古今越歌英译与评注
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The Soldiers’ Pledge on Their Departure

Anonymous

 

With pent-up wrath and thirst for revenge,

We take up our halberds and spears.

In high morale we shall avenge

His Majesty’s inflicted smears!

Like eagles swooping on the rats

Our forces will put all to rout.Our forces will defeat all the enemies.

Once he becomes dauntless of death

One can wipe a hundred men out.

Providence blesses only th’ just,

And th’ Wu troops are inviting their doomOn its surface “自屠” in the original means “cut one another’s throats,” which does not make sense in the context when war has not yet begun. Hence the deep level meaning of “inviting their doom” is adopted..

His Majesty’s humiliation wip’d off,

Our army’s prestige will boost and boom.

Like Pixiu, th’ fierce mythical beast of prey,

We’ll firmly maintain our battle array.

Let’s go all out, with our courage pluck’d up!

Ho, hup — hup! Ho, hup — hup!