The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 40: Kiều Took Refuge in Pagoda of Retreat
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 40: Kiều Took Refuge in Pagoda of Retreat 

She walked through wooded hills and sandy trails immersed in mists.

While the roosters crowed from moonlit huts,  

small fresh shoeprints were seen on the dew-soaked bridge.

Pity the young girl on the long road at night, alone,

enduring the wind and fatigue, she kept walking on and on.

When dawn broke over the mulberry fields,

there stood a forlorn figure on the road with no place to call home!

She saw a pagoda in the far distance.

On it was the sign “Pagoda of Retreat”.

She hurried there and knocked on the door.

The  prioress heard her and led her inside.

Seeing the young girl dressed in a nun’s brown garb,

the kind prioress, Giác Duyên, felt compassion for her.

She asked Kiều questions about her origin.

Kiều made up a story:

This humble nun’s from Peking.

who’d been living by Budda’s teachings for some time. 

My teacher will be coming here later.

She told me to bring you these gifts.”  

She then took out the golden bell and the silver gong

from her dress and showed them to the prioress.

The nun took a quick look and said:

“So you’re Hằng Thủy’s disciple, a good old friend of mine.

It worries me that you’re traveling alone.

Please stay here and wait a few days for your teacher.”

The temple became Kiều’s new haven. 

She’d live on salt and greens in exchange for a carefree life.

The sutras she already knew by heart.

Altar duties, she was an old hand.

From dawn to late at night, she’d go about her tasks.

She’d light up the lamp late at night, and ring the bell at dawn.

 Seeing that she’s specially intelligent, above the norm, 

the nun had high regards for Kiều, and she felt more secure.

Now, In this haven, spring’s coming to an end.

Flowers laid strewn all over the grounds; Milky Way crossed the sky. On a clear day without clouds and winds,

the temple received a friend-of-temple visitor. 

The visitor admired the golden bell and silver gong.

She commented: “These looked like those in Miss Hoạn’s house.

The prioress was concerned upon hearing these words.

Late at night, she went and asked Kiều about it.

Thinking it’s difficult to hide the truth, 

she told her story to the nun:

“Now that things have come to this state,

my humble self, for good or ill, I’ll leave in your hands.”

Giác Duyên, on hearing Kiều’s words, shook with trepidation.

She pitied Kiều but she’s also afraid to keep her here. 

She whispered to Kiều’s ear her thoughts:

“Here, Budda’s gate, for everyone, is wide open. 

But I dread of unknown events that may happen

to cause you woe while you stay here.

Better to avoid and flee away,

than to wait for the flood water to reach your feet!”