Chapter III

Chapter III The Meeting with Kay See

MASTER SO-YOO bade his servant pay for

the drink and rode off on his donkey towards

Chon-jin Bridge. When he passed within

the city walls he was struck by the beauty of the

surrounding scenery, and the crowds of people con-

firmed the reports he had heard of its being a very

busy world. The Nakyang River flowed across the

city like a strip of white silk, and Chon-jin Bridge

spanned its rippling wavelets with archways bearing

down at the extreme ends as a rainbow drinks the

water, or like a green dragon with bent back. The

red ridges of the housetops rose high above the city,

their blue tiles reflecting back the rays of the sun.

Their grateful shadows fell upon the perfumed way.

To So-yoo the city seemed the metropolis of all the

world. Hastening forward till he reached the Chon-jin

Pavilion, So-yoo stopped in front of it, where many

finely caparisoned horses were tied, grooms and

servants bustling about amid noise and confusion.

So-yoo looked up, and from the upper storey of the

pagoda came sounds of music that filled the air, while

the fragrance from rich dresses and silken robes was

wafted on the breeze.

The young master, thinking that the governor of

Ha-nam must be giving a feast, sent his boy to in-

quire. He discovered that the young literati of the

city had brought certain dancing girls with them

and were planning an evening's amusement. So-yoo,

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

somewhat under the influence of wine, with his spirit

awake to youthful adventure, dismounted from his

donkey and went inside the hall. He found there a

dozen or so of young men with a score of pretty girls

sitting gracefully about on the silken matting, with

dainty tables of food and drink placed before them.

Laughter and jesting went on in merry and hilarious

tones. All the dresses were of the finest fabrics and

their appearance very striking.

Master Yang said : "I am a humble literatus

from a remote province on my way to take part in

the Government examination, and when passing

here heard the sound of sweet music. My foolish

heart, unable to go by without a greeting, has set

aside all ceremony and come in as an uninvited guest.

Please forgive me, noble gentlemen."

Noting Yang's handsome face, intelligent bear-

ing, and well-measured words, they arose with one

accord and responded to his salutation, giving him a

place beside them, each announcing his name. Among

them was a certain student No, who said : " Brother

Yang, since you are a scholar on your way to the exami-

nation, though not an invited guest, you are welcome,

and may take part in the entertainment for the day.

We are delighted to have so distinguished a visitor,

and you have no reason in the world to apologise."

Yang's reply was : " I see by your gathering that

it is not one at which to eat and drink only, but one

where verses are written, and where a man may try

his skill of hand at the character. For such an ignora-

mus as I from the obscure confines of Cho to push

my way in here to a seat among you and to a part in

the feast is a very rash and impudent thing."

The Chun-jin Pavilion

The Meeting with Kay See

Seeing how humble Yang was, and how apparently

unsophisticated, they all felt for him an undisguised

condescension, and said in reply : " Brother Yang,

your suggestion that we have a trial of skill at the

character is very good, but since you are the late

comer we will let you off if you so desire. You

may write or not just as you please. Have a drink

with us and a pleasant time." So they urged him,

passing the glass and calling on the dancing-girls to

sing.

Yang looked at the dancers assembled and saw

that all twenty of them were persons of striking ap-

pearance. Among them was one specially noticeable,

who sat in a lady-like and modest way, neither play-

ing nor talking. Her face was very beautiful and her

form was most graceful, such as few on earth could

rival. She might have been likened to the merciful

goddess Kwan-se-eum, who sits aloft in her silken

picture. Yang felt his mind moved by her presence,

and forgot all about the feasting and the drink. She

also looked straight at him, and by her expression

seemed to pass him a message of recognition. He

also saw that there were many compositions in verse

piled up before her, so he said to the gentlemen :

" I presume that these compositions are by your

excellencies ; I would like permission to read them."

Before they could reply the dancer herself arose,

brought them and placed them before him.

He looked them over, one by one. Among them

were some fair compositions of an average grade,,

but nothing striking or of special excellence. He said

to himself : " I used to hear that the gifted literati

of Nakyang were masters at the pen, but seeing these

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

I count that a false report." He gave back the com-

positions to the fair lady, made a bow to the gentle-

men and said : "A humble countryman like myself

never had a chance to read the writings of the capital

before. Now by good fortune I have had the oppor-

tunity and my heart has been made glad."

The various guests had by this time become quite

exhilarated. They laughed in reply : " Brother, you

have thought only of the beauty of the composition ;

you do not know what beauty of reward goes with it."

Yang made answer : "I have already had special

proof of your kindness, and in the passing of the

glass have been permitted to become an intimate and

sworn friend. Why don't you also tell me what this

beauty of reward is of which you speak ? "

They laughed again and said : " Why should we

not ? There is an old saying that the wisdom of

Nakyang is very great, and that if in the Government

examination our candidate does not come off the

winner he surely will have second place. We all here

are sharers in the matter of literary reputation, and

so cannot act as our own judges. But yonder fair

dancer's family name is Kay Som-wol and her given

name is Moonlight. She is not only the first singer

and dancer of this East Capital, she is a master hand

at the pen, and knows by intuition as the gods do.

All the scholars of Nakyang consult her as to the

probabilities of the examination. She decides and

they pass or fail like the fittings of the tally. Never

is there a mistake in her estimate. Thus have we each

given over to her our compositions to have her point

out their defects, to pronounce on that which specially

meets her approval, and to sing it over for us with

The Meeting with Kay See

the harp. She is our judge, and we await her unerring

verdict. Kay See's name is the same as that of the

famous cinnamon tree of the moon, and she will in-

dicate for us the next successful candidate. Won't

you try your hand as well, and is not this a glorious

opportunity ? "

Master No said : " There is beyond this, too, a

still more interesting fact, namely, that the one whose

composition she selects and sings will have Kay See

for his fair companion. We are all friends here and

hopeful candidates. Brother Yang, you are a man

as well as we, and appreciate the joys and delights

of life. Will you not accept the invitation and be a

competitor in this trial of skill ? "

Yang replied : "I have not written for so long a

time, I really do not know what I can do. Has not

Kay See sung you the winner's verses yet ? "

Master Wang replied : " The fair lady has not

once struck the harp or opened her cherry lips. Her

pearly teeth have not parted, nor has a single note

greeted our ears. We have evidently not written up

to her demands, so her heart is unmoved and weighed

down for shame of us."

" Your humble servant," said Yang, " is from the

distant land of Cho and though I have written verses

I am an outsider, and am afraid to venture on a con-

test with you honourable gentlemen."

Wang, however, shouted out : " The Master

Yang is prettier than a girl — ^why is it that he fails

in the spirit of a gallant knight ? The Sage says : ' If

it is a question of good to be done, step not aside

even for your teacher,' and again, ' It is the duty of

the Superior Man [12] to do his best.' I doubt not

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

that Master Yang is no hand at the pen. If he were,

why should he be so modest concerning this small

venture ? "

Now although Yang had modestly desired to

decline this unexpected invitation, when he beheld

the fair dancer Kay See he was all awake to the

occasion. There was no power now to restrain him,

so he caught up a sheet of paper that lay on the

matting, selected a pen and wrote three stanzas.

His writing was like a boat on the sea scudding be-

fore the wind, or like a thirsty horse making straight

for a stream of water. The various guests caught the

spirit of the composition so strong and swift, and

seeing how the characters crowded forth from his

pen like flying magic, were all startled and turned

pale.

Yang then threw down the pen, and said to the

guests : "I ought to ask the opinion of you gentle-

men first, but to-day as Kay See is judge and as the

time allowed is passing, with your kind permission

I'll hand it directly to her."

The verses read :

" The man from Cho moves west and enters Chin,

He sees the wine pavilion and boldly steps within.

Now who shall pluck the flower from the tree with-

in the moon,

And claim the winner's honour and the fairy's

magic tune ?

The catkins of the willow they float o'er Chun-

jin's stream.

The gem-wrought shades of many ply close out

the sun between ;

The Meeting with Kay See

Our ears awake to hear a song of special gift and

grace,

Our eyes behold in silken scenes a gifted fairy's

face.

The flowers of spring are filled with awe and drop

their heads for shame,

They sense her song, they feel her step, the fra-

grance of her name ;

The passing shadows stay their course, unwilled

to steal away.

The lighted halls of gladsomeness proclaim my

winning day."

For a moment Moonlight let her awakened vision

rest on the composition, and then her clear voice

broke forth into singing sweet and compelling. The

cranes stepped forth into the city commons to cheer

her, and the phoenixes made their responses. Flutes

lost their charm, and the harp its store of sweet

melody. The hearers were intoxicated by the music,

and all faces turned pale. Out of contempt they had

compelled Yang to write, but now when his com-

position had become the song that Moonlight sang,

their joy gave place to envy, and they looked at each

other speechless with dismay. To think of giving

Moonlight over to this unknown stranger roused

rebellious feelings. Their desire was to break the

agreement, but such an act of dishonour was hard

to suggest, so they sat gagged and dazed looking at

each other.

Yang saw their ominous faces, and at once got up

and made his farewell : "All unexpectedly I have

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

met with so kindly a welcome from you gentlemen,

and have boldly taken part in this happy contest. I

have eaten and drunk of your hospitality, for which

I thank you most heartily. Having still a long way to

go I cannot spend more time with you as I would

like, but must now take my departure. Let us meet

again at the winner's festival on the close of the

Government [13] examination," so he quickly took

his leave, none of the guests detaining him.

When he had passed outside of the pavilion and

was about to mount his donkey, Moonlight came

suddenly out and said to him : " On the south side

of the road you will see a house enclosed by a white

wall with cherry blossoms lining the way ; that's

my home. Go there, please, and wait for me. I shall

come at once." He nodded and started off in the

direction indicated.

Moonlight re-entered the pavilion and said to the

guests : " You gentlemen have highly honoured me,

and have permitted me to sing a song by which my

destined one is made known. What is your wish in

the matter ? "

They could not hide their feelings of disgust, and

said in reply : " Yang is an outsider and not one of

ourselves ; you are not called upon to concern your-

self with him." They talked and discussed, and said

this and that, but came to no conclusion.

Moonlight, with determination written on her

pretty face, replied : " I have no confidence in people

who break faith. You have plenty of music here,

please continue to enjoy yourselves. Kindly excuse

me, I am feeling unwell, and so cannot stay until

the end." She arose and went slowly out. Because

The Meeting with Kay See

of the agreement that had been made, and also by

reason of her quiet dignity, they dared not say a

word.

In the meantime Yang had gone to his inn, packed

up his baggage and started in the darkness for Moon-

light's home. She had already arrived, had put in

order the entry hall, lighted the lamps and was wait-

ing. He tied his donkey to a cherry tree and rapped

at the double-panelled gate. At the sound she slipped

on her light shoes and came out quickly. " You

left before I did," said she, " but I am here ahead of

you — how does this happen ? "

Yang replied : " The host awaits the guest, not

the guest the host. I had no heart to be late, but ' my

horse is slow,' as the old saying runs."

They met with great delight as those destined for

each other. She passed him the glass of welcome

and bade him sing. His voice was sweet and such as

to awaken and captivate the soul.

She said : " I am yours from to-day, and shall

tell you my whole heart in the hope that you will

condescend to take pity on me. I am originally from

So-joo. My father was a secretary of that county,

but unfortunately he fell ill and died away from

home. Because we were poor, and his station far

distant, he was buried without the required forms.

Having lost his protecting arm, my step-mother sold

me as a dancing-girl for one hundred yang. I accepted

the disgrace, stifled my resentful soul, and did my

best to be faithful, praying to God, who has had

pity on me, so that to-day I have met my lord and

can look again upon the light of sun and moon. Be-

fore the approaches of my home is the main roadway

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

that leads to the market square. There is no cessa-

tion to the sound of traffic that passes day and night.

None come or go without resting there. Thus for

four or five years I have had a chance to study

thousands of passers-by, and yet never has one passed

by who is equal to my master. We have met and now

my hopes are realised. Unworthy as I am, I would

gladly become your serving-maid to prepare your

food and do your bidding. What is your thought

toward me, please ? "

Yang comforted her with many kind words and

expressions of appreciation : "I am drawn to you,"

said he, " as truly and as deeply as you are drawn to

me, but I am only a poor scholar with an old mother

depending on me. I should like nothing better than

to grow old with you as husband and wife, but I am

not yet sure of my mother's wishes, and I am afraid

you would be unwilling to have her choose you as

my secondary wife, with some unknown stranger

to take first place. Even though you had no objection

to it yourself, I am sure there is no one your superior

or even your equal. This is my perplexity."

Moonlight said in reply : " Why do you say so ?

There is no one in the world just now equal to thee,

my master. I need not say to you that you are to win

the first place in the coming examination, and in a

little you are to carry the seal of a minister of state,

and the insignia of a great general's authority. All

the world will desire to follow you ; who am I that

I should expect to have you to myself ? Please, my

lord, when you are married to some maiden of high

degree and you receive your mother under your

faithful care, kindly remember me. Assuredly I shall

The Meeting with Kay See

keep myself pure for thee only, and shall be at thy

commands alone."

" Some time ago," said Yang, " I went through

Wha-joo city and caught by chance a passing glimpse

of one, Commissioner Chin's daughter. Her beauty

and her talents were not unlike those of yourself.

Now, alas, she is gone, not to be seen again I fear.

Where would you suggest then that I find your equal

or superior ? "

" The person you refer to," said Moonlight, " is

undoubtedly the daughter of Commissioner Chin,

whose name is Cha-bong. When he was formerly

magistrate of our county his daughter and I were

bosom friends. She is a surpassing mystery of love-

liness, like Princess Tak-moon [14]. But there is no

use in thinking of her ; let your jthoughts go else-

where, I pray you."

Yang said : " It is an old undertsanding that not

many special marvels* of beauty are born into the

world at one and the same time. Now we have the

maiden Moonlight and Chin See, two who have

known and seen each other. I am afraid that the

powers of heaven and earth are exhausted and that

no more such are living."

Moonlight laughed, and said : " Your words are

like those of the tadpole in the well. I'll tell you who

there are among us dancing girls of special beauty.

There are said to be three, Sim Oh-kyon, the Swallow,

who lives in Kang-nam ; Chok Kyong-hong, the

Wildgoose, who lives in Ha-pook ; and Kay Som-

wol, Moonlight of Nakyang. I am Moonlight, and

though I have won a name out of all proportion to

my merits. Swallow and Wildgoose are truly the

49 D

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

greatest beauties living. Why do you say that there

are no more such in the world ? "

Yang answered : " My opinion is that those two

are unfairly and unjustly given a place and name

equal to yours."

Moonlight replied : " Ok-kyon, Swallow, lives

so far away from me that I have never met her, but

all who have come from the south are unstinted in

their praises. I am sure she has no unfair reputation.

Wildgoose I know and love like a sister. I'll tell you

about her. She is the daughter of the Yang clan of Pa-

joo, who lost her parents early in life and lived with

her aunt. From her girlhood days a rumour went forth

through all the north land of her beauty, so that

thousands of golden yang were offered for her. Go-

betweens crowded her gateway like a swarm of bees.

Wildgoose spoke to her aunt about it, and had them

driven away. Said they to the aunt : ' Your pretty

niece has driven us away and will consent to no one.

What sort of person does she desire in order to be

satisfied ? Does she want to be wife of a minister, or

of a provincial governor, or is she to be given to some

noted literatus or writer of renown ? ' "

" Wildgoose replied for herself, saying : * If there

be as in the days of the Chin Kingdom someone

like Sa An-sok, I'll follow him and be the companion

of a minister of state ; or if as in the days of the

Three Kingdoms someone like Choo Kong-keun,

I'll follow him and be the wife of a noted governor ;

or if there be someone like Yee Tai-baik [15], doctor

of the Hallim, great in letters, I'll follow him ; or

if he be like Sa Ma-chang, who sang the phoenix

song in the days of Han Moo-je [16], I'll follow him.

The Meeting with Kay See

Where my heart goes I will go, but who can tell in

advance where this shall be ? '

" Then the various go-betweens laughed loudly

and took their departure. Wildgoose said to herself :

* How could an imprisoned girl from an obscure

part of the country with no experience of the world

ever be expected to select a noted lord for husband ?

But a dancer like me is one who shares the festal

season with the rare and gifted, and talks to them

face to face. She even opens the door to princes and

nobles. She learns to distinguish the high-born

from the mediocre, and becomes an expert in assay-

ing human worth. She can sense the bamboo from

the Tai, or jade ornaments from Namjon ; how

should she be anxious about whom to choose ? ' So

she yielded herself up as a dancing-girl in order that

she might attach herself to one great and renowned,

but in all these years she has found nothing but an

empty reputation.

" Last year the noted literati from the twelve

counties of Shantung north of the river held a great

feast in the capital and had dancing and music. At

this time Wildgoose sang the Yea-sang Kok (The

Rainbow Robes of the Fairy). She was like the wild

bird itself in grace of motion and matchless beauty.

All the dancers of the day dropped their heads be-

fore her. When the feast was over she went away

by herself to the top of Tong-jak Tower, walked

back and forth under the light of the moon, thinking

over the writings of the ancient sages, her heart full

of loneliness and sorrow, sighing to herself over past

events that had broken in upon her fragrant way.

All who saw her revered her grace and gazed with

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

wonder at her loveliness. When Wildgoose and I

played together in the Sang-kok Monastery and

told our hopes one to the other, she said to me : * If

we two meet a master whom we like let's recommend

each other. As we serve the same husband we shall

pass our happy days without faults or failings.'

" I agreed, and now that I have met with my

destined lord I naturally think of Wildgoose, who

is at present in the palace of the governor of Shan-

tung. Alas, as the ancients said, there are many devils

to interfere with what is sweet and good. The wives

of the governor are surrounded with riches and

honour, but this is not what Wildgoose wishes."

And Moonlight sighed and added : " Would that I

could meet my fairest companion and tell her."

Yang said in reply : " There are many gifted

ones among the dancers, and yet why should a

daughter of the gentry have to take a second place to

them ? "

Moonlight answered : " Among those I know

■ there is no one who equals Chin See. How could I

dare propose a name to my lord not her equal ? Still

I have frequently heard the people of the capital say

that there is no one like Justice Cheung's daughter.

For beauty of face and nobility of heart she is re-

garded as first of all. I have not seen her myself, but

there is no question that her name is well won. When

my lord reaches the capital please think of this. Seek

her out if possible, and learn if this be so."

But the time had come to part, and Moonlight

said in haste : " You must not stay longer. The

various guests were fiercely angry with you and will

be so still. There may be danger ; go quickly, please.

The Meeting with Kay See

We shall meet and have many happy days together,

why should I be sad ? "

The master spoke his greetings : " Your words

are like gold and jewels to me, and shall be written

on my heart," and in tears they parted.