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The Songs 119 It is hard to control my love for you even though you are away from me. When after a long separation we meet, I cannot bear to leave you and go home. Not one in a thousand lives with his beloved; not one in a thousand is completely devoted. Ah, but this world is tiresome! As fate would have it, there is one person [i.e. his wife] who constrains you, and another person [i.e. the keeper of this house of entertainment ] who constrains me. Although I cannot share your bed in life, at least in death I shall be buried with you. Song 45 Reassure Yourself Reassure yourself. Do not have any doubts, If I found someone congenial, I would dote on him. The region of mist and flowers [i.e. the houses of entertainment] is not the place for lasting love; One day the flowers will wither and then even the butterflies will take advantage of them. The wild butterflies that ravish flowers will be indeed disappointed. They do not ravish fresh flowers, but only go to where the wild flowers are. I do not doubt that if immortal flowers meet immortal butterflies, they will somehow become true lovers. I am intent on watching where they will fly to, Sometimes with deep heart and cold eyes they will test me. Falsely they pretend to ravish the withered flowers, to see if the flowers know or not. Do not say that we seed of immortal flowers are without root and life [i.e. reckless]. I watch your coming and then I quickly act as the opportunity arises, Pretending not to know, I go to test you: Deliberately I sway in the wind, as if I had nothing to rely on. The Songs 119 It is hard to control my love for you even though you are away from me. When after a long separation we meet, I cannot bear to leave you and go home. Not one in a thousand lives with his beloved; not one in a thousand is completely devoted. Ah, but this world is tiresome! As fate would have it, there is one person [i.e. his wife] who constrains you, and another person [i.e. the keeper of this house of entertainment ] who constrains me. Although I cannot share your bed in life, at least in death I shall be buried with you. Song 45 Reassure Yourself Reassure yourself. Do not have any doubts, If I found someone congenial, I would dote on him. The region of mist and flowers [i.e. the houses of entertainment] is not the place for lasting love; One day the flowers will wither and then even the butterflies will take advantage of them. The wild butterflies that ravish flowers will be indeed disappointed. They do not ravish fresh flowers, but only go to where the wild flowers are. I do not doubt that if immortal flowers meet immortal butterflies, they will somehow become true lovers. I am intent on watching where they will fly to, Sometimes with deep heart and cold eyes they will test me. Falsely they pretend to ravish the withered flowers, to see if the flowers know or not. Do not say that we seed of immortal flowers are without root and life [i.e. reckless]. I watch your coming and then I quickly act as the opportunity arises, Pretending not to know, I go to test you: Deliberately I sway in the wind, as if I had nothing to rely on. 120 Cantonese Love Songs Ah! We must come to an understanding. I have suffered many frustrations; perhaps with you my melancholy will be lessened; My heart is dying for love of you. Those who are waiting to ravish flowers are standing outside the door. Butterflies! If you want to ravish me, it will not be too late when my bloom is full blown. Song 46 I Am Waiting for You What have you decided? Why are you still doubting? If you cannot redeem me, you should have told me earlier. I know waiting for you, my lord, has made me fall into this region of mist and flowers [i.e. this house of entertainment]; So even if I wanted to follow a man to the bank of safety [i.e. be redeemed from this way of life], what chance have I got now? All I wanted was to talk to you about our joys and sorrows; talk about things past...

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