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.
啊,母親,年輕的王子要從我們門前走過——
今天早晨我哪有心思干活呢?
教給我怎樣綰發(fā);
告訴我應該穿哪件衣裳。
你為什么驚訝地望著我呢,母親?
我深知他不會仰視我的窗戶;
我知道一剎那間他就要走出我的視線;
只有那殘曳的笛聲將從遠處向我嗚咽。
但是那年輕的王子將從我們門前走過,
這時節(jié)我要穿上我最好的衣裳。
啊,母親,年輕的王子已經(jīng)從我們門前走過了,
從他的車輦里射出朝日的金光。
我從臉上掠開面紗,我從頸上扯下紅玉的頸環(huán),
扔在他走來的路上。
你為什么驚訝地望著我呢,母親?
我深知他沒有拾起我的頸環(huán);
我知道它在他的輪下碾碎了,
在塵土上留下了紅斑,
沒有人曉得我的禮物是什么樣子,
也不知道是誰給的。
但是那年輕的王子曾經(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。