The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 3: The Handsome Kim Appeared
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 3: The Handsome Kim Appeared 

While half-wanting to stay, half-wanting to leave,

a sweet melody from somewhere approached near.

Seemed to be a young scholar riding on a horse,

at a leisurely pace with hand loosened on the reins.

Half a pocket of dreamer’s moon and poet’s wind.

With a couple of pageboys following him.

His coat had a light scent of fresh grass,

its hue was that of the blue sky.

His horse was the color of snow-white.

From afar, he had seen their faces.

He dismounted and walked towards them.

As the scholar’s shoes moved over the grass meadow,

the whole area seemed to be jade branches with gems’ glow.

Quan knew him and came forward to greet.

The two beauties, from maidenly shyness, behind the flowers, hid.

Actually, he’s not really a stranger.

He’s Kim Trọng, a descendant of a noble line.

His family’s wealthy, his genius well-recognized.

Famed for his literary skill, endowed with god-given intelligence.

He’s blessedly gifted and extraordinarily handsome.

When at home, he’s kind and courteous.

When going out, he’s winsome and generous.

In fact, he lived in the same vicinity

and was a schoolmate of Vương Quan.

Having long heard that his neighbor

has two beautiful daughters,

like the two Kiều of olden times,

locked up in the Bronze Sparrow Tower.

Only a few houses apart, but mountains and rivers lie in between.

For quite some time, his heart’s filled with love and dreams.

A fortunate day to finally meet these angels.

He’s satisfied to see the heavenly fragrant flowers.

From afar, he had seen their figures.

Spring orchid and autumn daisy,

both are heart-captivating beauties.

A meeting between a national beauty and a genius.

Inwardly, they have fallen in love with each other,

but outwardly, still showing shyness and reserve.

His mind hazy as if half-awake, half in a dream.

Staying long not suitable, but leaving so difficult.

The evening light seemed to hasten the parting’s sadness.

The scholar already on the horse and moving away,

the beauty’s still gazing for a long while afterward.

Under the bridge, the streamlet’s crystal clear water flowed.

By the bridge, willows swayed gracefully in the evening shadows…