88 LAN-TSIH 



Long together stood the couple, 

 Hand in hand in silent sorrow ; 

 Yearning deeply for each other, 

 As with heavy hearts they parted. 



Just outside the parents' Guest Hall 

 Lan-tsih stopped and hesitated 

 Whether to go back or onward. 

 From the hall her mother saw her, 

 Lifted up her hands in horror, 

 Much perturbed to see her daughter 

 Coming lone and un-attended. 



'When you counted thirteen summers 

 You had learnt to spin the silk thread. 

 At fourteen I taught you sewing, 

 The guitar you played at fifteen, 

 And at sixteen you had mastered 

 Etiquette and polished manners; 

 Then at seventeen you married. 

 Ne'er a bad word have you spoken, 

 Nor in other ways transgressed. 

 Still you come home un-attended." 



' 'Mother, I have done no evil," 

 Answered Lan-tsih with head drooping. 

 Great the mother's grief was. Loudly 

 She lamented this great insult. 



Lan-tsih stayed home ten days only, 



When the official of the country 



Middlemen dispatched thus saying: — 



" This young man, for whom we're speaking, 



Is the third son in the family. 



(Quite as good howe'er as second) 



He is eighteen years or over, 



He is clever, skilled in letters," 



"Would you like this man to marry?" 

 Asked the mother of her daughter. 

 Lan-tsih answered agitated : 

 "When I left my husband's dwelling 

 He with earnestness implored me 

 Ne'er again to wed another. 

 To him I my faith have plighted, 

 And if I should break this promise, 



