The heart I bound in
runs deep as well in this cord—
and if the deep hue
of its dark purple never
fades, then all shall be as pledged
- Meaning
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The heart I bound into this cord runs deep, and so long as its dark purple never fades, the promise will not change.
- Commentary
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Part One: Kiritsubo
This is the reply the Minister of the Left, who had placed the cap, gave on the spot to the Emperor's poem. It answers that he has indeed bound into the cord his own wish to give his daughter to Genji. With this exchange the match was settled in effect; the Minister descended the palace steps and performed the dance of obeisance, and that night Genji was received into his house and joined with Aoi.
The reply takes up "binding" and "cord" from the Emperor's poem, returning his words as the etiquette of poetic exchange required. "Dark purple" is a color of high rank, and its depth of dye also stands for a deep and unchanging heart. "Iro shi asezu wa" means "so long as the color does not fade": the poem stops at a condition rather than stating a conclusion, and in that restraint one sees the reserve proper to a subject answering his sovereign.
- Author
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Murasaki Shikibu
- Source
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Genji Monogatari
- Other
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