With this mark of royal patronage, Ho retraced his steps with all the alacrity of a lover, and made known to Lí the gracious favors of the emperor, supposing, doubtless, that the student would rejoice as one long blind now suddenly restored to light or as a famished man at a feast. But, lo! coolly putting on the robes of office, as if he had but just cast them aside, with the air of a prince Lí signified to the great academician Ho his readiness now to obey the mandate of the emperor. Entering the hall of audience with all the grace and ease of a man bred in courts, Lí advanced to the throne, and after paying the customary homage rose to his feet and looked proudly around upon the assembly of grave men and gallant courtiers, The knees of the Premier Yang smote each other as he recognized the youth he had treated with so much contumely now suddenly brought into notice; and well did Kau now remember the name of Lí, and it seemed as if hot pins tore his flesh, into such agitation did that name now throw him. Hwant-sung received the new doctor with condescension, and placed in his hand the document which he was required to make plain; but Lí, casting a meaning glance upon Yang and Kau, said, "Can an indifferent scholar like myself presume to know more than these learned men? Know, O mighty emperor, thy servant was deemed unworthy of favor by thy commissioners Yang and Kau; surely, then, they must be more wise than Lí.” Charmed with the boldness of the youth, the emperor graciously smiled upon him and motioned the two mortified examiners to withdraw. Then, standing erect, his head thrown. back, yet in an attitude of careless ease, Lí opened the important missive, and, without even glancing his eye over it to understand more fully its nature, read it aloud from beginning to end in a clear, melodious voice. It proved to be a demand from the king of Po-Hai, couched in the most insulting language, requiring the emperor to restore a part of Corea, consisting of no less than a hundred and eighty towns, and also demanding tribute from the time of its "usurpation" (as the memorial expressed it) by the emperor of the Tang dynasty. Thus, but for the skill of Lí, the empire would have been plunged in irretrievable disgrace through the ignorance of its ministers. The countenance of Hwant-sung grew black as midnight as he listened to this insulting claim, and, but for the bold remonstrance of Lí, he would have ordered the bearers of the embassy to instant death. "May it please Your Majesty to summon the boorish ambassadors before us," cried Lí, boldly. "I will myself confer with them, and teach them how to respect the mighty emperor Hwant-sung." Immediately, therefore, the ambassadors were brought before Lí, who conversed with them in their own language with the same haughty bearing as if he himself were emperor, interpreting as he did so to the indignant Hwant-sung. At length Lí dismissed them, saying, "To-morrow His Sovereign Majesty, to whom your prince is but an earth-worm, will indite an answer to your insulting embassy. Retire, and tremble as ye walk! Thank the gods that the gracious emperor deigns ye to live.” The courtiers whom Lí had feasted the night previous shook their heads and looked significant. The Premier Yang and the General Kau resumed their usual boldness of demeanor, for no doubt this upstart, this vagabond Li, would find the anger of their Celestial Monarch more than his head was worth: decapitation would certainly follow such contempt of royalty. To be twice summoned! What audacity! The audience-chamber rang with acclama- | ance-nay, did not make his appearance tion as the ambassadors obsequiously with- until after being twice summoned by royal drew in compliance to the orders of Lí, and mandate. all the courtiers pressed forward to compliment the young doctor, while the emperor, embracing him, conferred upon him at once the rank of academician and ordered apartments to be prepared for him in the palace of the Golden Bell. With continued graciousness, he also directed a sumptuous banquet to be got in readiness, and at which all the learned men and wits of the court were expected to appear. Wine was poured for the guests by beautiful young girls of the "golden lilies;" ravishing music swept around them; while at intervals of the feast the emperor sent from his own. apartments a choice theatrical corps for their entertainment. Now did it seem that all the trials of Lí were over, his poverty but a dream long past, and that, now upon the pinnacle to which his ambition had pointed from early youth, he stood ready to hurl back in the teeth of his enemies the disgrace which only a few months before they had heaped upon the name of Lí. The feast wore on even into the night; the wine circulated freely, and in the same breath the courtiers exalted the name of the emperor and of the young academican. What wonder that under the attendance of such charming cup-bearers Lí should have drank more freely than was consistent with his new dignity? How from such hands could he resist the tempting goblet? The result was that when the next morning the emperor repaired to the hall of audience to treat with the embassy from PoHai, the academician Lí was not in attend * Small feet. At length Lí walked carelessly into the hall, his dress somewhat disordered and his feet thrust negligently into slippers. But for those who were hoping his ruin what rage to see the emperor not only extend his own royal hand in signification that he would raise him from the ground, but also condescend to inquire after his health! "I think, learned doctor, the wine was to thy fancy, yet methinks the fumes are still troubling thee. Ere we proceed to our public duties I would have thy wits clearer." Saying which, Hwant-sung ordered a plate of hot spiced fish-broth to be brought from the royal kitchens, that its effects might dissipate the evils of last night's debauch. And when, with unprecedented condescension, their sovereign even took the chop-sticks and himself cooled it for the palate of Lí, amazement almost turned them to marble. When His Majesty deemed the senses of his new favorite sufficiently restored, the ambassadors were summoned into the hall. Upon the top of the platform, near the foot of the Dragon's Throne, was placed, by the order of Hwant-sung, a cushion or divan of the imperial yellow embroidered with gold and silver, and upon a tablet formed of mother-of-pearl and richly set in a band of emeralds was a cake of perfumed ink, a sheet of flowery paper, a hair-pencil set in a gold tube, together with a small jade stone, with which to rub the ink. Waving his hand condescendingly to Lí, the emperor spoke : "Ascend the platform, learned doctor, and repose thyself upon the cushions at my feet, while I indite to thee our answer to these slaves." 66 May it please Your Majesty," replied Lí, "my feet are not in proper dress to approach so near the Glory of the Earth. Will it please thee to command new buskins to be brought thy servant, that he may with decency ascend the platform?" This bold request was no sooner proffered than it was granted. And then, with a significant glance to the spot where stood Yang and Kau pale with rage and envy, the audacious Lí again addressed the emperor: "The humblest of thy slaves would not be officious, but he has one more request to lay at the feet of his gracious sovereign. At the examination this year thy servant was repulsed by Yang and turned from the Scientific Halls in disgrace by Kau. by Kau. Will it therefore please thee to command the Premier Yang to grind my ink and the General Kau to lace my buskins?" Never, perhaps, was an audience-chamber so insulted. Even the awe which, in the presence of the Celestial Monarch, rendered the courtiers less men than jackals failed in this case to suppress a murmur of indignation which passed from one end of the hall to the other. But Hwant-sung, well pleased to punish the injustice of his commissioners, immediately ordered them both to approach and do the bidding of Lí. To disobey was death. They wanted courage to die; therefore, preferring disgrace, they obsequiously advanced. Kneeling, Kau laced the buskins of Lí, who then ascended the platform; and while reclining at his ease upon the soft cushion at the feet of the emperor, Yang stood at his side assiduously rubbing his ink. Thus did Lí accomplish his revenge and triumph over his enemies. Taking the pencil, he now, with rapid and easy strokes, proceeded to indite the answer which the emperor vouchsafed to the Po-Hai embassy, and while he did so Hwantsung bent over him in astonishment, beholding the characters which he traced with so much rapidity to be identical with those which had so perplexed his court. Then, standing erect upon the right hand of the Dragon's Throne, in clear distinct tones Lí read aloud the imperial answer, the ambassadors trembling with fear as they listened. "And now return," exclaimed Lí, "and teach your king that foxes may not war with lions, nor the cuckoo steal into the eagle's nest. He is like a vexed grasshopper striving to combat the mighty chariot about to crush him, or like a fly in the jaws of the dragon. When the mighty Hwantsung, at whose name fear sits in the hearts of all nations, shall send a handful of men to seize upon the petty territory of Po-Hai, blood shall flow a thousand li!"* Kneeling reverently before the throne and knocking their heads in token of submission, the ambassadors then withdrew to relate to * Leagues. their king that the "Celestial Empire was upheld by an immortal from the skies," who stood ever by the Throne of the Dragon and to whom all men did reverence. From that day the star of Lí was in the ascendant, and for many years he enjoyed the undivided confidence of the emperor, and attained a rank in the scale of letters which renders the name of Lí celebrated in Chinese literature. Many volumes of his beautiful poems and other works are still preserved in the imperial libraries. Translation of CAROLINE H. BUTLER. Around whose bark the wintry winds like fiends of fury rave, Oh, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil and labor long hours through, Remember it is harder still to have no work to do. Ho, ye upon whose fevered cheeks the hectic Whose mental toil wears out the day and glow is bright, half the weary night, Who labor for the souls of men, champions of truth and right, feel your Although ye this glorious view, toil is hard even with Remember it is harder still to have no work to do. Where from the burning iron's breast the Ho, all who labor, all who strive, ye wield a sparks fly to and fro, lofty power; While answering to the hammer's ring and Work with your might, work with your fire's intenser glow, strength, fill every golden hour: Oh, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil and sweat The glorious privilege to do is man's most the long day through, noble dower. Remember it is harder still to have no work Oh, to your birthright and yourselves, to to do. Ho, ye who till the stubborn soil, whose hard hands guide the plough, Who bend beneath the summer sun with burning cheek and brow, your own souls, be true; A weary, wretched life is theirs who have no work to do. C. F. ORNE. COURSE OF EVIL. Ye deem the curse still clings to earth from Begins so slowly, and from such slight source, olden time till now; But, while ye feel 'tis hard to toil and labor all day through, An infant's hand might stem the breach with clay; But let the stream get deeper, and philosophyRemember it is harder still to have no work Ay, and reason too-shall strive in vain to do. To turn the headlong current. When our day is in its glory, scarce appear: SIR JOHN SUCKLING. REVOLUTION AND LIBERTY. F it were possible that a people | discretion; and after wine has been for a few brought up under an intoler- months their daily fare, they become more ant and arbitrary system temperate than they had ever been in their could subvert that system own country. In the same manner, the final without acts of cruelty and and permanent fruits of liberty are wisdom, folly, half the objections to moderation and mercy. Its immediate effects despotic power would be are often atrocious crimes, conflicting errors, removed. We should in scepticism on points the most clear, dogmatism that case be compelled to on points the most mysterious. It is just at acknowledge that it at least this crisis that its enemies love to exhibit it. produces no pernicious effects They pull down the scaffolding from the halfon the intellectual and mor- finished edifice; they point to the flying dust, al character of a people. We deplore the the falling bricks, the comfortless rooms, the outrages which accompany revolution; but, frightful irregularity of the whole appearance, the more violent the outrages, the more as- and then ask in scorn where the promised sured we feel that a revolution was neces- splendor and comfort are to be found. sary. The violence of those outrages will such miserable sophisms were to prevail, there always be proportioned to the ferocity and would never be a good house or a good govignorance of the people; and the ferocity ernment in the world. and ignorance of the people will be proportioned to the oppression and degradation under which they have been accustomed to live. It is the character of such revolutions that we always see the worst of them at first. Till men have been for some time free they know not how to use their freedom. The natives of wine-countries are always sober; in climates where wine is a rarity intemperance abounds. A newly-liberated people may be compared to a Northern army encamped on the Rhine or the Xeres. It is said that when soldiers in such a situation first find themselves able to indulge without restraint in such a rare and expensive luxury, nothing is to be seen but intoxication. Soon, however, plenty teaches If Ariosto tells a pretty story of a fairy who, by some mysterious law of her nature, was condemned to appear at certain seasons in the form of a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of her disguise were for ever excluded from participation in the blessings which she bestowed; but to those who, in spite of her loathsome aspect, pitied and protected her, she afterward revealed herself in the beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their steps, granted all their wishes, filled their houses with wealth, made them happy in love and victorious in war. Such a spirit. is Liberty. At times she takes the form of a hateful reptile. She grovels, she hisses, she |