compose a poem in the time it will take to walk seven paces;have a ready pen ❍ 文帝尝令东阿王七步中作诗，不成者行大法。(刘义庆《世说新语·文学》)Emperor Wen of Wei once ordered the prince of Dong’e to compose a poem in the time it would take to walk seven paces. If it was not completed,the maximum penalty was to be inflicted.