The Right state: we wonder about the use of ‘Barrier wardens stand before you’ (kimi ga sekimori). The Left state: the Right’s poem lacks any faults to indicate.
In judgement: both Left and Right’s ‘Meeting Hills’ lack faults or merits. Thus, the round ties.
The Right state: ‘This love; at Suma’ (omoi o suma) sounds antiquated. In addition, how can one be placed by the barrier? The Left state: in the Right’s poem what is the ‘passing grief’ (suguru nageki)?
In judgement: the Gentlemen of the Right’s criticism of wondering ‘how one can be placed by the barrier’ suggests they have never been installed as Barrier Wardens! Both ‘at Suma by the barrier’ and ‘Meeting Hill Barrier’ are of the same quality. The round should tie.
He had been secretly seeing the lady who had been sent to be the Ise Virgin, but when this became known to His Majesty, he put a guard upon her, and it was no longer possible to visit in secret, so he composed.
逢坂は東路とこそきゝしかど心盡しのせきにぞありける
aFusaka Fa
adumadi to koso
kikisikado
kokoro dukusi no
seki ni zo arikeru
Meeting Hill lies
Upon the road to the East
I had heard, and yet
My heart is exhausted by
The barrier here!
Master of the Left Capital Office, Michimasa
左京大夫通雅