Lament for a Prince (Du Fu: Lament for a Prince)

On the walls of Chang’an white crows appear,

At night they fly to Yanqiu Gate and cry.

They fly to grand mansions, pecking at the roofs—

Within, the nobles flee the barbarian horde.

Golden whips are broken, nine imperial horses dead;

Blood kin have no time to flee together.

Jade pendants and green coral hang at their waists—

A pitiable prince weeps by the roadside.

Questioned, he will not speak his name or clan;

Only begs, in hardship, to be a servant.

For a hundred days he has fled through thorns;

No patch of skin on his body is whole.

The sons of Gaozu all have high-bridged noses—

The dragon’s seed is different from common men.

Jackals and wolves are in the city, dragons in the wild—

Prince, take good care of your precious body.

I dare not speak long on the main road;

Only pause for a moment, stand by your side.

Last night the east wind brought a smell of blood;

Eastward camels fill the old capital.

The northern warriors have fine skills—

How fierce they were once, how foolish they are now!

In private I hear the heir has taken the throne;

His sacred virtue makes the Southern Chanyu submit from the north.

The Huamen people cut their faces, begging to fight and avenge shame—

A thousand cautions: do not speak, lest you be trapped.

Alas, Prince, be ever so cautious—

From the five imperial tombs, the auspicious vapor never ceases.