resounds._]

[Footnote 17: In ancient Japanese the word _s['e]ko_ signified either
husband or elder brother. The beginning of the poem might also be
rendered thus:--"When I feel a secret longing for my husband," etc.]

T[=o]-zuma to
Tamakura kawashi
N['e]taru yo wa,
Tori-gan['e] na naki
Ak['e]ba aku to mo!

[_In the night when I am reposing with my (now) far-away
spouse, having exchanged jewel-pillows_[18] _with her, let not
the cock crow, even though the day should dawn._]

[Footnote 18: "To exchange jewel-pillows" signifies to use each
other's arms for pillows. This poetical phrase is often used in
the earliest Japanese literature. The word for jewel, _tama_, often
appears in compounds as an equivalent of "precious," "dear," etc.]

Yorozu-yo ni
Tazusawari it['e]
Ai mi-domo,
Omoi-sugu-b['e]ki
Koi naranaku ni.

[_Though for a myriad ages we should remain hand-in-hand and
face to face, our exceeding love could never come to an end.
(Why then should Heaven deem it necessary to part us?)_]

Waga tam['e] to,
Tanabata-tsum['e] no,
Sono yado ni,
Oreru shirotai
Nu[:i]t ken kamo?

[_The white cloth which Tanabata has woven for my sake, in
that dwelling of hers, is now, I think, being made into a robe
for me._]

Shirakumo no
I-ho ['e] kakurit['e]
T[=o]-k['e]domo,
Yo[:i]-sarazu min
Imo ga atari wa.

[_Though she be far-away, and hidden from me by five hundred
layers of white cloud, still shall I turn my gaze each night
toward the dwelling-place of my younger sister (wife)._]

Aki sar['e]ba
Kawagiri tat['e]ru
Amanogawa,
Kawa ni muki-it['e]
Kru[19] yo zo [=o]ki!

[Footnote 19: For _kofuru_.]

[_When autumn comes, and the river-mists spread over the
Heavenly Stream, I turn toward the river, (and long); and the
nights of my longing are many!_]

Hito-tos['e] ni
Nanuka no yo nomi
A[:u]-hito no--
Ko[:i] mo tsuki-n['e]ba
Sayo zo ak['e] ni keru!

[_But once in the whole year, and only upon the seventh night
(of the seventh month), to meet the beloved person--and
lo! The day has dawned before our mutual love could express
itself!_[20]]

[Footnote 20: Or "satisfy itself." A literal rendering is difficult.]

Toshi no ko[:i]
Koyo[:i] tsukush['i]t['e],
Asu yori wa,
Tsun['e] no gotoku ya
Waga ko[:i] oran.

[_The love-longing