place. The Obito of the granary ordered them to sit beside the cooking-place and hold lights to right and left. When the night had become profound, and the revel was at its height, and every one had danced in turn, the Obito of the granary addressed Wodate, saying:—"Thy servant observes that these light-holders honour others, and abase themselves; they put others before, and themselves behind. By their respectfulness they show their observance of just principles; by their retiring behaviour they illustrate courtesy. They are worthy of the name of gentlemen." Upon this Wodate played on the lute and gave orders to the light-holders, saying:—"Get up and dance." Then the elder and younger brothers declined in each other's favour for a good while and did not get up. Wodate urged them, saying:—"Wherefore all this delay? Get up quickly and dance." Prince Ohoke got up and danced. When he had done, the Emperor stood up in his turn, and having adjusted his dress and girdle, proposed a health for the Muro, saying:—
The Dolichos roots[1] of the new muro which he has upbuilt;
The pillars which he has upbuilt—
These are[2] the calm of the august heart of the master of the house:
The ridge-poles which he has raised aloft—
These are the grove[3] of the august heart of the master of the house:
The rafters which he has set—
These are the perfect order of the august heart of the master of the house:
The laths which he has placed—
These are the fairness of the august heart of the master of the house:
- ↑ The Dolichos roots present a difficulty. They are better known for yielding a starchy food like arrowroot than as material for house-building. The stems are mentioned below. Another objection is that their introduction here spoils the symmetry of the composition, which though not exactly poetry, is something closely verging on it. I would prefer to omit the words "Katsura ne tsuki-tatsuru" of the original, so that the first two lines would become only one, viz.—
"The pillars of the new muro which he has upbuilt."
- ↑ i.e. represent.
- ↑ Grove. The commentators say this means shigeki, thick, which in Japanese is a metaphor for cordial, hearty, kind.
