The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

piece of work, already finished, that I should like tosubmit first to your Majesty's inspection."“Bring it with you tomorrow." said the king, “and wewill look at it together."So Yen Shih called again the next day, and was dulyadmitted to the royal presence. “Who is that manaccompanying you?" asked the King.“That, Sire, is my own handiwork. He can sing and hecan act."The King stared at the figure in astonishment. It walkedwith rapid strides, moving its head up and down, so thatany one would have taken it for a live human being. Theartificer touched its chin, and it began singing, perfectlyin tune. He touched its hand, and it started posturing,keeping perfect time. It went through any number ofmovements that fancy might happen to dictate. TheKing, looking on with his favourite concubine and theother inmates of his harem, could hardly persuadehimself that it was not real.As the performance was drawing to an end, theautomaton winked his eye and made sundry advances tothe ladies in attendance on the King. This, however,threw the King into a passion, and he would have put YenShih to death on the spot had not the latter, in mortalterror, instantly pulled the automaton to pieces to lethim see what it really was. And lo! it turned out to bemerely a conglomeration of leather, wood, glue and