At this mountain stream
that has of a sudden made
your sleeve wet with tears,
would a heart that dwells here clear
be stirred and troubled at all

Meaning

At this mountain water that has suddenly wet your sleeve, would a heart long settled and clear here ever be stirred?

Commentary

Part One: Wakamurasaki

　When Genji spoke his poem on the waterfall at daybreak, the bishop answered on the spot with this one. Having lived here for years, long used to water and wind alike, he says nothing troubles his mind, setting that against the feeling of a man newly arrived from the capital. Genji read in the reply the steadiness of one who has left the world behind. Day broke, and he began preparing to return.

　"Sashigumi ni" means all at once, and points to Genji hearing the sound for the first time. "Mountain water" takes up the waterfall from his poem. "Sumeru" plays water running clear against a heart that is clear and unmoved, binding the stream and the bishop's mind in one word. Two men hear the same waterfall: one weeps, one is untouched, and the exchange states that contrast plainly.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

At this mountain stream that has of a sudden made your sleeve wet with tears, would a heart that dwells here clear be stirred and troubled at all

At this mountain stream
that has of a sudden made
your sleeve wet with tears,
would a heart that dwells here clear
be stirred and troubled at all