Page:Pekinese Rhymes (G. Vitale, 1896).djvu/108

This page needs to be proofread.

— 82 —

to be able to... or better corresponding to the Chinese, "not to be up to... " 忍 心 jen3 hsin1, these words are a reproach to the brother, meaning you who may tolerate in your heart that I suffer so much, meaning that the brother after all his good intentions lets his wife do as she likes.

TRANSLATION

With high-heeled shoes ― and narrow heel- bands ― I walk a hundred li to arrive at my home, ― My elder brother says : Sit on the k'ang4 — my sister-in-law says: the k'ang is not warm ― my elder brother says : bring here a wooden stool ― my sister-in-law says: it cannot be brought round ― my elder brother says : bring here a chair ― my sister-in-law says : the chair has no legs ― my elder brother says : give your younger sister some money ― the sister-in-law says : we would take half a year to pay it back ― my elder brother says: give your gounger sister a little rice ― the sister-in-law says, we could not give it back to the lender ― But I will not eat your rice ― and I will not drink your wine ― I will only see my mother and then go away ― going out of the gate I have met with a big yellow dog ― that has torn my apron ― and has bitten my hand — My patient elder brother, come out and beat the dog!