Beauty's Fatal Snare[23]

The ravens roost upon the towers of Su, While revels reign within the Court of Wu; The rustic Si-Shi with her peerless face, Her slender form, her witching smile and grace. Inflamed by wine, she now begins to sing The songs of Wu to please the fatuous king; And in the dance of Tsu she subtly blends All rhythmic movements to her sensuous ends. Si-Shi o'er Wu her spell has surely cast, The King of Yüeh has snared his foe at last; With wine, and song, and dance, the hours fly by: The water-clock[24] has dripped till almost dry. Behind the hills appears the flush of dawn, Beyond the river sinks the moon forlorn; And now the sun climbs up the towers of Su; What of the revellers in the Halls of Wu!