从军行五首

其一

从军有苦乐，

但问所从谁。

所从神且武，

焉得久劳师？

相公征关右，

赫怒震天威。

一举灭獯虏，

再举服羌夷。

西收边地贼，

忽若俯拾遗。

陈赏越丘山，

酒肉逾川坻。

军中多饫饶，

人马皆溢肥。

徒行兼乘还，

空出有余资。

拓地三千里，

往返速若飞。

歌舞入邺城，

所愿获无违。

昼日处大朝，

日暮薄言归。

外参时明政，

内不废家私。

禽兽惮为牺，

良苗实已挥。

窃慕负鼎翁，

愿厉朽钝姿。

不能效沮溺，

相随把锄犁。

孰览夫子诗，

信知所言非。

Accompanying Military Campaigns: Five Poems

Military campaigns have pains and pleasures,

just ask who is the leader to be followed.

If he is divine and martial,

how can the troops struggle for long?

The Chancellor1 marches to the west of Hangu Pass,

his mighty wrath thunders with heavenly power.

In one stroke he wipes out the Xun rebels,

in another he subdues the Qiang barbarians.

He rounds up the bandits in the west,

swiftly and easily, as if picking up an object.

His awards are piled higher than mountains,

wine and meat stretch far to the rivers and isles.

Bounties of all kinds abound among the troops,

the soldiers and horses are full and robust.

They leave bare-footed, but return on horseback,

departing empty-handed, they come back with surplus supplies.

They take three-thousand li of land,

leaving and returning, as swift as flying.

Singing and dancing we enter Ye City2,

all our wishes met and fulf illed.

We spend our day at our Lord’s grand reception,

at sunset we return to our homes.

Outside we participate in his enlightened rule,

inside we do not neglect our familial duties.

Animals are afraid of being sacrif iced,

f ine crops are loaded with shining grains.

I envy the old man bearing the tripod3,

and would like to sharpen my blunted wit.

I cannot follow the footsteps of Ju and Ni4,

who ploughed the f ield with one another.

I have carefully read Master Confucius’ verses,

and truly believe that his words are mistaken. 5

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其二

凉风厉秋节，

司典告详刑。

我君顺时发，

桓桓东南征。

泛舟盖长川，

陈卒被隰。

征夫怀亲戚，

谁能无恋情？

拊襟倚舟樯，

眷眷思邺城。

哀彼东山人，

喟然感鹳鸣。

日月不安处。

人谁获常宁？

昔人从公旦，

一徂辄三龄。

今我神武师，

暂往必速平。

弃余亲睦恩，

输力竭忠贞。

惧无一夫用，

报我素餐诚。

夙夜自恲性，

思逝若抽萦。

将秉先登羽，

岂敢听金声？

A cold wind chills in the Autumn season,

the judge announces his prudent punishments. 1

Our Lord2 makes his move at the appropriate time,

in martial array the troops march to the southeast.

Floating boats cover the long river,

lined soldiers spread over the marshes.

Men on the road think of their loved ones,

who can avoid such deep longings?

Holding my lapel I lean against the mast,

my loving thought turns to Ye City.

I pity those soldiers of “Eastern Mountain,”3

sighing I am moved by the crane’s crying.

The sun and moon never stay still,

who among humankind can rest forever?

In ancient times people followed Duke Zhou4,

one campaign took them three years from home.

Today with our divine and martial troops

this momentary departure will bring quick victory.

So I give up my thoughts of family,

and try my utmost to devote my loyalty.

I fear that I will be a man of no use,

unable to repay my undeserved meal.

Night and day I f ind myself greatly stirred,

such thought coils around my heart.

I will hold aloft the banner of vanguard,

how dare I wish to hear the retreating gong?

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其三

从军征遐路，

讨彼东南夷。

方舟顺广川，

薄暮未安坻。

白日半西山，

桑梓有余晖。

蟋蟀夹岸鸣，

孤鸟翩翩飞。

征夫心多怀，

恻怆令吾悲。

下船登高防，

草露沾我衣。

回身赴床寝，

此愁当告谁？

身服干戈事，

岂得念所私？

即戎有授命，

兹理不可违。

3

I follow the troops to distant roads,

to strike those barbarians in the southeast.

Side by side the boats move along the wide river,

when dusk comes we still have not moored.

The white sun has half set below the western mountains,

the afterglow lingers among mulberry and catalpa trees.

Crickets are chirping along the banks,

a lonely bird is flying in the sky.

The heart of a soldier is f illed with longing,

such sorrows make me sad.

I get off the boat to ascend a tall dam,

dew on grass dampens my clothes.

I turn back, and go to sleep in my bed,

in whom can I conf ide this sorrow?

Now that I am shouldering a military task,

how can I worry about personal concerns?

Going to the war I must be ready to sacrif ice my life,

such a principle can never be disobeyed.

其四

朝发邺都桥，

暮济白马津。

逍遥河堤上，

左右望我军。

连舫逾万艘，

带甲千万人。

率彼东南路，

将定一举勋。

筹策运帷幄，

一由我圣君。

恨我无时谋，

譬诸具官臣。

鞠躬中坚内，

微画无所陈。

许历为完士，

一言犹败秦。

我有素餐责，

诚愧伐檀人。

虽无铅刀用，

庶几奋薄身。

In the morning we left from the bridge at capital Ye,

by the dusk we crossed the White Horse Ford.

I roam along the dike by the river,

and gaze at our troops on both sides.

Ships, one after another, exceed tens of thousands,

soldiers, full armoured, greater in number.

Marching along that southeast road

we would surely strike a complete victory.

Strategies are planned in the command tent

solely and entirely by our Sage Lord.

How I regret I have no timely advice,

like one of those nominal off icials.

I serve devotedly within the central command,

but can’t even offer a trivial strategy.

Xu Li of the Zhao was but a pardoned criminal,

still his words helped defeat the army of Qin.

I bear the blame of taking undeserved meals,

and am ashamed to hold a mere sinecure.

Although I am not as useful as a lead knife,

I would still like to dedicate my humble life.

其五

悠悠涉荒路，

靡靡我心愁。

四望无烟火，

但见林与丘。

城郭生榛棘，

蹊径无所由。

蒲竟广泽，

葭苇夹长流。

日夕凉风发，

翩翩漂吾舟。

寒蝉在树鸣，

鹳鹄摩天游。

客子多悲伤，

泪下不可收。

朝入谯郡界，

旷然消人忧。

鸡鸣达四境，

黍稷盈原畴。

馆宅充廛里，

士女满庄馗。

自非圣贤国，

谁能享斯休？

诗人美乐土，

虽客犹愿留。

Endlessly we trudge along the desolate roads,

slowly my heart is full of sorrow.

I look around, no smoke and f ire in sight,

I only see groves and hills.

Thorns and brambles grow all over the city,

paths and lanes are all cut off.

Reeds and rushes cover the broad marsh,

sedges and osiers line along the long river.

By the day’s end a cool wind arises,

gently, gently it wafts my boat.

Cold cicadas sing in the trees,

swans glide up in the sky.

The traveler has many a sadness,

tears stream down without stop.

In the morning we enter the Qiao1 border,

at once my worries are dispelled.

Cockcrow is heard in all four directions,

millet and grain cover the level f ields.

Houses and inns line up along the streets,

men and women throng in the wide avenues.

If this is not a wise and worthy state,

who could enjoy such a bliss?

The poet sings of the Happy Land,

although a guest here, I would like to stay.

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