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Lament for the Imperial Grandson
English Poetic Translation
White-headed crows atop the Chang'an wall,
Call through the night above Yanqiu's gate.
They peck at roofs of mansions great and tall,
While high officials flee the foreign state.
Their golden whips are snapped, their horses dead,
Kin abandoned in the frantic rout.
With coral ornaments upon his waist instead,
A royal grandson weeps where paths wind out.
Asked for his name, he keeps his silence deep,
Begging to serve as slave in misery,
For a hundred days he hid where thorn-bushes creep,
His flesh scarred deep beneath the bitter tree.
The founder's line bears high and noble brows,
Dragon seeds apart from common clay.
The jackals rule the town, the true dragon plows,
Royal grandson, guard your precious frame today.
I dare not linger long where pathways cross,
Yet stand a moment for the prince's sake.
Last night the bloody wind blew loss upon loss,
And eastern camels made the old capital quake.
Where are the stalwart guards of Shuofang's might,
Once so fierce in battle, now so blind?
I hear the sovereign abdicated in the fight,
While northern tribes leave southern khans behind.
At Humen they slash their faces to wash the shame—
Beware of lurking spies who catch each word.
Alas, sweet prince, preserve your noble name,
Wuling's auspicious mists remain unstirred.
Call through the night above Yanqiu's gate.
They peck at roofs of mansions great and tall,
While high officials flee the foreign state.
Their golden whips are snapped, their horses dead,
Kin abandoned in the frantic rout.
With coral ornaments upon his waist instead,
A royal grandson weeps where paths wind out.
Asked for his name, he keeps his silence deep,
Begging to serve as slave in misery,
For a hundred days he hid where thorn-bushes creep,
His flesh scarred deep beneath the bitter tree.
The founder's line bears high and noble brows,
Dragon seeds apart from common clay.
The jackals rule the town, the true dragon plows,
Royal grandson, guard your precious frame today.
I dare not linger long where pathways cross,
Yet stand a moment for the prince's sake.
Last night the bloody wind blew loss upon loss,
And eastern camels made the old capital quake.
Where are the stalwart guards of Shuofang's might,
Once so fierce in battle, now so blind?
I hear the sovereign abdicated in the fight,
While northern tribes leave southern khans behind.
At Humen they slash their faces to wash the shame—
Beware of lurking spies who catch each word.
Alas, sweet prince, preserve your noble name,
Wuling's auspicious mists remain unstirred.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
長安城頭頭白烏，夜飛延秋門上呼。
又向人家啄大屋，屋底達官走避胡。
金鞭斷折九馬死，骨肉不待同馳驅。
腰下實玦青珊瑚，可憐王孫泣路隅。
問之不肯道姓名，但道困苦乞爲奴。
已經百日竄荊棘，身上無有完肌膚。
高帝子孫盡隆準，龍種自與常人殊。
豺狼在邑龍在野，王孫善保千金軀。
不敢長語臨交衢，且爲王孫立斯須。
昨夜東風吹血腥，東來橐駝滿舊都。
朔方健兒好身手，昔何勇銳今何愚。
竊聞天子已傳位，賢德北服南單於。
花門剺面請雪恥，慎勿出口他人狙。
哀哉王孫慎勿疎，五陵佳氣無時無。
又向人家啄大屋，屋底達官走避胡。
金鞭斷折九馬死，骨肉不待同馳驅。
腰下實玦青珊瑚，可憐王孫泣路隅。
問之不肯道姓名，但道困苦乞爲奴。
已經百日竄荊棘，身上無有完肌膚。
高帝子孫盡隆準，龍種自與常人殊。
豺狼在邑龍在野，王孫善保千金軀。
不敢長語臨交衢，且爲王孫立斯須。
昨夜東風吹血腥，東來橐駝滿舊都。
朔方健兒好身手，昔何勇銳今何愚。
竊聞天子已傳位，賢德北服南單於。
花門剺面請雪恥，慎勿出口他人狙。
哀哉王孫慎勿疎，五陵佳氣無時無。
Philological Direct Translation
Chang'an city head head white crow,
Night flying Yanqiu gate upon calls.
Again toward people houses pecking large house,
House bottom high officials run avoid Hu.
Gold whips broken snapped nine horses dead,
Flesh and bone not waiting together gallop drive.
Waist under stone jade pendant green coral,
pitiable royal grandson weeps road corner.
Ask him not willing tell surname name,
Only say distress bitter beg be slave.
Alreadying hundred days flee thorns brambles,
Body upon not have complete skin flesh.
Gaodi descendants all high bridge nose,
Dragon seed self with ordinary people different.
Jackals wolves in city dragon in wild,
Royal grandson well protect thousand gold body.
Not dare long speech near intersection road,
Yet for royal grandson stand a moment.
Last night east wind blows blood fishy smell,
East coming camels full old capital.
Shuofang brave sons good body skill,
Formerly how valiant sharp now how foolish.
Privately hear son of heaven already pass position,
Virtuous virtue north submit south Chanyu.
Humen slash face request snow shame,
Cautious not output others spy.
Pitiable alas royal grandson cautious not distant,
Wuling fine vapor no time no.
Night flying Yanqiu gate upon calls.
Again toward people houses pecking large house,
House bottom high officials run avoid Hu.
Gold whips broken snapped nine horses dead,
Flesh and bone not waiting together gallop drive.
Waist under stone jade pendant green coral,
pitiable royal grandson weeps road corner.
Ask him not willing tell surname name,
Only say distress bitter beg be slave.
Alreadying hundred days flee thorns brambles,
Body upon not have complete skin flesh.
Gaodi descendants all high bridge nose,
Dragon seed self with ordinary people different.
Jackals wolves in city dragon in wild,
Royal grandson well protect thousand gold body.
Not dare long speech near intersection road,
Yet for royal grandson stand a moment.
Last night east wind blows blood fishy smell,
East coming camels full old capital.
Shuofang brave sons good body skill,
Formerly how valiant sharp now how foolish.
Privately hear son of heaven already pass position,
Virtuous virtue north submit south Chanyu.
Humen slash face request snow shame,
Cautious not output others spy.
Pitiable alas royal grandson cautious not distant,
Wuling fine vapor no time no.