Since the twentieth of the Eighth month, the more favoured court nobles and officers have been on night duty, passing the nights in the corridor, or on the mats of the veranda idly amusing themselves. Nowadays people are carrying pretty folding fans Some such trifle as that sometimes lingers in my mind when really interesting things are soon forgotten–why ? Linger in the field where flower-maidens are bloomingĪnd your name will be tarnished with tales of gallantry. He keeps his dignity among ladies, and I saw in him a much-sought-after romantic hero when once he walked off reciting to himself: It is a mistake to treat him like a young boy. Even in light conversation such expressions as "Fair soul is rarer than fair face" come gently to his lips, covering us with confusion. He seemed maturer than his age and was very graceful. The young Lord 1 of the Third Rank sat with the misu 2 partly rolled up. One wet and calm evening I was talking with Lady Saisho. "So prompt!" said he, smiling, and ordered a writing-box to be brought. The Tsuchimikado, or Prime Minister's mansion, must have been like this.Īnd I seize the chance to run away to the writing-box, hiding my face– OLD PRINT OF A NOBLEMAN'S DWELLING IN THE AZUMAYA STYLE He says, "Your poem on this! If you delay so much the fun is gone!" He peeps in over my screen! His noble appearance embarrasses us, and I am ashamed of my morning face.
Murasaki meaning full#
He breaks off a stalk of omenaishi which is in full bloom by the south end of the bridge. The Lord Prime Minister is walking there he orders his men to cleanse the brook. The air is misty, the dew is still on the leaves. I can see the garden from my room beside the entrance to the gallery. Even Azaliah Saisa bends the body in reverence before the deity Daiitoku. I follow with my eyes when the holy figures in pure white robes cross the stately Chinese bridge and walk along the broad path. The head priest of the Hoju Temple goes to the mansion near the race-track, the prior of the Henji Temple goes to the library. Even their footsteps along the gallery which sound to'-do-ro to'-do-ro are sacred. The Abbot of the Kanon-in Temple, accompanied by twenty priests, comes from the eastern 2 side building to pray. The voices of the priests in loud recitation, vying with each other far and near, are solemn indeed. Immediately the prayers at the five altars 1 begin. The maids-of-honour are not yet come–let the Queen's secretaries come forward! " While this order is being given the three-o'clock bell resounds, startling the air. "The outer doors of the Queen's apartment must be opened. It is still the dead of night, the moon is dim and darkness lies under the trees. Nothing else dispels my grief 4–it is wonderful! So in spite of my better desires I am here. Her beauty needs no words of mine to praise it, but I cannot help feeling that to be near so beautiful a queen will be the only relief from my sorrow. The Queen hears them she must find them annoying, but she conceals it calmly. The ladies waiting upon her honoured presence are talking idly. The murmuring sound of waters mingles all the night through with the never-ceasing recitation 3 of sutras which appeal more to one's heart as the breezes grow cooler. The tree-tops near the pond, the bushes near the stream, are dyed in varying tints whose colours grow deeper in the mellow light of evening. 1007-1010Īs the autumn season approaches the Tsuchimikado 2 becomes inexpressibly smile-giving. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1920, pp. translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kochi Doi, with an introduction by Amy Lowell.
Publication: Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan.
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