The Tale of Kiều
by Nguyễn Du
Ch. 34: Thúy Kiều Made a Slave  
Translated by Vuong Thanh 

Chapter 34: Thúy Kiều Made a Slave 

“The fallen flower had drifted downstream.”, he thought, 

not knowing that hell was waiting for her in the human realm.

Hound and Hawk had succeeded in their wicked plot.

They carried the young woman down onto the boat.

And then with all the sails unfurled and the ropes taut, 

the boat headed in the direction of the town of Tích. 

After the boat landed, Hound and Hawk went straight to the palace,

where they turned Kiều in, to receive their due rewards.

They carried Kiều to the servants’ quarters

while she was still in her slumber. 

She woke up with a jolt from her dream, and was startled:

“My house vanished  and whose palace is this?”

She was still half awake and half asleep,

when she heard a loud voice ordering her to appear.

Housemaids rushed in to urge her to respond to the call.

With dread, she followed one of them.

On the way, she looked up and saw an awe-inspiring hall

with the inscription: “Heaven’s Prime Minister.”

Although in daytime, candles were lit on both sides.

In its center was a jewel-decorated bed and a haughty lady on it sat. 

Kiều was questioned in depth from root to branch.

She dutifully answered the haughty lady in all sincerity.

For some unknown reason, the lady got very angry.

And scolded Kiều with insults: “these vagabonds are shameless.

You wench are definitely not a good girl.

If you’re not a servant who deserted your service, then

you must be the unfaithful wife who cheated your husband.

A graveyard cat, a strutting hen in the fields. 

You tried to explain this and that, but cannot clear your name.

You have been sold to me. You’re nothing but my slave.

And yet, proud manners and such airs you dare to display.”

Teach her the house’s laws, my lasses!

Give her thirty strokes to let her know her place!”

“Yes, Madam”, all the servants replied in unison.

Even if she’d a hundred mouths, she could not, with them, reason.

The bamboo sticks hit her with energetic effort.

Whose flesh wouldn’t be torn? Whose heart wouldn’t be terrified?

Pity for the poor peach blossom twig!

The storm had shattered it once again.

Flower Slave was to be her new name, as the lady ordered.

She was taught and forced into a housemaid role.

She joined the ranks of servants dressed in green garb.

Day passed by day, her hair unkempt, and skin dull as lead.

Among the servants, there was a housekeeper.

Who saw Kieu’s sweetness and pitied her plight.

She’d have tea with Kiều, or give her medicine.

And gave Kiều’s advice to help her survive.

She taught: “Good or ill fortune, we can do nothing but accept.

But a frail willow needs to protect itself.

Your current situation probably results from karmic debt to some people.

It’s not with no reason that you are here now and have fallen to this level.

Beware of everything – the walls here do have ears. 

When you see an old friend, don’t look at him.

Just in case, when some sudden storm happen,

how can an ant or a bee proclaim its innocence?” 

Her pearly tears kept rolling down her cheeks.

A vague foreboding filled her heart, and she felt a bitter sorrow:

“Living the flower-in-storm fate, I had already borne a lot of griefs.

But this new misfortune casted upon me is twice the hardships.

Alas, isn’t my fate not burdensome enough, 

that Heaven has to relentless bind a girl to Fate’s cruelty.