Chinese Fairy Tales and Fantasies (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to its pure waters. Tired of high land, he forsakes the mortal world of illusion.
For the present he may become a scaly creature, but this is not a permanent change of identity. Let him be a red carp in the Eastern Pond on a trial basis. But if he should rely on the tall waves to capsize people’s boats, the crime he thinks concealed will haunt him; while if he is greedy for bait, blind to the hook on the line, he will suffer in the open.
Do not lose your dignity or shame your fellows. Be diligent in this!
     
    “Hearing the edict, I looked at myself and saw that I was already clad in the scales of a fish. So I flung myself into the water, swimming wherever I wished, atop the waves and down to the deepest deeps, always at ease, gamboling in the three rivers and five lakes of the kingdom. But every evening I had to return to the Eastern Pond, where I was assigned.
    “Presently I grew hungry and, finding nothing to eat, began to follow a boat. Suddenly I saw Chao Kan, the fisherman, drop a hook into the water. The bait looked sweet, but I had the sense to be careful. Then somehow it was near my mouth. ‘I am a man,’ I said to myself, ‘who is a fish only for the time being. Can’t I make an honest living for myself instead of swallowing his hook?’ So I moved away from the boat—but my hunger became worse.
    “I thought to myself, ‘I am an official who is wearing the suit ofa fish merely for fun. Even if I swallow that hook, I can’t believe the fisherman would kill me. Surely he would return me to the city.’ So I gobbled down the baited hook, and Chao Kan reeled me out of the water. As he reached for me, I cried out over and over, but he would not listen. He ran a string through my cheeks and tied me among some reeds.
    “In a short time the servant Chang Pi came and said to Chao Kan, ‘Chief Constable P’ei wants to buy a fish, and it has to be a good-sized one.’ ‘I haven’t caught any,’ answered Chao Kan, ‘but I have over ten pounds of small fish.’ ‘He ordered me to get a big fish. I have no use for small ones,’ said Chang Pi. Then he poked among the reeds and picked me up.
    “I said to Chang Pi, ‘I am the deputy assistant magistrate of your own county. I shifted into the shape of a fish and have been swimming through the waters of the kingdom. How can you fail to bow to me?’ Chang Pi paid no attention, picked me up, and walked on, ignoring even my curses. When we entered the gate to the magistrate’s office, I saw the officers sitting down to a game of chess. I shouted at them with all my might, but there was no response at all. They merely smiled and said, ‘Quite a catch! Three or four pounds, at least!’
    “Then we entered the hall. Tsou and Lei were gambling. P’ei was chewing on a peach. Everyone was delighted with the size of the fish, which was swiftly sent on to the kitchen. When Chang Pi reported that Chao Kan had concealed the carp and tried to fill the order with small fish, P’ei was enraged and had the fisherman beaten. I cried out to all of you that it was your own colleague who had been caught—but far from being set free, I was swiftly put to death. Was that humane? My shouts and tears were ignored as I was handed over to the cook.
    “Wang Shih-liang took up his knife and threw me with pleasure onto the chopping block. Again I cried, ‘Wang Shih-liang, you are my regular fish-mincer. Would you kill me? Won’t you take me to the officials to explain what has happened?’ He seemed to be deaf as he pressed my neck against the block and struck off my head. The moment the head fell, I awoke and summoned all of you.”
    The officials were dumbfounded. Compassion arose in their hearts. But when Chao Kan had caught him, when Chang Pi had picked him up, when the two officers had been playing chess,when the three officials had been in the hall, when the cook had prepared to kill him, the fish was not heard at all even though its mouth was moving.
    The three gentlemen