Page 427 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

THE TWIN SISTERS. 431

'
it would seem from this that the persons chosen by both your
parents are exceptionable. You need not think of marrying
any of them ; I will provide for you myself. There is no good
reason why two such persons should be given as wives to booby
clowns.' He then decided that as the examination
periodical
for was not far distant, competitors should
literary degrees
state outside their essays whether they were married or single,
and that the prize for the former would be a brace of curious
deer, and for the latter two beautiful damsels. * Those who
won the would be the first candidates of the
prizes literary
year.'
"
On a certain after the examination, the judge ordered
day
the deer to be placed on one side of the hall and the two
ladies, seated in ornamental sedans, such as are used at
on the other, the flowered lanterns and the music
weddings,
being in readiness to proceed to the marriage. When the
drum had been struck three times the judge came into the
hall and said, * Which are the four successful candidates?
I them to stand aside that I address them.'
request may
When the officer heard this he read aloud the list of successful
candidates, the names of the two unmarried ones being Sze-
tsin and Chy-yuen ; but only the former stood up, and on being
questioned by the judge acknowledged that he had written
both essays, never thinking more than one would be chosen,
and be that in the
hoping if such was the case that it might
name of his friend whom he wished to do a service
Chy-yuen,
to, but who unfortunately was not present, not knowing this
was the as all
day. That, as for himself, he could not marry,
the fortune-tellers whom he had consulted had said he was
never to be of the literary order, he
paired, and that, although
intended to become a priest. The judge replied that there
was little faith to be in such and that it was
put predictions,
fortunate that he had discovered the truth, or a
great injustice
would have been done to one of the ladies. ' As the matter
now stands, both the first and second are and each
place yours,
of the ladies to Any one may make
belong you. pretensions
to riches and honours, but such as is not
beauty they possess
to be found and none should obtain bat such as
everywhere,
deserve them ; certainly not a false pretender.'
"
Sze-tsin still objected that it was not right to link the
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