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130 Cantonese Love Songs My lord! If only you could come back to me as easily as the tears come back to my eyes, I would not be broken-hearted. Even though today the time has not yet come to part, I am already looking forward to your return. When I envisage myself all alone, how can I not be broken-hearted? I want to dry my tears and be happy for a while talking to you about so many things You spurn me, and my tears flow endlessly like the River Seung with its nine turnings.144 Were my tears able to carry you along like the waters of the river, Then wherever the waters carried you to, my tears would be with you. My lord, you can see that my heart, like the river, flows in one single direction. You must remember how we two on our pillows wept till dawn; With you I wept until I had no more tears to weep; and you shared my pain; But even though you shared your tears with me, I felt so miserable. Ah me, how dejected I am! When the parting is over, can I easily set my heart at rest? If only you longed for me as desperately as I long for you, your heart could never alter its course. Song 57 Unfeeling Words Words spoken without feeling may warn my lord, but will never make him turn back. At the moment he is on the edge of the horizon, ten-thousand Ii away.145 At my dressing-table I see my spring [i.e. the prime of her life] fading. Who will regard me with tenderness? Spring has passed and no flower is found in the guest house. Willow-blossoms at the roadside [i.e. courtesans] stir up men's hearts to pity and to hate, they say. 144 See Song 16, line l. 145 See Song 22, line 5, note. 130 Cantonese Love Songs My lord! If only you could come back to me as easily as the tears come back to my eyes, I would not be broken-hearted. Even though today the time has not yet come to part, I am already looking forward to your return. When I envisage myself all alone, how can I not be broken-hearted? I want to dry my tears and be happy for a while talking to you about so many things You spurn me, and my tears flow endlessly like the River Seung with its nine turnings.144 Were my tears able to carry you along like the waters of the river, Then wherever the waters carried you to, my tears would be with you. My lord, you can see that my heart, like the river, flows in one single direction. You must remember how we two on our pillows wept till dawn; With you I wept until I had no more tears to weep; and you shared my pain; But even though you shared your tears with me, I felt so miserable. Ah me, how dejected I am! When the parting is over, can I easily set my heart at rest? If only you longed for me as desperately as I long for you, your heart could never alter its course. Song 57 Unfeeling Words Words spoken without feeling may warn my lord, but will never make him turn back. At the moment he is on the edge of the horizon, ten-thousand Ii away.145 At my dressing-table I see my spring [i.e. the prime of her life] fading. Who will regard me with tenderness? Spring has passed and no flower is found in the guest house. Willow-blossoms at the roadside [i.e. courtesans] stir up men's hearts to pity and to hate, they say. 144 See Song 16, line 1. 145 See Song 22, line 5, note. The Songs 131 My lord, do not go to the fisherman to ask where the Mo Ling ford is [i.e. the entrance to the Chinese Utopial.146 While mist and flowers [i.e. the life of a courtesanl are transient and of no account, You should be happy with your lot, And remember that both your parents are always thinking of you, and hoping that you will keep strong and healthy. Song 58 Unfeeling Eyes Unfeeling eyes will not be mine as I speed my lord's carriage on its way. My tear-drops fall like rain; reluctantly I lean against...

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