Hung Lou Meng - book 1 | Page 5

brought
away?" he heard the Taoist inquire. To this question the Buddhist
replied with a smile: "Set your mind at ease," he said; "there's now in
maturity a plot of a general character involving mundane pleasures,
which will presently come to a denouement. The whole number of the
votaries of voluptuousness have, as yet, not been quickened or entered
the world, and I mean to avail myself of this occasion to introduce this
object among their number, so as to give it a chance to go through the
span of human existence." "The votaries of voluptuousness of these
days will naturally have again to endure the ills of life during their
course through the mortal world," the Taoist remarked; "but when, I
wonder, will they spring into existence? and in what place will they
descend?"

"The account of these circumstances," the bonze ventured to reply, "is
enough to make you laugh! They amount to this: there existed in the
west, on the bank of the Ling (spiritual) river, by the side of the San
Sheng (thrice-born) stone, a blade of the Chiang Chu (purple pearl)
grass. At about the same time it was that the block of stone was,
consequent upon its rejection by the goddess of works, also left to
ramble and wander to its own gratification, and to roam about at
pleasure to every and any place. One day it came within the precincts
of the Ching Huan (Monitory Vision) Fairy; and this Fairy, cognizant
of the fact that this stone had a history, detained it, therefore, to reside
at the Ch'ih Hsia (purple clouds) palace, and apportioned to it the duties
of attendant on Shen Ying, a fairy of the Ch'ih Hsia palace.
"This stone would, however, often stroll along the banks of the Ling
river, and having at the sight of the blade of spiritual grass been filled
with admiration, it, day by day, moistened its roots with sweet dew.
This purple pearl grass, at the outset, tarried for months and years; but
being at a later period imbued with the essence and luxuriance of
heaven and earth, and having incessantly received the moisture and
nurture of the sweet dew, divested itself, in course of time, of the form
of a grass; assuming, in lieu, a human nature, which gradually became
perfected into the person of a girl.
"Every day she was wont to wander beyond the confines of the Li Hen
(divested animosities) heavens. When hungry she fed on the Pi Ch'ing
(hidden love) fruit--when thirsty she drank the Kuan ch'ou (discharged
sorrows,) water. Having, however, up to this time, not shewn her
gratitude for the virtue of nurture lavished upon her, the result was but
natural that she should resolve in her heart upon a constant and
incessant purpose to make suitable acknowledgment.
"I have been," she would often commune within herself, "the recipient
of the gracious bounty of rain and dew, but I possess no such water as
was lavished upon me to repay it! But should it ever descend into the
world in the form of a human being, I will also betake myself thither,
along with it; and if I can only have the means of making restitution to
it, with the tears of a whole lifetime, I may be able to make adequate

return."
"This resolution it is that will evolve the descent into the world of so
many pleasure-bound spirits of retribution and the experience of
fantastic destinies; and this crimson pearl blade will also be among the
number. The stone still lies in its original place, and why should not
you and I take it along before the tribunal of the Monitory Vision Fairy,
and place on its behalf its name on record, so that it should descend
into the world, in company with these spirits of passion, and bring this
plot to an issue?"
"It is indeed ridiculous," interposed the Taoist. "Never before have I
heard even the very mention of restitution by means of tears! Why
should not you and I avail ourselves of this opportunity to likewise go
down into the world? and if successful in effecting the salvation of a
few of them, will it not be a work meritorious and virtuous?"
"This proposal," remarked the Buddhist, "is quite in harmony with my
own views. Come along then with me to the palace of the Monitory
Vision Fairy, and let us deliver up this good-for-nothing object, and
have done with it! And when the company of pleasure-bound spirits of
wrath descend into human existence, you and I can then enter the world.
Half of them have already fallen into the dusty universe, but the whole
number of them have not, as yet, come together."
"Such being the case," the Taoist acquiesced, "I am ready to follow