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。
垂老別
四郊未寧靜，垂老不得安。
子孫陣亡盡，焉用身獨完？
投杖出門去，同行為辛酸。
幸有牙齒存，所悲骨髓幹。
男兒既介冑，長揖別上官。
老妻臥路啼，歲暮衣裳單。
孰知是死別，且復傷其寒！
此去必不歸，還聞勸加餐！
土門壁甚堅，杏園度亦難。
勢異鄴城下，縱死時猶寬。
人生有離合，豈擇盛衰端？
憶昔少壯日，遲迴竟長嘆。
萬國盡征戍，烽火被岡戀。
積屍草木腥，流血川原丹。
何鄉為樂土，安敢尚盤桓！
棄絕蓬室居，塌然摧肺肝。
THE OLD COUPLE PART
War everywhere, and though old
I cannot have peace, for with
Sons and grandsons killed, life
For me has little meaning;
So now throwing away my stick
I leave home again, pitied by
My comrades, yet telling myself
I still have some teeth, though
My bones are brittle; fitting up
As a soldier, then reporting to
An officer to take his orders;
On leaving I pass my old wife
Crying as she kneels by the path;
Notice how the winter wind blows
Through her thin clothing; think
How unlikely it is that we shall
Ever meet again, then worry that
She may catch cold, she simply
Telling me to eat well and take care;
Fortifications at Tumen Pass are strong,
River crossings at Xingyuan difficult;
Yet there the situation is better than at
Yecheng; maybe there is still some time
To live, though one knows that separation
From life is a common enough thing,
for both
Young and old; how I regret bygone
days for
Now all our land is mad with war;
Beacon fires smoke, corpses
Lie stinking amongst the grass, and the blood
Of our people stains the countryside,
Making one wonder where peace and joy
May be found; things at home as bad as on
The frontier; now no reason for me to stay!
I must go, for sorrow has broken my heart.
