Vain Longing
Cáo Xuěqín
One is an immortal flower of fairy land
The other fair flawless jade
And were it not predestined
Why should they meet again in this existence?
Yet if predestined, predestined
Why does their love come to nothing?
One sighs to no purpose
Why does their love come to nothing?
The other yearns in vain
One is the moon reflected in the water
Thе other but a flower in the mirror
How many tеars fall from her eyes
Can they flow from autumn to winter
How many tears fall from her eyes
Can they flow from spring to summer
Autumn to winter, spring to summer
Autumn to winter, spring to summer
Why does their love come to nothing?
One sighs to no purpose
Why does their love come to nothing?
The other yearns in vain
In vain