Of course, we are speaking of tea as drunk by connoisseurs and not as generally served among shopkeepers.

 

我们所描写的当然是指鉴赏家的饮茶，而不是像店辅中的以茶奉客。

No such nicety can be expected of general mankind or when tea is consumed by the gallon by all comers.

这种雅举不是普通人所能办到，也不是人来人往，论碗解渴的地方所能办到。

That is why the author of Ch'asu, Hsti Ts'eshu, says, "When there is a big party, with visitors coming and coming, one can only exchange with them cups of wine, and among strangers who have just met or among common friends, one should serve only tea of the ordinary quality.

《茶疏》的作者许次纾说得好："宾朋杂沓，止堪交钟觥筹；

Only when our intimate friends of the same temperament have arrived, and we are all happy, all brilliant in conversation and all able to lay aside the formalities, then may we ask the boy servant to build a fire and draw water, and decide the number of stoves and cups to be used in accordance with the company present. "

惟素心同调，彼此畅适，清言雄辩，脱略形骸，始可呼童篝火，吸水点汤，量客多少，为役之烦简。"

It is of this state of things that the author of Ch'uchieh says,

而《茶解》作者所说的就是此种情景

 

"We are sitting at night in a mountain lodge, and are boiling tea with water from a mountain spring.

 

"山堂夜坐，汲泉煮茗。

When the fire attacks the water, we begin to hear a sound similar to the singing of the wind among pine trees.

至水火相战，如听松涛。

We pour the tea into a cup, and the gentle glow of its light plays around the place.

倾泻入杯，云光滟潋。

The pleasure of such a moment cannot be shared with vulgar people. "

此时幽趣，故难与俗人言矣。"