en had no lo

t be a Wine St

self had no

be a city called

and Earth b

e, without sha

as once call

s once called

age I have lon

e to study spir

up I penetrate

n-Nature and

feel when wine

ll to those who

e Milk

-ch'üan,

Mo): "A drunken visitor said, 'Clear wine

e of Rishi,

OUNTAINS ON

ir a white

rt sitting in

p and hang it on

ine-trees trickle

M DRUNKENNESS

World is bu

il it by any l

I was drunk

t the porch in f

I blinked at t

was singing am

had the day be

d was telling

song I soon b

s there I fill

I waited for th

s over, all my

LF-ABA

and did not n

als filled the f

nd walked to the

re gone, and

O TAN

dging high in t

he beauty of va

g he lies in t

eep when the sun

nd dusts his s

m cleans his h

ho far from s

ed on a pillow

EARING

hill; the sparse

f Spring teem

fish the blue

rushes the gree

ield have dabbled th

sses are bent le

tream the last

wind slowly s

C

OF PO

n 20th of

s his exa

r post at Chou-chih

lar of the Ha

River, being in mou

urns to

shed to

ved to C

ed and retu

rnor of

rnor of

es owing

rns to C

permanentl

, the province of whic

es owing

ytic stroke i

in the ei

PASSING THE

d.

s I never le

and won unme

ce I do not

arents will fir

ents, six o

s I leave th

uch is ready

ings blend the

d dull the pa

shorten the

is the horse o

y the road tha

ANDIDATES TO THE

d.

to escort the

quarter the sky

, "You have star

oaches already t

the riders' t

d, the watchma

hen I see

levee, pity

rises and the

of earth resume

triving, what sh

e, for that is

tiers, rise fro

in the city

and my term o

thoughts go ba

LODGING IN A TEMPLE T

d.

er, with two

g fame in the ci

loy gave them

since first they

dered deep into

ought was promis

he gate, we sent

yard with onl

ar, the first

green and bushe

s stolen the sha

r on the last b

when the sky g

east was still

oister we carried

for the moon, ou

n her golden

gh she had waite

er light shone

halls dancin

e we sat in h

nging, and yet

the place of p

s this, how

SICK

Assistant-Magistrate of Chou-ch

ows, not attend

've lain behin

nk that those

, except by

ughts one does

e I lie is te

eaves, above th

I see the Whit

hat hover on its

ce that is buried i

CHING TH

d.

e soil have f

nth their toil

visits the fi

ll is covered w

ters shoulder b

ys carry the

r they bring a

pers toiling on t

urned by the hot

orched by flames o

, caring nothin

ortness of the

follows at th

hild carried clo

and she gleans t

arm a broken

... by virtue

once tended f

-pay is three

nd I have still

is, secretly I

e thought ling

O SPEND A NIGHT AT

d.

shore standing at t

e pool seen at

re, I made my

ights could n

ced on a place s

nion to drag

tasted the joy

in come with a f

ANTING

d.

y will to ser

door autumn

do to ease a

os, more than a

auty, as they grow

s though I liv

time on pub

iling I walk t

t their roots

t their shade

that both in

a fresher

e, lying near

ranches the sound

TO LI

of a

d.

ers again dr

gs again sed

long I part

oughts grow nar

w once I used

se and tapped at

me you were sti

ildren were se

hing, ran to

ls flying and

rrace, green pa

ench, clean sha

ills we sat in t

oon we walked to

t gate only

t street few d

h other all

e spoke of pr

d hands, how l

ain the full

ed the last flow

I hear new

r suddenly draw

of parting is s

THE END

hēn.[1] [

pear-tree gathers

gs have hatched

' changes thus c

an the Doctrin

to watch the da

ing that Yout

g World is but

ter whether one

he day that my f

exile in the Ci

wish I cannot

time we may chan

reat friend. See

POEM ON

d.

e he had discovered a poem inscribed by

n the inn-wall n

moss's growth the lett

heart so full, that thou

is broidered coat to wip

U CH'ēN

d.

in the Distri

llage whose nam

s away from th

emp and green of

s the sound of t

n pack the vi

awing the water

hering fire-wo

town Government

hills, man's

wealth, they do n

the age, they do n

eeps to its v

hey have never

e the people o

ome the dust o

fields old

each in the

llage there are

Chus have ma

they have kinsm

ey have friends

and roasted

ings more than

ive, they have no

they go to a ne

e dead,-no d

illage grav

ubled either abo

nguish either

ns that they li

at-grandsons

n the Realms

rs, unprotec

o distinguish bet

toiled at b

w honours Lear

ize marriag

tters I gyved

ame a much-

old I learnt

I knew how t

as made a Bac

ecame a Censo

y I owe to Pri

that bind me t

family, the serv

sks my natur

ime that I fir

ll now,-fift

t has thrice

gh Ch'in my lean

the morning with

ght with a soul t

I have wandere

er like a cloud

ar my old home

blood many are s

iver, and Sout

re the friends

whom I neve

ar of only after

, I lie on my

ht, I sit and

row has burnt m

uble has seized

sh has my who

ied the people

ING IN TH

d.

as a burnished

f Wei, carp and

with my bamb

ok by the bank

d blows on m

ing my ten

sits waiting fo

ered to the Land

white-hea

at the same

men, not a h

ars, he caugh

me to cast my ho

ght either o

kill to captu

k in the autum

this, my fish

me and drink

uang Tz?,"

but really waiting for a Prince who would employ him. At last Wēn Wang, Pr

AZY MA

d.

nage, but am too

d, but am too

s; I am too l

orn; I am too la

e, but am too

same as if my c

arp, but am to

e same as if it

there is no more

e, but am too

relatives write

d them, but they're

been told that

le life in abs

harp and sometimes

was not s

as Chi K'ang. A

NESS AND

a a.d

leness give me

ith my leisure

self to discard i

en I make

made, it is sligh

rision to alm

be pained at the fl

l hate the plainn

lf, then stop and

of Soochow an

praised it, but t

ould care

day except

hed to the City

s an usher in

e by three th

now even that t

h century a.d., and T'

WINTE

ing his reti

; those that I l

; I cannot j

a living soul

e locked in m

p burns with

ains are crooked

the door-step

ar the new

er, gradually

ght and sit up

the "art of sitting

ear this utte

my body cleave

soul yields

en for four

usand and three

Yen Hui replied, "I have learnt to discard my body and obliterate my intelligence; to abandon matter and b

iple of endless mutation

NTHEMUMS IN THE

d.

my youth lef

turn dwindle my

ghts of sadnes

n this cold, d

the garden lon

faint; the win

ce is tangled an

are blighted an

are a few chrys

opened beneath t

wine and meant

of these made m

r, when I

mood changed f

, no matter a

it, my heart wa

that a

y is harder an

ear that when

iquor will leav

you, late chry

ason why do yo

now that it was

for a while I w

DEPRESSION,

d.

1

ow and do not

y room no

that, all

and am not

2

e are the boy

les the frost of

that my body s

are old, my he

SING-CHIEN, WHO WAS S

d.

n, my brows a

nt, my lips

d that I choose

yes, who would

ou were calle

in the lands

g I was banish

kness on the Ri

from me by six

orld, under

ers, nine d

do to open

often drea

often dre

ame, where do

osed, I have trave

EARLY FROM THE

d.

rain, dust and

ver, the road's

en on the last r

speed profits by

ilence I whisp

rkness are bred

banks hovers

furrows trickles

our bells a sl

our torches a ro

ough the shapes o

, till day at

] R

d.

stranger in the

bitter rain

has the dark

leep I have s

ened till it alm

till they touch

e I hear the b

end I hear the

are lost i

kick the w

gate the horse

ht has turned i

BEGINNING

d.

ummer a hundred

that the Season

s frolic in t

ts are pleased b

s love the

enjoy the f

ace Summer fo

ft like a wit

to the wo

one all in

ve-place no

flood the l

n the end, what

aring my own

o let both b

to the fate th

abounds in

cup and never

r fish are

will eat them,

ce at the templ

e at the island

houghts turn to

ce one could we

ING THE HS

during

my horse at th

rter my slende

work at a Gover

ecome a dweller in

month to the n

and the snow

tation the tea-plant

n sluice the veins

here is war

soldiers are

ve been summoned t

re marching to

have no ta

ins to play with the

LETTER TO

d.

life so long that he can afford such partings? Much less should hearts joined by glue be set in bodies remote as Hu and Yüeh.[3] In promotion we could not be together; and in failure we ca

re ill and last you spoke of all our meetings and partings, and of the occasion of your own difficulties and dangers. You had no time to write more, but sent a bundle of your writings with a note attached, which said, "L

spent its light: sha

hat Lo-t'ien was ba

sick to death sat

ng rain entered a

ne be; so that to this day I cannot recite them without pain. Of this m

d, even among the servants. Last summer my elder brother arrived from Hsü-chou, leading by the hand six or seven little brothers and sisters, orphans of various h

is exceedingly good, and indeed for the most part the food is like that of the North Country. Although the mouths within my doors are many and the salary of a Sub-Prefect is small, by a

here. Before it stand ten tall pines and a thousand tapering bamboos. With green creepers I fenced my garden; with white stones I made bridge and path. Flowing waters encircle my home; flying spray falls between the eaves. Red pomegranate and white lotus cluster on the steps of the pond. All is after t

with regard to me, I have hastened to set your mind at rest by recording these three

dressed it, I found that dawn had come. I raised my head and saw only a few mountain-priests, some sitting, some sleeping. I heard the mournful cries of mountain apes and the sad twitterings of valley birds.

ote you a letter sitting

of Golden Bells, when da

old your lette

on Lu Shan, by the

ettered ape are neit

face to face will

t, this heart-do you know them

name of

name of

me North and

l of whose short p

Po Chü-i's uncl

mountain ne

d is omitted in

n a poem addressed to Po Chü-i. By "the Wo

ING THE E

en in

ose I was stil

sang on the ro

hought of the Ro

pring greeted their

days when I serve

on duty at the

ing, when I paused a

ing, was this th

ile the orio

tillness of Hsü

e cannot reall

ce lies in the l

rget that he lives

ng as it sang in

a palace a

I WENT WITH LU AND

en in

amt I was back

the faces of

eams, under

hand to wander in

to the village of

horses at the g

was sittin

oming, a smile c

t the flowers in

e in the northe

ying that neither

regretting that

had met only fo

with hardly ti

thought him st

d; there was not

FIFTEEN

is works, the poet sends it to his friends

ten i

nal Grief,"[1] is a bea

Shensi" are model

ld Yüan from steal

Little Li to respect

hes and honour will

fter I am dead the fam

foolish boasting fo

Fifteen to the row t

"Chinese Lite

ION TO HSIAO

n Governor o

ges there is n

ne meets, not peo

door guests

ne sits with, not

there are only c

own-only my w

t, get up o

at, nothing h

city Hsiao th

t least I find

rink a full

t reciting lo

hen the clerks ha

the path by the r

e up your staf

o the parlour of th

hen the poet was Governor of a remote part

TO LI

d.

govern is hum

ls follow the C

we sacrificed t

rkly, dawn glim

owed, horseme

out to the waste

ists fall hea

the hill leap hig

mbered the earl

galloped to t

r horses up Dra

ds and gazed at t

both of us have

e been vexed by m

I fancy my

ade tinkling on y

E SPRIN

d.

and dawn have crowde

is two years since

I hear nothing but the m

all I see is the shi

e with their song to stray

re me by their colour

and one alone I nev

ickles over the stones an

d a.d. 810-23] one day quoted to his M

I hear nothing but the

in the distance I see

"in the distance" be altered.' The Emperor was delighted, for he had purposely changed 'all I see' to 'in the distance I see.' At that time there wa

OLLECTING TH

astle I look a

of Pa cluster like

these people and

understand w

m glad, now that

my province there

rosperity is

sed by the year'

lie on my desk a

e moat is leis

n the berries fal

ell the birds re

t quavers over t

my couch abando

ITH THE OLD MA

d.

ts love go

s covet win

old man of

his gourd and a

ream he cuts fi

ream he has bui

ws a single

drives two

ngs he finds

he has no w

him walking by

and lodged me in

om him, to seek

n asked my

le, he laughed

lors do not sl

S BROTHER

d.

single c

rning have made

that comes onl

witness will n

but two

ieved that both

ack through th

hem safely, ten

ister

ir hair, but not t

were married

ds in whom I m

from the thoughts t

rd had cut a ro

ght when the hear

m to be flying

, drink you

wn and listen

hat your home

if your sala

at as long a

y never be f

., got

E-TREES IN T

d.

w th

grow in front

attered,-not i

all and so

of them is s

st but t

like wi

knows who p

walls of my b

sunk in the terr

they are visited b

hey are free fr

autumn they whis

summer they yie

f spring the fi

es with a load o

end the time

ches with a fret

asons each has

trees none i

hey heard I had b

ed and the Worl

family of t

se for the sake

me to them, what h

loosened the bu

ey are "profita

d of "converse

der how, still a

I scurry throu

me my heart twi

fit to be mast

table friends" and three kinds of "profitable pleasures" are describ

EPING ON

d.

and were still

m; for a moment

arm the whip

he reins for an i

and turned to qu

undred paces sinc

for a while had

had turned to t

eps that my hors

dream countles

is that sayi

rs are but a m

G FROM THE

d.

ay after the r

season's grac

radually length

ds hanging as thou

breaking into sp

s marshallin

eet are all fu

ly I who lov

lowers I stand i

light I sit unde

heart there li

t with the flame

TO THE PEOPL

d.

icers line the

p load the p

you with the wisd

on your tears sh

, though many of th

ngry, for often the

o dam the water

e in a year when

dispensed justice sittin

on the Western Lake which i

WHEN GOVERN

d.

building, not

garden, not

ang I have

r I have built

ties of marrying an

ire, I have somewh

ve lingered lon

ould be better

UP EARLY ON A

itten when Governo

rising sun shines on

opened doors echoes l

the stone step, for the

e window and chatter, tel

es of yesterday's wine

winter clothes my

ING A SL

unce

den the littl

lodge the lists a

think we were

bours, that will

ird owes no

flower does not

she lies none c

save the bright

RAND HOUSE

a a.d

ater, whose ho

s and wide-str

e gables gilde

pillars carve

rbours, warm w

rds with locked

the pine-tree a

ranches ooze

rrace who may

rs, Councill

s they have ne

ouses only from

THE C

d.

nd has blown b

af already flies

paths I walk i

d I have donned

itches the floods

amboos trickles

sk, down an all

is leading th

N HIS

d.

ghed to see

ghed to see

time when the last

one and I do n

hat cumbrous washi

omb for ever

en the weather

not weighing dow

my dusty c

my colla

r I have store

te I trickle

d with the Water

ive this cool,

the priest wh

t by first sha

NKING OF

d.

ur I thought

s seemed to be st

ndered "Where

they have tumbled t

allowed his

ss carried him str

melted autu

s old, his stren

essed the "Sec

e fasted from

i, trusting a

le winter wore

ess and some by

their middle ye

have never d

racted a tedio

in you

ly to every l

aved only for t

ing of bismut

ame, I gulped

, I drank from t

ed the spirits of

tered the thre

joining the

ll now almost s

ap in my two

ody still s

pened the sevent

fill and sl

may, the wine tha

commit to H

mous poet,

bamide

er, stomach, l

ADDRESSED TO MY

d.

ats those who

ave mastered

ts those who h

with high o

are of

y have not an

ten burdene

with marriage and

n to disturb the

to impair the vi

that now f

have rested in

e, in the last

need are ve

o warm me thro

last me th

er that my house

eep in more t

ter that I have

de in two coa

me among the peo

would find se

as me among

ay, you will

of others even

business ev

would I dare to

re addressed to my

OLD

Yü-hsi, who was bo

d.

g old togethe

rselves, what

is closed ere

d, still unc

taff, sometime

itting with

ok in the mirror

read small-

er, one's love

, one's dealing

, the pleasure

ever, when y

A TALKAT

d.

easy talk flows i

s quiet thoughts

not tell me about

my harp was tuned and ly

O LIU

d.

nd soundness of lim

holly blind, nor o

ie together, fello

ly break into gathe

e borrowed his horse, th

ter, we stole his boat,

t in Lo-yang, peop

me of "Liu and Po, th

SERVANT

d.

s me: "Master,

; I bring you

nd the morning

nour must not

home, no one

o with the lo

r where a faint

ine and opened

INCE I

d.

ill, how lon

dred heavy-h

earnt to gather

er barks when t

llar are plastere

pets are half c

when the Earth r

illow the beauty

PAST FEELINGS

a a.d

n his employ a girl about twenty years old called Fan Su, whose postures delighted him when she sang or danced. But above all she excelled in singing the "Willow-Branch," so th

be sold. When the groom led the horse through the gate, it tossed its head and looked back, neighing once with a sound in its voice that seemed to say: "I know I am leaving yo

urned and the sleeve reversed.[1] Then I gave her wine and drank a cup myself, and in my happiness sang a few score notes. And the

ted incapable of feeling! Things that happen lay hold of my heart, and when my heart is moved, I cann

Song

ling my w

g Willow B

d her dark

d his gol

for want

g and turne

Branch, t

g and spo

ve ridden this

nd eight h

has born

ying, with

erved you fo

nd and six h

ier of towel

mplaint, w

ough my sha

l fresh a

t is still

lameness

not use the c

ce your

use my song to glad

ne morning se

away never

would say to you

what your ho

eighed at

istress, wh

s cries, that

ter alone rem

d: I looked down and

, stop your

dry your b

l go back to

o the wom

h I am il

years are at

ng Chi[3] has no

in a si

I rode and th

O

the Song of th

r you wine in

h me to the Land

Po Chü-i

rming the funct

(202 b.c.), gave his horse to a boatman, les

ILL

842, when he

re is no cause fo

ge from time to time t

an active mind, what

a carrying-chair; by w

RESIG

hts from things tha

the past wakes

ghts from thinking

future fills o

o sit like a sa

t to lie a sto

mes, then op

mes, then clo

N C

. 79

ORY OF TS'U

r frolics; but when the rest were shouting and scuffling their hardest, Chang only pretended to take his share. For he could never overcome his shyness. So it came about that though already twenty-three, he had not yet enjoyed a woman's beauty. To those who questioned him he answered, "It is not such as Master Tēng-t'u[

u-chiu-ss?, and here he took up his lodging. Now it happened that at this time the widow of a certain

s mother was also a Chēng. He unravelled their re

ngly made Hun Chan's funeral the occasion of a mutiny, and began to plunder the town. The Ts'ui family had brought with them much valu

is request a guard was sent to the temple and no disorder took place there. A few days afterwards the Civil Commissio

ve helped them. Therefore the lives of my little boy and young daughter were saved by your protection, and they owe you eternal gratitude. I will now cause them to kneel before you, their merciful cousin, that they may thank you for your favours." First she sent for her son, Huan-lang, who was about ten years old, a handsome an

not put on any ornaments. Her hair hung down in coils, the black of her two eyebrows joined, her chee

d looked all the time towards her, turning from him with a fixed

e present Emperor's reign that was a year of the Rat, and now it is the year

answer, and soon the dinner was over. He was passionately in

ed. Once he stopped her and was beginning to tell her of his love for her mistress

herself broached the subject and said to Chang, "Master, I dare not tell her what you told me, or even hint a

acy. Sometimes I have idled with wearers of silk and gauze, but my fancy was

when I walk, I forget where I am going and when I eat, I forget to fin

resents and Asking Names, it would take many months, and by that time you would have to

may she be won through the stratagems of a maid-servant. But she is skilled in composition, and often when she has made a poem or

y and came back the same evening with a coloured tablet, which she gave to Chang, saying, "This

n I am sitting in t

nd, I have left

hadow stirred and

ught it the shadow

ight of the full moon) Chang used the tree as a ladder and crossed the wall. He went straight to the western parlour and found the door ajar. Hung-niang lay asleep on the bed. He woke her, and she cried in a voice of astonishment, "Master Chang, what are

Ts'ui

t to my dear mother when she was at a loss how to save her little boy and young daughter. How came you to send me a wicked message by the hand of a low maid-servant? In protecting me

bt we owe you. Were I to entrust a message of refusal to a servant or concubine, I feared it might not be truly delivered. I thought of writing a letter to tell you what I felt; but I was afraid I might not be

long while petrified with astonishment. At last he

led sigh and found that Hung-niang was there, with bedclothes under her arm and a pillow in her hand. She shook Chang,

g while he thought he must be dreaming, but

, was languid and flushed, yielding and wanton in her air, as though her streng

king moon twinkled secretly across their bed. Chang, in a strange exaltation

Hung-niang came back to fetch her mistress away. Ts'ui turned o

t she had not

dream. But when it grew light, he saw her powder on his arm and smelt her

to make a poem called "Meeting a Fairy," in thirty couplets. It was not yet finished,

re he crept out at dawn and in at dusk, the two of them liv

him. Ts'ui said, "I know she would not oppose m

informed her of his departure. She did not reproach him, but her face showed

lding as the Ts'uis. He made many attempts to see Ying-ying alone, but she would not let him do so. Remembering that

she appeared quite unconscious of it. She talked glibly, but would seldom answe

fect all the while to be quite indifferent. It was rarely po

he harp, with a touch full of passion. But when she saw him comi

te in the Literary Examinations, and he was obli

d to him softly: "Those whom a man leads astray, he will in the end abandon. It must be so, and I will not reproach you. You deigned to corrupt me and now you deign to leave me. That is all. And your vows of 'faithfulness till death'-they too are cancell

Skirts and Feather Jackets."[7] But after a few bars

a moment she stopped playing, threw down her harp

not co

ote a letter to Ts'ui. She answered him somewhat in this fashion: "I have read your letter and cherish it dearly. It has filled my heart ha

one now to care how I look. Seeing these thing

by that news. But it makes me fear you will never come back again to one who is s

n asleep my dreams have always been full of the sorrows of parting. Often I dreamt that you came to me as you used to do, but always before the moment of our joy your phantom vanished from my side. Yet,

that you will not forget one so sequestered and insignificant as I? And indeed, if you were to be faithful,

visited you in private. A girl's heart is not in her own keeping. You 'tempte

of perfect loyalty and deepest tenderness. And I, b

of self-surrender, am I fit to perform 'the service of towel and comb';[11] and of

. He will discard the small to follow the great, look upon a former mistress merely as an accomplice in sin, and hold that the most solemn vows are made only to be broken. He will reverse all natural laws-as thoug

u a jade ring that I used to play with when I was a child. I want you to wear it at your girdle, that you

you to keep your heart pure as jade and your affection unending as this round ring. The bamboo is mottled as if with tears, and the thread is ta

There is no time fixed for our meeting; yet a secret long

eat well-look after yourself in all ways and do

Ying

. All who heard it were deeply moved; but Chang, to their disappointment, declared that he meant to

answ

use of them in others. If Ts'ui were to marry a rich gentleman and become his pet, she would forever be changing, as the clouds

Yet a single woman brought them to ruin, dissipating their hosts and leading these monarchs to the assassin's knife. So that to this day the

ll who were pres

'ui was living, he called on her husband and asked to see her, saying he was her cousin. The husband sent for her, but sh

so lean, my face

so many times that I am t

t I mind the

y I hav

ave caused me t

I am ashamed

w days afterwards, when he was leaving the to

at you are abando

found some on

nvert your broodi

s to your pr

any of Chang's contemporaries praised the skill wit

.d. 7

Yüan Chē

iscriminate lover,

hina at that time; n

mous for his campaigns agai

e., a.

rt tune of the

ted Cho Wēn-chün,

d to Hsieh Kun (a.d. fourth centur

es I. 1

become

THE P

. 77

imbed to a hi

lain I found

with climbing and

eager to look int

d it; I looke

irrored on the f

r was sinking int

pe to pull it t

ubled lest the pitc

ldly running t

village I scoure

ne: the dogs le

walked weeping

ter the blindi

obbing sudden

nt; no one in th

andle flickered w

hed glittered in

I knew it was th

and tried to arr

ream was the grav

d acres of u

and the mound

low them laid i

roughs, yet so

to the world

my love who

m as the pitcher

ears suddenly stre

es and fell on the

SING

. 79

r of Po

STORY O

fiftieth year and had a son who was close on twenty, a boy who in literary talent outstripped all his companions. His father was proud of him and had great hopes of his future. "This," he would say, "is the 'thousand-league colt' of our family." When the time came for the lad to compete at the Provincial Examinations, his father gave him fine clothes and a handsome coach with richly caparisoned horses

ng-k'ang and was going to visit a friend who lived in the south-western part of the town. When he reached the Ming-k'o Bend, he saw a house of which the gate and courtyard were rather narrow; but the house itself

fall to the ground and waited for his servant to pick it up, all the time staring at the lady in the doorway. She too was staring an

m that the house belonged to a low and unprincipled woman named Li. When he asked what chance he had of winning the daughter, they answered: "The woman Li is possessed of considerable property, for her prev

ervants riding behind him, and knocked at the door of Mrs. Li's house. Immediately a page-boy drew the bolt. The young man asked, "Can you tell me whose house

k to be the girl's mother. Bowing low, the young man addressed her as follows: "I am told that you have a vacant plot of land, which you would be willing to let as building-ground. Is that true?" The old lady answered, "I am afraid the site is too mean and confined; it would be quite unsuitable for a

movements such an exquisite grace that the young man could only leap to his feet in confusion and did not dare raise his eyes. When their salutation

w-drum sounded its four beats. The old lady asked if he lived far away. He answered untruthfully, "Several leagues beyond the Yen-p'ing Gate," hop

nd in the city I have no friends or relations. What am I to do?" Miss Li then interposed, saying, "If you can forgive the meanness of our poor

for your wants to-night, if you are willing to partake of our simple fare and defer your bounty to another occasion." He tried to refuse, but in the end she would not allow him to, and they all moved to the w

lovers engaged in the liveliest conversation, l

hether I lay down to rest or sat down to eat, I could not stop thinking of you." She laughed and answered: "It was just the same with me." He said: "You must know th

ot Mencius written that 'the relationship between men and women is the ground-work of society'? When lovers are agreed, not even the mandat

l his boxes and bags brought round to Mrs. Li's house and settled there permanently. Henceforward he shut himself up with his mistress and none of his friends ever heard of him. He consorted only with actors and dancers

d as ever. One day she said to him, "We have been together a year, but I am still not with child. They say that the sp

rmed the ceremony of prayer. They stayed one night at the temple and came back next day. Whipping up their donkey, they soon arrived at the north gate of the P'ing-k'ang

Li, he went back and announced her. Presently a married lady came out who seemed to be about forty. She greeted him, saying, "Has my niece arrived?" Miss Li then got out of the cart and her aunt said to her: "Why have you not been to see me for so long?" At which they looked at one another and laughed. Then Miss Li introduced him to her aunt and

ger came galloping up on a huge Fergana horse, saying that Miss Li's mother had suddenly been taken

her, but the aunt and her servants engaged him in conversation, flourishing their hands in front of him and preventing him from leaving the garden. The aunt said to him: "No doubt my sister is dead by this time. Y

prised he has not come back with the horse. You had better go there on foo

ded, he questioned the neighbors, who told him that the house had only been let to Mrs. Li and that, the lease having expired,

e "aunt's house." He knocked on the door repeatedly, but it was breakfast-time and no one answered. At last, when he had shouted several times at the top of his voice, a footman walked majestically to the door. The young man nervously mentioned the aunt's name and asked whether she was at home. The footman replied: "No one of that name here." "But she lived here yesterday evening,

'ang-an. The landlord was sympathetic and offered to feed him. But the young man was too much upset to eat, and having fasted for three days fell seriously ill. He rapidly grew worse, and the landlord, fearing he would not recov

grew quite strong again, but whenever he heard the mourners' doleful songs, in which they regretted that they could not change places with the corpse

But the mourners he provided were somewhat inferior. Hearing of our young man's skill, he offered him a large sum for his services. The eastern undertaker's supporters, who were familiar with the repertoire of his company, secretly taught the young man several fresh tunes and showed him how to fit the words to them. The lessons went on for

es and all kinds of funeral trappings were successively displayed, but the undertaker of the west could establish no superiority. Filled with shame, he set up a platform in the south corner of the square. Presently a man with a long beard came forward, carrying a hand-bell and attended by several assistants. He wagged his beard, raised his eyebrows, folded his arms ac

of the square, and a young man in a black hat came forward, attended by five assistan

nd down, and then cleared his throat and beg

d clear that "its echoes shook the forest trees." Before he had finis

hat he immediately removed his exhibits and retired from the contest. The audience was amazed by the coll

rder commanding the governors of outside provinces to

em was an old servant, who was the husband of the young man's foster-nurse. Recognizing his foster-son's way of moving and speaking, he was on the point of accosting him, but not daring to do so, he stood weeping silently. The father asked him why he was crying, and the s

est for himself. But when the young man saw his old friend walking towards him, he winced, turned away his face, and tried to hide in the crowd. The old man followed him and catching his sleeve, said: "Surely it is you!" Then they embraced and wept. Presently they went back together to his father's lodging. But his father abused him, saying: "Your

atch what happened to him. When they saw him stretched inanimate on

ecommenced. So they carried him home between them and administered liquid food through a reed-pipe. Next morning, he recovered consciousness; but after several months he was still unable to move his hands and feet. Moreover, the sores left b

-which was knotted together in a hundred places, so that it looked as tattered as a quail's tail,-and carrying a bro

nt his nights in public lavatories and

is beggar's cry was full of woe and all who heard it were heart-rent. But the snow w

seventh or eighth turning north of the Hsün-li Wal

s Li was then living, but

the door, wailin

piteous accent to his cry that

ied to see her old lover standing before her so emaciated by hunger and disfigured by sores that he seemed scarcely human. "Can it be you?

ed him to the parlour. Here, with quavering voice, she reproached herself, saying, "It

ved. Miss Li, recovering herself, said who it was. The old woman cr

use, he soon lost all he had; and then we plotted together and left him destitute. Our conduct has indeed been inhuman! We have ruined his career and robbed him even of his place in the c

e of them will come into power. Then an inquiry will be set afoot, and disaster will overtake us. And since we have flouted Heaven

gold. You are now aged sixty, so that by the price of twenty more years' food and clothing, I can buy my freedom. I intend to live separatel

ad a hundred pieces of gold left over; and with them she hired a vacant room, five doors away. Here she gave the young man

he clothed him with cap, shoes and stockings of the finest quality. In a short time he began gr

es, when deeply pondering in silent sorrow, I wonder to myself how much you remember of yo

oks he wanted, till she had laid out a hundred pieces of gold. Then she packed them in the cart and drove home. She now made him dismiss all other thoughts from his mind and apply himself only to study. All t

compete and made him revise all he had learnt, to prepare for the "hundredth battle." At the end of the third year she said, "Now you may go." He went in for the examination and passed at the

ost advantageous posts at Court and to win a universal reputation. But your unfortunate conduct and disreputable past put you at a disadvantage beside your fellow-scholars. You must

ination for the selection of candidates of unusual merit from all parts of the Empire. The young man competed, and came out top in the "c

to you. Let me go back and look after the old lady till she dies. You must ally yourself with some lady of noble lineage, who will be worthy

clamation arrived announcing that the young man's father, who had been Governor of Ch'ang-chou, had been appointed Governor of Ch'ēng-tu and Intendant of the Chien-nan Circuit. Next morning the father arrived, and the young man sent in his card and waited upon him at the posting-station. His father did not recognize him, but the card bore the names of the young man's father and grandfather, with t

uitable lodging and ordered a match-maker to perform the initial ceremonies for uniting the two families and to accomplish the six rites of welcome. The young man came back from Ch

toadstools grew on the roof of his mourning-hut,[5] each stem bearing three plants. The report of his virtue reached even the Emperor's ears. M

distinguished posts and in the course of ten years was Governor of several provinc

came Governor of T'ai-yüan, and his brothers all married into great families,

a degree of constancy rarely equalled even by the heroines of h

ague, so that her story was well known to him in every particular. During the Chēng-yüan period[6] I was sitting one day with Li Kung-tso[7] of Lung-hai; we fell to talking of wives who had distinguished themselves by re

he year Yi-hai, (a.d. 795), writt

.d. 7

g-su, near

Chinese Poems," Al

nding the pass which leads

father's burial a son must not enter the house; he should

.d. 7

A wr

G C

a.d.

IS FRIEND WAS COMIN

those who

rs had one y

the soldiers a

hting till they die

you, so weak

ng to learn to

an should ever

ikely as that the

news that you

ted to the high h

ther mending you

other sewing y

aid; perhaps

y of watching fo

go out at t

ine, lest you sho

shrink the surfa

might find you st

THE

ern land man

cities half

ets are thronged

villages bear

ts rise from

gleam through

but the lonely f

on his way to

ANG

07; d.

] A

f: "How strange, how strange!" First there was a pattering and rustling; but suddenly this broke into a great churning and crashing, like the noise of waves

iftly with their gags[2] between their teeth, when the captain's v

he boy said: "The moon and stars are shining; the Milky Way glitters in th

e, bringing emptiness and silence to the rivers and hills. And hence it is that her whisperings are sorrowful and cold, but her shouts are wild and angry. Pleasant grasses grew soft and green, vying in rankness. Fair trees knit their shade and gave delight. Autumn swept the grasses and their colour changed; she met the trees, and their boughs were

lings; when their time comes they are blown down. But man moves and lives and is of creatures most divine. A hundred griefs assail his heart, ten thousand tasks wear out his limbs, and each inward stirring shakes the atoms of his soul. And all the more, when he thinks of things that his strength cannot achieve or grieves at things his mind cannot understa

I could hear nothing but the insects chirping shrilly on

when Ou-yang was finishing his "

t in their mouths to

mn. See Chou Li, Book xxxiv (Biot

es," I. 656 (Cou

PE

anslations) is given in a paper read by me to the China Society, and published in the Asiatic Review, July, 1919. Notices of Ch'ü Yüan, Wang W

e first time. Of the eight poems by Li Po, all but Number 6

ectly, by Pfizmaier. Another (No. 21) was translated into rhymed verse by Prof. Giles in "Adversaria Sinica" (1914), p. 32

ichten Po Chü-i

apparent misprints have been cor

[2] as printed cited footnote 1, w

you are m

e sharing of

ng 'seen m

ll were miss

hinese Poems," Alfred A. Knop

nder her arm as p