Now there was a certain mandarin, whose daughter had long been extolled through the province of Kartou, as a miracle of beauty, and her father, Whanghang, brought her in a litter to the minister Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow.  He felt that her charms were piercing as an arrow, and that he had found a fit mate for the brother of the sun and moon; but his avarice demanded a sum which the father would not pay.  Refuse to send her portrait he dare not; it was therefore ordered to be taken, as well as the others, and Whanghang considered himself as the father-in-law of the celestial Youantee.  The young painter who was employed finished his task, then laid down his pencil, and died with grief and love of such perfection, which he never could hope to obtain.  The picture was sent to the vile minister, who reserved it for himself, and wrote the name of this pearl beyond price, under that of another, unworthy to unloose her zone as her handmaiden.  The committee of taste did, however, select that picture among the hundred to be placed in the Hall of Delight, not because the picture was beautiful, but because the fame of her beauty had reached the court, and they thought it right that the emperor should see the picture.  The virgins whose pictures were thus selected, were all ordered to repair to the imperial palace, and the magnificent Youantee entered the Hall of Delight, which was illumined with ten thousand lanthorns, and cast his eyes over the portraits of the hundred beauties, but not one feature touched his heart, he turned away in disgust at the degenerate countenances of the age, “Is this all,” exclaimed he, “that the world can lay at the feet of its lord?” And the committee of taste prostrated themselves when they beheld his indignation.  “And this,” exclaimed he, pointing to the supposed portrait of the daughter of Whanghang, “who is this presumptuous one who hath dared to disgrace with her features the Hall of Delight?”

“That, O emperor,” said the wily Suchong Pollyhong Ka-te-tow, “is the far-famed beauty Chaoukeun, whose insolent father dared to say, that if it was not sent, he would lay his complaint at the celestial feet.  In her province the fame of her beauty was great, and I did not like to be accused of partiality, so it has been placed before the imperial eye.”

“First, then,” exclaimed the emperor, “let it be proclaimed that the whole province of Kartou is peopled by fools, and levy upon it a fine of one hundred thousand ounces of gold, for its want of taste; and next, let this vain one be committed to perpetual seclusion in the eastern tower of the imperial palace.  Let the other maidens be sent to their parents, for as yet there is not found a fit bride for the brother of the sun and moon.”

The imperial mandates were obeyed; and thus was the first part of the prophecy fulfilled, that “the pearl beyond price would be found and lost.”

Ti-tum, till-lilly, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti.