<Header>
<Author: 杜甫>
<Title: 秋興八首 四>
<Format: 七言律詩>
<Year: 1919>
<BookName: Gems of Chinese Verse>
<Translator: W. J. B. Fletcher>
<TranslatedTitle: ODES TO AUTUMN No. 4>
<BookPage: 59-60>
<UsedPage: 2>
<Feature: 4>
<End Header>
<Poem>
聞道長安似弈棊，
百年世事不勝悲。
王侯第宅皆新主，
文武衣冠異昔時。
直北關山金鼓振，
征西車馬羽書遲。
魚龍寂寞秋江冷，
故國平居有所思。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
Ch'ang-an is like a chessboard—so I hear people say.
Too sad for utterance the things these recent years display!
New owners lord it in the Halls where Dukes and Princes dwelt;
Nor in the good old honest way are ranks and titles dealt.
Along the northern frontier the gong and drum vibrate.
To fight the gypsies on the West commands arrive too late.
Like me, the fish and serpents in Autumn's stream are chill.
Sad thoughts of far-off happy times my lonely bosom fill.
<End Translation>