Xin Qizi: Drunk, I Brightened Up The Lamp To Examine The Sword With My Name辛棄疾 醉里挑燈看劍 夢回吹角連營 Poem by Frank Yue

Tune: Shattering The Enemy Formations
Tune:
- XIN QIZI

Drunk, I brightened up the lamp
To examine the sword with my name;
In my dream, I heard war horns sounding -
From battalions to battalions resounding!
Under the Marshall's great banner,
The armies marched for eight hundred miles.
The fifty-string instrument playing with frontiers rhythm;
Reviewing the troops on the battleground in Autumn.
The fine horses charged forth like lightning,
Like thunders, myriad bow-strings roaring.
To wrap up the Emperor's state affairs -
To gain great glory I was willing to die,
Alas! Just a white-haired old man now am I!

(2020.11.13)

Another version:

TUNE: PO ZHEN ZI - Crushing the Enemy Formations
TITLE: Words of Encouragement Sent to Chen Tongfu
-- by XIN QIJI (1140-1207)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

Drunk, I brighten up the flame on the lamp
To examine a fine sword with my name;
In m'dream, from garrison to garrison,
The horns a-blowing in unison.
The troopers wolf down their barbequed beef bless'd
With sounds of string music in the wilderness.
Parading my troops I stand (with eagerness) .

Our war horses charge forth as if they were flying;
All drawn bows release their arrows like thundering.
Now, fulfilling the Sovereign-granted mission fine --
For prosperity, the great Fame shall be mine.
O! A pitiable white-hair guy!


破陣子•為陳同甫賦壯詞以寄之
- 南宋 辛棄疾

醉里挑燈看劍，夢回吹角連營。
八百里分麾下炙，五十弦翻塞外聲。沙場秋點兵。

馬作的盧飛快，弓如霹靂弦驚。
了卻君王天下事，贏得生前身後名。可憐白髮生！山