垓下歌 “Gāixià gē” The Song of Gaixia

《垓下歌》

“Gāixià gē” The Song of  Gaixia

力拔山兮氣蓋世。

 lì bá shān xī qì gàishì. 

 

 Powerfully climbing the mountain, spirit unrivaled.

 

時不利兮騅不逝。

Shí bùlì xī zhuī bù shì. 

 

The time was wasted, yet my war-horse died not.

 

騅不逝兮可奈何！

Zhuī bù shì xī kě nàihé!

If my war-horse has not died, then how to endure?

虞兮虞兮奈若何！

Yú xī yú xī nài ruòhé!

Yu! Oh, Yu, oh what to do?

《垓下歌》
力拔山兮氣蓋世。

時不利兮騅不逝。
騅不逝兮可奈何！
虞兮虞兮奈若何！    

 

The Song of Gaixia

Powerfully climbing the mountain, spirit unrivaled.

The time was wasted -- yet my war-horse died not.

If my war-horse has not died, then how to endure?

Yu! Oh, Yu, oh what to do?