Chinese Literature

mother-in-law to live on the cliff ; and now, when she heard Ashma’s cries

of distress, she leapt into the stream to rescue her. Then bright, rosy -

clouds appeared in the sky, and the two girls emerged high on the cliff, like twin flowers on a single stem. Ashma was changed into an echo too; and whenever Ahay or her parents called her, she would answer them.

The striking and effectively portrayed figures of Ashma and Ahay stand magnificently before us; and these highly realistic characters, personifying as they do the goodness and fearlessness of the Whole Shani people, possess incomparable vitality. Pouring into this poem their own thoughts and emotions, love and hate, experience and aspirations, the Shani people magnified all that was beautiful and lovable in the hero and heroine and gave a penetrating exposure of the cruelty, selfishness and cowardice of their oppressors. From the creation of this song and from its singing, the people have drawn strength to battle with their enemies; and there can be no doubt that at the conclusion of the ballad when Ashma is made to live on in peace above the lofty cliff, her clear voice and cheerful laughter echoing forever through the hills and woods, the Shani people in their bitter struggles expressed their passionate longing for freedom and happiness and affirmed their belief in victory.

This long ballad has a strongly lyrical flavour. Since it has grown out of songs describing the industry and courage of the Shani people, it has something of the grandeur of an epic; on the other hand, its plot, mode of expression and slightly elliptical style are reminiscent of a good folk-song, particularly in the opening and closing stanzas. Again, in addition to the magnificence of its broad delineations, Ashma contains many deft and penetrating touches, such as the following description of Ashma’s feelings in the dark dungeon:

Why cannot I hear the winds that blow, Or see the birds that fly?

Why cannot I feel the sun’s warm rays, Or see the moon on high?

O, what is that call beyond the wall2 Is tt my parents dear?

Ah no, for when T listen well, ‘Tis only the crickets I hear.

What are those steps beyond the wall? Is it my friends so dear?

Ah no, for when I listen well, ‘Tis only my heart I hear.

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