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，母親，年輕的王子將從我們門前走過——今天早晨我怎顧得上干活呢？

教我怎樣挽發(fā)，告訴我應(yīng)該穿哪件衣裳。

你為什么吃驚地望著我呢，母親？

我深知他不會(huì)抬眼瞥視我的窗戶，我知道一瞬間他就要走出我的視線，只有那漸漸消失的笛聲將從遠(yuǎn)處向我嗚咽。

但是年輕的王子將從我們門前走過，這一刻我要穿上我最好的衣裳。

哦，母親，年輕的王子已經(jīng)從我們門前走過了，朝陽(yáng)的金光在車輦上閃爍。

我從臉上揭開面紗，我從頸上扯下紅玉的項(xiàng)鏈，扔在他行經(jīng)的路上。

你為什么吃驚地看著我呢，母親？

我深知他沒有撿起我的項(xiàng)鏈；我知道它在他的輪下碾碎了，在塵土上留下了紅印，并且沒有人知道我的禮物是什么，是給誰的。

但是年輕的王子曾經(jīng)從我們門前走過，我也曾經(jīng)把我胸前的珍寶丟在他走來的路上了。