On Jing Ke
- Poetry of Tao Yuanming

燕丹善养士，志在报强嬴。

招集百夫良，岁暮得荆卿。

君子死知己，提剑出燕京；

素骥鸣广陌，慷慨送我行。

雄发指危冠，猛气冲长缨。

饮饯易水上，四座列群英。

渐离击悲筑，宋意唱高声。

萧萧哀风逝，淡淡寒波生。

商音更流涕，羽奏壮士惊。

心知去不归，且有后世名。

登车何时顾，飞盖入秦庭。

凌厉越万里，逶迤过千城。

图穷事自至，豪主正怔营。

惜哉剑术疏，奇功遂不成。

其人虽已没，千载有余情。

Prince Dan of Yan had heroes in his court

And sought revenge on Qin with their support.

Among the hundred warriors free from fear,

Jing Ke was chosen at the end of the year.

Prepared to help his friend,an honest man,

Jing took his sword and left the state of Yan.

White horses neighed upon the open fields;

Men wished him good luck with their swords and shields.

His hat appeared to rise with indignation;

His tassels seemed to quiver with vexation.

In the farewell banquet by the Yishui Stream,

Sat at table heroes of esteem.

Gao Jianli struck up a poignant note;

Song Yi sang songs at the top of his throat.

High and low,the wind whined sad and bold;

Up and down,the waves sobbed mad and cold.

The low-pitch notes moved heroes into tears;

The high-pitch notes freed warriors out of fears.

Jing was aware that he could not return

But his fame as a hero he would earn.

He ne'er looked back when he stepped on his cart,

Riding to the Qin court with a valiant heart.

Ten thousand miles were passed without delay;

A thousand towns were travelled on the way.

When the map was unrolled,he thrust his sword

At the king of Qin,a tyrannous lord.

Pity that his thrust had missed the king,

A spoiled exploit of which the bards would sing.

Although the noble-minded Jing is dead,

For a thousand years or more his name will spread.