The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 48: Hồ Tôn Hiến’s Deceitful Gifts
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 48: Hồ Tôn Hiến’s Deceitful Gifts 

There was a provincial governor, a powerful official.

He’s Hồ Tôn Hiến, a statesman with many talents.

He was given the powers by the emperor

to fight the rebels at will, with the title of supreme commander. 

He knew that Từ was a hero and  knew that Kiều

also had a voice in the military plans.

He parked his troops in the garrison, and sent a man

with loads of  gold, silver and brocade to persuade them to surrender.  

For her, there were separate gifts:

two ladies-in-waiting, and thousand pounds of gold and jade. 

The missive was sent to Từ Hải’s headquarters.

Lord Từ was very reluctant to surrender, saying:

“With my hands, I founded this heritage.

Since then I had been master of these seas and rivers.

If I constrain myself and returned to the Court, 

A surrendered subject is not well looked upon. 

Those officials are tied together by their mandarin dresses.

Is it worth being a duke and have to bend your back and bow your head. 

How is it better than being the lord of your own territory.

With my military might, it’s not easy for them to do anything to me. 

Now, I move heaven and earth as I please.

Going any direction I want, without anyone above me.”