Page:Pekinese Rhymes (G. Vitale, 1896).djvu/42

 name is "pill which opens (lightens) the breast and makes the respiration easy. The mothers liken their babies to that pill, and really every mother holding her child in her arms must feel happy and free from every sorrow.

TRANSLATION. This one great son of mine! ― one son of mine! a precious little thing! ― a pill who lightens the heart and makes people happy!

X

NOTES

These words are repeated by mothers near the cradles of their sons to get them asleep. The phrase 把卜了 pa$4$ pu$3$ la, is rather difficult to explain, because the Chinese themselves cannot give it a meaning. However, after many enquiries I see that people are generally of opinion that this phrase has the meaning of being drowsy, being