Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ...Then she drew forth a substantial case of antique pattern, saying, " I cannot produce such a thing without shame, but the Princess expressly sent this for your New Year. I could not return it to her nor keep it myself; I hope you will just look at it." "Oh, certainly," replied Genji. "It is very kind of her," at the same time thinking, " What a pitiful verse! This may really be her own composition. No doubt Kojijiu has been absent, besides she seems to have had no master to improve her penmanship. This must have been written with great effort. We ought to be grateful for it, as they say." Here a smile rose on Genji's cheeks, and a blush upon Tayu's. The case was opened, and a Naoshi (a kind of gown), of scarlet, shabby and old-fashioned, of the same color on both sides, was found inside. The sight was almost too much for Genji from its very absurdity. He stretched out the paper on which the verse had been written, and began to write on one side, as if he was merely playing with the pen. Tayu, glancing slyly, found that he had written: --This color pleases not mine eye, Too fiery bright its gaudy hue, And when the saffron flower was nigh, The same pink tinge was plain to view. He then erased what he had written, but Tayu quickly understood what he really meant by " saffron flower," referring to the pinkness of its flower, so she remarked: --"Although the dress too bright in hue, And scarlet tints may please you not, At least to her, who sends, be true, Soon will Naoshi be forgot." While they were thus prattling on the matter, people were entering the room to see him, so Genji hastily put the things aside, and Tayu retired. A few days after, Genji one morning looked into the...
