er of peasants in a field hoeing up the weeds; and as they worked they sang:
〃The earth is a checkered board;
And the sky hangs over all;
Under it humans are contending;
Some rise; but a many fall。
For those who succeed this is well;
But for those who go under rough。
There's a dozing dragon hard by;
But his sleep is not deep enough。〃
Liu Bei and his brothers stopped to listen to the song and; calling up one of the peasants; asked who made it。
〃It was made by Master Sleeping Dragon;〃 said the laborer。
〃Then he lives hereabout。 Where?〃
〃South of this hill there is a ridge called the Sleeping Dragon; and close by is a sparse wood。 In it stands a modest cottage。 That is where Master Zhuge Liang takes his repose。〃
Liu Bei thanked him and the party rode on。 Soon they came to the ridge; most aptly named; for indeed it lay wrapped in an atmosphere of calm beauty。
A poet wrote of it thus:
Not far from Xiangyang
There stands; clear cut against the sky;
A lofty ridge; and at its foot
A gentle stream goes gliding by。
The contour; curving up and down;
Although by resting cloud it's marred;
Arrests the eye; and here and there
The flank by waterfalls is scarred。
There; like a sleeping dragon coiled;
Or phoenix hid among thick pines;
You see; secure from prying eyes;
A cot; reed…built on rustic lines。
The rough…joined doors; pushed by the wind;
Swing idly open and disclose
The greatest genius of the world
Enjoying still his calm repose。
The air is full of woodland scents;
Around are hedgerows trim and green;
Close…growing intercrossed bamboos
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