Sunday, January 3, 2021

Murasaki Shikibu's reply to Michinaga's complaint poem, written 1009

Sources:

The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu (Murasaki Shikibu Nikki), written from circa 1008 to 1010

Original version, edited by Hokiichi Hanawa:


Modernised edition, edited by Eiichi Shibuya:


English translation in Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan (1920), compiled and translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kochi Doi


The poem:

只ならしとはかり叩く水鷄故あけてはいかに悔しからまし

Romaji transliteration (in reconstructed Early Middle Japanese):

Tada narazi to fakari tataku midzu tori yu ke akete wa ikani kuyasikaramasi

In modernised spelling/language:

ただならじとばかりたたく水鶏ゆゑ   あけてはいかに悔しからまし

Romaji transliteration:

Tada naraji to bakari tataku mizu tori yu we akete wa ikani kuyashikaramashi

English translation:

A cause of deep regret, indeed,
Had the door opened at the knocking of the water-rail!

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