The Cloud Dream of the Nine by Kim Man-Choong (spiritual books to read txt) 📖

to take charge of it; I am a person of such small courage that when I hear anything like this my throat closes up, and I am not able to utter a word.”

Wildgoose apparently grew very angry and said: “What do you mean, Moonlight? Is this true? We two have travelled over seventy counties of Kwan-dong and not a noted player was there that we did not hear, and not a single singer that we did not listen to. My knees have never yet bowed to another, why should they yield the first place to Ok-yon? If the ladies of Han were there who upset cities and kingdoms by their beauty, or the fairy maids of Cho, who could at will become clouds and rain, I might possibly be startled, but with only this Ok-yon to face, why should I be anxious?”

Moonlight said: “Wildgoose, you talk as if it [p249] were so easy a matter. True, when we were together in Kwan-dong, we took part on many great occasions at which there were magistrates, governors, and nobles present; at lesser ones, too, where there were literati and scholars, but we never once met any capable opponents. Now, however, it is a question of Prince Wol with a critical eye, who has grown up among gems and jewels. He regards great mountains and wide seas as nothing. How can one mistake a small hill the size of the hand or the little stream like a thread of silk for one of these? This is like combating Son-o, or like trying one’s strength with Poon-yok. A great general cannot be opposed by a little child; how much less Prince Wol’s household by this poor weakling? To beat him lies beyond a hundred miles of probability. How can you look at it so lightly? I see in Wildgoose’s boastful word that she has spoken like Cho-kwal, foretelling her own defeat.” Then she added, speaking to the Master: “Wildgoose has a boastful spirit; I should like to tell you some of her defects. When she first followed your Excellency she stole one of the fine steeds of the King of Yon, rode it, calling herself a young man from Ha-book, and then from the side of the Hai-tan roadway, along which you were to pass, she greeted you. If Wildgoose be really so graceful and pretty, how was it that your Excellency mistook her for a man? On the first night, too, that she was with you, taking advantage of the darkness, she usurped my place. Yet after all this she says these boastful words.”

Wildgoose laughed as she replied: “Truly there’s no knowing people’s minds. Before I followed your Excellency, Moonlight praised my beauty and looked [p250] upon me as Hang-a of the moon, and now she regards me as more worthless than a cash piece. It must mean that you love me better than you love her and she wants to have all your love to herself.”

Then Moonlight and the others laughed, and Blossom said: “Since Wildgoose’s refinement and delicacy are such, the fact that the Master took her for a boy must be due to his defective eyesight. It is nothing to Wildgoose’s credit to be so regarded, for Moonlight’s words are true. It is not ladylike to assume the guise of a boy and wear men’s clothes; neither would a man’s putting on women’s clothing to deceive another be considered manly. Because of their weakness and defects in each case they assume a disguise.”

The Master laughed and said: “Your ladyship has evidently pointed this joke at me, but I may say in reply that your dear eyes were not bright, for though you could distinguish the different tunes you did not know a man from a woman. This was due to the fact that though you have ears to hear, your eyes are defective in seeing. If one set of faculties is defective, would you call the person perfect? Though you make light of me, still the people who see my picture in the Neung-yoo Pavilion all praise the majesty of its proportions, its strength and its dignity.”

Those assembled laughed delightedly when Moonlight went on: “Just now it is a question of falling in and marching out to meet a powerful enemy; why do we sit idly by and waste time? We two alone cannot be fully trusted to win the day. Suppose we have Cloudlet to help us. Since Prince Wol is not [p251] an outsider, Cloudlet could have no special objection to seeing him.”

Then Chin See said: “If the two, Moonlight and Wildgoose, are to go alone into the arena, I should like to help, but when it comes to singing and dancing what use would I be? If I go I fear Moonlight will never win.”

Cloudlet said: “Although I do not excel in dancing and singing, still if the question pertain only to my own person, why should I not have a view of such a gathering as this? But if I should go the people will assuredly point me out and say with smiles: ‘Yonder is Prince Wee’s wife, second to the Princesses Blossom and Orchid.’ Such would mean contempt for the Master, and would prove a source of anxiety to the ladies. I certainly cannot go.”

The Princess said: “In what possible way could the Master be dishonoured by Cloudlet’s going, or what anxiety could that be for us?”

Then Cloudlet answered: “If we pitch the wide silken awning and the sky-coloured tent, the people will naturally say: ‘The General’s beloved wife Cloudlet is coming,’ and they will rub shoulders and crowd heels, and strive to see and push up for a place, and after all will behold only my ill-starred face and frowzy head, and they will say with amazement: ‘General Yang must have disease of the eyes to have chosen such as she for wife’; and will this not be a cause of disgrace to the Master? Prince Wol has never yet set eyes upon a contemptible performer, and if he should see me he would undoubtedly be filled with nausea and be made ill. Will not the two ladies be disgraced likewise?” [p252]

The Princess said: “Cloudlet, really your modesty is amazing. Once upon a time you changed from a girl into a spirit; now you want to change from a peerless beauty into a perfect fright. I cannot trust you, Cloudlet, at all.” So she referred the matter to the Master, saying: “In your reply what day have you decided upon?”

The Master replied: “We have decided upon to-morrow.”

Wildgoose and Moonlight gave a start of dismay, saying: “No orders have as yet been issued to the two divisions of dancing-girls. How can you possibly have it in as short a time?” They then called their leaders together and said: “The Master has appointed a general gathering for to-morrow with Prince Wol at the Festal Grounds, when all the dancing girls of the two divisions are to gather in their best outfits, setting forth at earliest dawn.”

Eight hundred dancers heard this command, drew long faces and lifted their eyebrows. But they took their instruments in hand and began to tune up in preparation.

On the next day the Master arose early, dressed in ceremonial robe, took bow and arrows, and mounted his snow-white charger. With three thousand chosen huntsmen to attend him, he passed through the South Gate of the city. Moonlight and Wildgoose, specially dressed and bedecked in gold ornaments and chiselled green stones, and wearing flower embroideries, were in command of the dancers. They rode mounted on beautifully caparisoned horses, seated in gilded saddles, with silver stirrups hanging by the side, and jewelled bridle reins in hand. They [p253] raised their coral whips and followed close behind the Master, while eight hundred dancers mounted on beautiful horses brought up the rear.

On the main roadway they met Prince Wol, and lo! he had hunters and musicians enough to equal those of Master Yang.

Thus they rode side by side, when Prince Wol asked of General Yang: “What breed of horse is that you ride, sir?”

The Master. replied: “A Persian horse. It seems to me that the one your Highness rides is the same.”

Prince Wol made answer: “Yes, that is so. This horse’s name is ‘Thousand Mile Cloud Breed.’ Last year, in the autumn, while out hunting along with the Emperor, there were over ten thousand horses from the Imperial stables present. There were perfect wild wind flyers among them, but none of them could equal this one. Now Nephew Chang’s fast horses and General Yi’s black steeds are both said to be specially fine, but compared with mine they could hardly be dignified by the name of horse.”

The Master said: “Last year when I led the attack on Tibet over deep and dangerous waters and by precipitous cliffs where a man could not go, this horse walked as freely as if he were on level ground, and never once missed his footing. Any success I had was largely due to this good steed’s efficiency. You know Too-jami says: ‘One in heart with man and equal to him in merit.’ He refers to the horse.

“After I had brought back the forces my rank was raised and I laid down office, so that I rode lazily in a palanquin and went softly along the easy way of life till both horse and man were ready to fall ill. [p254] Please let us lay on the whip and have a race and see which of these two steeds will win. Let us show the ancients what we can do in the daring field of courage.”

Prince Wol was greatly delighted and said: “Those are my sentiments exactly.”

Then they ordered the leaders who followed them with the two companies of guests and dancers to wait in the tent pavilion. They were about to lay on the whip when suddenly a huge stag that had been awakened by the hunters dashed past Prince Wol. The Prince called to the two keepers of the seal to shoot. Several let fly their arrows simultaneously, but they all missed, and the Prince, disgusted, dashed forth on his horse and with one shot in the side felled the huge beast. The soldiers shouted: “Long live the Prince.”

The Master said: “Your marvellous bow outdoes King Yo-yang.”

But the Prince said in reply: “What is there to praise in a little thing like that? I would like to see your Excellency shoot; won’t you give me a sample?”

Before he had done speaking, a pair of swans came sailing along in the rifts of the cloud, and the soldiers shouted: “These birds are hardest of all to hit; we must use a Hadong falcon.”

The Master said: “Don’t disturb them,” but carefully fitted an arrow to his bow and let fly, hitting a bird and driving the shaft straight through its head so that it fell before the horses.

The Prince gave a shout of applause and remarked: “Your Excellency’s skill is equal to that of Yang-yoo.” [p255]

Then the two suddenly raised their whips and away they dashed on horseback, like shooting stars, or like devils of the night, with demon flashes of fire accompanying. In an instant they had crossed the wide plain and had scudded up the hill.

The two riders drew rein exactly even. For a time they stood gazing out over the wide expanse and talked of music and archery. Little by little the servants began to approach them, bringing the deer and the swan on bearers, which they offered to the Prince and to the Master.

The two dismounted, sat on the grass, drew the sword that was in the hilt and cut some of the meat, which was cooked and eaten. They passed the glass in mutual congratulation. As they gazed into the distance they saw two red-coated yamen