哀王孙 Lament of the Highborn
长安城头头白乌，夜飞延秋门上呼。
cháng ān chéng tóu tóu bái wū ， yè fēi yán qiū mén shàng hū 。
又向人家啄大屋，屋底达官走避胡。
yòu xiàng rén jiā zhuó dà wū ， wū dǐ dá guān zǒu bì hú 。
金鞭断折九马死，骨肉不得同驰驱。
jīn biān duàn zhē jiǔ mǎ sǐ ， gǔ ròu bù dé tóng chí qū 。
腰下宝玦青珊瑚，可怜王孙泣路隅。
yāo xià bǎo 玦 qīng shān hú ， kě lián wáng sūn qì lù yú 。
问之不肯道姓名，但道困苦乞为奴。
wèn zhī bù kěn dào xìng míng ， dàn dào kùn kǔ qǐ wéi nú 。
已经百日窜荆棘，身上无有完肌肤。
yǐ jīng bǎi rì cuàn jīng jí ， shēn shàng wú yǒu wán jī fū 。
高帝子孙尽隆准，龙种自与常人殊。
gāo dì zǐ sūn jìn lóng zhǔn ， lóng zhǒng zì yǔ cháng rén shū 。
豺狼在邑龙在野，王孙善保千金躯。
chái láng zài yì lóng zài yě ， wáng sūn shàn bǎo qiān jīn qū 。
不敢长语临交衢，且为王孙立斯须。
bù gǎn cháng yǔ lín jiāo qú ， qiě wéi wáng sūn lì sī xū 。
昨夜东风吹血腥，东来橐驼满旧都。
zuó yè dōng fēng chuī xuè xīng ， dōng lái tuó tuó mǎn jiù dū 。
朔方健儿好身手，昔何勇锐今何愚。
shuò fāng jiàn ér hǎo shēn shǒu ， xī hé yǒng ruì jīn hé yú 。
窃闻天子已传位，圣德北服南单于。
qiè wén tiān zǐ yǐ chuán wèi ， shèng dé běi fú nán dān yú 。
花门剺面请雪耻，慎勿出口他人狙。
huā mén lí miàn qǐng xuě chǐ ， shèn wù chū kǒu tā rén jū 。
哀哉王孙慎勿疏，五陵佳气无时无。
āi zāi wáng sūn shèn wù shū ， wǔ líng jiā qì wú shí wú 。
Background
This poem was written in the second year after the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion. On June 9th of the 15th year of Tianbao of Emperor Xuanzong (756 AD), the city of Tongguan (潼关) fell to the rebels.
On the 13th, Xuanzong fled to the neighbouring province of Shu, only taking a few sisters of Yang Guifei (杨贵妃) with him, while the rest of the concubines, imperial grandsons, and princesses could not escape in time.
In July, Sun Xiaozhe (孙孝哲), a general under An Lushan, captured Chang’an and killed more than a hundred people including Princess Huo Chang (霍长公主). This poem was written at this time. The “highborn” referred to in the poem should be a survivor of the great disaster.
This poem describes the tragic fate of the once royal lineage.
Overview
The poetry of Du Fu is also known as historical poetry and this work expresses this concept well.
As a whole, the poem has an antique tint and a vastness to its scope. The poet's descriptions are all firsthand experiences or accounts of the situation, and the reality of the moment is brought to life.
It is both moving and straightforward. He provides the situation in a concise manner while maintaining a genuine and intimate tone.
The literature demonstrates its spirit when it displays sympathy, emotion when it displays conversation, truth when it displays reasoning, and urgency when it displays hope.
First Section
长安城头头白乌，夜飞延秋门上呼。
A crow of white atop Chang’an’s wall It flies and wails by autumn’s gate at night
又向人家啄大屋，屋底达官走避胡。
It strikes at roofs where wealthy houses sprawl, Where courtiers from foreign foes take flight
金鞭断折九马死，骨肉不得同驰驱。
Nine mounts with golden whips lie dead and cold, No kin to share their final ride and flight
The royal and noble ancestors who used to live in splendid halls and high palaces have all fled Chang'an, claiming to have "escaped from the Hu people" along the route. "The golden whip is broken, and nine horses are dead," they fled so quickly that they shattered their gold-decorated whips and slaughtered nine horses. This is intended to convey the panic caused during their escape.
腰下宝玦青珊瑚，可怜王孙泣路隅。
A coral gem adorns his waist of gold, The royal grandson sobs along the site
Because they fled so quickly and urgently, they couldn't even take all of their children with them, so some "poor royal grandsons cried at the corner of the road" because they lost their parents and were abandoned by their parents in Chang'an.
Second Section
问之不肯道姓名，但道困苦乞为奴。
He shuns to tell his name when he is asked, But claims he’s wretched and implores a bond
Du Fu questioned these royal grandsons, saying, "When asked, they refused to give their names, but only said that they were begging for slavery in hardship." These former royal and noble descendants were afraid of being captured as captives by Hu soldiers if they revealed their names. They merely told the poet that they were now in desperate need of money and would be willing to work as slaves for others as long as they could survive.
已经百日窜荆棘，身上无有完肌肤。
For hundred days through briars he has passed, His body scarred, his skin without a sound
Looking at the boy again, it appears that he has hidden in thorns for a hundred days, with no piece of skin left intact on his body.
高帝子孙尽隆准，龙种自与常人殊。
The sovereign’s line are all of noble race, The dragon’s breed from common men is bound
The poem's emotions are extremely complex. There is both the vulgar sense of allegiance to the monarch that imperial heritage is special as well as compassion for the weak who are "only begging for slavery in hardship" in unique historical conditions. Given Du Fu's normal disdain for spoiled young men in brocade robes and jade, this is out of sympathy for their plight.
Third Section
豺狼在邑龙在野，王孙善保千金躯。
The wolves are here, the dragon’s in disgrace, The prince must shield his life of thousand pounds
不敢长语临交衢，且为王孙立斯须。
He dares not talk at busy junctions long, But halts a bit for prince’s sake and cause
昨夜东风吹血腥，东来橐驼满旧都。
Last eve the breeze bore blood and reek along, This dawn the camels throng the ancient laws
朔方健儿好身手，昔何勇锐今何愚。
The northern lads are valiant and adept, How bold they were, how foolish now they pause I learnt the emperor has his throne left
窃闻天子已传位，圣德北服南单于。
The sacred might to north he has withdrawn, the south to khan he has bequeathed
花门剺面请雪耻，慎勿出口他人狙。
He maims his face to plead for vengeance strong, But mind his tongue from trap and threat beneath
哀哉王孙慎勿疏，五陵佳气无时无。
Oh royal child, be wary and be wise, The five tombs’ air is ever fresh and sweet.
Nonetheless, in the final section, the poet consoles the children and gives them hope. While consoling them, he also believes the Tang soldiers will undoubtedly fight back.
There is still fire left in the remnants of the Tang dynasty, and the country will not perish. Wealth of the past will undoubtedly return.
It can be seen that even though Du Fu was in a state of chaos and imprisoned in Chang'an, he still cared about the country and believed in triumph. The poet also kept in touch with his surroundings and remained up to date about current affairs through a variety of intelligence networks.