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90 Cantonese Love Songs If you act like this I will find it very hard to bear. Ah yes! In my heart I have seen through you. Your feelings for me are not what once they were. My lord, although I have no word from you, I will follow you even to death. Song 19 How Can I Be Patient? How can I be patient? The fibres of my heart are rent asunder. the Cowherd had said was true, he made the Cowherd an immortal, appointing him god of a star to the west of the River, and his wife, the Spinning Girl, goddess of a star to the east of the River, with permission to meet once every seven days. Somehow or other, the couple misunderstood the father and took it that they had permission to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month; and that is what they have been doing ever since. Because they cannot cross the River without a bridge, on that day all the crows fly up to heaven with the twig of a tree and make a foot-bridge for them to cross for their annual re-union. In Northern China, people say that it is bound to rain on the seventh day of the seventh month because the Cowherd and the Spinning Girl weep for joy at seeing each other, and their tears fall down on the earth. The Spinning Girl and the Cowherd have become the emblem of lovers in separation. Mayers, # 311. One of the Nineteen Ancient Poems (written in the Hon dynasty) relates the legend: Far away in the skies is the Cowherd Star: Bright on the Milky Way the Maid Lightly her snowy fingers raises, Jogging her shuttle through its mazes. But her stint of work is never-ending, And her tears like sobbing showers descending. Through clear and shallow the Milky Way, Never they'll meet for many a day. No word she says, but stares dismayed, Alone by that surging River far. (Translation by J A Turner, in A Golden Treasure of Chinese Poetry.) illill$ 4-£ SXSX1rlJ~~:tz­ #JiU~ti~-=f ;fL;fL*~H ~ 8 l'RX:¥ 11I1~~tmffi 1rlJ1~m£i~ t§*1~J!t§t ~~-*F~' IDKIDK1'1{HR 90 Cantonese Love Songs If you act like this I will find it very hard to bear. Ah yes! In my heart I have seen through you. Your feelings for me are not what once they were. My lord, although I have no word from you, I will follow you even to death. Song 19 How Can I Be Patient? How can I be patient? The fibres of my heart are rent asunder. the Cowherd had said was true, he made the Cowherd an immortal, appointing him god of a star to the west of the River, and his wife, the Spinning Girl, goddess of a star to the east of the River, with permission to meet once every seven days. Somehow or other, the couple misunderstood the father and took it that they had permission to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month; and that is what they have been doing ever since. Because they cannot cross the River without a bridge, on that day all the crows fly up to heaven with the twig of a tree and make a foot-bridge for them to cross for their annual re-union. In Northern China, people say that it is bound to rain on the seventh day of the seventh month because the Cowherd and the Spinning Girl weep for joy at seeing each other, and their tears fall down on the earth. The Spinning Girl and the Cowherd have become the emblem of lovers in separation. Mayers, # 311. One of the Nineteen Ancient Poems (written in the Han dynasty) relates the legend: Far away in the skies is the Cowherd Star: Bright on the Milky Way the Maid Lightly her snowy fingers raises, Jogging her shuttle through its mazes. But her stint of work is never-ending, And her tears like sobbing showers descending. Through clear and shallow the Milky Way, Never they'll meet for many a day. No word she says, but stares dismayed, Alone by that surging River far. (Translation by J A Turner, in A Golden Treasure ofChinese Poetry.) B5ZB5ZM~lv:: titi:ti*-'f: i'Li'U'f~\Hr t~ EJ t.lO~~!JOj'li yilI~ly~'.EliJii :f...

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