The Peafowls

西域職貢昭咸賓 畜籠常見非奇珍

珠毛翠角固可愛 孚卵成雛曾罕聞

數歲前乃育兩㲉 雞伏翼之領哺噣

淋滲弱質隨雌雞 老雀籠中情反邈

三年小尾五年大 花下開屏金翠簸

綷羽映日煥輝輝 圜眼凌風張箇箇

低飛嫩篠髙屋檐 繡翣雙窺玳瑁簾

招之即來拍之舞 那慮翻翱葱嶺尖

於禽亦識土產好 菁莪棫樸風人藻

盈廷濟濟故未能 離文朅覽慙懷抱

乾隆戊寅御題

When the Western regions were paying their tributes, they exhibited their full subordination and allegiance. Among the tributes were animals in their cages, which were common sights and nothing precious or rare. Although the pearl-like feathers and jade-like crests were undoubtedly adorable, I had never seen peachicks hatching out from eggs myself. Several years ago, two peachicks were hatched from two eggs, and the peahen put them under her wings to feed them. The peachicks with newly-grown feathers were weak in their body constitutions, and trailed behind the peahen. The old peacock in its aviary exhibited less sentiments at a distance.

The trains of the peachicks remained small for the first three years, and grew large after five years. They displayed their trains under the flowers, and appeared like gold and jade. Their colourful plumage shone brilliantly under the sun, and their round eyes were all wide-open despite the wind. When flying low they would soar among the young and tender branches; when flying high they could pass the rooftops. While on display, their trains appeared like huge embroidered fans, and they peeked at each other through the tortoiseshell-like curtains created by their trains.

Once I wave my hands at them, they would come to me; after I clap my hands, they would begin to dance. There is no need to worry about them flying back to their native home. From the peafowls I came to see the virtues of the local products and native species of the Western regions, which are without any pretension yet so stylish and magnificent. It is a pity that I have not enabled them to flourish in the empire, and with regrets I left this poem.

Written by the Emperor in year 1758