Page:A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1919).djvu/77

 SONG OF SNOW-WHITE HEADS

''Ssŭ-ma Hsiang-ju was a young poet who had lost his position at court owing to ill-health. One day Cho Wēn-chün, a rich man's daughter, heard him singing at a feast given by her father. She eloped with him that night, and they set up a wine-shop together. After a time Hsiang-ju became famous as a poet, but his character was marred by love of money. He sold love-poems, which the ladies of the palace sent to the emperor in order to win his favour. Finally, he gave presents to the "ladies of Mo-ling," hoping to secure a concubine. It was this step that induced his mistress, Cho Wēn-chün, to write the following poem.''

love was pure As the snow on the mountains: White as a moon Between the clouds — They're telling me Your thoughts are double: That's why I've come To break it off. To-day we'll drink A cup of wine. To-morrow we'll part Beside the Canal: Walking about, Beside the Canal, Where its branches divide East and west. Alas and alas, And again alas. [ 71 ]