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72. The Lady Kii, of the House of Princess Yūshi: Yūshi Naishinnō Ke Kii, read aloud

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A Hundred Verses from Old Japan · 73 of 101

72. The Lady Kii, of the House of Princess Yūshi: Yūshi Naishinnō Ke Kii

72

THE LADY KII, OF THE HOUSE OF PRINCESS YŪSHI

YŪSHI NAISHINNŌ KE KII

Oto ni kiku Takashi no hama no Adanami wa Kakeji ya sode no Nure mo koso sure.

THE sound of ripples on the shore Ne’er fails at Takashi; My sleeves all worn and wet with tears Should surely prove to thee, I, too, will constant be.

The Lady Kii lived at the Court of the Emperor Horikawa, who reigned A.D. 1087-1107. Takashi is a seaside place in the Province of Izumi, not far from Ōsaka, and on the shore we see the Lady Kii, perhaps composing this verse to her lover.