Villain shows his indiscretion, Villain's partner makes confession. Juvenile, with golden tresses, Finds her pa and dons long dresses. Scapegrace comes home money-laden, Hero comforts tearful maiden, Soubrette marries loyal chappie, Villain skips, and all are happy.
Enraged, I lean on the rail as rain ceases. I look skyward, and sigh -- then roar. My grand legacy has crumbled to dust: A journey of thirty years and 8,000 li.
Young men, don't let regret come with gray hair! The shame of Jingkang lingers -- a foul taste We Generals must wash from our mouths. Let's charge our chariots through Helan Pass To feast on the flesh of our foes & drink their blood. Only then can we return home with honor.
In Chinese, the poem is entitled 滿江紅 (Man Jiang Hong,) “The Whole River, Red”:
When you are old and grey and full of sleep, And nodding by the fire, take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true, But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars, Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled And paced upon the mountains overhead And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
When I was one-and-twenty I heard a wise man say, "Give crowns and pounds and guineas but not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies but keep your fancy free." But I was one-and-twenty, No use to talk to me.
When I was one-and-twenty I heard him say again, "The heart out of the bosom Was never given in vain; 'Tis paid with sighs a plenty And sold for endless rue." And I am two-and-twenty, And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.
White clouds engird the mountain. Stone steps climb to nothingness. Alone, the poet leans on his staff, gazing into the expanse, and accompanies the stream: bamboo flute joining murmurs of unseen flowing water.
I am no priest of crooks nor creeds, For human wants and human needs Are more to me than prophets' deeds; And human tears and human cares Affect me more than human prayers.
Go, cease your wail, lugubrious saint! You fret high Heaven with your plaint. Is this the "Christian's joy" you paint? Is this the Christian's boasted bliss? Avails your faith no more than this?
Take up your arms, come out with me, Let Heav'n alone; humanity Needs more and Heaven less from thee. With pity for mankind look 'round; Help them to rise -- and Heaven is found.