on the minds of the people. But what are the facts? The bone of a man long since dead and decomposed, is to be admitted, forsooth, within the precincts of the Imperial Palace! Confucius said, “Pay all respect to spiritual beings, but keep them at a distance.” And so, when the princes of old paid visits of condolence to one another, it was customary for them to send on a magician in advance, with a peach wand in his hand, whereby to expel all noxious influences previous to the arrival of his master. Yet now Your Majesty is about to causelessly introduce a disgusting object, personally taking part in the proceedings without the intervention either of the magician or of his peach wand. Of the officials, not one has raised his voice against it; of the censors, not one has pointed out the enormity of such an act. Therefore your servant, overwhelmed with shame, implores Your Majesty that this bone may be handed over for destruction by fire or water, whereby the root of this great evil may be exterminated for all time, and the people know how much the wisdom of Your Majesty surpasses that of ordinary men. The glory of such a deed will be beyond all praise. And should the Lord Buddha have power to avenge this insult by the infliction of some misfortune, then let the vials of his wrath be poured out upon the person of your servant who now calls Heaven to witness that he will not repent him of his oath.
In all gratitude and sincerity your Majesty’s servant now humbly presents, with fear and trembling, this Memorial for your Majesty’s benign consideration.
THE CROCODILE OF CH‘AO-CHOU.
On a certain date, I, Han Yü, Governor of Ch‘ao-chou, gave orders that a goat and a pig should be thrown into the river as prey for the crocodile, together with the following notification:―
“In days of yore, when our ancient rulers first undertook the administration of the empire, they cleared away the jungle by
- ↑ This diatribe has reference to the alleged expulsion of a crocodile which had been devastating the water-courses round Ch‘ao-chou, whither Han Wên-kung had been sent in disgrace. The writer’s general character and high literary attainments forbid us, indeed, to believe that he believed himself.
