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called for a momentary relaxation of his usual diffidence； now approached
his father modestly； and begged that he also might be included to some
trivial degree in his bounty。
This reasonable petition involved Wei in an embarrassing perplexity。
Although he had forgotten Kao completely in the division； he had now
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definitely concluded the arrangement； nor； to his failing powers； did it
appear possible to make a just allotment on any other lines。 〃How can a
person profitably cut up an orange…tree； a boat； an inlaid couch； or a
house？〃 he demanded。 〃Who can divide a flowing river； or what but
unending strife can arise from regarding an open field in anything but its
entirety？ Assuredly six cohesive objects cannot be apportioned between
four persons。〃 Yet he could not evade the justice of Kao's implied rebuke；
so drawing to his side a jade cabinet he opened it； and from among the
contents he selected an ebony staff； a paper umbrella； and a fan inscribed
with a mystical sentence。 These three objects he placed in Kao's hands；
and with his last breath signified that he should use them discreetly as the
necessity arose。
When the funeral ceremonies were over； Chu； Shan； and Hing came
together； and soon moulded their covetous thoughts into an agreed
conspiracy。 〃Of what avail would be a boat or a river if this person
sacrificed the nets and appliances by which the fish are ensnared？〃 asked
Shan。 〃How little profit would lie in an orange…tree and a field without
cattle and the implements of husbandry！〃 cried Hing。 〃One cannot occupy
a gold couch in an empty house both by day and night；〃 remarked Chu
stubbornly。 〃How inadequate； therefore； would such a provision be for
three。〃
When Kao understood that his three brothers had resolved to act in this
outrageous manner he did not hesitate to reproach them； but not being able
to contend against him honourably； they met him with ridicule。 〃Do not
attempt to rule us with your wooden staff；〃 they cried contemptuously。
〃Sacrifice IT if your inside is really sincere。 And； in the meanwhile； go and
sit under your paper umbrella and wield your inscribed fan； while we
attend to our couch； our boat； and our orange…tree。〃
〃Truly；〃 thought Kao to himself when they had departed； 〃their words
were irrationally offensive； but among them there may stand out a pointed
edge。 Our magnanimous father is now bereft of both comforts and
necessities； and although an ebony rod is certainly not much in the
circumstances； if this person is really humanely…intentioned he will not
withhold it。〃 With this charitable design Kao build a fire before the couch
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（being desirous； out of his forgiving nature； to associate his eldest brother
in the offering）； and without hesitation sacrificed the most substantial of
his three possessions。
It here becomes necessary to explain that in addition to being an expert
astrologer； Wei was a far…seeing magician。 The rod of unimpressionable
solidity was in reality a charm against decay； and its hidden virtues being
thus destroyed； a contrary state of things naturally arose； so that the next
morning it was found that during the night the gold couch had crumbled
away into a worthless dust。
Even this manifestation did not move the three brothers； although the
geniality of Shan and Hing's countenances froze somewhat towards Chu。
Nevertheless Chu still possessed a house； and by pointing out that they
could live as luxuriantly as before on the resources of the river and the
field and the tree； he succeeded in maintaining his position among them。
After seven days Kao reflected again。 〃This avaricious person still has
two objects； both of which he owes to his revered father's imperishable
influence；〃 he admitted conscience…stricken； 〃while the being in question
has only one。〃 Without delay he took the paper umbrella and
ceremoniously burned it； scattering the ashes this time upon Shan's river。
Like the rod the umbrella also possessed secret virtues； its particular
excellence being a curse against clouds； wind demons； thunderbolts and
the like； so that during the night a great storm raged； and by the morning
Shan's boat had been washed away。
This new calamity found the three brothers more obstinately perverse
than ever。 It cannot be denied that Hing would have withdrawn from the
guilty confederacy； but they were as two to one； and prevailed； pointing
out that the house still afforded shelter； the river yielded some of the
simpler and inferior fish which could be captured from the banks； and the
fruitfulness of the orange…tree was undiminished。
At the end of seven more days Kao became afflicted with doubt。
〃There is no such thing as a fixed proportion or a set reckoning between a
dutiful son and an embarrassed sire；〃 he confessed penitently。 〃How
incredibly profane has been this person's behaviour in not seeing the
obligation in its unswerving necessity before。〃 With this scrupulous
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resolve Kao took his last possession； and carrying it into the field he
consumed it with fire beneath Hing's orange…tree。 The fan； in turn； also
had hidden properties； its written sentence being a spell against drought；
hot winds； and the demons which suck the nourishment from all crops。 In
consequence of the act these forces were called into action； and before
another day Hing's tree had withered away。
It is said with reason； 〃During the earthquake men speak the truth。〃 At
this last disaster the impious fortitude of the three brothers suddenly gave
way； and cheerfully admitting their mistake； each committed suicide； Chu
disembowelling himself among the ashes of his couch； Shan sinking
beneath the wat