寒山·《一为书剑客》英译

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东守文不赏，西征武不勋。

学文兼学武，学武兼学文。

今日既老矣，余生不足云。

No. 7

I first was a student of books and swords,

And secondly met with a wise sagely lord.

In the East I protected, but my service received no reward;

In the West I attacked, but my strength got me no honor.

I studied literature and I studied war;

I studied war and I studied literature.

Today I’m already old;

What’s left of my life isn’t worthy of note.

（Robert. G. Henricks 译）

Conundrum

Sir, in my youth the emperor loved books;

I studied arms and served without reward.

In the next regime, I pondered books;

The emperor cultivated military men.

Now, having mastered books and war,

Having served both war and books,

I’ve grown old. What is left to me?

The emperor loves youth.

（Peter Stambler 译）