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The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu Part 1 · Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan

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Section four of Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan. This is on LibriVox
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recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to
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volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan
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by Sarashina Morasaki Shikibu Adal translated by Annie Scheppe Omori and KOCHIDOI. The Diary
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of Murasaki Shikibu eighty ten O seven to ten ten, Part one. As
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the ottumn season approaches, that suchi Mikado becomes inexpressibly s mild. Given the
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tree tops near the pond, the bushes near the stream are dyed in varying
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tints, whose colors grew deeper in the mellow light of evening. The murmuring
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sound of waters mingles all the night through with the never ceasing recitation of sutras,
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which appeal more to one's heart. As the breezes grow cooler, the
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ladies waiting upon her honored presence start talking idly. The Queen hears them.
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She must find them annoying, but she conceals it calmly. Her beauty needs
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no words of mind to praise it. But I cannot help feeling that to
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be near so beautiful a queen will be the only relief from my sorrow.
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So, in spite of my better desires, I am here. Nothing else
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dispels my grief. It is wonderful. It is still the death of night.
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The moon is dim and darkness lies under the trees. We hear an
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officer call the outer doors of the Queen's apartment must be opened. The maids
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of honor are not yet come. Let the Queen's secretaries come forward. While
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this order is being given, the three o'clock bell resounds, startling in the
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air. Immediately the prayers at the fire volts begin. The voices of the
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priests in loud restation, uying with each other far and near are solemn.
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Indeed, the abbot of the cannon In Temple, accompanied by twenty priests,
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comes from the eastern side building to pray. Even their footsteps along the gallery,
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which sound todo todo roo, are sacred. The head priest of the
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Hoju Temple goes to the mansion near the racetrack. The prior of the Henji
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Temple goes to the library. I follow with my eyes when the holy figures
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in pure white robes cross the stately Chinese bridge and walk along the broad path,
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even as a leasaisa bends the body in reverence. Before the eighty Dai
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Toku. The maids of honor arrive at tom. I can see the garden
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from my room beside the entrance to the gallery. The air is misty.
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You is still on the leaves. The Lord Prime Minister is walking there.
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He orders his men to plance the brook. He breaks off a stalk of
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fumenaichi, which is in full bloom by the south end of the bridge.
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He peeps in over my screen. His noble appearance embarrasses us, and I
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am ashamed of my mourning face. He says, your poem on this.
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If you delay so much, the fun is gone. And I sees the
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chance to run away to the writing box. Hide in my face. Flower
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maid in bloom, even more beautiful for the bright dew, which is partial
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and never favors me. So prompt said he, smiling, and ordered the
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writing box to be brought. His answer, the silver dew is never partial
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from her heart. The flower maiden's beauty. One way, and come evening.
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I was talking with Ladys Aychel, the young Lord of the third rank
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sat with the men superly rolled up. He seemed maturer than his age,
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and was very graceful even in light conversations. Such expressions as fair soul is
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rarer than fair face come gently to his lips, covering us with confusion.
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It is a mistake to treat him like a young boy. He keeps his
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dignity among ladies, and I saw in him a much sought after a romantic
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hero, when once he walked off reciting to himself, linger in the field
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where flower maidens are blooming, and your name will be tarnished with tales of
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calan. Try some such trifle as that sometimes lingers in my mind when really
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interesting things are soon forgotten. Why nowadays people are carrying pre eightyfold infants.
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Since the twentieth of the eight month, the more favored court nobles and officers
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have been on knight duty, passing the knights and the corridor, or on
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the mats of the veranda, highly amusing themselves. Young men who are unskilled
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in coltau or fue amuse themselves with Tunerazoi and demayo. And at such a
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time this is entertaining Narinobo, the Queen's grand Chamberlain, Sunefusa, the Lieutenant
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General of the Left Bodyguard and State Councilor, and Nerimasa, the Major General
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of the body Guard and Governor of Mino, passed the night in diversions.
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The Lord Prime Minister must have been apprehensive, for he has forbidden all public
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entertainment. Those who have long retired from the court have come in crowds to
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ask after the Queen's welfare, so we have had no peace. Twenty sixth
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day, we finished the preparation of perfume and distributed it all. A number
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of us who had been making it into balls, assembled together. On my
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way from Her Majesty's chamber, I peeped into ben satious room. She was
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sleeping. She wore garments of Huggi and Fion, over which she had put
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a strongly perfumed, lustrous robe. Her face was hidden behind the cloth.
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Her head rested on a writing case of gold blacker. Her forehead was beautiful
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and fascinating. She seemed like a princess in a pitcher. I took off
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the cloth which hit her mouth, and said, you are just like the
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heroine of a romance. She blushed, half rising. She was beauty itself.
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She is always beautiful, but on this occasion her charm was wonderfully heightened,
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till Lady Hue brought me some flow silk for chrysanthemum's. The wife of
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the Prime Minister favors you with his present to drive away age, carefully use
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it, and then throw it away. May that lady leave one thousand years
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who guards the flowers. My sleeves are wet with thankful tears, as though
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I had been walking in a garden of dewy chrysanthemons. I wanted to send
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it, but as I heard that she had gone away, I kept it.
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The evening, I went to the Queen's chamber, as the moon was
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beautiful. Scarts of her float from beneath the missu. By and by there
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came Lady Kushosho and Lady Dainagon. Her Majesty took out some of the perfume
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maids the other day and put it into an incense burner to try it.
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The garden was admirable when the ivy leaves become red, they were said,
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but our Lady seemed less tranquil than usual. The priests came for prayers,
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and I went into the inside room, but was called away, and finally
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went to my own chamber. I wanted only to rest a few minutes,
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but fell asleep by midnight. Everybody was in great excitement tenth day of the
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lone moon months, when they began to dawn. The decorations of the queen's
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chamber were changed, and she removed to a white bed. The Prime Minister,
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his sons, and other noblemen made haste to change the purtens of the
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screens to bed collar and other things. All day long, she lay ill
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at ease. Men cried at the top of their voices to scare away evil
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spirits. There assembled not only the priest who had been someone here for these
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months, but was the tinnerant monks, who were brought from every mountain and
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temple. The prayers would reach to the Buddhas of the three worlds. All
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the soothsayers in the world were summoned. Eight million gods seemed to be listening
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with ears erect. For the Shinto prayers. Messengers run off toward the Sutra,
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residing at various temples. Thus the night was pasted on each side of
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the screen placed around the queen's bed. They assembled the ladies of the court
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on the west side, there were lying the queen's substitutes who were enticing the
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evil spirits. Each was lying surrounded by a pair of folding screens. The
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joints of the screens were curtained, and priests were appointed to cry sutras.
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There. On the south side there sat in many rows, abbots and other
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dignitaries of the priesthood, who prayed and swore till their voices grew hoarse,
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as if they were bringing down the living form of fudo. The space between
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the north room and the dais, on which was the queen's bed, was
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very narrow. Yet when I thought of it afterwards, I counted more than
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forty persons who were standing there. They could not move at all, and
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grew so dizzy that they could remember nothing. The people now coming from home
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could not enter the mean apartment at all. There was no place for their
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flowing robes and long sleeves. Certain older women wept secretly. Eleventh day,
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at dawn, the north sliding doors were taken away to throw the two rooms
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together. The queen was moved towards the verandah, as there was no time
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to hang Mizzo. She was surrounded by kicho the Reverend Guiojo and the other
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priests performed incantations. The Reverend Dinghen recited the prayer written by the Lord Prime
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Minister on the previous day, adding some grave bows of his own. His
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words were infinitely august and hopeful. The Prime Minister joining in the prayer,
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we felt more assured of a fortunate delivery. Yet there was still lingering anxiety,
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which made us very sad, and many eyes were filled with tears.
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We said, tears are not suitable to this occasion, but we could not
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help crying. They said that Her Majesty suffered more because the rooms were too
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crowded, so the people were ordered to the South and East rooms. After
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this, there remained in the Royal Apartment only the more important personages, the
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Prime Minister, Lady Sanuki and Lady Saisho were within the screen. The Honored
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Priest of Nina Temple and the Court Priest of Mi Temple were summoned within.
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The Prime Minister gave various commands and his voice overpowered those of the priests.
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There were also ladies Dainagon, Koshosho, Miya No Naishi, Nakatsukasa No,
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Kimmi, ta Yo no Miyobu, the Shikibu no Moto, ton No no
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Senji. These paths were venerable ladies of experience, but even they were bewildered
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with good reason. I am yet a novice, and I felt with all
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my heart that the occasion was serious. Also in the place a little behind
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outside the curtain, there were the nurses of the princesses naishin No Kami and
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Nakatsukasa, of the Queen's sister Shonagon, and of her younger sister Koshikibu.
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These nurses forced their way into the narrow passage behind the two screens, and
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there walked back and forth, so that none could pass that way. There
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were many other persons bustling about, but I could not distinguish them. The
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Prime Minister's son, Lieutenant General Saisuo, Major General Masmichi of the fourth rank,
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not to speak of Lieutenant General Tunefusa of the left bodyguard, and Miya
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Notaiu, who had not known her Majesty familiarly. All looked over her screen
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for some time. They showed eyes walling up with weeping forgetting the shame of
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it. On their heads, rice was scattered white as snow. The rumpled
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clothes must have been unseemly, but we could only think of those things.
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Afterwards, a part of the queen's head was shaved. I was greatly astonished
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and very sorry to see it, but she was delivered peacefully. The after
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birth was delayed, and all priests rouged to the south balcony under the eaves
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of the magnificent main building, while those on the bridge recited suitors more passionately,
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often kneeling. Among the ladies in waiting on this side were seen some
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of the courtiers. Lady Kuchuto's I met that of the Lieutenant General. People
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afterwards laughed o the heir astonished expression. She is a very fascinating and elegant
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person, and is always very careful to adorn her face. This morning she
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had done so, but her eyes were red and her rouge was spoiled by
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tears. She was dispegered and hardly seemed the same person. The imperfectly made
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up face of Lady Saisho was a rare sight. But what about my own?
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It is lucky for me that people cannot notice such things at such a
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time as if the birth came. It was fearful to hear that Alleslei's wearing
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voices of the evil spirits. Shin Soadari took charge of Lady Bannon Kurrodo.
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Saw Yo took charge of Hiua and No Kurrodo. A priest to Juji took
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charge of Ukon No Kurrodo. Chisusari took charge of Lady miya On Naishi.
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This last priest was overpowered with the evil spirit, and as he was in
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a too pitiable state, Ninka Kua Sari went to help him. It was
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not because his prayer had little virture, but the spirit was too strong.
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PRIs Daiko was in charge of Lady Satious, supplicator of the spirit. This
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priest swore all night till his voice became hoarse. Most ladies who were summoned
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in ordered that the spirits might enter into them, remained safe, and they
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were much troubled, thinking that it would be to the Queen's advantage where they
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attacked. At noon, we felt that the sun came out at last.
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The Queen was at ease. She is now at peace incomparable joy. Moreover,
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it is a prince, so the joy cannot be oblique. The court
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ladies who had passed the previous day. In anxiety, not knowing what to
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do, as if they were lost. In the midst of the early morning,
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went one by one to rest in the wrong rooms, so that before
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the Queen there remained only some elderly persons proper for such occasions. The Lord
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Prime Minister and his lady went away to give offerings to the priest who had
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read Suitress and performed religious austerities during the past months, and to those doctors
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who were recently summoned. The doctors and sooth sayers who had invented special forms
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of efficacy were given pensions within the house. They were perhaps preparing for the
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ceremony of paiding the child. Large packet were carried to the apartments of the
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ladies in waiting. Karagina and embroidered trains were worn. Some were dozingly brilliant
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trains, embroidered and tournamented with mother of pearl. Some lamented that the funds
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which had been ordered had not come. They all painted and powdered. When
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I looked from the bridge, I saw Her Majesty's first officials and the highest
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officers of His Highness, the Crown Prince and other court nobles. The Prime
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Minister went out to have the brook, which had been choked with und planed
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out. All the people seemed happy, Even those who have some cause for
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melancholy are overtaken by the general joy. The first official of our Queen has
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naturally seemed happier than anybody, though he does not show special smiles of self
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satisfaction and pride. The Lieutenant General of the Light Bodyguard has been joking with
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the King's Adviser of the middle rank, sitting on a mount on the balcony
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of the side building. The sword of his Highness, the young Prince has
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been brought from the Imperial court. The Lieutenant General and First Secretary Yorisada,
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on his way home from the shrine at Issay, where he had gone as
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Imperial messenger to offer Nusa, stopped at the gate to inquire for her majesty.
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He was given some present. I did not see it. The naval
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court was caught by the Prime Minister's lady. Lady Tachibana of the third rank,
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gave the breast for the first time for the wet nurse day Simon.
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No motto was chosen, for she has been in the court a long time
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and is very familiar with it. The daughter of Munetoki, courtier and governor
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of Bay and the nurse after Rodo no beIN Where was chosen as nurses.
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The ceremony of bathing was performed at six o'clock in the evening. The bath
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was lighted by torches. The Queen's maid in white over green prepared the hot
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water. The stand for the bathtop was covered with white cloth. Chikamito,
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Governor of Owadi, and Nakanobu, the head officer attached to the Queen,
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presented themselves before the Missau. There were two stands for kettles. Lady Kioriko
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and Lady Jadima poured the cold water. Two ladies on Monkey and Uma selected
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sixteen jars from among those with which the hot water was poured. These ladies
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wore those outer garments fine silk trains, Karagino and sayshi. Their hair was
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tied by white cords, which gave the head a very fair look. In
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the past, Lady Saishov became the partner of bathing Lady Dainagon in her bathing
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dress. She was especially beautiful in this rare costume. The Lord Prime Minister
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took the August Prince in his arms. Lady Koshosho held the sword, and
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Lady miya on Naishi held up a tiger's head before the prince. Lady miya
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on Naishi wore karagina with a button of pine cones. Her train was woven
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in a marine design of seaweeds, waves, et cetera. On the belt,
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a fine pattern was embroidered. Lady Koshosho wore an embroidered belt with a
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pattern of autumn leaves, butterflies and birds, which was bright with silver thread.
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Brocade forbidden except for persons of high rank, and they used it only
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for the belt. Two sons of the Prime Minister and Major General Minamono Masamichi
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were scattering rice in great excitement. I will make the most noise, each
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shouted to the other. The priest of Henchi Temple presented himself to present the
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a ghost child. The riyes hid him on his eyes and ears, so
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he held out his van and the young people laughed at him. The doctor
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of literature, cirodo pen No Hironari, stood at the foot of the high
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corridor and read the first book of Siki. Twenty bow string men twung the
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bowstring to scare away evil spirits. They were ten men of the fifth and
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ten men of the sixth rank, arranged in two rows. The same ceremonies
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of baiting were repeated in the evening, only the doctor of literature was changed.
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Doctor Munetoki, Governor of Isai, read the Coochio, and Takachika read
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that chapter of Buntei. For seven nights, every ceremony was performed loud lessly
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before the queen in white. The styles and colors of other people's dresses appeared
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in sharp contrast. I felt much dazzled and abashed, and did not present
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myself in the daytime. So I passed my days in tranquility and watched persons
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going up from the eastern side building across the bridge. Those who were permitted
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to wear the honorable collars put on brocaded karaginho and also brocaded ucchiki. This
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was the conventionally beautiful dress, not showing individual taste. The elderly ladies who
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could not wear the honorable colors avoided anything dazzling, but two comly exquisite to
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chigi, trimmed with three or five folds and full karaginous brocade, either of
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one color or of a simple design for their inner keymanners. They used figured
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stuffs or gausses their pants, though not at first once brilliant or attractive,
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had some written phrases or sentiments in good taste, but almost exactly alike,
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as if they had compared notes beforehand. In point of fact, the resemblance
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came from their similarity of age, and they were individual efforts, even in
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those fans who revealed their minds, which are in Challou's rivalry. The younger
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ladies, who wore much embroidered clothes. Even their sleeve openings were embroidered.
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The pleats of their trains were ornamented with thick silver thread, and they put
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gold foil on the brocaded figures of the silk. The fans were like a
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snow covered mountain in bright moonlight. They sparkled and could not be looked at
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steadily. They were like hanging mirrors. On the third night, her Majesty's
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Majordomo gave an entertainment. He serveted the queen himself the dining table of fellow
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wood, the silver dishes and other things I saw hurriedly in a motto.
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Chunagon and Saisho presented the queen with some baby clothes and diapers, a stand
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for a clothes test, and clothes for wrapping up clothes and furniture. They
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were white in color and all of the same shape, yet they were carefully
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chosen, showing the artist's mind. The Governor of Omi Province was busy with
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a general manager of the banquet. On the western balcony of the East building
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there sat court nobles in two rows, the north being the more honorable place.
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On the southern balcony were court officials, the west being the most honorable
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seat. Outside the doors of the principal building, white figure silk screens were
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put. On the fifth night, the Lord Prime Minister celebrated the birth.
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The full moon on the fifteenth day was clear and beautiful. Torches were lighted
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under the trees, and tables were put there with rice balls on them.
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Even the uncowed, humble servants who were walking about chattering seemed to enhance the
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joyful scene. All minor officials were their burning torches, making it as bright
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as they even the attendants of the nobles who gathered behind the rocks and danders.
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The trees parked of nothing but the new light which had come into the
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world, and were smiling and seemed happy, as if their own private wishes
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had been fulfilled. Happier still seemed josed in the audience chamber, from the
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highest nobles, even to men of the fifth rank, who scarcely to be
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hampered. Among the nobility met the joyful time, going about idly and bending
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their bodies busily to serve at the Queen's dinner. Eighth ladies tied their hair
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with white cords, and in that dress brought in her Majesty's dining table.
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The chief lady waiting for the night was Mitya noor Naishi. She was brilliantly
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dressed with great formality, and her hair was made more charming by the white
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cords, which enhanced her beauty. I got a side glance of her when
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her face was not screened by her face she wore a look of extreme purity.
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The following are the maids of honor who tied their hair. Minamotoshikipu,
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daughter of the Governor of Kaga Province, Kozayemon, daughter of the late Michitoki,
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governor of Bitchu, Kohioe, daughter of Akimasa, governor of the Left
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Capital Osuke, daughter of Suke Chika, the head priest of the shrine.
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O Uma, daughter of Yuri Nobu, an officer of the right bodyguard,
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ko Uma, daughter of Michibu, an officer of the left bodyguard, Kohyoe,
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daughter of Naritaka, Recorder of the Capitol, Komoku, daughter of Nobuyoshi.
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These were all young and pretty. It was a sight to where seeing
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this time as they chose only the best looking young lady. The rest,
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who used to tie their hair on ordinary occasions to serve the Queen's dinner,
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wept bitterly. It was shocking to see them. More than thirty ladies were
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sitting in the two rooms eeasts of the Queen's canopy, a magnificent sight.
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The ghast dinner trays were carried by Eunimee. Near the entrance of the Great
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Chamber. Folding screens surrounded a pair of tables on which these dining trays had
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been placed. As the night advanced, the moon shone brightly. There ware
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Uneme, Mohitoi, Migusi, a yeh To Noo Mouri and Mori Nonyo Kuan,
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some with whose faces I was not familiar. There were rosso door keepers,
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carelessly dressed and with hairpins falling out. Crowded together towards the eastern corridor
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of the principal building as if it were a public holiday. There were so
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many people there was no getting through them. After dinner, the maids of
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honor came outside the missu and could be playing this scene by the light of
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the torches. The train and karaghino of Lady Yoshikibu was embroidered to represent the
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dwarf pine wood at Mount Oshio. As she is the wife of Michinokiu,
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governor of the eastern extremity of the island. She serves now in the Prime
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Minister's household. Day No Miyobu neglected your lamentation of her karaginu, but she
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adorned her train with silver dust representing sea waves. It was pleasing to the
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eye, though not dazzling. Ben No Naichi showed on her train a beach
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with crims on it, painted in silver. It was something new. She
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had also embroidered pine branches. She is clever, for all these things are
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emblematic of our long life. The device of Lady Shosho was inferior to these
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men. He laughed at her silver foil. She was sister to Suke Mitzyu,
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the governor of Shinano, and has lived at the court a long time.
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People wanted to see this entertainment. A priest was there who used to
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attend the court to beguile the night with religious and other stories. I said
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to him, you cannot see such a lovely thing every day. Indeed,
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indeed, said he, neglecting his body and clapping his hands for joy.
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The court nobles rose from their seats and went to the steps. His lordship,
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the Prime Minister and others cast the But was shocking to see them quarreling
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about paper. Some others composed poems. A lady said, what response shall
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we make if someone offers to drink sacay with us? We tried to think
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of something, she too not. Dynagon is a man of varied accomplishments.
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No ladies can rival him in repartee, much less compete with him in poetry.
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So they were all afraid of him. But he did not give a
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cup to any particular lady to make her composed poems. Perhaps that was because
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he had many things to do when it was getting laid. At this ceremony,
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the ladies of high rank are given robes together with babies dresses presented by
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the Queen. The ladies of the fourth rank were each given a lined kimono,
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and those of the sixth rank were given highkama. So much I saw
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the next night, the moon was very beautiful, as it is the delightful
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season. Young people went quoting. They were all dressed uniformly in white,
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and their hair showed better than when they were colored clothes. Kotaibu in a
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motoshikibu miyaki no jiju ksechino, bain ukon, kohioe koeimon uma yasurahi is a
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bio. These were on the verandah when the Lieutenant General of the Left Bodyguard
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and the Lieutenant General the Prime Minister's son came to take them out in the
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boat. Punted by Lieutenant General Kinnepaka of the right Bodyguard. The rest of
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the ladies were neglected and followed them with their eyes. They seemed to be
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jealous in spite of themselves. Into the very white garden, the moon shone
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down and added to the beauty of the maids of Honor in their white dresses.
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There were many palanquins waiting at the shelter near the north entrance They were
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those of the ladies in waiting of His Majesty's court. Tosa Umi kshosho Uma
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yukan chikyus on me. So far I have heard, but as I don't
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know them well, there may be some mistakes. The people in the boat
33:08
came in in confusion, hearing that visitors from the King's court had arrived.
33:14
The Lord Prime Minister came out to welcome them and put them in good humor.
33:19
He seemed to be perfectly happy. Gifts were made to them according to
33:23
the rank. On the seventh day, his Majesty celebrated the birth. His
33:32
secretary and Major General Jimasa came as King's messenger with a long list of the
33:37
presents put into a waker box. A letter was immediately sent from the Queen
33:44
to the King. The students from the Kanga Queen came keeping step. The
33:49
list of visitors' names was presented to her Majesty. Some may perhaps receive gifts.
33:58
The ceremony of the evening was noisier than ever. I peeped under the
34:02
Queen's canopy. She who is esteemed by the people as the mother of the
34:07
nation, did not seem to be in good spirits. She appeared a little
34:12
weary. She had grown thinner, and her appearance in bed was slenderer,
34:16
younger and graceful air. A little lantern was hanging under the canopy, which
34:22
chased the darkness away even from the corners. Her fair complexion was pale and
34:29
transparently pure. I thought her abundant hair would be better tied up. There
34:36
is great impropriety in writing about her at all, so I will stop here.
34:44
The general ceremonies were the same as the other day. The gifts to
34:47
the courtiers were bestowed from within the missus. The women's dresses and the queen's
34:52
dress were added to them. The chief of the king's secretaries and court nobles
34:59
received them approaching the Missiau. His Majesty's gifts were rucchigi and kimonos, and
35:06
rolls of silk in the usual court fashion. The gifts to tachibanon Nosamni,
35:10
who offered the press to the young prince for the first time, were a
35:15
set of women's clothes and rolls of brocade, a silver clothes chest, and
35:20
wrappings for clothes. I have heard that something wrapped up was added also,
35:25
though I could not see it in detail. On the eighth day, all
35:32
changed the dress. On the ninth evening, the Vice Governor of the August
35:37
Crown, Princess Retinue, celebrated the birth. The present was put in a
35:43
white cabinet. The ceremony was quite in the new style. On the silver
35:49
clothes chest, a raised tournament was carved, and the island of Vorai,
35:53
who was also represented as usual, but in finer and newer fashion. Sorry,
36:00
I cannot describe it all exactly. This evening, the winter screens were
36:06
used and the ladies whore richly colored dresses. They seemed all the more charming
36:12
as it was the first time after the birth. The rich and brilliant colors
36:16
shone through the karagina. The women's figures also showed more distinctly, and that
36:22
enhanced their beauty. This was the night that Lady kommand On all Model was
36:28
put to shame. It was after the tenth day of the god's absent months,
36:36
but the queen could not leave her bed, so night and day ladies
36:39
attended her in her apartment towards the west. The Lord Prime Minister visited her
36:46
both during the night and that dawn. He examined the breasts of the wet
36:52
nurses. Those nurses who were in a sound sleep were much startled and caught
36:58
up was still asleep. It was quite a pity to see them. He
37:04
very naturally devoted himself with the utmosphere while there was anxiety about your ghost child.
37:10
Sometimes the honorable Infant did a very unreasonable thing and wet the Lord Prime
37:16
Minister's clothes. He loosening his sash, tried his dress behind the screen.
37:23
He said, ah, it is a very happy thing to be wet by
37:28
the Prince. When I am drying my clothes is my most comfortable moment,
37:32
so he said, rejoicing. He especially favored Prince Murakami and Puss. He
37:38
thinks I am related to that prince. He talked to me very familiarly.
37:45
I know many things which may be expected to happen. The day of the
37:52
King's visit was approaching, and the Lord's mansion was improved and adorned. Beautiful
37:59
preysantum were sought for everywhere to plant in the garden. Some were already fading.
38:06
Others in yellow were especially lovely. When they were planted, and I
38:10
saw them through the shifting morning mists, they seemed indeed to drive away all
38:16
the age. I wish I could be more adaptable and lived more gaily in
38:23
the present world. Had I not an extraordinary sorrow. But whenever I hear
38:30
delightful or interesting things, my yearning for our religious life grows stronger. I
38:36
become melancholy and lament. I try to forget, for sorrow is vain?
38:42
Am I too simple? So I was musing one morning when I saw waterfowl
38:47
playing heedlessly in the pond. Water fowl floating on the water. They seem
38:54
so gay, but in truth it is not gayly anxious seeking means of existence.
39:02
I sympathized with them, who outwardly have no other thought but amusement.
39:09
Yet in reality of seeking a livelihood in great anxiety. Lady Kushosho sent me
39:20
a letter, and when I was writing the answer, a brisk shower came
39:23
pattering down. The sky looked threatening, and the messenger was in a hurry.
39:29
So I think I wrote but a broken legged poem. After dark,
39:34
the messenger returned with a strongly perfect and deeply colored paper, on which was
39:38
written the dark sky dolls my dreamy mind, the down dripping rain lingers,
39:46
Oh my tears, downfalling long enofter tea. I have forgotten what I wrote
39:53
to her, except the poem there are pouses between the showers of the outer
39:59
wor, but there is no time when my sleeves wet with tears are dry.
40:08
That day, the Queen saw the new boats which were presented for her
40:13
inspection. The dragon's head and the phoenix at the brow made me think of
40:17
animated living figures. The visit of His Majesty was to be made at eight
40:24
or nine o'clock in the morning. From early dawn, ladies adorned themselves with
40:30
great care. As the seats of the courtiers were placed in the west side
40:36
building. The Queen's apartment was not so much disturbed. I have heard that
40:40
the ladies serving at the Imperial Shrine dressed very laborately in the rooms of the
40:46
First Maid of Honor. In the early morning, Lady Gushosha came back from
40:53
her father's We dressed our hair together in spite of the fixed tower. His
41:00
Majesty's coming will be delayed, we thought, and our relaxed minds were still
41:05
indolent. Some ladies had ordered an ornamented silk fans and were on tiptoe with
41:12
expectancy when the drums were heard, and they were in an awkward predicament.
41:17
We welcomed the royal equipad. The boatsman's music was very good. When the
41:23
Royal palanquin drew near the bearers, though they were rather honorable persons bent their
41:30
heads in absolute humility as they ascended the steps. Even in the highest society
41:37
there are grades of courtesy, but these men were too humble. The royal
41:45
days was prepared at the west side of the Queen's His honorable chair was placed
41:51
in the eastern part of the south Verandah. A little apart from it.
41:55
On the east side were hung Missieus and two of the ladies in attendance.
42:00
On the King came out from behind that Missu. The beautiful shape of their
42:07
hair, tied with bands, was like that of the beauties in Chinese pictures.
42:13
Lady Simon held the King's sword. She wore a blue green pat and
42:19
less carrgino and shaded train with floating bands and belt of floating red brocade tied
42:25
in dull red. Her outer robe was trimmed with five folds and was chrysanthemum
42:34
colored. The glossy silk was of crimson. Her figor and movement when we
42:39
caught a glimpse of it, was flowerlike and dignified. Lady Bennonnaishi held the
42:46
box of the King's seals. Her old chigi was crape colored. A brocaded
42:52
train and karagino were the same as the former lady. She is a very
42:58
small and small giving person and seemed a little shy, and I was sorry
43:04
for her. Her face and clothes were in better taste than those of the
43:08
other ladies. Her hair bands were blue green. Her appearance suggested one of
43:15
the ancient dream maidens descended from heaven. The officers of the King's Bodyguard managed
43:22
things connected with the state carriage in fine style. They were elegantly dressed.
43:30
The first Lieutenant General took his Majesty's sword and gave it to Lady Simon.
43:37
Looking over those who were inside the misu, I saw that persons who were
43:43
permitted to wear vulnerable colors were in karagino of blue or red painted trains and
43:51
ouchigi, which were as a rural brocade of all red and all rows.
43:57
Only the right bodyguard wore clothes of pink. The beaten stuffs were like the
44:02
mingling of dark and light maple leaves, in autumn. The undergarments were in
44:08
deep and pale jasmin yellow, or in green and white. Some wore scarlet
44:15
and green, and other stresses trimmed with three folds. Among those who were
44:22
not permitted to wear figured silk, the elderly persons were blue or dull red,
44:28
and the old rose fivefold ordered ucheeky. The color of the sea painted
44:34
on their trains was tasteful and quiet. On their belts was a repeated design.
44:40
The younger ladies whore fivefold trimmed karagino of chrysanthemum colors, according to their
44:47
taste. The first garment was white, and those who wore a blue dress
44:52
covered with a red one. Those who wore all rows on the outside took
44:59
more richly lord garments and beneath. Among those whose dress was in combination with
45:05
white, only those who made skillful combinations seemed well dressed. I saw some
45:10
fans exquisitely strange and original. We can compare their tastes more easily in their
45:17
every day dress. But on such an occasion as this, when they give
45:22
their whole minds to their costumes, vying with each other, they all seemed
45:28
like so many works of art. They looked rather like, and it is
45:32
difficult to distinguish ages, or to know whether hair is thick or thin.
45:38
Their faces and heads were hidden by fans. Yet some ladies seemed more dignified
45:45
than others. Inferior ladies who seemed distinguished at such a time must be beautiful.
45:51
Indeed, five ladies who had formerly served both the King and our Queen
45:58
were assembled here. They were two ladies in waiting, two maids of honor,
46:04
and one cook to serve the dinner. Ladies in waiting, Shikuzene and
46:09
Sacchio. Their hair, tied with bands, came out near the square pillar
46:15
where the court ladies sat. They were like beautiful angels. Sachio wore Karagiinov
46:22
white and blue under white. Lady Chikuzen wore firefold trimmed Karakinov chrysanthemum colors.
46:30
The ornament of their trains was dyed by rubbing. Lady Tachiban of the third
46:37
rank prepared dinner. She is an old lady and wore blue Karaginov and yellow
46:43
Krosantemoono Chigi, woven in a floating tread pattern as to Dara, was rolled
46:49
up, but a post obscured the view. The Lord Prime Minister, taking
46:54
the august young prince in his arms, went before the King. His majesty
47:00
took the child himself. The honorable Infant cried a little in our very young
47:06
boys. Lady ben nosa Ischov stood holding the prince's sword. The prince was
47:13
taken to the Lord Prime Minister's wife, who sat on the west side of
47:16
the inner door. After his majesty had gone, ben Nansay sho ca him
47:22
out and said to me, I was exposed to brightness. I felt discomposed.
47:30
Her blushing face was beautiful in every feature, and set off her dress
47:35
delightfully. When night came, we had beautiful dances. The court nobles presented
47:44
themselves before the king. The names of the dances performed were the Pleasures of
47:50
ten thousand ages, the Pleasures of a peaceful reign, the Happy Palace.
47:57
When they danced the long pleasing son one, they went out singing and danced
48:02
along the road beyond the garden hills. As they went farther away, the
48:08
sound of flute and drum mingled with the sound of wind in the pine boot
48:13
towards which they were going. The garden brooke planced very carefully, was refreshing
48:20
to us, and the sound of the water rippling on the pond gave us
48:24
a chilly feeling. Lady Sachio offered the Queen's sympathy, not knowing that she
48:31
had doubled her on the gunments, so people laughed secretly. Lady Chikuzen talked
48:38
of the late King Henio, who had visited her often. She talked about
48:44
the events of those days, and I felt that she was about to utter
48:49
things unfit for this happy occasion, so I did not answer her, saying
48:53
I was too tired. We were sitting with a curtain between us. If
49:00
there had been some one to ask Alas what thinks, she would have spilled
49:05
the unfit words. The dancing before the King had begun, and it was
49:12
very delightful when the voice of the young Prince was heard crying beautifully. The
49:16
Minister of the Right said flutteringly that the August Charles's voice was in accord with
49:22
music. The commander of the King's left body guard recited with others the pleasures
49:29
of ten thousand years and the pleasures of ten thousand autumns. Our honorable host,
49:36
The Lord Prime Minister said, ah, I held the previous condescending visit
49:40
as a great honor, but this is the greatest. He wept in intoxication
49:46
of joy. There's really no need of my saying it. But he is
49:51
so grateful to the King and so conscious of his happiness, it is lovely
49:55
to see it. The Prime Minister withdrew and his Majesty retired from the chamber.
50:05
He summoned the Minister of the Right to order him to record that the
50:08
Queen's officials and Prime Minister Stewards were to be advanced in rank. Dor No
50:15
ben presented to him all who were to be thus honored. The nobles of
50:21
the Fujiwar Alliance arrived together, but there were only those immediately connected with the
50:27
Prime Minister's family. The other three families were not among them. Then came
50:34
the chief officers of the Right body Guard, the high officials of the Queen
50:37
Dowager, the officials of our Queen, to whom additional duties were assigned,
50:44
and other members of the court who had been promoted and who came to thank
50:49
the King. His Majesty went in beside the Queen. But as the night
50:53
was far advanced, it was not long before the Prime Minister called the royal
50:59
carriage, and the King returned to his own palace. The next day,
51:06
royal messengers came here before the morning mist had cleared up. I arose late
51:10
and did not see them. Last evening was the first time that His Majesty
51:16
the King had met the Queen during these months. After the visit, the
51:22
duties of the August Prince's attendants and ladies were made public. Some who had
51:28
not heard about it before were disappointed and jealous. The decorations of the Queen's
51:34
apartment, which had been neglected, were improved. Things became more attractive in
51:38
the queen's presence. For years, the Prime Minister had felt acts as the
51:45
queen had had no child, but his hopes being realized, he and his
51:51
wife devoted themselves to taking care of the queen. Durga's child seemed to have
51:57
shed brightness around him. End of Section four right by Caude County