When the Nishi-shijō Ise Virgin[1] was still a princess, while there were some tender feelings between them, it was decided that she should become Ise Virgin,[2] so at dawn on the following day, he had this sent to her, attached to a branch of sakaki.
伊勢のうみの千ひろのはまにひろふともいまはなにてふかひかあるべき
ise no umi no tiFiro no Fama ni FiroFu to mo ima Fa nani teFu kaFi ka arubeki
By the sea at Ise Across a thousand yards of beach Would I gather them, but Now what use Might be these seashells?
When a man who was Assistant Governor of Kii ceased to come to call, she sent this to the man’s elder sister to say how heartless this was and the sister sent this in reply, to say how she sympathized.
紀伊国の名草の浜は君なれや事のいふかひ有と聞きつる
ki no kuni no nagusa no Fama Fa kimi nare ya koto no iFukaFi ari to kikituru
In the land of Ki Might consolation upon Nagusa Beach You find A shell? Saying it has some point Or so I have heard.
isana tori
opomi no umi wo
oki sakete
kogikitaru pune
pe tu kite
kogikuru pune
oki tu kai
itaku na pane so
pe tu kai
itaku na pane so
wakakusa no
tuma no
omopu tori tatu
In the whale-hunting
Sea of Ōmi
From far off in the offing
Boats come rowing;
Nearing the shore,
Boats come rowing;
Off in the offing, oars
Beat not so hard!
By the shore, oars
Beat not so hard!
A fresh blade of grass –
My husband’s
Beloved birds you’ll start to flight!
