<Header>
<Author: 杜甫>
<Title: 北征 一>
<Format: 五言古詩>
<Year: 1947>
<BookName: THE WHITE PONY: An Anthology of Chinese Poetry from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, Newly Translated>
<Translator: Robert Payne>
<TranslatedTitle: JOURNEY TO THE NORTH I>
<BookPage: 208>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 0>
<End Header>
<Poem>
皇帝二載秋，
閏八月初吉。
杜子將北征，
蒼茫問家室。
維時遭艱虞，
朝野少暇日。
顧慚恩私被，
詔許歸蓬蓽。
拜辭詣闕下，
怵惕久未出。
雖乏諫諍姿，
恐君有遺失。
君誠中興主，
經緯固密勿。
東胡反未已，
臣甫憤所切。
揮涕戀行在，
道途猶恍惚。
乾坤含瘡痍，
憂虞何時畢。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
Autumn, in the second year of the Sovereign Lord,
On the first day of the eighth intercalary moon,
I, Tu Fu, propose to journey to the north
In the hope of being able to call on my wife and family.
At this time of danger and anxiety
There are few days of leisure for officers and common people.
I am overcome with shame at the favours granted to me alone.
An edict permits my return to my "thistles and weeds".
So kneeling and bidding farewell to the throne,
For a long while I remain disconsolate and sad.
Though I lack the ability of a good Censor,
Yet I am afraid my Lord will neglect his duties.
Verily my Lord has come to rule over a new age:
The complex strands will be planned with deliberation.
The rebellion of the East barbarians is not yet put down.
I, the humble Tu Fu, am filled with the gravest anger.
Shedding tears, reluctant to part from the exiled city,
I follow the road, sunk in deep reverie.
The whole nation has suffered such terrible wounds—
When will this sorrow and anxiety end?
<End Translation>