The Princes And The Scarf

Once there was a young Chinese scholar named Chen. He was very clever and he wished to earn some money for his parents, who were old and quite poor, so he found a well-paid job as secretary to an important general. The general was very fond of sport and often took his young secretary with him on his sporting trips.

One day, as they returned from a pleasure cruise on the general’s barge, they saw a dolphin leaping and plunging in the water nearby.

The general called for his bow and shot an arrow into the dolphin. Then the sailors threw out a net and drew the wounded creature on board. To everyone’s surprise, there was a small fish clinging to the dolphin’s tail.

Chen felt sorry for the dolphin and the little fish. He drew out the arrow and placed a plaster on the wound in the dolphin’s side. Then he begged the general to put them back in the water.

The general, amused by Chen’s action, agreed—and in a few moments, the dolphin was swimming away.

About a year later, Chen was crossing the same stretch of water in a small boat, having been on an errand for the general.

A sudden squall struck the little boat and it overturned, throwing Chen into the water. He clung for dear life to an old crate, and all night long he was carried onwards by waves and current.

Next morning, Chen was washed up, half-dead, on a part of the shore he had never seen before. It seemed a beautiful place, but there was no sign of houses or people, and feeling very hungry, Chen set off to see if he could find a house.

As he walked along, an arrow whizzed past and stuck into the trees near him. Chen hid behind some bushes as he heard horses come galloping towards him, and to his surprise, he saw a group of laughing girls. They were all dressed in scarlet riding-jackets, and each carried a bow and a quiver full of arrows. They were all lovely, but to Chen, one seemed far lovelier than all the rest.

Chen followed them until he came to a clearing in a wood. There were all the beautiful girls, laughing and talking as they rested.

Chen approached a boy who was looking after some hounds nearby and asked where he might get food. The boy took some food from his bag and gave it to Chen, telling him in a low voice to leave at once.

“This is a hunting party from the palace,” said the boy. “The princess and her ladies are at the moment resting in that glade, but I am sure that anyone found spying on them would be put to death.”

Chen thanked the boy and hurried away. Soon he saw a large building in the distance, and he went towards it, hoping that it might be a monastery where he could find food and shelter.

As he drew nearer, he saw that it was no monastery, but a large palace surrounded by a wall. In the wall was a small door, half-open. Chen went in and found himself in a magnificent garden. He saw a lovely summer house and, near it, a swing.

Hardly had he had time to notice all this when he heard the sound of horses and gay laughter. Guessing that it was the hunting party, he hid himself to watch.

Soon the gay crowd of girls came into the garden and went towards the summer house. In the midst of them was the one whom Chen thought the loveliest girl he had ever seen. The others treated her with great respect and Chen knew she must be the princess.

At last, they went away and Chen came from his hiding place. There, on the floor, lay a red silk scarf, and Chen saw that it was the same as those which the girls had worn around their hair. Perhaps the lovely princess had dropped it.

Chen picked up the scarf and took it into the summer house. There he found some writing materials, ink blocks, and brushes. Many scholars wrote on silk in those days, painting the letters with long, fine brushes, and Chen was very skilled at that kind of work. He took up a brush and began to write a poem on the scarf in beautiful script.

When he had finished, Chen put the scarf on the table with a sigh. He decided that it was time he left, for he did not want his head cut off for spying on the princess.

He went to the little door in the wall, but to his horror, it was locked. All the other gates were locked and he returned to the summer house.

Suddenly one of the girls entered. “Ah, at last, I have found the princess’s scarf,” she said. Then she saw Chen. “Who are you?” she asked.

“I am a poor scholar,” Chen replied. “I was shipwrecked and washed up on the shore and found my way here. Help me, noble lady.”

The girl saw the poem written on the scarf. “What is this?” she asked.

“It is a poem which I wrote while I was waiting here,” said Chen.

“I cannot help you now, for the princess will see it and want to know who wrote it,” said the girl and hurried away.

She returned, bringing food. “The princess liked your poem, but she does not know what is to be done with you. You must stay here till morning,” she said.

Next morning, the girl came again. “Someone has told the queen you are here and she is furious,” she said. “You are to be arrested.”

No sooner had the girl left than guards appeared and seized Chen, but close behind them was one of the queen’s waiting-women. “You are Chen,” she cried. “I must tell the queen at once.”

Chen was led to the palace and taken before the queen. She welcomed Chen graciously. “I am the wife of the king who rules this lake,” she said. “Last year I went to visit my parents, who are the rulers of the great river which feeds this lake. I changed myself into a dolphin to make the journey easier. I was that dolphin whom you had thrown back into the water, and the little fish which clung to its tail was my waiting-woman. Tell me what is your dearest wish and the people of the Lake will grant it.”

Chen thought of the lovely princess with whom he had fallen in love, but he could not say this, so he only sighed and remained silent.

“Was your poem written from your heart?” asked the queen.

“It was, Your Majesty,” said Chen.

The queen sent for the princess. “This is the young scholar who wrote the poem which pleased you so much,” she said. “He wishes to marry you.”

The princess was delighted, and the marriage was arranged at once. Chen lived among the Lake People with his princess, but once each year he traveled across the great lake in a magnificent barge to take his old parents rich presents. They were amazed at his wealth and finery, but he would never tell them where they came from, or who was the beautiful lady who was sometimes in his barge.