Guido Vitale

“ The sun has come out like a red spot ― my teacher rides on a horse and I ride on a dragon ― the teacher riding on the horse goes along the streets ― I riding on the dark dragon cross over to the East of the sea ― at the East of the sea there lives my family ― and in my family they cultivate five fllower-pots ― my first sister likes the red peony ― my second sister likes the tree peony ― my third sister likes the petals of the peach blossom ― my fourth sister likes the large lotus blossoms. ”

“ The autumn has set in, the autumn has set in ― on the fifteenth of the eighth month the moon illumines the high palaces ― crows and other birds are silent and men and houses are resting ― I have seen two watchmen who went round taking the watch-tally ― here, with only one wick in the lamp, I am sorry it is dark 一 but I am afraid to consume too much oil burning two wicks ― I intend buying a candle of mutton-tallow ― but, alas I I have not a single cash in the hands. ”

“ I took every pain to collect the most I could, yet the work could be by far richer than it is. Those who live in freeer intercourse with the people could easily add numerous and fine samples of this uncultivated poetry. I would be extremely pleased if anyone would either furnish to me new materials, or would himself undertake the work of a new collection of rhymes. ”

“ Gilt wood mace ― silvered wood mace ― the husband strikes the castanets and the wife sings ― and they have been singing till broad daylight ― and she has born a child, and there was no place to lay him ― and they have laid him on the kitchen-stove ― where he is sipping the rice gravy. ”

“ The small Five ― and the small Six ― with a piece of white sugar ― and a parcel of beans ― the small Five likes to go high up ― and he climbs up to the tip of the branch of the willow tree ― the tip of the willow branch is weak ― and the small Five tumbles down and hurts himself so that he shows the white of his eyes. ”

“ Ash trees, ash trees — under the ash trees they have raised a stage — everybody's girls are come ― only mine does not come yet ― just while speaking, here she is come ― riding on a donkey ― with an open parasol ― and with her hair combed into a chignon. ”

“ The boy much marked with the small pox ― climbs up a tree ― the dog barks ― and people go to catch him. ― The small-pox marked is so scared that he tumbles. ― With an old rugged cash he buys a cake ― a small pox marked eats ― and a small pox marked looks on ― the small pox marked come to a fight ― and a small-pox marked advises peace ― small pox marked policemen 一 take the bamboo stick 一 and only thrash the legs of the small pox marked boy. ”

“ Somebody will object to my statement that sparkles of true poetry are to be found in this book. That will very naturally happen to all those who are entirely foreign to the chinese world. Several rhymes (however few in proportion to the bulk of the book) [1] are simple and touching and may be "poetry" for those who have even a slight knowledge of chinese joys and sorrows. ”

“ However, after many enquiries I see that people are generally of opinion that this phrase has the meaning of being drowsy, being asleep. 乖兒子 kuai1 eur2 tzŭ, an obedient boy, meaning derived from the above mentioned phrase 乖乖 kuai1 kuai1, "be quiet!" 哄人的精 hung3 jen2 ti ching1, the word hung3 which means commonly to deceive, but its original meaning is to cajole, to flatter, to charm. The word ching1 means essence, semen; the whole phrase could be translated: the essence, the flower of those who charm people. ”

“ The first baldhead gets sick ― the second baldhead is scared ― the third baldhead goes to call a doctor ― the fourth baldhead boils a ginger decoction ― the fifth baldhead bears him (the sick one) on the shoulders ― the sixth baldhead buries him ― the seventh baldhead comes in ― the eight baldead asks "why do you weep "? ― In my family a dear baldhead is dead ― quickly take him away ― quickly bury him ― lest the seeds should spring out of his gourd. ”

“ The white breasted crows, the white breasted crows are passing ― at one time we strike ten of them ― we eat them boiled in gravy ― we eat them boiled ― but they are even better to eat when the skin is taken off them. ”

“ The old lady Chang comes to pour tea ― the tea is fragrant ― the wine is fragrant ― ten camels are loaden with clothes ― they are unable to move on ― and they call the dragon-fly ― the dragon fly-with the mouth full of water ― spurts the young lady's figured ankle-bands ― young lady, young lady do not get cross ― to-morrow or after to-morrow the cart shall arrive ― what cart? ”

“ The boy likenes himself to a small cabbage which gets yellow and dry in the earth, because nobody takes care of it. The comparison is not poetical for us, but in China there is nothing peculiarly vulgar attached to the word cabbage. ”

“ As no water-ways of any kind exist in Peking, a great many of these fellows take the water from the wells into the houses. Their bad pronunciation, and their awkward manners delight extremely the Peking cockneys. ”

“ The Chinese houses have not generally large rooms, therefore in marriage, death, anniversary, and other occasions in which many guests are to be invited, an additional matshed is raised in the court-yard. 大戲 tā-hsī, a play performed in the matshed by hired actors, an amusement much liked by the Chinese, but which only rich people can afford to have in their houses. 接姑娘請女婿 chie1 ku1-niang2 ch'ing3 nü3-hsü4, the grandmother with her family invites on this marriage occasion her married daughters and their husbands. ”

“ Somebody is supposed to ask now from the unfortunate wife about her condition. 棒鍾 pang4 ch'ui2, a beater used in washing clothes; it is generally made of 棗木 tsao3 mu4, date wood. 一落磚 i1 luo4 chuan1, a pile of bricks, that is to say, as many bricks as could form a pile of them. 一溜鞭 i1 liou4 pien1, "a row of whips" rather a strange expression for many whips, lots of whips. ―溜姻 i1 liou4 yen1, as a stream of smoke; the verse is not complete because its whole meaning is: they beat the wife so that she runs away as quickly as a stream of smoke (a cloud of smoke) . ”

“ The Chinese boys generally as far as three years old have their hair shaven; therefore a common nickname for a boy is 禿兒 t'u1'r, meaning a bald-headed. 咧咧咧 lie4-lie4-lie4, is imitative of the sound of weeping. ”

“ This working different from the embroidery is called 扎 cha1. 轄 hsia1, the character ought to be pronounced in the second tone, but here is pronounced in the first because it is only used to represent the Manchu word hiya meaning a body-guard of the sovereign; this word is very often used in Peking instead of the Chinese equivalent 侍衞 shih4-wei4. 阿煞 a4-sha1, two characters which represent the Manchu word asha meaning one's elder brother's wife, and is used in the same complimentary way and in the same meaning as the chinese 嫂子 sao3-tzŭ. ”

“ NOTES
沙土地兒 sha1 t'u3 ti4'r, a sandy plain ground as outside the wall between the Manchu and the Chinese town in Peking. 丈人 chang4-jen, name given to one's wife or bride's father. 大舅兒 ta4-chiou4'r, one's wife's elder brother. 小舅兒 hsiao'3 chiou4'r, one's wife's younger brother. For 他 is here to be understood the bride whom the young man succeeds in spying through the curtain. 銀盤大 臉 yin2 p'an2 ta4 lien3, a big face as white as a silver tray. 月白 yüe4 pai2, "moon white" means a light blue. ”

“ This song although very childish, yet is founded on the fact that chinese mothers-in-law are often unkind and sometimes even cruel to their daughters-in-law. 雙雙人兒 shuang1 shuang1 jen2'r, means a couple of persons, not four persons. 我家媳婦兒 uo3 chia1 hsi2 fu4'r, "the wife in my house" probably these words are meant to be uttered by the mother in law, who may call so her son's daughter. 擀麪 kan3 mien4, to stretch out dough to make vermicelli. 擀麪杖 kan3 mien4 chang4, a roller to stretch dough. 一大片 i1 ta4 p'ien4, a large flat piece (of dough) ; in the text the verb "she stretches out" is wanting. ”

“ Another common form for the last meaning is adverbially formed so, 乖乖兒的 kuai1 kuai1'r ti. 螞虎子 ma1 hu3 tzŭ, a phantastic monstruos creature spoken of and called every time it is thought proper to scare a baby. ”

“ Cinnamomum Cassia) . 官粉 kuan1 fen3, sort of good white cosmetic powder which ladies rub on their cheeks 玉簪花 yü4 tsan1 hua1, Funkia subcordata. 下地 hsia4-ti4, to reach the ground. 羅裙 luo2 ch'ün2, a long petticoat, made with a sort of silk called 羅 luo2. 拖落 t'uo1 lo4, is said of the dresses when they are too long and the skirts sweep the ground. 松花 sung1 hua1, pine-flower. The Chinese use to throw the flowers into the stove to prevent the bad smell of coal. 百合花 pae3-ho2-hua1 read also puo4-ho2-hua1, the lily ( lat. Lilium) . ”

“ NOTES
大嫂 ta4 sao3, general appellation for the eldest brother's wife; married women call each other ta4 sao3 for sake of ceremony. 豆角 tou4 chiao3, bean pods. 撩 liao1, to grasp, to pull, here, "to pull away" 炕蓆 k'ang4 hsi2, the mat wich is spread on the k'ang. ”

“ Jasminum Sambæ) , 芙蓉花 fu1 jung2 hua1, the Hibiscus mutabilis. 繡花 hsiou4 hua1, flowers embroidered by hand. 蘭芝花 lan2 chih1 hua1, and also 蘭花 lan2 hua1, the Cymbidium ensifolium. 綉球花 hsiou4 ch'iu1 hua1, sort of geranium (lat. geranium zonale) . 鬧囔囔 nao4 jang1 jang1, to be noisy, here perhaps to be in confusion, to be meddled together. 秋菊 ch'iu1 chü2, autumn chrysanthemum. 海棠 hai3 t'ang2, pyrus spectabilis, cultivated for its flowers and fruits. ”