First Snow 初雪
めづらしき花のみやこの初雪を九重にさへふらしてぞみる
| mezurashiki hana no miyako no hatsuyuki o kokonoe ni sae furashite zo miru | Unusually, On the flower that is the Capital Has fallen the first snow – The ninefold palace gates Have summoned it, it seems! |
Toshiyori
New Year Archery
九重のうちにいるてふあづさ弓はるかに雲のほかにきくかな
| kokonoe no uchi ni iru chō azusayumi haruka ni kumo no hoka ni kiku kana | Within the ninefold Palace walls we are today; Catalpa bows – Other than the distant clouds Who might hear them! |
Tadafusa
Left (Win).
呉竹に過ぐる秋風さ夜更けて奠るほどにや星合の空
| kuretake ni suguru akikaze sayo fukete matsuru hodo ni ya hoshiai no sora |
When the black bamboo Is brushed by autumn breeze, and Night falls, Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens… |
315
Right.
九重に今日奠るをば七夕のたゞ一夜にも嬉しとや見る
| kokonoe ni kyō matsuru oba tanabata no tada hito yo ni mo ureshi to ya miru |
Within the Ninefold Palace walls This day we celebrate, The lovers on Just a single night: Are they pleased, I wonder? |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
316
The Right state, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” (matsuru hodo ni ya hoshiai no sora) – the one does not seem to follow from the other. The Left wonder, ‘why we have an annual rite describe as “a single night” (tada hito yo), and not “but one night a year” (toshi ni hito yo)?’
Shunzei merely remarks, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” – this certainly does follow on, and there is nothing wrong with it. The point about “a single night” is well made. The Left wins.’