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128 Cantonese Love Songs But even a butterfly can hardly break free from their spell. After all, love has no tree; a spring dream has no substance.141 Song 55 The Love Knot No matter what you do you cannot untie the love-knot: From a former life I am tied to my sin and sorrow. At first, and for a long time, I was afraid he would not love me; Today his love is very deep but I fear it will be the womb of many sorrows. Now he hates; now he loves. Now he loves; now he hates; Love and hate, inconstant both. I feel in a daze. I am like a ship on the high seas, driven to the centre of the ocean, Unable to reach land on either side. How can I be united with him? Ah! Patience is what I need, for Frustration will turn to happiness. See how happy the immortals are. But it is not certain they can, in an instant, reach the Isles of the Blest.142 Song 56 (Part 1) The Tears of Parting Do not weep when you say 'farewell' to your lover. Even before I speak of the sorrows of parting, I can hardly control myself. Everyone knows the difficulties of travelling, and how prudent you have to be. Two days before he leaves, I will say my farewell words to him on the pillow, enjoining him earnestly ... 141 The author of these Songs is well aware he is using a type of pathetic fallacy throughout. (See Song 35 (Part 5), line 3, note.) 142 See Song 11 (Part 5), line 12. 128 Cantonese Love Songs But even a butterfly can hardly break free from their spell. After all, love has no tree; a spring dream has no substance.141 Song 55 The Love Knot No matter what you do you cannot untie the love-knot: From a former life I am tied to my sin and sorrow. At first, and for a long time, I was afraid he would not love me; Today his love is very deep but I fear it will be the womb of many sorrows. Now he hates; now he loves. Now he loves; now he hates; Love and hate, inconstant both. I feel in a daze. I am like a ship on the high seas, driven to the centre of the ocean, Unable to reach land on either side. How can I be united with him? Ah! Patience is what I need, for Frustration will turn to happiness. See how happy the immortals are. But it is not certain they can, in an instant, reach the Isles of the Blest.142 Song 56 (Part 1) The Tears of Parting Do not weep when you say 'farewell' to your lover. Even before I speak of the sorrows of parting, I can hardly control myself. Everyone knows the difficulties of travelling, and how prudent you have to be. Two days before he leaves, I will say my farewell words to him on the pillow, enjoining him earnestly ... 141 The author of these Songs is well aware he is using a type of pathetic fallacy throughout. (See Song 35 (Part 5), line 3, note.) 142 See Song 11 (Part 5), line 12. The Songs 129 Because if at the actual moment of departing I spoke of such matters it would make him feel angry. I will force myself to smile so that he may go happily go on his way; But after he has departed I will want to weep and weep, and perhaps my tears will drown my sorrow; I will sob till I am almost choking; and I will look for him in my dreams. If in my dreams I see my lover, I will try to console him; I will ask him a lot of questions about his journey. At the beginning it were best not to talk about unhappy things. Song 56 (Part 2) The Tears of Parting No matter what I do I cannot dry my 'farewell' tears. o tears! Lovers have their affection for each other; you do not have to bother about them. Love thoughts fill my heart. Can I trust anyone to tell them to? Even if I unburdened myself completely to others, none will be griefstricken on my behalf.143 The horse and carriage will be here in a moment. Then we must part. He to the north. I to the south. If only the sparse forest...

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