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

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    ‘Don’t worry about whether he uses it or not,’ said the Dragon Mother. ‘Just give it to him, and if he can cope with it, let him take it away with him.’
    The Dragon King agreed, and told Monkey.
    ‘Bring it to me and I’ll have a look at it,’ said Monkey.
    ‘Out of the question!’ said the Dragon King. ‘It’s too heavy to move. You’ll have to go and look at it.’
    ‘Where is it ?’ asked Monkey.’ Show me the way.’
    The Dragon King accordingly brought him to the Sea Treasury, where he at once saw something shining with innumerable beams of golden light. ‘There it is,’ said the Dragon King. Monkey respectfully tidied himself and approached the object. It turned out to be a thick iron pillar, about twenty feet long. Monkey took one end in both hands and raised it a little. ‘A trifle too long and too thick!’ he said. The pillar at once became several feet shorter and one layer thinner. Monkey felt it. ‘A little smaller still wouldn’t do any harm,’ he said. The pillar at once shrunk again. Monkey was delighted. Taking it out into the daylight he found that at each end was a golden clasp, while in between all was black iron. On the near end was the inscription ‘Golden Clasped Wishing Staff. Weight, thirteen thousand five hundred pounds’. ‘Splendid!’ thought Monkey. ‘One couldn’t wish for a better treasure than this.’ But as he went along, he thought to himself, fingering the staff, ‘If only it were a little smaller, it would be marvellous.’ And sure enough, by the time he got outside it was not much more than two feet long. Look at him, how he displays its magic, making suddenthrusts and passes on his way back to the palace. The Dragon King trembled at the sight, and the Dragon Princes were all in a flutter. Tortoises and turtles drew in their heads; fishes, crabs, and shrimps all hid themselves away. Monkey, with the treasure in his hand, sat down by the Dragon King.
    ‘I am deeply grateful for my honoured neighbour’s kindness,’ he said.
    ‘Pray don’t mention it,’ said the Dragon King.
    ‘Yes, it’s a useful bit of iron,’ said Monkey, ‘but there is just one more thing I should like to say.’
    ‘Great Immortal,’ said the Dragon King, ‘what else have you to say?’
    ‘Before I had this iron,’ said Monkey, ‘it was another matter, but with a thing like this in my hand, I begin to feel the lack of anything suitable to wear with it. If you have got anything in that line, please let me have it. I should really be grateful.’
    ‘I have nothing at all,’ said the Dragon King.
    ‘You know the old saying,’ said Monkey, ‘ “one guest should not trouble two hosts”. You won’t get rid of me by pretending you haven’t got any.’
    ‘You might try another sea,’ said the Dragon King, ‘it’s just possible they would be able to help you.’
    ‘ “Better sit in one house than run to three,”’ said Monkey. ‘I insist on your finding me something.’
    ‘I assure you I don’t possess anything of that sort,’ said the Dragon King.’ If I did you should have it.’
    ‘All right,’ said Monkey. ‘I’ll try my iron on you, and we shall soon see whether you can give me one.’
    ‘Steady, steady, Great Immortal,’ said the Dragon King. ‘Don’t strike! Just let me find out whether my brothers haven’t got anything that you could have.’
    ‘Where do they live ?’ asked Monkey.’ They are the dragons of the southern, northern, and western seas,’ said the Dragon King.
    ‘I am not going as far as that,’ said Monkey. ‘ “Two in hand is better than three in bond.” You must find me something here and now. I don’t mind where you get it from.’
    ‘I never suggested that you should go,’ said the DragonKing. ‘We’ve got an iron drum and a bronze gong here. If anything important happens, I have them sounded, and my brothers come immediately.’
    ‘Very well,’ said Monkey. ‘Look sharp and sound the drum and