第40部分(第4/7 页)

　sailing　through　the　sky。　〃Twang！〃　went　the　bowstring；　and　the　arrow　sped　like　a　falling　star。　And　it　struck　the　slender　tongue　of　the　halberd　head　full　and　square。　A　roar　of　acclamation　from　all　sides　greeted　the　exploit。

The　multitude　people　often　hail　their　praise：

O　Lu　Bu　was　a　wonderful　archer；

And　the　arrow　he　shot　sped　straight；

By　hitting　the　mark　he　saved　his　friend

That　day　at　his　camp　gate。

Hou　Yi；　the　archer　of　ancient　days；

Brought　down　each　mocking　sun；

And　the　apes　that　gibbered　to　fright　Yang　Youji

Were　slain　by　him；　one　by　one。

But　we　sing　of　Lu　Bu　that　drew　the　bow；

And　his　feathered　shaft　that　flew；

For　one　hundred　thousand　soldiers　could　doff　their　mails

When　he　hit　the　mark　so　true。

Lu　Bu　laughed　loud　at　the　success　of　his　shot。

Dropping　his　bow　he　seized　his　guests　by　the　hands；　saying；　〃The　mand　of　Heaven　indeed！　And　now　you　cease　from　fighting！〃

He　ordered　the　soldier　attendants　to　pour　out　great　goblets　of　wine　and　each　drank。　Liu　Bei　in　his　inmost　heart　felt　rather　lucky；　his　fellow　guest　sat　silent；　nodding　his　head。

Presently　Ji　Ling　said；　〃I　cannot　disobey　your　mand；　General；　but　let　me　depart。　What　will　my　master　say　and　will　he　believe　me？〃

〃I　will　write　a　letter　and　confirm　it；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

After　a　few　more　rounds　of　the　wine；　Ji　Ling　asked　that　he　might　have　the　letter　and　after　that　departed。

When　the　brothers　took　their　leave；　Lu　Bu　again　reminded　Liu　Bei；　saying；　〃Do　not　forget　I　have　delivered　you　today！〃

Liu　Bei　thanked　him　and　departed。　Next　day　the　leaders　broke　camps；　and　the　soldiers　were　gone。

When　Ji　Ling　had　got　back　to　the　South　of　River　Huai　and　told　the　story　of　the　feat