The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 17: Kiều Leaving Home
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 17: Kiều Leaving Home 

How heartbreaking it was, the hour of parting!

Horses’ hooves trotting away, carriage’s shadow jolting. 

Ten miles beyond the town, at a resting post,

Old Vuong gave a feast to bid farewell. 

While hosts and guests were making cheers outside,

Mother and Kiều were grieving together indoors.

They looked at each other through streams of tears.

She then whispered her mind to her mother’s ears:

“Being just a young and helpless girl, I feel ashamed!

Till what future life can I repay father’s and mother’s love and care.

No hopes for a speck of clean dust trapped in muddied water. 

I will leave my heart here with you for life, oh Mother.  

Judging by what I’d seen these past few days,

I think I have fallen into the hands of an old scoundrel!

When we got there, he left me all alone.

When coming in, he tarries. When going out, he’s in a hurry.

When speaking, he makes blunders. 

Master and servants looks down on each other.

Quite a different bearing from that of a gentleman.

It seemed like he’s some kind of a merchant.

What else is there to say?

On some foreign land, your daughter’s doomed to live.

And upon death, she’d be buried in soil unnative.”

Upon hearing those words, Madam Vương

let out a shrieking cry for injustice that wants to pierce the heaven.

After drinking together a few moments, 

although the farewell cup not yet empty,

Mã went out and gave orders for the coach to leave.

Heart heavy with love and compassion for his daughter,

before the coach, Old Vương pleaded with Mã:

“My young and delicate girl,

‘cause of family’s misfortune has come to be your servant.

Henceforth, in some corner of the sea, at some point in the sky’s horizon,

she will live lone days with no kinsfolk in a foreign land. 

Within the shadow of you, a lofty pine tree,

please protect the small clinging vine from frost and snow.”

To these words, the bridegroom replied:

“Our feet are bound together with red silk threads.

No matter how our lives may turn out in the future, 

let the sun and moon be my witness,

if I should betray her trust, the demons’ knives will draw my blood.”  

Like a stormy wind under the cloudy sky,

the coach sped off with whirling dust as if it wants to fly.

Wiping their tears, they kept gazing 

on that horizon, for days and nights. 

She traveled far and far into unknown lands.

Saw bridges white with frost and hills dark with clouds.

Shivering reeds huddled together with the north wind’s cold breath.

An autumn sky just for her and her alone.  

On a quiet night road that stretched into the far distance,

the sight of the moon aroused Kiều’s shame of her vows.

In the autumn woods - layers of green interlaid with red,

the bird cries reminded her of her parents.