To the tune of "The Unbreakable Strings"

by Ma Zhiyuan 馬致遠 (c. 1250 - 1321)

布衣中，問英雄：
王圖霸業成何用？
禾黍高低六代宮，
楸梧遠近千官塚：
一場惡夢。

Standing in humble homespun robes, 
I question history’s men of great esteem: 
What use were all your kingly plans; 
How long endured the tyrant’s scheme? 
Palaces from the Six Dynasties 
Now fertilize the farmer’s grain, 
And scraggly catalpa trees 
Mark loyal ministers’ remains: 
All history is one bad dream.