otherwise be impossible to obtain an answer. This was called the yufu-ura, or “evening divination," on account of its being practised in the evening. It has been found. impossible in this instance to follow the original very closely.] Yes! 'twas the hour when all my hopes By deep Tsurugi's lake, 'Twas then the omen said: "Fear not! he'll come his own dear love to wed." What though my mother bids me flee Thy fond embrace? No heed I take; As pure, as deep my love for thee One thought fills all my heart: When wilt thou come no more again to part? (ANON.) Rain and Snow. For ever on Mikáne's crest, That soars so far away, The rain it rains in ceaseless sheets, And ceaseless as the rain and snow (ANON.) Parted by the Stream. Here on one side of the stream I stand, If but a red-lacquered skiff were mine, And dwell with my love for ever! (ANON.) He and She. He. To Hatsuse's vale I'm come, To woo thee, darling, in thy home But the rain rains down apace, And the snow veils ev'ry place, And now the pheasant 'gins to cry, And the cock crows to the sky: Now flees the night, the night hath fled, Let me in to share thy bed! She, To Hatsúse's vale thou'rt come, To woo me, darling, in my home: And my father near doth lie; ་ (ANON.) Husband and Waife, Wife. While other women's husbands ride My husband up the rough hillside The grievous sight with bitter pain Come take the mirror and the veil, Husband. An I should purchase me an horse, No, no though stony is our course, We'll trudge along and sweetly talk. (ANON.) The Pearls.* Oht he my prince, that left my side O'er the twain Lover Hills + to roam, For the reference in this song to the "evening horoscope," see p. 59. † Mount Lover and Mount Lady-love (Se-yama and Imo-yama), in the province of Yamato. Between them ran the rapid Yoshino-gaha, which has ended by sweeping away the Lover's Mount,-at least so the translator was told by the ferryman at the river in the summer of 1876; and Saying that in far Kishiu's tide He'd hunt for pearls to bring them home, When will he come? With trembling.hope To ask the evening horoscope, That straightway thus gives answer meet “The lover dear, my pretty girl, For whom thou waitest, comes not yet, Where out at sea the billows fret, "He comes not yet, my pretty girl! : "Two days at least must come and go, "Twas he himself that told me so: Then cease fair maid, to cry Alack !.".. (ANON.) Lines COMPOSED ON BEHOLDING AN UNACCOMPANIED DAMSEL CROSS- Across the bridge, with scarlet lacquer glowing, certainly from the boat there was but one mountain to be seen in the direction indicated. Perhaps there was never more than one, save in the brains of the Japanese poets, who are very fond of playing with these romantic names, Homeward. From Kaminábi's crest The clouds descending pour in sheeted rain, And, 'midst the gloom, the wind sighs o'er the plain : Oh! he that sadly press'd, Leaving my loving side, alone to roam Magámi's des❜late moor, has he reach'd home? The Maiden and her Dog. (ANON.) As the bold huntsman on some mountain path Waits for the stag he hopes may pass that way, So wait I for my love both night and day: Then bark not at him, as thou fear'st my wrath! (ANON.) Secret Love. If as my spirit yearns for thine Thine yearns for me, why thus delay ? If, pausing on her way, Some gossip bade me tell Whence the deep sighs that from my bosom swell? And thy dear name my lips should pass, My blushes would our loves declare; |