樂府英譯：《十五從軍徵》

樂府詩很美。試譯這首 heart broken ballad。

十五從軍徵， Conscripted at fifteen,

八十始得歸。 Only discharged at eighty.

道逢鄉里人： Met a traveler from home village,

“家中有阿誰？” "Who's still living in my family?"

“遙看是君家， "Over there was your cottage," said he,

松柏塚累累。” "Now home to pines, cypresses and a cemetery."

兔從狗竇入， Hares scuttled in through the dog hole,

雉從樑上飛。 Pheasants fluttered above the old beam.

中庭生旅谷， In the courtyard ripened wild grain,

井上生旅葵。 On top of the well flourished a mallow bush.

舂谷持作飰， Pestled the grain to make pot of rice,

採葵持作羹。 Plucked mallow leaves to make a pottage.

羹飰一時熟， Pottage and rice were cooked and ready,

不知貽阿誰。 Yet with who I'd share them in this yard all empty?

出門東向看， Stumbling outside I looked east,

淚落沾我衣。 Something wetted my collar, I don't know, my old eyes got blurry.