紅樓夢(mèng)英文版（楊憲益譯）

更多英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)資料請(qǐng)?jiān)L問(wèn)博客：（原創(chuàng)英語(yǔ)小說(shuō)，新聞,中英對(duì)照翻譯）Chapter1ZhenShiyininaDreamSeestheJadeofSpiritualUnderstandingJiaYucuninHisObscurityIsCharmedbyaMaidThisistheopeningchapterofthenovel.InwritingthisstoryoftheStonetheauthorwantedtorecordcertainofhispastdreamsandillusions,buthetriedtohidethetruefactsofhisexperiencebyusingtheallegoryofthejadeof“SpiritualUnderstanding.”HencehisrecoursetonameslikeZhenShiyin.1Butwhataretheeventsrecordedinthisbook,andwhoarethecharacters?Aboutthishesaid:“Inthisbusy,dustyworld,havingaccomplishednothing,IsuddenlyrecalledallthegirlsIhadknown,consideringeachinturn,anditdawnedonmethatallofthemsurpassedmeinbehaviourandunderstanding;thatI,shamefultosay,forallmymasculinedignity,fellshortofthegentlersex.Butsincethiscouldneverberemedied,itwasnouseregrettingit.Therewasreallynothingtobedone.“IdecidedthentomakeknowntoallhowI,thoughdressedinsilksanddelicatelynurturedthankstotheImperialfavourandmyancestors’virtue,hadneverthelessignoredthekindlyguidanceofmyeldersaswellasthegoodadviceofteachersandfriends,withtheresultthatIhadwastedhalfmylifeandnotacquiredasingleskill.Butnomatterhowunforgivablemycrimes,ImustnotletallthelovelygirlsIhaveknownpassintooblivionthroughmywickednessormydesiretohidemyshortcomings.“Thoughmyhomeisnowathatchedcottagewithmattingwindows,earthenstoveandrope-bed,thisshallnotstopmefromlayingbaremyheart.Indeed,themorningbreeze,thedewofnight,thewillowsbymystepsandtheflowersinmycourtyardinspiremetowieldmybrush.ThoughIhavelittlelearningorliterarytalent,whatdoesitmatterifItellataleinrusticlanguagetoleavearecordofallthoselovelygirls.Thisshoulddivertreaderstooandhelpdistractthemfromtheircares.ThatiswhyIusetheothernameJiaYucun.”2Doyouknow,WorthyReaders,wherethisbookcomesfrom?Theanswermaysoundfantastic,yetcarefullyconsideredisofgreatinterest.Letmeexplain,sothattherewillbenodoubtleftinyourminds.WhenthegoddessNuWamelteddownrockstorepairthesky,atBaselessCliffintheGreatWasteMountainshemadethirty-sixthousandfivehundredandoneblocksofstone,eachahundredandtwentyfeethighandtwohundredandfortyfeetsquare.Sheusedonlythirty-sixthousandfivehundredoftheseandthrewtheremainingblockdownatthefootofOnedayastheStonewasbroodingoveritsfate,itsawapproachingfromthedistanceaBuddhistmonkandTaoistpriest,bothofstrikingdemeanouranddistinguishedappearance.TheycameuptotheStoneandsatdowntochat.WhentheysawthepuretranslucentStonewhichhadshrunktothesizeofafan-pendant,themonktookituponthepalmofhishandandsaidtoitwithasmile:“Youlooklikeapreciousobject,butyoustilllackrealvalue.Imustengravesomecharactersonyousothatpeoplecanseeataglancethatyou’resomethingspecial.Thenwecantakeyoutosomecivilizedandprosperousrealm,toaculturedfamilyofofficialstatus,aplacewhereflowersandwillowsflourish,thehomeofpleasureandluxurywhereyoucansettledownincomfort.”TheStonewasoverjoyed.“MayItroubleyoutoenlightenme,”itsaid,“astowhatwonderfulmeritsyouwillbestowonme?Andwheredoyoumeantotakeme?”“Don’task.”Themonksmiled.“You’llfindoutallingoodtime.”WiththathetuckedtheStoneintohissleeveandhurriedoffwiththeTaoist.Butwheretheywentnooneknows.Afternooneknowshowmanygenerationsoraeons,aTaoistknownasReverendVoid,searchingfortheWayandimmortality,cametoGreatWasteMountain,BaselessCliffandthefootofBlueRidgeUnfittomendtheazuresky,Ipassedsomeyearsonearthtonoavail;Mylifeinbothworldsisrecordedhere;WhomcanIasktopassonthisromantictale?TherefollowedthenameoftheregionwheretheStonefell,theplaceofitsincarnation,andthestoryofitsadventuresincludingtrivialfamilyaffairsandlightverseswrittentoamuseidlehours.Thedynasty,yearandcountry’snamewere,however,obliterated.TheReverendVoidsaidtotheStone:“BrotherStone,youseemtothinkthatyourtalerecordedhereisinterestingenoughtomeritpublication.Inmyview,inthefirstplace,thereisnowayoffindingoutthedynastyandtheyear;inthesecond,thereisnothinghereaboutworthyandloyalministersandhowtheyregulatedthegovernmentandpublicmorality.Therearemerelysomegirlsremarkableonlyfortheirpassionorfolly,orelsefortheirsmallgiftsandtriflingvirtueswhichcannotevencomparewiththoseofsuchtalentedladiesasBanZhaoorCaiYan.4EvenifIweretotranscribeit,itwouldhardlyarousemuchinterest.”“Howcanyoubesodense,master?”protestedtheStonewithasmile.“Ifthere’snowayoffindingoutthedate,youcaneasilyascribethistaletosometimeintheHanorTangDynasty.Butsinceallnovelsdothat,Ithinkmywayofdispensingwiththisconventionandjustdealingwithmyownadventuresandfeelingsismoreoriginal.Whyinsistonacertaindynastyordefinitedate?Besides,mostcommonpeopleofthemarket-placemuchpreferlightliteraturetoimprovingbooks.Thetroubleisthatsomanyromancescontainslanderousanecdotesaboutsovereignsandministersorcastaspersionsuponothermen’swivesanddaughterssothattheyarepackedwithsexandviolence.Evenworsearethosewritersofthebreeze-and-moonlightschool,whocorrupttheyoungwithpornographyandfilth.Asforbooksofthebeauty-and-talented-scholartype,athousandarewrittentoasinglepatternandnoneescapesborderingonindecency.Theyarefilledwithallusionstohandsome,talentedyoungmenandbeautiful,refinedgirlsinhistory;butinordertoinsertacoupleofhisownlovepoems,theauthorinventsstereotypedheroesandheroineswiththeinevitablelowcharactertomaketroublebetweenthemlikeaclowninaplay,andmakeseventheslavegirlstalkpedanticnonsense.Soallthesenovelsarefullofcontradictionsandabsurdlyunnatural.“MuchbetterarethegirlsIhaveknownmyselfduringmyyoungdays.Iwouldn’tpresumetorankthemassuperiortoallthecharactersofearlierworks,yettheirstoriesmayservetodispelboredomandcarewhilethefewdoggerelsIhaveinsertedmayraisealaughandaddzesttowine.Asforthescenesofsadpartingsandhappymeetings,prosperityanddecline,thesearealltruetofactandnotalteredintheslightesttocauseasensationordepartfromthetruth.“Atpresentthedailyconcernofthepoorisfoodandclothing,whiletherichareneversatisfied.Alltheirleisureistakenupwithamorousadventures,materialacquisitionortrouble-making.Whattimedotheyhavetoreadpoliticalandmoraltreatises?Ineitherwantpeopletomarvelatthisstoryofmine,nordoIinsistthattheyshouldreaditforpleasure;Ionlyhopetheymayfinddistractionherewhentheyaresatedwithfoodandwineorsearchingforsomeescapefromworldlycares.Byglancingoveritinplaceofothervainpursuits,theymaysavetheirenergiesandprolongtheirlives,sparingthemselvestheharmofquarrelsandarguments,orthetroubleofchasingafterwhatisillusory.“Besides,thisstoryoffersreaderssomethingnew,unlikethosehackneyedandstalehodge-podgesofsuddenpartingsandencounterswhichteemwithtalentedscholarsandlovelygirlsCaoZijian,ZhuoWenjun,Hongniang,Xiaoyu5andthelike.Whatdoyousay,master?”TheReverendVoidthoughtitover,thencarefullyrereadTheTaleoftheStone.Hefoundinitbothcondemnationoftreacheryandcriticismofflatteryandevil,butitwasclearlynotwrittentopasscensureonthetimes.Moreoveritsurpassedotherbooksinitsvoluminousaccountsofbenevolentprinces,goodministers,kindfathersandfilialsons,andallmatterspertainingtoproperhumanrelations,aswellaseulogiesofvirtuousdeeds.Althoughthemainthemewaslove,itwassimplyatruerecordofevents,superiortothoseshammeretriciousworksdevotedtolicentiousassignationsanddissoluteescapades.Sinceitdidnottouchatalloncurrenteventshecopieditoutfrombeginningtoendandtookitawaytofindapublisher.Sinceallmanifestationsarebornofnothingnessandinturngiverisetopassion,bydescribingpassionforwhatismanifestwecomprehendnothingness.SotheTaoistchangedhisnametothePassionateMonkandchangedthetitleofthebookfromTheTaleoftheStonetotheRecordofthePassionateMonk.KongMeixiofeasternLu6suggestedthetitlePreciousMirrorofLove.LaterCaoXueqininhisMourning-the-RedStudioporedoverthebookfortenyearsandrewroteitfivetimes.Hedivideditintochapters,furnishedheadingsforeach,andrenameditTheTwelveBeautiesofJinling.Healsoinscribedonitthisverse:PagesfulloffantastictalkPennedwithbittertears;Allmencalltheauthormad,Nonehismessagehears.Nowthattheoriginofthestoryisclear,letusseewhatwasrecordedontheStone.Longagotheearthdippeddownwardsinthesoutheast,andinthatsoutheastpartwasacitynamedGusu7;andthequarteraroundChangmenGateofGusuwasoneofthemostfashionablecentresofwealthandnobilityintheworldofmen.OutsidethisChangmenGatewasacertainTen-liStreet,offwhichrantheLaneofHumanityandPurity;andinthislanestoodanoldtemple,whichbeingbuiltinsuchanarrowspacewasknownfromitsshapeasGourdTemple.BesidethistemplelivedagentlemannamedZhenFei,whosecourtesynamewasShiyin.Hiswife,néeFeng,wasaworthyvirtuouswomanwithastrongsenseofproprietyandright.Althoughneitherveryrichnornoble,theirfamilywashighlyregardedinthatlocality.ZhenShiyinhadaquietdisposition.Insteadofhankeringafterwealthorrank,hewasquitehappytendingflowers,growingbamboos,sippingwineorwritingpoemsspendinghistimeverymuchlikeanimmortal.Onethingalonewaslacking:hewasnowoverfiftybuthadnoson,onlyathree-year-olddaughternamedYinglian.OnelonghotsummerdayasShiyinwassittingidlyinhisstudy,thebookslippedfromhishandand,leaninghisheadonthedesk,hefellasleep.Indreamhetravelledtoanunknownplace,wherehesuddenlynoticedamonkandaTaoistapproaching,talkingtogether.HeheardtheTaoistask:“Wheredoyoumeantotakethatstupidobject?”“Don’tworry,”repliedthemonk.“Alovedramaisabouttobeenacted,butnotallitsactorshaveyetbeenincarnated.I’mgoingtoslipthissillythinginamongthemtogiveittheexperienceitwants.”“Soanotherbatchofamoroussinnersarebentonmakingtroublebyreincarnation,”commentedtheTaoist.“Wherewillthisdramatakeplace?”“It’sanamusingstory.”Themonksmiled.“You’veneverheardanythinglikeit.Inthewest,onthebankoftheSacredRiver,besidetheStoneofThreeIncarnationstheregrewaVermilionPearlPlantwhichwaswateredeverydaywithsweetdewbytheattendantShenYinginthePalaceofRed“Justthen,asithappened,ShenYingwasseizedwithalongingtoassumehumanformandvisittheworldofmen,takingadvantageofthepresentenlightenedandpeacefulreign.HemadehisrequesttotheGoddessofDisenchantment,whosawthatthiswasachanceforVermilionPearltorepayherdebtofgratitude.“‘Hegavemesweetdew,’saidVermilionPearl,‘butI’venowatertorepayhiskindness.Ifhe’sgoingdowntotheworldofmen,IwouldliketogotoosothatifIrepayhimwithasmanytearsasIcanshedinalifetimeImaybeabletoclearthisdebt.’“Thisinducedmanyotheramorousspiritswhohadnotatonedfortheirsinstoaccompanythemandtakepartinthisdrama.”“Thatcertainlyisodd,”remarkedtheTaoist.“I’veneverheardofrepaymentwithtearsbefore.Iimaginethisstoryshouldhavemorefinepointsthantheusualrunofbreeze-and-moonlighttales.”“Theoldromancesgiveusonlyoutlinesoftheircharacters’liveswithanumberofpoemsaboutthem,”saidthemonk.“We’renevertoldthedetailsoftheirintimatefamilylifeordailymeals.Besides,mostbreeze-and-moonlighttalesdealwithsecretassignationsandelopements,andhaveneverreallyexpressedthetruelovebetweenayoungmanandagirl.I’msurewhenthesespiritsgodowntoearth,we’llseeloversandlechers,worthypeople,simpletonsandscoundrelsunlikethoseinearlierromances.“Whydon’tyouandItakethischancetogotooandwinoverafewofthem?Thatwouldbeaworthydeed.”“ExactlywhatIwasthinking.ButfirstwemusttakethisstupidobjecttothepalaceoftheGoddessofDisenchantmentandclearalltheformalities.Afteralltheseromanticsoulshavegonedownwecanfollow.Sofaronlyhalfofthemhavedescendedtoearth.”“InthatcaseI’mreadytogowithyou,”saidtheTaoist.ZhenShiyinhadheardeverywordoftheirconversationbutdidnotknowwhatwasmeantbythe“stupidobject.”Hecouldnotresistaccostingthemwithabow.“Greetings,immortalmasters!”hesaidwithasmile.Whentheyhadreturnedhisgreetinghecontinued:“RareindeedistheopportunitytolistentosuchadiscussionofcauseandeffectsasIhavejustheard.ButIamtoodulltograspit.Ifyouwouldkindlyelucidatetoenlightenme,Ipromisetolistenmostattentively.Forprofitingbyyourwisdommayprovemysalvation.”“Thisisamysterywhichwecannotdivulge.”Thetwoimmortalssmiled.“Whenthetimecomes,thinkofus.Thenyoumaybeabletoescapefromthefierypit.”Shiyincouldhardlypressthem.“Imustn’tprobeintoamystery,”hesaid,“butcouldyoushowmethatobjectyoumentionedjustnow?”“Ifyouwanttoknow,youaredestinedinyourlifetomeetwithit,”saidthemonk.WiththatheproducedabeautifulpieceoftranslucentjadeandhandedittoShiyin.OntheobversewerecarvedthewordsPreciousJadeofSpiritualUnderstanding.BeforeShiyincouldlookcarefullyatthecolumnsofsmallercharactersonthereversethemonksnatcheditawayfromhimsaying:“We’vereachedtheLandofHepassedwiththeTaoistthroughalargestonearchwayonwhichwasinscribed:IllusoryLandofGreatVoid.Acoupletonthetwopillarsread:Whenfalseistakenfortrue,truebecomesfalse;Ifnon-beingturnsintobeing,beingbecomesnon-being.Shiyinwasstartingafterthetwoimmortalswhenheheardafearfulcrash,asifmountainshadcollapsedandtheearthsplitasunder.Withacryhewokeupandstaredabouthim.Therewasthefierysunstillblazingdownontherustlingplantainleaves.Alreadyhalfofhisdreamhadslippedhismind.ThenursecameupthenwithYinglianinherarms,anditstruckShiyinthathisdaughterwasgrowingprettierandmorelovableeveryday.Hepickedherupandplayedwithherforawhile,thentookhertothegatetowatchareligiousprocessionpassby.HewasjustabouttogoinagainwhenamonkandaTaoistpriestdrewnear,laughingandgibberingliketwomaniacs.Themonkwasbarefooted,hisheadscabby;thepriest,lamewithtangled,tousledhair.WhentheyreachedShiyin’sgateandsawthechildinhisarms,themonkburstintolamentations.“Whyareyoucarryingthatill-fatedcreature,sir?”heasked.“Shewillbringnothingbuttroubletoherparents.”Shiyinthoughtthemanwasravingandpaidnoattention.“Givehertome!”criedthemonk.“Givehertome!”Losingpatience,Shiyinclaspedhisdaughtermoretightlyandwasturningtoreenterthehousewhenthemonkpointedathimandletoutaroaroflaughter.Hethendeclaimed:“Fool,tocareforthistenderchild:Animageinthemirror,snowmeltingaway.BewarewhatwillfollowtheLanternFeast,Thevanishinglikesmokewhenthefireburnsout.”Shiyin,hearingthisclearly,wonderedwhatitmeant.Beforehecouldask,theTaoisttoldthemonk:“Thisiswhereourpathsdivide.Eachmustgoabouthisownbusiness.ThreeaeonsfromnowIshallwaitforyouatMountBeimang,andtogetherwecangototheLandof“Verygood,”saidthemonk.Thenbothvanishedwithoutatrace.Shiyinrealizedthenthatthesewerenoordinarymenandregrettednothavingquestionedthem.HisruefulreflectionswerecutshortbythearrivalofapoorscholarwholivednextdoorinGourdTemple.HisnamewasJiaHuaHavinggreetedShiyin,Yucunasked,“Whatareyouwatchingfromyourgate,sir?Isthereanynewsintown?”“Nothing,”wasthereply.“Mylittlegirlwascrying,soIbroughtherouttoplay.Youcouldn’thavearrivedatabettermoment,asIwasfeelingthoroughlybored.Comeinandhelpmewhileawaythelongsummerday.”Hetoldaservanttotakehisdaughterinside,andledYucunintohisstudy,whereaboyservedtea.TheyhadnotexchangedmanyremarkswhenaservanthurriedintoannouncethearrivalofacertainMr.Yan.ThenShiyinexcusedhimself,saying,“Forgivemyrudeness.Doyoumindwaitinghereforafewminutes?”“Don’tstandonceremony,sir,”saidYucun,rising.“Iamaregularguesthere,Idon’tmindwaiting.”SoafterShiyinwenttothefrontroomYucunpassedthetimebyleafingthroughsomebooks,untilheheardayoungwomancoughingoutside.Heslippedovertothewindowandlookedout.Itwasamaidpickingflowers.Shehaduncommonfeatures,brighteyesandgracefuleyebrows,andalthoughnogreatbeautyshepossessedconsiderablecharm.Yucunstaredather,spell-bound.Justasshewasleavingwithherflowers,thegirlabruptlylookedupandcaughtsightofhim.Hisclotheswereshabbyyethewaspowerfullybuiltwithanopenface,firmlips,eyebrowslikescimitars,eyeslikestars,astraightnoseandroundedcheeks.Sheturnedawaythinkingtoherself,“He’safine-lookingmanforallhistatteredclothes.ThismustbetheJiaYucunmymasterkeepstalkingabout,whomhe’dgladlyhelpifonlyhehadthechance.Yes,I’msureit’shim,ourfamilyhasnootherfriendswhoarepoor.Nowondermymasteralsosayshe’samanwhowon’tremainlonginthisplight.”Shecouldnotresistlookingbackacoupleoftimes.Yucunseeingthiswasoverjoyed,thinkingthatshemusthavetakenafancytohim.Hedecidedthatshehadgoodjudgementandwasoneofthefewwhocouldappreciatehiminhisobscurity.PresentlytheboycamebackandletYucunknowthattheguestwasstayingtoameal.Sincethismadeitoutofthequestiontowaitanylonger,Yucunwentthroughapassagetothesidegateandleft.AndafterthedepartureofMr.Yan,Shiyindidnottroubletoinvitehimback.IntimetheMid-AutumnFestivalcameround.Afterthefamilymeal,ShiyinhadanothertablelaidinhisstudyandstrolledoverinthemoonlighttothetempletoinviteYucunover.EversincetheZhens’maidhadlookedbackthatday,Yucunflatteredhimselfthatshewaswell-disposedtohimandthoughtofherconstantly.Ashegazedatthefullmoon,histhoughtsturnedtoheragainandhedeclaimedthisverse:“Notyetdivinedthefateinstoreforme,GoodreasonhaveIforanxiety,Andsomybrowsareknitdespondently;Butshe,asshewentoff,lookedbackatme.MyshadowinthewindisallIsee,Willshebymoonlightkeepmecompany?IfsensibilitywereinitspowerThemoonshouldfirstlightupthefairone’sbower.”Havingrecitedthis,Yucunrumpledhishairandsighedashereflectedhowfarhewasfromrealizinghisambitions.Hechantedthecouplet:“Thejadeintheboxhopestofetchagoodprice,Thepininthecasketlongstosoaronhigh.”HewasoverheardbyShiyin,whoarrivedjustthen.“Iseeyouhavehighambitions,BrotherYucun!”hejoked.“Notintheleast,”repliedYucun,somewhatembarrassed.“Iwasmerelyrecitingsomelinesbyaformerpoet.Idon’taspiresohigh.TowhatdoIowethepleasureofthisvisit?”“Tonightismid-autumn,commonlyknownastheFestivalofReunion.Itoccurredtomethatyoumightbefeelinglonelyinthistemple,brother.I’vepreparedalittlewineinmyhumbleplaceandwonderifyou’dcondescendtoshareit?”Yucunneedednourging.“Youlavishtoomuchkindnessonme,sir,”hesaid,“Nothingwouldpleasemebetter.”TheywenttothecourtinfrontofShiyin’sstudy.Soontheyhadfinishedtheirteaandsatdowntoacollationofchoicewineanddelicacies.Atfirsttheysippedslowly,buttheirspiritsroseastheytalkedandtheybegantodrinkmorerecklessly.Thesoundofflutesandstringscouldbeheardfromallthehousesintheneighbourhood;everywherewassinging;andoverheadthebrightmoonshoneinfullsplendour.Thetwomenbecameverymerryanddrainedcupaftercup.Yucun,eight-tenthsdrunk,couldnotsuppresshiselation.Heimprovisedaquatraintothemoonanddeclaimedit:“Onthefifteenththemoonisfull,Bathingjadebalustradeswithherpurelight;AsherbrightorbsailsuptheskyAllmenonearthgazeupwardsatthesight.”“Excellent!”criedShiyin.“I’vealwaysmaintainedthatyouwerecutoutforgreatthings.Theselinesforetellrapidadvancement.Verysoonyouwillbetreadingupontheclouds.Letmecongratulateyou.”Hefilledanotherlargecup.Yucuntosseditoffandthensighed.“Don’tthinkthisisjustdrunkentalk,”hesaid.“I’msureIcouldacquitmyselfquitecreditablyintheexaminations;butIhavenomoneyinmywalletfortravellingexpensesandthecapitalisfaraway.Ican’traiseenoughasascrivener”“Whydidn’tyousaysobefore?”interposedShiyin.“I’veoftenwonderedaboutthis,butsinceyounevermentioneditIdidn’tliketobroachthesubject.Ifthat’showthingsare,dullasIamatleastIknowwhat’sduetoafriend.LuckilytheMetropolitanExaminationsarecomingupnextyear.YoumustgoasfastasyoucantothecapitalandproveyourlearningintheSpringTest.Ishallcountitaprivilegetotakecareofthetravellingexpensesandotherbusinessforyou.”Hesenthisboyintofetchfiftytaelsofsilverandtwosuitsofwinterclothes.“Thenineteenthisagooddayfortravelling,”hecontinued.“Youcanhireaboatthenandstartyourjourneywestward.Howgooditwillbetomeetagainnextwinterafteryouhavesoareduptodizzyheights.”Yucunacceptedthesilverandclotheswithnomorethanperfunctorythanks,thensaidnomoreofthematterbutwentonfeastingandtalking.Theydidnotpartuntilthethirdwatch,whenShiyinsawhisfriendoffandreturnedtohisroomtosleepuntilthesunwashighinthesky.Then,rememberingthepreviousnight’sbusiness,hedecidedtowriteYucuntwolettersofintroductiontocertainofficialsinthecapitalwhomightputhimup.Buttheservantsenttoaskhisfriendoverboughtbackword,“ThemonksaysthatMr.Jialeftforthecapitalatthefifthwatchthismorning.Heaskedthemonktotellyouthatscholarsarenotsuperstitiousaboutluckyorunluckydaysbutliketoactaccordingtoreason;sohehadnotimetosaygoodbyeinperson.”ThisShiyinhadtoaccept.Uneventfuldayspassquickly.InaflashthemerryFestivalofLanternscameroundandShiyintoldhisservantHuoQitotakeYinglianouttoseethefireworksandornamentallanterns.TowardsmidnightHuoQisetthelittlegirldownonadoorstepwhilehesteppedroundthecornertourinate.Whenhecamebackshehadgone.Hemadeafranticsearchforherallnight.Andatdawn,notdaringtofacehismasterwithouther,heranawaytoanotherdistrict.Shiyinandhiswifewerenaturallyalarmedwhentheirdaughterfailedtocomehome.Theysentsearchpartiesout,butallreturnedwithoutanywordofher.Shewasthemiddle-agedcouple’sonlychild,andherlossnearlydrovethemdistracted.Theyweptdayandnightandweretemptedtotaketheirownlives.Afteramonth’sgriefShiyinfellill,andthenhiswife.Everydaytheysentfordoctors.Then,onthefifteenthdayofthethirdmonth,afirebrokeoutinGourdHeandhiswifedecidedthentogoandliveontheirfarm.Butthelastfewyear’sharvestshadbeenruinedbyfloodanddroughtandthecountrysidewasoverrunbybanditswhoseizedfieldsandland,givingthepeoplenopeace.Thepunitiveexpeditionsbygovernmenttroopsonlymademattersworse.Findingitimpossibletosettlethere,Shiyinhadtomortgagehislandandtakehiswifeandtwomaidstofindrefugewithhisfather-in-lawFengSu.NowthisFengSu,anativeofDaruzhou,althoughonlyafarmerwasquitecomfortablyoff.Hewasnotpleasedbythearrivalofhisdaughterandson-in-lawinthissorrystate.FortunatelyShiyinhadsomemoneyleftfromthemortgageofhisland,andheaskedFengSutoinvestthisforhiminsomeestateonwhichhecouldliveinfuture.Hisfather-in-lawtrickedhim,however,bypocketinghalfthesumandbuyinghimsomepoorfieldsandaramshacklecottage.Asascholar,Shiyinhadnoknowledgeofbusinessorfarming.Hestruggledalongforayearortwo,losingmoneyallthetime,whileFengSukeptadmonishinghimtohisfaceandcomplainingtoallandsundrybehindhisbackofhisincompetence,idlenessandextravagance.TotheshockShiyinhadsufferedthepreviousyearandthetolltakenbyhissubsequentmisfortuneswasnowaddedthebitterrealizationthathehadmisplacedhistrust.Ageingandapreytopovertyandillhealth,hebegantolooklikeamanwithonefootinthegrave.Hemadetheeffortonedaytofindsomedistractionbytakingawalkinthestreet,leaningonhiscane.SuddenlyaTaoistlimpedtowardshim,aseemingmaniacinhempsandalsandtatteredclothes,whoashecamechanted:“AllmenlongtobeimmortalsYettorichesandrankeachaspires;Thegreatonesofold,wherearetheynow?Theirgravesareamassofbriars.Allmenlongtobeimmortals,YetsilverandgoldtheyprizeAndgrubformoneyalltheirlivesTilldeathsealsuptheireyes.AllmenlongtobeimmortalsYetdoteonthewivesthey’vewed,WhosweartolovetheirhusbandevermoreButremarryassoonashe’sdead.AllmenlongtobeimmortalsYetwithgettingsonswon’thavedone.Althoughfondparentsarelegion,Whoeversawareallyfilialson?”AtthecloseofthissongShiyinsteppedforward.“Whatwasthatyoujustchanted?”heasked.“Ihadtheimpressionthatitwasaboutthevanityofallthings.”“Ifyougatheredthat,youhavesomeunderstanding,”theTaoistremarked.“Youshouldknowthatallgoodthingsinthisworldmustend,andtomakeanendisgood,forthereisnothinggoodwhichdoesnotend.MysongiscalledAllGoodThingsMustEnd.”Shiyinwithhisinnateintelligenceatoncegraspedtheother’smean-mg.Puttingonasmilehesaid,“Waitaminute,willyouletmeexpoundthissong