<Header>
<Author: 杜甫>
<Title: 石壕吏>
<Format: 樂府詩>
<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: THE RECRUITING OFFICER>
<BookPage: 205>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 0>
<End Header>
<Poem>
暮投石壕邨，
有吏夜捉人。
老翁踰牆走，
老婦出門看。
吏呼一何怒，
婦啼一何苦。
聽婦前致詞，
三男鄴城戍。
一男附書致，
二男新戰死。
存者且偷生，
死者長已矣。
室中更無人，
惟有乳下孫。
有孫母未去，
出入無完帬。
老嫗力雖衰，
請從吏夜歸。
急應河陽役，
猶得備晨炊。
夜久語聲絕，
如聞泣幽咽。
天明登前途，
獨與老翁別。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
When the sun set, I came to the village of Shi-kao,
At night the recruiting officer came to round up the men.
An old man took fright and escaped over a wall.
The old woman went forward and asked to be arrested—
How terribly the officer howled at her!
Then I heard the old woman saying through tears:
"My three sons have joined the camp at Yeh,
One of them sent me a letter saying:
'Two of my brothers have died in the wars,
And the living one thinks he has not much longer to live'.
O, the dead, they go on their journey.
There are no more children in this house,
Except a grandson who is still suckling.
Even his mother cannot go with you—
She has not a whole skirt to go in.
Though I am old, and have little strength,
I beg you to let me go with you.
I will be some use—I can prepare food,
I can cook rice and prepare soldiers' meals".
The night was dead, the sounds of talking ceased.
I seemed to hear sobbing and lamentations.
The next morning I continued on my way,
And said farewell to the old man of the house.
<End Translation>