李煜 往事已成空，還如一夢中。The past was like water

     【子夜歌】 南唐 • 李煜

人生愁恨何能免？ 銷魂獨我情何限！

故國夢重歸， 覺來雙淚垂。

高樓誰與上？ 長記秋晴望。

往事已成空， 還如一夢中。

TUNE: ZI YE GE  "Midnight Song"

-- Li Yu (937-978)

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

In life who's free from lament and worry?

Only I am boundlessly unhappy!

I returned to my lost Kingdom in dreams --

Awake, my tears just gush out 

                                         in twin streams!

Who will now climb with me up 

                                          the towers high?

We loved to gaze at the clear Autumn sky.

The past was like water turned into steam 

--

As if I were still living in a dream!