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76 Cantonese Love Songs The life of the willow leaves, the lotus flower, and the topaz tree [i.e. three symbols of purity]. I do not think that famous flowers [i.e. beautiful women] have any wish to be ravished by vagrant bees.39 I must be patient, Preserve the green hills.40 My flower- [i.e. sin-] debt fully paid, I hope I will still be able to reach the Isles of the BlestY Song 12 (Part 1) Passion Is Killing Me Given my particular character, I reflect on my life, And find I have a question to ask of heaven: Why does my lover drift aimlessly like a tuft of soft down from a willow tree? Why am I, a withered leaf on the water, not made clean and pure? While men seek happiness in the region of wind and moon [i.e. in the seductive arts of women in the houses of entertainment], Why do I, amidst groves of mist and flowers [i.e. in the houses of entertainment ] build for myself a City of Sorrow?42 I am like Siu Ching who, not seeing her former beauty reflected in her portrait,43 Complained to high heaven, asking for its support. Truly no medicine can ever cure lovesickness.44 39 See Songs 35 (Part 6), line 10; 74 (Part 2), line 9. 40 The Chinese phrase: 1¥-?f~~LlJtE Iau dak ching saan joi (preserve the green hills) is only the first part of a longer expression, which is completed by: ;Jj~'I'Byj~'m na pa moot chai siu (and you won't have to worry about having no firewood to burn.) The singer is suggesting that if only she can be patient, perhaps she will find a way out, perhaps her lover ... perhaps another ... 41 During the Chun ( *)dynasty (221-07 Be) it was believed that the Three Isles of the Blest lay in the Eastern Sea, opposite the coast of China. Mayers, # 559,925. 42 See Song 1 (Part 2), line 10. 43 See Song 11 (Part 1), line 7. 44 See Songs 1 (Part 2), line 6; 83, line 8. 76 Cantonese Love Songs The life of the willow leaves, the lotus flower, and the topaz tree [i.e. three symbols of purityl. I do not think that famous flowers [i.e. beautiful women] have any wish to be ravished by vagrant bees.39 I must be patient, Preserve the green hills.40 My flower- [i.e. sin-] debt fully paid, I hope I will still be able to reach the Isles of the Blest,41 Song 12 (Part 1) Passion Is Killing Me Given my particular character, I reflect on my life, And find I have a question to ask of heaven: Why does my lover drift aimlessly like a tuft of soft down from a willow tree? Why am I, a withered leaf on the water, not made clean and pure? While men seek happiness in the region of wind and moon [i.e. in the seductive arts of women in the houses of entertainment], Why do I, amidst groves of mist and flowers [i.e. in the houses of entertainment ] build for myself a City of Sorrow?42 I am like Siu Ching who, not seeing her former beauty reflected in her portrait,43 Complained to high heaven, asking for its support. Truly no medicine can ever cure lovesickness.44 39 See Songs 35 (Part 6), line 10; 74 (Part 2), line 9. 40 The Chinese phrase: 1¥-?f~~L1JtE Iau dak ching saan joi (preserve the green hills) is only the first part of a longer expression, which is completed by: ;Jj~'I'Byj~'m na pa moot chai siu (and you won't have to worry about having no firewood to burn.) The singer is suggesting that if only she can be patient, perhaps she will find a way out, perhaps her lover ... perhaps another ... 41 During the Chun ( *)dynasty (221-07 Be) it was believed that the Three Isles of the Blest lay in the Eastern Sea, opposite the coast of China. Mayers, # 559,925. 42 See Song 1 (Part 2), line 10. 43 See Song 11 (Part 1), line 7. 44 See Songs 1 (Part 2), line 6; 83, line 8. The Songs Can anyone witness to this? I can. I here own up to and confess my sickness. Ah yes, it is senseless passion that will kill me. Song 12 (Part 2) Passion Is Killing...

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