Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/305

 tipsy, he threw off his clothes and began to attitudinise. He drew a knife, and flung it down with a bang on the table ; at which the two literati, who were aware of his weakness, rose to take leave.

" ' Stop ! ' shouted Teng Pi, detaining them. ' I too know something about your books. What do you mean by treating me as the spittle of your mouth ? If you don't hurry up and drink, I fear my temper will get the better of me. Meanwhile, you shall ask me anything you like in the whole range of classical literature, and if I can't answer, I will imbrue this blade in my blood.'

"To this the two literati agreed, and forthwith gave him a number of the most difficult allusions they could think of, taken from the Classics ; but Teng Pi was equal to the occasion, and repeated the full quotation in each case without missing a word. Then they tried him on history, covering a period of three thousand years ; but here again his answers were distinguished by accuracy and precision.

" ' Ha ! ha ! ' laughed Teng Pi, 'do you give in now ?' At which his guests looked blankly at each other, and hadn't a word to say. So Teng Pi shouted for wine, and loosed his hair, and jumped about, crying, ' I have floored you, gentlemen, to-day ! Of old, learning made a man of you ; but to-day, all you have to do is to don a scholar's dress and look consumptive. You care only to excel with pen and ink, and despise the real heroes of the age. Shall this be so indeed ? '

" Now these two literati were men of some reputation, and on hearing Teng Pi's words they were greatly shamed, and left the tea-house, hardly knowing how to put one foot before the other. On arriving home they made further inquiries, but no one had ever seen Tng Pi at any time with a book in his hand."

�� �