The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 64: Love and Friendship
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 64: Love and Friendship 

After the reunion banquet, 

nuptial torches were lit up and pink silk curtains stretched.

The couple exchanged ritual greetings with their family.

All the rites were performed and they were married.

In the bridal chamber, they made several toasts.

They felt a mix of joy and wondering for their new union, yet tinged

with the sorrow and regret of their past love. 

Since she was a young peach blossom, a lotus flower, 

fifteen years had passed until they are now together. 

The past love, the parting and the reunion, 

a mix of feelings filled their hearts as the moon rose high.

Brocade curtain dropped in the late night. 

Under the lamp, her peach-blossom cheeks looked silky fresh. 

Lover meeting lover again. Flower and bee of olden times

still have lot of affection for each other.  

She said, “I had accepted my lot. 

And did not want anything for this self that I threw away. 

But  because of  your love for me since the olden days,  

I had complied to your wish for this wedding.

But in my heart, I’m very ashamed. 

I feel I am wearing a brazen face that I can hardly bear to see. 

I do not mind the outward marks of a married couple’s affections

to honor our relationship in the eyes of the world.

But regarding the usual habit of people, 

gathering used fragrance from dirt , picking a wilted flower,

all these acts to me are foul and made me feel ashamed and hurt.

No longer would it be love, but it’s hatred that remains. 

When you make love, I’d feel ashamed of myself.

To love then is ten times worse than to let one another down. 

Regarding the heirs for keeping the family lineage, 

there’s still my sister, Vân, your wife. 

Of the chastity in my heart, there’s still a little left.

Please cherish it and not try to step on and shatter it. 

You still have lot of loving with my sister,

what’s good about playing with a wilted flower?”

Kim replied, “We were bonded by our pledge, but suddenly

like fish in the sea, and bird in sky, we missed out each other. 

I felt lot of regret when thinking of your wanderings. 

And thought that our solemn oaths had caused you a lot of pain. 

We loved each other, and had risked death, 

and now we see each other again, and still in love. 

You’re still in your spring of life.

I thought that you haven’t gone beyond the physical bonds of love.

Your soul’s mirror is clear without a speck of dust.

a word from you made me respect you more.

For so long, I had searched the ocean to find a needle, 

‘cause I truly love you, and not for pleasure of flesh or beauty of flower.  

Who’d have thought that we’d unite again under one roof.

We do not have to share blanket and pillow to be a loving couple. 

After she heard him, she fixed her dress, put on her brooch, 

and made a deep bow to him, saying:

“My cast-away self is now being purified,

thanks to the generosity of a  noble gentleman.

The words that you said touched my heart deeply.

To understand me like that, you are a true friend of my heart!

There’re many ways to take care and protect, 

but the chastity of a lifetime that I can keep is because of today.”