7

O MOTHER, the young Prince is to pass by our door, —how can I attend to my work this morning?

Show me how to braid up my hair; tell me what garment to put on.

Why do you look at me amazed, mother?

I know well he will not glance up once at my window; I know he will pass out of my sight in the twinkling of an eye; only the vanishing strain of the flute will come sobbing to me from afar.

But the young Prince will pass by our door, and I will put on my best for the moment.

O mother, the young Prince did pass by our door, and the morning sun flashed from his chariot.

I swept aside the veil from my face, I tore the ruby chain from my neck and flung it in his path.

Why do you look at me amazed, mother?

I know well he did not pick up my chain; I know it was crushed under his wheels leaving a red stain upon the dust, and no one knows what my gift was nor to whom.

But the young Prince did pass by our door, and I flung the jewel from my breast before his path.

7

啊，母亲，年轻的王子要从我们门前走过——

今天早晨我哪有心思干活呢？

教给我怎样绾发；

告诉我应该穿哪件衣裳。

你为什么惊讶地望着我呢，母亲？

我深知他不会仰视我的窗户；

我知道一刹那间他就要走出我的视线；

只有那残曳的笛声将从远处向我呜咽。

但是那年轻的王子将从我们门前走过，

这时节我要穿上我最好的衣裳。

啊，母亲，年轻的王子已经从我们门前走过了，

从他的车辇里射出朝日的金光。

我从脸上掠开面纱，我从颈上扯下红玉的颈环，

扔在他走来的路上。

你为什么惊讶地望着我呢，母亲？

我深知他没有拾起我的颈环；

我知道它在他的轮下碾碎了，

在尘土上留下了红斑，

没有人晓得我的礼物是什么样子，

也不知道是谁给的。

但是那年轻的王子曾经从我们门前走过，

我也曾经把我胸前的珍宝丢在他走来的路上了。