Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/313

 son, and the duty of a wife towards her husband will be fulfilled."

TSUNG CH'ÊN gained some distinction during this six- teenth century ; in youth, by his great beauty, and especi- ally by his eyes, which were said to flash fire even at the sides ; later on, by subscribing to the funeral expenses of the above-mentioned Yang Chi-shêng ; and finally, by his successful defence of Foochow against the Japanese, whose forces he enticed into the city by a feint of surrender, and then annihilated from the walls. The following piece, which, in the opinion of the com- mentator, " verges upon trifling," is from his corre- spondence. Several sentences of it have quite a Juvenalian ring :

" I was very glad at this distance to receive your letter, which quite set my mind at rest, together with the present you were so kind as to add. I thank you very much for your good wishes, and especially for your thoughtful allusion to my father.

" As to what you are pleased to say in reference to official popularity and fitness for office, I am much obliged by your remarks. Of my unfitness I am only too well aware ; while as to popularity with my supe- riors, I am utterly unqualified to secure that boon.

" How indeed does an official find favour in the present day with his chief ? Morning and evening he must whip up his horse and go dance attendance at the great man's door. If the porter refuses to admit him, then honeyed words, a coaxing air, and money drawn from the sleeve, may prevail. The porter takes in his card ; but the great man does not come out. So he waits in the stable among grooms, until his clothes are