Taiyuan, the capital of the province, lies on the upper reaches of the Fen surrounded by irrigated ricelands, orchards and vineyards on the mountain slopes, with enormous seams of coal underground. In Shansi all roads lead to Taiyuan, but the roads that radiate out of Taiyuan in every direction lead nowhere.

The needy groom, that never finger'd groat, Would make a miracle of thus much coin …

The wisard could no lenger beare her bord, But brusting forth in laughter, to her sayd; Glauce, what needs this colourable word […] ?

The surgeon tied off the vein.