FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206  
207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   >>   >|  
this view she told Jijiu to tell her mistress to come to her, and Jijiu did so; but the Princess did not comply with this request. In the meantime the lady's husband was appointed Daini (Senior Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant), and they were to go down to Tzkushi (modern Kiusiu). She wished to take the Princess with her, and told her that she felt sorry to go to such a far-off locality, leaving her in her present circumstances; but the latter still unhesitatingly replied in the negative, and declined the offer; whereupon her aunt tauntingly remarked that she was too proud, and that, however exalted she might think herself, no one, not even Genji, would show her any further attention. About this time Genji returned, but for some while she heard nothing from him, and only the public rejoicing of many people, and the news about him from the outside world reached her ears. This gave her aunt a further opportunity of repeating the same taunts. She said, "See now who cares for you in your present circumstances. It is not praiseworthy to display such self-importance as you did in the lifetime of your father." And again she pressed her to go with her, but the Princess still clung to the hope that the time would come when Genji would remember her and renew his kindness. Winter came! One day, quite unexpectedly, the aunt arrived at the mansion, bringing as a present a dress for the Princess. Her carriage dashed into the garden in a most pompous style, and drove right up to the southern front of the building. Jijiu went to meet her, and conducted her into the Princess's apartment. "I must soon be leaving the capital," said the visitor. "It is not my wish to leave you behind, but you would not listen to me, and now there is no help. But this one, this Jijiu at least, I wish to take with me. I have come to-day to fetch her. I cannot understand how you can be content with your present condition." Here she manifested a certain sadness, but her delight at her husband's promotion was unmistakable, and she continued:-- "When your father was alive, I was looked down upon by him, which caused a coolness between us. But nevertheless I at no time entertained any ill-will towards you, only you were much favored by Prince Genji, as I heard, which made me abstain from visiting you often; but fortune is fickle, for those in a humble position often enjoy comfort, and those that are higher in station are not quite so well circumsta
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206  
207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Princess

 

present

 
circumstances
 

leaving

 

husband

 
father
 

mansion

 

bringing

 

visitor

 

listen


pompous

 

apartment

 
building
 

capital

 
dashed
 
conducted
 
garden
 

southern

 

carriage

 

delight


favored

 

Prince

 
abstain
 

entertained

 

visiting

 

fortune

 
higher
 

station

 

circumsta

 

comfort


fickle

 

humble

 

position

 

content

 

condition

 

manifested

 

understand

 
sadness
 

looked

 

caused


coolness

 

promotion

 
unmistakable
 
continued
 

negative

 

declined

 

replied

 
unhesitatingly
 

locality

 

tauntingly