Chapter XIV In the Fairy Lists

AFTER the arrival of Wildgoose and Moon-
light at the Master's home his maids and
attendants daily grew greater . in number.
He appointed to each their particular place of resi-
dence. Palaces, halls, galleries and pagodas were
called into requisition.

In the palace enclosure there were eight hundred
musicians, the most beautiful in the Empire. They
were divided into two divisions to east and west. To
the east were four hundred of whom Moonlight had
charge ; and to the east a like number with Wild-
goose for overseer. These were taught singing and
dancing and were given lessons in music. Each month
they all met in the Chong-wha Pavilion and engaged
in contests of skill.

The Master, along with his mother, the two Prin-
cesses accompanying, would act as judge, give prizes
or require forfeits. Each winner would get three
glasses of wine and a wreath of flowers for her brow
crowning her with glory. The loser was given a glass
of cold water and a dot of ink was imprinted on her
forehead. This mark was such a disgrace and shame
that they laboured to escape it and advanced in skill
day by day, so that the musicians of Prince Wee and
Prince Wol were the finest in the world.

One day the two Princesses and the other women
were in attendance on the mother, when the Master
brought a letter to where they were seated and gave

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

it to Princess Orchid, saying : " This is a letter from
your brother, Prince Wol."

The Princess opened it and read : " The spring
weather is so beautiful, may all blessing and happiness
be yours. Heretofore so many affairs of State have
engaged you that you have had no leisure. No horse-
men have been seen on the Festal Grounds, and no
boats have been moored at the head of Kong-myong
Lake. The fathers of the city talk of the splendour
and life that accompanied the days of Cho and weep
over the departed glory of the past with tearful faces.
By the grace of the Emperor, and your Excellency's
skill, we are at peace on every hand and the people
are well content. This is the time to recall the happy
days of the past. Spring is not yet too far advanced,
the weather is agreeable and the flowers and willow
catkins make a man's heart glad. No time is more
suitable for an agreeable outing or for sights to see
than now. I suggest that we meet on the Festal
Grounds and try a spell at the chase and at music,
and help the world a little toward the perfection of
its joy. If your Excellency will kindly consent to
choose a day and let me know, I shall avail myself of
the privilege of joining you."

When the Princess had read it she said to the
Master : "Do you know what lies behind Prince
Wol's thought ? "

The Master said : " Why,has he some deep thought
or other hidden underneath this ? Nothing more, I
should think, than an ordinary outing among the
flowers and willows. It is the proposal of one who
enjoys pleasure."

The Princess answered : " Your Excellency does

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In the Fairy Lists

not understand it fully. Prince Wol likes pretty girls
and good music. The prettiest girls in the world are
not all in the Palace. Recently one arrived at Prince
Wol's, a special favourite, a noted dancing-girl from
Mu-chang whose name is Ok-yon. The maids-in-
waiting have seen her and lost their hearts to her.
They are almost beside themselves, feeling that they
are mere nothings and nobodies in comparison. Ok-
yon's skill and beauty are without a parallel, and now
my brother, Prince Wol, hearing that there are many
beautiful women in our home, wants to do as did
Wang-kai and Sok-soong in days of yore and have
a trial of skill."

" I read it indifferently," said the Master ; " your
Highness knows his thought better than I do."

Cheung See said : " Even though this is to be a
trial of skill entered on but once, let us see to it that
our side wins." She nodded to Wildgoose and Moon-
light and added : " Though you train soldiers for
ten years, yet the trial you put them to may be only
for a morning. Our success rests altogether on the
skill of you two leaders. Do your best I pray you."

Moonlight made reply : "I am afraid we cannot
beat them. Prince Wol's band has the highest repu-
tation in the world ; and Ok-yon from Mu-chang is
echoed from mouth to mouth through all the Nine
Provinces. Prince Wol has already got such an
orchestra in hand, and such a skilful performer as she
to assist, that I fear that he will be a very difficult
opponent to face. With our one-sided small force,
unacquainted with the rules that govern a perform-
ance like this, I am afraid that before ever the battle
begins our people may decide to run off and make

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

their escape. Our own shame is not to be specially
thought of, but our family would be put to eternal
disgrace."

The Master said : " When I first met Moonlight
in the Chong pavilion of Nak-yang, they said that
she was the prettiest girl by far, and Ok-yon was there
as well. It must be the same person referred to here.
When I have Che Kal-yang [42] on my side, why
should I fear to meet Hang-00 or Han Pom-jing ? "

The Princess said : " In the palace of Prince Wol
Ok-yon is not alone the special beauty."

Moonlight added : "In Prince Wol's palace the
number of those who paint their faces and put on
rouge is like the blades of grass on Pal-kang Moun-
tain. There is no help for it but quickly to make our
escape. How can we ever hope to meet them ?
Please, your Highness, ask Wildgoose to take charge
of it ; I am a person of such small courage that when
I hear an5^hing like this my throat closes up, and I
am not able to utter a word."

Wildgoose apparently grew very angry and said :
" What do you mean. Moonlight ? Is this true ? We
two have travelled over seventy counties of Kwan-
dong and not a noted player was there that we did
not hear, and not a single singer that we did not
listen to. My knees have never yet bowed to another, .
why should they yield the first place to Ok-yon ? If
the ladies of Han were there who upset cities and
kingdoms by their beauty, or the fairy maids of Cho,
who could at will become clouds and rain, I might
possibly be startled, but with only this Ok-yon to
face, why should I be anxious ? "

Moonlight said : " Wildgoose, you talk as if it

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In the Fairy Lists

were so easy a matter. True, when we were together
in Kwan-dong, we took part on many great occasions
at which there were magistrates, governors, and
nobles present ; at lesser ones, too, where there were
literati and scholars, but we never once met any
capable opponents. Now, however, it is a question
of Prince Wol with a critical eye, who has grown up
among gems and jewels. He regards great mountains
and wide seas as nothing. How can one mistake a small
hill the size of the hand or the little stream like a
thread of silk for one of these ? This is like combat-
ing Son-o, or like trying one's strength with Poon-
yok. A great general cannot be opposed by a little
child ; how much less Prince Wol's household by this
poor weakling ? To beat him lies beyond a hundred
miles of probability. How can you look at it so lightly ?
I see in Wildgoose's boastful word that she has spoken
like Cho-kwal, foretelling her own defeat." Then
she added, speaking to the Master : " Wildgoose has
a boastful spirit ; I should like to tell you some of
her defects. When she first followed your Excellency
she stole one of the fine steeds of the King of Yon,
rode it, calling herself a young man from Ha-book,
and then from the side of the Hai-tan roadway, along
which you were to pass, she greeted you. If Wild-
goose be really so graceful and pretty, how was it
that your Excellency mistook her for a man ? On
the first night, too, that she was with you, taking
advantage of the darkness, she usurped my place. Yet
after all this she says these boastful words."

Wildgoose laughed as she replied : " Truly there's
no knowing people's minds. Before I followed your
Excellency, Moonlight praised my beauty and looked

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

upon me as Hang-a of the moon, and now she regards
me as more worthless than a cash piece. It must
mean that you love me better than you love her and
she wants to have all your love to herself."

Then Moonlight and the others laughed, and
Blossom said : " Since Wildgoose's refinement and
delicacy are such, the fact that the Master took her
for a boy must be due to his defective eyesight. It is
nothing to Wildgoose's credit to be so regarded, for
Moonlight's words are true. It is not ladylike to
assume the guise of a boy and wear men's clothes ;
neither would a man's putting on women's clothing
to deceive another be considered manly. Because of
their weakness and defects in each case they assume
a disguise."

The Master laughed and said : " Your ladyship
has evidently pointed this joke at me, but I may say
in reply that your dear eyes were not bright, for
though you could distinguish the different tunes
you did not know a man from a woman. This was
due to the fact that though you have ears to hear,
your eyes are defective in seeing. If one set of facul-
ties is defective, would you call the person perfect ?
Though you make light of me, still the people who
see my picture in the Neung-yoo Pavilion all praise
the majesty of its proportions, its strength and its
dignity."

Those assembled laughed delightedly when Moon-
light went on : " Just now it is a question of falling
in and marching out to meet a powerful enemy ; why
do we sit idly by and waste time ? We two alone
cannot be fully trusted to win the day. Suppose
we have Cloudlet to help us. Since Prince Wol is not

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In the Fairy Lists

an outsider, Cloudlet could have no special objection
to seeing him."

Then Chin See said : " If the two, Moonlight and
Wildgoose, are to go alone into the arena, I should
like to help, but when it comes to singing and dancing
what use would I be ? If I go I fear Moonlight will
never win."

Cloudlet said : " Although I do not excel in
dancing and singing, still if the question pertain only
to my own person, why should I not have a view of
such a gathering as this ? But if I should go the
people will assuredly point me out and say with
smiles : ' Yonder is Prince Wee's wife, second to the
Princesses Blossom and Orchid.' Such would mean
contempt for the Master, and would prove a source
of anxiety to the ladies. I certainly cannot go."

The Princess said : " In what possible way could
the Master be dishonoured by Cloudlet's going, or
what anxiety could that be for us ? "

Then Cloudlet answered : " If we pitch the wide
silken awning and the sky-coloured tent, the people
will naturally say : ' The General's beloved wife
Cloudlet is coming,' and they will rub shoulders and
crowd heels, and strive to see and push up for a place,
and after all will behold only my ill-starred face and
frowzy head, and they will say with amazement :
* General Yang must have disease of the eyes to have
chosen such as she for wife ' ; and will this not be a
cause of disgrace to the Master ? Prince Wol has
never yet set eyes upon a contemptible performer,
and if he should see me he would undoubtedly be
filled with nausea and be made ill. Will not the two
ladies be disgraced likewise ? "

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The Princess said : " Cloudlet, really your mod-
esty is amazing. Once upon a time you changed from
a girl into a spirit ; now you want to change from a
peerless beauty into a perfect fright. I cannot trust
you, Cloudlet, at all." So she referred the matter to
the Master, saying : " In your reply what day have
you decided upon ? "

The Master replied : " We have decided upon to-
morrow."

Wildgoose and Moonlight gave a start of dismay,
saying : " No orders have as yet been issued to the
two divisions of dancing-girls. How can you possibly
have it in as short a time ? " They then called their
leaders together and said : " The Master has ap-
pointed a general gathering for to-morrow with
Prince Wol at the Festal Grounds, when all the
dancing girls of the two divisions are to gather in
their best outfits, setting forth at earliest dawn."

Eight hundred dancers heard this command, drew
long faces and lifted their eyebrows. But they took
their instruments in hand and began to tune up in
preparation.

On the next day the Master arose early, dressed in
ceremonial robe, took bow and arrows, and mounted
his snow-white charger. With three thousand chosen
huntsmen to attend him, he passed through the
South Gate of the city. Moonlight and Wildgoose,
specially dressed and bedecked in gold ornaments
and chiselled green stones, and wearing flower em-
broideries, were in command of the dancers. They
rode mounted on beautifully caparisoned horses,
seated in gilded saddles, with silver stirrups hanging
by the side, and jewelled bridle reins in hand. They

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In the Fairy Lists

raised their coral whips and followed close behind
the Master, while eight hundred dancers mounted
on beautiful horses brought up the rear.

On the main roadway they met Prince Wol, and
lo ! he had hunters and musicians enough to equal
those of Master Yang.

Thus they rode side by side, when Prince Wol
asked of General Yang : " What breed of horse is
that you ride, sir ? "

The Master replied : "A Persian horse. It seems
to me that the one your Highness rides is the same."

Prince Wol made answer : " Yes, that is so. This
horse's name is ' Thousand Mile Cloud Breed.' Last
year, in the autumn, while out hunting along with
the Emperor, there were over ten thousand horses
from the Imperial stables present. There were perfect
wild wind flyers among them, but none of them
could equal this one. Now Nephew Chang's fast
horses and General Yi's black steeds are both said to
be specially fine, but compared with mine they could
hardly be dignified by the name of horse."

The Master said : ** Last year when I led the attack
on Tibet over deep and dangerous waters and by
precipitous cliffs where a man could not go, this
horse walked as freely as if he were on level ground,
and never once missed his footing. Any success I had
was largely due to this good steed's efficiency. You
know Too-jami says : * One in heart with man and
equal to him in merit.' He refers to the horse.

" After I had brought back the forces my rank was
raised and I laid down office, so that I rode lazily in
a palanquin and went softly along the easy way of
life till both horse and man were ready to fall ill.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Please let xis lay on the whip and have a race and see
which of these two steeds will win. Let us show the
ancients what we can do in the daring field of cour-
age.

Prince Wol was greatly delighted and said :
" Those are my sentiments exactly."

Then they ordered the leaders who followed them
with the two companies of guests and dancers to wait
in the tent pavilion. They were about to lay on the whip
when suddenly a huge stag that had been awakened
by the hunters dashed past Prince Wol. The Prince
called to the two keepers of the seal to shoot. Several
let fly their arrows simultaneously, but they all
missed, and the Prince, disgusted, dashed forth on
his horse and with one shot in the side felled the huge
beast. The soldiers shouted : " Long live the Prince."

The Master said : " Your marvellous bow outdoes
King Yo-yang."

But the Prince said in reply : " What is there to
praise in a little thing like that ? I would like to
see your Excellency shoot ; won't you give me a
sample ? "

Before he had done speaking, a pair of swans came
sailing along in the rifts of the cloud, and the soldiers
shouted : " These birds are hardest of all to hit ;
we must use a Hadong falcon."

The Master said : " Don't disturb them," but
carefully fitted an arrow to his bow and let fly, hitting
a bird and driving the shaft straight through its head
so that it fell before the horses.

The Prince gave a shout of applause and remarked :
" Your Excellency's skill is equal to that of Yang-
yoo."

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In the Fairy Lists

Then the two suddenly raised their whips and away
they dashed on horseback, like shooting stars, or like
devils of the night, with demon flashes of fire accom-
panying. In an instant they had crossed the wide
plain and had scudded up the hill.

The two riders drew rein exactly even. For a time
they stood gazing out over the wide expanse and
talked of music and archery. Little by little the ser-
vants began to approach them, bringing the deer and
the swan on bearers, which they offered to the Prince
and to the Master.

The two dismounted, sat on the grass, drew the
sword that was in the hilt and cut some of the meat,
which was cooked and eaten. They passed the glass
in mutual congratulation. As they gazed into the
distance they saw two red-coated yamen servants
running towards them at great speed with a host of
people following.

One rushed forward to say : " The Emperor and
the Empress have sent out refreshments."

The Prince and the Master then returned, went into
the pavilion and waited. Two officers of the Court
poured out the Imperial wine and ordered two others
to bring specially decorated writing paper.

They each took one in hand, knelt down, opened
the roll and the subject suggested was ** The Hunt,"
and the command was given to write.

What the Master wrote ran as follows :

" In early morning, with all the combatants, off we

go,
With glittering swords and arrows like shooting
stars.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The tent is filled with the prettiest faces in the
land ;

In pairs, before the horses, are the keen-eyed fal-
cons.

We unite to taste with grateful hearts the sweet

wine of the king.
We draw the glittering sword and cut from the high

roast before us.

I think of last year, and the wild western hordes,
While I go forth on this happy hunt to-day."

Prince Wol wrote :

Flying dragons go by us like the lightning.
Fitted to the saddle, and accompanied by the
rattling drum.

Swift like shooting stars, like arrows that strike the

deer.
Round as the moon, flash the bows and the falling

wildgoose answers.

The joy of the hunter rises in the keen zest of the

play.
While all faces shine from the royal wines that flow.

Let's no more talk of the fine shots of Yo-yang ;
How could he ever equal the feats of this happy
day ? "

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In the Fairy Lists

The officials received the compositions, bade fare-
well and returned within the city, while the two com-
panies of guests sat each in rows and the stewards
passed refreshments. Who can tell of the delightful
flavour of wine mixed with milk and of the tender
lips of the monkey ? Fruit was there from Wol, and
potatoes from Yong piled high on the green stone
platters, and such a banquet none had ever seen even
at the Lake of Gems with the Western Queen
Mother presiding. One need not speak of gatherings
under Moo-jee of Han or of such delicacies or de-
lights ever having been seen before.

Behold the dancers ready, a thousand strong, in
ranks three deep with the broad silk awning shad-
ing them. The sound of gems and ornaments was like
rippling thunder ; the slender waists of the dancers
were more lithe than the willow ; the hundred pretty
faces vied with the flowers in freshness and beauty ;
the sound of harps and flutes surpassed the music of
many waters ; the singing made the whole South
Movmtain to tremble.

When the glass was passed Prince Wol said to the
Master : "I, your humble servant, have been the
recipient of your abundant favour, and there is no
way by which I can return my lively appreciation.
I want once to make you glad through the maids-of-
honour that I have brought with me, so, if you
please, I will call them and make them sing and dance
before your Excellency."

The Master thanked him and said : " How should
your humble servant look upon the ladies of my lord's
household, but since we are brothers, bound together
by your sister's gracious favour, I shall venture to be

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

so bold. I, too, have my household here who desire
to see the celebration, and I shall call upon them to
accompany the ladies of your palace, each following
the music according to her own special skill, and so
add cheer to the occasion."

The Prince replied : " Good, how happy your
suggestion is."

Then Moonlight and Wildgoose and four dancers
of Prince Wol came forth, and made their obeisance
before the dais.

The Master said : "In ancient times King Yong
had one famous dancing-girl whose name was Lotus
Bud. Yi Tai-baik earnestly requested King Yong
that he might hear her sing, but he never dreamed of
asking to see her face. Now I, your himible servant,
see all these pretty dancers and behold their beauty,
and am therefore blessed many times beyond Yi
Tai-baik. What are the names of these four,
please ? "

The four then advanced and gave answer for them-
selves, saying : " I am the Cloud Fairy of Keiun-
neung ; I am Hair Pin of Chin-joo ; I am Ok-yon
of Moo-chang ; I am Soft Whirmy of Chang-an."

Then the Master remarked to Prince Wol : " When
I was a young scholar and travelled from place to
place, I heard the famous name of Ok-yon. Now that
I see her face to face she far surpasses in beauty the
renown that preceded her."

Prince Wol hearing the names of Moonlight and
Wildgoose, and recognising them, said : " These two
famous women are noted the world over, and now
they have become attached to your Excellency's
household. They certainly have been very fortunate

258

In the Fairy Lists

in the master they have chosen. I wonder where you
first met them ? "

The Master replied : " Moonlight I met on my
way to examination. When I reached Nak-yang she
came to me of her own accord. Wildgoose was origin-
ally attached to the palace of the King of Yon, but
when I went there as envoy she made her escape and
followed me."

The Prince clapped his hands, laughed, and said :
" Wildgoose had courage indeed."

The Master went on : " When I think of those
days, really it is amusing. A poor scholar like me,
riding a mean little donkey, with but a boy to accom-
pany me, started out on my way. I was overtaken
with thirst, and drank overmuch fragrant wine, and
when crossing Chon-jin Bridge found several score
of the literati youth enjoying themselves with music
and dancing. I took courage and went in. My poor
clothes and headgear were put to shame by the dresses
of the slaves that served. But I took a seat and there
was Moonlight. In the exhilaration of the moment I
never thought of making a laughing-stock of myself
but wrote a verse or two. I do not know now what I
wrote or what it was like, but Moonlight chose it
before all the others and sang it. There had been an
agreement in the first place that Moonlight should
be given to the one whose verse she chose to sing, so
there was no question that she was mine ; besides it
was a predestined affinity that settled the matter be-

tween us."

Prince Wol laughed and said : " You are winner
in more than one field. Certainly to win her was more
marvellous and delightful than being crowned with

259

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

laurel. I am sure what you wrote must be very fine
indeed. Might I hear it ? "

The Master repUed : " How can I possibly recall
what I wrote then ? "

Then the Prince said to Moonlight : " The
Master has forgotten the verse that he wrote when he
first met you. Can you not recite it for me ? "

Moonlight said : "I remember it well ; shall I
write it out and hand it to your Highness, or shall
I sing it?"

The Prince, pleased with the reply, said : " If you
would sing it, as well as give it to me, I should be
delighted."

Then Moonlight advanced and sang, so that the
assembled guests were transfigured with joy. The
Prince, overcome with a sense of wonder and awe,
praised her, saying : " Your Excellency's gift in
writing and Moonlight's soft compelling song are
nowhere to be equalled. The bouquets of flowers that
bloom forth from that song of yours rival the pretty
girl's soft robes and ornaments. It would make even
Yi Tai-baik take a second place. How can those who
make a pretence at writing nowadays ever venture to
look at such ? "

Wine was then passed in a golden goblet filled to
the brim, and thus were Moonlight and Wildgoose
rewarded.

The four dancers from Prince Wol's palace and
these two sang together the tune of " Long Life,"
and the assembled guests announced them angels
from heaven. Ok-yon's name was rated with that of
Moonlight and Wildgoose. The three others, while
not equal to Ok-yon, were yet wonderfully skilful.

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In the Fairy Lists

The Prince , congratulating himself on the occasion ,
and highly pleased, now asked all the guests to step
forth from the tent to see the military master's sword
exercise, spear drill and charging in the lists.

He said : " The women's horsemanship and
shooting with the bow are worth seeing. Several
among my palace maids are adepts. Your Excellency
has among yours, no doubt, women from the north,
who would, if you gave command, shoot a rabbit or
pheasant for the amusement of the assembled com-
pany."

The Master was pleased at this and gave the order
for a score or more to be chosen who were practised
with the bow and in dashing horsemanship. These,
with the maids from the palace of Prince Wol, laid
wagers. Suddenly Wildgoose stepped forward and
said : " Though I am not trained with the bow, still
I have seen a great deal of riding and shooting and
to-day I should like to try."

The Master gave ready assent, unfastened the bow
from his own belt and handed it to her.

Wildgoose took it and said to the combatants :
" Even though I do not hit the mark you girls must
not laugh at me." At once she mounted as if by wing
one of the fast horses and sped away from before the
tent. Just then a pheasant came flying from the copse.
Wildgoose instantly straightened her slender back,
grasped the bow, and the arrow went singing through
the air, when a bunch of feathers in all the five
colours fell before the horse's head.

The Master and the Prince clapped their hands
and gave a ringing outburst of applause.

Wildgoose turned rapidly, rode back and alighted

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

before the tent. She walked slowly to her place and
sat down while all the girls congratulated her, saying :
" We have trained for ten years and all to no purpose."

But Moonlight turned to her and said : " Though
we two have not been beaten by the dancers from
Prince Wol's palace, still there are four of them and
we only two. This is hard work. Our not bringing
Cloudlet was a great mistake. Though dancing and
singing are not Cloudlet's speciality, her beauty and
grace are such as would hold their own with Ok-yon's
company." She gave a sigh. Suddenly two women
were seen coming from the farther side of the grounds
in a swift palanquin across the blooming green sward.
They reached the entrance of the pavilion, when the
gate-keeper said : " Do you come from Prince Wol's
palace, or from the home of the Prince of Wee ? "

The charioteer replied : " These two ladies are
from the household of General Yang. They have
been delayed, and so did not get here at first with
the others."

The soldier guards then went in and reported the
matter.

Master Yang said : " It is evidently Cloudlet who
has come to see, but why has she come in this un-
accountable way ? Call her in."

The two ladies wearing embroidered shoes alighted
from the palanquin. In front was Swallow, and be-
hind was the maiden seen so clearly in the dream,
the daughter of the Tong-jong Dragon King. The
two came forward before the Master and bowed.

Then Yang pointed towards Prince Wol and said :
" This is his Highness Prince Wol ; go and make
your obeisance to him."

262

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In the Fairy Lists : Swallow and White-cap Enter

In the Fairy Lists

When they had done so, the Master gave orders
that they should be placed beside Wildgoose and
Moonlight. Then he said to Prince Wol : " These
two maidens I met first on my campaign against the
Tibetan. I have been so busy recently that I did not
have opportunity to bring them before. They have
come in order that they might enjoy the music and
see the sights of the day."

When the Prince had looked at them again he saw
that they were beautiful, like sisters to Moonlight
and Wildgoose, with their grace of form even en-
hanced if that were possible.

The Prince was astonished, and all the faces of the
galaxy from his palace turned pale as ashes.

He asked : " What are the names of these two
ladies and where are they from, please ? "

One of them replied, saying : " I am Sim, the
Swallow. I come from west Yang-joo." And the
other replied, saying : " I am White-cap, who came
originally from the neighbourhood of the So-sang
River. Unfortunately I met with trouble and made
my escape from home and have taken refuge with
the Master."

The Prince said : " These two maidens are not
mortals, I am sure. Do they know how to play the
harp ? "

Swallow replied : "I am a humble person from
a distant part and never heard the harp in my early
days. By what possibility could I entertain your
Highness ? In my childhood I learned the sword
dance, but this is an entertainment of the camp and
not of the drawing-room."

The Prince was now all excitement and said to the

263

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Master : "In the days of Hyon-jong, the great
dancer, Kong-son was renowned the world over for
her skill in sword-dancing. Later generations lost
the art and I have always felt sorry that I have not
seen it. Now that you say the maid is skilled in sword-
dancing I am more delighted than ever."

Then the Prince and the Master each drew from their
belt the sword that they carried and gave it ; Swallow
fastened up her sleeves, put off her belt ornaments
and stepped forth to dance. At once from top to floor
came the flashing of the blades, and the swift fierce
passings from side to side. The red cheeks and bright
sword blades melted into one, like the snows of the
third moon that fall on the red buds of the springtime.
Suddenly the speed of the sleevelets increased, and
the whirling edges went faster and fiercer, till a blaze
of white light filled the tent and Swallow's form was
lost entirely to view. Mysteriously a rainbow halo
suddenly appeared and a cool wind was felt to pass
between the cups and glasses of the feast board. All
the assembled company felt a shuddering in their
bones and their locks stood on end.

Swallow intended to give an exhibition of the
various forms she had learned, but fearing that it
would cause alarm to the Prince, stopped, threw
down the sword, bowed and retired.

The Prince was some time in recovering his
senses; then he said : " How could any mortal attain
to such skill as that ? I have heard that many fairies
are skilled in the sword-dance. Tell me are you not a
fairy ? "

Swallow said in reply : " The custom of the west
is to practise feats of skill with military weapons, so

26 ij.

In the Fairy Lists

I learned this when I was a child. Why should you
think me a fairy ? "

The Prince said : *' When I go back to my palace,
the best dancers among my maids shall be chosen and
sent to you in the hope that you will kindly teach
them."

Swallow bowed and gladly assented.

The Prince then asked White-cap : " What special
skill have you, young lady ? "

White-cap replied : " My home overlooked the
So-sang River, the place where A-whang [43] and
Yo-yong played together, where the skies seem so
far away, and the nights are so quiet, with soft
breezes and a clear moon. From between the gentle
rifts of the clouds I have heard again and again the
strains of the harp, and these from earliest childhood
I set myself to imitate. I used to play there alone and
was so happy. I am afraid your Highness would not
care for it, however."

The Prince said : " In the writings of the ancients
we read that A-whang and Yo-yong played upon the
harp, but I have never heard that their tunes were
passed on to mortal generations. If you have learned
and know them let us hear them. Why should we
compare them with the common music of the day ? "

Then White-cap drew from her sleeve a small harp
and played in tones indescribably tender, clear and
persuasive, like waters hurrying through the mountain
passes, or like the wildgeese clamouring the long
length of heaven. All the guests were deeply moved,
and tears began to flow. Suddenly the petals of the
flowers trembled and the rustlings of autumn broke
in upon the scene.

265

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The Prince, mystified, said : " I never heard be-
fore that music could move the seasons in their
course. If you are only a mortal, how is it that you
can turn spring to autumn, or cause the leaves to
fall ? Could any mere human being ever learn a
tune such as this ? "

White-cap replied : " I have passed on merely the
dregs of what I have heard, and have shown no special
skill in the little that I have played for you."

Ok-yon here interrupted and addressed the Prince,
saying : " Though I have no special skill of my own,
yet there is one tune that I should like to play to
your Highness. It is called the Song of the White
Lotus. Shall I play it ? "

She took up a harp such as was used in Chon-
king's time, went forward and began to twang the
strings. Across the twenty-five of them that lined
the board, passed her hands in sweet and lovely
music, well worth the hearing. The Master as well as
the two dancers. Moonlight and Wildgoose, praised
its beauty and the Prince was greatly delighted.

266