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.