Master Ouyang (Ouyang Xiu) wrote a song lyric to the tune “Butterfly Loves Flowers” with the line “Deep, the deep courtyard, how deep is it?” which I’m most fond of.1 I have borrowed his line to write several “Deep, the deep courtyard” songs. In fact, the tune he used is the one formerly known as “Immortal by the River.”
Deep, the deep courtyard, how deep is it? Cloudy windows and misty halls are forever locked. Willow tips and plum buds can gradually be seen. Spring returns to the trees of Moling, this person is a sojourner at Jiankang city. Moved by the moon, chanting in the wind, so much has happened! Today I’m old and have accomplished nothing. 8 Haggard and declining, yet who shows concern? Lighting the lanterns holds no interest for me, and I’ve no enthusiasm for treading on the snow.
3.19
歐陽公作《蝶戀花》有「庭院深深深幾許」之句，予酷愛
之，用其語作「庭院深深」數闕。其聲蓋即舊《臨江仙》
也。
庭院深深深幾許
雲窗霧閣常扃。
柳梢梅萼漸分明。
春歸秣陵樹 人客建康城。
感月吟風多少事
如今老去無成。 誰憐憔悴更彫零。
試燈無意思
踏雪沒心情。
To the tune “Immortal by the River”
Master Ouyang (Ouyang Xiu) wrote a song lyric to the tune “Butterfly Loves Flowers” with the line “Deep, the deep courtyard, how deep is it?” which I’m most fond of.1 I have borrowed his line to write several “Deep, the deep courtyard” songs. In fact, the tune he used is the one formerly known as “Immortal by the River.”
Deep, the deep courtyard, how deep is it? Cloudy windows and misty halls are forever locked. Willow tips and plum buds can gradually be seen.
Spring returns to the trees of Moling, this person is a sojourner at Jiankang city.
Moved by the moon, chanting in the wind, so much has happened!
Today I’m old and have accomplished nothing. 8 Haggard and declining, yet who shows concern?
Lighting the lanterns holds no interest for me, and I’ve no enthusiasm for treading on the snow.