In the year of the Snake,

In the month of the Snake,

In the day of the Snake,

In the hour of the Snake,

Serpent Prince went forth to seek his true love,

Silently he made his way to Seventh Sister's home.
 

He looked first upon Eldest Sister,

But in his heart he didn't like her,

Taking a look at Second Sister,

His heart was unfulfilled;

Looking them all over,

At last he spied Seventh Sister,

Little Seventh Sister, wa!

Serpent Price fell in love at first sight,

The more he looked, the more he liked her.
 

After seeing Seventh Sister,

Serpent Prince thought of her day and night,

He went to visit her every third day,

He couldn't live without seeing her.

In the year of the Snake,

In the month of the Snake,

On the day of the Snake,

In the hour of the Snake,

As Serpent Prince sat thinking of Seventh Sister,

His heart nearly burst from his chest,

From that time on he came once a day.

Without her by him he could no longer live.
 

Serpent Prince longed for Seventh Sister;

He went out and told Honeybee,

"Little Bee, Little Bee;

Please give me some help,

I've taken a fancy to seventh Sister,

I'm thinking of making Seventh Sister my wife,

Please come and be our go-between."
 

Honeybee hastily declined:

"Good-hearted Serpent Prince,

I've been bad with words since I was born,

I don't know a thing about finding people wives,

I don't know a thing about being a matchmaker,

You go ask somebody else."
 

Three times Serpent Prince went to Honeybee's home for help,

Three times Serpent Prince pleaded with Honeybee for help,

Yet three times Honeybee declined.

Finally, on one last try,

Honeybee consented to act as go-between.
 

On the day of the Horse,

At midnight Honeybee lit a fire,

At cock-crow ate breakfast,

At daybreak set out.

Gold and silver he carried in bags,

Smoking tabacco he held in his hand,

Gifts of sweets he had girdled about him,

Riding a cool breeze,

Buzz, buzz, buzz

Buzz, buzz, buzz

He flew over the high mountains,

He flew over the great rivers,

He flew over the open fields,

He flew to Seventh Sister's home.
 

He first lit upon the flat mud roof,

Then flew inside the courtyard.

Flying intop the house,

He looked every which way.

He saw the parents weren't at home,

Only the seven sisters,

And Elder Brother on the roof busily working.
 

Little Honeybee sat on a stool,

Opened his mouth and spoke of the love affair:

"Today is the day of the Horse;

It is a good day for making a match;

The Serpent Prince has entrusted me to come and propose love;

You seven sister,

Whichever of you who likes Serpent Prince,

Come quick and take this gold and silver,

Come quick and take this tobacco,

Come quick and take these sweets."
 

Eldest Sister looked at Honeybee,

Opened her mouth and said:

"Well, I don't like him,

I won't take his gold and silver,

I won't take his smoking tabacco,

I won't take his sweets.

Thanks all the same Little Honeybeee."
 

The other five sisters,

With one voice replied:

"None of us likes him,

Take back his gold and silver,

Take back his smoking tobacco,

Take back his sweets,

Thanks all the same Little Honeybee."
 

Hearing the replies of the six elder sisters,

It was now Seventh sister's turn to speak.

Pretty little Seventh Sister, yo!

She spoke so very coyly:

"Good-hearted Little Honeybee, ya!

It's not that I don't like him,

It's not that I am unwilling,

Only Father and Mother aren't at home,

It would be improper if I accepted these gifts."
 

Honeybee happily flew home,

Found Serpent Prince and reported:

"Serpent Prince, Serpent Prince!

The most beautiful flower in the mountains is the horse-cherry blossom!

The finest girl in the world is Seventh Sister!

Seventh Sister has answered your proposal,

But the pity is, her parents weren't at home then,

She said it wasn't right to accept the gifts."
 

As Serpent Prince listened he began to look joyful,

As Serpent Prince listened there was laughter in his heart:

"Honeybee, you fine go-between,

Help me all the way,

Please go there once a day,

Please go there five times in three days!"

Next day, before the moon had set,

Serpent Prince woke up,

Made straight for Seventh Sister's home,

Father and Mother were there at home!
 

Serpent Prince was like a fresh breeze,

Returning home swiftly, he said to Honeybee:

"Good-hearted Honeybee,

While Seventh Sister's parents are still at home,

Please go quickly and propose."
 

Honeybee fluttered his wings and flew off,

Back to Seventh Sister's home,

Before the main hall he bowed three times,

Gold and silver he gave her parents,

Tobacco and sweets he gave her parents,

Dear Father and dear Mother's

Hearts bloomed like flowers.
 

"Gold and silver we accept,

Tobacco we accept,

Gifts of sweets we accept,

The wedding is set!

Thank you so much Little Honeybee,

Please give Serpent Prince this reply,

If seventh Sister is unwilling,

The two of us will set things straight."
 

Good-hearted Little Honeybee, ya!

The proposal properly accepted, he was glad in his heart,

Singing all the way home,

To tell Serpent Prince the good news.

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