The sound of one sigh after another,
As Mulan weaves at the doorway.
No sound of the loom and shuttle,
Only that of the girl lamenting.
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 a great draft -
A 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 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 takes leave of her parents at dawn,
To camp beside the Yellow River at dusk.
No sound of her 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 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 desires,
"I've no need for the post of a gentleman official,
I ask to borrow a camel fleet of foot,
To carry me back to my hometown."

Her parents hearing their girl returns,
Out to the suburbs to welcome her back.
Elder sister hearing her sister returns,
Adjusts her rouge by the doorway.
Little brother hearing his sister returns,
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-time clothes.
I adjust my wispy hair at the window sill,
And apply my bisque 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 buck bounds here and there,
Whilst the doe has narrow eyes.
But when the two rabbits run side by side,
How can you tell the female from the male?

Translated by Jack Yuan (2006)

Find the Chinese version on Page 2

木兰辞

å"§å"§å¤å"§å"§ï¼Œæœ¨å…°å½"户织。
不闻机杼声，å"¯é—»å¥³å¹æ¯ã€‚
问女何所思？问女何所忆？
女亦无所思，女亦无所忆。
昨夜见军帖，可汗大点兵，
军书十二卷，卷卷有爷名。
阿爷无大儿，木兰无长兄，
愿为市鞍马，从此替爷征。

东市买骏马，西市买鞍鞯，
南市买è¾"头，北市买长鞭。
朝辞爷娘去，暮宿黄河边。
不闻爷娘å"¤å¥³å£°ï¼Œä½†é—»é»„河流水鸣溅溅。
旦辞黄河去，暮至é»'山头。
不闻爷娘å"¤å¥³å£°ï¼Œä½†é—»ç‡•å±±èƒ¡éª'声啾啾。

万里赴戎机，关山度若飞。
æœ"æ°"ä¼ é‡'柝，å¯'光照é"è¡£ã€‚
将军百战死，壮士十年å½'。

å½'来见天子，天子坐明堂。
策勋十二转，赏赐百千强。
可汗问所欲，“木兰不ç"¨å°šä¹¦éƒŽï¼Œ
愿借明驼千里足，送儿还故乡。”

爷娘闻女来，出郭相扶将。
阿姊闻妹来，å½"户理红妆。
小弟闻姊来，磨刀霍霍å'猪羊。
å¼€æˆ'东阁门，坐æˆ'西阁床。
脱æˆ'战时袍，è'—æˆ'旧时裳。
å½"窗理äº'é¬"，对镜贴花黄。
出门看火伴，火伴皆惊惶。
同行十二年，不知木兰是女郎。

“雄å…"è„šæ‰'æœ"，雌å…"眼迷离；
两å…"傍地走，安能辨æˆ'是雄雌！”