临江仙

杨慎

滚滚长江东逝水，

浪花淘尽英雄。

是非成败转头空。

青山依旧在，

几度夕阳红。

白发渔樵江渚上，

惯看秋月春风。

一壶浊酒喜相逢。

古今多少事，

都付笑谈中。

Linjiangxian

The torrents of the Yangzi wash away heroes ofyore,

Right or wrong, success or failure, all are nomore.

Green hills and wide rivers remain thesame,

How many times has the setting sun spread itsflame!

Fishermen with white hair work along rivers andon isles,

Rowing their little boats leisurely formiles.

They carry bottles with liquor and drink atease,

Chatting about the past and smiling in thebreeze.

— Tr. 丰华瞻

On and on the Great River rolls, racingeast.

Of proud and gallant heroes its white-tops leaveno trace,

As right and wrong, pride and fall turn all atonce unreal.

Yet ever the green hills stay

To blaze in the west-waningday.

Fishers and woodmen comb the riverisles.

White-crowned, they’ve seen enough of spring andautumn tide

To make good company over the winejar,

Where many a famed event

Provides their merriment.

— Tr. MossRoberts

Lin Jiang Xian

The roaring Yangtze flows evereastward,

Its waves scouring away allheroes.

Success or failure, right or wrong—

They do not seem to matter somuch

Once your back is turned.

But the green mountains will be therestill,

And how many sunsets will carry the gloriousafterglow?

White-haired fishermen work theshoals;

They’ve seen so much of the spring breeze andautumn moon.

A jug of cheap wine to drink to our happymeeting:

So many momentous events, past andpresent,

Are bandied about with alaughter!

— Tr. 龚景浩

Wave on wave the long river eastward rollsaway;

Gone are all heroes with its spray onspray.

Success or failure, right or wrong, all turn outvain;

Only green mountains stillremain

To see the setting sun’s departingray.

The white-haired fishermen sail on the streamwith ease,

Accustomed to the autumn moon and vernalbreeze.

A pot of wine in hand, they talk as theyplease.

How many things before andafter

All melt into gossip andlaughter!

— Tr. 许渊冲

On and on rolls the Yangtze River, chargingeastward;

Like heroes, billows upon billows theycontend.

All fall void: gain or loss, right orwrong —

Everlasting are the green hillsonly;

Time and again the sun’s westeringlonely.

Fishers and woodsmen still comb the beach, hairgray,

Watching autumn moon and spring tide, consistentarray.

Life’s happiness lies: a wine jar, and a goodcompany —

Doesn’t many a precedent event

Still hang on the lips of peoplepresent?

— Tr. 张智中