The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 55: Kim Trọng’s Search for Kiều
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 55: Kim Trọng’s Search for Kiều 

Kiều’s life was full of misfortunes.

Kim Trọng also had his share of sufferings.

Since the day he left to help with the burial ceremony,

he stayed in Liêu Dương for half a year, before he returned.

He hurriedly went to the Thúy garden to check things out,

and saw that the scenery had changed so unlike before.

The whole garden was full of weeds and reeds.

The moonlit window looked so cold and empty, the walls rain-beaten.

From front to back, he did not see a single soul, 

although the peach blossoms of last year

 still smile in greeting of the east wind. 

A few sparrows rustled their wings in the vacant house.

Wild grass spread all over the ground, moss covered shoeprints.

At the wall’s end, several thorny bushes grew,

blocking the path that she and him last year walked through. 

All around the house was in gloomy silence.

Whom can he ask to know the whereabouts of his love?

A neighbor passed by and greeted him. 

Kim asked him a few discreet questions.

Asked about the father: he was involved in a court trial.

Asked about Kiều: she sold herself to ransom her father.

Asked about their house: they had moved far away.

Then he asked about young Vương and Thúy Vân.

He was told that both of them are living in difficulties.

Sewing clothes and writing for hire to make a living.

The news were like lightning strikes in the sky.

On hearing it, Kim was dumbfounded for a moment.

He then asked where they had moved to.

Kim went to their new home and saw:

A dilapidated mud-walled cottage, 

with  ragged reed blinds and tattered sparse bamboo screens.

When he saw a rain-soaked grass yard full of weeds,

the sight depressed and confused him all the more.

He ventured to call outside the wall.

Young Vương heard his voice and rushed out.

Took him by the hand and hastily led him inside. 

From a back room, the parents soon appeared.