<Header>
<Author: 杜甫>
<Title: 石壕吏>
<Format: 樂府詩>
<Year: 1989>
<BookName: 100 TANG POEMS 唐詩一百首>
<Translator: Zhang Tingchen & Bruce M. Wilson>
<TranslatedTitle: Stone Moat Village Recruiters>
<BookPage: 84-87>
<UsedPage: 4>
<Feature: 2>
<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>
At dusk I found lodging in the village of Stone Moat, 
Where officials began to round people up in the night. 
My old host escaped over the $garden$ wall; 
His elderly wife went to open the door. 
Angry were the shouts of the officials, 
Wretched the wails of the old woman.
Then I heard her step forward to speak: 
"Of three sons defending Yecheng, 
Only one has sent a letter home. 
The other two both fell in battle.
The survivor steals what life he can; 
The dead have sealed their fates. 
In this household there are no more males, 
Except my grandson at his mother's breast. 
That's why she hasn't left us yet— 
Besides, she hasn't any decent clothes.
Take me with you, Sirs, into the night. 
Though I'm but a weak old woman, 
Put me into service at Heyang—  
I've yet the strength to make the morning meals.''  
Though deepening darkness swallowed up their voices, 
It seemed I heard the sound of distant sobs. 
At daybreak, as I prepared to journey forth again, 
Only the old man was left from whom to take my leave.
<End Translation>
<Formatted Translation>
At dusk I found lodging in the village of Stone Moat, 
Where officials began to round people up in the night. 
My old host escaped over the $garden$ wall; 
His elderly wife went to open the door. 
Angry were the shouts of the officials, 
Wretched the wails of the old woman.
Then I heard her step forward to speak: 
"Of three sons defending Yecheng, 
Only one has sent a letter home. 
The other two both fell in battle.
The survivor steals what life he can; 
The dead have sealed their fates. 
In this household there are no more males, 
Except my grandson at his mother's breast. 
That's why she hasn't left us yet— 
Besides, she hasn't any decent clothes.
Though I'm but a weak old woman, 
Take me with you, Sirs, into the night. 
Put me into service at Heyang—  
I've yet the strength to make the morning meals.''  
Though deepening darkness swallowed up their voices, 
It seemed I heard the sound of distant sobs. 
At daybreak, as I prepared to journey forth again, 
Only the old man was left from whom to take my leave.

<End Formatted Translation>