162 CHINESE LITERATURE
could calculate roughly what span of life remained to him. Altogether, his poetry cannot be classed with that of the highest order, unlike his prose writings, extracts from which will be given in the next chapter. The following poem is a specimen of his lighter vein :
" To stand upon the river-bank
and snare the purple fish, My net well cast across the stream,
was all that I could wish. Or lie concealed and shoot the geese
that scream and pass apace, And pay my rent and taxes with
the profits of the chase. Then home to peace and happiness,
with wife and children gay, Though clothes be coarse and fare be hard,
and earned from day to day. But now I read and read, scarce knowing
what 'tis all about, And, eager to improve my mind,
I wear my body out. I draw a snake and give it legs,
to find Pve wasted skill, And my hair grows daily whiter I sit amidthe sorrows
I have brought on my own head, And find myself estranged from all,
among the living dead. I seek to drown my consciousness
in wine, alas ! in vain : Oblivion passes quickly
and my griefs begin again. Old age comes on, and yet withholds
the summons to depart. . . . So ril take another bumper
just to ease my aching heart?
' Graves are placed by preference on some hillside.
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