evil consequences for himself; yet it was in accordance with this idea that in times past, he had deeply hated and absolutely cut himself off from the movement. But how was it to be known that this party could frighten the one hundred li renowned Chü-jen Lao-yeh? Consequently, he could not escape an inspiration, while besides, the great fear which this party had caused among the men and women of Weichuang filled Ah Q with delight.
"Revolution is good as it is," thought Ah Q. "Cut off the lives of the whole village; they are too hateful, too hateful. . . . As for me, I am determined to join the ranks of the Revolutionists."
Of late, Ah Q's existence had experienced some hard knocks, and in general he was rather dissatified; added to this, during the afternoon he had gulped down two bowls of wine upon an empty stomach and had immediately become intoxicated. So, walking along, he pondered on this matter. He seemed once more to be soaring on airy pinions, and without so much as knowing how it happened, it appeared that the Revolutionary party was HIMSELF and that all Weichuang were his captives. In his excessive elation, he could not refrain from shouting: "Revolution, revolution!"
The Weichuangites stared at him with startled eyes and with peculiar pitying glances, which Ah
