Of Old Japan
hidden behind the cloth;[1] her head rested on a writing-case of gold lacquer. Her forehead was beautiful and fascinating. She seemed like a princess in a picture. I took off the cloth which hid her mouth and said, "You are just like the heroine of a romance!" She blushed, half rising; she was beauty itself. She is always beautiful, but on this occasion her charm was wonderfully heightened.
Dear Lady Hyoé brought me some floss[2] silk for chrysanthemums. "The wife of the Prime Minister favours you with this present to drive away age,[2] carefully use it and then throw it away."
May that lady live one thousand years who guards the flowers!
My sleeves are wet with thankful tears
As though I had been walking
In a garden of dewy chrysanthemums.
I wanted to send it, but as I heard that she had gone away I kept it.
The evening I went to the Queen's chamber. As the moon was beautiful, skirts overflowed from beneath the misu.[3] By and by there came Lady Koshosho and Lady Dainagon. Her Majesty took out some of the perfume made the other day and put it into an incense burner to try it. The garden was admirable—"When
- ↑ A face covering used while sleeping.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Floss silk was used to protect chrysanthemum flowers from frost. The flower itself was believed to have the virtue of lengthening life. The Imperial garden party undoubtedly originated from a belief in this virtue in the flower.
- ↑ Ladies were crowded close behind the misu looking at the moon.
