Once Sei Shônagon was chatting to Major Councillor [Fujiwara no] Yukinari when, saying the palace was sealed because of a taboo, he made as if to leave hurriedly the following morning; she said he had been urged to leave by the cocks’ crowing, so he replied, ‘Cocks only crow in the middle of the night at Hangu Pass, don’t they?’ and got up and left; she composed this to say they were at Meeting Hill Barrier.
夜をこめて鳥の空音ははかるともよに逢坂の關はゆるさじ
| yo wo komete tori no sora ne Fa Fakaru tomo yo ni aFusaka no seki Fa yurusazi |
In the depths of night Cocks’ crows Cause confusion, yet In the dark on Meeting Hill The barrier won’t let you through! |
Sei Shōnagon
清少納言