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 Hatsuse's vale thou'rt come, To woo me, darling, in my home:-- But my mother sleeps hard by, And my father near doth lie; Should I but rise, I'll wake her ear; Should I go out, then he will hear:-- The night hath fled! it may not be, For our love's a mystery! _Anon._ THE PEARLS Oh! he my prince, that left my side O'er the twain Lover Hills[142] to roam, Saying that in far Kishiu's tide He'd hunt for pearls to bring them home. When will he come? With trembling hope I hie me on the busy street, To ask the evening horoscope, That straightway thus gives answer meet-- The lover dear, my pretty girl, For whom thou waitest, comes not yet, Because he's seeking ev'ry pearl Where out at sea the billows fret. "He comes not yet, my pretty girl! Because among the riplets clear He's seeking, finding ev'ry pearl; 'Tis that delays thy lover dear. "Two days at least must come and go, Sev'n days at most will bring him back; 'Twas he himself that told me so:-- Then cease, fair maid, to cry Alack!" _Anon._ A DAMSEL CROSSING A BRIDGE Across the bridge, with scarlet lacquer glowing, That o'er the Katashiha's stream is laid, All trippingly a tender girl is going, In bodice blue and crimson skirt arrayed. None to escort her: would that I were knowing Whether alone she sleeps on virgin bed, Or if some spouse has won her by his wooing:-- Tell me her house! I'll ask the pretty maid! _Anon_. SECRET LOVE If as my spirit yearns for thine Thine yearns for mine, why thus delay? And yet, what answer might be mine 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 love declare; No, no! I'll say my longing was To see the moon appear O'er yonder darkling hill; Yet 'tis on thee mine eyes would gaze their fill. _Anon_. THE OMEN[143] Yes! 'twas the hour when all my hopes Seemed idle as the dews that shake And tremble in their lotus-cups 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 As Kiyosumi's lake. One thought fills all my heart:-- When wilt thou come no more again to part? _Anon_. A MAIDEN'S LAMENT