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The Lo-Cha country and the sea-market (3)
Having made fast their boat, they went in, and saw laid out in
the market rare pearls and wondrous precious stones of dazzling
beauty, such as are quite unknown amongst men. Then they saw
a young man come forth riding upon a beautiful steed. The
people of the market stood back to let him pass, saying he was
the third son of the king; but when the prince saw Ma, he exclaimed, "This is no foreigner," and immediately an attendant
drew near and asked his name and country. Ma made a bow, and
standing at one side told his name and family. The prince smiled,
and said, "For you to have honored our country thus is no
small piece of good luck." He then gave him a horse and begged
him to follow.
They went out of the city gate and down to the sea-shore,
whereupon their horses plunged into the water. Ma was terribly
frightened and screamed out; but the sea opened dry before them
and formed a wall of water on either side. In a little time they
reached the king's palace, the beams of which were made of
tortoise-shell and the tiles of fishes' scales. The four walls were of
crystal, and dazzled the eye like mirrors. They got down off their
horses and went in, and Ma was introduced to the king.
The young prince said, "Sire, I have been to the market, and
have got a gentleman from China." Whereupon Ma made obeisance before the king, who addressed him as follows :
-- "Sir,
from a talented scholar like yourself I venture to ask for a few
stanzas upon our sea-market. Pray do not refuse." Ma thereupon made a kow tow, and undertook the king's command. Using
an ink-slab of crystal, a brush of dragon's beard, paper as white
as snow, and ink scented like the larkspur, Ma immediately threw
off some thousand odd verses, which he laid at the feet of the
king. When His Majesty saw them, he said, "Sir, your genius
does honor to these marine nations of ours."
Then, summoning the members of the royal family, the king
gave a great feast in the Coloured Cloud pavilion; and when the
wine had circulated freely, seizing a great goblet in his hand, the
king rose and said before all the guests, "It is a thousand pities,
Sir, that you are not married. What say you to entering the bonds
of wedlock?" Ma rose blushing and stammered out his thanks;
upon which the king, looking round, spoke a few words to the
attendants, and in a few moments in came a bevy of Court ladies
supporting the king's daughter, whose ornaments went tinkle,
tinkle, as she walked along. Immediately the nuptial drums and
trumpets began to sound forth, and bride and bridegroom worshipped Heaven and Earth together. Stealing a glance, Ma saw
that the princess was endowed with a fairy-like loveliness. When
the ceremony was over she retired, and by-and-by the wine party
broke up. Then came several beautifully dressed waiting-maids,
who with painted candles escorted Ma within. The bridal couch
was made of coral adorned with eight kinds of precious stones,
and the curtains were thickly hung with pearls as big as acorns.
Next day at dawn a crowd of young slave-girls trooped into the
room to offer their services; whereupon Ma got up and went off
to Court to pay his respects to the king. He was then duly received
as a royal son-in-law and made an officer of state. The fame of his
poetical talents spread far and wide, and the kings of the various
seas sent officers to congratulate him, vying with each other in
their invitations to him. Ma dressed himself in gorgeous clothes,
and went forth riding on a superb steed, with a mounted bodyguard all splendidly armed. There were musicians on horseback
and musicians in chariots, and in three days he had visited every
one of the marine kingdoms, making his name known in all directions.
In the palace there was a jade tree, about as big around as a man
could clasp. Its roots were as clear as glass, and up the middle
ran, as it were, a stick of pale yellow. The branches were the size
of one's arm; the leaves like white jade as thick as a copper cash.
The foliage was dense, and beneath its shade the ladies of the
palace were wont to sit and sing. The flowers which covered the
tree resembled grapes, and if a single petal fell to the earth it
made a ringing sound. Taking one up, it would be found to be
exactly like carved cornelian, very bright and pretty to look at.
From time to time a wonderful bird came and sang there. Its
feathers were of a golden hue, and its tail as long as its body. Its
notes were like the tinkling of jade, very plaintive and touching to
listen to.
When Ma heard this bird sing, it called up in him recollections
of his old home, and accordingly he said to the princess, "I have
now been away from my own country for three years, separated
from my father and mother. Thinking of them my tears flow and
the perspiration runs down my back. Can you return with me ?"
His wife replied, "The way of immortals is not that of men. I am
unable to do what you ask, but I cannot allow the feelings of
husband and wife to break the tie of parent and child. Let us
devise some plan." When Ma heard this he wept bitterly, and the
princess sighed and said, "We cannot both stay or both go." The
next day the king said to him, "I hear that you are pining after
your old home. Will to-morrow suit you for taking leave?" Ma
thanked the king for his great kindness, which he declared he
could never forget, and promised to return very shortly.
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