Page:The works of Li Po - Obata.djvu/227

 TJie Preface by Li Tang-ping

Censor of the Court, Chen, l0 who stayed the tide of de- cadence and wrought a change of literature in form and matter. But even under our present dynasty the poesy was infected with the manners of the seraglio school of the Liang and Cheng dynasties 1X until our master swept them and banished them from the earth, causing a mar- velous change. Now the books of poesy, new or old, are cast off and do not prevail. But the writings of our master cover the universe. He in his power may be said to rival* Nature, the creator and transformer.

In the beginning of the Tien-pao era 12 his Majesty's grandsire deigned to summon him. At the Gate of Gold Horse the emperor alighted from his car and walked to meet our master, welcoming him as though he were the venerable Chi the Hoary; 13 granted him a feast on the table of seven jewels and made him eat, seasoning the soup for him with his august hands. He said : "Thou art a cotton-clothed one, but art become known to me. How could this have been but that thou hast cherished virtue and righteousness?" So the Emperor let him sit in the Hall of Gold Bells, and go in and out of the Han-ling Academy; and questioned him on the affairs of government and privily ordered him to compose man- dates and rescripts. Of this none was aware.

��10 Censor of the Court, Chen. Chen Tsu-ang, a poet and an intimate friend of Lu above.

11 The Liang and Chen dynasties covered respectively a.d. 502-556 and 557-587, preceding the Tang dynasty.

12 The Tien-Pao era covers the years 742-755.

13 Chi,, the Hoary. Refers to Chi Li-chi, one of the so-called "Four Gray-heads," of the 3rd century b. c, who withdrew from the world toward the close of the reign of the First Em- peror of the Chin dynasty, but who reappeared upon the es- tablishment of the Han dynasty and were welcomed and vener- ated by the new emperor.

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