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

(Nhà Kiều gặp nạn - Kiều bán mình để chuộc cha)

569.Nàng còn đứng tựa hiên tây,
Chín hồi vấn vít như vầy mối tơ.
571.Trông chừng khói ngất song thưa,
Hoa trôi trớt thắm, liễu xơ xác vàng.

573.Tần ngần dạo gót lầu trang,
Một đoàn mừng thọ ngoại hương mới về,
575.Hàn huyên chưa kịp dãi dề,
Sai nha bỗng thấy bốn bề xôn xao.

577.Người nách thước, kẻ tay dao;
Đầu trâu mặt ngựa ào ào như sôi.
579.Già giang một lão một trai,
Một dây vô loại buộc hai thâm tình.

581.Đầy nhà vang tiếng ruồi xanh,
Rụng rời đọt liễu, tan tành cội mai.
583.Đồ tế nhuyễn, của riêng tây,
Sạch sành sanh vét cho đầy túi tham.

585.Điều đâu bay buộc ai làm?
Này ai đơm giậm, đặt giàm bỗng dưng?
587.Hỏi ra sau mới biết rằng:
Phải tên xưng xuất là thằng bán tơ.

589.Một nhà hoảng hốt ngẩn ngơ,
Tiếng oan dậy đất, án ngờ lòa mây.
591.Hạ từ van vỉ suốt ngày,
Điếc tai lân tuất, phũ tay tồi tàn.

593.Rường cao rút ngược dây oan,
Dẫu là đá cũng nát gan, lọ người.
595.Mắt trông đau đớn rụng rời,
Oan này còn một kêu trời, nhưng xa.

597.Một ngày lạ thói sai nha,
Làm cho khốc hại chẳng qua vì tiền.
599.Sao cho cốt nhục vẹn tuyền,
Trong khi ngộ biến tòng quyền biết sao?

(Misfortune befell Kiều’s family - Kiều sold herself to redeem her father)

569. While Kiều remained standing in the veranda on the western side,
Everything was entangled and confused, a mess in her mind.
571. Looking over the rattan widow, she only saw smoke above.
Her face darkened like faded flower, like a willow which lost its glow.

573. She stood stunned and then strolled on the second storey,
Her group of people just came back from grandparents’ party.
575. They and she had not started the long awaiting conversations,
Suddenly appearing were district soldiers in a noisy commotion.

577. Some were carrying swords, others, scary fighting rulers,
A bunch of heartless devils were like water that was boiling over.
579. Old Vương and his son were tied up in a rope together,
An immoral rope that could make two generations suffer.

581. They, the flies, disturbed the house with shouts so loudly,
Shouts scared the wits out of young girls and a female elderly.
583. All the easy-to-carry items, or precious personal belongings,
Were all confiscated to satisfy what greedy hearts wanted to bring.

585. With no apparent reason, who had caused it and what did they do?
Who had set nets for fish and nets for birds out of the blue?
587. After long and meticulous inquiries it was then figured,
That the accuser was the lowly silk merchandiser.

589. A moment of panic the Vươngs had to dazedly suffer,
A case of gross injustice which had the clouds totally covered.
591. Swallowing their pride, the Vươngs tried to plead with them all day,
Their pleading fell on deaf ears, only more beatings were on the way.

593. Being tied up and hung upside down from the roof was their torture,
Even rock would be melt, let alone man, who are of flesh nature.
595. Looking on at the scene made one feel grief-stricken,
Heaven was the only solution left, but too far was Heaven.

597. If one was familiar with district soldiers’ way of those days
They did all terrible things just to extract their bribery pay.
599. How to save her loved ones, what she needed to do,
She went with the flow, since there was not much for her to choose.

605.Quyết tình nàng mới hạ tình:
"Dẽ cho để thiếp bán mình chuộc cha!"
607.Họ Chung có kẻ lại già,
Cũng trong nha dịch lại là từ tâm.

609.Thấy nàng hiếu trọng tình thâm,
Vì nàng nghĩ cũng thương thầm xót vay.
611.Tính bài lót đó luồn đây,
Có ba trăm lạng việc này mới xuôi.

613.Hãy về tạm phó giam ngoài,
Dặn nàng qui liệu trong đôi ba ngày.
615.Thương lòng con trẻ thơ ngây,
Gặp cơn vạ gió tai bay bất kỳ!

617.Đau lòng tử biệt sinh ly,
Thân còn chẳng tiếc, tiếc gì đến duyên!
619.Hạt mưa sá nghĩ phận hèn,
Liều đem tấc cỏ quyết đền ba xuân.

621.Sự lòng ngỏ với băng nhân,
Tin sương đồn đại xa gần xôn xao.
623.Gần miền có một mụ nào,
Đưa người viễn khách tìm vào vấn danh.

625.Hỏi tên rằng: Mã Giám Sinh.
Hỏi quê rằng: huyện Lâm Thanh cũng gần.
627.Quá niên trạc ngoại tứ tuần,
Mày râu nhẵn nhụi, áo quần bảnh bao.

629.Trước thầy sau tớ lao xao
Nhà băng đưa mối rước vào lầu trang.
631.Ghế trên ngồi tót sỗ sàng,
Buồng trong mối đã giục nàng kíp ra.

601. Newly found love, or her filial duty towards her parents,
She had to choose, which side was heavier than in comparison?
603. Since the fulfillment of her vowed love could be performed later,
And a child’s first duty was to requite her parents for their raising her.

605. Having so decided, she then announced her decision:
"Let me sell myself for money to pay for father’s redemption!"
607. Among the Chungs there was an old official, who witnessed,
Who was also a district clerk possessing a heart of kindness.

609. Seeing that she had sacrificed her love for the sake of her parents,
He developed a deep and quiet love for her and pitied her situation.
611. He counselled her that if she agreed to bribery for the right persons
Three hundred silver taels that were needed was the solution.

613. Chung then arranged to have the Vươngs to be released on bail,
He told Kiều to take care of the sum in a few days without fail.
615. He pitied the young Kiều, who was still at the age of naivety,
Since misfortune had befallen her so suddenly and accidentally.

617. It hurt having to suffer while living in separation than dying forever,
She could unregretfully sacrifice her person’s love, let alone her lover’s!
619. Telling herself to be content with a raindrop’s destiny, a nobody’s,
She sacrificed like reed pith that did requiting three months of sunny.

621. Kiều confided the matter with one of the matchmakers,
How quickly was the spreading of bad news and of rumours.
623. Then there was some old woman living in the surrounding neighbour,
Who brought one man for Name Asking Ceremony, who was a stranger.

625. When asked what his name was: Mã the State College Student,
Place of origin: Lâm Thanh District, locating in a nearby region.
627. His age was a little old, which was already in the late forties,
With a clean-shaven face, and clothing was on the side of being flashy.

629. Master preceding, servants following, noisy was their coming,
Into Kiều’s house the matchmaker was escorting them in.
631. Mã, State College Student, impolitely jumped into the honour seating,
From inside chamber the matchmaker was pushing her appearing.

637.Mối càng vén tóc bắt tay,
Nét buồn như cúc, điệu gầy như mai.
639.Đắn đo cân sắc cân tài,
Ép cung cầm nguyệt, thử bài quạt thơ.

641.Mặn nồng một vẻ một ưa,
Bằng lòng khách mới tùy cơ dặt dìu.
643.Rằng: "Mua ngọc đến Lam Kiều,
Sính nghi xin dạy bao nhiêu cho tường?"

645.Mối rằng: “Đáng giá nghìn vàng,
Nghẹt nhà nhờ lượng người thương dám nài."
647.Cò kè bớt một thêm hai,
Giờ lâu ngã giá vàng ngoài bốn trăm.

649.Một lời thuyền đã êm giầm,
Hãy đưa canh thiếp trước cầm làm ghi.
651.Định ngày nạp thái vu qui,
Tiền lưng đã sẵn việc gì chẳng xong!

653.Một lời cậy với Chung công,
Khất từ tạm lĩnh Vương ông về nhà.
655.Thương tình con trẻ cha già,
Nhìn nàng ông những máu sa ruột rầu:

657."Nuôi con những ước về sau,
Trao tơ phải lứa, gieo cầu đáng nơi.
659.Trời làm chi cực bấy trời,
Này ai vu thác cho người hợp tan!

661.Búa rìu bao quản thân tàn,
Nỡ đầy đọa trẻ, càng oan khốc già.
663.Một lần sau trước cũng là,
Thôi thì mặt khuất chẳng thà lòng đau!"

633. Feeling personal sorrow plus problems of despising their reception,
For each step on flowered carpet, tears were flowing in succession.
635. Being reluctant, Kiều was feeling shy of the winds and the dew,
Feeling shameful with flowers; brazen faces in mirrors each view.

637. The matchmaker was aggressive in making Kiều do the posing,
As sad as chrysanthemum, as slender as ochna was she remaining.
639. They bargained shamelessly about her beauty and about her talents
They forced her to show musical performance and poem composition.

641. Since Kiều was approved in both her beauty and her talents,
Much satisfied, Mã then started to weave his way in his bargain.
643. He said: "To buy good pearls, then you have to go to Lam Kiều,
Tell me clearly about bridal presents, how many or how few?"

645. The matchmaker replied: "Though a thousand taels is worth the price,
Subject to your generosity, it’s totally up to you to so decide."
647. They haggled back and forth in the habit of keen merchandisers,
At long last, they agreed on more than four hundred taels of silver.

649. When "the oars were set in the boat", all was in agreement,
They then exchanged their personal cards as some form of evidence.
651. The date for bridal presents was set in advance and in all agreement,
When money was ready, no worry about matter and its completion!

653. Kiều then sent a message to old Chung the public servant
To pay for the bribe, apply for old Vương’s release and return.
655. Being an old parent who loved his young children so very much
Looking at her, old Vương felt sorrow in his heart and blood.

657. "Raising the children, we have simple expectations for their future.
It is to pair them with the right persons once and forever.
659. Why have you allowed such painful injustice, O heaven,
Letting false accusation happened causing heart-broken separation!

661. I would not mind the hardships befallen on this old body,
The more my children suffer, the more I bear the injustice bitterly.
663. One has to die but once, either now or later,
It’s better to die now than to have to unbearably suffer!"

669."Vẻ chi một mảnh hồng nhan,
Tóc tơ chưa chút đền ơn sinh thành.
671.Dâng thư đã thẹn nàng Oanh,
Lại thua ả Lý bán mình hay sao?

673.Cỗi xuân tuổi hạc càng cao,
Một cây gánh vác biết bao nhiêu cành.
675.Lòng tơ dù chẳng dứt tình,
Gió mưa âu hẳn tan tành nưóc non.

677.Thà rằng liều một thân con,
Hoa dù rã cánh, lá còn xanh cây.
679.Phận sao đành vậy cũng vầy,
Cầm như chẳng đậu những ngày còn xanh.

681.Cũng đừng tính quẩn lo quanh,
Tan nhà là một thiệt mình là hai."
683.Phải lời ông cũng êm tai,
Nhìn nhau giọt vắn giọt dài ngổn ngang.

685.Mái ngoài họ Mã vừa sang,
Tờ hoa đã ký, cân vàng mới trao.
687.Trăng già độc địa làm sao?
Cầm dây chẳng lựa buộc vào tự nhiên.

689.Trong tay đã sẵn đồng tiền,
Mặc lòng đổi trắng thay đen khó gì!
691.Họ Chung ra sức giúp vì,
Lễ tâm đã đặt, tụng kỳ cũng xong.

665. The more he lamented, the more he sorrowfully cried,
And he intended to rush headlong into a lime wall to commit suicide.
667. They hurriedly restrained him and kept him sober,
Kiều then had to coo in confidence to talk him over:

669. "I am not so precious, just a poor, simple, unworthy daughter
Who have not requited the graceful merit of her mother and father.
671. Feeling shameful with Lady Oanh’s pleading with kings for her father,
And feeling inferior to Miss Lý who sold herself to redeem hers?

673. Although you are only getting older as time goes on,
You are the strong root for us branches to depend and rely on.
675. If you cannot endure the pain and do not let me sacrifice myself,
Then the storm would wipe the family out and nothing else would help.

677. It’s better to let the risk be upon myself, the unworthy daughter,
Although I have to suffer, the whole family can still survive later.
679. Please let me endure the unfortunate fate even though it is so rough,
Consider me an already lost child who could not be raised up.

681. Also please do neither worry nor plan to trivially do anything else
Because it firstly breaks the family, secondly it will harm yourself."
683. He assented to all the palatable words she was saying,
They looked at each other while their tears kept on falling.

685. Then on the outside of the house it appeared that Mã just arrived,
He handed over the silver only when the right paper had been signed.
687. How wicked was the old marriage god sitting under the moonlight
Who carelessly tied the marriage cord without first making it right.

689. Money talked and made people changed at the flip of a coin, as ever,
It could make white into black, vice-versa, and do that to whatever!
691. Thanks to the good help of old Chung’s labour in all matters,
The money was paid, the case was dropped, no one else bothered.