Truyện Kiều – The Tale of Kieu (Verses 250-285)

Truyện Kiều (Câu 250-285)

Nguyễn Du

250.
Bụi hồng lẽo đẽo đi về chiêm bao.
Tuần trăng khuyết, đĩa dầu hao,
Mặt mơ tưởng mặt, lòng ngao ngán lòng.
Buồng văn hơi giá như đồng,
Trúc se ngọn thỏ, tơ chùng phím loan.

255.
Mành Tương phất phất gió đàn,
Hương gây mùi nhớ, trà khan giọng tình.
Vì chăng duyên nợ ba sinh,
Thì chi đem thói khuynh thành trêu ngươi.
Bâng khuâng nhớ cảnh, nhớ người,

260.
Nhớ nơi kỳ ngộ vội dời chân đi.
Một vùng cỏ mọc xanh rì,
Nước ngâm trong vắt, thấy gì nữa đâu!
Gió chiều như gợi cơn sầu,
Vi lô hiu hắt như màu khảy trêu.

265.
Nghề riêng nhớ ít tưởng nhiều,
Xăm xăm đè nẻo Lam Kiều lần sang.
Thâm nghiêm kín cổng cao tường,
Cạn dòng lá thắm dứt đường chim xanh.
Lơ thơ tơ liễu buông mành,

270.
Con oanh học nói trên cành mỉa mai.
Mấy lần cửa đóng then cài,
đầy thềm hoa rụng, biết người ở đâu?
Tần ngần đứng suốt giờ lâu,
Dạo quanh chợt thấy mái sau có nhà.

275.
Là nhà Ngô Việt thương gia,
Buồng không để đó người xa chưa về.
Lấy điều du học hỏi thuê,
Túi đàn cặp sách đề huề dọn sang.
Có cây, có đá sẵn sàng,

280.
Có hiên Lãm thúy, nét vàng chưa phai.
Mừng thầm chốn ấy chữ bài,
Ba sinh âu hẳn duyên trời chi đây.
Song hồ nửa khép cánh mây,
Tường đông ghé mắt ngày ngày hằng trông.

(English Version)

The Tale of Kieu

Author: Nguyễn Du
Translation: Đặng Hoàng Lan

The Tale of Kieu (verses 250-285)

250.
He walked along in a dream toward the rose bushes.
The crescent moon appeared as he burned the midnight oil yet again.
He felt melancholy due to his yearning to see her face.
His reading room grew cold as bronze.
His quill had run dry and the strings of his lute were loose.

255.
The cool breeze blew through the bamboo blinds,
A fragrant scent enticed memories and the tea made his voice hoarse.
Was it a shared fate from a previous life?
And why was such an exquisite girl teasing him?
He blankly reminisced about the scene and the girl.

260.
As he remembered their meeting place, he quickly scurried away.
That region grew green like fresh grass.
In the clear stagnant water, he could see nothing.
The afternoon wind seemed to provoke his sorrow.
The slender reeds mocked him as he passed by.

265.
He could only vaguely remember her face, but he could imagine her.
He headed directly to Lam Kieu where he inquired the way to her house,
Which was discretely surrounded by walls and closed gates.
There was no path for his bluebird to carry words of courtship.
Loose silk curtains drooped from the willow branches.

270.
An oriole chirped words of mockery from his branch.
Beyond the walls doors were closed and latches were fastened.
Her door was ornamented with flowers, but he couldn’t find the place.
He stood still in hesitation for a long moment.
As he wandered, suddenly he saw a house to the back.

275.
This was the house of the businessman, Ngo Viet,
Who had gone far away leaving the house empty.
Kim pretended to be a student asking to let a room.
Then he moved in at once with his lute and books.
Trees and rock gardens were available to him.

280.
Over the threshold was clearly written “Lam Thuy” in gold.
He delighted in the coincidence of that name on the signboard.
Could it be a sign of his destiny?
The paper windows of his room were often half-open,
And he peeked over the eastern wall day after day.