--- title: Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 4 — Winning Buddha's smile · full text with trees · page 2 description: Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 4, «Winning Buddha's smile»: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: “I could not ask for anything better, but why can’t I take my little one along with me?” --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/6/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Winning Buddha's smile](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/) / Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 4 # Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 4 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/6/) **2** “Do you know that robber, Su-Rung?”[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") “By name, yes, but I have never seen him.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Why do you ask me that?[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") He’s a wicked man.”[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") “Because they tell a remarkable story about that fellow.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") One of my friends was at school with the son, or rather the adopted son, of this thief.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") It seems, in fact, that Su-Rung found the child abandoned by the roadside and took him home and raised him.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Thanks to his robberies, the man is very rich.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") He has just sent his son on a long trip.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") That’s what my friend told me.”[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") San-Syeng had not missed a word of this conversation.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") His curiosity was aroused to the highest pitch, so he approached the youngster who had spoken, and asked,[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") “Pardon me, friend, would you tell me your name?[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Do you know Su-Rung?”[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") “Sir, I know this man only through having heard tales of him.”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") This reply hardly satisfied San-Syeng, but, believing that the child had been frightened, he did not pursue his questioning further but walked on.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") Shortly afterward, San-Syeng came to the village of Yen-Yu, where he decided to tarry for a few days to recover from the fatigue of his travels.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") Before seeking a lodging he took a stroll through the village to see the sights.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") His attention was drawn to a great mansion surrounded by a vast garden, so he turned in this direction to view it more closely.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") He came to a pause when he saw in the garden a young girl of marvelous beauty.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") It was impossible to approach her as the garden was surrounded by a continuous wall.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") He walked on for a few paces and then, yielding to some indescribable impulse, he retraced his steps.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") The young girl was still there.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") She turned a candid look toward the walker, giving the young man a subtle thrill of pleasure.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") It is true that his eyes had never met such a sight--a bright oval face as fresh as a half ripened peach, eyes that rivaled the stars in their brilliancy.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Her hair, which fell down over her shoulders, was as fine and golden as the clouds which disappear behind the mountain peaks in the rays of the setting sun. Add to these attractions a very small hand and a gait as graceful as the flight of a bird.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") The admiration of San-Syeng could not be restrained.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") He could not take his eyes away from the vision of loveliness.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl, walking up and down the garden, now and then cast furtive glances at the youth who was watching her.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") San-Syeng was in a veritable daze.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") For a considerable time he remained in the one spot, even after the beautiful unknown had disappeared.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Finally, he decided to find a lodging, hoping also to obtain some information concerning the beautiful girl whose charms still held him.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") His first action, therefore, on arriving at the village inn, was to inquire:[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") “To whom does yonder mansion belong that is surrounded by such a beautiful garden?[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Its owner is doubtless a personage of some importance?”[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, it is the estate of a very rich family, the head of which, Yeng-Yen-Sa, is dead.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") The only people who live in that large house are his wife and his daughter.”[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") “Is the daughter married?”[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") “No, sir, she is scarcely seventeen years old.”[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") San-Syeng’s curiosity was satisfied for the moment.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") When alone, he gave himself up to reflection.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") First, he determined to lengthen his stay in Yen-Yu.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") He was burning with desire to see the unknown beauty again.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") Each day for hours at a time he would walk in the neighborhood of the garden where he had first seen the young girl who was constantly occupying his thoughts.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas! his beautiful stroller of the garden remained indoors.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") He was sad unto death.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") One evening, when his sorrow, revived again by the memory of his parents, was more acute than ever, he sought distraction in music.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") He took his flute, and, stationing himself near the garden, improvised the following verses:[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") “Homeless am I--I know neither Heaven nor Earth.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") I am walking in despair, seeking in vain for those who gave me birth.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") In a garden there is a flower of marvelous beauty.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") I would like to pluck this blossom, but the branches which bear it are so high I cannot reach them.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") My most ardent desire would be to die and become a butterfly so that I could hover about this adorable flower.”[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") San-Syeng then cleverly composed a sweet melody, to serve as an accompaniment to this poetry, which he played upon his instrument with much feeling.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") The young girl had heard everything.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") Deeply perplexed, she asked herself what could be the meaning of the charming words which had come to her ears.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") “If this young man,” she mused, “does not know Heaven nor Earth, it means he has lost his parents.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") If he wants to be transformed into a butterfly to flit around a flower, it means he loves a young girl.”[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") Very much puzzled, she sent her servant to inquire who could be the author of the verses she had just heard.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") She wondered if it were not the young man whom she had seen a few days before walking near the garden.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Still impressed by what she had heard, she took her own instrument and in turn improvised the following verses:[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") “The spider spins her web from flower-stem to flower-stem, but the butterfly does not come.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") I have dug a lake in my garden to attract the swans, but in vain are my labors.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") I have planted a tree to serve as a refuge for the swallow, but the bird remains mute to my call while displeasing birds come a-flocking.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") To-day, however, I heard the song of the blue bird.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") He has at last arrived and very soon he will be close and dear to me.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") The age of sixteen is the fair Springtime of life.[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") If I want to be happy, I should not wait much longer.”[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") These words filled San-Syeng with a deep joy for they seemed to be a reply to his own verses and he felt overwhelmed with emotion.[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") He went home, but it was in vain that he tried to sleep.[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") On her part, the young girl slept with difficulty, as her mind was agitated by what had just taken place.[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") Now it came to pass that her father appeared before her in a dream and said, “My daughter, there is stopping at the inn nearest our home a traveler whose merits I bring to your attention.[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") It is the son of San-Houni, the scholar, one of my best friends.[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") I would like you to marry this young man.”[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") She objected that she was not even acquainted with the youth.[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, my daughter,” replied her father, “you have already seen him.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") He comes of a very noble family.[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") Good-bye, my daughter.”[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") The young girl wished to detain her father, but to her sorrow her efforts were of no avail; the vision faded and she awoke in tears.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") “How can I obey my father’s command,” she complained.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") “I must devise some way to meet this young man.[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") I will go into the garden again this evening and perhaps I shall see the man whom my father has ordered me to marry.”[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/6/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/6/) - next →: [Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/7/) - ↑ back to [Winning Buddha's smile](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78208/)