Here is another aria from my Chinese opera, The Willows
by the Western Gate.
Our hero Wan has gone to a remote monastery to study for his
forthcoming
exams. There he falls madly in love with a girl named Meilan
who
lives close by. But she will have nothing to do with him.
In agony he cries his heart out to the old monk, Yang.
But when
Yang tries to comfort him, he accuses the monk of not being able
to
understand since he has never been in love. Here
is Yang's answer.
For the entire libretto click the Chinese flowers below.
If I Have Ever Loved
You ask me if I have ever loved.
Oh, Wan, oh, Wan,
If a man has lived
And has not loved
He has not lived at all.
You ask me if I have ever loved,
And as you speak,
I think of her.
And every time
One speaks of love,
I see her smile and hear her sigh.
My hand goes out
To touch what I have loved,
But she is not there,
She is not there!
You ask me if I have ever loved,
And I feel pain
Deep within my breast,
And I feel tears
Invade my eyes.
Oh, yes, oh, Wan,
I have loved.
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