Page:Pekinese Rhymes (G. Vitale, 1896).djvu/226

 羅兒樹 suo1 luo2' r shu4 ( Shore a robusta ) on which the father moon leans. The word solo is derived from the Sanscrit sâla. In the first two verses the word k'ao, to recline, to lean, is used in the sense of to be contiguous, near, in great number. 牛 niu2 lang2 or also 牽 牛 ch'ien1 niu2, the constellation of the Herdboy. 織 女 chih' nii^ the Spinning damsel, another constellation. The former and the latter are placed each at one side of the milky way ； the Chinese consider them to be husband and wife and say that once a year they succeed in seeing each other by a curious expedient. The magpies form themselves into a bridge over the milky way (天 河 t'ien1 ho2) and the pair get on the bridge and meet. Many particulars are related about this annual interview ； there is also a fantastical play called 渡銀河 tu4 yin2 ho2, the "Crossing of the silver river" in which the adventures and sorrows of this loving pair are exposed to mortal eyes.

(In the marriage procession) drums succeed drums ― and gongs succeed gongs ― a newly married bride relies on her father and mother-in-law ― the father moon reclines on the Shorea tree ― and the constellations of the Herdboy and the Spinning damsel each lie on one side of the milky way.