幸蜀回至劍門 玄宗皇帝

幸蜀回至劍門       玄宗皇帝(685-763)

劍閣橫雲峻，鑾輿出狩回，

翠屏千仞合，丹嶂五丁開。

灌木縈旗轉，仙雲拂馬來，

乘時方在德，嗟爾勒銘才。

Passing Jian Ge Back from My Expedition to Shu

Emperor Xuan Zong of Tang (685-763)

Sticking out like swords from amidst the clouds are the precipitous Jian Ge pinnacles,

Returning on my imperial carriage from my expeditional battles,
Thousand foot verdant peaks ranges surround me like panels,
Thanks to the herculean trail blazers of old who explored through these flaming piky ranges on these forbidding high and craggy levels,
Around my imperial standards ancient bushes and shrubbery unfurl,
Puffing into my horses are clouds of diaphanous brume floats,
As an emperor one should justify himself by magnanimous benevolence to one and all,
Seeing to that I’m back safe and sound your feat will be phenomenal.