Truyện Kiều - Nguyễn Du
Do Hương Cau Cao Tân dịch-thuật và biên soạn

The Story of Kiều by Nguyễn Du
Translated and compiled by Hương Cau Cao Tân 21082020

(Kiều mơ gặp Đạm Tiên)

171. Kiều từ trở gót trướng hoa,
Mặt trời gác núi chiêng già thu không.

173. Mảnh trăng chênh chếch dòm song,
Vàng gieo ngấn nước, cây lồng bóng sân.
175. Hải đường lả ngọn đông lân,
Giọt sương trĩu nặng cành xuân la đà.

177. Một mình lặng ngắm bóng nga,
Rộn đường gần với nỗi xa bời bời:
179. Người mà đến thế thì thôi,
Đời phồn hoa cũng là đời bỏ đi!

181. Người đâu gặp gỡ làm chi,
Trăm năm biết có duyên gì hay không?
183. Ngổn ngang trăm mối bên lòng,
Nên câu tuyệt diệu ngụ trong tính tình.

185. Chênh chênh bóng nguyệt xế mành,
Tựa nương bên triện một mình thiu thiu.
187. Thoắt đâu thấy một tiểu kiều,
Có chiều thanh vận, có chiều thanh tân.

189. Sương in mặt, tuyết pha thân,
Sen vàng lững đững như gần như xa
191. Rước mừng đon hỏi dò la:
"Đào nguyên lạc lối đâu mà đến đây?"

193. Thưa rằng: "Thanh khí xưa nay,
Mới cùng nhau lúc ban ngày đã quên.
195. Hàn gia ở mé tây thiên,
Dưới dòng nước chảy bên trên có cầu.

197. Mấy lòng hạ cố đến nhau,
Mấy lời hạ tứ ném châu gieo vàng.
199. Vâng trình hội chủ xem tường,
Mà sao trong sổ Đoạn Trường có tên.

(Kiều met Đạm Tiên in a dream)

171. When Kiều got back to her flowery home from the outdoor viewing,
The pagoda’s evening bell had struck, the sun was done setting.

173. The moon had risen and had been looking through the rattan windows,
Moonlight reflected their gold in water, plants showed their shadows.
175. The flowering cherry-apple was leaning towards the neighbour’s
The dew weighed down the branch like a hung head of a sleeper.

177. Kiều was sitting watching the full moon by herself,
What to make of her short and long term friends she could not tell.
179. About Đạm Tiên, what an unfortunate fate hers was like,
All the lavishness was for nothing, just a wasted life.

181. About Kim Trọng, "Why did we meet since first meeting was forever,
Would he and Kiều be destined to be a couple in this life together?"
183. She was troubled because too many thoughts were in her heart,
Composing a good poem she did, a natural act of relief on her part.

185. The image of the moon was inclining behind the screen,
She leaned against the carved window and was quickly dozing.
187. Suddenly there was a young woman, who appeared in front of her,
Who looked pretty in figure as well as she was fine cultured.

189. Mist was in her face, snow was with her body in blending,
Her footsteps were slowly floating near and far in their appearing.
191. Kiều heartily welcomed and inquired her friendly:
"From what heavenly world did you come from? Where could it be?"

193. The woman replied: "We have been soulmates for each other,
We have just met during the day, and you already forget her.
195. My humble home is on the west bank in this direction further,
At a place where there is a stream under a bridge crossing over.

197. I am grateful for your regards and consideration of me as your sister,
Also for the beautiful poems you have composed and have sent over.
199. I have presented your poems to the president for review over,
And found that your name is listed in the Broken Heart Register.

205. Kiều vâng lĩnh ý đề bài,
Tay tiên một vẫy đủ mười khúc ngâm.
207. Xem thơ nức nở khen thầm:
"Giá đành tú khẩu cẩm tâm khác thường

209. Ví đem vào tập Đoạn Trường
Thì lèo giải nhất chi nhường cho ai."
211. Thềm hoa khách đã trở hài,
Nàng còn nắm lại một hai tự tình.

213. Gió đâu sịch bức mành mành,
Tỉnh ra mới biết rằng mình chiêm bao.
215. Trông theo nào thấy đâu nào
Hương thừa dường hãy ra vào đâu đây.

217. Một mình lường lự canh chầy,
Đường xa nghĩ nỗi sau này mà kinh.
219. Hoa trôi bèo dạt đã rành,
Biết duyên mình, biết phận mình thế thôi!

221. Nỗi riêng lớp lớp sóng dồi,
Nghĩ đòi cơn lại sụt sùi đòi cơn.
223. Giọng Kiều rên rỉ trướng loan,
Nhà Huyên chợt tỉnh hỏi: "Cơn cớ gì?

225. Cớ sao trằn trọc canh khuya,
"Màu hoa lê hãy dầm dề giọt mưa?"
227. Thưa rằng: "Chút phận ngây thơ,
Dưỡng sinh đôi nợ tóc tơ chưa đền.

229. Buổi ngày chơi mả Đạm Tiên,
Nhắp đi thoắt thấy ứng liền chiêm bao.
231. Đoạn trường là số thế nào,
Bài ra thế ấy, vịnh vào thế kia.

233. Cứ trong mộng triệu mà suy,
Phận con thôi có ra gì mai sau!"
235. Dạy rằng: "Mộng ảo cứ đâu,
Bỗng không mua não chuốc sầu nghĩ nao."

237. Vâng lời khuyên giải thấp cao
Chưa xong điều nghĩ đã dào mạch tương
239. Ngoài song thỏ thẻ oanh vàng
Nách tường bông liễu bay ngang trước mành.

241. Hiên tà gác bóng chênh chênh,
Nỗi riêng, riêng trạnh tấc riêng một mình.
 

205. Kiều obeyed and composed each topic into an essay,
Under her pen, they turned into beautiful poems right away.
207. Đạm Tiên secretly praised Kiều and said in review:
"Flowery words, embroidered silk ideas, she is really a case so few.

209. If listed in the Broken Heart Register to compete,
Then these will get first prize, no one else, and that’s it."
211. The guest had turned her feet on the flowered veranda floor,
Kiều was still holding her hands to confide to her some more.

213. The wind from nowhere suddenly shook the bamboo sunscreens,
Kiều awoke and found out that she had been in just a dream.
215. She looked over but found nobody else over there,
Yet some fragrances were still lingering somewhat somewhere.

217. She herself in the night contemplated of what might be of latter day,
What she had learned made her feel unsettled and feel so afraid.
219. A fate of water-fern, of floating flowers was so clearly shown,
Nothing else could be done, except knowing what needed to be known!

221. In her thinking thought after thought in waves were they coming,
Strong emotion followed by crying were they successively following.
223. Kiều’s sobbing could be heard through mosquito nets so lately,
Awaking up her sleepy mother who inquired, "What could it be?

225. Why the tossing throughout the night without sleeping,
Like a pear flower suffered under the spring rain in its soaking?"
227. Kiều replied: "I am a person still in the age of naivety,
I haven’t requited both your debts of bearing and raising me.

229. I went sightseeing Đạm Tiên’s grave scene this morning,
Things then are immediately fulfilled by warnings in my dreaming.
231. What type of register is the Broken Heart Register,
Such topics for input, such poems in output, are only to suffer.

233. Based on the signs to derive what that the dream has conveyed,
Then my fate and destiny will be worthless in the coming days!"
235. Her mother advised: "It’s just a dream, not worth believing,
It’s just nonsense carrying a burden on your mind without reasoning."

237. Although Kiều appeared to obey and follow her mother’s advice,
Yet her thinking had not finished, her tears had come fully out right.
239. Then out of the window frames orioles were singing melodiously,
By the screens, willow flowers from wall corners were floating calmly.

241. When the sun shone down onto the veranda slantingly,
Kiều was still wrestling with the thoughts in her mind so lonely.