Truyện Kiều – The Tale of Kieu (Verses 1300-1335)

Truyện Kiều (Câu 1300-1335)

1300.
Càng quen thuộc nết, càng dan díu tình.
Lạ cho cái sóng khuynh thành,
Làm cho đổ quán, xiêu đình như chơi!
Thúc Sinh quen thói bốc rời,
Trăm nghìn đổ một trận cười như không!

1305.
Mụ càng tô lục chuốt hồng,
Máu tham hễ thấy hơi đồng thì mê.
Dưới trăng quyên đã gọi hè,
Đầu tường lửa lựu lập loè đâm bông.
Buồng the phải buổi thong dong,

1310.
Thang lan rủ bức trướng hồng tắm hoa.
Rõ ràng trong ngọc trắng ngà,
Dày dày sẵn đúc một tòa thiên nhiên.
Sinh càng tỏ nét càng khen,
Ngụ tình tay thảo một thiên luật Đường.

1315.
Nàng rằng: “Vâng biết ý chàng,
Lời lời châu ngọc, hàng hàng gấm thêu.
Hay hèn lẽ cũng nối điêu,
Nỗi quê nghĩ một hai điều ngang ngang!
Lòng còn gửi đám mây Hàng,

1320.
Họa vần, xin hãy chịu chàng hôm nay”.
Rằng: “Sao nói lạ lùng thay!
Cành kia chẳng phải cỗi này mà ra?”.
Nàng càng ủ dột thu ba,
Đoạn trường lúc ấy nghĩ mà buồn tênh

1325
“Thiếp như hoa đã lìa cành,
Chàng như con bướm lượn vành mà chơi.
Chúa xuân đành đã có nơi,
Ngắn ngày thôi chớ dài lời làm chi!”.
Sinh rằng: “Từ thuở tương tri,

1330.
Tấm riêng, riêng những nặng vì nước non.
Trăm năm tính cuộc vuông tròn,
Phải dò cho đến ngọn nguồn lạch sông”.
Nàng rằng: “Muôn đội ơn lòng.
Chút e bên thú bên tòng dễ đâu!

(English Version)

The Tale of Kieu

Author: Nguyễn Du
Translation: Đặng Hoàng Lan

1330. They grew closer and their affection, one for another, stronger.
As easily as a tidal wave could obliterate the city walls
The sheer power Kieu held over him could overthrow an entire state.
Thuc was an extravagant spender, quite liberal with his earnings,
And with just a seductive smile from her he would squander his gold.

1305. Madame Tu paid to groom Kieu’s hair and rosy up her cheeks,
She was intoxicated by her greed for Thuc’s wealth!
Beneath a moonlit sky, cuckoos proclaimed a summer night,
While a pomegranate blossomed like a flaming flower.
Our Kieu was in her room, reclined, enjoying rare leisure and a bath.

1310. As she dropped the curtain to soak in water perfumed with orchids
Her body appeared as white as ivory and as glossy as jade.
She is nude, her figure exposed like a masterpiece of statuary.
The more Thuc studied her form, the more awestruck he became.
Appraising such a rare beauty, he was inspired to pen a T’ang poem.

1315. Kieu said “I understand you thoroughly, your words are as gems,
Like opalescent pearls they fall, polished, onto a gleaming tapestry.
Mine surely cannot compete, but I will labor to compose a reply,
Although thoughts of my home remain a constant distraction,
And I cannot deny that my heart still dwells among the Hang clouds.

1320. Pardon my melancholy, but I will return to your poetry soon.”
Thuc said, “What! I am so confused by your mention of ‘home’!?
Do you mean to say this branch does not sprout from this tree?!”
Hearing Thuc’s question, her eyes overflowed with tears.
When forced to regard her ill fate, she was stricken with grief.

1325. Kieu said, “I am as a blossom that’s been plucked from it’s branch.
You are as a butterfly that visits the flower for pleasure.
The winged Lord of Spring must already have a true home flower?”
“We’ve quickly grown as close as is possible, no need for mystery”
Sinh replied. “From the very first day I met you I realized

1330.
My heart was born for the sole purpose to swear a vow of love to you.
Since I intend to live a long and happy life with you, us being a pair,
I must inquire from whence your river flows and learn it’s depths.”
Kieu answered, “Your devotion keeps me ever grateful, however
This torment is not easily resolved and we face an uncertain future.