Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/140

RV 135 (LADY T'AI CHÊN) Huang, pleased at their confidence, was glad that the exigencies of other situations had made it advisable temporarily to leave Changan.

Now it so happened that in the Temple of the Wise and the Good there lived an Indian Priest from Gand-hara, named Wu Wei who, it was claimed, knew how to evoke the dragon and cause rain.

Ming Huang ordered Kao Li-shih to ride to the small hut of the priest to implore him to use his talents to bring rain to the province.

It was a new task for Kao, to ride pell-mell down a road in quest of a rainstorm. He could not help smiling. It seemed slightly ridiculous to him. Nevertheless, his Emperor had commanded, and so he obeyed.

He found Wu Wei seated before a rustic chapel. He was a round-shouldered old man, thin, small; a puff of wind might have blown him away. Yet he sat tranquilly, lost in profound meditation. His head was nearly bald, but his beard was gray and plentiful.

He looked up drowsily as Kao approached.

"I come from the Emperor," said Kao.

"A learned man," muttered Wu Wei gravely.

"He has sent me to implore you to bring rain in order that the drought at Loyang might be ended."

"Why complain? This is seasonable weather. Do nothing and the elements will take care of themselves."

"Know you not that the people are suffering? The grain is scorched. The cattie need water. The pigs grovel in dry earth. Rain would be cheer to every living thing." RV 135 (135)