TUNE: FRAGRANCE OF LAUREL BRANCH

 

IN MEMORY OF THE ANCIENT CAPITAL

I climb the height

And stretch my sight:

Late autumn just begins its gloomy time.

The ancient capital looks sublime.

The limpid river, beltlike, flows a thousand miles;

Emerald peaks on peaks tower in piles.

In the declining sun sails come and go;

Against west wind wineshop streamers flutter high and low.

The painted boat

In cloud afloat,

Like stars in Silver River egrets fly.

What a picture before the eye!

The days gone by

Saw people in opulence vie.

Alas! Shame on shame came under the walls,

In palace halls.

Leaning on rails, in vain I utter sighs

Over ancient kingdoms’ fall and rise.

The running water saw the Six Dynasties pass,

But I see only chilly mist and withered grass.

Even now and again

The songstresses still sing

The song composed in vain

By a captive king.

桂枝香

金陵怀古

登临送目，

正故国晚秋，

天气初肃。

千里澄江似练，

翠峰如簇。

征帆去棹残阳里，

背西风，

酒旗斜矗。

彩舟云淡，

星河鹭起，

图画难足。

念往昔，

繁华竞逐。

叹门外楼头，

悲恨相续。

千古凭高对此，

谩嗟荣辱。

六朝旧事随流水，

但寒烟，

衰草凝绿。

至今商女，

时时犹唱，

后庭遗曲。