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.

哦，母亲，年轻的王子将从我们门前走过——今天早晨我怎顾得上干活呢？

教我怎样挽发，告诉我应该穿哪件衣裳。

你为什么吃惊地望着我呢，母亲？

我深知他不会抬眼瞥视我的窗户，我知道一瞬间他就要走出我的视线，只有那渐渐消失的笛声将从远处向我呜咽。

但是年轻的王子将从我们门前走过，这一刻我要穿上我最好的衣裳。

哦，母亲，年轻的王子已经从我们门前走过了，朝阳的金光在车辇上闪烁。

我从脸上揭开面纱，我从颈上扯下红玉的项链，扔在他行经的路上。

你为什么吃惊地看着我呢，母亲？

我深知他没有捡起我的项链；我知道它在他的轮下碾碎了，在尘土上留下了红印，并且没有人知道我的礼物是什么，是给谁的。

但是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。