THE RAMBLES OF THE EMPEROR CHING TIIL THE translation of

this Chinese novel originated in a wish of the Pre- sident of the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, to publish "an edi- tion of the ' Four Books and Five Kings,' the Gospels, as they have been called, and Pentateuch of China " ; but the student THIN SHEN was not sufficiently master of English to translate a " work so obscure and elliptical." The Rambles of the Emperor Ching Tih was therefore given to him as a preliminary exercise ; and Dr. LEGGE finding an interest in the work as it proceeded, revised the version,fand it is here given to the British public. The tale is styled an historical novel, and is said to be "founded as much upon fact as most historical novels of European produc- tion." It strikes us, however, as being more didactic than his- torical; the object of the writer being to show the evil that results from bad advisers, and the benefit that accrues from faithful friends, as well as to indicate the oppression that officers may exercise if not controlled by the searching examination of a superior. In the earlier parts there are touches that look very like a covert satire upon kings and courts : but perhaps this is an European interpre- tation—the Chinese may intend it all in good faith.

The subject of the book is the backslidings and reform of the Em- peror Ching TM. This monarch ascended the throne when fifteen years old; and was, in his father's language, " of an open and free disposition, self-conceited, indolent, and fond of wandering." Being corrupted by a favourite eunuch, he shut himself up in his palace, neglecting the public business to follow his pleasures, dismissing and punishing the statesmen who remonstrated, and appointing the favourite and his creatures in their place. The result was an in- surrection, which after certain vicissitudes terminates in the down- fal of these courtly minions. But the wandering disposition and other failings of the monarch not being entirely overcome, he re- solves to make a tour incog. into the province of Keang Nan, cele- brated for its beauties of all kinds. This journey gives rise to a variety of adventures, in detecting misgovernment, punishing evil- doers, discovering merit, and getting a couple of wives. But the Emperor's disguise being penetrated, the faction of the discarded favourite raises a rebellion ; battles, assisted by magic, ensue ; till at last the genius on the monarch's side is more potent than the enchantresses of the rebels; and the volume closes with the Imperial success, and the reward or punishment of the different persons who have been connected with the rule or rambles of Ching Tih.

To an European reader this work will appear, in three or four phases, of varying attraction. The account:of the court intrigues, the royal aversion to labour, and the conduct of the ministers, not only possesses interest, but exhibits the Chinese in a favour- able point of view. Their ceremonials are more servile than ours; and they beat us in compliment—from the Emperor in council "issued silken sounds," and on another occasion he opens his " golden mouth " : but their statesmen display a straightforward honesty in remonstrance, and a firmness in opposing the Imperial will, which, if report speak true, are wanted by European Ministers, who risk only their places and not their lives like the Celestials. In general remarks upon life and man—such topics as nations put into proverbs—nature seems much the same in China as in Eng- land. Their behaviour is more formal, or rather ceremonial, and breeding is reduced to fixed laws : but still the manners do not feel so remote as might have been supposed. We are only carried back to the days of our great grandmothers ; and the occasional mention of guns and gunpowder, with the continual askings to take tea, make one feel quite at borne. The incidents, especially those Which immediately contribute to the fortunes of the tale, appear foreign and unnatural; but this is probably owing to our ignorance of Chinese life—they bear a generic resemblance to those of the Arabian Nights and of the old tales and ballads. The fights are very badly done—evidently by a Celestial who knows nothing of war,—for, inter alia, a couple of cows frighten a batch of soldiers : but the fact of the vanquished and the inhabitants of conquered cities making away with them- selves, is described as a thing of course, unworthy of a comment. The magic looks puerile enough ; though we doubt whether it is greatly different from the machinery of other tales, if it were read by a juvenile mind. The parts exhibitive of the court, and the incidents that display the manners of the people, have a sober spirit of vitality ; but the narrative of warlike events, and of the adventures intended to be surprising, is baldly literal. The style it of the Celestial type, yet not quite so much so as the translations of Chinese documents that appear in the newspapers. From these peculiarities, the book may be somewhat distasteful to the general reader ; and be more liked by the ignorant, to whom all stories are delightful for their novelty, or by the critic, who can appre- ciate its value as an exhibition of Chinese manners, and perceive where Celestial is merged in universal nature. As the book is written in a level style, without passages of par- ticular labour or composition for effect, and the sole aim of the author seems to be to tell his story in the shortest way, The Rambles of the Emperor Ching TM are not well adapted for ex- tract ; but we will pick out a few of the best passages.

HOW TO PLEASE ROYALTY.

Lew Kin, after his return to the palace, daily contrived, by the help of seven men who composed his party, schemes of amusement with horses, buffaloes, hawks, and hounds, with dancing, mirth, and music, to delight the Emperor. They succeeded in teaching dogs to speak, horses to tread on swinging-ropes, buffaloes to answer to the call, and hawks to transmit messages. They cer- tainly accomplished wonders in this line; and not the young prince only was delighted with the exhibitions, but every one in the palace who saw them pro- nounced them to be surprising. The eunuch also caused several beautiful ladies to present wine, and sing, and practise every sort of seduction before his Majesty, so as entirely to concentrate his affections upon them, insomuch that be came to regard it unnecessary to hold a court or to attend to the public business. Even representations which were presented for his decision he had neither inclination or leisure to look at.

The officers, observing that his Majesty bad not attended the court for se- veral days, and that the representations sent into him had not been decided, reasoned over the matter tumultuously in the hall of audience. Some were afraid that it was owing to the Queen Dowager, who, on account of the Em- peror's youth, did not wish to send him every morning. to the court; others apprehended that his Majesty mightPie ill, and had no time to attend to their representations. At last they determined to proceed to the palace in a body, and inquire about his health : but, to their surprise, on reaching the gate they saw the imperial tablet hung over it, with the two words " No audience," written on it with vermillion ; upon which, with doubting hearts and wonder- ing what business could be carrying on, they retraced their steps.

MINISTERIAL REMONSTRANCE.

" Your servants venture to observe, that the monarch is the fountain of go- vernment. To him the people look up. If he be intelligent and his ministers faithful, the whole nation is happy ; but if he be negligent and his ministers crafty, the repose of the kingdom is destroyed. This principle ought. to induce in you the greatest care. Now beauty is able to confound the will, and dissi- pation ruins the spirits: wine, indeed, is a beislitener of joy, but it must be used with moderation. We have heard lately 'that our lord is abandoned to curious amusements and sunk in the lave of pleasure, so that, not satisfied with the day, he prolongs his orgies through the night, to the injury of his person and the wasting of his health. We are not worthy to occupy our im- portant offices, and we render our titles but empty designations; we are full of shame at not having heretofore assisted and corrected your Majesty. But now that your decree has issued from the palace forbidding us to see you, and that the various documents transmitted for your decision have not been re- turned, your servants imagine that there must be some crafty individuals within the precincts of the palace, who contrive by curious schemes of amusement to detain your royal person among themselves ; and that this is the reason why the tablet, denying audience, has been suspended before the palace, and your throne has been so long empty in the court. We cannot boast of such abi- lities as E Yin or Chow King; but your Majesty is fit to be compared with Yu, Tung, Wan, and Woo; and we beseech you to inflict the proper punish- ment on these individuals, to serve as a warning to the future. Thus shall the nation speedily enjoy such happiness as can come from bright stars and fortu- nate clouds, with strength like that of mountains, and security which springs from encircling rivers. If your Majesty thinks our statement correct, then act in compliance with our views : if you think it wrong, then publicly re- prove us, and display the justice of your rewards and punishments, and your determination to fulfil the dictates of your understanding; but on no account detain this representation unanswered, as if beneath your notice. We believe your Majesty is acquainted with the dying charge of the late Emperor : we beseech you to take compassion upon us, and not allow us to be faithless both to him and to you. It is in consequence of this that we take upon us to pro- fane your royal audience with our mean statements. We pray you to render us happy by accepting our representations. While writing it, our spirits are moving tumultuously, and our dread is extreme. Reverently presented."

A FAVOURITE'S DEFENCE.

At these words the eunuch knelt before his Majesty in great consternation, and replied, with tears, " There is no enmity between your slave and the officers. But if one have not plenty of mutton and wine at his disposal, it is a hard thing to temper the mouths of men. Look at the autumn moon, which casts its shadow over the dusty world : while fair ladies rejoice in its bright- ness, thieves hate its tight. Or look at the spring rains, the harbingers of plenty : while the husbandman rejoices in their fatness, travellers repine at the dirty roads. And if these heavenly influences cannot imbue the minds of men with a feeling of contentment, how should your slave expect to do it ? In such an age as the present, indeed, it would be difficult for the holiness of Chow King to escape baseless comments, and the loyalty of HiS Wang would be assailed by calumnious insinuations; and can such a person as your slave ex- pect to be free from these charges? But your Majesty affords me the most apt example. You are the honourable Sovereign of this empire, and were merely enjoying what amusement could be afforded by a few hawks and hounds, without disturbing any spring of government, or injuring any business of the nation ; and yet all these officers have resigned their employments and retired. They are actuated solely by a desire to spend their own days plea- santly ; but, as if your Majesty were in fault, they have again and again joined in bitter remonstrances. Your slaves are ignorant and valueless individuals, whose death need not occasion any lamentation ; but I fear that you will one day be compelled to regulate your every movement according to the wishes of these officers, and Emperor though you are, will not be able on your own motion to remove a single crafty and wicked magistrate."

A CHINESE INN AND A CHINESE REALITY.

While Chow Yung was thus enjoying himself, the Emperor had met with entertainment of a different character. After parting from the General, he rode onwards to the village of Nan Laon, and was looking out for a lodging- hous-, when a sign-hoard met his eye, with the words "Dragon and Fang Inn" written upon it. Surprised at such an inscription, and thinking there must be some reason for it, he determined to go forward and find it out. Dis- mounting accordingly from his horse, he entered the inn on foot; and seeing the public ball with plenty of tables in it, but not a single person present, he called out several times for the landlord. No answer being given to his sum- mons, he sat down upon a chair, and beat the table violently with his fan, calling likewise with a loud voice.

This noise alarmed the sister of the landlord, named Le Fang, and brought her out. Lifting up the screen to see what was the matter, and observing a gentleman, seemingly a scholar, sitting in the ball and knocking and crying out in such a style, she said to him, " Stranger, you are very unceremonious: how is it that you come into our, honk and cry out in such a manner? are you mad? "

Ching Till, amid all the noise which he was making, was startled by the sound of a bird-like voice behind him ; and turning round, saw behind the screen a young lady of eighteen, blooming as a flower and fair as the moon, with a body pure as a pearl and cheeks as clear as tee. He was thrown into no little confusion and excitement ; but advanced forward instantly and bowed to her, saying, "Damsel, be not offended : 1 have been in the inn for a considerable time, and nobody responding to my calls, I was obliged to beat the table in the way which has brought you out." To each chapter is prefixed a motto from Chinese poetry ; which, unless it has been considerably metamorphosed in the translation, often approximates more closely to European composition than the prose. The following might, for its sentiment, have been written by ANACREON or HORACE.

CARPE DIEM.

How foolishly in schemes and plans The life of man is spent ; When, at the last, a little earth Makes rich and poor content. Let us seize the time of pleasure,

Quickly as it flies along' • When the wind of fortune blows,

Gaily sail with mirth and song.