And here is a lover's inscription--in English! Who presumes to suppose
that the gods know English? Some student, no doubt, who for pure
shyness engraved his soul's secret in this foreign tongue of mine--never
dreaming that a foreign eye would look upon it. 'I wish You, Haru!' Not
once, but four--no, five times!--each time omitting the preposition.
Praying--in this ancient grove--in this ancient Land of Izumo--unto the
most ancient gods in English! Verily, the shyest love presumes much
upon the forbearance of the gods. And great indeed must be, either
the patience of Take-haya-susano-wo-no-mikoto, or the rustiness of the
ten-grasp sabre that was augustly girded upon him.