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Song of the Yan Frontier
English Poetic Translation
The Han domain raises smoke and dust across the northeast skies,
Imperial generals leave their hearths to crush the rebel bands.
Men-at-arms were born to roam the borders fierce and bold,
And royal favor floods them now with unexpected grace.
With clanging bronze and rolling drums they pass Yu Pass below,
Their standards winding through the crags where Jieshi stands tall.
An aide-de-camp dispatches urgent plumes across the shifting sea,
While tribal watch-fires cast a glare on Wolf Mountain's wall.
The mountains and the rivers stretch in desolation here,
Where foreign riders charge across through mingled wind and rain.
Half the soldiers in the ranks are caught between the dead and living,
While beauties in the general's tent still dance and sing their strain.
The boundless desert sinks in autumn, withered frontier grass,
A lonely fortress in the dying sun where struggling troops grow thin.
Because they bear the emperor's trust, they lightly face the foe,
Yet strength is spent at mountain gates while sieges linger on.
In iron armor garrisoned afar, through bitter, weary days,
Their women weep with jeweled chopsticks after last farewells.
A young wife south of the city walls is near to breaking heart,
A soldier north of Ji looks back where empty distance swells.
The frontier gales drift wildly past—how can a soul pass through?
In this vast and lonely realm, what else is left to find?
For three days battle vapors press and shape into array,
And through the night the brass patrol beats out a frozen sound.
They face each other, flashing steel, and blood runs thick and free;
Who dies for honor counts the spoils or seeks a hero's prize?
My lord, have you not seen the toils and torments of the field?
To this day, men remember General Li with longing sighs.
Imperial generals leave their hearths to crush the rebel bands.
Men-at-arms were born to roam the borders fierce and bold,
And royal favor floods them now with unexpected grace.
With clanging bronze and rolling drums they pass Yu Pass below,
Their standards winding through the crags where Jieshi stands tall.
An aide-de-camp dispatches urgent plumes across the shifting sea,
While tribal watch-fires cast a glare on Wolf Mountain's wall.
The mountains and the rivers stretch in desolation here,
Where foreign riders charge across through mingled wind and rain.
Half the soldiers in the ranks are caught between the dead and living,
While beauties in the general's tent still dance and sing their strain.
The boundless desert sinks in autumn, withered frontier grass,
A lonely fortress in the dying sun where struggling troops grow thin.
Because they bear the emperor's trust, they lightly face the foe,
Yet strength is spent at mountain gates while sieges linger on.
In iron armor garrisoned afar, through bitter, weary days,
Their women weep with jeweled chopsticks after last farewells.
A young wife south of the city walls is near to breaking heart,
A soldier north of Ji looks back where empty distance swells.
The frontier gales drift wildly past—how can a soul pass through?
In this vast and lonely realm, what else is left to find?
For three days battle vapors press and shape into array,
And through the night the brass patrol beats out a frozen sound.
They face each other, flashing steel, and blood runs thick and free;
Who dies for honor counts the spoils or seeks a hero's prize?
My lord, have you not seen the toils and torments of the field?
To this day, men remember General Li with longing sighs.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
漢家煙塵在東北，漢將辭家破殘賊。
男兒本自重橫行，天子非常賜顏色。
摐金伐鼓下榆關，旌旗逶迤碣石間。
校尉羽書飛瀚海，單於獵火照狼山。
山川蕭條極邊土，胡騎憑凌雜風雨。
戰士軍前半死生，美人帳下猶歌舞。
大漠窮秋塞草衰，孤城落日鬬兵稀。
身當恩遇常輕敵，力盡關山未解圍。
鐵衣遠戍辛勤久，玉箸應啼別離後。
少婦城南欲斷腸，徵人薊北空回首。
邊風飄飄那可度，絕域蒼茫更何有。
殺氣三日作陣雲，寒聲一夜傳刁斗。
相看白刃血紛紛，死節從來豈顧勳。
君不見沙場徵戰苦，至今猶憶李將軍。
男兒本自重橫行，天子非常賜顏色。
摐金伐鼓下榆關，旌旗逶迤碣石間。
校尉羽書飛瀚海，單於獵火照狼山。
山川蕭條極邊土，胡騎憑凌雜風雨。
戰士軍前半死生，美人帳下猶歌舞。
大漠窮秋塞草衰，孤城落日鬬兵稀。
身當恩遇常輕敵，力盡關山未解圍。
鐵衣遠戍辛勤久，玉箸應啼別離後。
少婦城南欲斷腸，徵人薊北空回首。
邊風飄飄那可度，絕域蒼茫更何有。
殺氣三日作陣雲，寒聲一夜傳刁斗。
相看白刃血紛紛，死節從來豈顧勳。
君不見沙場徵戰苦，至今猶憶李將軍。
Philological Direct Translation
Han house smoke-dust is in northeast, Han generals leave families to break remaining bandits.
Men by nature themselves value rampant action, the Son of Heaven extraordinarily bestows colors.
Striking metal and beating drums they descend Yuguan, banners winding among Jieshi.
Major's feather-dispatch flies over Han-sea, Chanyu's hunting-fires illuminate Langshan.
Mountains and rivers desolate to the extreme frontier earth, Hu cavalry press closely mixed with wind-rain.
Warriors before the army half dead-alive, beauties under curtains still sing and dance.
Great desert deep autumn frontier grasses wither, lone city setting sun fighting soldiers sparse.
Bodies meeting favor often take the enemy lightly, strength exhausted mountain-passes not yet relieved.
Iron garments distant garrison bitter long, jade chopsticks should weep parting after.
Young wife south of the city about to break heart, levied man north of Ji emptily turns head.
Border winds fluttering how can they be crossed, desolate realms vastness what more is there?
Killing breath three days makes battle clouds, cold sounds one night transmit diaodou.
Looking at each other white blades blood scattering, dying for duty from the start how do they heed merit?
Lord, do you not see the battlefield campaign suffering, to this day they still remember General Li.
Men by nature themselves value rampant action, the Son of Heaven extraordinarily bestows colors.
Striking metal and beating drums they descend Yuguan, banners winding among Jieshi.
Major's feather-dispatch flies over Han-sea, Chanyu's hunting-fires illuminate Langshan.
Mountains and rivers desolate to the extreme frontier earth, Hu cavalry press closely mixed with wind-rain.
Warriors before the army half dead-alive, beauties under curtains still sing and dance.
Great desert deep autumn frontier grasses wither, lone city setting sun fighting soldiers sparse.
Bodies meeting favor often take the enemy lightly, strength exhausted mountain-passes not yet relieved.
Iron garments distant garrison bitter long, jade chopsticks should weep parting after.
Young wife south of the city about to break heart, levied man north of Ji emptily turns head.
Border winds fluttering how can they be crossed, desolate realms vastness what more is there?
Killing breath three days makes battle clouds, cold sounds one night transmit diaodou.
Looking at each other white blades blood scattering, dying for duty from the start how do they heed merit?
Lord, do you not see the battlefield campaign suffering, to this day they still remember General Li.