《国风·邶风·击鼓》是周代著名文学作品《诗经》中的诗歌。全诗共五章：前三章征人自叙出征情景，承接绵密，已经如怨如慕，如泣如诉；后两章描写战士间的互相勉励、同生共死，令人感动。此诗描写士卒长期征战之悲，无以复加。其中，描写战士感情的“执子之手，与子成说；死生契阔，与子偕老”，在后世也被用来形容夫妻情深。

《诗经--国风·邶风·击鼓》

击鼓其镗，踊跃用兵。
土国城漕，我独南行。

从孙子仲，平陈与宋。
不我以归，忧心有忡。

爰居爰处，爰丧其马，
于以求之，于林之下。

死生契阔，与子成说。
执子之手，与子偕老。

于嗟阔兮，不我活兮。
于嗟洵兮，不我信兮。

Beating the Drum

The drums are booming out;
We're busy all about,
Building walls high and low.
Alone I southward go.

I follow Sun Zizhong
To fight with Chen and Song.
I cannot homeward go;
My heart is full of woe.

Where stops and stays our force?
I've lost my battle horse.
O where can it be found?
It's buried underground.

"Meet or part, live or die,
We've made oath, you and I.
Give me your hand I'll hold,
And live with me till old!"

With my wife I've long parted.
Can I live broken-hearted?
Alas! the oath we swore
Can be fulfilled no more.