それもがと今朝開けたる初花に
劣らぬ君が匂ひをぞ見る
劣らぬ君が匂ひをぞ見る
- Roma-ji
-
Sore mo ga to kesa aketaru hatsuhana ni
otoranu kimi ga nioi o zo miru - English Translation
-
In this first blossom
that opened up this morning,
a thing one would wish
for oneself, I see a glow
that yields nothing to your own
- Meaning
- In this first blossom opened only this morning—a thing one would wish to be—I see a glow that yields nothing to yours.
- Commentary
-
Part One: Sakaki
In a season of soft summer rain, the Third Rank Captain brought over collections of Chinese verse and a rhyme-guessing game was held. Two days later, having lost, he gave a forfeit party, laying on boxes and prizes and gathering the same company to compose. A few roses had opened at the foot of the steps; the mood was quiet and fine. As the music grew a little disordered, the Captain offered the cup and spoke this poem. Genji smiled, took the cup, and answered.
"Sore mo ga" is a wish to be like something. "First blossom" is the newly opened rose at the steps. "Nioi" is a glowing beauty, here his host's looks. The poem follows exactly the social form of praising a host by way of a flower in front of the company. The scene shows the two men still competing at their games in a period of political disfavor.
- Author
- Murasaki Shikibu
- Source
- Genji Monogatari
- Prev Poem
-
Arishi yo no nagori dani naki Urashima ni
tachiyoru nami no mezurashiki kana - Next Poem
-
Toki narade kesa saku hana wa natsu no ame ni
shiorenikerashi niou hodo naku