Page:A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1919).djvu/45

 BATTLE

By Ch'ü Yüan [332–295 B. C.], ''author of the famous poem "Li Sao," or "Falling into Trouble." Finding that he could not influence the conduct of his prince, he drowned himself in the river Mi-lo. The modern Dragon Boat Festival is supposed to be in his honour.''

" grasp our battle-spears: we don our breast-plates of hide. The axles of our chariots touch: our short swords meet. Standards obscure the sun: the foe roll up like clouds. Arrows fall thick: the warriors press forward. They menace our ranks: they break our line. The left-hand trace-horse is dead: the one on the right is smitten. The fallen horses block our wheels: they impede the yoke-horses!"

They grasp their jade drum-sticks: they beat the sounding drums. Heaven decrees their fall: the dread Powers are angry.

The warriors are all dead: they lie on the moor-field. They issued but shall not enter: they went but shall not return. The plains are flat and wide; the way home is long. Their swords lie beside them: their black bows, in their hand. [ 39 ]