Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt:... AN EARLY LEVEE Addressed To Ch'en, The Hermit At Ch'ang-an -- a full foot of snow; A levee at dawn -- to bestow congratulations on the Em- peror. Just as I was nearing the Gate of the Silver Terrace, After I had left the suburb of Hsin-ch'ang On the high causeway my horse's foot slipped; In the middle of the journey my lantern suddenly went out. Ten leagues riding, always facing to the North; The cold wind almost blew off my ears. I waited for the bell outside the Five Gates; I waited for the summons within the Triple Hall. My hair and beard were frozen and covered with icicles; My coat and robe -- chilly like water. Suddenly I thought of Hsien-yu Valley And secretly envied Ch'en Chu-shih, In warm bed-socks dozing beneath the rugs And not getting up till the sun has mounted the sky. BEING ON DUTY ALL NIGHT IN THE PALACE AND DREAMING OF THE HSIEN-YU TEMPLE At the western window I paused from writing rescripts; The pines and bamboos were all buried in stillness. The moon rose and a calm wind came; Suddenly, it was like an evening in the hills. And so, as I dozed, I dreamed of the South West And thought I was staying at the Hsien-yu Temple. When I woke and heard the dripping of the Palace clock I still thought it the murmur of a mountain stream. 1 Where the poet used to spend his holidays. PASSING T'lEN-MEN STREET IN CH'ANG-AN AND SEEING A DISTANT VIEW OF CHUNG-NAN* MOUNTAIN The snow has gone from Chung-nan; spring is almost come. Lovely in the distance its blue colours, against the brown of the streets. A thousand coaches, ten thousand horsemen pass down the Nine Roads; Turns his head and looks at the mountains, -- not one man! 1 Part of the great Nan Shan range, fifteen miles south of Ch'ang-an. THE LETTER Preface: -- After I parted with..