Gems of Chinese Literature/Chang Yüeh-Fighting Goats

Gems of Chinese Literature (1922)
translated by Herbert Allen Giles

Fighting Goats by Chang Yüeh

CHANG YÜEH.

667-730 a.d.

[Poet and statesman who rose to high office, and who was one of the first officials appointed to the newly-instituted Han-lin College.]

Chang Yüeh1523844Gems of Chinese Literature — Fighting Goats1922Herbert Allen Giles

MAY it please your Majesty,

It is on record that the cock’s comb and the pheasant’s plume were emblems of the bravery of old. This honour might well be extended to goats. Born on the beetling cliff; hardened by a rigorous life; they face all foes without fear, and fight on courageously to the death. Although but brute beasts, their will may not be lightly crossed.

And now that your Majesty is seeking good soldiers in every corner of the empire, even the birds of the air and the beasts of the field should be laid under contribution. Suppose, then, that your Majesty should deign to place the accompanying animals in the Imperial park where they could exhibit to all comers their untiring strength and their unflinching courage, when with impetuous rush they fall blindly upon one another, horns crashing, bones breaking, blood spurting, in the fierce struggle for victory;―then I think that even the bravest of our brave would be thrilled, and yield their unqualified applause. Thus, I too might hope to lend some trifling aid, like him who counselled the purchase of horses’ bones, like him who bowed to the intrepid frog.^[1]

At the same time, could these goats speak they would doubtless say, “If we are to fight on without interference, there will soon be an end of us. We rely on your Majesty's humanity not to exterminate us thus, but to make use of us in the sense required only as far as our strength permits.”

I am suffering from gout, and cannot put my foot to the ground. I therefore humbly forward these goats by your Majesty’s son-in-law, to be duly laid before the Throne, trembling meanwhile lest I may have incurred the Imperial displeasure.

↑ (1) When Chao Wang stood in need of horses for military purposes, he was advised to offer a high price for horses’ bones, so that the people, in view of still larger profits, might be induced to bring real horses to the camp for sale.}} {{p|aj|text=(2) When the Prince of Ch‘u was attacking the Wu State, he one day made obeisance to a frog―a traditionally brave creature in order that his soldiery might infer how much more he would be likely to honour them for bravery upon the field.

[1] (1) When Chao Wang stood in need of horses for military purposes, he was advised to offer a high price for horses’ bones, so that the people, in view of still larger profits, might be induced to bring real horses to the camp for sale.}} {{p|aj|text=(2) When the Prince of Ch‘u was attacking the Wu State, he one day made obeisance to a frog―a traditionally brave creature in order that his soldiery might infer how much more he would be likely to honour them for bravery upon the field.

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