During the time of the Han dynasty,
There was a man named Fan Shih, also named
Chu-ching, from Chingsiang County in Sanyang--
To Chang Shao of Junan he was devoted
Whose other name was Yuan-po. Fan exclaimed,
When it came time that he must part from Chang,
For both men studied, so let it be noted,
At the Imperial Academy--
He said: “Two years from now I shall call on
Your family,” so they fixed upon a date.
When time drew near, Chang asked his mother to
Make preparations for a guest. She state:
“For two years he have not been seen by you,
How can you trust he’ll come?” her words anon.
“Fan can be trusted, and he never breaks
His word,” he said; and she then: “In that case
I shall prepare the wine.” Upon that day
Fan came—into the hall he greet them and
Enjoyed their wine and their hospitable grace
The while he stay, and then he go away.
Later Chang met with an illness unplanned,
Disease as must prove mortal—as his aches
Be tended by two friends, one Tao Chun-ching
And Yin Tzu-cheng, both from his district, when
Upon his deathbed so he heave a sigh:
“Would I could see my best friend once again!”
But Yin protest: “We nursed you while you die,
What better friends than us could fortune bring?”
“You are my friends in life,” said Chang, “but Fan
Of Shanyang is my friend even in death.”
Then he expired; yet Fan within a dream
Saw Chang, in sandals, dark hat tasseled, calling
That he on such-and-such a day ceased breath,
And such-and-such a day his burial deem.
“Chu-ching!” he cried, “forever without stalling
Unto the nether regions I am gone--
Nor me have you forgotten, but say when,
When shall we meet again?” When Fan awoke
He sighed and he shed tears. Then on the day
Appointed he don mourning clothes and cloak
So he may to the funeral to pay
His last respects, as men give unto men.
Prior to his arrival so began
The ceremony, but when the procession
Had reached the burial ground the coffin still
Could be no further moved. Chang’s mother put
Her hand upon the coffin and she question:
“Are you expecting something?” So they will
Wait for a moment. Presently they caught
Sight of a carriage white bearing a man,
Drawn by white horses, and the man was weeping.
Seeing Fan in the distance now Chang’s mother
Declare: “This must be Fan Chu-ching,” she said.
So now friend clasped the coffin of the other
And cried: “Go now, for death has severéd,
And we have separate fates as beckon keeping.”
So now he say farewell, and there among
The thousand mourners—all of them shed tears--
So Fan now took the rope as to the coffin
Was fastened, and it moved. Beside the grave
Fan stayed to weep his friend from former years,
And then before he left, as though to soften
The bitterness of parting, there he have
Planted of trees beside, as there belong,
And then depart. So was the story of
Two friends as they must part, and so it be
Recorded, left for immemorial time,
As I attempt retelling faithfully
An ancient Chinese tale in English rhyme,
As touch upon the deepest friendship, love.
And so I think on you, my long-lost friend,
Whom I may never see—not several years
But even more as must divide us twain,
That had known love as only can occur
Between a man and man; as I weep tears
Upon a vanished friendship once again
That I remember, even as it were
In its entirety, ere it must end.
It may not be to share a pillow tree
As graves, so it must be, rest far apart,
Yet there have been a memory now left
As I must carry faithful in my heart,
For such is friendship’s faith, never bereft,
And so I pray, think favorably on me.
After Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang