When I had made a pilgrimage to the twin shrines.[i]
ちはやぶるいづのお山の玉椿やほよろづ代も色はかはらじ
chihayaburu izu no oyama no tamatsubaki yaoyorozu yo mo iro wa kawaraji | At the mighty Mount of sacred Izu Gemlike, the camelia trees Through eight million ages Will ne’er change their hues. |
644
[i] A reference to Hakone and Izu shrines.
をとこやま神にぞぬさを手向けつるやほよろづよも君がまにまに
otokoyama kami ni zo nusa o tamuketsuru yaoyorozu yo mo kimi ga manimani | To Otoko Mountain’s God, a garland Have I proffered, that For eight million generations My Lord will ever be… |
621
やほよろづよもの神たちあつまれりたかまのはらにきぎたかくして
yaoyorozu yomo no kamitachi atsumareri takama no hara ni kigi takakushite | All eight million Deities from all corners of the world Have gathered; Here, upon the High Plain of Heaven Beneath the lofty shrine roof… |
620
'Simply moving and elegant'