帕布莉卡摽[1]有梅
摽有梅，
其实七兮。
求我庶[2]士，
迨[3]其吉兮！
摽有梅，
其实三兮，
求我庶士，
迨其今兮！
摽有梅，
顷筐塈[4]之。
求我庶士，
迨其谓之！
梅子纷纷落地，
还有七成在树。
追求我的士子们，
不要误了好日子！
梅子纷纷落地，
还有三成在树。
追求我的士子们，
今天就是好日子！
梅子纷纷落地，
要用筐来收取了。
追求我的士子们，
姑娘就等你开口！
注释：
[1] 摽（biào）：落下。
[2] 庶：众多。
[3] 迨：及时。
[4] 塈（jì）：收取。
An Old Maid[1]
The fruits from mume-tree fall,
One-third of them away.
If you love me at all,
Woo me a lucky day!
The fruits from mume-tree fall,
Two-thirds of them away.
If you love me at all,
Woo me this very day!
The fruits from mume-tree fall,
Now all of them away.
If you love me at all,
You need not woo but say.
[1]According to ancient custom, young people should be married in spring. When mume fruit fell, it was summer and maidens over twenty might get married without courtship.
