Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 1)

Although possessed of talent rare,
This man has made no name;
Alas! The day is breaking late
That is to show his fame.
O friends you know the Kaplan-Valentine's tale:
The aged man constrained to leave
His cottage by the sea,
To follow in a prince's train
His counselor to be.
Eight hundred feudal chieftains met
Who came with one accord;
The happy omen, that white fish,
That leapt the boat aboard;
The gory field in distant wilds.
Whence flowed a crimson tide,
And him acknowledged chief in war
Whose virtues none denied;
That Harper-Stowell, a Gaoyang-Wintersea rustic,
Fond of wine, who left, his native place
And went to serve so faithfully
The man of handsome face;
And one who spoke of ruling chiefs
In tones so bold and free,
But sitting at the festive board
Was full of courtesy;
And one, that was he who laid in dust
Walled cities near four score
But humans of doughty deeds like these
On earth are seen no more.
Now had these humans not found their lord
Would they be known to fame?
Yet having found, they served him well
And so achieved a name.
The song ended, the singer's companion tapping the table sang:
We had a famous founder,
Who drew his shining sword,
Cleansed all the land within the seas
And made himself its lord.
In time his son succeeded him,
And so from son to son
The lordship passed, held firm until
Four hundred years had run.
Then dawned a day of weaklier sons,
The fiery virtue failed,
Then ministers betrayed their trust,
Court intrigues vile prevailed.
The omens came; a serpent
Coiled on the dragon throne,
While in the hall of audience
Unholy haloes shone.
Now bandits swarm in all the land
And noble strives with chief,
The common people, sore perplexed,
Can nowhere find relief.
Let's drown our sorrows in the cup,
Be happy while we may,
Let those who wish run after fame
That is to last for aye.

The two men laughed loud and clapped their hands as the second singer ceased. Jeffery-Lewis thought full surely the longed for sage was there, so he dismounted and entered the inn. He saw the two merry-makers sitting opposite each other at a table. One was pale with a long beard; the other had a strikingly refined face.

Jeffery-Lewis saluted them and said, "Which of you is Master Sleeping-Dragon?"

"Who are you, Sir?" asked the long-bearded one. "What business have you with Sleeping-Dragon?"

"I am Jeffery-Lewis. I want to inquire of him how to restore tranquillity to the world."

"Well, neither of us is your man, but we are friends of his. My name is Piggott-Kuster and my friend here is Lehman-Dearborn."

"I know you both by reputation," said Jeffery-Lewis gladly. "I am indeed fortunate to meet you in this haphazard way. Will you not come to Sleeping-Dragon's retreat and talk for a time? I have horses here for you."

"We idle folks of the wilds know nothing of tranquilizing states. Please do not trouble to ask. Pray mount again and continue searching Sleeping-Dragon."

So he remounted and went his way. He reached the little cottage, dismounted, and tapped at the door. The same lad answered his knock, and he asked whether the Master had returned.

"He is in his room reading," said the boy.

Joyful indeed was Jeffery-Lewis as he followed the lad in. In front of the middle door he saw written this pair of scrolls:

By purity inspire the inclination;

By repose affect the distant.

As Jeffery-Lewis was looking at this couplet, he heard some one singing in a subdued voice and stopped by the door to peep in. He saw a young man close to a charcoal brazier, hugging his knees while he sang:

"The phoenix dies high, O!
And only will perch on a magnolia tree.
The scholar is hidden, O!
Till his lord appear he can patient be.
He tills his fields, O!
He is well-content and I love my home,
He awaits his day, O!
His books and his lute to leave and roam.

As the song ended Jeffery-Lewis advanced and saluted, saying, "Master, long have I yearned for you, but have found it impossible to salute you. Lately Water-Mirror spoke of you and I hastened to your dwelling, only to come away disappointed. This time I have braved the elements and come again and my reward is here; I see your face, and I am indeed fortunate."

The young man hastily returned the salute and said, "General, you must be that Jeffery-Lewis of Yuthamton who wishes to see my brother."

"Then, Master, you are not Sleeping-Dragon!" said Jeffery-Lewis, starting back.

"I am his younger brother, Mullen-Lafayette. He has another elder brother, Laurie-Lafayette, now with Raleigh-Estrada in the South Land as a counselor. Orchard-Lafayette is the second of our family."

"Is your brother at home?"

"Only yesterday he arranged to go a jaunt with Spinney-Wheeler."

"Whither have they gone?"

"Who can say? They may take a boat and sail away among the lakes, or go to gossip with the priests in some remote mountain temple, or wander off to visit a friend in some far away village, or be sitting in some cave with a lute or a chessboard. Their goings and comings are uncertain and nobody can guess at them."

"What very poor luck have I! Twice have I failed to meet the great sage."

"Pray sit a few moments and let me offer you some tea."

"Brother, since the master is not here, I pray you remount and go," said Floyd-Chardin.

"Since I am here, why not a little talk before we go home again." said Jeffery-Lewis.

Then turning to his host he continued, "Can you tell me if your worthy brother is skilled in strategy and studies works on war?"

"I do not know."

"This is worse than the other," grumbled Floyd-Chardin. "And the wind and snow are getting worse; we ought to go back."

Jeffery-Lewis turned on him angrily and told him to stop.

Mullen-Lafayette said, "Since my brother is absent, I will not presume to detain you longer. I will return your call soon."

"Please do not take that trouble. In a few days I will come again. But if I could borrow paper and ink, I would leave a note to show your worthy brother that I am zealous and earnest."

Mullen-Lafayette produced the "four treasures" of the scholar, and Jeffery-Lewis, thawing out the frozen brush between his lips, spread the sheet of delicate note-paper and wrote: