三国演义英文版-第119章

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And　him　another　dragon　bore。
The　Tan　still　rolls　from　east　to　west。
Its　roaring　torrent　never　dry。
Those　dragons　twain；　ah！　Where　are　they？
Yes；　where？　But　there　is　no　reply。
The　setting　sun；　in　dark　relief
Against　the　glowing　western　sky。
Throws　out　the　everlasting　hills
While；　saddened；　here　I　stand　and　sigh。
Humans　died　to　found　the　kingdoms　three；
Which　now　as　misty　dreams　remain。
Of　greatest　deeds　the　traces　oft
Are　faint　that　fleeting　years　retain。

Thus　Liu　Bei　crossed　the　rolling　river。　Then　he　turned　and　looked　back　at　the　other　bank　which　his　pursuers　had　just　gained。
〃Why　did　you　run　sway　from　the　feast？〃　called　out　Cai　Mao。
〃Why　did　you　wish　to　harm　a　person　who　has　done　you　no　injury？〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
〃I　have　never　thought　of　such　a　thing。　Do　not　listen　to　what　people　say　to　you。〃
But　Liu　Bei　saw　that　his　enemy　was　fitting　an　arrow　to　his　bowstring；　so　he　whipped　up　his　steed　and　rode　away　southwest。
〃What　spirits　aided　him？〃　said　Cai　Mao　to　his　followers。
Then　Cai　Mao　turned　to　go　back　to　the　city；　but　in　the　gate　he　saw　Zhao　Yun　ing　out　at　the　head　of　his　pany　of　guards。

By　wondrous　leap　the　dragon　steed　his　rider's　life　could　save；
Now　follows　him；　on　vengeance　bent；　his　master's　henchman　brave。

The　next　chapters　will　tell　what　fate　befell　the　traitor。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　35　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　35
　Chapter　35
Liu　Bei　Meets　A　Recluse　At　Nanzhang；
Shan　Fu　Sees　A　Noble　Lord　At　Xinye。
Just　as　Cai　Mao　was　going　into　the　city；　he　met　Zhao　Yun　and　his　three　hundred　ing　out。　It　had　happened　that；　while　at　the　banquet；　Zhao　Yun　had　noticed　some　movement　of　soldiers　and　horses　and　had　at　once　gone　to　the　banquet…hall　to　see　if　all　was　well　with　his　lord。　Missing　Liu　Bei　from　his　place；　Zhao　Yun　had　bee　anxious　and　gone　to　the　guest…house。　There　he　heard　that　Cai　Mao　had　gone　off　to　the　west　gate　with　troops。　So　he　quickly　took　his　spear；　mounted　and　went；　he　and　the　escort；　in　hot　haste　along　the　same　road。
Meeting　Cai　Mao　near　the　gate；　he　said；　〃Where　is　my　lord？〃
〃He　left　the　banquet…hall　quite　suddenly；　and　I　know　not　whither　he　has　gone；〃　was　the　reply。
Now　Zhao　Yun　was　cautious　and　careful　and　had　no　desire　to　act　hastily；　so　he　urged　his　horse　forward　till　he　came　to　the　river。　There　he　was　checked　by　a　torrent　without　ford　or　bridge。
At　once　he　turned　back　and　shouted　after　Cai　Mao；　〃You　invited　my　lord　to　a　feast。　What　means　this　going　after　him　with　a　squadron　of　horse？〃
Cai　Mao　replied；　〃It　is　my　duty　to　guard　the　officials　of　forty…two　counties　who　have　assembled　here；　as　I　am　the　Chief　mander。〃
〃Whither　have　you　driven　my　lord？〃　asked　Zhao　Yun。
〃They　tell　me　he　rode　quite　alone　out　through　the　west　gate；　but　I　have　not　seen　him。〃
Zhao　Yun　was　anxious　and　doubtful。　Again　he　rode　to　the　river　and　looked　around。　This　time　he　noticed　a　wet　track　on　the　farther　side。　He　thought　to　himself　that　it　was　almost　an　impossible　crossing　for　a　person　and　a　horse；　so　he　ordered　his　followers　to　scatter　and　search。　But　they　also　could　find　no　trace　of　Liu　Bei。
Zhao　Yun　turned　again　to　the　city。　By　the　time　he　had　reached　the　wall；　Cai　Mao　had　gone　within。　He　then　questioned　the　gate　wardens；　and　they　all　agreed　in　saying　that　Liu　Bei　had　ridden　out　at　full　gallop。　That　was　all　they　knew。　Fearing　to　reenter　the　city　lest　he　should　fall　into　an　ambush；　Zhao　Yun　started　for　Xinye。
After　that　marvelous　life…saving　leap　over　the　Tan　Torrent；　Liu　Bei　felt　elated　but　rather　dazed。
He　could　not　help　telling　himself；　〃My　safety　is　due　to　an　especial　interposition　of　Providence。〃
Following　a　tortuous　path；　he　urged　his　steed　toward　Nanzhang。　But　the　sun　sank　to　the　west　and　his　destination　seemed　yet　a　long　way　off。　Then　he　saw　a　young　cowherd　seated　on　the　back　of　a　buffalo　and　playing　on　a　short　flute。
〃If　I　were　only　as　happy！〃　sighed　Liu　Bei。
He　checked　his　horse　and　looked　at　the　lad；　who　stopped　his　beast；　ceased　playing　on　the　pipe；　and　stared　fixedly　at　the　stranger。
〃You　must　be　Liu　Bei；　the　general　who　fought　the　Yellow　Scarves；〃　said　the　boy　presently。
Liu　Bei　was　taken　aback。
〃How　can　you　know　my　name；　a　young　rustic　like　you　living　in　such　a　secluded　place？〃　said　he。
〃Of　course　I　do　not　know　you；　but　my　master　often　has　visitors；　and　they　all　talk　about　Liu　Bei；　the　tall　man　whose　hands　hang　down　below　his　knees　and　whose　eyes　are　very　prominent。　They　say　he　is　the　most　famous　man　of　the　day。　Now　you；　General；　are　just　such　a　man　as　they　talk　about；　and　surely　you　are　he。〃
〃Well；　who　is　your　master？〃
〃My　master's　name　is　Sima　Hui。　He　belongs　to　Yingchuan　and　his　Taoist　appellation　is　Water　Mirror。〃
〃Who　are　your　master's　friends　that　you　mentioned？〃
〃They　are　Pang　Degong　and　Pang　Tong　of　Xiangyang。〃
〃And　who　are　they？〃
〃Uncle　and　nephew。　Pang　Degong　is　ten　years　older　than　my　master；　the　other　is　five　years　younger。　One　day　my　master　was　up　in　a　tree　picking　mulberries　when　Pang　Tong　arrived。　They　began　to　talk　and　kept　it　up　all　day；　my　master　did　not　e　down　till　the　evening。　My　master　is　very　fond　of　Pang　Tong　and　calls　him　brother。〃
〃And　where　does　your　master　live？〃
〃In　that　wood　there；　in　front；〃　said　the　cowherd　pointing　to　it。　〃There　he　has　a　farmstead。〃
〃I　really　am　Liu　Bei；　and　you　might　lead　me　to　your　master　that　I　may　salute　him。〃
The　cowherd　led　the　way　for　about　one　mile；　when　Liu　Bei　found　himself　in　front　of　a　farm　house。　He　dismounted　and　went　to　the　center　door。　Suddenly　came　to　his　ear　the　sound　of　a　lute　most　skillfully　played　and　the　air　was　extremely　beautiful。　He　stopped　his　guide　and　would　not　allow　him　to　announce　a　visitor；　but　stood　there　rapt　by　the　melody。
Suddenly　the　music　ceased。
He　heard　a　deep　laugh　and　a　man　appeared；　saying；　〃Amidst　the　clear　and　subtle　sounds　of　the　lute；　there　suddenly　rang　out　a　high　note　as　though　some　noble　man　was　near。〃
〃That　is　my　master；〃　said　the　lad　pointing。
Liu　Bei　saw　before　him　a　figure　slender　and　straight　as　a　pine　tree；　a　very　〃chosen　vessel〃。　Hastening　forward　he　saluted。　The　skirt　of　his　robe　was　still　wet　from　the　river。
〃You　have　escaped　from　a　grave　danger　today；　Sir；〃　said　Water　Mirror。
Liu　Bei　was　startled　into　silence；　and　the　cowherd　said　to　his　master；　〃This　is　Liu　Bei。〃
Water　Mirror　asked　him　to　enter；　and　when　they　were　seated　in　their　relative　positions　as　host　and　guest；　Liu　Bei　glanced　round　the　room。　Upon　the　bookshelves　were　piled　books　and　manuscripts。　The　window　opened　upon　an　exquisite　picture　of　pines　and　bamboos　and　a　lute　lay　upon　a　stone　couch。　The　room　showed　refinement　in　its　last　degree。
〃Whence　e　you；　Illustrious　Sir？〃　asked　the　host。
〃By　chance　I　was　passing　this　way　and　the　lad　pointed　you　out　to　me。　So　I　came　to　bow　in　your　honored　presence。　I　cannot　tell　what　pleasure　it　gives　me。〃
Water　Mirror　laughed；　saying；　〃Why　this　mystery？　Why　must　you　conceal　the　truth？　You　have　certainly　just　escaped　from　a　grave　danger。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　told　the　story　of　the　banquet　and　the　flight。
〃I　knew　it　all　from　your　appearance；〃　said　his　host。　〃Your　name　has　long　been　familiar；　but　whence　es　it　that；　up　to　the　present；　you　are　only　a　homeless　devil？〃
〃I　have　suffered　many　a　check　during　my　life；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃and　through　one　of　them　am　I　here　now。〃
〃It　should　not　be　so。　But　the　reason　is　that　you　still　lack　the　one　person　to　aid　you。〃
〃I　am　simple　enough　in　myself；　I　know。　But　I　have　Sun　Qian；　Mi　Zhu；　and　Jian　Yong　on　the　civil　side；　and　for　warriors　I　have　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Zhao　Yun。　These　are　all　most　loyal　helpers；　and　I　depend　upon　them　not　a　little。〃
〃Your　fighting　generals　are　good：　Fit　to　oppose　a　legion。　The　pity　is　you　have　no　really　able　adviser。　Your　civilians　are　but　pallid　students　of　books；　not　people　fitted　to　weave　and　control　destiny。〃
〃I　have　always　yearned　to　find　one　of　those　marvelous　recluses　who　live　among　the　hills　till　their　day　arrive。　So　far　I　have　sought　in　vain。〃
〃You　know　what　the　Teacher　Confucius　said；　'In　a　hamlet　of　ten　households　there　must　be　one　true　person。'　Can　you　say　there　is　no　one？〃
〃I　am　simple　and　uninstructed。　I　pray　you　enlighten　me。〃
〃You　have　heard　what　the　street　children　sing：

〃In　eight　and　nine　years　begins　decay；
Four　years；　then　es　the　fateful　day；
When　de