The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 7: Kiều Went to Kim's House
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 7: Kiều Went to Kim's House

Since they shared their feelings for each other,

love in their hearts became deeper,

and their minds often wandered.
The Longing River, although not very wide,
each side kept thinking and waiting for the other side.
A wall lay in between with blocking snow and hiding fog.
It’s hard for them to have news of each other.
Windy days and moonlit nights gradually passed by.
With summer’s lush green, spring was over.

Today’s birthday on her mother’s family side.

Her parents, brother, and sister will be going to the party.

A bustling day, dressing up and preparing for the trip.

To present a gift with sincere best wishes.

Alone by herself in the house,

Kiều thought the opportunity to meet Kim has been left for today.

She prepared delicacies and fruits in her chamber.

Then walked quickly to the dividing wall.

She just scarcely called out in a low tone his name.

To find that he was already, by the flowers, waiting.

He complained that she has been lukewarm to him.

To let their love relationship be cold for so long.

His heart’s been alternating between longings and sorrows.

Half of his head will soon become white with fog and snow. 

She replied: “The wind kept me, the rain detained me.
I’m sorry for letting you down all this time.
But today, no one’s at home.

I  come out here to return with gratitude your affection.”

She then walked around the garden’s miniature mountain.
At the wall’s end, there’s a gate that’s just fenced.
She rolled up her sleeves and opened the gate, then
pushed the clouds aside to see clearly the way to fairyland.

Their faces brightened as they look at each other.
Greeting wishes were said, and inquiries about health and weather.
Shoulder to shoulder, they walked back to his study room.
Conversing about poetry and their love vows by mountain and river.

On a side table, lay various ink cups and pen brushes.
Hanging on the wall was a painting of cedar trees. Their strengths
and exposure to wind and fog were expressed naturally.
As she gave praises for the brush strokes, the more she looked,

the more vibrantly fresh she found them to be.

Kim said: “The painting was drawn just a little while ago.
Please grace it with a few words to enhance its beauty.”
Her fairy hand flew quickly like the blowing wind, the falling rain.
On the painting, soon appeared a new quatrain.

Kim praised: “Your thoughts flow in gems.
Even Miss Ban, Miss Tạ are not equal to  that!  *
If in previous lifetimes, had I not done a lot of good things,
I would not have the happiness of being together with you.”

* Miss Ban, Miss Tạ were 2 famous literary figures of the past. 

She replied: “Just from a hidden glance of your face,
I think that if you will not become a royal court’s member,
then at least you will be an honored official.
As for me, my fate’s thin like a grasshopper.
Don’t know if God will grant us a future together.

I remembered when I was young and naive,
there was a fortuneteller who said to me:
‘When talent and beauty outwardly exudes in full glamour,
An unhappy fate’s in store for its owner.’
Looking at you and now thinking of me,
One’s thick, one’s thin, should we really be together?”

Kim replied: “Destiny give us our chance encounter.
Since ancient times, stories of human willpower
overcoming their fates are many.

If we face unsurmountable difficulties

then we will dare to risk our lives.”

They talked about many big and small things.
Hearts in love, feeling light and happy with several drinks.
The joyous day’s too short, not even a full hand’s size.
The sun already set beyond the west sky.
It then seemed not quite proper to stay overly long.
She reluctantly said goodbye and headed for home.