Chapter XLIV.— The Likeness of a Portrait. (X)
THERE was a portrait painter, after finishing a painting, said to his customer: "I will take this picture and go with you and ask everyone we meet on the way to see if my painting is a good likeness or not." The customer replied: "Very well, do as you say." Just as they were outside of their door, they happened to meet a man. The customer said: "Beg your pardon; may I trouble you to see if this is a good likeness of me?" The man looked at the customer for a long while, then said: "That hat is well painted." Afterwards they met another man; the customer again requested him to give his opinion of the likeness. The man replied: "The clothing is well drawn." When they met a third man, the painter did not wait for the customer to enquire, but he spoke first: "The hat and the clothes have been criticized, so you need not trouble yourself to repeat," and asked him if the face was a good likeness or not. That man, after having viewed the painting and pondering over it for a long while said: "The whiskers are very well painted."
Chapter XLV.—The Charm Against Mosquitoes. (X)
THERE was a Taoist priest who boasted that he could draw a charm against mosquitoes, so that they are sure not to bite anyone. One man begged of him several times and said: "There are a great many mosquitoes in my home. They bite me so that I cannot keep my eyes shut; will you give me one of your charms, so I may get some sleep? Then I will be very grateful to you." The Taoist priest drew a charm, told him to take it home and paste it up. He assured him that it would be effective. That night the mosquitoes were more than usual; he could not sleep a bit. The man searched for the priest and demanded an explanation from
