| 8 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 酬李学士寄簟 | Thanking Scholar Li for his gift of a bamboo mat | |
珍簟新铺翡翠楼， 泓澄玉水记方流。 唯应云扇情相似， 同向银床恨早秋。 |
The precious mat is newly spread in my kingfisher-green chamber, a deep, clear river of jade turning at right angles.[1] Yet surely it must share the feelings of the cloudlike fan, facing the silver bed together, fearing an early fall.[2] |
[1]This phrase is taken from a poem by Yan Yanzhi (颜延之), which includes the line 玉水记方流，琁源载圆折 (jade-bearing waters turn at right angles; rivers bearing nephrite have rounded corners).
[2]The bamboo mat and fan are associated with the hot weather of summer; with this line, Yu is subtly indicating that she hopes Scholar Li won't lose interest in her.
