Page:A history of Chinese literature - Giles.djvu/165

Rh My tresses for head-dress with gay garlands girt, Carnations arranged o'er my jacket and skirt! Then to wander away in the soft-scented air, And return by the side of his Majesty's chair. . . But the dance and the song will be o'er by and by, And we shall dislimn like the rack in the sky."

As time went on, Li Po fell a victim to intrigue, and left the Court in disgrace. It was then that he wrote—

After more wanderings and much adventure, he was drowned on a journey, from leaning one night too far over the edge of a boat in a drunken effort to embrace the reflection of the moon. Just previously he had indited the following lines:—

"An arbour of flowers and a kettle of wine: Alas! in the bowers no companion is mine. Then the moon sheds her rays on my goblet and me, And my shadow betrays we're a party of three.

"Though the moon cannot swallow her share of the grog, And my shadow must follow wherever I jog,— Yet their friendship I'll borrow and gaily carouse, And laugh away sorrow while spring-time allows.