| Chapter 04- Verse 133 to verse 170
(Kiều met Kim Trọng)
133. While they were undecided about staying
or going,
The sounds of horse’s collar bells were
closer in coming.
135. A man of literature walked his horse
on the roadway slowly
Who leisurely rode and deliberately enjoyed
the scenery.
137. While reciting his composition of
poems by inspiration,
Some children were following him out of
curiosity and admiration.
139. The horse was of the colour of mixed
pure snow white,
The green grass was blended in with the
rider’s dress colour of sky.
141. Just when the rider’s face came
into view clearly,
He dismounted and came to converse with
them heartily.
143. With each further step on green grass
of his embroidery shoed foot
He spread the beauty of night blooming
plant and pencil cactus bush.
145. Vương Quan greeted the rider, a
face to him so familiar,
While his two Kiều sisters shyly hid
under the shade of flowers.
147. The newcomer was a man from the neighbourhood
close by,
One of the Kims named Trọng who was
born noble and high.
149. Having rich base and famous reputation
for generations,
He was a learned scholar by nature, possessing
a natural intelligence.
151. His manners and bearing made him
an unsurpassable person,
A liberal, mild mind and outward behavior
that was so elegant.
153. He had been a neighbour of the same
neighbourhood and location,
And was a close classmate of Vương Quan
for many sessions.
155. He had been listening to the famous
loving rumour,
Of the Copper Sparrow Tower which enclosed
the pretty Kiều sisters.
157. Yet their embroidery room seemed to
him so distant and faraway,
So his quiet secretive love and longing
had to wait until someday.
159. By a stroke of luck of this rare
incidental meeting,
In this festival that fulfilled his expectation
of beauty searching.
161. Catching a glimpse of those beauties
from a distance,
Who were spring orchid and autumn chrysanthemum,
both in perfection.
163. One was a national beauty, the other
a genius that stood out,
It was love at first sight, yet they were
too shy to speak it out loud.
165. Kim was half intoxicated half sober
in his feeling,
He was caught between inconvenient staying
and unwanted departing.
167. His sadness was increased by the
sun’s quick fading,
He had mounted on the horse, yet Kiều
was still discreetly looking.
169. Under the bridge, water was clear
and flowing indifferently,
Beside it, willows in the evening showed
their shadows so lovingly.
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