Tai-yu next added:

Why need a famous steed be a with bridle e'er restrained?

Through the city it speeds; the moat it skirts; how fierce it looks.

The master gives the word and wind and clouds begin to move.

On the 'fish backs' and the 'three isles' it only makes a name, (a rotating lantern).

T'an Ch'un had also one that she felt disposed to tell them, but just as she was about to open her lips, Pao-ch'in walked up to them. "The relics of various places I've seen since my youth," she smiled, "are not few, so I've now selected ten places of historic interest, on which I've composed ten odes, treating of antiquities. The verses may possibly be coa.r.s.e, but they bear upon things of the past, and secretly refer as well to ten commonplace articles. So, cousins, please try and guess them!"

"This is ingenious!" they exclaimed in chorus, when they heard the result of her labour. "Why not write them out, and let us have a look at them?"

But, reader, peruse the next chapter, if you want to learn what follows.

CHAPTER LI.

The young maiden Hsueh Pao-ch'in devises, in novel style, odes bearing on antiquities.

A stupid doctor employs, in reckless manner, drugs of great strength.

When the party heard, the story goes, that Pao-ch'in had made the old places of interest she had, in days gone by, visited in the various provinces, the theme of her verses, and that she had composed ten stanzas with four lines in each, which though referring to relics of antiquity, bore covertly on ten common objects, they all opined that they must be novel and ingenious, and they vied with each other in examining the text. On perusal, they read:

On the relics of Ch'ih Pi:

Deep in Ch'ih Pi doth water lie concealed which does not onward flow.

There but remains a name and surname contained in an empty boat.

When with a clamorous din the fire breaks out, the sad wind waxes cold.

An endless host of eminent spirits wander about inside.

On the ancient remains in Chiao Chih:

Posts of copper and walls of gold protect the capital.

Its fame is spread beyond the seas, scattered in foreign lands.

How true it is that Ma Yuan's achievements have been great.

The flute of iron need not trouble to sing of Tzu Fang.

On the vestiges of former times in Chung Shan:

Renown and gain do they, at any time, fall to a woman's share?

For no reason have I been bidden come into the mortal world.

How hard a task, in point of fact, it is to stop solicitude!

Don't bear a grudge against such people as may oft times jeer at you!

On things of historic interest in Huai Yin:

The st.u.r.dy man must ever mind the insults of the vicious dog.

Th' official's rank in San Ch'i was but fixed when his coffin was closed Tell all people that upon earth do dwell to look down upon none.

The bounty of one single bowl of rice should be treasured till death.

On events of old in Kuang Lin:

Cicadas chirp; crows roost; but, in a twinkle, they are gone.

How fares these latter days the scenery in Sui T'i?

It's all because he has so long enjoyed so fine a fame, That he has given rise around to so many disputes.

On the ancient remains of the T'ao Yeh ferry:

Dry gra.s.s and parched plants their reflex cast upon the shallow pond.

The peach tree branches and peach leaves will bid farewell at last.

What a large number of structures in Liu Ch'ao raise their heads.

A small picture with a motto hangs on the hollow wall.

On the antique vestiges of Ch'ing Chung:

The black stream stretches far and wide, but hindered is its course.

What time were no more thrummed the frozen cords, the songs waxed sad.

The policy of the Han dynasty was in truth strange!

A worthless officer must for a thousand years feel shame.

On things of historic renown in Ma Wei:

Quiet the spots of rouge with sweat pile up and shine.

Gentleness in a moment vanishes and goes.

It is because traces remain of his fine looks, That to this day his clothes a fragrance still emit.

On events of the past connected with the Pu Tung temple:

The small red lamp is wholly made of thin bone, and is light.

Furtively was it brought along but by force was it stol'n.

Oft was it, it is true, hung by the mistress' own hands, But long ere this has she allured it to speed off with her.

On the scenery about the Mei Hua (Plum Bloom) monastery.

If not by the plum trees, then by the willows it must be.

Has any one picked up in there the likeness of a girl?

Don't fret about meeting again; in spring its scent returns.

Soon as it's gone, and west winds blow, another year has flown.

When the party had done reading the verses, they with perfect unanimity extolled their extraordinary excellence. Pao-ch'ai was, however, the first to raise any objections. "The first eight stanzas," she said, "are founded upon the testimony of the historical works. But as for the last two stanzas, there's no knowing where they come from. Besides, we don't quite fathom their meaning. Wouldn't it be better then if two other stanzas were written?"

Tai-yu hastened to interrupt her. "The lines composed by cousin Pao ch'in are indeed devised in a too pigheaded and fast-and-loose sort of way," she observed. "The two stanzas are, I admit, not to be traced in the historical works, but though we've never read such outside traditions, and haven't any idea what lies at the bottom of them, have we not likely seen a couple of plays? What child of three years old hasn't some notion about them, and how much more such as we?"

"What she says is perfectly correct," T'an Ch'un chimed in.

"She has besides," Li Wan then remarked, "been to these places herself.

But though there be no mention anywhere of these two references, falsehoods have from old till now been propagated, and busybodies have, in fact, intentionally invented such relics of ancient times with a view of bamboozling people. That year, for instance, in which we travelled up here to the capital, we came across graves raised to Kuan, the sage, in three or four distinct places. Now the circ.u.mstances of the whole existence of Kuan the sage are established by actual proof, so how could there again in his case exist a lot of graves? This must arise from the esteem in which he is held by posterity for the way he acquitted himself of his duties during his lifetime. And it is presumably to this esteem that this fiction owes its origin. This is quite possible enough. Even in the 'Kuang Yu Chi', you will see that not only are numerous tombs of the sage Kuan spoken of, but that bygone persons of note are a.s.signed tombs not few in number. But there are many more relics of antiquity, about which no testimony can be gathered. The matter treated in the two stanzas, now in point, is, of course, not borne out by any actual record; yet in every story, that is told, in every play, that is sung, and on the various slips as well used for fortune telling, it is invariably to be found. Old and young, men and women, do all understand it and speak of it, whether in proverbs or in their everyday talk. They don't resemble, besides, the ballads encountered in the 'Hsi Hsiang Chi,' and 'Mou Tan T'ing,' to justify us to fear that we might be setting eyes upon some corrupt text. They are quite harmless; so we'd better keep them!"

Pao-ch'ai, after these arguments, dropped at length all discussion. They thereupon tried for a time to guess the stanzas. None, however, of their solutions turned out to be correct. But as the days in winter are short, and they saw that it was time for their evening meal, they adjourned to the front part of the compound for their supper.