The time passed and still the sleeper did not wake. The two brothers left
without, beginning to feel impatient, also came in, and Zhang Fei was annoyed at seeing his revered elder brother respectfully
standing by while another slept.
"What an arrogant fellow is this Master?" said he. "There
is our brother waiting, while he sleeps on perfectly carelessly. I will go to the back of the place and let off a bomb and see if that
will rouse him."
"No, no; you must do nothing of the kind," whispered Guan Yu, and then Liu
Bei told them to go out again.
Just then Liu Bei noticed that the Master moved. He turned over as though
about to rise, but, instead, he faced the wall and again fell asleep. The serving lad made as if he would rouse his master, but Liu Bei forbade
him to be disturbed, and Liu Bei waited yet another weary hour.Then Zhuge
Liang woke up repeating to himself the lines:
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"Can any know
what fate is his? Yet have I felt throughout my life, The day would come
at last to quit
The calm retreat for toil and strife."
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As he finished, he turned to the lad, saying, "Have any of the usual people
come?"
"Liu Bei, the Uncle of the Emperor is here," said the boy. "He has been
waiting a long time."
"Why did you not tell me?" said he, rising from the couch. "I
must dress." Zhuge Liang rose and turned into a room behind to dress. In a short time he
reappeared, his clothing properly arranged, to receive his visitor.
Then Liu Bei saw coming toward him a young man of medium height with a
refined face. He wore a head-wrap and a long crane-white gown. He moved
with much dignity as though he was rather more than mortal. Liu Bei bowed, saying, " I am one of the offshoots of the Han family, a simple person from Zhuo.I
have long known the Master's fame, which has indeed thundered in my ear.
Twice I have come to visit you, without success. Once I left my name on
your writing table. You may have my note." Zhuge Liang replied, "This hermit is but a dilatory person by temperament. I know I have to thank
you for more than one vain visit, and I am ashamed to think of them." These courteous remarks and the proper bows exchanged, the two men sat in
their relative positions as host and guest, and the serving lad brought tea. Then Zhuge Liang said, "From your letter I know that you grieve for both people and government. If I were not so young and if I possessed any talent, I would venture to question you." Liu Bei replied, " Sima Hui and Xu Shu have both spoken of you. Can it be that their words
were vain?I trust, O Master, that you will not despise my worthlessness
but will condescend to instruct me." "The two men you speak of are very profound scholars. I am but a peasant,
a mere farmer, and who am I that I should talk of empire politics? Those
two misled you when they spoke of me. Why do you reject the beautiful jewel
for a worthless pebble?" " But your abilities are world embracing and marvelous.How can you be content
to allow time to pass while you idle away life in these secluded haunts?
I conjure you, O Master, to remember the inhabitants of the empire and
remove my crass ignorance by bestowing instruction upon me." |