Hwa Tsien Ki: The Flowery Scroll, a Chinese Novel
Translated by Sir John Bowring
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The opening
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
I STOOD leaning upon a balustrade that I might enjoy the freshness of the evening breeze. The autumnal wind wafted towards me the fragrance of the white lotus flowers, and shining like water I saw the horns of the new moon. It was the very night when, as the tale is told, there is the blending of the constellations. And then I thought silently that if the heavens had a happiness of their own in union and sympathy, there was no reason why man should be delivered over to sadness and solitude. If there be a day of gladness and rejoicing above, are there no jewels, — is there no fragrance for us to possess and enjoy below.
Look whichever way we will — from the beginning to the end of things — love is a universal element — it always was — it always will be . The heart will follow the uncontrollable impulses of nature. It will be reckless, — dissatisfied—impatient until its affections can be mingled with the affections of another.
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About this edition
- The words
- Sir John Bowring's English translation, copied word for word.
- Left out
- Page numbers and running heads from the printed pages, in 6 places
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1, in 185 places
- Printed ornaments and dividers
- The printer's imprint at the end (“LEWIS & SON, SWAN BUILDINGS, MOOEGATE STEEET.”)
- Other material that isn't the author's, in 2 places
- The library's stamp read by the OCR (“UNIVERSITY”) (2 blocks)
- A speck read by the OCR as “¥”, standing alone
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 2 places