九歌·国殇

屈原

操吴戈兮被犀甲，

车错毂兮短兵接。

旌蔽日兮敌若云，

矢交坠兮士争先。

凌余阵兮躐余行，

左骖殪兮右刃伤。

霾两轮兮絷四马，

援玉枹兮击鸣鼓。

天时怼兮威灵怒，

严杀尽兮弃原野。

出不入兮往不反，

平原忽兮路超远。

带长剑兮挟秦弓，

首身离兮心不惩。

诚既勇兮又以武，

终刚强兮不可凌。

身既死兮神以灵，

魂魄毅兮为鬼雄。

Ode to the Late Heroes of the State

By Qu Yuan

Wearing armors made of rhinoceros skin,

grasping fast in their hands arms,

The war chariots interlaced tight therein,

The generals crossed swords in swarms.

The sun the banners blocked out.

The foes were like clouds black.

Arrows fell like raindrops all about.

The warriors vied forwards, not back.

The foemen broke in our battlegrounds,

and underfoot did our fighters tread.

The right horse received knife wounds,

and the left horse was dead.

The two wheels were buried dead.

The four steeds were stumbled over.

Picking up the jade sticks dread,

Beat the battle drum the drummer.

Dark all round was the day.

The dreadful celestial spirits were furious.

Cruelly did the cruel slayers slay.

Fields were littered with dead bodies.

Out for battles they went bravely.

and forever all they went away.

The plains are vast and misty.

They went on a long way.

Away with long swords you passed,

still gripping tightly the toughest bows.

Your minds are set and steadfast,

though beheaded you were, our heroes.

You were so gutsy and gritty,

and always full of might and main.

You were so sturdy and hardy

Ascendancy over you nobody could gain.

Though your bodies stopped to breath,

your souls will live forever more.

Your daring spirit is beyond death,

you are heroes of ghosts therefor.