[Yi Hang-bok.--When he was a child a blind fortune-teller came and
cast his future, saying, "This boy will be very great indeed."
At seven years of age his father gave him for subject to write a
verse on "The Harp and the Sword," and he wrote--
"The Sword pertains to the Hand of the Warrior
And the Harp to the Music of the Ancients."
At eight he took the subject of the "Willow before the Door,"
and wrote--
"The east wind brushes the brow of the cliff
And the willow on the edge nods fresh and green."
On seeing a picture of a great banquet among the fierce Turks of
Central Asia, he wrote thus--
"The hunt is off in the wild dark hills,
And the moon is cold and gray,
While the tramping feet of a thousand horse
Ring on the frosty way.
In the tents of the Turk the music thrills
And the wine-cups chink for joy,
'Mid the noise of the dancer's savage tread
And the lilt of the wild hautboy."
At twelve years of age he was proud, we are told, and haughty. He
dressed well, and was envied by the poorer lads of the place, and once
he took off his coat and gave it to a boy who looked with envy on
him. He gave his shoes as well, and came back barefoot. His mother,
wishing to know his mind in the matter, pretended to reprimand him,
but he replied, saying, "Mother, when others wanted it so, how could
I refuse giving?" His mother pondered these things in her heart.
When he was fifteen he was strong and well-built, and liked
vigorous exercise, so that he was a noted wrestler and skilful at
shuttlecock. His mother, however, frowned upon these things, saying
that they were not dignified, so that he gave them up and confined his
attention to literary studies, graduating at twenty-five years of age.
In 1592, during the Japanese War, when the King escaped to Eui-ju,
Yi Hang-bok went with him in his flight, and there he met the Chinese
(Ming) representative, who said in surprise to his Majesty, "Do you
mean to tell me that you have men in Cho-sen like Yi Hang-bok?" Yang
Ho, the general of the rescuing forces, also continually referred to
him for advice and counsel. He lived to see the troubles in the reign
of the wicked Kwang-hai, and at last went into exile to Puk-chong. When
he crossed the Iron Pass near Wonsan, he wrote--
"From the giddy height of the Iron Peak,
I call on the passing cloud,
To take up a lonely exile's tears
In the folds of its feathery shroud,
And drop them as rain on the Palace Gates,
On the King, and his shameless crowd."]