為了向英語世界人民介紹中國優秀的古典文化,艾黎充分發揮自己具有深厚中國文化修養的優勢,將大量的中國古典詩歌翻譯成英文,在英語世界傳播。在學習中國文化,研究中國歷史的過程中,艾黎瞭解了杜甫,他對中國歷史上這位偉大的詩人推崇備至。杜甫的詩歌與精神也對艾黎產生了非常大的影響。
贈衛八處士
人生不相見，動如參與商。
今夕復何夕，共此燈燭光。
少壯能幾時,鬢髮各已蒼!
訪舊半為鬼，驚呼熱中腸。
焉知二十載,重上君子堂。
昔別君未婚,兒女忽成行。
怡然敬父執,問我來何方。
問答未及已，兒女羅酒漿。
夜雨剪春韭,新炊間黃粱。
主稱會面難,一舉累十觴。
十觴亦不醉,感子故意長。
明日隔山嶽,世事兩茫茫。
WRITTEN FOR THESCHOLAR WEI
Our lives have been lived in different worlds;
Yet this night we come together,
Talking while the lamplight lasts;
Once we were young together, but the days Have gone so fast, and now the hair on our temples
Has changed to white;
We speak of old friends now gone; a chance
Has brought me to you; when we parted
Twenty years ago, you had not married, now
You have a troupe of sons and daughters,
Big to small; they were so kind
To me, asking me where I came from, glad
I am their father's friend; without waiting
For more words bringing wine, going out
Into the rain to cut fresh vegetable to put
With my bowl of hot millet; and you say
How difficult it has been for us to meet,
Drinking ten toasts to me, one after another,
Yet we do not get drunk, inspired by
The warmth of your affection;
And tomorrow hills and valleys
Will separate us again, and we will each return
To our own affairs.
