Original

めづらしきけふのかすがのやをとめをかみもこひしとしのばざらめや

mezurashiki kyō no kasuga no yaotome o kami mo koishi to shinobazarame ya

Charming, Today at Kasuga Were maidens eight— Would the deity, too, such yearning Be unable to recall?[1]

1

In reply:

Left (Tie)

やをとめをかみししのばばゆふだすきかけてぞこひむけふのくれなば

yaotome o kami shi shinobaba yūdasuki kakete zo koimu kyō no kurenaba

If maidens eight The deity does recall, then Cords of mulberry cloth Would he hang that on this beloved Day evening should not fall…

2

Right

ちはやぶるかみしゆるさばかすがのにたつやをとめのいつかたゆべき

chihayaburu kami shi yurusaba kasuga no ni tatsu yaotome no itsuka tayubeki

Should the mighty Deity permit, Upon Kasuga plain Stand maidens eight— How long would they endure?

3

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[1] A variant of this poem occurs in Shūishū: Composed when officials from the provinces presented twenty-one poems on the occasion of an imperial progress to Kasuga by the former Teiji Emperor in Engi 20: めづらしきけふのかすがのやをとめを神もうれしとしのばざらめや mezurashiki / kyō no kasuga no / yaotome o / kami mo ureshi to / shinobazareme ya ‘Charming, / Today at Kasuga / Were maidens eight— / Would the deity, too, such joy / Be unable to recall?’ Fujiwara no Tadafusa (SIS X: 620)