译文及注释：
译文：
竹帛燃烧的烟雾刚刚散尽，秦始皇的帝业也化为空虚，函谷关和黄河天险，也锁守不住始皇的故国旧居。
Just as the smoke from burning books and bamboo slips has just dispersed the imperial ambitions of Emperor Qin Shi Huang have also turned into emptiness. Even the strategic locations of Hangu Pass and the Yellow River cannot protect his former residence.
焚书坑的灰烬还没冷却，山东群雄已揭竿而起，灭亡秦国的刘邦和项羽，原来并不读书！
Before the ashes of the burning books and pits have cooled down the heroes of Shandong have already risen up. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu who overthrew the Qin Dynasty were actually not well-read!
注释：
焚书坑：秦始皇焚烧诗书之地，故址在今陕西省临潼县东南的骊山上。
Burning books and pits: Emperor Qin Shi Huang burned books and destroyed historical records at Li Mountain southeast of present-day Lintong County Shaanxi Province.
竹帛：代指书籍。烟销：指把书籍烧光。
Bamboo slips and silk: Refers to books. Smoke disperses: Refers to burning books completely.
帝业：皇帝的事业。这里指秦始皇统治天下，巩固统治地位的事业。虚：空虚。
Imperial ambitions: Refers to the emperor's achievements. Here it refers to Emperor Qin Shi Huang's ambition to rule the world and consolidate his power. Emptiness: Refers to the emptiness of his achievements.
关河：代指险固的地理形势。关：函谷关。河：黄河。空锁：白白地扼守着。
Passes and rivers: Refers to strategically important locations. Pass: Hangu Pass. River: Yellow River. Empty lock: Refers to guarding in vain.
祖龙居：秦始皇的故居，指咸阳。祖龙：代指秦始皇。
Ancestral Dragon's residence: Refers to Emperor Qin Shi Huang's former residence Xianyang. Ancestral Dragon: Refers to Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
山东：崤函之东。一说指太行山之东，即为秦始皇所灭的六国旧有之地。
Shandong: East of Mount Xiaohangu. Some say it refers to the east of the Taihang Mountains which was the territory of the six states destroyed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
刘项：刘邦和项羽，秦末两支主要农民起义军的领袖。不读书：刘邦年青时是市井无赖，项羽年青时习武，两人都没读多少书。
Liu Xiang: Liu Bang and Xiang Yu the leaders of the two main peasant uprisings at the end of the Qin Dynasty. Not well-read: Liu Bang was a rascal in his youth and Xiang Yu focused on martial arts training. Neither of them read many books.