书城文学王译唐诗三百首:汉英对照
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第70章 老将行-The Old General

老将行

王维

少年十五二十时,步行夺得胡马骑。

射杀山中白额虎,肯数邺下黄须儿。

一身转战三千里,一剑曾当百万师。

汉兵奋迅如霹雳,虏骑奔腾畏蒺藜。

卫青不败由天幸,李广无功缘数奇。

自从弃置便衰朽,世事蹉跎成白首。

昔时飞雀无全目,今日垂杨生左肘。

路旁时卖故侯瓜,门前学种先生柳。

苍茫古木连穷巷,寥落寒山对虚牖。

誓令疏勒出飞泉,不似颍川空使酒。

贺兰山下阵如云,羽檄交驰日夕闻。

节使三河募年少,诏书五道出将军。

试拂铁衣如雪色,聊持宝剑动星文。

愿得燕弓射大将,耻令越甲呜吾君。

莫嫌旧日云中守,犹堪一战取功勋。

The Old General

Wang Wei

When he was young at the age around fifteen to twenty,

Once he seized on foot a horse from the riding enemy.

His very first arrow killed a mountain white-browed tiger;

He might be compared to that lad of Ye with brown whisker.

A round three thousand li he fought bravely in the army;

A sword in hand, he had withstood a million men singly.

Like thunderbolt, the inspired Han soldiers sped on their way;

Far fear of hoof-traps, the dispersed enemies fled away.

Good luck made Wei Qing in his battles never defeated

While ill lot brought Li Guang no honours as he merited.

Our general had long pined away since his post he quit.

As time passed by, hoary hairs began on his old head to sit.

Once his archery could make sparrows of their eyes bereft;

Now he was found to have a tumor on his elbow left.

At times he chanced to sell Dongling melons by the roadside.

In planting willows before the gate, to ape Tao he tried.

Vast were age-old trees extending to his secluded lanes;

Quiet were bleak hills facing his humble window panes.

He’d be the man of Shule that called out a flowing spring

Rather than the one of Yingchuan that drank and did nothing.

At the foot of Mount Helan mustered troops like clouds heavy;

Day and night passed on urgent despatches of the army.

Envoys recruited young soldiers in the Three-He Area;

Five generals were called to march separately to the frontier.

The old general dusted his mails into snowy white

And took up his sword with the gold stars of glittering light.

To shoot enemy generals, he longed to get an Yan bow,

For he felt shame to see the Emperor troubled by the foe.

Oh, don’t hold light the old Yunzhong general of the past time.

He could still in a battle achieve martial feats sublime!