提剑出燕京。
Jing took his sword and left the state of Yan.
索骥鸣广陌，
White horses neighed upon the open fields;
慷慨送我行。
Men wished him good luck with their swords and shields.
雄发指危冠，
His hat appeared to rise with indignation;
猛气冲长缨。
His tassels seemed to quiver with vexation.
饮饯易水上，
In the farewell banquet by the Yishui Stream,
四座列群英。
Sat at table heroes of esteem.
渐离击悲筑，
Gao Jianli struck up a poignant note;
宋意唱高声。
Song Yi sang songs at the top of his throat.
萧萧哀风逝，
High and low, the wind whined sad and bold;
淡淡寒波生。
Up and down, the waves sobbed mad and cold.
商音更流涕，
The low-pitch notes moved heroes into tears;
羽奏壮士惊。
The high-pitch notes freed warriors out of fears.
心知去不归，
Jing was aware that he could not return
且有后世名。
But his fame as a hero he would earn.
登车何时顾，
He ne'er looked back when he stepped on his cart,
飞盖入秦庭。
Riding to the Qin court with a valiant heart.
凌厉越万里，
Ten thousand miles were passed without delay;
透迤过千城。
A thousand towns were travelled on the way.
图穷事自至，
When the map was unrolled, he thrust his sword
豪主正征营。
At the king of Qin, a tyrannous lord.
惜哉剑术疏，
Pity that his thrust had missed the king,
奇功遂不成！
A spoiled exploit of which the bards would sing.
其人虽已没，
Although the noble-minded Jing is dead,