Li Po reciting before the Emperor (litho)

Li Po reciting before the Emperor. China's most famous poet, Li Po, was a tipsy bard of about thirty-seven when he was first introduced to the sixth T'ang Emperor. On one occasion when the Emperor sent for him he was lying in the street so drunk that it was not until he had had his face well mopped that he was fit to appear, but even then his talents did not fail him. The poet met his death by drowning, having one night fallen out of a boat in a drunken effort to embrace the reflection of the moon. Illustration for Hutchinson's History of the Nations (Hutchinson, c.1920). Note: Image has been digitally enhanced to facilitate repro.