THE TALE OF KIEU BY NGUYEN DU/ ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Nguyễn Du chose it to convey the social and political upheavals at the end of the 18th century in Vietnam.The original text was written in Vietnamese using the vernacular chữ Nôm script.The Tale of Kieu is a morality tale peculiarly suited to speak to the sensibilities of any people under the yoke of tyranny.It is a classic as it is taught in school and quoted by almost any Vietnamese.The verses are even recited at social gatherings.It is also about love, soul mates, honor, sex and nearly every man can relate to the story.As a teaching poem, Kieu’s story informs the readers that when there is karma to unravel, life will take twists and turns and many painful things may happen. What is important is to acknowledge that karma is at work, and accept one’s lot in life, and try to do good.

In Nôm (Original Vietnamese)

Vietnamese has adapted not used Chinese to write their own language by the 10^th century and until the late 13^th it has been systematized and begin being used in literature.

?????些
?才?命窖羅恄饒
?戈沒局?橷
仍調??㐌?疸?
?之彼嗇斯豐
?撑悁貝?紅打慳

In Romanized Vietnamese

By the 17^th century a number of French Jesuit missionaries and the priest Alexandre de Rhodes who has credited this invention, developed a new script based on the Latin alphabet to write their prayers books. This script is called Quốc Ngữ (national language) became widespread in the beginning of the 20^th century.

Trăm năm trong cõi người ta,

Chữ tài chữ mệnh khéo là ghét nhau.

Trải qua một cuộc bể dâu,

Những điều trông thấy mà đau đớn lòng.

Lạ gì bỉ sắc tư phong,

Trời xanh quen thói má hồng đánh ghen.

English translations by some translators

From Lê Xuân Thuy’s Kim Vân Kiều

Within the span of hundred years of human existence,

what a bitter struggle is waged between genius and destiny!

How many harrowing events have occurred while mulberries cover the conquered sea!

Rich in beauty, unlucky in life!

Strange indeed, but little wonder,

since casting hatred upon rosy cheeks is a habit of the Blue Sky.

Another English translation

As evidenced by centuries of human existence

Destiny and genius are apt to feud

Having endured an upheaval

The sights observed must wrench one’s heart

‘Tis no surprise to find the bad and good in pairs

So a maiden blessed by beauty is likewise cursed by envy.

Another English translation

Centuries of human existence,

Prodigy and fate intertwined in conflicts,

Mulberry fields turned into open sea,

Enough’s been seen to melt the heart.

Little wonder that beauty begets misery,

For Blue Heaven’s jealous of exquisite glamour!

English translation by Michael Counsell

What tragedies take place

within each circling space of years!

‘Rich in good looks’ appears

to mean poor luck and tears of woe;

which may sound strange, I know,

but is not really so, I swear,

since Heaven everywhere

seems jealous of the fair of face.

English translation by Vladislav Zhukov

Were full five-score the years allotted to born man,

How oft his qualities might yield within that span to fate forlorn!

In time the mulberry reclaims the sunk sea-bourn,

And what the gliding eye may first find fair weighs mournful on the heart.

Uncanny? Nay—lack ever proved glut’s counterpart,

And mindful are the gods on rosy cheeks to dart celestial spite…

TRANSLATED BY CONCISEENGLISH.NET

The First Version

One hundred years saying a man’s life,

Genius against destiny avenges deftly.

A myriad of ordeals coming across sufferingly,

Eyewitness to happenings does hurt a heart.

A beautiful woman surprisingly of good nature,

Be there it’s doomed to ghost a grudge.

The Second Version

Centenially a life makes expectancy,

To spitefully swivel against its faculty a fortune wheeling.

Countless harsh conditions have occurred,

To painfully cause what tribulation on earth.

Indifferently does a celebrity marvels at moral stamina,

At the lap of God the evil eye turns green.