The ancient ballads -- Poetry before the Tʻangs -- The poets of the Tʻang dynasty -- A poet's emperor -- Chinese verse form -- The influence of religion on Chinese poetry -- The odes of Confucius -- The land of exile / Chʻŭ -- Wang Seng-ju -- Chʻĕn Tzŭ-ang -- Sung Chih-wên -- Impressions of a traveller. Desolation / Kao-Shih -- The lost one. A friend expected / Mêng Hao-jan -- A night on Bald Mountain / Chʻang Chʻien -- A dream of spring / Tsʻên-Tsʻan -- The little rain. A night of song. The recruiting sergeant. Chants of Autumn / Tu Fu -- To the city of Nanking. Memories with the dusk return. An emperor's love. On the banks of Jo-yeh. Thoughts in a tranquil night. The guild of good-fellowship. Under the moon. Drifting / Li Po -- The song of the Nenuphars. Tears in the spring / Wang Chʻang-ling -- A world apart / Chang C ho -- The celestial weaver / Tʻung Han-ching -- The lute girl. The never-ending wrong. The river and the leaf. Lake Shang. The ruined home. A palace story. Peaceful old age. Sleeplessness. The grass. Autumn across the frontier. The flower fair. The penalties of rank. The Island of Pines. Springtide. The ancient wind / Po Chû-i -- An old battlefield / Li Hua -- Return of spring. The colour of life. Set free. Fascination. Tranquil repose. The poet's vision. Despondent. Embroideries. Concentration. Motion / Ssû-Kʻung Tʻu -- Autumn. At the graveside / Ou-Yang Hsiu of Lu-ling.