If unknown to all
I should die of love for her,
How pointless it seems—
To which god would people then
Give the blame of my ill name?

Meaning

If I were to die of love without anyone knowing the truth, it would be pointless indeed. To which god would people then wrongly attribute the blame and give a false reputation?

Commentary

89. Unknown to All

A man who was not of low rank had come to love a woman of higher rank than himself.
The poem was composed after several years had passed in which he could not bring himself to speak of his feelings.

To die while loving a noble woman, without anyone knowing, would be deeply regrettable. Yet the poem may also express the wish that, if he must die, he would at least die as the man who continued to love that noble lady.

The episode is composed with Ariwara no Narihira and the Nijō Empress in mind.

Source

Ise Monogatari

Other

From the open sea, The sacred weeds they say serve As the sea god’s crown— Yet even these treasured fronds For your sake I did not spare.
For the most part, I Will not praise the shining moon— For it is this moon Which, when its nights gather on, Becomes the years and our age.
Cherry blossoms now Today bloom in such fragrance— Yet who can be sure That beyond in that far place They will bloom tomorrow night?
Though I would regret Yet this day that ends the spring Has come at last now— Even to the evening hour Of this final day of spring.

If unknown to all I should die of love for her, How pointless it seems— To which god would people then Give the blame of my ill name?

If unknown to all
I should die of love for her,
How pointless it seems—
To which god would people then
Give the blame of my ill name?