Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/63

 FAITHFULNESS. 39 He had abeady sent for his mother, wife and family, from the capital, to come and join him. His family had got to the neighbourhood of the city of liwchmig,* when they fell into the hands of a Hienbi army of 10,000 men, then ravagmg that district, and against which Bao was directing his troops. As soon, therefore, as Bao came up with the enemy, they informed him that his fiunily were prisoners, and would be put to death if he assumed the offensiva At the same time they brought his mother and wife to the firont to let him see them. They desired to escape his overwhelming numbers, by giving up his jamily in exchange. Bao was thrown into a state of the most bitter grief, saying aloud that he was in a terrible strait; he would much rather lose his own life than be the means of his mother's death; but if he preserved his filial duty he would sacrifice his public trust As long as he had been a private man, he had only to consider the duty involved in the relationship of mother and son, but now was superadded the relation of prince and minister ; private afiection would ship- wreck official duty, and better a myriad deaths than permit the country to be ravaged. When he was thus cogitating with his officers, the brave mother of a brave son cried out^ in a loud voice, fix)m her distant standing-place, ''Every man has his destiny, and all must once die. Why hesitate a moment^ or harbour the remotest design of acting contrary to your duties of Faithfulness to your prince, and Integrity in your trust ? ** Bao immediately ordered an attack. The Hienbi were defeated ; but, before retreating, they put to death the mother, wife, and children of Bao. When the pursuit was brought to an end, Bao returned to the battle-field to bury his family; the Emperor, who had heard of the tragedy, having sent special messengers to condole with the mourner. While burying, the heart-broken Bao said to the villagers aiding him : " To eat the Emperor's bread and to avoid danger is to be unfaithful ; to slay a mother in order to preserve integrity is to be unfiliaL Whitiier, then, can I look?
 * North of Eiogchow. (See Map I.)