Deep affection for the young gentleman's mother encouraged His Majesty's strong interest in him,14 and Her Majesty treated him almost as she had done when he was growing up with her children and they all played together. “I had him so late, poor boy,” His Grace had said, “and I am so sorry that I shall not see him become a man.” She remembered that and remained attached to him. His Excellency of the Right honored him above his own sons.
Long ago the Shining Lord, as he was called, had enjoyed similarly lofty favor, but many envied him, and he lacked support on his mother's side. After pondering the matter in his deeply thoughtful way, he therefore dimmed his peerless light, lest it dazzle others, safely survived when turmoil all but engulfed the world, and for all that never neglected to pray for his next life, because without seeming ever to do so, he looked far ahead before reaching any decision. In contrast, this young gentleman had soared in favor prematurely and had extraordinary pride, in which destiny in fact confirmed him, since something about him suggested a holy being briefly resident in a world that he seemed to inhabit only provisionally. One could hardly say of his features just what distinguished them or made them especially worthy of admiration; he simply had superb grace and was at heart unlike what appears to be the common run of men.
He gave off a delicious smell, an otherworldly fragrance, and it was a wonder how no matter where he went, the breeze that eddied behind him seemed really to perfume the air to a hundred paces. No one else born like that would dream of being modest in costume or behavior. No, he would purposely dress to be noticed, but not this young man, who objected to being unable even to steal behind a screen without revealing his presence and who hardly ever perfumed what he wore. Nonetheless, his fragrance added an ineffable touch to the scents slumbering in his clothing chests, until even the flowering plum trees in his garden mingled their perfume with his when brushed by his sleeves, yielding scented spring raindrops that left many enchanted; while thoroughwort, flowering forgotten in the autumn fields, would when he plucked it lend its fragrance to the delicious breeze that always followed him.
This most unusually personal fragrance roused His Highness of War to special rivalry. He purposely suffused his clothes with the finest incenses and spent day and night blending more. In spring he contemplated his garden's plum blossoms, while in autumn he spurned the much-praised maidenflower, as well as the hagi so favored by the stag, to prefer instead chrysanthemums that banish old age,15 fading thoroughwort, and humble burnet that he ostentatiously preserved until it was dismally withered by frost. In this way he proclaimed an elegant passion for perfumes. All this left the impression that he was somewhat soft and languid and addicted to fastidious tastes. Certainly, the Genji of long ago had indulged in no such eccentricities.
The Consultant Captain16 called often at His Highness's, where the two vied with each other to make music on their flutes, for in their rivalry they were the best of friends. Of course, people in their tiresome way would call one the Perfumed Prince of War and the other the Fragrant Captain. When any great lord with a presentable daughter proudly aspired to win over His Highness, His Highness responded to each hint of promise and found out all he could about the young lady's quality and looks. However, he found none to be particularly attractive. She is still the one I want, he said to himself of His Eminence Reizei's First Princess; she would be worth it. Her mother, a Consort, had great dignity and elegance, she herself was widely credited with rare distinction, and the more circumstantial reports he had from the women who served her must have made him want her even more.
The Captain meanwhile believed deeply that this world is dross, and he knew that he might never free himself from lingering affection if he gave his heart nonetheless. He therefore renounced any wish to engage his feelings where doing so might entail troublesome regrets. Of course, he may just have been playing the sage because he had no one in mind at the time. One certainly could not imagine him dispensing with obtaining a father's permission.
At nineteen he became a Third Rank Consultant and retained at the same time his Captain's post. Being close to Their Majesties gained him such honor as a commoner that he had no need to defer to anyone, but he well knew in his heart what he was, and the knowledge sufficiently affected him that he had no taste for rash adventures and never allowed himself to lose his composure. In time everyone came to understand how serious he was.
He caught occasional glimpses and rumors of His Eminence's daughter, for whom His Highness had been pining for years, because she lived in the palace he frequented, and these encouraged him to believe her indeed exceptional. What endlessly marvelous grace and depth she has! he said to himself. Yes, it might make life worth living after all to have such a woman for my own! However, despite generally welcoming his presence, His Eminence had always kept him strictly apart from his daughter, and the young man quite understood. Considering the risk involved, he did not insist on attempting to approach her. He realized that if he ever became attached to her, against his own wishes, the consequences might prove unfortunate for both.17 He made no move to court her.
Now that he seemed certain to be widely admired, no word from him, however light, provoked stern rejection but instead met only assent, and in the natural course of things he therefore began calling casually at a good number of houses. However, he always extricated himself adeptly without committing himself anywhere. Tepid, noncommittal attentions of this kind can be particularly annoying, but many women with a weakness for him were drawn to gather around Her Cloistered Highness at Sanjō. His aloofness there was certainly painful, but some whose rank really excused them from service still looked forward to a passing encounter with him and preferred disappointment to the loss of all hope. After all, he was so kind and such a pleasure to be with that those so privileged could not really keep themselves from forgiving him.
The New Year's archery contest
“I certainly mean to stay with Her Cloistered Highness as long as she lives,” he would say, “so that she may have my company.” His Excellency of the Right said nothing, but this made him want to offer the young man one of his daughters. It was not that he found the marriage particularly attractive,18 but apart from those two young gentlemen he had no idea where in the present world to find anyone else worthy. His Sixth Daughter, as she was called—one he had from the Dame of Staff—was much prettier than his better-born girls and also more gifted, and he thought it a great shame to have the world look down on her. He therefore took her in and entrusted her to Her Highness of Ichijō, who missed having children of her own. When I give those two a look at her, she will certainly please them, he assured himself; no one who knows women could fail to be especially attracted. Rather than keep her strictly sheltered, he instilled in her a taste for stylish, pleasing accomplishments and so gave her many charms to capture a young man's heart.
The banquet that followed the New Year's archery contest was to take place at Rokujō, and His Excellency prepared it especially carefully because he wanted His Highness to come, too. All the adult Princes attended on the day. Those born to Her Majesty were handsome and distinguished, but His Highness of War did indeed stand well above them. The Fourth Prince, known as His Highness of Hitachi, was an Intimate's son, which perhaps explained why he seemed so much less prepossessing than the others.
As always, the Left won decisively. The contest ended sooner than usual, and the victorious Commander,19 His Excellency himself, then withdrew. Before going, he invited His Highness of War, His Highness of Hitachi, and Her Majesty's Fifth Prince to join him in his carriage. The Consultant Captain, who belonged to the losing side, was leaving quietly when His Excellency detained him. “Will you not join us to see Their Highnesses on their way?” he said, and the Captain, yielding to his insistence, followed him together with such of His Excellency's sons as the Intendant of the Gate Watch, the Acting Counselor, and the Right Grand Controller, as well as with other senior nobles. All accompanied His Excellency to Rokujō.20 A sprinkling of snow fel
l during their journey, which was quite long, and the twilight was lovely. They were making music when they arrived, at the very hour when a flute rings out most beautifully, and one could only wonder where else, indeed in what buddha-land, such a moment could give richer pleasure.
The Captains and Lieutenants sat facing south as usual, in the south aisle of the main house, while their attendants, the Princes and senior nobles,21 sat across from them facing north. The wine cup began its rounds, and once the party had become lively, breezes from whirling sleeves dancing “Motomego”22 ushered in gusts of scent from nearby plum blossoms just then opening exquisitely in the garden; and to these the Captain's own perfume added an ineffably delicious touch. “Alas, it is too dark to see,” said the wondering gentlewomen as they peered in at the scene, “but how true it is that nothing matches that scent!”23 His Excellency was delighted as well. “Come, you Right Captain, you must sing, too!” he cried, noting the young man's glowing looks and flawless manner. “You should not so much play the guest!” The Captain sang “There Dwells the God” and so on with exactly the right degree of animation.
43
KŌBAI
Red Plum Blossoms
Kōbai means “red plum [blossoms].” The chapter derives its title from a poetic exchange between the Inspector Grand Counselor (Kōbai) and Niou.
RELATIONSHIP TO EARLIER CHAPTERS
While “The Perfumed Prince” ends early in Kaoru's twentieth year, “Red Plum Blossoms” begins early in his twenty-fourth, so that there is a four-year gap between the two. Chronologically, these intervening years are covered by the three chapters that follow.
PERSONS
The Minamoto Counselor, age 24 (Kaoru)
The Inspector Grand Counselor,
Tō no Chūjō 's second son, 54 or 55 (Kōbai)
His wife, Higekuro's daughter, 46 or 47 (Makibashira)
Her Highness, Makibashira's daughter by Hotaru
A boy, the son of Makibashira and Kōbai
Kōbai's elder daughter, Consort to the Heir Apparent
Kōbai's younger daughter
His Highness of War, 25 (Niou)
His Excellency, the Minister of the Right, 50 (Yūgiri)
There was in those days a gentleman known as the Inspector Grand Counselor, the late Chancellor's second son, hence the younger brother of the Intendant of the Watch.1 The promise he had shown even as a boy, and his native liveliness of character, had encouraged a gratifyingly swift rise over the years to a standing that did him great credit and to a very high degree of favor. His first wife had died, and he was therefore in his second marriage. His present wife, the daughter of his father's successor as Chancellor,2 was the lady who had so regretted leaving the “handsome pillar”;3 that is, the one His Highness of Ceremonial had married to His Late Highness of War.4 The Grand Counselor had begun paying her secret visits after the Prince's death and with the passage of time had apparently come openly to acknowledge the tie between them. By his first wife he had only two children, which he thought too few, and he therefore prayed to the gods and buddhas until his present wife bore him a son. There was also a daughter from his wife's marriage to the late Prince. He rejected none and was equally fond of them all, although some of their women took a less commendable attitude, one that caused a degree of friction now and then; but his wife, who was bright and forthcoming, took it all in good part, let pass whatever she heard that might sound dismissive toward her own daughter, and managed to think no ill of anyone. The result was a well-ordered, well-considered household.
As each daughter in turn grew up, the Grand Counselor gave her her donning of the train. He enlarged the main house to seven bays and installed himself and his elder daughter at the front, on the south; his younger daughter on the west; and Her Highness5 on the east. One would have thought Her Highness would suffer from no longer having her father, but not at all, for a great deal of valuable property
The south side of a main house
had come to her both from his side and from her mother's, and she led at home a life distinguished by great courtesy and elegance. She lacked nothing at all.
Talk of the way the Grand Counselor prized his daughters spread, as talk will, until many gentlemen came forward to court each in turn, and intimations of interest arrived from His Majesty and the Heir Apparent. However, the Grand Counselor reflected: His Majesty has an Empress6 whom no other lady, whatever her quality, could possibly match, although at the same time it would be too bad not to think well enough of one's daughter to wish to try. As for the Heir Apparent, it would be difficult to challenge the favor that His Excellency of the Right's daughter already enjoys. Still, there must be more to be said on the matter than that. What satisfaction could there be in giving up the idea of sending a daughter into service at court, when all the while one genuinely believes her to be especially deserving? His mind was made up, and he offered the Heir Apparent his elder daughter, who at seventeen or eighteen was pretty and delightful in every way.
His younger daughter had her own noble grace, and a quieter poise than her sister's gave her such charm that he could not bear to imagine her wasted on a commoner. A word from His Highness of War, he decided, would be welcome.
Whenever His Highness came across the Grand Counselor's little son at court,7 he would call him over to make friends and pass the time. The boy had character, and his eyes and forehead suggested real depth. “Tell the Grand Counselor that I am not satisfied to know only the little brother,” he said.
The Grand Counselor smiled at this and felt well pleased. “I should much rather give a deserving daughter to His Highness than send her to rank below others in service at court. His Highness is a gentleman whom one could indulge with pleasure to one's heart's content.” Meanwhile he urged forward the preparations affecting the Heir Apparent, praying in his heart as he did so, If the Kasuga God's decree is to be fulfilled in my time, may that serve to redress His Late Excellency's bitter chagrin over His Eminence's Consort!8
His daughter went to the Heir Apparent, and he gathered from what people told him that she stood high in his favor. In a gesture of selfless devotion his wife waited on her there, out of concern that as long as this life remained new to her, she might not get on without sound support. With both of them gone, the Grand Counselor languished, and his younger daughter, who was accustomed to spending all her time with her sister, was listless and gloomy.
Her Highness had never insisted on keeping her distance from the others, for they slept together every night and practiced together whatever they were learning, and in the least of their amusements the other two had always deferred to her as though to a teacher. She was unusually modest and seldom allowed even her mother to see her plainly face-to-face, which was no doubt a failing on her part; still, she was not at all diffident in personality or manner, being in fact more attractive than most.
This business of sending his daughter to the palace and so on made the Grand Counselor feel guilty to be so exclusively preoccupied with his own children. “Please let me know if you have any reasonable suggestion about what we should do for her,” he said to his wife. “I intend to treat her just the same as the others.”
However, his wife replied, “I see no sign that she is prepared to make so worldly a choice, and I expect that we will only make her unhappy if we insist. I will look after her as long as I live. What will happen after that is a matter of great concern, but she might become a nun—at any rate, I do hope that she manages to get through life without arousing mockery or scandal!” She wept and went on to tell him how admirable the young lady really was.
The Grand Counselor felt equally fatherly toward all the children, but he nonetheless found that he wanted to know what this one looked like. “It is unkind of you to hide from me this way,” he complained, and he secretly went peering about on the chance of catching sight of her; but he got no glimpse at all. “I should be calling on you while your mother is away, but the way you single me out for rejection makes
that very difficult,” he said, stationing himself before her blinds. She answered him in a faint voice, one sufficiently pleasing in its distinction to give him an idea of her looks, and he was stirred by what he gathered of her. Being proudly convinced that his own daughters outshone anyone else, he was more and more inclined to suspect that they might not surpass her. It all goes to show what tricks life in this wide world can play, he thought. You may believe a girl is the best, but no doubt there is always one better.
“I have not heard your music for ages,” he began; “things have been so busy here lately. The young lady on the west9 is keen on the biwa, but alas, I doubt that she will ever really learn it properly. It is a trial to listen to her halting efforts. It would be kind of you to give her lessons. I myself never particularly mastered any instrument, but I suppose that the concerts I used to join long ago, when I was young, taught me enough to know how to appreciate them all. I no longer play even for pleasure, but it brings back the old days to hear your biwa now and then. His Excellency of the Right is the one who now carries on the style of His Grace of Rokujō. The Minamoto Counselor10 and His Highness of War are sufficiently favored by destiny to equal their forebears in every way, and they particularly like to make music, but it seems to me that their somewhat languid touch with the plectrum ranks them below His Excellency, and your playing reminds me of his. They say that one must depress the strings lightly to play the biwa well, but the change in the way a string held to the fret rings under the plectrum is characteristic of a woman's playing, and in truth it is very pleasing. Come, will you not play? Here, bring my lady a biwa!”
The Tale of Genji: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) (Junichiro Breakdown of Genji) Page 101
