刘克庄·《贺新郎·国脉微如缕》英译

实之三和，有忧边之语，走笔答之。

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国脉微如缕。问长缨、何时入手，缚将戎主？未必人间无好汉，谁与宽些尺度？试看取当年韩五。岂有谷城公付授，也不干曾遇骊山母。谈笑起，两河路。

 

少时棋柝曾联句。叹而今、登楼揽镜，事机频误。闻说北风吹面急，边上冲梯屡舞。君莫道投鞭虚语。自古一贤能制难，有金汤便可无张许？快投笔，莫题柱。

 

Congratulations to the Bridegroom 

Reply to Wang Shizhi on His Worries of the Frontiers 

Liu Kezhuang

 

The state at stake,

When can we take

The long, long rope in hand

To bind the foe invading our land?

Is there on earth no talents strong?

The measure should be long.

General Han did not learn from a sage,

Nor know the secret of the Golden Age.

Laughing the rose

And beat the foes.

 

While young, we rhymed each other’s verse,

And opened new horizon for better or worse.

But now we sigh,

Looking into the mirror in tower high

To find our hair sprinkled with frost

And many chances lost.

‘Tis said the northern wind would bite the face,

The foe would dance with ladder high on the frontier.

Don’t say the river can’t be crossed by our cavalier.

Since olden days a hero could turn the tide.

The stronghold can’t be strong without the general’s guide.

Give up the pen and take the spear!

Don’t leave only on the pillar your trace!