The Tale of Kiều (Truyện Kiều - Bản Tiếng Anh)

Verses 500 - 1000

500. And in his cuddle were mixed some pleas of lust.

Gravely she said: "never play with love, you must,

At least, let me finish what I want to speak!

A small girl like me is not worth your concern,

And peach grove dare not fence itself from blue birds.

505. But as I'm honored to be your future wife,

I must uphold the ethics of chastity.

Behave I like a lass without purity,

Then no one would wed such a person as me.

Since we're not temporary sexual partners,

510. So my life's chastity can't be lost in hours!

Let's review the well-famed love in history,

There were the unequalled well-matched Chang and Ts'ui[20].

Sexual pleasures aborted their golden pledge,

Over-indulgence made him tired of her.

515. Even when they were side by side together,

He harbored in his heart a somewhat contempt.

As a result their western roof oath cooled down,

And their happy idyll turned out bitterness.

'Cause she did not refuse his undue requests,

520. That later she had to live in his disgrace.

Please don't press me to any corporal deed,

I'll submit to you at right time what you need! "

Hearing this gentle but serious language,

He more than ever valued and treasured her.

525. The moonbeam had just faded on the roof 's eaves,

From outside the door was heard a messenger.

Kieu hurried back towards her maiden chamber,

As his lover stepped out into the peach yard.

As soon he opened the door of his dwelling,

530. A servant came in bringing his home's tidings.

The ominous sad news of his uncle's death,

His coffin was to be brought home from Liao-yang[21],

An alien remote land barred by dales and hills,

Dad called Kim back to help in the obsequies.

535. What a terrifying event this news was!

He quickly made a short cut to her chamber.

And the entire story thoroughly told her,

Of his family's mourning and his own woes:

"Our affairs not yet been in detail discussed,

540. Our love not yet been officially promised,

The moon of oath still there truthful and unchanged,

Never will my heart change due to long distance.

Beyond thousand miles, moment last into months,

So it's a long time for our sorrows to end!

545. Please, my love, take good care of your priceless health,

So I'll be at ease at the far horizon."