the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第38章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
immobile cypress seen against the sun。 The unnecessarily difficult
113
… Page 114…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
examination paper。 All these things are suggestive of the Autumn。
The growing attraction of a well…lined couch。 The obsequious
demeanour of message…bearers； charioteers； and the club…armed keepers of
peace。 The explosion of innumerable fire…crackers round the convivial
shines； The gathering together of relations who at all other times shun
each other markedly。 The obtrusive recollection of a great many things
contrary to a spoken vow； and the inflexible purpose to be more resolute in
future。 These in turn invariably attend each Winter。
It certainly had not presented itself to me before that the words
〃invariably attend〃 are ill…chosen； but as I would have uttered them their
inelegance became plain； and this person made eight conscientious
attempts to soften down their harsh modulation by various interchanges。
He was still persevering hopefully when he of chief authority approached
and requested that the one who was thus employed and that same other
would leave the hall tranquilly； as the all…water entertainment was at an
end； and an attending slave was in readiness to extinguish the lanterns。
〃Yet；〃 I protested unassumingly； 〃that which has so far been expressed
is only in the semblance of an introductory ode。 There follow〃
〃You must not argue with the Chair；〃 exclaimed another interposing
his voice。 〃Whatever the Chair rules must be accepted。〃
〃The innuendo is flat…witted；〃 I replied with imperturbable dignity； but
still retaining my hold upon the rail。 〃When this person so far loses his
sense of proportion as to contend with an irrational object； devoid of
faculties； let the barb be cast。 After that introduction dealing with the four
seasons； the twelve gong…strokes of the day are reviewed in a like fashion。
These in turn give place to the days of the month； then the moons of the
year； and finally the years of the cycle。〃
〃That's fair；〃 exclaimed the perverse though well…meaning youth；
whom I was beginning to recognise as the cause of some
misunderstanding among us。 〃If you don't want any more of his poem
and I don't blame youmy pal Ho； who is one of the popular Flip…Flap
Troupe； offers to do some trick cycle…riding on his ears。 What more can
you expect？〃
〃We expect a policeman very soon；〃 replied another severely。 〃He has
114
… Page 115…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
already been sent for。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the one who had so persistently claimed me as an
ally； 〃perhaps I can do you a service by directing him here〃； and leaving
this person to extricate himself by means of a reassuring silence and some
of the larger silver pieces of the Island； he vanished hastily。
With some doubt whether or not this deviation into the society of the
professedly virtuous； ending as it admittedly does in an involvement； may
not be deemed ill…starred； yet hopeful。 KONG HO。
THE THREE GIFTS
Related by Kong Ho on the occasion of the all…water disportment；
under the circumstances previously set forth。
BEYOND the limits of the township of Yang…chow there dwelt a rich
astrologer named Wei。 Reading by his skilful interpretation of the planets
that he would shortly Pass Above； he called his sons Chu； Shan； and Hing
to his side and distributed his wealth impartially among them。 To Chu he
gave his house containing a gold couch； to Shan a river with a boat； to
Hing a field in which grew a prolific orange…tree。 〃Thus provided for；〃 he
continued； 〃you will be able to live together in comfort； the resources of
each supplying the wants of the others in addition to his own requirements。
Therefore when I have departed let it be your first care to sacrifice
everything else I leave； so that I also； in the Upper Air； may not be left
destitute。〃
Now in addition to these three sons Wei also had another； the youngest；
but one of so docile； respectful； and self…effacing a disposition that he was
frequently overlooked to the advantage of his subtle； ambitious； and
ingratiating brothers。 This youth； Kao； thinking that the occasion certainly
called for a momentary relaxation of his usual diffidence； now approached
his father modestly； and begged that he also might be included to some
trivial degree in his bounty。
This reasonable petition involved Wei in an embarrassing perplexity。
Although he had forgotten Kao completely in the division； he had now
115
… Page 116…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
definitely concluded the arrangement； nor； to his failing powers； did it
appear possible to make a just allotment on any other lines。 〃How can a
person profitably cut up an orange…tree； a boat； an inlaid couch； or a
house？〃 he demanded。 〃Who can divide a flowing river； or what but
unending strife can arise from regarding an open field in anything but its
entirety？ Assuredly six cohesive objects cannot be apportioned between
four persons。〃 Yet he could not evade the justice of Kao's implied rebuke；
so drawing to his side a jade cabinet he opened it； and from among the
contents he selected an ebony staff； a paper umbrella； and a fan inscribed
with a mystical sentence。 These three objects he placed in Kao's hands；
and with his last breath signified that he should use them discreetly as the
necessity arose。
When the funeral ceremonies were over； Chu； Shan； and Hing came
together； and soon moulded their covetous thoughts into an agreed
conspiracy。 〃Of what avail would be a boat or a river if this person
sacrificed the nets and appliances by which the fish are ensnared？〃 asked
Shan。 〃How little profit would lie in an orange…tree and a field without
cattle and the implements of husbandry！〃 cried Hing。 〃One cannot occupy
a gold couch in an empty house both by day and night；〃 remarked Chu
stubbornly。 〃How inadequate； therefore； would such a provision be for
three。〃
When Kao understood that his three brothers had resolved to act in this
outrageous manner he did not hesitate to reproach them； but not being able
to contend against him honourably； they met him with ridicule。 〃Do not
attempt to rule us with your wooden staff；〃 they cried contemptuously。
〃Sacrifice IT if your inside is really sincere。 And； in the meanwhile； go and
sit under your paper umbrella and wield your inscribed fan； while we
attend to our couch； our boat； and our orange…tree。〃
〃Truly；〃 thought Kao to himself when they had departed； 〃their words
were irrationally offensive； but among them there may stand out a pointed
edge。 Our magnanimous father is now bereft of both comforts and
necessities； and although an ebony rod is certainly
