Read Online Monkey by Wu Ch'eng-en - Free Book Online

had come to real harm, you’d have been prosecuted and fined.’
    Flames leapt up in Monkey’s heart when he heard this. He ground his teeth and said in a great rage, ‘So that’s what they think of me! Don’t they know that on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit I was king and patriarch ? How dared they swindle me with coming and looking after horses ? If looking after horses is a job for the lowest riff-raff of all, what do they want to put me into it for? I won’t stand it! I’m going at once!’
    With a sudden cry of rage, he pushed over the official desk, took his treasure from behind his ear and rushed out to the Southern Gate. The deities on guard, knowing that he was now an official and authorized to go in and out, did not attempt to stop him. Soon he lowered his cloud and landed on the Mountain of Fowers and Fruit. ‘Little Ones,’ he cried, ‘Old Monkey has come back.’
    They gave him a great banquet of welcome, saying, ‘As your Majesty has stayed away in the upper regions for ten years, we may surely presume that you have had a great success there?’
    ‘I’ve been away about a fortnight,’ said Monkey. ‘What do you mean by ten years ?’
    ‘In Heaven,’ they said, ‘you did not notice how the timewas going. One day in heaven is a year below. Tell us, please, what rank they gave you.’
    ‘Don’t talk of it!’ said Monkey, ‘or I shall die of shame. The Jade Emperor has no idea how to make use of one. He saw what I am; but all he could do with me was to make me into something they call a
Pi-ma-wên.
I was told to look after his horses – just a menial post to which no rank attaches at all. I didn’t realize this when I took the job, and didn’t have a bad time playing about in the stables. But today I asked some of the others, and discovered what sort of post it was. I was furious and gave up the job at once. So here I ami’
    ‘And a good thing too,’ they said. ‘With an enchanted spot like this to rule over, what sense is there in going away to be a groom ? Little ones, prepare a banquet, to cheer our great king.’
    They were just beginning to drink, when someone announced that two one-horned demon kings were outside, asking to see the Monkey King.’ Show them in,’ said Monkey. The demons tidied themselves and hastened into the cave, prostrating themselves deeply.
    ‘What has brought you here ?’ asked Monkey.
    ‘We have known for a long time,’ they said, ‘that you appreciate good qualities, but no suitable occasion presented itself for us to pay you our respects. However, hearing that you had secured a post in Heaven and returned triumphant, we thought you would not object to receiving a little present. Here is a red and yellow rug, which we hope you will accept. And if you will deign also to take into your service such humble folk as ourselves, we are ready to perform the most menial of tasks.’
    Monkey wrapped the rug round himself in high glee, and all his subjects lined up and did homage. The demon kings were made Marshals of the Vanguard, and when they expressed their gratitude, they asked what position Monkey had held in Heaven.
    ‘The Jade Emperor,’ said Monkey, ‘has no regard for talent. He made me a groom in the stables I’
    ‘With magic powers like yours,’ they said, ‘why should youstoop to look after horses? ‘The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven”,–that is the title for such a one as you.’
    Monkey was delighted with the sound of this, and having exclaimed ‘Good, good, good!’ many times, he ordered his generals to set up a banner with’ Great Sage, Equal of Heaven’ written on it in large letters. Henceforward, he said, he was to be addressed by no other name, and instructions to this effect were to be given to all fiends that acknowledged his sway.
    When the Jade Emperor held his court next day, the head of the Stable appeared kneeling on the steps of the throne, announcing that the newly appointed groom had complained that the job was not