The Dappled Gray: A Ballad The Duke of Deng’s mad passion for horses, was known by everyone, when he finally got a dappled gray steed, of the Ferghana breed. He had heard report of it earlier and longed to see it once; they led it in, and all those around were stirred with awe. A virile[1] stance[2], a posture aloof, how high tall it loomed, it looked at its shadow, gave a proud neigh[3], vaunting[4] the favor it enjoyed. The slits of his eyes sparkled green, mirrors hanging on either side, flesh and bristle[5] bulging[6], linked dapples stirred. With the dawn they long tested him beneath the splendid balcony, I don’t think even a thousand silver pieces would make up its lofty price. A hint of crimson sweat appears in the snow-white hairs, they put back the silver saddle over a horsecloth of fragrant gossamer. What the Chamberlain once presented the Duke was able to get, to only the true dragons of the Imperial Stud is this horse second. For daytime washing this must leap in the depths of the Jing and Wei, bounding off at dawn it can brush past night in You and Bing. I have heard that the very finest steeds grow perfected only when old, in a few years a horse like this will amaze folk even more. How could there be four hooves fleeter than a bird?— will it not show itself first in the company of the Eight Chargers? The ways of the time are carelessly hurried, how could they get one like this?— only in the dark of cloud and fog could such an essence be sent down. I have heard that recently a decree[7] was proclaimed in the cities and towns, how could one let such a unicorn walk on common ground? 單詞釋義 [1] virile [?v?ra?l] adj. 強(qiáng)壯的; 精力充沛的; 雄渾的; [2] stance [st?ns] n. (尤指體育運(yùn)動(dòng)中的) 站立姿勢(shì); [3] neigh [ne?] n. 馬嘶聲; [4] vaunt [v??nt] v. 吹噓；自負(fù); [5] bristle [?br?sl] n. 短而硬的毛發(fā); 剛毛; 刷子毛; [6] bulge [b?ld?] v. 充滿; 塞滿; 凸出; 鼓脹; [7] decree [d??kri?] n. 法令; 政令; (法院的) 裁定，判決;