红楼梦Chapter18_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter18

there were likewise eunuchs， who took a part in the procession， holding scented handkerchiefs and embroidered towels， cups for rinsing the mouth， dusters and other such objects; and company after company went past， when， at the rear， approached with stately step eight eunuchs carrying an imperial sedan chair， of golden yellow， with a gold knob and embroidered with phoenixes.

Old lady Chia and the other members of the family hastily fell on their knees， but a eunuch came over at once to raise her ladyship and the rest; and the imperial chair was thereupon carried through the main entrance， the ceremonial gate and into a court on the eastern side， at the door of which stood a eunuch， who prostrated himself and invited (her highness) to dismount and change her costume.

Having forthwith carried her inside the gate， the eunuchs dispersed; and only the maids-of-honour and ladies-in-waiting ushered Yuan Chun out of the chair， when what mainly attracted her eye in the park was the brilliant lustre of the flowered lamps of every colour， all of which were made of gauze or damask， and were beautiful in texture， and out of the common run; while on the upper side was a flat lantern with the inscription in four characters， Regarded (by His Majestys) benevolence and permeated by his benefits.

Yuan Chun entered the apartment and effected the necessary changes in her toilette; after which， she again eGREssed， and， mounting her chair， she made her entry into the garden， when she perceived the smoke of incense whirling and twirling， and the reflection of the flowers confusing the eyes. Far and wide， the rays of light， shed by the lanterns， intermingled their brilliancy， while， from time to time， fine strains of music sounded with clamorous din. But it would be impossible to express adequately the perfect harmony in the aspect of this scene， and the grandeur of affluence and splendour.