The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 63: The Convincing of Kiều to Wed Kim
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 63: The Convincing of Kiều to Wed Kim 

After everyone had some drinks of mum wine and feeling mellow, 

Vân stood up and said a few words:

“In this union that heaven had made,

you two met, and a word bonded you to each other.

When our family was facing the stormy waves of disaster,

you took your love troth and put it on me.  

I had since then made your love pledge my duty. 

Besides, we are of the same flesh and blood.

For the last fifteen years, we’d been wishing and nursing hopes

that one day we’d  be living with you again.

Now that the broken mirror is made whole,

it seemed Heaven have arranged to reunite your love.

Love for you had always remained in Kim’s soul and heart.

There’s the silver moon, and there’s the old oaths. 

The plum fruit still remains fresh and delicious.

Let us prepare a wedding for you, our dearest.”

When Vân’d finished, Kiều immediately rejected the suggestion:

“An old story so long, long ago. Why talk about it now?

Although there’s an oath of olden days,

I’d been living a life beaten by the wind and rain. 

Talking about it would make me die of shame. 

Let those things follow the ebbing tide out out to sea.”

Kim replied: “What you just said is very strange.

Even if that’s your desire, what about your promise?

A solemn love pledge had been made between us

in the presence of the deep earth and the wide sky. 

Whatever changes may occur in the world and in our life, 

in life or death, we need to keep our faithful pledge. 

Had my heart ever done anything to let down your heart, 

that you want to break our love into two.” 

Kiều replied, “A married life in love’s harmony,

who would not love to have?

I think that in the marriage between husband and wife, 

the flower bud should be offered unbattered by the wind,  

and the moon should reflect its full round image in the mirror.

The word chastity is priceless, and virginity invaluable.

Under the nuptial torch, I’d be ashamed of myself for your love. 

Since misfortune first befell me, many butterflies and bees

I had been with, and this truth makes me feel very ugly.

For so long battered by the stormy winds and the heavy rains, 

what flower would not wither, what moon would not wane?

There’s no beauty left in this body.

I considered my life done and do not hope for anything.

Just thinking of marriage, I’d feel ashamed

to take this dirty self to join with an honorable scholar.

I know that you are a faithful and loving man,

but to see the nuptial torch would make me felt very ashamed.

From now on, I’ll close the autumn door of heart’s love. 

Although not being a nun, I’d live like a nun!

If you still insist on our love

then you can change it into a friend-of-the-heart relationship

Talking about wedding and marriage

only distress my heart and make me feel plainly dirty!”

He replied, “You do have a clever tongue with words,

but what’s right or wrong also depends on circumstances.

In all times, in the role of a woman,

the meaning of chastity also has three or seven paths.

Sometimes in normal situations,  sometimes in special conditions.

There’s nothing that say we must follow any one particular way.

As for you, filial piety becomes your chastity.

There’s no dust that can ever make you dirty. 

Heaven has allowed us to meet again this day.

The fog had dissolved, the clouds had dispersed in the sky. 

A fading flower yet fresher than ever.

A waning moon yet brighter than ten full moons of long ago. 

Please do not hold in your mind any more doubts. 

Let me not become a forlorn passerby like the Tiêu of olden times, ignored by his beloved.”

After hearing his pleadings and arguments,

her parents also sided with him. 

She had no choice but to accept.

She hung her head and breathed sighs of resignation.