The Jade Mountain/I Pass through the Lu Dukedom with a Sigh and a Sacrifice for Confucius
Emperor Hsüan-tsung (Ming Huang)
宗 玄
I PASS THROUGH THE LU DUKEDOM
WITH A SIGH AND A SACRIFICE FOR CONFUCIUS
WITH A SIGH AND A SACRIFICE FOR CONFUCIUS
O Master, how did the world repay
Your life of long solicitude?—
The Lords of Tsou have misprized your land,
And your home has been used as the palace of Lu. . . .
You foretold that when phœnixes vanished, your fortunes too would end,
You knew that the captured unicorn would be a sign of the close of your teaching. . . .
Can this sacrifice I watch, here between two temple-pillars,
Be the selfsame omen of death you dreamed of long ago?
Your life of long solicitude?—
The Lords of Tsou have misprized your land,
And your home has been used as the palace of Lu. . . .
You foretold that when phœnixes vanished, your fortunes too would end,
You knew that the captured unicorn would be a sign of the close of your teaching. . . .
Can this sacrifice I watch, here between two temple-pillars,
Be the selfsame omen of death you dreamed of long ago?