Jeweled hairpins and pearl pendants, waiting for my beloved to return.
Ying Ruan, Ying Ruan, waiting for the one who loves me.
May you live a long life, for my longing cannot be stilled.
Yan Yi, Yan Yi, in the end, one person wins my heart.
May you be blessed with lasting joy, as zithers sound and songs fill the air.
Chun Sheng, Chun Sheng, alas, we are strangers.
The mountain has trees, and the trees have branches.
My heart delights in you, but do you know?
Though you know how I long for you,
what can I do?
Fate brings endless upheaval, and destiny is hard to defy.
All I can do is sigh.
Like flowers in a mirror and the moon reflected in water, it all comes to nothing.
From afar, I see a hibiscus face in my old home.
Her slender, pale hands pluck the pipa.
The strings chatter and ring in a tangled flurry,
like immortal music that briefly clears the ears.
He came to ask for her hand, and she became his bride.
When her hair grew long enough to reach her waist,
she wore a phoenix crown and red bridal robes, with wedding finery stretching ten miles.
Behind the warm wedding curtains, laughter and sweet words flowed.
The painted hall basked in the spring breeze.
The young man’s infatuation came to nothing.
Day after day, she hid her tears, unable to find joy.
Luckily, a good man stopped and stayed,
and she tied her hair with his, sharing a long life together.
Above, to the highest heavens; below, to the Yellow Springs,
from then on, their love never wavered.
All I wish for is this:
to hold your hand and grow old with you,
with children and grandchildren all around, and happy faces year after year.
