三国演义英文版-第21部分

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was　met　at　the　gate　by　Wang　Yun　himself　and　within　found　a　table　full　of　dainties　for　his　delectation。　He　was　conducted　into　the　private　apartments　and　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor。
Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　am　but　a　simple　officer　in　the　palace　of　a　minister。　You　are　an　exalted　officer　of　state。　Why　am　I　treated　thus？〃
〃Because　in　the　whole　land　there　is　no　hero　your　equal。　Poor　Wang　Yun　bows　not　to　an　officer's　rank；　poor　Wang　Yun　bows　to　his　ability　〃
This　gratified　Lu　Bu　mightily；　and　his　host　continued　to　praise　and　flatter　and　ply　him　with　wine　and　to　talk　of　the　virtues　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　his　henchman。
Lu　Bu　laughed　and　drank　huge　goblets。
Presently　most　of　the　attendants　were　sent　away；　only　a　few　kept　to　press　the　guest　to　drink。
When　the　guest　was　very　mellow；　Wang　Yun　suddenly　said；　〃Let　her　e　in！〃
Soon　appeared　two　attendants；　dressed　in　white；　leading　between　them　the　exquisite　and　fascinating　Diao　Chan。
〃Who　is　this？〃　said　Lu　Bu　startled　into　sobriety。
〃This　is　my　little　girl；　Diao　Chan。　You　will　not　be　annoyed　at　my　familiarity；　will　you？　But　you　have　been　so　very　friendly；　I　thought　you　would　like　to　see　her。〃
Wang　Yun　bade　Diao　Chan　present　a　goblet　of　wine；　and　her　eyes　met　those　of　the　warrior。
Wang　Yun　feigning　intoxication　said；　〃My　little　child　begs　you；　General；　to　take　a　cup　or　two。　We　all　depend　upon　you；　all　our　house。〃
Lu　Bu　begged　Diao　Chan　to　sit　down。　She　pretended　to　wish　to　retire。　Her　master　pressed　her　to　remain；　saying　that　she　might　do　so　since　the　guest　was　a　dear　friend。　So　she　took　a　seat　modestly　near　her　master。
Lu　Bu　kept　his　gaze　fixed　upon　the　maid；　while　he　swallowed　cup　after　cup　of　wine。
〃I　should　like　to　present　her　to　you　as　a　handmaid：　Would　you　accept？〃　said　Wang　Yun。
The　guest　started　up。
〃If　that　is　so；　you　may　rely　upon　my　abject　gratitude；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃We　will　choose　a　propitious　day　ere　long　and　send　her　to　the　palace。〃
Lu　Bu　was　overjoyed。　He　could　not　keep　his　eyes　off　Diao　Chan；　and　loving　glances　flashed　from　her　liquid　eyes。
However　the　time　came　for　the　guest　to　leave；　and　Wang　Yun　said；　〃I　would　ask　you　to　remain　the　night；　but　the　Prime　Minister　might　suspect　something。〃
Lu　Bu　thanked　him　again　and　again　and　departed。
Some　few　days　later　when　Wang　Yun　was　at　court　and　Lu　Bu　was　absent；　Wang　Yun　bowed　low　before　Dong　Zhuo　and　said；　〃I　wish　that　you　would　deign　to　e　to　dine　at　my　lowly　cottage：　Could　your　noble　thought　bend　that　way？〃
〃Should　you　invite　me；　I　would　certainly　hasten；〃　was　the　reply。
Wang　Yun　thanked　him。　Then　Wang　Yun　went　home　and　prepared　in　the　reception　hall　a　feast　in　which　figured　every　delicacy　from　land　and　sea。　Beautiful　embroideries　surrounded　the　chief　seat　in　the　center；　and　elegant　curtains　were　hung　within　and　without。　At　noon　next　day；　when　the　Prime　Minister　arrived；　Wang　Yun　met　him　at　the　gate　in　full　court　costume。　Wang　Yun　stood　by　while　Dong　Zhuo　stepped　out　of　his　chariot；　and　Dong　Zhuo　and　a　host　of　one　hundred　armed　guards　crowded　into　the　hall。　Dong　Zhuo　took　his　seat　at　the　top；　his　suite　fell　into　two　lines　right　and　left；　while　Wang　Yun　stood　humbly　at　the　lower　end。　Dong　Zhuo　bade　his　people　conduct　Wang　Yun　to　a　place　beside　himself。

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tang's　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　Soon　after　Tai　Jia；　King　Tang's　grandson；　ascended　the　throne；　he　mitted　many　faults；　and　Yi　Yin；　acting　as　regent；　exiled　Tai　Jia　to　Tong　Palace………the　burial　place　of　King　Tang。　After　three　years　Yi　Yin　returned　him　the　throne。　Tai　Jia　eventually　became　an　enlightened　emperor。　Shang　Dynasty　lasted　for　650　years　（BC　1700…1050）。　It　was　this　act　of　Yi　Yin　rather　than　his　services　in　building　up　an　empire　that　has　made　him　immortal。　Whether　he　did　right　in　temporarily　dethroning　the　king　was　open　to　question；　until　a　final　verdict　was　rendered　by　Mencius　who　thought　that　his　ends　amply　justified　his　means。　This　historical　event　attests　the　extent　of　the　power　exercised　by　a　prime　minister　in　those　days。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Duke　of　Zhou　was　brother　of　King　Wu；　who　was　the　founder　of　Zhou　Dynasty。　After　King　Wu's　death；　the　Duke　of　Zhou　served　his　young　son　as　regent。　The　Duke　of　Zhou　pletely　ended　the　Shang　domination；　and　he　helped　establish　the　Zhou　administrative　framework；　which　served　as　a　model　for　future　Chinese　dynasties。　Zhou　Dynasty　lasted　for　800　years　（BC　1050…221）。　。。。。。
＇e＇　King　Yao；　King　Shun；　and　King　Yu　（BC　2400…2200）　were　the　three　ideal　rulers　in　ancient　China。　They　ascended　the　throne　by　their　virtues　and　merits；　and　not　by　heritage。　King　Yu　was　also　the　founder　of　the　Xia　Dynasty。　。。。。。
Said　Wang　Yun；　〃The　great　Prime　Minister's　abundant　virtue　is　as　the　high　mountains。　Neither　the　ancient　sages………Yi　Yin*　and　the　Duke　of　Zhou*………could　attain　thereto。〃
Dong　Zhuo　smiled。　They　bore　in　the　dishes　and　the　wine；　and　the　music　began。　Wang　Yun　plied　his　guest　with　assiduous　flattery　and　studied　deference。　When　it　grew　late　and　the　wine　had　done　its　work；　Dong　Zhuo　was　invited　to　the　inner　chamber。　So　he　sent　away　his　guards　and　went。
Here　the　host　raised　a　goblet　and　drank　to　his　guest；　saying；　〃From　my　youth　up　I　have　understood　something　of　astrology　and　have　been　studying　the　aspect　of　the　heavens。　I　read　that　the　days　of　Han　are　numbered；　and　that　the　great　Prime　Minister's　merits　mand　the　regard　of　all　the　world；　as　when　King　Shun　succeeded　King　Yao；　and　King　Yu　continued　the　work　of　King　Shun*；　all　by　the　strength　of　their　own　merits；　conforming　to　the　mind　of　Heaven　and　the　desire　of　people。〃
〃How　dare　I　expect　this？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
〃From　the　days　of　old；　those　who　walk　in　the　way　have　replaced　those　who　deviate　therefrom；　those　who　lack　virtue　have　fallen　before　those　who　possess　it。　Can　one　escape　fate？〃
〃If　indeed　the　decree　of　Heaven　devolves　on　me；　you　shall　be　held　the　first　in　merit！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
Wang　Yun　bowed。　Then　lights　were　brought　in　and　all　the　attendants　were　dismissed；　save　the　serving　maids　to　hand　the　wine。　So　the　evening　went　on。
Presently　Wang　Yun　said；　〃The　music　of　these　everyday　musicians　is　too　monplace　for　your　ear；　but　there　happens　to　be　in　the　house　a　little　maid　that　might　please　you。〃
〃Excellent！〃　said　the　guest。
Then　a　curtain　was　lowered。　The　shrill　tones　of　reed　instruments　rang　through　the　room；　and　presently　some　attendants　led　forward　Diao　Chan；　who　then　danced　on　the　outside　of　the　curtain。
A　poem　praises　her：

For　a　palace　this　maiden　was　born；
So　timid；　so　graceful；　so　slender；
Like　a　tiny　bird　flitting　at　morn
Over　the　dew…laden　lily　buds　tender。
Were　this　exquisite　maid　only　mine；
For　never　a　mansion　I'd　pine。

Another　poem　runs　thus：

The　music　falls；　the　dancer　es；　a　swallow　gliding　in；
A　dainty　little　damsel；　soft　as　silk；
Her　beauty　captivates　the　guest　yet　saddens　him　within；
For　he　must　soon　depart　and　leave　her　there。
She　smiles；　no　gold　could　buy　that　smile；　no　other　smiled　so；
No　need　to　deck　her　form　with　jewels　rare。
But　when　the　dance　is　over　and　coy　glances　e　and　go；
Then　who　shall　be　the　chosen　of　the　fair？

The　dance　ended。　Dong　Zhuo　bade　them　lead　the　maiden　in；　and　she　came；　bowing　low　as　she　approached　him。　He　was　much　taken　with　her　beauty　and　modest　grace。
〃Who　is　she？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
〃A　singing　girl。　Her　name　is　Diao　Chan。〃
〃Then　can　she　sing？〃
The　master　bade　her　sing；　and　she　did　so　to　the　acpaniment　of　castanets。　There　is　a　measure　describing　her　youthful　beauty：

You　stand；　a　dainty　maiden；
Your　cherry　lips　so　bright；
Your　teeth　so　pearly　white；
Your　fragrant　breath　love…laden；
Yet　is　your　tongue　a　sword；
Cold　death　is　the　reward
Of　loving　thee；　O　maiden。

Dong　Zhuo　was　delighted　and　praised　her　warmly。　She　was　told　to　present　a　goblet　of　wine　to　the　guest　which　he　took　from　her　hands　and　then　asked　her　age。
She　replied；　〃Thy　unworthy　handmaid　is　twenty…one。〃
〃A　perfect　little　fairy！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
Then　Wang　Yun　rose　and　said；　〃If　the　Prime　Minister　would　not　mind；　I　should　like　to　offer　him　this　little　maid。〃
〃How　could　I　be　grateful　enough　for　such　a　kindness！〃
〃She　would　be　most　fortunate　if　she　could　be　your　servant；〃　said　Wang　Yun。
Dong　Zhuo　thanked　his　host　warmly。
Then　the　orders　were　given　to　prepare　a　closed　carriage　and　convey　Diao　Chan　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace。
Soon　after　Dong　Zhuo　took　his　leave；　and　Wang　Yun　acpanied　him　the　whole　way。
After　he　had　taken　leave；　Wang　Yun　mounted　to　ride　homeward。　Half　way　he　met　two　lines　of　guards　with　red　lamps　who　were　escorting　Lu　Bu　who　was　on　horseback　and　armed　with　his　trident　halberd。
Seeing　Wang　Yun；　Lu　Bu　at　once　reined　in；　stopped；　seized　him　by　the　sleeve；　and　said　angrily；　〃You　promised　Diao　Chan　to　me；　and　now　you　have　given　her　to　the　Prime　Minister：　What　foolery　is　this？〃
Wang　Yun　checked　him；　saying；　〃This　is　no　place　to　talk；　I　pray　you　e　to　my　house。〃
So　they　went　together；　and　Wang　Yun　led　Lu　Bu　into　a　private　room。
After　the　usual　exchange　of　polite　greetings；　Wang　Yun　said；　〃Why　do　you　find　fault　with　me；　General？〃
〃Somebody　told　me　that　you　had　sent　Diao　Chan　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace　in　a　covered　carriage：　What　does　it　mean？〃
〃Of　course　you　do　not　understand。　Yesterday　when　I　was　at　court；　the　Prime　Minister　told　me　he　had　something　to　talk　to　me　about　in　my　own　house。　So　naturally　I　prepared　for　his　ing；　and　while　we　were　at　dinner　he　said；　'I　have　heard　something　of　a　girl　named　Diao　Chan　whom　you　have　promised　to　my　son　Lu　Bu。　I　thought　it　was　mere　rumor　so　I　wanted　to　ask　if　it　was　true。　Beside　I　should　like　to　see　her。'　I　could　not　say　no；　so　she　came　in　and　made　her　bow　to　the　lord　of　lords。　Then　he　said　that　it　was　a　lucky　day　and　he　would　take　her　away　with　him　and　betroth　her　to　you。　Just　think；　Sir：　When　the　Prime　Minister　had　e　himself；　could　I　stop　him？〃
〃You　were　not　so　very　wrong；〃　said　Lu　Bu。　〃But　for　a　time　I　had　misunderstood　you。　I　owe　you　an　apology。〃
〃The　girl　has　a　small　trousseau；　which　I　will　send　as　soon　as　she　has　gone　over　to　your　dwelling。〃
Lu　Bu　thanked　him　and　went　away。　Next　day　he　went　into　the　palace　to　find　out　the　truth；　but　could　hear　nothing。　Then　he　made　his　way　into　the　private　quarters　and　questioned　the　maids。　Presently　one　told　him　that　the　Prime　Minister　had　brought　home　a