520 
young perfons, in making ready the hall 
of reception of the houfe. | 
At a diftance is heard a trumpet, the 
noife of the gomgom, and fucceffively the 
found of other inftruments, whichannounce 
the arrival of the mandarin, now feen to 
enter with a part of his fuite. He places 
himfelf in a great chair at the upper end 
of the faloon. 
Old Atay proftrates himfelf before his 
mafter to telicitate him on his return, and 
fheds tears of joy. His mafter orders him 
to rife, and makes his fuite retire. 
Alone with his faithful fervant, he in- 
quires into the ftate of his houfe; the 
. wives, the child, every thing is the object 
of his queftions. Atay gives him a faith- 
ful account; and in his recital informs 
him, that the two wives, after having quit- 
ted the fpoufal houfe, and having {pent 
fome years in a kind of life offenfive to 
good manners, had only reaped fhame and 
mifery as the fruit of their deviations ; 
and they had been feen reduced to the oc- 
cupation of fervants to fubfitt. 
Thefe details explain to the mandarin 
the furprife and fear which his prefence 
caufed to the two women whom he found 
by the river’s fide, and who fled at his ap- 
proach, 
Atay {peaks afterwards, but with bre- 
vity, of his zeal and his application. He 
excuies himfelf for having done {fo little, 
at an age which difenabled him from 
undertaking more. He extols to the 
higheft degree the cares and the fidelity of 
Aouana. He relates all her expreffions of 
tendernefs for the infancy of her mafter’s 
‘fon, and the addrefs which fhe had dif- 
played to excite his emulation, and encou- 
rage him in his ftudies, He praifes her 
activity, her induftrious difpofition, which 
nothing could weary night and day, while 
fhe was labouring for them. ‘* The gods,” 
added he, ** have loaded us with favour 
by granting to Aouana an unalterable 
health.” 
At length the old man comes to what 
concerns the fon of his mafter. He can- 
not enough praife his ardour for ftudy, 
and cites as a proof, that the day before 
he has been nominated licentiate. 
- The mandarin, after having liftened 
with “the greateft attention, and a lively 
fenfibility, but without interrupting (a 
very wife cuftom of the Chinefe) the re- 
cital of his old fervant, gives him, in his 
turn, theeulogiums which his attachment, 
merited, and promifes to give notice of his 
conduét to the emperors 
He declares that his wives are for the 
future unworthy of his remembrance, and 
“Account of a Chinefe Drama by M. Van Braam. 
f Auguft 
that he is refolved to elevate Aouana to the 
dignity of fpoufe, and to inveft her with 
all the marks of honour which the em- 
peror had given him for his wife. He 
confequently orders Afay to go and feck 
for Aouana. Rest 
Aouana appears foon after, and, with an 
embarraflment which fhe cannot conceal, 
falutes her mafter, and wifhes him all the 
happinefs that his fortunate return pro- 
mifes, and the honours which he had re- 
ceived. 
The mandarin rifes from his chair, ad- 
vances towards her, thanks her for the in- 
comparable cares which fhe has taken of 
his ion, and of his houfe. He gives her 
a thoufand applaufes for the fidelity which 
covers her with glory. 
Aouana defends herfelf with a rare mo- 
defty, and only fees in her own condu& 
the fimple accomplifhment of the duty 
which her mafter had impofed on her. 
‘The mandarin, touched ftill more at this 
procedure, affures her that the obligation 
which he feels from it is fo great, that he 
thinks he has no other method of acknow- 
ledging it, than to take her for his wife. 
He proclaims her then by this title, and 
taking her by the hand, he conduéts her 
towards a feat where he places her befide 
him, that fhe may thus enjoy a right which 
only belongs to the lawful fpoufe. Aoxz- 
ana, contuled in amazement, obeys, makes 
a reverence, without uttering a word 
(which is moreover a ftriking trait of the 
fubmiffion in which the Chinefe manners 
hold women), and goes to take the place 
which is prefented to her. k 
A little after arrives Sioz-yé, who has 
juft finifhed the ceremony of his licentiate- 
fhip, the habit ~of which he has now on. 
‘He throws himfelf at his father’s feet, and 
remains in that fituation until he is order- 
ed to rife. His father teftifies for him a! 
the fatisfaétion which his condué& and his 
progrefs had given him, and particularly 
the refpectiul regard which he had fhewn 
to Aouana, in whom he had found a true 
mother. He enjoins him to retain it for 
her, as fhe is now really become fo, being 
the legitimate fpoufe of his father. id 
At thefe words, Siou-yé, full of joy, pro- 
ftrates himfelf before Aouaxa, and pays 
her homage. | 
“The mandarin afterwards orders fome 
domettics to bring the habits of ceremony 
which the emperor had prefented to him 
for his wife ; and he himfelf decbrates 
Aouena with them, who afterwards re~ 
pairs with her fpoufe tomeke the falute of 
honour to the emperor, and thank him for 
his benefits ;—-when Aovaga is folemnly 
proclaimed 
