Mr. Davs on the Poetry of the Chinese. 4.:>7 



" Inscribed under t'le Drawing of a wax-coloured Calycanthus." (Lamei.) 



Tranquilly beiuliug, clothed in its vest of pale yellow. 



The flower preserves, in single seclusion, its inviolate sweets: 



With faintly opening mouth, its fragrance is but half exhaled. 



Like some half-told sorrow, still half undisclosed: 



It droops, with slender stalk, in delicate guise. 



While its close petals carry all the aspect. of modesty : 



Deem not, that fear of the chill will prevent it from blowmg, — 



It reserves those vernal hues to compete with the fairest flowers of Kcartgiian." 



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" On the Drawing of a blush-coloured Plv.m Blossom." (Meihwa.) 



One flower combines in itself all the merits of two, 

 Wliile a closer examination only displays its rare charms : 

 W^ould you style it a rosy beauty — it is rich, too, in snowy hues ; 

 Would you call it a pale one — it displays the tints of the morning sky : 

 It resembles some fair complexion, slightly heightened by wine — 

 It is like some muiden, risen fresh from sleep to her moruiny toilet : 

 Ccctse to wonder at the hesitation of the poet's pencil , 

 The loveliness of the object has dispersed his powers of thought I" 



