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Meanwhile, Genji was often thinking of paying a visit to the house
where she was staying, but he did not consider it becoming to do so,
without some reasonable pretext. more especially as he would have been
sorry, and for her sake more than his own, to draw a suspicion upon her.
It happened, however, after a prolonged residence at the Court, that
another occasion of closing the Palace in the certain celestial line of
direction arrived. Catching at this opportunity he left the Palace, and
suddenly turning out of his road, went straight to Ki-no-Kami s residence,
with the excuse that he had just discovered the above fact on his way. Ki-
no-Kami surprised at this unexpected visit, had only to bow before him,
and acknowledge the honor of his presence. The boy, Kokimi, was already
there before him, having been secretly informed of his intention
beforehand, and he attended on him as usual in his apartment on his
arrival.
The lady, who had been told by her brother that the Prince earnestly
desired to see her, knew well how dangerous it was to approach an
inviting flower growing on the edge of a precipice. She was not, of course,
insensible to his coming in such a manner, with an excuse for the sake of
seeing her, but she did not wish to increase her dream-like inquietude by
seeing him. And again, if he ventured to visit her apartment, as he did
before, it might be a serious compromise for her.
For these reasons she retired while her brother was with Genji, to a
private chamber of Chiûjiô, her companion, in the rear of the main
building, under the pretence that her own room was too near that of the
55
Tale of Genji
Prince, besides she was indisposed and required  Tataki, 49 which she
desired to have done in a retired part of the house.
Genji sent his attendants very early to their own quarters, and then,
through Kokimi, requested an interview with the lady. Kokimi at first was
unable to find her, till after searching everywhere, he, at last, came to the
apartment of Chiûjiô, and with great earnestness endeavored to persuade
her to see Genji, in an anxious and half trembling voice, while she replied
in a tone slightly angry,  What makes you so busy? Why do you trouble
yourself? Boys carrying such messages are highly blamable.
After thus daunting him, she added, more mildly,  Tell the Prince I
am somewhat indisposed, and also that some friends are with me, and I
cannot well leave them now. And she again cautioned the boy not to be
too officious, and sent him away from her at once.
Yet, at the bottom of her heart, different feelings might have been
struggling from those which her words seemed to express, and some such
thoughts as these shaped themselves to her mind:  Were I still a maiden in
the home of my beloved parents, and occasionally received his visits there,
how happy might I not be? How trying to act as if no romantic sentiment
belonged to my heart!
Genji, who was anxiously waiting to know how the boy would
succeed in persuading his sister, was soon told that all his efforts were in
vain. Upon hearing this he remained for some moments silent, and then
relieved his feelings with a long-drawn sigh, and hummed:
 The Hahaki-gi50 distant tree
Spreads broom-like o er the silent waste;
Approach, how changed its shape we see,
In vain we try its shade to taste.
The lady was unable to sleep, and her thoughts also took the
following poetic shape:
Too like the Hahaki-gi tree,
Lonely and humble, I must dwell,
49
Tataki, or Amma, a sort of shampooing, a very common medical treatment in Japan.
50
Hahaki-gi, the broom-like tree, is said to have been a certain tree growing in the plain
of Sonohara so called from its shape, which, at a distance, looked like a spreading
broom, but when one comes near, its appearance was totally changed.
56
The Broom-Like Tree
Nor dare to give a thought to thee,
But only sigh a long farewell.
All the other inmates of the house were now in a sound slumber, but
sleep came not to Genji s eyes. He did, indeed, admire her immovable and
chaste nature, but this only drew his heart more towards her. He was
agitated. At one moment he cried,  Well, then! at another,  However!
 Still! At last, turning to the boy, he passionately exclaimed,  Lead me to
her at once!
Kokimi calmly replied,  It is impossible, too many eyes are around
us!
Genji with a sigh then threw himself back on the cushion, saying to
Kokimi,  You, at least, will be my friend, and shall share my apartment!
57
Chapter III : Beautiful Cicada
Genji was still sleepless!  Never have I been so badly treated. I have
now discovered what the disappointment of the world means, he
murmured, while the boy Kokimi lay down beside him fast asleep. The
smallness of his stature, and the graceful waving of his short hair, could
not but recall to Genji the beautiful tresses of his sister, and bring her image
vividly before him; and, long before the daylight appeared, he rose up, and
returned to his residence with all speed. For some time after this no
communication took place between the lady and himself. He could not,
however, banish her from his thoughts, and he said to Kokimi that  he felt
his former experience too painful, and that he strove to drive away his care;
yet in vain; his thoughts would not obey his wish, and he begged him,
therefore, to seek some favorable opportunity for him to see her. Kokimi,
though he did not quite like the task, felt proud of being made his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]