ni
Someone a year short
Hitotose taranu
Of a centenarian,
Tsukumogami
Hair disheveled and white,
Ware wo kourashi
Seems to be in love with me:
Omokage ni miyu
I saw her in a vision!
When the woman saw him saddle his horse and prepare to leave, she rushed off in such great confusion that she was not even aware how the thorny shrubs and plants scratched her. She returned home, lay down on her sleeping mat, and waited for him. While the Captain stood outside secretly watching her, as she had done at his house, she recited:
Samushiro ni
Shall I have to sleep
Koromo katashiki
All alone again tonight
Koyoi mo ya
On my narrow mat
Koishiki hito ni
Unable to meet again
Awade wa ga nemu
The man for whom I long?
It is a general rule in this world that men love some women but not others. Narihira did not make such distinctions.
( LXIII )
. .
In former times there was a nobleman named Narihira. He was once sent by the Emperor as Imperial envoy to the Great Shrine of Ise.
On this occasion the Imperial Princess who was serving as Vestal Virgin to the Shrine received from her mother in the capital the following message: "You are to treat the present envoy with greater consideration than is usual." Since this was her mother's command, the Princess went to great pains: in the morning she herself directed the preparations for the ceremonial falconry, and in the evening, when Narihira returned, she lodged him in her own palace. She treated him with the utmost solicitude.
On the evening of the second day Narihira suggested that they meet in greater intimacy than they had previously done. The Princess was not displeased with the idea, but as there were many people about, it was impossible for the moment. In his capacity of Imperial envoy, however, Narihira had been lodged in the Princess's own wing of the palace and, it being near to her own chamber, she came secredy to his quarters at midnight, after all were asleep.
Narihira likewise had been unable to sleep and, reclining in bed, had been gazing out the window. Just when the moon became subdued with clouds, the Princess appeared to him, with a litde child in attendance on her. Narihira was filled with joy. He led the Princess to his bed, and she remained there with him until the third hour of the morning. Before they had time enough to reveal their feelings to each other, however, she was obliged to return to her own chamber.
Filled with melancholy, Narihira was unable to sleep. He longed to see her, but since it would be too apparent if he sent his own messenger, he could do nothing but await some word from her. A little after daybreak a messenger finally came from her. There was no letter, only the verse:
Kitni ya kpshi
I know not whether
Ware ya yukikemu
It was I who journeyed there
Omohoezu
Or you who came to me:
Yume ka utsutsu ka
Was it dream or reality?
Nete ka samete ka
Was I sleeping or awake?
Narihira was greatly moved, and wept. He wrote in answer:
Kakikurasu
Last night I too
Kokoro no yami ni
Wandered lost in the darkness
Madoiniki
Of a disturbed heart;
Yttme utsutsu to wa
Whether dream or reality
Koyoi sadame yo
Tonight let us decide!
After he sent this verse to her, he had to set forth on his official duties for the day. Yet even while he traveled through the moors, he could think of nothing but her, and he longed for the night to come swifdy, that they might meet again. Unfortunately, the governor of the province, who was also the guardian of the Vestal, learning that the Imperial envoy had arrived, insisted that the night be spent in festive celebration of his visit. Narihira, thus bound by enforced hospitality, could find no way to meet the Princess. Since he had the following morning to depart for Owari, unknown to anyone he shed bitter tears, but could in no wise meet her.
As dawn approached, a servant from the Princess's apartment brought a cup of parting. In it was written:
Kachibito no
Shallow the inlet
W atar e do nurenu
If the traveler wading
Eni shi areba
Is
Someone a year short
Hitotose taranu
Of a centenarian,
Tsukumogami
Hair disheveled and white,
Ware wo kourashi
Seems to be in love with me:
Omokage ni miyu
I saw her in a vision!
When the woman saw him saddle his horse and prepare to leave, she rushed off in such great confusion that she was not even aware how the thorny shrubs and plants scratched her. She returned home, lay down on her sleeping mat, and waited for him. While the Captain stood outside secretly watching her, as she had done at his house, she recited:
Samushiro ni
Shall I have to sleep
Koromo katashiki
All alone again tonight
Koyoi mo ya
On my narrow mat
Koishiki hito ni
Unable to meet again
Awade wa ga nemu
The man for whom I long?
It is a general rule in this world that men love some women but not others. Narihira did not make such distinctions.
( LXIII )
. .
In former times there was a nobleman named Narihira. He was once sent by the Emperor as Imperial envoy to the Great Shrine of Ise.
On this occasion the Imperial Princess who was serving as Vestal Virgin to the Shrine received from her mother in the capital the following message: "You are to treat the present envoy with greater consideration than is usual." Since this was her mother's command, the Princess went to great pains: in the morning she herself directed the preparations for the ceremonial falconry, and in the evening, when Narihira returned, she lodged him in her own palace. She treated him with the utmost solicitude.
On the evening of the second day Narihira suggested that they meet in greater intimacy than they had previously done. The Princess was not displeased with the idea, but as there were many people about, it was impossible for the moment. In his capacity of Imperial envoy, however, Narihira had been lodged in the Princess's own wing of the palace and, it being near to her own chamber, she came secredy to his quarters at midnight, after all were asleep.
Narihira likewise had been unable to sleep and, reclining in bed, had been gazing out the window. Just when the moon became subdued with clouds, the Princess appeared to him, with a litde child in attendance on her. Narihira was filled with joy. He led the Princess to his bed, and she remained there with him until the third hour of the morning. Before they had time enough to reveal their feelings to each other, however, she was obliged to return to her own chamber.
Filled with melancholy, Narihira was unable to sleep. He longed to see her, but since it would be too apparent if he sent his own messenger, he could do nothing but await some word from her. A little after daybreak a messenger finally came from her. There was no letter, only the verse:
Kitni ya kpshi
I know not whether
Ware ya yukikemu
It was I who journeyed there
Omohoezu
Or you who came to me:
Yume ka utsutsu ka
Was it dream or reality?
Nete ka samete ka
Was I sleeping or awake?
Narihira was greatly moved, and wept. He wrote in answer:
Kakikurasu
Last night I too
Kokoro no yami ni
Wandered lost in the darkness
Madoiniki
Of a disturbed heart;
Yttme utsutsu to wa
Whether dream or reality
Koyoi sadame yo
Tonight let us decide!
After he sent this verse to her, he had to set forth on his official duties for the day. Yet even while he traveled through the moors, he could think of nothing but her, and he longed for the night to come swifdy, that they might meet again. Unfortunately, the governor of the province, who was also the guardian of the Vestal, learning that the Imperial envoy had arrived, insisted that the night be spent in festive celebration of his visit. Narihira, thus bound by enforced hospitality, could find no way to meet the Princess. Since he had the following morning to depart for Owari, unknown to anyone he shed bitter tears, but could in no wise meet her.
As dawn approached, a servant from the Princess's apartment brought a cup of parting. In it was written:
Kachibito no
Shallow the inlet
W atar e do nurenu
If the traveler wading
Eni shi areba
Is
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