Opening the text

Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of HanFaxian

Philosophy

Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han

Name: Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han
Author: Faxian

Faxian

China -- Literary collections; Chinese literature; Chinese literature -- Translations into English

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

YUENTE, Emperor of China of the Dynasty Han.
HANCHENYU, K'han of the Tartars.
MAOUYENSHOW, a worthless Minister of the Emperor.
SHANGSHOO (a title), President of the Imperial Council.
CHANGSHEE (a title), Officer in waiting.
FANSHE (a title), Envoy of the K'han.
CHAOUKEUN, Lady, raised to be Princess of Han.
   Tartar Soldiers, Female Attendants, Eunuchs.

The Scene is laid in the Tartar Camp on the Frontiers; and
in the Palace of Han.




~THE SORROWS OF HAN~ [1]



~PROLOGUE~


_Enter Hanchenyu, K'han [2] of the Tartars, reciting four verses_.


K'HAN.      The autumnal gale blows wildly through the grass,
      amidst our woolen tents.
  And the moon of night, shining on the rude huts, hears the
      lament of the mournful pipe:
  The countless hosts, with their bended horns, obey me as
      their leader.

    Our tribes are ten distinguished friends of the family of Han. I am
    Hanchenyu, the old inhabitant of the sandy waste; the sole ruler of
    the northern regions. The wild chase is our trade; battle and
    conquest our chief occupation. The Emperor Wunwong retired before
    our Eastern tribes; Weikeang trembled at us, and sued for our
    friendship. The ancient title of our chiefs has in the course of
    time been changed to that which I now bear. When the two races of
    Tsin and Han contended in battle, and filled the empire with tumult,
    our tribes were in full power: numberless was the host of armed
    warriors with their bended horns. For seven days my ancestor hemmed
    in with his forces the Emperor Kaoute; until, by the contrivance of
    the minister, a treaty was concluded, and the Princesses of China
    were yielded in marriage to our K'hans. Since the time of Hoeyte and
    the Empress Leuhow, [3] each successive generation has adhered to
    the established rule, and sought our alliance with its daughters. In
    the reign of the late Emperor Seuente, my brothers contended with
    myself for the rule of our nation, and its power was weakened until
    the tribes elected me as their chief. I am a real descendant of the
    empire of Han. I command a hundred thousand armed warriors. We have
    moved to the South, and approached the border, claiming an alliance
    with the Imperial race. Yesterday I despatched an envoy with
    tributary presents to demand a princess in marriage; but know not if
    the Emperor will ratify the engagement with the customary oaths. The
    fineness of the season has drawn away our chiefs on a hunting
    excursion amidst the sandy steppes. May they meet with success, for
    we Tartars have no fields--our bows and arrows are our sole means of
    subsistence.

_Enter Minister of Han, reciting verses_.

MINISTER. Let a man have the heart of a kite, and the talons
      of an eagle.
  Let him deceive his superiors, and oppress those below
      him;
  Let him enlist flattery, insinuation, profligacy, and avarice
      on his side,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of HanFaxian

Philosophy

Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han

Faxian

China -- Literary collections; Chinese literature; Chinese literature -- Translations into English

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

YUENTE, Emperor of China of the Dynasty Han.
HANCHENYU, K'han of the Tartars.
MAOUYENSHOW, a worthless Minister of the Emperor.
SHANGSHOO (a title), President of the Imperial Council.
CHANGSHEE (a title), Officer in waiting.
FANSHE (a title), Envoy of the K'han.
CHAOUKEUN, Lady, raised to be Princess of Han.
   Tartar Soldiers, Female Attendants, Eunuchs.

The Scene is laid in the Tartar Camp on the Frontiers; and
in the Palace of Han.




~THE SORROWS OF HAN~ [1]



~PROLOGUE~


_Enter Hanchenyu, K'han [2] of the Tartars, reciting four verses_.


K'HAN.      The autumnal gale blows wildly through the grass,
      amidst our woolen tents.
  And the moon of night, shining on the rude huts, hears the
      lament of the mournful pipe:
  The countless hosts, with their bended horns, obey me as
      their leader.

    Our tribes are ten distinguished friends of the family of Han. I am
    Hanchenyu, the old inhabitant of the sandy waste; the sole ruler of
    the northern regions. The wild chase is our trade; battle and
    conquest our chief occupation. The Emperor Wunwong retired before
    our Eastern tribes; Weikeang trembled at us, and sued for our
    friendship. The ancient title of our chiefs has in the course of
    time been changed to that which I now bear. When the two races of
    Tsin and Han contended in battle, and filled the empire with tumult,
    our tribes were in full power: numberless was the host of armed
    warriors with their bended horns. For seven days my ancestor hemmed
    in with his forces the Emperor Kaoute; until, by the contrivance of
    the minister, a treaty was concluded, and the Princesses of China
    were yielded in marriage to our K'hans. Since the time of Hoeyte and
    the Empress Leuhow, [3] each successive generation has adhered to
    the established rule, and sought our alliance with its daughters. In
    the reign of the late Emperor Seuente, my brothers contended with
    myself for the rule of our nation, and its power was weakened until
    the tribes elected me as their chief. I am a real descendant of the
    empire of Han. I command a hundred thousand armed warriors. We have
    moved to the South, and approached the border, claiming an alliance
    with the Imperial race. Yesterday I despatched an envoy with
    tributary presents to demand a princess in marriage; but know not if
    the Emperor will ratify the engagement with the customary oaths. The
    fineness of the season has drawn away our chiefs on a hunting
    excursion amidst the sandy steppes. May they meet with success, for
    we Tartars have no fields--our bows and arrows are our sole means of
    subsistence.

_Enter Minister of Han, reciting verses_.

MINISTER. Let a man have the heart of a kite, and the talons
      of an eagle.
  Let him deceive his superiors, and oppress those below
      him;
  Let him enlist flattery, insinuation, profligacy, and avarice
      on his side,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han

Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han

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