Yue-ts'un lost no time in smiling and replying. "It would be presumption in my part to think so，" he observed. "I was simply at random humming a few verses composed by former writers， and what reason is there to laud me to such an excessive deGREe？ To what， my dear Sir， do I owe the pleasure of your visit？" he went on to inquire. "Tonight，" replied Shih-yin， "is the mid-autumn feast， generally known as the full-moon festival； and as I could not help thinking that living， as you my worthy brother are， as a mere stranger in this Buddhist temple， you could not but experience the feeling of loneliness. I have， for the express purpose， prepared a small entertainment， and will be pleased if you will come to my mean abode to have a glass of wine. But I wonder whether you will entertain favourably my modest invitation？" Yue-ts'un， after listening to the proposal， put forward no refusal of any sort； but remarked complacently： "Being the recipient of such marked attention， how can I presume to repel your generous consideration？"
As he gave expression to these words， he walked off there and then， in company with Shih-yin， and came over once again into the court in front of the library. In a few minutes， tea was over. masterbaiting toys
the cups and dishes had been laid from an early hour， and needless to say the wines were luscious； the fare sumptuous.
the two friends took their seats. At first they leisurely replenished their glasses， and quietly sipped their wine； but as， little by little， they entered into conversation， their good cheer GREw more genial， and unawares the glasses began to fly round， and the cups to be exchanged. pleasure toys
At this very hour， in every house of the neighbourhood， sounded the fife and lute， while the inmates indulged in music and singing. Above head， the orb of the radiant moon shone with an all-pervading splendour， and with a steady lustrous light， while the two friends， as their exuberance increased， drained their cups dry so soon as they reached their lips.