No More Learning

We followed the thirty-six bends of the twisting waters, and all along
the streams a thousand different flowers were in bloom. We passed
through ten thousand valleys, and in each we heard the voice of wind
among the pines.

Then the Governor of Han-tung came out to meet us, on a silver saddle
with tassels of gold that reached to the ground. And the Initiate of
Tz? -yang[37] summoned us, blowing on his jade _sh? ng_. And Sennin music
was made in the tower of Ts'an Hsia,[38] loud as the blended voices of
phoenix and roc.

[37] _I. e. _, Hu Tz? -yang, a Taoist friend of the poet's.

[38] Lit. "Feeding on sunset-cloud" Tower, built by Hu Tz? -yang.

And the Governor of Han-tung, because his long sleeves would not keep
still when the flutes called to him, rose and drunkenly danced.
Then he
brought his embroidered coat and covered me with it, and I slept with
my head on his lap.

At the feast our spirits had soared to the Nine Heavens, but before
evening we were scattered like stars or rain, flying away over hills
and rivers to the frontier of Ch'u. I went back to my mountain to seek
my old nest, and you, too, went home, crossing the Wei Bridge.

Then your father, who was brave as leopard or tiger, became Governor of
Ping-chou[39] and put down the rebel bands. And in the fifth month he
sent for me. I crossed the T'ai-hang Mountains; and though it was hard
going on the Sheep's Gut Hills, I paid no heed to broken wheels.

[39] _I. e. _, T'ai-yuan Fu.

When at last, far on into Winter, I got to the Northern Capital,[40] I
was moved to see how much you cared for my reception and how little you
cared for the cost--amber cups and fine foods on a blue jade dish. You
made me drunk and satisfied. I had no thought of returning.

[40] _I. e. _, T'ai-yuan Fu.

Sometimes we went out towards the western corner of the City, to where
waters like green jade flow round the temple of Shu Yu.