the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第28节
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affable condescension of his tone； and the discriminating encouragement
of his attitude towards me on all occasions； I have read a sympathetic
concern over my welfare。 Him I now approached； and taking him aside； I
first questioned him flatteringly about his age and the extent of his yearly
recompense； and then casually inquired what in his language he would
describe the nature of a cricket to be。
〃A cricket？〃 repeated the obliging person readily； 〃a cricket； sir； is a
hinsect。 Something； I take it； after the manner of a grass…'opper。〃
〃Truly；〃 I agreed。 〃It is aptly likened。 And； to continue the simile； a
game cricket？〃
〃A game cricket？〃 he replied； 〃well； sir； naturally a game one would be
more gamier than the others； wouldn't it？〃
〃The inference is unflinching；〃 I admitted； and after successfully
luring away his mind from any significance in the inquiry by asking him
whether the gift of a lacquered coffin or an embroidered shroud would be
the more regarded on parting； I left him。
His words； esteemed； for a definite reason were as the jade…clappered
melody of a silver bell。 This trial of sportiveness； it became clear；less of
a massacre than most of their amusementsis really a rivalry of leapings
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and dexterity of the feet： a conflict of game crickets or grass…hoppers； in
the somewhat wide…angled obscurity of their language； or； as we would
more appropriately call it doubtless； a festive competition in the similitude
of high…spirited locusts。 To whatever degree the surrounding conditions
might vary； there could no longer be a doubt that the power of leaping
high into the air was the essential constituent of success in this barbarian
match of cricketsand in such an accomplishment this person excelled
from the time of his youth with a truly incredible proficiency。 Can it be a
reproach； then； that when I considered this； and saw in a vision the
contempt of inferiority which I should certainly be able to inflict upon
these native crickets before the eyes of their maidens； even the
accumulated impassiveness of thirty…seven generations of Kong fore…
fathers broke down for the moment； and unable to restrain every vestige of
emotion I crept unperceived to the ancestral hall of Sir Philip and there
shook hands affectionately with myself before each of the nine ironclad
warriors about its walls before I could revert to a becoming state of
trustworthy unconcern。 That night in my own upper chamber I spent many
hours in testing my powers and studying more remarkable attitudes of
locust flight； and I even found to be within myself some new attainments
of life…like agility； such as feigning the continuous note of defiance with
which the insect meets his adversary； as remaining poised in the air for an
appreciable moment at the summit of each leap； and of conveying to the
body a sudden and disconcerting sideway movement in the course of its
ascent。 So immersed did I become in the achievement of a high perfection
that； to my never…ending self…reproach； I failed to notice a supernatural
visitation of undoubted authenticity； for the next morning it was widely
admitted that a certain familiar demon of the house； which only manifests
its presence on occasions of tragic omen； had been heard throughout the
night in warning； not only beating its head and body against the walls and
doors in despair； but raising from time to time a wailing cry of soul…
benumbing bitterness。
With every assurance that the next letter； though equally distorted in
style and immature in expression； will contain the record of a deteriorated
but ever upward…striving son's ultimate triumph。
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KONG HO。
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THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
LETTER XI
Concerning the game which we should call 〃Locusts；〃 and the deeper
significance of its acts。 The solicitous warning of one passing inwards and
the complication occasioned by his ill… chosen words。 Concerning that
victory already dimly foreshadowed。
VENERATED SIRE；This barbarian game of agile grass…hoppers is
not conducted in the best spirit of a really well…balanced display； and
although the one now inscribing his emotions certainly achieved a wide
popularity； and wore his fig leaves with becoming modesty； he has never
since been quite free from an overhanging doubt that the compliments and
genial remarks with which he was assailed owed their modulation to an
unsubstantial atmosphere of two…edged significance which for a period
enveloped all whom he approached； as in the faces of maidens concealed
behind fans when he passed； the down…drawn lips and up…raised eyes of
those of fuller maturity； the practice in most of his own kind of turning
aside； pressing their hands about their middle parts； and bending forward
into a swollen attitude devoid of grace； on the spur of a sudden
remembrance； and in the auspicious but undeniably embarrassing manner
in which all the unfledged ones of the village clustered about his retiring
footsteps； saluting him continually as one 〃James；〃 upon whom had been
conferred the gratifying title of 〃Sunny。〃 Thus may the outline of the
combat be recounted。
From each opposing group eleven were chosen as a band； and we of
our company putting on a robe of distinctive green （while they elected to
be regarded as an assemblage of brown crickets）； we presently came to a
suitable spot where the trial was to be decided。 So far this person had
reasonably assumed that at a preconcerted signal the contest would begin；
all rising into the air together； uttering cries of menace； bounding
unceasingly and in every way displaying the dexterity of our proportions。
Indeed； in the reasonableness of this expectation it cannot be a matter for
reproach to one of the green grass…hopperswho need not be further
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indicatedthat he had already begun a well…simulated note of challenge to
those around clad in brown； and to leap upwards in a preparatory essay；
when the ever…alert Sir Philip took him affectionately by the arm； on the
plea that the seclusion of a neighbouring pavilion afforded a desirable
shade。
Beyond that point it is difficult to convey an accurately grouped and
fully spread…out design of the encounter。 In itself the scheme and intention
of counterfeiting the domestic life and rivalries of two opposing bands of
insects was pleasantly conceived； and might have been carried out with
harmonious precision； but； after the manner of these remote tribes； the
original project had been overshadowed and the purity of the imagination
lost beneath a mass of inconsistent detail。 To this imperfection must it be
laid that when at length this person was recalled from the obscurity of the
pagoda and the alluring society of a maiden of the village； to whom he
was endeavouring to expound the strategy of the game； and called upon to
engage actively in it； he courteously admitted to those who led him forth
that he had not the most shadowy…outlined idea of what was required of
him。
Nevertheless they bound about his legs a frilled armour； ingeniously
fashioned to represent the ribbed leanness of the insect's shank； encased
his hands and feet in covers to a like purpose； and pressing upon him a
wooden club indicated that the time had come for him to prove his merit
by venturing alone into the midst of the eleven brown adversaries who
stood at a distance in poised and expectant attitudes。
Assuredly； benignant one； this sport of contending locusts began； as
one approached nearer to
