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148 Cantonese Love Songs My fate is as frail as a flower, and you do not protect me.' What I regret most is that I have erred in love, and hence have so many love-debts. Why was I not in the beginning given a heart of stone? See the wife changed into a block of stone, forever watching her husband depart.192 I must reconsider it. You can shatter my soul and break my spirit, if you like. It is ever the same: those who are passionate must pay the debt [i.e. must suffer]. Song 76 (Part 1) The Passionate Willow The passionate willow I give as a present to my fickle lover. My lover! Is not 'parting' pitiable? With all my heart I hope you will never reject me; May we both preserve our love as wide as the ocean, as high as the mountains. How could I think that I was not destined for you? How could I think I would be abruptly parted from you? Now mists and water, clouds and mountains obstruct the path [i.e. that would bring us together]. As a young girl could I ever have known that parting would be so bitter? Woe is me; I am truly frustrated. Now, I rely on the willow to tell the story of my feelings; Therefore, although it is so far to this parting-stage, I am not afraid of the trouble. 192 It is said that on the North Mountain ( :ltw ) in the Mo Cheung ( Jt\~ )district of Hupeh (1Mit ) there is a rock called 'Mong Foo Sek' CfJl7i2.E), which looks exactly like a woman standing upright. Legend has it that a wife whose husband was sent by the government on an extremely dangerous mission accompanied him to the North Mountain where she stood and watched his departure so intently that she was transformed into stone; thus giving the rock its name, which literally means: 'gazing into the distance-husband-rock'. 148 Cantonese Love Songs My fate is as frail as a flower, and you do not protect me.' What I regret most is that I have erred in love, and hence have so many love-debts. Why was I not in the beginning given a heart of stone? See the wife changed into a block of stone, forever watching her husband depart.192 I must reconsider it. You can shatter my soul and break my spirit, if you like. It is ever the same: those who are passionate must pay the debt [i.e. must suffer]. Song 76 (Part 1) The Passionate Willow The passionate willow I give as a present to my fickle lover. My lover! Is not 'parting' pitiable? With all my heart I hope you will never reject me; May we both preserve our love as wide as the ocean, as high as the mountains. How could I think that I was not destined for you? How could I think I would be abruptly parted from you? Now mists and water, clouds and mountains obstruct the path [i.e. that would bring us together]. As a young girl could I ever have known that parting would be so bitter? Woe is me; I am truly frustrated. Now, I rely on the willow to tell the story of my feelings; Therefore, although it is so far to this parting-stage, I am not afraid of the trouble. 192 It is said that on the North Mountain ( :ltw ) in the Mo Cheung ( Jt\~ )district of Hupeh (1Mit ) there is a rock called 'Mong Foo Sek' (f1l~E), which looks exactly like a woman standing upright. Legend has it that a wife whose husband was sent by the government on an extremely dangerous mission accompanied him to the North Mountain where she stood and watched his departure so intently that she was transformed into stone; thus giving the rock its name, which literally means: 'gazing into the distance-husband-rock'. The Songs 149 Song 76 (Part 2) The Passionate Willow Both eyes of the passionate willow are weeping.193 o willow tree! When you see others you are happy; why is it when you see me you are sad? You grow at Pa Bridge19 4, therefore I know you are paying a sin-debt; You speed people on their way home; but filled with loneliness you watch the mandarin drake and duck sleeping on the waters.l95 o willow! You find it hard to support your delicate frame, just like...

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