Truyện Kiều – The Tale of Kieu (Verses 2490-2525)

Truyện Kiều (Câu 2490-2525)

Nguyễn Du

2490.
Tưới ra đã khắp thấm vào đã sâu.
Bình thành công đức bấy lâu,
Ai ai cũng đội trên đầu xiết bao.
Ngẫm từ khởi việc binh đao,
Đống xương Vô Định đã cao bằng đầu.

2495.
Làm chi để tiếng về sau,
Ngàn năm ai có khen đâu Hoàng Sào!
Sao bằng lộc trọng quyền cao,
Công danh ai dứt lối nào cho qua!”
Nghe lời nàng nói mặn mà,

2500.
Thế công, Từ mới đổi ra thế hàng.
Chỉnh nghi, tiếp sứ vội vàng,
Hẹn kỳ thúc giáp, quyết đường giải binh.
Tin lời thành hạ yêu minh,
Ngọn cờ ngơ ngác, trống canh trễ tràng.

2505.
Việc binh bỏ chẳng giữ giàng,
Vương sư dòm đã tỏ tường thực hư.
Hồ công quyết kế thừa cơ,
Lễ tiên, binh hậu, khắc cờ tập công.
Kéo cờ chiêu phủ tiên phong,

2510.
Lễ nghi dàn trước, bác đồng phục sau.
Từ công hờ hững biết đâu,
Đại quan lễ phục ra đầu cửa viên.
Hồ công ám hiệu trận tiền,
Ba bề phát súng, bốn bên kéo cờ.

2515.
Đang khi bất ý chẳng ngờ,
Hùm thiêng khi đã sa cơ cũng hèn.
Tử sinh liều giữa trận tiền,
Dạn dầy cho biết gan liền tướng quân.
Khí thiêng khi đã về thần,

2520.
Nhơn nhơn còn đứng chôn chân giữa vòng!
Trơ như đá, vững như đồng,
Ai lay chẳng chuyển, ai rung chẳng dời.
Quan quân truy sát đuổi dài.
Ầm ầm sát khí ngất trời ai đang!

(English Version)

The Tale of Kieu (Verses 2490-2525)

Author: Nguyễn Du
Translation: Đặng Hoàng Lan

2490.
Sprinkled all over like rain and penetrated deep into people’s hearts.
His favors and merits, so far in the country
Have been immensely loved by the people.
Reflecting upon since you have been rebelling contrary to the imperial court.
Piles of bones along the Vo Dinh River have accumulated as high as the head of a person.

2495. Why bequeath a bad reputation to posterity?
Thousands of years later, nobody speaks highly of Hoang Sao!
On the contrary, you will have an elevated position and a large budget.
Is the way to the imperial court the safest way to glory? “
Seduced by his wife’s persuasive words.

2500. Tu switched the offense into surrender.
He hastened to prepare solemn rites to receive the emissary,
And then undertook to lay down his arms and disband his army.
Beneath the wall, he organized a surrender ceremony.
The military orders lost their stringency so that the flag ended and the night drums hardly dispersed.

2505. The military affair was released and the soldier’s mission was ignored.
The army of Ho watched discreetly and knew all about the military situation of Tu.
Lord Ho devised a ruse to take this opportunity.
Hiding his troops behind the presents, he prepared for a violent attack.
The army that headed the way drew the flag with the word “Amity”,

2510. The rite was arranged ahead, but behind it were bronze cannons ready for attack.
Lord Tu had no suspicion and knew nothing of Ho’s tricks.
Wearing ceremonial attire, he stood at the entrance to the rampart.
Ho immediately signaled the soldiers right before the battle.
Three sides opened fire and four sides soldiers from the ambushed lifted the flag to assault Tu Hai.

2515. While being negligent, Tu Hai did not expect that.
Caught in the trap, even a fierce tiger became powerless,
There was no way out, but he risked his life in the midst of the battle.
And showed all the strength and bravery of a general.
Once his holy spirit left this world,

2520.
He remained proudly in the midst of the enemy’s encirclement.
His body was strong as stone and hard as bronze,
Nobody could tremble and move.
The royal army hastened to pursue with intent to kill.
And the aura of death went forth everywhere and ascended into heaven.