the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第17节
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hereditary right to carry a banner on the field of battle； with patriotic self…
effacement preferred to remain at home and encourage those who were
fighting by pointing out their inadequacy to the task and the extreme
unlikelihood of their ever accomplishing it）； 〃and in order to achieve our
purpose speedily it is necessary to resort to the methods of barbarism。〃
The most effective measure； as he proceeded to explain with well…thought…
out detail； would be to capture all those least capable of resistance；
concentrate them into a given camp； and then at an agreed signal reduce
the entire assembly to what he termed； in a passage of high…minded
eloquence； 〃a smoking hecatomb of women and children。〃
His advice was pointed with a crafty insight； for not only would such a
course have brought the stubborn enemy to a realisation of the weakness
of their position and thus paved the way to a dignified peace； but by the
act itself few would have been left to hand down the tradition of a
relentless antagonism。 Yet with incredible obtuseness his advice was
ignored and he himself was referred to at the time by those who regarded
the matter from a different angle； with a scarcely…veiled dislike； which
towards many of his followers took the form of building materials and
other dissentient messages whenever they attempted to raise their voices
publicly。 As an inevitable result the conquest of the country took years；
where it would have been moons had the more truly humane policy been
adopted； commerce and the arts languished； and in the end so little spoil
was taken that it was more common to meet six mendicants wearing the
honourable embellishment of the campaign than to see one captured slave
maiden offered for sale in the market placesindeed； even to this day the
deficiency is clearly admitted and openly referred to as The Great
〃Domestic〃 Problem。 *
At various times during my residence here I have been filled with a
most acute gratification when the words of those around have seemed to
indicate that they recognised the undoubted superiority of the laws and
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institutions of our enlightened country。 Sometimes； it is true； upon a more
detailed investigation of the incident； it has presently appeared that either I
had misunderstood the exact nature of their sentiments or they had slow…
wittedly failed to grasp the precise operation of the enactment I had
described； but these exceptions are clearly the outcome of their superficial
training； and do not affect the fact my feeble and frequently even eccentric
arguments are at length certainly moving the more intelligent into an
admission of what constitutes true justice and refinement。 It is not to be
denied that here and there exists a prejudice against our customs even in
the minds of the studious； but as this is invariably the shadow of
misconception； it has frequently been my sympathetic privilege to promote
harmony by means of the inexorable logic of fact and reason。 〃But are not
your officials uncompromisingly opposed to the freedom of the Press？〃
said one who conversed with me on the varying phases of the two
countries； and knowing that in his eyes this would constitute an
unendurable offence； I at once appeased his mind。 〃By no means；〃 I
replied； 〃if anything； the exact contrary is the case。 As a matter of reality；
of course； there is no Press now； the all…seeing Board of Censors having
wisely determined that it was not stimulating to the public welfare； but if
such an institution was permitted to exist you may rest genially assured
that nothing could exceed the lenient toleration which all in office would
extend towards it。〃 A similar instance of malicious inaccuracy is widely
spoken of regarding our lesser ones。 〃Is it really a fact； Mr。 Kong；〃
exclaimed a maiden of magnanimous condescension； to this person
recently； 〃that we poor women are despised in your country； and that
among the working…classes female children are even systematically
abandoned as soon as they are born？〃 Suffering my features to express
amusement at this unending calumny； I indicated my violent contempt
towards the one who had first uttered it。 〃So far from despising them；〃 I
continued； with ingratiating gallantry； 〃we recognise that they are quite
necessary for the purposes of preparing our food； carrying weighty
burdens； and the like； and how grotesque an action would it be for poor
but affectionate parents to abandon one who in a few years' time could be
sold at a really remunerative profit； this； indeed； being the principal means
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of sustenance in many frugal families。〃
On another occasion I had seated myself upon a wooden couch in one
of the open spaces about the outskirts of the city； when an aged man
chanced to pass by。 Him I saluted with ceremonious politeness； on account
of his years and the venerable dignity of his beard。 Thereupon he
approached near； and remarking affably that the afternoon was good
（though； to use no subtle evasion； it was very evil）； he congenially sat by
my side and entered into familiar discourse。
〃They say that in your part of the world we old grandfathers are
worshipped；〃 he said； after recounting to my ears all the most intimate
details of his existence from his youth upwards； 〃now； might that be
right？〃
〃Truly；〃 I replied。 〃It is the unchanging foundation of our system of
morality。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 he admitted pleasantly。 〃We are a long way behind them
foreigners in everything。 At the rate we're going there won't be any trade
nor work nor religion left in this country in another twenty years。 I often
wish I had gone abroad when I was younger。 And if I had chanced upon
your parts I should be worshipped； eh？〃 and at the agreeable thought the
aged man laughed in his throat with simple humour。
〃Assuredly；〃 I replied； 〃after you were dead。〃
〃Eh？〃 exclaimed the venerable person； checking the fountain of his
mirth abruptly at the word。 〃Dead！ not before？ Doesn'tdoesn't that seem
a bit of a waste？〃
〃Such has been the observance from the time of unrecorded antiquity；〃
I replied。 〃'Obey parents； respect the old； loyally uphold the sovereign； and
worship ancestors。'〃
〃Well； well；〃 remarked the one beside me； 〃obedience and respect
that's something nowadays。 And you make them do it？〃
〃Our laws are unflinching in their application；〃 I said。 〃No crime is
held to be more detestable than disrespect of those to whom we owe our
existence。〃
〃Quite right；〃 he agreed； 〃it's a pleasure to hear it。 It must be a great
country； yours； a country with a future； I should say。 Now； about that
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youngest lad of my son Henry'sthe one that drops pet lizards down my
neck； and threatened to put rat poison into his mother's tea when she
wouldn't take him to the Military Turneyment； what would they do to him
by your laws？〃
〃If the assertion were well sustained by competent witnesses；〃 I
replied； 〃it would probably be judged so execrable an offence； that a new
punishment would have to be contrived。 Failing that； he would certainly
be wrapped round from head to foot in red…hot chains； and thus exposed to
public derision。〃
〃Ah； red…hot chains！〃 said the aged person； as though the words
formed a pleasurable taste upon his palate。 〃The young beggar！ Well； he'd
deserve it。〃
〃Furthermore；〃 I continued； gratified at having found one who so
intelligently appreciated
