7

7

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

呵,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?

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

教给我怎样挽发;告诉我应该穿哪件衣裳。

Why do you look at me amazed, mother?

你为什么惊讶地望着我呢,母亲?

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.

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以外;只有那残电的笛声将从远处向我呜咽。

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

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。

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

呵,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。

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

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。

Why do you look at me amazed, mother?

你为什么惊讶地望着我呢,母亲?

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.

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,

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

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。