乌江

生当作人杰，
死亦为鬼雄。
至今思项羽，
不肯过江东。

[注释]项羽： (前 232―前202) 今江苏人。秦亡后称西楚霸王，后与刘邦争做帝王,进行了四年的楚汉战争,公元前 202 年兵败,在今安徽乌江边自杀。

Wu River

Alive, I live a heroic life;
Dead, as a ghost king died.
Still I think of Xiang Yu **
Not crossing the riverside.”

(Tr. Manfield Zhu)

Note: Xiang Yu ( 232BC―202BC) was born in today's Jiangsu Province and killed by himself near Wu River in Anhui Province. He was called West-Chu Overlord after Ch'in (221BC―206BC)downfall, and vied to be an emperor by warring against Liu Bang(256BC―195BC)for four years but defeated.