Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 287

1812.

Dreams in the Red Chamber

-269

poetry and laconic distiches. Being a great admirer of literature, Páuyu prolongs her stay in the palace, and is made acquainted with the records of destiny, in the examination of which she never tires. Actuated by curiosity, she attentively peruses its pages, and thus be- comes versed in futurity. In the height of her enjoyment, however, she utters an involuntary shriek, and is awakened by her maid

servants.

From these trifles we are led to death-bed scenes. The king of terrors himself is never mentioned, but the physician stands promi- nent. Desirous to rescue his friends from the fangs of death, the doctor exhibits his simples and compounds, but it happened by some mischance that the patient took too much, and died of a surfeit of drugs. The physician knew how to excuse himself, and so the mis- fortune was charged to the disease.

In the intrigues the acting characters behave very grossly, and this part of the work fully shows the coarseness of the author's mind. The monotony of the story is much relieved by scraps of poetry, put in very opportunely. When a number of ladies are assembled, they generally compose, and inscribe their verses upon a wall or some other conspicuous object, and then make the contents a topic of con-

versation.

Amidst this joyous mode of living, there arrived among the party, who were all relations of Ká, or the daughters and sisters of his friends, an imperial decree to choose one amongst the number to en- ter the harein. This event made the whole company delirious with joy, it was such an amazing honor, and fraught with so many benefits to the whole family, that preparations for a splendid outfit were im- mediately made, and the fortunate damsel was then conveyed to the imperial apartments. Such elevation usually confers upon the rela- tions titles of nobility, and they were on this occasion by no means sparingly bestowed. Thus the happiness of the circle increased daily, and they endeavored to chase every latent sorrow from their hearts. These ladies were, however, not always confined to their apartments. They not only visited their friends, and corresponded with the impe- rial favorite, but made long rambling excursions to the most romantic

spots

of the neighborhood. On these occasions they carried with them paper and ink, to write down the inspirations suggested by the beauti- ful scenery.

It was then that their hearts expanded, and they ex- pressed the most ardent love for each other. One peculiar taste marked their literary propensities, they would always choose the in- seriptions on stones, and decypher them, for on these they supposed