Ballad of Mulan
Mulan stops weaving when she learns that her father has been called to serve in the army. There is no older brother to take his place, so she decides to go herself. She buys a horse and equipment, leaves her family and rides towards the frontier. This ballad follows a young woman through the hardships of war, keeping her wish to protect her father at the heart of a far-reaching journey.
二泉映月
The sound of one sigh after another,
As Mulan weaves at the doorway.
No sound of the loom and shuttle,
Only the girl’s sighs of sorrow.Only that of the girl lamenting.
Ask her who she thinks of,Ask her of whom she thinks,
Ask her for whom she longs.
"There is no one I think of,
There is no one I long for.
Last night I saw the army notice,
The Khan is calling many men to warThe Khan is calling a great draft –
A dozen books of army listsA dozen volumes of battle rolls,
Each one with my father's name.
My father has no grown-up son,
And I have no elder brother.
I'm willing to buy a horse and saddle,
To go to battle in my father's place."
She buys a fine horsea fine steed at the east market;
A saddle and blanket at the west market;
A bridle at the south market;
And a long whip at the north market.
She says goodbye to her parentsShe takes leave of her parents at dawn,
To camp beside the Yellow River at dusk.
No sound of her parents calling to their girlher parents hailing their girl,
Just the rumbling waters of the Yellow River.
She leaves the Yellow River at dawn,
To reach the Black Mountains by dusk.
No sound of her parents calling to their girlher parents hailing their girl,
Just the cries of barbarian cavalry in the Yan hills.
Ten thousand miles she rode in war,
Crossing passes and mountains as if on a wing.
On the northern air comes the sentry's gong,
Cold light shines on her coat of steel.
The general dead after a hundred battles,
The warriors return after ten years.
They return to see the Son of Heaven,
Who sits in the Hall of Brilliance.
The rolls of merit spin a dozen times,
Rewards in the hundreds and thousands.
The Khan asks her what she wishes forwhat she desires,
"I've no need for the post of a gentleman official,
I ask for the swiftest horse,
To carry me back to my hometown."
Her parents hear their girl is returning,Her parents hearing their girl returns,
And go to the edge of town to welcome her back.Out to the suburbs to welcome her back.
Her elder sister hears her sister is returning,Elder sister hearing her sister returns,
And touches up her blush by the doorway.Adjusts her rouge by the doorway.
Her little brother hears his sister is returning,Little brother hearing his sister returns,
And sharpens his knife for pigs and lamb.Sharpens his knife for pigs and lamb.
"I open my east chamber door,
And sit on my west chamber bed.
I take off my battle cloak,
And put on my old clothesold-time clothes.
I adjust my wispy hair at the window sill,
And apply my light-coloured makeupbisque makeup by the mirror.
I step out to see my comrades-in-arms,
They are all surprised and astounded:
'We travelled twelve years together,
Yet didn't realise Mulan was a lady!'"
The male hare bounds here and there,The buck bounds here and there,
While the female hare has narrow eyes.Whilst the doe has narrow eyes.
But when the two hares run side by side,
How can you tell the female from the male?