Page:The works of Li Po - Obata.djvu/105

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��50. THE IMPERIAL CONCUBINE ,-»-)

When a little child,

She was reared in a golden house,

Now ripe and lovely, she dwells

In the imperial palace of purple. *_

She will come forth from the innermost chamber, *T3~

A mountain flower in her glossy hair,

Robed in pink embroidered silk; $&

And always return at evening,

Accompanying the imperial palanquin. _^.__

Only, alas! — the hours of dance and song prp

Swiftly vanish into the sky

To tint, perhaps, the flying clouds in happy colors!

��One of the eight poems entitled "Palace Pleasures" which Li Po composed during his sojourn at the court. They describe the voluptuous life of Hsuan Tsung with Yang Kuei-fei.

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