Part 5 (2/2)

Yet darkly deep as in the Chong-Nan gorge.[11]

The mountain heights whose base abuts the lake Are mirrored clearly in the southern end; The Great Peace Temple, which in cloudland hangs, Reflects its image in the eastern bend.

The moon has risen, and its silver beams Across the Lan-Tien Pa.s.s[12] in beauty glow, While we sit idly on the vessel's side And watch the nodding peaks in depths below.

And as we view the mirage of the heights Which tower in mighty strength above our heads, The swift Li-Long[13] in prodigal display A shower of pearls upon the water spreads.

The Ruler of the Rivers[14] beats his drum, And dragons haste the summons to obey; The Consorts[15] of the ancient king descend, Led by the Maiden of the Star-lit Way.[16]

To branched instruments of beaten gold, Adorned with pendants of sapphire and jade, They sing, and dance, midst lights of many hues, Which flash in splendour, then in darkness fade.

In ecstasy we watch the wondrous scene, But awe and joy are mingled in our mind, For now far off we hear the thunder peal, And lowering clouds with lurid lights are lined.

The waters heave with burdensome unrest, The air is full of shadows of the dead; The Spirits of the Universe are near, And we cannot divine their portents dread.

And such is life--an hour of changing scenes Of fitful joy and quickly following grief; An hour of buoyant youth in rapid flight, And then old age to end life--sad and brief!

[9] A vast body of water in some wild and remote part of the Empire, probably in the north-west; but the exact locality is disputed.

[10] The names of two rivers, or the two words combined may mean the clear water of a deep cove or inlet.

[11] A deep gorge in the Chong-nan Mountains in Shen-si.

[12] A famous Pa.s.s near Si-ngan, the provincial capital of Shen-si.

[13] A fabulous Dragon whose mythological ancestry and habitat I am unable to trace.

[14] Ping-i, name of the Chinese G.o.d of Waters.

[15] Nu-Ying and Ngo-Hw.a.n.g, daughters of the Emperor Yao, and wives of the Emperor Shun (2288 B.C.?).

[16] The Spinning-Maid. See legend of Cowherd and Spinning-Maid.

_The Swallow's Song_[17]

BY EMPEROR WEN

OF THE WEI DYNASTY (A.D. 220-264)

The autumn winds are blowing, The air is cool and drear, The forest leaves are falling, The gra.s.s is scant and sear.

The dew to h.o.a.r-frost changes, And swallows southward fly; While from the North in batches The wild swan cloud the sky.

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