三国演义英文版-第101部分

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〃I　am　too　dilatory；　too　fond　of　leisure　and　ease；　and　no　longer　have　any　ambitions。　But　I　will　see　you　another　time。〃
And　with　these　words　Cui　Zhouping　saluted　and　left。　The　three　brothers　also　mounted　and　started　homeward。
Presently　Zhang　Fei　said；　〃We　have　not　found　Zhuge　Liang；　and　we　have　had　to　listen　to　the　wild　ravings　of　this　so…called　scholar。　There　is　the　whole　result　of　this　journey。〃
〃His　words　were　those　of　a　deep　thinker；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
Some　days　after　the　return　to　Xinye；　Liu　Bei　sent　to　find　out　whether　Zhuge　Liang　had　returned；　and　the　messenger　came　back　saying　that　he　had。　Wherefore　Liu　Bei　prepared　for　another　visit。
Again　Zhang　Fei　showed　his　irritation　by　remarking；　〃Why　must　you　go　hunting　after　this　villager？　Send　and　tell　him　to　e。〃
〃Silence！〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃The　Teacher　Mencius　said；　'To　try　to　see　the　sage　without　going　his　way　is　like　barring　a　door　you　wish　to　enter。'　Zhuge　Liang　is　the　greatest　sage　of　the　day。　How　can　I　summon　him？〃
So　Liu　Bei　rode　away　to　make　his　visit；　his　two　brothers　with　him　as　before。　It　was　winter　and　exceedingly　cold。　Floating　clouds　covered　the　whole　sky。　Before　they　had　gone　far；　a　bitter　wind　began　to　blow　in　their　faces；　and　the　snow　began　to　fly。　Soon　the　mountains　were　of　jade　and　the　trees　of　silver。
〃It　is　very　cold　and　the　earth　is　frozen　hard；　no　fighting　is　possible　now；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃Yet　we　are　going　all　this　way　to　get　advice　which　will　be　useless　to　us。　Where　is　the　sense　of　it？　Let　us　rather　get　back　to　Xinye　out　of　the　cold。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　am　set　upon　proving　my　zeal　to　Zhuge　Liang。　But　if　you；　my　brother；　do　not　like　the　cold；　you　can　return。〃
〃I　do　not　fear　death：　Do　you　think　I　care　for　the　cold？　But　I　do　care　about　wasting　my　brother's　energies；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃Say　no　more；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　and　they　traveled　on。
When　they　drew　near　the　little　wood；　they　heard　singing　in　a　roadside　inn　and　stopped　to　listen。　This　was　the　song：

Although　possessed　of　talent　rare；
This　man　has　made　no　name；
Alas！　The　day　is　breaking　late
That　is　to　show　his　fame。
O　friends　you　know　the　Lu　Wang's　tale：
The　aged　man　constrained　to　leave
His　cottage　by　the　sea；
To　follow　in　a　prince's　train
His　counselor　to　be。
Eight　hundred　feudal　chieftains　met
Who　came　with　one　accord；
The　happy　omen；　that　white　fish；
That　leapt　the　boat　aboard；
The　gory　field　in　distant　wilds。
Whence　flowed　a　crimson　tide；
And　him　acknowledged　chief　in　war
Whose　virtues　none　denied；
That　Zhang　Liang；　a　Gaoyang　rustic；
Fond　of　wine；　who　left；　his　native　place
And　went　to　serve　so　faithfully
The　man　of　handsome　face；
And　one　who　spoke　of　ruling　chiefs
In　tones　so　bold　and　free；
But　sitting　at　the　festive　board
Was　full　of　courtesy；
And　one；　that　was　he　who　laid　in　dust
Walled　cities　near　four　score
But　humans　of　doughty　deeds　like　these
On　earth　are　seen　no　more。
Now　had　these　humans　not　found　their　lord
Would　they　be　known　to　fame？
Yet　having　found；　they　served　him　well
And　so　achieved　a　name。

The　song　ended；　the　singer's　panion　tapping　the　table　sang：

We　had　a　famous　founder；
Who　drew　his　shining　sword；
Cleansed　all　the　land　within　the　seas
And　made　himself　its　lord。
In　time　his　son　succeeded　him；
And　so　from　son　to　son
The　lordship　passed；　held　firm　until
Four　hundred　years　had　run。
Then　dawned　a　day　of　weaklier　sons；
The　fiery　virtue　failed；
Then　ministers　betrayed　their　trust；
Court　intrigues　vile　prevailed。
The　omens　came；　a　serpent
Coiled　on　the　dragon　throne；
While　in　the　hall　of　audience
Unholy　haloes　shone。
Now　bandits　swarm　in　all　the　land
And　noble　strives　with　chief；
The　mon　people；　sore　perplexed；
Can　nowhere　find　relief。
Let's　drown　our　sorrows　in　the　cup；
Be　happy　while　we　may；
Let　those　who　wish　run　after　fame
That　is　to　last　for　aye。

The　two　men　laughed　loud　and　clapped　their　hands　as　the　second　singer　ceased。　Liu　Bei　thought　full　surely　the　longed　for　sage　was　there；　so　he　dismounted　and　entered　the　inn。　He　saw　the　two　merry…makers　sitting　opposite　each　other　at　a　table。　One　was　pale　with　a　long　beard；　the　other　had　a　strikingly　refined　face。
Liu　Bei　saluted　them　and　said；　〃Which　of　you　is　Master　Sleeping　Dragon？〃
〃Who　are　you；　Sir？〃　asked　the　long…bearded　one。　〃What　business　have　you　with　Sleeping　Dragon？〃
〃I　am　Liu　Bei。　I　want　to　inquire　of　him　on　how　to　restore　tranquillity　to　the　world。〃
〃Well；　neither　of　us　is　your　man；　but　we　are　friends　of　his。　My　name　is　Shi　Guangyuan　and　my　friend　here　is　Meng　Gongwei。〃
〃I　know　you　both　by　reputation；〃　said　Liu　Bei　gladly。　〃I　am　indeed　fortunate　to　meet　you　in　this　haphazard　way。　Will　you　not　e　to　Sleeping　Dragon's　retreat　and　talk　for　a　time？　I　have　horses　here　for　you。〃
〃We　idle　folks　of　the　wilds　know　nothing　of　tranquilizing　states。　Please　do　not　trouble　to　ask。　Pray　mount　again　and　continue　searching　Sleeping　Dragon。〃
So　he　remounted　and　went　his　way。　He　reached　the　little　cottage；　dismounted；　and　tapped　at　the　door。　The　same　lad　answered　his　knock；　and　he　asked　whether　the　Master　had　returned。
〃He　is　in　his　room　reading；〃　said　the　boy。
Joyful　indeed　was　Liu　Bei　as　he　followed　the　lad　in。　In　front　of　the　middle　door　he　saw　written　this　pair　of　scrolls：

By　purity　inspire　the　inclination；
By　repose　affect　the　distant。

As　Liu　Bei　was　looking　at　this　couplet；　he　heard　someone　singing　in　a　subdued　voice　and　stopped　by　the　door　to　peep　in。　He　saw　a　young　man　close　to　a　charcoal　brazier；　hugging　his　knees　while　he　sang：

〃The　phoenix　dies　high；　O！
And　only　will　perch　on　a　magnolia　tree。
The　scholar　is　hidden；　O！
Till　his　lord　appear　he　can　patient　be。
He　tills　his　fields；　O！
He　is　well…content　and　loves　his　home；
He　awaits　his　day；　O！
His　books　and　his　lute　to　leave　and　roam。

As　the　song　ended　Liu　Bei　advanced　and　saluted；　saying；　〃Master；　long　have　I　yearned　for　you；　but　have　found　it　impossible　to　salute　you。　Lately　Water　Mirror　spoke　of　you　and　I　hastened　to　your　dwelling；　only　to　e　away　disappointed。　This　time　I　have　braved　the　elements　and　e　again　and　my　reward　is　here。　I　see　your　face；　and　I　am　indeed　fortunate。〃
The　young　man　hastily　returned　the　salute　and　said；　〃General；　you　must　be　that　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou　who　wishes　to　see　my　brother。〃
〃Then；　Master；　you　are　not　Sleeping　Dragon！〃　said　Liu　Bei；　starting　back。
〃I　am　his　younger　brother；　Zhuge　Jun。　He　has　another　elder　brother；　Zhuge　Jin；　now　with　Sun　Quan　in　the　South　Land　as　a　counselor。　Zhuge　Liang　is　the　second　of　our　family。〃
〃Is　your　brother　at　home？〃
〃Only　yesterday　he　arranged　to　go　a　jaunt　with　Cui　Zhouping。〃
〃Whither　have　they　gone？〃
〃Who　can　say？　They　may　take　a　boat　and　sail　away　among　the　lakes；　or　go　to　gossip　with　the　priests　in　some　remote　mountain　temple；　or　wander　off　to　visit　a　friend　in　some　far　away　village；　or　be　sitting　in　some　cave　with　a　lute　or　a　chessboard。　Their　goings　and　ings　are　uncertain　and　nobody　can　guess　at　them。〃
〃What　very　poor　luck　have　I！　Twice　have　I　failed　to　meet　the　great　sage。〃
〃Pray　sit　a　few　moments；　and　let　me　offer　you　some　tea。〃
〃Brother；　since　the　master　is　not　here；　I　pray　you　remount　and　go；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃Since　I　am　here；　why　not　a　little　talk　before　we　go　home　again？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Then　turning　to　his　host　he　continued；　〃Can　you　tell　me　if　your　worthy　brother　is　skilled　in　strategy　and　studies　works　on　war？〃
〃I　do　not　know。〃
Grumbled　Zhang　Fei；　〃The　wind　and　snow　are　getting　worse。　We　ought　to　go　back。〃
Liu　Bei　turned　on　him　angrily　and　told　him　to　stop。
Zhuge　Jun　said；　〃Since　my　brother　is　absent；　I　will　not　presume　to　detain　you　longer。　I　will　return　your　call　soon。〃
〃Please　do　not　take　that　trouble。　In　a　few　days　I　will　e　again。　But　if　I　could　borrow　paper　and　ink；　I　would　leave　a　note　to　show　your　worthy　brother　that　I　am　zealous　and　earnest。〃
Zhuge　Jun　produced　the　〃four　treasures〃　of　the　scholar；　and　Liu　Bei；　thawing　out　the　frozen　brush　between　his　lips；　spread　the　sheet　of　delicate　note…paper　and　wrote：
〃Liu　Bei　has　long　admired　your　fame。　He　has　visited　your　dwelling　twice；　but　to　his　great　regret　he　has　gone　empty　away。　He　humbly　remembers　that　he　is　a　distant　relative　of　the　Emperor；　that　he　has　undeservedly　enjoyed　fame　and　rank。　When　he　sees　the　proper　government　wrested　aside　and　replaced　by　pretense；　the　foundation　of　the　state　crumbling　away；　hordes　of　braves　creating　confusion　in　the　country；　and　an　evil　cabal　behaving　unseemly　toward　the　rightful　Prince；　then　his　heart　and　gall　are　torn　to　shreds。　Though　he　has　a　real　desire　to　assist；　yet　is　he　deficient　in　the　needful　skill。　Wherefore　he　turns　to　the　Master；　trusting　in　his　kindness；　graciousness；　loyalty；　and　righteousness。　Would　the　Master　but　use　his　talent；　equal　to　that　of　Lu　Wang；　and　perform　great　deeds　like　Zhang　Liang；　then　would　the　empire　be　happy　and　the　throne　would　be　secure。
〃This　is　written　to　tell　you　that；　after　purification　of　mind　with　fasting　and　of　body　with　fragrant　baths；　Liu　Bei　will　e　again　to　prostrate　himself　in　your　honored　presence　and　receive　enlightenment〃
The　letter　written　and　given　to　Zhuge　Jun；　Liu　Bei　took　his　leave；　exceedingly　disappointed　at　this　second　failure。
As　he　was　mounting；　he　saw　the　serving　lad　waving　his　hand　outside　the　hedge　and　heard　him　call　out；　〃The　old　Master　is　ing！〃
Liu　Bei　looked　and　then　saw　a　figure　seated　on　a　donkey　leisurely　jogging　along　over　a　bridge。
The　rider　of　the　donkey　wore　a　cap　with　long　flaps　down　to　his　shoulders；　and　his　body　was　wrapped　in　a　fox　fur　robe。　A　youth　followed　him　bearing　a　jar　of　wine。　As　he　came　through　the　snow　he　hummed　a　song：

〃This　is　eve；　the　sky　is　overcast；
The　north　wind　es　with　icy　blast；
Light　snowflakes　whirl　down　until
A　white　pall　covers　dale　and　hill。
Perhaps　above　the　topmost　sky
White　dragons　strive　for　mastery；
The　armor　scales　from　their　forms　riven
Are　scattered　over　the　world　wind…driven。
Amid　the　storm　there　jogs　along
A　simple　wight　who　croons　a　song。
'O　poor　plum　trees；　the　gale　doth　tear
Your　blossoms　off　and　leave　you　bare。'〃

〃Here　at　last　is　Sleeping　Dragon；〃　thought　Liu　Bei；　hastily　slipping　out　of　the　saddle。
He　saluted　the　donkey　rider　as　he　neared　and　said；　〃Master；　it　is　hard　to　make　way　against　this　cold　wind。　I　and　my　panions　have　been　waiting　long。〃
The　rider　got　off　his　donkey　and　returned　the　b