第一小说网

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第168部分（第2页）

This　seems　to　indicate　a　swallows　egg。

A　many…chambered　dwelling

Is　hanging　to　your　eaves。

Each　room　has　a　poisonous　tenant；

Wholl　be　flying　when　he　leaves。

This　answers　to　a　wasps　nest。

Therein　is　a　long…legged；　trembling　thing；

Who　spins　a　thread　from　his　inside

And　spreads　a　fine　spun　net　for　flies；

He　profits　most　at　eventide。

And　this　it　a　spider。

〃The　guests　were　amazed。

〃An　old　woman　in　his　village　having　lost　a　cow；　came　to　consult　him。　After　the　divination；　he　told　her　that　seven　men　had　taken　away　the　cow　and　were　cooking　and　eating　it　on　the　bank　of　a　certain　mountain　stream。　She　had　better　go　there　quickly　and　see　who　they　were。　If　she　went　with　all　speed；　she　would　find　the　skin　and　the　flesh。　The　woman　went　and　found　the　seven　men　hidden　behind　a　small　shanty；　boiling　beef。　Most　of　the　cows　flesh　was　still　there。　She　told　Governor　Liu　Bin；　who　arrested　the　seven　men　and　punished　them。　Then　the　Governor　asked　the　old　lady　how　she　got　to　know　exactly　who　the　offenders　were；　and　she　told　him。

〃Governor　Liu　Bin　was　dubious；　too。　He　sent　for　Guan　Lu　and　put　him　to　the　following　test。　He　placed　his　seal　and　a　pheasant　feather　in　a　box　and　asked　what　were　the　contents。　The　reply　was：

Square　within；　without　so　round；

Beauteous　colors　here　abound；

The　jewel　within　is　held　secure

And　what　it　witnesses　is　sure。

Is　not　this　a　seal　in　its　bag？

Theres　a　bird　on　the　precipice　steep；

Its　body　with　flame　seems　aglow。

Its　wings　are　barred　yellow　and　black。

At　sunrise　it　never　fails　to　crow。

And　I　think　this　hints　at　a　pheasant　feather。

〃Governor　Liu　Bin　treated　the　marvelous　diviner　with　great　honor。

〃One　day　Guan　Lu　saw　a　youth　plowing　a　field。　After　watching　him　for　a　long　time；　Guan　Lu　suddenly　asked　his　name　and　age。　The　young　man　said；　My　name　is　Zhao　Yang；　and　I　am　nineteen。　Pray；　who　may　you　be；　Sir？

〃I　am　Guan　Lu；　you　may　have　heard　of　me。　I　see　an　air　of　early　death　about　you；　and　you　will　be　done　with　life　in　three　days。　It　is　a　pity　that　one　so　handsome　should　die　so　young。

〃Zhao　Yang　forsook　his　plow；　hurried　home　and　told　his　father。　The　father　at　once　set　out　to　find　Guan　Lu；　and；　having　found　Guan　Lu；　threw　himself　on　the　ground　and　besought　the　diviner　to　save　his　son。

〃How　can　I　avert　the　doom？　It　is　fate；　said　Guan　Lu。

〃Alas！　I　have　but　this　one　son；　I　pray　you　save　him。

〃And　the　son　added　his　tears　and　prayers　to　those　of　his　father。　Guan　Lu　was　deeply　touched。　Then　he　turned　to　the　lad　and　said；　You　get　ready　some　good　wine　and　some　venison。　Tomorrow　go　into　the　forest　on　the　south　there；　and　underneath　a　lofty　tree　you　will　see　two　men　seated　on　boulders　playing　chess。　One　of　them　will　be　dressed　in　white；　and　he　will　be　facing　the　south。　He　is　very　evil　looking。　The　other　will　be　seated　opposite；　dressed　in　red。　He　is　very　handsome。　They　will　be　deeply　absorbed　in　their　game　and　will　not　notice　who　offers　them　food　and　wine；　which　you　will　humbly　present　on　your　knees。　When　they　have　eaten　and　drunk；　you　will　prostrate　yourself　and　with　tears　pray　them　to　grant　you　length　of　days。　You　will　gain　an　increased　span　of　life；　but；　above　all　things；　do　not　mention　that　I　told　you　what　to　do。

〃The　father　kept　Guan　Lu　as　a　guest；　and　the　next　day　the　son　followed　out　his　instructions。　He　entered　the　forest　and　soon　came　upon　the　two　men　seated　beneath　a　pine；　playing　chess。　They　seemed　oblivious　to　all　around　them。　Zhao　Yang　presented　the　wine　and　the　food；　and　the　two　men　ate　absent…mindedly；　for　the　game　went　on。　But　when　Zhao　Yang　threw　himself　on　the　ground　and　implored　the　gift　of　long　life；　they　seemed　startled。

〃This　must　be　some　of　Guan　Lus　doing；　said　Red　Robe。　Still；　as　we　have　accepted　a　gift　at　his　hand；　we　must　have　pity　on　him。

〃He　who　was　dressed　in　white　then　lifted　up　a　book　that　hung　at　his　side　and　looked　therein。

〃You　are　nineteen　this　year；　said　White　Dress　to　Zhao　Yang。　You　ought　to　die。　But　we　will　insert　a　number　nine　over　the　number　one　and　so　make　it　read　ninety…nine；　and　that　is　the　age　you　will　attain。　But　when　you　go　back；　tell　Guan　Lu　he　is　not　to　betray　the　secrets　of　fate；　or　Heaven　will　surely　punish　him。

〃Then　Red　Robe　took　out　a　pen　and　added　the　figure。　A　gust　of　wind　passed；　and　the　two　old　men　were　transformed　into　two　cranes　that　rose　into　the　sky　and　flew　away。　Zhao　Yang　came　back　home　and　told　what　he