The Jade Mountain/A Song of Fair Women
A SONG OF FAIR WOMEN
(Written to Music)
On the third day of the Third-month in the freshening weatherMany beauties take the air by the Ch'ang-an water-front,Receptive, aloof, sweet-mannered, sincere,With soft fine skin and well-balanced bone.Their embroidered silk robes in the spring sun are gleamingWith a mass of golden peacocks and silver unicorns.And hanging far down from their templesAre blue leaves of delicate kingfisher feathers.And following behind themIs a pearl-laden train, rhythmic with bearers.Some of them are kindred to the Royal House—The titled Princesses Kuo and Ch'in. Red camel-humps are brought them from jade broilers,And sweet fish is offered them on crystal trays.Though their food-sticks of unicorn-horn are lifted languidlyAnd the finely wrought phœnix carving-knife is very little used,Fleet horses from the Yellow Gate, stirring no dust,Bring precious dishes constantly from the imperial kitchen.. . . While a solemn sound of flutes and drums invokes gods and spirits,Guests and courtiers gather, all of high rank;And finally, riding slow, a dignified horsemanDismounts at the pavilion on an embroidered rug.In a snow of flying willow-cotton whitening the duckweed,Bluebirds find their way with vermilion handkerchiefs—But power can be as hot as flame and burn people's fingers.Be wary of the Premier, watch for his frown.
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