Page:The works of Li Po - Obata.djvu/199

 124. TO HIS FRIEND, WEI, THE GOOD GOVERNOR OF CHIANG-HSIA WRITTEN IN COMMEMOR- ATION OF THE OLD FRIENDSHIP DURING ^%L&*» THE DAYS OF HIS BANISHMENT AFTER THE a TUMULT OF WAR.

Once I sought the City of White Jade in heaven, The five palaces and twelve lofty towers, &&> >»

Where gods of felicity stroked me on the forehead, A&**

And I bound my hair and received the everlasting life. *y^*jC Woe to me, I turned to the pleasures of the world, ^r ^^

Pondering deep on peace and war, J|!^, ^§^

And the reigns of the ninety-six illustrious kings, J?- ^-

Whose empty fame hangs on the drifting vapor! j^ J'av

I could not forget the tumultuous battles; I -fl

Fain would I try the empire-builder's art ^sr* 5 ^

Of staking heaven and earth in one throw, £% -5rJ

And win me the car and cap of the mandarin. \ *\

But time ordained a dire disappointment, llL 1 ]^

I threw my hopes and went, wandering wide. I learned swordsmanship and laughed at myself. I wielded my pen — what did I achieve after all? A sword could not fight a thousand foemen; The pen did steal fame from the four seas, Yet it is a child's play not worth talking about, Five times I sighed ; and went out of the western metrop- olis. At the time of my leaving My hat-strings were wet with tears. It was you, my friend, excellent and wise, [173]

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