On Jing Ke
咏荆轲
Prince Dan of Yan had heroes in his court
And sought revenge on Qin with their support.
Among the hundred warriors free from fear,
Jing Ke was chosen at the end of the year.
燕丹善养士，志在报强嬴。
招集百夫良，岁暮得荆卿。
Prepared to help his friend, an honest man,
Jing took his sword and left the state of Yan.
White horses neighed upon the open fields;
Men wished him good luck with their swords and shields
君子死知己，提剑出燕京。
素骥鸣广陌，慷慨送我行。
His hat appeared to rise with indignation;
His tassels seemed to quiver with vexation.
In the farewell banquet by the Yishui Stream,
Sat at table heroes of esteem.
雄髮指危冠，猛气冲长缨。
饮饯易水上，四座列群英。
Gao Jianli struck up a poignant note;
Song Yi sang songs at the top of his throat.
High and low，the wind whined sad and bold;
Up and down, the waves sobbed mad and cold.
渐离击悲筑，宋意唱高声。
萧萧哀风逝，澹澹寒波生。
The low-pitch notes moved heroes into tears;
The high-pitch notes freed warriors out of fears.
Jing was aware that he could not return
But his fame as a hero he would earn.
商音更流涕，羽奏壮士惊。
心知去不归，且有後世名。
He ne’er looked back when he stepped on his cart,
Riding to the Qin court with a valiant heart.
Ten thousand miles were passed without delay;
A thousand towns were travelled on the way.
登车何时顾，飞盖入秦庭。
凌厉越万里，逶迤过千城。
When the map was unrolled, he thrust his sword
At the king of Qin, a tyrannous lord.
Pity that his thrust had missed the king,
A spoiled exploit of which the bards would sing.
图穷事自至，豪主正怔营。
惜哉剑术疏，奇功遂不成！
Although the noble-minded Jing is dead,
For a thousand years or more his name will spread
其人虽已殁，千载有馀情。