 Chapter 15 of Genji Monogatari. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Timothy Lucas. Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu. Translated by Suya Matsu Kenjiyo. Chapter 15 Overgrown Mugwort. When Genji was in exile on the sea coast, many people had been longing for his return. Among these was the Princess Hitachi. She was, as we have seen, the survivor of his royal father, and the kindness which she had received from Genji was to her like the reflection of the broad starlit sky in a basin of water. After Genji left the capital, however, no correspondence ever passed between them. Several of her servants left her, and her residence became more lonely than ever. A fox might have found a covert in the overgrown shrubbery, and the cry of the owl might have been heard among the thick branches. One might imagine some mysterious tree spirit to reign there. Nevertheless, such a ground disease surrounded with lofty trees are more tempting to those who desire to have a stylish dwelling. Hence, there were several durios, local governors, who had become rich, and having returned from different provinces, sounded the Princess to see if she were inclined to part with her residence. But this she always refused to do, saying that, however unfortunate she might be, she was not able to give up a mansion inherited from her parents. The mansion contained also a store of rare and antique articles. Several fashionable persons endeavored to induce the Princess to part with them, but such people appeared only contemptible to her, as she looked upon them as proposing such a thing solely because they knew she was poor. Her attendance sometimes suggested to her that it was by no means an uncommon occurrence for one to dispose of such articles when destiny necessitated the sacrifice. But her reply was that these things had been handed down to her only that she might make use of them, and that she would be violating the wishes of the dead if she consented to part with them, allowing them to become the ornament of the dwellings of some lowborn upstarts. Scarcely anyone paid a visit to her dwelling, her only occasional visitor being her brother, a priest who came to see her when he came to the capital. But he was a man of eccentric character and was not very flourishing in his circumstances. Such being the state of affairs with the Princess Hitachi, the grounds of her mansion became more and more desolate and wild, the mugwort growing so tall that it reached the veranda. The surrounding walls of massive earth broke down here and there and crumbled away, being trampled over by a wandering cattle. In spring and summer, boys would sometimes play there, and in the autumn, a gale blew down a corridor and carried away part of the shingle roof. Only one blessing remained there, no thief intruded into the enclosure as no temptation was offered to them for their attack. But neither did the Princess lose her accustomed reserve, which her parents had instilled into her mind. Society for her had no attractions, she soulless to the hours of her loneliness by looking over ancient story books and poems, which were stored in the old bookshelves such as the Karamori, Hakoya no Toji, or Kakyahime. These with their illustrations were her chief resources. Now a sister of the Princess's mother had married a Duryō, and had already borne him a daughter. This marriage had been considered an unequal match by the father of the Princess, and for this reason she was not very friendly with the family. Jujjō, however, who was a daughter of the Princess's nurse, and who still remained with the Princess, used to go to her. This aunt was influenced by a secret feeling of spite, and when Jujjō visited her she often whispered to her many things which did not become her as a lady. It seems to me that where a lady of ordinary degree is elevated to a higher position, she often requires a refinement like one originally belonging to it. But there are other women who, when degraded from their rank, spoil their taste and have it just like the lady in question. She fondly hoped to revenge herself for having been formally looked down upon by showing an apparent kindness to the Princess Hitachi, and by wishing to take her into her home and make her wait upon her daughters. With this view she told Jujjō to tell her mistress to come to her, and Jujjō did so, but the Princess did not comply with this request. In the meantime, the lady's husband was appointed Dainii, senior secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, and they were to go down to Tsukushi, modern Kyushu. She wished to take the Princess with her, and told her that she felt sorry to go to such a far-off locality, leaving her in the present circumstances. But the latter still unhesitatingly replied in the negative, and declined the offer, whereupon her aunt tauntingly remarked that she was too proud, and that however exalted she might think herself, no one, not even Genji, would show her any further attention. About this time Genji returned, but for some while she heard nothing from him, and only the public rejoicing of many people, and the news about him from the outside world reached her ears. This gave her aunt a further opportunity of repeating the same taunts. She said, See now who cares for you in your present circumstances, it is not praiseworthy to display such self-importance as you did in the lifetime of your father. And again she pressed her to go with her, but the Princess still clung to the hope that the time would come when Genji would remember her, and renew his kindness. Winter came. One day, quite unexpectedly, the aunt arrived at the mansion, bringing as a present a dress for the Princess. Her carriage dashed into the garden in a most pompous style, and drove right up to the southern front of the building. Juju went to meet her, and conducted her into the Princess's apartment. I must soon be leaving the capital, said the visitor. It is not my wish to leave you behind, but you would not listen to me, and now there is no help. But this one, this Juju at least, I wish to take with me. I have come today to fetch her. I cannot understand how you can be content with your present condition. Here she manifested a certain sadness, but her delight at her husband's promotion was unmistakable, and she continued. When your father was alive, I was looked down upon by him, which caused a coolness between us. But nevertheless, I at no time entertained any ill will towards you, only you were much favorited by Prince Genji, as I heard, which made me abstain from visiting you often. But fortune is fickle, for those in a humble position often enjoy comfort, and those that are higher in station are not quite so well-circumstanced. I do really feel sorry to leave you behind. The princess said very little, but her answer was, I really thank you for your kind attention, but I do not think I am now fit to move about in the world. I shall be quite happy to bury myself under this roof. Well, you may think so, but it is simply foolish to abandon one's self, and to bury one's life under such a mass of dilapidation. Had Prince Genji been kind enough to repair the place, it might have become transformed into a golden palace. And how joyous would it not be? But this you cannot expect. As far as I am informed, the daughter of Prince Hielbgiel is the only favorite of the prince, and no one else shares his attention. All his old favorites being now abandoned, how then can you expect him to say that, because you have been faithful to him, he will therefore come to you again? These words touched the princess, but she gave no vent to her feelings. The visitor therefore hurried Jijiu to get ready, saying that they must leave before the dusk. When I hear what the lady says, said Jijiu, it sounds to me very reasonable, but when I see how anxious the princess is, that also seems natural. Thus I am puzzled between the two. Let me, however, say this. I will only see the lady off today. Nevertheless, the princess foresaw that Jijiu was going to leave her, and she thought of giving her some souvenir. Her own dress was not to be thought of as it was too old. Fortunately, she had a long tress of false hair, about nine feet long, made of the hair which had fallen from her own head. This she put into an old casket, and it gave it to Jijiu with her jar of rare perfume. Jijiu had been an attendant on the princess for a very long time. Besides, her mother, the nurse, before she died, told the princess and her daughter that she hoped they might be long together. So the parting with Jijiu was very trying to the princess, who said to her that those she could not blame her for leaving, she still felt sorry to lose her. To this, Jijiu replied that she never forgot the wishes of her mother, and was only too happy to share joy and sorrow with the princess. Yet, she was sorry to say that circumstances obliged her to leave her for some time. But before she could say much, she was hurried away by the visitor. It was one evening in April of the following year that Genji happened to be going to the villa of the Fallen Flowers, and passed by the mansion of the princess. There was in the garden a large pine tree, from whose branches the beautiful clusters of wisteria hung in rich profusion. A sigh of the evening breeze shook them as they hung in the silver moonlight, and scattered their rich fragrance towards the wayfaring. There was also a weeping willow close by, whose penciled tresses of new verdure touched the half-broken walls of earth underneath. When Genji beheld this beautiful scene from his carriage, he at once remembered it was the place he had seen before. He stopped his carriage and said to Koremitsu, who was with him as usual. Is this not the mansion of Princess Hitachi? Yes, it is, replied Koremitsu. Do ask if she is still here, said Genji. This is a good chance. I will see her if she is at home. Ask! Koremitsu entered and proceeded to the door, called out. An old woman from inside demanded to know who he was. Koremitsu announced himself and asked if Jijiu was within. The old woman replied that she was not, but that she herself was the same as Jijiu. Koremitsu recognized her as an aunt of the latter. He then asked her about the princess, and told her of Genji's intention. To his inquiries, he soon obtained a satisfactory answer, and duly reported it to Genji, who now felt a pang of remorse for his long negligence of one so badly circumstance. He descended from his carriage, but the pathway was all but overgrown with tall mugwort, which was wet with a passing shower. So Koremitsu whisked them up with his whip and led him in. Inside, meanwhile, the princess, though she felt very pleased, experienced a feeling of shyness. Her aunt, it will be remembered, had presented her with a suitable dress, which she had hitherto had no pleasure in wearing, and had kept it in a box which had originally contained perfume. She now took this out and put it on. Genji was presently shown into the room. It is a long time since I saw you last, said Genji, but still I have never forgotten you. Only I heard nothing from you, so I waited till now and here I find myself once more. The princess as usual said very little, only thanking him for his visit. He then addressed her in many kind and affectionate words, many of which he might not really have met, and after a considerable stay he at last took his departure. This was about the time of the feast in the Temple of Kamu, and Genji received several presents under various pretexts. He distributed these presents among his friends, such as those in the Villa of the Falling Flowers and to the princess. He also sent his servant to the mansion of the latter to cut down the rampant mugwort, and he restored the grounds to proper order. Moreover, he had a wooden enclosure placed all around the garden. So far as the world hitherto knew about Genji, he was supposed to only cast his eyes on extraordinary and preeminent beauties, but we see in him a very different character in the present instance. He showed so much kindness to the princess Hitachi, who was by no means distinguished for her beauty, and who still bore a mark on her nose which might remind him of a well-ripened fruit carried by mountaineers. How was this? It might have been preordained to be so. The princess continued to live in the mansion for two years, and then she removed to a part of a newly built Eastern mansion belonging to Genji, where she lived happily under the care of the prince, though he had much difficulty in coming off in to see her. I would feign describe the astonishment of her aunt, when she returned from the western island and saw the princess' happy condition, and how Genji regretted having left her too hastily, but my head is aching and my fingers are tired, so I shall wait for some future opportunity when I may again take up the thread of my story. End of Chapter 15 Overgrown Mugwort Recording by Timothy Lucas Chapter 16 of Genji Monogatari This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Timothy Lucas Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu Translated by Suematsu Kenchiyo Chapter 16 Barrier House We left beautiful Shikada at the time when she quitted the capital with her husband. Now this husband, Ionokami, had been promoted to the governorship of Hitachi in the year which followed that of the demise of the late ex-emperor, and Shikada accompanied him to the province. It was a year after Genji's return that they came back to the capital. On the day when they had to pass the Barrier House of Ausaka, meeting path, on their homeward way, Hitachi's sons, the eldest known to us as Kinokami, now became Kawachinokami. And others went from the city to meet them. It so happened that Genji was to pay his visit to the temple of Ishiyama on this very day. This became known to Hitachi who thinking it would be embarrassing if they met with his procession on the road, determined to start very early. But somehow or another, time passed on, and when they came to the lake coast of Ichiide, modern Ults, a place along Lake Biwa, the sun had risen high, and this was the moment when Genji was crossing the Awata Road. In the course of a few hours, the outriders of Genji's Koroje came in sight, so that Hitachi's party left their several carriages and seated themselves under the shade of the cedars on the hillside of Ausaka, in order to avoid encountering Genji and his procession. It was the last day of September, all the herbage was fading under the influence of the coming winter, and many tinted autumn leaves displayed their different hues over the hills and fields. The scene was in every way pleasing to the eyes of the spectators. The number of the carriages of Hitachi's party was about 10 in all, and the style and appearance of the party showed no traces of rusticity of taste. It might have been imagined that the party of the Saigu journeying towards or from Ise might be something similar to this one. Genji soon caught sight of them, and became aware that it was Hitachi. He therefore sent for Shikada's brother, whom we know as Kokimi, and who had now been made Uemon Nosuke from the party, and told him that he hoped his attention in coming there to meet them would not be considered unfavorable. This Kokimi, as we know, had received much kindness from Genji up to the time of his becoming a man, but when Genji had to quit the capital, he left him and joined his brother-in-law in his official province. This was not viewed as very satisfactory, but Genji manifested no bad feeling to him and treated him still as one of his household attendants. Ukonnojio, a brother-in-law of Shikada, on the other hand had faithfully followed Genji to his exile, and after their return he was more than ever favored by Genji. This state of things made many feel for the bad taste of the ordinary weakness of the world, exhibited by the faithfully following of one when circumstances are flourishing and deserting him in the time of adversity. Kokimi himself was one of those who fully realized these feelings and was pained by them. When Genji finished his visit to the temple and was coming back, Kokimi once more came from the capital to meet him. Through him, Genji sent a letter to his sister asking her if she had recognized him when he passed at Ausaka, adding the following verse. As onward we are pasted take, on meeting path both I and you, we met not for by the saltless lake, no mirme by its waters grew. And handing the letter to Kokimi, Genji said, give this to your sister. It is a long time since I heard anything from her, still the past seems to me only like yesterday. But do you disapprove of me sending this? Kokimi replied in a few words and took the letter back to his sister and told her when he gave it that she might easily give him some sort of answer. She did indeed disapprove of treating the matter in any way more seriously than she had formerly done, yet she wrote the following, by bear your house, O name unkind, that bars the path of friendly greeting. We passed along with yearning mind, but passed alas without a meeting. After this time, some other correspondents now and then passed between them. As time rolled on, the health of her aged husband visibly declined, and after fervently enjoining his sons to be kind and attentive to her, in due time he breathed his last. For some time they were kind and attentive to her, as their father had requested, and there was nothing unsatisfactory in their behavior towards her, yet many things which were not altogether pleasant gradually presented themselves to her, and so it is always in life. Finally, Shikada, telling her intentions to no one beforehand, became a nun. Chapter 16, The Beacon Recorded by Timothy Lucas Chapter 17 of Genji Monogatari This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu Translated by Suyematsu Kenshiyo Chapter 17, Competitive Show of Pictures The introduction of the late Saigu, the daughter of the Lady of Rokujio at court, was now arranged to take place with the approval of the Empress Mother, the Princess Wisteria. All the arrangements and preparations were made, though not quite openly under the eye of Genji, who took a parental interest in her. It may be remembered that the ex-Emperor was once struck by her charms on the eve of her departure for Ise, and though he never encouraged this fancy to become anything more than an ordinary partiality, he took no small interest in all that concerned her welfare. On the day of introduction arrived, he made her several beautiful presents, such as a comb-box, a dressing table, and a casket containing rare perfumes. At her residence, all her female attendants, and some others assembled who made every preparation with the utmost pains. In the palace, the Empress Mother was with her royal son on this day. He was still a mere boy, and scarcely understood what was going on, but he was now fully informed on the subject by his mother, and was told that a very interesting lady was going to reside in the palace to attend on him, and that he must be good and kind to her. The presentation took place late in the evening, and henceforth she was called the Nio-gou of the Ume-tsubo, Plum Chamber, from the name of her apartment. She was a charming lady, and the Emperor was not without a certain liking for her, yet Lady Kokiden, the daughter of Gon-Chu-Nagon, Tono-Chu-Gio, who had been introduced sometime previously and consequently was an acquaintance of an older date, was much more frequently preferred by him to the other for society and daily amusement. When Gon-Chu-Nagon introduced his daughter, he did not, of course, do so without hope of her further elevation, but now Lady Plum came to a summa position through Genji's influence, as if to compete with his daughter for the royal favor, and it was by no means glad tidings for him. It may be here mentioned that Prince Hio-Bukil had also, as we have already seen, an intention of introducing one of his daughters at court, but this hope was doomed to disappoint by the establishing of the two ladies already introduced, and he was induced to defer his intention, at least for the present. The emperor was very fond of pictures and painted with considerable ability. Lady Plum, too, as it happened, possessed the same taste as the emperor, and used often to amuse herself by painting. If therefore he liked ordinary courtiers who exhibited a taste for painting, it was no matter of surprise that he liked to see the delicate hands of the lady occupied and carefully laying on colors. The similarity of taste gradually drew his attention to her, and led to frequent visits to the Plum Chamber. When Gon-Chiu Nagon was informed of these circumstances, he took the matter into his own hands. He himself determined to excite a spirit of rivalry. He contrived means to counteract the influence of painting, and commissioned several famous artists of the times to execute some elaborate pictures. Most of these were subjects taken from old romances. As he conceived, these were always more attractive than more fanciful pictures. He had also caused to be painted a representation of every month of the year, which would also be likely, he thought, to interest the emperor. When these pictures were finished, he took them to court and submitted them to his inspection, but he would not agree that he should take any of them to the Plum Chamber, and they were all deposited in the chamber of his daughter. Gon-Chiu when he heard of this said of his brother-in-law, he is young. He never could be behind others. He was, however, unable to pass the matter over unnoticed. He told the emperor that he would present him with some old pictures and returning to his mansion in Nijio, he opened his picture cabinet. Where numbers of old and new pictures were kept. From these, with the assistance of Violet, he made a selection of the best. Such pictures as illustrations of the long regrets or representations of Oshio-kun were reserved, because the terminations of these stories were not happy ones. He also took out of his cabinet the sketches which he had made while in Suma and Akashi, and showed them for the first time to Violet, who was a little angry at his not having shown them to her sooner. It was about the 10th of February, and the face of nature began to smile with the approach of spring making the hearts and tempers of people more calm and cheerful. Besides, it was just a time when the court was unoccupied with the keeping of any festival. There could be no better chance than this for such an exhibition of pictures to attract the attention of people enjoying leisure. Genji, therefore, sent his a collection of pictures to the palace in behalf of the lady of the plumb chamber. This soon created a sensation in the palace, most of the pictures that were in the possession of the lady of the plumb chamber were from old romances, and the pictures themselves were of ancient date being rare, while those of Kuki then were more modern subjects and by living artists. Thus each of them had their special merits, so that it became difficult to say which were more excellent. Talking of these pictures became quite a fashionable subject of conversation of the courtiers of the day. The imperial mother happened to be at court, and when she saw these pictures and heard different persons at court discussing their relative merits, she suggested that they should divide themselves into two parties, right and left, and regularly to give their judgment. This was accordingly done, Hei Naishi no Suke, Jijuu no Naishi, and Shio Shio no Myobu took the left, and on the side of the lady of the plumb chamber, while Dainii no Naishi no Suke, Jijuu no Myobu, and Hiroya no Myobu took the right, on the side of the Koki then. The first picture selected was the illustration of the bamboo cutter by the left, as it was the most appropriate to come first for the discussion of its merits, as being the parent of romance. To compete with this, that of Toshikage from the empty wood was selected by the right. The left now stated their case, saying the bamboo, indeed its story too, may be an old and commonly known thing, but the maiden Kakya, in keeping her purity unsullied in this world is highly admirable, besides it was an occurrence that belongs to a prehistorical period. No ordinary woman would ever be equal to her, and so this picture has an excellence, that upon the right argued in opposition to this saying, the sky where the maiden Kakya has gone away may indeed be high, but it is beyond human reach, so we may put it aside. When she made her appearance in this world she was, after all, a creature of bamboo, and indeed we may consider her even lower than ourselves. It may also be true that she threw a bright radiance over the inside of a cottage, but she never shone in the august society of a palace. Aben no Oshis spent millions of money in order to get the so-called fireproof rat, which when obtained, was consumed in the flames at a moment, is simply ridiculous. Prince Kuramochi's pretended jewel branch was simply a delusion, besides this picture is by Koseno Omi, with notes by Tsurayuki. These are not very uncommon, the paper is Kamiya, only covered with Chinese satin. The outer cover is reddish purple, and the center stick is purple These are very common ornaments. Now Toshikage, though he had undergone a severe trial from the raiding storm, and had been carried to a strange land, arrived at length at the country to which he was originally dispatched, and from there returned to his native land, having achieved his object, and having made his ability recognized both at home and abroad. This picture is the life of this man, and it represents many scenes, not only of his country, but of foreign ones which cannot fail to be interesting. We therefore dare to place this one above the other in merit. The ground of this picture was thick white tinted paper, the outer cover was green, and the center stick jade. The picture was by Tsunenori, and the riding by Michikage. It was in the highest haste of the period. The left made no more protestation against the right, next the romance of Issei by the left, and that of Shiosami by the right were brought into competition. Here again, the relative merit was very difficult to be decided at once. That of the right had apparently more charms than that of the other, since it beautifully represented the society of a more recent period. Hey Naishi of the left therefore said, if leaving the depths of Issei's night sea, we follow the fancies of new fashion dreams. All the beauty and skill of the ancients will be swept away by the current of art's modern streams. Who would run down the fame of Narihira for the sake of the pretentious humbug of our own days? Then Daini no Naishi no Ske of the right replied, the noble mind that soars on high, beyond the star-spangled sky, books down with ease on depths that lie a thousand fathoms beneath his eye. Upon this the empress mother interceded. She said that the exalted nobility of Lord Hioya may not indeed be passed over without notice, yet the name of Narihira could not altogether be eclipsed by his. Though too well known to all may be, the lovely shore of Issei's sea, its aged fishers on her name, a tribute of respect, may claim. There were several more roles to be exhibited, and the rival protestations on both sides became very warm, so that one role occasioned considerable discussion. While this was going on, Genji arrived on the scene. He suggested to them that if there was any competition at all, it should be decided on a specially appointed day, in a more solemn manner, in the presence of the Emperor. This suggestion, having been adopted, the discussion came to an end. The day for this was fixed. The ex-Emperor who had been informed of this presented several pictures to the Lady of the Plum Chamber. There were mostly illustrations of court festivals, on which there were explanatory remarks written by the Emperor Genji. Beside these, there was one which had been expressly executed at his own order, by Kimochi. This was an illustration of the ceremony which took place at his palace, on the departure of the Lady for Issei, sometime back when she had gone there as the Saigu. It was also provable that some of his pictures came into the possession of her rival, and a Lady Kokiden, through his mother, as the mother of the former osu sister of the latter. When the day arrived, every arrangement was made in the large saloon at the rear of the palace, where the Imperial seat was placed at the top. The court ladies of both parties, those of the Lady of the Plum Chamber, and those of the Lady of Kokiden, were arranged respectively left and right. The left, or those of the Lady of the Plum Chamber facing southwards, and those of the right northwards. All the courtiers also took their places allotted to them. Here the pictures were brought. The box containing those of the left was of purple azadaric. The stand on which the box was placed was of saffron, and over this was thrown a cover of Chinese brocade with a mauve ground. The seat underneath was of Chinese colored silk. Six young girls brought all this in and arranged it all in order. The Kazami outer dress was of red and cherry color, with tunics of wisteria lining, light purple outside and light green inside. The box which contained the pictures of the right was of jean wood. The stand of light colored jean, the cover of Korean silk with a green ground. The legs of the stand which were trellised round with a silken cord showed modern and artistic taste. The Kazami of the young girls was of willow lining, white outside and green within, and their tunics were of kedia japonica lining, or yellow outside and light red within. Both Genji and Gonchu Nagon were present by the Emperor's special invitation, as also the Prince Lord Lieutenant of Tsukushi, who loved pictures above all things, and he was consequently chosen umpire for this day's competition. Many of the pictures were highly admirable, and it was most difficult to make any preference between them. For instance, if there was produced by one party a role of the season with the masterpiece of someone master on selected subjects, it was produced also by the other party a role of sketches on paper which were scarcely inferior to and more ornamented with flourishing than the ancient works in spite of the necessary limitation of space, which generally makes the wide expanse of scenery almost too difficult to express. Thus the disputes on both sides were very warm. Meanwhile, the Imperial Mother, the Princess Wisteria, also came into the salon, pushing aside the sliding screen of the breakfast chamber. The criticisms still continued in which Genji made now and then suggestive remarks. Before all was finished, the shades of evening began to fall on them. They remained on the right one more role when the role of Tsuma was produced on the left. It made Gonchu Nagon slightly embarrassed. The last role of the right was of course a selected one, but it had several disadvantages in comparison with that of Tsuma. The sketches on this role had been done by Genji with great pains in time. They were illustrations of different bays and shores. They were most skillfully executed and carried away the minds of the spectators, the actual spots. On them illustrative remarks were written, sometimes in the shape of a diary, occasionally mingled with political effusions in style both grave and easy. These made a great impression on the Emperor and on everyone present, and finally owing to this role, the left was decided to have won the victory. Then followed the partaking of refreshments, as was usual on such occasions. In the course of conversation, Genji remarked to the Lord Lieutenant, From my boyhood I paid much attention to reading and writing, and perhaps my father noticed that I had benefited by these pursuits. He observed that few very clever men enjoyed worldly happiness and long life, perhaps because ability and knowledge are too highly valued in the world to omit of other blessings. True it is that even a man whose high birth assures him a certain success in life ought not to be devoid of learning, but I advise you to moderate your exertions. After this time he took more pains in instructing me in the ways and manners of men of high position than in the minute details of science. For these reasons, though on the one hand I was not quite clumsy, I cannot on the other say in what particular subject I am well versed in efficient. Drawing, however, was a favorite object of my taste and ambition, and I also desired to execute a work to the full extent of my ideas. In the meantime, I enjoyed quiet leisure by the seashore, and as I contemplated the wide expanse of scenery, my conception seemed to enlarge as I gazed upon it. This made me take up my breath, but not a few parts of the work have fallen short of these conceptions. Therefore I thought them all together unworthy to be shown expressly, though I have now boldly submitted them to inspection on this good opportunity. Nothing can be well earned that is not agreeable to one's natural taste, replied the Lord Lieutenant. It is true, but every art has its special instructor, and by this means their methods can be copied by their pupils, though there may be differences in skill and perfection. Among arts, however, nothing betrays one's tastes and nature more than work of pen and brush, writing and painting, and playing the games of goal. Of course, men of low origin and of little accomplishment often happen to excel in these arts, but not so frequently as persons of position. Under the auspicious care of the late emperor, what prince or princess could have failed to attain the knowledge of such arts, a care which was directed towards herself especially? I will not speak of literature and learning too. Your accomplishments compromise the keen, next the flute, the mandolin, and so coto. This we all knew, and so to the late emperor said, with your painting, however, has been hitherto thought to be a mere amusement, but we now have seen your sketches executed with a skill not unequal to the ancient famous draughtsmen in black ink. It was about the 20th of the month, and the evening moon appeared in the sky while they were thus conversing. Her radiance was too weak to make the ground near them bright, but afar off the sky became palely white, several musical instruments were sent for from the guardian of the library. Genji played a kin, Gonchiunagon a wagon, the lord lieutenant a so coto, and shio shio no miubu a mandolin. The hio shi was undertaken by a courtier, as this went on the darkness of night began to diminish, and the hues of the flowers in the garden and the countenance of each of the party became gradually visible. While the birds themselves began to chirp in the trees, it was a pleasant dawn. Several presents were made to the company by the imperial mother, and to the lord lieutenant a robe was given in addition, as an acknowledgement of his services as judge in the competition. And so the party broke up, the role of sumo was left as requested in the hands of the imperial mother. Genji had some more roles of the same series, but they were reserved for some future occasion. During the reign of this emperor, every care was taken on the occasion of all court festivals, so that future generations should hold that such and such precedents took their origin in this reign. Hence a meeting even such as described, which was only private in its nature, was carried out in a manner as pleasant and enlightened as possible. As to Genji, he thought he had obtained a position too exalted and an influence too great. There were indeed several instances of public men surprised by misfortune, who in premature age obtained high position and vast influence. He thought of these examples, and though he had hitherto enjoyed his position in authority, as if he regarded them as a compensation for his former fall, he began, as the emperor was now beginning, to retire gradually from public life, so as to prepare his mind and thoughts and to vote himself to the attainment of happiness in the world to come, and also for the prolongation of life. For these reasons he ordered a chapel to be built for himself on a mountainside where he might retire. In the meantime he had the ambition to see his children satisfactorily brought out into the world, an ambition which restrained him from carrying out his wishes of retiring. It is not easy to understand or define the exact state of his mind at this period. End of Chapter 17. Competitive show of pictures. Recording by Timothy Lucas. End of Genji Monogatari, Bemurasaki Shikibu. Translated by Suematsu Kenshiyo.