In the celestial court of the Jade Emperor lived seven princesses.
玉皇大帝统治的天庭住着七位公主。
Each had their chosen place in court, but the youngest princess had a special skill.
每位公主在这有不同的职责，不过其中最小的公主有项特殊技能。
She could pluck clouds from the sky and spin them into the softest robes.
她能从天空摘下云朵，并将之纺织成世上最柔软的长袍。
Her work was so precise, not even the most expert eye could find a seam.
她的做工十分细致，无人能察觉布料上的接缝。
But her craft was the same day after day, and she longed for new inspiration.
日复一日，她的手艺无法突破自我，因而渴求能找到灵感。
Finally, the Queen Mother granted the weaver permission to visit Earth.
王母娘娘最终同意让织女到访人间。
The other princesses would accompany her to protect their sister from earthly dangers.
其他公主会跟她一起下凡，保护她们的小妹免于人间的危险。
Dressed in special robes that allowed them to fly between Heaven and Earth, the sisters soared down from the sky.
公主们身穿特殊长袍，因而能在天庭和人间翱翔自如，她们从天上飞下。
The weaver was in awe of the rolling hills and rivers, and the sisters decided to swim in one of the glittering streams.
眼前绵延的山峦和溪流让织女叹为观止，公主们决定在一条波光粼粼的小溪里游泳。
As the weaver floated, she dreamt about staying forever. Meanwhile, a lone cowherd approached the riverbank.
织女在溪流里一边漂浮着，一边梦想着长流于此。此时，一名牧牛人走向河岸边。
He came here often to sweep his parent's grave and speak with his only companion -- a stoic bull who listened patiently to the cowherd's sorrows.
这位牛郎时常来此打扫父母的坟墓，也常对着他唯一的同伴说话，也就是一头会默默地听着他诉说伤心事的公牛。
But upon seeing the weaver's beauty, the cowherd forgot his routine.
但当牛郎看到织女的美貌后，他顿时将一切抛诸脑后。
While he longed to introduce himself, his lonely lifestyle had made him timid.
他想上前自我介绍，但因为自己孤零零的而怯步。
Thankfully, the bull saw his friend's plight and offered some advice.
公牛看到牛郎踌躇不前，给了他一些建议。
He told the cowherd of the swimmer's celestial origins and of her dream to stay on Earth;
公牛对牛郎说，在戏水的织女来自天庭，她希望能一直待在人间；
but also that she could only remain if she lost her ticket back to Heaven.
公牛还说织女一旦失去能让她回天庭的东西，就会留下来。
As the cowherd approached, the princesses flew away in fear -- leaving their dreaming sister behind.
在牛郎走向公主们的那一刻，她们惊慌失措地飞走，丢下还在水中做梦的小妹。
While keeping her magic robes hidden, the cowherd offered his own garment as a substitute.
牛郎把织女的魔法长袍藏了起来，并用自己的衣服让她替换。
And after gaining her trust, the pair began exploring the countryside.
牛郎得到织女的信任后，他们便一同探索乡村。

She was struck by his caring nature, and he learned to see the world's wonder through her eyes.
织女深刻感受到牛郎照顾人的性格，牛郎则透过织女的眼睛看到世界的惊奇。
Before long, the two had fallen deeply in love. The weaver and the cowherd built a prosperous life.
不久后，他们坠入爱河。牛郎和织女过着富足的生活。
Their farm flourished, and the weaver taught her skills to local villagers.
他们的农田丰收，织女教当地村民纺织技术。
As time marched on, the pair was blessed with two healthy children, but their bull was growing old.
时间流逝，他们喜获两个健康的小孩，但这时公牛年事已高。
Before he died, the bull implored the family to keep his hide and use its magic at their time of need.
公牛在临去世前，恳求他们一家人将它的牛皮保存下来，在往后必要之时牛皮的魔法将会派上用场。
While the husband grieved for his friend, the weaver's mind turned to her other family.
牛郎哀悼公牛去世的同时，织女思念起自己的家人。
Dusting off her magical robe, she decided to pay a visit to the heavens.
拍一拍魔法长袍上的灰尘，她想启程回天庭一趟。
But when the weaver swept into her old home, no one seemed surprised to see her.
但当织女到家后，大家对她的到访皆无动于衷。
With a start, she realized that barely any time had passed -- for a year on Earth was merely a day in Heaven.
这时她才意识到人间一年的时间只是天庭的一天。
When her family learned of her new life, they were enraged. How dare she waste her love on a human?
家人得知她在人间的新生活后气得火冒三丈。公主岂能爱上平凡的人类？
The weaver tried to escape back to Earth, but the Queen Mother plucked a golden hairpin from her head and tore through the sky.
织女想赶紧飞回人间，但此时王母娘娘取下头上的金簪，划开天空。
A great gulf opened, forming a river of stars between Heaven and Earth.
顿时一道裂痕出现，浩瀚的银河分隔天庭和人间。
Below, the cowherd trembled, but he also remembered the bull's final words.
在地面的牛郎这时全身颤抖，但他仍谨记公牛的遗嘱。
Hastily placing each child in a basket, he draped the bull's pelt over his back and hurtled upwards.
他赶紧将孩子们放入两边的竹篓，背上披着牛皮奔向天际。
Above the clouds, each lover attempted to wade through the surging stars.
这对相隔两地的眷侣都想奋力涉过中间满天星斗。
But no matter how hard they struggled, the gulf between them only grew wider.
但无论他们再怎么拼命，这道银河只会愈来愈宽。
Day after day, the Queen Mother watched without pity.
一天又一天地过了，王母娘娘冷眼旁观这一切。
Years passed, and the weaver and the cowherd had no one, except the passing magpies to cheer them on.
年复一年，牛郎和织女无依无靠，只有经过的喜鹊陪伴他们。
Finally, their love moved the Queen Mother's heart.
他们之间情比金坚的爱，最终打动了王母娘娘。
While she couldn't forgive her granddaughter entirely, the Queen Mother would allow the weaver to meet her earthly family once a year.
但王母娘娘无法完全原谅她，只同意让织女和牛郎一年见一次面。
And so, in late summer, the magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way, reuniting the weaver and the cowherd.
每到夏季的尾声，喜鹊会在银河上搭建一座桥，让织女和牛郎相聚。
At this time of year, millions of people in East and Southeast Asian countries tell similar tales of these star-crossed lovers, celebrating their annual reunion.
每年此时，数百万东亚和东南亚国家的居民会讲述这对恋人不同版本的凄美爱情故事，欢庆牛郎和织女每年的相会。