岳飛 昨夜寒蛩不住鳴。 驚回千里夢，已三更。 Last night crickets chirped ceaseless in the cold. Awaken'd from my marathon-campaign dream of old, It was already the third watch, I found.

【小重山】   南宋 • 岳飛

昨夜寒蛩不住鳴。
驚回千里夢，已三更。
起來獨自繞階行。
人悄悄，簾外月朧明。

白首為功名。
舊山松竹老，阻歸程。
欲將心事付瑤琴。
知音少，弦斷有誰聽？


TUNE: SIU CHONG SHAN (“THE TWIN HILLOCKS”)
-- by Yue Fei (1103-1142)  
 -- Translated by Frank C Yue

Last night crickets chirped ceaseless in the cold.
Awaken'd from my marathon-campaign dream of old,
It was already the third watch, I found.
Getting up, alone I pace the courtyard round and round.
Silently I stroll (others are sleeping) --
Outside the curtain, the Moon is hazily shining.

My head's now white, all for victories and fame;
Aging are old-hill pines, bamboos with my name.
Obstacles abound on return route same.
O Were I to express innermost feelings through my qin –
Too few aud'ence! Sounds of broken string, to listen who'll begin?