大歷二年十月十九日夔府別駕元持宅見臨穎李十二娘舞劍器，壯其蔚跂。問其所師，曰︰「余公孫大娘弟子也。」開元三載，余尚童穉，記於郾城觀公孫氏舞劍器、渾脫，瀏漓頓挫，獨出冠時。自高頭宜春梨園二伎坊內人，洎外供奉，曉是舞者，聖文神武皇帝初，公孫一人而已。玉貌錦衣，況余白首；今茲弟子，亦匪盛顏。既辨其由來，知波瀾莫二。撫事慷慨，聊為〈劍器行〉。昔者吳人張旭，善草書帖，數嘗于鄴縣，見公孫大娘舞西河劍器，自此草書長進，豪蕩感激。即公孫可知矣！
On the nineteenth of October in the second year of the Dali era, I saw a sword dance by a Madam Li of Lingying at the house of Yuan Chi, a lieutenant of the Kui State Office, I really admired the smooth flow of her dance. I asked her from whom she had learn the dance from, she replied: “I am a disciple of Madam Gongsun.” In the third year of Kaiyuan, I was merely a youngster, yet I still remember seeing Gongsun's dances with swords and Huntuo felt hats, a series of rise and fall, turns and spins, outstandingly choreographed, unparalleled by her contemporaries. Of all the leads in the Pear Garden operatic circle, and those outside of the arena, no one could perform these dances as well as Gongsun in those early years of the Sacred Xuanzhong Emperor of literary and military might. Back then she was beautiful and splendidly dressed, now I am a man with a head of grey; even her disciple is no longer of a young age. Since I am now aware of her background, I know that her dance routine is like no other. Memory of a bygone age has evoked many sentiments, leading me to a poem write, one Ode to Swords. Once Zhang Xu of the Wu region, who was skilled in cursive calligraphy, saw Madam Gongsun's West River sword dance in the Ye County, as a result, his cursive script improved significantly, and developed a style that was grand, vigorous and emotional. Such is the apparent influence of Gongsun's performance!
中文原文﹕
昔有佳人公孫氏，
一舞劍器動四方。
觀者如山色沮喪，
天地為之久低昂。
霍如羿射九日落，
矯如群帝驂龍翔，
來如雷霆收震怒，
罷如江海凝清光。
絳唇珠袖兩寂寞，
晚有弟子傳芬芳。
臨穎美人在白帝，
妙舞此曲神揚揚。
與余問答既有以，
感時撫事增惋傷。
先帝侍女八千人，
公孫劍器初第一。
五十年間似反掌，
風塵澒洞昏王室。
梨園子弟散如煙，
女樂餘姿映寒日。
金粟堆前木已拱，
瞿塘石城草蕭瑟。
玳筵急管曲復終，
樂極哀來月東出。
老夫不知其所往？
足繭荒山轉愁疾。
英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕
Once there was a fair lady by the name of Gongsun,
She used to cause a great sensation all over when she danced with swords.
Crowds would gather and build up, surprised and astonished they would be,
Even heaven and earth would come together for her performance in accord.
Her dancing shone like the flare when Hou Yi shot down the nine suns,
And her moves were as swift as the heavenly gods on the fly in dragon chariots,
She used to commence a dance with the power of thunderbolts topping all fury,
And end like still rivers and seas where a clear reflection of the moon would come to port.
Lonesomeness would have begun to show on her crimsoned lips and graceful sleeves,
At least in her late years she had a disciple to her artistic skills pass on.
This fair lady of Lingying has come to Baidi,
She performed a high-spirited dance of vigour without a flaw.
I went over to talk to her for a while,
I couldn't help becoming sentimental as we speak of the times forever gone.
The late emperor had maids of some eight thousands,
Gongsun's dancing skills with swords came number one.
In a turn of a hand gesture readily gone were fifty years of history,
As upheavals and dust storms had the imperial court engulfed.
The operatic circle of the Pear Garden had since scattered like smoke,
What remains of operatic ladies' charm now cheerlessly reflects in the frosty sun.
Before Xuanzong's tomb on the Golden Grain Mound now arch mature trees,
The stone castle by the Qutang Gorge is surrounded by a deary field where grass rustles.
Coming to an end is a lavish banquet and a busy orchestra,
As music fades, sadness takes place, over in the east the moon is up.
Which way should an old man like me head towards?
On my callous feet in the desolate mountains, my thoughts are turning glum.
霍：應為〔火霍〕合字，灼也。
.