Wine
The clear makes wine, the thick makes li ;
The clear's a wise man, swift of apprehension;
The thick, a dull-brained dolt.
Yet both with corn were yeasted
Of the self-same trickling hill; with rice were brewed
Of the same country field —
Not sooner than the summer-winds began to blow,
Nor after the onset of Autumn's iron reign.
Oh marvellous, that things so like
Should taste so different; emblem how admirable
Of Man's capacities, diverse yet fit
Each in its several way to serve!
Here limpid liquor rolls its fire;
Here flows sweet-brew with rich and oozy motion.
The lees have sunk, the must is drawn away;
The green jars open stand.
Now through the wicker sieve, now through the cloth
Filters the liquid, now is it racked, now fined,
To grace the carnivals of common folk,
The courtly ceremonies of the great.
Diverse in kind and quality is it brewed;
Shalo there is, and the Green Wine of Ling;
" Cheng Village, " Johsia, the limpid " Baron Kao " ;
Popo from between the Passes, and from the Azure Isles
The wine Jung-t'ing.
Fierce, long-fermented spirits; generous raw wines
Whose fumes a thousand days confuse the head.
A wise King rules our land; his favoured court
Is rich in holidays; round him he gathers
Grey-bearded ministers and decorous guests.
Wide, comfortable couches by carven screens
He bids his servants lay; and for the feast decrees
Goblets of yak's horn, dishes of silver and gold.
Long robes sweep,
Broad sleeves flap,
Ribbons dance in the air —
The mighty men, contented heroes,
Smiling take their seats.
My lord the King
Lies at his jewelled table, at his back
A jewelled screen.
His hand is raised; that one sign suddenly
Sets many jaws in motion; at every seat
Millet is crunched and pitchers freely flow.
Soon are platters empty, wine-cups standing on their heads.
Then speaks the Counsellor a rhyme:
Friends (says he), when your neighbour sings on Doh
Do you chime in with Soh,
Lest mirth to madness grow!
Whereon the kindly King
Sends round a famous cake whose virtue can dispel
To-night's intoxication and prevent
To-morrow's heavy head.
" Live for ever, O King, rule for ever, and may your glory shine
Eternal as the sun by day, the moon by night! "
The clear's a wise man, swift of apprehension;
The thick, a dull-brained dolt.
Yet both with corn were yeasted
Of the self-same trickling hill; with rice were brewed
Of the same country field —
Not sooner than the summer-winds began to blow,
Nor after the onset of Autumn's iron reign.
Oh marvellous, that things so like
Should taste so different; emblem how admirable
Of Man's capacities, diverse yet fit
Each in its several way to serve!
Here limpid liquor rolls its fire;
Here flows sweet-brew with rich and oozy motion.
The lees have sunk, the must is drawn away;
The green jars open stand.
Now through the wicker sieve, now through the cloth
Filters the liquid, now is it racked, now fined,
To grace the carnivals of common folk,
The courtly ceremonies of the great.
Diverse in kind and quality is it brewed;
Shalo there is, and the Green Wine of Ling;
" Cheng Village, " Johsia, the limpid " Baron Kao " ;
Popo from between the Passes, and from the Azure Isles
The wine Jung-t'ing.
Fierce, long-fermented spirits; generous raw wines
Whose fumes a thousand days confuse the head.
A wise King rules our land; his favoured court
Is rich in holidays; round him he gathers
Grey-bearded ministers and decorous guests.
Wide, comfortable couches by carven screens
He bids his servants lay; and for the feast decrees
Goblets of yak's horn, dishes of silver and gold.
Long robes sweep,
Broad sleeves flap,
Ribbons dance in the air —
The mighty men, contented heroes,
Smiling take their seats.
My lord the King
Lies at his jewelled table, at his back
A jewelled screen.
His hand is raised; that one sign suddenly
Sets many jaws in motion; at every seat
Millet is crunched and pitchers freely flow.
Soon are platters empty, wine-cups standing on their heads.
Then speaks the Counsellor a rhyme:
Friends (says he), when your neighbour sings on Doh
Do you chime in with Soh,
Lest mirth to madness grow!
Whereon the kindly King
Sends round a famous cake whose virtue can dispel
To-night's intoxication and prevent
To-morrow's heavy head.
" Live for ever, O King, rule for ever, and may your glory shine
Eternal as the sun by day, the moon by night! "
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