I can see the garden from my room beside the entrance to the gallery.
The air is misty, the dew is still on the leaves. The Lord Prime
Minister is walking there; he orders his men to cleanse the brook. He
breaks off a stalk of omenaishi [flower maiden] which is in full bloom
by the south end of the bridge. He peeps in over my screen! His noble
appearance embarrasses us, and I am ashamed of my morning [not yet
painted and powdered] face. He says, "Your poem on this! If you delay
so much the fun is gone!" and I seize the chance to run away to the
writing-box, hiding my face--
_Flower-maiden in bloom--_
_Even more beautiful for the bright dew,_
_Which is partial, and never favors me._
"So prompt!" said he, smiling, and ordered a writing-box to be brought
[for himself].
His answer:
_The silver dew is never partial._
_From her heart_
_The flower-maiden's beauty._
One wet and calm evening I was talking with Lady Saisho. The young
Lord[7] of the Third Rank sat with the misu[8] partly rolled up. He
seemed maturer than his age and was very graceful. Even in light
conversation such expressions as "Fair soul is rarer than fair face"
come gently to his lips, covering us with confusion. It is a mistake
to treat him like a young boy. He keeps his dignity among ladies, and
I saw in him a much-sought-after romantic hero when once he walked off
reciting to himself:
_Linger in the field where flower-maidens are blooming_
_And your name will be tarnished with tales of gallantry._
Some such trifle as that sometimes lingers in my mind when really
interesting things are soon forgotten--why?
Nowadays people are carrying pretty folding fans.
Since the twentieth of the Eighth month, the more favoured court
nobles and officers have been on night duty, passing the nights in
the corridor, or on the mats of the veranda idly amusing themselves.
Young men who are unskilled in koto or fué [harp or flute] amuse
themselves with tonearasoi[9] and imayo,[10] and at such a time this
is entertaining. Narinobu, the Queen's Grand Chamberlain, Tsunefusa,
the Lieutenant-General of the Left Bodyguard and State Councillor, and
Narimasa, the Major-General of the Bodyguard and Governor of Mino,
passed the night in diversions. The Lord Prime Minister must have been
apprehensive, for he has forbidden all public entertainment. Those who
have long retired from the court have come in crowds to ask after the
Queen's welfare, so we have had no peace.
Twenty-sixth day. We finished the preparation of perfume[11] and
distributed it to all. A number of us who had been making it into
balls assembled together. On my way from Her Majesty's chamber I
peeped into Ben Saisho's room. She was sleeping. She wore garments
of hagi[12] and shion[12] over which she had put a strongly perfumed
lustrous robe. Her face was hidden behind the cloth;[13] 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[14] silk for chrysanthemums. "The
wife of the Prime Minister favours you with this present to drive away
age,[14] 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._