Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/443

 to the ruler of Chao. At this Ch'un-yii laughed so immoderately that he snapped the lash of his cap ; and when the Prince asked him what was the joke, he said, "As I was coming along this morning, I saw a husband- man sacrificing a pig's foot and a single cup of wine ; after which he prayed, saying, *O God, make my upper terraces fill baskets and my lower terraces fill carts; make my fields bloom with crops and my barns burst with grain ! ' And I could not help laughing at a man who offered so little and wanted so much." The Prince took the hint, and obtained the assistance he required.

T'ao Ku (A.D. 902-970) was an eminent official whose name is popularly known in connection with the follow- ing repartee. Having ordered a newly-purchased wait- ing-maid to get some snow and make tea in honour of the Feast of Lanterns, he asked her, somewhat pom- pously, "Was that the custom in your former home?" "Oh, no," the girl replied; "they were a rough lot. They just put up a gold-splashed awning, and had a little music and some old wine."

Li Chia-ming (loth cent. A.D.) was a wit at the Court of the last ruler of the Tang dynasty. On one occasion the latter drew attention to some gathering clouds which appeared about to bring rain. "They may come," said Li Chia-ming, "but they will not venture to enter the city." "Why not?" asked the Prince. "Because," replied the wit, "the octroi is so high." Orders were thereupon issued that the duties should be reduced by one-half. On another occasion the Prince was fishing with some of his courtiers, all of whom managed to catch something, whereas he himself, to his great chagrin, had not a single bite. Thereupon Li Chia-ming took a pen and wrote the following lines :

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