Ảnh Nguyễn Khắc Phước

5 TRUYEÄN COÅ VIEÄT NAM

Trích töø

Truyeän Coå Daân Gian Vieät Nam

(Folk Tales of Vietnam)

Xuất bản năm 2011, nxb Văn Hoá – Văn Nghệ

 Taùc giaû Vöông Đằng

Cöôùc chuù:  Nhaèm muïc ñích treû con Vieät Nam khoâng bieát ñoïc tieáng Vieät (hay ngöôøi ngoaïi quoác) bieát teân nhaân vaät vaø ñòa danh Vieät Nam, Vöông Ñaèng khoâng dòch danh töø rieâng maø chæ ñoâi khi giaûi thích yù nghóa, ñòa ñieãm hay  ñeå ngöôøi ñoïc Anh vaên hieåu.

LAÏC LONG QUAÂN & AÂU CÔ

LAÏC LONG QUAÂN & AÂU CÔ

EXPLANATION = GIAÛI THÍCH

Long Nöõ = King of Dragon’s daughter living in the ocean

Long Vöông = King of Dragon

Laïc Long Quaân = King descended from the dragon race of

     the Laïc Vieät Tribe

Ngö Tinh = Monster like a fish.

Caåu Ñaàu Sôn = the mountain having the head of the sea

     lion

Caåu Ñaàu Thuûy = the river/sea having the head of the sea

     lion

Baïch Long Vó = the white dragon’s tail

Hoà Tinh = Fox Devil

Caùi = main, big

Xaùc Caùo = Fox Dead Body

Taây Hoà = West Lake

Hoà = Fox

Chieân ñaøn = a kind of very big, shadowy tree having large

     leaves

Moäc Tinh = Wood Devil

Quyû Xöông Cuoàng = the Devil of Crazy Bone. 

Ñeá Lai = the King named Lai

Huøng Vöông = the name of the first king dynasty of

     Vietnam

Baùch Vieät = Hundred Vietnamese Races

Laïc haàu = Laïc mandarin,

Laïc töôùng = Laïc general

Quan Lang = the son of the king (= prince)

Mî Nöông = the daughter of the king (= princess)

Vaên Lang = the first national name of Vietnam

VOCABULARY = TÖØ VÖÏNG

Voâ song = to surpass

Hieäu/teân hieäu = noble alias

Taûng ñaù = block of stone

Bò nhaän chìm = to be sunk

Choù bieån = sea lion

Hang thuù/saøo huyeät = den

Tinh/yeâu quaùi = devil

Vöôøn caây aên traùi = orchard

Pheùp thuaät/phaùp thuaät = supernatural power

Kieät/ñuoái söùc = to be exhausted

Ñaàm = marsh

Xoaùy = to swirl

Naïn = calamity

Nhaø saøn = piled house

Sum sueâ = luxuriant

Hung aùc = atrocious

Quyû quyeät = cunning

Chieâng = gong

Voâ soá = innumerable

Caùch ñaây laâu ñôøi laém, ôû Lónh Nam coù moät thuû lónh teân laø Loäc Tuïc, hieäu laø Kinh Döông Vöông, söùc khoûe voâ song, laïi coù taøi ñi laïi döôùi nöôùc nhö ñi treân caïn.  Moät hoâm, Kinh Döông Vöông ñi chôi hoà Ñoäng Ñình, gaëp Long Nöõ laø con gaùi Long Vöông, hai ngöôøi keát thaønh vôï choàng vaø ít laâu sau sinh ñöôïc moät trai, ñaët teân Suøng Laõm.

            Very very far from the present time, in Lónh Nam there was a chief named Loäc Tuïc—his noble alias was Kinh Döông Vöông—whose strength surpassed everybody; and he had the skill to go on water like on the ground.  One day, Kinh Döông Vöông had taken a trip to Ñoäng Ñình Lake, where he met Long Nöõ who was Long Vöông’s daughter; they married each other; and for some time later they had a son named Suøng Laõm.

            Lôùn leân Suøng Laõm raát khoûe, moät tay coù theå nhaác boång leân cao taûng ñaù hai ngöôøi oâm.  Cuõng nhö cha, Suøng Laõm coù taøi ñi laïi döôùi nöôùc nhö ñi treân caïn.  Khi noái nghieäp cha, chaøng laáy hieäu Laïc Long Quaân.

            When Suøng Laõm grew up, he was very strong; he could lift high a very big block of stone which two people could measure horizontally.  Like his father, Suøng Laõm had the skill to go on water like on the ground.  When Suøng Laõm succeeded to his father, he took the noble alias as Laïc Long Quaân.

            Luùc baáy giôø, ñaát Lónh Nam coøn hoang vu, khoâng moät nôi naøo yeân oån; Laïc Long Quaân quyeát chí ñi du lòch khaép nôi.

            At that time, Lónh Nam was still deserted, no place was in peace; Laïc Long Quaân determined to travel everywhere.

            Ñeán vuøng bôø bieån Ñoâng Nam, Laïc Long Quaân gaëp moät con caù raát lôùn.  Con caù naày ñaõ soáng töø laâu ñôøi, mình daøi hôn naêm möôi tröôïng, ñuoâi nhö caùnh böôùm, mieäng coù theå nuoát chöûng möôøi ngöôøi moät luùc.  Khi noù bôi thì soùng noåi ngaát trôøi, thuyeàn beø qua laïi ñeàu bò noù nhaän chìm, ngöôøi treân thuyeàn cuõng bò noù nuoát soáng.  Daân chaøi raát sôï con quaùi vaät aáy.  Hoï goïi noù laø Ngö Tinh.  Choã ôû cuûa Ngö Tinh laø moät caùi hang lôùn aên saâu xuoáng ñaùy bieån, treân hang coù moät daõy nuùi ñaù cao ngaên mieàn duyeân haûi ra laøm hai vuøng.

            Getting to the Southeast seashore, Laïc Long Quaân encountered a giant fish.  It lived for a long time; its body was 50 feet long; its tail looked alike a butterfly’s wings; its mouth could swallow 10 persons at the same time.  When swimming, it caused very high waves; all passing boats were sunk and all people were swallowed by it.  They called it Ngö Tinh.  Ngö Tinh’s residence was a large cave deep down to the bottom of the sea; above the cave there was a range of mountain dividing the seashore into two regions.

            Laïc Long Quaân quyeát taâm gieát loaøi yeâu quaùi, tröø haïi cho daân.  Laïc Long Quaân ñoùng moät chieác thuyeàn thaät chaéc vaø thaät lôùn, reøn moät khoái saét coù nhieàu caïnh saéc, nung cho thaät ñoû, roài ñem khoái saét xuoáng thuyeàn cheøo thaúng ñeán Ngö Tinh.  Laïc Long Quaân giô khoái saét leân giaû caùch nhö caàm moät ngöôøi neùm vaøo mieäng cho noù aên.  Ngö Tinh haù mieäng ñoùn moài.  Laïc Long Quaân lao thaúng khoái saét noùng boûng vaøo mieäng noù.  Ngö Tinh bò chaùy hoïng vuøng leân choáng cöï, quaät ñuoâi vaøo thuyeàn cuûa Laïc Long Quaân lieàn ruùt göôm cheùm Ngö Tinh laøm ba khuùc.  Khuùc ñaàu hoùa thaønh con choù bieån.  Laïc Long Quaân laáy ñaù ngaên bieån chaën ñöôøng gieát cheát con choù bieån, vöùt ñaàu leân moät hoøn nuùi, nay hoøn nuùi aáy goïi laø Caåu Ñaàu Sôn; khuùc mình cuûa Ngö Tinh troâi ra xöù Maïn Caån, nay coøn goïi laø Caåu Ñaàu Thuûy; coøn khuùc ñuoâi cuûa Ngö Tinh thì Laïc Long Quaân loät laáy da ñem phuû leân hoøn ñaûo giöõa bieån, ñaûo aáy coøn mang teân laø Baïch Long Vó.

            Determined to kill the monster for the sake of the people, Laïc Long Quaân made a very solid large boat; he had forged a big iron dart with many sharp angles and burned it to red-hot; then he had brought it to the boat and oared right away to Ngö Tinh.  Laïc Long Quaân had lifted the dart and pretended to throw a person into the monster’s mouth.  Ngö Tinh opened its mouth to receive the prey.  Fast and strong Laïc Long Quaân threw the dart to its mouth.  Being burned in its throat, Ngö Tinh rose up to resist, hit its tail against Laïc Long Quaân’s boat.  Immediately Laïc Long Quaân pulled out his sword and chopped Ngö Tinh into three parts.  Its head transformed into a sea lion.  Laïc Long Quaân took blocks of stone to barricade off its way and killed it; then he threw its head on a mountain; consequently people called this  mountain Caåu Ñaàu Sôn.  The middle part of Ngö Tinh drifted to Maïn Caån Region; now it is still called Caåu Ñaàu Thuûy. For Ngö Tinh’s tail part, Laïc Long Quaân had cast off its skin, then brought it to cover an island at sea; that island was also named Baïch Long Vó.

            Tröø xong naïn Ngö Tinh, Laïc Long Quaân ñeán Long Bieân.  ÔÛ ñaây coù con choàn chín ñuoâi soáng ñeán hôn ngaøn naêm, ñaõ thaønh tinh.  Noù truù trong moät hang saâu, döôùi chaân moät hoøn nuùi ñaù ôû phía Taây Long Bieân.  Con yeâu naøy thöôøng hoùa thaønh ngöôøi traø troän trong daân chuùng, duï baét con gaùi ñem veà hang haõm hieáp.  Moät vuøng töø Long Bieân ñeán nuùi Taûn Vieân, ñaâu ñaâu cuõng bò Hoà Tinh  haõm haïi.  Daân chuùng hai mieàn raát lo sôï, nhieàu ngöôøi phaûi boû caû ruoäng vöôøn, nöông raãy, keùo nhau ñi nôi khaùc laøm aên.

            After getting rid of Ngö Tinh’s danger, Laïc Long Quaân came to Long Bieân.  Here there was a fox having nine tails which lived more than a millenium and became a devil.  It lived in a very deep den under the foot of the mountain in the west of Long Bieân.  This devil often transformed into a human being who mixed in with the people; he seduced and kidnapped young girls to its den then raped them.  From the region of Long Bieân to Taûn Vieân Mountain, everywhere people were harmed by Hoà Tinh; many residents had to leave their rice fields, orchards and moved to other areas for living and working. 

            Laïc Long Quaân thöông daân, moät mình moät göôm ñeán saøo huyeät Hoà Tinh, tìm caùch dieät tröø noù.

            Having pity on the people, Laïc Long Quaân, alone by himself, and with his own sword, went to Hoà Tinh’s den and tried to find a way to destroy

this devil.

            Khi Laïc Long Quaân vöøa tôùi cöûa hang, con yeâu tinh thaáy boùng ngöôøi, lieàn xoâng ra.  Laïc Long Quaân lieàn hoùa pheùp laøm möa gioù, saám seùt vaây chaët laáy con yeâu.  Giao chieán luoân ba ngaøy ba ñeâm, con yeâu daàn daàn ñuoái söùc, tìm ñöôøng thaùo chaïy, Laïc Long Quaân ñuoåi theo cheùm ñöùt ñaàu noù.  Noù hieän nguyeân hình laø moät con choàn khoång loà chín ñuoâi.  Laïc Long Quaân vaøo hang cöùu nhöõng ngöôøi coøn soáng soùt, roài sai caùc loaøi thuûy toäc daâng nöôùc soâng Caùi vaøo phaù hang.  Nöôùc soâng chaûy nhö thaùc, ñaùnh baêng ngoïn nuùi, xoaùy hang choàn thaønh moät vöïc saâu, ngöôøi ñöông thôøi goïi laø ñaàm Xaùc Caùo, ñôøi sau môùi goïi laø Taây Hoà.

            When Laïc Long Quaân had just come to the entrance of the den, the devil saw the human shadow and jumped out at once.  Right away Laïc Long Quaân used his supernatural power to make rain, thunder, and storm to surround it tightly.  They continuously fought for three days and nights; gradually the devil was exhausted, tried to run away.  Laïc Long Quaân followed it and he chopped off its head.  The devil was transformed back to its original appearance as a giant fox having nine tails.  Laïc Long Quaân entered the den and saved those who were still alive; then he commanded water-species to augment the influx of tide from the Caùi River for destroying the den.  The water ran like a waterfall, flattened the mountain out, swirled the den becoming an abyss which the people at that time called Xaùc Caùo Marsh, in later generation people have called Taây Hoà.

            Deïp yeân naïn Hoà Tinh nhaân daân quanh vuøng laïi trôû veà caøy caáy treân caùnh ñoàng ven hoà vaø döïng nhaø laäp xoùm treân khu ñaát cao nhöùt goïi laø laøng Hoà, ñeán nay vaãn coøn.

            After the fox calamity was pacified, the people surrounding the area came back, cultivated on the field around Taây Hoà; and they built houses, established the village named Hoà Village which it has still lasted to nowadays.

            Thaáy daân vuøng Long Bieân ñaõ ñöôïc yeân oån laøm aên, Long Laïc Quaân ñi ngöôïc leân vuøng röøng nuùi ñeán ñaát Phong Chaâu.  ÔÛ vuøng naày coù moät caây coå thuï goïi laø caây chieân ñaøn, cao haøng nghìn tröôïng, tröôùc kia caønh laù sum sueâ töôi toát che kín caû moät khoaûng ñaát roäng; nhöng sau nhieàu naêm, caây khoâ heùo, bieán thaønh yeâu tinh, ngöôøi ta goïi laø Moäc Tinh.  Con yeâu naày hung aùc vaø quyû quyeät laï thöôøng.  Choã ôû cuûa noù khoâng nhöùt ñònh, khi thì ôû khu röøng naày, khi thì ôû khu röøng khaùc.  Noù coøn luoân luoân thay hình ñoåi daïng, aån naáp khaép nôi, doàn baét ngöôøi ñeå aên thòt.  Ñi ñeán ñaâu cuõng nghe thaáy tieáng khoùc than thaûm thieát.  Laïc Long Quaân quyeát ra tay cöùu daân dieät tröø loaøi yeâu quaùi.  Laïc Long Quaân phaûi luoàn heát röøng naày ñeán röøng kia vaø qua nhieàu ngaøy gian khoå môùi tìm thaáy choã ôû cuûa con yeâu.  Laïc Long Quaân giao chieán vôùi noù traêm ngaøy traêm ñeâm, laøm cho caây long ñaù lôõ, trôøi ñaát mòt muø maø khoâng thaéng ñöôïc noù.  Cuoái cuøng Laïc Long Quaân phaûi duøng ñeán nhöõng nhaïc cuï nhö chieân, troáng, v.v., khieán noù khieáp sôï vaø chaïy veà phía Taây Nam, soáng quanh quaát ôû vuøng ñoù, ngöôøi ta goïi laø Quyû Xöông Cuoàng.

            Seeing the people in the Long Bieân area were in peace for working and living, Laïc Long Quaân went up to the mountainous region and reached Phong Chaâu area.  There had been a century-old tree named chieân ñaøn which had previously had luxubriant branches and leaves giving shadow on a large ground; but after many years the tree had been dried, withered and became a devil which the people called Moäc Tinh. This devil was extraordinarily atrocious and cunning.  Its shelter was not permanent, sometimes in this jungle, other times in others. It also transformed into different appearances hiding all over places, trapped and caught people for his meals.  Everywhere there were tragic cries and laments.  Laïc Long Quaân determined to destroy the devil for saving people.  Laïc Long Quaân had to go through many jungles; and finally after a lot of harship he found its shelter.  Laïc Long Quaân continuously fought with the devil through one hundred days and nights, making trees breaking, rocks falling and the place dusty and dark, but he could not overcome it.  At the end Laïc Long Quaân had to use some musical instruments, such as gong and drum, etc., so that it had gotten scared and ran toward the South West and stayed around that region; people called it Quyû Xöông Cuoàng.

            Dieät xong ñöôïc naïn yeâu quaùi, Laïc Long

Quaân thaáy daân vuøng naày vaãn coøn ñoùi khoå thieáu thoán, phaûi laáy voû caây che thaân, beän coû tranh laøm oå naèm, beøn daïy cho daân bieát caùch troàng luùa neáp, laáy oáng tre naáu côm, ñoán goã laøm nhaø saøn ñeå ôû, phoøng thuù döõ.  Laïc Long Quaân coøn daïy daân ôû cho ra cha con, vôï choàng.  Daân caûm ôn ñöùc aáy, xaây cho Laïc Long Quaân moät toøa cung ñieän nguy nga treân moät ngoïn nuùi cao.  Nhöng Laïc Long Quaân khoâng ôû, thöôøng veà queâ thaêm meï döôùi thuûy phuû vaø daën daân chuùng raèng:  “Heå coù tai bieán gì thì cöù goïi ta, ta seõ veà lieàn!”

            Putting down the devilish danger, Laïc Long Quaân saw that the people in this region still lived in poverty and privation; they had to cover their body with the tree bark, to sleep on hay mats; therefore, he instructed them how to cultivate sweet rice plant, how to cook rice in a bamboo pipe, and how to cut trees and build piled houses for the prevention of ferocious beasts.  The people were grateful for his acts and built for Laïc Long Quaân a splendid castle in a high mountain.  But he did not live there long; he often came back to visit his mother at the palace under the sea surface and reminded the people that:  “Whenever there is a danger, call me, I will be back at once.”

            Luùc baáy giôø coù Ñeá Lai töø phöông Baéc ñem quaân traøn xuoáng phöông Nam.  Ñeá Lai ñem theo caû ngöôøi con gaùi yeâu raát xinh ñeïp cuûa mình laø Aâu Cô vaø nhieàu thò nöõ.  Thaáy Lónh Nam phong caûnh töôi ñeïp, laïi nhieàu chim muoâng, nhieàu goã quyù, Ñeá Lai sai quaân döïng thaønh ñaáp luõy ñònh ôû laâu daøi.  Phaûi phuïc dòch raát cöïc khoå, daân chuùng chòu khoâng noåi, höôùng veà bieån Ñoâng goïi to:  “Cha ôi!  Sao khoâng veà cöùu chuùng con!”  Chæ trong chôùp maét, Laïc Long Quaân ñaõ veà.

            At that time Ñeá Lai from the North brought his troops to invade the South.  Ñeá Lai also brought along his beloved daughter, named AÂu Cô, who was very beautiful and many maids.  Realizing Lónh Nam having lovely scenery, also a lot of birds, animals, and precious wood, Ñeá Lai ordered his soldiers to build a fortress to stay for a long time.  Having to provide extremely miserable services, the people could not afford to anymore; they looked toward the East Sea and called loudly:  “Dad!  Why didn’t you come back to save us!”  In a wink Laïc Long Quaân already arrived.

            Sau khi nghe daân chuùng keå chuyeän, Laïc Long Quaân hoùa thaønh moät chaøng raát ñeïp trai, coù haøng traêm ñaày tôù theo haàu, vöøa ñi vöøa haùt ñeán thaúng choã Ñeá Lai ôû.  Laïc Long Quaân khoâng thaáy Ñeá Lai ôû ñaâu caû, maø chæ chæ thaáy coù moät coâ gaùi nhan saéc tuyeät traàn cuøng voâ soá thò tyø vaø binh lính.  Coâ gaùi xinh ñeïp ñoù laø AÂu Cô.  Thaáy Laïc Long Quaân uy nghi tuaán tuù, naøng ñem loøng say meâ, xin ñi theo Laïc Long Quaân.  Laïc Long Quaân ñöa  AÂu Cô veà ôû trong cung ñieän treân nuùi cao cuûa mình.  Ñeá Lai veà, khoâng thaáy con gaùi ñaâu, lieàn sai quaân lính ñi tìm khaép nôi.  Heát ngaøy naày qua ngaøy khaùc, Laïc Long Quaân sai haøng vaïn caùc aùc thuù ra chaën caùc neûo ñöôøng, xeù xaùc boïn chuùng laøm cho chuùng khieáp sôï boû chaïy.  Ñeá Lai ñaønh thu quaân veà phöông Baéc.

            After hearing the story from the people, Laïc Long Quaân was transformed into a very handsome young man with hundreds of servants who walked and sang at the same time, and they directly went to Ñeá Lai’s residence.  Laïc Long Quaân could not see Ñeá Lai anywhere, but only a girl with her beauty without compare and innumerable maids and soldiers.  That beautiful girl was AÂu Cô. Seeing Laïc Long Quaân majectic, elegant, she was madly in love with him and asked to go with him.  Laïc Long Quaân brought her to live at his palace in the high mountain.  Ñeá Lai came back; he did not find his daughter; immediately he commanded his soldiers to look for her everywhere.  From day to day Laïc Long Quaân ordered thousands of fierce beasts which blocked roads, tore their bodies and made them to run away.  Reluctantly Ñeá Lai had to withdraw his troops and retreated to the North.

            Laïc Long Quaân ôû vôùi naøng AÂu Cô ñöôïc ít laâu thì AÂu Cô coù mang, sinh ra moät caùi boïc.  Sau baûy ngaøy caùi boïc chöùa moät traêm tröùng.  Moãi tröùng nôû ra moät ñöùa con trai.  Traêm ñöùa con trai ñoù lôùn leân nhö thoåi, taát caû ñeàu xinh ñeïp khoûe maïnh vaø thoâng minh tuyeät vôøi.

            After Laïc Long Quaân and AÂu Cô lived together for a while, she was pregnant; then she bore an amniotic sac which contained a hundred eggs.  After seven days each egg hatched a male infant.  These hundred infants grew up very fast as they were blown up; all of them were handsome, strong, and extraordinarily intelligent.

            Haøng chuïc naêm troâi qua, Laïc Long Quaân tuy soáng ñaàm aám beân caïnh ñaøn con, nhöng loøng vaãn nhôù thuûy phuû.  Moät hoâm Laïc Long Quaân töø giaû AÂu Cô vaø ñaøn con, hoùa thaønh moät con roàng bay leân maây, bay veà bieån caû.  AÂu Cô vaø ñaøn con muoán theo Laïc Long Quaân, nhöng khoâng ñi ñöôïc, neân buoàn baõ ôû laïi treân nuùi.  Heát ngaøy naày qua ngaøy khaùc, hoï moûi maét troâng chôø maø vaãn bieàn bieät taêm hôi, khoâng thaáy Laïc Long Quaân trôû veà.  Nhôù choàng quaù, AÂu Cô ñöùng treân ngoïn cao höôùng veà bieån Ñoâng leân tieáng goïi:  “Boá noù ôi!  Sao khoâng veà ñeå meï con chuùng toâi saàu khoå theá naày”.

            Tens of years passed; even though Laïc Long Quaân lived in happiness with his hundred children, but his heart still missed the palace under the sea surface.  One day Laïc Long Quaân said good-bye to AÂu Cô and their children, then he  was transformed into a dragon, took off to the cloud, and flew to the sea.  AÂu Cô and his group of children would have liked to go along but they could not; therefore, sadly they had to stay in the mountain.  Day by day they waited so long, but there was no news from Laïc Long Quaân.  Missing her husband so much, AÂu Cô stood on the top of a high mountain, facing to the East Sea and called:  “Oh!  Father of our children!  Why didn’t you come back because I and your children are in such anguish!”

            Laïc Long Quaân trôû veà töùc khaéc, AÂu Cô traùch choàng:

            - Thieáp voán sinh tröôûng ôû nuùi cao, ñoäng lôùn, aên ôû vôùi chaøng sinh ñöôïc traêm trai, theá maø chaøng nôõ loøng boû ñi, ñeå maëc meï con thieáp soáng bô vô khoå naõo.

            Immediately Laïc Long Quaân came back; AÂu Cô reproached her husband:

            - Originally I was born and raised in the high mountain and large cave; we lived together and I bore one hundred sons; however, you had the heart to leave us and didn’t care that we were in the situation of abandon and anguish.

            Laïc Long Quaân traû lôøi:

            - Ta laø loaøi roàng, naøng laø loaøi tieân, khoù ôû vôùi nhau laâu ñöôïc.  Nay ta ñem naêm möôi con veà mieàn bieån, coøn naøng ñem naêm möôi con veà mieàn nuùi, chia nhau trò caùc nôi.  Keû leân nuùi, ngöôøi xuoáng bieån.  Neáu gaëp söï gì nguy hieåm thì bao cho nhau bieát, cöùu giuùp laãn nhau, ñöøng coù queân chuyeän ñoù.

            Laïc Long Quaân responded:

            -  I am of the dragon race and you, fairy race; we can’t live together so long.  Now I bring fifty sons to the seashore and you bring fifty to the mountain region so that we share each other to govern every places.  You are in the mountain and I am the in the seashore.  If we are encounting a danger, we will inform and help each other.  Do not forget that!

            Roài hai ngöôøi töø bieät nhau.  Traêm ngöôøi con trai ñi caùc nôi, trôû thaønh toå tieân cuûa ngöôøi Baùch Vieät.  Ngöôøi con tröôûng ôû laïi ñaát Phong Chaâu, ñöôïc toân laøm vua nöôùc Vaên Lang, laáy hieäu laø Huøng Vöông.  Vua Huøng Vöông chia nöôùc ra laøm 15 boä, ñaët quan voõ, töôùng voõ goïi laø Laïc haàu, Laïc töôùng.  Con trai vua goïi laø Quan Lang, con gaùi vua goïi laø Mî Nöông.  Ngoâi vua ñôøi ñôøi goïi chung moät danh hieäu laø Huøng Vöông.

            Then both bade farewell to each other.  Their hundred sons had gone to everywhere and became the ancestors of the Baùch Vieät people.  The oldest son stayed in Phong Chaâu where he was made king of Vaên Lang, alias Huøng Vöông.  King Huøng Vöông divided the country into 15 provinces and assigned bureaucratic and martial officers who were called Laïc haàu, Laïc töôùng.  The son of the king (= prince) was called Quan Lang and the daughter (= princess), Mî Nöông.  The throne was succeeded as the Huøng Vöông dynasty.

            Laïc Long Quaân laø ngöôøi môû mang coõi Lónh Nam, ñem laïi söï yeân oån cho daân.  Vua Huøng Vöông laø ngöôøi döïng nöôùc Vaên Lang, truyeàn noái ñöôïc 18 ñôøi.  Do truyeàn kyø Laïc Long Quaân vaø AÂu Cô, neân daân toäc Vieät Nam vaãn coi mình laø doøng gioáng Tieân Roàng.

            Laïc Long Quaân was the developer of Lónh Nam Region who had brought peace for the people.  King Huøng Vöông was the founder of Vaên Lang Kingdom and the Huøng Vöông dynasty were succeeded through 18 kings.  Due to the legend of Laïc Long Quaân and AÂu Cô, the Vietnamese people still consider they are descendants of Fairy and Dragon.     

Vương Đằng phiên dịch

PHUØ  ÑOÅNG  THIEÂN  VÖÔNG

PHUØ ÑOÅNG  THIEÂN  VÖÔNG

EXPLANATION = GIAÛI THÍCH

Phuø Ñoång Thieân Vöông = Godsend King in Phuø Ñoång

VOCABULARY = TÖØ VÖÏNG

Söù giaû = messenger

Quaân xaâm löôïc = invaders

Thieân töôùng = godsend general

Nhoå tre = to uproot bamboo trees

Vaøo thôøi vua Huøng Vöông thöù ba, nhaø AÂn beân Taøu muoán xaâm laêng nöôùc Vaên Lang.  Vua Huøng Vöông beøn laäp baøn thôø vaø caàu xin Laïc Long Quaân giuùp ñôõ.  Laïc Long Quaân hieän leân trong giaác mô vaø baûo vua Huøng Vöông haõy ñi kieám ngöôøi taøi gioûi ra giuùp nöôùc.  Vua Huøng Vöông sai söù giaû ñi khaép nôi ñeå caàu ngöôøi taøi gioûi.

In the time of King Huøng Vöông, III, the AÂn Dynasty in China wanted to invade Vaên Lang Kingdom.  King Huøng Vöông set up an altar and asked Laïc Long Quaân for help.  Laïc Long Quaân appeared in a dream and advised the King to search a talented person to save the country.  King Huøng Vöông Vöông sent his messengers throughout his kingdom to seek this person.

            ÔÛ laøng Gioùng, coù caäu beù 3 tuoåi maø khoâng bieát noùi hay ñi laïi.  Khi söù giaû cuûa vua Huøng Vöông ñeán laøng, ngöôøi meï noùi ñuøa vôùi caäu beù raèng: 

            - Bieát chöøng naøo con môùi giuùp nöôùc ñöôïc?

            Khoâng ngôø, caäu beù ñöùng daäy baûo meï môøi söù giaû nhaø vua.  Khi söù giaû ñeán, caäu beù noùi:

            - Haõy veà taâu vôùi vua raèng ñuùc cho ta con ngöïa lôùn vaø thanh göôm saét.  Ta seõ phaù tan quaân xaâm löôïc.

            In Gioùng Village, there was a three-year-old boy who could not speak, nor walk around.  When the King’s messenger came to the village, the mother joked to her child:

            - When will you be able to help our country?

            All of a sudden the child stood up and told the mother to invite the King’s messenger.  When the messenger came, the child told him:

            - Go back and ask the King to  cast for  me a big horse and a sword in iron.  I will destroy the invaders.

            Sau khi söù giaû ra veà, caäu beù baét ñaàu aên uoáng thaät nhieàu ñeán noãi nhaø caäu khoâng coøn thöùc aên.  Bieát raèng ñaây laø vò thaùnh do Laïc Long Quaân gôûi tôùi ñeå phaù giaëc, daân laøng hoïp nhau goùp söùc nuoâi caäu beù.  Caäu beù lôùn nhö thoåi vaø trôû thaønh moät vò thieân töôùng, goïi laø Thaùnh Gioùng.  Vua Huøng Vöông khi bieát chuyeän Thaùnh Gioùng beøn nhôø taát caû caùc thôï reøn trong nöôùc ñuùc ngöïa vaø göôm.

            After the King’s messenger left, the boy started eating so much to such an extent that there is no more food in his house.  Knowing this was a god sent by Laïc Long Quaân to defeat the enemies, the whole villagers contributed to feed the boy.  He grew up extremely fast and became someone as a godsend general called Thaùnh Gioùng (= the God of Gioùng Village).  After knowing about the Thaùnh Gioùng’s story, King Huøng Vöông asked all of the blacksmiths in the kingdom to cast the horse and sword.

            Khi söù giaû nhaø vua mang ngöïa vaø kieám saét tôùi, Thaùnh Gioùng caàm göôm leân ngöïa.  Boãng nhieân, ngöïa saét chuyeån ñoäng phi nhö bay vaø phun ra löûa.  Roài Thaùnh Gioùng daãn ñaàu quaân Vieät ra traän ñaùnh vôùi giaëc AÂn   Thaùnh duøng kieám ñaùnh giaëc AÂn tôi bôøi.  Ngöïa Thaùnh Gioùng ñi tôùi ñaâu, quaân giaëc tan tôùi ñoù.  Giaëc AÂn quaù ñoâng khieán göôm cuûa Thaùnh Gioùng bò gaãy.  Thaùnh Gioùng beøn nhoå tre beân ñöôøng laøm vuõ khi gieát giaëc.  Cuoái cuøng toaøn boä giaëc AÂn bò tieâu dieät.  

            When the King’s  messenger brought the

iron horse and sword to Thaùnh Gioùng’s house, he took the sword and mounted on the horse.  The iron horse became alive, ran as a flying bird, and spit fire.  Then Thaùnh Gioùng led the Vietnamese troops to fight against the AÂn invaders.  He used his sword to chop them up.  Wherever Thaùnh Gioùng’s horse reached, the enemies were disintegrated.  Because of the massive AÂn invaders, his sword broke.  He then uprooted bamboo trees along the road and used them as weapon to kill the enemies.  Finally the whole AÂn invaders were annihilated.

            Xong traän, Thaùnh Gioùng phi ngöïa leân ñænh nuùi Soùc Sôn vaø bay leân trôøi.  Vua Huøng Vöông vaø daân chuùng nhôù ôn Thaùnh Gioùng laäp ñeàn thôø ngaøi vaø goïi ngaøi laø Phuø Ñoång Thieân Vöông.

            Finishing the battle Thaùnh Gioùng rode his horse on to the top of Soùc Sôn Mountain and flew to the sky.  King Huøng Vöông and all Vietnamese people were grateful for his accomplishment, they constructed a temple to worrship him and named him Phuø Ñoång Thieân Vöông.

Vương Đằng phiên dịch

TROØ  BIEÁT  ÔN  THAÀY

STUDENT’S  GRATITUDE

TO  TEACHER

EXPLANATION = GIAÛI THÍCH

Ngheä An = a very big province located in the Center of

     Vietnam, in the middle of Hanoi and Hue

Thaùm hoa = an academic degree (classified after doctorate

     and “baûng nhaõn” degrees) in the king’s examination

Baûng nhaõn = an academic degree (classified after

     doctorate, but before thaùm hoa) in the king’s 

     examination

Tuaàn phuû = similar to county chief

Höng Yeân = a very small province located in the southeast

     of Ha Noi

VOCABULARY = TÖØ VÖÏNG

Naøi nó maõi = to keep insisting

ÖÙa nöôùc maét = to overflow some tears in one’s eyes

Coù nghóa vôùi = to have moral debt to

Trung haäu = upright and kind-hearted adj

Xöa, oâng Nguyeãn Ñöùc Ñaït, ngöôøi Ngheä An, tröôùc kia daïy hoïc, sau ñoã thaùm hoa vaø ñang laøm tuaàn phuû tænh Höng Yeân.  Baáy giôø, trong nöôùc coù loaïn, daân gian bò cöôùp phaù. OÂng ñeå maát cuûa kho hôn vaïn quan tieàn.  Trieàu ñình baét oâng phaûi boài thöôøng cho ñuû soá, khoâng thì seõ bò trò toäi. 

In former times, Mr. Nguyeãn Ñöùc Ñaït, born in Ngheä An, formerly taught students; then he was a thaùm hoa holder and was tuaàn phuû of Höng Yeân County.  At that time, there was a rebellion in the country; people were devastated and robbed.  He was losing more than ten thousand coins in the county bank.  The government demanded him to pay it all, if not he would be punished.

            Trong khi oâng ñang buoàn raàu suy tính laøm sao coù tieàn ñeå traû, thì coù nhöõng ngöôøi laï ñeán xin ra maét.  Nhöõng ngöôøi aáy voøng tay ñöùng chung quanh oâng vaø moät ngöôøi ñaïi dieän noùi raèng:

-       Chuùng con laø hoïc troø cuûa thaày tröôùc kia. Nay nghe tin thaày maéc naïn, neân

chuùng con keû ít ngöôøi nhieàu tuøy theo söùc mình, chung goùp moät soá tieàn ñeå giuùp thaày.  Vaäy chuùng con xin thaày nhaän cho, thì chuùng con heát söùc vui möøng.  Ôn thaày naêng.  Chuùng con khoâng theå naøo traû cho heát ôn aáy ñöôïc.

            While he was very sad and thinking how to have money to pay, there were strange people asking to see him.  These people folded their arms in front of their chests, standing around him and a representative said:

-       We are your former students.  Now we are hearing that you are in big

trouble; therefore we contribute money together, some a lot and some a little according to their capacity, to help you. Then, please our contribution so that we are very happy.  Your favor was so much.  We could never pay it all.

            Ban ñaàu oâng töø choái; nhöng caùc hoïc troø naøi næ maõi xin oâng nhaän tieàn.  Cuoái cuøng, oâng caûm ñoäng ñeán öùa nöôùc maét maø noùi raèng:

-       Caùc anh laø ngöôøi coù nghóa vôùi thaày.  Vaäy thaày caùm ôn taát caû caùc anh.  Haønh

ñoäng trung haäu cuûa caùc anh seõ laø moät baøi hoïc quyù giaù cho nhöõng ngöôøi mai sau.

            Nhôø hoïc troø coù nghóa vôùi thaày maø oâng Ñöùc Ñaït khoûi toäi.

            At first, he refused, but the students kept insisting to him to accept the money.  Finally, he was moved to overflow some tears in his eyes and said:

-       You are people having moral debt to me. So I thank all of you.  Your upright

and kind-hearted action will be a precious lesson for future people.

Vương Đằng phiên dịch

BA  ÑIEÀU  KHOÙ

THREE DIFFICULT THINGS

VOCABULARY = TÖØ VÖÏNG

Thi haønh = to execute

Teân nghieän röôïu = drunkar

Moät hoâm, anh nhaø queâ kia ngoài moät mình nghó ngôïi.  Coù moät oâng Thaàn AÙc hieän leân noùi raèng:

            - Nhaø ngöôøi khoâng caàn suy nghó cho laém.  Neáu nhaø ngöôi khoâng laøm ñöôïc moät trong ba ñieàu naày, thì ta seõ gieát nhaø ngöôi.  Vaäy nhaø ngöôi phaûi thi haønh gaáp leänh cuûa ta.  Ñieàu thöù nhöùt:  Gieát meï nhaø ngöôi.  Ñieàu thöù hai:  Gieát em nhaø ngöôi.  Ñieàu thöù ba:  Uoáng röôïu.

One day, sitting alone a peasant was thinking.  There was a Bad Deity appeared and said:

            - You do not need to think too much.  If you cannot do one of these three things, I will kill you.  So you must execute my order in a rush.  First thing:  Kill your mother.  Second thing:  Kill your younger brother.  Third thing:  Drink.

            Noùi xong, oâng Thaàn AÙc bieán maát.  Anh ta nghó:  “Meï ta ñaõ khoù nhoïc sinh ra ta, leõ naøo ta gieát?  Em ta vôùi ta laø ruoät thòt, ta khoâng nôõ gieát.  Chi baèng ta uoáng röôïu.

            After saying, the Bad Diety disappeared.  He thought:  “It’s very difficult for my Mom to born me, there is no reason for me to kill her.  My younger brother and I are brothers by birth; I don’t have the heart to kill him.  It would better for me to drink.

            Töø ñoù, anh ta baét ñaàu uoáng röôïu.  Theo thôøi gian anh thöôøng say söa vaø trôû thaønh teân nghieän röôïu moãi ngaøy.  Vaø moät hoâm, anh uoáng quaù say; meï vaø em khuyeân can anh boû röôïu; anh noåi noùng, beøn laáy dao cheùm cheát caû hai ngöôøi.

            Thus, he began to drink liquors.  With the time he was often drunk and became a drunkar everyday.  And one day, he was too drunk; his mother and younger brother advised him to quit drinking; he got very upset, then he took the big knife and chopped both of them to death.

Vương Đằng phiên dịch

KHOÂNG ÑAÙNG SOÁNG

NOT WORTH TO LIVE

VOCABULARY = TÖØ VÖÏNG

Cöôøi ngaát = to burst into convulsive peals of laughter

Thôøi vaän = turn of events

Söï hoái thuùc = urge

Khoân xieát = no end of . . .

Daây thong loïng = hanging cord

Cöôøi ñaéc thaéng = to burst out one’s triumphant laughter

Anh phuù hoä thích côø baïc kia ñang nguû mô maøng thaáy moät oâng giaø döõ tôïn hieän ñeán noùi raèng:

            -  Ngöôøi kia, ta chôø ngöôøi ñaây.  Sao ngöôøi khoâng vaøo tuû laáy tieàn ñi ñaùnh baïc cuøng ta?  Hoâm qua nhaø ngöôi lôøi ñöôïc maáy nghìn baïc?

In his dream, a rich man who loved to gamble saw a fierce, old man who appeared and said:

            -  Man, I’m waiting for you.  Why don’t you go to take the money and go to gamble along with me?  How many thousand you won yesterday?

            Anh phuù hoä sôï haõi traû lôøi:

             -  Hoâm qua toâi lôøi ñöôïc hai nghìn. Sau khi aên uoáng vaø chia cho maáy anh em, toâi coøn laïi moät nghìn.

            OÂng giaø nhoû gioïng:

            -  Vaäy thì nhaø ngöôi daïi gì maø khoâng ñi ñaùnh baïc nöõa!  Nhaø ngöôi seõ lôøi theâm.  Vôùi tieàn lôøi nhaø ngöôøi nhaø ngöôi seõ taäu theâm ruoäng ñaát, seõ caát theâm nhaø ñeïp, seõ aên sung maëc söôùng.

OÂng giaø cöôøi ngaát vaø tieáp:

             -  Ta seõ giuùp nhaø ngöôøi phen naøy nöõa.

            The rich man was scared and answered:

-       Yesterday I won two thousand.  After eating, drinking and sharing with some friends, I still have a thousand.

            The old man lowered his voice:

            - So don’t be stupid for not continuing to gamble again!  You will win more.  With the winning money you will buy more land, will build beautiful house, will eat well and wear nice clothes.

            The old man burst into convulsive peals of laughter and continued:

            -  I will help you one more time.

            Anh phuù hoä möøng rôõ.  Khi thöùc daäy, anh thuaät chuyeän chieâm bao cho vôï nghe.

            Quaû nhieân, hoâm sau anh lôøi ñöôïc gaàn vaïn baïc.  Anh ta möøng quaù, vaø ñònh buïng khoâng côø baïc nöõa.

            The rich man was very happy.  When he woke up, he told his wife about his dream.

            Naturally, he won near ten thousand.  He was so pleased, and planned not to gamble anymore.

            Moät hoâm, oâng giaø döõ tôïn aáy laïi hieän leân noùi raèng:

             -  Ngöôøi kia, thôøi vaän nhaø ngöôøi coøn ñoû, daïi gì maø khoâng thöøa cô hoäi laøm giaøu?

            One day, that fierce, old man appeared again and said:

            -  That man, your turn of events was still lucky, why don’t you take advantage of this chance to be rich?

            Anh ta nghe lôøi hoái thuùc cuûa oâng giaø, beøn ñi ñeán soøng baïc, quyeát chôi moät phen lôùn.  Ruûi thay!  Anh ta thua maát moät vaïn baïc lôøi hoâm tröôùc vaø thaâm theâm ba vaïn nöõa.  Veà nhaø, anh ta buoàn raàu khoân xieát.  Ñang mô maøng anh ta thaáy oâng giaø laïi hieän leân noùi:

             -  Ngöôøi kia!  Sao khoâng ñi ñaùnh nöõa ñeå gôû laïi?  Thua roài ngoài ñoù maø buoàn raàu thì daïi laém ñoù.

            Giöït mình thöùc daäy, anh ta ñoäi noùn ñi vay tieàn baïn.  Nhöng hoâm sau anh laïi thua to.  Bao nhieâu ruoäng ñaát ñeàu baùn saïch.

            Listening to the old man’s urge, he went to the gambling-den and determined to play with a lot of money.  Unfortunately he lost the ten thousand won before and thirty more thousand of money.  Coming home, he was in no end of sadness.  Being in his dream, he saw the old man appeared and said:

            -  Hey man!  Why don’t you go to play again to win back?  After losing, then you sit there sadly  it is very stupid.

            Startling and waking up, he put his hat on and went to borrow money from his friends.  But the next day he lost so much money.  All of his lands and fields were sold.

            Veà nhaø, vôï con anh oâm anh khoùc keå thaûm thieát.  Boãng oâng giaø tröôùc kia ñem ñeán moät sôïi daây thoøng loïng vaø noùi raèng:

            -  Ta seõ giuùp nhaø ngöôøi phen naøy nöõa.  Nhaø ngöôi haõy theo ta.  Ta daãn nhaø ngöôi ñeán choã cheát.

            Noùi xong, oâng ta phaùt leân cöôøi ñaéc thaéng…

            Coming home, he wife and children hugged him, and cried, lamented tragically.  Suddenly the former old man brought a hanging cord and said:

            -  This time I will help you again.  You should follow me.  I will lead you to death.

            After speaking, the old man burst out his triumphant laughter…

Vương Đằng phiên dịch