Richard Henry Stoddard (Ричард Генри Стоддард)
The Serenade of Ma-Han-Shan
China COME to the window now, beautiful Yu Ying! The new moon is rising, white as the shell of a pearl. Your honored father and brother And the guests are still at table, Tipping the golden bottles, But I have stolen to you! The rose looks over the wall To see who passes near: Look out of the window, you, And see who waits below. I am a Mandarin: my plume is a pheasant's feather: The lady who marries me may live at court, if she likes. I stood by the pond to-day; hundreds of lilies bloomed, And the wonderful keung-flower grew in the midst of all. Whenever that marvel happens A wedding is sure to follow; It rests with you, Yu Ying, Speak--is the wedding ours? We will dwell in Keang-Nan, For I have a palace there; My garden is leagues in length, Deer run wild in the parks: Cages of loories, macaws; lakes of Mandarin ducks: A lane bordered with peach-trees--all for sweet Yu Ying. What means this wonderful light? Is it a second moon? Yu Ying at her window! A million of thanks, Yu Ying! Drop me your fan for a gift, Or better a tress of your hair: It is but little to give, For I have given my heart! The fire-flies twinkle, twinkle, Under the cypress boughs: They are wedding each other to-night, The lights are their wedding lanterns. When shall I order ours, and come in the flowery chair? Name me the pearl of a day, my bride, my wife--Yu Ying!
Richard Henry Stoddard’s other poems:
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