明间故事,牛郎织女英文版

CowherdandWeavingGirl“NiuLangandZhiNu”OriginInlatesummernight,whentheskyisdotted(星罗棋布的)withstars,andpeoplecanseetheMilkyWayspanningfromthenorthtothesouth.Oneachbankofitisabrightstar,whichseeeachotherfromafar.TheyaretheCowherdandWeaverMaid,andaboutthemthereisabeautifullovestorypasseddownfromgenerationtogenerationAltairVegaTheromanticlegendLong,longago,therewasanhonestandkind-heartedfellownamedNiuLang(Cowherd).Hisparentsdiedwhenhewasachild.Laterhewasdrivenoutofhishomebyhissister-in-law,sohewanderedtheoldcattlegotoapieceofbarrenmountain,livedlonely.Hetreatedtheoldcattleverywell.Buthiscattleisamagiccattle,oneday,thespoke.Hespoketoniulanghowtogetawife.Atthesametime,theyoungestofthesevencelestialprincesseshadgrowntiredoftheprivilegedbutsecludedlifeintheheavenlypalace.Shelongedforamundanelifesheoftensawdownbeneathher.Thatwasaverypervertideatocherishinheaven.Yet,determinedtopursuewhatshedeemedtobeherownhappiness,shesneakedoutanddescendedontotheearthandtothesuddenhappinessoftheCowherdwithwhomshehadsecretlyfalleninloveallalonginheaven.Theymarriedandhadalovelyboyandagirl.WhiletheCowherdworkedinthefieldswithhisoldpalthebuffalo,theheavenlyprincessweavedathometohelpsupportthefamily.Villagersalladmiredherexcellentweavingskillandstartedlearningfromher.Shewasnowwell-knownastheWeavingGirl.Underthedirectionoftheoldcattle,NiuLangmeetZhiNuandsoonfallinlovewitheachother.NiuLangfarmedinthefieldandZhiNuwoveathome.Theylivedahappylifeandgavebirthtoaboyandagirl.Unfortunately,theGodofHeavensoonfoundoutthefactandorderedtheQueenMotheroftheWesternHeavenstobringtheWeaverMaidback.Thefamilylivedmoderatelybutpeacefullyandhappilyuntilthegirl‘scelestial（天上的）royal（皇室）familyfoundhermissingandtracedhertothevillage.Bytheway,itispopularlybelievedthatadayinheavenaccountsforyearsontheearth.TheyearsshehadspentwiththeCowherdwasbutadayorsobythecelestialcalendar.Withthehelpofcelestialcattle,NiuLangflewtoheavenwithhissonanddaughter.Atthetimewhenhewasabouttocatchupwithhiswife,theQueenMothertookoffoneofhergoldhairpinsandmadeastroke.OnebillowyriverappearedinfrontofNiuLang.NiuLangandZhiNuwereseparatedonthetwobanksforeverandcouldonlyfeeltheirtears.TheCelestialEmpresswasinsuchawraththatshegaveherdaughteronlytwochoices:togobackhomeorseeherhusbandandchildrendestroyed.Shehadnochoicebuttoleave.Theoldbuffalosuddenlybegantospeaktothebereavedandnowastonishedyoungman,sayingthathewasdyinginnotimeandaskinghimtousehishideasavehicletocatchupwithhiswife.Andoffhesailedtoheaventakinghisyoungsonanddaughterintwobasketscarriedbyashoulderpole.Fearingthattheyoungmanwouldcatchup,theempresstookoutherhairspinanddrewabigriveracrossthesky,knowntotheChineseastheSilveryRiver(theMilkyWayintheWest).ShewantedtoseparatethefamilyforeverHowever,allthemagpiesintheworld,deeplytouchedbythestory,cametotheirrescue.Eachyear,ontheseventhdayoftheseventhmonth,theywouldflocktogethertoformabridgesothatthefamilymayenjoyabriefreunion.Theirloyaltytolovetouchedmagpies,sotensofthousandsofmagpiescametobuildabridgefortheNiuLangandZhiNutomeeteachother.TheQueenMotherwaseventuallymovedandallowedthemtomeeteachyearonthe7thofthe7thlunarmonth.Hencetheirmeetingdatehasbeencalled"QiXi"(DoubleSeventh).