Poems of Hồ Xuân Hương : 翁昭虎和 - Chiêu-Hổ’s Reply
| 翁昭虎和 | Chiêu-Hổ’s Reply | 尼翁醒尼翁醝 尼翁撟月𡧲班𣈜 𧯄𤞻𠸠凭空𠊚𢱖 𫳵固𤞻𡥵俸捽𢬣 | No, I’m not drunk and, yes, I was awake. And why not flirt with the moon by day? At the tiger’s cave where one shouldn’t play, his cub leapt into your hands to have his way. |
| Ông Chiêu – Hổ hoạ | Này ông tỉnh này ông say Này ông ghẹo nguyệt giữa ban ngày Hang hùm ví bẵng không ai mó Sao có hùm con bỗng tuột tay. |
| Notes | |
| Chiêu-Hổ is possible 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. | |