Romance of the Three Kingdoms

"話說天下大勢，分久必合，合久必分。"

"The peach trees in the orchard behind the house are just in full flower. Tomorrow we will institute a sacrifice there and solemnly declare our intention before Heaven and Earth, and we three will swear brotherhood and unity of aims and sentiments: Thus will we enter upon our great task."

"We three—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—though of different families, swear brotherhood, and promise mutual help to one end. We will rescue each other in difficulty; we will aid each other in danger. We swear to serve the state and save the people. We ask not the same day of birth, but we seek to die together. May Heaven, the all-ruling, and Earth, the all-producing, read our hearts. If we turn aside from righteousness or forget kindliness, may Heaven and Human smite us!"

"They are many and we but few," said Yuan-te to his brothers. "We can only beat them by superior strategy."

"運籌决算有神功，二虎還須遜一龍。 初出便能垂偉績，自應分鼎在孤窮。"

"子治世之能臣，亂世之奸雄也。"

"欲除君側宵人亂，须聽朝中智士謀。"

"揚湯止沸，不如去薪；潰痈雖痛，勝於養毒。"

"A fierce wild beast: If he comes, his prey will be humans!"

"順我者生，逆我者死。"

"If I could only find a master to serve," said Lu Bu. "The clever bird chooses the branch whereon to perch; the wise servant selects the master to serve. Seize the chance when it comes, for repentance ever comes too late."

"天地易兮日月翻，棄萬乘兮退守藩。 為臣逼兮命不久，大勢去兮空淚潸！"

"皇天將崩兮后土颓；身為帝姬兮命不随。 生死異路兮從此畢：奈何茕速兮心中悲！"

"寧教我負天下人，休教天下人負我。"

"Lu Bu stood forth and said, "Do not fear, my father. I look upon all the lords beyond the Pass as so much stubble. And with the warriors of our fierce army, I will put everyone of them to death and hang their heads at the gates of the capital!" "With your aid I can sleep secure!" said Dong Zhuo. But someone behind Lu Bu broke in upon his speech, saying, "An ox-cleaver to kill a chicken! There is no need for the General to go: I will cut off their heads as easily as I would take a thing out of my pocket!""

"吾有上將潘鳳，可斬華雄。"

"人中呂布，馬中赤兔。"

"天下動之至易，安之至難。"

"Those unworthy people cannot discuss worthy thing!"

"Just then a horseman came, riding at full speed and whirling his sword up, cut down both the captors, and rescued Cao Cao. It was Cao Hong. Cao Cao said, "I am doomed, good brother. Go and save yourself!" "My lord, mount my horse quickly! I will go afoot," said Cao Hong. "If those wretches come up, what then?" said Cao Cao. "The world can do without Cao Hong, but not without you, my lord!""

"Thy handmaid has promised not to recoil from death itself. You may use my poor self in any way, and I must do my best."

"When the guest was very mellow, Wang Yun suddenly said, "Let her come in!" Soon appeared two attendants, dressed in white, leading between them the exquisite and fascinating Diao Chan."

""When one is born great, one cannot be patient for long under another person's domination," said Lu Bu."

"Tao Qian reluctantly sent the army out. From a distance he saw Cao Cao's army spread abroad like frost and rushed far and wide like snow. In their midst was a large white flag and on both sides was written "Vengeance.""

"舉杯暢飲情何放，拔劍捐生悔已遲！"

"兄弟如手足，妻子如衣服。 衣服破，尚可縫；手足斷，安可續？"

"屈身守分，以待天時，不可與命争也。"

"溫侯神射世間稀，曾向轅門獨解危。 落日果然欺后羿，號猿直欲勝由基。 虎筋弦響弓開處，雕羽翅飛箭到時。 豹子尾搖穿畫戟，雄兵十萬脫徵衣。"

"Your rival has ten weak points whereas you have ten strong ones, and, though his army is large, it is not terrible."

"Now the division of Cao Cao's army under Xiahou Dun, having marched out in advance, first came into touch with Gao Shun. Xiahou Dun at once rode out with spear set and offered a challenge. It was accepted and the two leaders fought half a hundred bouts. Then Gao Shun began to weaken and had to turn back. He rode round to the rear of his array. Xiahou Dun was not the man to quail, so he followed right into the enemy's country. Then Cao Xing, one of Lu Bu's generals, secretly strung his bow, fitted an arrow and, when Xiahou Dun had come quite near, shot at him. The arrow hit Xiahou Dun full in the left eye. He shrieked, and putting up his head, pulled out the arrow and with it the eye. "Essence of my father, blood of my mother, I cannot throw this away!" cried Xiahou Dun, and he put the eye into his mouth and swallowed it. Then resuming his firm grip of his spear, Xiahou Dun went after this new enemy. There was no escape for Cao Xing. He was overtaken and fell with a fatal spear wound full in the face. Both sides were stricken dumb with amazement."

"今天下英雄，惟使君與操耳！"

"Guan Yu quickly mounted, turned down his mighty weapon, and galloped down the hill, his phoenix eyes rounded, and his silkworm eyebrows fiercely bristling. He dashed straight into the enemy's array, and the northern soldiers opened like falling waves and dissolving storms. He made directly for the commander."

"He who wins people, prospers; he who loses them, fails. Your present plan should be to seek people of high aims and farseeing views, and you can establish yourself firmly."

"勢弱只因多算勝，兵强却為寡謀亡。"

"The last night he spent in Jizhou, Cao Cao went to the eastern corner tower and stood there regarding the sky. His only companion was Xun You. Presently Cao Cao said, "That is a very brilliant glow there in the south. It seems too strong for me to do anything there." "What is there that can oppose your heaven-high prestige?" said Xun You."

"勝負兵家之常，何可自隳其志！"

""He will not condescend to visit you. You must go to him. But if he consents, you will be as fortunate as the Zhou when they got the aid of Lu Wang, or the Han when Zhang Liang came to help." "How does the unknown compare with yourself?" "With me? Compared with him I am as a worn-out carthorse to a palomino, an old duck to a phoenix. This man often compares himself with the ancient sages Guan Zhong and Yue Yi but, in my opinion, he is far their superior. He has the talent to measure the heavens and mete the earth. He is a man who overshadows every other in the world."

"淡泊以明志，寧静而致遠。"

"Though I be of small repute and scanty virtue," said Liu Bei, "I hope, O Master, you will not despise me for my worthlessness, but will leave this retreat to help me. I will assuredly listen most reverently to your words." Zhuge Liang replied, "I have long been happy on my farm and am fond of my leisure. I fear I cannot obey your command." Liu Bei wept. "If you will not, O Master, what will become of the people?" The tears rolled down unchecked upon the lapel and sleeves of Liu Bei's robe. This proved to Zhuge Liang the sincerity of his desire. Hence, Zhuge Liang said, "General, if you will accept me, I will render what trifling service I can."

"Do you not understand that the plans elaborated in a little chamber decide success over thousands of miles?"

"Yu Jin rode forward shouting at the top of his voice, "Halt the train!" Xiahou Dun saw him coming up and asked what was the matter. Yu Jin said, "The roads here are narrow and difficult. Around us are thick forests. What if they use fire?" Xiahou Dun's ferocity had then somewhat abated and he turned his steed toward his main body. Then there arose a shout behind him. A rushing noise came from in the reeds and great tongues of flame shot up here and there. These spread and soon the fire was in "the four quarters and the eight sides," and fanned by a strong wind."

"As the men of Cao Cao came pressing on, Zhao Yun drew Cao Cao's own sword to beat them off. Nothing could resist the blue blade sword. Armor, clothing, it went through without effort and blood gushed forth in fountains wherever it struck. So the four generals were soon beaten off, and Zhao Yun was once again free."

"亮借一帆風，直至江東，憑三寸不爛之舌，說南北兩軍互相吞併。"

"豈亦效書生,區區於筆硯之間,數黑論黃,舞文弄墨而已乎？"

"I hold a sacred trust from my late lord, Sun Ce. I would not bow the knee to any such as Cao Cao. What I said just now was to see how you stood. I left Poyang Lake with the intention of attacking the north, and nothing can change that intention, not even the sword at my breast or the ax on my neck."

"The naval forces were then lined up shooting on the bank to prevent a landing. Presently the soldiers arrived, and ten thousand and more soldiers were shooting down into the river, where the arrows fell like rain. [...] The whole twenty boats were bristling with arrows on both sides. As they left, Zhuge Liang asked all the crews to shout derisively, "We thank you, Sir Prime Minister, for the arrows!""

"Your troops from the north are unused to ships, and the motion makes them ill. If your ships, large and small, were classed and divided into thirties, or fifties, and joined up stem to stem by iron chains and boards spread across them, to say nothing of soldiers being able to pass from one to the next, even horses could move about on them. If this were done, then there would be no fear of the wind and the waves and the rising and falling tides."

"欲破曹公，宜用火攻； 萬事俱備，只欠東風。"

"Huang Gai took his place on the third ship. He merely wore breast armor and carried a keen blade. On his flag were written four large characters "Van Leader Huang Kai". With a fair wind his fleet sailed toward the Red Cliffs."

"You see before you one Cao Cao—defeated and weak. I have reached a sad pass, and I trust you, O General, will not forget the kindness of former days."