Some say that those who have tasted of victory desire that their opponents be as the tiger, or as the eagle, before they are to realize the full joys of victory. But if their opponents are as the sheep or the puny chicken, they lose all joy in the triumph. And there are some who, having had a taste of victory, after an unconditional triumph gaze upon their smitten opponent, who was to have died and did die, who was to have surrendered and did surrender, and the whole atmosphere is filled with the feeling: "I fear you, I fear you. I deserve death, I deserve death." They, the conquerors, accordingly realize that they have no enemy, no opponent, no friend. Only they themselves remain alone, forlorn, downhearted, silent; and instead of the happiness, they realize the bitterness of victory. But our Ah Q surely was not guilty of any such defective reasoning; he enjoyed endless satisfaction. This is, perhaps, one explanation why the spiritual culture of China stands foremost on the face of this whole terrestrial globe.
Lo, Ah Q felt so light with elation that it seemed as if he would rise heavenward!
