124. TO HIS FRIEND, WEI, THE GOOD GOVERNOR OF CHIANG-HSIA WRITTEN IN COMMEMOR- ATION OF THE OLD FRIENDSHIP DURING ^%L&*» THE DAYS OF HIS BANISHMENT AFTER THE a TUMULT OF WAR.
Once I sought the City of White Jade in heaven, The five palaces and twelve lofty towers, &&> >»
Where gods of felicity stroked me on the forehead, A&**
And I bound my hair and received the everlasting life. *y^*jC Woe to me, I turned to the pleasures of the world, ^r ^^
Pondering deep on peace and war, J|!^, ^§^
And the reigns of the ninety-six illustrious kings, J?- ^-
Whose empty fame hangs on the drifting vapor! j^ J'av
I could not forget the tumultuous battles; I -fl
Fain would I try the empire-builder's art ^sr* 5 ^
Of staking heaven and earth in one throw, £% -5rJ
And win me the car and cap of the mandarin. \ *\
But time ordained a dire disappointment, llL 1 ]^
I threw my hopes and went, wandering wide. I learned swordsmanship and laughed at myself. I wielded my pen — what did I achieve after all? A sword could not fight a thousand foemen; The pen did steal fame from the four seas, Yet it is a child's play not worth talking about, Five times I sighed ; and went out of the western metrop- olis. At the time of my leaving My hat-strings were wet with tears. It was you, my friend, excellent and wise, [173]
�� �
