さらぬだになみだのかかる我袖をかくれぬらしぞ道芝の露
| saranu dani namida no kakaru wa ga sode o kakurenurashi zo michishiba no tsuyu | ‘Tis not that Tears hanging on My sleeves have Secretly drenched them—‘tis Dewdrops from the roadside grasses. |
The Minister of Justice
43
I don’t think this is particularly moving; the conjecture is brief, and the greater than normal pivot is lacking in realism.
On the seventh day, saying that the Supernumerary Minor Captain was particularly skilled in such matters, a number of courtiers had composed poems in advance.
おもひ侘びしなんとなしに歎くらん後世にしもあはじものゆゑ
| omoiwabi shinan to nashi ni nagekuran nochi no yo ni shi mo awaji mono yue | Sunk in sorrowful thought I am not, yet I seem to grieve, for In the days to come We’ll have no cause to meet… |
Kunizane
41
Is it really so dreadfully sad that something has long continued until now, without thinking the above?
あふせをば流れてとこそたのめしかいかにとだにも音なしのたき
| ause oba nagarete to koso tanomeshi ka ika ni to dani mo otonashi no taki | Our meeting, like the rapids, Will flow on—can I Trust in that? However much they seem The silenced cataract of Otonashi… |
Lady Ki
39
すみわぶる名をながさじとつつむまにしばしよどむぞ音なしの滝
| sumiwaburu na no nagasaji to tsutsumu ma ni shibashi yodomu zo otonashi no taki | Living on in sorrow and Letting no word of it flow out— Thus wrapped up Briefly stilled has been The cataract of Otonashi. |
Supernumerary Minor Captain Morotoki
40
つらきをば思ひはれじとおもへども身をしる雨の所せくかな
| tsuraki oba omoihareji to omoedomo mi o shiru ame no tokoroseku kana | Your cruelty Would never vanish from my thoughts, I felt, but The gentle rain knows me too well— How unmanageable it is! |
Kodashin
37
おもはずにふりそふ雨の歎をばみかさの山をさしてちかはん
| omowazu ni furisou ame no nageki oba mikasa no yama o sashite chikanan | Unexpectedly, Rainfall covers all With grief, as On Mount Mikasa, my umbrella I raise as it draws near. |
Supernumerary Middle Counsellor Toshitada
38
うきながら人もつらしとしりぬればことわりなくも落つる涙か
| ukinagara hito mo tsurashi to shirinureba kotowarinaku mo otsuru namida ka | ‘Tis cruel, but, that Folk are heartless, I know too well, so Does it make no sense for My tears to fall? |
Kai, from the Shijō Palace
35
かりそめのたえまを待つや恨むべきことわりなきは涙なりけり
| karisome no taema o matsu ya uramubeki kotowarinaki wa namida narikeri | A temporary Respite are you awaiting— Should you hate that? What makes no sense Are your tears… |
The Supernumerary Master of the Left Capital Office
36
玉さかに相坂山の真葛原まだうらわかし恨みはてじな
| tamasaka ni aisakayama no makuzuwara mada urawakashi uramihateji na | By chance, On Aisaka Mountain The fields of arrowroot are Still so young— O, do not end up despising them! |
Lady Tsu, in service to the Former Kamo Virgin
33
夏山の下はふくずのうらわかみまだきに露の心おくらん
| natsuyama no shita hau kuzu no urawakami madaki ni tsuyu no kokoro okuran | On the summer mountains The arrowroot, creeping beneath, Seems so young that Swiftly will the dewdrops Fall upon its heart. |
The Minister of Justice
34
うらみかねさ夜の衣を人しれず思ひかへせどなぐさまぬかな
| uramikane sayo no koromo o hito shirezu omoikaesedo nagusamanu kana | Unable to despise you, On this brief night, my robe, Unknown to all, I did reverse in constant thought of you, but It brought me no comfort, at all! |
Kii, from the Ichijō Palace
31
ひたすらにさよの衣にことよせてうらなき人を恨みざらなん
| hitasura ni sayo no koromo ni kotoyosete uranaki hito o uramizaranan | Truly, On this brief night, your robe Is but a pretext— An unfeeling lady I would not despise! |
The Governor of Mimasaka
32
人しれぬ袖ぞ露けき逢ふことはかれのみまさる山のした草
| hito shirenu sode zo tsuyukeki au koto wa kare nomi masaru yama no shitagusa | Unknown to all My sleeves are drenched with dew; For our meetings Excel only in being withered As the scrub grass on the mountainside. |
[Nakako,] The Suō Handmaid
29
In reply.
おく山の下かげ草はかれやする軒ばにのみはおのれなりつつ
| oku yama no shitakagegusa wa kare ya suru nokiba ni nomi wa onore naritsutsu | Deep within the mountains, have The grasses growing in the trees’ dark shade Really withered away? Simply beneath your eaves, Is where I ever am… |
The Consultant Middle Captain
30
きてなれし袂は人に見せてましつらき涙の色のかはらば
| kitenareshi tamoto wa hito ni misetemashi tsuraki namida no iro no kawaraba | I was wont to wear These sleeves—to him I would display them: If heartless tears Should change their hues… |
Yurika, from the Hall of the Junior Consort
27
In reply.
忍草しのぶる程のよがれにはなにに心も袖もぬるらん
| shinobugusa shinoburu hodo no yogare ni wa nani ni kokoro mo sode mo nururan | A fond fern I do recall as My nightly visits cease, so Why is my heart and Sleeves, too, so drenched? |
The Assistant Lieutenant of the Middle Palace Guards, Left Division
28