The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 5: Kim Trọng in Love
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 5: Kim Trọng in Love

It’s well known that for those who are romantics,
who could unravel the threads of love in their hearts?
Since he returned home from the chance meeting,
she was constantly in his thoughts and his feelings.
The more he tried to shake off sorrow, the more it grows.

Like three autumns compressed in a day, it was drearily slow.

Heavy drapes shrouded her window like a wall of clouds.
Each night, he dreamed of a glimpse of her at her house.
A month had already passed by.
Depression filled his heart.

He yearned to see her face but could not.

His study room had the cold feel of metal.

Ink brush tips dried, lute strings out of tune.
A light wind blew through the blinds, creating a nostalgic melody.
Fragrance aroused longing, tea lacked its usual taste.

If it’s not predestined love for three lives,
why such heavenly beauty to tease one’s heart?

Feeling wistful for the special place of first meeting her,
he left his house hurriedly to go there.
The place now covered with lush green grass.
Clear water flowed under the bridge,
but nothing else about her to see!
The evening breeze seemed to invoke melancholy.
The lonely reeds swaying in mocking affirmation.

A sudden desire to see her filled his heart.
He hurriedly headed towards the Blue Bridge to her house.*
Deep and austere-looking, with closed gates and high walls.
So ended the chance of seeing and talking with her.
Leaves of willows drooping, forming a natural curtain.
An oriole chirped mockingly from a tree branch.
Behind several closed gates, somewhere was her chamber.
The front yard was filled with fallen flowers,
but she’s nowhere to be seen. 

He stood there for a long while, then strolled around.
Suddenly he saw: behind the backyard, there’s a house.
It belonged to Việt Ngô, a businessman.
The owner’s away and the house’s empty.
He rented it as a student from another town.
With his lute, books and belongings, he moved into the place.

The landscaping’s in a good state with grass, rocks, and trees.
A terrace named “View Thúy” in golden letters still fresh.

Joyful of such a happy coincidence,
He wished, “It must be Love ordained by Heaven.”
From his room window,

he kept watching the eastern wall each day.
So near to her, yet it seemed like ten thousand miles away.
For the fairy cave was closed even to the wind.
It’s now two full moons since he’d moved in.
And yet, not even, of her shadow, a single glimpse.

* Blue Bridge: Bùi Hàng of Tang dynasty met a fairy on the Blue Bridge. Afterwards, he obtained the jade pestle which is used in the making of divine medicine bills, and gave it to her as the requested bridal gift.

One serene day, looking over the wall,
he saw a graceful figure flitting by the peach tree.
He put down his lute, tidied his dress, and rushed out.
The perfume still lingered strongly, but she was gone.

He walked around the wall.
On the peach tree lay a silver hair brooch.
He stretched his hand and took it home.
“From which maiden’s chamber came this?
It must be she to have this precious thing.
If not a predestined love, it wouldn’t be this easy

to fall into one’s hands!”
Lying sleepless, he kept fondling the brooch.
It still had her lingering scent…