Eighteen Refrains on Tartar Pipes 13,14,15 Cai Yan [Cai Wenji] (ca. 177-?)
Tr. YK Chan 陈耀国译

13
不谓残生兮却得旋归，抚抱胡儿兮泣下沾衣。
This late in life my successful repatriation is not expected,
My blouse’s wetted by tears as my Tartar sons are hugged tight.
汉使迎我兮四牡腓腓，号失声兮谁得知？
With the Han emissary and a four-horse-drawn carriage standing by,
Wildly I wail but who cares even when my wailing voices die?
与我生死兮逢此时，愁为子兮日无光辉，焉得羽翼兮将汝归？
In life-death departure, grieving for my boys the sun shines no more; return them not to me before they grow up?
一步一远兮足难移，魂消影绝兮恩爱遗。
A step farther away from them my feet cannot move,
Though their images are disappearing, my love for them is not remov’d.
十有三拍兮弦急调悲，肝肠搅刺兮人莫我知。
At thirteenth refrain the tempo accelerates and melody turns grave,
No one but me know that I fall apart into an abysmal cave.

14
身归国兮儿莫之随，心悬悬兮长如饥。
Repatriated without my sons for upbringing,
My heart forever starves of all my longings.
四时万物兮有盛衰，唯我愁苦兮不暂移。
Everything thrives or dies according to the seasons,
But my sorrow and bitterness never waive with reasons.
山高地阔兮见汝无期，更深夜阑兮梦汝来斯。
In this whole wide world we’ll ne’er meet again,
Late at night in my dream you two come to me again.
梦中执手兮一喜一悲，觉后痛我心兮无休歇时。
Dreaming of holding your hands I’m split between joy and grief,
Awake my heart pangs never stop to offer me relief.
十有四拍兮涕泪交垂，河水东流兮心是思。
By fourteenth refrain my sobs and tears mingle,
Like a stream flowing east my thoughts tingle.

15
十五拍兮节调促，气填胸兮谁识曲？
The tempo accelerates at fifteenth refrain,
Who’d recognize sulking and anger sound like twain?
处 庐兮偶殊俗，愿得归兮天从欲。
Staying in Tartar camp at odds with their custom,
Heaven grants my wish of returning home I fathom.
再还汉国兮欢心足，心有怀兮愁转深。
Repatriating to Han I’m gladly satisfied,
But sadness in my heart is intensified.
日月无私兮曾不照临，子母分离兮意难任。
The sun and moon shine all over but not on me,
For I can’t bear being separated my sons from me
同天隔越兮职商参，生死不相知兮何处寻？
Under the same sky yet we can ne’er meet,
About each other’s well being where to seek?

Eighteen Refrains on Tartar Pipes 10, 11, 12 Cai Yan [Cai Wenji] (ca. 177-?)
Tr. YK Chan 陈耀国译

10
城头烽火不曾灭，疆场征战何时歇？
Beacons on the Great Wall are ne’er out at ease,
Will fights on the battlefield ever cease?
杀气朝朝冲塞门，胡风夜夜吹边月。
Day after day killing rampages through the frontier gates,
Night after night gusts whip along moonlit border in haste.
故乡隔兮音尘绝，哭无声兮气将咽。
Isolated from homeland news can’t be heard,
Muted sobs of frustration are swallowed and unheard.
一生辛苦兮缘离别，十拍悲深兮泪成血。
A hard life since my separation from those I love,
At sad tenth refrain my tears turn fast into blood.

11
我非贪生而恶死，不能捐身兮心有以。
I loathe dying not because I wish to long live,
For good reasons I don’t take my own life.
生仍冀得兮归桑梓，死当埋骨兮长已矣。
Living, so one day to my homeland I’ll return,
If dead, and my bones buried that’s just not a concern.
日居月诸兮在戎垒，胡人宠我兮有二子。
Day in day out staying in war camp what I’ve done;
Tartar spoils me as I bore him two sons.
鞠之育之兮不羞耻，悯之念之兮生长边鄙。
Them I nurture without dishonour,
‘Tis a pity they’re brought up off the border.
十有一拍兮因兹起，哀响缠绵兮彻心髓。
So it starts for the eleventh refrain,
My grief lingers deep inside unrestrained.

12
东风应律兮暖气多，知是汉家天子兮布阳和。
Vernal breezes harmonize in a warming trend,
By virtue of the Han emperor’s grace it tends.
羌胡蹈舞兮共讴歌，两国交欢兮罢兵戈。
Southern Huns celebrate by song and dance,
For the two nations reconcile and lay down their arms.
忽遇汉使兮称近诏，遣千金兮赎妾身。
Han emissary suddenly brings forth the emperor’s mission,
That’s to send handsome monies for my repatriation.
喜得生还兮逢圣君，嗟别稚子兮会无因。
Joyful of survival and meeting the virtuous son of heaven,
But regrets to leaving young sons without good reason.
十有二拍兮哀乐均，去往两情兮难具陈。
At twelfth refrain grief and joy made even,
My mixed emotions are difficult for entailment.