Now the Tang emperor, once awakened from his dream, kept it constantly in mind. It was already the third point of the fifth watch, and Taizong convened the court, gathering the two ranks of civil and military officials. There was to be seen:

那 is nà; 五鼓三點 ('the third point of the fifth watch') is near dawn; 朝 in 設朝 ('to hold court') is cháo. 兩班 are the two files, civil and military. The descriptive 賦 of the court follows.

Mist enfolds the phoenix towers; incense hangs about the dragon hall.

鳳闕 ('phoenix gate-towers') and 龍樓 ('dragon hall') are the palace buildings; 藹 is 'to gather thick, like haze.'

Light shimmers, and the vermilion screen seems to stir; clouds brush past, and the kingfisher-plumed canopy flows.

丹扆 is the red imperial screen behind the throne (扆, yǐ); 翠華 ('kingfisher splendor') is the plumed imperial canopy.

Ruler and minister accord like Yao and Shun; the rites and music, august and grave, approach those of Han and Zhou.

相 in 相契 ('to be in accord') is xiāng, and 樂 in 禮樂 ('rites and music') is yuè. 堯舜 (Yao and Shun) are the sage-kings of antiquity; the couplet exalts the Tang court by the highest comparisons.

The attendants' lanterns, the palace maids' fans — pair on pair they glint with color;

The 賦 shifts to short three-character phrases, cataloguing the pomp of the court in paired images.

the peacock screens, the qilin hall — everywhere the light floats bright.

孔雀屏 ('peacock screen') and 麒麟殿 ('unicorn hall') name the painted furnishings; 處處光浮 is 'light shimmering everywhere.'

They cry the mountain-cheer of 'Ten Thousand Years'; they offer the flowery wish of 'a Thousand Autumns.'

山呼萬歲 ('the mountain-call of ten thousand years') is the ritual acclamation of the emperor; 華祝千秋 is the blessing of a long reign.

The silence-whip cracks three times; the capped and robed bow before the tasseled crown.

靜鞭 ('the quieting whip') was cracked to command silence at court; 冕旒 is the emperor's crown with its hanging bead-strings (旒).

Palace blossoms blaze splendid, and a heavenly fragrance wafts; the bank-willows sway soft, and the imperial music is sung.

樂 in 御樂 ('imperial music') is yuè; 天香 ('heavenly fragrance') and 御樂 set the sensory richness of the scene.

The pearl blinds, the kingfisher blinds — on golden hooks hung high;

翡翠 is kingfisher-green jade or plumage; 金鉤高控 ('golden hooks holding high') describes the looped-up curtains.

the dragon-and-phoenix fans, the rivers-and-hills fans — and the jeweled palanquin at rest.

These great ceremonial fans (扇) and the 寶輦 ('treasure palanquin') are the regalia of the imperial presence.

The civil officers, brilliant and refined; the military officers, vigorous and keen.

英秀 is 'outstanding, elegant'; 抖擻 ('shaking out, spirited') marks the martial vigor of the generals.

The imperial way divides the high from the low; along the vermilion steps the ranks are arrayed by grade.

御道 is the emperor's processional path; 丹墀 ('the cinnabar terrace') is the red-painted palace forecourt; 品流 are the graded ranks of office.

Golden seals and purple ribbons ride in threefold splendor; enduring as earth and lasting as heaven, ten thousand thousand autumns.

金章紫綬 ('golden seal and purple ribbon') are the insignia of the highest ministers; 長 in 天長 ('heaven lasting') is cháng. 地久天長 is the wish for an eternal reign, closing the 賦.