the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第3章
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protruding eagerness of his eyes at the mention of the viandI had further
spoken of the refined flavour of the dish； and explained the manner of its
preparation。 〃I can't say that I have； but it sounds uncommonly good
something like turtle； I should imagine。 I'll see if they can get it for me at
Pimm's。〃
This filial tribute goes by a trusty hand； in the person of one Ki Nihy；
who is shortly committing himself to the protection of his ancestors and
the voracity of the unbounded Bitter Waters； and with brightness and gold
it will doubtless reach you in the course of twelve or eighteen moons。 The
superstitious here； this person may describe； when they wish to send
messages from one to another； inscribe upon the outer cover a written
representation of the one whose habitation they require； and after affixing
a small paper talisman； drop it into a hole in the nearest wall； in the hope
that it may be ultimately conveyed to the appointed spot； either by the
services of the charitably…disposed passer…by； or by the intervention of the
beneficent deities。
With a multiplicity of greetings and many abject expressions of a
conscious inferiority； and attested by an unvarying thumb…mark。
KONG HO。 （Effete branch of a pure and magnanimous trunk。）
To Kong Ah…Paik； reclining beneath the sign of the Lead Tortoise； in a
northerly direction beyond the Lotus Beds outside the city of Yuen…ping。
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The Middle Flowery Kingdom。
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LETTER II
Concerning the ill…destined manner of existence of the hound
Hercules。 The thoughtlessly…expressed desire of the entrancing maiden and
its effect upon a person of susceptible refinement。 The opportune （as it
may yet be described） visit of one Herbert。 The behaviour of those around。
Reflections。
VENERATED SIRE （whose large right hand is continuously floating
in spirit over the image of this person's dutiful submission）；
Doubtless to your all…consuming prescience； it will at once become
plain that I have abandoned the place of residence from which I directed
my former badly…written and offensively…constructed letter； the house of
the sympathetic and resourceful Maidens Blank； where in return for an
utterly inadequate sum of money； produced at stated intervals； this very
much inferior person was allowed to partake of a delicately…balanced and
somewhat unvarying fare in the company of the engaging of both sexes；
and afterwards to associate on terms of honourable equality with them in
the chief apartment。 The reason and manner of this one's departure are in
no degree formidable to his refined manner of conducting any enterprise；
but arose partly from an insufficient grasp of the more elaborate outlines
of a confessedly involved language； and still more from a too excessive
impetuousness in carrying out what at the time he believed to be the
ambition of one who had come to exercise a melodious influence over his
most internal emotions。 Well remarked the Sage； 〃A piece of gold may be
tried between the teeth； a written promise to pay may be disposed of at a
sacrifice to one more credulous； but what shall be said of the wind； the
Hoang Ho； and the way of a woman？〃
To contrive a pitfall for this short…sighted person's immature feet；
certain malicious spirits had so willed it that the chief and more autumnal
of the Maidens Blank （who； nevertheless； wore an excessively flower…like
name）； had long lavished herself upon the possession of an obtuse and
self…assertive hound； which was in the habit of gratifying this
inconsiderable person and those who sat around by continually depositing
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upon their unworthy garments details of its outer surface； and when the
weather was more than usually cold； by stretching its graceful and refined
body before the fire in such a way as to ensure that no one should suffer
from a too acute exposure to the heat。 From these causes； and because it
was by nature a hound which even on the darkest night could be detected
at a more than reasonable distance away； while at all times it did not
hesitate to shake itself freely into the various prepared viands； this person
（and doubtless others also） regarded it with an emotion very unfavourable
towards its prolonged existence； but observing from the first that those
who permitted themselves to be deposited upon； and their hands and even
their faces to be hound…tongue…defiled with the most externally cheerful
spirit of word suppression； invariably received the most desirable of the
allotted portions of food； he judged it prudent and conducive to a settled
digestion to greet it with favourable terms and actions； and to refer
frequently to its well…displayed proportions； and to the agile dexterity
which it certainly maintained in breathing into the contents of every dish。
Thus the matter may be regarded as being positioned for a space of time。
One evening I returned at the appointed gong…stroke of dinner； and
was beginning； according to my custom； to greet the hound with
ingratiating politeness； when the one of chief authority held up a reproving
hand； at the same time exclaiming：
〃No； Mr。 Kong； you must not encourage Hercules with your amiable
condescension； for just now he is in very bad odour with us all。〃
〃Undoubtedly；〃 replied this person； somewhat puzzled； nevertheless；
that the imperfection should thus be referred to openly by one who
hitherto had not hesitated to caress the hound with most intimate details；
〃undoubtedly the surrounding has a highly concentrated acuteness to…night；
but the ever…present characteristic of the hound Hercules is by no means
new； for whenever he is in the room〃
At this point it is necessary to explain that the ceremonial etiquette of
these barbarian outcasts is both conflicting and involved。 Upon most of the
ordinary occasions of life to obtrude oneself within the conversation of
another is a thing not to be done； yet repeatedly when this unpretentious
person has been relating his experience or inquiring into the nature and
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meaning of certain matters which he has witnessed； he has become aware
that his words have been obliterated； as it were； and his remarks diverted
from their original intention by the sudden and unanticipated desire of
those present to express themselves loudly on some topic of not really
engrossing interest。 Not infrequently on such occasions every one present
has spoken at once with concentrated anxiety upon the condition of the
weather； the atmosphere of the room； the hour of the day； or some like
detail of contemptible inferiority。 At other times maidens of
unquestionable politeness have sounded instruments of brass or stringed
woods with unceasing vigour； have cast down ornaments of china； or even
stood upon each other'sor this person'sfeet with assumed inelegance。
When； therefore； in the midst of my agreeable remark on the asserted no
fragrance of the hound Hercules； a gentleman of habitual refinement
struck me somewhat heavily on the back of the head with a reclining seat
which he was conveying across the room for the acceptance of a lady； and
immediately overwhelmed me with apologies of almost unnecessary
profusion； my mind at once leapt to an inspired conclusion； and smiling
acquiescently I bowed several times to each person to convey to them an
admission of the undoubted fact that to the wise a timely omen before the
storm is as effective as a thunderbolt afterwards。
It chanced that there was present the exceptionally prepossessing
maiden to whom this person has already referred。 So varied and ornate
were her attractions that it would be incompetent in one of my less than
average ability to attempt an adequate portrayal。 She had a light…coloured
name with the letters so harmoniously convoluted as to be quite beyond
my inferior power of pronunciation； so that if I wished to refer to her in
her absence I had to indicate the one I meant by likening her to a full…
blown chrysanthemum； a piece of rare jade； an ivory pagoda of
unapproachable antiquity； or some other object of admitted grace。 Even
this description may scarcely convey to you the real extent of her elegant
personality； but in her presence my internal organs never failed to vibrate
with a most entrancing uncertainty； and even now； at the recollection of
her virtuous demeanour； I am by no means settled within myself。
〃Well；〃 exclaimed this melodious vision； with sympathetic tact； 〃if
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every one is going to disown poor Hercules because he has eaten all our
dinners； I shall be quite willing to have him； for he is a dzear ole loveykins；
wasn't ums？〃 （This； O my immaculate and dignified sire； which I
transcribe with faithful undeviation； appears to be the dialect of a remote
province； spoken only by maidensboth young and of autumnal solitude
under occasional mental stress； as of a native of Shan…si relapsing without
consciousness into his uncouth tongue after passing a lifetime in the
Capital。） 〃Don't you think so too； Mr。 Kong？〃
〃When the sun shines the shadow falls；
