Chinese Poems Part 14

Such brilliant robes, which they with joy expose, Might well excite the envy of their foes; And even the G.o.ds may view with dire disdain The high ambition of the proud and vain.

Now I in quiet obscurity can roam Far from my nest, flecked by the ocean's foam; Yet, in a world where greed is always rife, No one would raise a hand to take my life.

[55] This translation is only a portion of a long poem.

[56] A mythical tree of the genii; but in the poem it may mean a very conspicuous tree.

_Dwellers in the Peach Stream Valley_[57]

BY CHANG-HSuEN

T'SING DYNASTY

While the master was wrapped in slumber the fis.h.i.+ng-boat slipped its stake, And drifted, and swirled, and drifted far over the broadening lake, Till islets, and mainland, and forests came into view once more, While the fisherman gazed and pondered the lay of the new-found sh.o.r.e.

But erelong he espied an opening, shown by the broken wave, And in venturous mood he steered his boat into a narrow cave, Where an azure mist obscured the scenes through channels long and low, As the current bore him gently into a world of long ago.

In this old, flower-bestrewed land, at first no path the eye could tell, For on the streams and on the banks the red rain of peach flowers fell; Yet from the purple-shadowed mountains which screened this favoured land Flowed forth the Peach-Fount river along its bed of silver sand; But, winding with the stream, the thickset peach-tree groves with red-veined flowers Hid the cooling waters flowing in and out the shady bowers.

And here and there along the banks, set in nooks of calm repose, Were cottage homes of rustic work from which the wreathed blue smoke arose; Showing that in this happy valley beyond the world's dull roar, Life went on as sweet and simple as in the golden days of yore, And the people of this valley in their ancient garments clad Were courteous in their manners and rejoiced in all they had; While the dogs and fowls beside them harmonized with all at hand, And the mulberry-tree and flax-plant hid the former barren land.

When the dwellers in this favoured region saw the stranger guest, They set before him food and wine and kindly bade him rest; And when true courtesy allowed they asked of the things and men In the world of sin and sorrow far beyond their quiet life's ken.

And when the time to leave them came, and the stranger could not stay, They led him through the cavern's channels and saw him sail away.

In after life the fisherman often tried again, but failed To find the opening to the Valley through which he once had sailed; But when the sand of life through the gla.s.s its course had nearly run, He thought he saw the way lay to it beyond the westering sun.

[57] There are many versions of this legend both in poetry and prose.

The introductory and closing lines of the translation are partly based on other versions of the story than that in the poem translated.

This poem and 'The Fishermen's Song', and 'The Students' Ramble', are taken from 'A Selection of Poems' written by successful graduates at the Government Examinations during the present dynasty.

Many of these prize poems are cleverly and beautifully written, and they reveal considerable poetic talent, but not the power and genius found in the work of ancient Chinese poets.

_The Five Sons_

BY TAO TSIEN

T'SIN DYNASTY (A.D. 265-419)

I am wrinkled and gray, And old before my day; For on five sons I look, And not one loves a book.

Ah-Shu is sixteen years, The sight of work he fears; He is the laziest lout You'd find the world throughout.

Ah-suen has tried in vain A little wit to gain; He s.h.i.+rks the student's stool, At grammar he's a fool!

Yong-twan is thirteen now, And yet I do avow He can't discriminate The figures six and eight![58]

Tong-tze is only nine, But clearly does opine That life, with all its cares, Consists of nuts and pears.

Alas, that Fate so dour On me her vials should pour!

What can I do but dine, And drown my woes in wine!

[58] Implies that he is a thorough dunce.

_The Journey Back_

BY A POET OF THE HAN DYNASTY

NAME UNKNOWN[59] (206 B.C. TO A.D. 220)

The journey back has now begun, The Chariot winds along the road-- The road which seems for aye to run To me with my sad load!

How vast the wilderness around, As o'er the endless track we pa.s.s; The only moving thing and sound-- The east wind through the gra.s.s!

The things I see are not the old, As mile on mile the way is won, And quick as these things change are told Our years--and age comes on.

By nature's law each cycle brings A time to flourish and decay, And, with her perishable things, We, too, must pa.s.s away.

No power have we with time to brave, As iron and stone, the grave's stern claim, One treasure only can we save-- An everlasting fame.

[59] The poet's name is unknown, but he (or she?) lived during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 220), or earlier.

_The Gallant Captain and the Innkeeper's Wife_

BY SIN YEN-NIEN

HAN DYNASTY (206 B.C. TO A.D. 220)

Among the near attendants of the famous General Ho,[60]

The Champion of the Emperor Wu and terror of his foe, Was a gay and gilded youth of the name of Fung Tze-tu, Who loved to slay the fair s.e.x as the general did Hsiong-nu; Presuming on his master's fame he bantered every girl, And fancied he himself was great--he lived in such a whirl.

The landlord of the wine-shop was scarcely a man of means, But had a young and pretty wife not yet out of her teens; And with this charming lady Fung Tze-tu was wont to flirt; But though so young and charming she was very much alert.

One day in Spring this hostess fair, in gracious serving mood, Alone attended to the wants of guests for wine and food.

Attired in flowing skirt, and girdled loose with girlish wile, Embroidered vest and wide-sleeved outer robe of ancient style; Her slender head on either side with ma.s.sive tresses graced, And crowned with Lan-tien[61] jade, below with Ta-tsin[62] pearls enlaced: This young and dainty figure, said the gallants with a sigh, Was a sight with which no other on this earth could ever vie; And as they posed before her in their elegant attire, She deftly filled their gla.s.ses, and allowed them to admire.

Just as this dainty hostess stood alone within the inn, Preparing special vintages selected from the bin, Up rode a gay young officer with canopy of rank, Accompanied by attendants afoot on either flank; His charger's handsome trappings richly bound at every joint, And silver-mounted saddle burnished to the flas.h.i.+ng point,-- Alighting from his horse there stood the son of the Kin-Wu,[63]

The very gallant officer, the das.h.i.+ng Fung Tze-tu.

He called for wine in ta.s.selled jug, and carp on golden plate, And thought such lavish bravery the lady would elate; Besides such show he offered her a mirror burnished bright, Together with a red silk skirt of gauzy texture light; All these, he thought, must surely daze the eyes of woman vain, Who does not give her smiles for love, but for the greatest gain: Alas! within the lady's mind quite other thoughts found vent, More poignant when she spied within the red silk skirt a rent.

The rent within the skirt, she mused, no pang in you has wrought, Nor would the loss of my good name cause you a serious thought; For men soon tire of wives and seek their joys in faces new, But wives are true to their first spouse and gallants do eschew; Among the lowly born, as in the camp or royal abode, Are women who are true to death to honour's stainless code: I thank you for the favours shown, brave son of the Kin-Wu, But this time you have loved in vain, my gallant Fung Tze-tu!