Knowing all the while
that it is a road of love
that wets the sleeves through,
the field hand who steps down in
is wretched by her own will

Meaning

Knowing well that this road of love is mire that soaks the sleeves, the field hand who steps down into it is wretched by her own doing.

Commentary

Part One: Aoi

　After the incident with the carriages, Rokujo no Miyasudokoro's mind was more disturbed than ever, and being unwell she had moved elsewhere for rites of healing. Genji came to call, spoke of his worry over Aoi no Ue, and apologized for having stayed away against his own wish. The next day only a note came, saying Aoi's illness had suddenly worsened; taking it for the usual excuse, Miyasudokoro sent this poem. He admired the hand and was left unable to settle his own feelings.

　"Koiji," the road of love, also plays on the word for mire, which is what wets the sleeves. "Tago" is a worker in the paddies, one who steps down into the mud. No one forced her; she went down of her own accord—so the reproach is turned on herself rather than on him. Old commentaries have called this the finest poem in the tale, and the depth of this woman's self-awareness is fully in it.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

Knowing all the while that it is a road of love that wets the sleeves through, the field hand who steps down in is wretched by her own will

Knowing all the while
that it is a road of love
that wets the sleeves through,
the field hand who steps down in
is wretched by her own will