楊炯 寧爲百夫長， 勝作一書生。 O, To be a fighting Centurion is my firm will! It's far better than a mild-temper'd weakling Scholar still.

 【從軍行】    唐 • 楊炯                     
 
烽火照西京，    
心中自不平。
牙璋辭鳳闕，    
鐵騎繞龍城。
雪暗凋旗畫，    
風多雜鼓聲。
寧爲百夫長，    
勝作一書生。 

CONG JUN XING ("Marching with the Armies")       
-- by YANG JIONG (Tang dynasty)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
 
A string of burning beacons slowly toward Chang-an does crawl; 
My heart stirs and jumps up -- my heart is not at peace at all.
With command talisman, the Gen'ral left the palace in haste,
To encircle with iron-clad cav'lry the Mongol's sacred place. 
Beneath snowy skies, paintings on war banners seem unclear,
As the sounds of howling winds and thund'ring war drums draw near!
O, To be a fighting Centurion is my firm will! 
It's far better than a mild-temper'd weakling Scholar still.