336 THE LOYAL AND FAITHFUL 



ministers Pih-e and Shih-tse, who, in maintenance of noble prin- 

 ciples, died of hunger; with one Yang— shan, who was represented 

 as endeavouring to dissuade persons from the maintenance of similar 

 principles. Perceiving that a pencil laid by its side, he took it up, 

 and wrote the following lines : — 



" Ah, ye brothers ! who for loyalty died of hunger at Shan-yang, 

 Whose honoured [fragrant] names have been transmitted. 

 If alive, would you not collect the flowers of the age. 

 Rather than suffer tyrants a place in the national temple 1 " 



Mei-kwei, having written the above, threw down the pencil, at 

 which time Mei-pih informed him that the sedan had been waiting 

 for him for some time. Mei-kwei, on thanking the landlord, entered 

 it. He had not proceeded far before he beheld several persons 

 belonging to the public courts coming towards him, who, as soon as 

 they approached him, kneeling, said, " We clerks, and attendants on 

 the public courts, have come to pay our respects to you. Sir." [It is 

 probable that these persons had attended on his predecessor.] Mei- 

 kwei bade them rise, and enquired of them if they were acquainted 

 with the usages of the public courts, to which they replied in the 

 affirmative. After a few hours' journeymg, these persons, with 

 Mei-kwei arrived at the capital, and put up at an inn, when Mei- 

 kwei called in the clerk, or secretary, and made enquiries of him 

 as to his knowledge of ihe required ceremonies and usages. Hav- 

 ing satisfactorily replied, Mei-kwei informed him that after the 

 lapse of five days he should enter on his official duties. I shall 

 immediately proceed to the Le-poo Board of Ceremonies, anli 

 announce my arrival, and to-morrow I shall repair to court. The 

 writer said, " The four boards or courts have different usages, the 

 military board require their cards to be red." Mei-kwei replied, 

 " I shall make no distinction." The writer then withdrew. Mei- 

 kwei next beckoned to the other persons to approach him. When 

 he said to them, " I shall require you at all times to be attentive and 

 diligent, and exemplary in your conduct." These persons, having 

 retired, said one to another, " This will be a felicitous year for us, 

 being engaged by a newly appointed minister," and were exceedingly 

 elated thereon. 



Mei-kwei next enquired after a compradore (a person who takes 

 on himself to purchase all things that are requisite for house-keeping.) 

 when entered eight persons, who said they were desirous of serving 

 his Excellency. Mei-kwei, surprised, said, " So many compardores ! 

 why, one will be sufficient ! The rest had better return home to 

 their families, or merchandise, that will be far better than remaining 

 here eating bitter herbs, of what use will you be?" On their retiring, 

 they said among themselves, the new minister requiring only one 

 compradore, he resembles not the other ministers of state. 



Mei-kwei having taken a little rest, he rose next morning at the 

 sound of the fifth drum (five o'clock), and repaired to court. On 

 entering by the main gate he proceeded to the hall of audience, 

 where he saw all the ministers assembled in their full dresses, each in 

 his place, according to their standing in the government ; and he con- 

 versed with all those who entered on office the same year with him- 



