One year turned into two,

Two years turned into three,

Right up to the year of the Snake,

Right up to the month of the Snake,

Right up to the day of the Snake;

At the first cockcrow they rose from bed,

As the leaves unfurled they ate breakfast,

They had to return home to see Father and Mother,

They had to return home to see Elder Brother. 
 

Golden Brother and Silver Sister changed their clothes,

There were three new sets of clothes for each,

They put on the best looking set.

See! They were going to visit Grandpa and Grandma,

Look! They were going to see Mamma's brother!
 

Seventh Sister changed her clothes,

She had three chests full of new garments,

She picked out the best looking set.

Her jacket was edged in lace,

With red lace in three bands;

Silver bells were sewn on the corners,

Bells of the brightest silver, nine in all,

Jingling as she walked.

Trouser hems laced,

Green lace edged in three bands;

One more strand tied round her waist,

On which were worked three pairs of butterflies,

Dappled butterflies fluttering back and forth,

Setting her off so pretty and neat.

The tips of her shoes worked with three sprays of flowers,

The heels worked with three rows of flowers.
 

Look at all of Seventh Sister's finery!

In her hair she stuck golden flowers,

Golden flowers shining brightly;

In her ears she wore silver rings,

Silver rings glittering brightly;

On her arms she had gold bands,

Gold bands brightly shimmering;

On her wrists she wore silver bracelets,

Silver bracelets brightly shining.
 

Gold and silver packed in three bundles,

Grains packed in three bundles,

Silk and satin packed in three bundles,

Happily, happily setting out for her parents' home.
 

Serpent Prince carrying Golden Brother on his back,

Seventh Sister carrying Silver Sister on her back,

Driving nine horses,

The four of them took to the road, la!

Crossing great mountains,

Passing through vast forests,

Fording great rivers,

They finally arrived at Father and Mother's home.
 

Tethering the horses to trees,

They unloaded the bundles just outside the doorway,

Holding Golden Brother and Silver Sister in their arms,

They joyfully strode inside.
 

Entering the main hall,

Husband and wife together bowed,

In unison crying out, "Father!  Mother!"

In unison crying out, "Elder Brother!"

Ah Ba and Ah Ma spoke:

"Hurry and set our grandson down,

Hurry and set our granddaughter down,

The two of you hurry and sit down, too."
 

The three bundles of gold and silver they carried in,

The three bundles of foodstuffs they carried in,

The three bundles of silk and satin they carried in,

Setting them in the main hall.

Father and Mother were smiling all over,

Elder Brother was smiling all over.
 

Father and Mother offered their praise:

"Our house has seven daughters,

You are the first to come see Father and Mother,

Your hearts are so kind."
 

Elder Brother offered his praise:

"Our family has seven sisters,

You are the first to come visit Elder Brother,

Your hearts are so fine."
 

Father and mother smiled and said:

"We've never heard of such a capable son-in-law,

We've never heard of such an intelligent grandson,

We've never heard of such a clever granddaughter."
 

Elder Brother smiled and said:

"I've never had such a capable brother-in-law,

I've never had such a bright nephew,

I've never had such a good-looking niece."
 

Father and Mother then added:

"Of our family's seven sisters,

You are the only one

Who has come to see us;

As for the other six,

None have shown their faces."
 

Elder Brother then added:

"Seventh Sister, you've come!

Father and Mother's hearts are glad,

Elder Brother 's heart is joyful,

All of you come sit with Father and Mother."
 

A magnificent feast was held in honor of the son-in-law,

And to warmly receive Seventh Sister;

They slaughtered three hefty cattle,

They butchered three plump sheep,

They slaughtered three fat hogs,

They butchered three capons.

Corn whisky was warmed in nine jugs,

White rice was cooked in nine steamers.
 

In the main hall a great feasting table was set,

Around it the whole family sat,

Eating twelve different dishes,

Drinking twelve different drinks.
 

The rice was all laid out,

The dishes all set down.

The wine already poured;

No sooner had everyone taken up their chopsticks,

No sooner had everyone held up their bowls,

Than Eldest Sister rushed in.
 

Eldest Sister led the way.

With Marten on her heels.

Wearing a bark hat on his head,

And a suit of clothing made of leaves.

The space between his fingers was as wide as chopsticks,

The space between his toes wider still.
 

They came before Father and Mother,

But Gather and Mother didn't know them;

They stood before Elder Brother,

But Elder Brother didn't recognize them.
 

Marten and Eldest Sister,

The pair of them kneeling on the ground,

Crying out "Father! Mother!"

Crying out "Elder Brother!"
 

Father and Mother looked at Eldest Sister,

Her skin was pockmarked like a sieve.

"Who is this girl before us,

Are you really our eldest daughter?

You went off to be married several years ago,

How could you turn out like this?

We've heard not a word from you,

We've seen you not a once.

Today you come back to us,

Father and Mother are at least happy for that."
 

Marten and Eldest Sister,

Presented Father and Mother with a pair of tree saplings,

Presented Father and Mother with two chunks of tree bark,

Presented Elder Brother with a bundle of leaves.
 

When Eldest Sister saw all the gold and silver,

Her eyes dazzled;

As Eldest Sister saw all the silks,

A crooked smile appeared on her face.
 

Seventh Sister's finery

Filled the house with brilliant light.

"Hay, little Seventh Sister,

Give your Eldest Sister a look."
 

Seventh Sister held out her hand,

Eldest Sister admired her jewelry.

She slipped off the golden rings,

Slipped off the silver bracelets.
 

When Elder Brother went to close the door,

Outside he heard voices calling

He opened the two leaves of the door,

And Second Sister dashed in.
 

Second Sister led the way,

With Monkey on her heels.

Second Sister was nice and plump,

Monkey just skin and bones.

They were holding two bunches of bitter buckwheat,

Which they gave Father and Mother to make cakes.
 

When Elder Brother went to close the door,

Outside people were calling.

As he opened the door for a look,

He saw Third and Fourth Sisters had also come.
 

Third and Fourth Sisters led the way,

Rabbit and Pheasant on their heels.

Rabbit carrying green grass,

Pheasant bringing fresh peas.
 

As Third and Fourth Sisters entered,

Fifth and Sixth Sisters came.

Fifth and Sixth sisters led the way,

Panther and Tiger on their heels.

Panther carrying a yellow weasel,

Tiger bringing a fox.
 

Panther and Tiger scurried through the door,

Causing the whole family to flee in all directions;

Father and Mother hid inside the house,

Elder Brother hid on the roof,

Marten climbed a tree,

Monkey jumped up on a wall;

Pheasant flew up to the sky,

Rabbit wormed his way into a grass hut.

The several sisters frantically

Hid under the horsepacks.
 

Tiger and Panther sat at the table,

Gobbling and slurping down the food;

Smashing the whole set of dishes,

Snapping the eight pairs of chopsticks to bits,

Turning over the great table,

Finally they took to the hills, their tails bouncing behind them.
 

Serpent Prince put Golden Brother on his back.

Seventh Sister put Silver Sister on her back,

And returned to the main hall;

Tiger and Panther weren't to be seen!

Serpent Prince closed the front door,

Seventh Sister closed the back door,

The calamity had passed!

But Father and Mother weren't to be seen!

Elder Brother wasn't to be seen!

The elder sisters weren't to be seen!
 

Serpent Prince called for Father and Mother,

Serpent Prince called for Elder Brother,

Seventh Sister yelled for her elder sisters.

Father and Mother walked out from their hiding place,

Elder Brother leaped down off the flat mud roof.

The elder sisters made their way out from under the horsepacks.
 

Elder Brother was busy for some time,

Serving the rice and dishes again,

Big bowls were again loaded with meat,

Earthen pots were again filled with soup.

They ate eighteen different dishes,

They drank twelve different dranks,

The whole family once again around the table,

With hearts at ease they feasted!
 

The sun set and the moon rose,

One day passed into the next.

The elder sisters and their husbands departed,

Seventh Sister and Serpent Prince

Had to leave at last.
 

Father and Mother pleaded:

"Dear Son-in-law,

Dear Daughter,

Stay three more days!" 

Seventh Sister and Serpent Prince,

Spoke as one:

"Our crops need tending,

The cattle and sheep in our pens need grazing,

Three days more we cannot spare."
 

Seventh Sister and Serpent Prince,

At midnight arose,

At cockcrow ate breakfast,

Father and Mother accompanied them.

In a year there are seven hundred and twenty meals,

But a reunion dinner only once!

The more they ate the more delicious it tasted;

They were full, yet they ate three bowls more.

The more wine they drank, the sweeter it tasted;

They were drunk, yet they drank three cups more.
 

Golden Brother took three eggs,

Silver Sister took three eggs;

Sheepskin sacks held their lunch,

Calabashes slung over their shoulders held water for drinking on the way.

Serpent Prince took Golden Brother on his back,

Seventh sister took Silver Sister on her back.

Leading the nine horses,

Together they set out for home.

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