霸王别姬
The Hegemon Bids Farewell to His Beloved
Original Chinese with an English reading translation.
飞蹄踏尸过，后尘升复平。
Flying hooves pass over the fallen; behind them dust rises, then settles.
千兵逐十骑，刀剑不绝音。
A thousand soldiers pursue ten riders; swords and sabres never cease to ring.
英雄终欲落，神勇万世名。
The hero must at last fall, his valour named through countless ages.
纵天下灭我，亦战死不屈。
Though all beneath heaven destroy me, I shall die fighting, never yield.
汉王春部兵，意欲东伐楚。
In spring the King of Han assembled troops, intending to march east against Chu.
凡五十六万，尽西蜀强兵。
Five hundred and sixty thousand, all strong soldiers from the west of Shu.
项羽自携卒，旨在天下征。
Xiang Yu led his own men, bent on conquering the realm.
率忠士三万，破汉军十馀。
With thirty thousand loyal soldiers, he broke a Han host many times their number.
数占城池下，屡败刘邦去。
City after city fell; again and again Liu Bang was driven back.
震彭城十颤，扬沙石千里。
Pengcheng shook beneath the blows; sand and stones flew for a thousand li.
周苛烹荥阳，彭越走东阿。
Zhou Ke was boiled at Xingyang; Peng Yue fled toward Dong’e.
辗转八方战，军疲罢转漕。
Fighting in every direction, the army wearied and the grain convoys faltered.
“今天下匈匈，惟吾二人争。
“The world is in turmoil because the two of us contend.
何无一战毕，免苦世间民！”
Why not end it in a single fight, and spare the people’s suffering!”
项王竖矛立，嗔目挑战起。
The King of Xiang stood with spear upright, glaring as he issued his challenge.
汉王以推辞，勉强差人应。
The King of Han declined, reluctantly sending another to reply.
鸿沟与汉约，中分天下地。
At Honggou they made their pact, dividing the lands beneath heaven.
楚军东归去，汉兵趁危袭。
Chu’s army withdrew eastward; Han struck while it was vulnerable.
时运惜不济，功业致相反。
Alas, fortune failed him, and achievement turned upon itself.
精卒难耗久，长驻遇断粮。
Even chosen troops cannot endure forever; a long encampment brought an end to grain.
垓下壁残兵，数重围诸侯。
At Gaixia the remnant army held its walls, surrounded by the lords on every side.
虞姬正思量，四面楚歌声。
Lady Yu sat in thought as songs of Chu rose all around.
“夕阳兮夕阳，冥思而怀想。
“Setting sun, O setting sun—deep in thought, I dwell on memory.
路遥兮路遥，征将恋旧乡。”
Long road, O long road—the campaigning general yearns for home.”
项王邀军饮，共叙当年勇。
The King of Xiang invited his men to drink and speak of their former courage.
姬知业将近，浅吟替君唱。
She knew his enterprise was nearing its end, and softly sang for him.
“楚地兮霸王，自志征天下。
“Hegemon of Chu, you set your heart on conquering the world.
孤傲兮将军，独身赴战场。
Proud and solitary general, you went alone into the field.
众人兮相悖，坑秦卒余万。
You turned against the multitude and buried Qin’s soldiers by the myriad.
立君兮不善，弑义帝江中。
You dealt ill with the ruler you had raised, slaying the Righteous Emperor upon the river.
力以拔山兮，进势无人挡。
Your strength could uproot mountains; none could halt your advance.
气以盖世兮，豪迈孰者当。
Your spirit overshadowed the age—who could rival such boldness?
何料兮食尽，疲乏力难酬。
Who foresaw the grain exhausted, your weary strength unable to answer?
何料兮兵绝，困苦破难为。
Who foresaw the army spent, the siege too hard to break?
惟愿兮不周，尚功业未成。
Only the wish remains unfulfilled, the great work still undone.
惟志兮不尽，留天下未征。”
Only the will remains unspent, with the world still unconquered.”
项王置尊笑，挺起将士中。
The King of Xiang set down his cup and smiled, rising among his soldiers.
恨慨不思量，抚膺骤长叹。
Regret beyond reckoning seized him; he pressed his chest and heaved a long sigh.
“奈何兮齐天，欲亡我此时。
“Why does heaven above seek to end me at this hour?
奈何兮虞姬，终吝与成全！”
Why, Lady Yu, does it still begrudge us fulfilment!”
美人与泣下，悲苦意已决。
The beauty wept beside him, her resolve made firm in sorrow.
众人莫能仰，相与抒哀情。
None could lift their eyes; together they gave voice to grief.
已而时益近，遗刃上马骑。
As the hour drew closer, he left a blade behind and mounted his horse.
率壮士十余，骋敌军百里。
Leading a dozen brave men, he rode a hundred li through the enemy.
“此天妒霸王，非战之罪也！”
“Heaven envies the Hegemon; this is no failure in battle!”
任长矛高举，径驾马冲敌。
His long spear raised, he drove his horse straight into the foe.
飞蹄踏尸过，刀剑不绝音。
Flying hooves passed over the fallen; swords and sabres never ceased to ring.
斩将碎前道，刈旗临乌江。
He cut down commanders, broke a path, and felled their banners on the way to the Wu River.
亭长檥船待，霸王拒渡江。
The ferryman waited with his boat; the Hegemon refused to cross.
“此世义已尽，何复以相劳！”
“My duty in this life is done—why trouble you again!”
虞姬执残刃，静默素自刎。
Lady Yu took the remaining blade and silently cut her throat.
项羽露尖刀，哗天弑霸王。
Xiang Yu bared his sharp sword; in an outcry to heaven, the Hegemon ended his life.