山はさけ海はあせなむ世なりとも君にふた心わがあらめやも

yama wa sake umi wa asenamu yo nari tomo kimi ni futagokoro wa ga arame ya mo

Even should the mountains split, and The sea grow dry, In such a world, In twain with my Lord’s heart Will mine ever be! [i]

680

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[i] See: 鯨魚取　海哉死為流　山哉死為流　死許曽　海者潮干而　山者枯為礼 isana tori / umi ya shi ni suru / yama ya shi ni suru / shinure koso / ume wa shio hite / yama wa karesure ‘The whale hunting / Sea: does it die? / And do the mountains die too? / They die, for / The sea dries with the tide, and / The mountains do turn sere…’ Anonymous (Man’yōshū XVI: 3852)