Having finished her tea, the buxom Dame Kuo Then she rose from the table, declared she had done ; She would stroll round the fair now, and look at the fun. Depositing a douceur in the Abbot's willing hand, "When the fair is finished, you must come and hunt us up; You'll always find a welcome, and a bed, a plate, and cup." Dame Kuo made her way through the thick of the fair, And old as she was, not a young lady there Enjoyed herself more, or felt greater delight, Than she did at every queer sound or strange sight. Buying and selling, Screaming and yelling ; By your leave! Stand aside! Can't you see where you're going?" Roaring and shouting, Ranting and spouting, Cymbal banging, flute squeaking, and long-trumpet blowing. Gonging and drumming, Fiddling and strumming, Interspersed with a good deal of squalling and bawling. Hawking and talking; The girl slack-rope walking— "How nicely she does it!"—Ai, ya! she is falling!" Cursing and swearing, "This, ma'am, is the stall, if you want a nice fairing. Here are all sorts of toys, For good little boys, Red-string, flowers, and knicknacks, for young ladies' wearing. "Here are mouth-pieces made From the purest of jade, And pipes that will make bad tobacco smoke pleasant. For industrious wives ; Make a choice from my wares-there's no time like the present." Losing and winning, Laughing and grinning, Humming-top spinning;-on dry land boats rowing; Horses a-neighing, Donkeys a-braying, Begging priests praying;-stilt-walking, stone-throwing. Whirligging and swinging, Story-telling, bell-ringing. A drummer is singing, at the same time is plying And performs sundry feats with; While the third one in mid-air is constantly flying. Snuffing and smoking, Jesting and joking, Or saying smart things, which set people laughing. And each other crushing, To hear merry-andrews their audience chaffing. What a hubbub and din; "Just going to begin!" What changing of money! what taking and giving! Within, actors playing: And puppets which look just as if they were living. Clod-hoppers swarming To see rats performing, Or peep-shows, with gay scenes which constantly vary. "For three cash may be seen A girl-aged sixteen, With the legs of a horse and the face of a fairy!" * A whirligig-similar to those used in English fairs, is called "Umbrella Wheel." Female tumblers-athletes, Performing strange feats; Quack doctors, rogues, thieves, and beggars, are nu merous; Some, pity exciting; Some, squabbling and fighting: Here are scenes of all sorts, grave, gay, sad, or humorous. Dane Kuo having seen all the sights of the fair, Climbed into her cart and returned to Peking, Well pleased with her trip to the fair at Hsi-ting. INVERTED FACTS. 1ST MONTH. In the first month we keep up the Dragon-Boat Feast ;* The sun, at this time, always sets in the east; Temples are never built facing the south ;† (How glibly a crammer slips out of one's mouth!) A stout man is one with no flesh on his bones; If indulged in, to all sorts of wickedness leads. * This festival really occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month. + Exactly the reverse. |