On the 21st day of the Fifth Month Tenroku 4 [973], former emperor En’yū, who was then the sovereign, visited the Princess of the First Order [Shishi 資子] and, following a loss at a game with go counters, on the 7th day of the Seventh Month, the Princess had a fan wrapped in thin cloth and presented to the imperial pantry.
天の川河辺涼しき七夕に扇の風を猶やかさまし
ama no kaFa
kaFabe suzusiki
tanabata ni
aFugi no kaze wo
naFo ya kasamasi
On the River of Heaven’s
Shore, cool
In early autumn
Is this fan’s breeze:
I wonder, should I lend it you more?
aki Fatete
aFugi kaFesu Fa
ukeredomo
sasugani imu to
miru zo ureshiki
That autumn and your longings are done, and
To have my fan returned
Is bitter, indeed, yet,
As expected, to be shunned by you:
Now that is a pleasant thought, indeed!