by Chang Wên Tcao (flourished 18th century)
Translation by Herbert Allen Giles (1845 - 1935)

Advice to girls
Language: English  after the Chinese (中文) 
Trust not spring clouds, trust not to flowers : 
The butterfly is caught; 
Oh snatch no passing joy in hours 
Of pleasure wrongly sought! 

A mien severe and eyes that freeze 
Become the future bride. 
No whispering underneath the trees 
Ere yet the knot be tied. 

'Tis heaven on earth when woman wed 
Leans on her husband's arm; 
Beauty, like flowers, is quickly shed: 
Oh, envy not its charm!

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2023-01-29
Line count: 12
Word count: 68