Hard is the road to Shu

Oho! Behold the road to Shu so steep, so high!

To take the road is harder than to climb the sky.
Since the two pioneers
Put Kingdom Shu in order,
Have passed forty-eight thousand years,
And few since then have passed its border.
There's a bird track from Great White mountain in the West,
Leading to Eyebrow Mountain's crest.
The crumbled mountain killed the brave workmen,
Along the cliffs a rocky path was hacked then.
Above stand peaks too high for the sun to pass o'er;
Below the torrents run back and forth, churn and roar.
E'en the immortal crane can't fly across;
We find all skilful gibbons at a loss.
The Green Mud Ridge makes tortuous grimaces;
Around the top we take nine turns each hundred paces.
Looking up breathless, I could touch the stars nearby;
Beating the breast, I sink aground with long, long sigh.
When may I come back from this journey to the west?
How can I climb up dangerous path and mountain crest,
Where I can hear on ancient trees but sad birds wail,
And see the female birds fly, followed by the male?
And hear home-going cuckoos weep
Beneath the moon in mountains deep?
To go to Shu is harder than to climb the sky;
If you heard this, your cheeks would lose their rosy dye.
Between the sky and peaks is not a foot's space;
Ancient pines hang head down from the cliff's surface;
Cataracts and torrents dash on boulders under,
Roaring like thousands of echoes of thunder.
So dangerous these places are!
Alas! Why should I come here from afar?
Sword Path between the cliffs is narrow, steep and high,
Guarded by one
And forced by none.
Disloyal guards
Are wolves and pards,
Man-eating tigers at daybreak,
At dusk blood-sucking snake.

We might make merry in the Town of Silk, I know,
But I would rather homeward go.
To go to Shu is harder than to climb the sky;
I turn and westward look with long, long sigh.

蜀道难

噫吁戏，危乎高哉
蜀道之难难于上青天
蚕丛及鱼凫
开国何茫然
尔来四万八千岁
始与秦塞通人烟
西当太白有鸟道
可以横绝峨眉巅
地崩山摧壮士死
然后天梯石栈方钩连
上有六龙回日之高标
下有冲波逆折之回川
黄鹤之飞尚不得
猿猱欲度愁攀援
青泥何盘盘
百步九折萦岩峦
扪参历井仰胁息
以手抚膺坐长叹
问君西游何时还
畏途□（繁体“谗”换山旁）岩不可攀
但见悲鸟号古木
雄飞雌从绕林间
又闻子规啼
夜月愁空山
蜀道之难难于上青天
使人听此凋朱颜
连峰去天不盈尺
枯松倒挂倚绝壁
飞湍瀑流争喧［兀豕］
冰崖转石万壑雷
其险也如此
嗟尔远道之人，胡为乎来哉
剑阁峥嵘而崔嵬
一夫当关
万夫莫开
所守或匪亲
化为狼与豺
朝避猛虎
夕避长蛇
磨牙吮血
杀人如麻
锦城虽云乐
不如早还家
蜀道之难难于上青天
侧身西望常咨嗟