虎視何雄哉！
揮劍決浮雲，
He broke the floating clouds while wielding swords, Westward to pay their homage came all lords.
諸侯盡西來。
雄圖發英斷，
He made great plans and formed decisions wise, In front of him all heroes dwarfed in size.
大略駕群才。
收兵鑄金人，
He melted weapons into statues of brass, And opened to the East the frontier pass.
函谷正東開。
銘功會稽嶺，
He built a monument on Eastern Hill, And rode to Southern Tower to gaze his fill.
驊望琅玡台。
刑徒七十萬，
He worked seven hundred thousand slaves To build in deep mountain recess his graves.
起土驪山隈。
尚采不死藥，
He sought elixir of immortality, These contradictory deeds puzzle me.
茫然使心哀。
連弩射海魚，
He bent his bow to shoot the monster whale Sweeping the sea with its enormous tail.
長鯨正崔嵬。
額鼻象五岳，
Its head and nose erect’d like mountains proud, And water spouted like thunder and cloud.
揚波噴雲雷。
鬢鬍蔽青天，
Its dorsal fin might cover azure sky. Could seamen find the Fairy Islands① high?
何由睹蓬萊？
徐市載秦女，
The alchemist with maidens went to sea. When could their galleys come back? We but see
樓船幾時回？
但見三泉下，
金棺葬寒灰！
Buried in underworld, the ashes cold