乐府

Folk-song-styled-verse

王昌龄

Wang Changling

塞上曲

AT A BORDER-FORTRESS

蝉鸣空桑林,

Cicadas complain of thin mulberry-trees

八月萧关道;

In the Eighth-month chill at the frontier pass.

出塞复入塞,

Through the gate and back again, all along the road,

处处黄芦草。

There is nothing anywhere but yellow reeds and grasses

从来幽并客,

And the bones of soldiers from You and from Bing

皆向沙场老;

Who have buried their lives in the dusty sand.

莫学游侠儿,

...Let never a cavalier stir you to envy

矜夸紫骝好。

With boasts of his horse and his horsemanship