石壕吏

石壕吏

暮投石壕村，有吏夜捉人。

老翁逾墙走，老妇出门看。

吏呼一何怒，妇啼一何苦。

听妇前致词，三男邺城戍。

一男附书至，二男新战死。

存者且偷生，死者长已矣！

室中更无人，惟有乳下孙。

有孙母未去，出入无完裙。

老妪力虽衰，请从吏夜归。

急应河阳役，犹得备晨炊。

夜久语声绝，如闻泣幽咽。

天明登前途，独与老翁别。

In the evening, I arrive at the village by the stone moat,

Where an official at night captures people.

An old man climbs over the wall and flees,

An old woman comes out to look.

The official shouts, "Why this anger?"

The woman weeps, "Why this suffering?"

Listening to her, she speaks of three sons stationed at Ye City,

One son sends a letter, the other two have died in recent battles.

For those who survive, they merely steal life,

For those who died, it's long gone!

In the house, there's no one left,

Except for a grandson still at the breast.

The grandson's mother has not left,

Coming and going with incomplete clothes.

Although the old woman's strength is weak,

She pleads with the official to let her return at night.

Urgent tasks await in Héyáng,

Yet she manages to prepare a morning meal.

As the night drags on, voices cease,

As if hearing a quiet sob.

When daybreak comes, on the road ahead,

I part ways with the old man alone.