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The Songs 157 The east wind blows for only one night, my lover is already a thousand Ip16 away, Clouds at dusk and trees in spring excite my yearning.217 How can my letters reach you across the barriers and mountains? Your passion must be as gold or rock, [i.e. symbols of hardness and strength] - forever unchanging. Do not say that because we are now holding hands our passion will last forever. In a while when our hands are unclasped, you will flout my favours. Remember how at Yeung Gwaan I gave you a willow twig.218 I lost my virginity because of you when I was a very young girl, Ah me! The very word 'passion' ... My lord! You may not think about the present; but the past you must remember. Song 87 The Region of Mist and Flowers Diabolical indeed is the region of mist and flowers [i.e. the houses of entertainment],219 You suffer as many torments as you enjoy sensuous pleasures. Snow, moon, wind and flowers [i.e. the vicissitudes of life] I have seen them all; How many unlimited pleasures can you buy, I ask you. They are transient as mist. You would be very wrong to be infatuated by them. Not all the mountains in the world could ever fill up a bottomless river. If you speak about genuine virtue and genuine passion - who has ever died for you? 216 See Song 22, line 5, note. 217 'Evening clouds and spring trees' ( lJ~~tITj , rno wan chun sue) refers to longing for a dear one's return. 218 See Eighth Preface, line 13, note; Songs 11 (Part 2), line II, note; 63, line 5; 76 (Part 2), line 3. 219 See Songs 35 (Part 2), line 2; 35 (Part 3), line 14; 40, line 13; 6.9. The Songs 157 The east wind blows for only one night, my lover is already a thousand Ip16 away, Clouds at dusk and trees in spring excite my yearning.217 How can my letters reach you across the barriers and mountains? Your passion must be as gold or rock, [i.e. symbols of hardness and strength] - forever unchanging. Do not say that because we are now holding hands our passion will last forever. In a while when our hands are unclasped, you will flout my favours. Remember how at Yeung Gwaan I gave you a willow twig.218 I lost my virginity because of you when I was a very young girl, Ah me! The very word 'passion' ... My lord! You may not think about the present; but the past you must remember. Song 87 The Region of Mist and Flowers Diabolical indeed is the region of mist and flowers [i.e. the houses of entertainment],219 You suffer as many torments as you enjoy sensuous pleasures. Snow, moon, wind and flowers [i.e. the vicissitudes of life] I have seen them all; How many unlimited pleasures can you buy, I ask you. They are transient as mist. You would be very wrong to be infatuated by them. Not all the mountains in the world could ever fill up a bottomless river. If you speak about genuine virtue and genuine passion - who has ever died for you? 216 See Song 22, line 5, note. 217 'Evening clouds and spring trees' ( lJ~~tITj , rno wan chun sue) refers to longing for a dear one's return. 218 See Eighth Preface, line 13, note; Songs 11 (Part 2), line 11, note; 63, line 5; 76 (Part 2), line 3. 219 See Songs 35 (Part 2), line 2; 35 (Part 3), line 14; 40, line 13; 6.9. 158 Cantonese Love Songs I fear that when all savings are spent, no matter how intimate our friendship has been, we will be parted. Flowers and willows [i.e. courtesans] hurt more than one person. You must really think about this: Quench the fire in your heart. Everywhere I warn young men of the world not to become entangled amiss with water creepers.220 Song 88 The Mandarin Drake and Duck221 The mandarin drake and duck are inseparable in this life; It is ever the same, men on the edge of the horizon [i.e. separated from their loved one by a very great distance] become the more disconsolate when they see the mandarin drake and duck, That eat and sleep together and cannot bear to be separated.222 Tell me, how do you expect me to be content? I...

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