Page 49 - Poetry-Whimsy

V.
Straightway the bridge was builded so
As had spoken the wisdom of King Tee Poh.

VI.
And every day, from dawn till dark,
They who watched the fortunate arch could mark,
Like a cloud of midges that glow and gleam,
The gold toll cast to the hurrying stream;
And all day the trumpet sounded loud,
And the mandarin of the guard kowtowed,
As he wrote the name, with respectful look,
Of the passenger high in his silken book;
And all the while grew the renown
Of the fortunate arch in Pekin town,
Till of the wealthiest it was told,
“He spends his day on the bridge of gold.”

VII.
And when a month and a day were spent,
The King Tee Poh for his treasurer sent.
“Go to the bridge,” said he, “and look
At the list of names in the silken book,
And of all that are written, small and great,
Confiscate to me the estate;
As the sage Confucius well doth show,
A wealthy fool is the State’s worst foe.”

VIII.
And the treasurer whispered, bending low,
“Great is the wisdom of King Tee Poh.”

— George T. Lanigan (Century Magazine, 1886)

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