandering
priest who lodged in the next street。 When he heard the particulars； this
priest gravely shook his head as though he knew all about it； and sent a
friend to Tokubei's house to say that a wandering priest； dwelling hard by；
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had heard of his illness； and； were it never so grievous； would undertake to
heal it by means of his prayers； and Tokubei's wife； driven half wild by her
husband's sickness； lost not a moment in sending for the priest and taking
him into the sick man's room。
But no sooner did Tokubei see the priest than he yelled out； 〃Help！
help！ Here is the wandering priest come to torment me again。 Forgive！
forgive！〃 and hiding his head under the coverlet； he lay quivering all over。
Then the priest turned all present out of the room； put his mouth to the
affrighted man's ear； and whispered：
〃Three years ago； at the Kuana ferry； you flung me into the water； and
well you remember it。〃
But Tokubei was speechless； and could only quake with fear。
〃Happily；〃 continued the priest； 〃I had learned to swim and to dive as a
boy； so I reached the shore； and； after wandering through many provinces；
succeeded in setting up a bronze figure to Buddha； thus fulfilling the wish
of my heart。 On my journey homeward； I took a lodging in the next street；
and there heard of your marvellous ailment。 Thinking I could divine its
cause； I came to see you； and am glad to find I was not mistaken。 You have
done a hateful deed； but am I not a priest； and have I not forsaken the
things of this world； and would it not ill become me to bear malice？
Repent； therefore； and abandon your evil ways。 To see you do so I should
esteem the height of happiness。 Be of good cheer； now； and look me in the
face； and you will see that I am really a living man； and no vengeful
goblin come to torment you。〃
Seeing he had no ghost to deal with； and overwhelmed by the priest's
kindness； Tokubei burst into tears； and answered； 〃Indeed； indeed； I don't
know what to say。 In a fit of madness I was tempted to kill and rob you。
Fortune befriended me ever after； but the richer I grew； the more keenly I
felt how wicked I had been； and the more I foresaw that my victim's
vengeance would some day overtake me。 Haunted by this thought； I lost
my nerve； till one night I beheld your spirit； and from that time fell ill。 But
how you managed to escape； and are still alive； is more than I can
understand。〃
〃A guilty man；〃 said the priest； with a smile； 〃shudders at the rustling
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of the wind or the chattering of a stork's beak； a murderer's conscience
preys upon his mind till he sees what is not。 Poverty drives a man to
crimes which he repents of in his wealth。 How true is the doctrine of
Moshi ＇Mencius＇； that the heart of man； pure by nature； is corrupted by
circumstances！〃
Thus he held forth； and Tokubei； who had long since repented of his
crime； implored forgiveness； and gave him a large sum of money； saying；
〃Half of this is the amount I stole from you three years since； the other
half I entreat you to accept as interest； or as a gift。〃 The priest at first
refused the money； but Tokubei insisted on his accepting it； and did all he
could to detain him； but in vain； for the priest went on his way； and
bestowed the money on the poor and needy。 As for Tokubei himself； he
soon shook off his disorder； and thenceforward lived at peace with all men；
revered both at home and abroad； and ever intent on good and charitable
deeds。
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A CHINESE GIRL GRADUATE
BY R。 K。 DOUGLAS
Who among the three hundred million sons of Han does not know the
saying：
There's Paradise above； 't is true； But here below we've Hang and Soo？
＇Hangchow and Soochow＇
And though no one will deny the beauty of those far…famed cities； they
cannot compare in grandeur of situation and boldness of features with
many of the towns of the providence of the 〃Four Streams。〃 Foremost
among the favoured spots of this part of the empire is Mienchu； which； as
its name implies； is celebrated for the silky bamboos which grow in its
immediate neighbourhood。 These form； however； only one of the features
of its loveliness。 Situated at the foot of a range of mountains which rise
through all the gradations from rich and abundant verdure to the region of
eternal snow； it lies embosomed in groves of beech； cypress； and bamboo；
through the leafy screens of which rise the upturned yellow roofs of the
temples and official residences； which dot the landscape like golden
islands in an emerald sea； while beyond the wall hurries； between high and
rugged banks； the tributary of the Fu River； which bears to the mighty
waters of the Yangtsze… Kiang the goods and passengers which seek an
outlet to the eastern provinces。
The streets within the walls of the city are scenes of life and bustle；
while in the suburbs stand the residences of those who can afford to live in
peace and quiet； undisturbed by the clamour of the Les and Changs ＇i。e。；
the people。 Le and Chang are the two commonest names in China。＇ of the
town。 There； in a situation which the Son of Heaven might envy； stands
the official residence of Colonel Wen。 Outwardly it has all the appearance
of a grandee's palace； and within the massive boundary…walls which
surround it； the courtyards； halls； grounds； summer…houses； and pavilions
are not to be exceeded in grandeur and beauty。 The office which had fallen
to the lot of Colonel Wen was one of the most sought after in the province；
and commonly only fell to officers of distinction。 Though not without
fame in the field； Colonel Wen's main claim to honour lay in the high
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degrees he had taken in the examinations。 His literary acquirements gained
him friends among the civil officers of the district； and the position he
occupied was altogether one of exceptional dignity。
Unfortunately； his first wife had died； leaving only a daughter to keep
her memory alive； but at the time when our story opens； his second spouse；
more kind than his first； had presented him with a much…desired son。 The
mother of this boy was one of those bright； pretty； gay creatures who
commonly gain the affections of men much older than themselves。 She
sang in the most faultless falsetto； she played the guitar with taste and
expression； and she danced with grace and agility。 What wonder； then； that
when the colonel returned from his tours of inspections and parades；
weary with travel and dust； he found relief and relaxation in the joyous
company of Hyacinth！ And was she not also the mother of his son？ Next
to herself； there can be no question that this young gentleman held the
chief place in the colonel's affections； while poor Jasmine； his daughter by
his first venture； was left very much to her own resources。 No one troubled
themselves about what she did； and she was allowed； as she grew up； to
follow her own pursuits and to give rein to her fancies without let or
hindrance。 From her earliest childhood one of her lonely amusements had
been to dress as a boy； and so unchecked had the habit become that she
gradually drifted into the character which she had chosen to assume。 She
even persuaded her father to let her go to the neighbouring boys' school。
Her mother had died before the colonel had been posted to Mienchu； and
among the people of that place； who had always seen her in boy's attire；
she was regarded as an adopted son of her father。 Hyacinth was only too
glad to get her out of the way as much as possible； and so encouraged the
idea of allowing her to learn to read and write in the company of their
neighbours' urchins。
Being bright and clever； she soon gained an intellectual lead among
the boys； and her uncommon beauty； coupled with the magnetism
belonging to her sex； secured for her a popularity which almost amounted
to adoration。 She was tall for her age； as are most young daughters of Han；
and her perfectly oval face； almond…shaped eyes； willow…leaf eyebrows；
small； well…shaped mouth； brilliantly white teeth； and raven…black hair；
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completed a face and figure which would have been noticeable anywhere。
By the boys she was worshipped； and no undertaking was too difficult or
too troublesome if it was to give pleasure to Tsunk'ing； or the 〃Young
Noble；〃 as she was called； for to have answered to the name of Jasmine
would have been to proclaim her sex at once。 Even the grim old master
smiled at her through his horn spectacles as she entered the school…house
of a morning； and any graceful turn in her poetry or scholarly diction in
her prose was sure to win for her his unsparing praise。 Many an evening
