Love Songs

FROM THE

"MANYE FUSHIFU;"

OR,

66 COLLECTION OF A MYRIAD LEAVES.”

LOVE SONGS.

Song

COMPOSED BY THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ON BEHOLDING THE MOUNTAINS, WHEN THE MIKADO MADE A PROGRESS TO THE DISTRICT OF AYA IN THE PROVINCE OF SANUKI.*

The long spring day is o'er, and dark despond

My heart invades, and lets the tears flow down,

As all alone I stand, when from beyond

The mount our heav'n-sent monarch's throne doth

crown

There breathes the twilight wind and turns my sleeve. Ah, gentle breeze! to turn, home to return,

Is all my prayer; I cannot cease to grieve

On this long toilsome road; I burn, I burn!

The

This commander-in-chief's name is not to be ascertained. Mikado mentioned would seem to be Zhiyomei, who, according to the history, made a progress to the hot baths of Aya in the winter of A.D. 639-640. Sanuki is one of the four provinces forming the island of Shikoku, which lies between the Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Tsunu is a village on the coast. Salt-burning, as it is called, is still a considerable industry in the maritime districts of Japan.

Yes! the poor heart I used to think so brave
Is all afire, though none the flame may see,
Like to the salt-kilns there by Tsunu's wave,
Where toil the fisher-maidens wearily.

(ANON.)

Lines

SENT TO HIS MISTRESS WHEN THE POET WAS LEAVING THE

*

PROVINCE OF IHAMI TO GO UPON IMPERIAL SERVICE TO
THE CAPITAL.

Tsunu's shore, Ihámi's brine,

To all other eyes but mine

Seem, perchance, a lifeless mere,

And sands that ne'er the sailor cheer.

Ah, well-a-day! no ports we boast,

And dead the sea that bathes our coast;
But yet I trow the wingèd breeze
Sweeping at morn across our seas,

And the waves at eventide
From the depths of ocean wide,
Onward to Watadzu bear

The deep-green seaweed, rich and fair;
And like that seaweed, gently swaying,
Winged breeze and waves obeying,
So thy heart hath swayed and bent

And crowned my love with thy consent.

* On the north-west coast of the main island of Japan. There is no rise and fall of the tide in this portion of the Japan Sea,—a fact all the more remarkable, as the tides are particularly strong on the opposite shores of the Corea. Tsunu and Watadzu are the names of villages, the former not to be confounded with Tsunu in Sanuki. It was at Tsunu that the poet's mistress dwelt.

But, dear heart! I must away,

As fades the dew when shines the day;
Nor aught my backward looks avail,
Myriad times cast down the vale
From each turn the winding road
Takes upward; for thy dear abode
Farther still and farther lies,

And hills on hills between us rise.
Ah! bend ye down, ye cruel peaks,
That the gate my fancy seeks,
Where sits my pensive love alone,
To mine eyes again be shown!

(HITOMARO.)

Love is Pain.

"Twas said of old, and still the ages say, "The lover's path is full of doubt and woe." Of me they spake: I know not, nor can know, If she I sigh for will my love repay.

My head sinks on my breast; with bitter strife My heart is torn, and grief she cannot see. All unavailing is this agony

To help the love that has become my life.

(ANON.)

No Tidings.

The year has come, the year has gone again,

And still no tidings of mine absent love :

Through the long days of spring all heaven above

And earth beneath re-echo with my pain.