光武中兴兴汉世， The Late Han revived the line of Liu:

上下相承十二帝。 Twelve sovereigns in succession ruled the realm.

桓灵无道宗社坠， But Huan and Ling - the downfall of their thrines -

阉臣擅权为叔季1。Let their eunuchs ruled and doomed house.

无谋何进作三公， Feckless He Jin raised to guide the state,

欲除社鼠招奸雄。 Called tigers into court to clear the rats.

豺獭虽除虎狼入， Vicious vermin out! Savage killers in!

西周立竖生淫凶。 The Zhuo, the western rebel, spread new bane.

王允赤心托红粉， But loyal Wang Yun deployed a subtle maid, 

致令董吕成矛盾。 Who turned Lu Bu against his master Zhuo.

渠魁殄灭天下宁， Dong Zhuo cut down, the realm again knew peace,

谁知李郭心怀愤。 Till Li Jue and Guo Si avenged their lord

神州荆棘争奈何， And plunged our hallowed realm in misery.

六宫饥馑愁干戈。 Their civil trife brought king and queen to grief.

人心既离天命去， Allegiance broken, Heaven's Mandate failed.

英雄割据分山河。 Ambitious heroes carved out our hills and streams.

后王规此存兢业，  Let every future king keep virgil keen   

莫把金瓯等闲缺。 For our nation's precious harmony,

生灵糜烂肝脑涂， Lest living souls be ground into the earth 

剩水残山多怨血。 And stain our soul with blood unjustly shed.

我观遗史不胜悲， To read these pages must break every heart, 

今古茫茫叹黍离2，As men once sighed for great Zhou's glory gone.

人君当守苞桑戒3，They warn the prince to stabilize his rule, 

太阿谁执全纲维4。And watch who holds the sword that guards the laws.

 

《三国演义》第十三回  From Chapter 13, The Three Kindoms 

  

 Translated by Moss Roberts （罗慕士）

 

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1. 叔季：旧称国衰为叔世，将亡为季世，故“叔季”通谓国家衰乱将亡的年代。

2. 黍离：《诗· 王风》篇名，东周大夫出行至旧都镐京，见宗庙宫室毁坏，尽为禾黍，感伤而作此诗。故“黍离之悲”乃亡国之痛。

3. 指帝王应当经常思危而不独自居安，国家才能长治久固。苞桑，根深柢固的桑树，源于《易·否》：“其亡其亡，系于苞桑。”孔颖达疏：“凡物系于桑之苞本，则牢固也。”

4. 太阿：古代名剑之一，即“泰阿剑”。

 

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