the wallet of kai lung-第55节
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！
preconcerted wail； that Yin was compelled to shield his ears against
it； yet the inconsiderable Tsin…Su…Hoang； on whose account it was
raised； seemed in no degree to be affected by it； he； doubtless；
having become hardened by hearing a similar outburst； at fixed hours；
throughout interminable cycles of time。
When the last echo of the cry had passed away the Voice continued to
speak。
〃Soon the earth will again receive you； Yin；〃 it said； 〃for it is not
respectful that a lower one should be long permitted to gaze upon our
exalted faces。 Yet when you go forth and stand once more among men
this is laid on you： that henceforth you are as a being devoted to a
fixed and unchanging end； and whatever moves towards the restoring of
the throne of the Central Empire the outcast but unalterably sacred
line of its true sovereigns shall have your arm and mind。 By what
combination of force and stratagem this can be accomplished may not be
honourably revealed by us； the all…knowing。 Nevertheless； omens and
guidance shall not be lacking from time to time； and from the
beginning the weapon by which you have attained to this distinction
shall be as a sign of our favour and protection over you。〃
When the Voice made an end of speaking the sudden blindness came upon
Yin； as it had done before； and from the sense of motion which he
experienced； he conjectured that he was being conveyed back to the
island。 Undoubtedly this was the case； for presently there came upon
him the feeling that he was awakening from a deep and refreshing
sleep； and opening his eyes； which he now found himself able to do
without any difficulty； he immediately discovered that he was
reclining at full length on the ground； and at a distance of about a
score of paces from the dragon head。 His first thought was to engage
in a lengthy course of self…abasement before it； but remembering the
words which had been spoken to him while in the Upper Air； he
refrained； and even ventured to go forward with a confident but
somewhat self…deprecatory air； to regain the spear； which he perceived
lying at the foot of the rock。 With feelings of a reassuring nature he
then saw that the very undesirable expression which he had last beheld
upon the dragon face had melted into one of encouraging urbanity and
benignant esteem。
Close by the place where he had landed he discovered his boat； newly
furnished with wine and food of a much more attractive profusion than
that which he had purchased in the village。 Embarking in it； he made
as though he would have returned to the south； but the spear which he
held turned within his grasp； and pointed in an exactly opposite
direction。 Regarding this fact as an express command on the part of
the Deities； Yin turned his boat to the north； and in the space of two
days' timebeing continually guided by the fixed indication of the
spearhe reached the shore and prepared to continue his travels in
the same direction； upheld and inspired by the knowledge that
henceforth he moved under the direct influence of very powerful
spirits。
CHAPTER IX
THE ILL…REGULATED DESTINY OF KIN YEN； THE PICTURE…MAKER
As recorded by himself before his sudden departure from
Peking； owing to circumstances which are made plain in the
following narrative。
There are moments in the life of a person when the saying of the wise
Ni…Hyu that 〃Misfortune comes to all men and to most women〃 is endowed
with double force。 At such times the faithful child of the Sun is a
prey to the whitest and most funereal thoughts； and even the inspired
wisdom of his illustrious ancestors seems more than doubtful； while
the continued inactivity of the Sacred Dragon appears for the time to
give colour to the scoffs of the Western barbarian。 A little while ago
these misgivings would have found no resting…place in the bosom of the
writer。 Now； howeverbut the matter must be made clear from the
beginning。
The name of the despicable person who here sets forth his immature
story is Kin Yen； and he is a native of Kia…Lu in the Province of
Che…Kiang。 Having purchased from a very aged man the position of
Hereditary Instructor in the Art of Drawing Birds and Flowers； he gave
lessons in these accomplishments until he had saved sufficient money
to journey to Peking。 Here it was his presumptuous intention to learn
the art of drawing figures in order that he might illustrate printed
leaves of a more distinguished class than those which would accept
what true politeness compels him to call his exceedingly unsymmetrical
pictures of birds and flowers。 Accordingly； when the time arrived； he
disposed of his Hereditary Instructorship； having first ascertained in
the interests of his pupils that his successor was a person of refined
morals and great filial piety。
Alas！ it is well written； 〃The road to eminence lies through the cheap
and exceedingly uninviting eating…houses。〃 In spite of this person's
great economy； and of his having begged his way from Kia…Lu to Peking
in the guise of a pilgrim； journeying to burn incense in the sacred
Temple of Truth near that city； when once within the latter place his
taels melted away like the smile of a person of low class when he
discovers that the mandarin's stern words were not intended as a jest。
Moreover； he found that the story…makers of Peking； receiving higher
rewards than those at Kia…Lu； considered themselves bound to introduce
living characters into all their tales； and in consequence the very
ornamental drawings of birds and flowers which he had entwined into a
legend entitled 〃The Last Fight of the Heaven…sent Tcheng〃a story
which had been entrusted to him for illustration as a test of his
skillwas returned to him with a communication in which the writer
revealed his real meaning by stating contrary facts。 It therefore
became necessary that he should become competent in the art of drawing
figures without delay； and with this object he called at the
picture…room of Tieng Lin； a person whose experience was so great that
he could； without discomfort to himself； draw men and women of all
classes； both good and bad。 When the person who is setting forth this
narrative revealed to Tieng Lin the utmost amount of money he could
afford to give for instruction in the art of drawing living figures；
Tieng Lin's face became as overcast as the sky immediately before the
Great Rains； for in his ignorance of this incapable person's poverty
he had treated him with equality and courtesy； nor had he kept him
waiting in the mean room on the plea that he was at that moment
closeted with the Sacred Emperor。 However； upon receiving an assurance
that a rumour would be spread in which the number of taels should be
multiplied by ten； and that the sum itself should be brought in
advance； Tieng Lin promised to instruct this person in the art of
drawing five characters； which； he said； would be sufficient to
illustrate all stories except those by the most expensive and
highly…rewarded story…tellersmen who have become so proficient that
they not infrequently introduce a score or more of living persons into
their tales without confusion。
After considerable deliberation； this unassuming person selected the
following characters； judging them to be the most useful； and the most
readily applicable to all phases and situations of life：
1。 A bad person； wearing a long dark pigtail and smoking an opium
pipe。 His arms to be folded； and his clothes new and very expensive。
2。 A woman of low class。 One who removes dust and useless things from
the rooms of the over…fastidious and of those who have long nails； she
to be carrying her trade…signs。
3。 A person from Pe…ling； endowed with qualities which cause the
beholder to be amused。 This character to be especially designed to go
with the short sayings which remove gravity。
4。 One who； having incurred the displeasure of the sublime Emperor；
has been decapitated in consequence。
5。 An ordinary person of no striking or distinguished appearance。 One
who can be safely introduced in all places and circumstances without
great fear of detection。
After many months spent in constant practice and in taking
measurements； this unenviable person attained a very high degree of
proficiency； and could draw any of the five characters without
hesitation。 With renewed hop
