为了向英语世界人民介绍中国优秀的古典文化,艾黎充分发挥自己具有深厚中国文化修养的优势,将大量的中国古典诗歌翻译成英文,在英语世界传播。在学习中国文化,研究中国历史的过程中,艾黎了解了杜甫,他对中国历史上这位伟大的诗人推崇备至。杜甫的诗歌与精神也对艾黎产生了非常大的影响。
垂老别
四郊未宁静，垂老不得安。
子孙阵亡尽，焉用身独完？
投杖出门去，同行为辛酸。
幸有牙齿存，所悲骨髓干。
男儿既介胄，长揖别上官。
老妻卧路啼，岁暮衣裳单。
孰知是死别，且复伤其寒！
此去必不归，还闻劝加餐！
土门壁甚坚，杏园度亦难。
势异邺城下，纵死时犹宽。
人生有离合，岂择盛衰端？
忆昔少壮日，迟回竟长叹。
万国尽征戍，烽火被冈恋。
积尸草木腥，流血川原丹。
何乡为乐土，安敢尚盘桓！
弃绝蓬室居，塌然摧肺肝。
THE OLD COUPLE PART
War everywhere, and though old
I cannot have peace, for with
Sons and grandsons killed, life
For me has little meaning;
So now throwing away my stick
I leave home again, pitied by
My comrades, yet telling myself
I still have some teeth, though
My bones are brittle; fitting up
As a soldier, then reporting to
An officer to take his orders;
On leaving I pass my old wife
Crying as she kneels by the path;
Notice how the winter wind blows
Through her thin clothing; think
How unlikely it is that we shall
Ever meet again, then worry that
She may catch cold, she simply
Telling me to eat well and take care;
Fortifications at Tumen Pass are strong,
River crossings at Xingyuan difficult;
Yet there the situation is better than at
Yecheng; maybe there is still some time
To live, though one knows that separation
From life is a common enough thing,
for both
Young and old; how I regret bygone
days for
Now all our land is mad with war;
Beacon fires smoke, corpses
Lie stinking amongst the grass, and the blood
Of our people stains the countryside,
Making one wonder where peace and joy
May be found; things at home as bad as on
The frontier; now no reason for me to stay!
I must go, for sorrow has broken my heart.
