See my entire essay on http://jeffican.bokee.com.
北方有佳人, From the north came a ravishing maiden,
絕世而獨立. Whose beauty stood alone.
一顧傾人城, At a glance at her, cities fall,
再顧傾人國. Once more, empires collapse.
寧不知倾城與倾國, Care not whether cities fall or empires collapse,
佳人難再得. Such beauty never comes around twice.