"Your worship, my name is Liu-chen," he began, "I'm a peaceful, hard-working, labouring man;

Well, your worship, my son is betrothed to Sun's girl:
Sun's a poor man, like me, but a miserly churl!
For what does the heartless old vagabond do,
But lends the poor girl to be married to Hu!"
Here he stated at length this remarkable case,
His worship meanwhile getting black in the face.
"Oh! that's the way, is it, such misdeeds are done?
Bring them all up before me, I'll try every one!"
Then he threw on the ground special warrants for each,
Declaring he'd better morality teach!

The runners* to each of their houses were sent,
And like kites after carrion, off they all went.

In a short time the whole of the culprits were caught,
And into the magistrate's presence were brought.

Then, in front of his desk, they were placed in a row, Where they knelt, and politely went through the kowtow.+

Said the magistrate, when this queer case he had tried, "All tremblingly hear! This is how I decide:

Li and Sun, you will each of you forty blows get,

It

may teach you to look on the past with regret!

For the fault of Tai-hsiao, Li himself is to blame,

Had she been better taught, she'd have ne'er come to shame.

* Policemen.

† Bumping the head on the ground.

Sun-ssu, the vile miser! craved so much for gold,
That for money his own daughter's virtue he sold.
Liu-chen, since the girl is now wedded to 'Hu,
The money Sun took shall be handed to you;
"Twill add to the portion you give to your son,
And help to console him for what has been done.
Hu-lin and Luan-ying, you'll remain as you are;
You're wed, so I'll not your pure happiness mar.
Te-hsi, you're a scamp! and to intriguing prone;
Let
your future good conduct for past faults atone;
On account of your youth I shall let you off light—
Did I punish you more 'twould be nothing but right—
Tai-hsiao, by your arts, was to wickedness led,

You'll rectify that by at once getting wed,

You're the most proper person to have Tai-hsiao's hand;

Her portion shall be the five mu of land.

You'll get more than you bargained for"-here he

arose

Five acres, a wife, and likewise--forty blows!"

The case being ended, his worship retired,
While everyone present his justice admired;

All praising the judge who could such tact display,
Discussing his merits, each went his own way.

London:

Printed by W. H. Allen & Co.,
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, S.W.

THE

JADE CHAPLET,

IN

TWENTY-FOUR BEADS.

A Collection of Songs, Ballads, &c., from the Chinese. By G. C. STENT, Esq., M.R.A.S.

London: Trübner & Co., 57 and 59 Ludgate Hill. 1874.

Opinions of the Press.

"The student of popular poetry will find in this book matter worthy of his attention, and, for our own part, we think that this effort to place Chinese Songs and Ballads within the reach of English readers is worthy of much commendation."-The Academy.

"The Jade Chaplet' will sustain his reputation, and will prove, we think, a welcome volume, not only to the student of ballad literature, but to the general reader, from the easy verse into which the songs are thrown, and from the drollery of some of the anecdotes."—The Overland Mail.

Alongside the Oriental exuberance of imagery and exaggeration of metaphor which one might have expected, there is frequently true grandeur of thought; while the compositions of a lighter character are redolent of sly humour."-The Scotsman.

"G. C. Stent hat nun auch hier das Eis gebrochen, und in dem uns vorliegenden Buche Muster chinesischer Lieder und Legenden zusammengestellt, die er selbst aus dem Munde noch lebender Erzähler erhielt. Stent ist als Schriftsteller zu bekannt, um noch einer besonderen Vorstellung zu bedürfen."-Magazin für die Literatur des Auslandes.

"This is, indeed, the crowning merit of Mr. Stent's performance, that he should have opened a mine of rich and varied materials, illustrative of the popular sentiments, traditions, superstitions, aspirations, and fancies of the Chinese; and has presented the first-fruits of his own labours in it, in a style so readable that it is well fitted to excite in the West increasing attention to China in general."-The Evening Courier.

66

Apart from any question as to his success in paths more purely philological, all who have read his various translations of popular ballads admit that he has a happy faculty of giving the spirit of the originals, while achieving very fair success as a versifier."-The China Mail.

"The 'Jade Chaplet' is a most valuable addition to our stock of Oriental language. We thank Mr. Stent for a treat, and hope he will soon give us just such another."-The Illustrated Review.

"How smoothly Mr. Stent's lines run, and how pleasant the ripple of his musical measures, as he wrests the quaint imagery of the original, and clothes it in an English garb."-The China Review.

A HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN, from the Earliest Period to the Present Day; containing a Sketch of the Invasions of India from Afghanistan, and of Afghanistan from India, and concluding with a Review of Afghan Politics from 1841 to 1878. By Colonel G. B. MALLESON, C.S.I.

A SYNOPSIS OF INDIAN HISTORY, from the Earliest Period till the Present Time; with a reference to the pages of the various works where more detailed information will be found. By ARTHUR N. WOLLASTON, M.R.A.S., H.M.'s Indian (Home) Service. Translator of the "Anwar-i Suhalii." Author of "An Elementary Indian Reader."

A TEXT BOOK OF INDIAN HISTORY, with Geographical Notes, Genealogical Tables, and Examination Questions, &c., for the use of Schools, Colleges, and Private Students. Third Edition. By the Rev. Dr. G. U. POPE.