第88部分(第1/7 頁)

Liu　Biao　sent　his　elder　son　Liu　Qi　back　with　Sun　Qian　to　apologize。　When　Liu　Qi　reached　Xinye；　Liu　Bei　weled　him　and　gave　a　banquet　in　his　honor。

After　some　little　drinking；　the　chief　guest　suddenly　began　to　weep　and　presently　said；　〃My　step　mother；　Lady　Cai；　always　cherishes　a　wish　to　put　me　out　of　the　way；　and　I　do　not　know　how　to　avoid　her　anger。　Could　you　advise　me；　Uncle？〃

Liu　Bei　exhorted　him　to　be　careful　and　perfectly　filial　and　nothing　could　happen。　Soon　after；　the　young　man　took　his　leave　and　wept　at　parting。

Liu　Bei　escorted　Liu　Qi　well　on　his　way　and；　pointing　to　his　steed；　said；　〃I　owe　my　life　to　this　horse。　Had　it　not　been　for　him；　I　had　been　already　below　the　Nine　Golden　Springs。〃

〃It　was　not　the　strength　of　the　horse；　but　your　noble　fortune；　Uncle。〃

They　parted；　the　young　man　weeping　bitterly。　On　reentering　the　city；　Liu　Bei　met　a　person　in　the　street　wearing　a　hempen　turban；　a　cotton　robe　confined　by　a　black　girdle；　and　black　shoes。　He　came　along　singing　a　song：

〃The　universe　is　rived；　O！　Now　nears　the　end　of　all。

The　noble　mansion　quakes；　O！　What　beam　can　stay　the　fall？

A　wise　one　waits　his　lord；　O！　But　hidden　in　the　glen；

The　seeker　knows　not　him；　O！　Nor　me；　of　mon　humans。〃

Liu　Bei　listened。

〃Surely　this　is　one　of　the　people　Water　Mirror　spoke　of；〃　thought　he。

He　dismounted；　spoke　to　the　singer；　and　invited　him　into　his　residence。　Then　when　they　were　seated；　he　asked　the　stranger's　name。

〃I　am　from　Yingchuan；　and　my　name　is　San　Fu。　I　have　known　you　by　repute　for　a　long　time；　and　they　said　you　appreciated　humans　of　ability。　I　wanted　to　e　to　you　but　every　way　of　getting　an　introduction　seemed　closed。　So　I　bethought　me　of　attracting　your　notice　by　singing　that