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 ở lầu Ngưng Bích - Kiều cùng trốn với Sở Khanh)

993. Nào hay chưa hết trần duyên,
Trong mê dường đã đứng bên một nàng.
995. Rỉ rằng: "Nhân quả dở dang,
Đã toan trốn nợ đoạn trường được sao?

997. Số còn nặng nghiệp má đào,
Người dầu muốn quyết trời nào có cho.
999. Hãy xin hết kiếp liễu bồ,
Sông Tiền đường sẽ hẹn hò về sau."

1001. Thuốc thang suốt một ngày thâu,
Giấc mê nghe đã dàu dàu vừa tan.
1003. Tú bà chực sẵn bên màn,
Lựa lời khuyên giải mơn man gỡ dần:

1005. "Một người dễ có mấy thân!
Hoa xuân đương chiếng, ngày xuân còn dài.
1007. Cũng là lỡ một lầm hai,
Đá vàng sao nỡ ép nài mưa mây!

1009. Lỡ chân trót đã vào đây,
Khóa buồng xuân để đợi ngày đào non.
1011. Người còn thì của hãy còn,
Tìm nơi xứng đáng làm con cái nhà.

1013. Làm chi tội báo oan gia,
Thiệt mình mà hại đến ta hay gì?"
1015. Kề tai mấy mỗi nằn nì,
Nàng nghe dường cũng thị phi rạch ròi.

1017. Vả suy thần mộng mấy lời,
Túc nhân âu cũng có trời ở trong.
1019. Kiếp này nợ trả chưa xong,
Làm chi thêm một nợ chồng kiếp sau!

1021. Lặng nghe, thấm thía gót đầu,
Thưa rằng: "Ai có muốn đâu thế này?
1023. Được như lời, thế là may,
Hẳn rằng mai có như vầy cho chăng!

(Kiều stayed at Ngưng Bích Tower - Kiều escaped with Sở Khanh)

993. But fate had not fulfilled its dependent cycle of manifestation,
In her sleep there readily stood a girl beside her and in conversation.
995. She whispered to Kiều: "Since the cause and effect is still happening,
You cannot do anything to avoid the Pain Debts despite your trying.

997. Your karmic debts in a beauty’s destiny are still too heavy,
Even if you persist, it’s heavenly will to determine how it would be.
999. Please try to live your life and your destiny so consistently,
The River of Tiền Đường would be our meeting place-to-be.”

1001. For a whole day being treated with much medication,
The dream she had had just went away slowly in dissipation.
1003. The Madame had been sitting next to her bedside,
Trying tenderly to dissuade her and gradually advise:

1005. "A person has but only one given body,
Yours is still young, your days are still long and pretty.
1007. As a person, I am bound to be in error not only once but twice,
Such loyalty would not be forced to do against what you desire!

1009. Somehow fate has brought you in error to this place today,
Then please try to endure it waiting for your better day.
1011. You are here means that everything is still here to be,
I will find suitable family into which you are to marry.

1013. Why do you have to insist on creating guilts by killing yourself,
Since it only hurts you and me and at the end will not work very well?"
1015. The Madame whispered those hearty wordings into Kiều’s ears,
Having had heard them Kiều slowly saw things lighter and clear.

1017. Besides, there were Đạm Tiên’s words spoken to her in the dream,
That in karmic manifestation there was always destiny within.
1019. If she could not requite her debts owed in this very life,
Then why intentionally gather more debts to pay next life?

1021. Kiều, having had listened and thought about those thoroughly,
She then said: "I do not want this to happen this way intentionally,
1023. It is fortunate if things will be happening in such a way,
How can one be sure they will happen like you say!

1029. Mai sau ở chẳng như lời,
Trên đầu có bóng mặt trời rạng soi."
1031. Thấy lời quyết đoán hẳn hoi,
Đành lòng, nàng cũng sẽ nguôi nguôi dần.

1033. Trước lầu Ngưng Bích khóa xuân,
Vẻ non xa, tấm trăng gần, ở chung.
1035. Bốn bề bát ngát xa trông,
Cát vàng cồn nọ, bụi hồng dặm kia.

1037. Bẽ bàng mây sớm đèn khuya,
Nửa tình, nửa cảnh như chia tấm lòng.
1039. Tưởng người dưới nguyệt chén đồng,
Tin sương luống những rày trông mai chờ.

1041. Bên trời góc bể bơ vơ,
Tấm son gột rửa bao giờ cho phai.
1043. Xót người tựa cửa hôm mai,
Quạt nồng ấp lạnh, những ai đó giờ?

1045. Sân Lai cách mấy nắng mưa,
Có khi gốc tử đã vừa người ôm?
1047. Buồn trông cửa bể chiều hôm,
Thuyền ai thấp thoáng cánh buồm xa xa?

1049. Buồn trông ngọn nước mới sa,
Hoa trôi man mác, biết là về đâu?
1051. Buồn trông nội cỏ dàu dàu,
Chân mây mặt đất một màu xanh xanh.

1053. Buồn trông gió cuốn mặt doành
Ầm ầm tiếng sóng kêu quanh ghế ngồi.
1055. Chung quanh những nước non người,
Đau lòng lưu lạc, nên vài bốn câu.

1025. If I am forced to receive and to serve the customers,
Then I prefer honoured death over stained living in the future!"
1027. The Madame said to Kiều: "Do not worry, girl, put yourself at ease,
Are those not words from heart to heart, not for lying, my dearie?

1029. If things are not happening as I have promised to you,
Then I swear on the above sun that it will shine all through."
1031. Having heard those statements clearly conveyed and well spoken,
The burden in Kiều’s heart was subsided and gradually lessened.

1033. Kiều then was placed in Ngưng Bích Tower in isolation,
Was shared a close moon and rows of mountains in the distance.
1035. The space and the sceneries were immense in the four directions,
Yellow sand dunes were here, pink dusts were there in accumulation.

1037. Kiều felt despondent looking at clouds in daytime, at lamps at night,
Half of her thoughts were internal, half external, in a mind divided.
1039. She remembered Kim, who had vowed with her in the moonlight,
She pitied him for his still waiting since he had not known her sacrifice.

1041. Now to him she was like a person on the horizon so far away,
Yet her wholly loyal heart for him would not by life be faded away.
1043. Then Kiều remembered and missed her parents waiting for her,
Who would care for them in the hot and cold of the weather?

1045. Since she had been away from her parent for so long a time,
Her gold apple tree, her siblings, perhaps had grown to a full arm wide.
1047. In the evenings as she sadly watched the distributaries and the ocean,
Whose boat was there the sail of which loomed at a long distance?

1049. Then as she watched the flow of water with a heart full of sorrow,
Seeing floating flowers, wondering about to where they would flow?
1051. Sadly watching green grassy fields partly blended with yellow ones,
The place where the horizon and the fields joined was as green as one.

1053. Kiều sadly watched the wind whipped up the cove in its passing,
Heard the thundering sound of waves as if at where she was sitting.
1055. Seeing only unaccustomed scenes of the nearby surroundings,
She composed and chanted some stanza to express her hurt feelings.

1061. Nghĩ rằng cũng mạch thư hương,
Hỏi ra mới biết rằng chàng Sở Khanh.
1063. Bóng nga thấp thoáng dưới mành,
Trông nàng, chàng cũng ra tình đeo đai.

1065. "Than ôi! sắc nước hương trời,
Tiếc cho đâu bỗng lạc loài đến đây?
1067. Giá đành trong nguyệt trên mây,
Hoa sao, hoa khéo đọa đày mấy hoa?

1069. Nổi gan riêng giận trời già,
Lòng này ai tỏ cho ta, hỡi lòng?
1071. Thuyền quyên ví biết anh hùng,
Ra tay tháo cũi, sổ lồng như chơi!"

1073. Song thu đã khép cánh ngoài,
Tai còn đồng vọng mấy lời sắt đanh.
1075. Nghĩ người thôi lại nghĩ mình,
Cám lòng chua xót, nhạt tình chơ vơ.

1077. Những là lần lữa nắng mưa,
Kiếp phong trần biết bao giờ mới thôi?
1079. Đánh liều nhắn một hai lời,
Nhờ tay tế độ vớt người trầm luân.

1081. Mảnh tiên kể hết xa gần,
Nỗi nhà báo đáp, nỗi thân lạc loài.
1083. Tan sương vừa rạng ngày mai,
Tiện hồng nàng mới nhắn lời gửi sang.

1085. Trời hôm lãng đãng bóng vàng,
Phúc thư đã thấy tin chàng đến nơi.
1087. Mở xem một bức tiên mai,
Rành rành "tích việt" có hai chữ đề.

1057. Feeling self-pity and letting the hanging bead curtain down,
Over the fence, someone was rhyme-composing her poem out loud.
1059. She saw the rhyme composer, a man of young age to her,
Who dressed in fine clothes and was with a well-cared refined figure.

1061. She thought that he also belonged to a line of scholarly descendants,
When she inquired of him, she was told his name was Sở Khanh.
1063. The moon was at the bottom of the blinds shining the light,
Seeing her face, he also showed that he too loved her at first sight.

1065. He uttered: "Alas! Such a national beauty! Such heavenly fragrance!
Pity for her who has wandered here from a long distance!
1067. This kind of quality belongs to either the Moon Queen or to heaven,
Such hardship a flower has to endure, such a flower of perfection!

1069. The anger against the old Heaven King has risen in me privately,
Who can fathom the depth of my heart, O the other hearty?
1071. If the beauty knows and appreciates me, being a hero in reality,
Destroy the cage and release her immediately, it’s so easy for me!"

1073. Kiều, having had closed the window panels on the outside tightly,
Yet his decisive tone was still ringing in her ears so clearly.
1075. She considered his proposition then her present situation,
Feeling touched by his feeling which lightened her living in desolation.

1077. So much time, so many rainy passing months had been spent,
Who could tell when this miserably errant life would end?
1079. She ventured to send to Sở Khanh a couple of statements,
Asking him to help saving her, an exhaustedly drowning person.

1081. A letter describing everything she could remember and retell,
Her personal sacrifices, things she had gone through by herself.
1083. As the mist dissipated early in the morning the next day,
By way of a mailman coming at the time, Kiều sent the letter away.

1085. When the sun was deliberately setting shining the yellow colour,
Sở Khanh’s reply came to her in the form of a formal letter.
1087. Opening the letter, she saw a piece of flowered writing paper,
Two words, "tích việt", were all that he had written clearly to her.

1093. Tường đông lay động bóng cành,
Rẽ song, đã thấy Sở Khanh lẻn vào.
1095. Sượng sùng đánh dạn ra chào,
Lạy thôi, nàng mới rỉ tai ân cần.

1097. Rằng: "Tôi bèo bọt chút thân,
Lạc đàn mang lấy nợ nần yến anh.
1099. Dám nhờ cốt nhục tử sinh,
Còn nhiều kết cỏ ngậm vành về sau!"

1101. Lặng nghe, lẩm nhẩm gật đầu:
"Ta đây phải mượn ai đâu mà rằng!
1103. Nàng đà biết đến ta chăng,
Bể trầm luân, lấp cho bằng mới thôi!"

1105. Nàng rằng: "Muôn sự ơn người,
Thế nào xin quyết một bài cho xong."
1107. Rằng: "Ta có ngựa truy phong,
Có tên dưới trướng, vốn dòng kiện nhi.

1109. Thừa cơ lẻn bước ra đi,
Ba mươi sáu chước, chước gì là hơn.
1111. Dù khi gió kép, mưa đơn,
Có ta đây cũng chẳng cơn cớ gì!"

1113. Nghe lời nàng đã sinh nghi,
Song đà quá đỗi, quản gì được thân.
1115. Cũng liều nhắm mắt đưa chân,
Thử xem con Tạo xoay vần đến đâu!

1117. Cùng nhau lẻn bước xuống lầu,
Song song ngựa trước, ngựa sau một đoàn.
1119. Đêm thu khắc lậu canh tàn,
Gió cây trút lá, trăng ngàn ngậm gương.

1121. Lối mòn cỏ nhợt mù sương,
Lòng quê đi một bước đường, một đau .
1123. Tiếng gà xao xác gáy mau,
Tiếng người đâu đã mái sau dậy dàng.

1125. Nàng càng thổn thức gan vàng,
Sở Khanh đã rẽ dây cương lối nào!
1127. Một mình khôn biết làm sao,
Dặm rừng bước thấp, bước cao hãi hùng.

1089. When she bisected and analyzed the writing for its meanings
Did it not say the twenty first day, at nine as time of departing?
1091. The birds were hurriedly returning to the forests in the evening,
Camelia flowers were biting at the quarter moon in its shining.

1093. When the branches of trees were moving on the eastern side,
She pushed open the window panels, there Sở stealthily sneaked inside.
1095. Suppressing her own shyness, Kiều received him in reluctantly,
She kowtowed to him, and then started confiding in him so heartily.

1097. Saying: "I am like a water-fern floating aimlessly, am worth nothing,
Having strayed from the flock yet carrying the debts of sex slaving.
1099. Relying on your vast merit of raising the dead, of life returning,
Then there will be many chances for you to recollect debt requiting."

1101. Sở Khanh listened to what Kiều was saying, and then mumbled quietly,
"Look here, it’s me, a real hero, it’s not anybody, do you not see?
1103. Do you not know of great things I am capable to do,
The filling up the ocean of misfortunes will I carry it through!"

1105. Kiều said: "Ten thousands thanks for your help and your compassion,
Would you please tell me your decision for course of action."
1107. Sở said: "I have a fast horse, a wind chaser, in my possession,
Have a bodyguard from a line of competent martial arts students.

1109. Taking the good chance presented, we will both quietly run away,
It is best among thirty six options, which one can be better way?
1111. If along the way winds and rains, troubles, may seem to be happening,
Worry not; you still have me, one who can take care of everything!"

1113. Listening to his planning, doubts had risen in Kiều’s heart,
But being too deep in the plot, she can’t help but joining with her part.
1115. Having no choice but stepping right into unknown water,
Let’s see what tricky Heaven had reserved in store for her!

1117. They then stealthily walked down to the first storey together,
Riding out, he at front, she in the back, that was how he led her.
1119. Time passing by, the autumn night almost spent its portion,
Winds tripped the leaves, the moon nearly set behind the mountains.

1121. The colour of grass on worn tracks in the mist looked faded and pale,
For each further step, the missing pained her heart, never failed.
1123. The sounds of cock crowing was already heard continuously
And loud sounds of people at her back who were chasing her closely.

1125. Listening to these made her feel very frightened the more,
Then Sở Khanh turned the other way and could not be seen anymore.
1127. Being left alone, Kiều could neither think of nor know what to do,
Being afraid, she walked her horse in uneven paces to make it through.