三国演义英文版-第95部分

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Now　oxen　and　horses　had　been　slaughtered　and　a　grand　banquet　prepared。　Liu　Bei　rode　to　the　residence　on　the　horse　of　ill　omen；　and　when　he　arrived；　the　steed　was　led　into　the　back　part　of　the　enclosure　and　tethered　there。　Soon　the　guests　arrived；　and　Liu　Bei　took　his　place　as　master　of　the　feast；　with　the　two　sons　of　the　Imperial　Protector；　one　on　each　side。　The　guests　were　all　arranged　in　order　of　rank。　Zhao　Yun　stood　near　his　lord　sword　in　hand　as　a　faithful　henchman　should　do。
Then　Wen　Ping　and　Wang　Wei　came　to　invite　Zhao　Yun　to　the　banquet　they　had　prepared　for　the　military　officers。　But　he　declined。　However；　Liu　Bei　told　him　to　go；　and；　after　some　demur；　he　went。　Then　Cai　Mao　perfected　his　final　arrangements；　placing　his　people　surrounding　the　place　like　a　ring　of　iron。　The　three　hundred　guards　that　formed　the　escort　of　Liu　Bei　were　sent　away　to　the　guest…house。
All　were　ready　and　awaiting　the　signal。　At　the　third　course；　Yi　Ji　took　a　goblet　of　wine　in　his　hands　and　approached　Liu　Bei；　at　the　same　time　giving　him　a　meaningful　look。　Then　in　a　low　voice　he　said；　〃Make　an　excuse　to　get　sway。〃
Liu　Bei　understood　and　presently　rose　and　went　to　the　inner　chamber；　and　then　he　went　to　the　backyard。　There　he　found　Yi　Ji；　who　had　gone　thither　after　presenting　the　cup　of　wine。
Yi　Ji　then　told　him；　saying；　〃Cai　Mao　plots　to　kill　you；　and　all　the　roads　have　been　guarded　except　that　to　the　west。　My　lord；　you　must　lose　no　time　to　depart。〃
Liu　Bei　was　quite　taken　aback。　However；　he　got　hold　of　the　Dilu　horse；　opened　the　door　of　the　garden；　and　led　it　out。　Then　he　took　a　flying　leap　into　the　saddle　and　galloped　off　without　waiting　for　the　escort。　He　made　for　the　west　gate。　At　the　gate　the　wardens　wanted　to　question　him；　but　he　only　whipped　up　his　steed　and　rode　through。　The　guards　at　the　gate　ran　off　to　report　to　Cai　Mao；　who　quickly　went　in　pursuit　with　five　hundred　soldiers。
As　has　been　said　Liu　Bei　burst　out　at　the　west　gate。　Before　he　had　gone　far；　there　rolled　before　him　a　river　barring　the　way。　It　was　the　Tan　Torrent；　many　score　spans　in　width；　which　pours　its　waters　into　the　River　Xiang。　Its　current　was　very　swift。
Liu　Bei　reached　the　bank　and　saw　the　river　was　unfordable。　So　he　turned　his　horse　and　rode　back。　Then；　not　far　off；　he　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　and　knew　that　his　pursuers　were　therein。　He　thought　that　it　was　all　over。　However；　he　turned　again　toward　the　swift　river；　and　seeing　the　soldiers　now　quite　near；　plunged　into　the　stream。　A　few　paces；　and　he　felt　the　horse's　fore　legs　floundering　in　front；　while　the　water　rose　over　the　skirt　of　his　robe。
Then　he　plied　the　whip　furiously；　crying；　〃Dilu；　Dilu；　why　betray　me？〃
Whereupon　the　good　steed　suddenly　reared　up　out　of　the　water　and；　with　one　tremendous　leap；　was　on　the　western　bank。　Liu　Bei　felt　as　if　he　had　e　out　of　the　clouds。
In　after　years　the　famous　court　official；　Su　Dongpo；　wrote　a　poem　on　this　leap　over　the　Tan　Torrent：

I'm　growing　old；　the　leaves　are　sere；
My　sun　slopes　westward；　soon　will　sink；
And　I　recall　that　yesteryear
I　wandered　by　Tan　River　brink。
Irresolute；　anon　I　paused；
Anon　advanced；　and　gazed　around；
I　marked　the　autumn's　reddened　leaves；
And　watched　them　eddying　to　the　ground。
I　thought　of　all　the　mighty　deeds
Of　him　who　set　the　House　of　Han
On　high；　and　all　the　struggles　since；
The　battlefields；　the　blood　that　ran。
I　saw　the　nobles　gathered　round
The　board；　set　in　the　Banquet　Hall；
Amid　them；　one；　above　whose　head
There　hung　a　sword　about　to　fall。
I　saw　him　quit　that　festive　throng
And　westward　ride；　a　lonely　way；
I　saw　a　squadron　follow　swift；
Intent　the　fugitive　to　slay。
I　saw　him　reach　the　River　Tan；
Whose　swirling　current　rushes　by；
Adown　the　bank　he　galloped　fast；
〃Now　leap；　my　steed！〃　I　heard　him　cry。
His　steed's　hoofs　churn　the　swollen　stream；
What　chills　he　that　the　waves　run　high？
He　hears　the　sound　of　clashing　steel；
Of　thundering　squadrons　ing　nigh。
And　upward　from　the　foaming　waves
I　saw　two　peerless　beings　soar；
One　was　a　destined　western　king；
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。〃
Wate