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66 Cantonese Love Songs Because I wanted to pay my flower-debt [i.e. to ransom herself from the house of entertainment] I went astray with other men. Now with them I have to be very discerning, and Choose properly. Very few in this world pity us flowers [i.e. courtesans]. However, if a man would prop up a flower, he must be extremely careful to fence it about. Song 7 The World of Flowers This world of flowers [i.e. this wanton, carnal world] is ugly. But why speak of it? Ah me! Why did I do so many evil things? How it chills my heart to see before my very eyes those who have sunk to these depths! Wantonness. It is the same everywhere. Better far to fast and pray to the Buddha, and to read the Sutras.14 Now, with one stroke of the brush I will blot out the word 'passion', and never more will I dare to have rebellious desires, And my debt of sin will be cancelled; Lest I lose my virtue and degrade myself in the 'sell-smile village' [i.e. the place where smiles can be sold]. Morning and evening will I burn joss-sticks, And clasp my hands, And in meditation, I will pierce the mask of beauty [i.e. the outwardly manifest]P I am determined to leave this bitter sea of sorrow, and to seek refuge in Gwoon Yam's Boat of Mercy.16 14 'To pray to the Buddha' means to meditate on the Buddha or invoke his name. (See Introduction, pp. 32, 36, 37.) 15 See Song 1 (Part 2), line 9. 16 Gwoon Yam ( Bil ) is treated of in the Introduction, p. 37, et seq. In Chinese tradition, however, she became a historical person, the daughter of King Chong ( Jtt.:f.) of the Chau ( JEJ , Chou) dynasty. When she refused to marry because she wanted to become a nun, her father ordered her to be beheaded, but the sword 66 Cantonese Love Songs Because I wanted to pay my flower-debt [i.e. to ransom herself from the house of entertainment] I went astray with other men. Now with them I have to be very discerning, and Choose properly. Very few in this world pity us flowers [i.e. courtesans]. However, if a man would prop up a flower, he must be extremely careful to fence it about. Song 7 The World of Flowers This world of flowers [i.e. this wanton, carnal world] is ugly. But why speak of it? Ah me! Why did I do so many evil things? How it chills my heart to see before my very eyes those who have sunk to these depths! Wantonness. It is the same everywhere. Better far to fast and pray to the Buddha, and to read the Sutras.14 Now, with one stroke of the brush I will blot out the word 'passion', and never more will I dare to have rebellious desires, And my debt of sin will be cancelled; Lest I lose my virtue and degrade myself in the 'sell-smile village' [i.e. the place where smiles can be sold]. Morning and evening will I burn joss-sticks, And clasp my hands, And in meditation, I will pierce the mask of beauty [i.e. the outwardly manifest],15 I am determined to leave this bitter sea of sorrow, and to seek refuge in Gwoon Yam's Boat of Mercy.16 14 'To pray to the Buddha' means to meditate on the Buddha or invoke his name. (See Introduction, pp. 32, 36, 37.) 15 See Song 1 (Part 2), line 9. 16 Gwoon Yam ( Bfl ) is treated of in the Introduction, p. 37, et seq. In Chinese tradition, however, she became a historical person, the daughter of King Chong (!f:t.::E.) of the Chau ( JEJ , Chou) dynasty. When she refused to marry because she wanted to become a nun, her father ordered her to be beheaded, but the sword ...

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