“Ode to a Knight” by Li Bai translated by Liao Kang
A knight from Kingdom Zhao wearing a Hu style tassel
And a curved blade which was shiny like frost and snow
His steed was white and matched by a silver saddle
Galloping as fast as a shooting star could go.
He traveled hundreds of miles; none could stop his steed.
With every ten steps he cut down and killed a foe.
He tidied his robe after he did the heroic deed,
Then he disappeared thoroughly incognito.
In his leisure he came to drink with Duke Xinling.
He took off his sword and rested it on his knees.
He ate barbecue with Zhu Hai and drank with Hou Ying,
Whose aspiration soared to the highest degrees.
After three cups they made him a pledge so solemn
That it was weightier than the five mountains sacred.
Their eyes were dim and each ear a burning column
They breathed a song into air, their souls were elated.
They began saving Kingdom Zhao with a hammer blow.
The city of Handan’s shocked by its quick release.
The two men thus became heroes as we’d later know,
Their names are carved with pride on the town-hall altarpiece.
Even though the knight’s gone, his fame is perpetuate.
In heaven he’d not be second to any man.
Who could write down his deeds to fill the honored slate
But gray-haired Yang Xiong who wrote the Book of Taixuan.
A man is from the Zhao, his hat tied with coarse Hun ribbon
Carrying a sword whose blade shines like bright frost and snow
His white horse is equipped with polished silver saddle
And it gallops fast like shooting stars in a row
He could kill a foe within a ten step range
And never lodges on a journey of thousand miles
His mission done, he dusts his jacket and leave
In oblivion his body and fame he hides
One day in leisure he dropped in for a drink with Xinling
Laying his sword before his knees
He offered meat to the man called Zhu Hai
And wine to Hou Ying for him to please
Three cups of wine down they came up with a promise
That was weightier than the Five Mountains
Their eyes blurred and their ears burned
A white steam of volcano bespeaks their determination
A golden hammer accomplished Zhao State’s rescue
Greatly shocked were the citizens of its capital
Glorified were their names in the city of Daliang
Down into history went the fame of the two heroes
Had they died in action their bones would’ve remained fragrant
They could face up to the title of hero under the heaven
Where can I find someone to write down your story
Behold the scholar who works with life long devotion
重译
a man from Zhao wears coarse foreign ribbons
Bearing a sword as shiny as frost and snow
His white horse carries a polished silver saddle
It gallops and you see shooting stars in flow
On a thousand li trip he never takes lodging
Within ten steps he can kill a foe
Mission accomplished he dusts himself and leaves
Into hiding his body and fame go
Once in leisure he came to drink at Xingling's
Before his knees he laid down his sword blade
He offered roasted pork to the guy Zhu Hai
With wine he would Hou Ying persuade
Three cups after they came up with a promise
Heavy and solemn as the Five Mountains
Their eyes were blurry and ears hot
Their will caused erupting steam like fountains
To rescue Zhao a golden hammer was put to use
Their deeds did the capital shock and confuse
Into history the heroes's names were to be carved
Back in Daliang they were laden with honors profuse
Had they died their bones would have been revered
They could face up to the title of hero under heaven
Who can put your story to lines for people to read
But the white haired scholar with deligent devotion?
