Waltz with Ky Tam Part Three

Can be found here

This excerpt is from lines 1371-1384 

At this point in the story, Ky Tam has decided that he will rescue Kieu from her oppressive imprisonment. They try to sneak off but Tu Ba is smart and easily gets wind of what he’s doing. She petitions the local authorities who recognize Kieu as merely a slave of Tu Ba, a prostitute. Ky Tam must “buy” her from Tu Ba which he gladly does. They then enjoy their time together and their love grows.

This is a high point in the story for Kieu. Finally, she has escaped her life as a prostitute and Ky Tam seems like a respectable man; a man that will take care of her. As I’ve mentioned several times before in this blog, this is not a happy tale and this is only about halfway through the story. Kieu’s luck will run out, quickly and drastically.

Late in the chilled evening,

They left her small bamboo abode,

For some fresh air, they told.

Hastily she was concealed,

Yet, those dark ones who dealed

With Tu Ba, hid among the trees.

They collected their fees

From her for this valuable news.

From’er mouth a torrent spews,

She wants gold! She needs compensation!

No equivocation,

Kieu was and is her property.

Anything less was robbery,

The ownership of Kieu’s body, soul,

Must be brought to tribunal.

Matters both public and private,

Both brought up for debate.

Before she knew it, she was stripped,

Her dignity torn and ripped.

Can be found here

-Finally, a place of their own

They laid and their love shown,

Their love...deep like the calm sea

Long as a river, free,

Imbibed with the sweet perfume,

Warm as a fire’s plume,

Lively like gems and jade,

Hearts with the lotus shade.

Waltz with Ky Tam: Part Two

Can be found here

This my second installment of Ky Tam and Kieu's first meeting. Ky Tam is trying to convince Kieu that his feelings are candid, but she is understandably wary.

She has been living as a prostitute for so long that she doesn't trust men at all anymore. Ky Tam isn't just another man showing his adoration for her. He is starting to crack her hardened emotional shell. 

Kieu is pretty consistent in her expressions of reluctance and Ky Tam is bewildered to why she could be reluctant. This exchange seems more like two different pleas, unheard to each participant. Kieu's lamentations are rooted in her lack of trust and agency. He is her ticket to freedom, but what kind of freedom exactly?

He doesn't understand why she doesn't just fall into his arms, but he has the humility to try to understand. He wants to know her soul.

Ky Tam does prove to be most sensitive of Kieu's lovers, but also the one with the weakest resolve. 

“I’ve come to realize,”

Kieu replied, “I know you well,

Your words are pearls, sea shells,

They weave together like soft silk,

Are they real? Will you bilk?

Are my unworthy verses enough?

My life has been sad, rough.

I cannot so easily trust you.

Yet, my heart feels askew,

As though it floats among the clouds.

But I feel in a shroud,

I shan’t answer you today young man,”

“Speak quite strangely you can,

That branch didn’t sprout from the roots here.”

He said. Her gaze was clear,

Sad eyes seeping with feminine grace,

 Joy, or Trust? Not a trace,

She was still soaking in despair.

“You are one without care,

Fluttering like a butterfly,

A pleasure-seeking guy.

I’d become one of those flowers

That fall from trees in showers.

My lord, do you not have a wife?

Why should I spend my life

In idle conversation with you?”

“You’ve triumphed in a coup

Of my heart, yet, if we’ll live as one,

In seriousness, not just fun,

I must know the source of this stream.”

He replied with esteem.

Waltz with Ky Tam: Part One

In the following excerpt Kieu will finally stop lamenting. She is still stuck in the brothel but now a new guy enters the picture. His name is Ky Tam, or Thuc Ky depending on how you want to read it. He is a patron of the brothel and is immediately smitten with her. Their love affair escalates quickly and neither one of them realizes just how serious the ramifications of it will turn out to be.

This is only part one, so stay tuned.

All of a sudden a fellow,

Bright-faced, came inside.

His name: Ky Tam. His style refined.

A native of Wuxi,

His voyage was thousands of li.

With his father he sought

To open a fine trading spot.

Kieu’s tender voice struck him,

Her beauty tore him, limb from limb.

Drawn by the scent of rose,

Sweet perfume, beckoned him close.

What charm! What a kind grace!

Smitten he was, now face-to-face.

He felt a loss for words,

A peach blossom hanging by cords,

She was a contradiction,

A Spring day with sun, rain, wind; a fiction.

The moon and a flower

Melt in each other’s power.

How can a man resist

On a Spring night such as this?

One ever-lasting string

Binds the two like queen and king.

A young peach, an old plum,

Their affection grew as it’d come,

Night time fun, moonlit trysts,

Became a sunlit kiss, that none could dismiss.

Kieu's Lament: Chock Full of Allusions

This passage is from lines 1251-1264. It is a relatively short passage compared to what I normally translate, but it is rich with metaphorical language. If may seem a bit cryptic upon first reading, but if you parse through the allusions then you’ll see that the message is pretty straight forward. I’ve included a few explanatory notes at the end.

Can be found here

                Kieu has already become fully acclimated with her life as a prostitute and she feels her spirit being hollowed out. At this point in the story she is lamenting the fact that she can’t provide for her parents, and that the love of her life may have forgotten about her or she may not be worthy of him anymore. This passage, along with the few dozen lines that precede it, are basically a preamble to her meeting her next lover, Ky Tam,  which I will translate eventually.

Feelings within her heart

That seemed so far removed

Within her found a groove,

The pain was hardly bearable,

Tangled and terrible:

“I miss those who I owe nine debts,*

Day by day the sun sets,

Slanting behind mulberry trees.*

Home is across the seas,

Far away and out of my reach,

Which god’s law did I breach?

How could my destiny be this?

The sopohoras’re amiss, *

Naive, too young, and immature

Van Gogh's Mulberry Tree
Can be found here

To provide, to insure

Our parents a comfortable life.

In spite of my trying strife,

I hath not forgotten my pledge

Of three lifetimes. This wedge

Of vast distance ‘tween him and I...

Has he just said goodbye?

He’ll come to find the willow’s branch

Was given for a tranche*

Of mere silver and golden coin.

Can our love ever join?

Will that flower ever bloom

On this branch, in this womb?

*The “nine debts” that she is referring to here are toward her parents. In Vietnamese they consist of sinh (birth), cúc (nourishment/support), phủ (comfort), súc (rearing), trưởng (≈growing up), dục (education), cố (keep safe), phục (teach about respect), and phúc (happiness). The concept of “nine debts” comes from Confucian tradition and comes from the 202^nd poem of the Book of Odes. It’s important to keep in mind that Confucius did not write the Book of Odes; he only compiled and supposedly edited it.

I discovered my old copy of Ezra Pound’s translation of the Book of Odes and found the poem in question. It is titled “The Orphan” and details the despair of an orphan who has no familial support whatsoever. Here is a telling excerpt:

Weed or plant that gives no grain,

you two begat me in toil and pain,

Shamed the jug that fills no cup;

orphan’s life, proverb saith,

is worth less than early death.

Who sustaineth the fatherless?

Who stayeth the motherless?

Carry gagged grief beyond the court-yard wall,

In my house there is no one at all.

          It is a very gloomy poem. Confucius probably used it because it exemplifies why children with parents should be grateful. We can assume that Confucius codified the exact “nine debts” that we should be so concerned about.

*The reference to “mulberry trees” comes from Chiense proverbial sayings, mainly about patience. Mulberry trees are used to nourish silk worms and thus were very valuable. The image of the sun setting behind mulberry trees signifies the end of life. She is lamenting that while she is away in servitude her parent’s may be passing away.

Sophora Tree
Can be found here

*The mention of sophora trees harks back to an old story from Song Dynasty (960-1127 A.D.). The story was that a fellow named Wang Hu planted three sophora trees in his garden, one for each of his sons. The trees were meant to give his sons good luck. The metaphor is that if the “sophora trees” are growing well then the children of the family are successful and supporting their parents. In Kieu’s case her other sisters are still too young to support the family, and so she has anxiety that her parents are not being properly cared for.

Can be found here

*The willow’s branch refers to an old poem from the Tang Dynasty (618-906 A.D.) about a man who leaves his courtesan at home while he is out on a military campaign. His courtesan was named “Miss Willow” and lived on a street called Chang Terrace. On his return journey he wrote a poem addressed to her that included the line: “O Chang Terrace Willow/ Are you still fresh and green as you once were?” It turned out that she was already abducted by another general by the time he returned.

                Kieu is alluding to this because she has already given up her chastity and slept with so many men. Her purity, “willow’s branch”, was handed to other men for money. She is of course ashamed of this.

Tu Ba Explains to Kieu how to be a Whore

Can be found here

This passage comes from lines 1199-1226. Kieu is still recovering from So Khanh's betrayal and Tu Ba decides to give her some advice. Tu Ba has a vested interest in Kieu finally submitting to her new profession in the brothel and so she takes on a more conciliatory tone. Kieu listens attentively because at this point she has no other option.

The moon shown brilliantly

Through the mirror-like window,

Tu Ba came, not as foe,

But as one offering advice.

-“The lover’s craft isn't nice,

Tis not an easy, carefree life,

Fortune’ll cut with its knife

If ladies don’t know how to play.”

-“Storms have blown me astray,

Risk my dignity? My own head?

“So be it...” Kieu said.

“Men are all the same,”  Tu Ba explained.

“Before the night has waned

They’ll spend their gold on what they want.

Tricks of the dilettante,

There’re tricks for when your first kissed,

Tricks for late night trysts.

You must learn them, by heart know these,

You’ll keep them up your sleeves,

Seven seductions to bring them in,

Eight tricks to keep’em herein.

Play like the flowering willow,

Comfort them on your pillow,

Don’t be afraid to cast them aside

When they can’t be plied

With more liquor and merriment.

Flirt until they’re spent,

Smile with the corner of your eye,

With your eyebrows make them buy,

Extol praise with him to the moon,

Jokes and jest are your boon.

Now you know the tricks of the house!

Go ahead and lift that blouse,

Become a master of this trade!”

Can be found here

Kieu heard the tirade,

And noted every last detail,

Her rosy cheeks went pale,

Pearly tears rolled off her face.

This life of lust and lace

Made her feel ashamed and shy,

How was she to get by

In such awful and frightening plight?

Pity the girl you might,

She has fallen from nobility,

Gone is her humility,

Now an apprentice to a whore.

How long is it, pore by pore,

For the shamelessness to crease

A youthful face,  feast by feast?

Is this what it has come to?

What window did she go through,

Alas, to be so lost and alone?

Sở Khanh's Treachery and Kiều's Broken Spirit

Can be found here

This next passage of the Tale of Kieu comes from lines 1105-1148. At this point in the story So Khanh has convinced Kieu that he is trustworthy and will rescue her from being a sex slave at the brothel. They will depart clandestinely by horseback under the nose of her evil madam: Tu ba. 

I am also experimenting with a new format by having the Vietnamese text and English text side by side. I think it looks a bit better and is generally a better look for the blog. Let me know what you think. The whole passage is continuous. I just broke it up into two parts since it is broken up in the tale that way.

“I’m in your hands,” she said.

“Quickly, Please decide on a plan!”

“There are horses well ran,

They’re just outside,” He replied.

“A man whom I've relied,

Is also just around the bend.

Let’s go my lovely friend,

There’s no way but to leave,

By stealth we will achieve.

Although there may be gales, snow flurry,

I’ll be there, Don’t worry.”

Hearing his words she was chary,

Hoping she won’t be sorry,

She knew she was in too deep.

She resisted to weep,

Closed her eyes, and ventured on.

She’s in Fate’s hands now, a pawn.

Can be found here

They furtively escaped,

Fled on their horses single file.

They rode mile after mile,

The autumn night, began to fade,

The morning, to cascade.

Trees fell victim to thrashing gales,

Leaves scattered on the trails,

The moon was swallowed by the copse.

The grass was pale with drops,

Of dew. Kieu’s heart pined for one road,

To her home, her abode.

In harsh tones, the roosters crowed dawn,

A cry! Perhaps a yawn?

Behind, others were in hot pursuit!

With dark hunters en-route

Kieu’s soft heart pounded in her chest,

Feeling a tinge in his breast,

He grasped his bridle to flee,

So Khanh gave up this spree.

Kieu, alone, knew not what to do,

She trembled, her path askew,

Through the forest her mare dashed.

Heaven! Why've you thrashed?

How could you have such a cold heart?

Crumbled rose, fell apart...

A gang surrounded her on all sides,

There was nowhere to hide,

She couldn’t burrow into the ground,

Couldn’t fly, to the earth bound.

Madam Tu Ba swiftly descended,

She couldn't have defended.

Kieu was whisked back to her prison,

Tu ba’s fury had risen.

She asked no questions, no query,

Flailed Kieu ‘til her arm was weary.

Like a ragged tree branch, she beat her.

We’re all human, there’s no blur.

Flesh and bone, blood through our veins,

What rose feels no pain,

When one by one its petals’re torn off?

Can be found here

Kieu’s cries made Tu Ba scoff,

She lowered her bloodied head,

Begged her, for her life pled.

“My modesty as a woman...

Is gone, C’est fin.

My wish to return to my land...

Is gone, as you demand:

Now, here is home, always’ll be.

My existence is thee,

I am resigned to my lot,

Care for myself? Cannot.

How can an eel mind muddying its head?

My chastity is dead.”

Kieu has essentially given up on life, or at least is projecting that impression to placate Tu Ba. 

Also, the passage: "How can an eel mind muddying its head?" (Thân lươn bao quản lấm đầu) is a Vietnamese proverb which according to Huynh Sanh Thong is "meaning that a poor, helpless person my have to endure humiliation and degradation in order to save himself or herself and survive." I had to pretty much copy his translation for that one since the proverb is a bit cryptic for me and I thought it was good to go by his judgment. 

She will eventually escape from her servitude but it will be because of different man, who although is better than So Khanh, does have some serious short-comings.

Kieu meets Sở Khanh

These next passages detail more of Kieu's laments and introduce a new character: Sở Khanh. Kieu is still languishing in the brothel and is becoming more and more morose. Sở Khanh happens to be walking by and sees her silhouette. He hears some of her poetic laments and is extremely moved. Sở Khanh's arrival appears to be the first good news for Kieu after she's been imprisoned. But we'll see later just how objectionable he really is.

Can be found here

This first part is a sort of sad soliloquy by Kieu where Nguyễn Du uses imagery to describe her inner feelings. Each couplet starts with the words "Buồn trông....." which means either "Sadly looking..." or it could possible mean "Looking sad as though..." I translated it as "Sadly she gazed out," I interpreted it to mean she was gazing out at the scenery while in the depths of melancholy. I think this passage is quite nice and moving. 

Lines: 1047-1054

Buồn trông cửa bể chiều hôm,

Thuyền ai thấp thoáng cánh buồm xa xa?

Buồn trông ngọn nước mới sa,

Hoa trôi man mác biết là về đâu?

Buồn trông nội cỏ dàu dàu,

Chân mây mặt đất một màu xanh xanh.

Buồn trông gió cuốn mặt duềnh,

Ầm ầm tiếng sóng kêu quanh ghế ngồi.

Sadly she gazed out

Can be found here

Toward the lonely docks at dusk,

Was there a sailor brusque,

Was that a ships sail in the fog?

Sadly she gazed out

At the mountains of this new country,

Drifting flowers at sea,

How do they know their way back home?

Sadly she gazed out

At withering grass atop the mound,

The cloud banks and the ground

Blend in the distance to a pale green.

Sadly she gazed out,

The rolling waves , pushed by the wind

Roared! And would not rescind,

She dwelled amidst the tortuous sound.

I separated this couplet from the others because I felt like it to be more of an opening lament to which the passage follows. 

Lines: 1055-1056

Chung quanh những nước non người,

Đau lòng lưu lạc nên vài bốn câu.

In this world of ours

Those with a bleeding heart wander,

And only stop to ponder:

Why there should be so few of them?

This next passage describes the improbable meeting of Sở Khanh and Kieu. He is completely enamored with her and immediately "falls in love". We only here his side of the story at this point but Kieu does fall victim to his charm and in my next post I'll translate the scene which shows what kind of man he really is.

Lines: 1057-1072

Ngậm ngùi rủ bức rèm châu,

Cách tường nghe có tiếng đâu họa vần.

Một chàng vừa trạc thanh xuân,

Hình dong chải chốt, áo khăn dịu dàng.

Nghĩ rằng cũng mạch thư hương,

Hỏi ra mới biết rằng chàng Sở Khanh.

Bóng nga thấp thoáng dưới mành,

Trông nàng, chàng cũng ra tình đeo đai:

-“Than ôi sắc nước hương trời!

Tiếc cho đâu bỗng lạc loài đến đây!

Giá đành trong nguyệt trên mây,

Hoa sao hoa khéo đọa đày bấy hoa!

Tức gan riêng giận trời già,

Lóng này ai tỏ cho ta hỡi lòng?

Thuyền quyên ví biết anh hùng,

Ra tay tháo cũi sổ lồng như chơi”.

Can be found here

Drop by drop, pearls rolled

From her grieving eyes to the floor,

He heard her out-pour

And finished her sorrowful verse.

A young man he was first,

His appearance graceful,refined.

A scholar he seemed and kind,

She wished to know how he was called,

Sở Khanh, he replied enthralled.

Bathed in moonlight he stole a glance,

Their hearts began the dance

Of two lovers struck by Cupid’s arrow.

-“Alas! Struck to the marrow

I am! What a beauty you are!

Fit for a god, for a tsar,

How could you come to this pitiful place?

Her dignity, her grace...

Be a denizen of the moon, she should,

Delicate rose, treated like wood.

Heaven of old, showing its wrath!

What a terrible path!

Who can reveal the pain within

Your heart, which no one can win?

If only she knew that I’m that man

Who has a plan, save her I can.

I’ll set this caged bird free, I will!”