The Willow Maid

A young man walked through the forest
年轻的小伙走进了森林
with his quiver and hunting bow
带着他的箭袋和长弓
He heard a young girl singing
他听见了年轻姑娘的歌声
and followed the sound below
循着声音找寻着
There he found the maiden
在那里发现了一位少女
who lives in the willow
少女住在一棵柳树上
He called to her as she listened
他向少女打着招呼
from a ring of toadstools red
少女正在蘑菇丛中
'Come with me my maiden
“跟我走吧，少女
come from thy willow bed'
离开你的柳树床上”
She looked at him serenely
她平静地看着他
and only shook her head.
只是不住地摇着她的头说着：
'See me now, a ray of light in the moondance
“看看我吧，我是月色中一束亮光；
See me now, I cannot leave this place
看看我吧，我离不开这个地方；
Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest
听听我吧，我是森林中一串歌声；
Don't ask me, to follow where you lead'
不要叫我跟着你走了”

A young man walked through the forest
年轻的小伙再次走进森林
with a flower and coat of green
带着花朵和绿色的衣裳
His love had hair like fire
他心爱的姑娘有着火一般的头发
her eyes an emerald sheen
她的眼睛如绿宝石一般闪耀
She wrapped herself in beauty
她为自己穿上美丽的衣裳
so young and so serene
那么青春而纯净
He stood there under the willow
他站在那棵柳树下
and he gave her the yellow bloom
将黄色的花朵送给她
girl my heart you've captured
姑娘啊，你已将我的心俘获
oh I would be your groom'
我一定要当你的新郎
She said she'd wed him never
而她却说她绝不能嫁给他
not near, not far, not soon
不论是现在或是将来
'See me now, a ray of light in the moondance
“看看我吧，我是月色中一束亮光；
See me now, I cannot leave this place
看看我吧，我离不开这个地方；
Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest
听听我吧，我是森林中一串歌声；
Don't ask me, to follow where you lead'
不要叫我跟着你走了”

A young man walked through the forest
年轻的小伙又一次来到这里
with an axe sharp as a knife
带着如匕首般锋利的斧头
I'll take the green-eyed fairy
他发誓一定要带走那绿眼睛的仙女
and she shall be my wife
让她嫁给他做妻子
With her I'll raise my children
和她一起生儿育女
with her I'll live my life
和她一起幸福生活
The maiden wept when she heard him
那少女听着他的誓言哭泣着
when he said he'd set her free
他说他会让她获得自由
He took his axe and used it
他举起那把斧头
to bring down her ancient tree
将那古老的柳树砍倒
'Now your willow's fallen
“现在你的柳树已倒
now you belong to me'
从今后你就属于我了”
'See me now, a ray of light in the moondance
少女再次哭述起来：“看看我吧，我是月色中一束亮光；
See me now, I cannot leave this place
看看我吧，我离不开这个地方；
Hear me now, a ray of light in the moondance
听听我吧，我是森林中一串歌声；
Don't ask me, to follow where you lead'
不要叫我跟着你走了”

She followed him out the forest
她跟着他走出森林
and collesped upon the earth
随即晕倒在地上
Her feet had walked but a distance
她的双脚没有踏出几步
from the green land of her birth
一旦离开她的生身之乡
She faded into a flower
她化作森林中一朵花
that would bloom for one bright eve
只能开放一个闪耀的夜晚
He could not take from the forest
小伙子终究无法从那森林里
what was never meant to leave
带走本就不应离开的东西