three short years

　　Liu Shan, the Emperor of Shu-Han, passed away in the seventh year of GREat Beginning, in
Jin calendar （AD 271）。 Cao Huang, the Emperor of Wei, passed away in the first year of
Magnificent Peace （AD 302）。 And Sun Hao, the Emperor of Wu, passed away in the fourth
year of Prosperous Peace （AD 283）。 All three died of natural causes.
　　A poet has summed up the history of these stirring years in a poem：
　　[hip, hip, hip] It was the dawning of a glorious day When first the Founder of the House
of Han Xianyang's proud Palace entered. Noontide came When Liu Xiu the imperial rule
restored. Alas, that Liu Xian succeeded in full time And saw the setting of the sun of power
！
　　He Jin, the feeble, fell beneath the blows Of Palace minions. Dong Zhuo, vile though
bold, Then ruled the court. The plot Wang Yun To oust him, failed, recoiled on his own head.
The Li Jue and Guo Si lit up the flame of war And brigands swarmed like ants through all the
land. Then rose the valiant and deployed their might. Sun Ce carved out a kingdom in the
southeast, North of Yellow River the Yuans strove to make their own. Liu Zhang went west and
seized on Ba and Shu, Liu Biao laid hold on Jingzhou and Chu, Zhang Lu, in turn held
Hanzhong by force. Ma Teng and Han Sui kept Xiliang. Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan built up
quarters, Zhang Xiu and Lu Bu challenged the bold. But overtopping all Cao Cao the strong
Became first minister, and to his side, Drew many able people. He swayed the court, Without,
he held the nobles in his hand；By force of arms he held the capital Against all rivals. Of
imperial stock Was born Liu Bei, who with sworn brothers twain Made oath the dynasty should
be restored. These wandered homeless east and west for years, A petty force. But Destiny was
kind And led Liu Bei to Nanyang's rustic cot, Where lay Sleeping Dragon, he who Already that
the empire must be rent. Twice Liu Bei essayed in vain to see the sage Once more he went？
And then his fortune turned. Jingzhou fell to him, followed the River Lands, A fitting base
to build an empire on. Alas！ He ruled there only three short years, Then left his only son
to Zhuge Liang's care. Full nobly Zhuge Liang played protector's part, Unceasing strove to
win first place for Shu；But Fate forbade； one night for aye his star Went down behind the
rampart of the hills. Jiang Wei the strong inherited his task And struggled on for years.
But Zhong Hui and Deng Ai Attacked the Hans' last stronghold, and it fell. Five sons of Cao
Cao sat on the dragon throne, And Sima Yan snatched the court from Cao Huang. Before him
bowed the kings of Shu and Wu, Content to forfeit kingly power for life. All down the ages
rings the note of change, For fate so rules it； none escapes its sway. The three kingdoms
have vanished as a dream, The useless misery is ours to grieve. THE END[e]* [yip, yip, yip]
homeless east and west for years, A petty force. But Destiny was kind And led Liu Bei to
Nanyang's rustic cot, Where lay Sleeping Dragon, he who Already that the empire must be
rent. Twice Liu Bei essayed in vain to see the sage Once more he went？ And then his fortune
turned. Jingzhou fell to him, followed the River Lands, A fitting base to build an empire
on. Alas！
　　He ruled there only three short years, Then left his only son to Zhuge Liang's care.
Full nobly Zhuge Liang played protector's part, Unceasing strove to win first place for Shu
；But Fate forbade； one night for aye his star Went down behind the rampart of the hills.
Jiang Wei the strong inherited his task And struggled on for years. But Zhong Hui and Deng
Ai Attacked the Hans' last stronghold, and it fell. Five sons of Cao Cao sat on the dragon
throne, And Sima Yan snatched the court from Cao Huang. Before him bowed the kings of Shu
and Wu, Content to forfeit kingly power for life. All down the ages rings the note of
change, For fate so rules it； none escapes its sway. The three kingdoms have vanished as a
dream, The useless misery is ours to grieve.