Charm of a Maiden Singer
Thinking of Ancient in Red cliff

Su Shi

The endless river eastward flows;

With its huge waves are gone all those

Gallant heroes of bygone years.

West of the ancient fortress appears

Red Cliff where General Zhou won his early fame

When the Three Kingdoms were in flame.

Rocks tower in the air and waves beat on the shore,

Rolling up a thousand heaps of snow.

To match the land so fair, how many heroes of yore

Had made great show!

I fancy General Zhou at the height

Of his success, with a plume fan in hand,

In a silk hood, so brave and bright,

Laughing and jesting with his bride so fair,

While enemy ships were destroyed as planned

Like castles in the air.

Should their souls revisit this land,

Sentimental, his bride would laugh to say:

Younger than they, I have my hair turned grey.

Life is but like a dream.

O moon, I drink to you who have seen them on the stream.

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注释：

The poet praises General Zhou who defeated the strong Northern army by setting their warships on fire at the Red Cliff in 208. 45Bp4WHp6965MLFjazMqvZqmD4BfiNbdX2DLuucXoSQZKApGQTaOKYTvbn8FpeDW