Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/179

RV 174 (LADY T'AI CHÊN) Alas! the common people seem to cover up the truth, Like the eunuchs and their flattery before the Emperor. Then the government goes wrong and great principles are lost. And while people are in peril, they sit and take the benefits. So those stone pillars have only empty reputations; In future pilgrims worshiping here will not know the reason. I wish for strong men to throw these pillars far away, And cause men not to doubt, but to understand the truth."

Although Tu Fu was a wise poet, his explanation of the Bamboo Sprouts was entirely wrong. In all Changan only a few of the most ancient of the Nestorian priests knew that the pillars dated back to the middle of the Han dynasty and were the ruins of an early Christian monastery, built when the new religion was less than fifty years old. It was known as the Pearl Tower Pavilion. The gate tower had had ten rooms. It was destroyed by fire during the reign of the Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty.

Zealously Ming Huang continued his quest for youth. Unwisely he discussed the matter with Chang Kui-ling. As usual Kui-ling was fearless in his reply, "An RV 174 (174)