Page 428 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

KEEN-LUNG.
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fate of the two ladies with one so unlucky, who had been told
that it was his never to be The judge laughed
destiny paired.
at this, and said he need not fear, there was no pairing, as
there would be three of them, and that what was happening
that day was in exact conformity with what had been foretold
him. Sze-tsin had therefore no alternative, and standing up
before the judge with the two ladies they all bowed down four
times before their benefactor, and Sze-tsin, mounting his horse,
accompanied the two ornamental sedans home.
"In of this decision the name of the
consequence judge
became celebrated, and the him to
emperor, calling Peking,
gave him a situation in the Military Tribunal, while Sze-tsin
was advanced to a in the and continued
place Literary College,
to live with his friend, the judge, on terms of father and son.
"
The ancient saying is very true, that none but the worthy
can discern the worthy."
There are several similar tales in which a scholar marries
of which almost well be the
two ladies, any might equally
motive of No. 332.
Famille Eose.
No. 742. Eose plate. Diameter, 21 inches; height,
3^ inches. No mark gilt edge. This may be described as
a greatly enlarged dessert plate, of fine colouring and work-
manship. The octagon and square diaper border just beyond
the is in that enamel so usual at this
edge blue-green period,
and the same as we find on the
is
exactly eggshell plates.
This is followed by scroll-work outlined in black and filled in
with brown curl work, relieved by pink lotus and other many-
coloured flowers, while between ornaments
ihejoo-e head-shaped
are large sprays of pink pseonies, lotus flowers, and chrysanthe-
mums. In the centre is the brown trunk of a
peach tree,
relieved with gilt ; on this is perched a blackbird. The rocks
are in blue enamel, shaded with noticed in No.
pink (as 716),
the of the rainbow tints we find so
beginning generally
used a little later. Pink and the
yellow paeonies complete
decoration,
"
The Chinese starling or blackbird, which in China is
called ' pako ' (eight because it is said always to be seen in
bands of it occurs in all the towns
eight individuals) ; beyond