from Princess Omiya. Despite the shortness of the notice, the princess had
put together a fine collection of comb boxes and the like.
"Nuns do not write letters," she said, "and so I shall be brief. I hope
that I may persuade you to follow my example in living a long and full
life. Perhaps it is improper of me to confess how deeply moved I was to
learn of your circumstances. I would not wish in any way to offend you,
but
"Whatever lid the jeweled comb box bears,
I still shall think it no one's box but mine."
It was in a tremulous old-fashioned hand. Busy with last-minute
preparations and instructions, Genji was in Tamakazura's rooms when it
arrived.
"Yes, it is a little old-fashioned," he said, "but it is very touching all
the same. She has aged, poor thing. She used to write a very fine hand. See
how it shakes and wanders." He read it again and yet again, and laughed
quietly. "One might charge her with making too much of her boxes. A box
per line--I doubt that it would be possible to write a more box-filled
poem."
Akikonomu sent formal robes, a white train and a Chinese jacket and
the rest, and other gifts as well, all of superb quality. There were combs
for the formal coiffure and, as always, the best of Chinese perfumes in a
variety of jars. And there were robes for Tamakazura from the other ladies
at Rokujo~, and combs and fans and the like for her attendants, all of them
showing very clearly the tastes of the several ladies. One would have
found it quite impossible to say that any one gift was superior to the
others. A competition among ladies of taste can produce a most marvelous
display.
Though the ladies in the east lodge at Nijo~ also heard of the prepara-
tions, it did not seem their place to offer congratulations. The safflower
princess was the exception. Inflexible in her allegiance to good form, she
must not let the occasion pass or have it seem that she was unconcerned
--and one had to grant that such punctiliousness was in its way admirable.
She sent a robe of a greenish drab, lined trousers of a dusty rose or some
<P 478>
Such color much admired by the ancients, and a faded purple jacket of a
minute weave, all in a beautifully wrought wardrobe and elaborate wrap-
ping.
Her letter was expansive. "I do not hope to make your acquaintance,
but I would not for the world want it to seem that I am ignoring you. These
poor garments will doubtless seem beneath your notice. If, however, you
find an attendant who might be able to use them, please pass them on to
her."
Genji saw it and grimaced. "She is a strange old thing. It would be far
better for us all if she were to let her shyness have its way and keep to
herself. I fear I am blushing. You must answer, I suppose. She will be upset
if you don't. When I remember how fond her father was of her I find it
impossible not to be kind to her."
Attached to the jacket was a poem which showed the usual obsession
with clothing.
"How very unhappy I am, for my Chinese sleeves
Cannot be friends with the sleeves of your Chinese robe."
The hand was, as always, rather dreadful, cramped and rocklike and
stiff and angular. Though discommoded, Genji could not help being
amused as well. "I imagine that it took a great deal out of her. She has even
less assistance in these endeavors than she used to have. I think I will
compose your answer for you, busy though I am."
"How very observant you are," he wrote. "You notice things which
escape the ordinary eye. Indeed I might almost wish you were a little less
so.
"A Chinese robe, a Chinese robe once more,
And yet again a Chinese Chinese robe."
"It pleases her to make these avowals," he said, showing it to
Tamakazura, "and I defer to her tastes."
She laughed brightly. "Dare I suspect unkind wit?"
But I have lost myself in trivialities.
To~ no Chu~jo~ had not been much interested in the ceremonies, but now
he was very eager indeed to see the girl. He arrived early. Aware of and
grateful for all the trouble Genji had gone to, he thought it rather odd even
so. Late in the evening he was admitted to his daughter's apartments.
Refreshments were served. The lights were somewhat brighter than one
might have expected, and the smallest detail was in careful order. The
ritual did not permit more than a glimpse of his daughter, but he could
hardly keep himself from staring openly as he bestowed the train.
"We shall not speak of things long over and done with," said Genji,
"and we would do well not to let the secret out quite yet. Please try to
make it all seem as routine as possible."
"I cannot thank you enough," said To~no Chu~jo~, raising his cup.
<P 479>
"There can be no precedent for such kindness. And yet I must register a
brief complaint that you have kept the secret so long.
"Bitter, bitter, that the fisherfolk
So long have hidden the treasures of the sea."
It was accompanied by an illustrative shedding of tears.
The company of two such splendid gentlemen had reduced
Tamakazura to silence. The answering poem came from Genji:
"The fisherfolk refusing to take them in,
The grasses drifted ashore as best they might.
"Your objection is not well taken, sir."
To~ no Chu~jo~ had to grant the truth in it. He had no answer.
The whole court was in attendance, including several of Tamakazura's
suitors. It struck them as odd that To~ no Chu~jo~ should stay so long behind
her curtains. Of his sons, only Kashiwagi and Ko~bai had some glimmering
of the truth. They were disappointed and pleased, disappointed because
they had themselves had certain designs upon the girl.
"I certainly am glad that I did not give myself away," whispered
Ko~bai.
"Genji has his own way of doing things," said someone else. "Do you
suppose he means to do for her what he did for the empress?"
"We must be careful that we do not emerge in an unfavorable light?"
said Genji, overhearing. "People who are unencumbered with rank and
office do all manner of strange things, I am sure, but we are vulnerable. We
must let matters take their course until people are prepared to accept them
for what they are."
"I shall follow your wishes unquestioningly," replied To~ no Chu~jo~.
"There must have been some bond between the two of you from another
life, that you should have found her and taken care of her with no help
at all from me."
He was of course richly and imaginatively rewarded for his services.
As for the other gifts, Genji managed to add original touches to what
precedent and regulation demanded. They were very splendid indeed.
Because of Princess Omiya's illness the concert after the ceremonies was
simple.
Prince Hotaru so descended from his dignity as to plead his case
openly. "The excuses which you have made," he said, "would no longer
seem to hold."
"We have had overtures from His Majesty. We shall let you have an
answer when we know what his reaction has been to our having felt
constrained to decline so august an invitation."
To~ no Chu~jo~ was consumed with curiosity and impatience. He had
had a glimpse of his daughter and he wanted a good, clear look at her. He
was sure that if she had any serious defects Genji would not have gone to
<P 480>
troubles that seemed almost exaggerated. In any event, that strange dream
was now explained.
To~ no Chu~jo~ took the daughter at court into his confidence. They did
what they could to keep the secret, but gossip is what people like best.
Rumors spread and presently reached the ears of his more unruly daughter.
"So Father has a new girl. Isn't that nice. So she has both of them to
look after her, Father and Genji. Just imagine. So her mother's a poor thing
like my own."
Her sister could think of nothing to say
"I have no doubt," said Kashiwagi, "that she deserves all the attention
she is getting. But you should not be quite so open about it, my dear. Does
it not occur to you that people might be listening?"
"Oh, do be quiet, please. I know as much about it as the next one. I
know that Father's going to send her to the palace and make her the grand
high wardress. I've worked and slaved and hoped he would do something
like that for me. I've done things when everybody else said no. And see
how my own sister treats me."
They had to smile. "I thought of asking for the position myself when
it came vacant. But don't you think it is rather bold of you to announce
your candidacy so openly?"
The Omi lady was very annoyed indeed. "I know I don't belong in
this fine company. You. You're the one. You came hunting me out and now
you make fun of me. How can a body be in a place like this? Terrible is
what it is. Terrible, terrible." She withdrew to a corner of the room, whence
she sent sidelong glances in the direction of her brothers. They may not
have been spiteful glances, exactly, but they did suggest someone with
strong opinions and purposes.
Kashiwagi no longer felt quite so amused. She was right: it would
have been better for everyone if he had left her in Omi.
"I don't think that anyone is making fun of you," said Ko~bai, standing
up to leave. "We do appreciate you. You are such a good worker. Just
quietly bide your time. That is all you have to do. With your energy you
should have no trouble making snow of the largest boulder. I am sure that
all your prayers will be answered."
"Though perhaps it might be better to stay shut up in your cave in
the meantime," said Kashiwagi, also getting up to leave.
"Terrible, terrible." She was shedding angry tears. "My very own
brothers. But I am working and slaving for you," she said, turning to her
sister. "You understand even if they don't."
And indeed she did work very hard, plunging into tasks from which
the lowest menials tended to pull back. She dashed here and dashed there
and quite lost herself in her labors. She once more announced her availabil-
ity should the emperor wish to appoint her wardress of the ladies' apart-
<P 481>
ments. Her sister wondered whether she could be serious. To~ no Chu~jo~
laughed merrily when he heard of it.
"How would it be if we were to summon our Omi friend?" he said
one day, in the course of a conversation with her sister.
"Oh, just fine," said the lady herself, emerging noisily.
"I can see that you work hard and I think you would be a valuable
addition to any office. Why did you not tell me of your wish to become
wardress?"
He said it most solemnly. The lady was delighted. "I did want to feel
you out. I was sure I could count on Sister here. But they say somebody
else might get it. When I heard about it I felt like somebody that got rich
and then found out it was a dream. But I have my fingers crossed." There
was no suggestion that she lacked confidence.
"As always, you are too self-effacing." He tried not to smile. "If you
had only told me, I would have made certain that your candidacy came first
to His Majesty's ears. It is true that the chancellor has a daughter, but I
feel certain that His Majesty would not turn away a warm recommenda-
tion from me, whatever fine ladies might be in the running. It is still not
too late. You must compose your formal application, making sure that it
is in the most exalted language. In verse, perhaps. He could not possibly
ignore a long poem, and he holds accomplished verse in the highest es-
teem."
He was not being a very good father.
"I'm not much of a poet but I'll give it a try. Just tell me in a general
way what to put into it. I'll put the meat on the bones. We'll be partners,
you and me. " She brought her hands together by way of concluding the
contract.
The women behind the curtains were choking and strangling. Some
had to withdraw lest they disgrace themselves. The sister flushed scarlet.
"We can always count on our Omi lady to drive away the gloom," said
To~ no Chu~jo~.
People suspected that he was trying to conceal his discomfiture over
the affairs of yet another daughter.
<W Murasaki Shikibu>{Translated by Edward G.Seidensticker}
<T The Tale of Genji>
<K 3>
<C 30>{Purple Trousers}
<N 1>
<P 482>
Everyone was urging Tamakazura to become wardress of the ladies' apart-
ments, but she did not feel safe even from Genji, who had put himself in
charge of her affairs. She feared that she would be helpless if untoward
incidents were to arise at court and that she would be an embarrassment
to the sister already there. She still did not know either of the two gentle-
men, Genji or To~ no Chu~jo~, well enough to feel that she could count on
him. The world did not hold her in such high esteem that it would refrain
from laughing if irregularities were to be detected in her affairs. Every-
where she looked she saw difficulties. Old enough to be aware of all the
implications, she felt completely alone.
It was true that Genji was treating her well enough, but the difficulties
in her relations with him were enormous. She only hoped that she might
emerge unscathed from arrangements that must seem very odd to every-
one.
Out of deference to Genji, To~ no Chu~jo~ did not seem prepared to
assume paternal responsibilities. There were difficulties on both sides, and
so it seemed that romantic tangles and gossip must be her lot. The fact that
