When she had been living with Prince Motonaga for some time, as an amusement the Prince tied up a box with something in it with his under-belt and, saying he would be back for it, left it lying about somewhere; after he had gone out, she was abducted and hidden away by Prince Tsune’akira, and it was only after many days and months had gone by that she returned to her former house, and sent the box, with this to Prince Motonaga.
あけてだに何にかは見む水の江の浦島の子を思ひやりつつ
akete dani
nani ni ka Fa mimu
mizu no e no
urasima no ko wo
omoFiyaritutu |
Even should I open it
What is it that I might see?
By the waters’ edge
The lad from Urashima
Is ever in my thoughts… |
Nakatsukasa
中務
我が宿の菊の白露今日今日ごとにいく代たまりて淵となるらむ
wa ga yado no
kiku no siratuyu
keFu goto ni
ikuyo tamarite
Futi to naruramu |
At my dwelling,
The silver dew upon the chrysanthemums
Ever on this day
For countless ages accumulates
Into a deep river pool. |
Nakatsukasa
中務
During the Tenryaku era, when people had gathered at Ise’s house, to say that she was coming.
時雨つゝふりにし宿の言の葉は掻集むれど止らざりけり
siguretutu
Furinisi yado no
koto no Fa Fa
kakiatumuredo
tomarazarikeri |
Ever does the drizzle
Fall at my home –
My leaves of words
I sweep all together, but
Never does it end. |
Nakatsukasa (?912-?991)
中務
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? |
Nakatsukasa
This poem is also Wakan rōeishū 201.
'Simply moving and elegant'