Chinese Literature
Why do I quote this poem about spring’s departure?
During the Shao Hsin period (1131-1162 A.D.) there lived in Hanegchow, the southern capital, a certain Prince of Hsienan, who was a native of Yenan and the military governor of three garrison areas. One day, seeing that spring was nearly over, he took some of his womenfolk out to enjoy the scenery. On their way back in the evening, they had passed through Chientang Gate and the women’s sedan-chairs had just crossed Carriage Bridge, when the prince, whose chair brought up the rear, heard someone call from a shop by the bridge:
“Come out, lass, and look at the prince.”
A girl came out, at sight of whom the prince exclaimed to his bodyguard: “This is just the girl I have been looking for! See that you bring her to the palace tomorrow.”
The body-guard assented, and immediately set about carrying out the prince’s orders. There was a house beside the bridge with a signboard on which was written: The House of Chu: ancient and modern paintings mounted. And it was out of this shop that an old man had come, leading a girl.
What was she like, this girl?
Her cloudlike hair was lighter than cicada’s wing; Her mothlike eyebrows fairer than hills in spring; Her lips were cherry-red, her teeth like jade,
And sweeter than an oriole she could sing.
Such was the girl who had come out to see the prince’s sedan-chair.
The body-guard sat down in a tea-house opposite, and when an old woman brought him tea he said: “May I trouble you to ask Mr. Chu from the mounting shop across the street to step over to have a word with me?”
The woman fetched Old Chu; and after the men had exchanged greetings they sat down.
“What can I do for you?” asked Old Chu.
“It is nothing—just an idle question. Is the girl you called out to watch the prince’s sedan-chair your daughter?”
“She is. We have only the one child.”
“How old is she?”
“Highteen.”
“Do you intend to marry her to someone or to present her to some official ?”
“Tm a poor man. Where would I get the money to marry her off? I shall have to send her to serve in some official’s house.”
“What accomplishments has your daughter?”
Then Old Chu told him, in the words of the sone:
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