) g) C s! A" @9 c% JNorth country scene:% G7 k4 z* r4 j
A hundred leagues locked in ice,
: c6 Z+ p5 V |* g; a8 }A thousand leagues of whirling snow.
( ~6 p4 w0 K! gBoth side of the Great Wall; n. S+ q. z: u) D5 p( W
One single white immensity.
4 D5 N, I5 Z9 M3 B8 vThe Yellow River's swift current
- b% d$ {, u: F5 BIs stilled from end to end.9 J' e8 u" E; n- N7 v: W0 J
The mountains dance silver snakes3 h) ~4 U+ `5 T
And the highland charge like wax-hued elephants.( S. ?- t2 W f0 P8 q" l3 w+ P
Vying with heaven in stature.
% _8 y' \& [' K; aOn a fine day, the land,/ X5 T3 ?" l1 O4 k
Clad in white, adorned in red,
8 u# r [+ t, J2 NCrows more enchanting., D) V$ u8 ^) T4 I' B
This land so rich in beauty$ d. y$ |7 [: P0 U4 p
Has made countless heroes bow in homage.
) m; Y0 n( `$ ^* r) oBut alas! Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi! B, ]- p$ V# |8 a: o! s- f
Were lacking in literary grace,
. F. t' b& u/ r* w4 X: sAnd Tang Taizong and Song Taizu
: h: t7 ~( w) RHad little poetry in their souls; p# J5 E4 ?7 k) |
That proud son of Heaven,
# C) _2 {1 n4 ~" U( aGenghis Khan,+ D, j2 c% P6 r' P5 z
Knew only shooting eagles, bow outstretched.
# x. g% x0 g8 i& IAll are past and gone!% V0 G; C4 K8 j8 O3 @
For truly great men
* |5 h2 ?2 ~2 |" b% L/ W* O$ d* ]Look to this age alone.3 D! q t+ V& @9 s# T9 h
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