評論
打印
Lady Peng， nee Wang， exercises her authority in the Iron Fence Temple. Ch'in Ching-ch'ing （Ch'ing Chung） amuses himself in the Man-t'ou （Bread） nunnery.
But we shall now resume our story. When Pao-yue raised his eyes， he noticed that Shih Jung， Prince of Pei Ching， wore on his head a princely cap with pure white tassels and silvery feathers， that he was appareled in a white ceremonial robe， （with a pattern representing） the toothlike ripple of a river and the waters of the sea， embroidered with five-clawed dragons； and that he was girded with a red leather belt， inlaid with white jade. That his face was like a beauteous gem； that his eyes were like sparkling stars； and that he was， in very truth， a human being full of graceful charms.
Pao-yue hastily pressed forward and made a reverent obeisance， and Shih Jung lost no time in extending his arms from inside the sedan-chair， and embracing him. At a glance， he saw that Pao-yue had on his head a silver cap， to which the hair was attached， that he had， round his forehead， a flap on which were embroidered a couple of dragons issuing from the sea， that he wore a white archery-sleeved robe， ornamented with dragons， and that his waist was encircled by a silver belt， inlaid with pearls； that his face resembled vernal flowers and that his eyes were like drops of lacquer.
Shih Jung smiled. "Your name is，" he said， "no trumped-up story； for you， verily， resemble a precious gem； but where's the valuable trinket you had in your mouth？" he inquired.
As soon as Pao-yue heard this inquiry， he hastened to produce the jade from inside his clothes and to hand it over to Shih Jung. Shih Jung minutely examined it； and having also read the motto on it， he consequently ascertained whether it was really efficacious or not.
"It's true that it's said to be，" Pao-yue promptly explained， "but it hasn't yet been put to the test."
Shih Jung extolled it with unbounded praise， and， as he did so， he set the variegated tassels in proper order， and， with his own hands， attached it on to Pao-yue's neck. Taking also his hand in his， he inquired of Pao-yue what was his age？ and what books he was reading at present， to each of which questions Pao-yue gave suitable answer.
Shih Jung perceiving the perspicacity of his speech and the propriety of his utterances， simultaneously turned towards Chia Chen and observed with a smile on his face： "Your worthy son is， in very truth， like the young of a dragon or like the nestling of a phoenix！ and this isn't an idle compliment which I， a despicable prince， utter in your venerable presence！ But how much more glorious will be， in the future， the voice of the young phoenix than that of the old phoenix， it isn't easy to ascertain."
Chia Chen forced a smile： "My cur-like son，" he replied， "cannot presume to such bountiful praise and golden commendation； but if， by the virtue of your Highness' excess of happiness， he does indeed realise your words， he will be a source of joy to us all！"
"there's one thing， however，" continued Shih Jung； "with the excellent abilities which your worthy scion possesses， he's sure， I presume， to be extremely loved by her dowager ladyship， （his grandmother）， and by all classes. But for young men of our age it's a GREat drawback to be doated upon， for with over-fondness， we cannot help utterly frustrating the benefits of education. When I， a despicable prince， was young， I walked in this very track， and I presume that your honourable son cannot likewise but do the same. By remaining at home， your worthy scion will find it difficult to devote his attention to study； and he will not reap any harm， were he to come， at frequent intervals， to my humble home； for though my deserts be small， I nevertheless enjoy the great honour of the acquaintance of all the scholars of note in the Empire， so that， whenever any of them visit the capital， not one of them is there who does not lower his blue eyes upon me. Hence it is that in my mean abode， eminent worthies rendezvous； and were your esteemed son to come， as often as he can， and converse with them and meet them， his knowledge would， in that case， have every opportunity of making daily strides towards improvement."
Chia Chen speedily bent his body and expressed his acquiescence， by way of reply； whereupon Shih Jung went further， and taking off from his wrist a chaplet of pearls， he presented it to Pao-yue.
"This is the first time we meet，" he observed. "Our meeting was so unexpected that I have no suitable congratulatory present to offer you. This was conferred upon me by His Majesty， and is a string of chaplet-pearls， scented with Ling Ling， which will serve as a temporary token of respectful congratulations."
Pao-yue hastened to receive it from his hands， and turning round， he reverently presented it to Chia Chen. Chia Chen and Pao-yue jointly returned thanks； and forthwith Chia She， Chia Chen and the rest came forward in a body， and requested the Prince to turn his chair homewards.
"the departed，" expostulated Shih Jung， "has already ascended the spiritual regions， and is no more a mortal being in this dusty world exposed to vicissitude like you and I. Although a mean prince like me has been the recipient of the favour of the Emperor， and has undeservedly been called to the princely inheritance， how could I presume to go before the spiritual hearse and return home？"
