Hung Lou Meng - book 1 | Page 9

recipient of such marked attention, how can I
presume to repel your generous consideration?"
As he gave expression to these words, he walked off there and then, in
company with Shih-yin, and came over once again into the court in
front of the library. In a few minutes, tea was over.
The cups and dishes had been laid from an early hour, and needless to
say the wines were luscious; the fare sumptuous.
The two friends took their seats. At first they leisurely replenished their
glasses, and quietly sipped their wine; but as, little by little, they
entered into conversation, their good cheer grew more genial, and
unawares the glasses began to fly round, and the cups to be exchanged.
At this very hour, in every house of the neighbourhood, sounded the
fife and lute, while the inmates indulged in music and singing. Above
head, the orb of the radiant moon shone with an all-pervading
splendour, and with a steady lustrous light, while the two friends, as
their exuberance increased, drained their cups dry so soon as they
reached their lips.
Yü-ts'un, at this stage of the collation, was considerably under the
influence of wine, and the vehemence of his high spirits was
irrepressible. As he gazed at the moon, he fostered thoughts, to which
he gave vent by the recital of a double couplet.
'Tis what time three meets five, Selene is a globe! Her pure rays fill the

court, the jadelike rails enrobe! Lo! in the heavens her disk to view
doth now arise, And in the earth below to gaze men lift their eyes.
"Excellent!" cried Shih-yin with a loud voice, after he had heard these
lines; "I have repeatedly maintained that it was impossible for you to
remain long inferior to any, and now the verses you have recited are a
prognostic of your rapid advancement. Already it is evident that, before
long, you will extend your footsteps far above the clouds! I must
congratulate you! I must congratulate you! Let me, with my own hands,
pour a glass of wine to pay you my compliments."
Yü-ts'un drained the cup. "What I am about to say," he explained as he
suddenly heaved a sigh, "is not the maudlin talk of a man under the
effects of wine. As far as the subjects at present set in the examinations
go, I could, perchance, also have well been able to enter the list, and to
send in my name as a candidate; but I have, just now, no means
whatever to make provision for luggage and for travelling expenses.
The distance too to Shen Ching is a long one, and I could not depend
upon the sale of papers or the composition of essays to find the means
of getting there."
Shih-yin gave him no time to conclude. "Why did you not speak about
this sooner?" he interposed with haste. "I have long entertained this
suspicion; but as, whenever I met you, this conversation was never
broached, I did not presume to make myself officious. But if such be
the state of affairs just now, I lack, I admit, literary qualification, but on
the two subjects of friendly spirit and pecuniary means, I have,
nevertheless, some experience. Moreover, I rejoice that next year is just
the season for the triennial examinations, and you should start for the
capital with all despatch; and in the tripos next spring, you will, by
carrying the prize, be able to do justice to the proficiency you can boast
of. As regards the travelling expenses and the other items, the provision
of everything necessary for you by my own self will again not render
nugatory your mean acquaintance with me."
Forthwith, he directed a servant lad to go and pack up at once fifty taels
of pure silver and two suits of winter clothes.

"The nineteenth," he continued, "is a propitious day, and you should
lose no time in hiring a boat and starting on your journey westwards.
And when, by your eminent talents, you shall have soared high to a
lofty position, and we meet again next winter, will not the occasion be
extremely felicitous?"
Yü-ts'un accepted the money and clothes with but scanty expression of
gratitude. In fact, he paid no thought whatever to the gifts, but went on,
again drinking his wine, as he chattered and laughed.
It was only when the third watch of that day had already struck that the
two friends parted company; and Shih-yin, after seeing Yü-ts'un off,
retired to his room and slept, with one sleep all through, never waking
until the sun was well up in the skies.
Remembering the occurrence of the previous night, he meant to write a
couple of letters of recommendation for Yü-ts'un to take along with
him to the capital, to