Chinese Literature

he heard a great hubbub in the street, and throwing open the window to look out he heard many people shouting: ‘“There’s a fire at Chingting Bridge!”

- Not stopping to finish his wine, he and his companions ran downstairs and out into the street, where they saw a great fire:

First smouldering like glowworm’s light, It soon flared up like torches bright, Outshone a thousand candles’ glare

And made a blaze that filled the air, As tf whole mountains had been burned, Or Heaven’s furnace overturned!

So fierce was the fire!

“That’s not far from our palace!” exclaimed Tsui.

He ran back to the palace, only to find that everything had been moved out and the whole place was deserted. Unable to find a soul, he was heading down the left corridor in the bright glare of the fire, when a woman reeled out from the hall, muttering to herself, and collided with him. Recognizing MHsiu-hsiu, Tsui stepped back and murmured an apology.

The prince had formerly promised Tsui: “When Hsiu-hsiu has served her term, I shall marry her to you.’ All the attendants had congratulated him, saying: ‘You will make a fine couple!” and Tsui had thanked the prince. He was a bachelor and had taken a fancy to the girl, while he was such a fine young man that Hsiu-hsiu wanted him for her husband too.

Now, during this confusion, here was Hsiu-hsiu coming down the left corridor with a handkerchief full of gold and jewels in her hand. When she bumped into Tsui, she said: “Master Tsui, I’ve been left behind! All the maids have run off, so there is no one to look after me. You must find me some place to stay.”

Tsui accompanied her out of the palace, and they walked along the river bank until they came to Lime Bridge. Then the girl said: “Oh, Master Tsui, my feet do hurt so! I can’t go any further.”

Tsui pointed to a nearby house and said: ‘My home is only a few

steps from here. You can rest there.” So they went into his house and sat down.

“Tam ever so hungry,” said Hsiu-hsiu again. “Do buy me some cakes to eat. And, after the fright I’ve had, a little wine would do me a world of good.”

Tsui thereupon bought some wine, and they drank a few cups together. And:

”

After the girl three cups of wine had drained, Her downy cheeks two crimson blossoms stained.

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