Chapter X

Many months had come and gone since the day when the unfortunate and broken-hearted Sun-Yen had seen his daughter pass away to certain death. He led a wretched existence--his strength being sustained only by the promise of the disciple that his sight would be restored to him at the end of three years. But the allotted time had passed and the poor victim of Ja-Jo-Mi, the unscrupulous, had not recovered his sight. His dejection was pitiful to behold, and he awaited with impatience the death that would free him from his constant misery.

Now, one day Sun-Yen was disturbed in the midst of his morbid meditations by the arrival at his poor dwelling of the Mandarin of the province.

“The King,” declared this dignitary, “desires to assemble all the blind men of the Kingdom at a banquet. You must go to the Capital.”

“My strength will never permit me to make such a long journey,” replied Sun-Yen. “As it is, I can scarcely take a few steps from my own door.”

“You need not be troubled about that. I will provide you with a horse and guide.”

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, but is it really necessary to spend so much on my account?”

“It is the King’s order. Everything is prepared and you can start this very moment.”

Sun-Yen was easily persuaded. A few days and he was in the Capital.

At the orders of San-Syeng, an elaborate and tasty feast had been prepared. The ladies of the Court had been instructed to see that nothing was lacking for the comfort of the blind men who had come from all corners of Korea. They watched over them and came to their assistance when--on account of their blindness--they were awkward and clumsy. The banquet was nearing an end when Sun-Yen arrived--tired and travel-stained. The servants led him to one of the ladies who could not conceal a grimace of disgust when she saw him. In fact, the old gentleman did present a very disagreeable appearance to the eye. The lady made a disparaging remark which Sun-Yen overheard and to which he replied:

“I am well aware of what you are saying, but kindly listen to what I have to say. The actions and outer garb of men may differ much, but good hearts and good manners should be in the bosoms of us all. The wicked and crafty often conceal a cowardly and vile disposition beneath a beautiful exterior. People of wisdom pay no attention to form, but probe to the bottom where kindness and gentleness often abide. When you see an apple that looks attractive but contains a worm, you may contemplate its beauty but you keep your mouth away. Heaven alone is of lasting beauty and nothing beside it matters. I have been deceived by a so-called religious man who had no other intention but a selfish desire to supplant his Master.

“I planted a beautiful fruit tree and it bore a single flower of exquisite beauty and charm. A gust of wind swept this flower toward the sea where it was peacefully rocked in the cradle of the waves. The flower often thought of the poor tree from which it had been stolen and the latter, shorn of its only child, was slowly dying of a broken heart.

“The crescent of the moon seems to emerge from the waters. The fishes are frightened, believing they see a golden hook on a gigantic line which will lift them from their homes in the sea.

“Every month the moon is hidden from our sight for a brief season. Then soon its light reappears in all its wondrous glory. But I, on the contrary, have never seen the light of day since I was stricken by blindness.

“For three years my eyes have shed tears more abundant than the rain which comes from the Heavens. My sighs are sadder than the night wind that whistles through the forest tops.”

Concluding, the blind man said, with a sigh: “If my lack of a comely appearance and a rich garb displeases you, put me in a corner by myself, please.”

The lady was surprised to hear such profound and poetic speech from the mouth of this old man. She begged his pardon for having treated him with so little respect. At the request of Sun-Yen he was placed at a table by himself.

While he was eating, the lady went to the Queen and repeated to her the strange speech of the blind visitor.

Cheng-Si was very much struck by the recital. She told her impressions to her husband and then expressed a desire to have all the blind men in the Palace pass before her--one by one.

“I wish to make a present to each one,” she said.

Immediately, the long file began to form, Sun-Yen being the last of the line. When he stood before the Queen, the lady said:

“Majesty, here is the blind man whose startling words I brought you.”

Cheng-Si summoned the old man closer and said to him:

“Why do you express such radical views against our government, our religion and the world?”

“Because, my Queen, the world and religion and the government have caused me evils without number. I was powerful and I was exiled. I had the best of wives and I lost her. I became blind and my only consolation, a little daughter, was taken away. She furnished a beautiful example of filial love, sacrificing her life on the promise that I would regain my sight. The poor girl is dead and I am still deprived of the light of day.”

These words moved Cheng-Si profoundly for in this sordid old man she recognized her father. She uttered a cry.

“Don’t you know Cheng-Si?”

“My daughter,” stammered Sun-Yen, and instantly his eyes opened and he saw before him the daughter that he had thought forever lost.

The prediction of the disciple was at last fulfilled and under these happy circumstances, shaken by emotion and joy, father and daughter fell into each other’s arms.

The King, a witness of this scene--to him incomprehensible--did not delay long in finding out the cause, and he cried:

“Stop the banquet. This requires no witnesses.”

When alone with her father and her husband, Cheng-Si told the King the story of her family.

Sun-Yen was completely transformed with delight as he heard his daughter speaking. When she had finished her story he asked, “How did you escape death? How did you come to marry the King?”

So Cheng-Si told her father of her adventures from the time of her embarkation on the merchant’s vessel up to her arrival at the Capital with the King.

“Then,” cried Sun-Yen, “it was San-Syeng who saved you?”

“Yes, father.”

“What’s he doing? Where is he?”

“The King has appointed him General. I shall have him brought to you.”

When San-Syeng arrived, Sun-Yen asked him:

“What was your father’s name?”

“San-Houni.”

On hearing this name, Sun-Yen embraced the young man, crying, “Oh, son of my dearest friend, tell me quickly where your father is.”

“Alas, he is no longer in the world. He was exiled when you were, but he was murdered by Su-Rung, the thief, before reaching Ko-Kum-To. He sleeps with his ancestors.”

“What, he is dead?” cried the old man, bursting into tears.

San-Syeng’s eyes also moistened at the mention of the father whom he had never known.

The King offered them a few words of condolence and said: “You shall be my Prime Minister,” indicating Sun-Yen. The old man accepted this responsible charge with a bow and a few well chosen words of gratitude.

“Now, proceed with the banquet,” said the Queen.

The other blind men had been informed of what had taken place and a few among them envied the good fortune of Sun-Yen.

“Alas,” they cried, “We cannot even see the recipient of this good fortune.”

Sun-Yen the benevolent, spoke to them in a gentle tone and in the name of the King invited them to stay several days at the Capital, and the blind men, you may believe, accepted with joy, for they knew they would be well taken care of.

The new Prime Minister was not long in assuming his office. The King constantly summoned him to his councils. Now it came to pass one day that he sent for him and said, “I am intending to lead an army against Jin-Han. My father suffered a severe defeat while attacking that country and it is my duty to avenge him. What do you think of it?”

“Sire,” replied Sun-Yen, “May I have permission to reflect upon this matter for a few days before giving you my opinion?”

The same day, San-Syeng questioned the King’s father-in-law upon the subject of Ja-Jo-Mi and Su-Rung. The young General was thirsting for revenge. He expected to find Sun-Yen in a similar frame of mind but the Prime Minister spoke to him as he had done to the King.

“You will know my decision in a few days. I must consider this.”

When he was alone Sun-Yen considered the problem from every angle.

Although misfortunes a-plenty had been his share, he did not hold any resentment against humanity. He felt a great tolerance for his most bitter enemies. “Of what good is revenge,” he thought. “What will it profit us to declare war which sooner or later will bring reprisals?” Inspired by such sentiments, the Prime Minister went to the Sovereign. “Sire,” he said, “do you not believe that it would be advisable to know what your subjects think of this war before undertaking the campaign?”

“Assuredly,” replied the King. “I would gladly be informed upon that question, but how can we learn the opinion of all the Koreans?”

“That will be very easy, sire. Have a grand meeting of your people here at the Capital. Their sentiment will be the sentiment of the country at large. I shall have a few words to say, and then if you persist in your intentions, we shall begin the war.”

The King approved Sun-Yen’s suggestion and orders were issued that an immense feast be prepared. Hundreds of tables were decorated and filled with food. The guests were to be divided into five groups: the Royal Family, the Governors, the Army, the common people and the criminals and other unfit. The repast, the first of this kind in all Korea, was a merry one. Before the guests separated, Sun-Yen asked for silence, and in a powerful voice pronounced the following words:

“By virtue of my office as Prime Minister, I have taken it upon myself to put one question to all of you. Our Master, the King, wishes to undertake an expedition against Jin-Han to avenge his father’s defeat. Is this expedition opportune? To me, war is the worst of evils. It causes destruction beyond measure, and it is impossible to count the innocent ones who perish on the battlefield and at home. What is the cause of your heavy taxes if not the need of maintaining a large army?

“With peace all is different. The public welfare increases. Mankind, created to love and not to slaughter, may enter into relations which will increase mutual happiness. Nature furnishes us an example of peace, does it not? When we see a ferocious dog on the highway attacking another dog, incapable of defending itself, we hasten to help the weaker. Why should we be more cruel with our fellow men than with our animals? Perhaps the stronger dog will always seek to oppress the weaker, but are we not superior beings and do we not possess reason which teaches tolerance and mercy to our neighbors? Therefore, it is my opinion, sire, that we should not declare war.

“I do not wish the punishment of our guilty neighbors although several of them have done me a great deal of harm. Let us pardon them. May this example serve as a lesson to those peoples who have similar wicked thoughts.”

These words met with unanimous approbation. Every one seemed to be of Sun-Yen’s opinion and loud shouts of approval went up from the crowd. “What happiness is ours! We are like the grass which the Springtime brings to life, like the beneficial rain after a long drought.” From the tremendous crowd arose cries of gladness which were a token of thanks, a hymn of joy and a fervent prayer for the future of the land.

’Twas a happy epoch for our country. Content reigned everywhere. Under the benevolent influence of Sun-Yen, everybody in Korea worked and lived in peace.

* * * * *

One day the Prime Minister disappeared. He could not be found. Possibly he had been carried to Heaven in a cloud--to his last and well-deserved home with his ancestors.

* * * * *

_For it has been proclaimed by The Great Teacher and Venerable Philosopher from the depths of his Wisdom, that all things having the appearance of Evil are transient and that Goodness will overcome and Virtue triumph._

* * * * *

_So--having passed through the ten stages of its life--our legend here cometh to an end._

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

Page 79: “Governor’s” corrected to “Governors’”.

Page 97: “revery” corrected to “reverie”.

Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been left unchanged.