Red Cliffs Rhapsody

念奴嬌

赤壁懷古

蘇軾 (1037-1101)

大江東去，

浪淘盡、千古風流人物。

故壘西邊，

人道是、三國周郎赤壁。

亂石穿空，

驚濤拍岸，

卷起千堆雪。

江山如畫，

一時多少豪杰!

遙想公瑾當年，

小喬初嫁了，

雄姿英發。

羽扇綸巾，

談笑間、

檣櫓灰飛煙滅。

故國神游，

多情應笑我,

早生華發。

人生如夢，

一樽還酹江月。

Tune: Niannu Jiao

Red Cliffs Rhapsody

By Su Shi (1037-1101)

Eastwards the Great River flows,

Waves wash away all the gallant heroes

Through thousands of bygone years!

West of the ancient rampart they call it Red Cliff

Of the Three Kingdoms the battle field,

Remembered by the name of General Zhou.

Jagged rocks pierce the clouds,

Tempestuous waves lash the shore,

Whipping up thousands of layers of snow.

What hosts of heroes once there were

In such a splendid painting of mountain and river!

Imagine young General Zhou in those days,

Having Xiao Qiao, the bride so fair,

Majestic and spirited himself,

With a silk kerchief binding hair,

And a plume fan in hand,

Laughing and jesting,

While Cao Cao’s fleet was destroyed as planned.

Were I to visit the ancient Kingdom,

Sentimental, I would be laughed at,

And my hair turned grey earlier.

Life is but a dream,

Let me pour a libation

To the river with moonlight gleam.