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decreaseIntroduction - The Story So Far
THE story is a love triangle between three friends. Khun Phaen (called Phlai Kaeo at the beginning of the story) marries his childhood sweetheart, Wanthong (called Nang Phim at the beginning of the story), but while he is leading a military campaign in the north, his old friend, Khun Chang, convinces her that he has been killed in battle, and takes her as his wife. Hearing this, Khun Phaen takes a new wife, Laothong, but it is not long before he is separated from her as a punishment for defecting from military service. Later on, missing Laothong, and tiring of his Thai and Lao concubines, Khun Phaen decides to take Wanthong back from Khun Chang by force. So one night, he mounts his horse, Colour-of-Mist, and rides to Khun Chang’s house at Suphanbur. Then, with the help of his guardian spirits who fight off Khun Chang’s guardian spirits, he sneaks into Khun Chang’s house and starts looking for Wanthong.
I
HE groped through the gloom till he came to a room,
where he hoped that he might find Wanthong;
He chanted a mantra to help him to enter,
and the lock broke, although it was strong.
II
Then, opening the door, inside there he saw
some young girls, all asleep ’twould appear;
But the prettiest form in the concubine’s dorm
was the body of Kaeo Kiriya.
III
Her eyes were divine, her eyebrows plucked fine,
her parting was curved like a flame,
Her hair was let loose, and fragrant of mousse,
and surrounded her head like a frame.
IV
Her bed was so small, it made her look tall -
her side pillows looked like two lovers -
And beside it, a screen with embroidered silk sheen
gave some privacy from all the others.
V
He thought, I am wrong, this isn’t Wanthong,
but her sister - she has the same poise;
But it can’t be - her betel set’s shaped like a petal.
It must be one of his mia noi’s?
VI
He couldn’t resist her, and therefore he kissed her,
and stroked her on belly and breast;
And then to enchant her, he whispered a mantra,
but then she awoke to protest!
VII
She wanted to scream, but the spell was supreme,
and all she could do was roll over;
Then she noticed his face, and impressed by his grace,
decided he’d make a good lover.
VIII
But she wasn’t immodest, so said, “It’s the oddest
thing that you’re here - you’re a man!”
At which he just sighed, and proudly replied,
“I’m a soldier. My name is Khun Phaen.
IX
It was a disaster, that day when your master,
Khun Chang, took away my Wanthong,
So I came to recover my wife and my lover,
and I thought you were she - I was wrong!”
X
She said, “Does a turtle resemble a myrtle,
a firefly shine like the sun?
So how could I shine, a mere concubine -
I think you are just making fun!
XI
My Sukhothai father got into some bother
and sold me for fifteen tamleung;
But though I’ve been tricked and so cruelly trafficked,
I put up with it or he’d be hung.
XII
But you are a lord and you cannot afford
to consort with the likes of me;
Go and look for your wife, leaving me to my life;
I’m an unworthy slave - you are free.”
XIII
“As for that, it’s no bother, I am seeking a lover,
and not just a one-night stand;
It’s the same with the money, that’s no problem, honey,”
and he put five chang in her hand.
XIV
But Kaeo Kiriya turned away in fear,
and stopped him from fondling her breasts;
“I know you’re not cheap and you’ll give me a heap
of money in cartloads and chests,
XV
But perhaps I should rather remember my father
who warned me: ‘It’s best to be poor,
Than to chase after pleasure, get hurt beyond measure,
and end up by playing the whore.’
XVI
I promised him truly, that I’d obey duly;
be good and be spared from the lash;
So I would much rather you spoke to my father
than shame myself taking your cash.”
XVII
“Your words are so fine, and your face so divine,
that I love you, Kaeo, more than ever,
And may I be smitten, or drowned like a kitten,
if my promise to you I should sever.”
XVIII
“Your skin smells like cinnamon, enchanting my inner man,”
he said as he took off his cloak -
And her nom like lotuses, and her gon like crocuses,
and her hoi like a betel he stroked.*
XIX
Then into his arms he swept all her charms
and embraced her with all his power;
And her golden skin gleamed with a beauty undreamed
as he lay down to pluck this flower.
XX
Outside a breeze blew through blossoms and dew
and filled all the room with its scent;
And Kaeo’s sabai fluttered up on her thigh
as her senses to heaven were sent.
XXI
The silvery moon was paling too soon
as the sun took her place in the sky;
The stars ceased to glitter as the birds ’gan to twitter
and the fireflies danced their goodbye.
XXII
And Kaeo Kiriya with her lover so dear
felt weak from a night time of passion;
She sobbed and she sighed and she bitterly cried,
“Please don’t leave me! Oh please have compassion!
XXIII
You forced yourself on me, but now you’ll go from me
to seek for your wife, Wanthong;
And you’ll never return, however I yearn -
but I’ll wait for you, however long!
XXIV
Khun Paen, you’re a charmer, but you’ve brought me bad karma,
so to be alone now I would rather;
My virtue is tainted,”(here she almost fainted)
“and I’ve broken my word to my father!”
XXV
He comforted her: “There’s no need to despair!
I’ll see you again soon, my honey!
Cheer up and be brave, you’re no longer a slave -
buy your freedom at once with this money!”
XXVI
And then as a token of what he had spoken,
he said, “Kaeo, though I can’t linger,
This diamond ring will seal everything!” -
and he slipped the ring onto her finger.
XXVII
“And now I must go, my teerak, and so
the way to Wanthong can you tell?”
Then, not to alarm her, he decided to charm her,
and put her to sleep with a spell.
After leaving Kaeo Kiriya, Khun Phaen continues looking for Wanthong. He eventually finds her in bed with Khun Chang. He almost kills Khun Chang, but realising what bad karma that would bring, he spares him, ripping off his top knot and kicking him onto the floor instead. He then flees with Wanthong to an idyllic retreat in the forest, where he hopes to escape the retribution of the law. However, that is not the end of Khun Phaen’s adventures - or his troubles - far from it! To find out more, read the full version at http://pioneer.netserv.chula.ac.th/~ppasuk/kckp/index.htm
*nom - breasts; gon - buttocks; hoi - literally, shell or oyster, but used metaphorically (and in slang) to refer to the female genitals
© Bangkok Byron, 2007. All rights reserved by the author.
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January 14, 2007, 08:44
Excellent! Thanks for that, Rob. I've been looking for translated Thai stories and poems and such for years on the net. Not much out there from what I have seen so far. Thanks.