On a Ch'ang-an street where the rich buy their wine
one morning rose a building a hundred feet high
its latticwork of jade displayed scenes of spring
its bright signs and banners all welcomed guests
with Red Phoenix Gate behind
and the Garden of Delights in front
all quarters sang its praises and added to its fame
from Five Hills came carriages regardless of the distance
this sunny scene continued to Third Month skies
peach petals decked the tables and willows screened te seats
while an orchestra of strings and flutes played on
other inns and wineshops one by one turned silent
still the owner demanded more profit
the price of a single cup was a hundred sacks of grain
it was strong at first then thin and finally robbery
but patrons knew its name and nothing of its taste
such customers are rare behind one set of doors
where wine is strong all year and its flavor never changes
but the drinkers of Ch'ang-an go merrily stumbling on
along the road they pass it by oblivious to its presence