the mirror of kong ho-第3章
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person wearing the helmet of a warrior and the manner of a high
official； who spoke strongly； yet persuasively； of the virtues of
immediate movement and a quiet and reposeful bearing。
Assuredly a people who devote so little attention to the study of
food； and all matters connected with it； must inevitably remain
barbaric； however skilfully they may feign a superficial refinement。
It is said； although I do not commit this matter to my own brush； that
among them are more books composed on subjects which have no actual
existence than on cooking； and； incredible as it may appear； to be
exceptionally round…bodied confers no public honour upon the
individual。 Should a favourable occasion present itself； there are
many who do not scruple to jest upon the subject of food； or； what is
incalculably more depraved； upon the scarcity of it。
Nevertheless； there are exceptions of a highly distinguished radiance。
Among these must be accounted one into whose presence this person was
recently led by our polished and harmonious friend Quang…Tsun； the
merchant in tea and spices。 This versatile person； whose business…name
is spoken of as Jones Bob…Jones； is worthy of all benignant respect；
and in a really enlightened country would doubtless be raised to a
more exalted position than that of a breaker of outsides （an
occupation difficult to express adequately in the written language of
a country where it is unknown）； for his face is like the sun setting
in the time of harvest； his waist garment excessive； and the undoubted
symmetry of his middle portions honourable in the extreme。 So welcome
in my eyes； after witnessing an unending stream of concave and
attenuated barbarian ghosts； was the sight of these perfections of
Jones Bob…Jones； that instead of the formal greeting of this
Islandthe unmeaning 〃How do you do it？〃I shook hands cordially
with myself； and exclaimed affectionately in our own language；
〃Illimitable felicities！ How is your stomach？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Jones Bob…Jones； after Quang…Tsun had interpreted this
polite salutation to his understanding； 〃since you mention it； that's
just the trouble； but I'm going on pretty well； thanks。 I've tried
most of the advertised things； and now my doctor has put me
practically on a bread…and…water courseclear soup； boiled fish；
plain joint； no sweets； a crumb of cheese； and a bare three glasses of
Hermitage。〃
During this amiable remark （of which； as it is somewhat of a technical
nature； I was unable to grasp the contained significance until the
agreeable Quang…Tsun had subsequently repeated it several times for
my retention）； I maintained a consistent expression of harmonious
agreement and gratified esteem （suitable； I find； for all like
occasions）； and then； judging from the sympathetic animation of Jones
Bob…Jones's countenance； that it had not improbably been connected
with food； I discreetly introduced the subject of sea…snails；
preserved in the essence of crushed peaches； by courteously inquiring
whether he had ever partaken of such a delicacy。
〃No；〃 replied the liberal…minded person； whenencouraged by the
protruding eagerness of his eyes at the mention of the viandI had
further spoken of the refined flavour of the dish； and explained the
manner of its preparation。 〃I can't say that I have； but it sounds
uncommonly goodsomething like turtle； I should imagine。 I'll see if
they can get it for me at Pimm's。〃
This filial tribute goes by a trusty hand； in the person of one Ki
Nihy； who is shortly committing himself to the protection of his
ancestors and the voracity of the unbounded Bitter Waters； and with
brightness and gold it will doubtless reach you in the course of
twelve or eighteen moons。 The superstitious here； this person may
describe； when they wish to send messages from one to another；
inscribe upon the outer cover a written representation of the one
whose habitation they require； and after affixing a small paper
talisman； drop it into a hole in the nearest wall； in the hope that it
may be ultimately conveyed to the appointed spot； either by the
services of the charitably…disposed passer…by； or by the intervention
of the beneficent deities。
With a multiplicity of greetings and many abject expressions of a
conscious inferiority； and attested by an unvarying thumb…mark。
KONG HO。
（Effete branch of a pure and magnanimous trunk。）
To Kong Ah…Paik； reclining beneath the sign of the Lead Tortoise； in a
northerly direction beyond the Lotus Beds outside the city of
Yuen…ping。 The Middle Flowery Kingdom。
LETTER II
Concerning the ill…destined manner of existence of the hound
Hercules。 The thoughtlessly…expressed desire of the entrancing
maiden and its effect upon a person of susceptible refinement。
The opportune （as it may yet be described） visit of one
Herbert。 The behaviour of those around。 Reflections。
VENERATED SIRE （whose large right hand is continuously floating in
spirit over the image of this person's dutiful submission）；
Doubtless to your all…consuming prescience； it will at once become
plain that I have abandoned the place of residence from which I
directed my former badly…written and offensively…constructed letter；
the house of the sympathetic and resourceful Maidens Blank； where in
return for an utterly inadequate sum of money； produced at stated
intervals； this very much inferior person was allowed to partake of a
delicately…balanced and somewhat unvarying fare in the company of the
engaging of both sexes； and afterwards to associate on terms of
honourable equality with them in the chief apartment。 The reason and
manner of this one's departure are in no degree formidable to his
refined manner of conducting any enterprise； but arose partly from an
insufficient grasp of the more elaborate outlines of a confessedly
involved language； and still more from a too excessive impetuousness
in carrying out what at the time he believed to be the ambition of one
who had come to exercise a melodious influence over his most internal
emotions。 Well remarked the Sage； 〃A piece of gold may be tried
between the teeth； a written promise to pay may be disposed of at a
sacrifice to one more credulous； but what shall be said of the wind；
the Hoang Ho； and the way of a woman？〃
To contrive a pitfall for this short…sighted person's immature feet；
certain malicious spirits had so willed it that the chief and more
autumnal of the Maidens Blank （who； nevertheless； wore an excessively
flower…like name）； had long lavished herself upon the possession of an
obtuse and self…assertive hound； which was in the habit of gratifying
this inconsiderable person and those who sat around by continually
depositing upon their unworthy garments details of its outer surface；
and when the weather was more than usually cold； by stretching its
graceful and refined body before the fire in such a way as to ensure
that no one should suffer from a too acute exposure to the heat。 From
these causes； and because it was by nature a hound which even on the
darkest night could be detected at a more than reasonable distance
away； while at all times it did not hesitate to shake itself freely
into the various prepared viands； this person （and doubtless others
also） regarded it with an emotion very unfavourable towards its
prolonged existence； but observing from the first that those who
permitted themse
