Truyện Kiều – The Tale of Kieu (Câu 1475-1510)

Truyện Kiều (Câu 1475-1510)

Nguyễn Du

1475.
Trướng hồ vắng vẻ đêm thanh,
E tình, nàng mới bày tình riêng chung:
“Phận bồ từ vẹn chữ tòng,
Đổi thay nhạn yến đã hòng đầy niên.
Tin nhà ngày một vắng tin,

1480.
Mặn tình cát lũy, lạt tình tào khang.
Nghĩ ra thật cũng nên rường,
Tăm hơi ai kẻ giữ giàng cho ta.
Trộm nghe kẻ lớn trong nhà,
Ở vào khuôn phép nói ra mối rường.

1485.
E thay những dạ phi thường,
Dễ dò rốn bể khôn lường đáy sông.
Mà ta suốt một năm ròng,
Thế nào cũng chẳng giấu xong được nàọ
Bấy chầy chưa tỏ tiêu hao,

1490.
Hoặc là trong có làm sao chăng là.
Xin chàng liệu kíp lại nhà,
Trước người đẹp ý, sau ta biết tình.
Đêm ngày giữ mức giấu quanh,
Rày lần mai lữa như hình chưa thông?”

1495.
Nghe lời khuyên nhủ thong dong,
Đành lòng, Sinh mới quyết lòng hồi trang.
Rạng ra gửi đến xuân đường,
Thúc ông cũng vội giục chàng ninh gia.
Tiễn đưa một chén quan hà,

1500.
Xuân đình thoắt đã dạo ra cao đình.
Sông Tần một dải xanh xanh,
Loi thoi bờ liễu, mấy cành Dương quan.
Cầm tay dài ngắn thở than,
Chia phôi ngừng chén, hợp tan nghẹn lời.

1505.
Nàng rằng: “Non nước xa khơi,
Sao cho trong ấm thì ngoài mới êm.
Dễ lòa yếm thắm, trôn kim,
Làm chi bưng mắt bắt chim khó lòng!
Đôi ta chút nghĩa đèo bòng,

(English Version)

The Tale of Kieu (Verses 1475-1510)

Author: Nguyễn Du
Translation: Chamberlain Kim Anh Ellen and Đặng Hoàng Lan

1475.
One quiet night while alone together in their private room,
Kieu surprised Thuc by blurting out her concerns and anxieties.
“Since your strong, firm, liana-vine has intertwined with mine,
Swallows and geese have come and gone for almost a year
And letters from your family have steadily decreased.

1480.
I fear that in your love for me, you’ve neglected your first wife.
Each pebble dropped in a pond causes a ripple and then a wave.
If she knows we are married, where is the consequence!?
I have heard she rules herself with great rectitude,
That all in your house are directed to uphold equally high principles.

1485.
I fear any soul that’s certain they walk in impeccable righteousness.
Some say they know righteousness, yet human nature eludes them.
We have lived together for almost one year around the sun,
We must not continue to hide the truth of our union, especially
Because you haven’t heard anything from her!

1490.
I can’t help but fear her silence bodes imminent danger for us!
I am frightened in this silence, please return there to learn
The thoughts of your former wife and discover her plans.
By delaying telling her about us you have hidden the fact of our love
Now I wonder if perhaps you haven’t made your final choice!?”

1495.
Kieu was astute in many regards, and seeking to appease her,
It took only a moment for Thuc to agree and decide to go.
The very next day he told his father about their plan and
Thuc’s father was in agreement and urged him to make the trip.
A festival and feast was planned to prepare him for his departure.

1500.
The year was bliss, but now they faced this bittersweet parting.
Ahead, the Tan River lay as a thin blue band pointing to destiny.
On its banks, the willow trees held some Dương Quang branches.
Sighing, so beautiful was the scene as they held each other’s gaze,
Hearts sinking into their cups of farewell wine.

1505.
“High mountains and distant rivers will lie between us now.
For your concubine to have peace your wife must have her rights.
She seems not to notice a scarlet scarf, but she sees a needle’s eye.
She is not going to play at catching birds with blindfold eyes,
Why then should you disguise our temporary love-affair?