3000. They never expected to see her on earth!

Together gratefully to Giac Duyen they bowed,

And without delay in her walk they followed.

While struggling through the grass and reed in their march,

They could not help doubting what they had just heard.

3005. Taking the crooked path along the river's curve,

Through the reeds they arrived at the temple's yard.

Giac Duyen raised the voice to call her destined friend,

From inside the room Kieu hastened to get out.

There she looked and saw all of her family:

3010. Her mother and father, gorgeous and healthy,

Her younger sister and brother in good shape,

And young Kim, the lover of her olden days.

Asking herself if she was in present time,

And what her open eyes saw was but a dream!

3015. Tears fell in drops like rain soaking their garments,

While joy and pity mixed with their affections!

Plummeting herself at her old mother's knees,

Kieu sobbed out from head to tail her miseries:

"Ever since I was stray to the alien land,

3020. A weed hurled and tossed by waves for fifteen years!

I thought I'd been drown for good in the river,

And have no hope of seeing you in this life!"

Her parents held her hands and looked at her face,

Their daughter looked the same as the day she left.

3025. After years of exposure to tough weather,

She'd lost somewhat of her vigor and freshness.

No scale could weigh the joy of their reunion,

Greeting words and touching tales were abundant!

Sister and brother lavished her with questions,

3030. While Kim changing from gloom to bliss was watching.

Altogether they kowtowed before Buddha,

Thanking the Great Compassion for her rebirth.

When the palanquin urged them for home return,

Old Vuong ordered that Kieu be escorted too.

3035. She said: "I'm but a kind of fallen flower,

Half my life was spent tasting all bitterness.

I thought myself banished with cloud and water,

Without any hope of such a union day.

Now I'm reborn and found myself among you,

3040. And all the thirst of my heart is satisfied!

As I've retreated to this secluded shrine,

Living among grass and trees befits my age.

The zen taste of salted pickles suits my tongue,

The zen hue of brown clothes suits my nature.

3045. My heart's been extinct of all worldly affairs,

Why should I shove back in this realm of dust?

It is not good to leave a job unfinished,

To nunhood I'm dedicated till my death.

Her life-saving deed is as large as the sky,

3050. How could I have the heart to cut off and depart?"

Old Vuong said: "Each time has its own condition,

To be nun was right when circumstance obliged.

But now if you're to follow God or Buddha,

Who'll do the duty of daughter and lover?

3055. You owe your life to the virtuous bonzes,

We'll build a shrine and have her come live with us."

She complied with her father's word and gave in,

They said goodbye to the Buddhist nun then left.

EPISODE XXVII

FLOWER ASHAMED OF ITS FADED BEAUTY

MOON ADMIRED FOR ITS SHINING LIGHT

Once the family came home to Kim's yamen,

3060. They held a feast to rejoice their reunion.

When tipsy after a couple of wine cups,

Van rose from her seat and expressed her thinking.

She said: "In the heaven-prearranged meeting,

Two people joined and exchanged a commitment.

3065. By the recent domestic catastrophe,

You've attached my sister's hymen thread to me.

I've done my duty as it was predestined,

And as bleeding would soften the intestines;

We've lived from day to day in expectation,

3070. Those fifteen years were teeming with affections!

Now the broken glass is completely restored,

And Heaven's reserved the prize for the chosen.

The sworn-love still lives and the lovers are here,

The silver-moon still shines and the oath is there.

3075. The fruit is mature enough for the market,

Let's prepare for the wedding of our dearest."

As soon as Van finished speaking, Kieu turned down:

"Such a story of yore why still mention now!

Though there was between us wedding commitment,

3080. I think myself heavily weather-beaten.

I'm ashamed to tell the whole story of mine,

Just want to let it flow with the ebbing tide!"

Kim said: "How weird what you've just told really sounds!

But that's your feeling, how about your past oath?

3085. The committed word we have solemnly pledged,

Before thick Earth and high Heaven as witness!

Despite the orbs transform and the stars vanish,

Even in life or death we'll keep our promise!

My heart did nothing unfaithful to your love,

3090. Why do you intend to split our unity?"

She said: "A marital life of harmony,

And true love is everybody's wishful dream.

I think, however, in the conjugal link,

A bride should still keep her intact purity.

3095. Thousand of gold is worth the virginity,

That she'll proudly offer him on nuptial night.

But since the time when mishaps happened to me,

Flitting bees and butterflies have soiled and spoiled;

Violent winds and tough rains have wrought dire havoc,

3100. Making the moon to wane the flower to fade.

My chastity was then already bereaved,

My life is thus finished, what do I still wish for?

Am I too unashamed to feel mortified

That I dare meddle in your life as a wife?

3105. Although I know that you still dearly love me,

How could I face you without shame as your bride!

From now on I will close my maiden chamber,

Though not a nun, I'll live a religious life!

If you still have any thought of our past love,

3110. Let us turn ourselves from lovers into friends.

Please don't mention anything about marriage,

That will fill my life with sadness and disgrace!"

He said: "your words are well articulated,

But there are always two faces in the truth!

3115. From times of yore, in the womanhood's ethics,

Virginity has many ways to follow.

Sometimes it's normal, sometimes it's flexible,

And certainly not always one way to go.

Your chastity was paid off for your piety,

3120. What dirt could sully your dignified body?

Heaven protects and saves you until today,

Dispelling the fog and scattering the clouds.

The withered flower is becoming fresher,

The waned moon ten times than the full moon brighter.

3125. There's no more anything for you to suspect,

And to be lukewarm to me, your poor lover!"

Before this all-out reasoning of her man,

Who was also supported by her parents,

Kieu felt it impossible not to comply,

3130. She lowered her head and secretively sighed.

EPISODE XXVIII

KEEPING WHAT REMAINS OF PURITY

RESPECTING HEART OF CHASTITY

Then the household held a banquet of wedding,

Flowers flushed at candles, pinks glowed on curtain

The married couple bowed as husband and wife,

And completed all the wedding protocols.

3135. Cup after cup they enjoyed their nuptial night,

Dazed by their new bond and grieved for their past love.

As lotus sprout and peach bud when they first met,

Until this present time fifteen years had passed!

Tales of their meeting, parting, and gathering,

3140. Mixed their joy with angst till the old moon got high.

By the brocade drape and in the dead of night,

Her rosy cheeks glowed under the nuptial light.

Now they encountered as lover met lover,

As old-timed flower and bee came together.

3145. She said: "Such has been my unfortunate fate,

A worthless being with a wasted body!

Because of your faithfulness and loyalty,

I gave in to your wish and became your wife.

But in my heart I was utterly ashamed,

3150. Feeling improperly brazen and barefaced!

As for the outward expressions of your love,

I would yield as a show of my affection.

But if you imitate the ways of others,

Picking dull perfumes and plucking pale flowers;

3155. And forcing me into dirty sexual games,

That won't be love anymore but purely hate!

If you return my love with bad intention,

You will betray me ten times more than usual!

If you care about home and heredity,

3160. There's still my younger sister in place of me.

This is all that remains of my purity,

Hold it tight instead of crushing asunder!

There're plenty of amorous delights ahead,

Why waste your time fondling this faded flower?"

3165. He said: "We'd taken oath to be together,

Then out of the blue we lost one another.

How I pity you, who've been exiled so far,

And suffered so much for breaking your sworn pledge!

We loved one another, risking our lives for it,

3170. We reunite now and our love stays intact.

As spring willow you always look young and fresh,

And I've thought you still have the desire of flesh.

But in fact you're pure like immaculate glass,

And your firm words filled me with much more respect!

3175. I have been scouring the world for you thus far,

Urged by faithful love not by frivolous lust!

Fortunately together under one roof,

Sex won't be needed in our marital life!"

On his word she tidied her dress and hairpin,

3180. And bowing her head she prayed to High Heaven:

"My ruined life now being cleansed of dirt and filth,

It's thanks to the good heart of my honest man.

His words of confidence are so intimate

Such understanding is truly empathic!

3185. His protection and care are more than enough,

And help my life regain its honor tonight!"

EPISODE XXIX

OLD LOVE IN NEW TUNE

HAPPINESS IN THE END

Her prayer finished, they held one another's hands,

Deeper in love by affection and virtue.

They lighted more candles, added more incense,

3190. And together drank their cups of enjoyment.

Among the teeming memories of their love,

He leisurely asked her about her lute skill.

She said: "Because of these music's strings of silk,

I've made a lot of missteps until present.

3195. Repentance cannot undo what has happened!

In respect to your wish I obey this time."

Her elf finger was then gliding on the fret,

The lute's sound spread vaguely in the incense smoke.

Some tune, warm and harmonious as springtime,

3200. Was it the butterfly or Chuang[46] in his dream?

Some tune, sweet and melodious as spring love,

Was it King of Shu[47]'s soul or a cuckoo's moans?

Clear as gems dropping into a moon-lit bay!

Warm as pearls just crystallized of Lan-t'ien[48] Mount!

3205. He listened thoughtfully to the five tones' sounds,

None of which wasn't stirring and exciting.

At last he said: "The same hands and the same tunes,

Why were they so sad then and are so glad now?

Blue or gay, is it up to our heart's feeling,

3210. Or since hardship ends and happiness begins?"

She answered: "This trivial talent of mine,

And its woeful sounds wrought havoc on my life!

This is the last time I play the lute for you,

Then it will be unstrung and hung up for good."

3215. They had not emptied their innermost feelings,

When the cocks crowed announcing the crack of dawn.

Honestly he told people their secrecy,

The entire family was amazed and praised

That she was a virtuous high-willed woman,

3220. Who distinguished herself from frivolous ones.

Their love and friendship went together smoothly,

Sharing not the same bed but the same hobbies.

The love couple either sipped wine or played chess,

Watched the flower bloom or enjoyed the moon rise.

3225. All the wishes of their lives were satisfied,

And their married love was also their friendship.

Keeping their promise they had a temple built,

Then sent their man to invite Bonzess Giac Duyen.

At the shrine, he found the gate securely barred,

3230. Trail covered with moss and roof hidden in grass.

The nun was away on her herb-gathering,

Untraceable like flying cloud and heron.

In honor to the devotion of the nun,

Incense lamps were lit day and night in the shrine.

3235. A family of both wealth and happiness,

Of constant higher promotion in office.

While Van and other wives gave him progeny,

Kiêu was the main factor of the unity.

Their opulence and honor second to none,

3240. They made a fame that was eternally known.

XXX. EPILOGUE

NEVER RELY ON TALENT

IMPROVE TOWARDS GOODNESS

Hence everything is predestined by Heaven,

Who creates man and allots him to a fate.

If yours a drifting fate, be resigned to it,

If yours a noble fate, be complied with it.

3245. Heaven's never in favor of anyone,

Who is bestowed with both talent and fortune.

Those with talent, don't ever brag your talent,

Because talent rhymes its end with accident.

Since all of us are burdened with a karma,

3250. Let us not blame heaven for our destiny.

The nature of goodness derives from our heart,

Therefore the heart is worthwhile thrice the talent.

Above are rustic words from my experience,

I hope they could entertain you at night times.