Li Shang-yin
II
There are many curtains in your care-free house,Where rapture lasts the whole night long.. . . What are the lives of angels but dreamsIf they take no lovers into their rooms?. . . Storms are ravishing the nut-horns,Moon-dew sweetening cinnamon-leaves—I know well enough naught can come of this union,Yet how it serves to ease my heart!
THE HAN MONUMENT
The Son of Heaven in Yüan-ho times was martial as a godAnd might be likened only-to the Emperors Hsüan and Hsi.He took an oath to reassert the glory of the empire,And tribute was brought to his palace from all four quarters.Western Huai for fifty years had been a bandit country,Wolves becoming lynxes, lynxes becoming bears.They assailed the mountains and rivers, rising from the plains,With their long spears and sharp lances aimed at the Sun.But the Emperor had a wise premier, by the name of Tu,Who, guarded by spirits against assassination,Hung at his girdle the seal of state, and accepted chief command,While these savage winds were harrying the flags of the Ruler of Heaven.Generals Suo, Wu, Ku, and T'ung became his paws and claws;
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