Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/72

RV 67 (PORTRAIT OF AN EMPEROR) The one who writes best of it, shall be given a slender maiden worthy of his song."

In this manner did the Emperor succeed in turning attention away from an unpleasant incident.

Some say that after the jewels had been burned, Ming Huang banished all his women that he might live frugally at the Palace and devote all his time to the affairs of the people. A pretty thought, but without foundation. That he was a good ruler, none can deny. Nor, for that matter, can it be denied that as a lover he left nothing to be desired. History tells that he had so many lovely fragile women eager to do his command, he found it hard to select a partner for a night's repose. Therefore all his maidens twined flowers in their hair. They walked gracefully through the garden, and their breath was like perfume. Then into the garden would come Kao Li-shih. He would release a swarm of butterflies from a bamboo cage. This method of selection was called "Butterfly Luck" or "Butterfly Fortune." The maiden about whose head the butterflies swarmed, was the night's companion. Together they would remain until the moon melted into the dawn.

Some of the young ladies who were not attractive to butterflies had scarcely a bowing acquaintance with the Emperor, and since their ministrations were never required, they devoted their time to little white waistcoats called "Ma-kwa" or riding jackets, a necessary part of formal dress, upon which they embroidered yellow butterflies. RV 67 (67)