The Jade Mountain
A cascade through the air, flying over tree-tops.. . . A wild deer calls to his fellows. He is running among the mansionsIn the corner of the capital by the Eastern Palace wall . . .Phnœix Lake lies opposite the Gate of Green Jade;But how can fame and profit concern a man of genius?Day and night I long for him to bring his lute again.
(23)
ON HEARING AN WAN-SHAN PLAY THE
REED-PIPE
REED-PIPE
Bamboo from the southern hills was used to make this pipe.And its music, that was introduced from Persia first of all,Has taken on new magic through later use in China.And now the Tartar from Liang-chou, blowing it for me,Drawing a sigh from whosoever hears it,Is bringing to a wanderer's eyes homesick tears. . . .Many like to listen; but few understand.To and fro at will there's a long wind flying,Dry mulberry-trees, old cypresses, trembling in its chill.There are nine baby phœnixes, outcrying one another;A dragon and a tiger spring up at the same moment;Then in a hundred waterfalls ten thousand songs of autumnAre suddenly changing to The Yü-yang Lament;And when yellow clouds grow thin and the white sun darkens,
50
