Part 12 (1/2)

[57] TO LIU YU-HSI

[_A.D. 838_]

In length of days and soundness of limb you and I are one; Our eyes are not wholly blind, nor our ears quite deaf.

Deep drinking we lie together, fellows of a spring day; Or gay-hearted boldly break into gatherings of young men.

When, seeking flowers, we borrowed his horse, the river-keeper was vexed; When, to play on the water, we stole his boat, the Duke Ling was sore.

I hear it said that in Lo-yang, people are all shocked, And call us by the name of ”Liu and Po, those two mad old men.”

[58] MY SERVANT WAKES ME

[_A.D. 839_]

My servant wakes me: ”Master, it is broad day.

Rise from bed; I bring you bowl and comb.

Winter comes and the morning air is chill; To-day your Honour must not venture abroad.”

When I stay at home, no one comes to call; What must I do with the long, idle hours?

Setting my chair where a faint suns.h.i.+ne falls I have warmed wine and opened my poetry-books.

[59] SINCE I LAY ILL

[_A.D. 840_]

Since I lay ill, how long has pa.s.sed?

Almost a hundred heavy-hanging days.

The maids have learnt to gather my medicine-herbs; The dog no longer barks when the doctor comes.

The jars in my cellar are plastered deep with mould; My singer's carpets are half crumbled to dust.

How can I bear, when the Earth renews her light, To watch from a pillow the beauty of Spring unfold?

[60] SONG OF PAST FEELINGS [With Preface]

[_Circa A.D. 840_]

When Lo-t'ien[1] was old, he fell ill of a palsy. So he made a list of his possessions and examined his expenses, that he might reject whatever had become superfluous. He had in 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 that many called her by the name of this song, and she was well known by this name in the town of Lo-yang. But she was on the list of unnecessary expenses and was to be sent away.

He had too a white horse with black mane, st.u.r.dy and sure-footed, which he had ridden for many years. It stood on the list of things which could be dispensed with, and was to 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 you and long to stay.” Su, when she heard the horse neigh, rose timidly, bowed before me and spoke sweetly, as shall hereafter be shown. When she had done speaking her tears fell.

When first I heard Su's words, I was too sad to speak and could not answer her. But in a little while I ordered the bridle to be turned 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 these notes turned into a poem, a poem without fixed measure, for the measure followed my irregular tune. In all there were 255 words.

Alas! I am no Sage. I could neither forget past feelings nor show such sensibility as this beast reputed incapable of feeling! Things that happen lay hold of my heart, and when my heart is moved, I cannot control it. Therefore, smiling at myself, I called this song ”A Song of Past Feelings Unforgotten.”

The Song says:

_I was selling my white horse And sending Willow Branch away.

She covered her dark eyebrows; He trailed his golden halter.