Page:Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan.djvu/192

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Diaries of Court Ladies

Being notorious for  love
sourness
I think none pass by without breaking a branch!

[Her answer]

No one in passing has ever broken the plum tree
Who then can know if it be sour?

Oh, regrettable! to be spoken of in such a way! One night I slept in a room near the corridor. Some one came knocking at the door. I was afraid and passed the night without making a sound. The next morning the following poem was sent me [from the Prime Minister]:

All the night through, knocking louder than a water-rail,
I stood in vain at the door of hinoki wood weary and lamenting.

I wrote back:

A cause of deep regret, indeed,
Had the door opened at the knocking of the water-rail!


[Here a space of nearly one year elapses.]


Third day of First month [1010]. The August Princes have presented themselves before the King for three days[1] to receive gifts of mochi. Ladies of high rank accompanied them. Saémon-no-Kami held the Prince, and the mochi was brought to His Majesty by the Lord Prime Minister. The King, facing towards the east door, gave it to the August Princes.[2] It was a beautiful sight to see the young Princes com-

  1. The Japanese New Year ceremonies extend over three days.
  2. Both these little princes, grandsons of the Prime Minister, eventually came to the throne.
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