:

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!

This commander-in-chief's name is not to be ascertained. The 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 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.)

Eines

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 winged 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 Taunu that the poet's mistress dwelt.

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 SANUKL*

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!

This commander-in-chief's name is not to be ascertained. The 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 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 winged 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.