Outside
AT Hangchow there lived a costermonger who understood how to keep oranges a whole year without letting them spoil. His fruit was always fresh-looking, firm as jade, and of a beautiful golden hue; but inside— dry as an old cocoon.
One day I asked him, saying, “Are your oranges for altar and sacrificial purposes, or for show at banquets? Or do you make this outside display merely to cheat the foolish? as cheat them, you most outrageously do.” “Sir”, replied the orangeman, “l have carried on this trade now for many years. It is my source of livelihood. I sell: the world buys. And I have yet to learn that you are the only honest man about, and that I am the only cheat. Perhaps it never struck you in this light. The baton-bearers of to-day, seated on their tiger skins, pose as the martial guardians of the State; but what are they compared with the captains of old? The broad-brimmed, long-robed ministers of to-day, pose as pillars of the constitution; but have they the wisdom of our ancient counsellors? Evil doers arise and none can subdue them. The people are in misery, and none can relieve them. Clerks are corrupt and none can restrain them.
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就有頁果者。警詛咱村。涉寒風君不潰。出之蜂然。玉質而金色。到其中。乾若敗謀。于怪而問之目。若助一市於人者。將以實進一且。學祭記一供賓客乎。將街外以讓患啊甘于。甚-hf 殼。氫款也。受者笑目。否業是有年矣。吾東親是以全吾髓。吾智之。人取之。朱開有官。而獨不足於乎乎。世之露故意不算矣。而獨錢也乎。苦于宋之息也。+失佩虎符。坐串串比者。設法乎干按之兵也。果能授孫吳之時耶。峨六諾。蛇口挂紳者。晶晶乎廟堂之mM也。果龍時也伊租車之業耶。盜起而不知御。困而不知數。更好而不知禁。詩歌而不知理。坐援農累而不知恕。敏某些高章。騎大厲。醉醉懼而低肥鮮者。孰不說錯乎可畏。赫赫乎可數也。叉何往而不金玉其外。敗黨一其中也訣。今于是之不察。而以第一吾擒。于默默無以阻。進而忠義宮一。類東方生滑稽之流。益共忿址位4邪者耶。而飪於村以認耶。
Laws decay, and none can renew them. Our officials eat the bread of the State, and know no shame. They sit in lofty halls, ride fine steeds, drink themselves drunk with wine, and batten on the richest fare. Which of them but puts on an awe-inspiring look, a dignified mien?—all gold and gems without, but dry cocoons within. You pay, Sir, no heed to these things, while you are very particular about my oranges.”
I had no answer to make. I retired to ponder over this costermonger’s wit, which reminded me forcibly of “The Wag”. Was he really out of conceit with the age, or only quizzing me in defence of his fruit?