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The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears QUOTES

The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears QUOTES

1 " No remedy but love Can make the lovesick well; Only the hand that tied the knot Can loose the tiger’s bell. "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

2 " A chorus of Golden Pages and Jade Maidens came onto the stage, fairy streamers fluttering and flags aloft, to reveal in their midst a gorgeously attired lady, her head draped in black, her costume shimmering with "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

3 " Next on the programme was ‘A wife Eats Husks’, from ‘The Story of the Lute’, followed by ‘Bodhidharma and his Disciple Crossing the River’, from ‘The Pilgrim’s Path’. "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

4 " The mighty sturgeon has his pool; The stork upon the dam makes his habitation. Fish in scaly armour, Birds in serried plumes, find protection. In my distress I question that inscrutable expanse: O bowels of earth! O boundless sky! Will ye not hearken to my cry?

Above, the twinkling Milky Way; The air cold, Slanting moonlight, The water-clock sunk past midnight. My restless heart grieves still; "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

5 " She walked indoors, and staring once more at her orchids, thought to herself: ‘Flowers have their spring-time, a time for fresh blossoms and young leaves. I am young, but frail as the willow that dreads the first breath of autumn… If all turns out for the best, I may grow stronger yet. But if not, my fate will be like that of the fallen petals at spring’s end, driven by the rain and tossed in the wind… "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

6 " There was a peal of laughter from the girls. Then, before anyone could say a word, the line was seen to move a fraction. A bite at last! The sage yanked in for all he was worth. The rod crashed into a protruding rock and broke clean in two. "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

7 " There was a peal of laughter from the girls. Then, before anyone could say a word, the line was seen to move a fraction. A bite at last! The sage yanked in for all he was worth. The rod crashed into a protruding rock and broke clean in two. The "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

8 " Snowgoose exclaimed: ‘Thank goodness she’s better anyway! We must never mention it again! Even if Bao-yu were to marry another lady and I witnessed the wedding with my own eyes, I swear I wouldn’t breathe a word of it to anyone. "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears

9 " Gone are the days
When the sun would find me
Still in bed at noon,
Days of thoughtless pleasure
And delight.
Last night
I chanced to see
The Goddess of the Moon,
And glimpsed the brightness
of Zen's unfettered light. "

― Cao Xueqin , The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Vol. 4: The Debt of Tears