Part 10 (2/2)

_Conscripts leaving for the Frontier_[43]

BY TU-FU

T'ANG DYNASTY

Chariots rumbling; horses neighing; Soldiers shouting martial cries; Drums are sounding; trumpets braying; Seas of glittering spears arise.

On each warrior's back are hanging Deadly arrows, mighty bows; Pipes are blowing, gongs are clanging, On they march in serried rows.

Age-bowed parents, sons and daughters Crowd beside in motley bands; Here one stumbles, there one falters Through the clouds of blinding sands.

Wives and mothers sometimes clinging To their loved ones in the ranks, Or in grief their bodies flinging On the dusty crowded flanks.

Mothers', wives', and children's weeping Rises sad above the din,-- Through the clouds to Heaven creeping-- Justice begging for their kin.

'To what region are they going?'

Asks a stranger pa.s.sing by; 'To the Yellow River, flowing Through the desert bare and dry!

'Forced conscription daily snapping Ties which bind us to our clan; Forced conscription slowly sapping All the manhood of the Han.'

And the old man went on speaking To the stranger from afar: ''Tis the Emperor, glory seeking, Drives them 'neath his baleful star.

'Guarding river; guarding pa.s.ses On the frontier, wild and drear; Fighting foes in savage ma.s.ses-- Scant of mercy, void of fear.

'Proclamations, without pity, Rain upon us day by day, Till from village, town, and city All our men are called away.

'Called away to swell the flowing Of the streams of human blood, Where the bitter north wind blowing Petrifies the ghastly flood.

'Guarding pa.s.ses through the mountains, Guarding rivers in the plain; While in sleep, in youth's clear fountain, Scenes of home come back again.

'But, alas! the dream is leaded With the morn's recurring grief, Only few return--grey-headed-- To their homes, for days too brief.

'For the Emperor, still unheeding Starving homes and lands untilled, On his fatuous course proceeding, Swears his camps shall be refilled.

'Hence new levies are demanded, And the war goes on apace, Emperor and foemen banded In the slaughter of the race.

'All the region is denuded Of its men and hardy boys, Only women left, deluded Of life's promise and its joys.

'Yet the prefects clamour loudly That the taxes must be paid,-- Ride about and hector proudly!

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