Kieu Meets Tu Ba

In the last post we saw how Ma had taken Kieu under the pretext of marrying her but was actually trafficking her to the brothel owned by him and his actual wife, Tu Ba. After that passage, Kieu and Ma have their official wedding ceremony and Kieu laments to her parents. In between the last post and this one, not much happens plot-wise but we see Kieu and Kieu's parent's numerous lamentations and regrets. It's a very sad and sometimes profound part of the story but ultimately very depressing (like most of this tale). 

Ngoc Mai's painting depicting this scene. Can be
found here

By this point in the story Kieu has arrived at Ma and Tu Ba's brothel and is meeting Tu Ba for the first time. Their interaction is short but telling. Tu Ba is the archetypal evil bitch who has zero morals. She is laying the law down for Kieu and Kieu is understandably confused. In the following posts we will see Kieu's reaction and trust me, it's intense.

This time I decided to translated them in 12-16 syllable couplets because I found the 6-8 couplet structure a bit too difficult. I think this flows a bit better. I also kept the original rhyming scheme. I hope you enjoy this short passage.

951~960

Dạy rằng:- “Con lạy mẹ đây,

Lạy rồi sang lạy cậu mày bên kia!”

Nàng rằng:-“Phải bước lưu ly,

Phận hèn vâng đã cam bề tiểu tinh.

Điều đâu lấy yến làm anh,

Ngây thơ chẳng biết là danh phận gì.

Đủ điều nạp thái, vu quy,

Đã khi chung chạ, lại khi đứng ngồi.

Giờ ra thay bậc đổi ngôi,

Dám xin gửi lại một lời cho minh.”

Tu Ba gazed at Kieu: “Kneel before your mother!

Once you’ve paid homage, ‘fore your uncle bow your head!”

“I was torn from my family, my rightful homestead,

I’ve obeyed my humble fate, resigned myself a concubine.

Ma and I’ve married and together we did dine,

Perhaps in my naivety I don’t understand my standing.

He supplied the wedding gifts, gave the offering,

We mingled together, lay intimately as those married do.

After all that, you would change my rank, my value,

Please explain to me what sordid affair I’m in now!” Replied Kieu.