When he heard from the house of a woman of whom he was fond and with whom he had been conversing, that she had been conversing with numberless others.
潮の間にあざりする海人もをのが世々かひ有とこそ思へべらなれ
| siFo no ma ni azarisuru ama mo wono ga yoyo kaFiari to koso omoFuberanare |
All along the tide-space Gathering shellfish, the fisherfolk In their lives Have purpose: As must I! |
Ki no Haseo
Sent to the Kyōgoku Mother of Princes (Fujiwara no Hōshi 藤原褒子) after things got out.
わびぬれば今はた同じ難波なる身をつくしても逢はんとぞ思
| wabinureba ima Fa taonazi naniFa naru mi wo tukusitemo aFan to zo omoFu |
Suffering I was, so Now, ‘tis just as then; By Naniwa’s Channel marks, though I die, I would meet you. |
Prince Motoyoshi (d. 943)
When he had had a relationship with the Superintendent of the Palace Wardrobe Office for a number of years, he became unable to meet with her and on the final day of the year sent her:
物思ふと過ぐる月日も知らぬ間に今年は今日に果てぬとか聞く
| mono omoFu to suguru tuki Fi mo siranu ma ni kotosi Fa keFu ni Fatenu to ka kiku | In gloomy thought I’ve passed the days and months All unknowing; then That this year on this very day Will end, I heard. |
Fujiwara no Atsutada (906-940)
Sent to a lady she had known long ago, who had entered service at the palace.
山河のおとにのみきくももしきを身をはやながら見るよしもがな
| yamagaFa no oto ni nomi kiku momosiki wo mi wo Faya nagara miru yosi mo gana |
A mountain brook Babbling is all I hear Over the many-stoned palace Swift as the current would I return to the days I saw it-how I wish it could be so! |
Ise
伊勢
When the Priestly Retired Emperor first took the tonsure, he trod a mountain path and the Empress first of all, and all his other senior and junior consorts gathered in the same palace; some three years later the Emperor returned, and at the end of a meal they had shared there, talking of long ago things
言の葉に絶えせぬ露はおくらんやむかしおぼゆる團居したれば
| koto no Fa ni taesenu tuyu Fa okuran ya mukasi oboyuru madowi sitareba |
Upon the leaves that are our words Never-ending dew Falls, does it not? When as in times long gone We sit around together… |
When a man said to a woman who was closely guarded by her parents, ‘Answer me clearly, “Yes” or “No”!’
否せともいひはなたれずうきものは身を心ともせぬよなりけり
| inase tomo iFiFanatarezu uki mono Fa mi wo kokoro tomo senu yo narikeri |
Yea or nay I cannot clearly say; ‘Tis cruel that To my heart true I cannot be, in this world. |
Ise
Her reply:
わたつうみとあれにし床をいまさらに拂はば袖や泡と消えなむ
| watatu umi to arenisi toko wo imasara ni FaraFaba sode ya aFa to kienamu |
A boundless main, Storm tossed, you distant from my bed, Now, Were I to sweep it, my sleeve Might float as does the sea-foam! |
When she said this, the assembled ladies thought it most moving.
There was a woman who served at court with whom he had had a long relationship, and when she agreed to talk privately with him, but came very late, he composed…
宵のまにはやなぐさめよいその神ふりにし床もうち拂ふべく
| yoFi no ma ni Faya nagusameyo iso no kami furinisi toko mo utiFaraFubeku |
Within the night Hurry and console me! Age old dust Has fallen on our bed? We should sweep it clean! |