Were I to push through
the bamboo grass, some might well
find fault with me there—
in that shade of the forest
where horses are always tame

Meaning

If I pushed in through the bamboo grass, someone would surely object—in that forest shade where horses are always made welcome.

Commentary

Part One: Momiji no Ga

　Genji answered her poem with this one. He pretends to take up the invitation while turning it aside: since other men visit her, his coming would cause trouble. She showed no offense and continued to press him. In time To no Chujo burst in on one of their meetings, and a commotion followed.

　"Pushing through the bamboo grass" is making one's way in, standing for paying a visit. The "horse" is another man, and "the shade of the forest" is the lady herself. He takes her "horse" and returns it as the exchange required, while shifting its sense from "the horse you are used to" to "some other man's horse"—a deft move. It is a refusal that gives no offense and turns everything to laughter, and Genji's ease shows in the handling.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

Were I to push through the bamboo grass, some might well find fault with me there— in that shade of the forest where horses are always tame

Were I to push through
the bamboo grass, some might well
find fault with me there—
in that shade of the forest
where horses are always tame