the wallet of kai lung-第56节
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proficiency； and could draw any of the five characters without
hesitation。 With renewed hope； therefore； he again approached those
who sit in easy…chairs； and concealing his identity （for they are
stiff at bending； and when once a picture…maker is classed as 〃of no
good〃 he remains so to the end； in spite of change）； he succeeded in
getting entrusted with a story by the elegant and refined Kyen Tal。
This writer； as he remembered with distrust； confines his
distinguished efforts entirely to the doings of sailors and of those
connected with the sea； and this tale； indeed； he found upon reading
to be the narrative of how a Hang…Chow junk and its crew； consisting
mostly of aged persons； were beguiled out of their course by an
exceedingly ill…disposed dragon； and wrecked upon an island of naked
barbarians。 It was； therefore； with a somewhat heavy stomach that this
person set himself the task of arranging his five characters as so to
illustrate the words of the story。
The sayings of the ancient philosopher Tai Loo are indeed very subtle；
and the truth of his remark； 〃After being disturbed in one's dignity
by a mandarin's foot it is no unusual occurrence to fall flat on the
face in crossing a muddy street；〃 was now apparent。 Great as was the
disadvantage owing to the nature of the five characters； this became
as nothing when it presently appeared that the avaricious and
clay…souled Tieng Lin； taking advantage of the blindness of this
person's enthusiasm； had taught him the figures so that they all gazed
in the same direction。 In consequence of this it would have been
impossible that two should be placed as in the act of conversing
together had not the noble Kyen Tal been inspired to write that 〃his
companions turned from him in horror〃。 This incident the ingenious
person who is recording these facts made the subject of three separate
drawings； and having in one or two other places effected skilful
changes in the writing； so similar in style to the strokes of the
illustrious Kyen Tal as to be undetectable； he found little difficulty
in making use of all his characters。 The risks of the future； however；
were too great to be run with impunity； therefore it was arranged； by
means of moneyfor this person was fast becoming acquainted with the
ways of Pekingthat an emissary from one who sat in an easy…chair
should call upon him for a conference； the narrative of which appeared
in this form in the Peking Printed Leaves of Thrice…distilled Truth：
The brilliant and amiable young picture…maker Kin Yen； in
spite of the immediate and universal success of his
accomplished efforts； is still quite rotund in intellect； nor
is he； if we may use a form of speaking affected by our
friends across the Hoang Hai； 〃suffering from swollen feet。〃 A
person with no recognized position； but one who occasionally
does inferior work of this nature for us； recently surprised
Kin Yen without warning； and found him in his sumptuously
appointed picture…room； busy with compasses and tracing…paper。
About the place were scattered in elegant confusion several of
his recent masterpieces。 From the subsequent conversation we
are in a position to make it known that in future this refined
and versatile person will confine himself entirely to
illustrations of processions； funerals； armies on the march；
persons pursued by others； and kindred subjects which appeal
strongly to his imagination。 Kin Yen has severe emotions on
the subject of individuality in art； and does not hesitate to
express himself forcibly with reference to those who are
content to degrade the names of their ancestors by turning out
what he wittily describes as 〃so much of varied mediocrity〃。
The prominence obtained by this pleasantly…composed noticefor it was
copied by others who were unaware of the circumstance of its
originhad the desired effect。 In future； when one of those who sit
in easy…chairs wished for a picture after the kind mentioned； he would
say to his lesser one： 〃Oh； send to the graceful and versatile Kin
Yen； he becomes inspired on the subject of funerals；〃 or persons
escaping from prison； or families walking to the temple； or whatever
it might be。 In that way this narrow…minded and illiterate person was
soon both looked at and rich； so that it was his daily practice to be
carried； in silk garments； past the houses of those who had known him
in poverty； and on these occasions he would puff out his cheeks and
pull his moustaches； looking fiercely from side to side。
True are the words written in the elegant and distinguished Book of
Verses： 〃Beware lest when being kissed by the all…seeing Emperor； you
step upon the elusive banana…peel。〃 It was at the height of eminence
in this altogether degraded person's career that he encountered the
being who led him on to his present altogether too lamentable
condition。
Tien Nung is the earthly name by which is known she who combines all
the most illustrious attributes which have been possessed of women
since the days of the divine Fou…Hy。 Her father is a person of very
gross habits； and lives by selling inferior merchandise covered with
some of good quality。 Upon past occasions； when under the direct
influence of Tien； and in the hope of gaining some money benefit； this
person may have spoken of him in terms of praise； and may even have
recommended friends to entrust articles of value to him； or to procure
goods on his advice。 Now； however； he records it as his unalterable
decision that the father of Tien Nung is by profession a person who
obtains goods by stratagem； and that； moreover； it is impossible to
gain an advantage over him on matters of exchange。
The events that have happened prove the deep wisdom of Li Pen when he
exclaimed 〃The whitest of pigeons； no matter how excellent in the
silk…hung chamber； is not to be followed on the field of battle。〃 Tien
herself was all that the most exacting of persons could demand； but
her opinions on the subject of picture…making were not formed by heavy
thought； and it would have been well if this had been borne in mind by
this person。 One morning he chanced to meet her while carrying open in
his hands four sets of printed leaves containing his pictures。
〃I have observed；〃 said Tien； after the usual personal inquiries had
been exchanged； 〃that the renowned Kin Yen； who is the object of the
keenest envy among his brother picture…makers； so little regards the
sacredness of his accomplished art that never by any chance does he
depict persons of the very highest excellence。 Let not the words of an
impetuous maiden disarrange his digestive organs if they should seem
too bold to the high…souled Kin Yen； but this matter has； since she
has known him； troubled the eyelids of Tien。 Here；〃 she continued；
taking from this person's hand one of the printed leaves which he was
carrying； 〃in this illustration of persons returning from
extinguishing a fire； is there one who appears to possess those
qualities which appeal to all that is intellectual and competitive
within one？ Can it be that the immaculate Kin Yen is unacquainted with
the subtle distinction between the really select and the vastly
ordinary？ Ah； undiscriminating Kin Yen！ are not the eyelashes of the
person who is addressing you as threads of fine gold to junk's cables
when compared with those of the extremely commonplace female who is
here pictured in the art of carrying a bucket？ Can the most refined
lack of vanity hide from you the fact that your own person is
infinitely rounder than this of the evilly…intentioned…looking
individual with the opium pipe？ O blind Kin Yen！〃
Here she fled in honourable confusion； leaving this person standing in
the street； astounded； and a prey to the most distinguished emotions
of a complicated nature。
〃Oh； Tien；〃 he cried at length； 〃inspired by those bright eyes；
narrower than the most select of the three thousand and one possessed
by the sublime Buddha； the almost fallen Kin Yen will yet prove
himself worthy of your esteemed consideration。 He will； without delay；
learn to draw two new living persons； and will incorporate in them the
likenesses which you have suggested。〃
Returning swiftly to his abode； he therefore inscribed and despatched
this letter； in proof of his resolve：
〃To the Heaven…sent human
