Chapter XV

Chapter XV The Wine Punishment

ON this day of the happy festival Swallow

and White-cap came in at the last and added

the final touch of delight. The Master and

the Prince, while desiring to stay longer, were com-

pelled by the falling shadows of the evening to break

up the feast and return. They gave to each performer

rich presents of gold, silver and silk. Grain measures

of gems were scattered about and rolls of costly

materials were piled up like hillocks. The Master

and the Prince, taking advantage of the moonlight,

returned home to the city amid the ringing of bells.

All the dancers and musicians jostled each other

along the way, each desiring to be first to return.

The sound of gems and tinkling ornaments was like

falling water ; and perfume filled the atmosphere.

Straying hairpins and jewelled ornaments were

crushed by the horses' hoofs and the passing of

countless feet. The crowd in the city, desiring to see,

stood like a wall on each side of the way. Old men of

ninety and a hundred wept tears of joy, saying : " In

my younger days I saw his Majesty Hyon-jong out

on procession, and his splendour alone could be

compared with this. Beyond all my expectations I

have lived till to-day and now see this happy gather-

ing."

The two Princesses with Chin See and Cloudlet

were with the mother awaiting the return of the

Master. In a little he came, bringing in his train

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Swallow and White-cap, who at once appeared be-

fore the mother and the two Princesses and made

their salutations.

Cheung See said : " Your Excellency has spoken

very often, saying that by the help of these two

maidens you had brought into subjection whole

districts of rebels. I was always sorry that I had

never met them. Why is it, girls, that you have come

so late ? "

Swallow and White-cap made answer : "We are

unknown people from a distant province, and though

the Master has kindly looked upon us, we feared that

the two ladies would not be willing to accord us a

place with them so we hesitated to come. But now

having entered the gates and having heard the people

say that the two Princesses were blessed with the

happy hearts of Kwa-jo and Kyoo-mok, and that

their kindly virtues moved high and low alike, we

have come boldly in to make our obeisance. Just at

the time of our entrance into the city we learned that

the Master was engaged in the Festal Grounds ; so

we hurried out and joined in the happy gathering.

Now that your kind words are spoken to us how

delighted indeed we are."

The Princess laughed and said to the Master :

" To-day we have a garden of flowers gathered in

the palace. Without doubt your Excellency vdll

boast of it. It all pertains to our merits, however,

and is due to us two. You must not think it due to

yourself."

The Master laughed heartily and said : " The

saying runs, ' Folks in high places like praise.' It

seems to be true. These two come for the first time

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The Wine Punishment

to the palace, and are afraid of the dignity of your

Highnesses, so they have resorted to flattery. Do you

take what they say as real and so pride yourselves on

your own merit?" And all those present laughed.

Then Chin See and Cloudlet asked of Moonlight

and Wildgoose : " Who won to-day in the lists ? "

Wildgoose made answer : " Moonlight laughed

at my boasting, and yet with one word I took all the

courage out of Prince Wol. Che Kal-yang on a little

boat like the leaf of a tree entered Kang-dong, and

with a few diminutive words made clear where right

and wrong lay, so that Chu Kong-geum and No Ja-

kyong could not utter a syllable for shame. Prince

Pyong-won went to the kingdom of Cho to make a

contract of peace and amity, while the nineteen who

accompanied him had no occasion for a word, and

nothing whatever to do. It is because my heart is

large that my lips at times are boastful ; but in my

boastful words there lay victory. You may ask Moon-

light ; she knows what I say is true."

Moonlight said : " Wildgoose 's skill of bow and

horseback riding is indeed wonderful and suited to

the Festal Ground, but if arrows and stones were

raining round her on the battlefield she would not

dare to ride a pace or draw a bow. The taking all the

courage out of Prince Wol was due to the arrival of

the two fairy maids, with their beauty and skill ;

how could she think of its being due to herself ? I

have just one word to say to Wildgoose, and I will

say it now. In the days of the Spring and Autumn

Classic, Minister Ka had a very dirty, unwashed

face, so that people who passed by, in contempt, spat

upon him. He was married for three years without

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

his wife once having smiled. On a certain day he

went with her into the fields when he chanced to

shoot a pheasant that was flying by. His wife laughed

for the first time. Wildgoose's shooting the pheasant

was just like Minister Ka. He was no good and yet

he shot a pheasant."

Wildgoose made answer : " Minister Ka, in spite

of his dirty face, by means of skill at the bow and

horsemanship, made his wife to smile ; how much

more would one with skill and beauty besides when

they shoot a pheasant, make the world to smile and

sing their praises."

Moonlight laughed and said in reply : " Your

boastfulness, Wildgoose, grows apace. It is because

the Master loves you overmuch that you are vain

and proud."

The Master laughed and said : " I knew long ago

that Moonlight was greatly gifted, but I never knew

that she was up in the Classics as well. Now I find

that she is acquainted with the Spring and Autumn

Book."

Moonlight's answer was : "In my leisure I used

to study the Classics and history, but how could you

say that 1 was acquainted with them ? "

On the following day the Master went into audi-

ence before his Imperial Majesty. His Majesty sum-

moned the Empress Dowager and Prince Wol. The

two Princesses had already come in and were seated

with them.

The Empress Dowager said to Prince Wol : " You

and the General had a contest of pretty girls yester-

day ; tell me who won ? "

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The Prince replied : " I was altogether defeated ;

no one can hope to equal General Yang in the bless-

ings of life and good-luck. But how do blessings like

these," pointing to the secondary wives, " appeal

to your daughters, I wonder ? Please, your Majesty,

ask this of his Excellency, will you ? "

The Master broke in : " His Highness 's statement

that he was defeated by me is quite aside of the mark.

It is like Yi Tai-baik turning pale when he saw the

writing of Choi -ho. Whether this is a happiness to

the Princesses or not, how can I answer ? Please ask

their Highnesses themselves."

The Dowager laughed and looked toward the

Princesses, who replied, saying : " Husband and wife

are one, whether it be for gladness or for sorrow.

There can be no difference in their lives. If our hus-

band wins glory we win it too, but if failure falls to

his lot, we too must share it. Whatever makes him glad

makes us glad also."

Prince Wol said : " My sisters' words are all very

sweet to listen to, yet they are not from the heart.

Since ancient times there never was such an extrav-

agant son-in-law as this General. It would indicate

that the good old laws that once prevailed are losing

ground. Please have his Excellency sent to the Chief

Justice, and his contempt of court and disregard of

the laws of State looked into."

The Dowager laughed and said : " Our son-in-

law is doubtless somewhat of a sinner in this respect,

but if you desire to judge him according to the law

you will plunge an old woman like me and my two

daughters into a whirl of anxiety. Let's dispense with

the State laws and deal with him privately."

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Prince Wol then said : " Though it might cause

a measure of anxiety you cannot lightly overlook such

a sin as his. Please let us inquire into his case before

your Majesty, determine the nature of his offence,

and deal with him accordingly," (He then wrote as

though dictated to by the Empress.)

The Empress laughed while Prince Wol hastened

to write out his statement :

** Since ancient times the son-in-law of the Em-

press has never taken to himself secondary wives.

This is not due to the fact that he might not desire

to do so, nor to the fact that he lacked sufficient

food and clothes to give them, but only from a desire

to do reverence to the Emperor and honour to the

State. Now, however, if we regard the lofty station

of the two Princesses, they are daughters of my

own, and in their bringing-up and attainment they

are not inferior to Im-sa [44]. But you, Yang So-

yoo, have not been appreciative of this or of your

bounden duty. Instead you have possessed yourself

of a spirit of lawlessness and wild excess, and have

lost your heart over every painted cheek and

powdered head, and have given your thought to

dainty silks and gaudy dresses. You have gathered

a host of pretty girls together in an astoundingly

greedy manner, seeking tliem in the east by morn-

ing light, and in the west at evening time. You

have let the light and the lands of Cho and Yon to

blind your eyes, and you have allowed your ears

to be filled with the songs of the Cheung King-

dom, condescending to look on groups who gather

like ants in the music halls, or like bees in swarms

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to talk and chatter together. Though the Prin-

cesses in their spirit of liberality show no jealousy,

how about your duty and your behaviour in the

matter ? One cannot but punish a sin of pride and

excess. Now let us have no dissimulation, but a

straightforward confession and an acceptance of

the sentence."

The Master then descended from the dais, put off

his headgear and awaited sentence. Prince Wol went

to the end of the railed enclosure, and in a loud voice

read out what had been written, and after the Master

had heard it he said by way of confession : " Your

Majesty's humble subject, Yang So-yoo, has pre-

sumptuously accepted of favours accorded by your

two Excellent Majesties and has been crowned with

the greatest possible glory, having the two Princesses

made his very own with all their true and matchless

graces. I had already won more than all that heart

could wish. Still I was ungrateful, and my soul did

not cherish the delight of the modest and the beauti-

ful, but loved music excessively, as well as dancing

and singing. This was indeed excess beyond what

one already so greatly blessed should have shown.

Still, as I humbly read the laws of the State, the son-

in-law of her Majesty may have secondary wives,

that is if they be taken before his marriage with the

first Princess. Though I have secondary wives, my

wife Chin See is mine by reason of the command of

your Excellent Majesty, concerning which there can

be no question. My wife Cloudlet was my attendant

while I lived in the home of Justice Cheung. My

wives Moonlight, Wildgoose, Swallow and White-cap

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

were taken in the days before my marriage with the

Princesses. Their being here in this place is also by

command and with the permission of the Princesses

themselves, and not by reason of any act of mine. If

we speak of State laws or your Majesty's expressed

will, I feel that there is no sin in this that deserves

punishment. These are your humble subject's state-

ments and he offers them in fear and reverence."

The Empress Dowager on hearing this laughed

and said : " The taking to himself of several wives

does not in any way impair the dignity of the Superior

Man. This I can forgive, but excess in the matter of

drink causes me anxiety. Be careful ! "

Prince Wol, however, went on to say : " It is not

right that the son-in-law should take so many wives.

So-yoo, too, blames the Princesses, forgetting that

he has his own responsibility to answer for. I should

like to have him properly disciplined for this. Please,

your Majesty, ask concerning this again."

Then Yang in a state of embarrassment bowed his

head and asked forgiveness, while the Dowager

laughed and said : " So-yoo, while my son-in-law,

is indeed a Minister of State. Why should I treat

him as a son-in-law ? " and she bade him put on

his headgear and come up before the dais.

Prince Wol said : " Though his Excellency's merit

is very great, and it is difficult to punish him, still

the laws of the State are strict and he ought not to go

without some mark of reprimand. You might try the

wine punishment upon him."

The Dowager laughed and gave consent.

The palace maids then brought out a little white

stone goblet, but Prince Wol said : " The General

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The Wine Punishment : Green Mountain Castle

The Wine Punishment

has the capacity of a whale, and his offence is so great

that you must use a larger dish than this." So they

brought a huge ornamented gold goblet and poured

it full to the brim. Although the Master's capacity

was large still this could not fail to make him drunk.

He nodded his head and said : " The Herdsman

loved the Weaving Damsel very, very much, and was

scolded by his father-in-law. I, too, for taking too

many wives, am punished by my mother-in-law. It

is indeed difficult to fill the place of son-in-law of the

Empress. This wine has gone to my head and I ask

permission to retire, please."

The Dowager laughed and 'ordered the palace

nxaids to help him away. She said also to the two

Princesses : " The Master is upset and feeling ill,

you must go and look after him."

The two Princesses obeyed orders and followed.

At this time Madame Yoo had lit the lamps in the

main hall and was waiting her son's return. Seeing

him dnmk she said in amazement : " What is this ?

Drink ? I have seen you drink before but never saw

you drunk. What does it mean ? "

The Master, with intoxicated look, at first made no

reply, but after a time, pointing to the Princesses, he

said : " The Princesses' brother. Prince Wol, has

prevaricated to the Empress Dowager and brought

me into judgment. I pleaded my own cause with skill

and really cleared myself, but the Prince, by force,

has put an imaginary fault upon me, and has caused

me to undergo the wine punishment. If I had not

been accustomed to wine I should have died. It is

nothing but the result of his mortification of having

been beaten in the lists yesterday. He wants to settle

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

accounts with me, I see, and Orchid is jealoxis of my

having so many wives. She has joined her brother in

this scheme, no doubt. Her generous heart of former

days seems to have gone. I pray you, mother, to give

Orchid a glass of punishment as well and so make

amends for this disgrace of mine."

The mother said : " It is not at all clear that Orchid

is guilty as you say, and she has never tasted wine in

all her life. If you desire that I should punish her, let

it be with a cup of tea instead."

The Master said : "No, that will not do, it must

be wine."

The mother laughed and said to Orchid : "If

your Highness does not drink of it, this wretched

fellow will not be satisfied," so she called a maid and

ordered her to give to Orchid a glass of punishment.

While the Princess attempted to drink it, the

Master suddenly expressed a doubt and tried to take

the glass by force to taste it, but Orchid quickly

threw it on to the matting. The Master then dipped

his finger in the dregs, tasted it, and found that it

was only sweetened water.

He said : " If her Majesty, the Empress, had

punished me with sweetened water, my mother's

, giving sweetened water to Orchid would have been

all right, but I have had to drink strong wine, so

Orchid must have strong wine too and not sweetened

water." He called a maid and bade her bring a glass

and he himself poured it full and sent it. The Princess,

having no alternative, drank it all.

Then he said again to his mother : " The one who

urged the Empress to give me wine punishment was

Orchid, but Blossom was in the scheme, too, you

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may be sure. She sat before the Empress and saw all

my confusion, but she only laughed and nodded to

Orchid. There is no fathoming her. My desire is that

you punish Blossom too."

The mother laughed and sent the glass to Cheung

See. Cheung See retired from her place and drank it.

The mother then said : " The Empress's pun-

ishment of the Master was on account of his having

taken so many wives. The two Princesses have both

had to drink of it, how can you girls Escape ? "

The Master said : "Prince Wol's meeting me on

the Festal Field was simply to find about our singers

and dancers, and there, in spite of all his great com-

pany, he was defeated by Wildgoose, Moonlight,

Swallow and White-cap. Our weak numbers put his

whole palace to shame. In the contest we won the

day, and this is why Prince Wol has vented his re-

sentment on me and caused my discomfiture. These

four must certainly be punished as well."

The mother asked : " Do you punish those who

win in the contest ? Yours are the ridiculous words

of a drunken man." But she called the four and gave

them each a glass ; and when all had drunk. Wild-

goose and Moonlight knelt before the mother and

said : " The Empress's punishment of the Master

was assuredly on account of his many wives, and not

because of his having won the day on the Festal

Field. Swallow and White-cap have not shared the

Master's home and yet they have been punished

also. Will this not be a source of resentment later ?

Cloudlet has for a long time been with him, and

has been greatly favoured, but she did not share the

sports on the Festal Field, and so has escaped the

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

punishment altogether. The rest of us humble folk

feel that this is not fair."

" You are perfectly right," said the mother. Then

she gave a large glass to Cloudlet, who smothered her

laughter and drank it, so all were made to share alike

in the glass of punishment and all were put to con-

fusion.

Princess Orchid was overcome and in great dis-

tress ; but Chin See sat in a corner in a manner

wholly unconcerned, saying nothing and without a

smile.

The Master said : " Chin See alone is not moved

by it, and regards all the rest of us with contempt.

She shall be punished once more." So he poured

out another glass to the full and gave it to Chin See,

who took it with a laugh and drank it.

The inother asked of the Princess : " Your High-

ness has never tasted of this before, how are you

feeling ? "

She replied : " My head aches terribly."

The mother told Chin See to help the Princess to

her room, and bade Cloudlet pour out another ^ass

and bring it. She took the glass and said : " Our

two daughters are Princesses of the Palace and I feel

that I am wholly unworthy of them. Now you in

your intoxication have caused them much discomfort.

If her Majesty the Empress hears of this she will

be very much disturbed. I have failed to bring

you up properly, so we have had this disgraceful

scene to-day. I cannot say that I am without sin in

the matter, so I shall have to take a glass myself."

She drank it all.

The Master, alarmed, knelt and said : " Mother,

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on account of my misdeeds, you have yourself shared

in the glass of punishment. A beating, such as you

give a child, would not be enough for me." Then he

made Wildgoose bring still another big glass. He

took it and, kneeling, said : "I have not lived up to

the teaching of my mother, but have caused her pain

and anxiety, so I drink this extra glass for shame."

He drank it all and was so overcome that he could

not sit up. He desired to go to his room and made

signs accordingly. The mother asked Cloudlet to

help him away, but she said she could not because

Wildgoose and Moonlight would be jealous, so she

told Moonlight and Wildgoose to do so instead.

Moonlight remarked : " Cloudlet does not wish

to do it on account of what I said; I shall not either."

Wildgoose laughed, arose and helped the Master

away, and so they each and all retired.

Swallow and White-cap were great lovers of the

open hills and streams. This the Master knew, and

had made for them a beautiful lake in the middle of

the Imperial park. There he erected a special home

which he called " Butterfly Pavilion." Here White-

cap lived. On the other side of the lake was a hill

whose top was ornamented with great rocks that

were piled one above the other. There the shadows

of the ancient pines screened the light and the spare

graceful bamboo cast its grateful shade. Here also

was a house built which he called " The Hall of Ice

and Snow " in which Swallow took up her abode.

When they all came out to have a happy time in the

garden. Swallow and White-cap acted as hostesses

of the sylvan halls.

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

The several sisters asked quietly of White-cap :

" Could you explain to us the wonderful law of meta-

morphosis through which you have passed."

White-cap replied : " That is something that be-

longs to a former existence. Taking advantage of the

divine wheel of change, and by means of the powers

of nature, I put off my former body and changed my

appearance. The scales and discarded features were

very gruesome to behold. I am like the sparrow

changed into a clam. How can you expect me still

to have wings with which to fly ? "

The ladies all said : " Surely the principles and

laws governing such a thing are wonderful."

Though Swallow, to please them, sometimes gave

an exhibition of sword-dancing before the mother,

the Master and the Princesses, she did not care

to give it often, saying : " Though I met the Master

because of my skill of hand with the sword, still the

suggestion of death that goes with it does not make

it a pleasant exercise nor one that should be often

indulged."

From this time on the two ladies and the six sub-

sidiary wives were all gladness and joy together, like

fishes in the stream, or birds that flit among the

clouds. They were ever united in heart and ever

dependent one on the other like real sisters, while

the Master regarded them with love all alike. Though

it was due to the goodness of the two ladies that the

whole house was so happy, still it was specially due

to the fact that the nine had all been once together

on Nam-ak Mountain and thus their wishes were

fulfilled.

On a certain day the two Princesses said to each

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other : " In olden days sisters were known to marry

into one and the same family, some becoming wives

of the first order, and some becoming wives of the

second order^ Now we two wives and our six attend-

ant sisters love each other more than those born of

the same house ; and among us are some who have

come from distant regions. How could this be other-

wise than by the ordinance of God ? Our persons

and our names differ one from the other ; our social

conditions, too, were widely separated, and yet here

we are to-day with no incongruity to mar our gather-

ing. We are indeed older and younger sisters and

love so to be called."

Thus they spoke to the six sisters, when these, with

great earnestness, disclaimed any such possibility,

maintaining that they were wholly unworthy, especi-

ally Cloudlet, Wildgoose, and Moonlight.

Cheung See said : " Yoo Hyon-tok, Kwan On-

jang, and Chang Ik-tok were all courtiers of the king,

and yet they preserved to the last the bond of brother-

hood. How much more should I be a loved and

trusted sister to Cloudlet who was my dear friend in

days gone by ? The wife of Sokamoni and the wife

of their next-door neighbour were worlds apart in

social standing, and also in virtue and chastity. Still

they each became disciples of the Buddha, and they

became one in heart. One rises to the place of

illumination and rectitude."

The two Princesses said to the six : " Let us go

to the Merciful Buddha who sits within the palace

chapel and there bum incense and offer prayer."

They wrote out a solemn oath which read thus :

'* Such a year, such a day, the disciples Cheung called

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Blossom, Yi called Orchid, Chin called the Phoenix,

Ka called Cloudlet, Kay called Moonlight, Chok

called Wildgoose, Sim called Swallow, Pak called

White-cap, having bathed and cleansed their hearts,

come now with all reverence before the great Buddha

of the Southern Sea.

" People of the world oftentimes reckon all within

the Four Seas as brothers because they are similar in

thought and desire. Even those bom by appointment

of God as brothers in the same family sometimes

view each other as strangers and unknown passers

by. This is due to the fact that they fail in love and

have no common interest. We, eight disciples, though

we have been born at different places, and have been

separated wide as the four corners of the earth, now

serve one husband, live in one place, and are one in

thought and life. Our love is perfect and flows out

to each other. If one were to make comparison we

are surely like a group of flowers that grew on one

twig and fared alike in wind and weather, till at last

one fell into the palace, one into a home of the gentry,

one on the bank by the way, one was swept into

the mountains, one borne down the stream and out

t6 sea, but if we seek the origin it will be found that

we are all from one root and finally shall all return

at last to one place. So it is with men when born

of a similar blood though separated widely by the

vicissitudes of time ; they all come home to abide

together in the end.

" The past has far receded from us. But in it we

eight were born at one and the same time, and though

we have been separated by this wide expanse of

empire yet here we are gathered together and living

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in the same home. This is truly an affinity that has

come down to us from a former existence and explains

the joy and gladness of our present life.

" So we eight disciples make a solemn vow and

swear an oath of sisterhood to receive together the

blessings or the reverses of life ; to live together and

die together and never, never to part. If among us

there be any otherwise minded and forgetful of this

oath, may God strike them dead and may the invisible

spirits regard them with abhorrence.

" We humbly pray that the great Buddha may give

us blessing here and remove from us all sorrow, and

help us so that when life is over we may enter the

regions of the blessed."

The two ladies hereafter called the six their younger

sisters, but they, out of regard for their humble

station, did not call the Princesses older sisters though

they truly loved them as such in heart.

They each were blessed with children. The two

Princesses, Cloudlet, Moonlight, Swallow and Wild-

goose had each a son, while Phoenix and White-cap

had each a daughter. Not once did any of them see a

little child die in the home, which is an experience

that differs from the common world of mortals.

At this time the whole world was at peace, with

people dwelling safely and enjoying years of plentiful

harvest. Little was there for the Government to do.

When the Emperor went on hunting expeditions

the Master accompanied him, and on his return he

would retire to his mother and family, where, with

music and dancing, he passed happy days. Their

joy and gladness accompanied the changing seasons.

With years of office, the Master enjoyed great reward

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

and prosperity. But in the providence of God when

peace recedes unrest comes in its place, and, when joy

has reached its full, sorrow falls.

Unexpectedly the lady Yoo fell ill and died at the

advanced age of over ninety. The Master mourned

deeply and sorrowed, so that both their Majesties

were anxious and sent a eimuch to comfort him and

attend his needs. He buried his mother with all the

honours of a queen. Justice Cheung and his wife also

passed away at a great age, and he mourned for them

with no less sorrow than Cheung See herself.

The Master's six sons and two daughters were all

blessed with the beauty and comeliness of their

parents, like jade-stones and orchid flowers. The

eldest son's name was Great Honour, child of Cheung

See, and he rose to the ofiice of Minister of Foreign

Affairs ; the second son's name was Lesser Honour,

a son of Wildgoose, and he rose to the rank of Mayor

of the Capital ; the third was Lightsome Honour, a

son of Cloudlet, who became Chief Justice ; the

fourth was Latest Honour, son of Princess Orchid,

who became Minister of War ; the fifth was called

Fifth Honour, Moonlight's son, who rose to the rank

of Chief of the Literati ; the sixth was Final Honour,

a son of Swallow. At fifteen he was stronger than any

grown man, and was like the genii in his wisdom.

The Master greatly loved him, and made him general-

issimo of the forces. He commanded the forty thou-

sand soldiers who served as guard for the Imperial

Palace.

The eldest daughter's name was Tinted Rose, a

child of Chin See. She married, later. Prince Wol's

son. The second daughter was called Eternal Joy,

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bom of White-cap. She became a second wife of the

Prince Imperial.

The Master, who originally was but a common

literatus, had met a King who knew his worth and

took advantage of his mighty talents. He it was who

brought a great war to a glad conclusion, and in merit

and renown equalled Kwak Poon-yang.

The Master said : " If we are too prosperous mis-

fortune easily follows, and if our cup of joy be too

full a danger exists of running over. I shall now make

request to retire from office." And so he wrote, "I

bow a hundred times and make my humble petition

to his Majesty. My desire for riches and long life

has been realised, and no longer does anything

remain to be fulfilled. Parents ask for their children

only riches and honour, thinking that if they attain

to these nothing is left beyond. Is it not the glory

of long life with fame and wealth that the world

struggles and contends for ? They are indeed the

things that the human heart constantly craves. Men

do not know the wisdom that says * Enough,' but

desire ever more and more till at last they plunge

themselves into the sea of destruction that follows.

Though long life and honour have their attractive

sides, still they cannot equal a contented mind, or

dying peacefully in one's native land. Though these are

things we rejoice over, how can they equal a happy

home ? My abilities were of a mediocre kind and my

powers limited, yet I have come to the highest estate

possible and have held the most important offices in

the land. I have had every honour and glory ex-

tended to me. My earliest ambitions did not reach a

thousandth part of what has come to pass. Who

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

would have guessed that such lay wrapped away in

the future ? Notwithstanding my humble station, I

became the Imperial son-in-law, superior to all the

other courtiers of the Palace ; and the gifts of your

'Majesty have been showered . upon me beyond

measure. From a child who lived on herbs I have

come to dine on the richest fare ; and from the lowest

origin I have come to be a dweller among kings. I

fear that it will prove a blot on your Majesty's record

and a wrong that I have permitted. How can I be

happy in view of it ? In my early days I desired to

hide my origin, to retire from the world, to close my

gates, to refuse all favour and to confess my presump-

tion to Heaven, to Earth, and to the invisible spirits.

But your Majesty's favours were so great that I

could not resist them ; and since I was strong and

well in physique, I accepted, desiring to repay -if

possible some single part of what you had bestowed

upon me. I guarded my ancestral graves, and so

lived out my life. But old age is coming on and my

hair is growing grey. My form is like the decaying

tree and shows the approach of the autumn season

and signs of the yellow leaf. My heart is like an im-

used well, which though never drawn from still runs

dry. Although I take to myself as my model the dog

and the horse and set my strength in an effort to

requite the many favours that have been accorded

me, there is no way open by which to do it.

" May your Gracious Majesty, seeing that all is

quiet in the outlying regions of the empire, that there

is no need longer for military force ; that the people

are at peace and that the sound of the drum has

ceased from the land, grant me my request. God's

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The Wine Punishment

blessing is upon you and the harvest is rich and

plentiful as it was in the happiest days of the Three

Kingdoms. Even though you hold me still to office,

and make me carry on affairs of State, it means only

the expenditure of public money and the hearing of

Kyok-yang songs. What special profit will it be, or

what new reform can you expect ?

" The King and his officer are like father and son.

Now a father loves even an ungrateful son because

he is his child and he thinks of him when he go6s

beyond the gate. I pray your Majesty to look upon me

as aged and past service. I desire to act my part as a

child does towards a parent, and know that you will

think of me as the best parent thinks concerning his

son. My load of Imperial favour is on my back. How

can I go far away or say a long farewell to so good a

King? Since you cannot fill fuller the glass already

full, and since a broken cart can no more be ridden,

my prayer is that your Majesty will behold how I

can no longer bear the burden of State and let me go

back to my native land to fill out my span of life and

sing for ever the Imperial praises."

The Emperor read this memorial and wrote the

reply with his own hand : " Your Excellency's great

office and influence have been a blessing to all the

people. Your experience has been of immense service

to the State. Your prestige and weight have held the

empire steady. In olden days Ta-kong and So-kong

aided the kingdom of Cho till they were nearly a

hundred, and helped in the minutest affairs of gov-

ernment. Your Excellency has not yet reached the

limit of age when office is laid down, and though

you excuse yourself and desire to retire I cannot

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The Cloud Dream of the Nine

grant it. The pines and the firs of the forest look with

contempt upon the snow and are strong in spirit,

while the willows have their leaves stripped from

them when they meet the cold winds, because they

are not courageous in soul. Your Excellency is of the

nature of the pine and the fir, how can you be anxious

concerning a fate similar to that of the willow and

the poplar ?

" As I behold you, you seem as young as ever ;

your strength has not diminished since the day you

first took office. It is as vigorous as it was when you

crossed the Wee Bridge to fight against the rebels.

Though you say you are old I do not accept it. By

all means change your attitude from that of So-boo

[45] and aid me in my government. This is my de-

cision."

The Master, when a disciple of the Buddha, had

received the mysteries of the doctrine from the

teacher on Nam-chon hills. He had there tasted its

refining influence, so that now, though his age was

far advanced, he still showed no signs of decay, and

the people referred to him as one of the immortals.

This is why the Emperor so worded his reply.

But the Master again memorialised the Throne so

earnestly that his Majesty called him and said :

" Your Excellency has so persuasively made request

to retire, that though my desire is on no account to

accede to you, still I find I must. If you should go far

away to your own state and reside there, there would

be no one to whom I could refer the more pressing

affairs of the kingdom. Now, also, that the Empress

Dowager has taken her departure to the distant

regions, how can I bear to part for so long from

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The Wine Punishment

Blossom and Orchid.? To the south of the city,

forty It distant, there is a special palace called the

Green Mountain Castle where King Hyon-jong used

to go to escape the hot season. It is quiet and retired

and is just such a place as old age could enjoy and

delight itself in.. I give this to you."

So he issued a proclamation making the Master

the honorary Chief of the Literati, and appointing to

him five thousand extra homes to exalt his rank,

while he relieved him of all the arduous duties of

active office.

289