Were the two of you
to break, I might be blamed for
it—and fearing that,
I have not so much as picked
the pale blue sash up to look

Meaning

Should the two of you part, I might be blamed for it; fearing as much, I have not even picked up this pale blue sash to look at it.

Commentary

Part One: Momiji no Ga

　The morning after the commotion, To no Chujo's sash was left in Genji's hands, while Genji's own robe had lost its outer sleeve, which To no Chujo had carried off. From the night quarters he sent it back wrapped up, with word that Genji had better have it sewn on first. Annoyed to think how it had been got hold of, Genji wrapped the sash in paper of the same color and sent it back with this poem. To no Chujo answered at once, and the matter was settled for the time being.

　"Breaking off" is the ending of a liaison, drawing on the sash in the words of the saibara song "Ishikawa." "Kagoto" means a grievance and also plays on the metal fitting of a sash, working as an associated word. "Hanada" is a pale blue. By saying he has not even touched it, he declares he wants no part in the business—while in fact taking great trouble over how to return it. The rivalry between two close friends becomes, quite directly, a rivalry of poetic technique.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

Were the two of you to break, I might be blamed for it—and fearing that, I have not so much as picked the pale blue sash up to look

Were the two of you
to break, I might be blamed for
it—and fearing that,
I have not so much as picked
the pale blue sash up to look