戏作花卿歌 – 杜甫

成都猛将有花卿，

学语小儿知姓名。

用如快鹘风火生，

见贼唯多身始轻。

绵州副使著柘黄，

我卿扫除即日平。

子璋髑髅血模糊，

手提掷还崔大夫。

李侯重有此节度，

人道我卿绝世无。

既称绝世无，

天子何不唤取守京都。

A Verse by Du Fu

In Chengdu, a fierce general, hight Hua Qing,

Even those babbling toddlers know his name.

Fiery as gale, swift as a falcon’s wing,

He grew lighter with each foe he did tame.

Once the vice prefect of Mianzhou dighted in a regal attire,

Ferocious Hua Qing leapt up to sweep the rebels out.

The severed bloody head, which once tried to conspire,

Hua slung it to magistrate Cui as if it were some trout.

Prince Li lauds the fierce general Hua

As an unrivalled valour guy,

He is now seen as a man, without a par,

Henceforth, I constantly wonder why

Emperor did not summon this audacity

To let him safeguard the city of regality.   

Tr. Ziyuzile

(to be revised)

06/07/2024