129 



//This night I have come with these brethern before X, the incense-master of the lodge X, 

 z/at the place X, near the village X, in the district X, of the préfecture X, in the pro- 

 ,/vince of X. All the brethern who have been brought here to night, are all iron-galled and 

 // copper-livered. ( 1 ) 



//We have come together to pledge fraternity before Heaven and Earth: we'11 swear to be 

 z/all of one heart and mind, and we'11 mix our blood to confirm this oath. 



z/We pray and beseech the Gods of Heaven and Earth; Liu-pi, Kwan-yü and Chang-ji who pledged 

 //fraternity in a peach-garden. ( 2 ) 



z/With one heart and mind we will obey Heaven, and act righteously; and we will over turn 

 z/Tsing and restore Ming. Our faithful hearts will not alter, and we will never change. 



// Unanimously , and with united forces, we will search together for the true lord. We will 

 z/veconquer the empire, and restore the true throne, that the heirdom of the great dynasty of 

 z/Ming may flourish again. 



z/We now burn incense here and make this prayer: we pray that it may reach the Su- 

 z/premeRuler of the August Heaven; the first heavenly venerable One; the three lights — sun, 

 z/moon (and stars); the five planets ( 3 ) and seven rulers ( 4 ); the divine prince Wu-tao ( 5 ); 



■$ m. -&. V* & % h m h m h ut 

 h *è ■* m # ± ■•'■■* ■■■* m ■■"■■<% ■■'. n % 

 m> & * ?i * * & %» a a m 





( 1 ) i. e. Valiant and courageous. 



( 2 ) Compare p. 2. 



( 3 ) Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn. 

 (*) Sun, moon and the five planets. 



( 5 ) Name of a constellation. 



m m- n <& -ê- 

 m m a n %• R w m m. & # % 



a hè m t& &. n & 



% m M %.• ft *? Wi 1\ # m m 



±.. * lëj ?x iü. # ± je •&. m M A 



m m. % m #. té m a *• ■ b m h 



*. s. m -b &.. s. 4 m #• a t 



17 



