Of Old Japan
suspecting that she was yielding to the earnest desires of the Prince and going to live at the palace.
She was sad, but could not write to him. She was ashamed to think of what the Prince might have heard. The Prince, seeing that she did not explain herself, wrote to her again:
Why do you not answer? Now I believe in the rumour. How swiftly your heart changes! I heard something I did not believe, and wrote to you that you might wipe away such unpleasant thoughts from my mind.
These words opened [i.e. lightened] her bosom a little. She wanted to know what he had heard and suddenly the wish to see him came to her.
O could you come to me this instant! I hunger to see thee, but cannot go because I am buried in slander.
The Prince wrote back:
You are too afraid of slanders and I read your mind in this caution. I am angry about it.
She thought he was teasing her, yet it saddened her, and she replied:
I cannot help it, please come in any case!
He returned:
I say to myself, "I will not suspect, I will not resent," but my heart does not follow my will.
Her answer:
Your enmity will never cease. I rely upon you, yet I suspect your faithfulness.
In the evening the Prince came. He said: "I wrote to you not believing the story. If you wish not to have such things said of you, come!"
