Kieu start
1 . Trăm năm trong cõi người ta,
In one hundred years, the limit of human life,
2. Chữ tài chữ mệnh khéo là ghét nhau.
Without mercy, talent and destiny1 clash and fight.
3. Trải qua một cuộc bể dâu,
The blue sea is now thundering where mulberry field2 used to be;
4 . Những điều trông thấy mà đau đớn lòng.
Our hearts suffer painfully from the vicissitudes we see.
5 Lạ gì bỉ sắc tư phong,
A gift is always received to the detriment of one’s destiny;
6. Trời xanh quen thói má hồng đánh ghen.
With jealousy, Blue Heaven often hounds the fate of beauties.
7. Cảo thơm lần giở trước đèn,
Fragrant manuscripts thumbed under the lamp slowly
8. Phong tình cổ lục còn truyền sử xanh.
Reveal an ancient love story as recorded in history.
9. Rằng năm Gia Tĩnh triều Minh,
Under the reign of Gia Tinh Emperor of the Ming Dynasty,3
10 . Bốn phương phẳng lặng, hai kinh vững vàng.
The frontiers were calm and both capitals were secured firmly.
11. Có nhà viên ngoại họ Vương,
There lived then a small bourgeois of the Vuong family,
12. Gia tư nghỉ cũng thường thường bực trung.
Whose wealth was classified as average in the vicinity.
13. Một trai con thứ rốt lòng,
A son named Vuong Quan, the last born child,
14. Vương Quan là chữ, nối dòng nho gia.
Was supposed to continue the family’s scholarly line.
15 Đầu lòng hai ả tố nga,
Born before him were two girls of exceptional beauty and mind
Thúy Kiều là chị, em là Thúy Vân.
Thuy Kieu was the elder and Thuy Van came after her.
Mai cốt cách, tuyết tinh thần,
They were elegantly slender and their spirits had snow candor.
Một người một vẻ, mười phân vẹn mười.
Each had her own charm but both were enchanting stunners.
Vân xem trang trọng khác vời,
Van commanded an uncommon dignity,
20 Khuôn trăng đầy đặn, nét ngài nở nang.
Her harmonious face with delicate bold eyebrows radiated generosity.
21, Hoa cười ngọc thốt đoan trang,
Her decency was enhanced by her voice of jade and her smile of flower,
22. Mây thua nước tóc, tuyết nhường màu da.
Snow yielded to her complexion and clouds to her hair splendor.
23. Kiều càng sắc sảo, mặn mà,
Kieu’s charm turned out to be more sapid and exquisite.
24. So bề tài, sắc, lại là phần hơn
She definitely was the better in both beauty and spirit.
25 Làn thu thủy, nét xuân sơn,
Her bewitching eyes were autumnal water limpid,
And her eyebrows were gracious lines of mounts in Spring.
26. Hoa ghen thua thắm, liễu hờn kém xanh.
Flowers were jealous of her beauty so captivating,
And willows envied her hair so rich cascading.
27. Một, hai nghiêng nước nghiêng thành,
She could collapse citadel and empire by just a smile4
28, Sắc đành đòi một, tài đành họa hai.
Her beauty and talents left ordinary girls miles behind.
29. Thông minh vốn sẵn tính trời,
Her superior intelligence was definitely Heaven’s blessing.
30 . Pha nghề thi họa, đủ mùi ca ngâm.
She mastered rapidly poetry, painting, and singing,
31. Cung thương làu bậc ngũ âm,
[And was well versed in the five- tone musical composing]i
32, Nghề riêng ăn đứt Hồ cầm một trương.
And her virtuosity at the “Ho” guitar5 was second to none.
33. Khúc nhà tay lựa nên chương,
She wrote a song, “The Cruel Fate,” a masterpiece of her own.
34, Một thiên bạc mệnh, lại càng não nhân.
35 /. Phong lưu rất mực hồng quần,
One of the best persons in red pants6, sophisticated and noble,
36..Xuân xanh sấp xỉ tới tuần cập kê
The nubile age of young ladies, she approached.
37. Êm đềm trướng rủ màn che,
Behind nice drapes and curtains, the sisters enjoyed virginal peace
38. Tường đông ong bướm đi về mặc ai.
Paying no heed to those bees and butterflies7 at the wall in the East.8..
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