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88 Cantonese Love Songs Today you are far away, on the edge of the horizon, and I have little hope of seeing you; Tears forever drench my spring garments. You brought me so much sorrow, so much lovesickness. I sigh as I clasp the pipa to my breast.66 Ah, night is falling, And my mirror tells me my beauty is fading. My lord, it is one thing to pluck a flower; it is quite another to plant and tend it. Song 18 Flowers Are Beautiful Flowers are so beautiful. Why do they look so sad all the time? A beautiful flower will be ashamed of you, my lord. I warn you not to lose your spring radiance [i.e. lose this opportunity]. Before you cast me off, think of the past: How every day I had to suffer from the deep wound of passion you inflicted on me. How could I have ever known that my spring dream would end today? In the past I believed your passion for me was true, but now I know you are nothing but a sham willow [i.e. a humbug]. I hear the chilling words that our phoenix-like [i.e. bridal] union will be rent asunder,67 66 See Song 12 (Part 4), line 3, note. 67 'Phoenix-like union' refers to the union of husband and wife. In legend, a mythical bird the phoenix (00., fung) is assisted by the cock ()I, luen) and hen (JIID., wong) of another phoenix-like species (sometimes referred to as a peacock and peahen, but not the sort we are used to seeing in the zoo). These animals are regarded as good omens; and the phrase, 'The peacock and phoenix sing together' ()loo.fDq~, luen fung woh ming) is now used to describe a happily married couple. The combination 'phoenix-peahen' (00.JIID.) can refer to sexual relations. A Chinese phrase runs: To seek a phoenix without success - meaning to try in vain to get married. The fungwong (00.JIID. ) is a bird that in Chinese myth watches with the dragon, tortoise and kei-lun (1IDt~ ,frequently translated by 'unicorn', although the kei-lun can have two or three horns) over the empire and appears in times of prosperity. It is often represented in art as a composite in appearance, and sometimes as a symbol of the empress. (See also Song 11 (Part 4), line 8, note.) Mayers, # 134. 88 Cantonese Love Songs Today you are far away, on the edge of the horizon, and I have little hope of seeing you; Tears forever drench my spring garments. You brought me so much sorrow, so much lovesickness. I sigh as I clasp the pipa to my breast.66 Ah, night is falling, And my mirror tells me my beauty is fading. My lord, it is one thing to pluck a flower; it is quite another to plant and tend it. Song 18 Flowers Are Beautiful Flowers are so beautiful. Why do they look so sad all the time? A beautiful flower will be ashamed of you, my lord. I warn you not to lose your spring radiance [i.e. lose this opportunity]. Before you cast me off, think of the past: How every day I had to suffer from the deep wound of passion you inflicted on me. How could I have ever known that my spring dream would end today? In the past I believed your passion for me was true, but now I know you are nothing but a sham willow [i.e. a humbug]. I hear the chilling words that our phoenix-like [i.e. bridal] union will be rent asunder,67 66 See Song 12 (Part 4), line 3, note. 67 'Phoenix-like union' refers to the union of husband and wife. In legend, a mythical bird the phoenix (00., fung) is assisted by the cock ()I, luen) and hen (JIID., wong) of another phoenix-like species (sometimes referred to as a peacock and peahen, but not the sort we are used to seeing in the zoo). These animals are regarded as good omens; and the phrase, 'The peacock and phoenix sing together' ()loo.fDq~, luen fung woh ming) is now used to describe a happily married couple. The combination 'phoenix-peahen' (00.JIID.) can refer to sexual relations. A Chinese phrase runs: To seek a phoenix without success - meaning to try in vain to get married. The fungwong (00.JIID. ) is a bird that in Chinese myth watches with...

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