Hung Lou Meng - book 1 | Page 6

you,
whenever you please to go."
But to return to Chen Shih-yin. Having heard every one of these words
distinctly, he could not refrain from forthwith stepping forward and
paying homage. "My spiritual lords," he said, as he smiled, "accept my
obeisance." The Buddhist and Taoist priests lost no time in responding
to the compliment, and they exchanged the usual salutations. "My
spiritual lords," Shih-yin continued; "I have just heard the conversation
that passed between you, on causes and effects, a conversation the like
of which few mortals have forsooth listened to; but your younger
brother is sluggish of intellect, and cannot lucidly fathom the import!
Yet could this dulness and simplicity be graciously dispelled, your

younger brother may, by listening minutely, with undefiled ear and
careful attention, to a certain degree be aroused to a sense of
understanding; and what is more, possibly find the means of escaping
the anguish of sinking down into Hades."
The two spirits smiled, "The conversation," they added, "refers to the
primordial scheme and cannot be divulged before the proper season;
but, when the time comes, mind do not forget us two, and you will
readily be able to escape from the fiery furnace."
Shih-yin, after this reply, felt it difficult to make any further inquiries.
"The primordial scheme," he however remarked smiling, "cannot, of
course, be divulged; but what manner of thing, I wonder, is the
good-for-nothing object you alluded to a short while back? May I not
be allowed to judge for myself?"
"This object about which you ask," the Buddhist Bonze responded, "is
intended, I may tell you, by fate to be just glanced at by you." With
these words he produced it, and handed it over to Shih-yin.
Shih-yin received it. On scrutiny he found it, in fact, to be a beautiful
gem, so lustrous and so clear that the traces of characters on the surface
were distinctly visible. The characters inscribed consisted of the four
"T'ung Ling Pao Yü," "Precious Gem of Spiritual Perception." On the
obverse, were also several columns of minute words, which he was just
in the act of looking at intently, when the Buddhist at once
expostulated.
"We have already reached," he exclaimed, "the confines of vision."
Snatching it violently out of his hands, he walked away with the Taoist,
under a lofty stone portal, on the face of which appeared in large type
the four characters: "T'ai Hsü Huan Ching," "The Visionary limits of
the Great Void." On each side was a scroll with the lines:
When falsehood stands for truth, truth likewise becomes false, Where
naught be made to aught, aught changes into naught.
Shih-yin meant also to follow them on the other side, but, as he was

about to make one step forward, he suddenly heard a crash, just as if
the mountains had fallen into ruins, and the earth sunk into destruction.
As Shih-yin uttered a loud shout, he looked with strained eye; but all he
could see was the fiery sun shining, with glowing rays, while the
banana leaves drooped their heads. By that time, half of the
circumstances connected with the dream he had had, had already
slipped from his memory.
He also noticed a nurse coming towards him with Ying Lien in her
arms. To Shih-yin's eyes his daughter appeared even more beautiful,
such a bright gem, so precious, and so lovable. Forthwith stretching out
his arms, he took her over, and, as he held her in his embrace, he
coaxed her to play with him for a while; after which he brought her up
to the street to see the great stir occasioned by the procession that was
going past.
He was about to come in, when he caught sight of two priests, one a
Taoist, the other a Buddhist, coming hither from the opposite direction.
The Buddhist had a head covered with mange, and went barefooted.
The Taoist had a limping foot, and his hair was all dishevelled.
Like maniacs, they jostled along, chattering and laughing as they drew
near.
As soon as they reached Shih-yin's door, and they perceived him with
Ying Lien in his arms, the Bonze began to weep aloud.
Turning towards Shih-yin, he said to him: "My good Sir, why need you
carry in your embrace this living but luckless thing, which will involve
father and mother in trouble?"
These words did not escape Shih-yin's ear; but persuaded that they
amounted to raving talk, he paid no heed whatever to the bonze.
"Part with her and give her to me," the Buddhist still went on to say.
Shih-yin could not restrain his annoyance; and hastily pressing his
daughter closer to him, he was intent upon going in, when the bonze

pointed his hand at him, and burst out in a loud fit of laughter.
He