The Soldier sighs for Wife and Home

When the beating of drums was heard around,
How we sprang to our weapons with leap and bound!
But the fields must have some, and the walls of Ts'o; —
We alone to the South must a-marching go.

So we followed our leader Sun Tse-Chung,
And a peace there was made with Ch'in and Sung.
But of homeward march is no sign as yet,
And our hearts are heavy, and pine and fret.

Ah! here we are lingering; here we stay;
And our steeds go wandering far astray;
And quest of them all must needs be made
Away in the depths of the woodland shade.

But, though far to be severed in death or life,
We are bound by the pledge each gave to his wife;
And we vowed, as we stood then hand in hand,
By each other in life's last years to stand.

Alas! now wide is the gulf between!
And life to us now is a blank, I ween.
And, alas, for the plighted troth — so vain!
Untrue to our words we must aye remain.