nd that in a certain temple on the northern mountain (Mount Kurama) there dwelt a famous ascetic, and that when the epidemic had prevailed during the previous summer, many people had r

ve his retreat. "What shall I do?" exclaimed Genji, "shall I visit him privately?" Eventually, taking four or

d further. The haze clung to the surface like a soft sash does round the waist, and to Genji, who had scarcely ever been out of the capital, the scenery was indescribably novel. The ascetic lived in a d

ed out of the cave and looked around him with his attendants. The spot where they stood was very lofty, and numerous monasteries were visible, scattered here and there in the distance beneath. There was immediately beyond the winding path in which they were walking a picturesque and pretty building enclosed by hedges. Its well arranged balconies and the gardens around it apparently betokened the good taste of its inhabitants. "Whose house may that be?" inquired Genji of his attendants. They told him it was a house in which a certain priest had been living for the last t

e of the sea is singularly charming. Here, too, the home of the former Governor of the Province constitutes an object of great attraction. He has assumed the tonsure, and resides there with his beautiful daughter. He is the descendant of a high personage, and was not without hope of elevation at Court, but, being of an eccentric character, he was strongly averse to society. He had formerly been a Chi?ji? of the Imperial Guard, but having resigned that office, had become Governor of Harima. He was not, however, popular in that office. In this state of affairs he reflected within himself, no doubt, that his presence in the Capital could not but be disagreeable. When, therefore, his term of office expired, he determined still to remain in the province. He did not, however, go to the mountainous regions of the interior, but chose the sea-coast. There are in this district several places which are well situated for quiet retirement, and it would have seemed inconsistent in him had he preferred a part of the sea-coast so near the gay world; nevertheless, a retreat in the too remote interior would have been too solitary, and might have met with objections on the part of his wife and child. For this reason, it appear

y laughingly said, "Ah! she is a woman who is likely to become the Queen o

ch gave occasion to one of his companions to observe: "Ah! perhaps you also have been trying to disappoint the hopes of the aged father." Another said, "Well, our friend has given us a long account, but we must take it with some reserve. She must be, after all, a country m

of the sea? The natives of the deep would derive no pleasure from her c

h his susceptible temperament, wha

would be better to spend the evening in the Temple, and to be further prayed for. His attendants also supported

erformed. A nun, raising a curtain before Buddha, offered a garland of flowers on the altar, and placing a Ki? (or Sutra, i.e., Buddhist Bible) on her "arm-stool," proceeded to read it. She seemed to be rather more than forty years old. Her face was rather round, and her appearance was noble. Her hair was thrown back from her forehead and was cut short behind, which suited her very well. She was, however, pale and weak, her voice, also, being tremulous. Two maiden attendants went in an

which I kept so carefully in

And all this, too, after we had tamed it with so much care." She then left the room, possibly to look for the los

than I may be, who am so ill; but have I not told you often t

up?" One reason why Genji was so much attracted by her was, that she greatly resembled a certain lady in the Palace, to whom he, for a long time, had been fondly attached. The nun stroked the beautiful hair of the child and murmured to herself, "How splendid it looks! Would that she would always strive to keep it

also touched, for she silently watched the expression of the nun's features, and then with do

a tone sufficient

at wet the t

birth, too

an hope to

fection to

and heard the above distich, con

ill not so

depart bef

rfection of

so well i

hat this very day Prince Genji visited the hermit in order

een to-day! Who can she be? Would that I could see her morning and evening in the palace, where I can no longer see the fair loved one whom she resembles!" He now returned to the monastery, and retired to his quarters. Soon after a disciple of the priest came and delivered a message from him through K

his reputation might suffer in consequence. For that reason I wish to keep my visit as private as possible, nevertheless I will come now to your master." Thereupon the priest himself soon made his appearance, and, after briefly relating the circum

priest has said at home about myself to those to whom I have not y

spoke eloquently of man's future destiny. Genji as he heard him, felt some qualms of conscience, for he remembered that his own conduct was far from being irreproachable. The thought troubled him that he would never be free from the sting of these recollections through his life, and that there was a wor

!" The priest laughed, and said, "A strange dream! even were you to obtain your wish it might not gratify you. The late Lord Azechi Dainagon died long ago, and perhaps you

upon a guess, "and I heard that

mother alone. I know not how it came to pass, but she became secretly intimate with Prince Hi?bki?. But the Prince's wife was ve

e Hi?bki? was the brother of the Princess Wistaria). How would it be if I had free control over her, and had her brought up and e

ch was also a girl, and about this girl the

come the guardian of this girl. Will you speak to her grandmother about it? It is true that there is

g. However every woman grows up under the protecting care of some one, an

en a stern expression on his countenance

ur for vespers, and as he quitted the room to attend the

orrow of their own often feel melancholy from the circumstances in which they are placed. So Genji, whose mind was occupied in thought, could not slumber here. The priest said he was going to vespers, but in reality it was later than the proper time for them. Genji perceived that the inmates had not yet retired to re

she came near to the Prince's room she added, "Per

fear not the darkness,

ed the serva

Genji; "but may I beg you to transmit this

hat tender gr

soft repos

g mist my sl

to my bos

hat there is no one here to who

sons for this," said Genji. "L

ent back, and pres

tinued, wonderingly-"how could he have known about the young grass?" And she then remained silent for a while. At last, think

r sleeve is

e night alo

mountain mos

from dew ar

he mouth of a third person. Although I thank the lady for even that much, I should feel more obl

then told her that he called Buddha to witness that, though his conduct

as deprived by death of my best friend-my mother-and the years and months which then rolled by were fraught with trouble to me. In that same position your little one is now. Al

nformed. It is true that there is a little girl dependent upon myself, but she is but a child. Her

t, before they could talk further, the return of the priest put an end to the subjec

ich were to be seen here, added to the beauty of the picture. Gazing around at these Genji once more proceeded to the temple. The hermit-though too infirm to walk-again contrived to offer up h

urpose. The priest now collected wild and rare fruits, not to be met with in the distant town, and, with all respect, presented them to Genji, saying: "The term of my vow

nd I regret that the anxiety of my father the Emperor obliges me to quit

folk from m

n cherries

Spring has

m view the p

he priest

e presence

flowers of U

e mountain

ze while you'

t is a very great compliment; but the

ised the cup to hi

lonely her

ound by mou

never se

old that se

ji (a kind of precious stone), which the sage Prince Sh?tok obtained from Corea, enclosed in the original case in which it had been sent from that

the hermit and his disciples who had taken part in the religious ceremonies, and also

eve's uncer

saw so youn

morning mis

yet to s

as speedily brought to

feel, perha

ave these mo

blossoms, sw

eyes of moun

entally, to wait upon him on his journey. Among them was T?-no-Chi?ji?, and his brother Be

ly a spot without resting awhile among the flowers. This was immediately agreed to, and they took their se

odious strain; while Ben, tapping his fan in concert, sang "The Temple of Toyora," while the Prin

and begged Genji to perform upon it, saying: "If we are to have music at all, let us have a harmonious concert." Genji said tha

ith the Emperor, who considered his son to be still weak in health; and who asked him several questions with regard

ecome a dean (Azali). His virtue and holiness have not ye

s mansion, and spend a few days. Genji did not feel very anxious to accept this invitation, but was

date-and it was very difficult to draw her into conversation. She was very uninteresting to Genji. He thought that it would only lead to a very unpleasant state of affairs, as years grew on, if they were to be as cool a

ng coolly upon him, murmured w

cease to c

I then do

to their apartment, where he soon relapsed into sleepy indifference. His thoughts began to wander back into other regions, and hopes of the future growth and charms of the young mountain-violet again occupied his mind. "Oh! how difficult it is to secure a prize," thought he. "How can I do so? Her father, Prince Hi?bki?, is

he said that her indifference made it desirable to refrain from urging his wishes; but, nevertheless, that he should be deeply gratified if she would thin

in flower I

ut vainly

traits stil

heart with

un to be partly amused and partly ve

ur special message does us honor. I am, however, at a loss how to express mysel

nes, in which she hinted as to her doubts

admires the

within our m

as! that flo

mountain's a

swer was much the same, and

her, ill though she was. Hence at this time he went nowhere, but kept himself in his mansion at Niji?, and became thoughtful and preoccupied. At length he endeavored to cajole ? Mi?bu, Wistaria's attendant, into arranging an opportunity for him

is feelings to the P

we meet, a

may meet

o die, I we

his bliss

replied to him,

eam on but f

world to u

of the dar

when we no

remained in his mansion. The Princess, too, experienced a strong feeling of remorse. She had, moreover, a cause of anx

The Emperor was naturally anxious about the health of his favorite, and kind inquiries were se

diviner about them, he was told that something remarkable and extraordinar

ource of embarrassm

. When at last he heard authentically about the condition of the Princess, he was extremely anxious to communicate with her,

eceived by the Emperor with great rejoicing, and he thou

r in Court, and it was awkward when Genji and the Princess happened to face each othe

uch. His desire to possess her was considerably increased, and the recollection of the first evening when he heard the nun intoning to herself the verses

e mine this

grace and

istaria of

are lovely

inces and officers of State were fully engaged in preparation for the fête. After the Royal festivities, a separate account of which will be given hereafter, he sent again a letter to the mountain. The an

t little one who had depended on her must be afflicted, and gradually the memory o

returned to their house in the capital. There one evening Genji paid them a visi

must do so, but his present wife was said to be very austere. The girl is not young enough to be without ideas and wishes of her own, but yet not old enough to form them sensibly; so were she to be taken to her father's house and be placed with several other child

enji, "it is her very youthfulness which mo

wave that r

cean's heav

he weed upo

kiss, all so

et it w

ifully put, sir," s

ing at the

about the s

e tender we

to its bois

man in Court dress had arrived, and that perhaps it was the Prince, her father, came running in,

tered Genji, "but I am here, and

iking, and thinking that perhaps there was impropriety in what she had spoken,

she still is," r

tle one, come here and sle

ed," observed Shi?nagon, and

es, and then he took her small hand in his. "Ah, my hand!" cried she, and drawing it back, she ran into a neighboring room. Genji follo

cceeded to the beautiful eve

evening," said Genji, as he led the girl away, to the great surpr

ouch to sleep, telling her as he sat beside her, "some day you must come with me to some beautiful palace, and there you shall h

g on the handsome face of Genji, and taking notice o

hought he, "that I am leaving this place as a lover?" At that moment he remembered that the house of a maiden with whom he had had an acquaintance was on his road home. When he came near to it he

ering in the

is one I c

memory bi

e more a p

resently a man came to the door

annot pas

ll to sto

ents you. D

e stands al

faces, and appearing no more. Genji, theref

inding that he had nothing in particular to say, he laid it aside,

wing a dress for the girl, and was thus consequently unable to take much notice of Koremitz when he arrived. Noting these preparatory arrangements, Koremitz at once hastened to inform Genji about them. He happened to be this evening at the mansion

ne hand, she goes to her father, it will not become me to ask him for her. If, on the other hand, I carry her off, people may say that I stole her. However,

iage is ready at whatever hour I may appoint. Let two or three attend

f temper, but Genji told her that he had some particular arrangements to make at his mansion at Nij

s voice and came out, and upon this he informed her that the Prince had come. She, presuming that he did so on

the Prince, her father, and I wish to

annot talk with you at this hour. Besides, wha

essed his way into

prevent his doing so, he proceeded to the room where she was unconsciously sleeping on

ji; "there is nothing in me to alarm you." And in spite of Shi?nagon's request not to disturb her, he lifted her from the couch, abruptly saying that he could not allow h

orrow, and what are we to say to him?" She added, "Surely, you

we will go first," retorted Genji, a

e to resist, and so having hurriedly changed her own dress for a better one, and taking with her the pretty dress of

teasingly answered, "What you choose. You may go if you like; so long as this darling is here I am content." Genji lifted the girl out and carried her into the house. That part of the mansion in which they now were, had not b

of the building and its internal arrangements left nothing to be desired. Going to the casement, she saw the gravelled

soup were now brought into the apartment,

ll send some," and he then ordered some young persons fr

y consulting her wishes in whatever she desired. She was still wearing the dress of mourning, of sombre color and of soft material, and it was only now at last that she began to smile a little, and this filled Genji with delight. He now had to return to the eastern wing, and Violet, for the first time, went to the casement and looked out on the scenery around. Th

thought, and he wrote several writing copies for her. Among these was one in plain characters on violet-colored paper, with the title, "Musash

l a bud the

opened blo

ess has cha

one no l

t write one no

aid Violet, looking up at him,

ill write something, to refuse is unkind. When ther

with her tiny fingers. "I have done it badly," she cried out, and tried to conce

t's the flow

at bud its ch

sh hand, but the writing was large and p

enji. "Were she to take lessons from a good p

l's house, and played with her dif

ad taken her and absconded. The Prince was greatly amazed, but he remembered that the girl's grandmother never consented to send his daughter to his house, and knowing Shi?nagon to be a shrewd and intelligent woman, he concluded that she had found out the reasons which influenced

earned to look upon as a second father, was the only one for whom she cared. She was the first to greet him when he came home, and she came forward to be fondled and caressed by him without shame or diffidence. Girls at her age are usually shy and under restraint, but with her it was quite different. And again, if a girl has somewhat of jealousy in her dis

TNO

ian theolog

Udon, which rarely blossoms. When, however, it does blossom, Buddha is said to appear

ich in those days formed t

ring punishment in the next world for this sin. The real cause of