The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 57: Kim and Vân Got Married
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 57: Kim and Vân Got Married 

With ink diluted with tears, he wrote letters,

and sent people to look for her.

So much effort and money spent.

Lin-ching, he had gone a few times. 

But he searched here while she was there.

Between the vast sky and the seas, where would she be? 

Kim became more and more distressed with longings and fears.

His liver was like on fire, his bosom felt like being scraped by a knife.

The silkworm, spinning its threads, day by day, became more wasted.

The cicada, under biting frost, became thinner each day.

He languished, sometimes sober, sometimes dreaming.

Tears of blood flowed from his eyes, his soul departed in a dream.

Kiều’s parents were very worried and frightened.

How was it that he came to this state!

They, in haste, prepared to set a date, 

for the wedding of Thúy Vân and Kim.

A graceful maiden, an elite scholar.

Talented man and beautiful girl in their springs of youth.

Although Kim was happy with the marriage,

the joy of newlyweds was not enough to fully suppress his sorrow. 

While eating, sleeping, coming in and out, 

the more attached they were, the deeper his past love grew.

Until when would he ever stop longing for her?

His tears fell profusely, and his insides full of knots. 

Sometimes, when his study room was quiet

he’d burn the incense, and play the old lute. 

The silk strings moaned softly its melody of love and sorrow. 

Wisps of smoke of fragrant incense floating in the air,

the light breeze stirring the blinds. 

Seemed to Kim like inside the room, by the terrace, 

the sound of her voice floated to him, 

and her silhouette appeared like a dream. 

Because his heart remained true to his beloved, 

he thought of her so he saw her appeared. 

While he was steeped in sorrow day and night,

several springs and autumns had been passing by.