An allusion to the story of Su Wu. Letters anxiously awaited are often spoken of as "wild-goose" letters.
[SAYING GOOD-BYE TO A FRIEND WHO IS GOING TO THE PLUM-FLOWER LAKE]
Note 123.
I bid you good-bye, my friend, as you are going on an excursion to the Plum-Flower Lake.
This lake lies about seven miles Southwest of Nanking. The legend is that, many years ago, a raft loaded with flowering plum-trees sank in it, and ever since, during the plum-blossom season, the lake is covered with plum-trees in bloom.
Note 124
Nevertheless you must not omit the wild-goose letter.
(See Notes 121 and 122.)
Note 125.
Or else our knowledge of each other will be as the dust of Hu to the dust of Yüeh.