红楼梦Chapter18_小升初阅读_小升初-查字典英语网

红楼梦Chapter18

the imperial consort of the Chia family， we must now observe， upon catching sight， from the interior of her chair， of the picture presented within as well as without the confines of this garden， shook her head and heaved a sigh. What lavish extravagance! What excessive waste! she soliloquised.

But of a sudden was again seen a eunuch who， on his knees， invited her to get into a boat; and the Chia consort descended from the chair and stepped into the craft， when the expanse of a limpid stream met her gaze， whose grandeur resembled that of the dragon in its listless course. The stone bannisters， on each side， were one mass of air-tight lanterns， of every colour， made of crystal or glass， which threw out a light like the lustre of silver or the brightness of snow.

the willow， almond and the whole lot of trees， on the upper side， were， it is true， without blossom and leaves; but pongee and damask silks， paper and lustring had been employed， together with rice-paper， to make flowers of， which had been affixed on the branches. Upon each tree were suspended thousands of lanterns; and what is more， the lotus and aquatic plants， the ducks and water fowl in the pond had all， in like manner， been devised out of conches and clams， plumes and feathers. The various lanterns， above and below， vied in refulgence. In real truth， it was a crystal region， a world of pearls and precious stones. On board the boat were also every kind of lanterns representing such designs as are used on flower-pots， pearl-laden portieres， embroidered curtains， oars of cinnamon wood， and paddles of magnolia， which need not of course be minutely described.