Poems of Hồ Xuân Hương : 吃翁昭虎 - Teasing Chiêu-Hổ
| 吃翁昭虎 | Teasing Chiêu-Hổ | 英徒醒英徒醝 𫳵英撟月𡧲班𣈜 尼尼姉𠸒朱𦓡別 准意𧯄𤞻𠤆𢱖𢬣 | Is the master drunk? Is the master awake? Why flirt with the moon in the middle of the day? Perhaps there’s something I ought to say: Don’t stick your hand in the tiger’s cave. |
| Cợt ông Chiêu–Hổ | Anh đồ tỉnh anh đồ say Sao anh ghẹo nguyệt giữa ban ngày Này này chị bảo cho mà biết Chỗ ấy hang hùm chớ mó tay. |
| Notes | |
| Chiêu-Hổ is possibly one of the pen manes of Phạm Đình Hổ (1768-1839), one of the most learned men of the period, who rose to high honors under Emperor Minh Mạng (1820-1840). Hồ Xuân Hương’s equal terms at literary banter with such powerful figures probably afforded her protection for her unorthodox views. Hổ — part of Phạm Đình Hổ’s pen name as well as his given name — means “tiger”. Chiêu-Hổ’s reply may be actual or her impersonation. See Hoa Bằng, Hồ Xuân Hương, pp. 27-33. Others dispute this identification of Chiêu-Hổ with Phạm Đình Hổ. | |