WEBVTT

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The fictional
speaker of this poem

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begins to translate an
ancient Chinese story,

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but he doesn't know
any Chinese so things

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jump the tracks really quickly.

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He's translating it
for use in his course.

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Wait you'll see.

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"Ten."

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In the district
of Hou Tcheou Fou,

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the magistrate's
assistant, Chen,

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was taking a nap in his study.

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Suddenly, a motorized
airport staircase

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appeared and beckoned
him to follow.

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It led Chen down a path hidden
by rustling thickets of bamboo

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to a clearing where
on a high pedestal

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an enormous mirror
waited in the moonlight.

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"Regard what you once were
in your previous life,"

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said the motorized
airport staircase.

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Looking into the
mirror, Chen saw

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a man in a tasseled cap
and scarlet shoes dressed

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like a scholar from
the recent past.

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"Now see what you were in
the life before that one."

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Rubbing his eyes, Chen looked
again and saw a high official

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in old Ming costume, black
cap, red dragonfly robe, belt

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with Jade buckle, black boots.

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Just then a disheveled servant
rushed into the clearing,

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prostrated himself before
Chen, and exclaimed, "Don't you

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recognize me?

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I was your valet
in Ta T'oung Fou.

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But of course, that was
over 200 years ago."

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With that said, he
handed Chen a scroll.

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"What's this?"

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Chen asked dreamily.

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"See for yourself,"
the servant replied.

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