18


When the two sisters go to fetch water, they come to this spot
  and they smile.
They must be aware of somebody who stands behind the trees
  whenever they go to fetch water.

The two sisters whisper to each other when they pass this spot.
They must have guessed the secret of that somebody who stands
  behind the trees whenever they go to fetch water.

Their pitchers lurch suddenly, and water spills when they reach
  this spot.
They must have found out that somebody's heart is beating who
  stands behind the trees whenever they go to fetch water.

The two sisters glance at each other when they come to this spot,
  and they smile.
There is a laughter in their swift-stepping feet, which makes
  confusion in somebody's mind who stands behind the trees
  whenever they go to fetch water.

19


You walked by the riverside path with the full pitcher upon your
  hip.
Why did you swiftly turn your face and peep at me through your
  fluttering veil?
That gleaming look from the dark came upon me like a breeze that
  sends a shiver through the rippling water and sweeps away to
  the shadowy shore.
It came to me like the bird of the evening that hurriedly flies
  across the lampless room from the one open window to the other,
  and disappears in the night.
You are hidden as a star behind the hills, and I am a passer-by
  upon the road.
But why did you stop for a moment and glance at my face through
  your veil while you walked by the riverside path with the full
  pitcher upon your hip?

20


Day after day he comes and goes away.
Go, and give him a flower from my hair, my friend.
If he asks who was it that sent it, I entreat you do not tell him
  my name--for he only comes and goes away.

He sits on the dust under the tree.
Spread there a seat with flowers and leaves, my friend.
His eyes are sad, and they bring sadness to my heart.
He does not speak what he has in mind; he only comes and goes
  away.

21


Why did he choose to come to my door, the wandering youth, when
  the day dawned?
As I come in and out I pass by him every time, and my eyes are
  caught by his face.
I know not if I should speak to him or keep silent.  Why did he
  choose to come to my door?

The cloudy nights in July are dark; the sky is soft blue in the
  autumn; the spring days are restless with the south wind.
He weaves his songs with fresh tunes every time.
I turn from my work and my eyes fill with the mist.  Why did he
  choose to come to my door?

22


When she passed by me with quick steps, the end of her skirt
  touched me.
From the unknown island of a heart came a sudden warm breath of
  spring.
A flutter of a flitting touch brushed me and vanished in a
  moment, like a torn flower petal blown in the breeze.
It fell upon my heart like a sigh of her body and whisper of her
  heart.

23


Why do you sit there and jingle your bracelets in mere idle
  sport?
Fill your pitcher.  It is time for you to come home.

Why do you stir the water with your hands and fitfully glance at
  the road for some one in mere idle sport?
Fill your pitcher and come home.

The morning hours pass by--the dark waters flows on.
The waves are laughing and whispering to each other in mere idle
  sport.

The wandering clouds have gathered at the edge of the sky on
  yonder rise of the land.
They linger and look at your face and smile in mere idle sport.
Fill your pitcher and come home.

24


Do not keep to yourself the secret of your heart, my friend!
Say it to me, only to me, in secret.
You who smile so gently, softly whisper, my heart will hear it,
  not my ears.

The night is deep, the house is silent, the birds' nests are
  shrouded with sleep.
Speak to me through hesitating tears, through faltering smiles,
  through sweet shame and pain, the secret of your heart!

25


"Come to us, youth, tell us truly why there is madness in your
  eyes?"
"I know not what wine of wild poppy I have drunk, that there is
  this madness in my eyes."
"Ah, shame!"
"Well, some are wise and some foolish, some are watchful and some
  careless.  There are eyes that smile and eyes that weep--and
  madness is in my eyes."

"Youth, why do you stand so still under the shadow of the tree?"
"My feet are languid with the burden of my heart, and I stand
  still in the shadow."
"Ah, shame!"
"Well, some march on their way and some linger, some are free and
  some are fettered--and my feet are languid with the burden of
  my heart."

26


"What comes from your willing hands I take.  I beg for nothing
  more."
"Yes, yes, I know you, modest mendicant, you ask for all that one
  has."

"If there be a stray flower for me I will wear it in my heart."
"But if there be thorns?"
"I will endure them."
"Yes, yes, I know you, modest mendicant, you ask for all that one
  has."

"If but once you should raise your loving eyes to my face it
  would make my life sweet beyond death."
"But if there by only cruel glances?"
"I will keep them piercing my heart."
"Yes, yes, I know you, modest mendicant, you ask for all that one
  has."

27


"Trust love even if it brings sorrow.  Do not close up your
  heart."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
  them."

"The heart is only for giving away with a tear and a song, my
  love."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
  them."

"Pleasure is frail like a dewdrop, while it laughs it dies.  But
  sorrow is strong and abiding.  Let sorrowful love wake in your
  eyes."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
  them."


"The lotus blooms in the sight of the sun, and loses all that it
  has.  It would not remain in bud in the eternal winter mist."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
  them."