Sawarabi - Early Ferns |
|
Oigimi had gone and the New Year came. But the spring sunlight brought her only grief. The spring products like the earliest fern shoots and acolytes were delivered from the abbot. The attached letter wished her happiness and long life. He wrote it with Kana phonetic script in a bad hand. Nakanokimi was much moved, for she knew he was not accustomed to write in Kana.
|
The prince Niou decided to accept her into his mansion in Kyoto. One day before the move, Kaoru appeared at Uji. He spent the day with Nakanokimi, recalling the dead lady. The scent and color of the rose plum below the veranda brought poignant memories. Remembering the night they passed talking together, he was left berating himself for having so generously handed her over to Niou. In the evening on the seventh day of the Second Month, the procession of Nakanokimi set out for Niou's Nijo mansion in Kyoto. A number of medium-ranking courtiers arrived drawing the carriages. Niou had wanted to come for her himself. Though he usually avoided any unnecessary display, his carriages were gorgeously decorated to show off his power. |
Kunisada, 1852 |
Resumed by Mary Nagase. Published by UNESCO.© UNESCO 2000