manners and society that we possessed; and Dr. Perey was not answerable for the imperfections of his materials. He was naturally puzzled by some parts of his manuscript, and expresses his surprise in notes at a number of incongruities, which, on a reference to the original, are not found to exist. In fact, at the distance of more than one hundred years since, for that is the date of the manuscript, no countryman of ours could possibly be competent to the task of translation; and the work in question appears evidently to have been taken down in great part from the mouth of a native, probably in the imperfect jargon of English spoken at Canton. The Fortunate Union' may be considered as a truer picture of existing Chinese manners, inasmuch as the hero espouses but one wife. It is not strictly true that their laws sanction polygamy, although they permit concubinage. A Chinese can have but one wife properly so called, who is distinguished by a title, espoused with ceremonies, and chosen from a rank of life, totally different from his handmaids, or mistresses, of whom he may have as many as he pleases; and though the offspring of the latter possess many of the rights of legitimacy (ranking however after the children of the wife), this circumstance makes little difference as to the truth of the position. Even in the present romance, the profligate rival of the hero aims at effecting his union with the heroine, only by setting aside his previous marriage with her cousin as informal. Any Chinese fiction therefore, and of these there are many, which describes a man espousing two wives, is in this respect no truer a picture of existing manners, than in respect to any other amusing or silly extravagance which it may happen to contain. These observations are not hastily made, being the result of careful examination and inquiry, and derived in China from native authorities; and the Fortunate Union' affords sufficient corroboration, were any required. The resolution of the unfortunate scholar to suffer death rather than allow his daughter to be degraded to the rank of a handmaid, even to a noble, and the attempt of the same noble, towards the conclusion of the story, to espouse the heroine as his wife, because he had just lost his former spouse, are abundant confirmation of what we advance. In fact, the wife is of equal rank with her husband by birth, and espoused with regular marriage ceremonies, possessing, moreover, certain legal rights,* such as they are the handmaid is bought for money, and received into the house like a mere domestic. The principle on which Chinese law and custom admit the offspring of concubinage to legitimate rights, is obvious,-the importance which attaches in that country to the securing of male descendants. *Staunton's Penal Code, under the head of Marriage. Many Many remarkable points of resemblance will be discovered between the Fortunate Union' and our own novels and romances at the present day. Every chapter is headed by a few verses bearing some relation to its contents, and some appropriate lines are occasionally introduced as embellishments to the story. After a corresponding fashion, too, with the designations of persons in our own favourite fictions, we should find on translating them literally, that most of the names in similar Chinese works have some allusion to the characters of those who bear them. Thus the hero of the Haoukewchuen is named from iron, (quasi Ironside); the literal import of the heroine's name is Icyhearted,' a term which in her country implies chaste, and not what we should call cold-hearted; her father's designation literally means dwelling in singleness of purpose,' which sufficiently expresses his inflexible character-and so of many other appellatives. The most advantageous point of comparison, however, lies in the spirit of the dialogue, for which the Fortunate Union' is distinguished above any Chinese work of the kind that we have ever met with; and we proceed to make some extracts from it. In the ninth chapter, the worthless uncle of the solitary and secluded heroine hears some false rumours to the disadvantage of the hero Teihchoongyu, and being a bitter enemy of his, proceeds with great glee to inform the young lady. "Niece," said he," have you heard the strange news?" She pleaded the retired life of a female in her situation as a sufficient reason for being ignorant of what was passing abroad. "Well, then," continued her uncle," you must know that when I advised you to marry Teihchoongyu I had the best opinion of his character; most fortunately, however, you refused steadily to give a hasty assent-your happiness would otherwise have been ruined for life!-Can you guess what sort of person he has proved himself to be?" "I know nothing of his birth and family," replied the young lady; "but from what I have observed of his conduct, it would plainly appear that he is a young man of extraordinary virtue." "Of extraordinary virtue, indeed!" exclaimed the other, impatiently; 66 you used to have some share of penetration once, niece!-what has become of it on this occasion?" But how has he belied his former character?" inquired Shueypingsin. "Why, he is nothing better than a practised seducer," replied her uncle. "I know not what schemes he might have had in view when he pretended sickness, and gained a lodging in this house; but you may consider it the height of good luck on your part that he was obliged, by the sound rating I gave him, to desist, and took his departure in an affected passion. The earthen pitcher, however, gets broken at last; and no sooner did he reach the neighbouring village, than he betrayed himself. "Pray what was it he did to betray himself?" asked the young lady.' He He now relates to her the story that he had heard, and takes care at the same time to put in some embellishments of his own. "Well," said his niece, smiling composedly, "let Teihchoongyu be what you say he is; it concerns myself no more than if the favourite disciple of Confucius had really been proved to be a murderer." "I know it does not concern you!" exclaimed he; "but this event shews how very difficult it is to be sure of a person's character on a short acquaintance; and that, to avoid the chance of being deceived, one's knowledge must be better founded than on a casual meeting." "In a matter with which I have so little concern," observed Shueypingsin," there is not much occasion to argue the point; but what you have been pleased to say, seems intended to ridicule my want of penetration in forming a wrong opinion of this young man. Did it relate to any person but himself, I should not think it worth while to say a word in reply; but, after the mutual services we have rendered each other, the slur you throw upon his character implies that our acquaintance was dishonest, and slanders my own reputation equally with his. I have, therefore, a good reason for repelling it." "I do not know," cried her uncle, "whether to be most angry or amused by what you say. I never had any cause of enmity towards this young man: what should make me slander him, then? He hap pens to be a libertine, and entices away a young woman. You live quietly at home, and know nothing about it; but the people near the magistrate's office report it to me-why blame me on their account? If you choose to say that you mistook his character, and that this was a thing you could not help, I can understand you; but if you attempt to maintain that he really is not guilty, I suspect all the water in the Yellow River will never wash him clean from the imputation." "If I think it worth while to maintain any thing," replied Shueypingsin," it will be that he is not what you call him, and that the whole is the slanderous invention of worthless people. You may then learn that I was not deceived in my good opinion. Any other point I do not think it necessary to argue." 66 My good niece, you are very obstinate," said Shueyun. "That he is guilty, has been proved by a number of witnesses. What is there for you to say on the subject ?" "You assert that it has been proved by witnesses," answered she; "and until we hear something authentic, I will not debate the point with you; but, judging from reason and principle, I must still maintain that this young man cannot be what you say; and though such a report may have gone abroad, (admitting that it be not a fabrication altogether,) there must yet be something more in it than has come to light; for, should he really prove to be guilty of the charge, I will engage to forfeit both my eyes to you." "Why, the woman he carried off has been apprehended in his company," exclaimed Shueyun, "and taken before the village officer, who transferred them both to his superior. They are now on trial-there can be no fabrication in this. Your attempt to vindicate his character, after matters have reached "It this point, proves only that you are blinded by excess of love." is vain attempting to persuade you at present, uncle," said the young lady; "but do not be too positive. Inquire a little farther, and you may arrive at the real truth."› The result is, as usual, the entire discomfiture and confusion of the unhappy uncle, whose character for low cunning, and mischievous intrigue, is in perfect keeping throughout; and the same remark applies to all the personages of the romance, of every 'description. We will give one more scene, from the fourteenth chapter. The hero Teihchoongyu discovers, by accident, that one of the emperor's generals, at present under sentence of death, in consequence of certain reverses which he had suffered on the frontier, is the victim of combinations and intrigues among his enemies, and full of resentment at such injustice, walks straight into the court which has condemned him, (of which our hero's father, by the way, is a member), and there stoutly pleads the leader's cause. The three members of the triple court had not ventured, after the emperor's approval of his minister's advice, to record their dissent. At the same time, however, that they confirmed the sentence of beheading, and waited only for the Imperial warrant to execute the same, they still felt a secret uneasiness at the prisoner's fate; and when a person was seen entering the court, and thus loudly addressing them, they experienced a mixed sensation of alarm at the disturbance, regret for their sentence, and resentment at the intrusion. Discovering, on a closer view, that it was Teihchoongyu, the other two members felt unwilling to be harsh; but his father struck the table with fury, and rated him in round terms, demanding how he presumed thus madly to address so high a court, assembled there by Imperial commission to decide on a capital case. "The laws admit of no private feelings," cried he, and ordered the intruder into custody; but Teihchoongyu loudly exclaimed, "My lord, you are mistaken! The emperor himself suspends the drum at his palace gate, and admits all to state their hardships without reserve: may I not be allowed to right the injured before this very tribunal of life and death?" "What have you to do with the prisoner," inquired his father, "that you should right his case?" "He is not even an acquaintance," replied Teihchoongyu. "I can have no reasons on his own account; but the difficulty of finding his substitute impels me to intercede for one who is so worthy of being the emperor's general." "The emperor's general must live or die as the emperor pleases," cried Teihying. "What concern is it of your's, that you may behave in this mad style?-Seize him instantly!" The attendants now stepped up to lay their hands on the young man; but the other two members of the court interfered, "Hold!" cried they-and calling him up to the judgment table, they pacified Teihchoongyu with good words. 666 Worthy ""Worthy friend, we do not blame your well-intentioned spirit; but the nation has its laws, judges their dignity, and prisoners their sentence. It is not allowable to intrude in this rude manner. The leader has already been imprisoned for more than a year, and Shueykeuyih, who recommended him, exiled on his account. His offences being proved by several concurrent authorities, how shall he now be found guiltless by his judges? The nation's laws, the judges' dignity, and the prisoner's case, alike forbid this! Admitting, however, that we proposed a mitigation of his punishment, it would be impossible to remit the heaviest part of the sentence.* But the minister has advised his decapitation-the emperor has assented-how, then, shall we attempt to oppose it?" "Alas," replied Teihchoongyu, sighing, "your lordship's words Iwould better become those worthless ministers who abandon what is right for the sake of their places, their emoluments, or their personal safety they pertain not to that disinterested spirit which identifies your country's welfare with your own! Were the truth as you state it, the lowest capacity might be more than sufficient to conduct the business of the state: what need of personages of your lordship's weight to minister for the sovereign! Let me ask you, what meant that saying of the arcient emperor, Thrice be death delayed,'† or of the ancient minister, In three cases only be death inflexibly awarded?' Your reasonings, if true, would go far to deprive these sacred characters of their reputation for wisdom." 'The two other judges answered not a word, but his father broke silence, "Foolish boy, say no more! This man's death is inevitable." Teihchoongyu, however, rejoined with warmth, "Brave men and worthy leaders are the rare productions of heaven: if your lordships are inflexible, and persist in condemning Howheaou to death, let me entreat you to condemn me with him!" "But his guilt and incapacity have been proved," said Teihying, "it is only condemning a worthless servant: is there anything extraordinary in that?" "Men's capacities are not so easily known," said his son; "the courage and ability of this leader are such, that, if he be re-appointed to the frontier, he shall prove another wall of a thousand leagues'-no hero of the age may compare with him.” "Allowing his capacity to be great," observed the father, "his delinquency is still greater. The ablest leaders," said Teichoongyu," must ever be liable to * That is, he must be strangled, if not beheaded. The well known prejudice of the Chinese against the mutilation or dismemberment of the body, renders the sentence of decapitation much more terrible to them than strangulation. It is evidently to a feeling somewhat similar among his own countrymen, that Juvenal alludes when, speaking of the fate of Pompey, he adds, 'Hoc cruciatu Lentulus, hâc pœnâ caruit, ceciditque Cethegus Integer, et jacuit Catilina cadavere toto.' + Such is the actual practice, in ordinary cases, at the present day: first, by the local magistrate, who refers to the provincial judge; next, by the provincial judge, who refers to the criminal tribunal; lastly, by the criminal tribunal, which refers to the emperor. The Chinese name for their great wall. |